A Roman Heart

_Good evening, Ahkmenrah

The native explorer greeted the pharaoh and he bowed his head with a smile.

_Sacajawea. Good evening to you also. Are you looking for Teddy?

The woman shook her head and brought one of her hands to her belt from where she pulled out a not very happy Jedediah Smith.

_What happen with all of you giants, eh? Doesn't any of you understand that I don't like being manhandled?!

The cowboy exclaimed waving his little legs in the air and he amused extended the palm of his hand to allow him to lean on it.

_Oh, my friend, what brings you to my exhibit? - he asked trying not to smile too much, since he knew that for the little man it was a shameful situation for those who exceeded him in size to pick him up - Where is your Roman lover?

The cowboy started coughing at his question, as his cheeks filled with color.

He and Sacajawea both laughed a little at the embarrassment of the man, since it reminded them of their own partners. Both Teddy and Larry turned red when they referred to both for who they were for them.

With the member of the Lemhi Shoshone tribe, he had discussed on more than one occasion, after his return to New York this very particular characteristic of the men of that country, finding it a bit ridiculous. One love, it was natural to refer to one's partner in an affectionate way in front of others. Neither of them found it strange. But, as both had also concluded, theirs were cultures very different from those of the people with whom they had united their lives and they could not ask them to change their way of being.

Obviously, the Roman General, who had never been ashamed of expressing his affection for the cowboy, faced the same challenges.

_Octavius is practicing and exercising with his legionaries. Apparently, he has left them alone so that we can be together and those lazy roman asses use their solo time to party - explained Jedediah crossing his arms - So today I will be lucky if I see him before dawn.

He sighed, understanding the contradiction of his museum companion, as he sat on the stone that covered his sarcophagus and invited Sacajawea to join them.

_Larry is… similarly busy. He has to fill out a few months of paperwork of his guards and Dr. McPhee has given him a deadline to do so, we're both in the same predicament it seems to me.

_Us three - Sacajawea added - Teddy has to complete a full tour of the museum and take care of all the exhibits so that Larry can fill in the paperwork.

He sighed deeply and was instantly mimicked in his reaction by the other two, which made all three of them laugh.

_ We have no remedy when it comes to our ball and chain, right? - Jedediah asked them.

_No, I'm afraid not - he replied, laughing at the reference.

The cowboy took off his hat and adjusted his hair and, for an instant, in his doubtful and thinking expression, he could understand why the Roman General was so taken with him despite his exuberant attitude and endless energy.

Jedediah Smith was a gentleman of a very different beauty that the ones that Larry and Teddy possess. One of those that was said to have capture the Romans affections in times of their Empire, when northern Europe was annexed to it.

In comparison, the former 26th President of the United States and the newly received History Teacher turned Night Guard again seemed subdued by his side.

It was logical that a General who had flown so close to the sun under the banner of the eagle wanted to appropriate the light that emanated from his diorama companion.

In his case and in Sacajawea's, they had not had such ambitions. Both had been the brightest light of their civilizations in their time, so their search for a mate had been inclined towards that of those who would provide them refuge from the world and care. And, in all the Museum and the Earth, he doubted that there were people more attentive and sweeter than those who had chosen to be their couples.

However, he could not lose himself in his admiration of the brave night guard who had given him his mortal heart. There would be time to daydream about Larry. Jedediah seemed conflicted, so he turned his head a little, fixing his eyes on his, as if giving him the courage to say what he had come to say.

_Octavius has been disappearing every night – the cowboy finally confessed with a new sigh - And I want to take advantage of this night, in which he is busy, to know what he has been doing.

He raised an eyebrow.

_You will not be doubting...

_ No, no, Akhmen, man, I'm not thinking he's cheating on me - the Wild West diorama member hurriedly clarified - But what he's doing is something that has him very worried and, obviously, it worries me.

_ I told him that he should ask him - Sacajawea commented - But he does not want to do it.

_I do not want to offend a dame, but... - Jedediah explained putting his hat back on - has your Teddy ever told you about his worries without having to get the truth out of him as if you were going to lasso a bronco? Because I can assure you that that would be the least it would take for Octavius to get the truth out of me and that is what it’s costing me a hard time obtaining as well.

He put a hand to his temple and massaged it with his fingers.

The cowboy was right.

Another important cultural difference that, apparently, their partners shared with the Roman.

_I suppose then, that you want us to help you find out what is worrying Octavius - he questioned, lowering his hand.

_Not exactly - said the cowboy extending his hands towards Sacajawea - Can you pass me the paper ma'am?

The native explorer brought her hand back to her belt and handed him a yellow square of paper that was covered with pencil marks that revealed a hidden text.

_What is this? - he asked to Jedediah.

_This, lord of the sun, is a post-it. A part of a little block of paper that gigantors use to write down things - the cowboy replied.

