The Fight of Cairo.
Large snapping teeth taunt Steven, inches from his neck as he holds the jackal's maw away from his neck. His face contorts in disgust as he feels the cool drip of slimy saliva coating his neck and soaking the collar of his pristine white suit.
The jackals' wild yellow eyes are bright and intent, dangerous as they stare him down. Its paws, large and heavy, hold Steven down by his chest and he can feel the intense pressure against his ribs painfully bruising. Though he struggles to keep the jackals' sharp teeth from his face, Steven's arms are tiring, and he knows Marc is no better. Jackals are quickly becoming Stevens' least favorite animal.
A crackle of energy rings through the air, sharp and loud as it permeates the very molecules of existence. The jackals head whips to the sound and immediately hunkers down and backs off of Steven, whimpers coming from it as it stares at a point in the air.
A flash of gold appears and leaves behind a woman, glowing and floating just above the destroyed street as silk draped robes flow around her like smoke curling around a bright flame. Her face is painted with sparkling gold and purple swirling paint across her face that comes together at her forehead in the shape of a sistrum. Her darkly painted lips quirk into a smile as she gazes benevolently down at Steven and the cowering jackal, eyes a startling yellow that pins him down like prey.
Stevens' words get stuck in his throat as he stares at the woman, wide eyes taking in every inch of her reverently, like a disciple worshiping a goddess. Marc pushes forward to the front and is struck just as speechless as he takes over the body.
The woman's gaze pins to the jackal as she lowers herself to the street, glowing slitted eyes softening with care as the jackal whimpers with fear. Silently, the woman holds out her hand in a beckoning motion, painted lips turning up in a pleased smile as the jackal slinks forward cautiously and rests its head in her awaiting hand that softly strokes it with a gentle care.
“K-Kat?” Steven stutters, pushing back into the driver's seat and pushing himself up quickly as the woman's glowing gaze shifts to him, still petting the previously angry jackal as if it's just a house pet.
“Hey, Steven.” Kat greets, voice soft and loving, “Is Marc there too?”
Steven allows Marc to slip forward, “Yeah, I’m here.”
Kats face splits into a beaming smile that makes the glow of her brighten sunnily. The jackal gives a content bark and fades back into nothing, leaving Kats hand empty as she crouches down in front of Steven and presses a long, slow kiss to his lips.
It's soft and gentle, languid as if she has nothing better to do and is content to spend her days just kissing him. It fills Steven with a warm contentness as he returns the kiss and tries to pour all the things he wishes to say into it.
Halfway through, Marc comes in and changes the angle. His lips becoming quicker as if kissing her was his last breath, lips taking control and pulling Kat along as she follows willingly.
Pulling back, Marc's hand remains on Kat’s cheek, softly stroking the painted symbols curiously as he examines her new appearance.
“I can't tell you how happy I am that you're alive.” Marc whispers, low voice rough and choked.
“Well I'd hope so.” Kat teases, a sharp fanged smirk appearing on her lips as she feels the familiar pieces reconnect in the puzzle of her heart, “Laylas here too, she's on her way over. Oh wait until you see her! She has this cool outfit with-”
Kat is cut off mid ramble as another kiss is pressed to her lips, whether it's from Steven or Marc, she isn't sure. The giddy happiness flowing in her body feels like a drug, one she never wants to go sober from.
“Well this is all very touching.” Harrows voice calls, mocking and cruel as he walks closer, “But unfortunately you two cannot be allowed to live, not if you refuse to see reason.”
“Oh my god, can you shut up for two seconds?” Kat groans dramatically, whipping her head around to glare at Harrow who simply raises patient brows at her, “We are trying to have a moment here.”
Marc snorts and cracks a small grin, glad to see that Kat is still herself after everything. Kat stands up, brushing off the dust and grit from her arms and legs, and turns to face Harrow as Marc does the same behind her. Two sets of glaring eyes directed at Harrow.
A flash of bronze shines through the air as a woman with shining bronze wings flies down and lands next to Kat smoothly.
“Welcome to the party, Layla.” Kat says happily, glancing over at the woman and exchanging grins as they hear Marc choke on air behind them.
“Layla?!” Marc chokes, eyes widening as Layla turns around and smiles at him, “Thank god you're okay.”
Layla gives a light laugh and rolls her eyes before the shift of shoes against pavement makes her turn back around and immediately sigh as she watches Kat launch herself recklessly at Harrow, wincing as Kat is thrown back and lands roughly against the ground.
