Chapter Text
The first thing Khonshu felt when he was released was the lack of something. Actually, someone.
Marc Spector
"I do not sense Marc Spector in this world." Khonshu spoke solemnly, more to himself than to Layla.
That could only mean something. His avatar, his true one… was gone. Dead. Not reachable, even for him.
That realization had been quite painful. Marc had always been there, been his. It didn't matter for how long Khonshu wasn't able to get to him, in the end, it was his fate to be his avatar.
Shai themselves had told him.
As Marc Spector, Steven Grant, or Jake Lockley, that was who they were meant to be. Khonshu truly didn’t like to have them taken from him.
Mainly with his great plans for the latter.
However, he quickly recovered from it when he sensed Ammit herself in this world. That old, decrepit, arrogant alligator. She had to be stopped.
He had a job to get done, he could mourn for the loss of what belonged to him later, when the world wasn't in danger. His Marc would have done the same.
"He died fighting, no doubt." Khonshu stated proudly.
Marc wouldn't have given up, not his avatar. And although he would rather have him there, still alive, he wouldn't disrespect his sacrifice.
He would always be his. In life and death.
"Fighting your war." Layla spat.
Khonshu would have done something human like rolling his eyes if he had them. He didn't have time for this.
"And it's far from over." Khonshu reminded her, "If Marc is truly gone, I am in need of an Avatar."
If. Khonshu scoffed at his own stupid hopeful attitude. He was getting soft after so many years.
It was possible for Marc to get back, but he shouldn't focus his attention on that. The pain of the disappointment could be more than it should be for a god-avatar's relationship.
Turning to the fierce woman of strong will, Khonshu started, "Would you, Layla El-Faouly, protect the travelers of the night…" but was interrupted by the human.
"Are you joking?" She asked with indignation, spite dripping from her voice, "You turned Marc's life into a waking nightmare. Why would I ever sign up for that?"
Well, she wasn't his first or even second choice. What he told Marc had been nothing but a bluff, a way of manipulating him for the sake of their connection.
Khonshu only wanted him, and his alters, no one else. Others were and would always just exist as stand-ins for his true avatar.
But she was the only available option at the moment and Khonshu wasn't in a position to choose better. She wasn't in a better situation either.
"Because you won't win against Harrow and Ammit alone." Khonshu answered sincerely.
There was no reason for lying for now.
"I'll take my chances." Layla said dryly.
Stubborn. And smart. Like Steven. Khonshu couldn't believe his lack of luck. There were two of them.
But the difference was that Khonshu had a minimum soft spot for Steve that he would never admit, and Layla was still just a momentary resource.
He had to change his strategy with her.
"Marc was in crisis over you. His lack of focus got him killed." Khonshu emphasized harshly.
It was mean, but it was true. If he hadn't been so lost because of Layla and Steven, Khonshu would have never needed to leave him and he would be alive.
"You need a plan, little bug. What I offer-" Khonshu was interrupted again.
"I don't care what you can offer. Marc didn't trust you. I don't trust you." Layla snarled.
Marc didn't trust him because he had no true idea of how important he was. Because he was so afraid of his mind and capacities that he couldn't allow himself to really be Khonshu's son as he should be.
"We'll work together without me enslaving myself." Layla continued confidently.
Khonshu sighed deeply. That was starting to get tiring.
"We must rebind Ammit." He insisted.
"How?"
"Only an Avatar can do it." Khonshu made it clear.
"I said no." Layla retorted.
Khonshu contained his indignation and exasperation. She rejected him. Not only once, but three times. The most times he had offered had been to Marc, but he was worthy of it.
How did she dare to put her own will above the fate of her race?
Khonshu gave up, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince her.
He would have to do it himself, despite the risks.
It didn’t go well.
Khonshu confronted Ammit, who looked the same from the last time they saw each other. Entitled. Arrogant. Petty.
She didn't change much in 2000 years, and he still hated her and her justice.
As always, they had their usual discussion before a brief fight that was ending up badly for him.
Until he felt it again.
Marc
His soul was back to this world. His Avatar was there.
Khonshu immediately teletransported to Marc's location. The essence of his powers washed over his Avatar to expel the bullets from his body and thread his wounds with the sparkles of the moon itself.
His suit covered the human's skin, the bandages intertwining on each other like writhing snakes, forming a familiar magic tissue that should have never left Marc's body.
Oh, there was nothing like sensing his presence again.
He looked over the torn tents and scattered tools, dried red spilled on the sands from the deaths of those who seeked Ammit. They were meaningless.
That blood would be taken by the cold wind of the night and disappear in the middle of the desert in only a few hours, erasing the traces of their existence.
His eyes focused on Marc when he appeared at the entrance of the tomb.
His Avatar was wearing Khonshu's ceremonial suit, almost shining with it. Khonshu smiled internally, his possessiveness satisfied.
