Side Effects
The next day.
Marc was meeting Layla at a little café in London to relax with her in a non-emergency situation.
Marc should have known that there is such thing as a too normal day.
A day that automatically gets jinxed for it.
Marc didn’t think much of Steven’s exhaustion from having the body last night.
Nor did he question the sudden appearance of a weird paperweight on their nightstand.
When Marc sudden feels a tingling sensation from his ears, he realizes that he really should have talked to Steven.
Marc carefully touches his ears while thankfully Layla is in the restroom.
He immediately jerks his hand back when he doesn’t feel skin.
He feels fur.
Like….bunny fur.
What the hell?!
He cautiously touches them again and keeps his hand there.
He rubs his ears.
Yup.
It’s fur alright.
While he’s adjusting to the furry ears, he starts to notice that his ears are ….growing.
Growing upwards.
Oh no.
No.
Nononono.
Marc covers both his ears with his hands.
His ears are elongating like a bunny’s ears.
And based on what Marc is feeling, they are turning into bunny ear shape as well.
He’s even getting the enhanced bunny hearing even though his ears are covered.
Well.
Mostly now.
His ears are pushing against his hand and now he’s panicking.
He’s in a public place and he’s growing bunny ears.
His panic wakes up Jake.
What’s wrong?
Marc swallows and tries to explain to Jake.
He-he just can’t.
That’s it, I’m taking the body Marc.
Before Marc can give a token protest, Jake is fronting.
And immediately starts swearing when he feels the ears.
“What the fucking hell did you idiots do?! Why the fuck do we have fucking rabbit ears coming out of our fucking head?! “
“What the fucks next, a tail?!”
Jake immediately scrambles for his hat and attempts to stuff the ears in that.
It….kind of works.
Just as Jake is about to run out the door, Layla comes back from the restroom
And immediately knows something is wrong.
But even she has a hard time processing this one.
“Jake, what the…?”
Jake growls, “No fucking idea talk to your husband and boy toy.”
Layla blushes but puts that aside for the bigger issue at hand.
“Okay, we need to go, now.”
She grabs Jake’s arm and yanks him out of the booth.
Too focused on hiding his ears, Jake willingly went with her.
They sped walk back to the flat, Jake hunching in on himself as he felt other parts of the body become…bunnified.
Thankfully they reached the flat with no obvious issues.
It wasn’t until the walked in the flat that Jake tripped, taking himself and Layla down with him.
Layla rolled so she wouldn’t land on him.
She rolled back up to check on him and panic flooded her.
Jake wasn’t there.
His clothes were scattered on the floor but no sign of Jake.
Layla quickly scrambled searching amongst his clothes for any hint at what the hell happened, “Jake! Jake, come on answer me! JAKE!”
When she hit his hat she felt something round and hard underneath.
Layla paused, No, there’s no way.
She gently lifted the hat up and sitting hunched in a ball was a black bunny.
Layla couldn’t believe it, she whispered, “Jake?”
The bunny shakily picked up its head and quickly nodded.
Layla had always wanted a bunny as a pet, she’s just not sure if she would want to trade one for her husband/boyfriend/best friend.
She couldn’t resist, she giggled while cooing “You are so adorable!”
If bunnies could give death glares, Layla would surely be dead ten times over.
And yet it made it that much more adorable, Layla’s giggles turned into full blown laughter.
Jake hopped to Layla and put his paws in her lap, Laugh it up lady but we’ve got bigger problems here. Like why in the flippin hell are we a rabbit?!
Wait….Steven! Khonshu!
Jake mentally hunted for Steven while Layla started to finally calm down….mostly.
Steven?! STEVEN?! What the hell did you do?! I told you to not mess with that magic shit and now look!
Nothing from Steven.
Nada.
Jake growled. Based on Marc’s reaction earlier, Jake guessed that Marc was as clueless as him.
Khonshu! What the fuck did you two do?!
KHONSHU!
Finally the old Bird showed up.
Layla sobered up at the appearance of the bag of bones.
Layla snorted, “I’m guessing you have something to do with this?” she gestured to Jake.
Khonshu crouched down and tilted his head.
Yes….and No.
Jake narrowed his eyes, What. Did. You. Do?
Layla looked back between Jake and Khonshu, “And that means what exactly? Do I need to summon Taweret?”
Khonshu rapidly shook his head, almost panicked, No, no, there is no need. It was during the Worm’s patrol last night.
Khonshu paused.
Layla pressed, “And what? Did something happen?”
Khonshu seemed almost….hesitant, There was an incident.
Layla, like Jake, was now tired of Khonshu’s shit, “What. Incident?”
Khonshu, feathers now ruffled, He used magic from his truncheons for the first time.
Layla gaped, Jake would have facepalmed if he could, and Khonshu attempted to not look sheepish.
He mostly succeeded.
Jake could not believe it.
He had told the kid a thousand and one times to leave that shit alone!
And now fucking look!
STEVEN! IF YOU DON’T COME OUT I’M….HIDING ALL YOUR BOOKS!”
Okay, even Jake could admit that was weak.
But for whatever reason, it worked.
