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Not typing out Kahmunrah's lisp...
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Chapter Twenty-Five
Xxx
Saturday, 2:38am
American Museum of Natural History
Xxx
Cheryl drove the vehicle right up to the Museum's front lot, slipping her specialist parking tag over the rear view mirror so she could park on the sidewalk at the bottom of the stairs. It wouldn't let the vehicle remain there forever, but outside of normal operating travel hours was fine for a bit.
The research specialist leaned back in the driver's seat, elbow on the door frame and face covered by her hand as she slumped sadly. Larry just stared forward blankly, not sure what to say if there were any words for the moment. Silence was all that was needed, and without a word everyone slowly stepped out from the car. Never before, had the steps leading up to the front doors of the museum felt so daunting, but Larry had to fight to keep from dragging his feet as he lead the way, fingering his keys in his pants pocket with a heavy hand.
Both miniatures in his pocket had shifted upon arrival, but other than that had not reacted, seeming to not even notice Larry unlocking the door to let everyone inside. Again, the lobby was still, Rexy frozen in his signature pose and Texas waiting to be mounted. Cheryl took the transport case she'd been toting and set it on the desk, dialing in the combination to the clasps. Once it popped open, the gold glimmer inside was enough to stir Ahkmenrah from his morose mood, the pharaoh stepping past his vaguely inquisitive brother to take the tablet once Cheryl pulled it free of the padding.
"I believe this belongs to you."
Ahkmenrah nodded, smoothing his fingers over the pieces before carefully clasping the artifact to his chest and backing up a bit. He kept his gaze lowered, not meeting Larry's concerned look before the night guard glanced around, searching for a direction.
"Teddy?"
Cheryl spun first, earning a startled gasp from Sacagawea when the woman came to investigate the quiet museum. "Well...that's different."
Turning back to the others, Cheryl's eyebrow rose in question, "Any ideas? McPhee's been checking in with me, no one has woken up before now."
Stepping closer, Sacagawea looked everyone over, including the almost hiding miniatures in Larry's pocket. Her utter confusion turned to stoic determination, moving to Teddy's side and taking his hand, "The tablet has caused this I assume?"
Larry nodded, "Yeah...long story Sac. The night after the maintenance-"
Her low hum cut the night guard off, "I can tell, I would first ask why one the former night guard candidates is returned, but I would prefer to know what Kahmunrah is doing here."
"He's supposed to be."
Cheryl's blatant tone earned a round of confused faces, before the museum employee held up a packet of documents from the main desk, "That's how he showed up here in New York Daley, he was transferred from Washington, the museums wanted to reunite the brothers apparently. There's a podium display upstairs outside the current in-standing Egyptian exhibit. One wax model of the Pharaoh Kahmunrah was delivered a couple nights after all this started."
Teddy huffed softly, wrapping an arm around his lady, "Then...that's that...Lawrence, I shall see you before dawn...excuse us. Thank you Dr. Woods."
While the pair left for the Artisan Hall, probably for the president to explain everything, Ahkmenrah shifted to face Cheryl. He bowed formally, meeting her gaze with forced politeness after a moment, "My thanks, Dr. Woods, for everything you have done in the past days, you have my deepest gratitude and admiration."
"You're..." Cheryl hesitated, but composed herself with a bow of her own, "You are most welcome your highness, it was my pleasure."
"I bid you good evening." Ahk turned away, not even affording Larry a glance when the night guard took a step forward.
Kahmunrah cleared his throat softly, crossing his arms over his chest with a low sigh, "Well then...Dr. Woods as you are versed in these halls, would you be available for a brief reconnaissance?"
Checking to make sure Larry was okay with that, Cheryl shrugged after a moment, heading off without a word and taking Kahmunrah with her. That left Larry with the pair of silent miniatures, both having since climbed from his pocket to stand on the night guard's hand. Jed wouldn't even look up from his boots, standing stiffly with his arms crossed tight to his frame. Octavius would at least meet Larry's eyes, shrugging helplessly as to what to do.
