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Chapter Text

Beads of water slowly dripped down the pane of the Hummer's window as Jed shifted to place his head in his hand. His eyes slowly trailed over the raindrops before refocusing on the people passing by on the sidewalk. The umbrella-wielding strangers rushed down the street, hurrying quickly to get to their destinations, presumably their day jobs or a coffee shop for a quick nip of caffeine before the true chaos of the day started.

True, utter chaos. At least, that's what Jed considered it to be. The early morning hustle and bustle of the city was far too much for his taste, though that was unsurprising seeing as he was a country boy from out west. He certainly looked the part, sporting blue jeans, a button up shirt, which he tucked into his pants, and a bright red bandana around his neck. Not to mention the black cowboy hat set in the passenger seat next to him. With the whole ensemble put together, he was a true "cowboy."

Getting bored of the bland colors of the rainy city outside, Jed turned his attention back to the raindrops themselves. He rested the side of his head on the cool window and watched them race to the bottom, silently swearing when his chosen raindrop lost by a split second. After this, he resorted to dazing off and listening to the pitter-patter of the raindrops on the top of his Hummer. His eyes slowly fluttered shut as the sound of raindrops and the faint music on the radio lullabied him to sleep.

A sharp knock aroused him from his slumber. He hadn't been out long, but long enough for the rain to let up some, and for his parking meter to expire, apparently. "Has it really been two hours already?" he thought, before once again being shaken back to reality by another harsh knock. He turned his head to look out the window at the officer, surprised to instead see a familiar face. A man wearing a suit smiled at him, and he immediately smiled back.

He quickly opened the door and engulfed the person in a hug, ignoring the drops of rain flung from the umbrella, "Gigantor! It's great to see you, bud! How's life in the city been treating you?"

The man chuckled slightly, returning the hug but quickly letting go to get a better hold of his umbrella so that it covered both of them. "For the last time, Jed, stop calling me that. My name is Larry. And pretty well, actually. Daley Devices has been a big hit recently with the release of our latest product! I can’t wait to see how people react when we release our newest idea! Get this..." He leaned in a bit closer so that he could whisper, "Real Big Bubble Gum! Imagine, a bubble the size of a basketball - on average!"

"Sounds pretty interesting. Need a taste tester too?" Jed raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"You'll be the first in line when it releases," Larry said, smirking back and slapping him on the back, "How does that sound?"

"Works for me," Jed shrugged, "Now how about we get inside? My shirt is getting soaked." Larry glanced over, seeing Jed's right sleeve a darkened color from the rain.

"Alright, follow me. And don't forget to extend your time on the meter. Trust me, I've made that mistake plenty of times already." He walked closer toward the meter, holding the umbrella to cover them both before Jed turned around toward his Hummer.

"I was already on it. Give me a sec." Jed reached into his vehicle, grabbing his hat and putting it on before rushing back over to the meter, the combination of umbrella and hat shielding his face from the rain. Once he was done, he turned to Larry, and they set off down the sidewalk. They arrived shortly afterward at an impressive edifice. Though not as large or ornate as other skyscrapers around the city, it was still an imposing sight to the man. The view from where they stood made him feel like an ant, small and insignificant in the shadow of the tower of stone, steel, and glass.

"Welcome...," Larry said, walking through the revolving door of the building, "to Daley Devices HQ. We'll go up to my office in a minute." He headed toward a reception desk, "I had someone sent out to get coffee for us. He should be here any minute now." As Larry engaged in conversation with the receptionist, Jed let his eyes wander over the room. There were many people in the building, a few throwing odd glances his way but quickly averting their gazes once they noticed the man he was with. He turned his head to the entrance just in time to see a man walk in carrying a paper bag in one hand and a drink carrier in the other. "That must be the guy Larry sent out," Jed thought to himself. He looked annoyed, though that was to be expected for someone in a sopping wet suit. Jed quickly glanced over toward Larry, who was still in conversation with the receptionist, before he started toward the stranger.

"Need some help there, bud?" Jed asked.

The stranger lifted his head and looked at him, making eye contact. He wore a scowl on his clean-shaven face, but his dark eyes showed a hint of curiosity as he furrowed his brows at Jed, "Bud?" The man had an unusual accent, one that Jed couldn't pinpoint.

"I mean, uhh, sir? Sorry, I'm new here," he scratched the back of his neck and adjusted his bandana.

The man looked him up and down before raising an eyebrow, "Obviously," he said, visibly put off by Jed's appearance. "Take these," he demanded, handing the bag and drinks over to Jed, who took them hastily. "I'm going to change. Bring that to Mr. Larry Daley's office."

"Actually-"

"Now." It was a direct order. Jed rolled his eyes and turned around to head back toward Larry. "That guy's too big for his britches. Who'd hire someone that far up his own ass? I might need to have a talk with Larry about who he's hiring…"

As soon as he arrived back at the desk, Larry turned around to greet him. "Hey, Jed! Oh, is that the coffee I had Octavius grab for us? Where did he run off to?"

Jed pondered over the name for a second before responding, "Octavius, huh? Well, this 'Octavius' fellow was soaked to the bone and told me to deliver this to you. I guess he's getting changed. Terrible first impression, might I add."

Larry sighed, shaking his head, a disappointed look on his face, "Yeah, sounds like him. Come on, let's go to my office. We can talk more there." He led Jed to an elevator, and they ascended into the building. Jed took note of the many buttons for each floor and wondered to himself once again how people managed to live and work in a place like this. He was starting to regret ever leaving the countryside.

Their ride was mostly quiet, the only sounds being the faint hum of elevator music and the occasional cough or sniffle from one of the passengers. They soon arrived at their destination, and Larry led them to his office. It was finely decorated, though not overdone. One might say it gave off a very "professional" atmosphere.

Larry sat down at his desk, motioning for Jed to sit across from him, "Take a seat, I still need to tell you the specifics of our arrangement."

"Specifics? I thought I was just dropping Nick off at camp?" Jed questioned as he set the bag and drinks on the desk before sitting down himself.

"You are, but there's been a change of plans…," Larry said as he leaned forward, reaching into the bag to grab a donut. "You're still going to be taking him for me, but instead of coming back immediately you'll be staying there for a week."

Jed looked at him with a bewildered expression, "At the summer camp? Did you sign me up to be a counselor?" He thought he was going to be working here part-time afterward, not at a camp. He was open to the idea of getting out of the city, but he wasn't sure about working with children.

"Oh, no, not the camp itself. Do you remember Teddy?" Larry asked, taking a bite of his donut.

"You mean Old Four Eyes?" he responded, chuckling at the nickname.

"Yes, that’s the one, " Larry sighed. "Don't let him hear you saying that, though. He's nice, but he'd probably sink your teeth in for that one. I heard he has before."

"Duly noted. So, what exactly will I be doing out there anyways?"

"Vacationing, pretty much," Larry said in a nonchalant tone.

"Vacationing??" Jed was extremely confused. He came here to work, not to vacation, though he wasn't going to pass up a free trip.

"Yup. You'll be spending a week out at Teddy's before coming back here as originally planned. If all goes to plan, you'll probably spend another few days out there around the time he needs to be picked up as well."

Jed squinted his eyes at him and furrowed his brows, "So, what's the catch?"

Larry smiled cheekily at him, knowing he'd been caught, "One of my coworkers is in serious need of a break, so I need your help. He refuses to take a single vacation, not even a day off, so I figured 'Why not trick him into one?' It's great to have such a hard worker in upper management, but I'm honestly afraid he's going to stress himself into an early grave at this rate."

Jed let out a harsh laugh, "So you're telling me you have to trick your workers into vacations? What is up with the people who work here?" He shook his head, "Sure, I'm in, but don't blame me when we have so much fun he never wants to come back."

Larry shared a laugh in turn, "I wouldn't doubt it. You're a fun guy, Jed, I'll give you that much."

"Hey, give credit where credit's due. I know I'm great and all, but Mother Nature would do the trick just fine. I'm sure even you would be swayed by her charm."

"I'm sure I would, but the company can't risk losing two higher-ups. Someone has to keep the place in check."

Jed nodded and sipped at his drink, "So when do I meet this mystery man, hmm?"

"Well, believe it or not you actually already have. He should be here any minute now."

At this, Jed's expression dropped, "You don't mean…"

As if on cue, a knock sounded on the door. "Come in!" Larry called, and the door opened to reveal the man from before, minus the waterlogged suit. His hair was a bit disheveled from the rain, but he had styled it back as best he could. He still wore the same scowl as before, and it only worsened once he saw Jed. He seemed to glare daggers at the man, his dark brown eyes piercing into Jed's bright blue ones. He slowly made his way over to the desk, his eyes never leaving Jed's.

"Have a seat, Octavius," Larry said, and he did just that, pulling out one of the chairs and positioning himself properly in it. He closed his eyes and sighed in frustration, moving to face Larry. His expression was somewhat grim, but still curious, most likely wondering who this cowpoke was that he was supposedly to be working with. "This is Jedediah, the man you will be working with. Jedediah, this is Octavius, one of my right-hand men."

"Nice to meet you, Octavius. You can call me Jed if you'd like," Jed said with a sincere smile, trying his best to be kind despite the man's cold demeanor. Might as well try to make friends with him if they were to be spending a week together. He put out his hand for the man to shake and was slightly surprised when he actually took it.

"I'd rather not. Fair to meet you as well, I suppose." He didn't smile and seemed hesitant to touch him, but at least he appeared to be making an effort. "Better than nothing, I guess." His hand was smooth against Jed's more rough, callused one, and he wondered if the man had ever done an honest day's worth of work in his life. He assumed not.

"Now that you've been officially introduced we can get on with business," Larry clapped his hands together. "As you know, you two will be working together for a period of time. More specific information will be given to you when you arrive at your destination, so all you need to do for now is pack a set of clothes for a week. Jed will be out shopping tomorrow to pick out whatever you will need." He paused when he saw the apprehensive look on Octavius's face, "Trust me when I say he has this covered, Octavius. You shouldn't need much more than that, aside from the essentials. Feel free to bring whatever else you may need or want. You'll have a bit of free time while you're up there. There's not much other than that... Oh! Octavius, please let Jed know what size clothes you wear before he goes shopping. Thanks. Be ready to leave early on Sunday. I'll have Nick here ready to be picked up around 7:00. Now, gentlemen, I believe that should be it! Any questions?"

Jed took a moment to process it all, but shook his head, "Nope."

Octavius sighed, "No, sir."

"Great! Then you can return to your work, Octavius. And Jed, feel free to do whatever for now, though I might need your help with something later. If I do, I'll call you. Now, I've got a meeting pretty soon, so I'll talk to you both later. Seeya!"

And with that, they were all on their separate ways. Larry and Octavius both left the room, Octavius sending one last glance his way before leaving Jed to his lonesome. His lonesome being cat videos, so it wasn't the worst. He moved to a more comfortable spot and leaned back into the seat, phone in hand, chuckling to himself every once in a while. He soon fell asleep, dreams full of cats, camping, and cats camping.

Chapter Text

"Hey, Jed, it's time to wake up." Jed felt someone push his arm a little bit. "Jed! Wake up! You need to get up so I can go home. It's almost 7:00. I paid your meter for you earlier, but it's about to run out again."

Jed jumped up from where he was napping, seeing Larry standing before him. It had been his second nap of the day, having woken up earlier to help with some paperwork before falling asleep again. "Oh. Sorry, man. I can pay you back, if you'd like. I'm still not used to all the fancy doohickeys you have here."

"Oh, no, you're fine. Just make sure to get down there asap before you get a ticket. Wouldn't want that on your first day in the city, hmm?"

"Sure wouldn't," Jed said as he put on his hat. "Thanks again, Gigantor. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"For the last time, it's LARRY!" Larry said with a huff, though not without a smile. Jed shot him a cheeky grin, waving goodbye as he closed the door behind him and headed down to where he had parked, glad to see that it had finally stopped raining. As he was getting ready to leave, a man approached his vehicle.

"Hello?" Jed said, rolling down the window. Looking out, he saw the man from before. He wore the same apprehensive look on his face, his mouth a slight frown with a dark look in his brown eyes.

"Here. These are the measurements for my clothes," the man said, holding out a sticky note.

