Chapter Text
Jess (6:55pm): wanna check out that thai place by the park for lunch tomorrow?
Steven (6:56pm): Sure! What’s the name again?
Jess (6:56pm): siam something… i’ll send you the link to their menu
Steven (6:56pm): Thanks :-)
Steven (7:00pm): How was the rest of your day?
Jess (7:01pm): meh, pretty uneventful. finally submitted that one project I was stressed about tho so at least that’s over with!
Steven (7:01pm): Cheers! I’m glad, that one sounded bloody awful.
Jess (7:01pm): what about you? any more tourists try to haggle with you today lol?
Steven (7:02pm): Haha, no, thankfully. That was certainly a first.
Jess smiled at her phone as she typed back another reply. Her face was illuminated by the screen’s blue light, the only light in her dim living room, aside from the streetlamp shining into her flat. The sun had gone down almost 30 minutes ago, not that she’d noticed. She’d barely looked up from her messaging app for much longer than that.
Things have been really nice these last few weeks. She and Steven had been eating lunch together most days instead of hanging around the gift shop. They started off in the museum cafe, at first. Then they gradually started branching out to local eateries (to “get some fresh air”), or just bringing lunch from home and taking it to the park (even better fresh air).
They’d also been texting more and more. Jess got the sense that Steven may not have texted very much before now. He either typed in perfect grammatically correct English, or used text emoticons and acronyms Jess hadn't encountered since using AOL instant messenger as a teen.
Fatima padded into the dark living room to find Jess sprawled on the couch grinning at her phone, Netflix having been stuck on the "Are you still there?" screen for who knows how long.
"Tell museum boy I said hi, yeah?" Fatima gave Jess a knowing look as she turned on a light and retrieved her laptop from the coffee table.
Jess rolled her eyes playfully. "What makes you so sure I'm talking to him? I could be texting anyone right now." She tried to look nonchalant, but she’d never had a good poker face.
"Ha! Please. You've barely looked away from your phone for more than 10 minutes since you got the fella's number." Fatima smirked.
Well, she wasn't wrong.
"Are you two ever going to have a proper date?"
Jess scoffed. “Shush, you.”
Fatima shook her head with a grin and turned back towards her room.
"You know where I stand on the matter, so I won't bother repeating myself again. "
Fatima had been urging her to ask Steven out since day 1.
Jess (7:07pm): Fatima says hi lol
Steven (7:08pm): I say hello back! Give my regards to Marlow and Roxy as well.
Jess pet the cat cuddled up in her lap and glanced at her flatmate's dog napping on the rug.
Jess (7:08pm): haha they appreciate it. give Gus a wave from me.
Steven (7:09pm): :-)
Steven (7:10pm): BRB - making dinner.
Jess set her phone face down on the arm of the sofa with a soft chuckle. She glanced back at the TV and hit play on the long-forgotten show she had been watching.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Steven was standing over a smoking stove, anxiously flapping a dish towel towards the open window.
“Bollocks…” he hissed, looking down at the singed peppers and onions in the skillet before him.
Would’ve been nice if you had put the phone down before you burned dinner.
“I know, I know, sorry.” Steven heaved an annoyed sigh, still waving smoke out the window.
I think I can salvage this, lemme take the wheel Steven.
“Fine, be my guest.” Steven didn’t feel like arguing tonight. He felt himself shift into the backseat of their consciousness as Marc assumed control of their body.
“Thanks, Steven.” Marc swung the dish towel over his shoulder and inspected the skillet of veggies.
“It looks like you just had the heat set a little too high and it browned the edges too quickly, these should be fine.” Marc drizzled some fresh oil into the skillet and gave the peppers and onions a few tosses.
“But if we’re making fajitas for dinner then I’m grabbing that steak in the fridge.”
Eugh, you can have this meal to yourself then. Just the thought of steak still makes me wince.
Marc huffed out a laugh as he dug through the refrigerator.
“Yeahhh, I guess you don’t have the best associations with it.” Marc tossed the package of meat on the counter and started pulling out ingredients for a marinade.
“.....speaking of dates, though.”
Steven groaned. They hadn’t actually been speaking about dates, but he had sort of invited the topic with the steak reference, hadn’t he?
What about them?
“I dunno, it’s just that you and Jess have been talking a lot more lately. Have you thought about asking her out?”
I did! I asked her to lunch at the museum cafe. And we’ve had lunch together nearly every day since.
