Partners in Crime

Chapter 1: Movie Night

Disclaimer: Only the OCs belong to me. All the other characters belong to 20th Century Fox.

"Come on, Octavius! We just watched that movie last week," Jedediah complains, watching as the famous Roman general almost chooses Gladiator again.

"It's a classic, Jedediah. Roman soldiers, gladiators, action, and excitement all come together," Octavius points out, defending his choice for movie night. "Besides, I do believe you made me watch that dreadful film two weeks in a row. What is it called again?" the Roman soldier smirks at his best friend.

"The Lone Ranger is not dreadful! It's a classic cowboy movie," Jedediah points out, pushing Octavius out of the way of the tablet.

Every Friday night, Octavius and Jedediah borrow Larry's tablet for a movie night. The two miniatures watch the movie in their car that usually pulls Rexy's bone to give Jed and Octavius the "drive-in experience" as Larry calls it. Usually Jedediah and Octavius can come to an agreement on which movie to watch; one of them gets to choose a movie for one week before it's the other's turn. Tonight, however, seems to be the one night Jed and Octavius just can't make a compromise. In all actuality, it should be Octavius' turn; Jedediah had two consecutive weeks of The Lone Ranger, after all.

"That must be why you like it, then," Octavius deadpans, scrolling through both Netflix and Larry's personal list of movies on the night guard's tablet. "Look, Jedediah, we need to be rational about this, my friend," he continues, looking at his blonde-haired friend with a serious expression on his face.

"What do you suggest we do, Ockie?" Jed asks, using his nickname he made up for Octavius a little more than a year ago.

"Well, I figured we could poll our friends," Octavius suggests while he scratches behind one ear-a trait Jed associates with the Roman general's uneasiness or worry.

"Now, that's the first good idea you've had all night," Jedediah jokes, his eyes shining with laughter.

"Race you to Ahkmenrah's tomb?" Octavius challenges, hopping down from the counter and onto the cushioned chair at the front desk.

"You're on, partner," Jedediah laughs before taking off after his best friend.

Their calls of "Come on, slowpoke!" and "You'll never beat a Roman, Jedediah!" fill the hallway as they race towards the Pharaoh's tomb.

"Hey, Ahk!" Jed calls as he screeches to a stop inside the Egyptian tomb exhibit.

"My liege, we would like a word, please," Octavius politely says, nudging Jed harshly in the ribs.

The American cowboy still has no sense of propriety, calling Ahkmenrah by simply "Ahk". The nerve Jedediah possesses still baffles Octavius to this very day. One day, Octavius is sure Jedediah's impulsiveness will get just the cowboy, if not the both of them, in a great deal of trouble.

"Octavius and Jedediah! What can I do for you, my friends?" Ahkmenrah kindly asks as he appears from his sarcophagus, clothed in his pharaoh robes and crown.

He proceeds to crouch down where he can clearly see the miniatures' faces and expressions.

"Jedediah and I were hoping you could help us choose a movie," Octavius responds in a slightly less formal tone than he did when calling Ahkmenrah a liege no more than thirty seconds ago.

"Yeah, 'cause Octavius wants to watch Gladiator again," Jed says, butting into the conversation.

"Yes, that is true. However, Jedediah wants to watch The Lone Ranger," Octavius adds in where Ahkmenrah can understand both sides.

"Well, I can definitely see the positives for watching either," Ahkmenrah smiles at the two miniatures.

Ever the mediator, Ahkmenrah never likes to choose sides between his friends. All of the museum agrees the young pharaoh must have made quite the impressive ruler when he was fully alive both day and night. Ahkmenrah's peace-keeping skills are nothing less than amazing; the young Egyptian pharaoh can make any of the museum's inhabitants get along. Octavius appreciates the order and friendship Ahkmenrah brings to the museum; Jedediah enjoys the fun-loving and rebellious Ahkmenrah that sometimes gets into mischief. Jed and Ahk have pranked Larry all too frequently….

"Might I offer a suggestion?" Ahkmenrah continues, an idea forming in his head.

" 'Course ya can, Ahkmenrah," Jedediah answers, straightening his black Stetson hat in the process.

