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He was stuck.
He was bleeding.
He was dying.
Agrippa rasped for each breath and tried to swallow the sharp pain that entered his right side with every slight movement. The dirt under his fingernails and blood stuck to his skin like the maggots were already settling in. His throat ached for water as it had survived hours under the beaming sun in this foreign land. He was half dead.
The only words that had kept him sane for the now-unknown-length-of-time were: survive, patience, cards.
He heard some leaves crunch to his left and this tall man appeared in between the crowded trees. Agrippa tried his best to focus his eyes, survive.
The stranger rushed to his side and asked him, “Oh my- are you alright?!”
Agrippa couldn’t find the strength to answer, just a slight blink sufficed to confirm a beating heart.
“Okay, it’s gonna be ok, alright? I’ve got you now.”
The stranger took off his bandana and put pressure on Agrippa’s bleeding wound that was located on his lower right abdomen. The wounded general winced in pain and gritted his teeth.
“Sorry, I just need to see the wound.” the stranger said as he wiped the blood off Agrippa. “I need to take you home with me. I’m gonna get you healed up, ok?”
Agrippa couldn’t protest even if he wanted to as the stranger pulled his arm over his shoulder.
“My name is Jed. Jed Smith. We’re gonna leave your armor for now, we’ll come back, don’t worry.”
“Marcus.” he croaked out a reply.
“Marcus, alright.”
Agrippa leaned against Jed as they staggered in an unfamiliar direction. He still wasn’t sure if he could trust Jed since he knew he wasn’t a Roman. Even so, he was prepared to die at his own blade rather than the end of an American’s gun.
“They got ya real good.” Jed remarked.
The only reply was a sharp exhale.
After what felt like decades, they trekked out of the woods and onto a farm. There were green and brown hills rolling for acres and many Americans at work planting. Not too far there was a white two-story house with a well outside. As well as the stereotypical red American barn.
They got closer to the house and a few farmers stopped and stared in concern and confusion. Agrippa couldn’t believe that he was still able to walk, granted Jed was doing most of the work, he silently thanked Apollo.
Jed kicked the back door of the house down and yelled out, “Ma! I got an injured Roman. From the woods.”
Agrippa was gently let down onto a couch and winced in pain.
This short woman came out. She had her hair tied in a messy bun on the back of her head, it was black with grey streaks taking over. She was wearing an ankle length dress and a white apron. She looked tired.
“Wha- Jed, what happened!” she exclaimed.
“I don’t know, I need to give him painkiller and stitch up the wound. I think someone stabbed him, real good. You know how Romans get about their stabbin’.”
“Ok, just go get it!”
The woman - ‘Ma’ - poured some cold water down Agrippa’s throat and he could feel the muscles start to relax. Jed came back with a cup.
“Alright, you’re gonna drink this, okay? It’s whiskey, water, and snake venom. It’s gonna make you real numb.”
Agrippa didn’t care if what he was drinking was poison, all he knew is it was guaranteed pain relief (no matter which way it ended up being.) He gulped it down and was thankful for any sort of liquid.
Jed got out a needle and thread and started to wipe the gash on Agrippa’s side.
“Sorry, I know it hurts but it won’t in a minute.”
“Is he gonna live?” whispered Ma.
“Yes. No. I hope so.”
“Jed, I don’t want a dead Roman on my couch.”
“He won’t be dead!”
“Good.” Ma said with a frown.
Wasting no more time, Jed inserted the needle under Agrippa’s skin and began stitching him up. It hurt just as much as the blade that carved it did.
He blacked out.
— — —
“Marcus?”
“Yes, my liege?”
“Do you want to play cards?” asked Octavius.
The morning sun was saying its hello as it peaked through the military camp. The light was reflecting off Octavius’ skin and making it look almost god-like. He was a daily reminder that Venus had favorites.
“I can’t now, Caesar.”
Octavius frowned, “why not?”
“I have to go fight your battles.” laughed Agrippa.
“No! You help me fight my battles. I am here aren't I?” asked Octavius as he motioned towards the camp.
“I suppose. But today only I fight the battle.”
“Well someone has to hold down the fort.”
“Ha! Always you and your excuses.” Agrippa chuckled as he bandaged his burst callouses.
“Excuse me! You're always bullying sick people.”
“You’re the only sick person I bully.”
Octavius dropped the fake emotional hurt and smirked.
“Just be back in time for tonight. I want to play cards with you.”
“As you wish, my liege.”
Agrippa made his exit. He wasn’t in love with his best friend but there sure wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for him.
— — —
Agrippa’s eyes widened and he was back on the American’s couch with fresh bandages and a stitched up stab wound. There was only Jed sitting on the floor next to him, reading. And Ma was in the other room cooking.
“Thank you.” he finally said.
Jed sat up and re-admired his work, “yeah, of course. I used to be studying to be a doctor, that was before I dropped out. Can I ask what happened?”
“Just a bad blow. Bad footing.”
“Ah, I see.”
After a pause Jed said, “You can stay the night here. We have a bed and food.”
“I can’t.” Agrippa cut him off.
“I think you should. We won’t hurt ya…and you’re in no good condition quite yet.” Jed said lightheartedly.
“I have somewhere to be tonight.”
“Oh yeah? Where?”
“I-” he paused, “I have someone waiting for me.”
“I think they’ll understand about your injury.”
“No, I- I can’t keep him waiting. He doesn’t like it.”
“Who? My boyfriend is a Roman general and he can get word to them.”
“Roman general? Who?”
“Octavius Caesar.”
Agrippa paused.
“Caesar? You’re Jed?” he asked.
“Yes. The one and only, minus my dad, Jedediah Smith.”
“He’s my friend.”
“Huh?”
“Octavius. He’s my best friend.”
“Oh, well I guess that’s convenient. I’ll tell him you’re okay. You’re gonna live now with that wound patched up.” Jed said with a stupid grin as he stood up.
Agrippa, for the first time in days, was at ease.