Aaru
Steven was almost taken aback by Marc's shift in demeanor, but found himself too proud, too excited for that kind of surprise. It was like looking at a wholly new person, the entire structure of his face seemed to have changed, brightened somehow. This exuberance simply ebbed from him, and Steven was feeling it manifest around them, filling the very air with that glee. The laugh, the hug, that smile. The moment had passed before it had even begun, but he wouldn't be quick to forget it.
Clumsily at first, Steven followed after Marc, ensuring his balance on the boat before regaining his posture. "Yeah! Perfectly in line and all. So now, everything's in harmony, and we, well, qualify, so to speak, to enter the field of reeds. Oh I'm buzzing. I hope it's good after all this, that'd be a bit of a bummer if it wasn't." He spoke quickly, glancing between Taweret and Marc.
••••••••••
Taweret turned with a smile, clapping her hands together. “Oh that’s just wonderful! I’m so thrilled for the both of you! I will say that you were cutting it a bit close, but you did it, hooray!”
“Right, so do we just- is there another door, or?”
“No need, right this way.” With a swing of her arm, the boat disappeared. The cold wind of the Duat became a warm breeze. The sky was endless, warm sun beaming down. Like the snapshot of a sunrise, eternally set at the perfect moment of bliss.
Peace.
Marc closed his eyes for a moment, finally taking the time to breathe deeply. Every bit of tension he had been holding onto for years melted away.
“Here you are, boys. Paradise. The peace you never thought you deserved.”
••••••••••••••
Steven blinked for a moment, the bright light momentarily rendering him blind as his eyes adjusted. Then the world slowly came into view, dazzling him once more. This was it. This was the moment he'd been waiting for his entire life. Standing in the fields, basking in the amber sunbeams that swept gracefully across the calm landscape. He felt free, no longer confined to that apartment, kept behind the desk, attached by the ankle. He was free. A deep breath in and his lungs filled with the fresh air, his eyes resting, gazing upon the endless field with admiration. The golden reeds seemed to stretch for miles, the vast enormity of it allowing a sense of calm to engulf him. There was no getting lost here. No waking up confused and alone. There was nothing that could touch them here.
Marc caught his eyes once more. Watching the calm wash over him in real time was really something. Steven couldn't have felt more happy for him if he tried. Never had he seen a more worthy recipient of such peace. "We've really done it here mate, this is- oh it's just gorgeous. It's like that fake looking picture they put as the automatic homescreen on your computer, but obviously better because we're actually here. A new part of our eternal journey actually, is what it actually is, but, well I don't know about you, but a journey here seems like a walk in the park. Not exactly a park, I mean, that's just the saying, a walk in the field just doesn't have the same ring to it" looking out again, the reeds swayed in the invisible breeze, though no chill found its way to his skin. "no hayfever here either, score."
••••••••••••••
Marc tilted his face up, keeping his eyes closed for a moment to just be. He could keep his eyes closed for as long as he wanted. Years, even. It wouldn’t matter, they had forever. Every bit of stress and worry and self-hatred was a distant memory. The blood on his mouth from Steven’s punch had disappeared, and with it, every negative emotion he harbored. He was safe. God, for once in his life he was safe. He could close his eyes without being terrified of what they would open to. He would never be caught off guard because there was nothing to catch him. Nothing to harm him.
He clenched and unclenched his fists one last time, hands lying open by his sides. No more fighting. No more pain. No more blood. Only sun and sky.
When he opened his eyes again, there was a light in them that hadn’t been there before. Through death, he had found life. And it was beautiful. He almost wanted to cry, another genuine smile breaking across his face as he looked at Steven. “We actually did it.”
••••••••••••
Steven paused, looking over at Marc once more. He was right, they'd actually done it. Steven was scared they wouldn't make it for a minute back there in that hallway, scared that given their situation, no matter what they did, the balancing wouldn't happen. Some scientific impossibility that the both of them could never pass together. But they could, they had, and now everything was fine. This was their moment of peace. No voice coming from seemingly nowhere to torment him, no chunks of his life missing for reasons beyond his control. No feeling like a secondary character in his own life. No more not living.
He held his hand out to Marc, an offering of peace, friendship, a partnership to last eternities to come. They were in it together now, there was no doubt about that. And for the first time, Steven knew he could trust Marc. Really trust him.
••••••••••••••
Marc took Steven’s hand and held it firm, beaming back at him. For once, without hesitation. “Thank you, Taweret, for everything. I think we’ve got it from here.”