“Yeah, but I mean ask her out in a romantic sense. That cafe thing was a great first step, don’t get me wrong. But, well…it’s time to take the next one right?”
Steven sighed. I s’pose… I just don’t want to muck anything up.
“I really don’t think you can, Steven.” Marc pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and set it on the counter. “This girl knows you pretty well by now and still wants to hang out with you. Maybe don’t take her to that steakhouse this time, though.” Marc smirked at his own joke while grating a clove of garlic into the bowl.
That was your idea, not mine! Steven retorted indignantly. For some reason Marc had never admitted to asking out Steven’s coworker, way back before Steven learned of Marc’s existence.
“Sure if you insist, Steven.” Marc said with an eyeroll. He mixed the last few ingredients into the bowl with an over-enthusiastic whisk.
“Anyway, all I'm saying is it’s well past time to take the next step with this girl. She’s definitely super into you. You gotta just go for it.” Marc sliced up the steak and dropped it into the bowl of marinade.
Steven didn’t say anything. Marc turned his attention back to the skillet of veggies and gave them another toss, turning the heat back up a smidge.
…why do you care so much, anyway?
Marc frowned. “What do you mean?”
I mean, why does it matter to you what happens with me and Jess? Steven asked quietly.
Marc paused, surprised by the question. A familiar twinge of guilt coiled in his chest.
His shoulders sank as he began to answer.
“Because…” He heaved a sigh, running a hand over his hair. “... look Steven, you deserve to have that experience. To have someone. Falling in love and just… being happy with someone.”
Marc took a deep breath before continuing, “I've thought a lot about something you said when we were just getting to know each other. About how I had eaten away at your life and kept you from doing the things you wanted to do.”
A wave of shame crashed over Steven as he thought back to that night.
I was upset when I said that. I didn’t understand it all yet -
“I know that, Steven. I just, I don’t want us to live like that anymore. I know it’s not going to be easy. We still have a lot to figure out but… this is a start, right?” Marc cast an uneasy glance over to the mirror by the door.
Steven gazed back at Marc sadly, and nodded.
Thanks Marc… I 'ppreciate that.
Marc smiled weakly, and turned his attention back to dinner.
You know, you deserve that too.
Marc looked back at Steven’s reflection, brow furrowed in confusion, “Deserve what?”
Being happy with someone. You realize that we could both have that, yeah?
Marc shifted uncomfortably. “Nah buddy, I had my shot and I blew it. Let’s focus on you for a change.” His mouth set in a tense line as he busied himself at the stove.
Steven bit back the rebuttal dancing on the end of his tongue. He wished he had the words to ease Marc’s pain. Sure, he'd been furious with Marc in the beginning. Steven had been struggling so hard for so long… It felt good finally having someone to blame for it all. (And it’s not as though Marc was without blame, to be fair.)
Now though, after everything Steven had seen in the Duat, all of the grief and abuse and trauma Marc had been through, he understood. Neither of them had been dealt a fair hand in life. Far from it.
Steven worried about Marc. He had barely left the flat, as himself, in months. Steven fronted for work at the museum several days a week. But aside from a few mysterious “consulting” gigs here and there, Marc rarely fronted outside of their flat. Steven didn’t know how to convince Marc that he needn't condemn himself to a life of self-imposed reclusion as some sort of penance for his past mistakes. That he was deserving of comfort, happiness, and love.
“Alright,” Marc set to slicing the marinated steak, “lemme finish this and then you can get back to texting your girl.”
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Jess leaned her elbows on the picnic table with a contented sigh. It was a gorgeous Friday in London. Sunny blue skies, and finally warm enough to leave your coat at home. Perfect for lunch in the park.
“Brilliant choice on the Thai place.” Steven said around a forkful of noodles, slurping with abandon. Jess stifled a giggle at him.
“Thanks, I’ve wanted to try them for a while.” Jess sipped her iced coffee and watched her lunchmate with amusement.
God, he was pretty. Those warm brown eyes that crinkled up with laughter. His strong, elegant profile and, she suspected, extremely kissable lips. A few wavy curls fell across his brow, and she barely resisted the immediate desire to stroke them back into place. Steven paused to take a sip of water and gave Jess a bashful smile.
“Anyway - like I was saying, apparently Donna isn't actually involved in hiring tour guides. So… I may actually have a better shot than I thought I did.”
Jess perked up at hearing this.
