Chapter 5
“Y-you.” Steven sputtered. “You’re the one who’s been stealing the body.”
“Stealing it? Hey, this body is just as much mine as it is yours.”
“What was it, JI? They said Jake out there, are you-”
“I’m annoyed, that’s what I am. Annoyed, and blue balled because you decided to poke your head in at the genuinely the worst fuckin’ time. So why don’t you hand over the body, and we can squabble over petty shit later.”
The longer Steven stood there, the more he began to notice the finer things. Firstly, and likely the most pointless detail out of everything, was the bathroom itself. Everything was wooden, like the kind of restroom he’d find in one of the cabins dad used to take them to when they were kids. Memories of him and Randall running through the forest came to mind, and though he didn’t have the same experiences Marc did, the flash still stung. Yet another reminder he supposed of why they kept to the city.
The second detail he noticed was JI’s, or technically his mustache. It wasn’t overly bushy, but it was noticeable in an instant. It must have taken days to grow it, how long had he been asleep for? Did Marc have any idea what was going on? He searched the edges of his brain, but he came up empty handed.
“Hey, hey, ya-hoo. While you’re off in wonderland, I have two beef cakes waiting out there, probably thinking I’m batshit talking to myself.”
Steven’s body stiffened at the reminder. On pure instinct his hands reached down to cover his groin with the closest towel. “No way, rugged-mustache man. Not until you explain some things. Starting with- where the hell is Marc?”
The man in the mirror shrugged, as if the presence of their fellow alter was the least of his problems. “How should I know? Clearly, I don’t have control over you knuckleheads if you’re waking up in the middle of my head. Why don’t you go hunt him down yourself?”
“Oh yeah, that’s rich, and leave the body all to you? Mr. JI-”
“Yes, actually. That’d be great. And hey, why do you keep calling me J I, huh? It’s L. You know, for Lockley.”
Lockley. Huh, quiet the Cockney name for someone with an American Accent that would leave Marc running for his money. He could imagine the man standing in the alley ways of New York City, selling drugs out of his oversized trench coat. “Well, maybe you should have written that then instead of a random lowercase L, hm? It’s not my fault you weren’t using your English properly in your little letter.” He huffed.
“Ah, yes. Right, sorry. But you know what is your fault, is binge drinking hard enough to where I can’t tell what’s lowercase and what isn’t-”
“So, your name Jake Lockley then, isn’t it?” Steven interrupted, both because the name finally clicked, and because he refused to admit he was even partially to blame for the grammar mistakes of a brute like him. “How long have you been here?”
“Long time bub.” Jake grunted, leaning against the back wall. “I’d say just as long as you, maybe longer. Now listen Steve, I’d love to chat. I really would.”
“From the lack of any communication we’ve had until now, I seem to doubt that.”
“Shut it. As I was saying, I’d love to talk, but I’ve only got- what, two hours left? Probably less? I dunno the specifics, but this is the only free time I got, so if you would…”
“Wow, is sex really the only thing on your mind?” Steven gasped, face scrunching up in disapproval. “Is our alter really just some- sex deprived deviant? What, do you have a strict- man-meating schedule or something?”
This finally seemed to pull a response other than pure annoyance out of the reflection, who appeared more amused than actually offended. A low chuckle left his lips, in a way that left a shiver running up Steven’s spine. “Yeah, sure. That’s what I am. And say-” Jake stepped forward and leaned in close to the mirror. It was the level of closeness to where he could make out each and every scraggly piece of hair on their rough five o’clock shadow. “Ignoring the fact my libido says more about Marc than it does me, I’d say that raging cockstand you’ve got going on proves I’m not alone here.”
Steven’s cheeks went bright red.
~★✡★~
“You’re an idiot, Jake Lockley.”
“I know, I know.”
“You’re lucky he can’t drive.”
“I’m lucky those guys were understanding, you know how hard it is finding two gay tops in the middle of rural Tennessee? Ripped gay tops? In my opinion, I think he should have felt honored that I was willing to share.”
Steven, un-surprisingly, hadn’t been. Against his many failed attempts at getting the man to either go to sleep, or join in and shut up, the brit was determined to get out of there. The two men were politely asked to leave, and the cabin he’d rented was once again empty aside from him, Steven, and the judgmental Egyptian God hovering over his shoulder.
Currently, his fellow alter was outside, likely attempting to pump himself up and actually drive the limo parked on the dirt road. All three knew that was never going to happen though. If Steven could hardly bring himself to drive a simple chevy, then there was no way he’d have the balls to hop in something as long as that. Jake let out a grunt, turning back deeper into his little head-space set up.
“So, I guess break time’s over. Find where the camp is at?”
“Not quite.” The god grimaced, “They know we’re on the hunt for them. They keep moving, but the exact coordinates elude me. Something is muffling my tracking.”