“Oh isn’t this just charming! Well I’m always happy to help! Let me know if you need anything at all- though you won’t need to. There’s everything you could possibly need right here. Don’t worry about ever getting bored, because there’s plenty of things to do, people to see- oh don’t worry your pretty little head about it, Marc. Your mother wouldn’t be let within a million eons from this place, you won’t find her here. Well, I’m so glad we were able to work this all out. Enjoy yourselves, tata!” With a wave, she was gone, leaving only a silence that could be likened to the lull in between waves.
••••••••••••
Steven couldn't help but grin as they stood together, hand in hand with nothing in their way. He blinked and Taweret was gone, the silence resting upon the breeze like a lullaby. It was almost bittersweet, knowing they'd have to leave, but Steven knew they'd be back, and what a thing it was to look forward to. There was nothing else like it on Earth.
"Gorgeous innit, what a view. Sad to be leaving so soon, probably shouldn't have asked Taweret to go, but I'm sure we can get her back. Now we've got it to look forward to though, so it's something. Probably shouldn't stick around too much longer or we won't want to leave." he laughed, looking down as he brushed through the reeds with his foot.
••••••••••
Marc just reveled in the warmth of it all. Relieved it was finally over. If he had known about this while in the tomb? Well it would’ve made sure that he knew the wait was worthwhile. This was a good ending to his story. To their story. This was how it was supposed to be.
When Steven started talking again, the look in his eyes changed to one of confusion. “...What do you mean, leaving so soon?” There was a raw openness to his face, mouth left slightly parted as he looked at Steven with eyes that could’ve held the entire sky. “No...” he shook his head, an almost childish disappointment to it.
•••••••••••••
Steven tilted his head slightly, a tad confused by Marc's reaction. Of course, he was disappointed the golden moments couldn't have lasted any longer, more so, even, that he was the one to dull the mood. Marc had seemed so happy, and it was only now that Steven realized he'd forgotten they'd need to leave. Swept up in the beauty of the release.
"Well, we kind of have to y’know. I mean you said it before, we need to stop Harrow, stop Ammit. Layla needs us there, we can't just choose to not help. Hey, you've still got this to look forward to and all, it's not going anywhere." A hopeful smile as he attempted to keep the mood as bright as possible. To ruin such a beautiful place by tainting it with their human problems didn’t seem necessary. "we haven't really got a choice Marc, might as well make the best of it"
••••••••••••••
Ammit. Harrow. Layla. Distantly, Marc knew that he should be worried. Alarmed. Distraught. But any negative thought seemed to float away, intangible and out of reach.
This was where he belonged. No longer painfully disjointed. No longer a square peg constantly trying to be shoved into a round hole, even as his edges shattered into shards of glass for him to swallow. Everything was finally in tune, a perfect harmony with the ebb and flow of the breeze. He couldn’t go back. He wouldn’t.
“No. Please...don’t make me.”
••••••••••••••
Steven's face fell. He could now see exactly what he was going to have to do, but whether he'd be able to go through with it was another matter. This was where Marc was happiest. Hell, he could see it plain as day in that blissful expression that painted the other’s face. He'd just heard about the darkest parts of Marc's past, the demons he couldn't shake, and now? Steven had to convince him to go back to them as fast as he’d let them go. It was a cruel trick for the universe to play on them, to bring them here just to tear it away, but Steven was forced to enact that will. That was his burden to bear. To put the one his sole purpose was to protect, back into the world he needed protection from. It went against his instincts in every way, working opposite his very wiring, but it was what needed to be done.
"Marc, we have to. I know it’s- this is really something here, but we need to. They need us up there, they need you up there, now more than ever. We can't just- just leave Layla like that. Come on let's go, go now, it'll just get worse the longer we wait" he paused, eyes maintaining contact with Marc’s as he watched them dull "Marc, mate, don't make this harder than it has to be."
••••••••••••••
“Please.” Marc’s voice was almost a bit timid as he pleaded with Steven for the second time that day. Instead of forceful and scared like the previous instance, it was quiet. A bit sad. “Don’t do this to me. Steven please.” He dropped the other’s hand, shaking his head slightly as he frowned. It wasn’t a scowl. It was passive. Gentle.
“You can go back…I’m fine here.” Speaking that out loud made it feel real, and he almost sobbed from the relief of it all. He was okay here. Steven’s purpose was fulfilled. For the first time since he was 12, he would be fine alone.