"What do you recommend, Ahkmenrah?" Octavius inquires, looking up at the pharaoh in curiosity.

"Well, I may not be quite the movie expert you two are, but I have always wanted to see the new movie Gods of Egypt," Ahkmenrah admits, thinking of the Egyptian-themed mythology movie. "It looked to be filled with action, adventure, betrayal, and even a touch of romance," Ahkmenrah continues, knowing his friends love all of the mentioned genres and plot choices.

Well, to be completely accurate, Octavius loves the romance genre; he hates the betrayal plot devices in most movies. Octavius had heard tales of Brutus killing Caesar; he did live in the Roman Empire, after all. Jedediah is usually opposed to watching romance films, commenting that they were too predictable and mushy. "Your large heart makes you a sap for these love stories, Ockie," is a phrase Octavius has grown all too familiar with hearing from Jedediah. And yet- Octavius is not one-hundred percent certain- the Roman general could have sworn he saw Jedediah bawling like a baby when the two of them watched A Walk to Remember together. Something about Jamie having leukemia and dying in the movie made tears stream down Jed's face despite the cowboy trying to hold them in. However, Octavius would never judge his friend for crying; Octavius cried so hard his chest shook with sobs.

"Nice suggestion, Ahk," Jedediah smiles, glad that the mythology movie has quite a bit of common ground that both himself and Octavius like to watch.

"Thank you for your time, Ahkmenrah," Octavius gratefully says, bowing to the pharaoh out of respect.

"Anytime, my friends. Now, let me know when you two are going to start a movie. I would love to watch one tonight, too," Ahkmenrah smiles, picking himself up from the ground before walking out of the tomb towards the main hallway.

"We will, Ahk!" Jedediah assures, his blue eyes lighting up as he turns on his heel and runs towards the other wing of the hallway.

"Jedediah, where are you running off to, my friend?" Octavius calls after the cowboy in concern.

"Last one to Attila's camp is a rotten egg!" Jedediah happily laughs, his blonde hair disappearing around a corner.

"You're on, Jedediah! Romans never lose!" Octavius yells after the cowboy before running after Jed with a determined look on the Roman's face.

After talking to Ahkmenrah, Attila, Teddy, Sacagawea, Larry, and Hannah -a freshman student in college that usually works at the museum during the day hours when she doesn't have classes- Octavius and Jedediah have finally decided on a movie all of the exhibits and two living humans will enjoy.

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," Teddy reads off the DVD box as Hannah slips the DVD into the TV in the security office. "What made you choose this movie, lads?" the president asks as he sits down on the couch by Sacagawea.

"Well, we wanted to pick somethin' everybody could enjoy. And it ain't easy findin' one of those movies, either," Jedediah remarks from his place on the arm of the couch next to Octavius.

The two miniatures sit on the arm of the couch whenever watching TV with any of the larger exhibits where no one can mistakenly sit on either Jed or Octavius. One close call with Attila nearly flattening Octavius led to the agreement that the arms of the couch are reserved for any of the miniature cowboys or Romans who want to watch TV with the other museum inhabitants.

"Yes, this Percy Jackson seems to have adequate material for everyone. Mythology for Ahkmenrah, adventure for Jedediah, action for Attila and Larry, jokes and dry wit for Teddy, romance for Hannah, honor and tradition for myself, and uh- We figured Sacagawea would just like it," Octavius speaks up, not being able to look Sacagawea in the eyes. "Sorry, my lady. You don't really seem to have a particular set of movies you enjoy," the Roman general apologizes.

"It's quite all right, Octavius. I am okay with any type of movie. They're all wonderful," Sacagawea assures, which makes both miniature men smile.

"Hannah, start the movie, will ya?" Jedediah says, throwing a piece of popcorn in the air before catching it in his mouth.

"That was rude, Jedediah," Octavius remarks, elbowing his cowboy friend in the ribs harshly.

"I agree. You do not treat Hannah that way," Ahkmenrah agrees, coming to his girlfriend's defense.