Letting either of them just stew in his hands the rest of the night wasn't an option, if even one other exhibit had woken up because the tablet had been returned to the museum, it was very possible someone else (Dexter) had been woken up as well. The night guard would need to check the museum over, especially since his replacement hadn't been as familiar with the night-to-day switch as to placements and reset aspects of some of the interactive exhibits. I.E. the kids zone that was locked up tight during Larry's normal shifts.
Larry shifted a bit, rubbing at his neck before trying to sound supportive, "Alright...guys...I-"
"Could you..." Jed's voice cracked, sounding so much smaller than it usually did, "Could you take me back to the Hall?"
At the pleading request, Larry could only really nod, carefully cupping his other hand around the pair to keep both them and himself steady while he walked, "Yeah, no problem Jed."
Sighing, the cowboy nodded gratefully, remaining silent once more but he did stretch a hand out to brace himself on Larry's fingers. Octavius did the same, but the general did not climb off once Larry had arrived and crouched down in front of the Old West Diorama. Jed jumped free with ease, landing on his bad ankle like nothing had happened to the surprise of all three of them. The cowboy flexed his leg and foot, stomping the boot a couple times before just accepting it. Larry knew what Jed was feeling, at least in part. The longer the tablet was back in the museum, the more energy Larry had for being up at three in the morning for the first time in over a week.
All healed up physically, but Larry knew Jed wasn't feeling the same way inside.
"Do you wish for company Jedediah? I can remain-"
Jed waved Octavius off, "Nah...just gonna get some sleep 'fore sunrise." The cowboy ducked into his tent without another word, leaving a very concerned roman general and a very resigned night guard.
At his insistence, Larry took Octavius with him on his rounds, the general stating he might as well assist in checking everything over. Larry figured it was for the company and not wanting to feel useless after the massive height change. Either way...it was the only thing they could do...move forward.
Xxx
Standing at the very inside of his tent for a long while, Jed listened to the heavy footsteps of Larry as he looked over each Diorama before leaving the Hall of Miniatures.
Once truly alone, with everyone else frozen still, the blonde let out a low growl. The tension that had been brewing for several hours now, uncoiled from his chest, leaving in rage as Jed went about trashing his tent. Breaking the small table that held the lantern, upending the box of tools he called his own, almost snapping the lid off the trunk when he threw it open and dumped the contents, yanking at his work vest and gear to strip down to just pants and his shirt with his hat tossed across the tent, ripping apart his cot and blankets...
Waxy, calloused hands froze after the fists balled into the worn fabric, the tight stitches having already started to fray and shred from Jedediah yanking at the blanket to rip it apart. Jed's tired eyes stared down at the quilt, seeing not just the worn fabric sewn into the old star pattern, but seeing the red-green-white blocks that right now also laid on a bed tucked up in a horse trailer, where a brunette teenager was sleeping...
Jed couldn't do it...he couldn't destroy the one thing he still had that linked back to Katherine, his Katie Bee. And was now his only mirror to the reflection of a life he could never have.
It had taken him only about five minutes to destroy his small living space, the one area everyone else had decreed was truly his own in the entirety of the Diorama, but it took Jed about ten times that to put everything back in order.
By the time the tent was back to looking like nothing had happened, minus a few scratches, Jed was barely able to remain on his feet. This time, it wasn't pained exhaustion dragging his long body to his cot, but bone deep fatigue radiating from his heart. The old quilt wrapped around him with a warmth that was both welcomed and hated, but it was enough to send Jed into slumber that would last beyond dawn.
Xxx
Saturday night was turning out to be relatively normal...for the most part...for Larry. He'd had a long talk with Dr. McPhee and Dr. Woods in the morning, and then crashed for most of the day while he could. Cheryl had done the same in her own apartment before another rodeo attendee who lived in the city drove her back up to the McCarthy Center. Erica and Don had already been planning on meeting up with Nicky on Saturday for the Rodeo so at least the kid was taken care of.
