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Steven Grant has had a hard life. Oh, but he’s an alter, life couldn’t be that hard for him now, could it?
No, he was separated from Marc and Jake at the ripe age of 26, and was bestowed with their then shared chronic illnesses while the other two got the best of whatever Khonshu decided was good qualities from their original body.
Giving Steven the illnesses was the obvious choice, wasn’t it? He wasn’t as effective as Marc and wasn’t as strong as Jake, he was just a distraction.
A distraction, yes. Of course. When did he ever became anything else?
Steven woke up with a start. First thing he had notice upon waking up was that he’s bound to this stupid ankle cuff he used to have when he was a lot younger— not when he’s pushing 40. Marc had gotten rid of it upon their separation, telling him there was nothing wrong with him and there was no longer any reason for him to bound himself to their home.
Jake never said anything, but he was nodding along to Marc’s words and that was enough for Steven to stop being so paranoid about his life and started trusting his other counterparts.
Back to the flat, Steven could’ve sworn he had gotten better at organizing his books. This place just looks a mess with everything scattered all around and sand.. around the bed? What kind of psychotic break did he had this time?
The Brit then reaches for his glasses that he would keep on his nightstand only to find nothing. Steven’s eyesight is not the worst yet, but he had always preferred keeping the glasses on his face so he could see properly and not squint through every little things.
What the hell?
As Steven slowly snap of his dazed mind, it suddenly clicked to him that he’s not home.
His flat were organized, wedding pictures all around the fish tank along with post cards and actual live fishes.
Not a dead one. Plus, they actually have two fishes, not just one.
Steven’s married— was. His partner’s stuff should littered all around the house just as much as his, considering the fact that said partner had died from a brutal case of homicide and not because the two weren’t in love with each other anymore.
Steven touches himself. That’s right. Yeah, he was going out.
He’s in his button up, cardigan, dress pants and sneakers.
What? It’s easier to walk around in those. Plus, he was going to visit a grave— he doubts anyone in that graveyard would mind. Or maybe they just no longer have the ability to do so. Great.
Steven still have his brown leather bag hanging from his shoulder. Okay, now that’s weird. Steven would never sleep in these conditions— ankle cuff? That’s old stuff.
The door flung opened, startling Steven who was deep in his mind, thinking about his situation.
The two men stepped into the flat, screaming and yelling at each other. Didn’t even notice Steven’s existence but the Brit did notice the bits in their conversation.
“Steven’s dead because of you, ¡bastardo! So much for ‘protecting’ him, right?”
“And you’re any better? You think I wanted him to die? How do you think I feel, asshole? I didn’t ask for this!”
“What? For new bodies? Didn’t you say it would be easier if you do have it, tu hipócrita? And what? When Khonshu finally grants you your wish suddenly it’s not your fault that precioso is dead?”
“Didn’t you call yourself the protector, Lockley?”
“You—”
Someone who looks awfully lot like Jake was about to lurch at this guy who looks exactly like Marc but if he was deeper in the mess than he was— but the person with the cap stopped once he saw the foreign figure on the bed.
Steven.
Not their Steven, but Steven.
“Que?”
Marc turned around to face the source of Jake’s confusion.
Steven, but not their Steven.
“Khonshu, what the hell is this?”
Khonshu? There’s no way. Steven sealed his arse a few months ago— oh no, he’s actually here.
“This isn’t my doing.”
“Who is he?”
“It seems to be another version of Steven Grant. A variant.”
What in Dr. Strange’s lingo are they using right now? Is Steven missing a subscription?
A variant? Yeah. Yeah. Steven had seen this before. Spider-Man always deal with a variant of himself at least once a month so that means he’s—
“Bollocks, I didn’t sign up for multiversal retirement plan.”
“Clever boy.”
Nicest thing Khonshu has ever said to him. His Khonshu or not.
Steven took off the ankle cuff and massage the spot. How did this one phase went out for so long? It makes his leg sore.
Their Steven is dead. For him, Marc and Jake was. Yet here they are.
Maybe his pills aren’t working. Maybe this is just another hallucination of his. Maybe it’s a dream. Maybe Steven get to say how much he loves them this time?