_I know what a post-it is, Jedediah. Larry uses it in his studies. What I asked is why is it scratched like this and what does what is written underneath mean?

_Frankly, Kemosabe, you have the same idea as me: none - the cowboy told him - I only know that Octavius has a piece of paper just like that one folded, which he has taken every night for the past six days to Dr. McPhee office, where he disappears for an hour or so, while his legionaries guard the door, and then he returns to me looking like he has been sucking lemons.

_And how did you get this?

_Last night I told him that I needed to look for some things and I escaped for a while and checked the Director's office and found the little yellow notepad on which it was crystal clear that the legionaries had written because they used that thing they use to mark the keyboard with a pencil and the damn thing press to much the paper - explained the blond - And if old Jedediah knows about something, it is hidden messages. We used to use them all the time in the construction of the railroad to avoid being located by saboteurs, so I pull out my knife and scraped graphite from the pencil on the desk and rubbed it on the piece of paper so I could see what was written there.

_And in that way, you could read what Octavius had write down - he finished smiling - It is an excellent strategy.

_Thank you - said the cowboy winking at him - The fact is that I can't go to the Director's office because your gigantor is filling out papers or to the information desk to find out on the computer. Tonight, the Huns have their turn to watch videos and I don't want Octavius to find out that I was snooping, so...

_You want that I look for you on my tablet, on which these mysterious words revolve – he ended for him.

_Exactly my Egyptian friend. If you are so kind to do it, I would appreciate it.

_It is difficult what you ask me, Jedediah. Octavius is also a friend of mine. I feel like, I'm intruding on something private.

_ I know, I know and believe me that if there were another way to find out I would not involve you, but... put yourself in my place, Pharaoh - asked the cowboy - If you were me and Octavius were Larry, what would you expect a friend to answer you?

He rolled his eyes.

_That's extortion, Jedediah - he said, crossing his arms.

_I also know that – replied the blond without blushing - Did it work?

Both he and Sacajawea laughed at the lack of modesty and decorum of the leader of the Wild West diorama.

----------------------------------------

_That do you want... what?

He asked to the evidently freshly bathed Roman General who was currently leaning on Teddy's palm with his helmet in his.

_That you act as an intermediary in a request to the Director of the Museum to integrate a new figure into an exhibition.

He hid his face in his hands and shook his head.

Just the day he had to fill out his delayed paperwork, one of his friends came up to him with one of his crazy ideas.

Luckily, with the help that Teddy had given him, he had been able to finish, two hours before dawn, so he lowered his hands and sighing he told the former president to put the General on the table and that he seat at the other chair of desk.

_Let's see Octavius, could you explain to me why you think we need a new figure in any of the exhibitions?

He asked delicately.

_Not in any. I specifically request that it be considered adding a figure to Loki's display.

_What? - he questioned - Why?

_Have you been able to find something Octavius? - Teddy asked the General, who nodded and his oldest friend from the museum sighed looking up to see him in the eyes - I don't know if you have noticed Larry, but... our new inhabitant of the museum is not in the best condition.

He nodded.

The Norse film god had been a surprising addition, which had led him to even talk to Nick about it, since he was a fan at a level that was not his of the comics and the narrative in which the character was inserted.

His son had put him to see a series of films and the same series that gave origin to the exhibition, before it arrived at the museum and, if he was honest, he had expected to run into a conceited man who was going to fight him and cause constant problems; but instead he had met a very downcast man, who had taken the news about the tablet peacefully and who, most of the time, had avoided all other exhibits save for the one of the Wild West.

Poor guy.

It had given him a real sorrow to see the Nordic man look so longingly at Jedediah.

Even before he got together with Ahkmenrah, he would have regretted seeing that look that followed the cowboy secretly. Now, that he was united with the young pharaoh, it truly destroyed his heart to observe how the black-haired man from another world, persisted in breaking his a little every night , looking for something in his cowboy friend that he could not have, because the blond was in a relationship with Octavius and, by far, no matter how much there was a physical resemblance, he was not his Mobius.

Nobody in the museum had failed to notice that, as the days passed, Loki went out less and less every night and that practically none, in some of them, came across him and, if he did, everyone talked that he said to them a hurried apologize, lowered his eyes and went the other way.

_I have seen it - he admitted then - But I do not know what we can do. Bringing in any of the other exhibits from his cinematic universe is impossible. Unlike Ahk's mom and dad, there are no more interesting ones that the British Museum wants and needs to make room for. And those of the traveling exhibition donated their exhibition of Loki to us, since they had a second one that is part of the permanent tour. But they don't have an extra from Thor or The Avengers.

_I have taken that into consideration, friend Larry. I know we can't bring Loki's father, mother and brother to the museum, so I have thought of an alternative solution.

