If Alerio had enjoyed it, he was the only one. Hadrian felt numb as he curled up into a corner, and Laura- who knew what Laura ever felt. Alone with Hadrian in the tent, she began to dress herself, tossing him his tunic. Hadrian made no move to pick it up.

Laura sighed, and her voice was as close to tender as it had been in a long, long time.

"Your first time, I guess. It doesn't get any easier, but the shock wears off."

Hadrian made no response.

"I know you didn't want to. I won't hold it against you."

Hadrian looked up at that, his head shaking and his eyes full of hatred.

"You won't hold it against me? How generous."

"Just trying to help-"

"You let him! You just lay there- as he made me- get away from me!"

Hadrian wouldn't cry, especially not in front of her. It was just as well, then, that he felt beyond tears. When Laura seemed to move toward him, he recoiled as if her fingers would burn him to the touch. If she'd been crying or trembling, it might have been better, but to be alone when he fell apart, when he crumbled after enacting what was, after all, only his duty...

Could he have fought Alerio if she had helped him? Probably not, but they could have done something, stood together somehow, if only she hadn't been given to him already broken. Maybe she'd even enjoyed it, silently laughing at seeing a Legionary reduced to a victim, violated without Alerio even touching him.

When the screams came from outside the tent, Hadrian didn't even turn his head to look. He only lowered his head again, willing the world away.