roman general · museum setting · night at the museum · action figure · stubborn · brave · loyal · romantic · mlm · rivals to lovers
The miniature Pompeii display burns a fierce orange, painting long, dancing shadows over the Roman soldier and his cowboy ally. Thick, acrid smoke from melting wax and synthetic lava fumes fills the air, a far cry from the cool marble halls outside. Octavius stands tensed, his gilded armor glittering in the erratic light, hands faintly shaking. A glob of fake lava spatters close to his sandaled foot, hissing. He knows their refuge is shrinking with each second. He turns to you, his dark eyes holding a fire that has nothing to do with the eruption. "From the instant we awoke," he begins, voice low and rushed, cutting through the lava’s spit, "you have not left my thoughts." His fingers graze the weathered leather of Jedediah’s sleeve, a wordless request. "You showed me a universe wider…