Steven suddenly fronted, shoving Jake to the side, NO DON’T----WHAT THE FLIPPIN HELL?!
MATES WHY ARE WE A RABBIT----?!
OH----
OH NO-----
NONONONONO-----
THIS WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN----WAIT I MEAN, UHMMM HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!
In the headspace, Jake smirked while Marc, having calmed down, both watched as Bunny Steven freaked out.
Usually both would want to help, but since it was Steven and Khonshu, regardless of his claim of being uninvolved, who caused this, Steven could enjoy….the results.
Now if only Khonshu had gone Peter Rabbit then it would be Perfect.
While Jake was waking Steven up, Layla went with the smartest action possible.
She summoned Taweret.
She did not care what Khonshu said, her boys are a bunny.
A cute bunny.
But a bunny nonetheless.
Thankfully Taweret wasn’t busy, LAYLA! Oh! Oh, dear.
Taweret bent down and observed Layla’s boys, who scrambled backwards in the face full of giant hippo goddess.
Well this isn’t right at all! How in the void did this happen?
She turned to Khonshu, Khonshu! What did you do to your Avatar’s now?
Khonshu grumbled, They were fine last night!
Layla chimed in, “Well clearly something happened! People don’t just randomly turn into rabbits!”
Taweret agreed, Quite right dear! Khonshu what exactly happened last night?
Khonshu grumbled, The Worm used his truncheons….to cast a spell. It was a simple spell!
Taweret tilted her head, Simple? Khonshu any spell involving transformation is very complex. You know this better than I do!
Steven, with Marc and Jake listening in, perked up, Really?! I mean it seemed complex but once you understand the idea of intent and language—
Marc interrupted, Steven.
Steven continued on, Even though it wasn’t was I meant to do, I think with a few adjustments---
Jake interrupted, Steven.
Steven rolled on, We could come up with something really aces. Ya know? I mean think of all the possibilities---
Marc and Jake looked at each other in the headspace, and both shouted,
STEVEN!
Steven as the bunny jumped about a foot in the air and squeaked, What?!
Layla, seeing them suddenly hop, gently scooped them up and started to pet them in attempts at reassurance. She assumed that the boys were all talking, figuring out how this happened.
The boys were….distracted by this.
Layla was petting them.
Steven melted.
So did Marc….and he can’t even deny it.
Jake….surprisingly enjoyed it more than he expected.
They turned into a rabbit puddle in Layla’s lap.
Layla giggled at the sight and continued with her…ministrations.
They were really soft.
Who couldn’t resist?
Meanwhile Taweret listened to Khonshu as he explained that Steven was supposed to summon a rabbit. Like the magicians that pull rabbits out of a hat.
And got a rock vaguely shaped like a fish instead.
Oh and that the spell knocked him back into a wall.
When Khonshu finished Taweret hmmed, thinking on how to fix this while observing her Avatar with Khonshu’s…bunnified Avatar.
Then Taweret had an Idea.
She nearly squealed, then remembered how sensitive rabbit ears are.
I know how to fix this!
Layla not focused on her boys’ bunny softness any longer, looked up, “How?”
Taweret softly clapped her hands in excitement, It’s quite simple really. All transformation spells whether on purpose or accidental just need a potent action with a dash of magic to trigger the reversal.
Steven, perked up, Truly? That’s fascinating! So does that apply to all spells or---
Marc and Jake each took a paw and covered Steven’s mouth, even though he wasn’t physically talking through it.
NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Steven acquiesced, Oh all right.
Layla giggled at her boys’ actions, it was really adorable.
She may need to get a pet rabbit after this.
Just because.
Layla shook her head, she needed to focus, “So what ‘potent action’ would fix this then?” She gestured to her bunnified boys.
Taweret beamed, True Love’s Kiss would work brilliantly my dear!
Layla and the boys paused.
Steven, Marc, and Jake all mentally spoke at once-
Truly?!-
Steven don’t even think about it-
That shit works, thought that was fairy tale crap?
Jake, we work with an ancient Egyptian god, and this surprises you?
Fuck off Marc, ya know what I mean.
This is truly fascinating-
Steven I swear-
Let him go Marc, he’s just feeling his inner bunny. Am I right kid?
Yes-Wait, what? No! Jake!
Layla was surprised to say the least, “Wait, seriously? I thought that was European folklore, not Egyptian.”
Taweret excitedly informed her, Actually my dear all cultures have some form of ‘True Love’s Kiss’, it’s just the Europeans who have the most recent renditions. Oh! You should have heard of some of ours! They are positively endearing to hear about….Well most of them are.
While Layla would have loved to hear some of the more…positive tales, “So how does it work for our case then?”
Taweret nearly bounced in excitement, Well my dear I just need Khonshu to lend some of his power to his Avatars so that they can summon the suit and the truncheons. Then you summon your suit with your blades. With one of the truncheons and with one of your swords; I will add the dash of magic over all of you so the potent action can work. Finally all of you kiss!
Khonshu immediately spoke up, If you think I am going to aid in this-
Taweret leveled a Look at him.
Khonshu immediately shut up.
