Introduction

Height was always a known trait for Spencer. It coined him the name 'Tall Boy' in his public circles. His rise to fame came from the industry of fashion. Handsome looks figured the boy popular alongside an attractive modeling city woman, who took the eye fetching teen as an apprentice. Her attributes of being slim, caucasian skinned, and a double pigtailed blondy made Jenny Harcomb welcomed into the fashion industry as a worthy up and comer model with a taste for wealth, popularity, and leisure.

The boy's unique grey colored slick back hair, warming expression, and notable height for an adolescent, drove Jenny to sponsor the sixteen year old with Liberty City's most esteemed fashion design companies. The special interest in Spencer, created a wave of modeling duets that would rival many individual models at the time. Spencer's last name, Masonius, is grand to his home in Gladia, where gladiators live a modern time lifestyle of Ancient Rome before the fall.

Chapter 1: Haven Beginnings

Immigrating from a county of unknown origin to Liberty City, this country Spencer originates from is called Gladia, a haven metropolis of gladiators living in tranquil peace from their long settled pioneers who founded the rugged desert land ruins into a beautiful ever booming metropolis fluttering with endless activity and social minglings.

His family holds wealthy ties to the Emperor's lowest representatives. Their rising speciality on fashionable wears, furniture designing, and even makeup for the women, pinned them as a useful family among the metropolis. Spencer's last name sparked reputable status due to a particular relative becoming a well known fighter in the Domus Nobilium District. Spencer's family consisted of a mother and father, 3 younger sisters and only he himself as the role model of a big brother.

Other families of Gladia also try their hand at fashion, selling wears and jewelry, as well as decor. They compete closely with the Masonius family to establish a dominant foothold within the haven's markets as the more resourceful fashion designers. Yet, their efforts have slowly been challenged by a gladiator who brilliantly wows the crowd with victories promoting his family's fashion.

The gladiator in question frequently visits his relatives. Even in a family setting, the warrior is humbly remarked like a hero, recognized as an asset asserting their brand name of fashion, the family adores his service to entertain the crowds. Spencer met with this gladiator throughout his life, each time having more wonders about his uncle's combative lifestyle and such, for he was a student of an epic school for gladiator children. For the fighter, something in particularly caught his eye about his young nephew, even from long ago, his short moments with the little boy were ever wanting.

The day was nearing dusk and supper was being prepared by Spencer's mother, Francesca, and sisters, Julia, Ruby, and Tia. His father, Hemonius, invited his brother over for dinner. The fashion work life for the family of Masonius was comfortable and food plentiful from the yearly harvest of farmers selling their crops and butcherings of ripe plum cattle. The room of Spencer’s was like a miniature office studio. Sturdy sightseeing balconies sprawled themselves all over the outdoor's grand apartment complex, where the view of Gladia's Grand River allowed mass passage of sailboats and cargo ships traveling along the port docks of the adobe sedimented metropolis.

Dabbling away at his many fabric projects, his thoughts of silks and ornate decorum was soon obscured by the scent of a fresh meal beckoning him out of his fashionably organized work space. Cubed cuts of grilled beef were stirred in a deep pan. The blend of seasoned vegetables lightly fried with little wine awakens the taste. The women of the household occupied themselves in their homeful kitchen. Sounds of shifting pots and pans and sizzlings creeped out from their joys, chatting away about their day.

Taking his seat at the vacant dining table, his father welcomed in his brother, the very gladiator responsible for the family's notable success in their market sales. Such recent years profited the family mightily enough.

Amadeus Masonius is a serious fighter fitted in the same armor his father wore when he attended fights in the arena way back then. Grandfather Arkham was a wondrous fighter of endurance, but lacked the elegance that Amadeus was training to achieve in his fights. Spencer knew his grandpa fought well in the arenas, but his victories had done little to promote the family name, being too straightforward with the fights and not enough flare and pizzazz that Amadeus had.

The uncle placed his simple spear on an empty bench, unsheathing his gladius sword next, then laying his rugged metal shield tilted next to the seat. In Gladia, it was common for the fighters to keep their helmets and armor dawned everywhere they go. Their uniform showed willingness to pursue greatness in the metropolis and everywhere went. It also meant that they were prepared to attend any gladiator fight, whether in an arena, a social gathering, festivity, or personal duel or brawl. There's one fashionable feature grandpa's hand-me-downs had that Amadeus cherished, the helmet. The blue plumed golden visored headgear topped itself with exotic purple tail locks from the slain mythical beast of dreadful invaders that stalked the outer region settlements of Gladia. Removing this shiny piece from his head, he placed it along with the rest of his equipment on the bench.

Spencer steadily gazed at his uncle's exposed head, recalling the usual ornament that clings on the face of Amadeus. Its opened downward masking of his mouth allowed eating and drinking. Two tusks curled themselves along the jawline. This mask was special to him during his gladiatorial warrior training growing up, and now he still wears it, enlarging the ornament throughout his youth to where it stands, larger and more defined. His clean shaven head, a testament to traditional gladiator; this remarked a fantasy of Spencer's, one where he'd live to see the day when his uncle would ever grow out his hair, neat and stylish like the rest of the family.

The stocky man sat himself across the table, absorbing the homey adobe structured decor, much like the rest of their Nobilium District. In one satisfied sigh, he greeted Spencer. "How are you, boy?" His gentle voice was remarkable for a warrior of his intense upbringing. Feeling honored to just be sitting with the potential champion of Domus.

"I'm doing very well uncle." Spencer said. Amadeus smiled at some of the wondrous works of art displayed on the shelves; fabrics, quilts patterns, and small accessories occupied the space.

"Tell me Spencer, what interests you about this... fashion heritage, our family holds? What is it that clings to your attention on it everyday?" Amadeus asked. Spencer, happily chuckling, found the ask meaningful to his spirit.

"It's the fact that it tells me more about a person; who they are, what they are, and what their personality is. Of course there's a lot more to it than that, uncle." Amadeus smiled. "Then tell me nephew, what does my fashion say to you?"

For the young lad, this was his moment to show his uncle the benefits of his fashion findings. Spencer recalled all the times he's watched his uncle fight in the gladiator arenas. Closing his eyes, he puts two fingers at the side of his tilted head.

"I'm rather seeing a vision of you uncle. You're sporting your wear as an Olympian. Your feathers crown your elegant movements, coupled with a brazing steel shield illuminating beams of sunlight, blinding your opponents to a halt. The merciless end of your spear cuts down unrelenting foes in the manner of showmanship. Greaves that support your defense, also serve by their presence. Glistening chainmail embraces the whole of your striking arm. Chest straps hold your armor in place with such grace. But most notably, your waist garment armor holds together the royal gold buckled fabrics that, like your helm's bush tail, flow the breeze of the air in such a beloved manner."

Spencer's uncle was stunned. Not only did he explain his envisioned attire, but he revealed how much of an influence it presents to the crowds of Gladia.

"Well said nephew, very well said."

That night after dinner, the gladiator didn't want the boy's ultimate talents to be revealed in Gladia yet. This took Amadeus back a few years ago. A special opportunity to see the outer world, presented itself to him. A rich and powerful man from America recruited the matured adolescent gladiator along with another. Simply put it, this man sought after the most prestigious warriors to abide as his elite bounty hunters, within a trouble-filled metro, known as Liberty City. This particular boss man had scoured past numerous storms, rain, snow, fog, and sand, and even more weather climate acts of God to find Gladia. Infiltrating the horizons of Gladia faster than the most swift scouts on horseback available, the few remaining gunner attack helicopters hovered over the Spectacula District's main fighting event, this man confronted the undefeated gladiator Pankraious, The Notorious, offering an opportunity for the Emperor to have the champ beaten by foes out of this world and beyond.

A scuffle broke out between two gladiators that caught the boss man's interest. It was Amadeus and his long childhood rival, and best friend, Xizor Ixion. The Hoplomachus and the Secutor still had some fight rowling in them before the crude interruption of copter blades came a whooshing from a distance, halting their moment of glory for the crowd in such an epic showdown in Gladian history. The boss man ordered his armed men to bring the two along as well as a few others he'd call for later in the future.

"Those two will provide me entertainment for my troubles flying here." The boss man stated. The Emperor was hesitant about provoking the boss man. Even with his royal might of power over this squabbling group of intruders, he was wise enough and already aware of the powerful alien weaponry so foreign to Gladia.

All of this brings Amadeus back to the present when he arrived back from his outer worldly adventures. He spoke with his brother for the longest time, catching up on all the happenings since Amadeus's return. The moment opened itself up for Hemonius to know of his brother's intentions for Spencer. With the father's nod in agreement, Amadeus entered into Spencer's studio room. The young boy peering up to his uncle who was equipped with all his gear, ready to head back to his inn room at a hotel nearby. The gladiator shared his thoughts.

"Nephew, there are such exotic cultures that inhabit this world of ours, far from the reaches of Gladia. I want to invite you to expand your skills in fashion to better oneself for all keen eye beholders to learn. What do you say?"

Spencer gladly applauded at the offer, agreeing to its adventurous travels and exploration. "It would be an honor if you would have me do so, uncle."

Chuckling gratefully, Amadeus bows a farewell, "Gather yourself, for in the on coming weeks, we set out to meet my employer in the farthest dense forests of the tropics."

Chapter 2: Journeying To The Outer World

Spencer woke up with a startle. His uncle taping him on the shoulder. "Rise up. We must leave soon." Amadeus whispered. Spencer had already mentioned his leave to his parents and siblings along with friends and neighbors long ago already. He didn't expect it to be so soon already, nevertheless, Spencer accompanied Masonius, the two walking in the early frosty morn weather throughout the metro. Arriving at the Capua's north tower's traveling station, horses, carriages, and larger transports occupied the stables. A few citizens of Gladia were out and about with their morning routines on heading to work early.

Amadeus greeted another gladiator who was laboring the animal daily needs of groomings and milkings, in the stalls.

"Ho there Gillis!" Amadeus catches the one eyed man before he was going to be preoccupied with another task, "We come to take passage to the furthest scout camp west of here." The bestiarus squinted a look onto Amadeus.

Hauling over a small two person carriage and horse to saddle, the thin prickly bearded gent pestered Amadeus in a weakly tone. His fur armor bustling in the early morning breeze.

"Masonius? You still have yet to cover my overall fee of over 200 denarii for your previous trips. A guy can't call it a tab anymore..." Gillis's words stooped over themselves when Amadeus presented a miniature golden bullion stamped with the Emperor's signature.

Spencer mentally gasped. A bullion of gold, especially from the Emperor, is  worth more than a year's wages for most gladiators.

"This will more than cover all my expenses and more, bestiarus. I've told you that I can pay you back the next few trips I make in the future." Amadeus said peevishly.

Gillis was dumbfounded and mad at himself, then happy to take the excessive payment. "Yes yes! I knew! Apologies. What can a man do but worry if next be his payment stalled, it's by a borrower who ventures unknown lands never to return alive." Gillis steadied the horse to be saddled up. Amadeus couldn't help but agree to the suspenseful logic.

"Your reasoning is just. No more will I stall payments. It is why I covered more than all your troubles bringing me to and from that camp site."

Gillis finished his preparations shortly and took his two passengers across the neighboring lands of Gladia. The morning sun was just now rising off the horizon as most of the lands people rose. Many camp sites have been established to give word of any hostile intrusions of the outside world came barging in. Along the ride, Spencer sat next to his uncle. The two peering out of their respective windows, gazing at the settlements they pass by. Some were large with many one to two to even three storie buildings made out of wood. Some were small one story hut buildings inhabited by a few Gladians.

"Are those the scouts I've heard so much about Uncle?" Spencer asked as groups of gladiators armed with crossbows and metal tipped spears exchange posts for the others to rest.

"Yes nephew, their mostly venators all the way out here. You know them, warriors that hunt down beasts." Spencer only seen gladiators take practice shots and simulated huntings in the arenas within Gladia's metropolis. They never killed the animals lest they become unruly and dangerous to the citizens.

"Then I take it those weapons are meant for killing the prey out here?" Spencer assumed.

"Indeed, the hunters here partake in actual hunts. They're responsible for thinning out the herds of animals which have been over populating these neighboring settlements. Much of the meat that we eat from home once came from the hunts out here. Now the farming citizens raise domesticated cattle to fatted up for the butcher. It's delectable protein enough."

Amadeus words weren't much in tune to formal talk all the time, but he knew more than the last remaining gladiators who grew up with the traditional means of training available. Spencer learned at a young age how to read, count, write, and all the subjects a normal student would undergo, but his uncle had a more restricted learning curve, one focusing most of his efforts on training, but his time in the outside world helped his english speaking that all Gladians defaulted to centuries back.

After a mid days journey, the carriage arrives to a small campsite situated next to a vastly dense forested jungle. Spencer awoke to the weak voice of Gillis coming from out the cart.

"Your destination Masonius! And eat up hearty, ye driver tooken upon he to send scouts delivering warm meals to this frivolous outskirts." Amadeus thanked Gillis as the two exchanged an arm shake, "O'ight then, be sure to watch your back out here. Safer than most borderings from the seclusion of it." Gillis stated. Seeing the driver coast away back towards Gladia. Spencer fumbled for his water canteen in his small satchel. His legs still sleepy and bum sore from the long travel. Scouts from a distance towards Gladian came dashing by.

"Savor your drink nephew. A worthy meal and common beverage is brought to us here." His uncle's warning hinted that the trip's travel to be much farther still.

These messenger scouts were trained to set up a picnics, easily deployable and quick to store away. They came with a cargo hold of food for Spencer and Amadeus, including the scouts themselves to partake in. The two took their seating on the empty picnic table. Spencer eyed the whole three course meal being set up in front of him and his uncle. When all was ready, the head scout met with the uncle, briefly chatted with Amadeus.

"This enough for you sir?" The head scout said admiring the gladiator's armor in the warm late afternoon.

"It's more than enough." Amadeus appreciated the servant's gesture. The head scout glanced over to his men nodding away for them to start setting up their meals. He turned back to Amadeus with a questionable expression.

"Sir? You don't remember me? I don't recall your voice sounding all that younger. Your serious scars have healed completely over the past years, how so?" It was then that Amadeus removed his helmet to reveal his identity and explain himself. He chuckled at the scout, "You mistaken me for my father, Arkham."

The head scout was laughing at such circumstances.

"Ah Amadeus! I'm surprised you grown up nicely into you father's gladiatorial armor kit. From a far, I couldn't believe my vision to see the great Arkham of the Markarth all the way out here again."

"Fret so! My father's reputation with these parts of the outskirts share great memories by my youth growing up. Now I'm here to embark on a journey to foreign lands with my dear nephew."

The head scout leaned over to get view of the boy. His missing eye was accompanied with a bandage beside his spare. Spencer marveled at the idea of a head scout still able to perform his duties with such a handicap to his perspective.

"Humm, the lad don't seem the fighting like, Amadeus." The head scout remarked. Amadeus smiled at the comment.

"His purpose with me is to explore certain cultures, bizarre and exotic, from my travels with the outer world."

"Heh, like the great Lanista Uberio? Traveling the foreign lands with his gladiators? Discovering new trinkets for the eye? I applaud the risky venture for such a young face over there."

Spencer has heard well of Quinlan Uberio, the brave lanista who traveled the foreign world outside Gladia with his house of gladiators. The young pre-adult always came back to Gladia with wondrous tales and stories he authored in his popular literature. The lanista developed such a reputation for exploring the dangers of the world that many gladiators openly joined his adventures. Like Native American Indians who set up temporary settlements, Uberio had created his school based on long voyage school trips where the gladiators have real interactions with all sorts of surprises in stored. From random animal attacks to strange cultured folks, to even fending off against tribal forces of extreme caliber, Uberio was ultimately offered an entire school by his home district. His daring excursions were told to the Emperor, whose Nobilium people elected to make the mature teen into the youngest headmaster in Gladian history. Once the young man had his fill of adventuring, he officially became the Headmaster Lanista of the Domus Nobilium District, putting his interests in theater arts towards the realities of what he and his students had gone through as written in his works.

Just like Uberio, Spencer could only image what lies beyond the dense forested journey set forth before him. He'd honestly be more at ease with a school of gladiators, rather than one to protect him, should danger be a foot. Yet, the benefit with Amadeus is, that this uncle ventured to and from these reaches many times well kept and very much alive. Spencer's pondering thoughts were interrupted by the head scouts voice.

"Well don't let me keep your from your eating. A fine meal such as this is a rarity in these parts. It's a blessing for it to still be fresh enough for yur bellies. Sadly the beverage is the regular fountain water from our last post." With that, the head scout went back to his men to enjoy their exquisite meals.

From the stout propped up table, three large pots laid between Spencer and Amadeus. Each one insulated with a thick ceramic material, holding the temperatures of the contents pure through all it's journey up here. Two ceramic plates with steel silverware and cloth towels provided the means to eat. The gladiator remove the hefty lid of the first one.

"Let's see what Gillis has brought us for all that bullion's worth shall we, nephew?"

Spencer's appetite was building up from the long travel, he missed his usual breakfast from the early leaving. He gave the much approving nod. The first pot revealed a wholesome coleslaw salad with vegetables picked from the best gardens in the Gladian metro, marinated in a sauce barraged of herbs and spices to help the body endure the harsh climates. The nephew and uncle stared agog of what the next two could be. Spencer put his hand on the third pot lit and Amadeus on the second.

"There's no way the driver would, would he?" Spencer was eager to be disappointed. A fresh meal would never make it this far west surly. He thought pessimistically.

The two unveiled the rest of the meal to utterly sit dazzled by the grand feasting. The second pot was holding orbs of Olive Wagyu steak, buttered around a pasta shaped laurel pattern coupled with a special alliaceous scent of diced green onion garnishings.

"Geezabooze Uncle! Gillis you prick, does it look like the Emperor eats in these dangerous parts of Gladia?!" Amadeus retorted at Gillis's dumb for a talker but quick man to commute a meal of champions to the edges of Gladia's jurisdiction. Spencer glanced into the third pot. His heart raced with curiosity. A rare dessert many senators and governors eat on occasion during the political discussions on the metropolis's policies and law, venison onion red wine pie. The meat is said to quilt the mind of senseless thinking and promote reason towards the betterment of everyone.

"This is a red wine pie uncle! How could Gillis bring this up here?" Spencer said pondering. Amadeus had come up with a plausible yet, appealing answer to this.

"The Emperor's gold bullion perhaps, holds more value than I originally thought. It seems me being in my father's armor kit spreads enough word for Gillis to say a very esteemed gladiator wishes to partake in a meal worthy of aptitude. More over, just presenting the bullion with the Emperor's stamp on it, provided more than enough reason that this meal request is official business between respected parties involved."

"Is that why the head scout was surprised it was not my grandfather he was expecting to meet all the way up here?"

"A striking chance it is I'm afraid. Lucky guy Gillis is, he'll get many hundreds of denarii for smelting down that bullion into aureus. Well boy? Now's you chance to eat like a man of leisure and mental worries abroad." Mocked Amadeus. The two laughing as they chowed down. The head scout and his men chatting away, having a grand time with the meal fit for champions.

The little settlement was nearly vacant, save for three stationed scouts often replaced by venturing ones on horseback. They guarded these borders of Gladia's horizons from one towering structure post to another far out seen by telescopes. They have multiple methods of communication to send between the posts. For anytime should a station seek the status of another, they use color patterned flags to communicate the particular situation. Spencer ate his coleslaw, gazing at the flags about the settlement's wooden tower. It expressed the request of water supplies in blueish tints flags the next time new scouts arrive to take their place.

"See those cannon barrels over there nephew?" Amadeus said between his bites of the coleslaw's tangy sweetness.

Spencer glance over. "Oh it's their alarm shots. Their way of getting the attention of all the other posts for immediate vigilance and follow up action." Spencer said, educated by one of Uberio's theater shows reenacting the event where three foreign flying turbine shouting objects intruded the atmosphere, heading to Gladia's metropolis to recruit the undefeated champion into a new world of foes for him to embark on for the behalf of the Emperor.

"Those cannons were the best line of communication for the scouts here to send word back home, yet the flying contraption that breached Gladia's atmosphere, was so swift, it outpaced even our record holding messengers by minutes." Finishing his part of the salad, Amadeus used the same tongs to retrieve half the pot of the rare meat pasta on to his plate. "So now the Emperor is developing a main line of posts settlements to send swift word by sighting telescopes instead of traveling horsemen."

Spencer was amazed by the idea, agreeing with the Emperor's eagerness to prevent another uninvited guest from infiltrating Gladia's horizons. Portioning his second course meal, the marbling taste of the textured meat mixed with the mint seasoned leafy pasta brought Spencer to a state of euphoric pleasure. So eager for the next bit he eyed his uncle for the similar reaction of his. "I know. The best tasting meat in the mouth all around, isn't it. The animal has pristine meat, overly favored in the concentration of flavoring fats and proteins. Such is to make your journey with me a mad bit comfortable huh?" Amadeus said with a wink at Spencer's adolescent physique.

"I can whole heartily believe that this meal will keep me fed for a very long time." Spencer tapped his gurgling hungry belly satisfying from every bite of the orbed Wagyu meat. The pie served as a filler to prevent bloated feelings and help digestion for some elder people. For Amadeus and Spencer, it helped the two fall right to a nap's sleep for the welcoming hour, bunking themselves down at the small settlement's tints. Spencer dreamed of an array of instances that might happen during his travels. He thought of home, his parents, his friends, and his sweet sisters that adored their big brother. Having to leave them so suddenly troubles him. Yet, his father, Hemonius, welcomed the idea of having his son embark this journey with Amadeus. Trusting in the gladiator to bring the son back to him, invigorated with passions for fashion to blossom the fruits of the Masonius name.

Chapter 3: Leaving Gladia

The soothing slumber gave way to Amadeus tugging on Spencer's foot. "Awaken sleep sheep. An hour's pass." Spencer rubbed his eyes. It surprised him how in short time minor crustaceans formed around the tops and bottom of his eyelids. Standing from his cot. Readying himself with his satchel on, he exited the tent into the glaring sunlight. His eyes quickly adjusting to the light rays. The mid day looked the same as it has when they arrived late afternoon, but for Spencer, the filling meal made it feel as if a whole nights sleep had went by. Amadeus bid the head scout his farewell as the two walk off into the forested jungle. The head scout saying farewell last words. "Take care of the freshy. He'll be often in need of feet's rest I reckon."

"Perhaps his walks along the metropolis markets did him well?" The two laughed as the distance grew. Spencer knew already that his virgin feet on new ground would be tested. The path seemed random but trusting in his uncle's direction was all that he could do. There was no room to argue. If it were a pattern on an article of clothing, a design for furniture, or perhaps a color of undergarments to wear, Spencer would have had Amadeus beat, but in this wilderness, he's as clueless as a newborn cub of wolves.

An hour passed on what seem like they were going in circles. Then suddenly, they struck a beaten way, most likely void of foot traffic for the longest time. Crossing through the narrow path's array of jungle, they arrive along a questionable bridge. "One of many." As the experienced gladiator says. It wasn't nearly as daunting as what lied next.

"Rock climbing?" The nephew said?

"Yes. It's part of the many obstacles that keep unwanted inhabitants from arriving to the edge of Gladia." Amadeus said as he mounted his gear behind him, scaling the small wall up and over with ease. Spencer tried for the first time, his hands quickly soring from the harsh rock. Amadeus took heed of it. "Perhaps it benefit you kindly if you rope climbed once in a while, nephew. Having the grit of the rope strengthen those soft delicates of yours."

Spencer disappointed by his own sheltered physique, agreed with an embarrassed sigh.

"Indeed uncle."

The climbing proceeded, this time with the uncle tossing rope down to Spencer and the inexperienced chap climbing it as his uncle held on to it over nearby redwood tree trucks. Other times, Amadeus was having to catch the teenager from tripping over jagged rocks. The boy panted from all the fast pace traveling. Amadeus was jolting through tight footpaths littered in rocks of varies sizes.

"So Uncle, what else does this destination have?" The two carried on a conversation throughout the rigorous journey.

"Much in terms of wears I remember." Amadeus said as he stepped over a hidden mound, just now seeing it. "Watch out for this rock here."

The jagged disguised rock protruded from the ground. Spencer barely aware of it's outline, tripped over, his uncle catching his fall, chuckling. "Your physic for a fifteen year old..." Amadeus reminisces, "It reminds me when I was a youngling in training at gladiator school."

Spencer's mild panting continued. "Oh pardon me if I'm out of shape uncle, I spent most of my days learning in lecture school, designing, and crafting clothes compared to your physically demanding occupation as a fighter." Spencer had to mention, annoyed by the rocks that have been catching his feet for the past half hour.

"Yes. Different worlds, but comparable, your father paved the way for a special blacksmith to adopt the trade to fashionize gladiator armor. A feat you do best to succeed over with this adventure of ours." Amadeus stated in a serious tone as he scoffed at his nephew's anger. "A child beneath his excuses will make him all the more likable, nephew. Best be doing that."

Spencer's scolded himself at his immature behaviour, not wanting to burden his uncle with his ineptness.

The rest of the day's trip through the rugged jungle ended with nightly stay in a vacant cave. Spencer's feet were killing him. His uncle prepared a quick bundle of thick tall grass that over grew around their surroundings. Cutting piles with his gladius sword, he used his spear to quickly weave a lay area for Spencer to rest.

"Sit here." The gladiator said.

Spencer slowly made his way down, the bumps from the bottom of his foot stinging his stance. Once down, Amadeus lifts one of his feet, removing the sandal. "You're feet can't handle much of the travel in these parts. Uneven ground is hard on you. Eventually, the blisters with harden."

As Amadeus gathered up wood from the nearby trees, Spencer laid the contents of his satchel out. He fortunately pack small various supplies of medicine. A herbal sporin ointment quailed the soreness and sped up the calluses. In time his feet could adapt well in continuing travel. Amadeus arrived back with bundles of sticks piled on his brass metal shield. Three distinct piles were noted by Spencer. One small, then larger, and the third, largest pieces of wood. Removing his helmet, the gladiator was swift on preparing a fire, the day turning to darkness quickly. Cold air settling in. Revealing a special small block of wood, he spunned a skinned stick, spear harnessed with a tough fabric to the back end towards the handle, spinning the rotating piece a hundred of revolutions per cycle on tiny crumbs of dry bark. This easily birthed a small patch of charcoal, lighting up by the smallest of breezes. The valuable tool was used by Amadeus often, distinguishable by the amount of ashing left from previous successful attempts.

"Listen carefully, nephew. Your passion for fashion is more than this ember." The uncle presented the tired suffocating ember stranded by the cold moist air of the cave. "When we arrive at the end of our travel, I have no doubt, you'll bare your unique skill that will allure many curious wearers." The gladiator surrounded thin fibers of small stripped pieces of wood around the ember. "One by one you'll have interested patrons... eventually, a flame will begin to burn, but not without a little breath of life." Amadeus blew on the ember, brightening itself near the stringy fibers, igniting a mild candle with such struggle to stay lit. "Soon you have a flame and the path for the flame is to spread across all it can encompass." The small fire begins to gulp the fibers quickly from all it can grasp piled around it. "But when you run out of that reach, all there is now, is to add bigger pieces of that passion."

"Bigger goals, bigger ambitions?" Spencer adds to what his uncle is referring to. Amadeus blinks, nodding agreement. Preparing medium sized sticks to fuel to the fire. "Naturally, but don't be fooled. If you add big passions and goals immediately, say, without the proper flame, you'll end up crushing your dreams and passions with disappointment and regret." To Spencer's surprise, his uncle for a brief moment places one of the larger pieces, diminishing the fire. "This is always true from greed, the want for more power and influence overrides and suffocates true passions, motives, goals, and relationships." The uncle instead, removed the lumber and added the medium sticks, tossing the one large piece of wood, that hindered the flame, to the side. Spencer understood it was squashing away at the potential, killing the way for a good fire.

Frightened, Spencer stated the consequence of greed. "All that flame's hard work, killing itself with too much want. It's why we stay true to the path of servitude to others, isn't it?"

"Exactly, one must forgo the want for power, influence, and control in order to rightly place themselves in true service of others." He tossed around the sticks, coasting the steady flames. "If not, one is left only to start over again, but now with more of a head start on their hands." As the fire grew so did the need for larger sticks. "When the time and path is right, then you could add more to your goals and passions."

The medium sized sticks now engulfed in one big fire, making it appropriate to create an even bigger fire. "Now the large piece may be added."

Spencer viewed the same lumber that once hindered the flame's burning now slowly, increasing in warmth. "I see how the flame has much more control on heating and burning this piece." He said.

"Yes. A passion like this will burn for a long time. Long enough for me to hunt down an animal and bring the raw resources back to cook it." Amadeus said in a joyful manner.

Spencer was a little confused, "What are you implying uncle?"

Amadeus plops a dead rabbit, skinning it with his small pugio dagger. "One day we'll come back to Gladia, and present them with a trophy of our journey." Gouging half the meat on one sharpened stick and the other half on his the tip of his dagger, he roasted the rabbit meat for minutes, handing Spencer's his half for himself to cook on the fire. "But we're not alone, we are competing against two other gladiators, one, the rival of mine, Ixion, and the other, a skilled up and comer trident combatant."

Spencer gave Amadeus a curious yet confused look, his assumption on the third gladiator being the undefeated Pankraious. "I never thought Pankraious was a retiarius."

Amadeus gave an understood look at Spencer's confusion. "Retiarius? The legend fighter himself? Course not. He's the bare handed warrior we know. No nephew, our third competitor is a likable fellow from the small school Ixion and I trained at. Acolytus is his name. He's not working for my employer directly like Ixion and me. The man actually is tasked out by the Emperor himself to act as a notary of us, documenting our activities. He aids on our search of targets as our personal scout. Mainly, he's an informant to the Emperor's curiosity, yet, a much more intelligible bounty hunter against me and Ixion."

The more Amadeus spoke of this trio of competition, the more questions the nephew had. "How did you manage to arrange this? A cooperative yet competitive bounty hunt?"

By now the rabbit meat roasting on their fire was good to eat. Between bites, Amadeus explained. "The man organizes a controlling influence at the end of our travel. A wonderland known as Liberty City, their grand metro. He has insisted on lodging us into a middle-class home within this chaotic city of horseless carriages, massive monuments, and the most exotic dressed foreigners I've ever witnessed." Spencer's feet were beginning to numb from the ointment taking effect now. The feeling of continuing the journey on foot was a little uncomfortable for the nephew. "Worry not boy. We will be flown there after a few more miles of this jungle."

Spencer was at a loss at the mention of their travel taking flight eventually.  "Flown?"

Amadeus cleaned the tip of his spear on a smooth rock nearby. "As I said, the culture of the outside world is very exotic, you will soon see."

Early the next morning the two traveled the last few miles to their destination. The remote location of the tropical forest felt much closer than Spencer expected from their rest stop. A crude marked out landing zone with decaying paint trails occupied the area where a familiar helicopter lays at. Spencer vividly remembers the flying contraption from years prior. A giant ship with spinning blade on the top of it. Mounted weaponry of strange piping. The intruding incident left quite a mystery for him in his early adolescent years.

A group of guards with rifles and armored ballistic gear got out. Approaching the two, they raised their weapons.

"Speak english?" Said the guard with a cold raspy tone. Spencer observed the wear of the soldiers. They were equiped with black striped armor, shielded masks, and darken fabrics appearing tough against the environment. The boy was intrigued by such a wear.

Amadeus handled the guard's worrisome expression with the mention of the boss man. "Yep, and is Mr. Sionis here?"

Another voice called out from inside the copter. A intimidating and controlling tone that put the guards on high alert. It was the boss man himself.

"Let the man in already! You're letting the jungle pests fly in!"

Chapter 4: New Territories

The guard hesitated, then posed a question to his leader.

"But sir! This one has another with him? Should we proceed with extraction?" The loyal guard said in a discipline trained attitude. The boss came out the open heli door and darted straight to the guard who asked of him. The black skulled mask, form fitted to the man's head, eyes where the whites should be, darkened as red pupils fumed out.  

"Rahhhg! What are you scared of!? This forgotten fungle infested land has more to fear from me than any beast or person alive!!!"

The guards dropped down their aimed rifles as their boss slapped the weapon off the guard in front of Amadeus, gripping the silencer rifle, popping off rounds into the forest, disturbing all the nearby wildlife out of their hiding, killing a few fleeing. Afterwords he pointed the rifle under the chin of his loyal guard and spoke.

"I know you're a good soldier. But next time I say whatever. You Do THAT SAID WHATEVER!!!" Sionis knocks the man out with a headbutt, helmet cracking in a blow to guards' astonishment. Composing himself he greeted Amadeus with an annoyed look. "Masonius! Get inside already." He angrily huffed and puffed, straightening his white tie. Sionis took a look at his black shoes dirtied by moist mud from the humid golden morning due. Spencer admired the boss man's white suit. So exotic to his eyes that he couldn't help but stare. Sionis stared back at the boy, the boss man disgruntled at his sullied dress shoes. "What's you a looking at kid? You want the address to my tailer, you gawking boy? Is that it?!"

Spencer was eager not to push Sionis's buttons. Instead Amadeus chimed in.

"The boy's with me. A nephew of mine I brought for company, Mr Sionis." The boss looked up and down Spencer, sending a chill down the boy's spine. Sionis blinked uninterested, walking back to his chopper, everyone else slowly following. Inside, Spencer was amazed by the decor of such a large machine. The doors closed, sealing the noises of the jungle out, quieting the passenger lodging. Further back, the carrier sheltered an office where Sionis sat, eyeing the uncle and nephew as they walked in taking their seats. The space was comfortable. The sound of the heli engine started silently, rumbling in the deck, after some time, the feeling of lift ensued. Spencer felt flustered by the strange motion. He saw Sionis tapping the crumbs of dirt of his shoes and again the boss man caught him staring.

"Pretty boy!" Sionis said, kicking his feet back on the polished wood desk. "Clean my shoes since you like to nose away at my feet."

Amadeus was quite slowly becoming agitated by his employer's behavior towards Spencer, but the boy glanced over to his uncle, reassuring him that this was quite alright. Spencer reached into his satchel and retrieved a clean rag.

"What good is he to accompany you gladiator?" Sionis asked.

"I thought maybe my lad would enjoy seeing the outer world, like this magical wheelless carriage of yours? He's already intrigued at your mens' interesting attire. The chap could marvel at it for hours." Amadeus explains further.

The sight of his uncle's hirer poised Spencer. There's plentiful clues to dissect the man's character and attitude. Based on the man's suit and tie, he must be an aristocrat, but so much of the man's wear is too bazaar for Spencer to understand.

"My nephew has a keen eye for wears. I absolutely want to have him embark this trip with me to see Liberty City."

The black masked boss put his feet down, shooing away Spencer as the boy wiped away the remaining crumbs off his dark wood desk. Sionis puts his seat forward and chats directly at Amadeus. "Masonius, I invited you to come back to Liberty City. There is a worth while selection of bounties you will accomplish for me. Show me and your, comrade gladiators, how you handle business as always and I'll handle all the costs you encounter."

Returning to his seat Spencer analyses the man's peculiar mask on him from a reflecting glass. A black skull mask that appears to be tightly connected to the man's head. His white piece suit only made this attribute stand out attentively.

"I could care less of you dealing with kids, make sure you make good on your contracts." For a moment Spencer didn't notice that Sionis, for a second, glanced back to him from the reflection. "As for you're nephew, he'll be on his own, won't you kiddo?" Spencer nodded understandably, unable to question the boss man's orders.

The helicopter roared its propeller engines through the sky. The altitude was daunting, Spencer was at a loss for words. This was the first time he's ever flown. The trip took a total two hours and all through the time, the nephew peered out through the small window glass, observing the clouds, passing islands, strangely built settlements, and cities he never seen in his entire life. It really is another world out here. He thought. They landed in an outskirt airport from a third world country. It resulted in a transfer to a special speed plane that flow across continents in a matter of hours. Again, Spencer in awe of everything he looked at, stared. The world of wonders just as described in Uberio's novels. Upon arrival to the United States, the plane landed in Francis International Airport. The uncle and his nephew were being escorted by a group of guards patrolling around the three as they exited the plane and into the port terminal.

"Your comrade Ixion will meet with you at Belleville Park tomorrow morning. Further instructions are in your safe house." Sionis said, parting from the two as he and his men entered into black limos, driving away.

Spencer absorbed the city, it's colorful lighting and illuminating auras during the night. It made Gladia seem small. Spencer knew he was in a different world. Amadeus saw watchful eyes on him from waves of wandering pedestrians. He was prepared cor these situations ahead of time by Amadeus. During this time, a big weekly fantasy conference goes on. People in droves were dressed up in medieval, mythical, and ancient costumes, partaking in the event close by. Fortunately for Amadeus and Spencer, the two blended right in. The boy's attire made him seem like an upper class peasant. The uncle's armor and weapons received bountiful praise from passing people. They never would have thought Amadeus was a real gladiator in this wonder of environment.

"Come now nephew, let's go meet an associate of mine." He said.

"Yes uncle. Who might she be again?" Spencer happily excited to dwell in new territory.

The two blended themselves in with crowd of costume roamers. "She's supposedly a rising fashion model out of the high class sticks, out to become the best." Amadeus said, leaning his weaponry to his left arm where he carried his shield.

"A fashion model? Would that be good for me, uncle?" Spencer wondered.

"Aye, but a good model only poses, the best ones, do what you do, innovate and create. And be cocky not, our fashion competitors at home versus here outnumber us a bountiful 1000 to 1." Spencer swallowed hard.

They end up in the part of the convention where Amadeus is known by folk as the gladiatorial competitor. Other people dressed up in gladiatorial armor briefly exchanged exotic greets with him, the non legit warriors passing by. Spencer almost assumed they were from Gladia, but their weapons and armor was fast to identify as unlegit and fake.  

A particular girl came to Amadeus.

"There's my champion! Masonius, it's been so long since we last met." A very attractive women greeted Amadeus with a bow. Dressed as a princess, light bluish fabrics surrounded the blonde pigtailed damsel.

"Jenny? I didn't expect you'd ever remember me?" Amadeus sounding surprised for the listening ears around.

Jenny flirted with him as always. "Oh I always remember a strong fearsome warrior when I see one." She notices Spencer eyeing her dress and her footwear. "Oh wow, is this handsome boy with you darling?"

Spencer was at a lost for words, he never seen an american woman up close before, let alone to his unawareness, one of Liberty City's hottest of models.

Amadeus was not at all interested in Jenny's shenanigans once more. "That's my... nephew, Spencer. He's visiting me for the time being."

"Nephew? Darling, if he as attractive and cute as he appears then I may only fantasize what your identity must be under that helmet." She said nearing herself on the gladiator.

Spencer blushed, never in his life had a woman complement him on his looks before, especially an attractive one such as Jenny, let alone a foreigner. Amadeus neared his helmet to Jenny whispering.

"Jenny as much as I would like to play along, I'll talk to you another time... Can you... arrange us transportation to this address around here?" Amadeus gave her a scrap of paper with an address. She signals a man, perhaps a personal driver of hers, to ready a limo. By now Spencer could only assume his uncle and Jenny have some history with each other. Perhaps a past helper to his hunt down on targets? Spencer pondered.

"Anything for you, Masonius." The princess bow again with a twirl, catching the eye of passing people everywhere.

A little tease of her true modeling skill, perhaps, Spencer noted.

"Very well..." Amadeus conculded, expecting to leave it at that, he was soon interrupted.

"On one condition." Jenny interjected. The uncle is taken a back. "Your nephew Spencer was it? I just love his physic. His height is perfect for me, his facial looks and hair style is out of this country. He will be working for me in fashion modeling." She said proudly.

Amadeus takes a hard look at Jenny, sizing her up, getting up, close, and personal, as he would with his opponents in the arena. Jenny for sure was intimidated and fearful of the gladiator then and there. A useful trait very few gladiators knew, coined 'fear itself'.

The uncle spoke in a silent whisper. "You want my nephew?" A long pause happened as spectators begin eyeing at the two. They thought it a romantic gesture from their point of view, especially when Amadeus puts his hands on the shoulders of Jenny, the gladiator held on to his spear and shield while doing so. Glancing over to Spencer, the uncle spoke. "Go ahead Spencer, accompany Jenny here. Do what she wants." He releases her.

"Umm excuse me?" Jenny said, surprised at the sudden outcome.

Backing up and relaxing himself Amadeus says to Jenny "Lucky for you, Spencer here undergoes fashion studies on a regular basis, he'd be more than a model for your tastes."

"Really now?" Her eyes lid up. "Well Spencer, I'm a leading model in Liberty City fashion markets. It just so happens that you can pose with me... perhaps in a mother and son magazine that's sure to break print records."

Amadeus spoke for Spencer's confused expression on magazine and print records part. "Look, Spencer here, is Amish like. So he miiiight not fully grasp what your saying sometimes with some technological terms. That's why he's here, to learn."

Spencer accepted that he has a lot to learn, eagerly so. "Yes, I'm here to understand what life is like in America."

Jenny was happy to oblige. "Wonderful, your english is very good as it is, and I assume your writing is, as well?"

"I'm at the level where I could write a fine enough essay, Miss."

Smiling, Jenny turns to Amadeus. "Goody then, Masonius, your transport will be at the main entrance here to pick you up and take you home. Meanwhile, your nephew and I, will have the grandest of tours around Liberty City."

Amadeus accepted these terms lightly. Jenny had been a pest at his side for the longest time. When the well off women offered him safe passage to his safehouse the first time he arrived in Liberty City, he couldn't thank her enough. Now, she's been more of a nuisance to him. Getting in the way of his timely contracts. He admitted that he has a thing for fashion back in his homeland but in no shape or matter like Spencer's potential.

"Behave yourself." Amadeus said.

Spencer looked at his uncle with wonder. "Ummm yes, uncle?"

Jenny tried to hold back a smile.

The gladiator shakes his head, "Not you boy." Points the tip of his spear to Jenny. "Her... Behave yourself, especially around my kin."

Jenny winked at the warning of Amadeus commanded. "Masonius? What do you take me for? I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to your nephew while he's in my care. You came trust me, can't you?" She said admirably enough, but Amadeus was less than convinced. "Come on champ. You know? When we first met, was I right to trust you? A man whose out to chase down men?"

Amadeus back downed at her wise reasoning and grunted, heading off to his safe house, nodding a farewell for now to Spencer.

Left alone with the stunning lady, the lad greeted Jenny with a humble bow.

"Hello ma'am. I'm Spencer Masonius. Grateful to be taken under your wing."

Jenny blushed. It was highly likely she admired the boy's courteous for his looks more than his heart.

"Very nice to meet you too. So does this mean now that your my apprentice of sorts?" Jenny said for Spencer's approval.

"Indeed?" The confused boy didn't know how to answer her. Jenny moved closer to Spencer, observing his hair eyes and body figure. Spencer felt like an artist's posing figure being bent, moved, and positioned to the liking of the beholder. Of course this is what he does with his own observations back home, but the feeling of Jenny's sights were posing serious thought and analysis.

"How much fashion knowledge do you know?" She probed.

"All sorts." He said.

Stroking her hair, Jenny tested the boy, "Humm. Classic?" Jenny posed the fashion term.

"Pinstripes along with the color of navy." Answered Spencer

"Relaxed and Dramatic?"

"Loose fitting, natural fibres and red lipstick, asymmetry."

"Rebellious, Creative, and Elegant Chic?"

"Motifs skulls with black coloring, quirkiness constructs of the unusual, and neutrals with gemstones." Spencer answered with ease to Jenny's satisfaction. She smiled at her next one.

"What about femminie?" Jenny said cuffing her cleavage away from the boy.

"Fl... Floaty fabric frills." Spencer blushing at her action. Jenny was fine with Spencer knowing the dress styles associated with fashion, but she explained to the boy a little secret about them.

"Spencer darling, these dress styles are not all what in compasses them. They're the basics, but much more complex in reality." She lectured. Spencer payed close attention. The two walked around the convention, Jenny explaining away at fashion, some of the concepts hitting home for Spencer, others being new to him. "Unity, balance, proportions, emphasis, and rhythm.  The principles of fashion I'm sure you heard of?."