"Guys, cut it out. I know what he meant. It's fine, Jedediah," Hannah tells the three of them, rolling her blue eyes as she slips the DVD into the DVD player. "Don't worry about it," she continues, moving back to her place on the couch beside Ahkmenrah and the miniatures.

"Thank you! At least someone understands I'm not rude all the time!" Jedediah pouts, giving Octavius a fake frown.

"Jedediah, my friend, you know what I meant," Octavius says, fumbling over his words as he tries to apologize. "I—well,…"

"Got ya good, boy," Jed laughs, which makes Octavius roll his eyes and steal their tiny bowl of popcorn away from Jedediah.

About thirty-eight minutes into the movie, Hades appears on-screen in all his hair-raising, fiery glory. Sacagawea gasps lightly, burying her face into Teddy's shirt until she knows what is going on in the movie. The president wraps his arm around his girlfriend, whispering small words of comfort in her ear. While Sacagawea is scared for the moment being, Jedediah is just overly amused by the scene.

"Percy Jackson, show yourself!" the on-screen Hades commands, looking around Camp Half-Blood looking for the child of Poseidon.

"Hey, that sounds like you, Ockie," Jedediah laughs, realizing the similarities between Octavius' manner of speaking and the movie's portrayal of Hades.

"That does not! No one can copy my voice," Octavius disagrees, shaking his head at the cowboy.

"Hades! Stay back!" Chiron yells in the movie, brandishing two small swords from his sides.

"I cannot sound like that buffoon Hades! He's not even Roman! How could you even suggest such a thing, Jedediah?" Octavius continues, not seeing the resemblance between his voice and this character.

"Well, aren't Hades and your God of the Underworld pretty much the same thing?" Larry asks the Roman general, which nearly sends Octavius into a rage.

"No, Larry, they're not," Octavius says through gritted teeth, trying to keep his composure. "Pluto is the rightful God of the Underworld! Hades is just a knock-off version of Pluto for the Greeks! They are not the same! End of story," Ockie all but yells, his face getting redder by the second.

"Gosh, Ockie. Calm down, son. Have a cookie and calm down," Jedediah snickers, handing his best friend a miniature cookie that Hannah and Larry have learned how to make for Jed and Octavius.

"They're being so inappropriate, Jedediah. You instigate too much," Octavius says after taking a bite of the small cookie.

"Let's just get back to the movie," Hannah suggests, pressing play on the remote.

"Thank you, my lady," Octavius addresses Hannah with respect, leaning back against the arm of the couch with a less than pleasant look on his face.

"Percy Jackson, bring me the bolt! Be a good boy. Hand it to me and I will exchange it for your mother."

"You have to admit, lad, he does bare striking resemblance to your voice," Teddy says as Sacagawea uncovers her face from his shirt.

She is no longer afraid of Hades after Jedediah and the others pointed out he sounds like Octavius.

"He does not, Teddy. Surely you do not believe that I, General Octavius of the great Roman Empire would ever threaten a child with keeping their mother in the Underworld," Octavius scoffs.

"Of course not, Octavius. But, you do have to see that his voice is quite similar to your own," Teddy continues.

"He does sound like you," Larry agrees.

"I hate you all right now," Octavius groans, propping his feet up on the edge of the couch.

"I don't think he sounds like you," Ahkmenrah tells the general, which makes Octavius smile slightly.

"Thank you. Well, let me rephrase. I hate all of you except Hannah and Ahkmenrah."

"We're gonna hear about this all night," Jedediah whispers to Attila.

"Hey! I heard that, Jedediah!" Octavius tells his best friend in an unamused voice.

"Good. Ya do have ears under that helmet then," Jedediah jokes, making Octavius roll his brown eyes as he takes a sip of his hot chocolate.

That sends Octavius off into mumblings about sarcastic cowboys and teaching Jedediah a lesson he won't soon forget.

Precisely an hour and twenty-six minutes into the movie, an all-too familiar voice calls out once more.

"Persephone! What could possibly be taking so long?" Hades comments once more, which makes Jedediah have to stifle a laugh. "Don't ignore me!" the God of the Underworld continues.