"Oh, uh, thanks." Jed took the note, then paused, thinking to himself. The man turned to leave, but he stopped as Jed called out to him, "Hey, uh, Octavius, right?"

"Yes?" Octavius turned around and gave him an odd look, one eyebrow raised, "Jedediah, correct?"

"Yeah! Just Jed's fine, uh… Say, what's your favorite color?"

Octavius crossed his arms, furrowing his brow as he did so, "I don't really have a favorite color, but I suppose red is nice. Blue is good too. Why do you ask? If it's for my clothes, please try to keep it to greys and blacks. I would rather not show up to a meeting looking like a clown."

Jed chuckled at the thought, causing Octavius to frown a bit more. At this rate he was going to frown his way into the center of the Earth. "I'll keep that in mind. But what about for casual clothes? Larry did say we'd have a bit of free time while we're up there, and I doubt you wanna go around wearing a suit all day."

Octavius nodded, "True enough, I suppose. Just make sure to get something practical, but comfortable."

"Practical, but comfortable… got it!" Jed snapped his fingers, shooting a finger gun and a smile, though it was not reciprocated.

After an awkward moment of silence, Octavius spoke up, "Well, I shall be going now. Goodbye."

"I look forward to working with you! Goodbye!" Jed called out to him as he left.

"Er, likewise," Octavius responded, giving a curt nod before turning back around. On that note, he went on his way, leaving Jed to watch him walk off down the street.

Jed huffed. "What a guy. Wonder if I'll survive this so-called 'vacation'?" he wondered aloud before starting up his Hummer. After a short drive, Jed was finally at his hotel. He took a moment to sit in his vehicle, contemplating what his actions for tomorrow were. After a moment of dazing off, thinking about what clothes to get and chuckling at the thought of Octavius in clown makeup, Jed finally left his Hummer and checked in. He brought his stuff up to his hotel room, soon finding himself lying flat on his back on the bed.

He lied there for a while, just staring at the ceiling. Seconds, minutes, maybe even hours. He sat there, thinking about how he had ended up where he was. He had left his old job in Texas to return back to where he grew up - New York. This was his first time seeing the city since he was a kid, and he couldn't say he missed it all that much. The hustle-and-bustle of the streets of New York was a constant drum in his ears, and he wished for nothing more than to hear the soft, sweet birdsong of nature. "Well," he said to himself, "I guess I won't have to wait as long as I thought, at least." That thought was a relief to him, and he rolled over onto his side, grabbing a pillow to support his head. His thoughts continued. His travels… His old job… His new job… His old friends… His…

"GAH!" He grabbed the pillow and held it against his face, yelling into it. He had come to New York to escape his old life, but it seemed like he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, all he could think of was his old coworkers and friends. Or, as he should probably say, who he used to call friends. He wasn't sure he even could anymore.

Out of nowhere, he heard a grumble. "Oh, I guess it is pretty late. I should eat something," he thought. He glanced at the clock, "8:49… Better get a move on, then."

Jed left the building, deciding to walk to a nearby fast-food place and grab a bite to eat. After doing so, he returned back to the hotel, where he finally lied down and turned on the television. He fell asleep to the faint sounds of laughter and cheers, smiling as he thought to himself, "Hey, at least I have a brand-new start. Who knows what the future might bring?"

Jed woke up relatively early the next day. It was light outside, but not yet midday. Just in time to get some breakfast from the hotel's dining area downstairs. After eating a quick meal - and snagging a couple snacks for later - he was ready to be on his way for the day. He took a stroll down the streets of New York City, a bit wary of all the people around on the Saturday morning. He stared up at the skyscrapers all around him, amazed at the technology humanity had created. He spent most of the day just casually walking, gawking at all the sights the city had to offer. Central Park, Broadway, Times Square, The Empire State Building, Chinatown, Wall Street, and finally a view of the Statue of Liberty from across the water.

By the end of his trip, his legs felt like jelly. It was late afternoon now, and he decided to get a taxi ride back to his hotel. He had stopped a few times along the way of his trip, which he was starting to regret. Not only were his legs worn from all the walking, but his arms were heavy from the bags he had been carrying for well over an hour. He breathed a sigh of relief once his taxi arrived, resting his head on the back of the seat. After a moment, he decided to check out the clothes he had bought. He pulled out a maroon button-up, not too different from his own, though of a slightly higher quality. Most of the clothes he had bought were roughly the same, red and grey shirts coupled with black and blue jeans, styled in a way that was both practical and comfortable, just as Octavius had requested. While Jed disliked the man's personality, he tried his best to accommodate to his wishes, constantly reminding himself to "be the bigger person" and not waste money on clothes that would not be worn. His self-control, however, was not strong enough when he stumbled upon a red, knee-length skirt halfway through his shopping spree. He stood there for a few minutes, unsure of whether or not to purchase it, debating whether or not the laugh was worth the money, the definite annoyance, and the possible death. After leaving and coming back twice, a worker finally approached and asked if it was for his girlfriend. Not wanting to seem even more stupid than he currently was, having to explain "No, it's not for my girlfriend, it's actually for this annoying guy I'll be stuck working with for the next week," he decided to just agree and buy the skirt.

"Girlfriend, huh?" he whispered to himself, alone in the back of a taxicab in the middle of New York City. He was hundreds of miles from where any of his past flings lived, so that was good. It made him feel a bit more… safe. Yeah, safe. He nervously bit his lip, staring out the window and feeling the pleats of the skirt in his hands. The material almost reminded him of his own bandana, a rough texture, but still soft enough to wear comfortably. He caught his mind wandering off again, thinking about the feeling of being out in nature. A nice little field in the middle of the forest. Small flowers all around, blowing in the wind. The sound of birdsong in the air. His eyelids drifted shut. A checkered picnic blanket, and a nice little basket to match. Soft clouds in a baby blue sky, sun shedding light down upon them… Them? Yeah, them. Maybe it was a past lover, maybe a future one, but in Jed's mind all he wished for was a quiet moment with someone he loved. It was a shame he didn't have anyone anymore. Maybe if he did…

Jed suddenly felt the world slow down, and his body fell forward slightly. His eyes shot back open, and he breathed in a lungful of air. He was momentarily shocked away from his daydream, only to realize that it was just his cab coming to a stop. He quickly shoved the clothes back into their bags before paying and thanking the driver. After handing the man what he owed, he grabbed his bags and made his way toward his hotel, a little tired from the ride and the day itself. A couple struggles with the elevator buttons and the door later, and he finally managed to get to his floor and his room. Just like the day before, the man lied down on his back, just staring at the ceiling. This time, however, he was only there for about a minute. He abruptly sat up, grabbed his hat, and made his way out of the room, walking down the street once more. He ignored the pain in his legs and focused on the pain in his stomach, walking until he found a food cart. He bought himself enough for a full meal, which he decided to take back to his hotel room. He was already almost done with the food by the time he got back, quickly finishing up the rest of it as he turned the television on once more. The same channel from before was on, and he grimaced as he watched someone trip and spill their food. "Glad that ain't me," he mumbled, eating the last bite of his meal. After eating, he checked the clock. "10:47. Better get to bed. I have a feeling tomorrow is gonna be even more tiring than today." He quickly stretched, feeling the ache in his arms and legs, and finally lied down to sleep.

Chapter Text

It was still very dark outside when Jed awoke. It was a bit hard to get up at first, but after checking the time and seeing that it was about 5:00 he shot out of bed. There was plenty of time for a shower and to pack the rest of his things. Jed walked to the bathroom and splashed some water in his face to wake himself up. He brushed his teeth, then took a moment to stare at himself in the mirror. His beard was a bit unkempt, and his hair definitely needed to be brushed, but that was something that could be fixed after his shower. The whites of his eyes were tinted red from sleep, making the blue of his irises vivid. He thought about the baby blue sky and the forest from his daydream the night before and sighed. A moment later, a small smile made its way onto his face, "Well, today's the day, at least. Let's make the most of it."

With that, Jed turned on the shower and got undressed. After a quick wash, he was ready to start packing. He had about an hour and a half until he had to be at Larry's workplace, which was just enough time to get some breakfast before he left. He hastily packed his belongings and grabbed the clothes bags from before. He dropped off the bags and his suitcase in his Hummer before returning to the hotel. Some eggs, some sausages, and a waffle later and Jed was ready to go. He turned in his room key at the front desk, grabbed a drink for the road, and made his way out into the city once more.

It wasn't long until he reached his destination. He parked in the same area as he did the other day, glad to discover that there was no fee since it was Sunday. After parking, Jed made his way into the building. Looking around, there were significantly less people there than normal. As his eyes glanced over the room, he saw a familiar sight.

"Uncle Jed!" a figure called out, running toward him.

"Hey! Nick! How's it going, kid?" Jed stooped down to give Nick a hug.

"Great! I'm so excited!" Nick said cheerfully, a giant smile plastered on his face.

"That's great! You should be, bud! You're gonna have a blast!" Jed smiled back at the boy, excited himself to see the kid so enthusiastic about being out in nature. "Do you have everything packed? We can go ahead and take it out to my car, if so."

"Yeah! I'm ready to rumble! Let's go!" Nick pumped his fists in the air and grabbed his bag, heading toward the door at breakneck speed.

"Alright! Let's get going then!" Jed turned and chased after the boy, feeling almost as giddy as the kid himself.

Nick stopped as he got outside. "Uhm, where's your car?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

"Right here, bud," Jed said, coming up from behind and smacking his hand on the front hood of his Hummer.

"I thought you said you had a car! That's a monster truck!" Nick near-shouted, mouth open in shock.

Jed barked a laugh at this, "Man, I wish. It's just an SUV." He unlocked his vehicle and opened up the back.

"Oh, alright. What does that stand for?" Nick asked with a cock of his head, almost like a puppy.

"Sports Utility Vehicle. Surprised you don't know, hasn't your dad told you?" Nick shook his head, looking away almost dejectedly, which caused Jed to frown. "Speaking of which, I need to talk to him. Do you know where he's at?" Jed asked as he put Nick's bag into the back of the Hummer.

"Uhm, I think he was talking to Mr. Ahkmenrah and Mr. Octavius in his office. We can go up and check!" Nick proposed, his usual cheeriness returning just as quickly as it had left.

Jed sighed. He had almost forgotten about his to-be roommate. "Sounds good, bud," Jed smiled and gave him a pat on the back.

"Then let's go!" Nick yelled and ran into the building, the man following on his heels.

They both quietly stood in the elevator. Jed stood still, chewing on his lip, while Nick rocked back and forth on his heels, swinging his arms to and fro. They were quiet for a few seconds, the only sound being the squeak of Nick's shoes and the light smack of Jed's lips. "So…," Nick started, "Do I get to ride in the front seat?" He looked at Jed expectantly.

Jed looked down at him, "Uhm, afraid not, kid. We've got a guest coming with us. Did Gigantor not tell you?"

"Gigantor?" Nick scrunched up his face and chuckled, "Who's that?"

"Oh, uh, your dad. Larry. Mr. Daley. Y'know," Jed winced, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Oh! I get it now!" Nick didn't seem to notice Jed's expression, or, if he did, he didn't make it apparent. "And, uh, no, I don't think he did. Maybe it was supposed to be a surprise? Do you know who it is?" Nick looked at him expectantly. He had definitely piqued the kid's interest.

"Sure do, but I don't know if I should tell you. If it's supposed to be a surprise then I better not spoil it, huh?"

Nick huffed, "I guess that makes sense. Well, hopefully they're fun!" This caused Jed to scoff and raise an eyebrow.

"I hope so too, bud."

The elevator soon came to a stop, causing Nick to stumble, "Woah!" The doors then opened, revealing Larry, Ahkmenrah, and Octavius walking toward it. Ahkmenrah was furiously typing away on his tablet while Larry and Octavius were chatting away about some business ordeal. It felt as though Jed had been placed in the middle of a busy office, despite it only being the three men before them, and he silently thanked Larry for the mini-vacation. Who knows how quickly he would go crazy if he stayed here. He had already almost lost his mind while trying to find a spot to park on his first day.

"Hey, Dad!" Nick called out.

"Nicky! Hey, bud! Are you already ready to go?"

"Yup! Locked and loaded!" Nick pumped his fist, then stood with both of his hands on his hips, almost like a superhero. "I heard someone's going with us! Is it you, Mr. Ahkmenrah?"