Spencer nodded in agreement as she continued.

"I'm sure you know of the elements as well?" She quizzed him once more.

"Shapes, colors, forms, lines, textures, and... value is it?" Spencer wasn't sure if the value meant monetary or shade of the lighting of a color.

"Well said. Value is about the gradient of darkness and lightness of a color. Artists use it to add volume and mass on objects." Jenny reeducated Spencer on more fashionable prerequisites. The boy learned more about these fashion lessons throughout the convention, the enviroment acted as a live seminar, very resourceful in this aspect. Jenny pointed out all sorts of details that the con costumed droves of fans wore and the regular people wondering about.

The two reached the entrance of the convention where Jenny's limo driver was entering the parkway.

"Let's get out of here Spencer, I've had my fill with the convention. Now I want to tour around the city, get you familiar with the marvelous points of interests around Liberty."

Entering in the limo, Spencer feels the cosy seats leather material as the driver proceeds on through traffic.

"Quite nice seats aren't they Spence?." Jenny said adding a sort of nickname to the young chap. "Can I call you Spence?"

Spencer didn't mind at all. "I'm alright with it, ma'am." Jenny got a slightly off put at the boy's continuing courtesy.

"Oh just call me Jenny, dear. I don't think I'll be calling you 'apprentice' all the time you know." She nudged Spencer's feet, the two smiling.

Crossing a grand elevating bridge, Spencer sees the towering skyscrapers and apartment complexes housing residents.

"This part of the city is Staunton Island. The one we just crossed over from, is Shoreside Vale. The other island past this one is called Portland, a much more lower class of people live there." Jenny said.

Spencer was in awe at the vehicles passing through. Horseless carriages from so many kinds. How did they built all this? He wondered. Passing through Belleville Park. Jenny mentioned the city sports tournaments that happen within the forest grounds. "Basketball, tennis, and small golfing happens here on occasion." Jenny intrigued Spencer by using the window buttons, lowering and rising the tinted glass. "Try it Spence. Maybe you can hear the basket balls and tennis players from here." Spencer lowered his side of the limo window all the way down, peering at the park. Sure enough, he heard the sounds of bouncing rubber, tennis rackets, people chatting away throughout the park.

Spencer gazed through the coniferous trees marveling their beauty. Along the trees, he spotted two tau robed hooded figures, their brownish colored wear blended them almost perfectly in their surrounding fall weather heat of the city. The two turning their gazes back at him in the briefest of moments, eyed the boy. Spencer was shocked to see the blood red face plating of Ixion noticing him. Amadeus's biggest rival and best friend. Spencer also caught a glimpse of the other fellow. Taller and much thinner than Ixion, he also caught eye of Spencer. That must the Emperor's informant. The notary retiarius my uncle spoke of. Spencer fumbled his fingers for the window switch, slowly rising the tinted glass. Jenny looked at the boy's mild fear.

"Something on your mind, Spence?" She asked.

"I... thought I saw someone I knew at the trees over there."

Jenny quickly darted her view back at where Ixion and Acolytus still stood watching from a distance, Ixion crossing his arms. Spencer was afraid Jenny might have spot him, but to his amazement, she hadn't see through the two gladiators' blended environment. "I don't see anyone." She turned to Spencer. "Must be your drowsy eyes from the jet lag."

"Jet lag?"

"Yeah, oh I forgot. You need to learn a lot of terminology we city folk use. Jet lag is where you lose an hours time to your sleep schedule. Happens when you cross into different regions of the world quickly." She explained. "So Spence?" Jenny said in a mild romantic expression, hinting Spencer of the same question she asked Amadeus way back when. "Tell a bit about yourself, if you don't mind?"

Spencer recalled his uncle's words to do as the fashion model asks. Seeing no harm in telling her, he fills her in about his life in Gladia. The road trip lasted for another thirty minutes, frequent stoplights lengthened the ride.

"I lived in Gladia all my life. My family is invested in fashion. They see my potential as a fashion designer. A sorta prodigal son, to make the family name proud." To Jenny, this intrigued her.

"So the Masonius name is a fashionable trade mark in your people's country?" She assumed. Spencer should have clarified.

"Not really yet. A whole lot competitors families and individuals are fighting for the benefit of the nation."

"Interesting." Jenny pulls a tray out from a nearby seat drawer. She began wiping off the excess make up of her fantasy convention facial appearance. "So your uncle invited you to venture all the way out here, to have the exotic experiences of fashion from an another country?" She reapplied a simpler layer of makeup on, as she continued. "And all in the hopes that you'd return home with the skills and talents to defeat your rivals?"

Spencer pretty much nodded with smile, rubbing his neck from the bizarre idea of it. Jenny overjoyed, stored her makeup utensils away.

"Honey, it just so happens that I too share in the same struggle you do." Jenny stared at Spencer from a opened pocket mirror clipping it closed.

"Oh Jenny, but how do you manage with all the hundreds of competitors in your work?" Spencer said curiously by the vastness of her metro compared to his. Jenny gave a smug smile

"Sometimes my ex-husband makes good work out of the fools that dare to challenge me."

Husband? Jenny was married? He pondered.

"Yeah I know, a fashion model whose was married? Why make it harder to rise up through the steep competition? Let me tell ya."

Jenny propped up a privacy curtain from her half of the limo. Her transport was accommodated with the capability to change her wear on the go. "Cody, he's a man whose gets results through his stubborn leveled thinking. Inherited some money from his parents, he did. After they passed away from a semi truck accident, he was one rich teen boy. The dumb coot was able to play richer businessmen for fools, promising them their many thousands of dollars back while posing as his father's identity and status. He was a ponzi artist turned straight though. Laundering the money clean through raw deals with real estate magnates like the infamous Avery Carrington. Yet the damn idiot can seem to get to higher levels of success with his current client productivoty and service businesses." Midway during her changing, she finished. Dawning her more causal wear of a laid back jeans and a tee shirt sweater. Jenny had a hard look about herself throughout the mention of her ex.

Spencer empathized with Jenny, "I see how tough it must be, having a man whose focused more with his business life than spending quality loving time with you. On top of that, you have your own troubles and challenges dealing with fashion competitors."

Jenny expressed thoughtful gratitude for Spencer caring for her, but she right away mentioned her ex once more.

"Don't you worry for my ex-husband, Spencer. He's was no more of a husband to me than I was a wife to him. We got married just so he can save on annual tax write offs. Marriage tends to make you look good in the eyes of the public too." Spencer was complexed by Jenny's and her husband's outlook on their relationship, but he did not hint it on his face.

The limo drove into Bedford Point, "the financial district of the city." Jenny said describing the businesses where the head offices occupied. The limo parked itself at a strip mall of clothing stores, facing towards the rounding adjacent open grass land heading off towards the ocean seas.

"Welcome to your fashion haven Spence! Here you'll familiarize yourself with all manner of wears and creativity. You'll also meet some of the competition." Jenny was let out of her limo by her driver, a middle aged man with more of a look forward to his next paycheck than his cheerful servitude for Jenny. "Come back in two hours Duhfee." She handed him a measly five dollar tip to the man's dissatisfaction. From the looks of it Spencer could only assume it was meager currency. The limo departs while other vehicles take its place. Another limo, shorter in nature, parks on by. Sharply dressed men stepped out from the front and open the back door of the sidewalk. A small girl, way smaller for her age hops out. Her very dark blue eyes meet Spencer's Gladian wear, she shakes her head at his taste of ware, a squint of what only Spencer can assume is her disapproval. This first impression is forever noted by the tall boy, this is his own tunic, hand made, with inspirational material brought over by his uncle's travel to her own territory. Jenny greets the adorable little nine year old with a pompous attitude.

"Veronica, fancy meeting you here." Jenny teased.

"Jenny Harcomb, what a coincidence. Still having troubles with your ratings I presume?" The girl was smarter than she looks, Spencer knew it. Her guardians showed her their upmost respects for the very young lady. Jenny and Veronica were at odds with each other in their brackets of fashion, yet one is a full matured adult woman, while the other is a short little girl.

"Still the orphan girl you always are Veronica? Care to finally take me up on my offer?" Jenny opened her hands in a welcoming embrace for Veronica's approval.

"Adoption? From you? You have to prove you're worth of fashion over me and so far, I'm not impressed." Veronica ambled away from Jenny with swagger, her guardians following close by. Spencer felt as if the puny girl was disappointed in him hanging around with this woman, yet he never met the girl before, why? What gives? Spencer mumbled inside.

Jenny annoyed, proceeded with Spencer about the place, "Come along Spence, don't let a petty girl, without class, stand us up." Jenny mocked.

Spencer felt hard about himself, having something to prove to that young gal, "She didn't seem to like my wear. Perhaps I could change into something a little more common in these parts." Spencer said, engulfed by the multiple combinations of wares in the stores for him to try out.

"Ohhh there will be plenty of that, I promise. For now, let me show you to your studio, or I should rather say your workspace." Spencer was let up the stairs that let into an inside mall within the towering complex of windows and shops below. He's seen loads of shops advertising wears, products, and services. It rivaled anything that caught his eyes back in Gladia's Mercatus District shopping markets. The short walk led them to a section of the mail where elevators elevated traveled to the upper resident housing of the more well off population of resident members. Jenny selected the 8th floor up causing Spencer to feel the same feeling of lift when he was on the helicopter of Mr. Sionis's. The elevator led them into a corridor where one door held itself on each side of the building's hallway housing a big studio. Jenny unlocks the door with her key, inviting Spencer to his new home. A marvelous spacious living quarters accompanied by tall thick window glass leading to the outside where a parking lot held down below. Spencer noticed that his living space was surrounded by neighboring buildings of similar design. Truly a change a scenery from his simple room studio back home. Jenny laid her things on the counter and sat in the comfortable living room couch.

"This here, is all mine sweetie. Now with you here, I have someone to share it." Jenny said.

Spencer bowed in a great debt of gratitude for Jenny's hospitality.

"Please forgive me Jenny, for I am in your debt. But." Spencer looked up to Jenny with a humble expression. As much as I would enjoy your luxurious habitat, I seek your knowledge and fashion teachings. Allow me to put them to good use and aid you in your fashion modeling career." Spencer said, kneeling before Jenny as an apprentice. "Accept your excel in fashion above your rivals as my debt returned to you in full."

Jenny happily sat up on her couch, palming Spencer's hands.

"Well then Spence. First, we got to get you educated in Liberty City's fashion." The blonde pigtailed women unraveled one of her pigtails, retrieving a small pen. She reached into her sweater side pocket pulling out a worn written up notepad. "First, let's talk about the trickle theories of fashion."

Chapter 5: Unveiling Situations

Over the course of many days, Spencer quickly adapted his skills in fashion from Gladia to Liberty City. Birthdays weren't much of Gladian tradition. Rather, the nation celebrated a new year as everyone's birthday at once. The now sixteen year old teenager was taking Jenny and himself to new heights in fashion. Just as Jenny said, the mother and son magazines of Spence and her, were selling out of prints. Some of the first fashion sold outs, despite Liberty City's plethora of other interests with of media. Though it took a day for Spence to get used to the schedule, he quickly became a very likable teen among Jenny's staff, helping where he can, building rapport with them. The past few days went by fast. Jenny seemed to be away for most them, leaving Spencer to his own devices. What free time he had, he spent on exploring the studio and Jenny's associated members. The bedroom has a large clothing closet where some of his new clothes were. Trying out new combination of outfits, he noticed a corner mini closet. Curiously opening it, he found much of Jenny's belongings, much of them still having price tags on them. Finding it strange, the inner closet also had a wall of recently bought jewelry. Spencer's inner detective kicked in. Slowly piecing together the clues to understand that Jenny was never divorced. What's more, multiple engagement rings and one wedding ring were part of the jewelry. Closing the closet in the same manner he found it, he continued with his dressing. During the evenings, Jenny arrived to take him out and visit the stores her designed clothes were being sold in. Spencer was also now used to his environment, becoming accustomed to the culture. He seen the paperwork associated with the store's offices on multiple instances, catching his eye of her ex's name being mentioned on the memos.

Jenny would claim that she has yet to remove her last name Harcomb and use her maiden name instead. "That's why people still call me Mrs. Harcomb." She said.

The day went on as the two visited each store their products sold at, promoting their wares with their presence. Spencer would rarely catch a glimpse of Veronica perusing by the children sections of other clothing stores. Loads of children and their mom's talking about her. Jenny often times told Spence that she would make a great step daughter to her fashion. These chats always arose whenever the blonde spotted the brown haired tom boy. The girl wore her choice of boy fashion,

"her particular niche" Jenny calls it. Nevertheless, she expressed a mad fondness for the girl, fantasizing that one day she'll be a step daughter to her, but Spencer would keep true to his word on making Jenny a successful fashion model.

With a name like Jenny Harcomb associated with the boy, the two became magazine sensations. The outselling of many competitors in modeling gigs forced them to adjust. Spencer's insights of fashion only grew. Like what his uncle said, "you must slowly build your passion on a controllable scale," he regulated how much success he achieved in modeling, never biting off more than he could chew.

Jenny notice how mature a boy like Spencer was. His looks were never into question as his diet was strictly what he had in Gladia. An Amish style of meals prepped from a recently picked crop market and freshly chopped meats.

The mentor and apprentice ate at the studio's kitchen. Spencer prepared a slew of chopped vegetables, some grains and little meat. Frying them on the stove top with a pan and wooden spoon. Once his meal was ready, he washed his hands at the same time washing the pan and tools he used. He had read up on the many facets of appliances, how they functioned, what electricity was, and the many assortment of tools, utensils, and special gadgets out here. Soon he made great work at the knowledge he attained. Prepping a meal fit for his statue and liking. His learning curve came quickly, like a teenager learning to drive for the first time, he was confident on the functions of his new home. He still had much to learn from the enormity of Liberty City.

"I must say Spencer, your diet strongly matches that of mine, but with fresher options." Jenny complimented. Spencer

"Well, I'm more than willing to try new foods, it's just that most of them aren't to my liking, too much salt, sugar, and fat." Spencer said, taking bites from his mixed salad with fried cubes of meat on top of it. Jenny noticed his table manners, using a knife and fork cut his small breading. The boy tapped his lips with a napkin for any crumbs that could cling to his lower chin, but this was an unnecessary gesture of table etiquette, in respect to Jenny.

"I find a boy with such self control, quite attractive." Jenny's statement paused Spencer's eating. "I knew it's only been a few days and a few hours each day, but I need to say... I'm quite madly in love with you Spencer."

Spencer was at a loss for Jenny's intent. He assumed his work to help her gain more success in her career was why she complimented him in such a wild manner. Perhaps it's how people really appreciate hard work in this part of the world? He pondered.

"That's... quite kind of you Jenny. I enjoy my time with you too. He said with a shy look.

"No Spencer, I love LOVE you." She reiterated again. Still the boy was perplexed and Jenny was seated next to him. It made it all the more convenient to rub Spencer's leg, trying to seduce him. The boy flinched justly. Before she reached his crotch area. Spencer confessed to Jenny.

"I love... fashion, Jenny." He pushed his food aside.

"Yes I do too, which makes us perfect together." Going for a Spencers lips for a kiss. The boy put a hand between him and her saying more what's on his mind.

"I love fashion and fashion loves me too." Spence said in a more serious manner.

Jenny chuckling asked. "What are talking about?" Looking about to grope him, the boy nudges her grasp away.

"You never left your husband." Jenny freezes. "And... you also have a child.

Jenny laughed it off. "No silly, I'm single and wanting you."

Spencer went to clarify directly to her in regards to his findings of what her wears were serving, along with the eerie truth she's been hiding from him.

"Your fashion tells me that you're married to a man who enjoys your looks as an asset. Your polished high heels and erotic makeup describes patterns of sexual allure to all men by exposing your bust out more along with your butt. The very ring you wear tells me that your husband buys the brand that most likely comes from his one of his businesses, along with your dress wear. When we pass by children, you marvel them in dislike to your own, in particularly, you marvel the cutest girls, so for sure you have a boy. In conclusion, your husband is branding you out for his personal gain, and your son is not as fashionably inclined as you wanted if you had a girl instead."

Jenny became pissed, she pushed Spencer who then restrained her arms, in a dominating manner. Perhaps he was now seeing the pest side of Jenny that his uncle hinted about.

The shoving interaction had the two standing, his height leveled closely to Jenny's. She admitted by her actions that Spencer was spot on.

"So what is it to you?" She pressed. Spencer thought deeply for a moment.

"Fashion... darling. Fashion." He said in a straight face.

Jenny was being mocked by her pet name she's been calling him. Then, remembering that the boy is all about fashion she gave an expression to agree on terms. Spencer reading her seductive eyes, learned of it. He spoke first.

"I want to know more about fashion Jenny."

"So you do." The woman sexually places herself on Spencer's knee. "I give you all the fashion you want. Just let me... have my mild way with you."

Spencer's mind focused on what Amadeus said.

"Go ahead Spencer, accompany Jenny here. Do what she wants."

Lowering his guard, he allowed Jenny to molest him. That night cuddled and adored Spencer's figure. Throughout the next several weeks, it went on, having him pose with her modeling gig prior and after such vulgar sessions of touching, hugging, cuddling, and most of all, kissing. It was best intimate moments a woman could ever ask for. Spencer wasn't just a fashion kid, his style also passed onto his caring and bromantic relationship to her. Copious sessions, such silky teasing, Jenny could hardly wait for the next occasion. Spencer was ultimately alone in America, his uncle was busy pursuing on with his bounty hunting missions. The nephew and uncle gradually started seeing each other less and less, but not without reason.

It was a cool brisk October morning. Spencer had slept at his uncle's safehouse more often. Mainly to get away from Jenny for a change. He got up, showered, and examined himself in the mirror. A tall thin pale skinned boy with grey hair and grey eyes stood before him. In just a matter of days, he was able to grew in a fabulous reputation for teen aged fashion against the more competitive companies. Sporting a lightweight red sweater and tan shorts for his causal fall clothes, the front door's knob jiggles with a key inserting inside rotating it. In comes Amadeus, robed in the manner Spencer discovered Ixion and Acolytus like. The tired uncle hide his gladiator armor well under the cloak's monk colored fabrics.

"Nephew?" The warrior greeted. Moving towards the bathroom's shower and tub.

"Uncle?" Spencer greeted in return, viewing his uncle hang the hefty cloak on a worn out wall rack. Multiple scars and small tears of tissue littered about him.

"How goes the fashion?" Amadeus cleared his throat hosing down the blood stains from his spear, then his sword, and for his small dagger, the handle lightly splattered. Fortunately for the nephew, blood was a usual sight for him. Gladiator fights ever rarely ended in bloodshed, not unless their from the unregulated pit fights of Gladia's infamous Insulae District.

"I'm adjusting rather quickly to this country's wear styles. How about your bounties?"

Amadeus proceeded next on removing his helmet, rinsing away at the small spots of blood. Soon afterwords, he stripped down his armor beginning with his foot greaves, the waist belt skirt and finally his manica. Answering the observing nephew.

"I've nearly finished with this year's selection, the other gladiators beat me on a few." Spencer admired his uncle's stocky physique. An honest hunt's work done, for a gladiator with only a lion cloth and thigh wrappings to his person. The uncle felt much of the weight off his shoulders, eager to kick back and relax. "Say, I notice that your handling yourself quite well, Spence."

Spence is now officially the nephew's nickname that his child and teen aged audiences give him. "I see you in your very own magazines and more with Jenny often, how is she treating you?" Amadeus asked.

Spencer, remembering his last cuddle session with the hot model, gets the usual arousal, flushing his cheeks red. It was a habit he had to get used to please the ever wild Jenny.

"She's quite the model uncle. I've never thought she'd be so kind as to mentor me." Spencer said, slightly wearily, trying to hide his slight hickey marks from above his collarbone. Amadeus was lacking in the knowledge of fashion, but not in his awareness of empathy.

"No, more than just that I'm afriad." The uncle leaves his equipment hung and drying on the curtain rack. Approaching Spencer, the taller Masonius shoves away Spencer's hand masking the reddened rash along his collarbone. "She's been molesting you, has she?"

Spencer smiled guiltily, his attempt at hiding his emotions from a bounty hunter was uncalled for. "Well?"

"Well..? I don't know about molesting." Spencer admits.

Amadeus's eyes lowers in angered disappointment. "Oh, so you take to fancying her." The uncle gripped the sweater collar of his nephew and in a surprise motion, unclothed the boy, revealing his slim down upper body. Amadeus to his dislike, skimmed the parts of his chest with two fingers, knowing exactly what Jenny has been doing to him. He sighs. "Spencer, I know you weren't much of sexually active adolescent in Gladia, but, what allowed your first to be with this burden of a woman?"

Spencer answers honestly. "My taste for fashion has attracted her to me uncle. Worse, I discovered that her wears and high class demeanor have her involved with a self righteous husband, whose out for profits, and an unsecured son, which she dislikes intently."

Amadeus sighs once more, this time sitting on the couch in front of a coffee table and small tv. "Her, favoring you over her son, as exception over a girl?"

"From her actions yes." Spencer confirmed. Amadeus is more in a awe that his nephew got to know more about her than the gladiators few years with the fashion women on amd off.

"I've only seen her son once. I got to say, he's a mighty shy one. Perhaps his father and mother make him behave as such, especially in front of guests." Amadeus put his bare feet on the black painted coffee table, laying back.

"Do you think I should visit Jenny at her home, so I can see the boy for myself?" Spencer suggested. His uncle was beat from all the running around, chasing his targets, and getting into scuffles with his rivals. Closing his eyes, he hoped to answer Spencer's question and be off to his sleep.

"Getting to know the boy whose mother is adoring herself out to you, is the last thing I would do." With a wave of his hand, he added to make Spencer leave him be. "Go. Do what you ought to necessary. My advice is of my own views of your matters." The uncle said falling asleep right away.

Over the next day, Spencer was modeling with Jenny in her companies large work complex. Other models often come by to discuss business with Jenny. It was during these times that Spencer learned more about his mentor's competitors. During a break, fhe celebrities went to their perspective lounge rooms, where they had privacy for themselves. Jenny cuddled up to Spencer in a VIP room. The boy built the courage to ask Jenny about her son.

"Jenny, what's your son like?" He politely inquired.

She declined with a shrewd look the moment he utter the question.

"That's none of your business."

Spencer returned the same look, pointing to his eyes and then his designed outfit that expressed shy green and blue patterns and shapes of insecurity. "How well did that work for you last time Jenny?" He warned her about hiding her life from him again.

Jenny recalled how well Spencer was able to deduct much of her personal lifestyle through her choice of wears. Moreover expressing his findings in his own works of fashion.

Jenny smirks at her apprentice's curousity. "Oohhh you are clever to put me in the position of knowing about my worthless son." But just then, a lightbulb lights up in her head. "But you know, I think it's time you got to see my son... and husband for that matter. I believe you would be a wonderful guest to have right over." Jenny offered.

Spencer was unsure what his mentor had over him, but he knew it would not be pretty.

"Very well, I'm, at your request, invited to dinner, at your home." He claims.

"Good." She states, watching the eager Spencer take his leave, and then she has the nerve to halt him. "Ohhhh Spencer." Jenny says in a girlish seductive gesture. "Don't you think I'm missing out on another session of our mentoring 'bonding' moments."

Spencer turns to gaze at a mannequin, curious eyes looking up and down a fashionable dress that intrigues him. A genuine realization occurs to him.

"Ohh silly me mistress, may I make it up to you with a few of my suggestions?" Brushing off the neatly drafted dress from the mannequin, he brings it towards Jenny. She puzzlely teases Spencer.

"What are you up to with my dress, tall boy?"

"Allow me to give... my two cents on your design mistress."

Another touchy session begun, which always leaves Jenny satisfied with herself. For Spencer, he was only filled with the osmosis gained information her bonding moments left him with. He measured her waist, arms lengths, and torso, and lower body measurements, painting up new designs in his mind meanwhile Jenny, slept alongside him.

Chapter 6: A Protector

Today Spencer is driven by the devoted cabbed limo driver, Duhfee, whose actually under Jenny's husband's payroll. The limo parks across the drive way of a high class home with many of it's elegant designs. Spencer quickly notes many of the simple textures of the walls of the home, indicating that the family within, is not of the high high class of home owners, but a lower class of wealthy builders nearing their next status uprising among the rich. The trip brought Spencer back to Shoreside Vale and into the Cedar Grove neighborhood. Jenny's home was the last one, west of the district. Their home, much like the rest of the neighborhood was fenced in by evergreen hedges, an indicating element of high class society.

As usual, the driver quickly opens the door of the limo for Spencer to walk out. His choice of clothes? That of a respectful youngling in a casual light green strip polo shirt and tan slack looking regular pants. This attire was one of the many favorites which Jenny adored him on. Spencer thanked his driver and handed him a $20 tip as was custom for the two when they first met.

"Oh thanks Mister!" Duhfee graciously accepted. The tip was a rare one for him, preferring more of Spencer's generosity than, whatever, Jenny and her husband ever tip the driver put together. Duhfee returned to his vehicle's driver seat, pulling into traffic, when clear.

Spencer walked a small pace up to the front door porch, taking in the massive dark plywood home. A garage placed itself on a hill a little above the home with a smooth dirt path way leading up to it. The grass was still relatively green for the cool fall weather.

Standing at the doorway, the boy analyzed the interestingly crafted door handle, shaped into a cursive capitalized L. In Gladia, Spencer never understood the exact ethics of entering a wealthy man's home, they simply had no special permissions to enter one. He palmed the door handle, feeling the brass. The front door gave way to the weight favoring the inside. To Spencer's surprise, the door was a jar, and from behind it, the very boy which Spencer was looking forward to meet, stood behind it, broom and dustpan in hand.

The boy spelled shy all over him. Dressed up like a butler's hand, the boy's eyes studied the tall teenager through his horse haired bottom framed glasses. Brown hair and a dibble nose with brown colored eyes, and thin lips formed his nervous face. For Spencer, the boy looked to be a few years younger. The encounter was quick, but the mentality of the two, sparked a yearning to know each other. The moment was cancelled by Jenny who walked in and personally blamed her son for not informing her that her apprentice was at the door.

"Gustavo, you little brat, why didn't you tell me my special guest was at the door?" Jenny bobs the little boy in the back of the head. "You shame me, you troublesome boy!"

Gustavo only mustard a brief spaces in his talk. "Oh...." Feeling guilty for Spencer seeing him like this" he takes the blame. "Sor... ry mo... ther."

Immediately, Spencer knew Gustavo was extremely shy and insecure. Spencer's first impression of Jenny's behavior to her son made it all the more reasonable that she harbored strong resentment for the smartly dressed servant boy.

Jenny crossed her arms, adding. "If you were more like Spencer here, you'd behave differently, Gus. Spencer here treats me with real respect." A disappointed sigh was hinted to Gustavo by his mother. "Oh, you shame me Gus." The boy downs his head returning to his chore of sweeping the immediate area.

The situation was clear, Jenny invited Spencer over so she can personally put her son, Gus, in a disappointing reminder of failing to have the girl she always wanted. Jenny always wanted one, but instead, Gustavo was born instead.

Jenny, annoyed further by her son, demanded of him. "Gus, go to your room, there will be no dinner for you tonight."

"Yes.... mo...ther." Gus obediently did what he was told. In a shamefully guilty manner, he walked out of view of the two, taking his broom and dustpan up the stairs with him.

Spencer was appalled, taking away a child's meal, was going too far. Jenny quickly apologizes for her son's misbehavior.

"Sorry for that, Spencer darling, please." Gesturing her apprentice inside. "Come in, let me introduce you to my... husband, Cody." She said with a roll to eyes.

Inside the wealthy home, Spencer was being toured around the place, Jenny, ever so proudly mentions her previous years modeling for the wins during her career. Portraits of herself gloss around the hallways of the neatly decor of the home. Inside an office, Jenny and Spencer amber wander in. Spencer is met face to face with Jenny's husband, a handsome wealth builder with a serious aptitude, for getting what he wants, Spencer deduced. The well dress business man works away on his desk sorting away, sales from his work for the day. Writing off checks to his many employees, scoffing at the loss of profits.

Jenny interrupted the man. "Baby, this is the tall doll I've been so proud on having as my successor.

The man looks at Spencer's face, then about his person. A sudden change to his look of being disgruntled turned to a bit humored. Chuckling, the man agrees, "You're right, he's very cute looking, he definitely passes for the son we never had Jenny." His voice, prudent but ever in the slightest, sarcastic. It's an utter strange mystery about the man. Spencer, while analysing his personality, gave a wave and a smile, careful not to stare, or seem out of place.

Jenny replied to her husband with glee. "I knew he would be my little helper the moment I laid eyes on him." She touches Spencer in waist hugging manner.

Spencer introduces himself to the wealthy man. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Harcomb. I'm Spencer Masonius." The tall boy moved forward to shake his hand, preventing Jenny's further touchy teasings.

Harcomb looks at the two with a shrewd smile, eyes mainly on Jenny. Shaking Spencer's hand with professional grace, his eyes scan the boy's collarbone, few of the rash hickeys Jenny has been giving him faded. The man squinted a grin. "The pleasure is all mine, kid. Cody Harcomb." The husband smiled, pleased at himself. "Now, lets have some dinner and discuss more about ourselves in the dinning room, Jenny here has 'prepared' some country style steak, with fries. Maybe you'd like her cooking skills too." He mocked Jenny's motherly skills of cooking since she hires a maid for the household meals.

Jenny in return to Cody, expressed a "humph" to her husband's vibrant tease.

Sitting in the home's eight seated dining table, Jenny and Cody sit beside one another on one side of three seats and Spencer from across the other. The table was clothed with laminate covering and the seats cushioned with fluff.

Country Fried Steak? Spencer thought. He never tried this kind of food before, but he was impressed. Such a style of prepared chicken brought his mouth watering the next time he wanted one. The dinner with the Mr. and Mrs. Harcomb went well enough; Spencer shared with Cody all about his time with Jenny as her apprentice. Learning the ropes to someday become just as fashionable as her cunning stature.

"Spencer darling? Would you like seconds of the fried steak, perhaps the wine?" Jenny asked. Spencer, for once, really was in the mood for this American kind of food, the wine wasn't for his tastes. It was missing genuine flavor like the wine from Gladia, the wine in America tasted as if it is rushed through the process of fermentation. The thought of him enjoying a wonderful meal and their son without it, grieved Spencer with disappointment. He hid his sorrow well from Jenny and her husband though, agreeing to rather a full second plate.

"Yes, Jenny." He agreed. Cody smiled soon after this.

"Yes, Jenny please." Cody teases. The man laughed. "Boy does she let you amish get away without manners." Jenny annoyed, responds at their guest.

"Like I said, Spencer, my dumb husband has no style. Pay the coot no mind." Jenny hissed at her husband, leaving to bring Spencer's food. She also took her plate and Cody's as well, the husband giving Jenny a little tug on her butt as she passes him. She scolded him in a whisper.

"Not in front of my Spence."

Apparently, the husband had more to say as she walked off.

"Yeah Spencer, no style, but one with all funds for a women's closet!" Cody spoke loud enough for Jenny to hear him as she balancing the dishware into the kitchen. A moment alone for the two guys led to Spencer asking,

"So Cody, how many kids you have?"

Cody finished his small glass of wine, smacking his lips. "Only one." A slight expression of dark satisfaction appeared from his left eye briefly.  "An adopted boy."

Adopted? Spencer was eager to know more before Jenny's return.

"Does he have any friends?" Spencer asked.

Cody laughed, "A kid that shy, doesn't need friends, he's too busy keeping the house clean and the work lives of my two maids, easy." Cody said. Spencer only saw one maid in the house so far.

"Two maids?" Spencer questioned.

"Yeah, the one who cooks and cleans, and my wife." Cody laughed. This time some of the dark humor got to Spencer, the boy giggling shortly.

"So, he's adopted?" Spence asked further.

The man blinked smugly, "Jenny thinks her baby was switched during her stay at the hospital. She refuses to believe that a boy came out of her rather than a girl. I didn't pay the extra mountain of fees for us to see our baby's ultrasound anyways. Saved me a mint."

The conversation then took a morbid turn. Cody fathomed about Spencer's sexual relationship with his annoying wife. From the boy's point of view, Cody and Jenny acted too much like a sister and brother who can't stand each other.

"So amish boy? Been shacken it with Jenny lately?" Cody chortled. Spencer was confused about the word 'shacken'. "Have you been beating her bald bush, really making her satisfied?" Cody began to smile seriously. "She can be real a-n-a-l about her self image too, but knowing you, she'll have the fill she can long for, am I right? He he heh"

Spencer was at a loss with the lot of new slang terms Cody was throwing his way. I guess he wants to know how my apprenticeship is going with Jenny? "I've been learning a lot of fashion skills from Jenny, she's been a real inspiration for my creativity Mr. Harcomb." Spencer said completely oblivious to Cody's line of erotic questioning.

The husband suddenly replied with a "Oh, good to hear that" attitude and innocent expression to his face. It fooled Spencer, the boy's guard was down because he was happy to know it pleased the well to do husband.

When Jenny brought Spencer's food, her husband wanted to speak to Jenny privately about a few finances in his office.

"Jenny babe, you been made some more purchases from another company again?" He said. Jenny was hoping that Cody wouldn't notice her shopping in stores he didn't own, shame they would always show up on her husband's tab. When the two left Spencer in peace to enjoy his second round of dinner, he stood up as soon as they left his sights, leaving his plate untouched. Going into the kitchen doors, the area smelled of fresh pine salt, he picked up Cody's finished plate and a clean set of silverware. Heading back to his seat in the dining room, he quickly replaces his full plate with Mr. Harcomb's, giving the expression that he finished his seconds.

Spencer walked silently to the room he best assumed was the shy boy's. He figured that the only door that remained shut was his. Lightly knocking with the hot plate in hand, clean silverware, and napkins too, the boy gently opened the door. Seeing Spencer holding a plate of food for him behind his mother's back, worried him.

"Here, please eat and return the dishes to the kitchen without your parents knowing." Spencer said, offering the filling meal.

"I... I don't... want mother to be... angry with me." The boy shied away.

This brought a tear to Spencer. Angered, he walked right into the shy boy's room and sat the plate on his study desk in the dark.

Kneeling down to the boy's eye level on one knee. He spoke.

"I notice that your mother and father have no real love for you. At the very least, when I'm here, I want you to be treated justly. So please, eat." The slightest sound of a door opening and closing came from the other end of the hallway. "I must go now." Spencer headed back.

Before leaving the shy boy's room, he looked back at the boy sitting at his desk doing what Spencer asked, putting table etiquette as habit nearing to begin his meal.

Spencer asked for the boy's name. "What's your name?"

The shy boy looks back at Spencer, answering him, "Gus... tavo Sir."

Spencer in a moment of heartache for the boy's upbringing says "Gustavo, I'll protect you." he says, leaving to return to his seat.

Minutes later, Jenny arrives back. Seeing the lad with a finished plate, pleased her.

"Tastes good, huh Spencer?"

"It sure did Jenny. Thank you for you hospitality."

Jenny sits right on the table next to the empty plate that is actually Mr. Harcomb's finished plate. She peers down Spencer's polo shirt with one finger, then raises the boy's pretty chin, raising her own eye brow.

Spencer expresses a displeased brow back. "Mrs. Harcomb, no doubt you want to do it here. What better place to do it but here, especially with your son, so nearby?"

A sexual grin of satisfaction smiled from Jenny's beautiful modeling face. Her with little makeup touch up was appealing. "I want you, Spencer Masonius, to make me feel good as always, but this time..." She places both hands on Spencer's nice silky grey hair, turning his head right at the floor carpet, "where my little brat Gustavo can pick up after us." Spencer expressed a peeved look as the monster of a mother, Jenny continued, "So you're going to cuddle with me all over this soft carpet and my pathetic son is going to clean it up with his bare hands." Spencer wasn't believing the words that spewed out of this mother's mouth. "Think of it, as our gift, to show my son that he's such a piece of eggplant shit. I'll even kiss my, son I never had, than even accept my real son as any legitimate child of mine."

Spencer thought to himself. And he I was, enamored by Jenny's willingness to accept my fashion as the successor to her, but this... sexual tension of hers, is starting to become annoying. "I see that Mr. Harcomb is fine with you doing this. Furthermore, he rather enjoys poking fun at his son as much as you do Jenny." Spencer said in a composed look.

Jenny's smile shortened, she thought she would have gotten more of a disturbed look out of Spencer, but it seems that the tall boy still respected her.

"You sure do accept me for being me, don't you Spence?"

"I accept fashion, Jenny, as long as you can teach me, that is." Spencer warned.

Jenny chuckled, pushing the empty plate aside, she ran the smooth edges of her fingers around Spencer's ears and lifted her leg up and round him, sitting herself in front of Spencer, giving him the nicest look of her lower body view, her dress skirt ruffled back.

"I cuddle with you frequently Spencer, you boost my fashion modeling career to the top three hottest women in Liberty City, and I invited you to my house, fed you a very hearty meal, just so I can have you kiss me all over the floor, making carpet stains that my dumb, idiot son will clean up in the morning. Why does this not offend you?"

Spencer again reiterates his previous intentions from the beginning. "Like I told you before, fashion is what interests me, Jenny. I'm here to bring back useful insights of my own to my homeland. I see that many fashion models out there build themselves well on trends and niches. You however, popularized yourself on me. Making me into a child model for the city of children and teens to out buy our clothing. I am only offended that our mass produced clothing will soon be in trash landfills around our city and one day, in 3rd world countries.

Jenny frowned at the boy regretfully. "Ohh I should of known that a trip to a clothing factory would make you think this way, but who can blame you?" Caressing the side of Spencer's face, this false mother gets to work kissing to boy's forehead as a start, "I'm going to enjoy this."

Spencer shrugged with an 'oh well attitude.'

"Your all heart, Jenny."

She then proceeded to do her dirty fantasy with Spencer leaving a mess of herself, her amusement, all over the carpeted floor, for her son to pick up.

Only after a few minutes of this did Spencer notice Gus secretly returning his now empty plate and silverware, he sauntered out of the kitchen only to hear the whole conversation between his mother and her apprentice. Not only did Gustavo heard Jenny enjoy herself all over Spencer, he saw his own mother pleased by Spencer's care he was providing her with. He took note that the tall boy never once took advantage of her, if fact Gus morbidly smiled as he understood that Spencer only served as the crutch for his mother's role as a model. Jenny always talking about how Spencer is always there for him, how he benefits her more as a son than he ever did for her.

Gustavo thinks to himself happily. He's a servant to mother, giving her what she wants; I can't even do that? Yet, mother is happy when she treats me so by him. Gustavo smiles at Spencer, the tall boy, eyeing the shy boy with empathy for his mother's misdeeds as Gustavo ambled back to his room and into bed, dreaming, routinely, of how much of a disappointment he'll inevitably be to his parents.

Chapter 7: Surprise Surprise

Over the next week, Spencer continued being under Jenny's antics. At the very least, throughout the fashionable time Spencer spent with her, he received all her knowledge about modeling, tips and tricks on his designing, and a full culture awareness of Liberty City. The two would go make the headlines as the most beautiful son and mother couple Liberty City's ever seen.

A week prior to the tremendous success, Spencer worked on a project in his study at studio. Consisting of multiple scraps of blueprints and drafts, he envisioned a new style of combative armor which would enrich the audiences appeal of Amadeus within the arenas of Gladia. This involved a special blacksmith known as Mits, who's very apprentice will have a shot at aiding in the foundation of new armors to come. Spencer's father, Hemonius, is very good friends with Mits's family of professed smithers. Luckily for Spence, he doesn't have to wait for his return to Gladia to create the new look for Amadeus. Many stores across Liberty City housed venders of armor. Some of them expertly skilled in custom fitted protection and others well connected with special suppliers.

To make progress with his project plans, he'll must visit these venders. Spencer must request Jenny's permission to have a personal driver, preferably Duhfee, drive him to these locations. This particular driver likes the teen, being more inclined to keep to himself, the whereabouts of Spencer's travels from Cody and Jenny.

Tucking away the drafted sketch design work in his desk, Spencer hears Jenny coming in through the front door of the studio flat. She was on the phone with her fashion team.

"I'm telling ya, it's gonna sell big. They'll love us in PJ's." Her chatting hints at Spencer's next modeling gig with what the hot mom will be. Seeing her apprentice, she briefly ends her call. "I'm turning out for the day, keep those dresses selling." Spencer had seated himself on the sofa couch, relaxing. "Spence! How's my precious boy doing?" Jenny approached the teen wiggling his crossed over leg.

"I've been wondering Jenny." Spencer said with a head tilt towards the glass ceiling window, displaying the dimmed orange sky of the evening sun.

"Yeah?" Jenny sat next to Spencer cuddling up to him, submissively.

"Can I afford a personal driver of my own?"

"Afford one? Oh you can practically get any driver you wanted." Jenny smooched on his neck. Spencer has become so desensitized by Jenny's sexual antics, he's buffed his mind of arousal by her.

"I liked to have Duhfee drive me from now on." He proposed. Jenny was curious as to why.

"Oh tell me baby, why do you want a personal driver?" She said, beginning her usual play with Spencer hair and arms.

"I can see that he's busy driving you around Liberty City, along with Cody from time to time. If it could be necessary? I'd like to hire him out for my curious travels about Liberty." Spencer said building up his courage slowly.

"Mmmm, perhaps, it's not much to cover the charges for another driver. You've been making a quiet a bit of royalties so far and making me richer too." She ultimately agrees then, "I don't care what you do, just keep me entertained and my pockets a flowing." She sat on Spencer cowgirl style, really working to cuddle up to him nice and snuggled. "I feel like taking a nap on you, big boy. Now cuddle up." Whispering in Spencer's ear, the boy obeyed his mentor, thoughts of his uncle telling him to do what the wild model wanted, reminded him.

Guess Duhfee can look forward to driving me around now. Spencer thought as his head was pulled to Jenny's. She was pouring herself with joy, having a blast with the Gladian boy, kissing him intimately. She stripped her top off naked.

"This is gonna be a good one Spence. Think of all the teen girls who want to kiss your brains out but can't because their not as hot as me!" She moaned stupendously. Spencer was just focusing on making this gal satisfied already. The feeling was close, Jenny pulled off his shirt, ready to molest his naked chest.

It was then, that Spencer noticed Amadeus coming through the ajar front door. His eyes opened wide in shock, the gladiator's entrance was unexpected. Jenny was all over the nephew. Amadeus slammed the door closed behind him. Startling the daylights out of her. Amadeus gawked at Jenny through his shiny helmet's caged holes.

"So, this is where my nephew's fashion has lead him? Being preoccupied your married body Jenny?" He scolded.

Jenny quickly gasped and reached for her clothes, covering her breasts and a little bit of her nakedness. She ploped off of Spencer's handsome figure, putting it in view of his Uncle. Spencer remained where he was at, calm, collective, and somehow impressed at the boy's upper body being exposed to his uncle's presence.

"Masonius! What a surprise to see us like this!" Jenny exclaimed, fixing herself up. Amadeus only leaned on to the wall next to them, crossing his arms, spear and spear sheathed behind him.

"Why bother fixing yourself up? You're practically naked with my brother's son in all those bikini magazines you promote so much about." The uncle mocked.

Jenny stopped what she's doing, eyeing the menacing warrior.

Amadeus approaches her, dominating the room with his height. "Well?"

Jenny winched at him as he drew his gladius sword. "Tailing missions make it easy to stalk my prey, but this hunt has more than we bargained for."

"Uhh? What could I say?" She quickly puts the blame on Spencer. "Your nephew's the one who wanted it. He pretty much raped me! Thank god you came by when you did!"

The sword gleamed over Jenny's eyes, this shut her up. The uncle wasn't having any of it, since the beginning.

"Sure, darling, thank god!" Even Amadeus is sick of the pet names. "If you expect me to believe that my nephew enjoys you, all cuddled up to him. I would have saw it a long time ago. He only enjoys getting taught fashion from a bitch whose still worth her wits, for now, it seems." He slashes the lamp stand on the table next the couch, electricity spasming out from the sliced wiring as it tumbled to the ground. Jenny held back a scream with both hands on her mouth. "A bitch that he does very well to be pleasured for more fashion lessons." He points the blade to her beautiful face. "But yet, I see that he's having nothing more to learn from you."