“Oh, that’s awesome! I’m glad you got that cleared up. It didn’t make sense for the shop manager to have any say over tour guide staffing in the first place.” Jess snapped the lid shut on her takeout container. “So…she was just being a huge asshole about that for the hell of it? Actually, what am I saying, that’s totally normal for her isn’t it.” she scoffed.
“Painfully typical Donna behavior.” Steven nodded with a smirk. He finished off the last few morsels of his lunch and pushed it to the side. “I think I might talk to one of the guides I know and see if they have any tips. I’m sure there’s loads I'll need to brush up on before I apply.”
Jess could see Steven getting lost in thought, his brows knit together as he absentmindedly ran a finger up and down the grooves in the wooden picnic table. Her heart ached to see him feeling so uncertain.
“Steven, you’d be a fantastic guide." Jess reached across the table and gently patted Steven’s arm for emphasis. "You already know the museum inside and out. You’re ridiculously knowledgeable about ancient cultures and history. Really, they'd be lucky to have you." She gave his arm a soft squeeze.
They'd both been slowly sneaking in more physical touch to their interactions. A hand on the arm while laughing at the other's joke, legs grazing while sharing a park bench, an encouraging shoulder squeeze while celebrating one another’s daily victories, a short hug goodbye when lunch came to an end. Every precious offering of affection nourishing whatever it was that was growing between them.
Steven brought his other hand to cover hers, and held it there tentatively. Jess felt a swoop in her chest as the soft warmth of his palm quickly drowned out any other thoughts in her mind. Steven looked up at her sheepishly.
“Thanks for always cheering me on, Jess. It… it means a lot.” He ran his thumb gently up and down the back of her hand before slowly letting go. Jess didn’t move. She felt something well up inside her and nearly burst.
“Of course, Steven. You’re brilliant.” Jess meant it. It pained her to see this smart, kind, handsome man filled with self doubt.
Steven grinned shyly at Jess, hyper-aware of her hand still resting on his arm. "You're far too kind, but thank you."
Jess got lost in his warm gaze for a moment, before snapping back to herself. She self-consciously let go of Steven's arm and took an awkward sip of her coffee, attempting to ignore the flush rising up the back of her neck.
"So, uh, are you doing anything fun this weekend?" Jess attempted to get the conversation back onto a more predictable track.
"Err, probably not, if I'm being honest.” Steven said with a matter-of-fact shake of his head, an amused smile dancing on his lips.
"Oh." Jess couldn't hold back a splutter of laughter at Steven's unbothered attitude. "I see."
“Yeah, I dunno, I have some new books coming in but they're not due to arrive till Monday. I'm off this weekend though, so that'll be nice at least. Saturdays at the museum can be quite exhausting. Probably just have a good lazy lie-in all weekend."
Steven stretched and leaned back in his seat. His shirt rode up to reveal a peek of his tummy as he raised his arms. Jess made a valiant attempt to not stare.
“What about you?” Steven returned the query as he settled back in the bench seat. Jess’s eyes snapped back up to his face, attempting to process his very simple question.
“Oh, not much. Probably just get to some errands that piled up this week. I was thinking of going out to see this band play a gig after work tonight but, I dunno.”
A sudden, brilliant, terrifying idea occurred to Jess at that moment.
“Actually… hey, would you want to come with me?” she asked hesitantly. Steven blinked.
“Come to…. The gig? Or the errands?” He raised an eyebrow. Jess chuckled and shook her head.
“No, yeah, the gig. It’s at a pub, so, nothing major. The cover charge is just a few quid. And the band is really cool. They’re like….sort of a folky afrobeat punk band? Like, if Gogol Bordello had been led by Fela Kuti.”
Steven thought he understood what some of those words meant. The main thing he was wrapping his brain around was that Jess seemed to be asking him to hang out with her… outside of work hours?
“I’ve seen them a few times and it’s always a fun show. Good energy, fun crowd.” Jess continued nervously. “I was just going to go by myself, but, if any of that sounds fun to you… I’d love it if you joined me.” She finished with a hopeful glance.
Steven caught a glimpse of Marc emphatically waving him on in the reflective plastic takeout container lid.
"I, well, yes! I would love to go with you! All of that sounds fantastic." Steven beamed at Jess. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Awesome, I'll send you the details." She grinned as she fidgeted with the straw in her coffee.
