❝Nothing is as deadly as the love of a powerful (wo)man.❞
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Request by: k00alababy (royal era, although this doesn't quite match with the said request 😓)

Warnings: blood, death, weapons, implied misogynistic sentiments, caste conflicts and elitist supremacy? (so sensitive people kindly step out).

Genre: drama, and scattered bits of angst+fluff ツ

Birthday Special-! : Today is 27/04, in other words, my birthday so take this as a special update lol<3

Additional Information (source- various): gladiators were armed combatants pitted against other men or wild animals and were trained to fight (to death) so as to entertain the audiences. Most of them were ex-convicts or enslaved men who were looked down upon by the elites and seen as outcasts. They were however, subjected to long hours of rigorous training, fed three square meals per day, given shelter and medical attention. Existence of female gladiators was an exotic rarity and was ridiculed only for comical purposes. Their fights were not taken seriously as they were often made to fight bare-chested that would create a supposed erotic impact on the viewers.

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Word Count: 4232 (lonnnggg-!)

«NARRATION»

Ancient Rome, circa 66 A.D

Dark clouds hovered over the dull grey sky. A silhouette of a young woman ran down the deserted streets all the way to a bright lit villa. There was a scar on her forehead that she tried to hide under her hood as she ran through the rainy night. Lifting her head a little, she smiled at the sight of another woman around the same age as her — waiting for her from the back entrance, the door slightly ajar. Swiftly rushing through, she managed to get in just before a guard could sense any suspicious movement.

"Where were you? Do you realise how late you've been?" The woman dressed in a maid attire questioned when the drenched girl rushed in.

"Has the dinner started yet?" The woman panted, lifting her hood to reveal the perfect length of dark, wavy hair, loosely rolled up in form of a bun as some curly strands fell from the sides.

"No, but your brother has been looking for you. He demands an answer for your absence from home, Ms Lisa."

"Don't worry much, Mina. I know you have me guarded." Lisa answered with a sweet smile on her lips that had a small cut at the corner.

"This is exactly what I worry about. I won't be always there to shield you even though we promised your little secret will be safe with me."

"My dear friend, Mina. I do comprehend the fact that the phase I'm living in is probably short lived. I will be forced to take part in responsibilities and duties as a future wife. But I don't wish to let go of it, let this freedom live with me and let me have fun as long as it lasts."

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Mina was helping Lisa to clean up and apply a traditional remedy to her wounds when there was a loud knock on the door with an announcement of the general waiting outside.

"I'll be heading back." Mina whispered as she got hold of her supplies as she prepared to leave when Lisa caught her wrist, a gentle yet firm hold over it.

"Thank you for being a wonderful friend, Mina." She weakly smiled, her eyes that expressed a fear of their own.

Mina's lips twitched into a bright smile convincing her that everything will be okay as left the room. And also giving cue for the Roman general to enter.

"How did you get hurt?" Namjoon asked as soon as he put a foot into the room. No matter how much Lisa had tried to hide it, she couldn't keep away the odd minty stench from these antidotes.

"Long story." She avoided her brother's gaze, uninterested in engaging a conversation with him.

"Oh..." he nodded his head, his eyes glancing around the wide, spacious room to catch a glimpse of something suspicious.

"Now I'd like to rest brother," Lisa broke the awkward silence, "I have to rest."

"I'm here to talk about my magistrate friend Yoongi—"

"I thought we've already talked about this."

"I guess not. I want you to reconsider the offer," he sternly said,"about your marriage."

"No." Lisa pressed her lips into a thin line.

"But what's the problem? He owns a bigger land, a prestigious social rank, has had no record of illicit relationships—" Namjoon retorted but was coerced to pause midway when Lisa started speaking.