Ahkmenrah looked up from his tablet and shook his head, "Oh, no. I'm afraid not, Nick. I have important business here that I need to attend to. I apologize, but I hope you have fun at camp! Speaking of which, Larry, I need to get going. I will call you later. Good seeing you, Jedediah."

"Good seeing you too, Ahk," Jed said, giving a small bow of his head. He waved goodbye to the group, then promptly walked past Jed and Nick into the elevator. Once inside, he was back to typing, his fingers flying away.

"Well…," Nick started once more after Ahkmenrah had left, "Is it Mr. Laaa? Wait, no, he's in London right now… Oh! Please say it's Mr. Attila!"

Larry chuckled, and Jed swore he saw a hint of a smile on Octavius's face. "No, sorry, Nicky."

"Well then who?" Nick questioned.

"Am I that easily forgettable? I am quite literally right in front of you," Octavius stated matter-of-factly.

Nick's jaw fell open, "No. Way. Are you even able to physically leave this place? I thought you were stuck here like some sort of ghost!"

Jed couldn't help but chuckle at this, and he was almost shocked when he saw Octavius smiling. "I assure you, I am not a ghost of any sort. I'm actually quite offended that you would think such a thing," Octavius said, holding a hand on his chest, an innocent look on his face.

"Sure, sureee," Nick chuckled, "Tell that to the exorcist I hired! Get him, Uncle Jed!"

"What?" Jed looked down at Nick, bewildered, then laughed and decided to play along. He turned toward Octavius and Larry, drawing two finger guns from his sides, pointing both at Octavius, "Alright, alright. Time for you to get out of here." He walked up closer to him, holding one of the "guns" to his back. "C'mon, get!" Jed lightly kicked the back of Octavius's leg with his foot.

"Ow! Watch it, cowboy. What, is New York City not big enough for the both of us?" Octavius snorted, a look of annoyance on his face. "Don't worry, I got the memo." He made his way toward the elevator, prompting the rest to follow after him. The Daleys talked about camp on the way down while Jed and Octavius stayed silent. Octavius stood still, staring at the door ahead of them, while Jed watched him from the corner of his eye. Octavius took notice of this and raised an eyebrow, "Can I help you?"

"Oh, uh, no. Just thinking. Uhm, y'know, since we'll be working together." Octavius locked eyes with him, and Jed felt as though he had been dunked into a tub full of ice water. It felt as though his gaze pierced into his very soul.

Octavius opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. He squinted his eyes for a moment before responding, "Well, please keep it to yourself, Blue." With that, he turned his eyes back toward the door.

"Blue?" Jed wondered.

The elevator soon came to a stop. Octavius went toward the front desk to retrieve his belongings while Jed, Larry, and Nick walked outside.

"You know, I'm still surprised Mr. Octavius is going with us. I get it's for business, but still. It just seems weird. Don't get me wrong, he's fun and all, but he really needs to take a break sometime. I seriously don't think I have ever seen him leave the building."

"Well, funny you say that," Jed started, casting a glance inside the building. "Don't tell Mr. Octo-fuss, but he actually is going to be on break. He just doesn't know it yet. It'll be like his own mini summer camp."

Nick laughed, "Really? Amazing! Now, I'm not gonna lie, Uncle Jed, but I don't know if you're going to survive this. Mr. Octavius isn't a big fan of surprises, and this might just be the worst one yet."

"Oh, trust me, I'm well aware of what I'm getting into, but I'm just going to let Mother Nature do her thing. I'm sure we'll win him over by the end of the week." Jed opened the back door, allowing Nick to crawl into the backseat.

"Well, good luck with that!" Nick beamed, excited to see what would happen.

"Okay, guys. I don't mean to butt in on your scheming, but "Mr. Octo-fuss" is heading over here. It's about time for you guys to leave anyway. Nicky, I'll see you once camp is over. Jedediah should be picking you back up from camp as well." Larry bent down to give his son a hug through the door. "Love you, Nicky! Have fun, everyone!" Octavius joined the group, quickly putting his suitcase in the back and getting in the passenger seat. Larry shut the Hummer door and waved goodbye to the group.

"We will! Bye, Dad!"

"Goodbye, Mr. Daley."

"Seeya, Gigantor!"

"Really, Jed? How many times do I have to tell you that my name is LARRY? How about I start calling you 'Tiny'? How would you like that?"

"Aww, don't call me that… I don't like it! It hurts my feelings," Jed grumbled with a pout, crossing his arms across his chest for emphasis.

"Then stop calling me 'Gigantor.' It's the same concept. Anyway, bye guys! Have fun!" With one final wave goodbye, Larry walked back inside the building.

"Well... Make sure to buckle up! We're in for a long ride, boys."

As Jed started the vehicle, the radio suddenly blared, jolting the three out of their previously drowsy states. Jed took a second to regain his composure before fiddling with the stations, soon locating a calmer one. He stole a quick glance to his passengers, Nick smiling and Octavius looking stone-faced as ever, before finally making his way out into the streets of New York.

Chapter Text

After a relatively short drive, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the city. It was odd to see the towering skyscrapers from a distance. Everything looked small compared to before, but Jed wasn't complaining. He was glad to be away from all the hustle-and-bustle and somewhere more calm.

He looked in the mirror, casting a glance at Nick as he watched his home fade in the distance. He felt a little worried for the boy, wondering how he must feel leaving his home with two people he barely knew, but his worries were quickly washed away as Nick turned to him and smiled. He smiled back before looking back to the road. He took a quick glance to his right at Octavius, who was staring out the window, his head resting in his hand. He didn't feel so bad for him. He probably deserved it.

"Have you guys eaten?" Jed decided to ask, finally breaking the awkward silence the trio had sat in for at least half an hour now. "We could go to a drive-through somewhere, or we could just get some donuts from a gas station or something."

"Ooh! Ooh! Can we do both?" Nick beamed.

Jed giggled and looked at Nick in the mirror, "What are you, a caveman? But yes, we can do both. I'll just need to find a place first. How about you, Octavius? You're looking a little dreary over there."

Octavius took his head from the window, scowling at Jed for a moment before sighing, "I already ate, but I'm fine with getting something for the road. I'd prefer not to get fast-food, but I'm fine with getting a donut or a bagel, maybe a coffee too."

"Oooh fancy," Jed teased. Octavius just stared, unamused as ever.

"Can I get coffee?" Nick chirped, and Jed chuckled once more.

"Sure, buddy. Do you wanna eat now or later?"

"Later's fine, but not too long. Maybe in about an hour?"

"Got it."

After about an hour and a half of Nick asking random questions and going on random tangents, Jedediah was starting to regret promising the boy caffeine. He had already gone off about how he thought Mr. Laaa was a caveman, and that he thought he and his dad looked alike, so maybe he was part caveman after all. He then proceeded to hint at the idea of Octavius going on a vacation, which the man politely declined, but Nick insisted. It took a glare from Jed in the mirror for the boy to finally drop the subject.

Eventually Jed decided now was as good a time as any to stop and get some grub. He pulled into a drive-through line, getting Nick and himself some breakfast sandwiches, before stopping by a gas station. They each used the restroom before Nick and Octavius went to go get donuts and coffee. Jed paid for their stuff and they headed back out to the Hummer to eat.

Jed quickly scarfed down his food, to Octavius's disgust. Before he could even open his mouth to speak, Jed interrupted, "Don't worry, I've got napkins and hand sanitizer." He wiped down his face and hands before grabbing the steering wheel once more and starting the vehicle.

To Jedediah's surprise, both Nick and Octavius soon fell asleep. He took a moment to enjoy the silence, listening to the radio and flipping through a few stations, careful to keep the volume low. The time flew by, and before he knew it he was surrounded by trees once more. He struggled with the GPS for a moment, then struggled with a map, but he finally found where he needed to go. A short drive later and he found himself at his destination: Camp Living Lake.

Several other cars followed the same path, and kids and counselors were running rampant. It was absolute chaos, and Jed relished every second of it. Quiet was nice, but chaos was fun. Everyone had smiles on their faces, aside from a few children that seemed reluctant to leave their parents, desperately clinging to their pant legs and crying to go home. Jed sighed at this and parked the vehicle. He turned to his passengers, both still fast asleep despite the noise outside.

He turned around and tapped Nick on the leg, "Hey, we're here."

Nick shot up, shaking off the sleep in a matter of seconds before looking out the window excitedly. He quickly unbuckled and grabbed his bag, rushing out the door. "C'mon, Uncle Jed! What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Jed laughed and Octavius stirred awake. He stretched, letting out a light yawn before exiting the car alongside the others.

The trio made their way through the crowd of excited children and worn-out parents to what looked to be the check-in area.

"Hi! Welcome to Camp Living Lake! Are you here to check in?" a young woman, possibly in her late teens, greeted them as they approached the table.

"We sure are."

"What's your son's name?"

"Oh, uh, Nicholas Daley, but he's not my son," Jed said awkwardly. She looked to Octavius, who shook his head. "Uhm, not his either. He's actually my friend's son. He couldn't make it today, so he had us drop him off."

"That's alright," the girl smiled, "but I'm going to need some identification."

"No need. This is the boy I was talking about." Another woman walked up, noticeably older than the girl at the table. She looked slightly familiar to Jed, but he couldn't pinpoint where he had seen her before. She turned to him. "Jedediah, right?"

"Yeah, that's me. Sorry, but who are you?"

"Miss Rebecca!!" Nick exclaimed. He jumped up and hugged the woman.

She chuckled and hugged him back, "Hi, Nick." She turned back to Jed, "I'm Rebecca Hutman. I used to work with Larry at the Museum of Natural History." She held her hand out, and Jed quickly shook it.

"Oh! Yeah, I remember now. What are you doing all the way out here?"

"Camp Living Lake is sponsored by the museum, so I decided to help out with the history side of things. I was actually the one who told Larry about the camp," she explained.

"Oh, that makes a lot more sense. I was wondering why Larry was sending him so far away instead of just going to a camp somewhere closer nearby, like the Catskills."

"Funnily enough, most of our camps are closer to the city. This just happens to be our farthest one yet!"

"Really? That's awesome! Pretty neat you guys can have stuff so far out."

"Sure is! Anyway, I have to go. There's a lot of prep work to be done for the camp still. I'll see you later?" The last note was more of a question as she made her way back toward the main building.

"Here you go, Nicholas," the young woman spoke up once more, handing a lanyard to Nick. "That should be it, you're good to go! The groups are over that way," she pointed toward a growing mass of children and counselors near the treeline. "Your group number is on the bottom of your lanyard. If you have any questions, just let me or any of the other counselors know. I hope you enjoy your stay! Have a great day!" She waved goodbye to them as another family approached, "Hi, welcome to Camp Living Lake! Are you here for check-in?"

Nick smiled at the lanyard in his hands. "You excited, kid?" Jed asked.

Nick looked up at him and beamed, "So excited! I can't wait! We're gonna get to do so much stuff! We can go hiking, and fishing, and I can find so many cool rocks and bugs! This is gonna be amazing!"

"That is amazing! I hope you enjoy it! Who knows, you might even have a better time than we will!" Jed chuckled, and he could have sworn he heard Octavius bite back a laugh himself.

"I'm not sure about that, you guys are gonna have a blast!" Nick threw his hands in the air and jumped.

"I'm sure we will, kid. Are you good to go now? I don't want to hold you up."

"Yeah! I'm ready to rumble!"

"Alright, let's get the rest of your stuff then."

They made their way back to the Hummer and unloaded the rest of Nick's belongings. A counselor came to help, tagging the bags and bringing them to the sleeping quarters.

"Well, I'll see you later then?" Jed asked.

"Sure will! I hope you enjoy your trip!" Nick jumped up to hug Jed. As he did so, he whispered in his ear, "Please don't die."

Jed chuckled once more. "I'll try not to, bud," he whispered back. Jed stood back up and Nick turned to Octavius awkwardly.

"What, do I not get a hug?" the man joked.

Nick giggled and ran over, hugging him as well. When he pulled back, Octavius reached his hand up, and Nick smacked it forcefully. "Strong arm, kid. Hope you have fun."

Jed was surprised to see him speak up, let alone hug and high-five the kid. Nick shared his expression. It looked like he was surprised too. Jed gave him a thumbs-up. "See you later, kid."