"Not to mention that we better not bring any of those"

He thought smiling.

Loki would probably be delighted that his mother will become part of the museum, but his relationship with his father and brother was not the best and... in all cases, he preferred to avoid two gods who carried weapons that could do real damage.

He had enough to confiscate every night the sharp objects carried by the exhibits with which he was getting along.

_I'm surprised Octavius - he admitted with a smile - I thought you didn't like Loki at all.

_I think the same as Larry, boy - added Teddy - It's commendable this attitude of yours.

The Roman General took a deep breath and looked down.

_I must confess that... at first, I did not have the best of reactions to Loki. We still hadn't been able to establish a romantic relationship with Jedediah and I felt him almost like a competition for his love.

He denied with his head in amusement upon hearing the usually proud leader of the diorama of none other than the Roman Empire admit that he had been jealous.

None the less he understood his position.

It hadn't happened with Ahk, because the Egyptian had taken special care that he understood, as he told him almost every night: "that, if he was the son of the sun, his partner was his moon and stars" Which, obviously, raised the colors to his face, but made him float on a cloud of happiness as well. That someone had appeared, at the beginning of the romance or before it happened and had had a glimpse of the possibility of conquering his young partner, would have caused him, perhaps not to the same level, reactions very close to those of Octavius.

_But - continued the Roman - my partner decided to get me out of my childhood doubts and I could see his relationship with Loki for what it was: sadness and compassion for his situation; which, I must add, Jedediah does not know to its full extent.

He raised an eyebrow at hearing this.

Was the General saying what he thought he was saying?

_And you do know its extension? - he asked to clear up doubts.

_Not until six days ago. Young Nick helped me with his password and I was able to watch the entire series on the internet platform that transmits it.

The man admitted and he wanted to hit his own face with the palm of his hand.

Nick had given his password and username to one of the museum's two most notorious troublemakers?

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

_Octavius, that wasn’t right - he said trying to find the tone with which not to offend his friend, but emphasize that his attitude had not been correct - Loki's story... although it is true that it is transmitted over the internet, it is something you shouldn't have seen without his permission.

_I know. I agree - admitted the General - But, as you saw it to check what you should know before receiving a new exhibition, I saw it to know what strategy to apply to help Loki. I'm Roman, Larry. We plan based on knowledge; we cannot advance blindly.

_It is not related Octavius. I saw it because my job demanded it - he pointed out - But, as the saying goes, you can't cry over spilled milk. I guess Jedediah watched the show with you.

Internally, he couldn't help feeling alarmed.

The cowboy was a good guy. A bigmouth, but highly empathetic. If he had ever seen a reproduction of the TVA analyst, he was going to have a very bad time, thinking about the damage he was causing the Norse god just by his presence.

_He hasn’t watch it. I promised young Nick that I would watch the show in private and I have. Jedediah has not suspected because I have used my men and their lack of training thanks to our romance, which on the other hand is true, and I have used the computer in this room to watch it in private.

Well, at least not everything was lost

Not everyone knew what was happening to Loki or why it was happening to him.

Which was positive.

That, on top of the fact that you woke up to a new world and existence, discovering that the previous one had been a fictional dream, with very deep feelings for someone who was not with you, you had to add that all the exhibitions that surrounded you treated you with pity, did nothing to help with Loki's possible future integration into the museum's dynamics.

_I does not excuse you, I want to clarify, but it was a delicate action and I thank you for it. Loki deserves to be at peace - he said - Now, going back to the beginning, you want us to bring a new figure to solve the problem of his sadness, but not his mother, father or brother. Can you tell us who you propose?

_Mobius

The Roman answered him without flinching, and he had no shame in admitting that Teddy had stepped forward to lift his chin with a finger.

"As he going insane?"

He thought in amazement.

_ Let's see, let's put this in perspective. You saw the series, right? - the General nodded – All the first season? Until the end? - the man nodded again - Have you talked to Loki? - the Roman shook his head - So why do you think we should bring that character and not another that he even kissed during the series, unlike Mobius?

_Because I know how to distinguish between a state of confusion and the true look of a person in love - the Roman clarified, sighing - Loki... he sees Mobius in Jedediah and his eyes... light up in the same way as ours when we see our lovers... and they shut down in the same way that ours would shut down if Ahkmenrah, Sacajawea and Jedediah ever decided that they no longer want to be by our side and seek rest in arms of others.

_Octavius - Teddy intervened - It is a noble ideal the one that you pursue, but I do not think it is within the scope of the museum to hire a new figure. Dr. McPhee explained to me the other day, how they had to tighten the budget, to be able to bring Ahkmenrah's parents and set up the Egyptian room to receive them. Even with Larry's acceptance of not having a raise in five years, as long as they allow him to use the utility rooms as housing for that time, it is impossible that the museum can afford such an expense now.

