Chapter 1
This was worrying. Neither Marc or Steven were picking their phone up.
Chase was currently pacing about in their flat, biting their nails and checking their phone, menhit just watching and sitting.
"Little cub, they may be busy"
"Menhit they never leave it this late. Something's happened." Chase stated. Looking towards menhit in Tofu's body.
"Khonshu is with them. They will be fine." Menhit said calmly.
"Yeah that's what I'm afraid about…khonshu." Chase murmured out, then sat down. Okay, they had to calm down. They may be with Layla.
They'll phone Layla.
Chase put Layla's number in, waited and heard the phone being picked up.
"Chase?"
"Layla! Hey hi uh- you haven't..heard from Marc or Steven have ya?"
"No I haven't..why what's wrong?"
"They haven't responded to my calls or texts and that's…really unlike them." Chase flicked through the tv channels on their tv.
"They may be busy, look, give it a few days. They'll be back then. Marcs like a stray cat, he'll come back when he's hungry or tired" chase snorted at Layla's comment.
"Calling your husband a stray cat. Amazing"
"I try to be. Don't be too worried, I'll call later"
"Kay. Laters" chase hung up, sighed and fell onto their sofa. The really need to do their art work for their upcoming exhibition.
Eh they can do it later.
"Little cub, why don't we break some windpipes of our enemies?" Menhit suggested, swishing Tofu's tail from side to side.
"You're sounding like khonshu." Chase grumbled out. Sat up and grabbed their keys, "I'm going to stevens. Fish need feeding"
"Don't let me stop you little cub" menhit purred out, chase let a small shrug out, left their flat and opened the door to Stevens.
"Ah I really need to get a new kettle…" chase muttered out to themselves, walking in and closing the door behind them.
The place still looked like a mess. But they were thirsty and needed a cuppa. Chase threw their keys into the little keybowl by the fish tank and walked into the kitchen to flick the kettle on, headed over to Stevens little flat library and began to search through the newest additions to the library of Steven.
Apparently he was in a Cleopatra phase this month, "huh…Egypt nerd. Need to get him a new hobby that's not about ancient Egypt, huh mate?" Chase asked, glancing over to the two fish who just…blubbed and swam off.
The kettle went off, chase fed the fish and made themselves a cup of tea, blowing on it slightly before taking a sip, then reeled away and waving at their tongue because it got burnt by the tea.
Over the course for 3 months, Steven's flat had gone from lonely person to chase invasion to complete mess. They liked the little changes here and there, new illustrations on the wall that were one of a kind for Steven and Marc or the post card paintings that were pinned next to the fishtank for the fish to blub at enviously.
"Oh to be a fish. You guys just swim all day and don't give a damn about the world. You're safe in your little glass home" chase mused out. Paused and grumbled, "I'm talking to bloody fish." Then took another sip of their tea and winced, "still too hot-"
They checked the time, sighed and set their 'i don't give a fox' cup (a cup they totally didn't steal from Marc) down. They needed some sleep. They got some spare clothes here so…they'll keep the fish company tonight. Yeah. That's a plan.
___
A day went past. Then two. Then a week.
Then two weeks.
And then a month.
And then an entire year.
Marc had probably upped and left, leaving chase and Layla in a state of confusion as to why he'd do that after everything the group went through with harrow. And this had also meant chase was looking after two flats but staying at Steven's while their flat was now an art studio.
Chase had given up contacting Marc and Steven.
"Menhit, what do you think? Is this too fruity?" But tonight, chase was going on a date. A date with a very, very lovely girl. Nyx, that was their name.
"I think you look like yourself, young cub." Menhit purred out, "I'm glad to see you move on with your life"
"Yeah well…can't keep moping around about not being able to see my favourite Egyptian nerd anymore. Them two are probably in America doing something else for all I know." Chase shook their head, looking in the full length mirror and nodded. They look great.
"Marc, Steven, I'll see you two later. Be good fishies" chase pressed a kiss to their hands and placed both hands on the tank, grabbed a long length hooded cardigan, their keys as well as their phone and headed out, locking the door behind them and walked to the stake house.
Ten minutes later, they arrived and nyx grinned, stood up and hugged chase, giving them a small peck on the cheek, "look at you! Even more amazing in person."
"Why thank you Nyx. So, didn't have any trouble finding this place, did you?" Chase asked, nyx shook their head.