"My answer will still be the same a thousand times again. The problem doesn't lay in him, it lays with you. After mother passed away you have been pestering me with hundreds of proposals everyday, just to quench your thirst of climbing a rank higher and accumulating more wealth to your greedy fortune. And besides, I have more things to do than engage in meaningless arguments with you without—"

"Enough!" Namjoon roared, his palm reflexing against Lisa's cheek — to leave an imprint near her jaw and causing it to bleed.

"I give you three weeks to ambush the spark of freedom in your head. Because after that, I'll have you married. It wouldn't matter if you're willing or not." The elder stomped off the room as the girl held her cheek, quietly whimpering in pain as no one came by that unfated night.

(P.S: sorry for doing Namjoon dirty here!)

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Jungkook let out a devilish smirk before rubbing his palms against each other to dust off some dirt laying around.

The crowd was cheering for him. They always did; the Colosseum would be pumped up whenever he entered. Before him was a huge bear, now defeated — struggling to grasp the last breaths of air. The crowd roared when he was immediately declared winner.

Jungkook was the star of the arena after all. He had a lot to offer on his plate at the young age of twenty-three; he had won seven — now eight games. Four against wild, ferocious beasts and another four against the other gladiators, one of them being an ex-war convict. He had killed the two of his human competitors, maimed the other two. It was a common notion to observe in this business, as there was no honour among gladiators: if the audience wished the person to be killed, then even God couldn't guarantee the person would see the daylight ever again.

Jungkook was aware of his obvious popularity; he had become the audience favourite, the various classes of people — be it the elites or commoners — betting huge sums of money and their life savings on him. Moreover, Jungkook was an all rounder — he had his way through swords and even fought with bare hands. In their eyes, he was the winner. He had never lost and boy had he ever been a coward. The man was known to be the bravest of all.

Some might regard him a monster for taking the lives just for a game — that served as a form of petty entertainment for the elites. But no, he did feel sorry, he did face the horrific faces of the people he had killed in some of his nightmares — he didn't have a heart of stone, to say.

He knew he was exploited in some way, too. But this job had much more to offer than all the other horrors he has suffered from in the past. He still liked it. He was given a share of his earnings, a roof over his head, he enjoyed the rich nutritional delicacies classed under three square meals a day. He lived a pretty disciplined life enjoying baths and massages, that somehow made him feel royal. He wasn't going to deny, he led a better life than most commoners in Ancient Rome.

Jungkook was a trained warrior — having served in a few rebellions before his recruitment, he was the best man during training hours. He heard endless praises and the competitiveness and cheers from people made him feel alive. Most people didn't know his name because the fighters fought under pseudo titles. Jungkook was fondly known as "Insatiable Beast."

Just after his fight, he took a seat next to his dear friend Taehyung. The crowd was lively and cheered for another warrior inside the arena.

"Who is up there?" Jungkook as Taehyung, who had his eyes keenly fixated on the match.

"A new one. They say his name is Ferocious Feline. Sounds kinky for a man, but that's what the people like to call him."

Jungkook scrunched his nose into a frown. "Why but?"

"He looks fragile like a tiny kitten. But his reflexes are sharp and ferocious like a lion."

The crowd clamoured, intently eyeing every swift movement. Jungkook looked over at the hooded figure who clutched the spear with both hands, taking slow, wise strides as he encircled the wounded tiger. The animal roared, mustering all of its strength to surge ahead — but the man took a high, steady leap — directly pouncing over, the spear piercing through its throat and killing it on spot.

"He has already won four contests over the past months that he's been here. I'm afraid he might soon win your title, Jeon." Taehyung flashed a grin as he teased his friend who eyed the man with a satisfactory glint in his eyes. He expected Jungkook would laugh it off as a joke, but to his surprise, he doesn't. He took it as a warning, seemingly amused — somewhat impressed with the excellent performance put forth today.