Jenny panicked and attempted to console the disgruntled fighter. "Masonius dear, remember when we first met, I always imagined us being fashionable together, but you denied me that. So when your nephew showed up, I naturally took it as a chance to fulfill my longing desire with a relative of yours."

Amadeus felt irritated by her remarks. "I, do not, like you, anymore." Lifts one of her pigtails by the tip of the blade. "Let this be a warning Jenny, the sound of a gladiator dropping you to the ground, sounds much different than a stack of your Liberty City's finest fashion magazines." Amadeus unfacetiously sheathed his gladius.

By this time, Spencer's sixteen year old aroused mind began to calm from his uncle's vivid warning. Masonius couldn't help but take note of his nephew's physique. "Redress yourself!" He barked, Spencer quick to instruction, picked up his shirt and wore it, buttoning his pants. The fed up uncle kept an eye on Jenny who remained on her side of the room while Spencer tucked his shirt in. The boy's mind raced with deductive reasoning as to his uncle's overreaction on threatening the harmless woman.

"Come nephew! We can talk about this on the way back home. Jenny! You have had your fun with my kin long enough!"

Holding her clothing to her naked upper body, Jenny was just as angered by Amadeus as he was. "I can assure you gladiator that I hadn't!" Her crude remark paused the fighter shoving Spencer close to the door. The gladiator stomped towards Jenny as if to kill her, withdrawing his pugio dagger from his cingulum militare leather belt. "He's worth more and more to me, the longer he be's with me." She stated with a smirky smile, this halts the gladiator dead in his tracks. "And since the crowd calls for it! You'd must honor it! It's what you gladiators do!" Jenny backed herself to the wall.

Amadeus, with a canny glance to Spencer asks "How large?".

Spencer, wanting to savor the surprise beforehand, reveals it anyway. "A few... million."

Amadeus sheaths his dagger utterly impressed. "By golly, a few million?" "You're going to get the family thrilled." He says in whisper, glaring back at Jenny whose happily working up a comeback. "You out of everyone, must realize how shameful it'll be if you were to disappoint the largest crowd of your life." Jenny now approaches Amadeus. "Especially one of foreigners to your kind."

The uncle growls at his precarious position, but must humble himself. "So it is." He hisses at Jenny, returning towards his nephew. " I had an inkling of this happening, but nowhere at this ridiculous scale. Come along now Spencer! We need to talk." Amadeus said, the two storming out of the studio.

The uncle and nephew walk the concrete streets of Liberty City in the brisk early night, Spencer pondering gloomily if his fashion deductions about Amadeus are wrong.

"Uncle? Were you really going to kill Jenny back there?" He said.

"No." The uncle had his cloak on, masking much of his figure when out and about.

"But I saw your emotions and direct intentions." Spencer pressed on. Amadeus stopped. The two crossed many alleyways. These quiet backstreets were where fewer pedestrians roamed. The tall fighter turned to corner of a dumpster, as the nephew glanced over in curiosity all of sudden. "Found something?" He asked. The uncle remained huddled in a corner obstructing whatever it was that preoccupied the man. The sound of splashing water erupted from behind dumpster, making the nephew ever more curious. "Uncle? What is it?" Spencer's curiosity got the better of him. Amadeus was urinating. Spencer embarrassed, backed away in laughter. The uncle laughed as well.

"I found me a little pits stop, as the locals put it. Haha ha." Spencer was too amused and very stunned by the matter.

"I could have sworn I heard a facet being turned on over there." Spencer said looking away respectfully, still giggling.

"Ain't much difference when you look at it boy. Facets shoot water and, hehe ha, mine does too." The man giggle as he rearranged himself comfortable in his undergarments wraps, now beginning the answer to his nephew's question eariler. "Look child, I am an entertainer of the crowds. Making interactions seem believable, is a gladiator's specialty, especially combative ones." The uncle stared at his nephew, understanding his ploy. The two didn't have much to discuss of Jenny yet as they arrived back to their safe home rather quickly. Around the Newport District apartments housed the populace with stores and business occupying the first floors. The stressed uncle wanted to discuss the event over an indoor spa center next to their safe house. Amadeus frequents the center to relive his sores and wounds in a jetted pool the size of a circular oversized hot tub. Walking in through the finely dark wooded doors, the gladiator goes passed the finer glassed in doors into the vast dinning apartment business.

A Vietnamese gentleman greets Amadeus from a distance within the neatly decorated restaurant. "Hi ter!" The elder gentleman waved happy to see the fighter. "Pweese pweese come hin Saigon Corner!" Amadeus explained to Spencer that when he first arrived in Liberty City, the elderly man's restaurant and spa business was in constant threat of vandals, thieves, and drug dealers. Some of his first contract bounties originated in the area, scaring away local mobsters.

"Now my employer runs this part of town and the serious criminals think twice on planning a hit in these parts, lest they want to be my next targets." Amadeus said as the elder man approached the two. He had thick glasses hanging from his untucked French ornate woolen overcoat. Wrinkles were not as defined on the face from a distance, but up close, it revealed his ripe wise age.

Hardly any balding hair for such an elder. Spencer thought.

The man ambled closer. Taking one shakey hand to puts on his thick lenses, he immediately made out the cloak of Amadeus and elegantly bowed slowly. The gladiator pulled his hood down, revealing the glamorous helm, bowing back with the much the same manner and ease. Soon after, the man opened his arms in a grateful welcome gesture.

"Swir Maz-yo-nee-us! Tow her want for yer usuyal?" The elder questioned in his very broken English.

"Yes Mr. Saigon. The usual."

Seeing Spencer, Mr. Saigon turned to Amadeus asking. "Twos he?"

"Um, he's my nephew." The uncle said in hopes he'd understand. Saigon stroked the stubble hairs under his neck.

"Swo he yir neigh bor? Pwhy he ive eer?" The elder questioned, but before Amadeus could give a corrected response  Saigon spoke up. "Okay en, he pay." Saigon assumed. Amadeus tried correcting him.

"No Mr. Saigon. He's my nephew, my brother's son."

Saigon pull an assortment of brochure cards that offered services of many kinds. He showed them to Spencer.

"Ywou hawnson oy rom fas ee on. Gree gan otters wov yor zeens. Eer pwace pwenty ouf tu iking." Saigon's communication may be botched, but the tall boy knew what he meant. Amadeus chuckled.

"Even the geezer's great granddaughters love your fashionable presentation, nephew." The uncle said, sorta clearing the old man's statements to the tall boy.

Taking a browse of the many brochures, Spence just picked one out of the blue. Saigon took it and ambled back to his front desk, creating a ticket.

"What'd you pick?" Amadeus inquired.

"I don't really know, uncle, but what I do know, is this will be enough to cover it all." Spencer discreetly pulled a bill from a wad of 100 dollar bills on his person.

Surprised, the gladiator smirked, "It can't be more than one of those nephew." Amadeus advised, trusting the old man will stay honest with his fees.

A bell rings as soon as Saigon returned by to gesture the two on following him. Entering in a large corridor, Amadeus recognized the layout of the building, where as Spencer was alarmed by the multitude of rooms they were entering into. The rugged building appeared simple enough from the outside, but within, it mazed out to many corridors. They finally arrive to a hallway where the humility levels are much grander than the previous ones. It felt tempting to just let off the clinging clothes on Spencer's back and walk around naked. Saigon reached into his fuzzy coat, retrieving a set of brass keys. Unlocking the blackened room, the dim soft white lighting revealed a luxurious jacuzzi, grounded in the floor. A staircase followed into the stilled, water a few inches leveled from full saturation. The room had a cabinet counter setup with benches and clothing racks for its guests belongings. The elder man flipped a few switches on the wall to produce the flow of jet streams in the pool. He went and withdrew a basket inside a cabinet. Standing over the bubbling pool, he began opening the cans in the basket. With a wooden ladle, he meticulously poured parts of each powdered can into the pool. Spencer noticed different colored substances that sizzled into the pool with each pouring motion. Finishing swiftly, he returned his supplies into the cabinet.

"Twis uzawal." The elder says in the same bowing manner.

"Thank you Mr. Saigon." Amadeus said, elegantly bowing back. Spencer holds his payment to Saigon out in front of him. The wise old man puts his thick lenses back on to inspect closer.

"Oaw! Yo pay nuw? Tanks tanks!" Saigon unbuttons his wool overcoat. From underneath, a golden metallic ornate coin dispenser fastened itself around the elder's belt. Beside it, the man's billfold clipped on to the leathery belt. Receiving the bill, the man went to withdraw the change back. Spencer took heed of this, placing a hand on the elder's dispenser. This halted Saigon's progress. Spencer did not attempt to speak to the man, rather a friendly smile and a wave was enough to communicate the boy's generous gesture. The elder man held a twenty dollar bill in one hand still.

"Yu no want yo chenge nack?" Saigon asked reluctant. Spencer nodded in agreement. "Oery weel en. Eenhoy yer tim her, Spwence." Saigon bowed, Spencer did the same, feeling strange about the courteous gesture. Amadeus chuckled by the elder's knowledge of Spencer's fashion name. The elder smiled and headed out, leaving the door unlocked and the small rectangular blurred windows opened to ventilate the collecting steam. Hanging his hefty cloak on a clothing rack, Amadeus proceeded to remove all his gear, situating them on a bench. The uncle glared at his nephew just staring at his healed up scars and wounds.

"Well don't just idle there, boy. The pool is large enough for eight." He said, working to unbuckle his shin greaves. The nephew proceeded to strip down to his undergarments.

Amadeus chortled, "What is that around your loins, boy?"

Spencer wore a new fashion dark grey colored compression undergarments that wrapped around his bottom nicely, the boy's privates were tucked neatly and lightly protruding the front. The question made Spencer rosy around the cheeks.

"These, are new fashion underwear for boys my age, uncle." Spencer replied.

"Let me guess. A few thousand of your fans buy those?" Amadeus said mockingly.

"Right around five thousand sold a bit of a week ago." Spencer said with a little swag about him. Amadeus humphed to himself, finding it difficult for Gladians to wear these undergarments. "Don't fret, uncle," Spencer added, "I wouldn't want Gladia wearing these anyways. Or much of this cultures wears anyhow." Spencer read his uncle's mind well from time to time at least.

Amadeus was stripped down to his loin wrappings and to Spencer's anticipation, the fighter removed them as well. The uncle was beneath the common dignity of Gladia's regular citizens. He showed his genitals and bare bum freely.

A common tradition that is known about the family of Masonius, is shaving. Grooming is part of their fashion rituals. The women shave their arms, legs, and everywhere, meanwhile the men shave their beards, thorax region, loin section, and commonly their hair if they are warriors.

Amadeus's feet slapped on to the dark diamond patterned floor, neatly tiled. Entering into the pool, the sore gladiator groans gratefully. The uncle rested himself, back against the smoothened marbled edges of the pool that rounded themselves towards the hard tiled flooring. It was now Spencer's turn to take off his undies and show no fear just like Amadeus. Pulling them down, his limp pecker wiggled lifelessly. The feeling of control and confidence left him abruptly. Instinct took hold to the adolescent hiding his privates with two hands.

"Heh heh he heh hum. What happened to your courage boy?" Amadeus's laugher was calm and soft. The pool's bubbling surface relaxing the warrior.

Spencer said nothing, collecting his thoughts. In a deep breath, he let his hands off his weiner, placing them behind his tailbone, shyly making his way to the jacuzzi's staircase. The cold titled floor send goosebumps on his toes despite the humid room's warmth. Spencer's awkwardness didn't help with Amadeus giving him a hard look all the way through. The teen's feet touched the vibrant surface of the waters, bathing his chilled feet with welcoming relive. Stepping further in, Spencer began to feel the pool's mesmerizing effects in no time. His shoulders began to relax. Once the waters reached his abdomen he felt at peace, positioning himself in much the same manner like his uncle across from him. The salts of the bath seeped into his pores, moisturizing them, adding a melody of sensations that slowed the heart's anxieties and bloomed with ease.

Amadeus loosed his sights on the boy's lowering fear, reminiscing of his own youth as a gladiator child battling through the prerequisites stages of life. "What you just gone through, I had to face every day growing up."

Spencer fathomed the his own sheltered life of privacy.

"I definitely had it much more dignified and noble than you, uncle." Spencer rubbed his hair, moistening his head with a helpings of water. A moment passes with the two not saying a word. Amadeus, in a long breathed sigh, breaks the silence of sizzling bubbles erupting from across them.

"Haaawwwgh, Jennnnnny." He muttered in a defeated tone, too wound up with the fashion model's devious nature. Spencer opened up the awkward conversation with a look of disappointment. He should have let his uncle know of Jenny's antic the moment she overstepped long ago.

"She's been doing that sort of thing the entire time I was under her."

Amadeus became more annoyed. "And yet she's a married woman on top of all that, who would of thought." The man turns to rest his arms on the pools edge, back turned to his nephew. "How do you reckon her from the start, lad?" He asked. Spencer became felt morbid after realizing it. "I guess, I loved the idea of this new world of fashion, very grand the way these foreigners put it." Spencer began to let his light figure body float, legs stretched out under the water in front of him. It filled him with wonder. "Uncle, Jenny will soon be the hottest model in Liberty City. When she does, I'll be in for a lot more shenanigans she has in stored."

Amadeus sighed with dis-ease. "I can only look back at what our family had to work for to impress the crowds of Gladia, to where you now, impressing the masses of foreigners by the millions, they have no idea who you are."

Spencer closed his eyes, hoping the day to return to Gladia would soon arrive. "We all do our part to bring fashion into Gladia's people." The nephew said.

Amadeus closed his eyes too. Pondering his past. He felt it an amicable time to tell Spencer the fashionable upbringing of the Masonius family. "Let me entertain you with the story of our family's heritage Spencer."

Amadeus's mind flutters back in time. A time when he was just a child.

It was the worldly year of 1980, gladiator training barely commenced for the ten year old child. He had bruises, sores, and blisters from his hands and feet. His father Arkham of Markarth, bathed him in a tub of cold water. It was the only relief from heat's intensive training outdoors. Growing up, Amadeus had his mother Nautalia care for him. His much older brother Hemonius attended school in the Nobilium District with their ant, Francesca, accompanying her close. For the young gladiator boy, he asked his father an all to common coincidence that caught his early mind.

"Father, does all our family of Masonius have... fortunate faces?"

Father Arkham replied to his boy's question with a pat on soapy water to his bald head, polishing off gravel and dirt. "Yes my child, the Masonius family has a heritage of fashion for Gladia. Most people recognize our wears. I met your mother at an orphanage. Our matching facial features led others to tease us as brother and sister. In all actuality, her parents were killed off by ravenous beasts lurking the borders of Gladia. These horrid monsters shown their strength and might in numbers. The last Emperor wanted to make sure all border settlements were defended by these lethal lands of such savagery. If we failed to subdue them, Gladia could be thinned of fighters to protect the metropolis."

Finishing the bathing of Amadeus, he lifted the naked boy's sore body onto a cot, drying him, then wrapping up his scraped wounds. "You're mother was a slave alongside me for a same ludus owner we fell under. This man's entire family of ancestors stemmed off of lanistas. This is their heritage and he was nearing ripe older age. He saw me and your mother as a pair of slaves that should personally serve his eldest son, a child in lanista training. My father served under the old man and I now serve the son. When I served this son, his father made sure I fell under him as one of five other sons whose fathers were gladiators that served the same retiring lanista as well. All six of us were children, five personal slaves to one son, who would one day become a rare headmaster lanista. The kid personally bargained to put the orphaned slave girl as my caretaker when I entered gladiator schooling by age fourteen. Over time, the son figured that our striking similar facial features would interest us in a bonding relationship. So he placed us in the same lodging."

The child Amadeus placed on his garment lion cloth. It was all the boy wore in the heat of the days. "What made your child owner want that?" He asked his father.

Arkham drained the water from the tub, which disappeared into a drain hole in the ground. "He must have thought it wrong for two cute kids not to grow up liking each other, then going as far as them having children of their own." This raised further questions for child Amadeus.

"What made you want to have children with mother?" He probed.

Arkham didn't hide anything from Amadeus. "It was something that she wanted; she saw her maiden name of Masonius as a trademark saying for Gladiator Fashion as she calls it. Slowly but surely, she made your older brother embrace such a vision. Creating the Masonius name into a fashion statement in the arenas of Gladia. My role as the first father of the family, is to spark words of influence about our clothing offerings to Gladia's people. Your mother's little baby sister, fell in love with your older brother as a testament to what your mother and I had to go through as children. She saw our first son as a man to serve by his side until death. Just like the slave mentality, but with her eagerness to serve her beautiful sister's descendant. Your mother and I were raised together like husband and wife. Now my wife envisioned a fashionable time with the last of the family she has left."

The mind of Amadeus slowly faded itself to present time, the nephew and uncle relaxed in their perspective ends of the jacuzzi. Silent clicks of the elegant grandfather clock situated in a corner, struck half past nine. The two only spent less than ten minutes in the pool by now.

Spencer peered over at his uncle, simply pleased for the warrior he's become over his livelihood. "Well I got to say Uncle, you brought fame and fortune to the Masonius family for the longest time. What made you want to be a gladiator, just like grandfather?" Spencer said crossing his legs under the water.

The uncle gazed at his nephew with glee, "I wanted to expand our purpose. Being a gladiator wasn't enough for me. I sought to bring to the crowd something meaningful to their eyes. Something that they can cry out for, over and over again. I was eager to see if you'd learn something from this world of foreigners, that tastes for fashion would inspire you. But it seems like the opposite is true, this world of foreigners are learning from your fashion tastes. You're in control of your end of fashion as Jenny is hers. The millions of fans prove it." Amadeus said.

"Indeed uncle." Replied Spencer.

"Now nephew, I understand if your time spent with Jenny has landed her to very well become the hottest model in Liberty City. But what might your talents make of our small family back home?"

Spencer didn't quite know what to expect. His talents have risen exponentially since his arrival to this strange world. "I believe it's time uncle. That I return to Gladia and shared word with our experiences to our family. I'm planning to do so when Jenny finally breaks the record modeling career, securing herself as the hottest model in Liberty City. I have a few fashion designs that are sure to guarantee that."

"Just remember nephew, her sexual tensions are to belong to her husband. If she makes anymore advances on you, please be sure to tell me." Amadeus awkwardly mentioned. "Let the blasted woman stay loyal to her husband for a change."

Spencer smiled knowing the truth about Jenny and Cody. "Uncle, it's indeed an unfortunate set of circumstances that we both have on Jenny Harcomb. Her husband is not for her, neither is she." Spencer's knowabouts of the two didn't surprise Amadeus, the uncle seemed to be concerned about matters happening at home too.

"I've heard from my elder brother, apparently your siblings are being tempted by many fashionable boys in Gladia. What do you make of that?"

Spencer smiled. "I chatted with them girls for hours most nights, uncle. All three of them agreed, that the only boys they would ever consider sexually mingling with, are those with more fashionable desire than mom. All three of my younger sisters embrace mom's craving to spread the Masonius name. They can't do that with just any boy, no matter how cute or handsome they are. Besides, no Gladian boy would forgo their masculine name over their partner."

Amadeus tilted his head back, finding some hope in life to return to his haven soon. "It will be challenging, some of those boys are starting to pedal their own fashion brands to entice your sisters, you know how active they are for an intimate relationships." Amadeus said looking up to see his nephew's reaction. The nephew's face says it all, a competitive look on his eyes. A look that the uncle only ever saw in his father when an ultimate gladiatoric challenger was coming. "Those boys can come up with all sorts of ideas, designs, and trends to publicize their lust for Julia, Ruby, and Tia. When I'm done here, I'll wish to see how they compare to the Masonius new minimum standard." Spencer claimed.

"Then we shall indeed see their fruits of their labor, boy. Help Jenny win over her crowd and let's head back to Gladia. My work here in Liberty City is done for a grand ole while. Our host Mr. Sionis will send men to take us back to the tropical jungles. They'll do so on my call anytime I want it."

The hallway was quiet throughout the little time Spencer and Amadeus spent in the pool. Then multiple muffled pattered footsteps came from with the carpeted hall. Saigon returned, this time with two other figures, cloaked in the same manner as was Amadeus.

"Twhats thy oy ho me gree gran otters luv." Saigon gestured towards Spencer. "Enhoy yur say eer." The old man left once more. Spencer couldn't believe that Ixion and Acolytus came, the two over them battered with smudges to their robe wear.

The red plated armored gladiator shed his cloak, throwing it on a coat rack. His armor extended from each one of his shoulders to his wrists. His greaves extended near to his thighs. A heavy secutor gladiator with a extremely dangerous mallet of hammer, thorned with metal teeth, able to void armor, cracking bone. Acolytus gracefully removed his cloak, hanging it next to Ixion's on the rack. The thin pale skinned man had little to no armor but the retiarius fish helmet for protection. His left arm was caped with his fishing net and the three pronged trident, fastened to his now hung cloak.

"Xizor Ixion. What a pleasant surprise." Amadeus greeted his best friend and rival gladiator challenger.

"Good evenings Amadeus. Taking your vacation early then?" Ixion greeted as he removed his arm guards and blood stained red greaves.

The brute left his face plate armor on. Even more scars and wounds surrounded the sector than the Hoplomachus. For his cingulum, an dark red undergarment matched similarly to the briefs underwear but thicker and slightly baggy. The dark toned gladiator removed it, revealing his hairy genitalia. Spencer's gaze shifted away from the menacing warrior's cock as he stepped into the pool.

"Your boy isn't familiar with common indecency for us gladiators bathing?" Ixion muttered scoldingly to Amadeus.

"Leave the noble boy be, Xizor. He's has lived a privileged life of relieving himself and washing himself privately." Amadeus argued back.

Acolytus glanced over to the boy when such a remark was said. The net man only had a lion cloth to his body with the exception of some undie wrappings like Amadeus and some grassy feet wrappings around the tall figure's ankles. He proceeded to remove them, his demeanor of shameful nudity a little off by the looks of it. Scars and wounds were nearly missing on the man, save for small ones around the center of his back. Removing his helmet, Spencer saw an interestingly groomed man. Head covered with soft light brown hair suiting the squirrelish identity about him. His two front buck teeth made for quite a remarkable handsome man, very fine for the magazines, Spencer thought. Acolytus's genitalia was clean shaven, much like a male in the Masonius family would be. It strangely made the man more likeable to Spencer for how weirdly relatable he was. The retiarius's feet pattered on the cold floor as he lighty splashed into pool's staircase, joining the party of bubbly relaxation.

Spencer smiled, knowing it strange to be surrounded by naked gladiators, in a jetted pool, from a different land, unknown to Gladia.

"Sir Amadeus?" Acolytus asked with a stern look at Spencer.

"Yes Leo?" Amadeus replied.

"It seems were out of work again. All three of us." Leo said.

"Indeed, seeing to head back to Gladia then, retiarius?" Amadeus asked.

"With Xizor, yes." Leo said.

Xizor rested his arms on the edges of pool. "This is a very relaxing location, that old guy has an vested interest on hospitality for his protectors." Xizor states.

"For what Mr. Sionis wanted, it was an extra award for all of us. So let's enjoy it while we can." Amadeus said.

Leo's stern look switches to that of a thankful gentleman, "Your boy here has taken the liberty of buying us dinner at the indoor restaurant here. In a VIP booth room aswell."

"Oh has he now?" The uncle said smirkishly.

Xizor picked at a loose scab on his arm, "Yeah, the old man was very eager on having us dining here for some reason or another."

Spencer must have given enough money to Saigon to book an entire meal for Amadeus and himself, along with two more guests apparently.

After another twenty minutes of bathing the four dried and clothed themselves. Saigon waited at the end of the hall to guide the group to their restaurant seats.

"Qwikly twis ay, pwease pwease?" He happily said.

What's made him so happy? Spencer thought to himself.

Mr. Saigon brought his guests to a banquet; a private room where a dinning table laid populated with food for four. The gladiators looked at the buffet of meats, breads, wines, veggies, and fruits for them. Amadeus was first to speak.

"Uh fellas, who we fighting in the ring tomorrow?" The gladiators laughed, so did Spencer. It was common ancestral tradition for the original gladiators to be served the best feasts the night before their fatal fight in the arenas for the very oncoming day. For now, Saigon Corner has dedicated a special commemorable meal for the three gladiators defending the wise old man's business.

"Pwease eet! Bee meuery! Fo yur sav me an me amly!" Saigon praised.

The four glanced at each other.

The brute cracked his knuckles, "I don't know about you guys, it's a sin to let good food go to waste." Xizor remarked as he took his seat, sliding his plated mask above his bald head. Spencer saw a gouging scar bladed across the his entire face. He ate with some use of a utensil but any food that he can finger, he ate with his hands. Acolytus took his seat, properly preparing himself with all the food etiquette manners, afterwords, removing his helmet then finally eating. The image was so strikingly similar to Gustavo's, it jolted Spencer with sudden pondering. It was almost too similar, too exact, too perfect to Gustavo's version when Spencer gave him the chicken fried steak.

Amadeus patted Spencer on the shoulder breaking his attention of the mysterious connection. "Well don't just stand there nephew, let's eat up!" Amadeus said in an uplifting mood. He was happy to feast on a scrumptious dinner of Mongolian beef, fried egg noodles, sauced fried vegetables, and exemplary wine, matching Gladia's makings. Spencer knew his uncle was right, now's the time to enjoy Mr. Saigon's hospitality.

Speaking of which, his own great grand daughters frequently came by to personally see Spencer. The gladiators chuckled at his like aged admirers. The daughters refilled their drinks, showed them their elegant cultured dresses, and offered them gifts of necklaces, rings, and earrings for their special someones.

"Oh thank you little one, but I have no special lady yet." Amadeus said, embarrassed that he had no special women in his life. Then he turned to Spencer, saying, "But my nephew on the other hand?"

The girls Immediately showered him with the most gifts. Spencer did not mind, he had something special to give each one of his sisters and his mother and grandmother when he got home now. A daughter approached Xizor with a neatly crafted red stoned necklace. She presented to the brutal man, the big intimidating gladiator reached with his daunting hand, such a sizeable limp can crush the child's head, yet it palmed the gift, accepting it.

"Thank you girly, my sister and her son will enjoy your treasure." The man muttered gently, pleasing the daughter who ran up to her great grandfather with a wholesome embrace. Acolytus received his gifts eagerly as well, Amadeus wondering who the net man has as his supposed significant other.

"Who do you have waiting for you at Gladia, Leo?" The uncle said.

"No one in particular honestly. Just that these gifts would make grand souvenirs for the Emperor." The retiarius stated, writing in his notepad. Xizor reaches over to flip the paper pad's cover over on itself.

"Emperor's lapdog!" Xizor mocked in a muttering tone as always. "Perhaps if your special someone came to you in the distant future, you have nothing to give to her then!"

Spencer was surprised by the brute of a secutor being earnestly selfless and 100% reasonable. The retiarius took Xizor's words to heart, closing his light brown eyes, tearing the note from him pad and wadding it up in his cloaks inner pocket. The night continued on as Saigon invited his guests to have an entire family gathered event where dancing and festivities took place in the now vacant restaurant and spa center. The gladiators were taken from one part of Saigon's children's family to another. Multiple games, and culture partaking of meditation and ritual dancing took place. The entire business became a family party full of Saigons. The four were baffled and bewildered at the shear amount of Mr. Saigon's family that ran the operations. Amadeus was vivid to see his nephew involved with the many group dances with the old man's great grand daughters of Saigon.

The uncle knew his nephew was observing their clothes and elegant dancing, always the astute observer. Xizor was being tested by his alarming strong grip strength on crushing unripe jack fruit. The spiky harden shell gave way to the gladiator's hand effortlessly, yet Amadeus had the hard difficult time on getting the right grip trick. Acolytus enjoyed his time getting to know the older folk who clean and maintain upkeep in the resident occupants' housing in the many floors above them. The idea of having tidyers for some of the residents' living above, interested the retiarius. They charge but a small fee for their services, convenient enough affordability for even some of the tightly budgeted apartment renters. The night went on in a blur as the four engrossed themselves in the Saigon's festivities. Minutes becoming hours as their activities lingered throughout the entire night and hours beyond the early morning.

Part 1.5

Chapter 8: Unfashionably Challenged

Waking at the foot of the bed within the safe house, Spencer rubbed his eyes. The light from outside told the boy it was late morning, nearly the afternoon. Rising out of bed, Spencer's mind vaguely remembered last night. His blood suddenly rushed to his head darkening his senses and vision. Spencer placed a hand on the wall, waiting for his mind to adjust itself back to normal.

Mmmm, I got up too fast, it seems. Spencer's vision came back to him seeing Amadeus passed out on the living room floor, one leg on the couch, the other under the coffee table. Spencer found it humorous. It's not like the hoplomachus to have more than his fill of wine. Now I remember. Spencer thought.

His uncle was introduced to many of Mr. Saigon's century old drinks that the man's greatest ancestors cherished as family heirlooms. The drink must have hit the gladiator like a freight train, it's delectable ancestry must have did the trick. It was also Xizor who handled his liquor the best in a friendly drinking competition against all the male Saigons. It only took longer for the bussing effects to take over the adrenaline fueled fighter until his state is much of what Amadeus's is, currently. Acolytus must have taken the liberty of returning Amadeus and Spencer back to their safe home, he was rather the fitting chaperone. The key number and Mr. Saigon's instructions helped the netman take the passed out uncle and nephew to their apartment rooms safely. Afterwords, the retiarius more likely planned on returning to Gladia with Xizor whenever the brute would sobered up and where ever their safe home would be. Spencer sat on the couch next to his hung over uncle. Seeing the remote on the table, Spencer picked it up. The boy's time with the modern technology of America had him mastering it like second nature by now. The small television stood with a miniature stand eye level to the boy across from him. Turning on the television, the staticing light occured, the fuzzing screen smoothing as it faded up the revealed channel of advertisements. Viewing them for a few minutes, Spencer educated himself on new products and inventions out in the market. Swapping through the channels, he ended up crossing by fashion programs. The illustrious colored display of clothing barraged themselves in camera shots and filmed montages. A few times his own clothing ads showed up. The programs had numerous shots of Jenny modeling in extravagant wears, some that Spencer recognized as his own works. Seems like my skills are surpassing hers. Spencer thought seeing his designs outselling her competitors for the week. Other models soon followed with their own modeling airtime. His portion of the program involved the teenager audiences as he sported neatly decorated jackets, useful cargo pocketed shorts, and even on occasion, the usual compression shorts underwear showcasings. It shied the fashion boy to know hundreds of thousands of kids dig the wear. Then a part of the much younger portion of the program showcased the adorable little Veronica. This nine year old girl has Jenny's eyes on her. Her tomboyish hair with a girl's regular jeans and striped tee shirt, looked nice to Spencer too. Her persona just spelled out "in control and ready to roll." A neat attitude as her niche motto goes.

The display of the girl's success made Spencer remembered all the times he had run ins with the little chick. All of them were when Jenny was strolling the malls with Spencer by her side. The two would exchange the briefest of chats with Veronica before the three would be bombarded with too many bystanders, disturbing their conversations with requests for autographs, q&a's, and interviews. It's strange though, the tall boy is slowly being communicated by the little girl, that he should forsake his mentor's side. That his mastery of fashion is starting to dwindle Jenny's.

Perhaps she's just got complacent. Thought Spencer. Either way, he wasn't going to stand for the girl's challenge on his fashionable deductions.

It was during the conclusion of the program that Amadeus groggly awoke from his slumber on the floor. His helmet sat on the couch cushion next to him. His irritated eyes were mild with crust as he flicked them out.

"Ugh. Boy?" He yawned sorely. "Man did Mr. Saigon insist on passing Xizor and me drinks from his ancestors lives." He chuckled.

Spencer glanced at his uncle with a happy face. "Uncle? We have work to do." Spencer said.

Amadeus's pawky expression showed from his ornament mask's eyeholes, "You would happen to have a target in mind?" He teased.

"Course not. At least not for the hunting down part." Spencer pulled his satchel from in the coffee table, withdrawing a sheet of paper and light ended marker. Amadeus sat up and next to Spencer as the boy explains, "This is what we're going to do in the next few days."

Spencer and Amadeus made plans to support Jenny across multiple shows and fashion tournaments on the rise. Fashion is brewing within the towering city scrappers as more shows keep entertaining big business. With Spencer's keen sense of trends and patterns from his rising opponents, he was putting Jenny a step ahead of the game. The gladiator scouted out much of the population, noting their activities and hobbies, documenting them like the targets he chases, it was the nice change of pace from his normal hunts. Jenny and Spencer would go out in live fashion shows outperforming many photo shoots of themselves. The cunning mother and son duo knew what best wears to present to their crowds as soon as Amadeus made word back to them of which venues held fruits to their success.

Making headway as usual, the anxious new rivals of Jenny's husband, Cody, tried to buy out his wife's career secretly. Many times, the same companies tried to personally negotiate extreme buy out contracts to Spencer where ever and when ever they can separate Jenny from him, which rarely if ever, happens.

Jenny downright tells them off, saying "he's my boy, mine to keep, not yours."

In a weeks time of this routine, Jenny has secured herself as the top three hottest models of Liberty City. Out of hundreds, maybe thousands of others, this is an extraordinary feet to her reputation and income. The spectacular shows and festivals have events sold out from ball games, to music venues, to even awards ceremonies. Jenny and Spencer were a fashion couple to be reckoned with. The fashion boom of Liberty City lead to a special consideration of the city board members hosting an event that would have much of the models and clothing designing companies competing in a friendly tornament.

Liberty City's newly elected Mayor Roger C. Hole announced that the city will host the Lady Liberty event. It's where the entire city votes on ballets as to whose is officially deemed the hottest model of all.

A full weeks of voting will commence and the winner will be crowned Lady Liberty. They will hold a special speech, commemorating Liberty City's reputation and stature as one of the more famous cities to be proud citizens of. Other model companies feel secured for their win. Some believe that Jenny and her "child," Spencer, will take the win by default, while few of the others feel confident enough that other models could win the competition.

On a brisk warm fall November's evening, the clock struck half past six. Amadeus had been relaxing in the bedroom. His nephew came in the apartment scribbling notes and stashing his pad in his chest pocket of his designed striped dawn colored tee shirt. Spencer has been working hard on fathoming fully to defeat any opposition that the fashion boys in Gladia will have in stored.

Tapping the foot of the slumbering fighter, the man's gaze turns to him.

"Uncle, come with me to my personal studio. I have to show you the path to us fashionizing the Masonius family completely in Gladia. Amadeus takes a moment to rub his eyes.

With a porous stretch, the gladiator hummed, "Alright."

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, Amadeus sees that Spencer's limo driver is waiting loyally for the boy and his guest. When Amadeus meets Duhfee for the first time, the man studders at the view of such a intimidating warrior, the old fashion armor still impresses.

Amadeus could only think to himself. Humph, if I'm already this fear worthy, Xizor's much more.

Seeing Spencer, Duhfee immediately opens the passenger door for him, "Hear you are and wow, do you have a big scary bodyguard with you." Duhfee winced.

"Duhfee, this man here is my uncle." Spencer said as Amadeus took a slight arm bow to him.

"I see my nephew has acquired himself a generous driver." The gladiator greets the driver with full name and origin. "Amadeus Masonius of the Domus Nobilium of Gladia." He says holding a hand out. Duhfee slowly reaches to shake it.

"Duhfee Floyd." The uncle's gentle handshake reassures him. "Good to meet you sir." He holds the door for Amadeus, "After you please."

Entering in the lower classed limo, once the driver closes the door, Amadeus turns to Spencer. "He's a new guy for Jenny, I reckon?" Amadeus whispered. Spencer actually chuckled at the fact that Duhfee was now his official driver.

"Was, uncle. Now, he drives for me. This limo isn't Jenny's either. I afforded it with my personal net worth." Spencer tried his best not to boast.

"Well look at you having it made now. Don't let it get you loose." Amadeus patted and rubbed Spencer's head like a pup. "You're a Gladian, born and raised." He said holding Spencer's chin up with a finger. "And a Gladian making a name for himself all the way out here, in these lands? It's unheard of. Best to keep the public whereabouts out of it, right?"

"Oh but of course uncle, I am more inclined to forever belong to Gladia, than this chaotic civilization of wonders." Spencer said, reassuring his uncle.

Kicking back Amadeus had a few personal questions to ask. "Has Jenny been bothering you while you were together once more?"

"Not at all Uncle, she been quite respectful to my personal space since you warned her. Perhaps with all this fashion competition, she has a good excuse to put more of her energy on modeling than on my lap?"

The crude remark amused Amadeus.

"Yeah, I see your point. I don't think I'd like catching her on you ever again, you hear?" He chuckled.

Spencer nodded, but the boy had much to ask about Amadeus in return. "Uncle, I can't help but recall that when you caught Jenny on me, the moment she got of me, my naked upper body caught your eyes alot." Spencer's question reddened his own cheeks after he asked.

Amadeus was as feeling awkward that his nephew had the balls to push such a delicate subject from his observation on the arousal interruption with Jenny.

Amadeus clears his throat. "Your sharp nephew, you might as well know exactly why." The gladiator removes his cloak hood and helmet unveiling his red cheeky guilty conscience. "Perhaps the question should really be, why you, as my nephew would be posing that question to me, when you already know the answer to it." Amadeus puzzled Spencer into awkward silence. His statement was more than just for the fashionably inclined lad. Spencer already deduced much of his uncle's thoughts when the boy wasn't flustered by his fear tactics. The uncle adding furthermore, "I see that I must have flustered you into asking a question, away from reasoning, due to you thinking about my thoughts on my only nephew's adolesent development."

Spencer works up the courage to share his deductive reasoning. Clearing his throat from the frog trying to converse in such a matter, Spencer speaks his mind up. "Uncle, you must already know why I asked then." The two give each other looks of understanding. "You took a liking to me. Not in a homosexual kind of way, but a lustful desire to see me explore my body's development."

Amadeus for the first time in front of Spencer, shied in nodding agreement. It's the exact same shy nod Amadeus gave to Spencer when the boy was just barely a tween in his way early years. The young gladiator student would visit Spencer's young adult father, the elder brother of Amadeus, Hemonius, and the wife, Francesca, who is the auntie of Amadeus also. It made Amadeus so shy to see his little nephew surrounded by three of the most adorable cute loving sisters any boy would die for.

"It's a strange thought nephew, I'd never thought I be in this position with you during our youths in Gladia. I was only a few years into my pre-adolescence when seeing you, as a child, being surrounded by your siblings... it made me feel... not me." Amadeus confessed.

"I remember it too, uncle, I felt a certain, "not me feeling" as well, just seeing you dressed in a young lad's gladiatoral armor. It made me destined to see you in a more appropriate attire. I see now that my grandfather's armor on you is, what should I say? From the past. I want to personally show you a trademark attire you will perform gloriously in front of Gladia's people. It spawned the moment you and I had those, sensual bondings by eyesight. Especially all those very young years ago. I had a feeling that you, grandfather, father, and I really know why we're attracted to our family name. All of our female kin, is thanks to my mother, for she really presented the servitude mindset to father that spread to my sisters." Spencer admitted.

Amadeus agreed. "It no surprise. We, especially our females of the family, prioritize the Masonius legacy."

Parking at the strip mall stores that leads up to Spencer's studio, Amadeus equips his helmet and drapes his cloak hood over it.

"I'll follow you, discreetly." The uncle said. Duhfee quickly goes to open the passenger door, unknowingly releasing Amadeus quickly into a crowd of other few hooded individuals before anyone realized. As Spencer got out, he can only assume that the gladiator blended himself within the strolling middle classed crowds. As the door closed behind the boy, Spencer turns gratefully to his confused driver. Duhfee was sure the large bodyguard was in the back cab somewhere, nevertheless, he was happy to be the tall boy's personal driver.

"Here you go Duhfee, don't spend it all in one place." He said as the tall fashion boy gave two twenty dollar bills to the man.

"Thanks a million! Anytime you need me, just call, really." Duhfee was elated for the large tip sum.

Moving into the store chain of neighboring shops, Spencer made his way through the mall to the elevator station that elevated carts and people to the their desired floors. They're were several of these stationed around the grand mall apartment main floor. Pushing the 8th floor button, the tall boy observed the elevator floor lights counting down to his level. Most people don't take this particular elevator during the early evening of the day, so Spencer was eager for his uncle to come out of hiding, where ever he is, and join the nephew inside when the doors opened. The metal sliding doors parted open, Spencer was shocked to find Veronica with her bodyguard of four men in stylish slacks and crisp ironed dress tops behind the opening stainless steel doors. They wore bowler hats and the embroidery of the word 'security' ran across backs, all to the girl's liking. The little lady's fashion reputation was recently beaten by Spencer's ratings on the fashion program not too long ago. When Veronica noticed Jenny was not with him, she quickly snapped her girlish fingers, echoing loudly within the lift. Signaling two of her men to man handle Spencer, they reeled him in the elevator. It was so sudden that the elevator immediately began closing just a it finished opening. Veronica giggled with a suggestive teasing smirk to Spencer. The two guards who draged Spencer in, resumed their position looking forward at the closing doors. Before shutting completely, the sharp end of a spear's tip barley nicks into the crack of the doors, halting them into a gentle struggle, causing them to reopen. Veronica and Spencer turn glances to see the steel metallic doors reopen to reveal the tall cloak hooded gladiator standing at the door way. The four men adjust their hands to their strapped waist batons ready to withdraw them.

Veronica's giggle turned to that of gasp. "Not so fast gentleman!" She ordered. Amadeus took two steps into the elevator forcing the anxious men to back up. The height of the fighter's stance topped theirs by nearly a foot from his glinting helmet towards the ceiling light. Amadeus pulled his hood down, as the elevator doors closed completely behind them.

It lifted the packed elevator onwards up to the eighth floor.

Veronica was amazed by the gladiator, "Seems like you have protection of your own too, Spence. And a stunning enough gladiator at that." She said, amusing her men into a silent chuckles.

"You seem awfully eager to kidnap me." Spencer said, curiously suggestive.

"Where you heading off to?" The little girl posed.

"My studio. I was planning to have uncle stop in." The lad hinted to the gladiator.

"Him? Your uncle?" Veronica said, puting on hand under her elbow and the other on the bottom of her cute chin. "This marvelous fighter of a gladiator is related to you?" She bolstered her grin.

"You know of this 'marvelous fighter' from somewhere?"

"Of course. Jenny's knight in shining armor. Who wouldn't during this year's fantasy convention." Veronica steps forward towards the gladiator getting a feel for his armor. Knocking on it, lifting the blade, and looking at her teeth from the reflection of warrior's sturdy shield. "Yep, 100% real armor, and I thought I had you figured for a fake." Her pompous teasing did not faze Amadeus.

"You figured? Everyone else does too." Amadeus mocked.

Veronica smiled a smirk, like she knew all along. Turning to Spencer, the elevator reaches the eighth floor. Doors opening, the little girl doesn't want to let Spence off the hook yet, perhaps neither does he.

"Studio huh?" She said.

"Yeah, I'm sure you have one too?" Spencer said, assuming.

"Mmmmtah! My studio is in the other building on the next block." She said. Peering behind Amadeus, she feels eager to explore the spacious hallway. "Can I come, too?" She asks.

Spencer blinks once and smiles nervously to his uncle.

"Yeah, right this way." He said, the gladiator stepped aside for the two. The four guards attempt to follow but the uncle put on arm to the door way, blocking them in. Veronica and Spencer look back at the group getting ready to throw down.

"You all!" The little girl voiced in a dominant female child tone, more mature than expected. The men and Amadeus look back. "Take a break and go to the bar or something. Come back in half an hour."

Her tone, calmed the four men slowly, one of them daring enough to offer Amadeus a drink, "vintage wine?"

After Amadeus's drinking spree with Mr. Saigon last night, he knew any alcohol served to him in public bars wouldn't buzz him, especially in any extend of Mr Saigon's Vietnamese ancestors for the that matter.

"Hmmm, since it's her call." The gladiator accepted, relaxing his stance. The group of men relaxed their stances as well, Amadeus tapping the main floor button as the whole lot of bodyguards left the floor calmly.

