'.. …./… ./… …./….. ./. …../.. …../. …../. ….' Octavius tapped out the Roman tap code onto the desk.
To most people, the code was just a random series of knocks, carried out by a bored miniature. The exhibits were doing nothing for the beginning of the night, even though Nicky was there.
Unfortunately, the young boy had homework to do, so the exhibits had to wait a while before they could begin to enjoy their night.
—
What Octavius didn't know, was that Nicky had been learning about Ancient Rome, and, as a project, was learning Tap Code.
So he could translate the tapping of the Roman general.
He scribbled down on a spare piece of paper his translation. 'I love Jed'.
The young boy's interest perked at this, and, because he knew his father would kill him if he didn't finish his homework before talking to the exhibits, quickly completed his homework.
He then asked to speak to Octavius. The miniature climbed onto the boy's hand, and they walked over to a bench out of earshot from the others.
"So… you love Jed?" Nicky decided to get right to the point.
Octavius spluttered, and tried to stammer out some sort of denial.
In a similar way to his father, Nick stopped the Roman with a raised eyebrow.
"How did you find out?" the general asked with a resigned sigh.
"Tap Code. I'm learning about it for History."
"You won't tell anyone, right?" the miniature sounded slightly panicked.
"Of course not! I think you should tell him though."
Octavius' face went pale at this.
Over at the main desk, Jed's voice could be heard loudly asking "Hey, what's this?"
"Oh god." Nick paled, eyes opening wide.
"What's wrong?" Octavius asked, looking up at the boy.
"I may have left my translation of your code on top of the pile of my homework."
Octavius went as white as a sheet.
"Nicky, did'ya write this?" Jedediah called, holding up the piece of paper.
"Oh god, he think's I have crush on him!" Nick covered his face.
"I'll sort this out." Octavius sighed.
The Roman allowed the young boy to carry him back over to the desk and place him down next to the cowboy.
"Nicholas did write that, but it was only so he could translate something that I was doing." Octavius explained. He took the westerner by the arm, and led him somewhere just out of earshot of the young boy.
Ten minutes later, the pair came back to the boy, the blond with a bright red blush on his face, and the Roman with a slightly less prominently one.
Both had large smiles on their faces.
Nicky smiled back at the pair, and knew that learning Tap Code had led to one of the best things that could have happened in the museum for a while.