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To have four names on your arm was not unheard of. Unusual definitely, but it happened. It definitely increased the odds of one of them having the exact same name as you. It’d still be a hell of a coincidence meeting your fourth soulmate and they have the same name, spelling and all, though. Especially with an unusual spelling, like Marc. The names ‘Marc’ and ‘Steven’ appeared on Marc Spector’s arm at the same time, which was another weird thing, two of your soulmates having the exact same birthday. Especially if it was also your birthday. Later, a long time later, Marc would stare at his arm and wonder what Steven thought it meant to see his own name there.
……
Marc had long since decided that he wasn’t going to reach out to Steven. The best thing he could do for this particular soulmate was let him have a normal life without the horrors he’d faced. Eventually he decided the actual best thing he could do for Steven was just disappear. And that’d be best for Layla too. He knew she’d track him down eventually, Steven’s name was on her arm too after all. He liked to imagine them together some time in the future after he was long gone. Safe and happy in their normal life without him or Khonshu ruining it.
……
But everything went to hell. Steven found out about him and Layla found out about Steven all before he’d had time to finish Khonshu’s last mission. And they both got wrapped up in it. They were in danger and it was all his fault.
……
“You could have told me what it’s been like for you… About Steven,” Layla said to him on the boat.
“For what it’s worth this is not how I wanted you two to meet.” Marc made sure to keep his eyes away from all reflective surfaces.
“And how did you want us to meet?” She asked with just a hint of annoyance. “Because it seems like you didn’t want us to meet at all.”
“I swear I did. Just in, like, a year. After I was done with Khonshu.”
“Why then and not now?”
“Because then I could bury myself so deep in my mind I’d never be able to find my way out and you two could be happy.”
“So you were just going to what? Disappear?” She was angry now.
“It would be for the best.”
“Like hell! Your name is on my arm too, Marc, on Steven’s arm.”
“Maybe that just means I was supposed to bring the two of you together.”
“No,” She said, looking him in the eyes fiercely. “No.”
……
Marc felt frustrated when Steven was talking to Layla in the jeep.
“Hadn’t he disappeared from your life already?”
That wasn’t fair. Except it was, hadn’t that been exactly what he was trying to do? Disappear? And as much as he told himself he was only pissed at Steven for refusing to give him the body because this was dangerous and all of them might die, he knew in his heart that he didn’t want to leave either of them.
……
“So, you kissed her.”
Steven scrunched up his face in anger, expecting an argument. “Well she is my soulmate! Yours isn't the only name on her arm, so I don’t care if you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.” And it wasn’t a lie, not exactly, but he felt… left out. Even if he had been planning on leaving himself out for a while now. But he’d been slowly realizing that he wanted to stay.
……
It’s not until the Duat, when Steven puts a hand on his shoulder and says: “It wasn’t your fault.” that Marc realizes that maybe him staying doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
……
So Marc walks out of paradise and into the sands to find Steven, and when he does he gives him his heart, both physically and with his words.
“You… were the only real superpower… I ever had. You’re my soulmate.” A tear fell down from his face and hit the sand. It was quickly absorbed, just like Steven was before, just like Marc was now.
And then golden light brought life back to their souls. And when Marc hugged Steven again it felt just as good as heaven.
……
And after everything was over, Marc lay in a hotel bed in Cairo holding Layla and looking at his wrist.
“I wonder where Jake is,” Steven commented.
“I don’t know,” Marc replied. “But we’ll find him.”