He wasn't one to have useless attachments or rightchus morals, his complicated relationship with Marc making it obvious. But he cared about those who belonged to him, in his own way.
He turned, walking away to wait for Marc on the top of a small cliff among the tallest.
Khonshu was glad to have his son back.
Son
That had been a word he had avoided using to refer to Marc out loud, but it was what he was for him.
He couldn’t deny it anymore after having lost him.
"Khonshu." Marc called him.
His son
"I knew you'd miss me." Khonshu said, bragging about something he knew Marc wouldn't admit.
He could say whatever he wanted, but it wouldn't change what Khonshu was well-aware of. Marc needed him. More than he believed.
"Layla turned you down, didn't she?" Marc asked teasingly.
He wouldn't get into that business. That woman was just unnecessarily stubborn.
"Ammit has been freed. I was not strong enough to stop her." Khonshu informed him, making a pause before admitting, "Marc Spector, I need your help."
He was normally a very proud god, but he didn’t have any shame to require something that was already his.
If only Steven Grant didn't insist on interfering at the worst times, as always.
"Ah, just curious about something. How's this whole new arrangement gonna work then?" Steven questioned.
The switch between him and Marc was so obvious that the change of suits wouldn't be even needed to figure it out.
"Steven Grant, I was not speaking to you." Khonshu stated tiredly.
"Yeah, all right. But we do come as like a package deal now, so you're gonna have to deal with me." Steven said simply, pointing out, "And we did just save your life, so you're welcome for that."
Khonshu grumbled.
Unbelievable.
"But I do think you should answer my question, though. How's this deal gonna work?" Steven sat on a slab, crossing his legs.
He stared at him. The moment Khonshu had been trying to stop for months was happening and he had to deal with…
This
"You would negotiate now, with so much at stake?" Khonshu couldn't hide his indignation.
Steven was smart for not backing away, he could admire that, but at the same time, it was extremely annoying.
As Steven himself.
"Well, we did learn from the best, you old silly bird." Steven chuckled.
Old silly bird? And Khonshu thought pigeon had been Steven's worst. He definitely already knew for sure who his least favorite son was.
"I will release you both." Khonshu sighed exasperatedly but promised. "You have my word."
Steven and Marc wouldn't let it go. Of course they wouldn't.
It had been hard to keep Marc under his control since he and Steven started interacting, so this rebellious behavior wasn't a surprise.
But Khonshu would never give up on them.
He smirked, even if his face couldn’t express it.
He just had to make them believe he did. After all, he had an ace up his sleeve that would guarantee his claim over them.
"Mmm. I like the sound of that." Steven nodded happily, getting up, "Good. Glad we got that all sorted out."
So unaware. It was quite funny.
Khonshu would allow his sons that illusion.
His sons
He liked the sound of it.
Jake Lockley
The third alter ego.
The one Marc and Steven didn’t know about.
Khonshu liked him. Very much. He might even be his favorite.
He was everything Khonshu needed from him. Less moral than any of his counterparts, very practical, willing to do anything for them, and mainly, extremely loyal. Although not only to him.
Khonshu could deal with his chaoticness. After all, they shared the same goals. Technically.
He watched Arthur Harrow bleed out with satisfaction and pride as Jake drove away from the psychiatric hospital. It was done.
Finally.
"Get rid of the body." Khonshu ordered, glancing at Jake, who nodded.
The process wasn’t as satisfying as the kill itself, but the sensation of being in this world like this made up for that.
It had been a while.
After they arrived at the place Jake had already discarded a few corpses at before, Khonshu watched him do the same with Harrow, not feeling anything about the death of his ex-Avatar.
He truly didn’t care. He knew Marc and Steven would freak out if any of them came back to themselves right now, probably call him and Jake monsters.
Khonshu couldn’t deny that the definition could fit him depending on its meaning for them, but Jake wasn’t any of that. If he was evil, Khonshu would have never had him as his Avatar.
He was simply overprotective.
He burned with the same flame that moved Khonshu, the one that caused Jake to be so violent and brutal when he wanted. To enjoy the pain that could be inflicted before a kill and then the sensation of dirty blood being spilled.
All with a maniac smile on his face.
And if Khonshu used that in his favor, well, he just knew how to play with his ace.
Jake finished the job but before he headed to the driver's seat, Khonshu knocked on the window three times. He stopped and looked towards it, frowning and opening the door parallel to the one he threw Harrow inside from.
"Que pasa?" Jake questioned, putting his head inside and tilting it.
Khonshu gestured for him to enter, "Sit in front of me."
Jake was clearly confused but he still obeyed and then closed the door, sitting tense.
In a matter of seconds, they were inside the Overvoid, in Khonshu's palace. Each of the gods and goddesses had created their own spaces there after they abandoned humanity, most of them next to each other.
Khonshu had only created it for safety purposes, in favor of having his own place there, although it was far away from the others.
