If Maximus Had Accepted Commodus' Offer of Friendship

My theory:

Commodus was testing Maximus to see if his father had told him of his plan. If he took his hand, then Marcus Aurelius never told him of his plan for Rome. By declining it, it was made clear to Commodus that not only had his father told Maximus, but Maximus would be the only person to be completely certain that Commodus killed his father. Lucilla was also certain, but Commodus probably assumed she wasn't smart enough to figure it out.

Taking Commodus's hand would have briefly given Maximus more time, but ultimately Commodus was still going to kill him anyways. In Commodus's mind, Maximus was the only person in Rome who could challenge his reign, so he would need to be dealt with quickly. Commodus may have asked him to stay an extra day and speak to his men, to let them know that he had sworn loyalty to the new Emperor and they should serve him just as they served his father. With the loyalty of all his men in tact, Commodus would grant Maximus his leave. However he would then be abducted and killed, or hunted down on his way to Spain. And everyone would just assume he was alive and back on his farm.

I suspect that Commodus might have compelled Maximus to take his army further into Germania, arguing that the Roman frontier was not secure enough and using it as a triple ruse -- test Maximus' loyalty, gain more glory for Commodus by killing barbarians and expanding Rome, and keep Maximus busy and far from Rome.

If Maximus dies during this endeavor, it eliminates a potential competitor but Commodus can bury him as a hero of Rome and steal some of Maximus glory.

The only real risk is that Maximus takes up the bargain but instead marches on Rome something a spy would be able to warn him of.

I never understood why Maximus made it so obvious to him that he knew what happened, and why he snubbed his offer. Why not play dumb, show him respect and let him think he had his loyalty? He could still let those close to him know what he suspected, and plot behind his back, but walking out on him just seemed dumb.

cuz Commodous was an asshole stop trying make something that he is not also Maximus is a General who liked BTW