All Roads Lead to the West

Chapter 1

Octavius wasn't sure about most things. For example: leading his men into war without knowing the outcome. But one thing was for sure; this time, all roads lead to Rome– or, well, in this case– the West.

His men had been teasing him ever since that night at the Smithsonian. They claimed that he liked Jedediah, and while they weren't wrong, the Roman wanted it to stop. Octavius wanted to  prove that he wasn't a coward– when it came to love, at least. So he made a plan. A plan to confess without seeming like he was embarrassed to be doing it. A plan that would make sure that none of Jedediah's people saw. He knew what they were like. He knew that they shunned anyone who preferred the company of a person of the same sex.

He sighed. Maybe his men were right about the fact that he was a coward.

And what about the possibility that Jedediah could very well wish to stop being friends with Octavius? What if things became, as the people today call it, awkward? Would they cease to go on car drives?

All of these thoughts were swimming around in his head. It made him feel like a teenager again. Octavius was lost in his thoughts, when he heard a familiar, comforting voice call his name.

"Hey Octy! Ya comin' or ya gonna leave me to drive 'round these halls by myself?"

"Of course I'm coming, my friend! My night wouldn't be complete if I didn't drive around, doing seemingly pointless things with you!"

"I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult, pard'ner."

"It was a mix of both."

"Oh. Anyway, hurry up! I ain't gettin' any younger here, Octy!"

"Yes, yes my friend– simply wait, this'll only take a moment!" Octavius turned around searching for his second-in-command, Marcus. He saw Marcus chatting with Manius, a fellow soldier. "May I borrow Marcus?" Manius nodded.

"What do you need me for, my liege?"

"I'm attending some things with Jedediah. Could you ensure the safety of Rome whilst I'm away?"

"For the 5th time this week? Of course my liege," Marcus said, starting to walk back to Manius. "Though– I do wonder, do you plan to ask him out?"

Octavius sighed. That was at least the 3rd person to tease him, the others being Ahkmenrah and Larry. "Soon," he semi-promised.

Marcus grinned. Octavius assumed the latter was happy with that answer as he walked away.

"Octy!" Jedediah said, in a seemingly agitated tone. "Ya comin' or do I leave ya?"

"I am coming, Jedediah!" He responded. He looked at Marcus, who only chuckled and seemed to be telling Manius about their conversation. Octavius ran to the edge of the diorama, sliding off of a rope they keep at the edge.

"Finally! 'Thought ya were gonna ditch me!"

"I would never. It's always going to be you first– well, Rome and then you– but still always you before anything else."

"Ah shucks Octy, you flatter me."

"I assume you mean that in a good way?"

"Always. I ain't gonna badmouth you, not anymore. That'd be a crappy thing to do to a friend."

Octavius chuckled. They got into the car. The Roman saw Marcus and Manius chuckling. He sighed. This would be a long life, if they kept doing that.

"--and then James came back from Rome 'n said to me that– hey, kemosabe? Ya listenin'?" He asked.

"Sorry. Tonight's been rather..tiring to say the least."

"We don't hafta go on a drive if yer too tired too, Octy." Jedediah said, clearly worried about his friend.

"No, that would not be–"

"Nope," Jedediah said, popping the 'p'. "I can see that ya got eyebags. They're 'bout the size of actual bags! Yer gonna get rest."

"Jedediah–"

"Jed," the cowboy corrected.

"Jed, it really isn't necessary. I promise that I'm okay."

The cowboy sighed. "Alright. Only if ya promise that yer really okay. But there ain't no turning back after right now." The car was silent for a few moments. "Alrighty, then. But don't go blamin' Ol' Jedediah for the state yer gonna be in."

Octavius smiled. "Never."
The pair started to drive around. In the span of around five minutes, Jedediah managed to swerve the car and crash into a desk and almost got them crushed under an elephant.

The Roman panted. "You.." he took a moment to catch his breath. "You're crazy! How did you live as long as you did?"

"It was my craziness that made me survive, thank ya very much."

Octavius chuckled. He yawned. Jedediah's eyebrows scrunched up in concern for his friend. "Ya wanna continue? Or do ya wanna hit the hay?"

"'Hit the hay'?" Octavius questioned.

"Do ya wanna get some zs?" the cowboy's Roman counterpart shook his head.

"Zs?"

Jedediah sighed. "Do ya wanna sleep? Do ya wanna go home?"

Octavius nodded. "I think that would be good."

"Oh thank god!" Jedediah cried. "I thought you would never accept! Yer face looks so tired, it's makin' me sleepy!"

The older man sighed. "It's tiring, you know. Being an old man and having to keep up with such a ball of energy."

"Ya just called yerself an old man."

"Indeed. I am not young, am I? I was born at least 2,000 years ago. You're an old man, too. Remember?"

Jedediah scoffed. "I like to pretend I'm only 32 years old." After a moment, the pair both broke into laughter.

"So..am I going to get to rest?"

The cowboy's eyes widened. "OH! I'm so sorry, Octy- I totally forgot- here we're going-"

"No, no, I only tease. I like our conversations."

Jedediah smiled. "Me too, pard'ner."

—----------------------

The drive back was fairly quiet. Octavius was trying to fall asleep, so Jedediah let him be.

The cowboy parked in front of the duo's respective dioramas. "Octy we're here, wake up," Jedediah said, trying to shake Octavius awake.

It worked. "Huh?" "C'mon Octy! We're here, ya just need to climb up," Jed explained.

"Oh," Octavius muttered. "Goodnight–or rather– good morning, Jedediah."

"Gud mornin', Octy."

Octavius smiled and waved at Jedediah before retreating back to his diorama. He threw over a rope and started his ascent. He was so tired that carrying his armor with him felt like a burden. Jedediah seemed to take notice, as he was walking over to Octavius.

"Hey kemosabe, need some help?" He asked.

"No," the Roman responded.

"Ya sure?"

"..no.."

"Knew it. Here, lemme help."

"How would you-"

Jedediah started to climb up the rope and then get to where Octavius was. He made sure he was hanging onto the rope with his legs. Jedediah put his arms around Octavius and made him face him.

"Wha-"

"I'm just tryna help," Jedediah clarified. He was looking all embarrassed as well. Jedediah started to climb up the rope.

"Well, We're pretty much there, kemosabe. Good morning."

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome. Now, ima just.." he shimmied down the rope. "Bye."

The latter watched the former make his way to his diorama. He stayed there for a moment. "..what just happened?"