I've Decided, I Will Not Let Your Shadow Separate From Me
Pairing: Yandere!Coriolanus x Reader
Author's Note: This is somewhat of an AU based on the original play (since Shakespeare's ending is quite tragic). In this fic, Caius Martius Coriolanus actually wins the election for Consul, leader of the Roman Senate, instead of losing and being banished from the city.
Thank you to the anon who requested this, I hope you enjoy it.
Summary: After being elected the consul, Coriolanus receives many things - sleepless nights, pointless riots from the lower-class citizens, and you, his new personal slave. While the sleep deprivation and the noise from the plebeians annoy him to no end, he finds himself obsessed with you.
Warnings: obsessive behavior, implied non-con
Caius Martius rubbed his eyes, his elbow perched against the wooden desk. The longer he looked at the document, the more the letters upon the parchment began to smudge into meaningless blobs of ink. None of it made sense to him to begin with, the senate's ideas about opening the granaries to the plebeians. They wanted to let those cretins take resources of the city into their own filthy hands, and for what? Because they cried like infants and claimed they were starving? They did not deserve such privilege to go and march, but rather they should have been grateful for their lot. Take it up with the gods themselves, if they have such a problem.
He had never wanted to be in politics. If it were up to him, Caius would simply lead another campaign, perhaps one that would kill even more barbarians than the one that earned him the title of Coriolanus. But his dear mother coaxed him into running for the Consul. He saw the gleam in her eyes when she narrated tales of how all of Rome would be at his feet were he to be elected, how he could have unlimited power. Out of the devotion that he once bore towards her, Caius honored her wish. and after quelling two stupid riots from Brutus, he finally won.
The memory slowly returned to him as he slowly felt his eyelids grow heavy. When the results were announced, his mother expressed so much emotion that she embraced Caius over and over again, ordered for a banquet, and even bought him a new slave to aid him in his duties. And that was how you entered Caius's life. You were made his personal slave to accompany him to meetings, collect things on his behalf, and keep his study clean, to name a few of your duties.
"Dominus (master)?"
Caius's eyes flew open. You placed a cup of water before him, with one hand gently perched upon his forearm. Once he was fully awake, you quickly removed your touch and went to light a candle in another part of the room. Caius could only gape as the small flame illuminated the room, allowing him to finally see all of you. Wearing a sleeveless red and orange stola, you delicately placed the candle far away from any parchment.
"You were falling asleep at your desk, my lord. Shall I bring some food for you?" You politely asked, turning to him.
"No."
"Wine, dominus?"
"It won't help."
With a quiet nod, you went about tidying any papers or quills that were strewn about out of place. Just then, Caius's voice pierced through the air like a sword.
"Stop." He ordered. "Let me look at you."
You did as told, turning to face your master without flinching.
Caius drank in every detail of you: the way your shoulders and chest lightly rose and fell with each breath, the way your eyes barely fluttered in his presence, and the way your lips…your lips, perfectly shaped, gently pressed together. You did not appear to fear him…nothing like his wedded Virgilia, who insisted upon weeping profusely whenever he came to her. He had thought that entering politics would assuage her fear for his mortality, but to no avail. Over time, Caius began to detest hearing Virgilia's sobs, as did his mother, and strangely found comfort in the fact that his work often kept him away from her.
And as another blessing, you were given to him as a result of his entry into politics. You, who did not tremble before him, bearing the calm strength of a swan. You stayed awake to keep him company, while Virgilia never stayed for long in his presence. You silently stood without trepidation, while Virgilia wailed as if she were already a widow. Caius curled his fingers, his breath ragged. You were better than her, more devoted. You were the one he needed close now…perhaps you would be a better Roman wife than Virgilia, though Caius knew he was getting ahead of himself. Still, Caius knew he wanted you more than he wanted any other woman in his life. He needed to touch you, to feel you, to…
"Go."
Without a word, you bowed and retreated. You untied your hair and took a deep breath. It had truly been a long day, and now you would finally get some much-deserved sleep. But just as you mustered a yawn, you were startled by a bright candle held close to your face. When you turned around, your eyes widened at the sight of your master, Caius Martius Coriolanus, holding the burning candle close to your chest. You could feel your heartbeat quicken, though you knew it was too late to scream.
Your eyes darted about the study, and you swiftly backed away…only for Caius to grab your wrist. You looked up and forced yourself to see the dark, mad glint in his tired eyes.
"You belong to me, remember that." Caius menacingly reached for your hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of your knuckles, yet something about this seemingly courteous gesture felt…horrifying. "I will not hurt you," Caius whispered. "I need you."
"You need sleep, dominus."
Caius threw the candle onto the floor, causing the flame to disappear with a hiss.
"I don't like to play games, my lady," he gritted through his teeth. "I will have you, one way or another, and I will claim you as mine. I swear it by the gods."