••••••••••••
He didn't know what to do. What could he do? Nothing he said would change the situation, and now, for once, he couldn't think of a single thing to say. Marc didn't need him anymore, he was quite literally useless, reduced to nothing now that there was nothing to be afraid of. No reason to stick around, no purpose nor a point for existence. His story had come to an end, a blunt conclusion at the end of a long, fragmented story. Steven hadn’t felt this utterly helpless in a long time, and yet now was the time he knew he couldn’t be.
"Marc, I can't go without you. They don't need me, let's be honest here, you're the one who can help them. Come on, please, you know we have to." He stood, his arms hanging at his sides. Nothing to do. Nothing at all. "I don't want to make you do anything, Marc, please just- Please don't do this." How much longer he’d be able to stand if Marc didn’t give in, he wasn’t sure, but he had to keep trying whilst he could.
••••••••••••
Did he know they had to? He couldn’t tell anymore, it all felt so distant. He mentally noted Steven’s balled fists by his side and nearly laughed. It was almost as if they’d swapped places. He smiled slightly, cocking his head to the side a bit to look at him. “Don’t give me that look, it doesn’t suit you.”
“You can, Steven- and they do need you. You’re smart, strong- Hell, I’m sure my muscle memory is in there deep enough that you can fight. I saw you punch that hellhound thing. You can do it, you just didn’t know it.”
••••••••••••
It was almost frustrating. don't give me that look? Well what else was he supposed to do? He couldn't very well just sit back and allow thousands of people to be struck down before their time by Ammit just because they didn't feel like going anywhere. He was sympathetic, yes, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about leaving either, but they had to consider the greater good. If not the lives of the masses, then Layla. Layla. Who’d been left abruptly and expected to continue on the mission. If she could keep going then so could they.
"Okay well first, that was a Jackal, quite literally the dog of death which I don't fancy meeting again." he shook his head, letting out a sigh of mild exasperation "Marc, this isn't about me, stop trying to flip it, talking me up into- whatever you're trying to do. We need to go whether you like it or not, so- so let's go, come on. How do I get Taweret to come back? I'm not sure I've ever heard of her doing this before, you know, bringing people back from the afterlife. But we have to. And we're going to." He hated it. Watching Marc's energy drop again. Every instinct was yelling at him to just leave it and allow the both of them to indulge in their well earnt afterlife, but he knew they had to go back. For Marc. He'd end up regretting it if he didn't, and Steven knew that, Marc just didn't seem ready to think about it.
••••••••••
Marc rolled his eyes at the correction, waving a hand dismissively. “Doesn’t matter what it was...none of that matters anymore. We’re safe. We’re free. No more killing. No more Khonshu...just freedom.” This time, he let out a laugh. The first time he had in front of Steven, actually. Not a dark chuckle, or something of dry annoyance. Just genuine. “We’re free.” He spread his arms for a moment, breathing deeply. “Can’t we just...enjoy it for a moment? Please.”
•••••••••••••••••
"I-" Steven was conflicted, uncomfortable, a rising anxiety was brewing and he wasn't looking forward to its culmination. "Marc, we have to go." but they were free, Marc was right, why should they have to sacrifice that for everyone else? They deserved peace just as much as anyone else. Especially when it meant going back to a world That had dealt them nothing but hurt, and pain, and- "we have to. Marc, it's not up to me, it's- Marc could you just actually listen to me.” Putting his hands firmly on Marc's shoulders, he tried to make contact. Cut through the blissful ignorance he knew was all too dangerous. “The longer you spend here, enjoying- This. All of this. The sun, the freedom, the- the escape? the harder it gets to leave, and we need to leave, you said we needed to leave. You said so, and I'm gonna hold you to it."
••••••••••••••••••
Had he said that? Why would he have said that? “Well I was a hyper-focused idiot.” Marc replied with a slight shrug. They needed to leave. If they didn’t, he’d never be able to. Or if they did, the reality of life would destroy him. “Just five minutes....please just give me five minutes- at least give me five minutes without all that-'' He started to snap out of it when Steven took him by the shoulders, begging him to listen. People were going to get hurt if they didn’t. People were going to get hurt. They would get hurt and it would be his fault. his fault. Marc inhaled sharply, his smile fading as he blinked a couple of times. The air took on the scent of overripe fruit. The sun was a bit too hot. They needed to leave. Marc looked down at the floor, trying to take in the soft grass. Trying to savor as much as he could. He forced himself to push the word out, as heartbreaking as it was. One word, to shatter the world. He barely got out a whisper as he nodded slightly. “Fine...”