No, he should be thinking about going home.
Marc and Jake have been staring at him weird. Probably couldn’t decide between being overjoyed or skeptical about the situation. Which is fair. It seems like the both of them are new to this job unlike Steven.
Steven’s a veteran and he’s retired. The Brit sealed Khonshu for a reason.
“You look tired.”
Marc had said before cursing himself. Probably wasn’t meant to be said out loud.
“Well, you look miserable, mate. First body?”
First body of your loved one that you had to hold while everything gets colder?
Steven doesn’t really watch what he’d say most of the time, considering just how bad his life was as an avatar. People around him had taken notice, but didn’t say much since they knew that’s probably the only way Steven could cope with whatever he’s going through.
A way to regulate his fucked up mind you could say.
Marc made a face, but didn’t answer Steven. Hit a nerve there.
“Kept him in the dark?”
His version of Marc and Jake didn’t try to hide it away from him after they’ve gotten separate bodies— if anything, Steven’s more scared about them finding out what he has become to continue on their legacy. Unwillingly.
“No fue intencional.” (It wasn’t on purpose).
“But it got him killed.” Marc said bitterly. He should’ve been truthful to Steven about everything— now he’s dead because the Brit couldn’t protect himself. He was made for home. He wasn’t meant to face those fights Jake and Marc deals with.
“If it makes you feel better, you and Jake are dead in my reality.”
Steven never really got the chance to get to know his alters. They had approximately two to three years before the two got killed off.
“Why do you say these things so casually?”
Typical Marc. His sweet Steven could never, right.
“How long have you been an avatar?”
Marc’s big olde’ eyebrows almost knitted together at the question.
“A year.”
Oh, these two are.. amateurs!
“You are quite experienced, aren’t you?”
Steven forgets how Khonshu can basically see into his avatar’s mind whether if the relationship’s severed or not.
Steven’s experienced. After Marc and Jake had died, Khonshu made him took over, whether he like it or not. The Brit didn’t have much choice— he was forced into a thirteen years of service under Khonshu’s bullshit.
It is a miracle he’s still alive after Khonshu’s shitty treatment and his own weakening will to live.
“I would not treat you his way.”
Well, safe to say Steven already knew that, considering the fact that this Khonshu is gently speaking to him like he is of a child plus giving out reassurances. Steven almost didn’t recognize the deity.
“Respectfully, I don’t want to be an avatar anymore.”
He was freed a few months ago after losing so many things. Not ready to go back to that lifestyle this soon.. or ever. Hell, Marc and Jake left him in the early years of him being an avatar and he hasn’t recovered since.
Jake made a face, finally feeling familiar with Steven. If any version of Steven becomes an avatar, it’s probably against the man’s will.
Khonshu didn’t say much. Didn’t belittle him. Didn’t get angry. Just left with a nod.
Too nice. The deity is awfully nice here.
“Well, you guys did one year.. I did thirteen.”
Marc wasn’t really happy at the revelation, especially knowing that Steven would rather die than be Khonshu’s avatar.
And he did this time. Marc still could feel Steven’s body growing colder and colder in his arms as he cries and begs for Steven to not leave him here alone. Is this a compensation? No. Marc shouldn’t view this Steven as a reward— maybe a chance to make amends.
“¿Trece? El pájaro ha perdido la cabeza.” (Thirteen? The bird has lost his mind.)
“Where did he die? What were you guys after?”
The two alters went quiet, not willing to answer the question at all but they will have to.
“It’s the Alps. We were.. getting the scarab. Khonshu’s smartass decided to give us our own bodies so Steven wouldn’t cause more troubles for us.”
“No sé qué tipo de lógica seguía.” (I don’t know what kind of logic he was following.)
“Didn’t make anything easier. We lost him for a minute and he was..”
The Alps? Steven knows the Alps. They’re trying to stop Ammit.
Ammit who took his away his peace. His marriage. His whole life. Gone.
It was a miracle he was able to stop that crazy maniac of a crocodile.
That was his last mission ever. Is it their first big mission? Should he help? Can he help? If he gets to personally lay a hand on Arthur Harrow, he would be delighted.