Larry had gone to the museum before sunset, checking on everyone, pre-locking up the Hall of African Mammals, and removing Kahmunrah's weapons from his figure. Once the tablet had glowed after the last dregs of sunlight had faded, there had been a tense twenty minutes of calming over half of the museum down about the new addition. Ahkmenrah had stepped in at one point, outright shouting over everyone else that he'd take care of anything his brother did or said, and to just let things be for the time being.
After that was taken care of, and everyone reassured that nothing was wrong just because they'd all been 'asleep' for several nights, Larry's night had gone just about normal from then on. With Teddy mingling with everyone else, it was easier to hide both Ahk's lack of involvement for the night, and that the miniatures hadn't taken over entertaining Rexy. Leaving Larry actually content with throwing the rib bone endlessly, as it gave him time to think.
Which for others in the museum, time to ponder thoughts was the worst thing that could happen.
Xxx
Jed went about his night half-heartedly, tending to his red and white paint horse with extra care, trying everything to avoid letting his mind wander. At least others had noticed he wasn't in the mood to chat. Octavius had had the good graces to come over and give a brief explanation as to the disturbance in the nights. Saying there had been a mix-up during the maintenance night with the tablet but everything was fine again.
Taking the cop out while he had the chance, Jed had disappeared deeper into the diorama to hide. Octavius left after fielding any questions, and Jed was allowed his solitude. At least until well after midnight when Mace and Adam Belloc appeared at the round pen fence, leaning on the boards while Jed worked with his horse.
"Boss you gonna talk tonight?"
Usually the Belloc brothers knew better than to aggravate their foreman, they might have grown up with Jed way back when, but that didn't give them room to cause a problem. Tonight however, Jed's luck was going to go south.
"Hey boss! Why ain't ya talkin'?"
Again, ignoring them was Jed's plan, and it wasn't working when Mace took on a sing-song tone, "Oh bo-oss...c'mon now! What's gotta stick up yer ass?"
This time Jed just growled, jaw clenching as he flicked the lead rope tied to Choco's bridle, beginning to lunge the horse and start groundwork.
Adam grumbled under his breath, climbing the fence and dropping to the ground with a huff; he caught Choco, stopping the canter with a low voice while Mace joined him inside the pen.
"This ain't the Jedediah I know, what the hell's wrong with ya man?"
"I ain't talkin' boys, lemme be."
"You an' I both know that ain't happenin'."
Jed growled again, "Don't make me-"
"What? Make you mad?" Mace scoffed, taking the rope from Jed's hand and passing it to his brother to get the horse out of the way, "Seems to me like yer already there boss, what's got you boilin'?"
"Lemme be Belloc. I ain't foolin' tonight."
Grunting in agreement, Mace crossed his arms, staring the blonde down with a low sigh, "No you ain't...yer missin' Lil Miss Katie."
Adam caught the fist before it could hit his brother's face, shoving Jed back hard enough the blonde hit the fence and stumbled to a stop, "Don't you argue boss, we all know that look. Ya had it after we all first woke up, an' ya got it back now."
"I said quit it!" Jed grumbled, brushing himself off a bit aggressively while trying not to look the two in the eyes, "I ain't-"
"Octavius told us Jed."
That struck a chord, and Jed stuttered painfully before just staring. Mace shrugged, "Well not really, He an' Will were talkin', and we overheard."
"Kinda hard not too," Adam grumbled, "Eavesdroppin' through a tent, we heard 'bout everythin' from the last week Jed."
"Not my fault canvas ain't a solid wall." Mace looked his boss dead in the eye, "Ya can't hide boss, it ain't gonna do ya any good, we're sorry 'bout Miss Katie, but I ain't watchin' ya do somethin' stupid again...not like last time."
