Something I wish more people understood is how young everyone in the greek class was. The oldest of them was 24!!!!!! Richard was 19 in the beginning of the book, and he spent his 20th birthday freezing in the cold! The others couldn't have been older than 21-22!
Learn To Love | Husband! Marcus Acacius x Wife! Reader
Summary: Marcus Acacius never wanted to marry, especially when his main priority was being a Roman general. After suffering a wound to his abdomen, he went back home and was in the presence of his wife, someone he strongly chose not to get close to.
Warnings: Angst, Forced Marriage, injury, blood, Marcus being kinda mean to his wife in the beginning :((, Marcus realising he actually needs to love his wife ffs! :’), pretty much ends with fluff and doting husband added all
word count; 1.1k
Shout out to @steviebbboi for the perfect divider that goes well with this🫶🏻
Many would say being married to the Roman general Marcus Acacius would be nothing but a blessing. Yes, he was a strong man, a hero, a leader, and someone who captivated the eye of many, but he was no husband… being forced into marriage with the Roman general agreed upon and organised by the Roman emperors Caracalla and Geta would only make your life nothing but difficult. Most of the time he was away either conquering a part of a country, in battle, or simply avoiding being anywhere near you, just as he was on your own wedding night many months ago.
Though all that had changed as Marcus had returned home injured, as you lay awake you could hear his voice and his footsteps getting closer to the bedroom door, with it opening to reveal your injured and very exhausted husband, Marcus Acacius. Your heart dropping at the sight of his injury, you immediately got out of bed, wanting nothing but to help him.
“I can handle it myself. I do not need you prying over me like an injured animal…”
Looking at him in disbelief, you had spoken up. “I am not looking at you like an injured animal, but I can see you’re in a lot of pain. All I do is wish to help clean your wound and prevent infection.”
Marcus scoffs, walking over to the bed, although it’s nothing more than him grunting and in terrible pain with his lower abdomen where his wound was. Feeling the bed dip as he sits down, he holds the bloodied bandages to his wound. “I do not wish for a lecture on infection…” he turns to look at her, something within him stirring as he watches her face. She’s beautiful… No, a goddess perhaps, but he would have never admitted that it was something he couldn’t and wouldn’t do. He could never actually love someone or let anyone in, considering him being a Roman General. He was terrified of losing someone close to him, or maybe he hated the fact that a day would come where his wife could become a widow.
“If you wish to clean my wound, hurry up and do so.” It’s almost like he was holding back but not wanting to go into depth with your overthinking you quickly left to get fresh resources to help clean his wound. Shortly returning back into the bedroom, “I have fresh water, cloth, oils and fresh bandages for your wound Marcus.” Her chest was heaving since she quickly rushed back to the bedroom to his aid.
“Thank you.” He murmured, without looking at her as she comes closer to him as she started to remove the bloodied bandages he had to his abdomen. He quickly reached out to grab her wrist looking at her his brown eyes boring into hers, “Gentle, it’s still an open wound and I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Meeting his gaze, the grip on her wrist firm but gentle she nodded.
“I promise, I will be gentle, but it will sting..” He didn’t answer her; he just watched her in front of him kneeling to clean his wound. He didn’t want to be harsh to her; he treated her as if she was nothing to him. He wanted to learn to love his wife. In reality, Marcus thought she would have wanted a man who treated her well, who could be a better husband… Yet, she was here constantly by his side, even when he pushed her away. Snapped out of his thoughts, wincing in pain. “Watch it! My love!” Not realising the “ my love” slipping from his lips as he was in pain, yet his wife did, and her heart was beating.
“I’m sorry, I’m being as gentle as I can. I have to clean the wound properly…” her eyes meeting his as her hand holding the cloth dabs on his wound gently… “squeeze my free hand… whenever you feel pain, squeeze my hand. I don’t care if you crush my hand, but I don’t like hearing you in pain.”
Marcus grunts, shaking his head… “Don’t be so foolish! Why would I do such—Ahh!” She looked up at him. He took her advice and squeezed her hand… His wife’s hand. Marcus didn’t want to crush her hand or cause her any pain, but the wound did, in fact, cause him a lot of pain. “I’m sorry. I was going as gently as I could! I—“ She was cut off as Marcus reached out and touched her face. “It’s okay… I promise you it’s okay. Do not stress yourself, my love… I know you’re being gentle.”
There it was again. “My love,” she nodded. Marcus let go of her hand as she went back to work, tending to his wound. They remained in silence, but this silence wasn’t uncomfortable. For the first time, it felt comfortable being in the same presence as husband and wife.
After cleaning his wound, she looked up at him, her hands softly resting on his lap. “You know, you have called me “my love” twice… did you simply mean for it to slip past your lips?” Marcus chuckles simply. “Yes, I knew what I was saying. I do not regret it.” He didn’t regret it, but he had pushed her away, and now? This was overwhelming.
“I’m sorry, I’m just… not used to you being so…. loving.” She slowly stood up, so she could discard of the bloodied bandages, cloths, and dirty water, but with the look Marcus was giving it was like he didn’t want her to move or attempt leaving.
“Those can be dealt with. Could you sit with me?”
Sitting down next to him on the bed, she looked at his wound on his lower abdomen, freshly cleaned and bandaged.
Marcus trailed off, “I must admit, I wasn’t keen on marrying you. In fact, I never wanted marriage. Being a General, that was my one and only priority… until I married you. I pushed you away, not wanting you near me. I didn’t even want to speak with you. I actually took in how saddened you were of our wedding night. I apologise for that. I actually apologise for being cruel towards you.” Marcus took her hand in his.
“I promise you, I am no perfect man and I’m sure as not a perfect husband. I am willing to try, I am willing to love a goddess like you. I want my heart to yearn for you, although I feel I am a coward, my biggest fear is opening my heart to people I love for either them to get hurt or myself. I do not wish for you to become a widow.”
“So love me, be the husband you wish to be.” Her fingers tracing his lips… Marcus looked at her, his heart beating for her affection by just a simple touch on his lips.
“I promise you, I will be the husband you deserve, but please be patient with me. I will try…”
Marcus pulled her closer to him, stroking her cheek… he leaned up and kissed her, to feel her lips on his were nothing but bliss.