“And then he was gone.”
Oh, yeah, Marc is talking about his death. Steven knows how it feels to look at the dead bodies of your loved ones, because those lives are the ones he continuously failed to save.
One after another— to the point where Steven had begged Khonshu to end him.
The deity simply didn’t listen. Wouldn’t.
Steven tried. Countless of times before he even spoke to Khonshu about it. What did he do? He’d revive Steven after every attempt.
It wasn’t fun. Steven spend thirteen years of his life like this and the only reason he survived was—
There was a harsh knock on the door. Jake peeped through the peephole and hisses.
“Tu problema tonto.” (Your problem, dumbass.)
The man simply said before opening the door to reveal..
Layla?
“Oh, what the hell? You are triplets?”
His Layla never got to meet Marc and Jake. From her reaction to them, Layla’s never got to see Steven in this universe.
It seems like she knows whom her target is though as she took a full on stride towards Marc and shoved the papers into his hands. Divorce papers.
“Should’ve at least had me sit down with you before you make stupid decisions. Sign it.”
Jake and Steven made the same disgusted face at the truth while Marc gave them ‘oh, you guys wouldn’t be any better than this’. Lies. Steven’s better than that! Jake, as much as you think he wouldn’t, would. Just because that man can’t keep his mouth shut and he’s too friendly.
Jake's probably a romantic.
Marc took a pen, reading over his own divorce paper while squinting hard. Steven forgot how he had never seen his alters get older because this is a problem Steven started having in his 30s.
It was an awkward waiting game since Marc couldn’t see and Layla could barely contain her own irritation. Wow, what did Marc do to her in this universe? Timeline? Reality? Whatever.
Layla took notice of the rings on Steven’s finger as she waits for her husband, who is repulsed by the idea of reading glasses, read the terms and conditions of the divorce papers like he wasn’t the one to send it.
“Tell me you’re doing better in your marriage than him.”
“¿Estás casada, cariño?” (You’re married, sweetheart?)
That had Marc turning his head too before going back to reading the papers. Is he stalling?
“We’re not triplets so I didn’t inherit Marc’s fear of miscommunication.”
Marc looks like he’s about to tackle Steven for that statement. Jake is cackling somewhere in the kitchen. Commitment issues and Marc Spector never separates.
Layla continue to speak to the Londoner. There’s just something about him that draws her in— like she had always known him, but how is that possible? They’ve never met according to these three. It’s Khonshu’s doing in their words— separating Marc from his alters (Layla didn’t even know Marc had DID) and causing catastrophe.
And apparently this Steven is not from here. The original had died and Marc and Jake are blaming themselves and this new Steven seems to be more put together than theirs. Their words, not Layla’s.
Layla ended up just not letting Marc sign the papers and Marc looks like he’s about to moan from the relief that he’s feeling.
They ended up sitting in silence as Marc started booking tickets for their flight to Cairo. All of them. No one left behind for some reason. Steven doesn’t have powers nor did Layla, but Layla had insisted on going and Steven just didn’t fight the fact that he is gonna be included in this little trip.
It was peaceful. Steven was getting questioned by his alters until someone knocks again.
“They followed us here.”
Jake said bitterly before grabbing his gun. Steven, ever the peaceful lad, suggested knocking them out instead.
Steven did it with so much ease that it scared Marc and fascinated Jake.
“Is your alter your psychopathic side?”
Layla are both. She’s both bothered and interested.
Marc shook his head.
“No. It was me and Jake. Steven was..”
A bookworm. Someone that should be living in a safety bubble made by Marc and Jake so he could stay happy, but the bubble always seem to burst regardless.
Steven laid them down on the floor and contemplate taking Jake’s guns and ending their lives here. These are Arthur’s followers. Steven prefers to call them mindless slaves.
Steven decided against it and had Jake tied up the two strangers.
They ended up turning those people in before driving around before the flight tomorrow. The Brit doesn’t know where the car came from but it was obviously Jake’s with the way he smacked Marc’s hand away from touching his radio.
Children.
Steven’s hands itches to grab his phone and scroll but his phone case is quite.. something.