He pursed his lips.

It was true.

To be able to pass the material through customs, the transfer, the reforms, his contract. They had been complex expenditures for the museum and Dr. McPhee had worked miracles to assure everyone that they could stay together. That is why he had agreed to receive a very minimal salary, as long as the rooms that had previously belonged to the maintenance man were given to him.

They were not a comfortable and spacious apartment, like the one he had before, but they were cozy enough to be able to receive Ahkmenrah during the night hours and to take refuge there both from the rest of the world, until their friends came to look for them.

_A figure the size of Loki, Octavius – he added to what Teddy said – it’s very expensive. It costs almost a fortune in itself, because to have the detail required to integrate the exhibition without clashing, it should be of the same quality of Loki’s figure, which it’s made of wax and it’s sculpted. And I say this because, even if we could go out and find a smaller Mobius action figure, it would not be the same for poor Loki, nor could it be added by the museum to the exhibit.

_I understand, that's why I come to ask you to mediate.

_I don't think I have that power, my friend - he said, smiling sadly.

_Not even having the resources to do it? - asked amazed the Roman.

_Resourc... Octavius, we are not talking about a few tens of dollars, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of them – he says remembering a conversation he had with Teddy on the subject when Loki arrived at the museum - How much had we calculated that Loki's sculpture was valued?

_Three hundred thousand dollars - answered the former president of the United States - That is what the internet said that it was worth approximately one figure today. Not counting shipping and security costs.

_Not counting shipping and security costs - he highlighted, nodding - Do you understand Octavius? Almost half a million dollars costs such a thing.

The Roman put a hand to his chin and thought carefully.

He wasn't going to scold Octavius. He had had a well-intentioned idea. It was not his fault that he did not know how much the amount of an artistic work of those reached. Surely, in the past, he had never had this predicament.

His previous life had been marked by the comfort and economic laziness of the ruling classes of Rome. Naturally he was used to getting what he wanted without so many spending limits.

_I think... it can be solved. We are going to be tight, but we can afford it.

The Roman said muttering.

_Beg your pardon? - he asked, widening his eyes.

_That… I can contribute with the money for said company, if you help me to manage it.

_Wow, wow, wow, a moment please - he exclaimed raising his hands - Where would you get almost half a million dollars?

_For almost sixty years, we woke up at night in this museum, Larry - explained the General - During all that time, visitors, employees, one discovers that people leave things behind. I am a General. Before Cecil and his guards, there were other people who didn't keep us locked up. And even with those we were able to escape on multiple occasions. On those occasions, I would send my men in search of supplies and money. All they could find. Sometimes they were coins, mostly bills, that we hid under the Roman diorama and that we kept updated every year by exchanging them for new bills from the gift shop.

Teddy laughed at the General's impudence in admitting that he had used his nights to make a small fortune for decades.

_So, if I go with you to the Roman diorama today, are we going to find half a million dollars in bills underneath it? - he asked still without leaving his stupor.

_No, no, not anymore - Octavius replied laughing - Professor Rebecca helped me set up a bank account. The money is deposited there and, we have only been expanding it, taking advantage of the ATM that they installed ...

_In the access gallery – he ended the sentence - Incredible. An entire diorama has a bank account accessible by an ATM. Amazing.

_ And what were you thinking of doing with the money if...? - Teddy said, clearing his throat - Not that I'm interested in whether it is used or not, but after London, knowing we weren't going to... survive, were you planning to just leave it there?

_No - confessed the Roman - The contract that I signed established an insurance, by which, if in ten years I did not make any movement in the account, the money would be transferred to young Nick so that he will use it. I assumed that, at that time, the interest for which its placed, would result in an interesting amount for this to be able to use it in something like his future nuptials, which I understand are extremely expensive in these times.

He smirked.

All exhibits adored his son.

It was tremendously honorable from him and a gigantic gesture the one that Octavius was commenting on.

He was going to tell Nick about it and he was sure that the Roman would end up locked in a hug by his boy.

_Thanks Octavius - he said anyway - I appreciate you thinking about that gesture on behalf of me and Nick.

_ You're welcome, young Nick has always been a great boy and we all appreciate him enormously - said the Roman - Now, is it possible or not to order that sculpture?

He and Teddy watched each other.

There were a lot of things that could go horribly wrong.

But, after all, what was life without a little risk?

The Loki issue went from bad to worse and, if they did nothing, probably one of those days they would end up finding that the Nordic had left the museum secretly turning to dust at dawn for not supporting loneliness.

So, they didn't lose anything trying.

_I am going to see if Tilly can get me a contact with the people of the Madame Tussauds Museum in London - he said picking up the phone - If we are going to spend that amount of money and clean your bank account, it better be for the most similar Mobius and best made of all the wax sculptures out there.