Jungkook saw the new contender as a possible threat, doubting on how he had been unaware of this fellow warrior. Yes it was true that the number of victories he had was far fletched from the achievements this lad had, but Jungkook had predicted he might soon pace up to his level. The number might seem small, but it had been a difficult milestone in itself. Gladiators were exposed to a risky environment; most of them could not make it past their first battle and only a handful of legendary ones made it to ten matches successfully alive. And given that Jungkook was extremely competitive, he knew there wasn't room for two stars in the same business.

"I'll head back." Jungkook excused himself, walking into the basement chambers where the warriors prepared for they next fight, where the sick and injured survivors were healed. He felt the need, a sudden urge to meet this new face and remind who a true champion is.

His took short, fast-paced steps in the slightest attempt to make any noise. Shuffling through he curtains of the rooms in the first corridor, he couldn't find the sight of the person he was looking for. Just when he was about to relent and leave, he heard a light hum from the last room in the corner. Hesitant, he tried to peek in through the small tunnel of light and his vision catches a glimpse of something he shouldn't have seen. His eyes grew wide as he staggered a little.

His eyes meet the familiar stranger from the fight he witnessed just a quarter hour before. Or more specifically, the long locks of dark hair and the straps that were ravelled around the breasts.

She looked equally shocked as him. Collecting himself, he slunk to return back — in disbelief and bewilderment to convince himself what secret he had just discovered. Just then, a hand gripped his arm, yanking him into the same room before he was pushed against the wall with a hand covering his mouth.

The woman, just a few inches shorter than him panted. He wasn't mistaken — it was a woman in man's attire. She pulled her hand away, that now clutched the straps to her chest as Jungkook regained his composure.

"Y-You...you're a woman."

She blinks at him twice before answering, "You're Jungkook."

"So you do know me."

"Of course I do, you're the local favourite. Besides, I've watched you before."

She slipped into an off white outfit with golden embroidered borders as Jungkook concluded that she came from an elite background to own a dress like that. He observed her feline features, her thin wrists and smooth curves. But unlike all the other women he had encountered before, she seemed different — the inconspicuous scar on her forehead narrated an entirely different story; she didn't seem fragile like people said.

"You don't seem like any of us. Why are you here?"

"Why do you think any of us is here? To earn a fair share of freedom and small shingles to call monetary rewards, or maybe a glory after checkmating death. Either way, its better than some worse things I was coerced onto."

"Is this why you're pretending to be a man? But what sense of money and freedom are you chasing for, you look like you were born into royalty." Jungkook's eyes never left her fierce gaze; a very interesting being indeed. He was curious, he wanted to know more about her.

"Maybe I am." She replied, unfazed. "But living a life in royalty isn't the same as being fed with a silver spoon, especially when you're a woman. It's the same as being enslaved and powerless in the walls of gold and silk. There's an impulse of revolt running in the mind heavily contrasted with helplessness and the surge to break the shackles and walk free." The way her eyes were locked with his, not even a glint of insincerity in them; her voice not wavering nor faltered, as though she meant every single word.

"And this is why you trained as a man. Yet I don't understand, why would you pretend to be one, when there are female gladiators—"

"Just because I am fighting for freedom doesn't mean I don't own a sense of dignity and self respect. The men out there? They're thirsty perverted fools. If they get to know I'm a woman, they'll force me to expose my breasts for some erotic entertainment, they won't even take me in utter seriousness. If I am to win some money, I won't spread my legs or undress myself like a filthy prostitute."

Jungkook was taken aback by the sudden justification. He realised he never opted for such an insight prior to this. His sake of competitiveness could never compare to the woman's insightful thinking. The woman before him, she wasn't physically strong as him, didn't seem like those heroic men who led through warships. Jungkook felt weak, he felt short minded before her. She wasn't one of those who wanted be be overpowered, to be intimidated. She was one of those national treasure that deserved to be safeguarded against the evil eyes in the world.

"So please," her palms slapped against each other. "I beg of you, please don't let them know about me."