While the brothers might act laid back, Jed heard the ferocity in their words, the loyalty and sheer protectiveness for their leader. Their friend.
He nodded once, sighing heavily and rubbing at his face after pulling his hat off for a moment, "I ain't gonna...I won't do thet again boys."
"Damn right you won't." Will's sharp gaze glared at the Belloc brothers before his chin jerked towards the horse pens, ensuring the pair left for the their chores for the night before the second in command spoke again, "Do I need ta take your guns Jed?"
Shaking his head this time, Jed moved around to pick up his brushes and tools for Choco, patting the horse's neck fondly before heading back towards his tent. Will followed somberly, not speaking until his leader and friend had come back out.
"I'm not gonna say it, you've heard it enough from me before Jed...and it ain't gonna do a lick of good now. But you can't hide yourself again, not like after yer Ma died...I know it hurts, ya know I do, an' I'll watch yer back here as long as ya need me to. But you can't let that ruin everything else."
Jed rubbed at his eyes, hissing angrily before he nodded, "I know Will, an' thank ya...but this...hurtin' for what ain't mine...that ain't right."
"She was yours Jed, even if only for a little while, she'll always be yours."
With that Will walked away, leaving Jed to his thoughts once more and still aching heart. Octavius must have been nearby as the warm hand dropped to Jed's shoulders a moment later, squeezing in silent comfort but staying out of the way otherwise. Jed's fingertips brushed the Roman's gently, a low sigh sliding from the cowboy before he let go.
"C'mon Ockie...still got some time left."
Xxx
Ahkmenrah blinked blearily as he stirred from his weak doze, trying to fight the urge to wake up for whatever reason and just give in to the exhaustion. After ensuring Larry and Theodore could handle everything without him, Ahk had retreated to the security office, collapsing on the couch to sleep since the tablet had deemed it fit to ignore Ahk's own aches. Leaving the pharaoh tired and grieving for the pain of another.
And yet sleep still eluded him, too far from the pharaoh's grasp to be of any use tonight.
Groaning softly, Ahk forced himself upright, rubbing at his sore eyes to clear the fuzzy vision before he clambered to his feet. The back hallways were almost a deadly silent, the others remaining far away from their resident pharaoh.
And their new one, Kahmunrah appearing around the corner looking a bit aimless in his intent.
"Oh there you are, get any rest? You look terrible."
Rolling his eyes without bothering to hide his disdain, Ahk slowly started for the main halls, "Always a pleasure brother."
"If you say so," Kahmunrah stepped into pace beside Ahkmenrah, hands clasped loosely behind him as his stride shortened to the slower speed the younger of the two was maintaining. The silence continued for several minutes, the pair climbing to the second floor through a back stairwell before the elder turned to subtly stop their walking.
"But I am serious, brother," The voice lowered, calculated to remain only between the two of them and not echo in the halls, a skill they both had to master at a very young age, "Are you alright?"
Shaking his head, Ahk turned to leave, rapid fire emotions streaking through his eyes even before the strong hand clasped his arm to stop him.
"Let me go."
"Answer me first."
He jerked the arm free, spinning on his brother with a venom in his voice that had been honed for just shy of two decades, something he'd picked up from the pharaoh in front of him, "No, I do not answer to you."
"Ahk-" Kahmunrah jerked back from the wild spin, stuttering a bit before lengthening the name he'd tried to cut short, "-menrah, just heed me for a moment."
Glaring didn't seem to have much of an effect, but that didn't stop the anger from bleeding into Ahk's eyes, "I do not wish to speak with you. Leave me be, tomorrow perhaps."
His brother scoffed a bit, "We are not guaranteed tomorrow, no one is."
"How optimistic of you, very philosophical considering it came from someone who stole life from others."
"Quite unbecoming little brother, I know you grew up with better manners than that."
"Why should I waste my breath?" Ahkmenrah shoved away the hand reaching for him, "You've never listened to me, why should I attempt to make you even now."
