Chapter 5
”What a waste.”
He opens his eyes at the new voice. He was still in the alley. Still bleeding out. Still by himself.
”Killed by lowlife insects that could not even hold their weapons correctly.”
The alley was still empty but despite that, Marc could still feel eyes burrowing into him. That’s when graffiti of a realistic bird skull on the wall across from him caught his gaze.
It looked familiar. He didn’t know why but he felt like that was what was staring at him.
“What are you?” His voice was weak.
“I am the god of the moon, Khonshu. I am in need of an avatar to be my eyes, my fist, my vengeance against those who lurk in the shadows.”
He barks out a joyless laugh and shakes his head. “Good luck with that. I’m not gonna be your personal superhero or whatever it was. I couldn’t even save me.”
“I can grant you life if you offer your protection to those who travel in the night.”
He stays quiet. This didn’t feel right. It felt like making a deal with the devil. He looks away.
“I have been watching you, Marc Spector. There are many that have hurt you and your loved ones and still seek to cause harm for those in your city. Your little makeshift family would fall under my protection as well.”
Breathing has become difficult and moving takes too much energy but his breath still manages to catch in his throat and his body still manages to tense.
“Do you swear to protect the travelers of the night and bring my vengeance to those who do them harm?”
Marc is fading and the words don’t seem to reach him. Khonshu repeats himself, there’s an edge to his voice. Almost like he’s panicking.
Marc takes a labored breath. “….yes.”
“Then rise. Rise and be my Moon Knight.”
There is suddenly a burst of energy as adrenaline courses through his veins. His wound has healed.
Ancient wrappings engulf his body and his eyes glow brightly.
They’re gone as quickly as they appeared when Jake forced himself to the front.
He takes in his surroundings and noticed a trail of blood leading to him. That’s when he feels the dampness of his shirt. He’s greeted with red when he looks down. He quickly lifts shirt and his heart stops when there is no wound in sight.
He remembers the glimpse he had caught of Marc’s time in the body before he took control and he can still feel the lingering power from the pact his alter had made.
“Por dios. What did you do, mano?”
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He had walked home. He’d rather have driven but Steven didn’t have a license so his car was back at the house.
He had hoped that no one was awake but was disappointed when he found Fiona and some guy making out in the kitchen.
He tried to slip into his room but they had noticed him before he had the chance.
Fiona pushed the man off of her and spoke, out of breath. “Shit. Hey Jake. You’re home late. H-How’d the interview go?”
“Fine. Got to start his first day today. Wooh.” He turned back to his room but was interrupted by-
“I’m Steve. Nice to meet you, man.” His hand was out for a handshake.
Jake looked at him unimpressed. He could tell by “Steve’s” clothes that he was a rich boy but was trying to hide it. He’d try to be the knight in shining armor for his sister and the relationship wouldn’t last.
“No hablo Inglés.” He looked past the boy toy to Fiona. “Keep it down. I’m going to bed.”
He finally enters his room and shuts the door behind him.
Fiona pulls Steve back into a kiss and leads him to her room.
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It’s Saturday and Steven wakes up with a start. Once he realizes he’s ok, he leans back against his bed and exhales in relief. Marc or Jake must’ve handled the robber. He picks up his bag from the floor and notes that all of his books are there, if a bit dirty.
He sits up and heads upstairs to fetch Liam. Unsurprisingly, Debbie is already awake. She runs up to Steven to hug him.
“Why’d you get home so late? I stayed up so you could tell me about your interview.”
He pats her on the head. “It went great. So great in fact, that they had me start immediately.”
She squeezes him tighter before letting go so that he can pick up Liam. “Congratulations! I already changed him so we can start our morning tea right away.”
“We still have to brew it.”
“I can do that but you have to wear the crown this time.”
“…Deal.”
She runs down the stairs and he grabs the plastic crown from her dresser. He is careful as he walks into the kitchen and sets his baby brother in his high chair. Steven grabs a jar of baby food while silently supervising Debbie while she makes the tea.
She sits in a chair between her two siblings and feeds Liam. The pot whistles signaling that it is finished. Debbie has already placed the teabags in their mugs and stands by while Steven pours the water in.
They grab their cups and sit down. Steven spoons the rest of the jar to Liam and goes to take a sip but stops when Debbie gives him a pointed look.
“You’re British royalty. You have to wear the crown. You promised.”
“Okay okay.” He places the crown on his head as ceremoniously as he can and bows to his left and right. Debbie bows back and finally let’s him have his drink.
Fiona walks in, rubbing her eyes.
“Did we wake you, Sleeping Beauty?” Steven says sarcastically.
“You did but I’ll forgive you, Your Majesty.” She grabs two more mugs, two teabags, and pours the remains of the pot in them.
Steven is about to sentence her to the dungeons when a man walks in. He kisses Fiona on the cheek.
“Buenos dias, Jake.” He says like he’s retorting something that Steven is unaware of.
“Yep.” He decides to keep his answer short since he’s too tired to fake an American accent right now.
He smiled awkwardly, gulped down the steaming beverage, and gave Fiona a kiss goodbye, promising to text her later.
Fiona starts a pot of coffee for later and sits on the other side of the table, next to Liam. She plays with his little fingers.
“He seems nice.”
“He is. Sorry I didn’t give you a heads up, Steven. I’m still not fully awake yet.”
“No worries. You are pardoned. For now.”
Debbie giggles.
His face shifts and he stands up. Marc pours out his mug into the sink.
“I gotta cut this short, Debs. Kev wanted me to check on a few things so I gotta head in early.” (A lie.)
He removes the crown and puts it on the table. Debbie pouts as Marc heads upstairs to shower and change. Fiona assures her that they can have their own “teatime”.
“It’s not the same.” She says sorrowfully.
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He’s clean but he doesn’t feel it.
Last night didn’t feel real but there was still blood on his clothing that said otherwise. He feels crazy. Crazier than he already is at least.
He splashes water on his face. When he looks back into the mirror, he sees a tall figure with a skull like the one he had seen in the alley.
“There is somewhere you must be. Someone has a totem that belongs to me. See that it is returned to its rightful place.” And then he was gone.
He grabs his phone to call off from work when his reflection shifts to shake its head.
”Tonto del culo. You really got us in a pickle this time.”
“It was either this or being a rotting corpse right now.”
Jake doesn’t reply but he knows what he wants to say. ‘You sure this is better?’
“….We gonna tell Stevie?” Jake asks instead.
“No….no. He’ll keep his normal life.”
“Alright.”
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He hesitates but he gets the job done. When he grabs the totem, it disappears in a cloud of dust. He assumes it has gone exactly where Khonshu wants it.
He dismisses the suit and the blood is gone with it.
He catches the next flight to Chicago and makes it home just in time for dinner.