“Okay, dumb move, that one's on me.” Kat grunts as she pushes herself to her feet and rolls her shoulders with a wince as twinges of pain travel from the joint down her shoulder blades.
“Less talking, more fighting.” Marc tells her, following her example and leaping at Harrow as Layla does the same.
“Okay, caveman.” Kat snorts, rolling her eyes and quickly joining the fray.
The three work together smoothly. When one has an open spot, the other will come in and cover it. But Kat and Marc and Steven's fighting styles match each other perfectly. Where Marc is brute strength, Kat is lithe and nimble. Where Steven is all untrained but quick moves, Kat is trained and steady with the modeling of years of practice.
Harrow bats them away with his cane, shooting powerful blows at them when he can. But with three against one it quickly turns the tides in Kat, Layla, Marc and Steven’s favor.
Kats arms are cut up with rubble, thin trickles of blood leaking from the cuts and leaving a sharp sting. Her skin is bruised and reddened, and the robes she is wearing have become dirty and singed with ash. The pristine condition of her when she had first arrived on scene is wiped away, revealing the less than perfect picture below. An angel fallen to the earth.
“Marc!” Kat shouts over the sound of the streets as Harrow goes after Layla, who is busy helping a family get away from the fighting, “Cover me!”
Kat doesn't wait for a response as she darts out from her hiding spot and towards the straggling children, scooping two up in her arms and smiling as she hears Marc engaging Harrow in combat and drawing his attention from her and Layla.
Holding the children close to her chest and covering them as much as she can, Kat and Layla usher them and their parents down the street and around the corner.
“Hide as well as you can. If you see someone coming towards you offering redemption, run.” Kat warns as she sets the kids down, kneeling down to speak to the children while Layla talks to the parents, “Hey kiddos, I need you to do something extremely important for me, can you do that?”
The kids nod, young innocent eyes wide and wet with tears.
“Stick together, never get separated.” Kat tells them seriously, “Even if you lose your parents, stay together.”
The kids nod, their little heads bobbing quickly. Their parents grab their hands and pull the kids away as Kat waves goodbye before turning back to the fight and running back in.
Steven jumps back from Harrow as Kat cuts in and takes over, giving him and Marc a brief respite from the constant attacks. Watching Kat fight is like watching a ballet, all controlled and calculated movements that ooze elegance and strength. It's mesmerizing as her body twists and turns, always moving like the flow of water.
Kats face is blank and focused, sharp eyes always darting around as her mind works on autopilot to orchestrate her movements. It's like watching a soldier fall in line as everything but the target of Harrow seems to disappear from her mind. It's hypnotizing. The only thing keeping Steven from just standing back and watching is the way he can see Kat beginning to falter.
So he jumps back into the fray and they fight side by side, Steven switching in and out with Marc as they move. Layla focuses on helping citizens and getting people away from the danger, using her metal wings to shield herself and people, while Kat and Marc and Steven focus on fighting Harrow.
They get pretty far, until Harrow grows angry. Until now, Kat had been at least slightly hopeful for their chances, but as she dives in for a quick jab to Harrow's throat, it's like something snaps in him. His cool grey-blue eyes that have always been steeped in calmness crack and fade into a scathing look of pure anger darkening his entire face like a thunderstorm.
Harrow grabs Kats wrist midair and roughly tosses her like a ragdoll into a shop window. Glass shards dig deep into Kats skin as she crashes through the window and lands in a heap on the checker tiled floor.
Steven goes to help Kat, but before he can even take a step, Harrow is right in front of him and sending him flying back through the air with a sharp uppercut. His back burns as he crashes into the ground and groans as he lets Marc take over.
Marc goes to get up, but Harrow is already standing over him, glowing cane in hand. Harrow's face is twisted in rage as he raises his cane and slams it directly into the crescent moon symbol on the chest of Marc's suit.
A pain like no other courses through Marc and Steven, electric and burning. It's worse than a jackal bite, worse than a belt, worse than a gunshot to the heart. It burns and ravages at their nerves in a torrent fire, never ending as it rages on. Marc is sure he's screaming, but he can barely hear himself over the roar of blood in his ears and the pained shouts of Steven in his mind.
Crawling to her feet, Kat is held helpless as she watches Marc writhing in agony, his voice straining and cracking with each scream as his body flops like a fish. Layla stands watching on the other side, unable to move as well.
Kat watches with wide eyes as something changes in Marc and he gains the strength to grab the cane and rip it from his chest, kicking Harrow off and rising to his feet. But this is not the Marc Kat knows, nor is it Steven. No, Kat watches the lines of the man's back as he stalks towards Harrow, footsteps heavy and dooming. No, this man is more violent, more dangerous, more confident in his actions.
