"Were you seen?"
"Of course not. Let me in."
The man entered the room, closing the door behind him, and lied down on the bed.
"So, can it be done?"
"Remind me why this is so important to you."
"He's hurt Gabby and Xena. They aren't safe as long as he's alive."
"Well, it won't be easy, but it's a worthy challenge for the King of Assassins."
"Thanks Jett. This really means a lot to me."
"Just don't tell anyone, okay? I do have a reputation to protect."
"Sure. Let's get some rest. I'm pretty tired."
Joxer lay down next to his brother then blew out the oil lamp that had been lighting the room.
Everyone in the tavern thought there was only one occupant to this room. Once again, Joxer
thanked the Gods he and his brother looked alike. His plan was in motion. If all went his way,
Caesar would never hurt his friends again.
* * *
Joxer went down the stairs to the tavern bar, needing a sip of ale desperately. It had been over a day since Jett left to see about Caesar and he still had not returned. Joxer couldn't help but worry. Sure his brother teased him and hurt him, but he still loved him and wouldn't want anything to happen to him.
As he nursed his ale, a couple of men came into the room. They looked to be part of Caesar's army, maybe even of the Emperor's guards. They were laughing and patting each other on the back.
"Bartender, a couple of mugs of ale. We have some celebrating to do!"
"And what's the occasion?" The bartender handed mugs to his newest patrons.
"We helped catch an assassin today. Thanks to us, Rome is once again safe."
Joxer looked up from his drink in shock. An assassin, could they have meant Jett? But Jett was too good to be caught, wasn't he? Shaking his head, he caught the eye of one of the guards who immediately started laughing.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing much, just that for a moment there I thought our assassin had escaped. He looked just like you, except for the eyes. I bet he was good at his job. It's just too bad he wasn't working FOR the Emperor."
Joxer quickly nodded and downed the last of his ale. He ran up to his room and slammed the door behind him. Jett had been captured. Once again it was his fault. Mom and Dad would kill him, he just knew it. He began to worry even more, remembering that Caesar wasn't exactly charitable to his prisoners. Jett might die, and Joxer had to do something.
He remembered how Jett would say that nobody but him would hurt Joxer. Well, Joxer thought,
nobody imprisons my brother but ME.
* * *
Joxer had never been a good tactician. That had always been Xena's forte. That was why he was walking unceremoniously into Caesar's audience chamber. The moment Caesar saw him, he had Joxer seized by his guards.
"Captain, I thought you said you had imprisoned the assassin?"
"I did, Emperor Caesar. In fact, I saw him there only moments ago."
"Then how come he is standing here before me?"
"Because I am not the assassin, but his brother." Joxer gained the Emperor's attention. "I heard that he had been imprisoned and I have come to ask for his release."
"And why would you want to do that? He is but an assassin."
"But he is still my brother, and I would do anything for him."
"Anything you say?" Caesar called over one of the guards and whispered in his ear. The guard nodded then spoke to another guard. Within moments, Joxer was being dragged away. Well, at least now I'll be with Jett, he thought.
However, he was not taken to the prisons. He was taken to a bedroom and shackled to the large bed that dominated the room. This was not what he had expected, yet he wasn't afraid. His 'games' with Jett had taught him well and he knew he could withstand whatever Caesar threw at him.
It was nightfall when Caesar finally entered the room unescorted. "So, how do you like the Emperor's private chambers?"
"It's nice."
"Well, we'll see if you think so after I'm done with you." He walked over to a chest on the far side of the room and took out a leather whip.
"Are you sure you don't want to use a braided one? They hurt so much more. And then there's the cat-o-nine tails..." He was silenced by the look on Caesar's face.
"So you know all about these tortures?"
"Sure. These were childhood games in my family, not that my Mom ever found out."
Caesar turned to hide the look of disappointment that took over his face. He'd been so looking forward to torturing this man, making him cry out for mercy. However, he was probably used to it by now. That definitely took all the fun out of it.
He moved over to the bed and released Joxer's shackles. "I'll have the guards come and take you away."
"What? So you're going to let my brother go, just like that?"
"Are you a fool? Of course not. You're going to join him."
"But... You have to give me a chance to save him."
"I don't see why." Caesar was leading Joxer towards the bedroom door. All of a sudden Joxer put on an unexpected show of strength and hit Caesar so that he landed on the bed. Joxer then took the shackles and placed them around Caesar's wrists and ankles.
"What are you doing? How dare you do this to Caesar of Rome!"
"I'm going to make it worth your while to let my brother go, whether you like it or not."
He slowly began removing his leathers, allowing Caesar to see all the tiny nicks and scars that marred his pale skin. He then moved over to the bed and began unwrapping Caesar's toga from his chained form. Once finished, he moved back to admire the naked Emperor.
"You know, you're not so bad once you strip away your outer layer." He chuckled at his pun, then began running his hands along Caesar's arms. The Roman tried his best to struggle, but the shackles made it next to impossible.
Joxer began kissing Caesar's neck, moving from one earlobe to another. He licked down the Roman's chest, laving his nipples until they hardened. Joxer knew he was having the desired effect when Caesar let out a low moan. He continued further down, using his tongue to explore the man's navel. He kissed lower, up one leg and down the other, until the Roman unconsciously bucked his hips, demanding attention.
He began by taking the man's balls into his mouth, one at a time, sucking gently. He then ran his tongue up and down the massive erection, paying extra attention to the sensitive head. He wrapped one hand around the base of the shaft and took the head in his mouth, using his tongue to inflame Caesar further. He continued the wonderful suction while moving his hand up and down the shaft, creating more friction. He stopped when he felt Caesar was ready to come.
Joxer got off the bed and looked around the side table until he found what he was looking for. He dipped his fingers into the oil, then used them to prepare himself. When finished, he returned to the bed and straddled Caesar's torso. He reached behind him to take Caesar's shaft, then slowly lowered himself onto it.
He went slowly at first, but then sped up, riding Caesar with a strange passion. He ran his hands over the Roman's chest, paying special attention to his nipples, as he rode the man. He began stroking himself in time with his movements. Soon, he saw Caesar's face contort even more and felt the man's cock explode inside him. The sight pushed him over the edge and he came in hot spurts all over the Emperor's chest.
Joxer gathered whatever strength he had left and released the man's shackles, then collapsed
next to him on the bed. Exhausted, both men fell asleep.
* * *
When Joxer woke up, he was clean, dry, and clothed. He looked up into a face identical to his own. "Hi Jett."
"Hey Jox. I don't know what you did, but it sure seemed to piss off Caesar."
"Why do you say that?"
"Only that I overheard him tell the guards that you were a major threat. Oh, and he mumbled something about pleasure without pain not being right or something like that."
"Oh."
For the next several days, Joxer shared the cell with his brother. He began having difficulty sleeping at night, being bombarded with terrifying dreams about Xena and Gabrielle. Eventually, a guard came to their cell and unlocked it.
"You have been granted a reprieve so that you may return to your homes in Greece."
"So, Caesar isn't so bad after all," Joxer couldn't help but speak his thoughts.
"Not Caesar, Brutus. Caesar was killed a couple of days ago."
Joxer followed his brother out in shock. When they were finally outside in the snow, Joxer said goodbye to his brother.
"Are you sure you don't want to go with me, Jox?"
"I'm sure. There's something I have to check out first. I've been having these dreams, and I have to make sure they aren't true, just for my own peace of mind."
"All right. I'll see you around."
Joxer watched his brother walk away, then headed off to his destiny.
The End.