"Bye, Uncle Jed! Bye, Mr. Octavius! I hope you enjoy your trip!"

"I wouldn't call business meetings enjoyable, but we will certainly try," Octavius said, waving back.

The two men returned to their seats and set off once more. Jed turned to the man beside him, who stared out the window in thought.

"He has no idea what he's in for, does he?" Jed thought to himself.

Chapter Text

The two men eventually made their way out of the woods and back to the main road. After a long period of silence, Jed decided to put on some music. He finicked around with the radio until he found a decent station that wasn't choppy. They continued on the main road for a while, before he eventually spotted their exit. A few twists and turns later he spotted a woodsy road. "I think this is it…" he thought. The farther they went, the more the trees started to close in on them. Jed found it comforting, but based on his passenger's uneasy expression he had a feeling that Octavius did not feel the same way.

"Uhm… Jedediah? Where exactly are we going again? I feel like we may have taken a wrong turn. Or several…"

Jed batted his hand in the air, "Oh, we're just gonna stop by a friend's place real quick. Teddy, you may have heard of him from Larry. They're pretty close."

The man's worried gaze did not waver, and he kept his eyes on the road ahead, "I can't say that I have, no." The road continued to darken as the woods grew denser. Octavius glanced over toward him, "Are you sure you're not going to kill me? I feel like I'm in a horror film."

Jed scoffed and scrunched his nose, "While it may be at least a little tempting, no. Guess you better stay on my good side, huh?" Jed raised an eyebrow toward him.

Octavius huffed, "We shall see. I'm not quite sure about you yet. You're very… interesting."

"Hopefully you mean interesting in a good way! I'd like to think I’m not too bad," Jed quipped, "But fear not, we're just about there."

The trees slowly thinned and the sun began to show its face once more. The road slowly krept into an open field, and a pretty blue cabin-like house stood proudly in the center. Several cars were parked nearby, and a few tents could be seen in the distance. On the other side of the clearing stood a large stable with multiple horses. People could be seen milling about all over the place, and the place seemed to be a popular destination for hikers, campers, and other woodsy folk. A sign greeted them as they approached.

"Roosevelt Acres, huh?" Octavius raised a brow.

"Yup!" Jed sighed as he pulled up to the cabin and parked. "It almost reminds me of home. C'mon, Teddy's probably waiting for us. Wouldn’t wanna keep him waiting." The two got up and out of the car, just in time to see a familiar face step out of the front doorway.

"Teddy!" Jed called out and the man turned toward him, sporting a smile as wide and bright as ever.

"Jedediah, my boy! How are you? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Sure has!" Jed shook his hand and Teddy pulled him in for a partial hug, patting his back, which caused the man to tense a little. "How are you holding up?"

"Oh, I'm holding up alright. Just barely some days, but I'm getting by. Who's your friend here?" He looked toward Octavius.

"I'm Octavius. It's good to meet you, sir," Octavius reached out his hand, surprised when Teddy pulled him in for a hug as well.

"Good to meet you too, Octavius. Can I help you boys to a drink? Anything to eat? I'm sure it's been a long drive."

"A sweet tea would be great. Thanks, Teddy."

"Of course. Anything for you, Octavius?" He turned toward him.

"I'm good, but thank you."

"Suit yourself. Let me know if you change your mind later, I've got a pot of coffee going. Make yourselves at home while I go get that tea." Teddy stepped inside, holding the door for the two men to follow. As always, Jed was taken aback by the sight of the cabin's interior. It looked even grander than he remembered, if that were even possible. They were met with a large living space, which had a comfortable setup with a fireplace and multiple chairs and couches. The walls were adorned with trophies, and Jed watched as Teddy set his hat on the antler of a deer as he passed by. Jed followed suit and set his own hat on the opposite anter before plopping himself down on a couch and stretching. Octavius took a seat a bit aways from him. "I'm sure I say it every time I'm here, but your place is really somethin' Teddy."

"Thanks, Jed," Teddy called from the kitchen, "I'm glad you enjoy it. I take great pride in this place." He soon came around the corner with a couple glasses and handed one to Jed, taking a seat for himself.

"So what have you been up to these days? I've not seen you in, what? Four, five years now?" Teddy leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

Jed sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeahh, that sounds about right. Been traveling and doing some random side jobs. I had some personal stuff come up back home that I wanted to get away from. I don't really want to get into it right now. Maybe some other time."

"No worries, son. If you ever need to talk just let me know." He turned to Octavius, "So, what about you? What's your life like?"

Octavius raised his brows, "Oh, uh, I live in the city. I work with Larry. Help organize meetings, keep people in line, things like that. We're actually headed to a meeting somewhere nearby."

"Is that so?" Teddy glanced toward Jed. "Well, I hope you're not working yourself too hard. It's good to take a break every now and then."

Octavius chuffed, "Yeah, I hear that a lot. Speaking of our meeting, we should probably leave soon. Wouldn't want to impose, plus I'm sure it would be best to arrive early."

"Aww, nonsense," Jed chipped in, "We're in no rush, really. Hey, Teddy, you mind if I show Octavius around the place?"

"Feel free! Just let me know if you head out on the trails so I know to keep an eye out. Had a couple get lost recently... Oh, don't worry!" he continued, noticing Octavius's apprehensive expression, "They're perfectly fine. They were just gone for a few hours. You'll be perfectly fine if you stay on the trails."

Jed hopped up from his seat and grabbed his hat, heading toward the door, "C'mon, Octavius, let's go! Don't worry, we're not going anywhere we could get lost, I just wanna introduce you to Sacagawea and the animals."

Octavius groaned and stood up, "Fine, but please keep it brief. I'd rather not make a bad impression by showing up late."

Jed chuckled and adjusted his hat, "Don't worry, that won't happen. Follow me." He held the door for Octavius to walk through, then turned and winked at Teddy, "See you later!"

"See you later, Jed! Have fun!"

The two made their way toward the stables across the way, and Jed relished in the fresh outside air. Jed could hear Octavius groan in frustration from behind him, but he decided to ignore him and focus on the clear sky and beautiful scenery of the property. He made note of a campfire circle near the house. "Hm, I wonder if Teddy has stuff for s'mores. That sounds fun. I might have to ask him about that later."

As they approached the stables, Jed caught a glimpse of Sacagawea tending to the horses. He recognized one of them as Texas, Teddy's personal steed. "Hey! Sacagawea! It's been a while! How are you?"

"Jedediah? What are you doing here? I didn't know you were stopping by. It's good to see you." She gave him a slight hug and gave Octavius a curt wave, "I see you brought a friend?"

"Octavius, miss. It's a pleasure to meet you." Octavius gave a small nod.

"Same to you. How are you? You look tired," she asked, looking toward Jed with a slightly worried expression.

"Bah, I'm fine, though you're not really wrong. I'm a little worn out. It's been a long drive."

"I'd imagine. Well feel free to rest here as long as you'd like. It's lovely to see you."

"Lovely to see you as well. I'm gonna show Octavius here around the stables if you don't mind?"

"Of course! Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do. Thanks, doll."

Sacagawea continued with her work and left the men to explore. Jed made his way into the stables and toward the horses. "Man, what beauties. Have you ever ridden a horse, Octavius?"

"I used to all the time as a kid, but I haven't in years. Never learned properly."

"Well that's a shame. A little surprised you have at all though, I'm not gonna lie. Where did you go?" Jed cocked his head at him curiously.

"My family owned a few for a short time. I remember when I was younger my parents would take us out to the field and let the horses trot around a little with us on their backs. It wasn't very comfortable, but it was fun. At least as a child."

"Would probably still be fun now, you know. If you wanna ride just let me know, I'm practically a master," he said, placing a hand on his chest in a proud manner.

"I'm sure you are, cowboy," he scoffed, "but I'm quite fine. Besides, I wouldn't want to ruin my outfit."

"Well if that's the case then I'm sure we can figure something out."

Octavius looked at him, puzzled, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Jed clicked his tongue, "Ah, nothing. Say, have you ever had a s'more?"

"What is that?"

"You don't even know what it is? Geez, man, you need to live a little. Don't worry, I'll enlighten you later."

"Whatever you say…" Octavius rolled his eyes and continued walking. They pet the horses a little before Octavius started to complain about the smell. As they left, Jed noticed a few children running around and playing, along with a couple dogs.

"Hey! Is that Rexy? Rexy, come here boy!" The dog jerked its head up, hearing its name, and ran over toward Jed. He rolled to the ground as Rexy barreled into him, "Oh, such a good boy! It's been so long since I've seen you bud!" He looked over to see the other dog had approached cautiously. "Hey, girl… Don't worry, I don't bite. What's your name?" The dog came closer, and he looked at the collar. "Trixie, huh? Lovely to meet you Trixie." The dog licked his hand and wagged her tail slowly. Rexy took this moment to tackle her, and the two continued to run and play around the field.

"I take it you like animals?" Octavius commented.

"What made you think that?" Jed chuckled, wiping a bit of dirt off his shirt from where Rexy had jumped on him.

"I don't know, maybe it's the hair and dog slobber all over you. You're going to embarrass me if you walk into our meeting like that…" Octavius said with a defeated look, though Jed thought he glimpsed a slight smirk as he was talking.

"Gah, you worry too much. Relax for once, everything's perfectly fine, there's nothing to worry about. If it'll make you feel better I can at least go wash my hands, c'mon." He led them back to the house, where he promptly washed his hands and brushed back his hair. His eyes looked tired, but not too bad. He was feeling a bit better after his walk, that was for sure. "I should probably go get our stuff from the car, huh?" he thought.

Jed sneaked his way out of the bathroom, casting a glance into the living space where Octavius and Teddy were sitting and chatting. "Now's my chance." He quietly made his way outside, grabbing their bags and bringing them in a little at a time. After he finished bringing the bags in, he made his way back out to the living area. As he was walking, he saw a flash of brown as something furry jumped at his head.

"Dexter, you little scamp!" Teddy yelled. Jed looked up to see Dexter, Teddy's pet monkey, grab his hat and climb up onto a shelf with it, looking it over curiously.

"Is that a monkey?!" Octavius nearly shouted.

"Yeah, this is Dexter. I'm all too familiar with his schemes. Just a word of warning, that monkey can and will pee on you. Trust me, both Larry and I found out the hard way."

Octavius cringed at the thought, "Thanks for the warning. Please keep it away from me."

"He's not too bad, I promise," Jed chuckled and held his arm out for Dexter to climb onto. The monkey, seemingly bored of the hat, placed it back on Jed's head and jumped onto a different shelf and toward Teddy, now picking at the man's moustache.

Teddy chuckled as Dexter moved from his moustache to his hair, "He really isn't. I hope he doesn't ruin your stay, though. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here either way. It's great to take a break from the city and enjoy nature." Octavius squinted at him, but was immediately distracted as Dexter made his way over to investigate him.

"Sooo…" Jed trailed, "I might go take a walk real quick."

"I think we should be good to go when you go back, wouldn’t you think?" Octavius looked at him.

"Uhm, I'll maybe let Teddy talk to you about that one. If you don't mind, that is…?" he looked toward Teddy with a pleading expression.

Teddy sighed, "Sure thing, Jed. Take your time."

Jed smiled and made his way to the door. He looked back toward Teddy, giving him a thumbs up and a silent "Good luck!" And with that, he made his way out the door, silently cursing himself for leaving Teddy in that situation alone, but also very appreciative that he might just live another day.

Chapter Text

"What do you mean I'm stuck here?! Larry? LARRY?!" Jed could hear Octavius furiously shouting from outside as he approached the bedroom. Teddy had informed him of the true "business trip" and he was not taking it well. He had gone to the bedroom to see their bags were inside, and he called Larry in a rage.

Jed held his ear to the door and could hear Larry on the other end of the phone, pretending to cut out, "Ksshh- Octavius I think you're- kshh- cutting out- kshhh… Beep."

"Larry! You-" the man grumbled as he realized he had hung up on him. Jed could still hear him muttering to himself through the door as he slowly creaked it open.

"Heyyy, I-" Jed started.

"YOU!" Octavius started toward the door in a rage, quickly grabbing Jed by the collar and pulling him toward him, "You brought me here, you're going to take me back NOW!"