Kahmunrah's low huff was a barely bitten back growl, "Are you really still hung up on the murder thing? I thought we were past that-"
"Do you really think I could just let that go? You killed me, Kah!"
"Look, I am not going over this again, you know why I had to do it, you obviously understood. What more do you want from me?!"
"How about an apology?!" Ahkmenrah shouted, "A drop of remorse would astound me considering there is no lack of hatred between us, you've made that abundantly clear."
"I'm sorry okay!" Kahmunrah nearly roared it out, teeth bared in the war face that used to make Ahk laugh, now several thousand years later it still sent chills down his spine, "Is that what you want? My regret?"
The older pharaoh bracketed a forearm across Ahkmenrah's chest, shoving him back against the wall to keep the younger brother's eyes up, "Because I can assure you little brother, I feel that regret every day since the moment I plunged my knife into your back!"
Squirming beneath the other's grip, Ahk tried to get away, only earning the other hand to roughly grab his face and keep his gaze locked on Kah's. And yet there was nothing in them, no anger-no fire-no hate...
The darkness was swirling with pain, the deep clawing guilt that would weigh a heart down so far not even Anubis could right the scales.
Kah growled again, a low sound like a wounded beast, "I feel that regret every day, and even now not a night goes by where I can for a moment forget what I've done to you. Don't you ever mistake me little brother, I spent months in agony after your death. No matter of reasoning can justify committing fratricide. You may ask for remorse and I shall deliver it, I will always regret this. Others can claim excuses or even forgiveness all they please...but watching you die in my arms, I will never forgive myself."
It took him another minute, but Ahkmenrah managed to shove his brother off, both stepping away for the needed space. Ahk was shaking, arms wrapped tightly around himself as he tried to stifle back the tears. Kah wasn't much better, growling to hide the emotions clouding his face in a way his brother hadn't seen since they were very young.
"...never listen..."
Kahmunrah snarled, "By the grace of Ra! Speak up Ahkmen! I know you were taught better than that!"
"You never listen!"
"Ow!"
Jerking back, Kahmunrah pressed a hand to his nose, grimacing at the blood starting to well up from Ahkmenrah landing a solid punch to his face, it had been rare when they were kids for the younger to land such a strike, even less so as they both grew up.
"Well that was uncalled for!"
Ahk swung again, already waiting with a third strike when Kah blocked to second. It was a brief fight, ending when Kah shoved Ahk away and they both lost traction in sandals on slick flooring.
"What in the bloody hells are you going on about now?!" Kahmunrah threw up an arm proactively, glaring at his younger brother to keep him from swinging again and throw them back into a fight, "I'm right here you idiot! How can I not be listening?!"
"Hearing the words and listening to them are not the same thing!"
"For fucks sake!" Kah's accent jerked into thick French, sliding out of his normal voice as he switched and swore rudely in Egyptian before changing back, "You and I both know they mean the same thing, languages be damned!"
"Likely excuse!"
"What more do you want from me, Ahkmenrah!" Kahmunrah bellowed, "I cannot change the past and yet beg to the gods that I could! Why can you not-"
"Because I forgive you!"
Kahmunrah stared in stunned silence as Ahk heaved for air, tears streaming down his face as his hands balled into fists uselessly with his entire body shaking in rage.
"Damned by all the gods I forgive you! Why can't you see that?! Why won't you just listen to me?!" Ahk was screaming, the sobs shaking his body in broken in heaves in an aborted attempt at containing the rage that was over four thousand years old.
"Why..." Ahk's voice dropped, too exhausted to keep up the rage that had fueled the fire, it burnt out just as fast and left him cold, "Why couldn't you just have listened?"
He collapsed, sinking to his knees with no strength to hold himself any longer, Ahk didn't see Larry round the corner with Theodore on his heels, having followed the sounds of shouting. Kah didn't step closer until Ahk ducked far enough the crown he'd worn that was heavier than any burden slipped from his head to clank agaisnt the floor in a hollow pound.
