One Last Adventure - Chapter Five
The walk to the warehouse had been quiet enough, but the return felt silent without Octavius. The only sound was Jedediah's footsteps, accompanied by the relentless replay of their heated argument in his mind.
Despite everything, Jedediah knew there was no point in discouraging himself now. If he wanted any chance of making things right with Octavius, he had to keep the promise he'd made... and apologize for how he'd acted.
Soon enough, Jedediah arrived at the warehouse. The lights were off, but a faint glow in the back caught his eye, and he approached it.
It was coming from a small flashlight.
Eventually, his eyes fell on a red cape, and even without his helmet, Jedediah recognized Octavius. He had set up a makeshift tent using a microfibre cloth meant for cleaning glasses, held in place by a piece of tape and a pen. The more Jedediah looked at it, the less it seemed like a bad idea. It was well hidden in a corner of the warehouse so that no one would find it during the day.
As he stepped forward, Jedediah caught sight of Octavius lifting his head to glance over his shoulder, but the cowboy lowered his gaze before their eyes met. Though he wanted to make things right, he wasn't ready to face the Roman General, not yet.
“... The sun will soon rise,” Octavius said in a quiet voice, then turned and walked into the makeshift tent.
Jedediah was relieved that the silence between them had finally been broken before it could grow any heavier. He nodded and followed Octavius inside, then turned off the flashlight.
From time to time, museum exhibits needed rest, and Jedediah certainly did. After sitting down beside Octavius, who was lying on his side, he took off his vest and folded it beneath his head as a makeshift pillow. He set his cowboy hat aside, closed his eyes, and tried to sleep.
But the longer time passed, the harder it became for Jedediah to fall asleep. He kept opening his eyes to glance at Octavius, wishing he could wrap an arm around him and pull him close to his chest. He wanted to hold him and show how sorry he was for the way he'd acted in the Medieval Armoury Hall painting with Lancelot, but... he couldn't bring himself to do it.
With a quiet sigh, Jedediah rolled onto his other side. All he could do now was wait for morning to come and for his body to return to its lifeless form.
The following evening, after his body regained the ability to move, Jedediah quietly sat up and buried his face in his hands, knowing he hadn't slept. Even so, he stretched, slipped on his vest, and headed out, placing his hat on his head; Octavius was already outside, fastening his helmet.
Jedediah was still angry with himself for the jealousy he'd felt the previous night, so all he managed was a quiet, “... Hey.”
Taking a quick look over his shoulder, Octavius saw that Jedediah was still averting his gaze, arms crossed over his chest. Still, he gave him a slight nod before fastening the straps of his breastplate. “… Good evening.”
“… We’re tryin’ to find Ahkmenrah tonight, right?” Jedediah asked, his gaze still fixed on the ground.
“If luck is on our side, then yes, that is what we are doing,” Octavius said quietly, then peeked from their hiding spot. Once he was sure the way was clear, he motioned for Jedediah to follow him.
The two miniature men walked for what seemed like a long time, with silence only broken by the occasional “This way?” from Octavius as he searched for the hall where Ahkmenrah and his parents stayed.
Still, Jedediah couldn't stop glancing at Octavius's hand. He knew taking it probably wouldn't change anything, but maybe it would make the silence a little less heavy. Letting out a quiet breath, he slowly reached for it. At first, only their fingertips brushed, sending his heart into his throat. Even so, he didn't pull away, not this time. A moment later, he laced their fingers together.
Octavius said nothing, but his heart felt as though it might burst from his chest. Taking a small breath, he gently squeezed Jedediah's hand, leaving them both completely flushed.
This was the first move Octavius had wanted. It was simple, yet it meant everything. Yes, he kept thinking about what had happened the day before, but he loved Jedediah and could never stay mad at him, not after they had grown closer.
That's what Octavius wanted to tell Jedediah before they found the Pompeii diorama. When they saw it, the cowboy chuckled softly, pointed at it, and said, “Hey, look. That's Iiepwop.”
