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Octavius didn’t get jealous. He was a well respected roman general with no reason to succumb to such petty emotion.
“Mob-Jedediah!”
Well he supposed there were always exceptions to the rule. Like if that uncouth giant of a temporary exhibit didn’t unhand Jedediah at once. It was bad enough they felt comfortable enough to dare interrupt, let alone that the cowboy allowed it and even permitted the intruder to scoop him up into their hand without his usual complaints.
“Whoa there, Loki. Cool your boots a little, would ya?” Octavius barely managed to hide a scowl at the fondness in Jed’s tone as he signalled his men to pause the cat video they had been watching. It was far less enjoyable without Jedediah by his side. He looked over to his friend who stood comfortably on Loki’s palm, hands on his hips and no doubt a smile on his face.
Loki had arrived a few weeks ago as part of a travelling exhibition based on some TV show. For the most part the exhibit featured only props and outfits the actors had worn but then there was the life size wax figure of Loki, the apparent star of the show. Usually that wouldn’t be a problem. New comers were welcomed with open arms, temporary or otherwise. The issue had come when Octavius and Jedediah had taken their turn at greeting Jedediah only for the stranger to start babbling about variants and calling Jedediah Mobius of all things. It had taken a while to calm them down to make sense of it but once all had been explained things had slowly started to look less chaotic.
Octavius had thought that would be the end of t but then Loki just wouldn’t leave Jedediah alone. Every night without fail they would seek Jedediah out for one reason or another and intrude on his time with Octavius. The roman was frankly sick of it but worst of all Jedediah seemed to be encouraging it. The one time Octavius had brought it up Jed had just given him a confused look stating “Loki’s just a little pussycat that’s all alone and out of sorts. Figure it would be a damn shame to deny them the comfort of a familiar face even if I ain’t actually this Mobius fella.” That was just so...well Jedediah. Kind to a fault.
Managing to school his face into some version of a smile Octavius pulled himself out of his thoughts and began to approach the two. Loki was chattering away excitedly about some sort of candy Tilly had given them to try that they just had to tell the cowboy about. Nevermind that Jed had been busy. Octavius cleared his throat and Loki paused before lowering back onto the desk beside him.
“My sincerest apologises. I interrupted.” There was an awkwardness that suggested Loki wasn’t particularly familiar with saying sorry or at least unacquainted with saying it and actually meaning it. Octavius couldn’t muster any pity for them though. He was just too riled up that they had literally stolen Jed from right beside him in the middle of their video session.
“Aw, no harm no foul. Can’t blame you for bein’ excitable when Hersheys is involved. Your men got us all paused so we ain’t missin’ anythin’, right Ockie?” Jedediah fixed him with a pointed look and Octavius just knew he had been caught out on his ire.
“Yes, of course, no need to be concerned.”
Loki looked a little uncertain, glancing between them before shrugging and turning back to Jedediah. Octavius bit back a sigh and tuned out the conversation, instead using the opportunity to at least take in his favourite view.
It was secret to none that Jedediah was a handsome man. Perhaps a little bit rough around the edges but that merely added to his charm. He was a cowboy after all. He didn’t need the sleek elegance that Rome tended to favour. Octavius would even dare to say that Jedediah was perfect the way he was; the messy blond hair and cocky stance, the bight blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle no matter the emotion in them. Octavius had been smitten for years now. Admiring not quite from afar but still not close enough.
Eventually Loki and Jedediah had apparently finished their discussion and the giant bid them farewell, a noticeable spring in their step. Octavius was relieved that he could finally have his friend back to himself but the feeling was ruined when he saw the frown on Jedediah’s face.
“So mind tellin’ me exactly what’s got you actin’ so grum whenever Loki comes callin’? I think you know as well as I do that they’re in a bad box even if you ain’t clued in on their full situation.” All the guilt Octavius hadn’t initially felt came flooding in with the way Jedediah spoke. The cowboy didn’t even sound angry with him. Instead disappointment was clear in his tone. Octavius sighed, shuffling his feet uncomfortably on the spot.
“They keep interrupting our time together and I just...time with you is precious to me.”
“That goes both ways, Ockie, but you got to be a bit more understandin’ here. That there is a scared kid who ain’t got anyone they know now, you hear me? This Mobius fella they’re missin’ meant somethin’ to them. Now I ain’t goin’ into exactly what that is but I’ll be damned if I don’t help them while I can.” Jedediah paused for a moment before his expression softened and Octavius found himself lowering his gaze to the floor in shame. “They know as well as I do I ain’t actually this Mobius they’re missin’ but it helps them, Octavius. That’s all it is. A friend helpin’ a friend.”
“I know that. It’s not-”
“It’s not what? Not that you’re jealous?” Octavius’ head snapped up at the accusation because how would Jed know that? Could he really be that obvious?
“I am not jea-” The denial was cut short eaily by Jedediah speaking over him once more.
“I get it. Been there myself. Or don’t you remember that varmint Lancelot’s hypnotic blue eyes no more?” Jed somehow managed to make it a challenge despite the confession that his words contained. Octavius stared at him for a long moment, unsure of what to say. He managed to get ahold of himself eventually, letting out a huff.
“That’s an entirely different thing and you know it.”
“You’re right.”
“I’m right?” Octavius could have gone on a tirade at length if it wasn’t for those two little words. He just didn’t understand what Jedediah was getting at and it had been so long since they had last had a true disagreement it was hurting just to keep going.
“It’s completely different ‘cause I ain’t got any interest in Loki outside of lookin’ out for them. You went on and on complimentin’ and fawnin’ over that cracked knight even when we were about to cash in because of him when you wouldn’t even admit you asked to hold my damn hand.” Jedediah crossed his arms over his chest and Octavius could practically feel the distance between them increasing. He hated it but he also knew he had caused it. He wondered just how much had Jedediah pieced together but kept to himself for the sake of their friendship and his heart ached.
“Jedediah...I am sorry. It was fear that kept me from honesty that night and I wish I had not allowed it to happen then or the times since. You are my dearest friend and I cannot lose you.” It wasn’t a confession. He wanted it to be but it wasn’t sure he could get the words out. Least of all now in the middle of an argument.
“You ain’t losin’ me but you can stop with the hidin’ from me. Tomorrow Loki ain’t goin’ to come visit. You’re gonna take me somewhere fancy and courtship worthy and maybe, just maybe, it’ll make it all up to me.” Octavius’ mouth fell open in shock. He didn’t know how he was meant to respond to that nor did he know if Jed was being serious. It would be cruel joke on the cowboy’s part if he did.
“Excuse me?” It was the best he could do in the moment. Jedediah snorted a little as he let out a laugh before he relaxed his stance, one arm dropping to his side and the other reaching out a hand to Octavius.
“Hold my hand?”
“Why?” The roman reached out and took the offered hand despite the question. Whatever this opportunity may be it no longer felt like an argument. A flicker of hope sparked through him as Jedediah laced their fingers together, the leather of his gloves surprising warm to the touch.
“Think we both know why, don’t we?”
“Tomorrow night, Rome, if you allow it I’ll do more than make up for my mistakes.” Octavius steeled his nerves and brought their joined hands up to press a kiss to Jedediah’s knuckles. The cowboy gave him a bright almost devilish smile.
“It’s a date.”