Steven was elated at this new development. Hanging out like real chums, catching a Friday night pub show together? He'd scarcely dared to imagine such a thing for himself. Still, uncertainty nagged at the back of his mind.
"Er sorry, just, quick question. Are you asking me to come with you like…as a friend? Like a normal, friendly sort of thing? Or… or a date, er, date-ish sort of … thing?" He stammered out a further clarification. "Not that I'd be unhappy either way! I just, well, wanted to be sure. So there aren't any misunderstandings."
Steven's direct query had Jess pinned in her seat. Moment of truth.
"Well, honestly, I'd like it if it was both? But, if I had to pick just one of those options…" she took a breath, "...what would you say to a date?"
Jess nervously studied Steven's face for his reaction. Please, please don't let her have been misreading things this whole time.
If it were possible to grin with your whole body, that's what Steven was doing. A current of euphoria crashed through him and practically shone out of him.
"I would say yes, please, absolutely, it's a date!" He beamed. “I’m only sorry I didn’t ask you first. I'd been thinking about it, quite a lot actually, but, well, I was worried about messing things up.” He chuckled quietly.
Jess’s face flushed with happy embarrassment at Steven's immediate affirmations.
"Well, then it's definitely a date!" She beamed back at him. Holy shit. This was really happening.
Steven saw Marc give him a thumbs up before quickly disappearing from his reflection.
Jess and Steven basked in the buzz of anticipation that electrified the air between them. Steven drank in the sight of Jess grinning at him excitedly. The thought that he could inspire such a reaction in someone so lovely was just… deeply intoxicating.
All too soon, it was time to depart back to work. They each strolled along the pavement at about half their normal speed - stretching the remaining time together as much as they could. Steven asked Jess more about the band they would be seeing that evening, and they decided on a time to meet.
"I'm really excited, this is going to be so fun!" Jess all but squealed. "And it'll be so nice to hang out without a deadline looming over our heads. No worrying about our bosses getting mad if we get back late."
Steven chuckled in agreement. They both slowed to a stop as they reached the corner where their paths would split.
"That's right, no work tomorrow so we can go to bed as late as we want!" Steven blushed as he realized his accidental innuendo. "Er, I mean, we can stay out as late as we want and go home whenever we decide to… or not, whenever either of us decides to. Separately, or, er, yeah." He ended with a flustered laugh.
Jess smirked at Steven and, without thinking, reached out to brush an errant curl out of his eyes. Steven stilled at the sudden gesture and chuckled nervously. Jess gazed back at him, her eyes flitting down to his parted lips. Her hand ghosted around the side of Steven's face, before pulling it back to drop at her side.
"Well, I'll see you tonight, then." She flashed him a shy smile.
"Yeah, can't wait." Steven said, nearly breathless.
Before he could lose his nerve, Steven stepped in closer to Jess. She looked up at him quizzically, the frenetic buzz in her body going silent in anticipation. Steven took a breath, before leaning in to place a soft kiss on her cheek, gently clasping her shoulder as he did. Jess's eyes fluttered shut at the sudden closeness. She felt Steven's stubble graze her cheek, his small exhale of breath across her ear sending jolts of excitement down her spine.
He began to pull away, but Jess wound her arms around Steven's waist and held him closer, gently nosing her face into his neck. She closed her eyes and breathed him in. His wavy locks tickled her cheek. She, once again, silently marveled at the solid build hidden beneath his unassuming clothes, feeling the muscles of his back rippling under her hands.
Steven gave a contented sigh and brought his other arm around her shoulders in return. He took in the warm weight of her nestled in his embrace.
This felt right. Safe. And very, very, good.
A car horn sounded off down the street, causing Steven and Jess to both startle with a gasp, breaking the spell. They laughed as they disentangled from each other.
"Right, well, see you later Steven." Jess grinned and bounced on her heels as she turned off towards her office.
"Laters…" Steven waved her off and floated back to the museum in a daze. He hardly noticed other passersby on the street. Has the weather been this bright and lovely all day? Was the sky always that particular shade of blue? Surely not.
Steven had half a mind to thank Donna when he got back. If it weren't for her limiting him to working in that ruddy gift shop he might never have met the loveliest person in existence.
Oh you've got it BAD for her. Marc chuckled from a street puddle.
"How very observant of you." Steven smirked.
He felt a buzz coming from his pocket. Steven pulled out his phone to see a couple new texts.
Jess (12:55pm): Here's the address for the show. The cover charge is cash only but I'll have enough for us both if needed.