“Oh great,” Jake huffed, taking a seat down on his barely-functioning bed. Despite not even truly existing, it still managed to creak with the slightest movement. “So, we’re dealing with real God shit too, eh?”
“Not necessarily. Could be magical, there are some earthly artifacts that hinder my powers. You see…”
“Jake…? Jake, come out here you old bugger!”
Jake groaned, standing back up once again. He’d managed a full week without a single interruption, and of course that had to be put to an end all because Marc felt the need to shove his nose in things that didn’t concern him. He ran a hand through his scuffed-up hair. “Sounds like that’s my cue.”
“Do not let the two imbeciles get in the way.” Khonsu warned.
“I won’t, I won’t.” Jake waved him off on his way out. “You know you can count on me. Just figure out where Greg’s hiding them, and I’ll do the rest.
The god’s eyes narrowed. “You better.”
Jake found himself re-appearing in the rear-view mirror of his old betty, a limo he never ceased to be amazed still ran. Steven was muttering under his breath while fidgeting with the various nobs. The car wasn’t even started yet. “Yeah Steve?”
“It’s Steven, thank you. And how do you run this blasted thing?”
“It’s just like any other car, just longer, and prettier. Even if you did drive it out though, where would you go? Do you even have any idea where you are?”
“America.” Steven said flatly. “Both of the blokes in there had American accents, and there’s a random print-out of the states with a poorly pasted flag over top. Tacky, if you’re asking me.”
“I wasn’t askin’, but okay, you’ve got the country narrowed down. Good work. Give me the next step in this master plan you’ve got goin’ on?”
“Well…” The brit hesitated, and it took everything in him not to shut the conversation down then and there. “You have both mine and Marc’s phone in your bag, so I can just drive until I find signal? Then I’ll find the directions to the nearest airport. That sounds pretty solid to me.”
“Mhm, yeah. Bravo plan. Unless you forget that I have an entire cult on my ass. One that knows I’m here, and most certainly doesn’t plan on letting me- or I guess us – leave here alive. Didn’t plug that into your little equation though, huh?”
This seemed to finally grab his fellow alter’s attention. All of the petty frustration and spite seemed to drain from his cheeks. He had a feeling that would do it. “Wait, Jake, is Khon-”
“I’m a mercenary.” Lockley lied before he could even finish the word. “One that has a rather important job to do, and I’d be thrilled to explain it to you if you got out of the car, and headed back inside.”
It was moments like this where despite sharing the same body, Jake couldn’t feel any further away from his other personality. The fear, the disgust, the disappointment, it all flickered through Steven’s naïve face. It was the type of look that would of hurt, if he didn’t fully believe in what he was doing. He tilted his head back towards the car door. “Now, are you going to finally listen to me? We’re on the same team here bub. We’re both alter’s just trying to do what’s right for Marc. I personally think what’s best is stayin’ alive. But hey, the states have left me feeling oddly democratic, so what do you say?”
The silent tension must have gone on for a solid minute, before Steven finally gave a hint of a nod. “Fine…I’ll listen…But that doesn’t mean a thing! You damn yank.” He popped open the car door, and a satisfied smile pricked his lips.
~★✡★~
He was walking when he woke up.
Not the first time that’d ever happened, but usually when Marc woke up on the move, it was in places he knew well. Places like the transit to work, the train to the grocer, easily recognizable places around the town. He hadn’t truly woken up somewhere he’d never seen before since Steven and him had made their agreement. The new setting would have been jarring enough as it was, let alone with the three men dressed in all brown leading him through the brightly lit hallway. His body stiffened, breath catching in his throat.
“Marc! Marc, you’re awake!”
Marc’s head tilted in the direction of the small windows they passed on their way through the building. Most of the rooms off to the side contained simple office desks and storage from first glance, though he knew better than to assume that was everything. Sweat trickled down his forehead. His hands subtly trailed down to his sides, he did have a gun.
“Oh Marc, I’ve missed you!” Steven whispered, as if the other men would somehow hear him. “It’ll be okay. Trust me, Jake has everything under control.”
Jake? So that was the son of a bitch inhabiting his body. Since when did Steven start chatting with a monster like that? When they made it out of there-
“Mr. Lockley, right through there. She’s waiting on you.”
“Marc! Damn it, give Jake back the body just for a bit, and then I’ll explain everything. Just-”
Marc stepped through the two open doors. Steven’s voice disappeared, and in its place was a faint clicking. A computer? A type writer? He hated that he’d seen enough weird shit for a type writer to seem like a genuine possibility. His eyes scanned across the room, before narrowing in on the woman sitting at the oversized desk.
For a few seconds he wondered if she even knew he was there, but before he could ask a polite smile formed on her lips. “Are you here for an appointment?”