The hand that slid into his blurred line of sight didn't stir a flinch this time, stretching out to tip the quivering chin just a little. Kah grunted when Ahk's fist dug into his tunic, nearly ripping the fabric in his fierce hold. Dropping to his knees, the elder pulled his brother tight to his chest, burying his face in the dark curls tight to Ahk's head.
"Oh little one...why could the gods not give you all that you deserved?" Kah's question didn't receive an answer, but he didn't really expect one. Thick arms of muscle corded from decades of training and war, were soft in their intensity while keeping Ahk held close. A low hum rumbled from his chest, his hand rubbing down Ahk's back to soothe the shaking. Slowly, Ahk's arms untangled from their cramped position to wrap around Kah's torso, clinging to him with a desperation he'd forgotten was under the surface.
Kah only hugged tighter, swaying slightly like their mother had used to when either of them was unsettled, or worse. Ahk melted into his hold, slumped against the stronger of the two in utter exhaustion.
"I hear you brother, I hear you."
Ahk snorted weakly, his brother's voice a smoother brogue he hadn't heard since before their father had upset the line of succession, "That's..." Ahk swallowed, trying to stop the hoarse croak in his own throat, "That's still not listening."
Scowling slightly, Kah squeezed too tight for just a breath of a second, flicking Ahk's ear before carefully supporting his brother until he could sit upright on his own. The hand that carefully held Ahk's neck didn't draw fear, Ahkmenrah clasped it with his own, wishing the embrace hadn't ended.
"I've always loved you brother, never forget that." A fierce glaze took over Kahmunrah's eyes, but his touch was soft when his other hand carefully brushed over Ahk's cheeks to wipe away the tears.
Shaking his head a little, Ahk's face softened, his eyes closing when Kah pressed a hasty kiss to his forehead before handing the younger pharaoh his crown. Ahk fiddled with the gold, fingertips tracing the cold metal that was so much heavier than it looked.
"Go get some sleep, you look terrible little brother."
"As if..." Ahk swallowed thickly, "As if you are much better."
"I never claimed to have the better looks pretty boy."
Ahk accepted the hand up, finding Larry grabbing his other to pull the pharaoh back to his feet. Kah's hand clapped on his shoulder, rough and firm. The look between the two was indescribable, but mutual. Pulling away, but not from fear, Ahk leaned into Larry's grip with a soft smile.
"Thank you."
"Sleep well brother," Kah didn't hold his gaze, looking down before back up to meet Teddy's look instead.
Taking the out, Ahk's smile widened when Larry's arm kept him upright, the night guard not pressing matters and leading the pharaoh back to somewhere quiet to sleep.
Xxx
Theodore Roosevelt had accepted Kahmunrah's museum exhibit transfer in the vague sense that he had to keep face for the others. He'd vowed to ensure the safety and well being of the museum, instilling confidence and a sense of peace over the others.
He hadn't truly felt it, but a mask worked when needed, even if it was tight and uncomfortable.
The shouting that echoed from the two pharaohs fighting had not helped the president's attempts at maintaining order, he'd been spending a good portion of the night helping Larry get everyone back into a routine, explaining away a tablet malfunction and would everyone please give the Hall of Miniatures space for a few nights.
Finding Ahk with bloody knuckles, Kah with a bleeding nose, and both nearly shaking themselves apart...Teddy had been hard pressed not to step in immediately.
Larry had stopped him, both pausing long enough to see the elder pharaoh pin the younger in a hug worthy of the time the two had truly been apart. Neither the night guard nor president moved until Kahmunrah had sat back, steadying his plainly exhausted younger sibling.
Now, Teddy held out a handkerchief to the elder pharaoh, remaining quiet while Kahmunrah mopped at his own face, unhurried at the tear stains marring his battle worn cheeks and fussier with the blood trying to clot on his upper lip.
"My thanks."