"Nah no trouble at all. You live in a really nice place actually"
"London? It's overpriced and there's stabbings every other week. I'd rather move back to the southwest but I get commissioned by the national museum every year and the pay is really good for a years work." Chase rambled on, waving their hands about as the spoke and generally, had a really great time with Nyx.
Towards the end of the night, Chase suggested they head back to their flat and nyx agreed.
"Sorry it's a mess- haven't had…chance to clean up yet. Oh I feel a bit embarrassed now-" chase ran about, picking up articles of clothing that was left about and dumped them under the bed, twirled around to Nyx and grinned, "wine?"
"Oh no I've had enough for one night. Maybe next date?" Chase's heart fluttered slightly. There was a next date?
"Y-yeah! Ah sorry- yeah yeah next date. Definitely. Aces."
"Cool. So, who's this person?" Nyx picked a photo up, looking at the person next to chase and pointed to him, the acrylic nail making a tapping noise against the glass.
"Oh- Steven..he was a friend of mine."
"Was? What happened"
"Upped and left. Well..Marc made him, haven't heard from those two in a year so..said screw it and I moved on. Focused on my work and, slowly got out into the dating pool again" Nyx let a small whistle out.
"Wow…that's…sucky I'll be honest" chase shrugged.
"It's okay. I have my art studio and my cat. Adopted fish too…sorry this must be really depressing" chase rubbed the back of their head and heard menhit snort in amusement behind them
"Smooth, little cub"
"Oh- oh no no it's not depressing at all! What's this?" Nyx pointed to the painting chase made for Steven.
"...a gift, for Steven. Made a while back"
"Insane.. you're so talented chase!"
"Ah- yeah thanks. Hey, I need to pop to the lil' girls room but, I'll be back and we can continue talking"
"Sounds great, master artist." A small giggle left chase, headed to the bathroom and gave a quick glance to Nyx before shutting the bathroom door, headed to the three way mirror and pulled it open.
And that's when khonshu made an appearance.
"I'm in dire need of your assistance. Depressed one."
"Give me a fucking break!" Chase glowered at the reflection of khonshu, turned to face him and balled their hands up into fists, "you leave for a year! Up and leave! That's it! No goodbye, no letter or text! And then you have the au-" chase lowered their voice, "-dacity to come back and ask for my help? Fuck off khonshu. And tell Marc - wherever he fucking is that I hope he's proud of himself" chase hissed out, rubbed their face slightly and walked out the bathroom.
"Chase? Is everything alright?"
"Peachy! Just, stupid phone call that's all" chase shrugged out.
"I see. Hey, I have to go but, thanks for the lovely night. I'll text you soon okay" chase's heart fluttered again
"Y-yeah! Yeah okay." Nyx opened the door, smiled walked out.
"Bye, chase"
"Yeah..laters gators…uh- bye! Get home safe" Nyx giggled, and closed the door.
"Laters gators?" Menhit raised what seemed to be an eyebrow
"Shut. Up. Menhit" god they needed a drink. Of something strong.
"Kay. I'm going next door. Need to do work" or maybe space out for an entire night.
Chase went next door, closed the door and sat Infront of the easel, looking at the newest commission for the Egyptian exhibit for the king Tut tour.
"...fucking hate Egyptian shit now" chase huffed out, checking their phone and screamed when Layla popped up on the caller id.
"La-layla-! Hey- been- been a while"
"Chase! Oh- oh I thought- are you okay?"
"..yeah? Had too much to drink is all. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine. You didn't call me for an entire year. Chase I thought something happened"
"Been doing work..actually can I call you back? I have an overgrown bird at my window" chase hung up, stood up from their seat and walked to the window, and pulled it open for khonshu.
"I am in need of your help, chase."
"Must be serious if you're using my name. What is it."
"I cannot find Marc, or Steven. I have lost the connection to them" chase froze.
"What..? You- how did you let this happen!? Have you told Layla?! Taweret for that matter!?"
"I have come to you first to seek your help"
"I'm already menhits avatar. You can't come and ask me to be yours when you know that's not how it works!"
"Young cub, for the time, I will step back, and let khonshu be your god. If he's asking for our help, it already means he's exhausted every avenue"
"...fine. what do we do first?" Chase heard a rumble leave khonshu.
"We summon the ennead." Chase blinked.
"But didn't- didn't their avatars die??? And them too…?" Chase was confused.
"The avatar's were just the channels we use. The ennead are still with us." Khonshu explained.
Chase sighed. "Fine. Let's do that again. See if I care if you get stuck in stone for the second time"