Upon hearing this, the Roman General chuckled softly, and a smirk tugged at the corners of Jedediah’s lips. “Yes, well… it was not one of my finest moments.”
“It really wasn't,” Jedediah admitted, giving his head a slight shake as Octavius laughed softly beside him. “… Come on. Let's take a look. The Pompeii miniatures should be in there, and I'm pretty sure they'll warn us if the volcano erupts.”
Octavius considered it, then nodded. Delaying their search for Ahkmenrah a bit longer wouldn't hurt. “… Lead the way.”
With another smirk, Jedediah led Octavius to the Pompeii diorama, climbed inside, then held out a hand to help Octavius up. Once they were both standing and the Roman General had secured his helmet again, the cowboy glanced over his shoulder. He spotted two miniature women whispering to each other before hurrying away. “… What’s up with them? The volcano ain’t eruptin’…”
“Do not forget, we are strangers to them,” Octavius reminded him, then reached for Jedediah's hand again.
When Jedediah took a small step back, Octavius paused, realizing that holding hands in public was a much bigger leap for the cowboy than he had thought. Instead of pushing further, he offered a gentle smile and shifted his focus to the diorama.
Before he could take another step, though, he felt Jedediah's fingers slip between his own. Octavius looked over at him, eyes widening in surprise.
"… Just… don’t make a big deal out of it, okay?" Jedediah murmured, cheeks flushing as he avoided Octavius’s gaze and focused on the stone ground.
Oh, how Octavius's face flushed just as deeply. After a quiet breath, he nodded and gave his hand a gentle squeeze before they continued through the bustling town.
The Pompeii miniatures couldn't help but stare, their curious gazes fixed on the unlikely pair, wondering where they had come from. Under the weight of so many eyes, Jedediah began to regret entering the diorama.
"... Is it really that bad that I'm holdin' your hand?" Jedediah asked quietly.
With a slight shake of the head, Octavius nodded to the other miniatures. "Of course not. They are most likely only wondering who we are..."
"Well... I don't think I want to be here any longer," Jedediah admitted, then turned to retrace their steps back to where they had entered the diorama.
Though the moment Jedediah turned around, he stopped. A woman was approaching them, and he frowned slightly before letting go of Octavius's hand. “… Are you both from the Museum of Natural History?”
Upon hearing this, Octavius turned to face her and offered a polite nod. “Yes, indeed,” he said, placing his hand over his heart. “I am Gaius Octavius, Roman General, and this is my partner, Jedediah Smith, leader of the Wild West…”
Jedediah's eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat. Had he heard that right? Had Octavius just called him his partner in front of everyone? He was sure he hadn't imagined it. The words came from Octavius's lips as effortlessly as if they had always been true.
However, the woman interrupted the cowboy before he could respond.
“Why are you here? It is because of you and your friends that we have been living this nightmare every night for the past three years…”
Jedediah and Octavius blinked in surprise, though it was the Roman General who responded first. “… I beg your pardon?”
A second Pompeii miniature stepped forward, pointing accusingly at the volcano as he glared at the pair. “We have learned about the tablet's magic. Without it, we would not have to go through this...”
Octavius's eyes widened, and Jedediah crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head to one side. “Now hold on. We didn't do anythin'. All we did was help Ahkmenrah find his parents so they could fix the tablet. It ain't our fault he decided to stay here.”
“Jedediah,” Octavius whispered.
The cowboy turned toward him, and all Octavius could see was that look of annoyance, the same one he had during their argument last night, but before the Roman General could ask him to calm down, a man added, “We know very well that you and your friends made this decision…”
But Jedediah refused to back down. His hands clenched into fists as he shot back, his annoyance clear. “Well, he had two options, and he chose this one. But if it were really us, the tablet would've stayed at our museum.”
Octavius finally decided he had heard enough. He stepped in front of Jedediah, held his gaze, and his expression was serious. “That is enough, Jedediah.”
