AU of An Unexpected Adventure. Avery still interns but she gets to know Ahk before actually seeing him.
After discovering that the museum came alive at night thanks to a golden tablet, Avery became more curious about it. Cecil and the other guards told her that she could continue her nightly visits as long as she stayed away from the Egyptian wing. It was basically forbidden territory. And she could see why, the whole wing seemed to be cloaked in a dark, foreboding fog. It didn't help its reputation either that it had two jackal headed guards standing watch. It was eerie. She could hear the haunting screams of a man locked up. This screaming brought up some unpleasant childhood memories and she wished he would stop. Although, as they say, curiosity got the better of her.
One night when she was visiting, she decided that she wanted to try and meet the stranger. Well as much as she could through the glass and sarcophagus. She stood outside of the exhibit pacing back and forth, trying to psyche herself up. She had never broken the rules before, she was always one to follow along with them. Call it a gut instinct but this was something she felt like she needed to do. She cast furtive glances both ways making sure that no one had seen her. She approached the guards who immediately leveled their spears at her.
Panicked, she brought her hands up. "I'm not armed! I'm not trying to do anything, I swear! Maybe I can help him?" They considered her request and surprisingly let her pass but they watched her every step.
This is either the craziest thing I have ever done or the stupidest.
She approached the sarcophagus carefully. Its lid was rattling violently and the screaming man never let up. What could she do or say at this point? Since the man was Egyptian he might not even know English. An idea popped into her mind as she dug out her phone from her pocket. She removed it carefully to show the guards that it was not a weapon. She quickly downloaded a real time translation app and typed in a sentence to be played.
"Please stop screaming. I'm here to help as much as I can." A robotic voice answered in the language. Immediately the man stopped his actions. Had he heard that right? It had been far too long since he heard his language spoken to him.
"You do not speak in an Egyptian accent. Ah, forgive me, that was rude. I apologize, it is not everyday that I get to hear my mother tongue." He replied, it was a bit muffled from his wrappings. Avery hadn't expected him to respond so soon. She scrambled to type in another sentence.
"Apology accepted. Though I have to be honest, I'm not a native speaker. I'm using an app on my phone." She mentally face palmed. Of course an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh wouldn't know anything about modern technologies.
"Sorry, let me explain. A phone is a modern convenience. It's pocket sized. It would be easier if I could show you but I cannot. And an app is short for application. The one I'm using helps to translate languages, that's the only way I know Egyptian."
"Ahh, that explains the lack of an accent. If you do not mind my asking, what language are you fluent in?"
"English." To her surprise she got a response.
"Then English it shall be." His voice was clear and confident.
"What, I'm sorry? You can speak English?"
"Yes, I went to Cambridge University. I was on exhibit there for many years before moving here. I picked up the language rather quickly." Her mouth dropped open slightly. This man was intelligent.
"That's amazing actually. Kudos to you!" She praised him. She had known English all her life but still got stopped up on it.
"Thank you. Now, if I may, what is your name?"
"Avery Daniels. A student at New York University and an intern here at this museum."
"Pleasure to hear your voice Avery. I am Ahkmenrah. Fourth king of the fourth king, ruler of the land of my father's." He wished he could properly introduce himself face to face with her but this was a good start. This was the first chance he had to talk to someone in almost half a century.
"That's quite the impressive title. I'm sorry, I'm not really sure what to say to someone of royal blood." Her mind was drawing a blank on conversation topics.
"Anything will do. For even if you just talk, it would be my honor to listen."
"Okay, well, I guess I could tell you more about myself then? Let's see, where to begin…" She sat down on the floor and launched into telling the basics of her life leading up to her time as a student. She didn't quite go into detail about her homelife because she had only just "met" this man, she didn't want to trauma-dump on him so soon or things might get awkward. At least not until they got to know each other better.
He was ever grateful and content to just listen to her. It sure as hell beat the crippling loneliness and despair. He was about to respond when the intercom crackled to life, saying that she should report to the security office immediately. She panicked. Did they know she was in the forbidden area?
"I'm sorry Pharaoh Ahkmenrah. I have to go!" She gathered her things and started to leave.
"Wait!" A muffled voice cried out.
"Please, will you come back again?" His voice was filled with hope yet tinged with sadness. It sounded so small for someone as impressive as a Pharaoh. Her heart broke and she found herself saying the only thing she could say at that moment.
"Yes, I will. I promise." She gave a sure nod which she realized was silly as he couldn't see her and walked out of the room. The coast was clear in the wing as she made her way to the security office. Thankfully they just said that it was time for her to leave as they had matters to attend to. They let her out the back door of the loading docks and she briskly walked back to the dorms. She couldn't believe that she had gotten through to the Pharaoh and had a pleasant conversation with him. Though she wondered why Cecil had forbidden her to go in there in the first place.
Meanwhile, Ahkmenrah finally had something that he had long since given up; hope.