Chapter Text
Agony, this was agony
Of course, it had been nothing but his fault, he had no room to complain, but it didn't take away any of the pain.
Medicine had always been a tricky thing, in the old days yes, but also here in the museum, injuries were often treated by the tablet and time if they had any, which wasn't common.
Asclepius mocked him daily, Apollo scoffed at his appearance
It felt better to say that the gods hated him than his own body betraying him over nothing, or that it was simply all in his head, it was easier, anyways. No, no, the gods don't hate him, they could, but he doesn't think they do, he had overworked himself…
He hadn't done that either, so why, why was he in so much pain?
Burning, burning and sharp, his legs and arms burned, it felt like he was getting stabbed, his muscles twitching and jerking involuntarily, his stomach twisted as his labored breathing caught in his throat, agony was the only way he could describe it, he had felt it a few years after first waking up, he never told anyone, he didn't need unnecessary worry, or the belief that he was weak.
Maybe he is weak, and that's why he's here, alone, tears welling up in his eyes as he curls further into himself. He feels a pulsing throb in his thighs, a heartbeat of this torture, his head pounded with his lungs screaming at him to breathe. A shaky breath leaves him, closing his eyes and burying his head into his pillows
He has things to do other than lay here. He has many things, it's only 11 PM, he has all night, he has thi-
A sharp blade runs itself into his thighs, his arm, sides, chest, lungs, everywhere, he hits the mattress again, it feels like his leg joint popped out of its socket. A knock on the door sounds, the sound of a door creaking on its hinges is heard after, he's certain that his arm has been dislocated, or that theres metal jammed between the bones of his knees. “Hey kemosabe! You tryin' to get off T-Rex duty or somethin'? I haven't seen ya all night!” Oh, right. Normally he would steel himself and order his body to get up but right now even the thought of moving is making him want to vomit.
He vaguely feels himself look over to the cowboy smiling at the door, processing just enough before his mind gets glazed over with another wave of pain. Octavius looked away, staring at his wall “not…not today, Jedediah, not-” Octavius sucks in sharply, groaning as his muscles continue to twitch. The smile on the cowboys face melted, making way onto pure concern, shutting the door, he quickly went over, kneeling at the bedside “Ockie? What's wrong? Did you get hurt?” Octavius softly shook his head “no I- I didn't i- gah!” He feels the muscles jerk, sending another wave of suffering to his nerves “stop….please make it stop” the general sobbed quietly, whether it was a plea or prayer was unknown, he just wanted it to end
“Octavius, please, talk to me, what hurts?” The cowboy set his hand on one of Octavius's shaking arms, softly as he could, barely putting any pressure on it, but to the roman, it was finally any relief from the agonizing pain he's been in for hours, Octavius opened his eyes, tears spilling out “everything” his voice cracked, half-sobbing, Jedediah could feel his heart breaking at the sound. The cowboy got up and rid himself of his accessories, climbing into the space near the aching roman, softly laying his arms around the others waist.
Octavius gripped one of his arms, shifting to feel the solid warmth and weight of the other, sighing softly. The pain still radiated through his body, pulsing shockwaves making him cry out, but he also has the soft cooing and shushing noises of the cowboy behind him, each soft caress dulling the thrumming torture he is going through, the humming and love through the pain.
“Im sorry, i- I don't know why I get like this, it's just-” the general trailed off, not knowing how to explain it, Jedediah just smiled and kissed the back of his neck “it's alright, we’ll figure it out eventually” Octavius's breath hitched “w-we? You…aren't leaving?” He feels the tightening of the arms on his waist, just a bit, just enough to be reassuring, soothing, even. “I ain't quitting you, partner, I'll stay right here ‘less you say the word” Octavius laid his hands on Jedediah's, bare for once, the warmth filled his heart.
“I don't want you to go, but I won't make you suffer with me” Jedediah frowned at the word, using one of his hands to brush back some of the others hair “I'd know you're hurting and I'm not doin' anything about it, that's sufferin’ to me, Ockie” Octavius shrugged, the first movement he's been able to do in a while “I just assumed you wouldn't like to watch me in this pain I most likely could have avoided, or just hurting because I'm weak” the cowboy went back to hugging him, closing his eyes softly “It's not weak to be in pain, and I ain't just watchin’, ‘m here making sure you aren't alone, I'm holding you, I know that helps ya when you get down”
“...it does, I'm sorry again”
“No more apologizin’, try and sleep”
“Okay”
….
“Hey, Jedediah?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you…I love you”
“Love ya too, Ockie”