Along the hallway, Spencer headed to his grand space front door, Veronica tailing behind. She took her time, especially since Spencer was twice her height. Such normal strides for the teen are jogging ones for her, but she was in no hurry. Spencer slowed down taking much smaller steps comparable to hers.

The girl giggled a little, "Heh, you have one big guy compared to my four to protect you."

"And you have neat looking ones to complement yours." Spence said with a smile. Veronica smiling back at him.

Approaching the door, Spencer digged into his pocket for the key to unlock the door. Struggling to find it, he pondered if he misplaced it.

"Lift me up." The girl said.

"E-excuse me?" Spencer said, confused.

"Lift me up on you shoulders." She said, this time with a more serious tone, not wanting to repeat herself.

The teen boy got on his knees, as Veronica sat herself on his neck. Her kid thighs hugging his collarbone, feet dangling down his chest as he lifted her up. She looked at the thick top frame of the door and found a little opening where a spare key lied. "Here, use this." She said.

Spencer was dumbfounded. Dusting off the spare key, he used it for the door. It worked. "Well give it back." The girl demanded, the tall boy handing it to her. She placed the key in the same place she hid it, and took a nice smell at Spencer's neatly scented hair. The boy felt complemented by her satisfied exhale.

"This place used to be yours?" Spencer said carrying Veronica on his shoulders still.

"Yeah. When I first got here, this was my first studio I lived in." She said scanning the place. "Looks like not much changed since Jenny's man bought it recently. "Put me down now." She requested. Spencer put his hands on her ribs and lifted the girl off him. She rather enjoyed that, exchanging a daughterly look to the tall teen. "Follow me." She swiftly dashed to the laundry room.

"Hey wait," Spencer said, but the little girl was fast to scramble off.

Following in her there, Veronica flicked the light on, she felt around the back wall behind the opened door. From it, a loose sheetrock false wall revealed another door way.

Spencer was stunned. A hidden room? He thought. "I never thought I find a place to get away from Jenny right in this very studio." Spencer said.

"Haha, well come on in." The girl shut the pathway behind Spencer.

Inside was a smaller room about the size of the bedroom, similar in size to the regular one within the studio. This extra room stashed itself within the secret backdoor behind the laundry door. Veronica hopped on her queen sized bed. Shaking off the dust that collected over the short while.

Spencer admired that from the outside, it looks impossible to know that such a room exists. One window occupied the room, it's lighting of the dusk fading sunset poured in.

"Is this now... my room too." Spencer said, admiring the the sundown with Veronica.

"For you, I'd allow it. It's our little hiding room. Well isolated, noise proofed, and best of all, you can even get out into the hallway from here too." She excitedly hopped of the bed, guiding Spencer to a corner of the room, moving another false wall, it led to a small tight spaced hallway towards the stare case of the building. It was truly relieving for Spencer to have privacy so close to the studio whenever the next time Jenny comes by.

The two returned to the regular part of the studio, the two seating themselves on the living room sofias of the studio.

"So, you don't like being with Jenny all that often anymore?" Veronica started, the teen and child eyed each other often.

"Umm honestly, I have to agree with you there." Spencer said.

"You know she's sleeps with men. Even though she's married." Veronica gossiped. Spencer's face reddens, mainly because he's can see himself as part of that group now.

"Uh huh. I guess she likes that ekky lifestyle apparently." Spencer said, then the girl, being a fashion observer herself, analysed Spencer's thinking. With a leg crossed over and thinking pose, she figured him out.

"She's been doing it with you huh?" Her statement puckered Spencer into a shy position, face cherrying.

"Only a little kissing!" Spencer protested.

Veronica's deduction of Spencer said something else.

"Nahhh uhh! She made out with you pretty much on the regular." She pressed.

"Well.... So!" Spencer hanged his guilty gaze away from hers.

Veronica got off her couch and skipped over to Spencer, hoping on top of his couch and rubbing her hands on the slim boy's hair. Spencer first hesitated, but felt a strange feeling overwhelm him. "I love your fashion skills, Spence. I think it's a waste with Jenny though, but you definitely outmatched mine." She admitted caressing the back of his head in such a suggestive manner, hugging her chest to his head. Spencer smelled her sweet berry blossom aroma off her. This made the boy take her hands and bring her down to his eyes.

"Veronica... I must let Jenny become her ambition. I owe her that much, even though she uses me inappropriately on the regular, I must prove to myself that she can win."

"You'd help her do that? After she's been so disrespectful with you?"

"You'd understand more than anyone else that I'm only in it for the fashion." Spencer holds Veronica. She embraces him too.

"Spencer, we're both in it for the fashion. It's what challenges us. When you finish with Jenny afterwords, I promise you, you'll need to reach out to me. My... guardian, plans to visit Jenny in time. You'll know who he is when you meet him. He's smart, kind, and ever the most considerate person towards people like me." She said.

What does she mean people like me? The boy thought.

The two younglings head off to the door, Spencer dismissing Veronica with hug as she in turn, give Spencer a kiss on his cheek. The boy only froze, seeing the smirking girl running off to the elevator eyeing him.  

What a strange little girl, and hear I though I had beef with her.

Spencer chilled on the sofia, staring out the orange dusk outdoors of his studio window. A few minutes later, Amadeus entered the studio.

"Those men were more cooperable than expected." He said with a pamphlet given to him by them, offering their services as experienced servant bodyguards or butler assistants, on top of their regular protection occupation. "Now. Show me this masterful piece of fashion you wish for me to entertain the crowds in."

Within the center of the room, the uncle stood at his kin's idea to bring forth complete gladiator fashion to the Masonius name. A posed mannequin stood covered in a wide varied sheet, this caught the gladiator's attention. Removing the wide clothed fabric lied the stunning marvel of an aesthetically pleasing set of armor.

The uncle stood there, fixated on the creation. "Nephew?" The uncle said.

"Yes." Spencer replied.

"Come here."

"Ok"

Amadeus wrapped a big arm around the relative, thrilled as a horse with new pastures. "We're going to bring a show for Gladia to remember! I see it now. We will promote new stylish armors."

"I created this one for you uncle. Out of our 'special relationship'." Spencer said, suggesting on the family bonding of it all.

"I'm seeing further from our style in Gladia nephew, I'm seeing the Masonius name as the forefront of many cultural fashions brought to all spectacles. The Masonius family will more than likely become the pioneers to this gladiator fashion as new challengers step forth to claim bigger feets onward.

Chapter 9: Debts of Gratitude and Dealings.

With the rising shine of modeling shows everywhere and the weekly Lady Liberty event well on its way, Jenny has invited many of her celebrity girlfriends and business people of Cody's to an open house party.

In a couple of days, the party will celebrate the fashion competition happening throughout the city. Spencer was especially invited, he wouldn't want Jenny to go on it alone. He served as the fashionable showcasing of the Harcombs. More importantly, the audience, his crowd, he must honor their favor.

At the safe home of Amadeus, Spencer fumbled for his wears through the recently washed and dried clothes. His uncle sat the kitchen table, steadily reading a newspaper, in particular, the crime section. Beside the article, a column discussing the fashion events happening in the next few days caught the nephew's glance. Changing into his new wears, he sought to conversate with the gladiator.

"Seeing the current events, uncle?" The boy spoke, curiously to the gladiator's gaze back at him.

"I'm aware that the fashion games are about to commence. Especially, that Lady Liberty event." The uncle stood from his seat, folding the paper on the center of table. "So this is now a fight boy. You better make her win." He encouraged with a drink of his afternoon herbal tea Mr. Saigon gifted him.

"Feel assured, uncle, my efforts will be strengthen by my resolve to outdo any rivels waiting for us in Gladia." The boy's statements are honorably as a Masonius

The boy prepared himself to leave, but not without first mentioning about Jenny's party.

"I'll be at an open house party at Jenny's home residence. You're invited too Uncle." Spencer offered. Amadeus shook his head.

"I'm not comfortable with the high status foreigners, nephew. They are of a different world to me. The only high status foreigner I ever deal with on understanding and better yet working with, is that black masked fellow." The uncle declined.

Spencer gave a friendly nod in return, eyes closed. "Of course, besides of which, I prefer you get the lay of the armor, wear it and let my fashion designing for it flow for you to please the crowds to come." Spencer concludes, heading out to catch his limo ride with the ever pleased driver, Duhfee.

Heading into Jenny's home a few days before the opening, Spencer wanted to see how Gustavo was faring. The home will soon have multiple high end vehicles parking at it's expansive neighborhood sidewalk in the oncoming days. Tipping Duhfee another generous gift, the tall boy jogs on through to the fancy home. Right away as he enters the home, he sees Gustavo being told by his mother to be in his best behavior in front of a very important man.

"Not a word from you, you hear. Donald Love is a man I want to impress. Got that, you little twerp!" Jenny scolded Gus.

Looking down in shame, the shy child notices the front door closing. When Gustavo looked up at Spencer, a little genuine smile began to rise as he felt the comfort presence of his mother's apprentice. Jenny saw the little smile her son expressed by seeing her cute adoring Spencer.

"Don't think just because my sweet darling Spencer is here that you can feel at ease, Gus. Go to your room and work on your private school homework, then afterwards help the maid clean the kitchen." Jenny ordered. Spencer wasn't in the mood to hang out with the neglectful mother. Instead the teenager opted for a nice change of pace for the feudal child.

"Hey Jenny, I must say, Gustavo should hang out with me, he looks like a polite, respectable, kindhearted kid I should learn to be more like."

It was at this time that Cody strolled from his work office down the carpeted hall to cross paths with the three, business papers within his hand. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Harcomb?" Spencer said as the husband stood at a doorway listening in.

Jenny glares at her husband, hoping for him to buzz off. Cody lackadaisically looks at Gustavo, then Spencer, and then skirmishly at Jenny. Spencer can tell he likes to piss off his wife whenever the mood suits him, just like now.

"Well, I'm sure that our son's loneliness and him having not a single friend, should make Spencer's suggestion very well justified, don't you agree, my darling faithful wife?" Cody said in a snobbish chuckling tone.

Jenny enraged her expression, grabing Gustavo by the wrists, whispering to him. "You're grounded for a month after this." She then peers at Spencer, glaring at him for once, irritated by a sudden comeback gaze of her apprentice, Jabbing her back with his way of antics for once. Staring down at her son now, she pushed the boy at Spencer. "Go... be with my Spencer for however long he wants to be with you." The force at which Jenny shoved ths poor boy onto Spencer, caught the fashion teen by surprise. "Hell, you can even go with him out of the house with his cab driver, my treat." Her son looked back at Jenny with an apologetic face. Jenny only scorned him. "When you return, your father and I are going to have a serious talk with you!" She chastened then stomping right up to Mr. Harcomb; the two went into the other room insulting each other privately. Spencer unexpectedly feels pressure around his stomach. He was being hugged by Gustavo, sensing harmony with the young boy.

"Let's get out of this house for a while and explore Liberty City." Spencer patted the boy's head.

"O...k.." The servant boy murmured gratefully.

Spencer brought Gustavo to his cab limo, the driver quickly got out to open the door as soon as the two left the front porch.

"This is Gustavo Harcomb, he'll be accompanying me through my visits around town."

"Oh... yes." Duhfee agreed, a worried expression went about his character.

"What is wrong?" Spencer said, noticing.

"Sir, I have a lot debt that's been eating me alive recently." Duhfee confessed with a sigh expression. Spencer couldn't fathom the idea of being in debt from this worldly culture's finances, but his Gladian experiences educated him in similar matters.

"How much?" Spence empathized. The driver took a deep breath than exhaled.

"$32,000."

Spencer look at his driver. The substantial amount wouldn't make a dent on the boy's personal net worth, yet it's not the fact of giving money away that would benefit Duhfee, but the principals of management. "Do me a favor. I want you to make a plan of what you will do as to never put yourself in this position again." Spencer said in the manner much like a fiduciary.

Duhfee felt the weight of an anvil lift off his back. "I can do that in a heartbeat!"

"Right now Duhfee, we just want to travel over to the Belleville Park. Maybe later we'll see how you can earn off that amassed amount of debt."

Duhfee looked to Spencer with happiness, opening the passenger door with such gratitude. "Spencer, thank you, please, let me take you where ever you want me to." The driver whispered.

On the road, Spencer and Gustavo sat adjacent sides from the limo just eyeing each other for the first few minutes. Then Gustavo got up and sat himself right next to the tall boy, uncomfortably close, wrapping an arm underneath his waist. Spencer was taken a back. Nevertheless, what could he expect from a neglected child. He let Gustavo speak his body language. The child then removed his lenses.

"Heh, you must know that no one will see us like this, Gus." Spencer said, peering out the very tinted windows, knowing well that no one can see them from outside the limo. The driver seat had a privacy walled portion with a tinted window as well. Only the passengers can open the latched window from their side to communicate with the driver. Spencer began to feel Gustavo smother his nose into him, burying his face into his adolescent chest.  

"Scent... Mother's scent." The shy boy whispered.

Mother's scent? Pondered the teenager.

"She's... on you." Gustavo sniffed.

Spencer feels Gus smelling the scent of Jenny's presence on him. It wasn't too long ago that Jenny played with him again, rubbing herself all over the teen.

"Mother's... happiness... is still... on you. Thank you." Gus said pleased.

"For what, Gus?" Spencer asked.

"For making... mother happy..." The shy boy smells Spencer some more. "Yes."

Spencer's face blushed. He gets the feeling Gus knows Jenny's been kissing him recently again. Rubbing a hand on Gus's shoulder, Spencer comforts the mistreated boy. "Look Gustavo, I'm deeply sorry for what your mother is doing to me and you." Spencer tried to assess the situation.

"I... smiled."

"Smiled?"

"Every time... mother... was satisfied... by you... for hating me.... thank you."

Spencer was starting to understand that Gustavo has been so badly abused, his only use to his mother and perhaps his father as well, is enduring their hatred upon him.

Spencer beings to tear up. "Gustavo... What do you want me to do for you?" He said, hugging the boy back.

Gustavo only blinked expressionless for brief moment, staying silent for a while. "You... can't..."

"Can't what?" Spencer asks as to why.

Gustavo squeezes his hands on Spencer, whispering the reason. "Make love to her." The shy boy said seriously without stuttering, again smothering his face on Spencer.

Spencer was rushed with emotion as his aroused state rised. The shy boy felt it. He gave an understandable "Oh" to the fashion boy's uncomfortable arousal.

Gustavo moved off of Spencer, siting just next to him respectfully.

The fashion boy took a minute to relax his nerves, working up the courage to speak with the boy face to face.

"That's something only your father can do, I see." Spencer said.

Gustavo glanced at the tall boy's handsome physic, looking away whenever Spencer caught his eyes.

"Mother... uses... you... like a... toy, but... she always... wanted more."

"Yeah, that's the gist of it." Spencer sighed, disappointed in Jenny. "Look Gus, I'm saving myself up for a special someone someday, somewhere, back at my home land, outside of America, the right one should be my first."

Gustavo looks at Spencer's eyes and tells that he's not telling everything. Spencer looks back a bit embarrassed to admit, but Gus says it.

"Special someones."

Spencer chuckles. "Yeah, pulls out a mirror to look at himself. Gus observes this.

"Siblings?" The shy boy deduces.

Spencer's eyes widen. He places an arm around Gustavo's shoulders and reels him into his chest, happily fantasizing. "You might as well have the biggest idea as to why I can't wait to return home." The fashion boy expressed with glee.

Gustavo edged on. "How... many?"

"Three of the most beautiful little sisters that any brother could ever be blessed with. Oh Julia, Ruby, and Tia, how you wait for me to prove to the family of my worth to be yours and I, yours." Spencer's mind, overjoyed with the fact, turns sour next. "Yet, many boys are currently trying to take them away from me. Boys with their amateur fashion attempts, such a shame."

"Here?" The shy boy said in a confusing manner to Spencer not realizing that they arrived to the park.

"Oh uh yes, we're here." He just noticed their arrival, "Say, let's take a walk around the park. Get ourselves some fresh air." Spencer said, letting Gustavo out first so the tall boy can calm his excitement a little.

"Err you go Duhfee." Spencer handed a few twenty dollars bills to the man, happier to see his financial freedom that much closer. "Hang around a while, I'll call you if we need to be picked up somewhere around here."

Duhfee nodded sheepishly with a smile.

The walk around the park consisted of pathways and trees where families and children can be seen mingling about. Stopping by a few of the parks monuments, the two explore the history of landmark, seeing dates and times when the park was under development and renovation. The green grass was soft and lively, the trees made it feel as they were in a forest instead of a city.

The two were only starting to enjoy the views of the park until a group of businessmen began approaching them. Men dressed in suit attire made Gustavo's servant clothes appear normal around Spencer. The first man greeted Spencer with a question.

"Excuse me, boy, you wouldn't happen to be the famous model kid who poses with the successful super model name Jenny Harcomb?"

Spencer analysed each of the three men dressed in suits and in a friendly gesture, tried to shake off the buzz. "Maybe you guys have another kid confused with me. I'm just out with my friend enjoying the park." Spencer dodged the question.

Another man pressed further. "It's no mistake, we can assure you, your cab driver was nice enough to inform us that you're indeed Spencer Harcomb. He was eager, after a few hundred dollars was left at his driver side window that is."

Spencer smiles, mistakenly revealing his trademark photo smile out of habit. "Heh, Harcomb?" Spencer objected. The third man interjected with astoundment.

"And that smile, even more attractive in person." Clearing his throat the man apologizes. "Pardon my complement. It's just hard not to admit it out loud." This made the three business men certain they were indeed dealing with the famous fashion boy.

Spencer lifted his hands up trying to quell his rising presence of his whereabouts around the premise from breaking out. "Gentlemen, I just happen to have a very fortunate face is all." Spencer wished Amadeus was with him right now. These men kept on bugging the fashion boy. Gustavo was thankfully being ignored.

"You're a very likeable kid, Spencer, just imagine the amount of success that you could amount to if you were to expand your reach beyond Jenny." The first man suggested.

"Well I'm afraid Jenny has a pretty good understanding as to my fashion ventures and goals. She's been helping me since I was just a stranger to Liberty City." Spencer admitted finally.

Seeing Gustavo feeling nervous as the increasing gazes of pedestrians are looking their way, Spencer began backing away, grabbing Gus by the shoulder as the two began to walk off. "Look I just wanted to take a friend out walking at a park in piece." He said, excusing himself.

The first man halted him, blocking their path. "Well that was your first mistake, you must not realize how popular you are."

Spencer wasn't going to involve the shy boy into this. "Gus, let's go back to our cab driver." The two made their way around the first man, the tall boy gesturing a hand to have the men step aside as they did.

The men started following them close by.

The second man went to strike a deal with the fashion boy. "Understand this Spencer, we'll offer you a million dollars to break your contracts with Jenny and her husband's companies. That's more money than you could ever know what to do with. And what, do the exact same thing you're doing now, but with us? Think about it."

Don't know, don't care. Spencer would have wanted to tell him that. "I'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to negotiate."

The third man began making a few quick phone calls, meanwhile the first man tried again, this time rising the stakes. "You want more, how about we bump it up to $2 million dollars?" The sharp dressed man expressed.

The two teenagers crossed a stone bridge, Spencer spotting a poor man carting a pile of old fashion clothes from a distance. The clothes were from last years sold fashion wears he remembers studying with Jenny. It reminds him of all the times he's roamed the streets where clothing of theirs was being cluttered. Spencer focuses on getting out of the park without too much attention. "Let's keep going, Gus."

When the two reach their cab driver, the business men and a rather medium-sized crowd of people filled the sidewalk.

Hearing the third man speak to the first man briefly, the man interrupted Spencer once more. "Final offer Spencer, $7 million."

Opening the door before Duhfee came out of his driver seat, Spencer nudged Gustavo in swiftly, closing it, turning to the business men. He takes a good look at the man offering 7 million dollars. Observing the one of a kind badge on his collar, he understood who he was dealing. "You're part of Liberty City's fashion industry giants." Spencer posed.

The man with a serious stern look, asked the tall boy. "Name your price."

Spencer thinks about all the waste of clothing filling up landfills peoples dumpster corners. It's a sudden change of heart to his passion it seemed.

He states. "Here is one of my contact numbers, meet me at the Harwood District in Portland, just you, no one else. I'll have a price for you then."

The business mogul happily agreed.

The ride into Portland felt short, Spencer feels bad that he won't be able to explore much of Liberty City with Gustavo as he'd hoped.

Arriving at the Harwood District, the man calls, Spencer mentioned for the man to meet him at the trash dump landfill portion of the district.

Telling his cab driver to wait for him a little ways out, Spencer was on foot, patiently awaiting this important rich man. He arrives, accompanied by the same two men who were pestering him about deals aswell.

"Interesting location for a meeting place. I didn't take you for someone whose willing to get their hands filthy." The mogul said.

"And I didn't take you for a honest man, hadn't I made it clear for you and just you to be here?" Spencer words harsh the man's status. Nevertheless, the mogul countered.

"You'd bring men with you if you were to negotiate 7 million dollars."

"My price is not $7 million." Spencer argued. "It's where fashion is heading in these next decades."

This intrigued the mogul, gesturing with a sort of emphatic nod. "Go on."

Spencer continued. "Look around you, nearly a tenth of all this trash is clothing alone. Clothing that's been too much of a bother for the public, so they just throw it away, creating more waste. You can't recycle this cheaply made copies of wears."

"Your point being?" The mogul pressed.

"Something tells me, if we keep mass producing clothes on an even bigger scale, we're going to start filling multiple landfills with nothing but clothes. My point is, why would I betray fashion, turning it into profits and creating a hassle of obsolete wears to be thrown away, ruining communities and the environment?" Spencer implored.

The mogul smugly twisted the plea for a large stake at worldly gains. "That's not our problem, we'll be so profitable, so rich, this will be the least of your problems rather."

Spencer was young and even he could see the corruption currency has on a society. Gladia never promoted currency as a means to an end, rather servitude instead. "Money is the problem, sir." Spencer stated.

The men laughed ridiculing the fashion boy. "Nahhh, it seems a kid like you can't see that money is actually the solution. With more of it, we can run things the way we want it." The mogul professed.

"And how much more of this so called clothing will you waste on everyone? How much of a burden will you be to society?"

"As long as it's profitable, we don't care about how much waste it creates."

"So, the True Cost of Fashion, is all about ruining communities, profiteering off the masses by producing clothing cheap enough so the masses can throw away the old and buy the new?"

The mogul snapped is fingers and in a silent shout, stating. "Precisely! Once we have all the money that we can squeeze out of the masses, we'll pass along that problem to some other fools to deal with."

Spencer sighed in disappointment. "I'm sorry, your perspective of fashion is an abomination to the useful ways of living. I envisioned fashion as a special delight of clothing that the wearer can feel inspired to have on. A set of clothes that defines the character, the emotion, and mindset of an individual. I feel uncomfortable to mass produce the same clothing for many without just cause, as this just ruins the originality for the wearer. Can you enjoy fashion knowing it's deteriorating a civilization?" Spencer tested the men's humility.

The man chuckled deviously, "I'll enjoy money, progress, power, qualities of life that are meaningless to likes of you, it seems." The man stomped a foot towards Spencer. "We're done here. Men let's go, this fool was only to waste of our time. We'll focus on making the little girl more successful over him."

Hearing this, Spencer halted the man, "Wait! You mean Veronica?"

The mogul gazed back, smiling, "Well yes, she of course won't be a Lady Liberty anytime soon, but she's young and children are far more manipulative than adults. Enjoy your trends while they last, once the Lady Liberty event is over, it's going to be Veronica's most successful peak of her career next." The men returned to their high classed luxurious limousines. The tall boy only felt sorrow for what's to become of fashion in this world of wonder. Despicable, rancid, and abominable are these members of society.

Chapter 10: Servant lineages

Spencer headed back to his limo. The thought of fashion being deluded by such pests of profiteering, saddened him. Gustavo laid inside napping. Spencer told the driver to take them back home. He was disappointed that money can be so corrupting to the reality of consequences people don't want to admit.

"My apologies sir." Duhfee brought to light his eagerness to get rid of his debts.

"It's alright." The tall boy reassured him. "I at least gotten to meet some of Liberty City's big shots."

When the two arrived back home, Jenny was at the door entrance seeing the two in. "So how was your trip Gus, probably a good one, enough for the hell of a grounding your going to get, you little brat. Jenny dragged Gustavo by the ear to his room not long before Spencer ceased her path in front of her.

"Actually Jenny, Gustavo was such an interesting fellow that I felt it would be fun to have a sleep over with him." Spencer retorted, lifting his bookbag containing hygiene items and pajamas. This anger Jenny as she rips down Gustavo's ear, knocking him down to the ground. Jenny played it off as the clumsy boy's inability to stand.

"Oh Gus, you know you should be very careful, I thought a boy like you would surely be mature enough to not fall on your face like that." She turned to her apprentice shaking her head for Gustavo's foolishness. "Now Spencer as you were saying, I was distracted by my idiot son's inability to stand on his own two useless feet."

Spencer watched as Gustavo kept his face to the ground, then politely restated his intention, collecting his composure, "I find Gustavo interesting, Jenny, so I would rather enjoy it very much, if I spend the night over at his house."

Jenny supposedly and accidentally, kicked Gustavo in the stomach, irritating Spencer even more. She began to like the reaction it had on her apprentice. "Oops, I didn't didn't see Gus there, my is he a reckless child to be down there." Jenny grinned sadistically at her son's suffering. When her eyes met back with Spencer's, his eyes twitched with hatred of her negligence for her own child. The tall boy stomped a threatening and menacing rush towards Jenny, in one rapid lunge at her, this startled the mother, backing her away against the wall. Spencer's mild rageful gesture shot fear into Jenny, very much so like Amadeus's. The feeling also caught Spencer off guard, himself frightened by his anger. He didn't know such irritation of the mother's antics would make him behave more like his uncle.

Spencer blinks surprisingly, this slowly calmed Jenny's nerves, as the tall boy picks up Gustavo in his arms. "I believe this is the part where I hang out with Gus at his room, Jenny." Spencer said glaring at the horrid mother.

She gave only a snob glare back, muttering, "Fine, take the brat then."

Spencer gladly took Gus to his room, it's nearly bed time by the darkening light outside and the two prepare themselves to sleep. Gustavo and Spencer changed into their night wears once each of them took a quick shower, the two of them brushing their teeth at the large open facet in the restroom. It felt honorable to be the little boy's protector for once.

Laying a sheet on the floor, Spencer saw the shy boy's awkward and guilty expression of sleeping in the one bed all by himself.

"Wan... want to... sleep.... with me?" Gus insisted. Spencer did not mind it. He rolled the sheet back up and hopped into bed with the shy boy. Gus's smile lengthened as Spencer happily laid next with him on the small bed. Gustavo put his glasses on the nightstand as he flickered the light away.

In the early morning, Spencer ambled to the kitchen for a drink. Not a moment sooner did Jenny came in aswell.

Without warning she touched Spencer's buttocks, the smooth bum from his pajamas was enticing to her. "Good morning, darling." She teased.

"Mentor?" Spencer said, irritated by her antics yet again. Jenny expressed the same with Spencer's,

"Why do care for that pointless boy of mine, he's not your business."

"Well for starters, I like him. He's quiet, shy, and careful. He's a lot more of a hard worker than I'll ever be."

"That's not true." Jenny rebuked.

"When was the last time he ever slept in?"

The question annoyed Jenny but she knew. "Humph! When he was just an annoying cry baby." Spencer eyes squint disappointed at her. "He started to shut his yap a lot more when he learned to talk." Jenny snorted.

"Where did he learn butler like demeanor?" Spencer inquired to the boy's servant ways. Jenny blushed as her attitude changed a little. Just resting her hands on Spencer's shoulders, she seemed like different woman to Spencer, momentarily.

"He's one of the reasons I kicked him out."

"Kicked who out?" Spencer requested.

Jenny returns back into her antic self, "Well, I'll tell you, just... join me in bed for a while, like good old times." She demanded.

Spencer wanted to know where Gustavo learned his strange servsnt behaviour from. The importance of it being strikingly similar to the retiarius gladiator, Acolytus, was boggling Spencer. I know it couldn't have been from his father, or any of the maids. "Fine, I'll let you enjoy yourself once more without the consequences of my uncle. Take it as an exchange for the Truth, Jenny." Spencer negotiated.

The woman chuckled, "I wouldn't hide anything if it means cuddling with the hottest boy to ever succeed me in fashion."

The succulent looking woman guided Spencer to her room, the carpeted hallways were good for the strolling conversation. "So for starters, this man your wondering about, is my cousin, from one of my uncle's. An uncle, who is one of the best butlers in Liberty City."

"A cousin, whose father steeps of the best butlers in the city. I take it this cousin of yours was trained as such?" Spencer reckoned.

"Oh yes, he gained many accolades. It was to the point that he well exhausted the rewards and exemplary mentions that people offered to him. My uncle, Alfred, made my cousin his most trusted acolyte around. Not only for being his son, but being the most astute servant of many housekeepers around." Jenny's tone sounded more and more like her real self at the mention of the man, her attitude being selfless and tranquil is apparent.

"He doesn't seem like someone you kick out of your home, especially if he is an outstanding butler's assistant. For goodness sake, he's your cousin, something very wrong must have happened for him to be kicked out of your life. Your uncle butler must have been concerned for his niece to have kicked out his son from her own life." Spencer said worried.

The mother and teen entered her room, Jenny locks the door as Spencer sat himself on her king sized bed. The beautiful lady, flicked her hair seductively as she sat next to him, noting the teen boy's facial looks and body. "He was tall and slim, just like you, but he had a face that was... unforgettable." Jenny paused as if to recall her memory more accurately. "It felt wrong that my husband first found out about it." She muttered.

"An unforgettable face?" Spencer asked. "Sounds like your husband had something to be jealous about." Was the boy's reasoning, "Almost as if your cousin had an irresistible face."

Jenny opened herself up. She for longest time shared her true self. Expressing herself like the innocent girl she always imagined being. Spencer worked on collecting the pieces together. "He had a similar model face just like yours." He confidently stated.

This man made Jenny smile sincerely for once. The thoughts of her cousin is making her giggle like a little happy girl. Slowly, her world turned upside down, to the past. Her memories flooding in as she recalls them. Emotions, events, and especially him.

"I loved him so much. He was the sweetest man to have ever walked into my life. I couldn't resist his face, his body, his talk. We met as kids in our low town neighborhoods of Portland. He used to treat me just like a queen, coming to my every need." Her cheery expression fades, "But as the precious sands of time went on, we grew. My needs, turned into desires. Cody entered into my life. Ever the spokes person to persuade me on dating him. He had money, cars, jewelry, everything to catch any needy girl's wants. Yet, my povershed cousin never mistreated the him, he rather congratulated the teenager on winning my heart. Cody disliked my relative with an inconspicuous hatred, simply because he was too right for me. His full name, Leo Zarff, made my husband's name of Cody Harcomb less exotic."

Spencer's mind blew up with curiosity. She has to be meaning the same Leo, the retiarius.

"Besides that, Leo's father made a grand nickname for Leo, a name that many people within the society of butlers, maids, housekeepers, and the like, found fond of. Leo was coined the name, Acolytus.

Jenny's mind pulsated with pleasurous feelings of name alone.

That settles it! Leo's Jenny's cousin!? But how could the hoplomachus not of told him about Jenny all this time? Spencer's thoughts were racing with ever more curiosity the more Jenny spoke. It was the first time that a conversation other than fashion got the tall boy's attentiveness alert and patient for more.

Jenny smiles, impressed by the thought of such a man. "For this sheer amount of recognition, these servant people knew of his father, Alfred Zarff, to be quite the exemplary mentor. Leo Acolytus Zarff, what women wouldn't want to marry into that. A man whose is responsible, respectful, reasonable, and rich with humility. Of course Leo only had a fondness for one woman in his life too. Me...."

Spencer had to ask more of her. He caressed her body down to the bed, tending to her cuddling desires to dig up more of the invaluable whereabouts of Leo. "So when you married your boyfriend, Cody, you recently entered her fashion career, blooming fast for your natural beauty as it is. It only boomed more when your husband worked deals to promote your status and reputation." Spencer knee her fashionable history that much. He wrapped his arms over Jenny slowly, warming her up so she can tell more of the story.

"When Leo came to one of my old homes Cody owned, I invited him as a butler. My husband completely abhorred Leo's serving presence despicably, the rich man worked him like a slave every chance he got. But for Leo, he loved me too much to care. I had him all to my self most days when Cody was away at work. I could of betrayed my honor any number of times, but Leo wouldn't. My husband only ever pondered that I was having an affair with Leo, shame, we'd only held hands at the dinning table when damn fate decided for Cody to arrive home at an unannounced time. He saw Leo and me at having dinner. Believe me, never did I ever in my life crave to smooch on my cousin Leo than that day. He and I always dreamed of being together, more than a happy married couple could. Cody immediately kicked out the servant from my own home. The wealthy basterd didn't have a shread of humanity left in his body to stop there. He had Leo kidnapped by his powerful 'friends' and made my treasured Acolytus disappear."

Jenny shed a tear at the revisit of such memory. Spencer held her with comfort. He never thought he'd be feeling empathy for such a detestable mother until now. He let the unfortunate wife of Cody collect her thoughts, as she resumes,

"All I can figure, is that Leo was killed and buried away from America. Cody payed most of his wealth to a powerful mafia crime lord to erase Leo from our existence. When I lost my cousin, I wanted something to help me move on in life, so dreamed about having the most beautiful little girl to take over for my modeling career as my successor. My first sexual intercourse was with Cody. We were in a vacation trip far out in the tropical forests of the world. Cody was changed man, no longer the man who loved me. He had multiple partners during his highschool years, so interestingly, he involved my first sex experience to be in a threesome."

Spencer face expressed a little resentment of this, listening on, "A threesome with a wimpy cutie foreigner from a completely different culture. Cody orgasmed in me, that I know for sure. But in the end, all I was given was a son. I never felt more disappointed in all my life. My husband was also wanting a girl, but after Gustavo was born, he started having mix feelings about our marriage as I did." Jenny's tone began returning to her regular corrupt self, "I begin sleeping with all manners of men. Men whom I modelled with. Men who I met in business conferences, and even men who are best friends with my husband. Cody didn't seem to care anymore, especially after he had gotten rid of my cousin. He saw the men who I wanted to sleep with as less attractive than Leo. It amused him. He seems to have gotten a kick out of the kinds of men that I would sleep with. I personally couldn't find the right man for my life after Leo died. I married Cody because of the money, his status, and power. He's the reason I expanded my modelling career." Jenny made eye contacted with the teen. "You Spencer, are the one who took what little fame I had and nearly maxed it. When Gustavo was born, my husband and I wanted nothing to do with him. He was and still is, a worthless deadbeat."

Spencer closed his eyes glancing away, cuddling onto Jenny.

"So I handed him to my uncle Alfred to take care of him. He taught him for most of his youth. Many times when Alfred has big tasks to overseer supreme banquets, elite senator visits; from government officials to the famous politians, he had to leave Gustavo with us, which was on a weekly basis. Let me tell you here and now, Cody and I had no intention on parenting him, so we did the next best thing. We needed a maid aid for our new home."

"Another housekeeper." Spencer knew.

"Yes. Bigger homes means more work for the maids. That brat made good use being put to work for years, especially when the maids wanted a bit of a break. They always tasked Gustavo to work the rest of their chores. Heck, Cody and I were so uninterested in our own son, my uncle Alfred was the one who name our worthless child, 'Gustavo'.

Jenny said, mockingly as she continued.

"As the years went on, I noticed that Alfred knew what happened to his son all those years ago. Most of time I can overhear him, mentioning everything about Leo to Gustavo. I'd say, if anyone we're to ask the boy about Leo Acolytus Zarff, you would only ever imagine he was raised by the man himself, like a glorified father son relationship."

Jenny's mind blurs out into a nap like sensation as her tiredness helps to put her to sleep.

Spencer rests on his side of the bed, laying next to the whore of mother Gustavo should never know about. Quite a shame that a child with such humility should be subjected to such vermin of reckless parentage.

Chapter 11: Cleaning Bondship And Some R&R

Spencer tucked some pillows under his head, causing Jenny to temporarily wake. The fashion teen glances over, still curious, "So your cousin, had your facial looks that made you two go bonkers for each other." The tall boy says, remembering the bucktoothed handsome Leo.

"It was more than that," Jenny said, smothering her face in her pillow, ”Leo made me feel like a princess. He treated me with so much respect than I could ever have from Cody. The only reason I stay with Cody, is for his money." She laid herself the opposite way, back turned to Spencer, sighing away at the side of her bed. The lad glanced at her smooth spotless backside.

"But why treat Gustavo like a piece of trash? He's like Leo, he wants to be just like him."

Jenny rose to abruptly look at Spencer dead in the eyes. Her annoyed gaze, as a madden tiger mom to one of her troublesome cubs. "That shriveled up petty excuse for a servant boy will never amount to anything like Leo. Cody did something with my real child. I wanted a girl. Not a boy." Returning to her side peeved, she laid her head back down, facing away from Spencer, she muttered her heart's emotions. "I might as well have aborted him and saved everyone, including you, the trouble."

Spencer felt sorrow for Jenny. She has the perfect son who cleans and does anything she asks of him, but yet her feelings towards the shy boy are nothing short of abortion. The apprentice gets out of bed putting his clothes on. "I'll be spending the rest of the day with Gustavo."

Jenny scoffs at Spencer. "The boy has many chores to do as is his daily routine. Why bother?"

Spencer stood baffled at such an advanced hour for the morning. "Well." Buttoning his polo shirt and belt, "I think it's time that I learned to earn my keep around the house."

Jenny gawked at the apprentice's continued antics to her dismay. "You never know when to quit, don't you." She mutters.

Before Spencer took his leave, he couldn't resist saying his mindful comeback about her comment. "Only when it matters. Enjoy your leisure, mentor." The boy said, disappointed in her. He closed the room door behind a such an ungrateful mother.

Spencer roams the home to find Gustavo on the other side of the living room wiping the little dust on a light stand counter top. It's clear he listened in to their whole conversation and cuddle session Jenny put Spencer through. The apprentice glances at Gus with an awkward semi smiled expression, a little embarrassed. Gustavo smiled in much the same way. The shy boy heads off to the art gallery room, broom and dust pan in hand, Spencer tailing behind.

The fashion boy sees that much of the area is in neat condition as it is. Gus glimpsed at Spencer's thoughts as the much shorter teenager handed over his own cleaning tools. Gus left briefly to retrieve and extra set from a nearby closet.

Spencer had a vague understanding in cleaning. Enough for his interests in picking up after one's self, but after observing Gustavo's short wipe down and dusting session, Spencer felt the need of much learning in such a simple task. Cleaning the small pockets of dust particles from the tops of paintings and various surfaces, the two made way around the room in just under half and hour.

"So where are the other maids at?" Spencer asked.

"Gone" Gustavo said, dusting away a bottom corner of a table.

"Guess your mom got rid of them." Spencer assumed.

"Yes. Just... me" Studdered Gus.

Spencer viewed the upside of most of his circumstances. He liked to put himself in a hopeful position to enjoy his work. "Say, lets get all your chores done so we can do something fun together, what do you say?" Spencer offered.

Gustavo smiled, knowing that he's already having run with Spencer around.

The chores around the entire home took Gustavo many days to clean. It may have been only one day with Cody and Jenny's three maids before, but the two teenagers achieve progress in remarkable time and results.

Jenny watches as the two work their way around the kitchen and dinning room. They wash the sheets of beds, pillow cases, and the many clothes that Gustavo's parents wear.

Shorting out the laundry, Spencer comes across Jenny's portion of laundry and separates the undergarments from the bottom and tops. Gustavo sees Spencer toss a set of underwear of hers, bikini bathing suit bottoms, and panty hoses that the mother worn recently. Gus, held all of them in his shy hands, Spencer looks back to see Jenny's own son holding her bottom underwear garments with a red cheek smile as silly feelings begin arousing the child. Gustavo's eyes look up at Spencer looking right back at him like with pondering eyes. Gus, disturbed, gently takes his mother's undergarments and places them into the basket of laundry ready to go into the washer, feeling guilty. Spencer stops Gus from feeling ashamed of himself, patting shy boy's shoulder,

"Don't feel guilty Gus, a boy like yourself probably never hung out with any girls your age before, maybe one day you'll find your special someone than your abusive mom."

Gustavo's embarrassed state subsides slowly from such opportune contact with his mother's clothing on the regular.

Spencer happily smiling, "why don't we leave hers for last?"

The shy boy agreed, still anxious about the moment, "Yessss."

During the laundry washing and the first batch of sheets drying, the two went outside. Spencer sees that the metal curved gutters are in need of a cleaning. Small piles of leaves piled themselves upon the roof's edge top. Gustavo mentions that the ladder is locked from inside the shed, located further back. The issue is that Gus's father is the only one with the keys. He frequently leaves them in his office desk locked away whenever he is out of the house. The shy boy pouts and simply looks at what else could be done outside instead.

During this time, Jenny peeps from the kitchen window, pouring herself a wine tasting to the see that the two can't reach the gutter to clean them up. She smirks and thinks to herself. Why do you even bother, Spencer? But what happened next, she didn't expect, Gustavo, holding his trash bucket to put the guttered leaves in, feels Spencer go right underneath his legs and picks him up with his shoulders.

"Whose needs a ladder when you have a tall boy like me, right Gus?"

Gustavo smiles, he can reach the leaves and clutter from the gutters now. Jenny watches, annoyed that her son would be getting the gutters done without her husbands ladder stopping him.

Finishing the task, they go back inside to switch out the wet laundry into the dryer. Gustavo was much shorter than Spencer, pointed to what supplies he wanted to use from the top cabinets to clean the basement.

"Ah these ones? They're awfully high up here on the shelf for you to grab." He says with a stretched out arm.

"Mo... mother's idea." Gustavo stuttered, hinting to Spencer that Jenny has a nack for her son to suffer more in the chore process whenever possible.

The two continued cleaning throughout the yard picking up soggy leaves from the grounded pool with net poles, trimming bushes, washing windows, cutting and edge trimming the yard and more, meanwhile washing, drying the laundry at the same time.

With the two solely picking up and cleaning the entire luxurious home, they accomplished what three maids would have spent time doing in a week. Jenny was dumbfounded, her dislike of Gustavo running out of work to do and Spencer helping, furthered her irritation. The teen, feeling pleased with an honest workload of many days done, strolled out of the laundry room.

The mother entered their path, scoffing, "I can't believe you guys are done with everything."

Spencer placed away the brooms and mops in the a custodial interior closet, snugging a smirk at her, "Well Jenny, plenty of sunlight left for a dip in the pool. Wanna join us?" The offer bursted Gustavo in blushes on his cheeks as he left the room momentarily. His thoughts about Jenny in one of her bikini outfits, was too much. Such nudity was expressed in her magazines. Jenny's face reddens in disgust just thinking about wearing her swimsuit in front of her pathetic son. But in front of Spencer, she'd be delighted in.

"For you Spencer, I'll love to join you," she perks a suggested smile next. "Thinking about all those magazines we starred in I see." She teases.

Spencer sees Gustavo comeback more composed and rubs a hand on the cute shy boy's head like if he were his son. Such height difference suited them as such. "I wouldn't want to leave you out of some fine leisure time with your son and I, would I?" Spencer teased a comeback to her lack of physical work ethics.

"No," Jenny smugly glared. "I'm sure you and I can have some fine relaxing time," her disgruntled looks turn to Gus with a grim annoyance. "Gus, you can enjoy your time in the deep end of the pool." She ordered.

Gustavo shyingly agrees, "Ye... yes mother." The boy's tone, always sheepishly towards the cruel mother.

The back portion of the home housed a room before it's exit to the back yard. Spencer and Gustavo picked some swim shorts they planned to wear. Gustavo, shy enough as it is about showing himself half naked to Spencer, was also shy on seeing his mother's apprentice, half naked person too.  Spencer had to admit, the shy boy was quite aroused from viewing the fashionable apprentice without his shirt on for the first time. He had a feeling Gustavo never really, if ever, swam much in his life. The tall boy opened a bottle of sunscreen and poured some on his hand. Peering at the boy with a short friendly smile, he gestured to the boy.