Steven (12:56pm): Perfect! Thanks, I can't wait :-)
Jess (12:56pm): me neither!!
Marc clicked his tongue as Steven grinned down at his phone.
You two are adorable.
Marc focused on the joy he felt coming from Steven. He deserved it. Marc was excited for him.
Marc forced down the uncomfortable twinge of his own emotions simmering just below the surface. Nope. This was about Steven. Marc had had his time and plenty of chances and he had wrecked them all. He wasn't going to mess things up anymore. This was Steven's time now.
It was better this way.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
After work, Jess hurried home to get ready for her night with Steven. She dropped her work bag on the floor and kicked off her shoes as she closed the front door behind her. Fatima looked up from the couch as Jess headed towards her room.
“Woah woah, what’s got you in such a rush?” Fatima queried. Jess just smirked at her.
“Wouldn’t you like to know!”
“Er, yeah, I would, hence why I asked.” Fatima replied with a laugh.
Jess started pulling clothes out of her closet. Steven had only ever seen her in office attire, and she wanted to wear something that showed her actual personality for once.
"Are you going out?" Fatima peered around the corner as Jess compared potential outfits.
"Yeah, just going to see a gig. S’all” Jess answered breezily while examining her reflection in the smudged full length mirror.
“....on your own? Orrr…?” Fatima stared down Jess’s reflected face with a playfully exasperated wave of her hand.
“Oh, er, with Steven." Jess tried to play it cool but couldn't help turning back to grin at Fatima.
Fatima gave a theatrical gasp and clapped her hands together.
“Museum boy?? Yes! Alright, which one of you finally cracked and asked the other out?”
Jess rolled her eyes theatrically, "It was technically me. Although, to be honest, I went about it in a sort of… ambiguous way.” She shook her head with a laugh, “He’s not one to beat around the bush, so he straight up asked me if I meant it as a date or just a friendly hangout."
"And you told him….?" Fatima raised her eyebrow.
"That I would like it to be a date. And he very happily agreed." Jess replied breezily.
"You two, I swear." Fatima laughed.
"He did actually say that he'd been thinking about it for a while as well! But he was, well, too nervous to ask." Jess said over her shoulder.
"Well better late than never. D'you want to borrow any of my clothes for tonight? Maybe one of my bodycon dresses? Oh, I've got these new thigh high boots you'd look amazing in, they'll have him drooling on sight" Fatima winked conspiratorially.
Jess imagined Steven's flustered face at seeing her in a tight dress with thigh high boots and nearly doubled over from laughter.
"It's our first date, I'm not trying to kill the man!" She spluttered between giggles. "Besides, we're only going to a pub show. Maaaybe for the third date. Maybe."
"Well you just let me know. I'll expect a full report when you get back" Fatima said as she began turning back towards the living room. "Oh, and if he tries anything dodgy - you make sure to ring me up and I'll come get you. Alright?"
"Thanks, Fatima." Jess smiled at her flatmate's concern.
She turned her attention back to the outfit she'd picked out. Something stylish, and much more flattering than her usual office outfits, but not too over the top. Perfect.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
"Marc, WHY are all of your clothes so bloody tight???" Steven bemoaned as he scrutinized his appearance in the mirror. Marc had insisted on Steven picking an outfit from his wardrobe instead of Steven's usual attire. Steven was miserably pulling at the hem of a very fitted polo shirt Marc had suggested.
Um, I think you mean Properly Fitted. Unlike all of your oversized Weird Al looking button downs. Marc scoffed.
"Pff, sue me for preferring a fun pattern. And a little color. " Steven muttered while looking down at the dark navy blue polo he was wearing.
Marc rolled his eyes in the mirror.
Fine, fine, wear one of yours. At least take one of my nicer pairs of jeans, please?
"What's wrong with my trousers?"
They're old man pants. They’re fine for, like, work, but this is a date.
Steven heaved an exasperated sigh.
"Sure, alright yeah"
Steven ended up wearing one of his more understated button downs, a pair of Marc's dark wash jeans, and Marc's dressier boots. He had to admit, the jeans were definitely more flattering than his usual khakis. Though they were a bit more form fitting than he would usually prefer.
I've jumped off of rooftops in tighter jeans than those, bud.
Steven chuckled derisively, thinking back to Cairo. "Oh yes, I remember."
He pulled on his coat and took a last look at himself in the mirror.
"Well, here goes nothing."