Chapter Text
If one was to ask Octavius about his trip to London, he would have said it was wonderful, aside from the impending doom that is. He had been a stowaway alongside his friends, gone on a most exhilarating adventure throughout the British Museum’s vents with his closest companion and in the moment he had thought was the end, Octavius had had that friend offer a comforting hand to hold.
Yet, on the plane journey home Octavius had sat in Larry’s jacket pocket as per usual and felt his heart sink into the pit of his stomach. The day had been saved, their unnatural existence was able to continue but it was not without a price. Ahkmenrah was to stay with his parents, in England, with the tablet. Without them.
They had all come to a quick agreement on it, the ancient pharaoh deserved it. Of course he did! He was one of the youngest amongst them and he was the only human to have ever been actually living at some point, not just a reinterpretation of semi-forgotten and shattered history.
It meant that it was their final night alive.
For the foreseeable future that is, if not forever. The Roman knew there were not and could never be enough seconds left in the night to even get the chance of formulating a plan on how to spend it; spontaneity was not entirely Octavius’ strong suit as Legate. By the time they made it home they would have less than an hour remaining, such a short time to say farewell to everyone: Larry, Teddy, Sacagawea, Attila.
Jedediah.
He would have to say goodbye to Jedediah, that beautiful genius of a cowboy he was so unfortunate to be in love with. He wished their last night could have been less chaotic, he wished he hadn’t fawned over Lancelot who he had only really liked for his resemblance to the cowboy. Octavius wished he could have confessed, hindsight is such a blessed thing, yet he knew he never would have. He did, however, allow himself to imagine a life where he did.
He knew the two possible routes, rejection and reciprocation. The brunette found the former to be far more likely, he knew of the dislike towards homosexuality in ‘The Wild West’ diorama, something that seemed to have carried over from their time period. He had accepted that fact long ago and though he had never tried to hide his attraction to men, he had also never confirmed nor mentioned it in Jedediah’s presence.
When thinking about it, Octavius could pinpoint an exact moment he had become attracted to Jedediah. Nearly 62 years ago they had fought for the first time, a night or two after ‘waking up’ for the first time. He had seen those gorgeous blue eyes from across the makeshift battlefield and immediately been entranced by their striking colour, and of course the man they belonged to.
He had then promptly shoved those feelings as deep within his heart as he could muster for 50 odd years allowing them to brew stronger and stronger in silence. Until Larry Daley had come along and given an opportunity for change.
Therefore, Octavius could also determine the moment he realised he had fallen in love with the cowboy. It had been in the Smithsonian, he had known for a while that his attraction to Jedediah was more serious than any other but could not have called it love yet.
Then, when escaping a rusted crate to try and save their friends, Jedediah had made a sacrifice to let Octavius escape. Staying behind to fend off Al Capone’s men, a futile act at their size but heroic nonetheless. He had been able to run and Jedediah was trapped in a sand timer, left to drown beneath the grains. It had become Jedediah who needed saving most of all and Octavius was nothing if not up for the task.
He remembered clearly the fear he had felt, seeing Jedediah through the window, he had enlisted the help of a squirrel upon the grounds of ‘The White House’ and a gargantuan statue of one of the other American presidents (not Teddy, as he had learned many years ago there were others), Abraham Lincoln. Together they had stormed the museum to stop Kahmunrah and Octavius had shattered the timer with his helmet.
Yes Jedediah had been grumpy for a couple nights that Octavius had interrupted his ‘friendship evolution speech’ but it had been worth it.
Octavius’ thoughts were quickly brought back into the present time as the plane landed, truly he was glad with the decision not to confess. He still had his best friend, and there was no need to worry about losing him if he never said anything. One positive to the evening’s events was that he likely wouldn’t have to worry about this for a while.
When returned to the museum, both Octavius and Jedediah had requested to be set upon the back of the bench in the centre of the Hall of Miniatures. The two sat together and stared at their respective dioramas, watching as everyone went on with their evening. Unaware that tomorrow night may never come, that had been a unanimous decision made to avoid panic.
