Work Text:
The museum was usually very peaceful, or, at least it’s what people thought it was, if only they knew that it was chaotic during the night, especially when it came to two miniatures, Octavius and Jedediah.
Jedediah: Alright, Octy, time for our snack run!
Octavius: we shall get our snacks!
Jedediah: I'm excited because I heard that there were some new snacks in the vending machine, i saw gigantor with new snacks!
Octavius: They did look interesting.
Jedediah: let’s go!’starts to run’
Octavius:’grabs his arm’
Jedediah: huh? Hey!
Octavius: I know that you are excited about this, but we need to be as quick as possible, even though the night has just started, getting a snack isn't going to be very easy, especially since we are on our own this time, we don't have anyone else helping us getting the snacks, so we need to prepare first.
Jedediah: You need to relax, I promise we're going to get the snacks, I heard they had chocolate in it, Imagine how tasty it will be.
Octavius would have to admit that he had been interested in chocolate, it was one of his favorite sweets to eat, and Jedediah knew it.
Jedediah: Now, let’s go!
Then he puts the bag down, he had been prepared this time, he had made a grappling hook out of a paperclip and string, it would help them get to the buttons of the vending machine, and to the area that took money, and the bag also got the money they needed, it was paper since the coins were too heavy for them.
Jedediah: Are you ready?
Octavius: Are you sure this is a good idea?
Jedediah: Of course it is, we need something in order to get up there, you just need to relax and watch me work.
Then they stop in front of the vending machine.
Jedediah: Alright, time to get up and buy that chocolate treat! Don’t worry, Octy, it will be ours, one way or another!
Then he throws the paperflip and smirks.
Jedediah: I got it!
Octavius: Jedediah-
Jedediah:’walking on the vending machine, he holds onto the string and climbs up the vending machine, he grins.
Octavius:’thinks’i have a bad feeling about this……..
Suddenly, the paperclip loosened, and fell out of its place, Jedediah screams as he falls to the ground, Octavius eyes widened.
CRUNCH!
Octavius: JEDEDIAH!’runs towards him’
He was horrified when he saw him, Jedediah’s leg was twisted in an unnatural angle, he was shaking.
Octavius: Jedediah, are you ok?!
Jedediah: o-oh, just a little tumble, my leg is bent at a weird angle, but i’ll be fine, i can walk it off, once my back stops killing me.
Octavius: You're not ok, don’t move, you’re clearly injured-why did I ask if you were ok? Your leg is as broken as a bone!
Jedediah: I mean, I got bones in my legs.
He lets out a sheepish smile when Octavius glares at him.
Octavius: you get my point, and it looks like it is broken, it’s bent the wrong way, ok, i’ll be back, i need to grab the paperclip and the string, just stay here, do not move, no matter what, do not walk, or i swear-
Jedediah: ok, ok, I get it!
Then Octavius gets the paperclip and string, he bends the paperclip and carefully moves Jedediah’s leg, who screams in pain, trying to push Octavius away, shaking and crying, even hitting Octavius.
Jedediah: Stop! Stop! It hurts! Stop!
Octavius: I have to do it, I'm sorry.
Jedediah:’screams’
After a while, Octavius manages to make a splint, then he carefully picks Jedediah up and carries him back to his diorama.
Jedediah: Well, this is……humiliating…….
Octavius: Even the strongest people can get hurt, it’s natural, and what matters is that you’re ok, even though you're in pain, it tells me that you’re ok, you’re still alive, and you will recover from this injury, just keep your spirits up.
Jedediah: I'll try.
He did not try, Octavius knows that very well, especially since for the past few days, he had been complaining a lot.
Jedediah: Octy.
Octavius: yes?
Jedediah: I promise that I'm ok, I just need a good stretch, I swear I'm fine, I can walk it off, not the first time I've done it anyway.
Octavius:’gives him a look’
Jedediah: What?
Octavius: I order you to stay here and rest, that’s an order.
Jedediah: an order, eh?
Octavius:’flicks his forehead’
Jedediah: ow!
As the days went by, Octavius became more and more frustrated with Jedediah, who became more and more restless.
Jedediah: Octy, I promise I can handle it, I can walk it off!
Octavius: Jedediah, you’re not fine, you can’t keep this act up, why do you insist on walking it off? I saw your leg bent the opposite way, I had to make a splint just so your leg will heal properly, and if you try to walk on your ankle, it will get worse, and I doubt the magic will heal it properly.
Jedediah: Alright, alright, I'll stay, I just wanna be useful.
Octavius: You can be useful by staying here and heal, let me take care of you, you are my partner, and I will make sure you heal properly.
Jedediah: fine……..
Sadly, Jedediah didn’t listen, more incidents happened, one of them was when Jedediah tried to push himself up, and each time an incident like this happened, Octavius felt a piece of his patience chip away, he loved Jedediah, but when you try to take care of a stubborn man, it becomes exhausting.
Octavius:’sighs and shakes his head’
One day, Octavius was leaning against a wall, alone, since Jedediah was asleep, or at least, Octavius hoped so, he was exhausted.
Octavius: What am I doing wrong? I try so hard to make sure he rests, but it's not working, is it my fault? Am I being too lenient with him? Am I being too harsh on him? I try to be firm, but I know that I can’t chain him down, he's not a soldier, he's the love of my life,he's Jedediah Smith, and he's the most stubborn man I've ever met.
Then he felt a tear fall down his face.
Octavius: Perhaps I'm not suited for taking care of people, I might lack empathy, or patience, I'm a general, not a medic………
Then he takes off his helmet and looks at his reflection.
Octavius: i was trained to lead men into battle, i wasn't trying to take care of people, I feel like I'm failing him, he's in so much pain, and I just feel so much angrier every time I try to make sure he stays still, i know this is wrong, i shouldn't be angry at him, it's not his fault he got hurt, i'm the reason why he got hurt………
Then he hits the ground with his hand.
Octavius: I'm doing something wrong, I have to be…….
Meanwhile, Jedediah stared at the ceiling.
“I’m doing something wrong, I have to be…….”
Jedediah realized what he had been doing, he realized that his own uncooperative nature had made Octavius believe he hadn’t done enough to take care of him, when Jedediah was the one that was making things difficult, he curled up on the bed and tears started to fall down his face, it was his fault, not Octavius fault.
Jedediah: Octy, I'm so sorry………
Days later……..
Jedediah: Hey, Octy?
Octavius: yes Jedediah?
Jedediah: I wanna give you something.
Octavius: You do?
Then Jedediah pulls out a chocolate kiss.
Jedediah: Here, for you.
Octavius: Jedediah, you didn’t have to do this.
Jedediah: Well, you take great care of me, and I feel like you deserve something sweet for working so hard.
Octavius:’grabs the collar of his shirt and kisses him’
Jedediah:’face turns red and chuckles, he wraps his arms around Octavius neck and kisses him, grinning’