“Oh, get off my back,” Jedediah grumbled.
Oh, how Jedediah regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. His expression fell, and he looked down. He tried to clear his throat, wanting to tell Octavius he hadn't meant any of it, but the words wouldn't come. It felt too late, as if he'd gone too far this time.
However, Octavius sighed softly before facing the Roman citizens again. “I sincerely apologize for what you have been going through each night. I hope there is a way for us to resolve the situation, but first, my partner and I must find Ahkmenrah. Would you be so kind as to tell us how to reach the Egyptian Hall?”
There it was again. Even after everything, Octavius still called Jedediah his partner. Yet before Jedediah could say a word, several miniatures began circling them, making both of their eyes widen. Instinctively, they raised their hands and stood back-to-back.
“Ahkmenrah tried everything he could for us, but it seems he has given up…” the man said, crossing his arms.
“And what, exactly, are we expected to do in these circumstances?” Octavius asked, his patience wearing thin. “That pharaoh has always devoted himself entirely to the people he loves. Forgive me, but I find your claims hard to accept.”
The man looked at Octavius with surprise, his arms still crossed over his chest. “You think I am lying, General?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance. “Why would I lie about something that has tormented us for years?”
Upon hearing this, Jedediah's hands clenched into fists. He knew Octavius didn't believe he was lying, and all he wanted was to defend him. “Hey now. He never said…”
Jedediah never got the chance to finish. The man placed his hands on his hips and cut him off. “I was not speaking to you, you annoying cowboy.”
If Jedediah hadn’t been with Octavius, he probably would’ve tackled him to the ground, as he used to do in fights with the Roman soldiers back when he didn’t get along with Octavius. He didn’t know how, but he managed to resist the urge. Taking a deep breath, Jedediah was about to tell him they were leaving and didn’t need their help, but the man's last words truly upset Octavius. “You will not speak of my partner that way,” he said firmly.
Jedediah recognized that tone; it was the same unwavering voice Octavius had used back then, the day Jedediah had told him to get help before Al Capone and his associate kidnapped him.
However, it did nothing to change their minds. The group surrounding them moved closer, and the woman spoke with quiet bitterness.
“If you truly believe we are going to help you find that pharaoh, then you are mistaken. We have spent three years trapped in this endless nightmare, forced to relive the eruption each night. Ahkmenrah was unable to put an end to our suffering, and we see no reason to help you find someone who could not help us.”
Jedediah and Octavius barely had time to react. Before they could turn around, several Roman citizens moved toward them and grabbed their arms, taking them to the centre of the town with quiet but undeniable determination.
“Let me go! I don't like to be manhandled!” Jedediah shouted as they pulled him along, while Octavius called out to him.
When they reached the centre of the town, Octavius saw the building ahead, and his eyes widened. He remembered it, the same place where everything had happened three years earlier.
“What are you doing?!” he asked desperately as the citizens dragged him and Jedediah toward separate pillars and tied them down.
“You will finally understand what we have been forced to endure for all these years. Still... I hope you find somewhere safe to hide, General,” the man said before turning his back on him.
“But we know exactly what you're dealin' with!” Jedediah shouted. “We've seen that volcano erupt before, and we had to run for our lives, too!”
The man paused, looking at Jedediah. After a moment of silence, his gaze shifted back to Octavius.
“… I must admit I do not understand what you find appealing about that cowboy.”
“Hey! I heard that!” Jedediah protested immediately.
Once the Pompeii miniatures had left the room, only the marble statue remained to witness what happened next. Octavius continued calling out as loudly as he could, pleading for any of the museum exhibits to help them, while Jedediah struggled relentlessly against his restraints.
Sadly, neither effort made any difference. After several attempts, Jedediah finally had enough and gave up.
This was by no means the last adventure Jedediah had imagined, especially since he already knew how it would end. This time, no one could save them, not even Dexter.
For a moment, the cowboy and the Roman General fell silent. Then Jedediah let out a quiet sigh.