There was a fear and determination mixed in those dilated pupils that mirrored the same expression as Jungkook. Having almost half of his life thrown under slavery, he knew how it was like to feel captivated, thrashed and a compulsion to behave in a certain way. He has dealt with enough hardships in life to regard this phase of his life as a luxury.

She was a woman in a man's world.

But her essence of bravery was much stronger than all the other gladiators combined. She didn't fight for sport. She fought for freedom. And at the sight of it, Jungkook knew this lady would always stand out in his eyes.

"I applaud that you made it this far, which is nearly impossible for most of us. Rest assured, your secret is safe with me." Jungkook spoke in a convincing tone as her gaze finally softened and she took a sigh of relief.

"You must remember that everything comes at a price."

Her breath hitched midway as the relief flushed away like a gush of wind.

So she had to owe him something in exchange of her secret?

Jungkook chortled. "In exchange of your real name."

"Oh." The smile returned to her face as she nibbled on her lips. "Lisa."

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It was early dawn when Jungkook walked into the training grounds to find some men practising. It didn't lure his interest as he was on a lookout for a certain someone. And he found her — pushing a fellow swordsman down to the mud, twisting him arm behind him as she straddled him and the man whimpered in pain. Upon the sight of Jungkook, she finally left him, the man now sprinting off like a crazy lunatic.

"That ugly moron kept pestering me about my physical attributes. Even went to the extent to spanking my arse." Her gaze narrowed t the direction where the man sprinted, as Jungkook clapped his hands.

"At least he's got his lesson on how to behave. I'm surprised you got in this early."

"Its a necessity to escape in the early hours when my brother and his guards are not out on watch. They would never want me engage in this manly business neither, it will ran as an embarrassment after all."

"People are always opposed to seeing different. It's the law of nature that says the built is different, we shouldn't blatantly agree on that."

Lisa raised a brow at him in surprise. "You sound like a saint."

"Care to be my disciple?" He asked, offering some help to her training.

"No it's fine, I've got this."

It had been already over a week since the incident. The animosity was replaced by a budding friendship. The people around the training centres found it weird and rather amusing to observe the strange friendship. Practically because Jungkook never associated himself with any fighters and preferred to practice alone. But here he was, seemingly giving training lessons to the new contender.

Lisa wasn't very fond of the obvious attention she was getting from Jungkook, nor was she in a need of some assistance. But she still chose to stay with Jungkook and even took interest in learning about some defences from him because one, he knew her true identity and two, he respected her space.

The first time she felt her cover was blown out, she expected Jungkook to ridicule her for being a woman. But that wasn't the case. He saw her like Lisa. Not just some frail woman, only her, like the way she wanted herself to be seen.

She knew her friendship wasn't going to last long. She had a limited time of three weeks after which she would be thrown off into some rich household to be tormented for the rest of her life. Jungkook hadn't an idea about this, nor was she planning on letting him know.

After all, what help could he offer? It was the question of her life and the terms she needs to live in. It was a fight she had to fight herself. Yet, she couldn't deny her chances of breaking out from her own home was getting scarce each day.

On the other hand Jungkook, who always preferred a woman with delicately beautiful features, dressed like a princess and her hair flow along the breeze had never expected to encounter someone as bold as Lisa. She was completely opposite of the lady of his dreams. Instead of flowers, she dealt with rusty weapons; her skin stood flawless despite of the small unnoticeable scars it had, her defences were strong and unique. She was agile and swift whilst he was powerful and focused. He loved when their swords clashed against each other, how they battled as they were all sweaty when they practiced and broke out into fits of laughter after that. They themselves stood like parallel lines, in a world where they were risking their own lives to see a sun and run freely without being enslaved nor oppressed by any force.

The idea was engulfing him into utopia, showing him dreams of a future that was uncertain from now. How long were they going to allies and smile at each other? What if they were stuck in a situation that would cause them to go back to being strangers, what will they do then?