Eventually, it was just him and Marc in the car as Jake and Layla went out to get food.
“You are married?”
Marc broke the silence.
“Were.”
Was all Steven said, staring out the window instead of looking at Marc.
“You married anyone I’m familiar with?”
Typical Marc. Protective.
“I don’t think you’d like the answer, Spector.”
Steven said, eyes following Layla as she walks into the restaurant and something clicked for Marc. Is that why Steven had been looking so sad?
“Just for the record, she died. I didn’t send divorce papers to her door like a twat.”
A clear jab towards Marc’s inability to communicate. Necessary.
Marc also took notice of the two rings Steven’s wearing as a necklace. One engagement, the other’s a wedding ring, smaller.
Layla’s.
“How long?”
Steven didn’t answer immediately. He hated talking about it.
“It would’ve been fourteen this year if she didn’t.. yeah.”
Marc didn’t like seeing Steven sad. He even once cursed Donna on the phone for talking to Steven like he was some wild dog. Donna didn’t recognize him and had asked him to return the phone to Steven, but all he did was warn her the next time she pulls bullshit on Steven, she’ll have a problem.
This Steven is no different. The Brit could act as tough as he wants, but his heart is clearly as soft as it has always been. And Marc believed that was why Steven was able to keep Layla by his side until death parts them.
“It’s weird seeing her alive. I.. everything here— you’re dead. Jake’s dead. She’s dead. I don’t know you like you know me.”
Because Marc had always been there, in the back of Steven’s mind, watching. Jake is no doubt there too sometimes. They had always known Steven and what he likes, but Steven never really know them.
“I wished seeing you didn’t hurt me.”
Because it does. The Brit had held Marc in his arms as he went away, eyes unfocused, trying to soothe Steven as he ripped a sob from his chest.
He was holding Jake before and then Jake stopped talking. No heartbeats— chest wasn’t moving. It was a miracle Steven was still functioning then. He kissed Jake’s forehead, desperately trying to hold onto him until he had noticed Marc's own body a few feet away.
And the cycle repeats. Marc tried to talk him through his panic attack— as he was actively dying, blood sipping out at an alarming rate and dying.
Steven had never been more afraid. Afraid of being left alone. Afraid of losing the two most important people in his life that kept him sane. Afraid of his own fate. Khonshu had watched as Steven screamed and yelled and begged for him to return the two of them back to him.
Didn’t listen. Wouldn’t. He wouldn’t. He just wouldn’t!
“Marc, please. Please.. you can’t leave me. You can’t.”
“C’mon, deep breaths, bud.”
“No, no, no, no! Stop trying to calm me down— just stay with me. Stay with me, please!”
“You’re gonna be okay. I need you to leave this place, please.. it’s not safe for you out here.”
“Khonshu, please! They didn’t mean it! They didn’t ask to be let go, I did— let them continue to serve you, please! Heal them, heal— Marc.. breathe, please. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me!”
“This is what you had wished for. Why are you so angry when I’ve granted it?”
“Marc! Marc! Listen to me, please— look at me.. look at me. Please, please.. please.”
Khonshu didn’t listen to him. Refused to. That wasn’t what he was wishing for. He just wanted them to be free from their criminal lives so they could all live together peacefully.
Not like this.
Steven never got his peaceful life either way. Khonshu made the Brit his, regardless of consent.
Steven didn’t even notice he was crying until he feels Marc’s wiping away his tears. Steven ended up sobbing into Marc’s chest, gripping onto his shirt like a lifeline.
“Please don’t leave me. Please.”
Steven had always put on a tough front. There was no need for his soft side as the avatar of Khonshu who’s quite literally called The Fist of Vengeance.
Something Marc’s familiar with. He never really get to be vulnerable with this line of job, and considering the fact that Steven was the sole avatar of Khonshu back in his world, Marc would assume Steven had to adapt to this personality as his own.
“I’m sorry I lost you.”
Marc should be saying that. He had killed his Steven after all. They’re both guilty of something.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault. I’ve got you.. I’m not going anywhere, baby.”
The nickname had slipped before he could stop himself but he really didn’t care. He has always loved Steven, always will.