"Alright Gus, you going to be a real trooper and relax while I rub some sunscreen on you ok? Gustavo nervously tucking his chin in, gave an equally nervous nod.

Spencer smiled awkwardly, understandingly, "Heh he, it's ok Gus, relax, let your emotions just hangout there." the child teen lessened his shyness.

Seeing how shy this shy boy is, impressed the tall boy. Carefully placing the first wave of sunscreen on the Gustavo's chest, Spencer feels awkward too, noticing some of this involuntary sensual pleasure they're having. Spencer gently continues rubbing the cream all over her shoulders and back. Gustavo was... enjoying himself for most part.

"Would you like to puts some sunscreen on me next?" He said like a father giving his son a turn on something.

Gustavo readily agrees. Spencer pours a good amount of sunscreen on the boy's shy hands and as he rubs cream all over Spencer chest, shoulders, and back. Gustavo also massaging the teen, really having the perfect touch on Spencer's aches and soreness from the laborious day they had. It made Spencer happy for the boy to finally have some bonding contact with another human. For the longest time, she was reserved, never given hugs from his stern father, and especially his despicable mother. Perhaps the only human contact he'd ever had, could have been from his great cousin uncle, Alfred Zarff

Once ample sunscreen was applied, Spencer poured dabs on his cheeks, forehead, and neck. "Now buddy," Spencer removing the boy's glasses and setting them aside, "we put sunscreen on our faces and necks to finish protecting ourselves from the sun's rays while we swim, as customary to your citizens of this land." Spencer tilted the shy boys head, dabbing him up likewise. The two smoothed the cream around, heading outside.

Standing on the deep end of the pool's marbled steps that descended into the water, Gustavo poked his toes into the surface of the pool, feeling intimidated by the chilling sensations, even for a warmer day in October. Spencer stepped both feet in on the first row of steps. The chill was a welcoming reminder of his swimming days at Gladia's beach shore regions in the Extremus District.

Noticing Gustavo reluctance to enter, Spencer comforts him with encouragement. "Now now, the water is fine, once you're wet, it will feel warmer in the water than out of it."

Spencer guided Gus in, the shy boy hugging the tall boy helped. Once in, Spencer and Gustavo played with each other in the shallow end of the pool, splashing around like happy kids. It was some of the funnest moments the shy boy ever enjoyed outside his interests in cleaning and servitude environment.  Spencer dunked himself in the water, placing his neck under Gustavo's lefts in much the same manner when they cleaned the gutters. Lifting him up and out of water, the shy boy, at first was frightened, but then very amused by Spencer's playfulness. A small breeze blew on Gustavo's body, instantly chilling him. His dangling feet in the water were warm in the water. He knew then and there, the water was warmer than out of it, just like Spence said. Tilting backwards, Spence brought Gustavo back into the pool, the warmth coming back joyously. The fashion boy smiled, wanting to show Gustavo something interesting.

"Take a look at this?" With a long arm, Spencer forced a large wave of water in the air. The sight entertained Gus. "You try it." Spencer offered.

Gus plopped an arm up and slid it across the surface of the water. It made him curious of such beauty the wave like formations came about his doing. Gus smiled and laughed with each wave he made slightly larger. Spencer took Gus by the hand, telling him, "Let's get you acquainted with how to swim proper,  Gus." Spencer offered. Gustavo showed a little fear being brought to the deeper part of the pool where the water arose to his neck forcing him to paddle himself up. With Spencer at his side, he felt confident. Spencer gracefully paddled himself upward with grace from all his practice swimming in Gladia. He helped Gus stay above water, palming a hand on the boy's chest, assisting him, as Spencer instructed him to relax laying back. "That's it Gus. Let your body naturally float. Breathe big, air in the lungs help sustain your head above water. Spencer lay back floating in the same manner. Gus felt total awe in comfort with the water, experimenting with his breathing. No air, caused him to sink a little, while more air in his lungs kept him up. Spencer's head floated next to Gus, lightly bumping each other, the two laughed and giggled. "Let's learn about swimming strokes now, Gus." Bringing him back to the shallower parts of the pool. He taught Gus how to swim with long stride and strokes in rhythm to keep breathing between them. Afterwords he demonstrated the same, more swift efficient process of holding ones breath while keeping the head underwater. The shy boy learned slowly but got the hang of it quickly. He understood that he can apply different swimming styles across the shallow end and deep end of the pool.

It was about this time that Jenny walked out with a towel around her body, sunshades on. She had already put her sunscreen on, glistening her smooth pampered skin. With a steely attitude, she tilted her shades down towards the teens, speaking. "Gustavo, look the other way," the son obediently did what he was told, Spencer glanced over to her son's direction. "Not you Spencer," Jenny said with a glamorous suggestive smug. "You get to see my illustrious skin." Her prideful demeanor about herself was habit as usual.

Dropping her towel, it revealed her sexy bikini bathing suit with yellow stunning fabrics silked around her breasts and a lower undergarment swimwear, this made her bum more round, tities more plump. Her apprentice's face reddened, she was wearing the bikini that Spencer designed personally. Entering the pool, she makes her way up to Spencer.

"I see... you're wearing a swim wear design I gave to you long ago. It's not one that we ever published yet."

Jenny nodded. "No, because I saw it more fitting to wear this just for you.  Personally, this one of a kind design, suits me a lot." She leans up to his face, "Thank You Spencer." She then proceeded to give Spencer a big kiss to the teen's lips. She purposely made a loud obnoxious kiss sound, annoying Spencer since Gustavo was right beside him looking away obediently. The kiss was a step too far for Spencer as he put hands on the mother's shoulders nudging her off him. Kissing was one habitual antic that she has done to the tall boy enough times already. Spencer wanted his lips only for his future girlfriends, never a whore like Jenny again.

"For the first time Jenny, you're the closest I'd think to understanding why I enjoy having fashion for the one person, rather than millions. This would be a great time if I showed Gustavo how to swim at the deep end." Spencer stated with a tone of authority nudging away Jenny for going over her bounds once more.

Jenny annoyed, splashed some water at him, more out of anger. "Ok then, afterwords, you and I will relax in my jacuzzi pool. Just you and me, talking about fashion. You always liked that. Mmmmm, and you still do." She sexually muttered the last part.

"I still like it very much, yes but no funny business this time." Spencer muttered back to her, going up to Gustavo, "Gus, let me show you how to dive at the deep end."

Spencer takes Gustavo to the deep end as Jenny made her journey up the jacuzzi, pushing a few buttons, starting the miniature pool's jetted water streams. She entered briefly.

After a few minutes educating the shy boy how diving works, the two perform the simple maneuver a couple times. It wasn't much to Gustavo's interests, it required a lot of forward momentum and overcoming the fear of the jump, but Gustavo tried a few times with varying levels of success. The short teen resumed his much more comfortable float at the center of the pool instead.

Spencer cracks a pun to this, "Whatever floats your boat, as they say, am I right?" The two teenagers laugh. Jenny from her lonesome bubbly tub took no humor to the jest, especially when her son is enjoying it. Spencer noticed this, and got out to join Jenny as he said he would. The jacuzzi was sizeable to fit four people comfortably. Spencer entered the advanced bubbly waters, feeling the nice soft jet streams of the currents flowing around his body, unlike Mr. Saigon's spa center, these ones were more simpler in nature, not absorbing his stressors away nearly as much.

Spencer eyed Jenny with a calm uninterested look about her. Her shades definitely made her more intimidating. "He's getting there." Her apprentice broke the silence.

Jenny removed her shades glaring, setting them on one of the many cup holders built on the edges of the tub. "Take a load off Spence. You have been working like a dog all day." She suggested.

"So has your son Jenny." Spencer smirked, implying that perhaps Gustavo should come in the bubbly tub aswell.

Jenny snorted. "You know by now I have no care for that brat. This, act of yours, as hilarious as it may be, has to stop."

Spencer was strucken odd about her. She still believes him to be loyal to her likeness as foolishly as it seems. "Jenny, I must be honest with you. Your son is genuinely a great kid to be around with. He works hard, wants to serve you, still, he holds no grudges on you, and to top all that off, he still the better, 'son I never had', than me."

Jenny chuckled putting her feet right up Spencer's stomach. This caught him off guard. Really?  His irritated thought would have loved to voice out his distaste for her.

"Let me think, next you'd expect me to say that all his efforts and mindset are because of Leo Acolytus Zarff?"

Gustavo splashed his laidback floating position to happily gaze at Jenny and Spencer; the mere mention of the name peaked his interests. Jenny, seeing that her son heard her say his cousin's once removed name, made her want to tell off at the child, "Swim laps you lame excuse for a child of mine!" She ordered as Gustavo begin swimming from one end of the pool to the other at the deep end.

Spencer begins to feel Jenny lower her grabby feet down towards his crotch. He pushes her feminine toes away, the teen sighing a little as the mother adjusts her position next to him instead of across. "I'll just make this quick and sexy." She expressed her cuddly instincts.

Spencer wrapped both hands around Jenny, letting her feel him, it satisfying her with every second her groping hands wandered closer and lower to his swim shorts.

"Jenny?” Spencer warns, "Don't you dare."

"Spence, darling, you're mine to do with however I please.” She taunted. Right as she said this, a loud series of truck honks blurt from in front of her home, her lustful expression turns to that of a really annoyed woman. "Those damn morons at the fashion supply network messed up my delivery location again! Argh!" Jenny rushes out the pool, grabbing her towel and covering herself, she jogs, scattering back inside as the four reefer box trucks' honking kept beckoning for someone at the home to accept their delivery of clothing products.

Spencer got out of the Jacuzzi genuinely concern for the mom. Then, sounds of chaotic splashy caught his attention back at Gustavo, swimming joyfully with such speed Spencer ever saw a boy Gus's age and stubble height swim. Gustavo immediately climbed out of the yard pool and stood before the neat jacuzzi. He gently gets into the bubble soapy like waters, his mind of shyness easing away at such opportune comfort. Spencer stood, over watching the most introverted, anti-social, isolated kid of his life, for once, enjoy himself a little relaxation.

Spencer leaned on edge of the jacuzzi gazing at the peaceful comfort about the little teen. His giggling making Spencer feel happy as the child regains his bearings seeing Spencer's friendly smile waving at him. Gustavo looked around if there was any chance of someone looking back at them. His guilt setting in. "I take it you never been given a chance to enjoy a bubble bath like jacuzzi?" Spencer asked.

Gustavoshyly replied, "Yes... sir."

Spencer began his walk back inside to change out of his swimwear, he gazed back to notice Gustavo feeling a little ashame to himself for enjoying some comfort for once without the approval of his abusive parents, but Gustavo was wrong.

Spencer noticing his guilty conscience, joined the shy boy in the jacuzzi pool. "Don't ever feal abandoned again Gustavo, I'm here now." Spencer laying himself behind Gustavo as the two look into the sky.

Gustavo felt happy, letting out a satisfied sigh, "Peace."

"Gustavo Acolytus Harcomb, not a bad name huh." Spencer chuckled. Gustavo smiled in agreement, eyes closed. "Well Gus," Spencer said rubbing the shy boy's wet head, "My fashion deductions tell me that it's your favorite pastime, bathing."

Gustavo gazes the most agreeable eyes the tall boy's seen. Such tranquility, reassurance, and rebirth comes from renewing the body, this is what Spencer deduced from Gustavo's ample interests of the bubbly streaming pool.

Part 2

Chapter 12: The Party VIP

The day finally came where the Harcomb family hosted their open house party. Spencer arrived in a stunning outfit popular for a 1990's golfer boy. Jenny dressed herself up as the distinguishable supermodel winner she believes herself to already be, alongside many of her girlfriends who arrived. Many businessmen and albeit investors also came by, mostly locals, who arrived mainly to mingle with larger society big timers. Gustavo was sharply dressed as the servant butler's boy, along with some hired professional servers who handled the finger foods, beverages, and any service they could be of use to the Harcomb Family’s guests. Gustavo was looked upon by them as an amateur, quite frequently being shown and taught on basic skills and knowledge that Gus already knew about from his grand uncle. The boy took the image he represented with humility and played along.

It amused Jenny in a way, “Oh boys, make sure the little twerp doesn't make a fool out of you all during my party.” She ordered.

“I can assure Mrs. Harcomb, the little boy's amateur abilities will not hinder the party, and we'll teach him everything we know.” One of her servers reassured her.

Spencer roams the interior of the sparsely crowded home overhearing Jenny's talk with servers on Gustavo. The tall boy greets his much shorter teen best friend with a shoulder pat, “Looks like you’re not going to be a busy boy tonight, seems like Jenny’s hired men will take over for you.”

Gustavo nodded shyly disappointed, “Indeed.” Spencer noted this.

The hired servers came by to talk to Gustavo directly now. But before they could lecture the butler boy further on his novice youthful stature, Spencer greets them in an authoritative and trusted manner, 

“Listen guys. This here's a very important friend of mine. He likes to work his keep with honest effort and is more than willing to learn everything you all have to teach him.” The men cast amused glances on the much shorter adolescent. “If he seems to do anything you ask of him perfectly the first time, and if he doesn't learn anything new from you guys by the middle of the night, you all must learn from Gustavo for the rest of the night. Spencer dared.

The head server smiles and laughs, doubtingly, “Very well then, let's show the shy boy what needs to be done, men.

Gustavo follows the men out into the kitchen. Spencer heads on into the open part of the home where most of the guests are at. He greets guests as he passes by, their impressed gazes upon the reputable teen is expressed by their polite waves and returning greetings, “Hi there, Hello, Yeah, hehe, it's me.”

Cody Harcomb stood accompanied by his important circle of business associates. The group of men’s talk blends with the rest of the home's chatterable atmosphere as sights of Spencer’s presence accompany them. 

Cody confidently starts a new subject, one about the fashion teen, “And this, as all of you must know, is where most of my wife's success is. Marvel! It’s due to this boy’s bravery in posing next to the woman of your dreams.”

The businessman agreed with nods and replies, one of them stating, “Ah yes, Spencer Harcomb, your son. Never have I ever thought there could be such a handsome child of yours, it’s no wonder he’s into fashion, as much as your, ‘faithful’ wife, is it.” 

Harcomb's men laugh at the statement, Cody himself too.

Spencer now understands that Jenny has more unfaithfulness towards other men than she does on just himself. “Excuse me?”

Cody laughs, “Son, get your friend, that maid boy to serve us all the fine vintage wine beverages stored in the basement cellar would you?”

Spencer long knew that Jenny and Cody mutually despise their biological son and at the same time now refer to Spencer himself as their son instead. 

Instead of questioning, Spencer does the opposite, smiling and playfully owning up to being Cody Harcomb's son, “Sure thing pops.” The tall teen nods about to leave as he returns a suggestive gaze for a final statement, “And it's thanks to my dad that my, ‘faithful’ mom, has the son of her dreams.” Spence leaves with the rest of Harcomb's men laughing harder, Cody genuinely laughing and impressed by the tall boy’s attitude. 

Mingling by passing crowds, the fashion boy is briefly spotted by his feminine mentor, Jenny. Her pompous physic and stature just flaunts victory for her spot as Lady Liberty of the entire city. “Spence! Come meet my girlfriends.” She jested him over.

The tall boy was in the presence of some neat looking woman dressed fashionably for the occasion. One of them happily greets the boy, addressing him by his full name most fans would know of as, “Spencer Harcomb, truly a handsome son of yours Jenny.” 

“I agree too, just look at his fashionable clothes, it just speaks mama’s boy don’t it?” Another gal jested. 

The girls had their fill of laughter as Jenny clapped nearing her apprentice in a motherly kind of way, “She so right, ain't she, kiddo? You’re a mama’s boy.”

Out of all the slang Spencer learned throughout his time in Liberty City, mama’s boy wasn’t part of his exhaustive vocabulary yet. He only felt shy and slightly reddened around his face by the ambiguity of the possible meaning of the saying.

“Uhh, yeah, mama’s boy. That’s me.” He said in an admittedly way.

“Of course you are horny,” Jenny said clearly amused by his uncomfortable understanding of the newly presented slang, yet she was courteous enough let him be on his way surprisingly, “well as much as I would love to share you with my girlfriends, I’m not going to let them chance better odds at the fashion title of Lady Liberty. So don’t let them bother you any, honey.” Jenny smooched a quick kiss on his cheek as Spencer shyly smiled a wave to her fashionable company, dismissing himself to find Gustavo and be rid of any shenanigans Jenny would have instored for him, especially in a party environment.

Spencer spots Gustavo doing everything that the hired server professionals are doing, but with a lot more finesse and speed. Some of the servers are dumbfounded by some of the techniques Gustavo is pulling. Like setting up dining tables with the exact proper placements of silverware, platters, and even the drink glasses. Particular knowledge that only servers like the hired ones were brought over to do. Spencer bumps into the shy boy who hugs his waist, using his height as leverage to quickly rotate himself around the rest of the table finishings and set up.

Spencer, impressed, “Seems like you got things handled here. Your father wants you to serve his friends and him some fine wine from the cellar. I will get the platter and wine glassware ready for you to quickly take it to them.

Gustavo nodded, a server then tasks him to set up the meals from the kitchen to the dining table.

At the grand living room, Cody announces to his business venturing pals about an important man showing up to the party, “Guys, today I’ll make a leap to the bigger leagues. Donald Love is coming to my home to enjoy our crowds and leisures. I want us to make sure he is satisfied with my progress.”

One of his associates nodded with an intrigued expression, “Donald Love... business real estate apprentice of the big man himself, Avery Carrington? Then there's a shit ton of money with that name just lingering around here.”

Cody grinned, seeing Gustavo hold a platter with drink glasses filled with the fine wine with the bottle in the middle for refills, “Speaking of lingering, our drinks arrived, indulge up guys.”

His pals chuckled at the short teen butler boy, one of them asking, “Heh heh ha, where do you find servers like him? So young, so new?, Harcomb?

Cody smirked with a snobbish answer, “Oh like any prestigious house owner. They come with the house property.” The group of men smile at the punchline coming up, “Especially under the stairs.” The men laugh hard. Cody laughs with them as he signals Gustavo to buzz off as the boy sets the platter next to them on a shelf stand. His real son happily does, knowing his very father is enjoying his time with friends making fun of him at the very least, “Now beat it kid, you're bothering us.”

As the guests of the party peaked in attendance, a man arrived at the party, one that most of the guests briefly looked at with dazzled gazes.

The business mongrel politely waved a hand of ‘carry on with your day’ gesture, “Please don't treat me any more special than someone else. Continue your discussions and such. I am equal to you all.”

The people blinked, continuing their chats as the man of the house went to talk to the important VIP guest.

“Donald Love, please enjoy this wonderful celebration of fashion. There’s bidding on real estate from all out familiar networking faces here.”

Donald glanced around for second, indeed seeing some potential deals. “Wonderful Mr. Harcomb. So tell me, how are your wife and son doing?”

“My wife's hot as ever and my son has a new friend who likes his company. You must know, that it's my wife's apprentice who befriended that shy little boy.”

Spencer and Gustavo happen to be in a lull period where they have nothing really going on that needs to be done. By halfway through the night, Spencer walked with Gustavo in the server’s break area.  

One of the hired servers called out Gustavo’s adept skills as proven in the earlier half of the party, “Let us be, boy, I ain't about to take orders from a kid.”

Spencer spoke on behalf of Gus’s shyness, “By all means sir, far from it. Mrs. Harcomb just happens to say things that ain't true about this child next to me. You see, Jenny Harcomb just happens to be Alfred Harcomb's niece.”

The leader of the group nearly spat his drink, baffled immensely, “You don't mean, the Alfred Zarff, arguably the best butler in the whole city?”

Another server, much younger, chimed in, adding, “He and his son, Leo, outperformed the butlers from all around the metro.”

Spencer chucked a smile, happy to learn that these hired folk are knowledgeable in their work. “Well if you all know about Alfred? Then you might want to know that this very child next to me, just so happens to be his grand nephew.”

The servers freak out, standing up from their chairs and asking Gustavo if he knows Alfred.

Again, Spencer spoke on behalf of the nervous child before them, “Knows him? Gustavo here was taught by the very man like if he a father.”

The servers blinked while some of them rubbed their eyes in disbelief, then some of them pulled out notebooks, pens and pencils, beginning to ask Gustavo all forms of questions to improve their skills and abilities as servants to future hire bookings. Gustavo hid behind Spencer, he was very uncomfortable on being looked on as a useful human being for once.

“Guys,” Spencer said, “note down all your questions and concerns on paper, and I'll have my friend answer them back in writing. He doesn't seem confident on any public demonstrations yet.” The tall boy looks at Gus who is a little flustered by the sudden feeling of admiration for the first. “My friend and I want to spend some time together.”

The two teens dismissed themselves from the servers as they nodded in understanding. 

Half an hour passed as the two teens stood next to a table of finger foods that many people were passing by helping themselves. Donald Love, the coveted real estate magnate sat in a chair observing the guests quietly. Many of the visitors were all too intimidated by the multi hundred million dollar bigshot to bother speaking to him. 

Gustavo whispered something to Spencer to get the tall boy's attention on the rich business man, “Donald Love…” He gestured a slight hand towards the man, “He also makes Jenny happy just like you do.”

Spencer blushes, understanding the probability that the shy boy has history with the magnate. “Whose is Donald Love, Gus?”

“A... lovely person.” 

Spencer gets the feeling that Gus wants him to chat with Donald by what his observations tell him about the daunting authoritative VIP before them.

Taking a breath, Spencer walks up to Donald and the young adult and teenager give each other their first impressions.

Chapter 13: Shy Love

Gustavo Harcomb is the shyest boy Donald ever encountered. The boy's upbringing was full of surprises. First, his mother and father were strict disciplinarians towards him. They wanted their son to be polite, respectful, and mannered at all times. Given that the father had a beautiful hottie wife, one who is among the top 10 bikini models of Liberty City; the husband was a prosperous investment shareholder of real estate stock. They are a rich couple by novice high class standards. Gustavo's time with his parents were wary. They held him responsible for much of the cleaning chores around the large home they lived in. 

Donald was the largest real estate owner that the family had ties to, so naturally the man of the house invited the several hundred millionaire man to their home dinners whenever the small-time admirer could. The ringing of the door bell echos through the quiet mansion, it’s bulky door opening into the sweet evening outdoors, 

“ahh hello Mr. Love! I'm so grateful you came tonight!” Mr Harcomb said. 

"Thank you Mr Harcomb. Oh and who is the young fellow hiding over there, Cody?" Donald said. 

The sight of a shy boy’s head peeked next to the side of a wall corner, curious about the richer man. His father, annoyed, told his son to introduce himself. 

“Kid!” The father said, disinterested in the boy.

Gustavo shaked into full view, bowing politely, “He... Hello sir. My.. My name is Gus… Gustavo Harcomb." He said nervously. 

"He's only 13 years old, and yet he has a socially awkward downside on receiving attention.” Cody said, welcoming Donald in. “Kid, did you clean up the upstairs living room?”

"Yes f… father. It's as... as clean as you want it." 

Donald saw the strictness the boy's father exercised. "Donald, come, we have much to discuss and so little time to do so these boring Mondays." Harcomb invited the rich man further into the well to do home. The rich man’s eyes lended curious care for the shy kid as the child felt that this man was out for his well being.

At the table, Donald kept an eye on Gustavo, observing the child’s professional work setting up napkins, silverware, and beverages, food, all the while his mother’s eyes gazed seductively on Donald's handsome looks. 

"Mr. Love, how was your day today?" Jenny asked. 

"Well Mrs. Harcomb, enlightening to say the most. It's rare that I walk through my businesses, greeting managers and staff with their concerns and requests to be addressed." 

Mr. Harcomb rolled his eyes that Donald's workers would want to bother the bigshot with that low level kind of responsibilities. The rich man continued, "It’s my personal goal to know everyone of my employees' work lives as… let’s just say, as useful as possible." Donald shared. 

"But, Mr. Love,” Cody addresses, “a position like yours would not be one of my responsibilities anymore. Why would it be yours?" The father asked, curious. 

His son was focused on laying down platters of gourmet food prepared by their hired cook maid. The shy boy was quick and careful to detail, making sure every plate had the appropriate food garnishing that breathed copious amounts of appetite, otherwise Gus was instructed to carry it back and let the maid fix it before bringing it back. 

"I see it as a necessary opportunity to improve my business.” Donald stated, “I seek to focus on my workers." He noticed that Cody's wife was indeed attractive, attractive enough to actually arouse her very own Gustavo. He could tell by the pattern how the shy boy glances at his mom's physic. The eye candy mother often bragged about herself, her modeling ways leading her to the semi finals and winning them often enough to qualify for some serious competitions.

"By using my trend designers' new clothes in the show, I marketed out new products boosting sales across all of Liberty City, gaining extra royalties." She proudly said. Her gaze at Donald catches her attention on the man’s observance at her most recently bought dress she wore. One of Cody's maids came down to inform him that he had received a phone call in his office. Gustavo was just now taking his seat with his plate of food before everyone was to eat.

"Sir,” The maid said in a Jamaican accent, “A phone call awaits you. They're the new managers." She informed him. 

"Oh,” He grunts, annoyed. “heh, my most sincere apologies. I should never leave a guest at the dinner table for a phone call, but you know the saying?" Harcomb said to Donald and their important guest nodded, answering the saying with a friendly smile and giggle, 

“It's perfectly ok, I would answer the call. Business is business, Mr Harcomb." Donald ensured Cody. 

Right as the father left, Gustavo’s mother began tempting Donald with seductive offers as usual from previous dinners. "Mr. Love, if a man like you with all that wealth and power ever wanted to have a... private modeling show, I wouldn't mind it." She sexually invited the idea. 

Her son was blushing red at the sides of his cute teen cheeks. Donald looked at Jenny and he knew she was after an affair, either for mass amounts of money, a trick to sue Donald, or she was genuinely wanting this vastly wealthy man for sex. 

"Mrs. Harcomb, what kind of show would give me?" Donald entertained the offer sarcastically. 

"I'd show you everything, from all directions. In any manner you want it. My husband would never know about it." 

Gustavo was feeling very aroused by the thought of Donald pleasing his mom, the overwhelming fatherly being of the man was so enticing, he was itching for such a fantasy to come true. 

"What about your son here?" Donald asked Jenny. 

"Oh, that little pep squeak,” She snorts, “wouldn't dare spill anything without my way so. He has no real friends, he’s alone because he likes to be. The fact of the matter is…” Jenny picked garnishes off from her plate and flicked them at her son's face. Gustavo felt the pieces of spring onion hit his forehead and fall onto the floor, an impertinent habit that always involved the boy standing up and taking her plate back to the cook maid thus returning a perfectly ready meal again. As Gus does this, Jenny resumes, “fact of the matter is… you and me can f*** right now, in front of my own son, on this table, and my stupid introvert runt of a shy boy, will clean it up." She tempted Love in the middle of her son getting her plate fixed. 

From inside his being, Donald was used to all types of women trying to seduce him, but never to the level at which this boy’s mother went. She literally saw her son for the useless pathetic excuse for a son she never wanted. 

"Mrs. Harcomb, as much as people in my stature would enjoy that; I have no interest in destroying your family's life, in particularly, your son Gustavo. It's a shame for how much your son is dedicated to cleaning and doing what you want, that you would give him that." Donald said compassionate for the boy’s justice.

"He's a stupid boy. I should've gotten a daughter, she would have been such a beautiful successor to my modeling career, but no, I'm left with this excuse for a son who's only good at cleaning." She scolded Gustavo deeply within her vile being. What really crossed the line for Donald was the very next thing she said. "Humph what's another 13 years anyways, I'm going to get a daughter to take my place. Not this little shit." She stated. 

Cody arrived back at the table. Their son returned with Jenny’s re-prepped meal, taking his seat again, the shy boy blinked at his mother and then Donald. Seeing the wealthy man, fold one of the napkins over his lap, the family was ready to eat. 

"Well then, Mrs. Harcomb, this is quite the meal you have for everyone." Donald complemented. 

"Well Mr. Love, take the first bite." Said Cody. Donald looked at the right side of the forks and picked the appropriate one for the main course meal, trying the first of many scrumptious bites of thyme crisp roast duck. 

"Mmm, bon appetit, my soon compliments to the host, and the chef." Their guest, being the one to eat first, was proper courteous from Cody, to the soon to be billionaire Donald Love.

The wife stared sexually at Donald while they ate and chatted. Their son ate his smaller sized meal and asked to be excused to go brush his teeth and head onto sleep. 

"M... My I..." Before Gus could finish. His mother answered him. 

"Yes dear, go brush your teeth and go to bed. Remember that you have all of the bathrooms in the home to clean before 7am tomorrow morning." Her ridiculous orders stirred Donald’s inner emotions as the child bowed,

"Y… yes… mother." He bows once more.

"Gustavo?” She probed, forgetting to say something afterwards, again?"

"M... My… apologies mother, tha... thank you and g... good night." Gus politely said and left. The relationship between the mother and son left a lasting impression on Donald as he kept outer expression calm and collective.

After the meal Cody wanted to give Donald Love a quiet tour around his home to see various art collections he had and boast about his high life of living. Jenny went out on modeling errands.

"He are my prized collections of paintings brought forth from Europe’s museum esteemed vendors." The minor rich man explained away. They got to the hallway where the shy boy’s room was. The door was cracked open and as the two passed by, Love caught a distinct scent. A smell easily ignored by adults but for the important guest it was all too familiar. "Mr. Love, why don't we go to my office and end the night together with a few business reviews and a glass of cold iced chardonnay?" 

"Iced cold water suits me just fine." Donald said and Harcomb agreed.

“Of course, hehe, ever the man with the liquids discipline.”

“Speaking of liquids, I’ll see you there, humm, after I visit the men’s room.”

Cody nodded respectfully, picking a bottle off the wall alcohol shelf case along with a few drinking glasses. Donald meanwhile peered at some of the wall paintings until Cody left his sights. The door of the child's room was cracked open and Donald peeked through it seeing Gustavo masturbating over magazine's of his own sexy hot mother, Jenny, in the most provocative bathing suit poses. 

The shy boy caught Donald’s shadow peeking through the cracks of the door into the dark moonlit room. The child startlingly pulled his pajamas up and took his magazines, hiding them under his work study desk. He was so ashamed of himself as he crawled himself into bed embarrassed. Donald could only understand that because of the temptations of his mother on the millionaire, he would fantasize Donald being the man pleasing Jenny. Not wanting to let the boy live his life in further suffering, Donald walked into the dark room, sitting next to the child’s bed edge. Patting his head, all the man could do it offer words of support,

“It’s alright, your secret's safe with me. I’ll do what I can to make your mother happy.”

Moving to stand up, Donald feels the child's arms hug his waist.

“Thank you.” Gustavo said feeling the man pat his head in a fatherly way.

Love slowly left the door continuing to Mr. Harcomb's office. That night Donald was intrigued by the shy boy's incestuous thoughts about his mother. Donald later came to find out that Gustavo wanted to imagine himself as Donald pleasing his despicable mother, Jenny, as a solution. Such circumstances only guide the multi hundred millionaire on caring for the boy behind the parent’s backs. 

Over the next couple of days, Donald visits the Harcomb family for their open house party. Donald sees many of client shareholders, moderate time business investors, and few upcoming rivals. When Donald was invited in, people clearly didn't expect him to come. Love knew he was the most successful wealth builder there. 

"Guys guys, I don't want to be treated like anyone special, just carry on with your conversations." Donald announced. 

Mr. Harcomb understood little by what grounds would an important man like Love be not to express himself as the self entitled and prideful as people would lead him to believe. 

"Mr. Love, you could be a very busy man here. Plenty of guests are inviting bids for the new release of our real estate stocks." Cody greeted.

"I'm sure they would all want to make deals with me all day, Mr. Harcomb. How is your wife and son doing?" 

Cody merely laughs, “They could be anywhere around my mansion. My boy, Gus, he’s met a friend for the longest time, a tall fellow, about 17 years old, he’s been quite the top selling model teenager for my wife's expanded interests on younger audiences for parents in schools." 

Donald was curious, the shy boy hasn't been one for friends, what made this teen the exception he thought. After chatting away for some time with Cody and many of his associates, the man wanted solitude among the crowds that were too intimidated by his stature to speak with him.

Donald Love took a seat at the tables where a few people were discussing politics and investment opportunities, as he opened his pocketbook, writing notes. When Gustavo and his tall friend roam into the large commons area of the home, he sees Love. From a distance the man gazed up at him smiling as the child told the tall teen boy something. Donald continued watching the two as they got a small plate of delicious snacks and finger foods across the way. 

"Mr Love." Donald shifted his gaze to a man confident enough to bargain a deal with him. 

"I'm… an investor of corinthian wallets, would you..." 

Donald Love immediately accepted his offer. "I'll do business with you. Just kept it between us... " 

"Oh thank you, Mr. Love... "

"Just meet me at one of my offices,” Donald says, ripping a piece of paper with a corporate address, “tomorrow at 8am. Otherwise,” The wealthy magnate began seeing more eyes and confident dealers wanting in the action, “try to keep others from making a deal with me, they might just offer one better." 

"In a heartbeat, you got it." When Donald got the man to leave him. Gus’s tall friend went to approach him with a small plate of delicacies. Donald was quick to gesture to the desperate investor towards the all businessmen around the room, not the teens. As the two boy presented themselves, Gustavo’s friend broke the ice.

"Hello sir. Could I interest you in a snack of two." Donald observed the boy, he wore a very neat looking polo shirt with shorts with useful cargo pockets. The look was exquisite at the time for the late 90's golf enthusiast everywhere. 

"Why, I must say, you look stunning as your reputation holds. I don't believe there's an outfit like yours that I've ever seen." Donald complemented, accepting a morsel or two. Gustavo was there cleaning up after the guests, throwing away plates and sweeping crumbs off of tables and floors. 

"By the way, name’s Spencer Harcomb." He said. Donald was curious now, most curious.

"Harcomb?”

“Umm, yeah. Spencer awkwardly stated.

“Take a seat, tell me about yourself. I took dear Gustavo over for having a brother." 

The tall boy smiled a little embarrassed and pulled over a seat next to the rich man. 

"Well, truth be told, it’s actually a pet last-name that my fashion mentor and her cunning husband are playing on me and the guests.” 

“Humph, typical deceit from Jenny and Cody I take it.”

“So you know them?”

“Yes, fortunately I’m more inclined to connect with these folks not for their business ventures, but because their son, Gustavo, over there.” Donald nods a glance towards the shy boy’s direction, the seated two observing the boy's attention to detail and requests from the guests.

Spencer nods in total understandment, adding, “He’s been abused further by them throughout his entire life, you know. Being raised like an unappreciated soul for his love of service on the behalf of his parents completely.”

“Yep, and you probably know why we can’t just take him away from them.” Donald poised.

 Spencer sighs, “Because of Gustavo’s interests in Jenny, huh?”

“For the most part, yes. Really, these parents are stubborn and self righteous, willing to get rid of Gus happily, but that involves a lot of legality issues, issues that would make their reputation suffer when word gets out. So they don’t do anything. And if I interfere, Gus would be unhappy seeing his mother unhappy.”

Spencer blinked in understanding of the new slang he was teased to, “Is that why they call it, mama’s boy?”

Donald glanced at Spencer, “Mama’s boy is an understatement for what Gustavo is to Jenny.” The tall teen nodded raised brows to the hidden cruelty of Jenny’s recent tease antics.

Their chat continued with more about Spencer, 

“My real last name is Masonius. As I worked on developing a taste for fashion, my uncle introduced me to Jenny, and she came to sponsor my looks for the last several months. I worked and developed her fame further by affiliating with her in stylish magazines as one of the most popular teenagers in the city." Spencer said. 

"I can assume how you got to know Gus then." Donald added.

Jenny came from the upstairs and approached the two. 

"Darling Spencer, how's my boy doing? Getting to know Love here, are we?" It was obvious that Spencer was a dream son that she wanted. Much taller, a lot more open and sociable. Gustavo was near the three, and as to demostratre her distaste for own biological son, she interrupted the boy’s cleaning task. "Twerp, go clean the basement cellar, again.” 

"Y… yes mother. Than.. Thank you mother." The child sheepishly went to the basement.

Spencer could tell she was always Jenny's favorite boy over her own son. Gus was always left in the dark. 

"Mrs. Harcomb,” Donald said, “I see that you and Spencer here have fashion modeling in the bag." 

"Hun humm yes. My time with Spencer has been invigorating. He's been so handsome in all the clothes I had him wear. Sales always max out when he was put on the shows. Have you seen his shows?" 

"No I haven't. But… If ever one happens,” He leans over to her, “would you invite me to one?" 

Jenny was obviously madly in love with Donald. "How about we forget about the show and skip right into the backstage passes?" She sexually rubbed Donald's leg. Donald authoritatively yet smoothly pushed her hand away. 

"So Spencer, why did you pick modeling, is it because you like traveling, you like the money, what makes you wake out of bed every morning in the hopes that you get to be something?" 

Spencer pulled a miniature sketchbook out of his side cargo pocket. "Picking modeling wasn't a lottery win, I have my inspirations. The way people express themselves… it’s by far the best thing about fashion. So far I am working to perfect it. It hasn't quite come good just yet." Spencer said. 

"Came good?What would make it more perfect than it already is?" Jenny Harcomb saw one of her girlfriends with their children passing by and wanted to greet them. “On second thought, a cute little girl is all that I need to have the perfect modeling career next.” She politely dismisses herself.

Spencer resumed his conversation with Donald. "I'm just not as fulfilled about making clothing popular for only the profiteering purposes and worse, mass production of it. I want the clothes I make to be something more, something original, unique, and profound to every wearer." 

Donald knows what he seeks. "Spencer, what your honest craft needs, is not clothes for the masses, but clothes for just one. One of a kind clothing." Spencer's mind opened up to the enormity of all the creative choices he could design for a single individual rather than a mass. "But also Spencer, the character and personality of the clothing." 

Spencer once again is astonished. He filled his sketchbook with the advice of Donald's recommendations. Spencer leaned over and whispered. "Mr. Love. I got to be honest with you. Jenny, is a psycho. We both know she is not as she seems. Her modeling career is not enough for her. I feel that her next jump she'll be after, is in the pornography industry. She’s been making out with me and doing things that I can't question because of my fashion livelihood depending on her." 

Donald put a hand on top of his book. He set a rare card with a one time phone number on it. The description read, Seeking those who share in true usefulness. "Call it. We need to talk about this in private." Donald requested. 

"And what will you do until then?" Spencer asked.

"I believe our shy friend at the basement cellar wants in at it." Donald and Spencer nodded and parted ways. 

Cody finds Donald tossing an empty paper plate away in the kitchen as the two roam around heading up throughout the upper stairs hallways. "Oh Mr. Love, come! I got to show you my wife's girlfriends. Hehehe ha, you might just want to spend the night in bed with one for how parched your sex life is." He offered.

"Trust me Mr Harcomb, I've been there, and I haven't ever done that for good reason." Harcomb was curious as to why Donald, as rich as he is, is still single, without a girlfriend, "Donald, just take a look at them.” The were at the homes backyard balcony, Donald sees across the yard in the night city sky, “I swear I'd f*** them more often if my wife wasn't such a bitch sometimes." A dark shadow fell from the lighting indoors obscuring the expressions of both men looking out from the balcony and onto the beach pit pool below. The many guests fancied and enjoyed the barbecue and alcohol. Donald gave Mr. Harcomb such a disappointed look as the man pulls a cigar and notices he left his lighter, patting his pockets but then a match strikes and lights his tobacco nicotine treat, it was Donald’s match. Love couldn’t believe why his senses were hinting to himself that this was Cody’s last cigar the pursuing millionaire would have. 

"Mr. Harcomb, why does your son even exist?" Harcomb pulls a flask and downs all of it from such the accusing question 

The unsettled man sighs disappointingly. “For the same reason that whore of a mother the boy has. That bitch wanted a girl to take her place when she grew old but fate had us have a son.” He tossed the flask down at the lawn edge bushes, “But then that teen boy comes along and she’s all hunky dory now.” 

“Spencer is he?" Donald said.

"So, she introduced you to him? Kind of a brat isn’t he?" 

Donald disagreed entirely, but didn't argue with him, "I've only got to see him once. Say, what good does it do for a man in your marriage life to sleep with other women?" Donald confronted. 

"Donald, you're the richest guy I know. With what money I got as it is, I even f*** women left and right. Jenny doesn't care anymore. Whose could possibly stop me?" 

"Your son, Gustavo." Donald said in a serious tone. 

Cody in his increasingly drinken state retorts, "Look, that boy is only good for one thing, and that's cleaning up. I don't care how good his grades are in school, whether or not he made it well in choir classes or how many times he's been picked on at school for not fitting in. Shit, are you kidding? I literally had him stand and look at a wall, away from me when I f***ed women. Then I told him to clean up the mess, spotless, especially before I came back home from dumping my wife's sluts off." 

Donald was disappointed. Gus, a boy who only did what others told him was living with parents like these. "I'll be taking my leave. Business… is business." 

Mr. Harcomb saw him off in agreement. "Business is business, indeed, Mr. Love."

Donald walked towards the entrance of the home almost leaving before seeing this as an opportunity to talk to the boy before his departure. It was most suitable for the man, down in the cellar, where no one could disturb them. Donald walked down the hallways further back of the home where hardly any guests roam. Seeing the cellar door, he went in, treading the stairs quietly and he saw the shy boy working away like a slave, somehow happy to just be cleaning at the very least. Watching the child work in peace and quiet, the man felt called to pick up some extra cleaning towels and spray bottles and join the child at the very least. The boy was first hesitant, but knowing it was Donald Love, he cracked into a once short sporadic laugh smiling. 

The two continued, cleaning the cellar until it was spotless. Donald could tell Gus was happy to have someone by his side doing what he had to do all the time. Once the final spot was wiped down. Donald threw down his wet messy towel into the dirty bucket of others. 

"So this is what you've been doing all these years?" 

Gus nodded. 

Donald took a knee below the shy boy's level. "You seem so collective and under control about all that you've been through in life. How did you not snap or call it quits yet?" Gus knew what Donald was meaning. He reached out and hugged him for all the hugs he never received as a child but watched from other children. 

He was not only shy but very easy to miss from a school’s crowd of students. All of them could hardly tell if he was a new student or not, every day he came to school. He was picked on and bullied for being quiet and reserved. No friends of lasting relationships happen. Most of the students were out for their own interests. To make matters worse, Gus would have no one he knew visit his school plays and choirs. Noitcere's only solution was to just clean. Dirt and filth were more friends to him than what ‘respects’ humanity had. 

Donald Love’s feelings for the child's past transfers to him understand how much cleaning meant to the boy. The first real bond with another being was when Donald cleaned side by side with him. Spencer tried before, but was hindered by the mother’s antics to see the entire story. 

Donald sighs a tear, "My, you're not meant for your parents. Spencer, yes." Donald and Gus stayed in embracement until the basement door abruptly opened from above followed by footsteps walking down. Gus quitly pushed Donald into a shadow place behind the cellar wall of wine racks, a place where the boy knew his parents would never find him there. The mother and father approached their son as he stood in the middle of the spotless cellar space. 

"Look Jenny, our boy has gotten faster at cleaning the cellar." The father said in a disappointed attitude. 

"Oh you're just too addicted to cleaning, aren’t you twerp!” His mother scolds, “So let's help you with that sweetie." 

What Donald Love began to witness was the two parents pulling champagne bottles out of the dark cellar racks where Love was hiding at and they pulling the corks, dumping the contents at Gustavo’s shiny polished shoes. 

"Darn it Gus, looks we are going to have to buy you new shoes again." His mother scolded again. 

"And trashing the basement again is another two weeks grounded." The father said while dropping a few champagne and vine bottles of the floor smashing them. The parents held onto a few. They came down stairs to bring up fine wine to the distinguished guests during the open house. 

"You know what Jenny? I'm feeling too disappointed in this kid. Why don’t we try for another, right here, right now? We're in no hurry. " Mr. Harcomb requested. 