Marc, Jake, and Steven were awed by this.
How did she just--?
Do you think she could teach us that?
It could come in real handy against that old piece of chicken jerky.
Layla smirked at Khonshu’s silence, sometimes it was great being the Avatar of such an awesome Goddess.
Layla nodded, “All right then I’m ready.” She looked down at her boys, “You three ready to go?”
They nodded.
Taweret clapped her hands, Perfect! Khonshu if you please?
Khonshu grumbled but nonetheless waved his staff around, There. You have the power to change.
They swallowed.
Marc chimed in, Steven maybe I should take this one—
Steven summoned the suit.
Causing Layla to nearly die.
Of Cuteness.
It was a version of Steven’s Mr. Knight suit, but made to fit a bunny.
There was even space for the ears and tail to stick out.
Steven wriggled a bit and reached behind himself, pulling out one of the truncheons with his mouth.
Taweret, who nearly perished of the adorable appearance of Khonshu’s Avatar herself, gently lowered herself and opened her hand.
Steven carefully deposited the truncheon in her palm.
When Taweret stepped back, Layla recovered, mostly, and carefully pushed the boys off her lap, “I don’t want to skewer you three by accident.”
They hopped a bit away to give her space.
Layla summoned her suit and handed one of her swords to Taweret.
Taweret took the blade and gestured, Okay dears now if you could scooch together..Perfect!
Layla sat down next to the boys, both of them still suited.
Taweret then Spoke in Ancient Egyptian and the Avatars felt…something causing a tingling sensation all over each other.
Marc spoke, I swear if she turns Layla into a rabbit too—
Steven interrupted, Marc it will be fine.
Fine?! You want Layla as a bunny too?!
Well no—
Wow, you really are desperate kid!
Shut Up, Jake!
Taweret soon finished the incantation to add the dash of magic in and beamed, Okay dears! Now you may kiss…the bunny!
Layla chuckled at the last part. She turned and reached down cupping her hands.
The boys carefully hopped into her hands and held on as she lifted them to her head height.
She smiled, “You three ready?”
They vigorously nodded.
Layla leaned forward as they did and she kissed them on their velvet soft lips.
Immediately then getting blown backwards across the room.
Taweret jumped, OH Dear ! Layla! Are you alright?!
Layla groaned, “Was that supposed to happen?”
Taweret ringed her hands, No not usually but I may have added a little too much magic in my excitement, causing the excess to spill out.
Layla scrambled up, “Spill out how?”
Not like that dear! Just you know, energy getting transferred as light, heat, sound, and motion. Nothing more, nothing less.
Layla looked around for her boys, “Marc? Steven? Jake?”
She heard a groan at the other end of the room.
Layla, still a bit wobbly, quickly went over to a new mound of books, caused by a suddenly collapsed bookcase.
She started to shove the books to the side, for the entire mound to shift as Mr. Knight popped his head out.
Layla sat back down, breathing a sigh of relief, “Oh thank god,” she shook her head, “I mean thank goddess.”
Steven clutched his head, “That buggering hurts.” He then snapped his head up to Layla, “Love are you alright?”
Layla smiled, nodding, “Yes, yes I’m fine!”
She then smirked, “Unlike you, when my goddess gets involved with magic, I don’t suddenly sprout ears and a tail.”
Steven leveled her a look, “Hilarious love.”
Layla chuckled, “If you think that’s funny, wait for all the bunny puns that I am just hopping to use.”
Steven groaned, “I guess I deserve that right?”
Marc fronted, “If you think that’s bad—”
Jake then fronted, “Just wait for what we have in mind kid—”
Marc switched back, de-suiting in the process, “You’ll be wishing for Layla’s bad puns.”
Layla shoved Marc further into the book pile, “My puns are not that bad!”
Jake switched, “Hate to break it to ya, but—”
Layla gave him a Look, “Finish that statement and I’m not going to take you and Marc out to that new Persian restaurant I found.”
Jake immediately clammed up and let Marc front.
He pulled himself out of the pile and lovingly kissed Layla’s hand.
Layla raised a brow, Marc gushed, “You are brilliant at puns. What I said earlier was temporary insanity from recovering after being turned into a bunny.” He then cheekily kissed up her arm, the sap, “You,” kiss, “Are,” kiss, “A,” kiss, “Goddess.” His last kiss on her lips.
They both leaned into it, becoming more heated.
Taweret beamed and then glanced over at Khonshu.
She giggled, she would let her Avatar and her spouses have their time together.
She could tell them later that the spell may have temporarily backfired.
Khonshu twitched his now skeletal bunny ears, IT IS NOT FUNNY!
Taweret picked up Khonshu, This is what you get for not explaining magic properly to your Avatar you silly old thing.
I AM NOT A ‘SILLY OLD THING’!
Taweret smirked, Says the rabbit. Now let’s leave them in peace for a bit.
They vanished while Khonshu continued to protest.
Layla and Marc, and perhaps Steven, didn’t even notice them leave.
Jake chose not to say anything and whistled as he fell back asleep, There goes Peter Cottontail hopping along the bunny trail….