Steven was beginning to feel exhausted. Not only with the constant banter happening in his head between the god and his alternative self which caused him to lose sleep and anger Khonshu, but also the feelings of dread that would settle in him everytime the name of that woman is brought up from the depths of his mind.
Layla El- Faouly.
What makes her so special?
She is- was? Marc's wife, yes, but they were- are going to be divorced weren't they?
This was stupid. Catching feelings for yourself? He briefly recalled reading about a story of a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty. He rejected every romantic advances until he fell inlove with himself and eventually, drowned in it. But Steven wasn't pretty, nor was he a hunter. He didn't want to drown either, he'd read somewhere that that was one of the worst ways to go.
He was just a gift shop employee, at the British Museum, who couldn't even do his job right.
But he couldn't help it, the idea of Marc was everything and nothing that he'd dreamt of. He wasn't even gay, and yet something about this person in the mirror, who was identical, yet so, so different, made him want to drop to his knees and offer the entirety of his being to him and him alone. He'd never be able to do that of course, and he'd long since accepted that fact.
So why does it hurt him so much that, apart from Marc's residual feelings, that he seemed to be getting along just fine without him-
'Steven? You still with us?'
Steven snapped his head back to get himself out of a daze. Eyes meeting his reflection , "I- yeah, yeah I'm.... here?"
Get your head out of the clouds Steven, distraction is a sign of weakness
'But I am weak', Steven thinks but doesn't voice out for fear of being heard. Unfortunately a certain someone residing within the confinements of his brain did.
'Khonshu?'
Yes my knight?
'Can you', Marc breathes in deeply as if psyching himself up for his next words, 'Leave us for a bit?'
Steven's face drained of color.
Khonshu was silent for a moment, regarding the request with admiration. Marc had always been obedient; Mindlessly serving him in exchange for his salvation. Never even asked for anything but protection from the god he served. And now, he was boldly making an appeal for someone who wasn't even supposed to exist in the first place.
Yeah sure
The god's voice silenced, yet his presence was still, and always will be, wherever they were. He owns them, and the two knew that (Well, Marc more so than Steven, but hell).
Steven stared at the mirror as Marc's form relaxed, 'Alright Steven', his reflection's mouth forms into a straight line, 'Start talking'
"What?"
Marc clicks his tounge, 'Have you forgotten we are inhabiting the same body?', Steven didn't understand what Marc was getting at, ''t means I can sense the emotions that you feel, just as you can mine '. Marc crosses his arms and leg, 'And I'm tellin ya, that wave of misery I felt was concerning as hell, so you better start talking'
Steven's hands felt clammy all of a sudden, right, he forgot.
"I-its nothing really", Steven spoke and Marc's gaze turned to steel, "I was just knackered, and Khonshu isn't exactly helping me sleep with his booming voice, bugger's a bit lairy innit?"
Steven expected the god to just pop out and wack him on the side of his head but nothing happened.
Marc didn't speak, just continued to gaze at Steven and it was really starting to itch on his nerves. By the 5th minute his eyes had started to wander everywhere but Marc's reflection.
'You're jealous'
"Sorry?", Steven asked, eyes returning to Marc.
Marc began laughing hysterically, and it scared the shit out of Steven. He'd wondered what the man found was so funny that it got him unhinged.
'Oh my god', Marc said, standing up from where he'd doubled over, 'Sorry, sorry. Its just that... you didn't think I'd be able to hear your thoughts now did you?'
Steven's face turned red, "B-but! That's unfair!", he stammered, watching as Marc composed himself again, "I can't hear yours, how can you hear mine!?"
'You're fronting', Marc said as if it was obvious, and Steven wants to retaliate but he could see that Marc was actually, actually smiling for once.
'Listen Steven', he began, 'Just because I seem to be getting along fine with my life doesn't mean that I actually do '
"What does that mean?"
'It means', Marc sighs and stretches a bit, 'That even though I've had many people I've acquainted myself with in the past, I won't replace you for any of them, not even Layla. '. Steven's eyes widened, just how long had Marc coexisted with him? 'Since we were children Steven, you were just.... a little repressed'. Steven nodded even though his brain hadn't processed any of it yet.
And Marc just had to short circuit his brain. The cruel bloke.
'So...you've caught feelings'
"Fuck off", Steven blurted out of nervousness and immediately covered his mouth, "I- Sorry! Sorry", he covers his face with his hands, "'m just a little on edge, sorry."
A tap on the glass caught his attention and Steven fixated his gaze on the mirror. Marc had tapped on the glass to get his attention and it worked, 'It's ok Steven, you're a grown ass man, you can curse whenever and at whoever the fuck you want'
Steven exhales, "You... don't find this weird?"
'Hm?'
"This", Steven gestured to himself and everything else around him. His reflection gave a small smile.
'I admit, its a little fucked', Marc shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets,
'But you know what the difference is between you and Narcissus?'
"W-what?"
Marc smirked as he had a thousand times before. The same smirk he used when Layla, and a few other men and women, had confessed their admiration for him. Only this time, it is different, it is softer and is exclusively for Steven alone.
'Your reflection actually feels the same'