"Sorry, but no can do, bud. Boss's orders," Jed took a deep breath in and pushed Octavius away from him, eyeing him with a scowl, "And keep your hands to yourself. I was told to give you a bit of a break, and I intend to enjoy my time here while I have it. Besides, you're still getting paid, what's the big deal?"

Octavius started to pace around the room frantically, "The 'big deal' is that I have important business to attend to! He can't just drop me off here and keep me cooped up, I swear when I get back I'm going to have a word with him…" He grumbled as he furiously started typing on his phone.

"I'd say you're about anything but cooped up out here," Jed crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, watching Octavius as he continued his fit around the room.

"That-! That's not the point! I can't afford to spend, what, three days here?"

Jed smirked, "A week, actually."

"A WEEK?! Daley's dead when I get ahold of him. GAH! Why is there no signal?!" Octavius hurriedly rushed past Jed and into the hall in an attempt to get a better signal. Jed just shrugged and started to unpack their belongings, deciding it was probably best to stay out of it and give the man a moment to cool down.

It didn't take Jed long to unpack their things, and he soon made his way back outside. It was still bright, but people appeared to be taking their leave. He stood on the porch and propped his arms on the railing. In the distance he could see Octavius running around. He must've gotten some sort of signal, because he saw him nearly throw his phone in frustration as, if Jed had to make a guess, Larry likely hung up on him yet again.

"He's really still at it, huh? You'd think he'd have given up by now…" Jed mumbled.

"Yeah, he's been running around like a headless chicken for the past half hour." Jed turned to see Teddy making his way onto the porch, taking a position next to him and watching Octavius in the field. "I think he's just about run himself out, though. Supper's almost done if you want to call him inside soon."

"Yeah, I better go do that then," Jed sighed.

"Take your time, boy." He patted Jed on the shoulder before making his way inside.

Jed stood there for a moment longer, watching Octavius in the distance, before his stomach decided it had been long enough. He made his way over to the man, who had finally sat himself down at a bench. He was holding his head in his hands in defeat, and Jed almost fell bad for him. That was until he glanced up and gave Jed a death stare, "What do you want?"

Jed crossed his arms and looked down at him, returning the man's glare with one just as harsh, "I was told to let you know dinner should be done pretty soon if you'd like to go inside."

"Please, I'm already sick of the mud and dirt out here," Octavius groaned as he stood up.

Jed rolled his eyes. "God, you're so pompous. A little dirt isn't gonna kill ya."

"Yeah, it might not kill me, but I might just kill you if you don't keep your mouth shut and leave me alone." Octavius's dark, tired eyes met with his. If looks could kill, Jed would be dead on the spot.

"Hmph, fine," Jed tossed his hands in the air in defeat, "But don't come complaining to me when you’re bored out of your mind and I'm having the time of my life."

The men continued walking in silence toward the house, going inside and taking a seat at the table. The table was set with silverware, and Sacagawea and Teddy soon brought out food from the kitchen. Jed happily got himself a heaping serving of potatoes, greens, and meat, while Octavius more cautiously filled his plate. The four ate peacefully with occasional chit-chat between Jed and the couple. Octavius kept to himself, looking a little dazed. He soon finished his meal and sat in silence, staring at the table.

"Hey, Octavius…? Are you alright?" Sacagawea cautiously asked.

He looked up, a little shocked, as if he didn't expect to see people there with him, "Oh, I'm alright. I might retire to my room for the night if that is alright, though."

"Of course, no worries!" Teddy chimed in, "Sorry about the bedroom situation. We don't have too many visitors. Feel free to sleep on the couch if you need more space. I might even have an air mattress somewhere around here…"

Octavius waved his hand in dismissal, "Ah, it's no issue, really. It's fine…" Teddy and Sacagawea decided that was good enough of a response, but Jed could tell by the man's gritted teeth that it was not indeed 'fine' and he decided he might just need to suck it up and sleep on the couch himself. Octavius stood up, bringing his dishes to the sink before heading to the room. Sacagawea soon got up and brought her own dishes to the sink, giving Teddy a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to their room.

Jed watched as Teddy stared lovingly at his wife as she walked away, before he snapped back to reality and turned back toward Jed. "So…," Teddy started, "What are your plans for your stay here? Planning to take your friend here along for your adventures or shall I keep an eye on him?"

"Not sure just yet. I'm hoping I can get him out and about, but I'm not sure where to start, and I don't want to cause any bad blood, y'know? I don't want to upset him too much, and I definitely don't want to upset Larry."

"I understand completely. I'm sure you'll be fine. He'll just need some time to relax and adjust. He doesn't look like he's had a break in years."

"I don't know that he's ever had one, truthfully," Jed said.

"Well, then it's a good thing you're here to change that!" Teddy smiled at him, and Jed couldn't help but smile back.

"Thanks, Teddy.

"Anytime, my boy," the man said, getting up and taking their plates to the kitchen.

Jed got up and made his way outside with a renewed sense of confidence and vigor, feeling fueled by Teddy's words. He walked until he found a nice spot where he could watch the sunset, sitting there and enjoying the last few rays of light on his face. The grass tickled his hands, and the bright light nearly made his eyes water. A slight breeze blew his hair, and he took a deep breath, relishing the moment. Eventually, the sun had fully set, and he lied on his back to watch the stars. Crickets chirped quietly as he closed his eyes, the relaxed atmosphere slowly lulling him to sleep.

His quiet moment did not last too much longer, however, as he soon felt a wet sensation on his cheek. He opened his eyes to see Trixie in his face. He sat up and was soon ambushed by Rexy, who attacked him with puppy kisses. "Hey, guys. What are you doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be inside by now?" Rexy tilted his head, almost as if to say "I could ask you the same thing!" He looked toward the house to see Teddy on the porch. Once he spotted him, the man waved. Jed heaved himself up and made his way back to the house, a dog at either side of him.

"I was wondering where you went," Teddy said, "Had me worried for a moment, but I should've known better."

"I just needed a quiet moment is all," Jed responded, letting out a yawn.

"Well don't feel like you need to sleep outside. I found the air mattress if you want it."

"Nah, I'm good. I'll see about the bedroom, but if that doesn't work out then the couch is fine."

"Fair enough. Let me know if you change your mind. I'm gonna go lie down, you go get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." He motioned for Jed and the dogs to go inside before closing the door, then made his way to his room.

Jed made his way to the bedroom and slowly peeked his head in. Octavius was sitting in bed reading a book.

"Hey, mind if I join you?"

Octavius looked up from his reading and furrowed his eyebrows, "Oh, great, you're back. Thought I had gotten lucky and you got lost." Jed gave him a blank stare, not amused. He sighed and motioned to the space next to him, "If you insist. Let me know if you need me to turn off the light."

"I should be good, but thanks."

"And please take a shower. I'd rather not smell your dirt stench…"

"Ah, alright," Jed tried to hold back a snappy and sarcastic tone, but he couldn't help but let it slip through, "I see how it is, city boy. I'll go take my nice little shower and put on my fancy perfume and my silk robe, and oh why don't I just go pour myself a lovely glass of Chardonnay while I'm at it?"

"Tch, yeah, and I'll go roll around in the dirt to make us even."

"I'd love to see it," Jed jabbed, "I just don't know if you'd survive it."

"I'm not that fragile, cowboy," Octavius sneered back, "As you said before, a little dirt won't kill me."

"Then shut up about my 'dirt stench' you-" Jed was quickly silenced by a pillow to the face. He turned beet red, grabbing the pillow off the ground and walking out the door with it, but not without a quick flip of the bird toward the man.

"God I hate that guy," Jed mumbled to himself as soon as he was out the door, "I wish Larry just sent me here on my own. What good is it gonna do for him if he's just gonna be an ass?" He made his way back out into the living space and sat down on the couch. He looked around for a blanket, finding one on the coffee table that Teddy had likely set out for him. He adjusted his pillow and blanket to a more comfortable position and finally lied down. He sat there for a few minutes until his nerves calmed down and the tiredness hit him once more as he was slowly cradled to sleep by the sandman.

Chapter Text

The smell of coffee woke Jed from his slumber. He blinked open his eyes, confused by his surroundings, before remembering where he was. He stretched out his legs and tried to get up before realizing he was stuck, both dogs curled on top of him. He accepted defeat and laid back down, listening to the sound of someone in the kitchen. Soon, he saw Teddy round the corner.

"Mornin', Teddy," he greeted.

"Ah! You're awake," Teddy smiled at him, "Good morning to you too. We haven't started on breakfast yet, but I just made some coffee if you'd like some. I can get you a mug. You want anything in it?"

"Yeah, I'll take a mug. Just a bit of cream and sugar is fine. Thanks, Teddy."

"Of course," he said, making his way back into the kitchen, "How did you sleep? I take it the bedroom wasn't an option?"

"Yeah, I was gonna stay in there, but he and I got into a little bit of a tiff last night. Decided it wasn't worth it."

"Ah, I see. Well maybe today you could see about setting up a tent. I can't imagine the couch is very comfortable."

Jed shrugged as Teddy came back around the corner with his mug in-hand, "Yeah, I guess I could see about that."

"Aw, come on now, boy. What's wrong? Don't let him get to you, if that's the case." He handed the coffee to Jed and took a seat in his chair.

"Thank you. I dunno, I'm just annoyed I guess. When I found out I was coming out here I was hoping to have a fun, calm trip, but it's not even been a full day and I'm already getting stressed out." He took a sip of his coffee and groaned, "I'm tempted to just drive him back to the city at this rate. I don't know if I can handle this."

"Well don't let him get under your skin. And if you can't handle him, just leave him to me," Teddy said, and Jed nodded. "Besides, think of it this way, if you drive him back then he's getting exactly what he wants. I didn't take you as the kind of guy to give up that easily," he said, raising a brow toward him.

"Damn! You're right, Teddy!" Jed sat up abruptly, spooking one of the dogs off his lap and causing the other to give him a confused look. "Mannn, I'll have to think about it. I think I just need some time to myself today."

"Of course. Take your time. Go have some fun and unwind. I'll go fetch the tent for you if you want it later."

"Thanks, Teddy. For everything, really."

"Bah, don't mention it. And hey, if you do drive back, promise me you'll come visit soon. It's really been too long. We've all missed you out here."

Jed sighed and looked down at his lap, seeing Rexy giving puppy dog eyes at him, "Yeah, I promise." He looked back up, "Truth be told I've missed you all too. It's just life has been, well, a lot…"

"I understand. Don't feel forced to, but just know that if you ever need a place to stay you're always welcome here."

The two sat in silence for a moment as they finished their coffee. Teddy soon got up, making his way outside, leaving Jed alone on the couch. He sat there for a few minutes in a daze, before he got up and refilled his coffee. Sacagawea soon came inside, a basket of eggs in-hand.

"Good morning, Jedediah."

"Good morning, miss. How are you?"

"I'm doing great, thank you. Did you sleep well? I saw you stayed out here."

"Yeah, well enough. Are those eggs?"

"Yeah, we have some chickens out back. I'm getting ready to start cooking breakfast if you'd like to help?"

"Sure thing! Just let me know what you need me to do."

She handed the eggs to Jed to clean, instructing him to do so as she got out the other ingredients. Not long after, they had a beautiful array of biscuits, scrambled eggs, bacon, and even a platter of fruit.

"Ah ah ah, no, you can't have this," Jed gently scolded the dogs as they stood at his feet, begging for food. When Sacagawea wasn't looking, though, he tossed a couple small bits of bacon on the floor. They looked back toward him expectantly, "Hey, no! Go!" He snapped his fingers and pointed toward the living room, and they finally left, satisfied with the scraps.

"Oh, it smells just heavenly in here," Teddy said as he made his way back inside. He went and washed his hands before giving his wife a quick hug from behind and a kiss on the cheek, causing her to giggle lightly.

"Man, what I'd give to have a relationship like yours," Jed said wistfully as he watched them.

"Bah! I'm sure you'll find someone soon enough. You're a great young man, you know that?" Teddy said, smacking him on the shoulder in a fatherly manner. "Just don't go rushing it, kid."

"Yeah, I feel like I've made that mistake plenty of times already…," Jed said in a defeated tone.

"Now don't go thinking about the past. Look toward the horizon. Tomorrow's another day, heck, today's another day! Who knows, maybe you'll find a nice young lass out here."