“… It's my fault. Me and my dang mouth…”
But Octavius wouldn't hear any of it. “It is not your fault, Jedediah. We did not expect them to react that way…”
However, Jedediah shook his head, knowing full well that all of this had happened because he had said it wasn’t their fault that Ahkmenrah had chosen to stay at the British Museum. “It’s still my fault, Octavius. There’s nothin’ ya can say that’s goin’ to change that, because ya know it’s true.”
Upon hearing this, Octavius sighed. He did not want to argue with him, not now.
The diorama fell silent, leaving only the distant rumble of the volcano behind them. As the sound echoed through the room, Jedediah rested his head against the pillar and closed his eyes.
He felt terrible. He truly did. His mind replayed everything that had happened over the past few nights: the hug he and Octavius shared upon reuniting, the dance they had in the museum lobby, their second kiss, the duels with Lancelot, their third kiss, and now this.
He was bold; he knew that much—a true cowboy at heart. But right now, he felt like nothing more than a fool.
Even so, that familiar spark still lingered in his blue eyes. He knew this might be his only chance to talk to Octavius about their relationship, finally.
With another sigh, Octavius rested his head against the pillar and looked up at the ceiling. “By Jupiter, stop apologizing already…”
“… That ain’t what I’m talkin’ about…”
As soon as he heard this, Octavius’s eyes widened, and he looked at him. He couldn’t deny it. He knew exactly what Jedediah was talking about. “Jedediah…”
“… You’re right, ya know? The more he complimented ya or put his hand on your shoulder, the more jealous I got. I can’t stand the thought of how I acted… especially since I know full well that ya love me,” Jedediah said quietly, looking down at the stone ground.
As he listened to Jedediah, Octavius felt his heart race in his chest: his breastplate made it echo. Jedediah felt his cheeks flush, but he continued. “… Even though I was jealous the other day… ya kissed me… And today, ya called me ‘your partner’…”
If Octavius hadn't been tied up, he would have kissed Jedediah. He took a deep breath and looked at him, even though Jedediah wasn't looking back. “… I will never stop saying it, Jedediah. I have loved you for so long, and even though things can get… chaotic… I will not quit you.”
Upon hearing this, Jedediah felt his heart race and his cheeks flush. Still, he managed to look up and meet Octavius's deep brown eyes. “… I know.”
But Octavius shook his head as his eyes teared up. “…You do not understand, Jedediah. You do not understand how well I know how you feel when you say it does not matter to you that we are museum exhibits. The love I feel for you is real, and I cannot deny it.”
As Jedediah looked into his eyes, his heart skipped another beat, and his own eyes teared up. Seeing this, the Roman General looked down for a moment before meeting the cowboy’s gaze again. “You are always on my mind… Your blue eyes melt my heart… I always feel like I am drowning in them… I do not wish to be without you… I cannot be without you…”
Jedediah was completely taken aback. It was one of the first times he’d heard Octavius declare his love for him like that. He refused to let the tears fall, though, and chuckled softly. “Ya Romans are so dramatic…”
Octavius didn’t expect a different answer from Jedediah, and he couldn’t help but laugh softly at his words. “I have said it before, and I will say it again; it is just the way we are.”
Upon hearing this, Jedediah chuckled softly, then looked down at the stone ground. “… I regret what I said about Ahkmenrah… and I really regret what I said to ya the other night about the hourglass… When ya helped me get out of it, that’s when… I understood… a lot of things.”
Octavius knew what Jedediah meant, and those simple words were enough to make the tears roll down his cheeks.
Looking up once more, Jedediah found his voice cracking, but he didn’t care, not anymore. “… I know I don’t say it often... I know I had trouble showin’ it, but… I love ya too, Octavius…”
Unfortunately, as soon as Jedediah said these words to Octavius for the first time, the volcano erupted, and the cowboy groaned. “Oh, for cryin’ out loud!”