Jenny obliged him. "Gus, you know the rules." The shy boy looks away in the direction where Donald is hiding, the man is witnessing the true nature of the boy's adulterous parents. His eyes locks on with the Gus’s as their parents got naughty. Mr. Harcomb dropped his pants a little and lifted Jenny's dress skirt. Donald sees that Gus’s eyes closed with his face reddening from arousal of it all. Love knows Gustavo just wants his mother to be happy because of this very act that Donald is seeing of how they treat their own biological son. 

As Cody worked to copulate with Jenny, she taunted Gus, “One day I'll have a girl. She'll be much better than you ever were. Come on honey, make a girl this time. I can't afford to model another 12 years by getting pregnant. f***ing do it right time." 

Mr. Harcomb was pissed off that Jenny was so two-faced about her being and ordering him. So right when he was about release, he instead spilt his seed on Gustavo’s back. 

Jenny yelled at him, "Damn it Cody! Why didn't you..." 

The father grappled his hand around her neck, "I don't want to hear it, Jenny. You want a girl so bad,” He shoves her away, “there she is. I'll do it when I feel like doing it inside you, bitch." Jenny gets angry, but not at her husband, but at her son. Not only was her only chance to get pregnant with a girl wasted, it was literally wasted on the very wasted life she saw with Gus, the fact of him being a boy pissed her ever more. 

She grabbed a small empty wooden barrel and threw it at him. The impact slammed the boy down to the ground. Donald frightened, anticipating Gus to cry, didn't. He just stayed there on all fours. 

Calming herself down, Jenny exhaled, "Honey, let's go, I'll be upstairs, give out the damn drinks." She said as she tossed the handle of one of the broken bottles at her son, bonking him on top of the head. 

"Sure thing baby, just let me explain to our ‘boy’ how he got these bruises." Cody explained to Gus that if anyone asks how he got these wounds he now had, he had to tell them they were from an accident; That they were of that of a cellar wall falling on him. As if it wernt enough, Cody also ordered the child to clean the whole basement cellar again. "Ye… yes... father. Than.. thank…" 

Cody interjects, “Don’t thank me you piece of dogshit, thank that whore of mother for birthing your pointless existence to the world.” He insulted beyond cruelty. 

Gustavo respectfully obeyed and honored his father. Donald was furious from the inside. He knew that only his anger would only make things worse. When the parents left their son to pick up the broken bottles scattered across the now messy cellar, Donald approached before Gus hugging him, and petting his wounded head. 

"There there child. Have no vengeance to be had with your parents, you lived your life honoring what's left to be had with them soon enough." 

That very day Donald left the party sad and perplexed at the same time. Such traumatic situations would have killed other children, but Gustavo surpassed even that, throughout all these years.

Chapter 14: Fashion Bestings

Spencer sat with his uncle at their safehome preparing, 

“So, this the final day of the competition. After listening in to the voting, sounds like Jenny is set for the win.

His uncle polished off his newly acquired equipment, “Yes she very well is.” After many observations of the armor, it just baffles Amadeus on how Spencer shaped the chainmail and the greaves so elegantly. “Boy.”

Spencer looks up at him, “Hum yes.”

“Did you craft this armor?”

The tall boy smiled and laughed, “Do you really believe I can be worth of smithing?”

Amadeus eyed him, then wondered, “I don’t know, you’re always full of surprises.”

“I design, Uncle, and others make the final product.”

“I can only imagine who your smithing contact was.” The uncle inquired.

“He’s not any ordinary fellow, I found him after so many other smiths declined my designs. Quite the jack of all trades, he can do anything. And he proved it with what’s in your hands now.”

Amadeus chuckles, “Hehe ha, very quaint.”

In the passing hours, the nephew and uncle have worked diligently to provide Jenny Harcomb with every opportune victory to further herself to the grand finals. As the fashion tournament leads to its concluding competition, the mayor of the Liberty City announces it over the radio and public sponsored tv stations across the metro. 

“Hello ladies and gentlemen of fashion model enthusiasts everywhere. Just a couple hours away from announcing the winner of Lady Liberty Award we have a fashion show for you all tonight. A fashion show free for all. Participants of this show will receive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals, interviews, honorable mentions, and time to meet with many of the modeling companies' representatives. Within 30 minutes, the show will begin, contestants are to line up to the fashion line carrier platform floats.

For Spencer and Amadeus, they decided that in order to win the show in the most fashionable way possible. Jenny and them would wait to be the last models to present themselves. As the show kicks off, a montage of models, teens, and kids went on presenting themselves first. The spectators cheered on all of them for their modeling careers starting out. They were the junior ranks of the parade, appetizers for what’s to come. Most of the models have brought in actors and friends to help them represent their scenes of characters from movies, sports, and historical people. 

Jenny chose a particular theme for all three of them to pose in. Quite the ironic theme that hit home to Amadeus and Spencer. Jenny has dressed herself as an Empress of Rome, Spencer, being her son to assume his role as Emperor next. But what really knocked the ball out of the park was what Amadeus did as the last contestants of the show being Jenny and Spencer. The stocky cloaked gladiator walked through the enormous crowds of spectators and as the fashion carrier came through the road. The opportune moment arises when he stepped in the middle of the street. The spot lights were on the Jenny and Spencer, the new ones arose towards the cloaked man a distance away. Removing his caped robes off, the valiant warrior displayed himself mightily, the beaming reflections of his golden shield and armor dazzled the masses. Security Guards came by to confront the gladiator and remove him off the road, but when they saw this gladiator in the most fashionablest armor that shined off of the fighter, they hesitated. Glistening metal from shield and spear had the security guards pondering whether to fend off the warrior or not. But what the crowds did not know, was that these security guards were the same hired server professionals from the Harcomb family’s open house party. Interestingly enough they are very men who protect Veronica as her personal bodyguards. They posed as authentic security personnel for this very performance, all coordinated over the many drinks the gladiator shared with the worthy men. 

Unsheathed his spear and shield for the mock battle. The fashion carrier driver drove close to the center of the parade, halting in front of the scene. Jenny, confused, played on to whatever was going to happen next. Spencer moved up to the front of the platform announcing the gladiator as the guest of honor in battle.

Spencer’s words as an announcer, boomed in volume, as the float they constructed had an organic horn, with the added fashionably body language, he communicated flawlessly to the crowds, “Gladiator Masonius, has taken the honor to present himself for your entertainment Liberty City!” The crowds cheer on nearly equally as an arena of Gladia, “Prove your worth Gladiator and earn your freedom!

The crowds cheering caught wind of the spectacle as more and more of the mass huddled around the streets to witness the show.

The security guards perform their rehearsed movement fight scenes, from the look of the crowds it would appear a legitimate fight was beholding them. This was the art of the spectacle, the art of a Nobilium fighter of Gladia, making a believable fight for the crowds to be entertained. Amadeus manhandled the guards, throwing them off of him and disarming their batons with his spear. The crowd roars of excitement enhanced. Holding off one with a shield and the others with his unbladed end of his spear, a guard attempted to tackle the renowned gladiator to the ground. The fighter knew this was his que to knock them all down to the ground in a controlled manner, but in the perspective of the crowd, it seemed that they were harshly knocked down. The crowds cheered louder. Amadeus performed his act well. When more security guards showing up, these were real ones. The many imposter guards got up and surrounded Masonius. This is where Emperor Spencer, orders the guards to stand down for his verdict of life or death by holding his arm stretched out above him and lowering it straight forward, a gesture archaically reserved for the very emperors of Gladia’s might. 

Spencer held a thumb, fist forward in a horizontal position. The crowd stood silent then Spencer raised his other hand up announcing, "What will it be Liberty City?" The crowd cheered for Amadeus to be given life as a thumbs up. So Spencer paused for dramatic effect, listening to the crowds chanting "Live, Live, Live!!!" All together. He gave the thumbs up and the crowd burst into cheering and celebration. The gladiator bowed and lifted his shield in the air at the victory. The crowds cheered on. Amadeus then walked up to the fashion carrier float and due to his taller person demeanor, he stepped his way up on the platform with ease, joining Jenny and Spencer. Jenny was ecstatic by the whole act. He portrayed her look as an empress well. With the hoplomachus walking up to her, he bowed to one knee taking the empress's hand as she gestured. Jenny pulled his hand lifting the gladiator up beside her. The crowds cheer for the two to pose together with Spencer. She always wanted to be held by Amadeus, now her long wanting can around. The platform proceeded traveling down the road with the crowds cheering on Jenny, Spencer, and Amadeus as they cleared off the road. The three did various poses for the crowd, some family, some with Jenny being held up by the gladiator and others with Spencer replicating many of the cameo shots taken with Jenny before but now with Amadeus in the mix now. 

When the platform reached the end of the road. The mayor of the city wanted to publicly congratulate Jenny and Spencer for an outstanding performance. Waving down the silence of the elated crowds, he spoke with glee, “Yes yes, aren't they the best models we have around everybody!” Crowds cheer in agreement. “Which comes to no surprise as to who won the Lady Liberty Award!” As the crowds boom in cheers, the mayor gestures at the helmed gladiator admit’s with hand gestures that he's one muscular built fighter for a gladiator. “So whose is this knight in shining armor here?”

“He's my uncle!” Spencer states.

The mayor slightly blushes posing the question, “So Spencer,” He curious chuckles, “I guess all of the people out there would be wondering whether he’s from your father's side or…?”

By now, all of the fans from Jenny’s modeling career have been led and convinced by themselves that Spencer is her biological son, which made them more interested in the pair for an obvious reason, that everyone could relate to. Spencer was wondering on how to answer the mayor’s inquiry as the cheering crowds ooo in delightful teasing. 

Jenny took that matter into her own hands and spoke what the people really wanted from her. In all actuality, Amadeus and Spencer have no blood relation to the hottest model.

“This handsomely built man you all seen perform for your entertainment, Liberty City, is nobody else but my own brother.”

The crowds were whirling in their spots, whistling around on the sexiness that a brother and sister posed for them and to add more lust to the fuss, sister's own son was a part of the poses. The three were just the hottest trio imaginable. One, the hottest women in Liberty City, the other, the hottest teen boy arguably around, and a sibling to the hottest woman, whose body build is notoriously seducing to the ancient sensual mind of danger.

The mayor’s cheeks redden as he speaks onward, “My my, Liberty City. We got a hot family of fashion going on here. So Jenny… do you think you won the Lady Liberty Award IF everyone here says so!” The mayor suggests for the crowd to answer the question for Jenny by intensely yelling. Waving their applause down, “To tell you right now Mrs. the votes just came in now. But before we perform the grand reveal, let’s give every constant here a round of applause for adding their part for the show!” The crowds cheered and praised the honorable mentions, 3rd and 2nd place awards, and any workup towards his way up to finally announce Jenny the winner of the competition, “I'll say Jenny Harcomb, you place 1st by 980,000 votes ahead of everyone else!”

Jenny beautifully smiles to the city's people, “Well I couldn't have done it without my son, Spencer and my bro.”

As news of the spectacle conclusion of the event takes place through the media, Cody Harcomb was drinking bottled alcohol in his cozy recliner while watching television. He saw his wife in the competition results of the Lady Liberty Award. Gustavo was busy, as he was accustomed to, cleaning around the house. Gus wiped down all surfaces where minute dust had collected while in the same room where his father sat watching his big screened television.

Cody sees Jenny on television, then he looks at Gustavo. A grim smile forms on his father’s face. “Hey dork get over here.” Gustavo comes over. “Get on your hands and knees and face the TV.”

Cody retracted his recliner and used Gustavo on the ground as a foot stool to rest his legs. “Look you brat, my wife is on TV.”

Gustavo looks up to the TV watching Jenny, Spencer and his uncle. He smiles seeing his mother generally happy. 

Back at the Lady Liberty Event, Jenny is offered to give a speech to express her title and efforts on becoming the first Lady Liberty of the city’s history. 

Jenny takes the stand and speaks, “I'm proud of my boy being as passionate about fashion as much as I am. If there is anyone who made me any happier to be out here for you all today, it has to be Spencer. There is no one with more vigor and style for joining my modeling career and exceeding my expectations than my son. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be blessed with the boy of my dreams, to seek out fashion modeling for everyone’s entertainment. I am somehow reminded of a special someone who's always lookout for me. Someone who proved he'd take care of me and treat me like a beautiful delicate little flower every time I’ve seen him. That man is not with me anymore, but I will always remember his name till my grave. I dedicate my success to my dear Leo Acolytus Zarff.

Cody Harcomb’s eyes widened and squinted as he took a big drink of his glass. Then he  proceeded to take gulps of alcohol from his bottle directly. The more he heard of his wife mentioning her cousin's handsomeness and rightness-what-for, the more pissed off Cody became. Gustavo smile slowly grew every time his mother fonded over her cousin, his role model. Cody Harcomb had a feeling Leo always reminded him of someone. Someone he knew he hated. The very someone who is under his feet right now.

The semi-drunk Cody removed his feet off from the boy, “Gustavo? Get up.” 

Gus gets up.

“Look at me.” 

Gus looks at the mess of a father that sits before him, “Your actions remind me a lot of a man. A man who I disliked with a passion.”

Whenever Jenny mentions Leo's name on the television, the more Gustavo couldn't help but feel happy.

Cody sees this and learns that Gus knows about Leo. The father only sigh's angrily. “Sit down son.”

Gustavo slowly makes his way sitting down next to his father. The ever drunkening man only fuels himself with more alcohol. “I hated your mom's cousin the moment he laid eyes on Jenny. He had Jenny first before I ever did. The only thing I had with Jenny… was money. But I didn't care if she f***ed other men, or women if it fancied her. I coped better with the fact that less attractive men, including me, can just f*** away the pathetic slut of a whore Jenny really is, knowing that Leo would never get to. Sure I made it so convenient for her to go ahead with it of course.” The man’s anger only increases, “Just that damn cousin of hers. He had the rewards, the accolades, the good rap. Not only that, but he got Jenny's looks too.” Cody flings the empty bottle at the wall, shattering it, “No wonder she was madly in love with Leo.” He puts a hand around Gustavo's neck, readying himself to strangle him. “Everytime I f***ed your mother, I saw that man's eyes in hers.”

Gustavo feels the fury of his father's rage inevitably coming.

Cody places his other hand around Gustavo's neck slowly gripping it, “So my son, forgive me, and... understand why I must do this.”

Gustavo's father yanks Gustavo to the ground and kicks his son hard in the chest repeatedly for 7 seconds. Each kick, harder than the last one. Cody's foot actually shrieks in pain from a broken toe or two. Cody downs another bottle, limping out of the living room and out of the home. Into his sports car, he floors out of his driveway. Later, the side-on collision from a semi truck driver passing at full speed would put an end to the abusive, now barely identifiable drunk man within the taped intersection highway moments later.

Gustavo laid on the floor half dead. His vision blurred and head in a daze. Slowly drifting into unconsciousness he hears the words of his grand uncle echoing out of him. 

"A servant's duty is never done my child, you must serve... till the end." 

Gustavo's mind numbed, one of his eyelids slightly opened pointing at the where he left his last cleaning task at, when his father called for him. Right as his mind focused on his unfinished chore. His body slowly started coming back to him. With each statement that Gustavo recalled his grand uncle educating him, he moved closer and closer to his chore, picking up the damp wet cloth and continuing where he left off. The actions numbed the chest pains. He didn't understand the effects of being thrown to the ground and severely kicked as hard as an adult drunk man could. Gustavo's body, in reality, had strengthened so much from all the continuous labor he endured from taking care of house chores and yard work; when Cody kicked Gustavo from the ground, he was able to withstand the force from breaking chest bones and ribs. Only leaving major bruises behind. Gustavo slowly continued his chores throughout the rest of the day as normal, alongwith picking up after his father’s last mess.

At the event, Jenny spoke her speech on Liberty City's development and success over the years. The crowds loved her voice and beauty. When she was crowned Lady Liberty, her fame exploded into extreme heights. She traveled back to her studio apartment with the two Masoniuses. The one-time trio chatted within her limo.

“So... You two have helped me in many ways than I could ever repay you.”

Amadeus shook his at her, “Jenny, I have the feeling you have still been pleasuring yourself all over my nephew again.”

“Spencer darling, tell your brute uncle about it.”

“Well” The boy admits, annoyed, “of course uncle, it's been such a habit of hers that I just look at it as a favor for her.” The gladiator looks at Jenny, he is very annoyed. “If you're that concerned about it uncle, I never once f*** her

Amadeus looks at Jenny intimidatingly, a small smile begins to crack into laughter. Then Spencer begins to laugh too and then Jenny. The laughing continues for a minute.

“You've never once done that, nephew, especially with her?”

“Not at all uncle, I'm saving myself up, you know that.”

“So the hottest female currently in Liberty City isn’t good enough for you?” The uncle chuckled more.

“Well apparently so, uncle, I've lost track of the many times she’s kissed me, and I never once touched her in a lustful manner.” The tall boy chuckled.

Jenny pouted, “You still are very good to Spence, that's for sure.”

Jenny and Spencer were sitting on one side of the limo and the uncle on the other side.

It was curious for Amadeus just too curious, “Nephew, I'd say if the hottest of the women out here couldn't cut it on making you want you, then it's indeed best we leave this wretched city and go back to where we came from.”

“Awww well if you two leave, how may I continue my success?” Jenny playful argures.

“I'm afraid you'll have to be on your own Jenny, like you started out.”

She only sighed, “Mtawaaa, I'm going to miss you Spence. And you to Amadeus, you're still my knight in shining armor since the day we first met at that con long ago.”

The warrior leans towards in a serious tone and manner, “Understand this, we're going to dissolve the partnership. You scratched my back once Jenny, and my nephew and I scratched your ich, several times over.”

“Spencer, how about one more cuddle session, for good ole times? Can you also…

Amadeus interjects, “Let me guess, you want my nephew to lie with you one last time and if at all possible, have me join in?”

Jenny begs Spencer to let her have her way just one last time. Spencer feels the all too familiar habit to please her awkward mentor one more time crawling back.

“Well, you did teach me fashion, which I would have never learned anywhere else at the time. I see why ‘I’ wouldn't cuddle with you this last time I suppose.” The nephew looks at his uncle remembering the time he saw nude chest for once.

Amadeus sees that his nephew is going to cuddle with Jenny one more time, and could deduce that Spencer is curious on how a cuddle session with another soul might be like.

“You should join in, uncle, surely if she couldn't entice me on, then how can she on you?”

The gladiator scoffs, “I remember that, ok then, let's see what the hottest model in Liberty City can do to my touch. I got to say Jenny, if you can't make me enjoy you, then we part ways for good.”

Jenny sighs, knowing she won’t be able to keep them, “I'll miss you two.”

An hour passes and her dream cuddleship like no other is sadly over. She fantasized only having the two more and more, but they subside readying themselves to leave. Her mind eases into a deep sleep from such a long day of fashionable winning.

Amadeus laughs as he and his nephew redress, “So! This is what cuddling the hottest woman in Liberty City feels like?”

“Give her some credit uncle, she's been cuddling me all the time, yet I'm only feeling the inkling of pleasure from her fashion tastes.” He laughs, the uncle chuckling furthermore.

“Humph, what a waste of time, she was not even worth it.”

“Well let's look at it this way, uncle, our family back home is missing us. Let's show them what we, as Masoniuses, are truly about.

The fighter nodded in agreement, adding, “Her driver is arriving, she should wake up in her bed relaxed as our final treat for her at least.”

Back at the Harcomb home, Gustavo has been obediently cleaning the whole house as he was instructed by his parents for nearly a decade already. The injuries he acquired from his father were slowly healing. Finishing off the chores, he slept in his bed. 

Spencer and his uncle arrived home by limo. Duhfee opened the door to see Amadeus carrying Jenny. Spencer did not see Mr. Harcomb's car in the parking lot, which made it easier on bringing Jenny inside and the two leaving afterwards. 

The driver received the biggest tip from Spencer yet, “Here Duhfee,” The fashion boy hands him several hundred dollar bills.

“Whoa! Sir you ain't leaving me, are you?”

Spencer wanted to appreciate all the hard work Duhfee performed for Jenny in the past, “Look Duhfee, I don’t know what they future holds for me in this city, but I want you have my personal net-worth.

The limo driver was speechless, he couldn't believe it, “I….I…. I don’t, know if I could…”

“Handle it?” Spencer said, “I’m sure you’d make a very outstanding owner of your future limo business. Use my funds to your advantage and provide drivers everywhere in this city a job that they could look forward to everyday, please.” 

Duhfee hugged Spencer, the tall boy embraced him back. 

From inside the home, Spencer decided to visit Gustavo prior to leaving. Upon opening his door, he saw the overworked boy laying in his bed under the covers. Spencer walked in, careful not to wake his best friend. Sitting down next to the boy, he noticed a small bruise on his chest and neck. Spencer was curious, he pulled some of the covers off of him revealing much of the assault the boy had endured from his father. Spencer felt maddened and saddened. Putting two and two together, he knew it could have only been Cody that could have done this. Jenny was with them all throughout the day. Spencer placed his hand on Gustavo's wounded chest, crying. Gustavo opened his eyes to see Spencer, Gus smiled with tears in his eyes, as he hugged Spencer.

“I'm... sorry Gus, I'm sorry I wasn't here enough to protect you from your father's abuse along with your mother’s.

Gustavo hugged Spencer knowing what happened to his father soon after he stormed out the house. While the television was still on, they reported an incident that involved the head on collision of a semi crashing into a drunken driver. Gustavo felt maddened recalling that. Spencer noticed the boy’s anger, and asked about it,

“I’m here now, Gus, what's wrong?”

“Father... recently died.” Spencer was shocked, “He was... drunk and drove off away from home.”

Spencer was told about the rest of what happened that night. His time with Jenny would soon fade. Finding her antics too much of a burden to continue being with her. 

Amadeus called his affiliate contact of Mr. Sionis, organizing a travel copter to take Spencer and the fighter back to the forgotten forests of the world which the two traveled on foot from Gladia. The two were now in their apartment warehouse resting.

“Spencer the fashionable, the styler, the decorer. May we please the crowds of our homeland for a change.” The tired gladiator said, kicking back on the couch with his feet on the coffee table.

Spencer sat on the carpet floor, “Jenny was quite a lady, maybe she'll change in the future.” He pondered

“She always treated you like a son over her real son, nephew. Perhaps in time you can meet Gustavo once again.”

Spencer tears from the thought of leaving the shy boy all alone with Jenny, “I'll miss Gustavo, uncle.” Then again, Spencer gets an idea, he sits next to his uncle on the couch, “Say, you know what? Nothing’s stopping us from inviting Gustavo over, back to our homeland.”

Amadeus smiles, seeing that his nephew really developed the lasting bond with the shy kid, “I’ve seen that Jenny has no interest in having him around but to annoy her? Humph, I see no reason why we couldn't bring him along.” Spencer just gets excited on seeing Gus once more. The uncle notices, chuckling embarrassingly, “Nephew, you fancy that little boy? Tell me... You're not fond of…uhhh?”

Spencer quickly clarified that he wasn't at all homosexualy enticed by Gustavo, “Uncle! I will assure you here and now that I'm only interested in my family and not anyone outside it!” After spending the time with the boy. I notice that he's really cute and handsome in his own way, is all, so….?”

Amadeus squints his brow, “Ohhhh my.... That boy and his abusive mother… It's playing tricks with you.”

Spencer retorts, “I will share with you my whole experience with Gustavo, DURING, our trip back home. Gustavo will also back me up on the details for your.... curiosity.” The teen nudges his uncle on the rib.

“Ok ok. Spencer,” He pushes Spencer off his side, “You boys,” Feels embarrassed to say it, “Are starting to grow on me.”

Spencer returns a cute smirk, whispering to himself, “I'm gonna spend the rest of the day with Gus, tomorrow.”

Amadeus teases, “Oh, and I bet you'll want to spend the night over at his home too. The night is still young, and we’re not going anywhere for a day or two. Just don't get it over your head, if the boy loves his mother that much, don’t be surprised; you might also do the same.” Spence noted that, heading downstairs to catch his ride.

Spencer came back to Gustavo's home. His limo driver was a happy man. Spencer provided him with a way out of his troubles and much more.

“Thank you again, sir, for everything. I must insist that if you ever need a ride anywhere or anyone you know needs a ride somewhere, I'll be at your beck and call.

“I'm just happy to help out.” Spencer shook his hand. “Come back tomorrow morning.”

Pulling up to the driveway, Spencer sees another limo parked there. Going out, dismisses Duhfee and heads over to ask this driver as to who he is driving for.

“Hello sir, may I know to whom is visiting the Harcomb residence?”

This other limo driver was in a meditative state, glancing over at Spencer, answering, “It's the big man himself, Donald Love.”

Spencer, surprised, thanked the driver, then headed toward the front door. To the teen’s coincidence, Donald Love opens the front door, leaving, nearly bumping into the tall boy.

Spencer, a little nervous, greets him, “Oh Mr. Love, what brings you to the Harcomb residence?”

Donald smiles, “Just planning on settling a point with Ms. Zarff.”

“Zarff?” Spencer asks, “Oh, Jenny's maiden name.”

“I will return later tonight to further discuss her inheritance of her husband's companies since… Cody Harcomb is no more.” Donald learned that Spencer is a very good friend to Gustavo, “You must know how rough it must have been for Gustavo.” Patting the boy’s shoulder, “Take care of him, I'll keep you two in contact about our trip to that island. I got some… errands to attend to.” He dismisses himself.

Spencer went inside to meet with Gustavo in his bedroom. Gustavo napping more soundly than ever. Rubbing his hair, Gustavo wakes up, “Normally I'd see you cleaning out the art gallery at this time of day, what's with all napping?”

Gustavo had recently cuddled with his very sleeping mother for the first time in his life. She was passed out in her room-after learning what happened to her late husband, she talked in her heavy deep sleep, exhausted by the fact that her husband could never give her the girl she always wanted. Cody Harcomb slowly became more and more distant to her over the years. Now a widow, she just feels hopeless. So her only son saw it as the calling to comfort her mother during her depressed sleep. Sharing her grief emotionally had did a number on the poor boy. 

“I'm extremely... satisfied.”

Spencer would soon learn from Gustavo himself, all the details about how he felt holding his biological mother, comforting her in her sleep. He’d pray for the whatever force of fate to give her a girl in her future. To make her happy once more.

Over the next day, Donald Love would arrange Gustavo to be under his guardianship since Jenny would have no interest in her son when she inherits the wealth transfer. Spencer and Gustavo would hang out together uninterrupted by Gus’s parents and Spence’s fame status. The two would hang around the green parks of the city and roam around the neighborhoods nearby, exploring Liberty City and its landmarks. It wouldn’t be long when Spencer would be notified by his driver of an important letter given to him from some very important men from the city’s mafia crime organizations. Spencer, paranoid, opens this letter,

Dear Mr. Fashion Boy

I’m waiting for you at Liberty City’s Juvenile Detention Center, please come and meet me, my old friend.

• D.

Spencer knew who wrote this, a special someone who he is interested in meeting before their departure back to Gladia.

Chapter 15: Evilish Without A Say So 

Throughout Gladia, Xizor Ixion had built himself an intimidating status of being the best among the Insulae district. He was once challenged by a cocky female gladiator who tried to poison the idea that a female should always lie below the greater gender, male. Xizor would inevitably strike down the circus charade. Not only that, but teach the bitch of a gladiator, the lesson as to why males are better than females. He proceeds to prove his dominance on the woman, in front of the gladiator mates, and provide order to the hierarchy of life. 

His moment of glory would publicly mark him as a fan favorite to the Insulae folk. But as consequence for his brash deed, his personal life would be shaken, only to find out that it was his very own beloved sister who raised arms against nature, challenging male opponents and besting them. She was trained by Xizor in self defense combatives. It's why she stood the best chances on subduing the opposite sex in the Extremus, out of her place. After she was dominated by her brother she was released from his grasp and fled from the immediate area. The same day Xizor met with her, he discovered her secret and the two kept it out of the public. They agreed to let it be known that the boy the two created, was an adopted son of Vanessa's, Xizor's sister. Though Xizor is horrified that he had mistakenly got his sister pregnant. He couldn't forget how well it felt letting his first time with a woman be that of his own flesh and blood, in a minor spectacle in front of his classmates of Extremus. The fact that it was his sister, that made him finally lose his virginity along with hers. Interestingly, Vanessa also felt how well the incident ended up. The two were in love in a mysterious way, in that very heat of the moment of conflict. 

In Gladia, the common tradition of setting a name for a child was based on the way the metropolis districts saw the child. In this case, Insulae, home to Xizor and Vanessa, their child of 8 years old was given the name Devol, by decree of the sudo-emperor. This was because no matter who looked at the child, everyone had the deep suspicion of him being an evil kid, a bad boy, a child with mischievous intent. It was all in the visual look of the boy. Devilish pointed ears and nose, a parted tongue, exactly that of a venomous viper of rattlesnakes. His reddish hair grew out like devil horns. It was no wonder that the public saw the boy as a spawn of Satan himself. 

Xizor and Vanessa raised their child as an adopted kin, in public circles of course. Devol was to be mindful of the people around him, his parents teaching him not to be concerned with what they thought of him. With a menacing gladiator like Xizor Ixion, locals saw him best to take care of the ill intent looking boy. For the father, he was proving to be the bloodiest fighter of the Insulae district by now. His spike hammer did all the explaining for him. He is without a doubt, a worthy fighter to win as the champion gladiator of the district, should the area ever host one. In the early years of Devol, he went to school in Gladia. The teachers saw him as a miscreant. Always being seen as the one responsible for the troubles that occurred around the students. Though in reality, it was some other students, the teachers never directly confronted Devol, for fear that Xizor would be offended. And by offending one of the most dangerous fighters in Gladia, all it took was the approval of the gladiator's slave owner to let the matter be discussed through combat. A slave owner with high ties to city officials and even senatorial members, heavily influenced the teachers and staff to steer away from confronting Devol.

Devol's first years of life were spent being taught by his parents, taught the basic education. Math, reading, and history were all that Vanessa and Xizor knew what to teach him. They tried sending him to school for the next two years, but everytime they did so, they receive numerous instances that Devol was just not suitable to be around students. All the kids feared the boy and passed all sorts of rumors of him being the sick, sadistic, twisted, and evil child they viewed him as. 

In time, Xizor decided to send Devol to a certain someone with knowledgeable teachings that proved to further Devol's continuing education. Leo Acolytus Zarff is a notable scholar but servant to one of Gladia's most successful slave owners, Evad Nortorapoly. Devol was instructed to learn from Acolytus. For Devol, he liked Acolytus, he was like an uncle to him. He went to him everyday after school, eager to learn more etiquette, table manners, politeness, and the like. He never showed his civil behavior towards anyone else. It was a secret that Acolytus kept for Devol. When the boy went back to school everyday, he was more relaxed and focused on what he wanted to do. 

For the longest time, he finally spoke up in front of the groups of children that felt intimidated by him. If a group of kids ever had the guts to pick on Devol, immediately, the children who believed the rumors that Devol was in charge of their trouble making scheme, went on to defend him. In time, Devol began noticing random support on his circumstances that led to him being placed in the favorable position where he stands now. He soon spent the next few years being placed in the juvenile halls of Gladia where all the trouble makers go. Being put in charge of the chaotic children there, it was easy for him to manipulate them into avoiding trouble and getting them out of his hare when the moment suited him. Xizor and Vanessa often stopped by to visit him. 

For the child’s father, Xizor had to go on trips to the far outreached forests away from Gladia. He encountered many foreign settlers and soldiers beyond the horizon’s view of Gladia. Ixion's ruffles with the soldiers brings him to their boss, his contact, who wishes to hire him more for work across mysterious lands unknown to him. For the gruesome fighting gladiator, the offer was interesting. He noticed a certain kinds of technology that piqued his interests to know more about. Eventually, he would bring Devol along with him and the man offering the job, would inform Xizor Ixion that there are also juvenile holdings where he'd be stationed at. This intrigued Devol. He would be placed among foreigners in their land’s jail centers. On the trip over to the city known as Liberty, the boss man had a curious eye on the fellow demonic looking boy. He expressed a comment that could only be shared as a line that he hoped the boy would not cross over to his influence and control. Xizor reassured him that the boy is a ''step nephew'' of his and that his looks had nothing to do with his intentions.

“He is merely a boy accompanying me on my journey to this city you speak of.”

The black masked leader grunts, “I'm not entirely sure of it. But he'll be in a detention center as it is anyways. You can always visit him or take him out of there as you wish.”

Devol would soon learn that his father was hired for bounty hunter missions around Liberty City. Months prior to the departure trip, Devol encountered a tall boy for his age. He was part of a successful family with a fashion statement to uphold. His first encounter with him came at school during lunch time of Gladia’s Inaugural Front to Insulae. Rumors began to escalate that the tall boy was killed after Spencer talked with him. The fear factor of the child now increased astronomically, many believed it's why he was banished from Gladia. 

Fast forwarding to his trip to Liberty City, Devol had gotten to see Spencer on television as a super famous teen fashion model next to the hottest woman in the city. Devol made arrangements to contact Spencer. It wasn't hard, saying that he was close to many of the juvenile rich kids who had ties to their parents' wealth and contacts. After the success of Spencer's fashion mentor, Jenny Harcomb, Devol sent a message for the tell boy to come visit him in Liberty City's detention juvenile center. 

Before Spencer stopped by, a close friend of his arrived at the cell block visiting windows. It was the first time Devol had ever locked eyes with someone he desperately wanted to hang out with. The boy's demeanor looked exactly like that of his Leo Acolytus Zarff, the bad boy’s babysitter. A servant boy, with the same standing, posture, and manner. The kid who became known to Devol as the shy boy, walked to the visiting window and introduced himself to Devol who was in a straight jacket and had a mouth guard to prevent him from biting like those of cannibals.

“He... Hello. Spencer will be... here soon to meet.... you. I'm.... Gustavo.”

The demon boy grinned with delight, “Spencer can wait.”

Devol in the first time of his life, felt a purposeful tingling sensation to want to play on Gustavo. By looking at the shy boy, he felt an obligation to tease, to pick, to... in a way bully Gustavo. It is because Devol read the heart of Gustavo. Deep down it, he has uncovered a very dirty secret. Devol was sure of it. 

What separated them was a half an inch thick glass with bars and locks, it’s the only hold back from Devol immediately wanting to sit on Gustavo's knee like he always does with Acolytus. Spencer soon showed up and he could tell that his longing friend had some unbelievable interest with the shy boy.

“Devol! A super long time and no see. Why are you here?”

Devol’s wide eyes happily greet back, “Ain't it obvious? I've been a baaaad boy! Everyone sees it that way.”

Spencer smiles a chuckle, “I understand your role of looks played the determining factor. So much so as if you murdered and ate someone.” The apparel of Devol suited him. “So tell me. How would the bad boy like to come with us to an island where we can get acquainted with some children who are… cut from the same cloth; apart from the norms of any society?”

The bad boy ooed at the offer, “Oooh. You and that shy boy? Sure, as long as I get to have some me time with the servant boy, that is.”

A guard arrives to remind the three that visiting hours have ended.

Devol, in an unpleasant grin in his eyes tells the guard,

“Mister Parks! Care to let me have a personal recess with my friends here?”

The guard returned a frightful glare back, palming his baton, “No.”

The demon shifts his body to him, “Have you no idea who is on the other side of that bulletproof glass? Doesn't that tall boy look familiar to you?”

The guard glances over and recalls Spencer as the famous modeling teen that his wife adores.

“You're Spencer Harcomb?! My wife loves your mother's work and yours too!”

Gustavo builds a smile at the mention of this. Devol peering through the glass at him smiles too, putting off Gus as he shyly hides behind Spence. The tall teen confirms with guard,

“That's right I am, sir. I just wanted to spend some quality time with a dear old friend of mine here.”

“Yeah, he wants to take me out to dinner.”

Spencer, surprised by the strange request, plays along with it.

The guard hesitates, “So what does a juvenile delinquent of the century have with my wife's fan favorite model?”

“I reached out to Devol here. As a role model for him to learn from.” Spencer said with a tone of caring consideration.”

“A role model for this kid? You can't be serious.”

Devol growls.

The guard steps back, “See Spencer, this why the child is here, hell, he's fortunate to ever have visiting hours once every couple of months.”

“My first!” Devol rebukes, “First eveeeeer!”

Spence diffuses the guard’s assertiveness by offering, “Sir, I don't want to intrude on your responsibilities, but I can make it up to you by sending your wife a personally tailored model dress, a one of a kind, for your troubles.”

The guard ooed, taking the fashion teen up on the offer without haste. He agreed to let Devol out only for a few hours and the naughty boy was to remain in a straight jacket at all times along with his mouth shield for safety concerns.

Entering the limo. His driver lowers the privacy window to see the newly acquired passenger, Devol.

“Uhh Spencer?” Duhfee said concerned.

“Don't freak out, he's never bit anyone.”

Devol playfully retorts, “Nah I just like dressing up like a child lunatic is all, of course not. Take us to pizza hut, will yeah?”

The limo driver looks at Spencer and Gustavo.

“There's an extra 100 bucks with your name on it.”

Duhfee humbles himself, “Not to worry Spencer, you helped me more than I could ever repay, keep the money.”

“Awww, now isn't that cute.” Devol leans on the tall boy, “Spencer pay the man double, now DRIVE!”

The driver quickly rolls up the window, peeling out into traffic.

On the road, Spence and Gus sit on one end of the limo while Devol is on the other. Devol, eyeing Gustavo, decides to get up and rush on top of Gus. It was then when the driver made a quick turn and caused the bad boy to smother himself on Spencer which he chuckled,

“Devol? Are you alright?”

“Don't let me fall!” The bad boy states as he’s caught by his embrace. “Awww, so you do care.” He sighed.

Spence smiles with a cool expression, “More than I like to admit. Ok Dev, mind telling me what's got you excited?”

“Gusy over there, I want to touch him.”

Spencer looks to Gus as he shies embarrassed.

“I think not, Devol. He's not interested.”

“Humph fine! Be that way. When it's my chance, I'll get what I waaaant! Mark my words shy boy.” He whispers next, “You gonna like me.”

Gustavo shies his eyes away from Devol's sight.

They arrive at Gambino's Pizza Hut. The three exit the limo, Devol reminds Spencer to pay the man double. As they enter, it happens that they are the only customers there at the moment. Seating themselves at the farthest corner of the restaurant, a highschool waitress approaches them.

“Here are your menus, what would you like to drink? She says, preoccupied by her notepad to notice Devol's state.

“Three cold waters with no ice, babe.”

The waiter looks up at Devol then gets startled by his looks, gasping.

“Ah you noticed, and a knife with the drinks would be kind of you too, sweet cheeks.

“No knife mis.” Spencer pats down the bad boy, presenting his control over him. “Can we get a family pizza and some cheese sticks?”

“Ummm sure…”

Before she leaves, Devol asks her, “Toots, you'd like me more without these restraints.”

Her returned gaze was just, frowned and disturbed by the child’s antics, “I think I'll let you pals decide that for you.”

Spencer and Gustavo exchange humorous looks as she leaves their presence.

Devol growls seductively, then relaxes at his seat, “So Spence? What's life in the city been treating you like? Oh wait, I already know,” He glances up at a TV where a clothes commercial is broadcasting one of many advertisements of Jenny and Spencer modeling their mother and son clothes for sell.”

Gustavo gazes at the scenes where Jenny is shown, happy to see even the fond moments that Spence has brought for her in the past.

“Yes Devol, as you know, I've been blessed to entertain the largest crowd of spectators ever... for a Gladian, that is.”

The demon boy chuckles evilly, “And that hottie woman there. She's your... girlfriend?”

Gustavo blushes red.

And Devol catches wind of this, “Why Gusy? You like the idea of a fashion teen like Spence going out with a skank like Jenny? Ha! Don't make me laugh. She's hot from the outside, but she's been all over the place with horny men.”

Spencer shushes Devol, “Shush! How would you know anyways?”

“Heh Heh Ha, the same way I contacted you. Some rich spoiled kids that get sent to where I’m at go on blabbering about any useful things when I bunk with them.” He laughs, “They even let me in on their parents' dirtiest secrets, which is how I know.”

Spence humph's disgusted, “Contain yourself then, our drinks are here.”

The waitress sets the glasses down, “Here you all are, cold with no ice.” She eye's Gustavo cutely, noticing the shy boy’s handsome eyes, “Hey there cutie?”

This is the first time Gustavo has ever had a girl notice him, let alone find him attractive, “He he... Hi.” 

“Back off sister! Shy boy over there's miiiine!”

The waitress gawks at Devol, “Aren't you a little young, kid.”

Devol glares at the girl sending chills down her soul. He smiles an evil grin with vicious teeth. Making her nervous and shy, “Mmmm, that's why I like him… and you; afraid, scared, and shyyyhiyyy, for what I'd dream of doing to you both…”

Spencer wraps an arm around Devol putting a fair amount of muscle between his bicep and pek between the demon boy's neck, “But he’s most afraid of what I'll do if he dares touch any of you. I can assure you.”

The chime in of Spencer quickly relieves Gus and the now shy waitress as they giggle it off when Spencer puts Devol in his place.

“Your food will be ready shortly.” She leaves.

Spencer releases his grip of the delinquent, to admire Gus for a score in his books, “Seems like you got a crush for once, Gus.”

“Yeah…” Gus says, a little annoyed, “for... once.”

“Big deal,” Devol blows him off, “girls always fall for the kind-hearted shy guys.” He giggles, “Yet they often want the bad boys as always.”

Their food arrives and the waitress leaves her cell phone number on a napkin for Gus.

Spencer sees this, “Terribly sorry mis. My friend here never uses a phone. His mother won't allow him.”

She only downs her head but either way, smiles at Gus, “I'm sure she's proud to have a pretty and adorable son like you. She's just protecting her handsome cub is all.” She leaves.

Spencer sighs, shaking his head, If only she'd knew.

The three get to eating their slices of pizza and cheese sticks. Devol's mouth shield is removed by Spencer as he tried to offer food to Devol but he pounded his head at Spencer’s side shoulder, the tall boy’s physically cautious about the child now.

“Do I look like a baby to you, tough guy? I'm strapped like an animal, so I’ll eat like one too!” Devol says while surprisingly eating off his plate cleanly like a hungry lion. His parted tongue licking the pizza sauce off the plate. “Pass a few of them cheese sticks over here.” He said while Gus and Spence finished off their first slices of pizza.

Placing three of the cheesy breadsticks on his plate, Devol took one with his month and dips it into the marinara salsa and same with the others. Afterwards he ate them, having a much satisfied belly. Spence and Gus finished their portions as well.

Spencer smacks his lips slightly, “Hmmm, well boys, guess that hit the spot.”

Devol mouths a straw, tapping it on the table, popping the paper wrapping from and end, mouthing the exposed straw end, he points the paper end at Gus and blews. The launching paper comes flying towards the shy boy, but Spence halts with a hand, glaring at Devol, “Ohhh arn’t you just a treat,” He states, putting his straw into his glass, drinking the satiating cold water until he emptied the glass, exhaling, “I enjoyed our time tonight, it’s not everyday you get to talk to a celebrity. HA hahah ha”

“Ha, I'm a dear friend to you first, Dev. A celebrity, second.”

Gustavo smiles, leaning on Spencer's soldier, sleepy.

Spencer pat the cute teen on the head. “Guess it's time we all head home then.”

Devol yaws, “Yeah, I guess I shouldn't keep the warden waiting.” Spencer harnessed the child’s mouth guard back on.

The three head off back to the limo but Devol stops Spencer after he lets Gustavo go in first.

A very naughty smile crosses the boy's face, “Oh Spenceeeeer. It's your lucky night. All that water I had haaaaw,” He exhales satisfyingly, “is starting to build up on my bladder.” He said with a some lip smack.

“Ain't no way I'm touching you down there.” Spencer states, only to find himself moments later, holding the child’s fly down as he urinates onto the side of the limo with doors opened between them for short privacy. 

“Yep!” Devol says cringely, “Awwww haaaa, yeahhh, better on the limo than in limo, am I right?”

“Hurry up, Devol.” Spencer says peeved, “I ain't gonna be remembered for the teen that held a child’s dick to help the kid piss.”