Jed shrugged, "Yeah, maybe… I don't know."

"Eat some breakfast, hopefully that'll cheer you up! I'm gonna go get our new friend now." Teddy made his way down the hall, and Jed and Sacagawea made their way to the table. He soon returned with Octavius on his heels. Jed made eye contact with the man, and they glared at each other for a split second before Jed went back to his breakfast, deciding it was best not to mind him.

Jed ignored the occasional stare he got from Octavius at the table, trying to focus on his food, before he finally scarfed down the rest of his plate and got up. "I'm gonna go for a walk," he said, before downing the rest of his drink and quickly making his way out the door. He made his way around the field, watching the horses as they grazed and the chickens as they pecked in the grass. He wandered for a while before deciding he had been away long enough, and made his way back to the house. "I think it's about time we have some fun," he thought.

He barged through the door and into the living room with purpose, a smug look on his face as he found Octavius and stood in front of him, "You know what? We're gonna make the most of our time here. Go get dressed and meet me outside." Octavius scoffed and rolled his eyes, silently going to the room. Jed stood proudly, feeling accomplished. However, after packing, going out to the porch, and sitting there for nearly half an hour, he felt he had been abandoned and decided to go back inside. He made his way to the bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Go away."

"Get out, loser! We're going hiking!" Jed called through the door.

"I'd much rather not!" Octavius countered and Jed huffed.

"Be the bigger man, Jed," he thought to himself before opening the door. "Nah, nevermind," he decided as he saw Octavius sitting on the bed in a fresh suit, typing away on his phone.

"Alright, buckaroo, that's it," he said as he made his way over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt that he had bought. He made his way over to the man, throwing the clothes in his face. "I didn't pay half my life savings worth on this for you to not even use it!"

Octavius took the clothes off his head and inspected them, giving Jed a disgruntled look, "If it's money you care about, I've got plenty."

"That's not the point! Gah!" Jed threw his hands in the air and turned to leave, "Just quit being a sissy and put the dang clothes on!" he snapped before slamming the door behind him.

Jed made his way back to the porch and waited. Luckily, this time Octavius actually managed to meet him outside, sporting a dark red button-up shirt and blue jeans, as well as a deep frown. Jed smiled, much preferring this look on the man compared to his usual business wear, though he could at least try to smile.

"See? There ya go. It's not that bad, is it?" Octavius just gave him a blank stare in return. "C'mon, let's get going." He picked up a bag and made his way out onto the main trail as Octavius begrudgingly followed. Jed noticed how Octavius seemed to tense as they entered the woodline. Jed turned back toward him as the man slowed down, "Hey, what's the holdup? Come on!"

Octavius sighed and continued, watching his step carefully. The two men walked out into the woods. Jed felt as if he gained energy with each step, meanwhile Octavius seemed to slow down more and more. Jed decided to ignore him and pick up the pace. Octavius managed to keep up, albeit barely. They made their way to the top of a hill, where they finally stopped for a break. Octavius was out of breath, bent over with his hands on his legs.

"Aw, what's the matter? Tired already?" Jed cooed in a mocking tone.

"Shut up," Octavius snapped back, still huffing and puffing.

"Alright, should be around here somewhere…," Jed said, looking around the brush.

Octavius stood upright and looked at him, "What are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for a path... Ah! Here it is!" he said, pushing some brush to the side to reveal an old worn trail. Unlike the main one, this one looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Jed made his way through the bushes and down the trail, sliding a bit down the hill as he did so.

Octavius looked at him from the main trail apprehensively, "I thought Teddy said to stay on the trail?"

"Aw c'mon, I know these woods like the back of my hand. Now c'mon, I wanna show you something."

He held out his hand for the man to take. After a moment's hesitation, he finally did, and Jed yanked him down the hill with him. Octavius barreled into him for a second before steadying himself and brushing off the leaves from his shirt, "Eugh, now my shirt is ruined."

"Ruined?" Jed gave him a bewildered look, "Man, you ain't seen nothin' yet if you think that's ruined."

"I don't like the sound of that," Octavius groaned.

"Bah, you'll get used to it. Now let's go!" Jed made his way down the old trail, pushing bushes and branches to the side as the two made their way toward their destination.

"GAH!" Octavius yelled from behind him as a branch smacked him in the face.

"Oops," Jed said, turning toward him with a not-so-innocent look, "Didn't see ya there."

"Very funny…"

Jed paused for a moment to look at the man, noticing something on his shirt. He slowly approached him, holding out his hand.

"Uhm, what are you doing?" Octavius gave him a nervous look and took a step back.

Jed quickly flicked the spider off of the man's shirt, then looked back up at him, "Bug."

Octavius gave him a worried look, quickly brushing his shirt and feeling a web, which caused him to jump, "Was that a spider?!" He looked almost nauseous, "Okay, yeah, that's it, I'm done." He turned back toward the way they came before Jed grabbed his arm, turning him back toward him.

"Nah, not just yet. Besides, I'm pretty sure you might get lost if you tried to go back on your own," Jed said smugly.

Octavius opened his mouth to counter the remark, then sighed, "…I hate that you're probably right… Fine then, lead the way!" He brushed his hand in the air, motioning for Jed to continue. Jed rubbed another loose strand of web on his shirt before he turned back around and continued down the trail, picking up a stick along the way to collect any webs in front of them.

They continued for a short while longer before the trees finally started to clear. In front of them stood a large lake. The sun shone on its water, the waves rippling on the surface with a golden glimmer.

"Ah, perfect," Jed said, making his way closer to the shoreline with his bag in hand. He slowly started to unpack as Octavius just stood staring at the lake from farther up on the hillside. "Here you go," he said, tossing a small blanket toward Octavius. The man took it, eyes still on the water. Jed sat himself down on the grass, pulling out a sandwich from the bag. He looked up to see Octavius still zoning out. "Hey!" Octavius shook himself from his daze and looked toward him. Jed patted the ground next to him, "Pop a squat. I brought stuff for both of us, y'know."

Octavius made his way over, setting the blanket on the ground and taking a seat next to the man. He took a sandwich from the bag and took a bite, continuing to stare off in silence. Jed watched him for a moment before taking another bite of his own sandwich.

"Man, I've been wanting to go on a picnic for a while…," Jed trailed. "Say, uh," he started again, and Octavius turned toward him, "I'm sorry about this whole mess. Well, not really sorry, but I know it's a big change of pace. I felt a similar way when I was in the city, so… Sorry if all this is a bit overwhelming I guess."

Octavius just looked at him for a moment, his face looking a little softer than before. "It's, ah, it's no problem... Sorry for the way I reacted yesterday. It was very immature of me."

Jed sighed. "Yeah, well everyone's a bit immature at times. Hell, take me for example, I can hardly say I'm mature. Still feel like a kid half the time, but at least it makes life fun."

Octavius chuckled, "At least you find life fun…"

Jed watched as Octavius's expression turned melancholic, and he once again began to daze off. His eyes glazed over, and Jed could've sworn the color left them. "Hey, now don't be like that," he lightly tapped his shoulder, "I'm sure there's plenty you do that's fun, right?" Octavius just looked at him from the corner of his eye. "…Right?"

The man shook his head, "Well, most of my time consists of work, and most of that time consists of stress. This is the first break I've had in I don't even know how long, and even this has been stressful so far." Jed gave him a disappointed look, which he must have noticed as he immediately continued, "Oh, don't take it personally, there's just far too much dirt for my liking. Plus I can't say I'm a big fan of surprises…"

"Nah, I get that. Sorry Larry put you up to this. I'll help ya prank him when we get back," Jed flashed him a grin, which the man returned.

"You know what? I might just take you up on that offer."

"Haha, sounds like a plan then," Jed chuckled before finishing the rest of his sandwich, "I'm gonna sit over here for a moment if you don't mind." Octavius waved him off, and Jed got up and moved over to a more sunny spot, lying down in the sunshine and listening to the birds chirping in the trees nearby. He glanced over at Octavius who stayed on his blanket in the shade. The man seemed a lot calmer than he had previously, and Jed was glad he had talked with him.

"Maybe this won't be so bad after all…," he thought, feeling a little more at peace in the warmth of the sunshine.

Chapter Text

Octavius gazed out at the lake in front of him. The water was a brilliant blue from the sky, and he found himself spacing out as he watched the golden ripples on the water. He took a moment to look toward the man in front of him. He looked at peace, lying in the sunshine with a gentle smile on his face. As if on cue, he glanced back toward Octavius. His eyes were just as blue as the lake itself, and the smile he wore was much friendlier than Octavius could have ever expected. Jedediah turned back toward the lake, and the two sat quietly for a while. Eventually, he sat upright and turned back toward him.

"Say, how would you feel about walking around a little before we head back?"

"I guess that's alright," Octavius responded, though not without an exaggerated huff.

"Well then, hand me that blanket and I'll get this packed back up."

Octavius stood up and handed over the blanket. He not-so-tenderly shoved the blanket into the backpack, along with their trash, and started his way around the lake. Octavius followed in silence, watching the man in front of him. "He sure does enjoy the country," Octavius thought to himself, "Though, I think I can see why." He looked around, taking in the natural beauty of the sights surrounding them, and started to understand how Jedediah could enjoy such a place.

The two men walked until Octavius felt that he could no more. His legs were on fire, and his lungs felt like they were burning from the inside out. Jedediah appeared to take notice of this, turning around toward him.

"Hey, need to take another break? We can sit here for a moment then head back."

"Yes," he huffed, hands once more on his knees, "I think that would be for the best." Jedediah handed him a water bottle and the two sat down. Soon enough, they were back on their feet and back on the main trail.

"Thank goodness we managed to make it back here…," Octavius thought. "You really do know your way around this place, hmm?" he said, impressed at the man's ability to navigate the old trail. Had he been in charge, they would have been completely lost.

"Haha, yeah. It's been a while, but I basically grew up in these woods with how much time I've spent out here. Been coming here since I was in my early twenties or so."

"Wow, a while indeed," Octavius said, raising a brow. "Is that how you met Teddy?"

"Yup! Met him while I was here. He used to be a bit more shy when I met him, but once he met Sacagawea he opened up a little more. Always been friendly, though. That's actually how I met Larry, too. Met him out here one day before he became a big shot in the city. He's actually the one who convinced Teddy to ask out Sacagawea. She came here as a trail guide and helped nurse Teddy one time when he got injured. It's no real wonder he's head-over-heels for her."

"Interesting…"

The two continued to chat as they made their way back, eventually finding themselves back at the main property. As they made their way back toward the house, they watched as Teddy approached them on horseback.

"Welcome back! How was your venture?" he greeted.

"It was great! Went out to the lake I used to visit. I'm thinking about heading out there again tomorrow. Whatcha think, Octavius?" Jedediah said, turning toward him.

"Oh, I'd rather not. My legs are killing me," he thought. However, after looking up at the man's expectant gaze, he sighed, "…Sure."

Jedediah beamed, turning back toward Teddy, "Well that settles it. I'll make sure to pack some stuff for tomorrow then. Say, Teddy, what are you up to? Anything I can help out with?"

"Nothing much right now, my boy, but we can always use some help with the animals."

"Well I might go see about doing that, then. Hey, Octavius? I'll catch up with you later. I'm sure you wanna take a break anyways, hm?"

"You'd be right about that," Octavius responded, glad to finally be able to have a break and time to himself in the comforts of the inside world. "I'll be inside if you need me."

"Sounds good!" Jedediah chirped, turning back toward the man on horseback, "Hey, Teddy, how about…" Jedediah's voice trailed off in the distance as Octavius made his way back toward the house, and eventually back into the room where he decided to lie down. He was a bit apprehensive about doing so in the clothes he was in, but his aching legs got the best of him and he flopped down onto the bed, soon entering a deep slumber.

---

A few hours passed before Octavius woke from his rest. His legs still hurt from their earlier walk, but his nap had helped to ease the pain. He stood up and stretched before making his way out of the room. The house was silent, so he assumed everyone had gone outside, and he went out to the porch. The sun was still in the sky, though it appeared to be nearing the horizon. Octavius gazed out upon the field where the people milled about. He saw a few figures out by the stables, spotting Jedediah among the crowd. He was busy talking with a few of the visitors, showing them one of the horses. Octavius watched as the man helped a young woman up onto the horse and helped her to trot around a little. It almost reminded him of his childhood with his parents showing him how to ride, though something about it pained him.