That was when Octavius came up with an idea. Straining with all his might, he managed to reach his sword, but just as he was about to grab it, it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
However, Octavius did not give up immediately. He tried to crouch as low as he could, but his armour and the ropes kept him from moving freely. "Jedediah! Grab it!" Octavius shouted, dragging the sword across the ground with his foot until it was within reach.
Jedediah looked back at Octavius, then turned his attention to the nearby sword.
"I... I'll try to reach it!"
With every ounce of strength he had, Jedediah twisted and pulled against his restraints until his fingers finally closed around the sword. Fueled by adrenaline, he sliced through the rope binding him.
As soon as he was free, he rushed to Octavius's side, released him from his restraints, and immediately wrapped his arms around his neck.
Octavius wrapped his arms around his waist, but he knew full well this wasn't the time for an embrace. He quickly pulled away and took his hand. “Let us hurry!” the Roman General exclaimed before running off along a stone path that wasn't buried in lava.
Unfortunately, just as they turned the corner, they saw lava. They decided to turn back, but the path was blocked. They backed up until they were pressed against the wall of the same building as before. Seeing this, Jedediah shouted, “Oh, I’ve had enough!”
This time, the lava seemed to be closing in on them much faster, but Octavius refused to give up. He and Jedediah had finally found their way back to each other, and he would not let that be taken from him.
Looking around desperately, he noticed they could climb onto the small roof of the building.
With a nod, Jedediah followed Octavius onto the building's roof. The moment his foot left the ground, the lava surged in, completely consuming the area below them. Looking around, Jedediah saw that most of the diorama had already been swallowed by the lava.
He shook his head, closing his eyes as he covered his face with his hands.
"It's all my fault! We're goin’ to melt because of me!" Jedediah shouted desperately.
Hearing this, Octavius immediately pulled him into an embrace, and the two of them knelt together on the roof. But even then, Jedediah couldn't calm himself.
"I should've listened to ya, Octavius... We never should've come back here..." Jedediah said brokenly, letting tears roll freely down his cheeks.
However, Octavius wasn't angry. Instead, he gently cradled Jedediah's face in his hands and whispered, “… I have no regrets, Jedediah. For my entire exhibit life, I wondered if I would ever get the chance to stand beside you… to be your partner truly.” He paused as more tears rolled down his cheeks before continuing. “… And it finally happened. Even if it was only for a short while, I know how you feel about me now. I know you love me… and that is all I could ever ask for."
Octavius’s words broke through every wall Jedediah had built. The cowboy looked down, unable to stop the silent tears that fell as Octavius embraced him, holding him close as if he could shield him from everything.
The diorama grew warmer with each passing moment as the lava spread, yet neither of them cared. For Octavius, there was only Jedediah—the man he had waited so long to stand beside, the man whose love he finally knew.
A small, broken sound escaped the cowboy, and Octavius pulled him closer.
“… If I had asked you to marry me, would you have said yes?”
Jedediah wiped his tears as he pulled back slightly, his voice trembling.
“... Ya really have to ask? Of course, I would've said yes...”
Upon hearing this, Octavius let out a soft laugh. “… That is exactly the kind of answer I was expecting, especially from you…”
With a soft, broken chuckle, Jedediah gently rested his hand on Octavius’s cheek. “… That’s probably one of the reasons ya fell for me, Octavius,” he murmured, then leaned in and pressed their lips together in a deep, tender, and sad kiss.
Maybe the lava kept spreading around the diorama, but the two of them didn’t think about it. All they thought about was their love for each other as their lips moved together.
After all, Jedediah had kept his promise to Octavius.
Author's note: Guess who stayed up all night working on this chapter? That's right—me. x'3
If you're wondering whether you'll see the miniatures from the Pompeii diorama again, I can confirm that you will! Of course, it will be for a different reason, and they'll all be on good terms.
I really need some sleep, but first, a quick shout-out to everyone who likes, reblogs, or follows this fanfic! You guys are awesome, and I want to thank you for that!
I hope you'll tune in for the sixth chapter!