“Just...” he looked up at Steven, pushing one last smile, eyes full of a deep sadness. “Just hold me while we go, okay? Please.”
••••••••••••
And it was done. They were leaving, as they were supposed to. Steven really hoped he was doing the right thing, that this was what he was supposed to do. He wasn't sure he could take it if he had forced Marc to leave and it wasn't. A part of him wanted to take it all back and stay, but he knew they couldn't, and the thought of innocent souls being condemned to the duat before their time just wouldn't sit right with him. They had managed to escape that fate, and others should be able to do the same.
He nodded, though he got little joy from the agreement, only a cold sort of relief. "Thank you... I'm sorry Marc. We'll be back, I promise." Then that look. That soul crushing look that conveyed nothing but a deep, destroying sadness. He could barely maintain eye contact, but forced himself not to look away. He couldn’t shy away from what he’d caused now, that wasn’t fair. Steven didn't think he'd ever forget Marc's expression in that moment, that pain that he'd caused in Marc's face. It struck him more than he'd expected. "Course, if you want. Sounds like a nice way to go" he mirrored Marc's forced smile, before finally allowing himself to look away.
"Uh, Taweret? We need you a minute... just, back over here. It’s Steven, by the way, if you can hear-" he called out, feeling a tad stupid just- talking to a field.
••••••••••••••••••
Marc nodded slightly “Good. Yeah.” Then he looked down and was silent, awaiting whatever came next.
The next time they blinked, Taweret was standing back in front of them, a look of utter confusion on her face. “A bit shocked to hear from you two so soon! You of all people need this, so-“ she waved a hand, cutting herself off before she got off track. “What can I do for you? I must say, I’m in a bit of a rush, new avatar, you see.” She winked in Marc’s direction, who still didn’t reply. “Did something happen?” She suddenly got very serious, looking at Steven with wide eyes. “That’s not right...not right at all...”
•••••••••••••
Steven nodded "Uh, yeah, well, it's-" he paused, glancing towards Marc. Why did he have to be the one to do this? He wasn't half as strong as Marc always seemed to be, how was it that he was supposed to be the brave one? Still, seeing him there, in the state he was, Steven knew he could do it, he needed to. For Marc. He looked back to Taweret decidedly.
"We need to get back to Earth, if possible, I mean we kinda have to even if not possible really.”
••••••••••••••••
“Oh...oh no-“ Taweret looked between the two of them, her face falling. “Poor dears...that explains it...” she sighed. “Are you sure? Really sure? If you go, you won’t be able to come back. Probably ever...I mean there might be a chance that you could get your hearts measured again, but it would take years- you better hope that you survive the battle against Ammit. Or you may end up lost to The Duat forever...”
Marc’s shoulders tensed as he stared at the floor, rocking back on his heels for a moment.
“Are you sure you want to do this? The both of you?”
••••••••••••••••••••
They wouldn't be able to come back... Probably. It was a chance they would have to take, and if he had to pin his hopes on a one-in-a-billion chance, then that's just what he'd have to do. There was no room for second-guessing now, no fallback.
"Yes, we're sure" liar "Now let's just- you know get on with it." He spoke quickly, afraid that if he left a second of pause he might waver, stutter, doubt it all. That wasn’t an option, they couldn't afford that. He had to be sure, for Marc's sake if anything. This was a risk they needed to take, no matter the cost.
••••••••••••
“Very noble of you, I can see why Layla is fond of you guys.” She nodded. “I’ll set you right in front of Osiris’s gates. You’ll have around two minutes before the sands of the Duat come to claim you, alright? I’ll give you a second to get situated, just give me a signal when you’re ready.”
•••••••••••••••
Steven nodded, glancing back towards Marc. He looked smaller somehow, and it was terrifying. Steven reached out and took Marc's hand again "You ready? All we've gotta do is go through the gates, easy as anything." giving his hand a slight squeeze, eager to ensure this went as smoothly and pain free as it possibly could. "You've got this, right? It's hard, but you've survived until now. Just gotta keep doing the same."
•••••••••••••
Marc looked up at him, eyes full of unreadable emotion. He latched onto his hand like a lifeline, nodding slightly. “Ready.” He turned his gaze to Taweret, a shaking resolve to his tone. Crushing finality. “We’re ready.”
“Alright then.....good luck.” Marc took in a sharp inhale as Steven wrapped his arms around him. Before either could utter another word, paradise was gone, leaving the expanse of the Duat.
Marc, always so sturdy, let out a wail.