He couldn't stand them more than needed.
They appeared inside the main bedroom. It was a giant room with a pool inside that was parallel to a great round bed.
Steven and Marc were lying on the bed on their sides and faced each other, sleeping peacefully. The white cloth they dressed in was the equivalent of the finest old, Egyptian royal clothes.
In the middle of the room there was a massive, long table, plates of luxurious food covered every inch of it, all lined up. Jars containing water, wine and juice were set alongside them.
Everything was just as immune to time as the entire palace.
The columns, pillars and objects were all made out of gold and silver. Egyptian symbols that had marked the walls and ceilings of Khonshu's temples were now carved on them.
Khonshu sat on his tall, wide throne chair, with an unique design work that resembled the form of a half-moon with intricate patterns and the cold hues of moonstones. The throne was on the top of a platform crafted of the same material from the throne but of a polished version.
Leaning back, he observed Jake, who was wearing the same clothes from the other world and looking intensely at his alters.
He was clearly nervous, something that never happened, even when he dirtied his hands with blood of the unworthy.
Khonshu tilted his head, "What is it, my fist?"
Jake raised his head and faced him, his traits contorted in anguish, "Ellos murieron. No pude protegerlos."
Oh. He was guilty. It made sense.
Steven thought Marc was their protector, the guardian, but he was completely wrong. He had no idea what Jake was capable of just to keep them safe and away from any kind of abuse or brutal violence.
He would drown in the blood of his kills any day if that meant his alters wouldn't have to.
"Come here, my son." Khonshu called him and reached out his hand.
Jake immediately obeyed, walking up the stairs that led to the throne and pushing his face to Khonshu's hand, leaning on it as if a weight had been taken from his shoulder.
Khonshu hummed as he gently guided his son's head to lean his cheek on his leg, causing Jake to kneel in front of him, his body relaxed.
That was what he wished he had with Marc and Steven. This easy relation of acceptance and dominance.
"You died too. It was not your fault, Jake Lockley. There was little you could have done by then." Khonshu soothed him down, caressing his cheek when he felt a lonely tear fall from it.
He chose not to comment about it. So much guilt, madness and rage colliding inside a personality that was moved by his need to protect.
Perfectly broken, even more than Marc. It had been one of his best deals to explore that.
"Pero podría haber hecho más, antes." Jake whispered.
Khonshu didn't give him an answer, but his silence was enough of one.
That was true. If Jake had appeared before, done what he was doing now and taken their place as his Avatar, they might have not died.
It was past, though. Jake did what he had to do in the end, making Khonshu so proud. He deserved to know that although he was partially to blame for it, he only had to keep obeying and trusting him.
"You made up for it. I won’t let death reach you again." Khonshu promised.
Jake looked up, his normally maniac eyes shining with a rare but very present vulnerability, "Prometes?"
He wasn't certain of it, not as he should be. And still, he was looking for comfort and reassurance on Khonshu.
His god.
"You are my son. There’s nothing that can take you away from me anymore. Not even yourselves." Khonshu stated calmly, possessiveness dripping from his voice.
Jake smiled sadly.
"Lo sé. Ellos no." Jake said to him, but his eyes were on Marc and Steven, filled with his concern and fierce protectiveness over them.
Khonshu looked at them too. They didn't. Yet.
It was better that way.
They could try, struggle, and run away, but it wouldn't change the fact they were his sons. It never would.
"They will. Eventually." Khonshu declared, making a pause before facing Jake, "Are you prepared to do anything to keep them safe while that?"
He already knew the answer but he liked the confirmation when Jake looked back at him, smirking darkly, "Sí. Nadie se atreverá a hacerles daño. Ni a tus viajeros de la noche."
Khonshu reflected that smirk. He had to admit he had a favorite son.
"That’s my moon knight." Khonshu said proudly, patting Jake's hair before gesturing at Marc and Steven, "You can go be with them. I'll guard your body."
Jake smiled thankfully, looking so innocently happy, like a child who was just given a candy, as he walked towards the great bed, lying in the middle of his alters.
He rearranged them to rest their heads on his shoulders, pulling their bodies tight against his until their hands were lying on his chest.
Jake appeared to be glowing, protectively holding Marc and Steven like they were the most precious things in this and the other world.
They didn't wake up. And they wouldn’t. Not until Khonshu wanted them to.
He observed his sons, satisfied.
That wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
Him and Jake would have fun together first, and when he was already so deeply into his protective killing instinct, only then, Khonshu could allow Marc and Steven to know what they were doing.
It would be too late then.
With the power Jake allowed him to have over their body, they would just be able to stay in the Overvoid and watch.
Khonshu could even take them to go fishing to soothe them down.
He couldn’t wait for it.
I hope you enjoy this one-shot, dear readers, and I would love to know what you think of it and if you would like a continuation with Marc and Steven finding out!