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The museum is usually cold, the whole being-alive-at-night thing but some days it's just way too cold. The miniatures get hit pretty hard with it too, but they've found out ways to help, small heaters, little campfires, thicker blankets, etc
A pair of two miniatures sat in the West, near Jedediah’s personal tent, not too far from the others but far enough for privacy, for some reason, Jedediah just couldn't get warm, which was odd considering his best friend was wearing a skirt and short-sleeves with ice cold metal strapped to their wrists and calves
The cowboy shivered again, curling up further, Octavius tried to stifle a laugh “what are you laughing at, kemosabe?” The general shook his head at the glare he got “nothing, nothing at all” when Jedediah shivered once more Octavius unclipped something from his chest plate
The cowboy felt something drape across his shoulders, warmth slowly making itself known, he relaxed a bit, pulling it closer “better?” The general asked, Jed nodded, looking away, feeling warmer than he had been all night “good” he smiled
The cowboy tried to push down the fuzzy feelings that bubbled up, trying to make conversation again, before long Larry had came on the PA system, issuing the ten minute warning, Octavius sighed “well I suppose I should go back to my diorama” Jedediah didn't want him to go, they didn't need to go to their spots anyhow, with the museum being under a sort of construction but he let him go anyway, with a promise that they would hang out tomorrow night.
The weird warmth in his stomach didn't go away, even after the general left. He guessed that it was because of the cape still wrapped loosely around his body- oh, damn! He forgot to give it back!
The five minute warning crackled overhead, Jedediah just shoved the cape into his tent, throwing it onto his cot before going over to his place, he could give it back tomorrow…
….
…Octavius had drills, everyone knew that, for the first two hours of the night it was catching up, planning, and drills, so Jed had two hours to kill. Nothing sounded appealing, so he just retired to his tent. He eyed his cot, the prominent red color of Octavius’s cloak still sat there.
The cowboy sighed, taking off his boots before crashing into his cot, laying flat on his back to just think, even with his gloves on he could feel the soft material of the Romans cape, the warmth of yesterday came back and he had no idea why, maybe he was sick.
Without thinking too much he tugged his gloves off, laying on his side to grab the cloak and hold it closer to himself. He hesitantly pulled the fabric up to his face ‘ this is weird, Jedediah, what are ya doin'? ’ he asked himself but he couldn't help but hug it closer, planting his face into it, trying to breathe normally
The cloak still smelt like the roman, like wine and sea salt and leather, the cowboy chuckled a bit but blushed, inhaling deeper, he felt weird, obviously it was just from acting this way, right? But the fuzzy feeling he tried so hard to avoid came back, his heart started to pound as he thought more and more about the roman general.
Those deep, rich brown eyes, and his sun-kissed olive skin, his short, curly brown hair that gets all flattened by how much he wears his helmet, his rosey red lips, his honey like voice and his care, his bravery….
His thoughts wandered, derailing the longer he laid here, just thinking. He thought of the way his voice sounded when he spoke Latin, about the things he wished he would say, the things he could make him say, how he wished that the roman was here with him, next to him, close to him.
How he would cup his face, fingertips trailing down his jaw before he would tilt his head upwards, looking deep into his eyes before placing a soft kiss on his forehead, all over his face before settling on his lips, how he would linger before leading downward, kissing his neck, mouthing at the skin so everyone knew that the cowboy was his, how he would hold his hips and slowly slid his hands up his shir-
NOPE! No, no, no, no more of that! Where did that come from? Get a grip Jed! This isn't how you would think about your best friend! Not unless-
Oh no
Oh no…
….
…It had been two days after Jed just completely ditched him that Octavius started to worry, at first he thought it was because he did something, or maybe Jedediah had just become mad at him, or found a better friend, something.
But coming into the west, Jed was nowhere to be found, he searched the whole diorama, eventually coming to his tent, knocking before peeling open the “door” at no response, the cowboy wasn't there either, only his cape, folded neatly at the edge of the man's cot ‘ i was wondering where that went’ Octavius thought but he had other matters at hand, he had found the cowboy at the back edge of the diorama, back to a tree and a blank expression on his face. It shook the general to his core, if he knew one thing about Jedediah, it was that he lived his life with his emotions clear, to seem him so blank made him think something really was wrong.
Octavius walked up to him slowly, clearing his throat when he was close enough, the cowboy looked up “uh..howdy” he greeted, Octavius sat down near him “hello” a silence passed over, hanging above them “i uhm…havent seen you in a couple days” the roman said, Jedediah closed his eyes “i know” he responded “did i…was it something i did?”
“No, no, you didnt do nothin’” Octavius just got more concerned “then why havent you said anything to me?” the cowboy sighed, bringing his knees up to his chest “i was scared” this only confused the general, what does he have to be scared about? He was never scared of him before. “Why?” he questioned. Jedediah looked at him, his eyes held something that pained the roman to see in the man he loved so dearly “i was scared of….of how you made me feel”
Octavius felt his heart drop, made him feel? What does that mean? He….he couldnt feel the same as he did, did he? No he couldn't “oh…” his voice came cracked, he must have realized about his feelings, he's disgusted with him, of course, that's it. He predicted this but, it still hurt.
The roman sighed, trying to keep his voice steady and his eyes without tears. “I-i see, I suppose…I suppose you would like me to go” Jedediah went wide eyed, where'd he get that? Of course he didn't want him to leave, as much as it scared him, he needed Octavius like air, he could never get enough of him.
“Well, you can go if you want, but.. I don't want ya to leave” the cowboy said, the general looked up, Jed didn't look…upset, what was he feeling? “You don't?” Jedediah shook his head “then…you arent mad at me? Or disgusted? Resentful?”
Jedediah looked confused “why would I be?” The roman realized he said too much, Jed didn't know and he just made a bigger problem for himself, but he just shrugged “I..you said I made you feel a certain way, I just thought…”
“Ockie….when I said you made me feel something, it wasn't hate, it never was” it was Octavius's time to be confused, looking up at the cowboy again to ask him what he meant. “What is it, then?” Jedediah blushed, looking away, tugging his hat slightly “well it's…it's uhm- i-it..I meant”
Octavius realized quickly, he wanted to laugh and cry at the same time but he did neither, he just moved closer to the cowboy, close enough that their thighs were touching, Jed looked at him, flustered “O-Ockie?” The roman cupped the others face, “is it…this?” He asked, vaguely
Jedediah smiled, leaning into his touch “somethin' like that” he said, then pressed a kiss to his palm, “it's more like this, though” the cowboy corrected, leaning forward to press their lips together, Octavius gasped under him, grasping onto one of his arms while the other pulled him in more, Jed placed one of his hands on the others cheek, the other threaded through his hair lightly.
they pulled away enough to look into eachothers eyes “don't leave me” Octavius whispered, anxious and terrified and beyond elated all in one, Jedediah smiled “I won't, ‘Tavi, I never will” both leaned to meet eachothers lips again, softly.