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It didn't take long for that to happen. An expression of horror was printed on both Lisa and Jungkook's face.

"You're getting married?"

"I'm sorry, I should have let you know—"

"What about the fight?"

"What do you mean Jungkook?"

They were arguing, for God knows what. None of them being able to confide in each other.

"You didn't look at the announcement? Ferocious Feline vs a lion. It's in two days."

"What?!" A gasp rifted through Lisa's lips. Her time of three weeks was coming to an end.

Her wedding was in the next week, with a man she doesn't even know the name of.

"What will you do now Lisa?"

"I'll have to prioritise Jungkook. And I think..." she leaned against the wooden platform she was seated on. "I'll go fight."

"Are you serious? Do you even know what consequences will follow next?"

She knew. But there was nothing she could do about it. It wasn't the question of fighting a hungry lion; she was ready to sacrifice herself and bleed. But if she did win the fight, she would proceed to the next level for something worse: she would be pitted against Jungkook. And being the two most powerful contenders, the audience will never wish on both of them to be strayed alive. One has to be the sacrifice of the other.

This is the reality of this dark business, to gain more money. This is how it has been going on for centuries and this time too, it wouldn't be an exception.

"I don't care. I'd rather die in your hands than suffer from a tumultuous marriage for the rest of my life."

Jungkook went silent for a moment. On the thought of it, he knew he had to shield Lisa against falling prey to this business, and the only way to do so was to grant her freedom to live her life on her terms. He knew he couldn't kill Lisa with his hands; he couldn't kill the woman he had helplessly fallen in love with. Lisa looked at the star studded sky, in hopes of finding a lead that would light the way for her. Jungkook can't stop staring at the beautiful woman, who he regarded as the daughter of Aphrodite.

"Here. Take this." He shot a pouch in her direction as her eyes widened when she looked inside: coins of gold flashed at her. "They're my earnings. I believe that you might achieve an early escape if you manage to board the first ship from the port tomorrow."

"What about the fight? What about....you?"

"Doesn't matter. My ambitions are far less than what your desire for freedom is."

"Jungkook..."

He wanted to protect her. He knew her disappearance from the battle would only mean that he would be introduced into a new flame of spotlight. But he didn't want that. All he desired more than anything in his life was to see Lisa alive and happy. Because no matter how strong and deftly skilled Lis was, she would be crumpled against the society's heavy norms when her secret is out one day. Which only implied that the gladiator business had proved to turn all cards against her: she would be banished and crumpled against everyone. Jungkook wanted to drive everyone away from her.

"Come here." Lisa said, instinctively pressing her lips to her as streams of tears ran down her cheeks. It felt amazing to be in love, because it gave her pain, it gave her happiness, it gave her another goal in life — to return back someday and free Jungkook the same way he was freeing her.

Their foreheads pressed against each other as they let out heavy breaths.

"I promise, one day I will be back, we will meet and I will get you out of this no matter what."

Jungkook pulled her into another kiss again, this time, to feel her small whimpers, her soft, feminine touch. He yearned for more, but he controlled himself. Because Lisa was his only pursuit and he trusted her. He knew she would be back to take him with her so that they would start a new journey together, all over again.

"I will be waiting for you then, my love."

fin.

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｢A/N」

This draft is like four months old now lmao, the last time I checked it was in December of 2020 when I penned it down, after watching Mulan and the Gladiator film during Christmas vacations lmao. I was supposed to write another royal one shot but I was having revision issues with my drafts so I had to go with this😭.

I don't know if anyone ever wrote on Roman theme before, so I might be one of the first to try it lol. Some facts were picked up from internet so I might not be 100% accurate. Also I couldn't think of any suitable roman names hence I decided not to change the character names. Since this was a long imagine I wrote it in breaks; I'm satisfied with how this turned out because my research did come helpful.

Lastly, I hope y'all had fun reading it, votes & comments will be appreciated, thanks! ◡̈