"Maybe I should take a trip back home…," he thought, letting his mind wander. He hadn't spoken with his family in forever, but maybe it would be good to give them a visit.

He wasn't able to linger on the thought for too long, however, as he soon saw an arm waving him over. He groaned and made his way over to where Jedediah was leaning against the stables. The people he was with had wandered off to a different area, leaving the two men alone.

"Hey! I was wondering when you'd get up. That walk must've worn you out good, huh?"

"Yes, you could say that again," Octavius yawned before stretching to pop his back.

"Gimme just a minute to finish up here." Octavius watched as Jedediah put away his supplies before turning back to him, "I've got something I wanna do with you but I was waiting to set up until you got out here."

"Sounds suspicious," Octavius said, raising an eyebrow.

"Bah! Don't worry, it'll be fun! Say, have you ever had a s'more?"

Before he knew it, Octavius found himself stood in front of a disorganized Jedediah as he watched the man scramble around with different pieces of a tent. After staring at a piece of paper for a few minutes, he finally seemed to figure something out and turned to Octavius. "Alright! I'm gonna show you how to pitch a tent."

"Are you entirely sure you know how to do that? You look to be having some trouble."

"Nah, I've got it. It's just been a while, and Teddy's got this new fancy one that I've never seen before. I've got it figured out."

"If you say so."

They got to work setting up the tent, taking turns between looking at the instructions or constructing the tent and occasionally arguing over where each piece was supposed to go. "No, I swear, this piece is supposed to go here!" Jedediah assured, before Octavius showed him the diagram, causing him to grumble. Despite the initial confusion, they finally figured out how to set it up, and they soon had a proper camp setup.

"Okay, all we need now is the fire. C'mon, follow me," Jedediah said, ushering Octavius along. When they got to the woodline, Jedediah picked up a few pieces of firewood and turned to Octavius, who looked at him a little hesitantly. "What? Hold your arms out."

"But I-" he was cut off by Jedediah dropping the wood in his hands before going to pick up more for himself. Octavius looked down at the wood in his hands before immediately dropping it as he watched a centipede crawl overtop of the load. Jedediah turned toward him in confusion as he watched the man nearly heave at the sight of the bug.

"You alright there?"

"Yeah, I'm good, I just-" he was once again cut off by Jedediah handing him more wood. He picked up the dropped load and the two made their way back to the campsite, Octavius trying his best to ignore the feeling of the gross, bug-infested scraps of wood. As soon as they got to the firepit, he dropped the wood and brushed off his clothes, checking to make sure no bugs escaped onto him. He sighed in relief when there were none to be found, and he followed Jedediah back to the woodline. "I can't believe you made me hold that, eugh," he complained, watching Jedediah as he dug through the brush like a madman.

"Gosh, stop making such a big deal out of it. You'll be fine. Ah! Here's a good one," Jed exclaimed, pulling out a long, thin branch. He passed it to Octavius before searching for another, "Perfect!" Octavius examined the sticks as they walked back. While it wasn't as dirty as the other pieces of wood, he was still grossed out by knowing that there had been bugs and dirt on it.

While Jedediah worked on lighting the fire, Octavius worked on wiping off his stick, going so far as to wipe it down with soapy water. Jedediah quickly got to work on roasting a marshmallow, and Octavius opted to watch rather than roast his own. The man let the marshmallow sit until it caught on fire, and he let it burn for a moment before blowing it out. He placed the charred hunk of sugar on a readied base and sandwiched it with another cracker.

"You're not actually going to eat that, are you?" Octavius questioned, before watching Jedediah bite down into the s'more. "What am I saying? Of course you would."

"Want a bite?" Jed asked with his mouth full, holding out the other half of the s'more to him.

"Noooo, thank you."

"Well, aren'tcha gonna try one?" he mumbled.

"I think I'm fine."

"Aww, c'mon. Just try one, it ain't gonna hurt ya!" Jedediah pouted and held out the bag of marshmallows to him. Octavius sighed and reluctantly grabbed a marshmallow. Unlike Jedediah, he roasted his to a perfect golden brown before placing it between the chocolate and crackers. He hesitated before taking a bite, trying to ignore that it had been on a stick prior, but the sweet taste soon washed away his worries. "See? What did I tell you?" Jedediah said, happy to see the man savoring the treat.

"Shut up," Octavius grumbled.

"Never," Jedediah smirked.

"Hey, boys! I see you already made yourselves comfortable out here. I was just about to bring you some roasting sticks. If you need any more firewood there's some behind in the box behind the house."

Octavius looked at the shiny metal rods as the man set them down and he turned to Jedediah, "So you're telling me I got covered in bugs and dirt for nothing?"

"You didn't get covered, but yeah, pretty much. But hey, that's part of the experience! You should know that, Teddy!" he called out toward the man, but he was already making his way back indoors. Octavius got up and grabbed a metal rod before sitting back down in his chair near the fire. They sat in a peaceful silence for a moment while they each made their s'mores. The night was quiet except for the crackles of the flames and the sound of crickets and frogs. Fireflies blinked in the darkness around them, and Octavius sighed as he rested back in his chair.

"You know? I can see why you like this place so much. It's quite peaceful."

Jedediah chuckled, "Yeah, it definitely is. I've missed this place. I can actually relax out here."

Octavius sat back up and looked at him. The flames from their campfire danced in his eyes, reflecting a light gold amidst the blue. "Is it hard for you to relax elsewhere?" Octavius asked him genuinely, and their eyes met for a moment before Jedediah once again looked away.

"Yeah, you could say that. I've traveled around a lot, especially recently."

"Any reason why? If you don't mind me asking, that is. I don't mean to intrude," Octavius quickly clarified.

"Nah, it's alright. But uh, I guess I kinda just want an escape from my old life. A lot of stuff happened that I'd rather not get into. Let's just say I've dropped contact with just about everyone back home, heh…"

Octavius could see the man's expression dim, and he lightly put a hand on his shoulder, "Well, uh. I hope you're doing alright. I've not talked to anyone from home in years. I know it's not the same, but I somewhat understand what you're going through."

The man looked up at Octavius with an unusual expression, but not an unwelcome one. "You know, when you get past your attitude, you're actually not that bad of a guy," Jed said, his bright eyes piercing in the firelight.

Octavius quickly removed his hand from his shoulder and scoffed, looking away, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Good, because I mean it as one," Jed said, smiling warmly as Octavius glanced back over at him.

The two sat in silence for a moment longer before Octavius groaned and got up. "I'm gonna head inside."

"You're not staying?" Jed looked up at him, a little surprised, and possibly disappointed. "You know there's plenty of space in the tent for both of us if you wanna join."

"I hate to disappoint you, but I'd rather not get any more bugs and dirt on me tonight. I'm going to take a shower. Rest well."

"You too," Jed said, before Octavius made his way inside.

As soon as he got into the house, Octavius could feel the temperature difference. He felt like he was burning up, and his palms were sweaty. Was it the summer heat? The campfire? He wasn't sure. "I hope I'm not coming down with something," he thought, though knowing what he had been through out here he wouldn't be too surprised. He brushed the remains of the s'mores off his teeth and decided to take a cold shower to cool himself off. He soon found himself under the covers of a comfortable bed and sat on his phone for a bit playing a mobile game. Eventually, his eyes started to flutter shut. He smiled remembering the events of the day, surprised to have enjoyed himself in such a foreign environment.

Chapter Text

The sound of birds roused Jedediah from his sleep. He sat up, his back aching from having slept on the ground of the tent. While he had a sleeping bag, it wasn't as helpful as he had hoped. "Man, I'm getting old," he thought. He clambered out of the tent and stretched, taking in the fresh morning air, before shivering a bit as a cool breeze hit his exposed sides. "Brr. I should head inside…" As he made his way inside, he could just barely see the first few rays of sunlight shining over the trees, and the grass below was covered in dew. Once inside, he grabbed a blanket and took up the same spot he had on the couch the day before, soon joined by his furry companions.

When he awoke once more, he was met with the smell of a coffee sat next to him and breakfast on the stove. He sat up and looked to see Teddy in his chair. "Ah, good morning my boy. How was the tent? I noticed you came inside."

"Oh, it was fine, Ted. Just a bit cold and sore. I'm not as young as I used to be," Jed chuckled, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Heh. You and me both, son. Food is just about done if you would like any, by the way. Any plans for today?" he asked, taking a sip from his drink.

"Nothing set in stone, but I'm thinking about heading to the lake again today. Octavius seemed to enjoy himself well enough when we went yesterday, and I'm in the mood for a swim."

"Sounds fun! I hope you enjoy yourselves, whatever you end up doing. I can get you some towels and sunscreen if you'd like."

"That would be great, Teddy. Thanks."

"Any time, my boy," he said, patting Jed on the shoulder as he got up to get the items.

Jedediah grabbed the coffee next to him, taking a sip and watching the hands of the clock as they ticked. It was a little after eight o'clock, and the early morning sun now shone through the window. Jedediah relished the warmth, and cozied further into where he sat. He suddenly felt a sensation on his head, like something was in his hair. He looked up, coming eye-to-eye with Dexter. "Oh, hey bud. How's it hanging?" The monkey chirped as it climbed down onto Jed's shoulder and into his lap, grabbing at the drink in the man's hands. "I'm not so sure you're supposed to have this," Jed started before Dexter quickly dipped his head down into the mug, "but I guess you can take a sip." Jed sighed as Dexter looked up at him, licking the coffee from his lips. The two sat in silence for a while, basking in the sunlight.

A short while later, Teddy finally returned, towels and sunscreen in hand. He set them down for Jedediah before making his way out of the house. Jed took that as his cue to get up, begrudgingly pushing the animals off his lap. A plate of food later, he found himself standing on the porch, mulling over the plans for the day.

"Good morning." Jed turned around to see Octavius, prim and proper as always.

"Mornin'. You sleep well?" Jed asked.

"Well enough. How was the tent?" Octavius asked, joining him at the railing.

"Good, but I think I'll need a bit more padding next time," Jed said. He could still feel the ache in his back.

Octavius just nodded in response, staring out into the field. The two stood in silence for a moment before Jed spoke up, "I'm thinking of heading out to the lake again today. That good with you?"

"I mean, I suppose?" Octavius looked at him questionably.

"Cool," Jed smiled. The man may not have seemed enthused, but Jed was happy that he didn't seem opposed to the idea. "If you're ready, I can go ahead and pack us some lunch and we can head out."

"Sounds good."

Jed smiled once more before righting himself and heading inside. He made a couple sandwiches and packed a few snacks and drinks, tossing them in a bag with a blanket and the towels and sunscreen. After a quick outfit change, he was back outside, and he and Octavius were soon on their trek to the lake once more.

A short while later, they finally arrived. Jed tossed the blanket on the ground in the same space as the day before, tossing his hat on the blanket before stripping off his shirt. He snatched up the sunscreen, lathering his arms and legs before turning to Octavius, who was sat on the blanket. "Hey, could you get my back?" he asked, tossing the bottle to Octavius, who very clumsily managed to catch it before it hit the ground. Octavius scrunched his face in an odd way that Jed could only guess was disgust, before making his way over and helping him apply the lotion. "Thanks man!" Jed said with a grin. "You gonna hop in?"

The man once more made an odd expression, glancing out at the lake, "I am not much of a swimmer."

Jed looked at him surprised. "You can't swim?"

Octavius huffed, "I can swim very well, mind you. I just so happen to prefer swimming in water that isn't filled with mud and fish excrement… Besides, I didn't bring a suit."

"Pff, buzzkill. Come on, it's fun! And you can skinny dip for all I care. Don't worry, I won't look." Jed winked.

The man scrunched his nose and turned away, embarrassed, "No, thank you. I'm quite fine right here."

"Suit yourself then!" Jed said before making his way toward the lake. He turned around toward Octavius, but the man just stared blankly. He decided to ignore him, and made a run for the water's edge in an area that seemed deep enough. The water splashed up, and Jed sunk down. It was surprisingly cold in the depths, and the man quickly swam back to the surface. "Haha! You're missing out!" he called back toward the shore where Octavius was sat.