Grunting softly, Theodore looked over the pharaoh so many had come to fear, both in ancient and recent history, the man that stood beside him-was both powerful, and so very tired. A facade the president knew very well from his memories of a man long gone, and the wax figure of authority within the museum.
"He does not trust you."
"Nor do you, nor anyone else within these halls." Kahmunrah may act like that didn't bother him, but the tightening around his eyes was the give away, and Teddy shrugged, "Trust is not something I have held nor been given in a very long time. I do not suspect it is what I deserve."
"Rich coming from somethone of your history."
The pharaoh shrugged, "Mr. President, I was buried in an unmarked tomb and lost to the sand of time and the desert. My sarcophagus was never found and I only stand before you this night because of a trade merchant passed along an idol of me to Roman delegates long after my death and some historian though it amusing to order this visage to go along with the Gate found. Dr. Woods explained whole-heartedly that history has no use for me, it never did."
"And yet-"
Kah hummed softly, a low sound, crossing between the hiss of a snake and purr of a tiger, "My brother may forgive me, he may love me, and may know that I could never hate anything about him no matter how much I force him to be better...but he will never trust me, how can he? One could never trust their own killer. I cannot undo the past, there is nothing left there."
Teddy turned just enough to pause the pharaoh in walking away, respecting the somberness of the man before him, "Then what do you mean to do?"
Shaking his head, Kahmunrah stared forward, his gaze lost beyond Teddy's understanding.
"Those notes...discussing the tablet, what became of them?"
"Dr. Woods has them locked within her office downstairs, she intends to submit them into the museum archives regarding Ahkmenrah's exhibit-"
"You mean his body?"
Teddy nodded tightly, Kahmunrah sighed heavily, shoulders rolling before straightening back into a royal stance, the facade of composure draping over him like a cloak.
"If you can, ask her to destroy them, the power within that tablet is not to be trifled with. Should the wrong hands befall it, there is no telling what could happen."
Kahmunrah walked away without continuing, leaving the president standing in a silent hall so filled with life.
Xxx
Xx
Xxx
Larry Daley hadn't gotten enough sleep the day before, it worked to his advantage as by the time sunrise was nigh. The museum was quiet, murmuring in predawn drowsiness as the others settled themselves for the coming day.
He stepped past the darkened Egyptian hall, finding the young pharaoh curled within the sarcophagus in clothing he'd been donning during all the chaos. Royal garb had a tendency to weigh more than iron or bronze, burdening the wearer like stones. Without it, it was as if removing armor in battle...or in this case...
Stole the years away that should never have graced the young shoulders without someone to help.
A shaking hand brushed feather light fingertips over the smooth forehead, relieved there were no lines of pain or worry marring the bronze skin.
Twitching a little, the sleeping pharaoh shifted deeper into the blankets cushioning his eternal bed, the limits of the coffin kept the thick blankets tight around the pharaoh without constricting like his burial wrappings.
The low sigh that slid out did nothing more to disturb the other's rest than it did to stir the fabric draped over the owner's chest. Turning away from the rich detailing and engraving work that graced the pharaoh's coffin and was bracketed by the fragmented remains of the black stone sarcophagus, he looked over the mimicry of the tomb reliefs that were displayed on the museum walls, almost illegible hieroglyphics that told countless tales of history so long ago it was almost forgotten, eyes tracking down until they reached what he was really looking for.
Remaining close to the shadows was of second nature to him, with a slight detour to the main lobby before completing his task in the first dregs of night's fading shadows.
Dawn was cracking over the shield of night, as he returned to the darkened area, the slightly raised pedestal that should be considered perfect, felt even far more hollow than the emptiness of his lungs. The first glints of sunlight streaked through the glass in front of the museum, aching limbs struggling before failing in the draw of the magic fading.
"Well then..." He grimaced, the sharp clattering of gold hitting the ground almost nonexistent in his fading hearing, "Hello my old friend."
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