Gustavo peers from the blackened window absorbed by the scene as he couldn't help but look at the bad boy pissing out his fluids with a passion. A long minute passes as Devol still continues to pee.

“Dang boy, how much you got in you?

Devol exhales proudly, “hummm enough to keep you staring at my junk homo.” He laughs, splashing the last of his piss on Spencer's hands.”

Spencer yuks at Devol, “Jeez wiz, literally. You freaking… just… hold still so I can zipped up.” Devol soon hops on to the limo without having his pants zipped up by Spencer, “You damn kid.” Spencer quickly heads over to his driver, sighing, “Have any sanitation wipes?”

“Umm Yes?” Duhfee says confused, handing a few wipes, “Is that piss all over the side of my limo?”

Spencer ekkly nods, “Un huh, seems my pet likes to fus an accident.”

“Umm... Spencer?!” Gustavo yelps.”

Spencer quickly hops in the back telling his driver to go, pulling into traffic.

Spence sees that Devol wiggled out of his pants down flashing his bare ass and genitalia.

“Woo Hoo! Now this is freedom, my balls haven't felt a cool breeze like this in ages, ha haaa!”

Gus covered his eyes with a magazine of Jenny in a bikini, trying to feel less embarrassed at Devol's antics.

Spencer interviews, “Get your pants back on man! You're heading back to jail! Have some damn dignity at least!” The fashion teen ordered.

“Come on Spence, at least let me enjoy this freedom.”

Spencer gets real peeved, “Arrrgh I said put your pants back on-” the tall boy lounges on to Devol putting hands on the child and holding him down pulling his pants back on and zipping them up.”

“Ahhhhg, you prick! You could of sliced my dick off!” 

“Uhh ewww, this is the last time I touch another guy’s privates, gaaa.”

Devol sees Gus enjoying himself, “Getting a knock out of this are we? Be glad we're not in Gladia, Gusy, otherwise I'd have be free of this inferno contraption!

The scene switches to Spencer and Gus bringing back Devol to the same guard that let the inmate child out.

“He's been a handful,” Spencer said regretfully, “but,” He sighs, “we had fun. Thanks so much on letting him spend time with us.”

The guard ordered Devol back into his cage, “Get back in your cell, bad boy.” Then turns to Spence happily smiling with closed eyes, “Glad to be of assistance.”

“Oh,” Spencer asks, “do you have that thing?”

“Sure do, here.” The guard hands Spencer a note of the measurements of the man’s wife, everything the fashion designer needs to figure the perfect fit on a custom tailored dress.

“I’ll have this made for your damsel soon.”

The guard winks a satisfied score with the perfect gift for his wife.

Spencer and Gustavo say goodbye to Devol as they exit the juvenile center.

“Haww.” Spencer says getting into the limo with Gustavo, “next time we meet him, let's make plans to visit this strange island brought up by Donald.” 

“Indeed.” Gustavo says leaning into Spencer as the two nap the whole ride back to Spencer’s safehouse apartment. 

The mentioned island by the wealthy man is said to invite only those with differing norms to their kind and age. In due time, the three would begin their journeys there individually, each arriving in different batches of around a hundred or so members.

Spencer and Gus would spend the next few days talking all about their time together throughout the trip back to the deep unmarked forest wilderness eventually leading to the Gladian homeland. The two would occasionally chat on subjects that made Amadeus redder than a balloon in so many instances. Subjects involving Jenny were just the worst for him. But during the slow times, the gladiator could only wonder what his long standing rival and best friend, Xizor Ixion, could be up to.

Within the next day, Jenny was awoken with Donald below her. 

"Wait, did we f***? When did this happen?" Jenny stood up in bed as Donald sat up at the side of the bed and put his pants and shoes on. 

"Well Jenny, you finally got the chance to f*** me, and you didn't remember it." Donald was in the process of leaving when Jenny stopped him. 

"Wait! You already know that my husband died. Are you planning on marrying me?" She said hopefully. 

Donald looked at Jenny and planned to address her by her maiden name to spite her for all the horrid behavior towards Gus in the past. Now redressed in his business outfit, Jenny is still in bed, nude and anxiously awaiting his response, “Miss Zarff, your husband Mr. Harcomb has passed away, which made you free game for sex, legally speaking that is. You pestered and taunted me to f*** you since the day I met you." 

"Did you spike my drink and f***ed me while I was out. Did you get me pregnant!?" She said as she went up to hit Love. Donald placed a hand on her neck and empathetically, in the most seductive manner, slowly took her back to her bed. 

"Listen my 'dear'. You have no way to prove nor evidence that I f***ed or drugged you. You and your husband treated a boy who's nothing but a servant for cleaning, like an annoying good for nothing pest." 

Jenny was enthralled by Donald's words of truth. "Of course we did. But the biggest question of all is, what are you going to do about it?" Jenny gave Donald a look of mockery.

Donald gave Jenny a small hint about her pregnancy. "It's not what I'm going to do, it's what your son has done for you." Jenny was confused and Donald left. The wealthy man has had it with Jenny, her knowing what a grand favor the man did for Gustavo on answering his prayers, is pointless. She can't even sue him. She’ll soon find out that there is no evidence that Donald f***ed her recently, so only in the coming months will she have concrete evidence to pin on the real estate magnate.

Part 3

Chapter 16: Fashionable Homecoming

The day finally came when Amadeus and Spencer would arrive back to Gladia. Spencer would long to switch back to some of his homeland clothing. Gustavo wore a set of tailored clothing that Spencer quickly crafted out of one of his sets of clothes. Right away Gustavo can feel the heat from the sun making him break into sweat. His foot travels throughout the trip were much bearable, for the boy was always on his feet all the time as it is. As the three walked across the sacred bridge of the Grand River of Gladia, they passed by many camps that recognized the hoplomachus. Greetings and passings of scouts and gladiator citizens went on by as the three went to see the massive city of Gladia’s metropolis up ahead. 

Upon entering, many of its citizens began happily greeting the gladiator of the Domus Nobilium District. Some of the people came to him, telling him of opponents who worked their way on popularity and victories in the district's arena, and that they were hoping for the return of these Masonius relatives. They can now wager in bets and negotiations for the political advantages when Amadeus enters the grand upcoming series of tournaments. Tournaments that Gladia’s Emperor, Maximus has decreed on happening for the last several years, producing only the mightiest warriors to become undefeated champions like the legendary, Pankraious, The Notorious. 

The armor Spencer established for his uncle was stashed within the carry cargo ruck that Amadeus carried in his inventory, the gladiator only dawning his usual gear, highly recognizable to all who know of him. The uncle and nephew agreed to only show it in their arena for the final’s grand spectacle. Gustavo was awed by all that he saw and witnessed of this epic wonderland of a gladiator heaven. Spencer couldn’t get enough of the boy’s entertained senses.

Entering the Mercatus markets of Gladia, Amadeus’s older brother, Hemonius, greets him from his merchant stand.

“Gladiator Masonius, welcome back little brother!” Turns to greet his son next, “My son, look at us,” The fashion teen smiles at the two Masonius brothers reunited in a charismatic embrace, “Ha ha, it's times like these that I always enjoyed our longing of sibling reunions for the longest time.”

“Hemonius,” Amadeus pats his brother’s back, “how has the family kept during our journey away?”

The elder brother lowers his smile a bit embarrassed, chuckling, “I must admit, we now have... steep competitors out and about. Your aunt and I have been struggling on upholding our status with the crowds since your departure. It seems they really really miss you.”

“Dad,” Spencer asks, “how are my sisters?”

The remarkable merchant rests an elbow on his wood stained stand, looking out further up the market, “From where I'm at, I can see them pretty occupied. Again. Waaaaay oveeeeer there…” He gestures at the direction, “the same group of curious upcoming gladiator boys and some rising fame accomplished ones too, those youngsters are on your flesh and blood for the longest time, my boy.”

Amadeus studied the young fighters observing their familiar armors, “Seems like the Antonian, Jafrics, and Trikeseius families want in our gene pool, in particularly, with your daughters, brother.”

Hemonius sours his gaze, polishing a bracelet with encrusted diamonds around the golf plating, “Along with the rest of the hormonal boys of Gladia.”

Spencer took note of the group of boys; sons of some of the toughest gladiators his uncle fought against.

Aticus, a rising adolescent dimachaerus fighter of the Capua, hits on the beautiful charming daughters, “Girls, with my family's rising fame, won't any of you find me and my friends as worthy partners for your lives?”

As the girls dull away their eyes at these boys’ repeated attempts on them an all too familiar voice comes saving them, 

“Are these boys bothering you, my sweets?” Spencer greets, confident and soothingly. His sisters were happily surprised to see their handsome older brother back from his trip and to protect them from the other boys due to his height.

“Humph!” Aticus denounces the fashion teen’s timely presence, “Well well well, I see your back? I assume your uncle as well?”

“Yes he is. Like to meet him?”

The father of Aticus overheard the conversation and came to meet up with the group of youngsters. This gladiator is a daunting cestus classed fighter; a daring and reputable foe with mixed martial arts training from the academy school of the Oscan’s region of the Capua District.

“So,” The growly voice man asks, “The worthy Amadeus, that hoplomachus himself, is back? What does he intend to do?”

Spencer's uncle arrives and answers that for him, “I intend to do my best, Buggito. There's an upcoming tournament here at the Domus Nobilium and I intend to reinvigorate the crowd for my family's heritage.”

“Don't tempt me,” The fighter says with a fist raised, “your efforts will not go unchallenged, the Atachyes have been one upping small fashion left and right since the departure of some of you Masoniuses.”

“I can’t wait to see you try.” Amadeus taunts, as the two gladiators bud heads aggressively before going their separate ways.

The group disbanded as Spencer's family reconvened at their home within the Domus district. 

The home was comfortably cooler than the outdoors, still Gustavo perspired. The family gathered around the spacious living room. The shy boy marveled at the many fashionable ornaments and decor themed the indoor presence with distinctness compared to the outside adobe architecture of the metropolis.

Spencer introduces everyone to his tear best friend Gustavo,

“Everyone. This is Gustavo Acolytus Harcomb.” Spencer adds Acolytus in Gus's name as a testament to his cousin uncle's accolades that the shy boy learned from Alfred Zarff, his grand uncle.

Spencer's sisters; Julia, Tina, and Ruby all giggled as Gus glanced their way at the mention of Acolytus. Spencer's father perked up a curious look,

“Acolytus huh? Say you wouldn't happen to be related to a pro retiarius gladiator named as such?”

Gustavo gave a shying expression as Spencer played dumb and curious, “Gladiator? Named Acolytus?”

Hemonius chuckled, “Yes, quite the charmer. Well… come on guys,” the relative glances at his family equally admitting with nods, “I mean he's better off as the leading role of housekeeper than anything else I'm afraid. But his victories in the market district has coined him such of that very name.”

Gustavo gave Spencer a quick glance, the tall boy returning one of joy back to him, knowing too well the mighty coincidence.

Hemonius delightfully snapped his fingers into a clap, “I've met the young man when he was just a noxii. He surprised many of the crowds that hoped for his execution as a prisoner of war; captured in the very outskirts of the dense jungled tropical forests, way westward of Gladia's regions.

Amadeus chimes in, “Headmaster Lanista, Evad Nortorapoly, the same one as my father, recruited the surviving prisoner shortly after. I’ve been in a few run-ins with the retiarius; a childhood best friend of mine, Xizor, requested him to look after his young adopted kin. He's without a doubt the house carer type.”

The more details Gustavo heard about the retiarius, the more questions he had. Out of much curiosity, Gus asked Hemonius quietly,

“Ex… cuse me mi… mister. Where might I fi… find this fellow at?”

Spencer’s father smiles, “Well, he frequents the Mercatus District often. It’s where most of the business of Gladia happens. We can gladly visit him tomorrow, if you like? For now, I want us all to enjoy a celebratory feast for our returning relatives and our wonderful guest here, this day.”

The Masonius family celebrated the return of Spencer and his uncle. They shared much about their time at Liberty City. The success, challenges, and people they met during their travels. Spencer had a fashion of a time with his sisters being so interested in Gustavo's servant mannered behavior. They dressed him as one of their own and the shy boy enjoyed helping out Spencer's grand aunt, Nautalia, with the food preparations, dining decor, and the leading clean up afterwards. The loving Masonius lady patted Gus’s head wiping his sweat from his brow.

Over the dinner table, the entire family of Masonius discussed big plans; Amadeus is to enter himself into the Domus Tournament coming up some time. Hemonius saw it as the best of investments. His little brother had a knack already for selling the crowd their reputation of fashion. Once the months of competing begin, Amadeus would win fight after fight, proving himself just as challenging to many of his peers as he ever was years prior. The hoplomachus worked to become the best gladiator in his district, the victories would soon land him among the most competitive of gladiators. This would be where Spencer saw it fit for his uncle to wear the new stylish armor. As he enters the arena, Amadeus will look three times more entertaining to the eye than all the other gladiators. The daughters along with their mother will offer up strikingly detailed wears inspired by such a design, then receive crafting orders. The first big league fights will likely be with the Antonian thraex gladiator, who’s family will compete against the Masonius fashion tastes. For Amadeus, this will be a spectacle for the District to be reassured of his family's rise to fame and fortune. He’ll work on a new fight style, one with jazz, flair, and excitement, one that his competitors have never fought anything like. Utilizing his spear and shield as musical instruments with every block and attack. For their next series of wins, it will be proved that the crowds will cry out for more. The Jafrics and Trikeseius gladiators will be the last ones left at the finals of the tournament. Every win Masonius has, promotes his fashionable wears to his audience, bringing massive investors to the family. Hemonius will have a tough time handling the vast quantities of orders from his merchant shop after all is said and done, but happily so. He’ll have to expand his business to involve his daughters and the whole family pitching in the labor to develop the clothes, jewelry, make up, and much more. Spencer in the meantime, will spread his interests of his uncle's armor to other potential blacksmiths after the big success of Amadeus earns the title as champion of the district. The publicity will send headways for the family to soon develop fashionable armors that strike cultural influences across the metropolis, then soon, in every area of fashion for the Masonius influence, they will create a legacy for the even more daring fashion enthusiasts to surpass them in their art. The goal of all this, is to forever prove that the entire Masonius family have solidified themselves as the pioneers to Gladia’s booming fashionable usefulness and laborness. With this grand win, no other male of Gladia could have a chance with the young daughters of the family. This will make Spencer finally have a piece of mind. He only wants his sisters to have the best fashionable male  to belong to. Since none will compare to Spencer's seriousness on fashion. Julia, Ruby, and Tina will reject all the boys who want to be with them. The rule of the parents was that if they could find a more fashionable designer who surpasses the most fashionable minded in the family, they would be free to belong to said male. But still none will. 

As the evening was coming to a night, the family gathered together to celebrate their efforts to achieve this grand victory of Amadeus winning as champion, and the family marking a historical legacy for future generations of Gladians to emulate after. 

In Spencer’s study, he chatted with Gustavo. The two were close. That night Spencer and Gustavo will routinely sleep in the same bed with each other as the bitter cold of the night chills will be too much for the shy boy. 

Throughout the early night, Spencer's sisters woke up, Gustavo carefully leading him out of bed. They told him that this night was their night to lie with their fashionable esteemed brother since he is the only male fashionably suitable for them. Gustavo stared at each of Spencer's sisters' eyes and immediately found their want for fashionable likeness of their elder brother arousing. Gus quickly hid his reddening quilty expression as the girls politely giggled and surrounded the shy boy, comforting him, whispering.

“Ohhh Gus, don't worry.” Julia reassured,

“Yeah, you're a pleasure to Spencer.” Ruby professed

“Yes. It's ok. Come witness, you’re earned it.” Tina encouraged, “See what fashion between siblings cut from the same cloth yields.” 

Gustavo is honored for Spencer's cute and adorable like minded siblings. To share their love for fashion in the deepest connection possible will forever strengthen them towards greatness.

Within the cool chill of the morning weather, Gustavo laid with blankets wrapped all around him. He was in the sisters' room, while they were in Spencer's room. He felt the cold of the climate sting his nose as he covered his face, but the head of his breaths were annoyingly too warm and stuffy to comfortably nap on, he just simply found the balance of cold air and remaining heat to resume his thoughts about Spencer and his loving siblings. After an hour or so, he waited in bed for 30 mins to make sure enough sunlight entered the room to warm his surroundings some. 

That morning Gus would enter the kitchen, the warmed part of the home. Spencer's mom,  also Amaedus’s ant, Francesca was there stoking miniature wood logs into the iron stove, the fumes of the fire were being vacuumed out by the natural design of the ventilation. The attractive mother greeted Gustavo with a cup of hot herbal red tea.

“Here Gustavo, some warmth remedy fluids to help your chills.” 

“Thank… you.”

Francesca went to retrieve a nice warm cloak for the boy to wear, “This will keep you warm for the rest of the frigid morning.”

“Thank.. you.” Gus said.

“I hope you get used to Gladia’s harsh climate, the nights are frosty while the days can be broiling hot. Do take care.” She advises.

Gustavo nods and can’t help but admire Francesca’s beauty, she’s just so pretty, he thought.

“Thank you.” She replied as if she read her mind. Gustavo became red, as Francesca admired him back, “You just so cute too. We Masoniuses have the natural grace to tell what people are thinking, Spencer is blessed with learning the identity of the person’s thoughts.”

Gustavo couldn’t help but walk up to her and embrace her, she didn’t stop him, rather, she held him while preparing a delicious hearty breakfast for the waking family. 

Hemonius was the first to come into the kitchen. Kissing his wife on the cheek, he patted Gustavo on the head who was still hugging her. The boy felt a yearning bond he wished he felt with his own parents. It was harmoniousing how Hemonius behaved so fatherly in tone with the mother’s compassion towards Gustavo. It made the boy cry tears of being neglected for so long.

“Awww the days of my youth,” Hemonius comforted, “like the fashion of sweet belonging. Be not depressed Gustavo, your emotions speak truths that need reconciliation. It's only natural for a shy one such as yourself to carry missed feelings of the heart.”

Gustavo politely apologizes, “Ye... Yes sir. When can I... we… meet Acolytus?”

“We'll meet him today after breakfast my boy, that, I aim to please.”

Spencer's three sisters came and sat around the kitchen table giggling and skipping. Their father and mother happily greeted their children with warm embraces. Spencer was last to come by. He was very embarrassed to see his sisters, mother and father. Hemonius noticed his son's attitude towards his daughters.

“Alright then, alright. I can see what has happened last night. So you girls discovered your firsts.” He then looks at Spencer, “And you young man, your firsts, multiple times with your sisters.”

The group becomes less embarrassed. They seem to understand that this is a breakthrough among the family where the fashion reproduction within the contact bondship between Masonius family members begins anew. The morning continues onward with much of the awkwardness out of the way and more of the celebration between Spencer and his sisters' walk towards maturity. 

When breakfast was over Hemonius kept to his word and brought Gustavo to where Acolytus was at. Walking through the Mercatus District, the day was warming up slowly, Gus was able to dawn his tunic wear now. They come across a big intimidating building with multiple stories among it. Gustavo takes note of the maid servants working around the premises. Along with predominant huntish aroma sparsely coming from all manner of taxidermied species of predators displayed as trophy mounts about the building. Indoors, the maid slaves washed the flooring and carried out the all-too-common-chores that brought Gus peace. Going further inside this building, Hemonius shares its history,

“This is a school where they teach many gladiatrices.”

Gustavo was new to the term, “G gla diatresses?”

“Yes. Female gladiators. Here is where they have their classes, social get togethers, and mealtimes.”

A woman appears to them. Tall and slender. Her pony tail hairstyle mimics that of silky loom orange yellow flame but more in a simple way. Gus sees her robe's fashion patterns reminding him of the Masonius family's works.

“Hemy darling, so good to see you. Oh, and who’s this boy?” She eyes Gus's facial features and glasses. 

Hemonius bowed, grasping her stretched out hand like royalty, “Madam, allow me to introduce you to Gustavo Harcomb, my son's best friend.” Gesturing to Gus now, “And Gus, this here is Headmistress Lanista Beautanica Oralcosis. She's the one in charge of the slaves of this delightful establishment.”

Beautanica holds a hand out, Gustavo learns that her demeanor is that of a respectable lord, which is why he instinctively reaches out with his own hand grasping hers and giving it a kiss. “Interesting, you’re one of the rarest of children to acknowledge a polite greeting towards a headmistress. How may I be of service to you two this late morning?”

Hemonius cuffed his palm’s together, rubbing them, a common gesture when he spoke to women, “Beautanica, this boy wishes to see one of your slaves.”

She gives Gus a questionable look at first, “That's odd. What would a little boy want with a gladiatrix?” Gus looks confused, then embarrassed. “If it's a female entertainer you want, it just so happens that I own all of them.”

Hemonius steps in between the two, chuckling. “Miss. I believe you possess the only male gladiator; this boy is instead interested.” 

The madam gives an obvious look of disappointment to her guy friend, “Ohh, but of course. My only male slave has been such a wonderful addition to my ludus and her ludia. The girls nickname him their butler, such a foreign title if you ask me.” Gustavo quickly flashbacks all the memories of his time with Alfred and the stories about his own son's accolades and accomplishments. The expression on Gus leaves a gaping connection for Beautanica to spot. She sees that the boy feels very extravagant at the mention of her male slave's nickname. “So let me guess... you are interested in a tour of my fine ludus establishment?”

“Y Yes ma'am. I'm Gus... tavo.”

“Follow me then?”

A few minutes go by as Beautanica shows Gustavo and Hemonius throughout her ludus.

“The women of Gladia have been fantasizing about fighting as warriors since the day the nation was born. Of course they can't fight men for the same reason men can not fight women.”

Gustavo ponders if she'll say why.

Hemonius chimes in the answer, “It's a due respect for both sides of fate's creation. The just order of living.” 

Beautanica halts the group, asking Gus, “You're not from around here, are you?”

Hemonius answers on his behalf, politely, “Uhh no Headmistress, he is not. He's a special guest from my son's travels with Masonius throughout their time in the outside world.”

The madam taps her chin, “Then tell me, Gus Tavo.” Mistaking his name, she gets eye level with the boy. What are the women like in your part of the world?” Before Gus could speak, she adds, putting her index finger below his chin “With just one word please.”

The shy boy works up the courage to reply. Hemonius ponders, puzzled himself. “Afraid.” Gus states.

The mistress’s expression of agreement is mildly shown, “As it is with all cultures, those that wish to ignore it, doom themselves to vanity. It's perceived as a bad thing when in reality, it saves us from damning the world instead.”

Hemonius nodded perplexed, “It seems that this is a subject out of my bounds. Madam, As much as I would like to continue on this tour, my sweet Francesca wishes for your crafting supplements.”

Beautanica proudly flicked her hair, standing up, “Indeed, I'll leave them with you.” She calls one of her maidservants over, “Adrena! Go give my friend Hemonius here the order his wife asked for and bid him on his way.”

“Yes headmistress.” Adrena bows, “Right this way handsome,” She's takes Hemonius to another room where the kind gentlemen then bids Gustavo farewell,

“Gustavo, do enjoy your time with Beautanica. She's much friendlier the more you forgo that shyness that grips you.” He reassures him, leaving.

Beautanica looks over to Gus, her disciplinary stature suiting her for the servant boy Gustavo is, “Humm, I take it you want to carry on with the tour?”

“Ummm?”

The madam reads his curious expression, “You want to tour on your own?”

Gustavo smiles. The headmistress then pets the boy's head for the little moxie he bestows.

“You'll fit in nicely here. Let this metro be a home away from home.” Before she took her leave, she glances at Gus shyly smiling at her. The madam expresses her own smile privately. He's my butler for a reason, Gus. Show him your utter respect and servitude.” The mistress leaves Gus to his own devices.

The first thing Gustavo does is locate the cleaning closet, every place has one if the facility wishes to stay clean and manageable on upkeep. It was more difficult than usual. The closet was tucked away toward the back of a kitchen area instead of a separate room, like in a hallway similar to his home in Liberty City. Once he found the broom and dust pan, he got to work. The broom wasn't neat like an American made one. It was strawed and wooden. The brushes were of the same manner, nevertheless, he got on all fours and began cleaning up dust and sand off the entrances of doors and windows. Once he'd done that, he moved to washing the place with a wet rag and sponge to really tidy up the place. Gustavo spend the better half of the day cleaning up the whole building for Beautanica. The women Gladiators that saw him were astonished, most of their kind were either out around the campus or within their local neighborhood. They giggled at what their butler would say if he'd found out that a young boy was responsible for all the cleanliness around his mistress's hold. Gustavo kept working throughout the evening, sweat forming around his head, back, and armpits. He situated himself in the kitchen as a waiter sending out plates and silverware, arranging them into sets with the napkin towels. 

In the midst of doing this he bumped into a man who just happens to be doing the same. The man was certainly dressed like a gladiator, dawning the retiarius helmet, having his net dawned as a shoulder cape, and his trident that doubled as a broom with an adaptable brush attachment. 

Gus stood his ground firmly saying… “Pardon me sir, I did not see you there.”

The gladiator returns a curious glance over to him, “Your excused youngling. Say? Who taught you how to arrange a table?”

“My great grand uncle.” Gustavo said, surprised by his sudden lack studdering.

The warrior makes nothing of the statement, assuming the child just a visitor to the feminine academy. He resumes his side of the tables setting up for the evening dining.

Gustavo assumed the man wasn’t who he was looking for and just continued with his side and then proceeded to put wine glasses at proper intervals between the seatings. This time, the net man took note of it again.

“Say? Did your grand uncle teach you this as well?”

“Yes… sir?” Gustavo said, curious. 

Gustavo proceeded with the pouring ample servings of vintage wines into the glasses situated around the tables, a task only the butler was allowed to do. The retiarius didn’t mention anything of this. The guests of Beautanica arrived and Gustavo pulled seats out for them, along with the man. Two of Beautanica's guests were Hemonius and his wife Francesca.

The fatherly figure glanced over a wave, as the two approached him, “Glad to see you're fitting in well.” Gustavo ushers them to their seats.

The butler does so with the guests at his side. Some of them are low time lanistas, others city councilmen, and others; the highest ranked female gladiatrix fighters. These female gladiators tease their butler,

“So Acolytus, who's the lucky woman who bore you such a beautiful child over there.” One of them teased. 

Another chimes in, “Come on Aco, how did you manage to hide him from us all this time?” Her tome pouted in genuine suspicion.

The butler carries on with seating his last guest as their headmistress replies…

“Vimraurous and Incnaca. Did you two sneak over to Acolytus's room again? Read over his diary when he was out of the school?”

The two kept their mouths shut, until one felt so boldly as to mention…,

“Her name is Jenny, headmistress?” 

Acolytus glances over to the two giggling. The remark seemed personal to the butler.

Beautanica snapped her fingers at them, “Always with you two picking on Acolytus. It's obvious you two want a three-way with this promising fighter!”

The guests, including Hemonius and Francesca, all shout their ‘whoas’ and ‘whats’ at Beautanica's remark.

Gustavo, feeling super overjoyed, not by the remark, but of his cousin, Leo, not knowing that the simple teasing and suspicions was a factual statement of truth. Gus is the child of the lucky woman who bore him. That lucky woman is Jenny; the very cousin of Acolytus.

Vero, the very headmaster of the Spectacula District, voiced his opinion.

“Ladies... Gentlemen, forgive Beautanica here. She's trying to hold herself to the proper ethics of being a lady, aren’t ya.” The stern man squinted at her. She returned a similar gaze back as he continued, “Yet with the students she deals with here, they can sometimes... rub off on her. So come on folks, our home EC members slaved all over this feast for us, let us at least give them a proper example of dining ethics.” The invited audience console their nerves and compose themselves rightly to the filling meal ahead of them.

Minutes passed as the dining went on. Gustavo was on the ball, serving the guests with refills, next course meals, and holding true to manners. Acolytus was assumed his teacher by the looks of it. He was simply amazed by a Gladian boy that matched his skill at performing as a waiter. So after the dinner, Beautanica said farewell to her guests and brought the two waiters to her studies. Gustavo carried with him a personal towel to dabbed his head, he couldn’t wait from the evening’s cooling to let him dry up.

The headmistress sat at her highly decorated and engraved desk, peering at the two standing before her. 

“Acolytus, apologies for not telling you sooner about this, but,” She head signals with her eyes, “this is Gus.” She ponders at the 13 year old, “My apologies child, what is your last name again?”

“Harcomb.” The boy stated, “Gustavo Harcomb.” 

Acolytus tilts his head over to the child. The mistress commits the name to memory,

“Young Mr. Harcomb, here, has come from foreign lands to visit Gladia. It’s through my discussions with Hemonius that I gathered opportune knowledge of this foreigner. His best friend,” She clears her throat, “Spencer Masonius,” The madam says in a peeved tone to mention the teen’s name aloud, “has brought him over from his travels to the outside world. So he will be spending time with us here for the time being. Now with that said, I must apologize furthermore for going over my ladyship from the mention of Jenny.” Gustavo, can't help from smiling, the mistress noticing, “Gustavo, what's the significance of this name to you?”

Acolytus awaits glancing over, curious as well.

The shy boy only sighs in a cheerful tune, “Mother.”

“Mother?” Acolytus says.

Beautanica turns red in the face and immediately confronts Acolytus, “You devious skinny housekeeper!” She rises from her desk and heads to smack Acolytus but he grabs her arms restraining from having themselves tumble to the ground, “You told me you're a virgin! That you never f***ed anyone!”

“Headmistress! And he didn't.”

Beautanica shook herself off of Acolytus, her face flustered by his grip on her.

“She's now a widow.” Gus added.

“Widow?” The madam inquiries further, “So that means she's available to him?”

Acolytus took a moment to process this, “Jenny? A widow? And her son? You?” The retiarius seeks to get a good look at Gustavo, kneeling in front of the boy. Removing his helmet off, the image of a clean shaven man’s gaze greets him. Facial features so identifiable to Jenny’s. His cute two little buck teeth is so handsome and likable.

Gustavo hardly resists, embracing his long lost idle, tearing up with joy to be feeling the flesh of his to one day belong to Jenny’s, “Soooft.”

Acolytus feels his little cousin's tingly embrace on his bare open chest, “Why are you telling me that?”

Gustavo holds on to Acolytus, “I am part of Jenny, Jenny always belonged to you Leo. That means I belong to you.”

Gustavo leaps onto Acolytus, the gladiator topple to the floor as the boy sits on his lap and hugs him. Gus feels all of the urges to love on Leo. All of the urges that Jenny had tucked away from years of regret and hatred. Gustavo was beside himself, unbuckling his tunic off and cuddling his bare chest on Acolytus’s- directly in front of Beautanica. 

The mature woman felt a flutter of wild emotions sweep her feet. Watching a very attractive built man and an equally attractive child smother each other blew her mind up. She fled the scene to the nearest bathing room to rub her thoughts out, meanwhile, Acolytus felt Gustavo's skin; it reminded him of Jenny’s. 

The gladiator calmly picked up Gus, the boy still clinging onto him like a koala. Taking him to the man’s bedroom, he closed the door, laid Gus on the bed, and sat next to the boy, just observing him as nightfall came. The two laid in the warm bedding cuddled from the chilling cold. An intimate bromance of cuddling their traumatic experiences away, eased off life's worst stresses that plagued them for the longest time. Gustavo told Acolytus everything about his life and so did he. The two spent hours chatting and discussing their past throughout the night. It was evident that Acolytus was going to have to one day reunite himself with Jenny again, but first, he had to get himself in the same league as his two brethren gladiators. Ixion and Masonius proved themselves as expert bounty hunters throughout the outside world from Gladia, they were now diligently working to prove themselves worthy in their grand districts’ tournaments. It's now the retiarius’s motive to bring himself back home when he’s earned the means to do so.

Chapter 17: Shy on Shy On

In the mid morning sunshine, Acolytus went in search of Beautanica’s whereabouts, Gustavo was there following Leo at his side. Word of the butler’s mistress was shared that she went to the Domus Nobilium District to speak with it’s leading slave owner.

Headmaster Lanista, Quinlan Uberio, is the head lanista of all of the Nobilium District. Headmistress Beautanica would often times visit the very short young adult. His almost nerdy presence and light blueish hair matched his reserved persona well. The fact that he wore glasses definitely made him look like a bookworm. The visit was about his writings.

As the two servants walk around to the district’s academy, Leo describes the fellow to Gus, “The man fancies himself a little bit of a novelist. A kind of which perplexes the women of Gladia, especially the gladiatrices.”

Gustavo had hardly any stutters in his talk. Actually, the more time he spent with Leo, none of it happened at all. “Gladiatrices?” He said, remembering the new term.

“Female warriors or Gladiatrix for singular.” Acolytus answers.

The two come to the Nobilium District's training school. It is a large multi storied academy shaped in much the way of a theater auditorium. Folks and warriors populated the place, on balconies, nearby benches and on the sandy grounds, sat, relaxing with others.

Heading inside, Leo is well acquainted with the place, heading through stairways and doors that eventually lead to the headmaster's quarters of the complex.

The very fed up voice of Beautanica is heard from outside its office as the two lean in, “I will not tolerate any more of your perverted tales of me!” She said in a normal voiced tone. “You little sicko. Just what do children see in your stories about romance and luvy duvy narratives from the likes of you?”

Quinlan smiles embarrassingly with a tilted head and closed eyes. The madam’s releases her grip on his robe collar as he’s left of his work desk.

Leo whispers to Gus, “The headmistress's usual visits.”

Beautanica went to exit the room as she saw Leo and Gustavo entering, she kinda held her leave briefly, smiling impressed.

“At least two more gentlemen exist in this country, Uberio. This little boy's a fan of Acolytus. But many of my gladiatrix slaves like to prefer him as his son.”

Quinlan gives a nervous hard look at Gustavo, noting his facial features. It brings the headmaster back, a flashback to when Quinlan first met with Acolytus;

Quinlan's journey through the world lasted him 4 years. He started when he turned 17. It ended when he was abducted by a couple. They were tourists among the furthest reaches of the tropical forests. One day at a tropical resort near the eastern brazilian equator, Quinlan and his students setup camp near the lavash resort and the Freelancer Lanista Uberio at the time, explored the marvelous architecture of the resort’s village-like hut establishments. 

Bumping into the couple, his bodyguards were not too far from him. They've gotten perhaps too used to the non threatening inhabitants from this part of the world. The couple were in their late teens just like Uberio. The adolescent boy of the couple had a sickening desire to make his girlfriend lose her virginity. Uberio noted it, seeing it had something to do with an unnatural jealous rage issue between the boy and her lover. Once the girlfriend looked at Uberio and thought of his cute looks, her boyfriend fumed with envious eyes. But the adolescent boy didn't get mad at Uberio, instead, his hatred was on someone else. It was hard for Uberio to know who exactly he’s angry at, he knew it wasn't him or the girlfriend.

The boy teen rather, encouraged his girlfriend, “Ok then Jenny, since we're on this trip, we might as well make it a memorable one.”

“Cody what are on about?” She said annoyed by his current mood.

“I'm on about you, how you see this guy, all cute and stuff. So let me be a good fiancé and grant your desire.”

Cody took Uberio by the arm lock and pulled Jenny into a private room they were renting. Uberio being much shorter than the two was fixated on Jenny's facial looks. Such beauty of a foreigner gal, such sweet enticing memories that bring the headmaster back to present as the short ramblings of Beautanica’s compliments on the two servants fade towards his attention.

Uberio lingering thoughts arrive back on the day he was raped by the couple. Cody didn't do anything to him per say, but the aggressive boyfriend made sure Jenny got her v card broken into and pregnant by Uberio. The position they were in made Jenny believed it was Cody f***ing and orgasming inside her, but in reality, Cody was onto Jenny since the beginning. He never liked her anymore since she took an interest in someone he disliked immensely.

It’s why when Uberio first saw Acolytus's face, he couldn't help but blush and feel shy more than usual. In fact, now when he saw Acolytus and his supposed son, Gustavo's face, his current blushing of Beautanica's comments, suddenly turned him into a very very shy boy like Gustavo. Which to Gus, he hadn't seen anyone else be more shy than him before.

The madam concluded her point, accepting the mail delivered to her in person by her reliable butler, “Acolytus be a dear and don't let this headmaster lanista fool you. He's as perverted as a curious boy surrounded by his dream girls can be, especially during puberty.”

Leo squints from his helmet, reassuring her with a bowing nod, “Yes headmistress.”

Beautanica leaves the room winking at Gustavo, he smiles back, switching his gaze back to Quinlan still giving him a look of interest from behind his desk he sat. Gus notes the littered stacks of draft writings. One titled, How To Please Her and another one called Going Further.

Leo starts, “Headmaster?” The master snaps his look upwards to the retiarius.

“Oh excuse me, was I starring? I don't mean to be.” He apologetically looks away shyly.

Leo clears his throat, “Umm.” Stands up straight and professional, “I would like to participate in the tournaments with Masonius.”

Quinlan blinking, opens one of his desk drawers and pulls out an inch binder, “Humm. A retiarius and a hoplomachus? I'm afraid I can't put you in the Nobilium Tournament. Your master, Evad, requested that only Amadeus Masonius may participate in this one. But fear not, it's barely the start of a cycle of yearly tournaments and the Mercatus District will host theirs in the coming months. I will notify Evad about it so he's aware.” 

Leo removes his helmet revealing his face. Quinlan immediately begins to stare and smile. And just like that, when Quinlan glanced over to Gustavo, he noticed the exact same face on the boy with the same exact glance over to him. Uberio and Gustavo both look away shyingly. But now the headmaster is aware of what the boy thinks of Acolytus's looks for some reason.

Leo politely bowed to Quinlan with his helmet to his chest, “Thank you headmaster, if there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

Before Leo and Gus were about to leave, Quinlan was desperate to spend some time with Gus,

“Umm retiarius wait!?” The two look back, “Uhh? Would I be allowed to give your boy... a... tour around my school?”

Leo smiles at Gus whispering, “First Beautanica, now Quinlan. You're becoming too likable.” Leo looks at Quinlan ready to respond, but not without a final whisper to Gus, “Heh, you remind me of me when I first got here.” Shifting his gaze to speak to Quinlan. “Umm... sure... I guess we can go on a tour.”

”Privately?” Quinlan asked.

“Privately?” Acolytus repeated,... “You mean, him” He points a hand to Gus and then the headmaster, “annnnnd you. Alone, just the two of you, privately.”

Quinlan gently raises a smile, embarrassed, “I'm sorry.” He stands up nervously, “I mean... you Acolytus, already know so much about me and my school, I wouldn't want to bore you. And your little boy here, might enjoy learning what I do here as a headmaster. I thought it would be kind if I wasn't too much of a stranger to him.”

Leo nods in understanding, “Yes, but of course headmaster…” The net man’s thoughts were on something else, “forgive my prudish like thinking.”

Quinlan nods, “It's alright. Beautanica's opinion of me, sticks to people.” He shyly smiles.

Over the course of a few minutes, Gustavo is sitting on a couch, rather comfortably. Quinlan is finishing up some paperwork in the meantime. Once done, he eyes Gus. Gustavo eyes back, the two noting each other's facial features. The two look away shyingly.

“I guess I should show you around.” The young man says.

For next 15 minutes, Uberio showed Gustavo his school, the responsibilities he's in charge of, and some of his student slaves. Gustavo was polite and listened to the master, but he wasn't much interested in the tour. They went on the balcony sitting at the railings viewing down at the Nobilium Arena. Quinlan was always eyeing Gustavo on his looks especially his body shape, nice and thin. During the near conclusion of the tour, Gustavo wanted to find Leo. He wanted to be in his presence.

Quinlan offered him lunch at his staffing lounge; he wanted the cute child to stay longer. Gus politely refused and requested that he wanted to see Acolytus.

Quinlan sighs kinda disappointed in a shy shy way. “Sure. He'll be at the school’s café, most likely with another gladiator, Amadeus.” Gus was eager to see his cousin and possibly Spencer, but the headmaster wanted to spend more time with the boy. “Gustavo?” The shy man sees the shy boy nearly leaving as he gazes back, nervous. “You’re… so cute.” Uberio wides eyes from his own statement, doubling palming his face under his lenses in utter embarrassment. 

Gustavo felt so uneasy about the man, he didn't reply as the short teen left. Leaving his office, Gus could feel him keep his gaze upon all the way out and about until he turned the corner and broke line of sight. 

Gus was aware where the café was and found Leo where Quinlan said he would be. And sure enough, the hoplomachus was there sitting with the retiarius, along with Spencer at the line with a large tray being loaded with a meal’s lunching.

Leo chatted with his brethren, “Amadeus, I had no clue your nephew stumbled across Gustavo, the two of them journeying all the way here talking and chatting like bestest of friends.”

Amadeus chuckled lightly, “With those two, they seem more and more inseparable as you get to know them.”

Spencer came back with the platter of lunch for three of them, more than enough, but whatever they didn't eat would be used as compost for the farmers.

Gus came by and sat just in time for the meal, sitting next to his idol, he hugs him.

“There's my boy who went to great lengths to find me.”

“Don't expect him NOT to call you papy.” Spencer says, “He's much obliged to.” The men chuckled.

Leo pets his cousin's adorable head, “So how was Headmaster Lanista Uberio like?”

Gus looks across to Spencer and Amadeus, “Very weird.”

The three laugh.

Amadeus pitching in his remarks, “That's why his romance novels are so popular among adolescents and children. The weird guy has a good eye for storytelling.”

“And annoying Beautanica.” Leo humors. The three laugh again.

Spencer glances at the shy boy, happy he’s fitting in, though the child’s perspiring again from the rising temperatures of the land, “Glad to see you found your long lost cousin Gus. How it feel to be united with the man who you aspired to be all these years?”

“I feel... complete.” Gustavo claimed, “All I want to do is make him happy.”

“You've already done that Gus.” Leo embraces him back.

“Then it's more happy he's after.” Spencer humors, having the group laugh, this time Gustavo too. “Anyways, let's chow down.”

The group enjoyed a well diverse meal with all sorts of juicy meats, stir fried vegetables, and iced fruit flavored drinks. After the nice filling lunch, Gustavo went to use the restroom. The building's facilities were nice, private and isolated for the person. No open walled stalls or open urinals, unlike much of the American homeland he’s used to. Gus relieved himself, observing his surroundings of sand spots and simple adobe architecture, This place would be fun to clean. Gus thought.

Towards the next day, Gustavo spent his time and night with Acolytus, Spencer would frequent the pair performing their butlering duties in the most stupidness bond of father like son fashion the teen has ever seen. It also pleased the headmistress to have another reliable man around the facility keeping things orderly and for once, keeping the probing members of her clan out of his room when the shy boy was there.

Spencer sat in the guest chair of Beautanica’s office, waiting for her arrival from the madam’s bathing time. Her office had a door further back where her private quarters lay. One of her maids came through the beaded curtains,

“The headmistress would see you in her bath chambers.” Adrena said, guiding the boy on through.

Beautanica laid in her bubbling bath waters with her face pampered with a facial cream white masking and cucumber slices on her eyes. Her pool of luxury leveled with the adobe titled flooring. Spencer stood before her, marveling. The majority of perky breasts hid under the soapy jetstream water.

“Mistress, your guest is here now.” Adrena said, readying some more ointment creams, removing the slices of fruit from her closed eyes.

“Thank you, Adrena.” As the madam opens her eyes slowly to adjust to the light, the view of Spencer panicked her, “What the!” Splashes around water, covering her breasts, “You’re not Udov!” What the hell do you want?”

Spencer lifted his hands, looking away, “Headmistress, I just wanted to check up on Gustavo.”

The madam arose from the waters, being toweled by Adrena, “Not a word of this to anyone you brat.” She said, all the while Spencer gazed away, noticing her attire of fashionable clothing in her closet wardrobe.

“Mistress, I never understood why I’m such a bother to you. You have quite the taste of fashion yourself.” Spencer tried on complimenting her.

“Shut your yap. Ever since you showed your face around Gladia again, my markets have been losing customers.”

“Madam, I can assure you, I only-”

“Want to be the best fashion man? The one, people marvel at, a prodigy who makes better clothing than any woman?” Beautanica accuses. 

