Chapter Text
You would think that after that pep-talk Jedediah would’ve confessed by now, right? Well if you thought that, you’d be wrong, four nights came and gone, the rest of the museum taking it in stride, except for a certain cowboy, whos been taking to hiding away in any way he can. Railroad work, talks with Larry & Teddy, letting Nicky ramble about the latest game he’s played, you name something he can do without Octavius and he’s done it.
Of course Sampson has caught on to this, and promptly told the rest of the gang that he’s avoiding the situation at hand. To which cowboy’s do what cowboy’s do best, “hey y’all!” speak of the devil.
Jedediah strolls up to Billy, Sampson and the rest of them hanging around the crates they put there last week, passing around a couple root beers (probably cause the bartender cut them off of the regular stuff) “hey there, hermit” Will jests, gaining a snicker from the rest of the crew “huh? Whatcha mean by that?” Jedediah asks, looking around nervously
“Jed, don't play dumb, you’ve been ignoring the gen’rel for the past four days!” Sampson says, Jedediah giving him a death glare “i have not!” he retaliates. “Yeah ya have! Honestly i thought you and ‘em got into a fight til i heard yer just bein’ downright yellow-bellied!” Billy says, waving his arm around, gaining a nod from the rest of their gang “w-what?”
Jedediah’s blood ran cold, deep down he knew that they wouldnt actually do anything to hurt him but it still scared him that others knew, even though he already heard that everyone knows. “‘Diah, the boys were gettin’ worried so i told, we aint mad at ya, we have no reason to-”
“-We just disappointed to the dickens that ol’ strong smith ‘ere is a chicken!” Will finishes Sampson’s statement, getting a smack with someones stetson “shut it! But yea, pretty much” Billy shrugs, instead of it being ice-cold, Jed’s blood started to boil, Jedediah Strong Smith was a lot of things, but a coward wasn’t one of them!
“I aint no chicken! I could tell Octy right now i bet!” Jed declares, making Sampson gain a knowing smirk looking over his shoulder “oh really?” he asks, getting confirmation from the cocky cowboy. “Hell yeah, i could!” Billy takes off his stetson, covering his face while he chuckles silently, Will taking a hearty swig of his drink in order to keep himself from laughing.
“Alright, go on then, go straight over to rome and tell the gen’rel right now” his confidence wavering slightly, but still stubborn enough to stick to his word he nods “alright then i will!” Jedediah spins around, about to march over to rome before a silky voice stops him in his tracks “tell me what, Jedediah?”
Jed snaps his eyes open to find Octavius, who disregarded his armor for the night, a soft smile on his lips, next to Billy’s girl, who quickly rushes over to him, not wanting to ruin this moment. “O-Octavius! Hi! I uh- i was just about to go over to rome and uh..” he tugs his hat off his head, twisting it this way and that in his hands, stumbling over his words as his confidence shatters.
“Yes? Apparently you were going to tell me something?” Octavius asks, a playful tone in his voice. “OH- uh yeah that! Its just that- Octy you uh…you’ve done so much uh i mean, we didnt really get along at first and….no, shit! ” Jedediah tries again, ultimately failing to convey his emotions, concerning the roman in the process “Jedediah? Are you well? Your face is quite red” the general asks, placing a hand on the cowboy’s cheek.
Jedediah freezes, making eye contact for a few seconds before placing his beloved stetson on Octavius’s head, running towards his tent.
First thing once Jedediah is out of sight and earshot? Laughter, not from Octavius, oh no, the roman is in too much shock and confusion for that. Billy, Will, and Sampson howl with laughter, gaining a small chuckle from Linsey before she elbows Billy, telling him to have more respect, only to make them laugh more.