"Whatever you say…" Octavius said back, almost too quiet for Jed to pick up.

They stayed in their spots for a while before Jed decided it was time for a break and flopped down on the blanket next to Octavius, who appeared to be sunbathing. "You're soaked…" Octavius grumbled from where he laid.

"Yeah, that tends to happen when one goes swimming," Jed said mockingly. He looked toward the other man, noticing the residue of sunscreen that had not been applied quite right.

"No, I mean, you're soaking the blanket," he said, motioning to the dampened fabric beneath Jed.

"Oh, whoops," Jed hopped up, grabbing a towel and drying himself off some before grabbing something to eat. He gazed out toward the lake as he took a bite, smirking as an idea popped into his head. "Hey, how's about we go on a little walk soon?"

Octavius glanced up at him, shielding his eyes from the sun, "Sure. I'm tired of lying here anyway."

Jed quickly finished his food and helped him up, and the two made their way toward the water's edge. They walked around for a bit, chatting about Octavius's office life. As he talked, Jed clambered up into a tree that hung over the water.

"I really don't see why they run it that way. It would be much more efficient if- Jedediah? Jedediah, might I ask why are you in a tree?"

Jed grinned down at him from the large branch above, "So I can do this!" He then jumped from the bough into the water below, causing a giant splash that reached the shore, including Octavius. A few seconds later, he erupted from the water, an even larger grin on his face than before.

"Oh, great, now my clothes are soaked too…" Octavius groaned, walking closer to the shore where Jed was and leaning down toward the man to help him out of the water.

"Well, if that's the case…" Jed grabbed the man's hand, but instead of being pulled out of the water, he instead pulled Octavius in with him. Octavius's eyes opened wide as he found himself crashing down into the water below. He immediately surfaced, splashing water at a Jedediah who was cackling hysterically.

"Why would you do that!?" Octavius snapped, splashing even more water at Jed. "Now they're actually ruined!"

The man continued to laugh, barely able to catch his breath between the splashes of water and his laughing. "Well obviously because that was hilarious!"

Octavius rolled his eyes, pushing Jed under the water before pulling himself out and onto the shore. To Jedediah, he looked strikingly similar to a wet cat pulling itself from a bathtub. The man plopped himself on the shore and glared at him, "You have the humor of a child, do you know that?"

"I've been told a time or two, yes," Jed grinned slyly. "But c'mon, I'm just having fun. Besides, now you can't complain about not having a suit. Just hop in!"

Octavius sighed, making his way toward the blanket where their belongings were at. "Whelp, I guess that's a no then…" Jed thought to himself, turning back toward the lake to swim. A few moments later, he heard a splash near the shore. As he turned, he was surprised to see the man had returned, though this time in only his shorts. "Well! We've got ourselves an adventurous one here!" Jed exclaimed excitedly.

"Please do not say that," Octavius said with an exasperated look. As he stepped further into the water, Jed noticed how his nose scrunched up in disgust with each step.

"It's a bit better out here. Less squishy," Jed said, motioning for him to come out farther. Octavius made his way out toward the man, and eventually the two were out far enough to where they could barely reach the bottom with their toes. The water felt ice cold near their feet, but the surface felt warm from the summer sun. "See, not so bad, hmm?"

"Sure, whatever you say," Octavius said. The man then pushed himself toward the surface, lying on his back and basking in the sun once more. Jed tried to mimic him, but struggled to stay afloat as well as him. They sat there in silence for a while, taking in the sun's rays and listening to the quiet ripples of the lake.

"I feel like an otter," Jed suddenly piped up.

"A what?"

"An otter. You know, like a river otter, or sea otter?" Jed said, surprised the man hadn't heard of an otter before.

"I know what an otter is, you idiot. I'm just confused why you feel like one."

"You know, they float on their backs and stuff. Did you know they hold hands to keep from floating apart while they sleep? It's adorable."

"Indeed it is. Though I would hope neither of us fall asleep here."

"Don’t worry, I don’t plan to. It's just a thought." Jed flipped off his back and into the water once more. Any sleepiness he may have once had was disrupted by the water's cold temperature. He got out of the water, and went back to the blanket, drying himself off and packing a few things away. "I'm ready to head out whenever you are!" Octavius followed his lead, and the two men soon found themselves at Teddy's house once more.

By the time they arrived, the two were mostly dry once more. Jedediah once again went off with Teddy to help with the animals and visitors, while Octavius stayed behind, deciding to take a shower and rid himself of the lake's filth. After a good scrub and a change of clothes, Octavius once again found himself on the porch, looking out over the acres. The sun was starting to near the horizon, and many of the visitors were leaving. Jed could be seen in the distance playing with the dogs, while Teddy laughed at his antics from atop his horse.

Octavius instinctively turned back toward the door, but caught himself. "It would probably do me some good to socialize…," he thought. He sighed and turned around, making his way out toward the others. They soon noticed his approach, and Teddy rode over to him.

"Good evening, my boy! How are you feeling?" The way the man smiled down at him as he spoke reminded him of his father.

"I am doing well, thank you. Still adjusting, but it's easier than expected. You have a lovely place here."

Teddy chuckled, getting down from his horse, "Thank you, son. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." He patted the man on the shoulder. "If there's anything you need, don't be afraid to ask."

"Of course. Thank you again."

Teddy accompanied him on his walk across the field, making small talk while Texas trotted alongside them. The older man started talking about how he first met Larry, and Octavius was engrossed in the story. So much so that he nearly tripped as Rexy suddenly ran by his legs, chasing a stick. "Sorry!" Jed said, running up to them, "Didn't think he'd run so close to y'all."

"It's no problem, son. I'm glad you've got them running around for once," Teddy said, chuckling as he watched the dogs fighting over the stick in the distance.

The three men stood around for a moment, chatting and playing with the dogs as the sun set and the visitors slowly left. Eventually, it was dark, and they made their way back inside for a quick meal before bed.

After dinner, the two found themselves in their room once more. Octavius sat on the bed and watched as Jedediah shuffled through his own belongings. As he did so, Octavius took note of a particular item.

"Is that a skirt?"

"Oh, uhm, yeah," Jedediah said, fumbling a bit on his words.

Octavius gave him a questionable look, "Is it, uhm... Is it your girlfriend's, or?" He was a bit confused. He didn't recall the man mentioning any sort of relationship. "I shouldn't be too surprised, I suppose." he thought to himself, "I mean, he's… nice? Yeah, that's the word. Nice."

"No! I mean, uhm, no I just have it."

"Soooo, it's yours? I'm not necessarily judging or anything, it's just… unexpected, I guess?" "Nice, but odd…," he thought, definitely judging the man despite his words.

"Heh," Jedediah chuckled, his cheeks starting to turn a little pink in embarrassment. "I'm not gonna lie, I found it while I was shopping for the trip. You're from Rome, right? It reminded me of the little skirts those old warriors used to wear, and I thought it would be funny to sneak it in with your items. To be honest I felt kinda pressured by one of the workers into buying it in the first place, and I didn't wanna make you angry so I just kinda shoved it in with my stuff."

"First of all, unless you're thinking of the leather ones, I'm pretty sure they're tunics. Secondly, what?" Octavius couldn't help but laugh at the image of the cowboy in a fancy department store, being swindled into buying a skirt.

"I know, I know, it's stupid." Jedediah held a hand over his now flushed face, his usually confident demeanor starting to crack.

"I mean, yeah, a little. But it's entertaining nonetheless." Jedediah brushed his hair back with his hand and looked up at him. His red cheeks made his blue eyes even more vibrant, and his golden hair fell through his fingers in a couple loops onto his forehead.

Something about that look made Octavius freeze for a moment. Jedediah smiled at Octavius with a look that was kind and warm. Too warm, even. Octavius felt like he was on fire, and he was overtaken by a sense of fear. "Uhm, I'm going to go. Take a shower. Now." He quickly grabbed some items from his bag before rushing out of the room and toward the bathroom, ignoring Jedediah's confused retort of "I thought you already took a shower!?" as he left.

He quickly closed the door behind him, his heart beating rapidly. "What was that!?" he thought to himself as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He turned on the sink and splashed some water in his face, but it didn't stop the growing redness on his cheeks. He didn't understand why he felt so afraid. Just a moment before he was laughing, and even now he still felt, well, happy. So why was he struggling to catch his breath right now? Why did he feel the need to run away? Maybe it was from laughing. Yeah, that must be it! He almost never laughs around people. It was just awkward for him to laugh around someone else. "Has it really been that long since I've just enjoyed myself?" he thought. He shook the thought away before starting the shower and undressing. He thought about the skirt and imagined it on himself before chuckling. He knew if Jedediah had gone through with putting it in his bag, he would have been furious. At first. But something about it was just so funny now. Maybe it was because he had gotten to know the man a little better. Octavius glanced at himself in the mirror once more, his face still flushed, and a stupid grin on his face. That was something he wasn't used to. "What is wrong with me?" He sighed, turning the shower's temperature just a bit colder before getting in.

Octavius closed the bathroom door behind him, and made his way back to the room. As he entered, he was surprised to see Rexy and Trixie in the room, the latter wearing the skirt from before, her tail wagging haphazardly. Octavius's heart twinged at the sight, and he broke into a large smile, "Oh my goodness! You are so precious! You're like a little Roman warrior!"

"I thought you said it's not the same style?" Jed quipped from his spot on the bed. Octavius looked up at him and immediately regretted showering first after seeing him soiling the sheets with his dirty farm boy clothes.

"And I still stand by that, but I can allow it this once for this beautiful girl," he said, turning back to Trixie and smushing her face in his hands. "She can be my own precious little soldier." Rexy, jealous of the attention, stuck his face between them so Octavius was forced to pet them both.

Jed raised his eyebrows at him, "I'm surprised you like the dogs so much, but I won't complain." He got up from the bed, walking over to pat the dog's head. "They are indeed precious," he said, smiling at Octavius and grabbing his change of clothes. "Anyways, have fun with your new soldier. I'm gonna go wash off."

Octavius rolled his eyes at him, and continued to pet the dogs before lying down in bed. Following suit, Rexy and Trixie jumped up onto the blanket and cuddled up to the man. They sat there for a while, Octavius on his phone, before Jedediah returned to the room once more.

"Hey, I see you've made some new amigos. That's good. Anyways, I was wondering if it's alright with you if I sleep in here? The 'dirt stench' shouldn't be a problem this time."

Octavius snickered, having forgotten about his previous comment. "Sure, but you'll have to share. I don't think these two plan on moving anytime soon," he said, motioning to the two dogs.

"Aw, that ain't any issue. I've had to share less space with my siblings." He tossed his dirty clothes to the side and made his way over to the bed.

"Siblings, huh?" Octavius questioned as Jed pushed one of the dogs to the side with a groan.

"Yep, I've got several. Almost too many for me to keep track of," he chuckled, flopping his head down on the other dog as if it were a pillow. "I'm mostly kidding. But I do wonder if Mom and Dad ever stopped having 'em."

Octavius turned to him, intrigued, "You don't know?"

Jed sighed, "Pff, I mean I'd imagine by now they'd be too dried out to have any more, but I haven't spoken with them in ages. Left that lot years ago…"

Octavius furrowed his brows, "Well… I apologize, though I'm sure you had your reasons for leaving."

Jed shrugged, and Octavius wondered if he truly didn't care. "Eh, it is what it is. Too many bad memories in that town, it was good I left. Plus I wouldn't be a great influence for my siblings anyway."

"Now surely that's not true. I know you're not the most well-mannered individual, but you couldn't be that bad, right?"

Jed glanced over at him, his bright blue irises vibrant against his slightly red, almost watery eyes. "There's lots of folks who would disagree, but that's a story for another time. Wouldn't wanna scare you off too." He smiled halfheartedly.

Octavius frowned. He felt bad for the seemingly broken man in front of him. Sure, he had his own problems, but it was an odd feeling knowing that Jedediah struggled too. It was a bittersweet reminder that he wasn't alone with his sadness. Something about it intrigued him. It made him want to know more about the sky-eyed man lying across from him. Where did he come from? Why is he the way he is? Why would he feel the need to leave? And why would he be afraid of him leaving?

Octavius returned the half-smile. "I don't think you need to worry about that, Jed."