"Here we go again," Ahkmenrah whispers, knowing that Octavius is going to be really mad if people continue to say that the Greek God of the Underworld sounds like him.

"I see you getting ready to speak, Jedediah. Don't do it, my friend," Octavius softly says, really not in the mood to hear more comments about Hades sounding like him.

"Don't do what, pardner? I wasn't gonna say nothing," Jedediah smirks, his blue eyes laughing along with the rest of him.

"It does sound like you," Larry comments.

"Larry…." Octavius says in a warning tone.

"Don't get him riled up again, Gigantor. It ain't worth it," Jedediah comments.

"Thank you, my friend. That's the first nice thing you've said this evening to me," Octavius smiles, knocking his glass of hot chocolate against Jedediah's glass as best friends do.

"You're welcome, Ockie. 'Sides, the only one who gets to pick on my best friend is me," the famous cowboy laughs, earning him a light smack on the shoulder from Octavius.

"It still sounds like you," Larry whispers before mumbling about how Octavius is too concerned with his Roman image and title to accept when he's wrong.

"You're Hades?" Grover remarks on screen.

"Yes," Hades answers back in a deadpan voice.

"No, I'm not," Octavius softly says.

"Did you just admit that you sound like that road lizard?" Jedediah comments, thinking he must have heard his friend wrong.

"No. What an utterly stupid idea, Jedediah," Octavius laughs in an obviously fake way.

"Whatever you say, pal," Jedediah says to keep his friend from going on another rant. "I never did thought it sounded like ya in the first place, Ockie," he adds in, making Octavius smile.

"Thank you, my friend. I appreciate that."

"Any time, pardner."

After the movie is over, the museum exhibits, along with Hannah and Larry, start to leave from the break room. It's about an hour until sunrise, so everyone starts to head their separate ways to make sure everything is cleaned up for the next day. Hannah holds her hand out and Octavius and Jedediah happily take the lift and stand on her hand until they reach the Hall of Miniatures.

"Did you guys like the movie?" Hannah asks as she climbs the stairs to the second floor.

"I enjoyed it, yes. Even with the comments about Hades sounding like me…." Octavius answers, having liked the movie as a whole.

"It was great! Man, I love movie night," Jedediah responds with a smile, straightening his black Stetson hat in the process.

Hannah gently sets the miniatures down in front of the Western diorama and Jedediah and Octavius turn around to bid her farewell for the evening, or day, if you want to be precise about it.

"I'll see you two tomorrows," Hannah smiles at the two miniatures, glad every night is an adventure with the two of them around.

"Goodnight, Lady Hannah," Octavius bows, earning him a laugh from Hannah at his constant formalities.

"Night, amiga. See ya tomorrow night," Jedediah comments, hopping up onto the edge of the Western diorama display.

"Stay out of trouble, okay?" she continues, mostly directing this statement to Jedediah.

"We shall try our best," Octavius grins, knowing very well that he and Jed can get into quite the trouble if they put their minds to it.

"No promises," Jedediah smirks, watching as Hannah walks down the hall towards Ahkmenrah's tomb.

"What do you want to do tomorrow night, Jedediah?"

"Well, I was thinkin' we could drive around the museum again and maybe cause mischief….."

Author's Note: And there's Chapter One of Partners in Crime! I hope everyone enjoyed; please leave a comment with what you thought. Also, if anyone has any ideas for any future one-shots, let me know in either a review or a PM. However, please keep your ideas at a K rating and do not contain any slash in your prompts. I do not write slash, so I don't want anyone to be disappointed if they suggest one and I don't write it. I'm telling you in advance. I got the idea for this story while binge watching the Night at the Museum trilogy with my younger sister last weekend; Jedediah and Octavius' friendship is just amazing and hilarious all at the same time. The two of them and Ahkmenrah are easily my top three favorite characters. Be on the lookout for more one-shots in this story; I already have quite a few ideas! I'll try and update every Monday if I can since my last day of school for the year was last Thursday. Until the next chapter, my amazing readers!

P.S. In case you didn't know, Hades and Octavius are both played by the talented and funny Steve Coogan. So, they do sound similar. :)