The man grabs Harrow by the collar and throws him about, punching and kicking at him in a blur of violence. Blood spatters over the pavement and stains Harrow's pale face as the new man beats him.
Shaking off her shock, Kat runs out to the street to help, though the man is quite efficient and hardly needs the help. Summoning her half circle blades, Kat ducks into the fight, smoothly sliding in front of the man and swiping at Harrow's chest, tearing his cult robes and revealing the beading blood from the cut.
A hand shoves her out of the way and sends Kat stumbling back as the man shoulders past her and takes over again.
“Uh, excuse you?” Kat scoffs, offended and making sure the man knows it.
The man pauses in his actions to glance back at Kat and roll his eyes before ignoring her again and continuing to break Harrow's bones.
“Okay, rude.” Kat huffs, crossing her arms and waiting for another moment to get a hit in.
She doesn't get the chance though, as the man throws Harrow to the ground like a ragdoll and stills. Kat watches as his head twitches and his entire body language changes back to the familiar figure of Marc.
Layla slowly walks to stand beside Kat, watching cautiously with her, her hand reaching down and entwining with Kats. Whether Layla is trying to provide Kat comfort or just asking for some herself, Kats is not sure but she is happy to give nonetheless.
“That wasn't you, was it Steven?” Kat can hear Marc question quietly under his breath, looking at Harrow's crumpled body in shock.
“Not a chance, mate.” Steven says, taking over briefly before going back to the background.
Hearing their familiar voices shakes Kat out of her stupor and sends her running over and tackling Marc in a tight hug, her face buried in the crook of his neck as she relaxes in his arms. Marc squeezes back tightly, forehead resting against the crown of Kats head in relief as he relishes in being able to hold her again.
Pulling back, Kat studies Marc's face closely with concerned eyes that flit over each smear of ash and dirt decorating his face.
“Are you okay?” Kat asks, using her thumb to try and wipe away some of the dirt but ending up just smearing it more.
“We’re fine, love.” Steven says, coming to the front and staring down at Kat tenderly, a bright crooked smile overtaking his face, “Aces, actually.”
Kat gives a beaming smile as she laughs and rests her head against his chest, listening contentedly to the beating of their heart and the reassurance that they are actually alive and this is not a dream.
“What was that?” Layla asks, warily approaching and staring at Marc and Steven curiously.
Steven fades away and Marc replaces him, shoulders raising tensely as he looks away.
“I blacked out.” Marc says shortly, voice low and embarrassed.
“Well, you kind of went all ‘Terminator’ on Harrow.” Kat supplies tentatively, not wanting to upset Marc and Steven further but feeling they ought to know what happened while they were blacked out, “Really gave him what for. It was very hot and also slightly terrifying, but mostly hot.”
Layla snorts and covers her mouth, shaking her head disapprovingly through her eyes sparkle with mirth. Kat shrugs innocently.
Looking up at Marc, Kat sees his troubled eyes trained on where Harrow lays unconscious. His mouth is set in a firm line as his dark brows furrow with thinly veiled worry. Kats hand comes to rest on his tense shoulder, rubbing at them soothingly as she lets Marc work through his emotions without interruption.
When Marc's face clears after a minute, Kat clears her throat and slowly extracts herself from his hold and goes to crouch in front of Harrow.
“We should get this scum to the Chamber of The Gods.” Kat says, poking at Harrow's head and immediately recoiling with disgust, her face twisted and nose scrunched up with a sense of putridness.
Layla nods, grabbing the shattered pieces of Harrow's cane and instructing Marc and Kat, “Grab Harrow, I know how to stop Ammit.”
Following her instructions, Marc grabs Harrow's right side while Kat helps carry the other. Working together, the two of them, with Layla leading the way, head to the chamber of the gods. Ready to end this for once and for all.
Looking at the gargantuan figures of the fighting gods, Kat takes a moment to find Bastet. The goddess is clawing at Ammit as Konshue uses his scepter's crescent to pin the crocodile goddess to the side of a pyramid.
Closing her eyes, Kat sends a silent thank you to Bastet. A thank you for not just this, but for everything the goddess has done. An appreciation for the goddess giving her the ability to defend herself all those years ago, and the strength to develop her own power and ability to protect herself. If the goddess hadn’t found her, Kat's not sure what she would have done. It's a thank you for saving Kat and teaching her to save herself and others.
In the dark night, she swears as she gazes at the fighting goddess, that there is a small gentle smile beneath her whiskers.