The Legate’s helmet rested on his lap and as he rested his chin on the top of it he lightly traced the plumage with one hand, the other at his side left to prop him up. Jedediah sat with his head thrown back and eyes towards the ceiling, the only sound between them was that of quiet breath.
“Y’know I wish I could see the stars right now.” Jedediah’s gaze did not move from their fixation.
“Oh? We have been outside for much of the night, we have seen them plenty.”
“Yeah, but who knows when I’ll next get to see them.”
Octavius cleared his throat, “Jedediah, do you remember the first time we met?”
“What? ‘Course I do Octy! How could I forget when you brought your sword to my throat?!”
The brunette chuckled as his train of thought looped back to reminiscing on earlier days. They had been so free back then, almost as free as they were now. Yet, in some ways, they had been more so. If his memory served him correctly, which it always did, it had been the Romans who had waged war first seeing the cowboys as uncivilised brutes with their ridiculous trousers and strange accents. He saw now how silly it was.
“I will admit I know when I have been wrong, though I was rather new to the ability of speaking English, so words were exiting your mouth and I didn’t entirely understand them.”
That gained a hearty laugh from the cowboy who finally turned to face him, Octavius saw how his grin faltered the moment they locked eyes. He couldn’t place why.
“Octy ya look kinda sad, what’s goin’ on?”
“I’m only thinking of how many adventures we have been on together since that day. How many times have you saved my life and I have saved yours in return? The car, the vents tonight… The sand timer.”
The Roman noticed how Jedediah flinched ever so slightly at the mention of that day and he immediately regretted bringing it up. There was a reason they never spoke of it. However, the blonde seemed to shake it off, throwing his head back and laughing loudly.
“Yeah, I really thought my time was up! Rough couple o’ nights that was, thank god for yer helmet!”
The conversation ended there and the two waited in a vaguely uncomfortable silence until Larry Daley entered the hall, a few times Octavius opened his mouth. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words kept dying on his lips. For a split second he even considered throwing it to the wind, to stop being such a coward.
He held his tongue.
When Larry came in, he went straight to the bench. He sat down, causing it to shift such a miniscule amount only the two figures atop it could ever notice. He sighed as they all stared at the dioramas before them. After a few moments Jedediah spoke.
“Sure is quiet around here,” he stood from the bench, placing his hands on his hips.
Octavius nodded in response, “without the tablet, it’s just like any other museum.”
“You know what I 'm gonna remember most about you?” Larry paused and smiled at them. “How big you guys are.”
Jed put out his arms dramatically, “come here. Come here. Hold me.”
Octavius chuckled at the sight and, before long, Larry was gone. It was a strange concept that they might never see him again. The man had been with them for less than a tenth of their existence yet the impact he had had was great.
Larry Daley wasn’t staying as night guard and the chances of him being around again at night was incredibly small. He wished he could have privately thanked Larry. For everything he had done, for pushing him and Jedediah both to be better people.
“Well then pardner, I guess mornin’s almost here.” Jedediah offered the Roman a hand, “want me to walk ya back?”
Octavius pushed the hand away as politely as he could, “no, no. I think it’s best we part ways at the floor.” His reasoning remained unspoken.
They clambered down and walked briskly over to where members of their respective communities were already waiting with the usual rope ladders.
“It’s been nice knowin’ ya toga boy!” Jedediah gave a toothy grin with his usual swagger and Octavius returned one slightly less jovial.
“I shall miss you, my dear friend.”
It was he who outstretched a hand this time, Jedediah grabbed it and before he knew what was happening he was pulled into an embrace, it was warm and comforting and Octavius found himself not wanting to leave. It left the brunette rather dumbfounded.
Jedediah let go, coughing and waving goodbye as he began to climb the ladder. Octavius watched as his friend was pulled up over the ledge and he followed suit. The man walked to his designated location where he unsheathed his sword, pointed it towards a sky he couldn’t see and felt his body grow swift until the last moments of consciousness remained.
His final thoughts before he fizzled out of existence were of wild, straw-blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He really hoped to see them again someday.