My first Night at the Museum fic, and my first real crossover!
Title: A Cowboy, a Roman, Two Greeks, and Two Starfleet Officers Walk Into a Bar...
Fandom: NatM/Ancient Greek History/Star Trek
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairings: Jed/Octy, Alexander/Hephaestion, K/S
Summary: The visiting Ancient Greece diorama contains a pair of miniatures who are absolutely, completely, openly in love with each other. Romantic drama ensues as they try to set up Jed and Octy because it's just that obvious. They are soon aided in their efforts by the newly-instated Star Trek: The Original Series diorama. Even more romantic drama ensues, because two characters on board the Enterprise are in the same straits as the cowboy and the Roman.
"Geez, Octy, whatcha lookin' at?" Jed asked, his eyes following his friend's line of sight to the two dioramas marked UNDER CONSTRUCTION just across the hall.
"Silence, Jedediah..." Octy's voice was quiet, with just a hint of steel under it. He was all coiled up tense, eyes searching the distance.
And then Jed saw what had his friend's attention. A small formation of miniatures - had to be soldiers of some ilk - moved out from under the tarp covering their diorama. Two of them were on horseback, the other eight following, four abreast, shields interlocked and long, long spears thrown up over their shoulders.
"Thinkin' they cud be overcompensatin' fer somethin'?" he said slyly, elbowing Octy in the ribs gently.
"Jedediah...If I am not mistaken...that is a Macedonian phalanx."
It was clear as crystal that whatever a Macedonian phalanx was, it ought to strike fear into his heart, given the awe and uncertainty in Octy's voice.
"Horses?" he asked, not waiting for an answer before he walked off a little ways to their mounts.
Octavius' horse was a stallion with a temper hot as Hell itself, and it had taken years for the beast to warm up to Jed. Saddled and bridled with full Roman regalia, Victorius - Jed called him Vic - was one of the most imposing horses in the whole museum, dark brown with a white star on his forehead and all the gold-leaved decoration that befitted a high-ranking Roman, and a good seventeen hands high at the shoulder.
In turn, Jed's horse, Annabelle, was a sweet, even-tempered mare, not decorated by anything except her own dappled hide. She was pure mustang, and gentled by Jed's own hand over fifty years before. A light gray, she looked at him with all a horse's wisdom as he approached.
Taking each bridle in hand, he led the two horses over to where Octy was still standing like a stone, watching the advancing group.
"Ride out to meet 'em? See if they speak any English?" Jed asked, touching Octy's arm.
The Roman looked at him, blinking as though he'd never seen him with horses in hand before, but he nodded. "Indeed. It is likely that they at least speak Greek, judging from their dress and weapons."
"A'right," Jed said, slipping Vic's reigns to Octy before mounting Annabelle.
Octy followed his lead, and they rode side by side across the little boardwalk Larry'd built for them. As they grew closer to the others, Jed got a good look at the two on horseback.
One of them was blonde, broad-shouldered, and sat on his horse the same sort of way Octy did, self-confident but not quite comfortable as he'd be on the ground. His horse was as impressive as Vic was, and just as wary of everything around it.
The other was tanner and black-haired. He rode like he'd been born in the saddle, and the horse, looking about as even tempered as Annabelle, was nearly on par lookswise as the other two.
When they were a few lengths off, the blonde motioned for the infantry to stop, and proceeded, with the other rider, into talking distance.
Octy looked like the sun had gone down in the east, Jed noticed. His hands were tight on the reigns, and there was something like excitement in his eyes. When the blonde stopped his horse, Octy was the first to speak, in a language Jed didn't understand. The blonde seemed to, though, and replied in kind.
It seemed a peaceful exchange, and Jed figured he'd try his luck.
"So, do ya speak English?" he asked the dark-haired one conversationally.
The man nodded but didn't say a word.
Well, apparently he wasn't much for chatting, so Jed turned his attention back to Octy and the blonde guy, who was smiling now. The smile made Jed uneasy, and Annabelle whnnied, sensing his discomfort.
Octy started, glancing at him, then introduced him, the accent warping his name a little.
The blonde nodded and held Jed's gaze before speaking. "I am Alexander of Macedon," he began, then gestured to his companion. "And this is my eromenos, cavalry commander, and second-in-command, Hephaestion."
Briefly, as he smiled and nodded, Jed wondered what the word 'eromenos' meant, deciding to ask Octy later.
Hephaestion smiled, his slenderer form straightening up in the saddle, and it proved that he was just a little taller than Alexander. He looked kind of like an acrobat, long and lean, but just as molded to the horse as any man Jed had ever known.
Octy spoke up, finally in English. "I invite you to the Roman diorama. The Senate would be extremely pleased to meet one such as you. And, of course, Hephaestion would join you."
Admiration shone in the Roman's eyes, and Jed felt a sudden pang of jealousy before he forced it down, reminding himself that, in all likelihood, Octy didn't swing that way. Most people didn't. Most people hated people who did.
The all-too-familiar hurt settled in across his chest like a lead weight.
Alexander nodded, smiling.
Octy reared Vic, turning the horse right around in a display of horsemanship that surprised Jed. Octy usually just used the horse as a way to get from point A to point B; he didn't show off.
Nevertheless, Jed followed him, moving Annabelle around to draw level with his friend. Octy seemed to be holding back a huge grin, because his eyes were as bright as stars. Jed bit back a sigh. If this fella’s appearance made Octy that happy, Jed could deal with it, no bones about that.
It was silent as they made their way back to Rome. Looking over at Octy, Jed nodded and sped up, knowing just what had to be done.
He’d become a regular sight in Rome, just as Octy had in his diorama, so there was very little open staring when he rode in. However, the occasional lady or - what did Octy call them? Eh, the rich ones. Patricks, or something like that - would turn to their companion and whisper as he passed. It was as normal as moonlight now, so Jed didn’t pay them any mind as he headed for the Senate building.
Somebody on the steps hurried towards him as soon as he was in sight. He had a leaner build than Octy did, and had on one of those togas that the politicians all wore. He was Marcus Antonius, right-hand man to Mr. Julius Caesar himself.
Jed preferred to call him Tony.
“Jedediah!” Tony called, stopping as he got to Annabelle’s shoulder. “Is Octavius all right?”
“Oh, yeah, he’s right as rain. Some fellas over from one o’ the new dioramas are comin’ to visit.” He paused. “Names of Alexander ‘n’ Hephaestion, I think.”
Tony’s eyes went wide. “Jupiter…” he mumbled.
Jed furrowed his brow. “Wha’?”
“Jedediah, Alexander the Great is riding into Rome.” Tony sounded like he couldn’t half believe what he was saying. “The greatest single conqueror in all of the Aegean’s history is riding into Rome.”
“Uh, I guess so?”
“Uneducated barbarian,” Tony grumbled. “Come, we have to tell the Senate, and Caesar, and prepare a Triumph…”
Amused at the other man’s sudden fretting, Jed went along.
[end Chapter One]