This seems to snap Octavius out of it, a look of concern still grazing his features he looks at the group “oh i have to tell Aiguo when he gets well!” Will laughs “Ey compared to what we just saw, his thing seems great!” Sampson adds “oh c’mon boys, i thought it was sweet!” Linsey says, getting a few agreements in turn
The general clears his throat, gently taking the stetson in his hands. This grabs the attention of the gang “could someone…explain to me what….just occurred?” he asks slowly, Linsey laughs and strides up to him “alrighty Octavius, Y’know how cowboy lingo confuses most of them romans, yourself included?” she asks, crossing her arms. Octavius nods, furrowing his brows in concentration, seemingly trying to remember if he knew what it meant. “Well Jed is either a genius or dumber than a bag o’ hammers cause he used cowboy lingo ta say he likes ya” Linsey explains with a smile
“I-im sorry?” The roman asks, feeling the heat rush to your face. “Wearin’ some other folk’s stetson means they claim ya as their partner!” Will calls, “like partner partner! Or in other words ‘wear the hat, ride the cowboy’!” Sampson adds, making the general blush further “oh can it Sampson! But yeah, thats ‘bout the long ‘n short of it, only a cowfolk and their lover can wear the folk’s stetson, so him setting that on ya…”
“...means he wants to court me” Octavius pieces together, Billy steps behind Linsey, wrapping an arm around her waist, setting his hat on her head lovingly. “Yep, now please for the love of god, go tell him that you like him back before he starts diggin’ himself a grave” Billy jokes, shaking his head with an over dramatic sigh, getting a laugh from his partner.
The roman sets the hat back on his head, adjusting it with a smile. “You’re a good man, Octavius, i dont think ive seen Jed be that happy around someone, ever” Billy confesses, “yeah! I thought for sure that ol’ ‘Diah got drunk or somethin’ first time i saw him after one of your drive-’rounds he was so giddy!” Will chuckles, Sampson nods before walking up to the general, placing his hand on the other’s shoulder.
“Listen, i know Jed ain’t the best wit’ feelin’s or anythin’, and i know you’ve been down soft for him for years at this point, if anyone is good enough for the man most of us consider our brother? Its you, go tell him” he smiles, Octavius nods, blinking away a few tears, before setting off in the direction Jedediah ran off to.
…
Before long, Octavius found Jedediah’s tent, with a bit of help from the wandering citizens of the wild west. Octavius takes a breath before knocking on the wooden pole in front of the tent’s entrance. Seconds pass by with just silence, so he knocks again "Sorry partner, Jedediah's dead, can't talk right now”. The general rolls his eyes with an amused smile, stepping inside he finds Jedediah laying on his side, facing the “wall” of his tent, seemingly brooding.
“Ah, what a shame, i quite liked Jedediah, you know” Octavius jests, making the cowboy tense up but refuses to look at him. The roman softly walks over to the cot Jed lies on, kneeling in front of it before placing his hand on the cowboy’s arm, “Jedediah, could you look at me?” he asks.
Jedediah shuts his eyes, “Oct im so sorry, i dont even know if you know what it means, god im an idiot, im sorry i-” Octavius tries to cut the cowboy off, now sitting on the cot, having shifted Jed enough to see his face. But he keeps rambling on with his increasing dread, “-im so so sorry, if you want we can never talk about this again or not talk again period just dont hate me im sor-” Octavius leans down, silencing his rant by pressing their lips together.
It lasts 3 maybe 4 seconds, but to Jedediah it might as well been hours before the roman pulls away to look into his eyes “may i speak now, my dear?” he asks, he gets a small nod from Jedediah. “I must say that i think this was…by far, the most adorable way someone has said that they wanted to court me….and also the first time where there is absolutely no hesitancy in saying yes”
Jedediah’s eyes widen, heat rushing to his face “y-yes? Like- like you wanna- i mean we are…” the general chuckles, cradling the cowboy’s face in his hand. “I have loved you longer than you or even i know, my dearest” he confesses, getting dragged down by his tunic into another kiss.
Jedediah pulls away, staring into the other’s eyes, “i love you, Octavius” a soft sigh escapes the roman “i love you as well, Jedediah” he says, melting into the next kiss.