Spencer only sighs nervously in a chuckle, “I’m not your enemy, headmistress. It’s the people's choice of what they make of me.”

“Choice or no choice twerp, I’ve got my eyes on you, don’t think you’d best mother nature’s divinity. Us girls are better fashionably.” The headmistress declares.

Spencer resists the urge to challenge her, simply saying, “All I’m here for, is to see how my dear friend is doing?”

As the madam delicately wipes off her skin care, she scoff at him, “Remove yourself from my premises, only when a true woman’s fashion stomps out your incessant success rates, would I permit your welcome here.” She deemed.

Spencer walked out of her office, hoping to see Gustavo somewhere in the common’s area; he does, alongside the ever astute retiarius sharing with the elated boy, his time with his father, Alfred Zarff.

“That is why my pop holds me to the standard of servitude for all.”

Spencer overhears appearing before the two, “Hello gents, I see there’s not much to do with everything spec and spam around here.”

The two nod bows to Spencer, Gustavo greeting back, “I love it here, Leo is so much fun and everything I ever wanted.” 

The fashion teen smiles, then the lady of the academy arrives from the hallway with a group of maid servants tending to her very need, “Send for my summons with Housemaster Akimbar, reserve dinner reservations with Capua’s councilman. Have our new recruits oriented with the academy’s veterans.” When her sights glanced over to Spence, she also ordered, “Have that Masonius trespasser over there escorted out of my establishment as well! He peeped at me whilst I was bathing!” The gladiatrices patrolling the commons came to take the teen fashion boy off of the site.

Leo interjects, “Un hand the boy!” 

Beautanica overhears and peers back at her trusted butler’s interference. The gladiatrix warrior insists, “Apologies Acolytus, direct commands from her ladyship herself.” 

The butler approaches, nodding in full agreement, “It is why I shall escort this supposed peeping tom, myself.”

Her lady found this to her liking but not in the way the net man defends the innocence of the teen, the gladiatrix warrior accepted the butler’s authority to complete the given order personally.

Calmly taking Spencer out and away from the school, Gustavo and Acolytus stood with the teen by the bustling shops of the district’s merchant’s square. People of all sorts and types roam the vending neighborhood of businesses here.

“Beautanica can be hasty, she very much dislikes a male dominating her interests, especially a young one with promising talent to make her kin look bad.”

Spencer pondered in agreement, “At least she’s that way only to me, the rest of my family she adores.” He looks to Gus observing the metropolis architecture, “What do you think of her, Gus?”

The shy boy glances back pondering, smiling nervously, “She’s nice to Leo, she’s nice to me.”

“Heh heh, Fair enough.” Spencer smiled gratefully, “It won’t be long; I know my family will one day found the national fashion dream and people like Beautanica will remaster it several times over, once it’s said and done.”

A band of squabbling children run into Spencer as the teen pardons them, “Whoa! Watch it kids, you’re lucky I’m a tranquil soul.”

One of the kids, the boy that ran into him, looks at him weird, “Whatever, come on guys, let’s go.” They run off.

It only dawns on Spencer that he’s just been pickpocketed, patting his pockets feeling his missing coin, “Hey! Stop right there, you clever thieves!” As he points in the direction of the fleeing children, he caughts eye on one, a very familiar girl whom he recalls from Liberty City. It can’t be? Her? A little girl with the very much similar appearance of Veronica, looks at Spencer’s direction as her company of thieves are called out. She runs in the other, leaving Spence with the dilemma of chasing her or his coin. Currency can wait, but her? I will catch her.

Running after the girl, Acolytus and Gustavo chase after the thieving children. Spencer runs throughout the Capua after the girl. Her nimble figure makes her much more agile throughout the obstacles she crossed along the way; under fences, over market stalls, and even between tight spaces of buildings. Plentiful crowds of pedestrians moved over and out of the way of the chase. The fashion teen didn’t let up as he maneuvered up and over the instructions on his way catching up the gal slowly; not realizing he was entering Insulae territory as the citizens began lessoning. The teen saw the girl corner herself within a non-outlet part of the caverned neighborhood. As she disappears further into the dead end, out of view of Spencer, the teen reaches the turn to confront the gal finally. To his disappointment, she wasn’t there, as if she totally disappeared without a trace. There was no way she could have climbed her way out, he would have saw her. 

After noticing he was in the far territory of Insulae, his panting gasped in realization, jogging back in the other direction towards the surface.

A daunting group of adult gladiators confront him, 

“Look a here boys, we gots an upper dweller in these parts.” A scissores classed fighter said.

“Ah are those Nobilium clothes ya wearing? What should we do with em, boys?” Said a large barbaric thraex warrior.

“Let’s get him roughed up by our gladiatrices! Get the nerd!” Another said, this riled up the mob of vermin gladiators of the Gladia’s underbelly.

Spencer moved to nimble around his chasers, barely escaping the grasp of the gleaming cutter of a gladiator, tearing up his own crafted tunic’s dorsal side, “Come back here, you f***ing p***y!”

The teen ran as his life depended on it, getting lost within the sea of caves he found himself in. His assailants gaining, finding himself trapped at a dead end, two residential doors stood on either side. Taking his chances, he enters one, going through the cave like living room of the home and out the other side, miraculously leading to another series of ongoing caverns. Hearing his pursuers gaining, his fatigueness sets in, he’s never been the athletic type, and these men, though geared in armor and carrying weapons; they are adapted to long jog endurance capabilities.

Feeling his body ache at a loss for stamina, Spencer begins giving up hope, there's no telling where I’m at! The teen only closes his eyes and prepares for the worst.

The men catch up to him, ready to tackle the poor kid to the ground. A large clang sends the leading man colliding to the cavern wall. Right afterwards, two of the men shout in rage attacking the secutor who assaulted one of their own. The red plate armor combatant flings his mighty hammer bashing thraex to the ground as the cutter tackles him to the wall aiming to slice him up. The scissores jabs his deadly blade towards him, but the secutor grasped the menacing hook and pinned it into a crack of the wall, bending the handle of the weapon useless as he unleashes a relentless wave after wave of punches on the attacker’s helmet, jarring the warrior back, disarming him. Kicking the man on the leg, a dirty move suitable for Insulae standards, the secutor grappled the fighter and flung him into a home window, incapacitating him. The owner of the residential housing came out cursing, “What the f*** man?” 

Spencer witnesses the large thraex opponent get up, aiming to swing his two handle greatsword at the boy, but the defender rushes him, picking up his spiked hammer and parrying his offense. The collision roared as Spencer felt the shockwave of the impact slow down time, an effect of such an adrenaline fueled instance. Now seeing the protector is Xizor Ixion, what happened next was a dual showdown where the secutor and thraex battled out their might within a swift 20 second hoedown where Xizor bests the opponent twice his size. Shifting his stance towards the last one standing, the remaining challenger flees the scene, not willing to risk his health against the threatening protector over some poor defenseless chap. 

Spencer recuperates a little, seeing Xizor stomp over to him, “Am I glad to see you-”

Xizor wrestled the boy under his arms, lighty head choking him, “Shut your yap.” He whispered threateningly.

The resident who came out of his home after Xizor threw his challenger into the window, hid indoors after seeing it was an Ixion that broke the scuffle. Holding Spencer in an arm lock, the secutor pushed him throughout the tunnel networks of Insulae. Spencer was impressed where the fighter knew where he was going; the whole cave system looked the same to him. Passing by new gladiators, these citizens and slaves would have kidnapped the surface dweller, if it weren't for Xizor already having the teen under his mercy and dominance. The secutor brings Spencer back to the surface district of Capua, there he flings the teen onto the sandy ground, his side of the metropolis,

“Be warned, boy, if you wander aimlessly in our domain again, you’ll face severe consequences.” Xizor’s serious and threatening words are noted by Spencer as the fighter leaves back to his hole.”

Reaching back further up into the safety of the Capua, Spencer heads back home, his tunic is in serious need of sewing repairs. Over dinner that night, Spencer is relieved to know that Acolytus and Gustavo arrived at the front door; they were able to retrieve the stolen money that belongs to the fashion teen. Francesca thanked them and invited the two over for dinner. The night was fresh and cool, perfect temperature for the shy boy to be within the warmer indoors. Acolytus removed his helmet at the table. Amadeus joined them.

“Net man, I trust the little novice scoundrels weren't too much of a burden for you.”

“This time, fortunately not, my extra pair of eyes here helped ease the search.” Leo padded Gus’s shoulder, gratefully, “Each of those kids will be hearing from their guardians in the juvenile halls of the Oscan.”

“That’s a relief.” Francesca said reassuredly.

Leo then asks, “Spencer, were you able to learn of the little girl you were after?”

“No…” He says annoyed, “I tailed her half across Capua when she led me into the Insulae.”

Spencer’s parents became wary of this as he continues, “I catch at a dead end corner of the first cavern, but she just vanishes out of thin air. Next thing I know, I’m running away from the thugs of the district after me. I am extremely fortunate to have Xizor rescued me off from the criminals. Let’s just say he was the least welcoming of my presence in his territory.”

“And right he should be,” Francesca states, “the underbelly of Gladia is no place for us surface dwellers. All sorts of nasty, defiling, vile cesspit of people live there.”

Hemonius backed her up, “She right son, try to be wary of your surroundings next time.”

“Yes father.”

Leo and Amadeus nod in agreement too, the hoplomachus stating, “It was a professional courtesy that Xizor went out of his way to protect you, nephew. If he would of, he’d have fed you to the lion’s den and made an example out of you, but since he and I have complicated history, he spared you. I’d do the same for him.”

Over the next few days, Gustavo would get a lay of the metropolis, building more and more independence for himself as Acolytus was tasked on his more specialized duties. Duties that require his administrational skills as a royal notary for the crown. These important meetings and briefs oversee the management of the nation, governed by district commissioners. As such, much of the documentation must be shared with the emperor. Many notaries are summoned, but for the ones whose background is largely based in foreign lands, their feedback and perspective of these matters is most vitaly important to the emperor. For Acolytus in particular, he’s the only foreigner who demonstrated such unbiased thinking and set forth the true well-being for the nation going on forward so much so that he’s earned the highest decree on being one of the many most trusted advisors of the emperor, to the point of becoming his official consigliere in secret.

For now, Gustavo can only entertain himself with the scenery and beauty of the metropolis.  Willing to explore a little, the boy joins the crowds of passing citizens and warriors heading through markets, district functions, and business shops indoors. He sees much of the teens his age flirting with girls, thus, the shy boy hides himself from view of being liked by one should their gazes find him instead. 

Heading throughout the upper Capua region, the Oscan, Gustavo could tell more of the services from there as specialized the further up he got. Less and less citizens ventured up on these parts, yet, a holdsome quantity nonetheless. From within the stone ruin architecture, sighted pedestrians are seen using indoor lifts to take themselves from one level of the Oscan to another. Curious, he watches. Each exiting passenger hands the conductor a coin. The shy boy wasn’t in Gladia long enough to know exactly what the denomination was, but he knew the small coin was of a dark tin color.

After a while, Gus gets the courage to go on one, in particular, a two passenger lift. His simple plan was to go in one when an adult entered and simply act for said person to spare him a trip up on their dime; couldn’t be much, the boy thought. Alright, on Gus’s go; the very next person that went into one of these elevators, he’d join them. Seeing a young man enter, he followed after. The man informed the conductor/operator where his stop was; his attention was in his booklet, not noticing the shy boy sneak in. The caged doors closed and the lift elevated upwards to the very top of the Oscan. 

Gus, excited about the slow lift’s ride up, peers up at his hopeful courteous man who’d pay for his ride too, to his utter shock, it turned out to be Headmaster Uberio, too preoccupied with his notes to have been noticing that Gustavo stood right beside him. After a few seconds the master closes his book, stuffing it within his robe. Peering over at his commuting-passenger, his eyes and expression gave an awkward surprise of coincidence to be riding with the last child he’d ever meet again, so did in Gustavo’s perspective. The child noticed their stop arriving as the operator applied the brake and opened the door leading to a hallway of corridors. The matured conductor held open his payment bag. Gustavo was closest to him, but he had no currency to offer the conductor and the last thing he wished to do is ask Uberio for his generosity. 

Without thinking, Gustavo simply walked out of the elevator shaft. The conductor gave an apparent, “Ah-hem.” 

Gustovo froze as he nervously peered back. The headmaster’s usual shy expression reached into his own coin purse holdings, withdrawing two semii, dropping one into the operator’s bag, the first coin making a loud ‘clink’ within the pile as a second ‘clink’ was heard by the conductor, his head turning to see the proper fee paid. The operator tipped his cap to Uberio as he exited the lift, doors closing behind the headmaster. Turning his shy gaze back to Gustavo, the boy was at a loss for what to do; he didn’t want to thank the man, nor did he want to be selfish. The shy boy’s gut just told him to run away, so Gus turns the other way and disappears over a corner, wondering where his surroundings would lead him.

His stony pathways led to rooms where meetings were taking place and several more hallways that provided a series of functions for the immediate area. The air was much cooler up here than the sweaty outdoors that bothered the boy far below, only small perspiration lingered on him. As he continues strolling around, he smells the aromas of gourmet food. Further ahead he would discover that a kitchen occupied part of the hall where slave servants were everywhere handling meal preparations. As a cart arrived numerous platters were loaded among it and Gustavo was mistake for a server boy for his short stature and physic,

“Child! Take these to the serve out!” Ordered one of the chefs wiping up another round of boneless fish meats, slicing them up in a delicate manner. “Stop gawking, and move!” He barked.

Gus hauled the cart in the assumed direction it came from. After exiting the hall portion of the mess hall, a number of waiters from all ages came to take the plates, platters, and meals out.

“What took you?” Said an older gentleman.

Another chiming in, “Hurry! They expect these hot and ready!”

“Damn, one of the guy’s out in the restroom! You!” The middle aged woman pointed at Gustavo, “You’ll take over for his table!”

The child gulped, “Uhmm?”

“No buts! Take the meal over to our distinguished guest, their names are on the meal card, now go!”

Holding the platter, Gus just follows the others into an outdoor restaurant/leisure spot of the Oscan. As the waiters effortlessly located their tables and customers, the shy boy quickly rotates the platter in his hands, finding the meal card stating what food therein and to whom. 

Meal: Keftes/kofta (Greek hamburger)

For: Freelancer Lanistess Zonu Cathad & Headmaster Lanista Uberio

Gustavo's eyes widened, he couldn’t believe he’d have to meet the headmaster yet again, and this time, he couldn’t run away. Scanning the area for Uberio he finds him seated with an attractive lady. Her height seated down still toppled the short man’s 5 ft 5 in. Gustavo squints his eyes closed, taking a deep breath, and marching up to them, meal in hand. The child let’s his butler duties take charge of his nerves, a method Alfred Zarff commended the boy on during his earlier youth. 

Setting the platter over, the miss called out, “Awww, aren’t you just the cutest boy imaginable.” 

Immediately Gustavo reddens.

Uberio does also, he too wasn’t expecting to meet the shy boy yet again. It was all just very bad luck on the two.

“Uhh…” Uberio musters his courage, “Thank you, child?”

Miss Cathad couldn’t get enough of the boy’s adorable figure, her inner woman breaking out, “Loook at you, looook at you. So cute, yesss you are, yess you are. My my what a lucky mother to bore such a beautiful young boy, oh you are. Yes yes.” 

Gustavo’s left eye twitched, he couldn’t tell what he felt more, complemented or straight up embarrassed to be told all this, next to a man he thinks of as a creep.

As Cathad went one, Uberio’s very shy expression and nervous shaky posture politely interjects, “Miss? Perhaps that’s… enough? The boy is… quite sheep…ish.” 

The lanistess o’d in her carry away habit. “Oh pardon, hehe. He’s just the cutest little boy I’ve seen, wouldn’t you agree, headmaster?” She says lovingly with her hands clasped and eye’s cutely closed with a smile.

Uberio gets so nervous to respond to her, he just turns to Gustavo shyly, “You’re… free to… go, sorry.”

Gustavo slowly steps back, his face flushed red with embarrassment and mixed feelings. After he breaks their sight, he can see their original waiter arriving with haste, 

“Pardon me lady and gent, I was a bit preoccupied, everything to your liking?” Their waiter says, removing the lid from the plater revealing several lavish twirls of sauteed beef tucked into truffle breadings. 

Gus peaked by the corner to see the waiter, and the pair of lanistas, Uberio’s composing expression peers back at him, giving the child an awkward somewhat the slightest peeved look, one that seems to imply for the shy boy just scat from his presence.

Looking away, Gus goes to leave the area but is halted by the same waiter lady that issued him out, “Hold it there, child, dish man’s on break, take over for him, and while you’re at it, the cellar is in need of stocking with the other lads.”

With no rebuttal of his own, the woman guided the teen to the kitchen wash racks where he was robed with an apron and waterproof heat resistant glove wear. Understanding the drill already, he got to work spraying down dirty plates and silverware for the next half hour, the excessive heat from the steam caused his perspiration to rise. Fogged up glasses weren't too bad after the first 15 minutes, but later on it annoyed him. Finishing up, he retired his gear on the hooks, hearing the younger folks organizing crates within the cellar. Honoring what he is told, he went down. It was the best call he made all day. The area was very cool, the place was shabby in its long use of storage but nevertheless serves its intended functions. Gustavo joined the stationary line of boys hauling crates, passing one up to the other for what seemed like 10 minutes. When they finished, the new call was break time, for half an hour. This was the best time for Gustavo to quietly make his way out. 

It should have dawned on Gustavo that for every elevator, there should always be a stairway nearby to provide emergency exits or entrances. His reasoning proves fruitful, observing a passageway that leads towards stairways heading down below. The steps were evenly spaced and comfortable, even for a short boy his age. Arriving at a lower level of the Oscan, just past the entry door, a larger room of decorum led to further corridors. As Gus took the paths, he tried to remember his way back, should the need suit him. Coming into a living room, the height of the ceiling was notable, the furniture sizable. The bulk of the room contained many instances of windows peering sunshine from the outside, providing ample natural lighting all around.

Sounds of heavy footsteps came from behind Gustavo, trying to act normal, the boy just sat on the couch seat minding his own business. A hefty voice was speaking as the footsteps were accompanied by another set, more soft, less weight to them.

“Another batch of my slaves are in need of your diverse instructors, Q. Normally yo best slave would bring word ta me, but it’s always a pleasure to speak to the shy man himself.” The hefty voice stated.

Gustavo would not believe his luck if it turns out the headmaster meets him yet again. Sitting still and quiet, the child waits silently, maybe the pair will pass by the door. Another voice speaks, making the child now very shy and nervous,

“Damis, I have the proper paperwork ready on hand. Care to finalize the negotiations now?”

It was definitely Uberio’s insecure voice and worse the pair entered the room where Gustavo sat, it’s no wonder the room and hallways were larger in nature; a very tall black man entered, following along the very short, shy man.

“Yes, in my office here.” Damis agreed. From his height, he didn’t notice the little boy tucked away at the corner of the visiting room, eyeing him. But for Uberio, his eye meeting the shy boy once again for the third time caused him to break out in nervous shyness. His awkward now disapproving shy shy gaze perring at him. Damis glanced back at his counterpart, noticing his disturbed stance as the boxer’s suspicious gaze peers over to Gus seated in the back. “Can I help you, child?” The large built giant said in an authoritative tone of voice.

The question froze Gustavo, his nerves of feeling caught and in deep trouble frightening him. Looking at Uberio's twitchy nervous eyes, Gus didn’t know what to say. 

Damis asks again, this time annoyed, “Answer me child, before I make an example out of you!” 

Gus trembled at his warning. 

Uberio, feeling annoyed, nervous and afraid as well, he closed his eyes in a disappointing sigh, turning to Damis, proceeding to tell a ‘white’ lie then and there, “Ex..cuse… my servant.” The shy man gestures to the child in a shaky hand to come forth towards him. Gustavo, scared of not complying with the act, moves towards them as the shy man withdraws the only documents he would have given to Damis, to Gustavo instead, “Pl..ease give these to Head..mistress Beau..tanica.” The boy received the stamped sealed documents in a sheepish manner. 

The gesture perplexed Damis, “Beautanica? I thought you sought business with me, Quin?”

The shy man could do nothing as he simply shied in the most apologetic gesture with his hands up in a nervous awkward smile. Slightly moving his shy gaze to Gus, he nervously tries to dismiss him, but Damis takes over,

“You there, child!” The daunting giant points, “Dismiss yourself from my guest quarters immediately!” The shy boy doesn’t hesitate, slowly making his way out, much slower than the boxer wanted, so he corrects him, “Move with a purpose, boy!” This gets Gus to jog out from the room, hearing Damis tell Uberio in a serious tone, “Brotha! You and me, are gonna talk!”

Hearing the big man’s steps fade further into the guest room, Gustavo could only assume the two headmasters went to the large man’s office quarters situated further within.

The boy jogs down a few halls returning to the stairway he came from originally. Panting with fear, he sat on the steps lightly hitting himself on the head for how ridiculous he just made the creep.

Later that day, his sweat unbearable, not waiting to head indoors of the Mercatus school to enjoy some of the shaded cooler spots therein. He grasped the document firmly, still ashamed for what he put the headmaster through.

Entering into the common’s area of the establishment, much of the place remains neat and tidy as always, leaving little to no work to be done for the lad. As he entered the hallways, he made his way into the office of Mrs. Oralcosis herself. She sat in desk writing throughout documents, and signatures. Stacking them into orderly fashions about her desk. 

Seeing Gustavo at the door, she issued the handsome servant boy in, “Come in, what do you have in your hands there?” She inquired. The shy boy only shied in the manner he gave the scroll to her as she tried deducing the boy’s troubles. Her eyes observed the meticulous package, noting the seal as very important lanistal business. Her expression blew when she knew who the scroll was from, “Wha wa, huhhhh?” Breaking the seal and revealing the contents within, “That pervert is sending me theater instructors for a whole week? Interesting.” She eyed Gus’s guilty expression, sweat pouring from his forehead. Her suspicious assumptions start getting the better of her as she tries figuring out how a boy like Gustavo managed these prime contracts, “Child, how did you obtain these?”

Gus simply couldn’t come forward with the truth.

Beautanica’s inner suspicions only rose, “Did… that man… to..touch you?” She assumes the worst.

Gustavo widened his eyes, shaking his head at her no, but the madam’s added reasoning came to believe the boy on denying. Her protective attitude formed, her gasp frightening as she further suspects Gustavo was indeed molested by the man; how else could an adorable boy gotten ahold of such favorable arrangements from the renowned writer.

Beautanica stands from her desk and embraces Gustavo, comforting his further nervousness from all the misunderstandment, “Ohhh child, you didn’t have…” she rubbed his head, the aroma of the kitchen wash rack hit her nose as she sniffed, “Uooww, his smell is on you still.” Further confirming her suspicion that Gustavo was abused by Uberio. “Don’t worry, Gustavo, we'll have that man dealt with soon enough. First I’m going to freshen you up, get all that vulgar man’s stench off you, it’s the least I can do.”

The boy tried to get her to understand, but her motherly instincts took him against his reasoning, “Madam… ple..ase. You have the wrong… idea.”

Beautanica guided the boy by the hand to her bathing chambers, “No more self-denial, Gustavo. I’m doing this to help and… you’re in a real need of a bath.” She says removing his sandals Spencer made for him, “Very neat footwear you have,” She unbuckled his belt tunic, removing his lenses; setting them on a table stand column. Off came his top as his body was lifted by her, removing his trousers; leaning only his wrapped clothed undergarments on.

The boy was very embarrassed, not only could he not see but he had no idea where Beautanica placed his glasses. So her tending love and care placed him near the bubbling soapy soak pool. He felt her place a towel in the boy’s hand, his assumption of her implying that he’d remove his undergarments was next. As the boy wrapped the towel around his waist, he downgraded his last remaining garments.

The madam saw this and immediately told the boy off, her tone awkward, “Put your underwear back on, Gladian undergarments are waterproof for the most part, any moisture left on them just soaks outward, drying from the inside out. I thought that big-headed fashion wannabe pal of yours would have told you?”

Giggling a very embarrassed and nervous chuckle, Gus slipped back on his garments removing the towel. The madam guided the boy into her pool. “Wha…” The boy held onto her arm trying not to slip on the watery steps of the pool, “you’re joining me?” 

“Of course sweetie, how else could I properly bathe you?” She stated.

Gus wanted to retort her, but arguing was never in his vocabulary.

As the soothing bubbling water reached his mid section, he felt the comforts of the liquids begin to sooth his sore feet and overheated being. The waters began to feel cooler as she adjusted a few levers at the end of the stairway under the bath water. She reassured the shy boy, “I understand Gladia is still way too for a foreigner like you. In time you’ll acclimate to our environment.” As she begins scrubbing the boy down, a familiar retiarius appears before her doorway, eyeing the headmistress. “Oh! Leo? Back from your notary tasks already, I see.”

“Indeed mistress. I even took the liberty of acquiring the special herbs for your next bath, but I see you’re already… at it.” Acolytus walks to a stand placing the beautiful collections of lavender, peppermint, sages, rosemary, and thyme within vase pottery. Gustavo goggled his gaze towards his general direction trying to make his figure through his blurry vision. The butler observed the child, feeling responsible for leaving him alone with Beautanica’s suggestive antics this far, “Perhap I’m also in need of bathing myself, headmistress?”

“You? Oh come on now, you’re the cleanest male I know of.” She said.

Acolytus cleverly counters her reasoning, “Well after my long day, dealing with stressful representatives and filthy business with some Insulae’s officials, I fear I ought to wash up as well.” 

Beautanica knows where her butler is coming from and lets him have his way then, “Very well, Acolytus, you made your point.” Leaving Gus standing in the bubbling water, The madam rises out of her pool, she wasn’t completely nude due to her bathing bra and undergarments. “I’ll enjoy a much fuller bath later,” She says, heading into her bedroom to change up.

Leo observed the place where she left Gustavo’s belongings and he picked up his lenses, removing his helmet in place of them. Entering the waters with the boy, he handed the child his clear vision back. The shy boy sees his idol with foot sandals and overall light loincloth attire still on, “A net man’s use of water proofed equipment is all the more convenient in these situations.” Leo says scrubbing the child down where Beautanica left off.

That night, Gustavo tells Leo all that has happened. The retiarius, ever the astute butler, only informs Gustavo to let the ramifications of his situations unravel, to let whatever is to happen, happen. The head servant has been in Gladia long enough to trust its people to let bygones be bygones when the dust settles; more important issues are always on the rise throughout the security of the nation.

Chapter 18: All in all

The next morning, the madam personally spoke with Acolytus privately about Gustavo’s predicament with Uberio. The butler had already knowledge about what really went down with the boy’s possession of the mighty contract, though his mistress is often one-sided on her own perspectives, he respects her assumptions on the headmaster nonetheless. When the net man could visit with Gustavo directly, he advised the child that, if the moral issues about his decisions yesterday still plague him; he ought to make amends with Uberio and apologize to the shy man.

Gustavo didn't want to meet the man ever again, but after all the trouble the guy went through to get him out of a bind, the least he could do is apologize for his unexcused behavior.

That day, Gustavo worked his courage to visit the headmaster, sure the man was a creep, but those were just first impressions brought on by what Beautanica mentioned and the shy boy bought into it. Somehow he felt like the madam was full of it- when she said Uberio was his molester. Strange, the more he recalled her behavior towards him, the more it seemed like she was the molester; wanting him to bathe with her in the same waters, luckily Acolytus came when he did, otherwise…. 

Gustavo couldn’t imagine what she would have done to him, most likely cuddled is all. But she did have honor though, sort of, when Gustavo removed his undergarments, she objected. Strange, most strange indeed? The more Gustavo ponders about his time in Gladia, the more he’s coming to find out how, played, he’s being. Not in a bad way, but in a test trail kind of way. He is a foreigner after all, perhaps he’s not earned their trust on him yet. With all this doubtful revelation, Gustavo felt more sure to revisit the headmaster, now on his level this time.

Acolytus knew what times were best to meet such a reserved fellow in his shell, “After a snacks nap does the young man remain in his quarters after the second hour of noon.”

During part of the day, the outside is around its hottest. Gustavo sweats constantly. Entering the Nobilium District, he finds the school quickly, wanting to be inside it’s shade indoors, the boy finds the place still a little too warm for his comforts. Walking through the establishment, he had a good idea where the man’s office lied. The tour he gave, proved its use this time. Finding the office, the door was shut, more likely to imply that he didn’t want to see any pupils at this time. 

Gustavo tried the door handle, it was unlocked. Quietly opening the door, he was met with the headmaster’s back to him, for he was his at his second desk towards the window. The surface of his second, slanted in an artist preference kind of way. From where Gus was standing, he could tell he was sketching something. Closing the doy behind him, Gus slowly walked his way up to the headmaster, getting a better view of the realistic drawing. Gustavo recognizes the man in the portrait, it was Leo Acolytus Zarff.

The shy boy pondered.

“Ohh Gustavo?” The man said, unaware of the boy’s presence near him, “What did you see in your idol's face when he removed his helmet?”

Gus was asking himself the same question too on Quin.

Coming by the master's art desk, the shy man only focuses his attention on the portrait he made.

“I'll tell... If you tell?” Gustavo said.

Quinlan was feeling the shyness set in, as much as he felt Gus's this entire time.

Quinlan sits back a little, Gus moving inward to better view the remarkable sketch of Leo’s distinguishable facial features. This saddened the lanista, sighing, 

“It wasn't what, but who.” He replies, “I saw someone who, with the help of her fiancé at the time, made me do something I thought I'd never get to do with a woman. I can still recall their names. An adolescent male by the name of Cody, and her fianceé, Jenny.

Gustavo's heart skipped a beat, darkness fading with his being, he knew who he was talking about. Could it be?... Can this man standing before him?... There's no way. 

“The couple... raped me. It was mainly the female though. The male just pushed and shoved me into her.” Uberio’s shy eyed gaze looks upon Gustavo’s. “Honestly, I couldn't stop admiring her. Even after it was said and done; for the first time in my life, the most beautiful foreigner I ever laid eyes on, saw me as the same.” The master closes his eyes to that very day. 

“I can't get her off my mind. The two left before I could follow them, my guards grabbing me off the street with just me in undergarments.”

 He opens his eyes and removes his glasses, teary eyed. “When I saw Acolytus's identity, I nearly wanted to kiss him. But my mind raced with thoughts that this is a man with the likeness of a woman's face that I hold so so dear about. I restrained myself and held no favoritism to the man. When I saw you. I saw half of Jenny in you and if your Acolytus's son as I'm lead to believe, forgive my unexcused behavior that you find yourself in.” The man stands, sighing, “You were rightfully just to leave the first time you requested it.”

Gustavo has an epiphany. Cody Harcomb was never his father. It made sense. He'd never loved Jenny. Even since he found out about Leo, Cody was ever after Jenny for money, just as much as she was. But after the jealousy for power and status consumed him. He admitted to Gustavo once during that troubling open house party night.

“Your too stupid to believe that you can't be my son. To me, you're just a pon to do as I please.” The echoing words of his Cody’s sinister laugh come back to Gus, “I even convinced your whore of a mother that you weren't her biological child.” The vile man chuckled evilly, “It's no wonder she believed me. She wanted a girl so desperately.” The false father throws a wadded up napkin at Gus's feet, “So make yourself useful, and clean, servant boy, clean.”

His mind floods back to the Headmaster's room. Quinlan watches as Gus leaves. But to his surprise, the shy boy closes the door, jamming it shut with a door wedge, preventing it from opening without shear force. Gustavo turns around and heads back to Quinlan, the shy boy takes his hand and politely requests him to take off his robe. He eyes Quinlan in such the manner the man has done to Gus before. “I’m hot, I recommend you take off your robes... father.”

Quinlan is taken back, “Isn't Acolytus your father?”

“Cousin.” Gus states boldly, “cousin uncle. Foremost cousin to Jenny, my mother.”

Quinlan feels Gus remove his robes from under him, “Stop!”

Gustavo removes his own clothes in front of him, resuming on Uberio once more. Gustavo is surprised that under his robes Quin had an interesting red undergarments that stretched over to his feet. But his waist was naked.

“If I'm your father, what's Jenny's hair color?”

The boy ponders for a moment, “She sometimes uses a hair dye. But it's actually a kind of blonde.”

Quin is shocked, “You must be kidding, am I to believe a child that I met just day’s before, just so happens to be my son?”

Gus confidently adds, “Without a doubt. You mentioned Cody, my stepdad, and my biological mom, Jenny.”

Quin steps back, “What are you planning on doing to me?”

Gustavo tosses his robe wear onto the couch beside him, “I'm going to stare at you now, like you did to me. I thought you were a creep, but since you're really my father and all. I think you like that sort of thing coming from your son.”

Quin was too embarrassed to say anything else. He moves to leave the room, but is suddenly pushed onto the couch. 

For the first time in his life, Gustavo uses his strength to get what he really wants; to feel for his biological dad. Now Quin's the one who's feeling uncomfortable and sheepish. On the couch, Quin lays as Gustavo observes his father's physic and undergarments. Gus pushes his bounds when he puts a hand on the man’s chest. Quin gets turned disturbed by this, “You're mad child.”

“I'm not a homo, father. I can't wait for you to see Jenny again.” Gus finally states.

Uberio slowly begins to piece it together, “You're fantasizing about me and... your mom?”

“It's exactly what I do with Leo Zarff.”

“Leo Zarff?”

“My cousin, Acolytus.”

“What!?” And I thought I was the creep, but now after thinking about it, they’re meant for one another. The headmaster pondered. Slowly relaxing his posture, he sees Gustavo smile and slowly moves on him, placing him on top of him. The two cuddling, skin to skin contact bondship.

“Think about it, father. I'm half of Jenny. She wants you, just as much as I do- for the two of you.”

“You're right… son” 

The two lay there, hugging each other. 

Later in the day, Acolytus is cleaning within the shower stalls of the Mercatus school, finding Gustavo in one, washing up.

“Greetings Gustavo.”

“My real dad.” The child says.

“You’re meaning Cody Harcomb?” Leo states curious.

Taking a deep breath, Gus exhales as the cold water his overheating body, “I've recently learned that he was never my father, not even a step father.”

“Recently?” Leo says, soon guessing, “Quinlan Uberio?” Sees Gus nod his head with an adorable smile. The butler giggles amused, but when he senses the boy’s genuine, sincere, mind,  “That little shrimp of man?” Leo didn't get a verbal response out of Gus, but the playful splash of water at the net man’s legs confirms it, “You're telling the truth unfortunately. I guess I'm gonna have a wash up too,” He turns on the water at his spot next to Gus.

The two enjoy the refreshing process as dirt and grime is washed off effortlessly, bringing them renewed freshness.

When the night rolls around, a special dinner event happens at Evad's Lanista Villa. Quin comes over to eat dinner with Gustavo and the rest of Evad's personally owned gladiators. The theater man bumps into Evad at his office doors.

“Oh excuse me Mr. Nortorapoly. Would it be ok if I joined your gladiator slaves for dinner?”

“Is it for this boy Acolytus has?” Evad straight up inquiries.

Quinlan shyly smiles.

The renowned Extremus headmaster chuckles friendly-like and puts a hand on Quin's shoulder, “It's alright, being a father is as important to that boy as it is for your son. Acolytus told me about it.” Evad pats Quin's shoulder, “Let's go eat.”

The group of gladiators and guests sit on the rectangular dining table consisting of the following, Amadeus on the end, Spencer next to him, Acolytus, Gustavo next to him, Falx Crixus next to Gus, Xizor Ixion on the other end of the table, then Miarzim Oenomaus, Uberio, Evad and the host’s own son, Spartacus, a renowned fighter for the Spectacula grand finals.

“Gentleman,” Evad taps the glassware of his wine, “tonight's dinner is in this year's tournament season. Each of you gladiator fighters will fight in your respective districts. You will face off mighty warriors who will push you to the limits. Remember Gladia's ambitions and why we fight.” He lifts up his wine glass, everyone else does the same with their drinks, “To Truth!”

Group unanimously agrees, stating all together, “To Truth!”

The meal presented with the finest cuts of meats, fresh fruits and variable vegetables, grain breads, and recovery drinks for the warriors. All prepared by Evad's chef, Numidian, the father of Miarzim. The proud slave had the meals formally prepared within the villa’s outstanding culinary facility.

After such a filling meal, Spencer and Gustavo chillax outside in the couch patio seats staring into the nightly moonlight reflection of the Grand River of Gladia. The outdoors weren’t too warm, nor cold, Gustavo could finally be getting used to the weather of Gladia now.

“Amazing isn't it?” Spencer says, sensing Gus feeling at peace with himself. “This is Gladia. A paradise for gladiators. How's it like knowing you're half Gladian too, Gus?”

The shy boy speaks much more in control, almost as if all his stuttering had left him, “I never would have thought you being my best friend would have brought me here. I am truly blessed.”

Spencer sits up, pondering deeply, “I seem to recall Donald Love inviting us to his paradise island.”

Gustavo nodded, “From my understanding, I think it was a couple of kids that were the one inviting us through the gentleman.”

“Once this year's tournaments are over, you want to head over there?” Spencer suggested.

Gustavo meditated on the decision, “After finding my long lost cousin, and even my father, I hope to one day reunite with Jenny and bring her to them or vice versa.”

“Well.” Spencer expresses a long yawn. “I think I'll sleep right here.”

Gustavo rises off from his seat to cuddle up to Spencer, “Me too.” 

Spencer’s thoughts about his uncle’s assumptions about him and Gus briefly return, “You're sure we’re not homo by doing this?” He teases.

Gustavo looks up at Spencer in disgust, “Homosexuality is a stain against mother nature.

The boy cuddles his head into Spencer's chest, “I just want to be cuddling with someone. If it's a male… the most I always think of them is having their way with girls.”

“Has it ever been another girl instead of Jenny?” Spence asks.

“Even in my secluded life, I've got to see some beautiful girls, other models my mother rivaled against. I'm a curious boy.” The shy boy wraps his arms around the tall boy's chest. “I even fancy your sisters.”

Spencer wraps his arms around Gus, happily sighing, “You fancy it all the right way.”

As the two begin to sleep at the patio throughout the warm night.

A pair of evil chuckling kid voices catches attention looking around their surroundings, “Heh heh, so you two were in Gladia, all this time?” Says one of them.

Out from the darkness appears Devol,

Spencer looks at him warily, the shy boy all cuddled up on the tall boy, “Devol? Uhhmm, this is not what it looks like.”

Devol blinks playfully grotesquely, “Oh I heard what the shy boy had to say. ‘Homosexuality, a stain against mother nature’ and all, huh, pretty boy?” H gets right up to the patio seats where the two are sharing just one. He eyes Gus sexually.

Gustavo gets embarrassed returning to his usual old self rather quickly. “Uhh... Mmm.”

“Devol places a finger at the middle of Gus's lips, “Shush shsh sh, I got to say Spence, his statement, couldn't be closer to the Truth.”

“So... You agree then.” Spencer could only assume.

Devol backed away, “Oh by far. It's different when you cuddle with a grown young man like my manny! Acolytus!” Gus is shocked by this. “But just the thought of a 13 year old teen all over my 9 year old self…” Devol is making me want to… oooo… Veronica!

Out from the darkness appears the small short little girl, Spencer tried his luck on chasing throughout the Capua.

Spencer's eyes widen as she approaches Devol, giving the bad boy a sexy kiss making the boy kick his feet and fist in the air, her introduction is fashionable as always as she glances at the tall boy, “Hello there, Spence.”

Spencer rises off his seat, Gustavo nervously accompanying him. The fashion teen approaches her, sure enough, it’s her. “You?”

“What the matter, Spence? You act like you have never seen a fashion winner before.”

Spencer shakes his head at her, “So you were a Gladian this entire time! Mind telling me what went down in Liberty City?”

“Oh I’ll tell ya, if it weren’t for Devol here, I would have been stuck sucking orders from that miserable fashion mentor of yours, Jenny,” Veronica glances at Gus, “No offense, shy boy.”

He tells her, “No… non.. taken. Under…standable”

She resumes, “Anyways, I promised my mother that I would one day take you down in fashion and show the crowd that my niche and class are superior to yours in every way.”

Spencer could only ask, “Wait, did you take deals from those rich magnates.”

“And what?” She said, “Ruin the art of the fashion by polluting nations under my product and effort, hellll nooo!”

Devol cheered her on, “You got that right! Sister!”

Veronica explains, “After I amassed enough wealth during your leave, I organized all my profits to promote the recycling of fabrics and other materials- to one day salvage what those lunatics you magnates, will inevitably cause.”

Spencer was impressed, very impressed, “Girl, I’d kiss you if you were older and taller.”

Devol and Veronica looked at eachother and immediately, the fashion girl hopped on the bad boy’s shoulders and their combined height overseer the tall boy’s. She kissed Spencer on top of his forehead, proving herself more worthy than that.

Hopping down to her lover’s arms, Devol smooches her as the two now stand proud before the tall boy. The demon child laughs, “True to my word, her mom, Beautanica, now fully respects me!”

“Beautanica?” Spencer says, “Wait, the Headmistress of Mercatus is your mom!”

“Yeah! And what’s more, guess who Vero, the Headmaster of the Spectacula District is to me?”

Spencer shakes his head, blown away that this little girl… no… tiny girl, rather, is the offspring of two of Gladia’s most influential leading lanistas, “Girl you are too much.”

“But I’m not done yet,” Veronica swears, “I’ve plastered you all over Liberty City, and this is our hometurf, I will best you here too.”

Spencer welcomes her rivaling spirit, “I agree Miss.” 

Veronica pauses, confused by the teen’s intentions, “You agree?”

Spencer sighs, “I told your mother before and she wouldn’t listen, but knowing you; you’re not like her, that I know for sure.” Veronica listens attentively, “I’m not the enemy. I’m the foundation. You’re the future. I won’t always be the best, that’s where you come in, others come in. Together, we’ll revolutionize fashion into uses we could never think possible.”

Veronica smiles, fully understanding the whole picture now. “Now I see.” She bows, Devol wowed by Spencer moving words, is inspired by it. Veronica looks at him, playfully hitting his leg, “Then let’s do it.” 

Devol smiles more or less pleased that the happy ending is all around, but he reminds Veronica, “Babe! Remember what you told Donald.”

The girl o’s in the ‘of course’ expression, “Ah yes, I just so happens,” She positions herself where Spencer stood in the middle of Spencer and Devol, “I am in fact, in league with the founders of the very island, you three are scheduled to be at in due.”

Spencer and Gustavo found this interesting.

She continues, “Tie up whatever ends need tying in Gladia, because where you're going next, will utterly imprint your well-being.”

The three males looked at each other then at her as the moonlight sky fades over.

Epilogue 

For the next 10 months, fights happen, Spencer, Devol and Gustavo cheer on their gladiators and Quinlan spends quality time with his son, and Gus with Leo. Devol would frequently be seen around Spencer and Gus. Rumors being that Spencer is his bodyguard and Gus, his personal servant cleaner. The fighters proved their worth as Evad mentioned, and make it to the finals. The 6 gladiator warriors become champions of Gladia. Freed men from the owner. They can choose to fight any challenger and explore the outside world as they please. With it, Evad officially leaves his lanistal duties to Miarzim Oenomaus, since he has more experiences with running the schooling, and teaching other trainers to take over, should he want to do something else. Evad still remains as the Headmaster Lanista of the Extremus District, but now gets word from his duties throughout pigeon letters from away lands and available scout messengers if he's near Gladia.

Gustavo, Devol, and Spencer go back to Liberty City, Quinlan sends them off with a detachment of bodyguard gladiators, half of whom are veterans back during Quin's earlier time exploring, and half of the newest recruits eager to explore the foreign lands of the outside world.

When the three reach civilization. The bodyguards are dismissed by Spencer. These abled bodied protectors wanted to make sure that the three were safe, so they lingered for a while keeping an eye out. Spencer called his private limo driver who was more than happy to drive Spence anywhere. They would soon be accompanied over to Donald Love's corporate business tower. Spencer called Donald's personal cell phone that they were arriving. Entering the underground lot, Donald greets the three, and invites them into his suite quarters where they stay for the day. In time they will be sent over to the island that Veronica and 5 other children have invited them to check out.