#and despair since she REALLY didn't want to be indoors

[aceteling]

I think I've finally succeeded. It's been months now, and I seem to finally have a fully indoors cat!

[novelmonger]

Thoughts on Jedi Apprentice 7: The Captive Temple

Okay, I'm really excited to read this book, because it contains one of my absolute favorite scenes in the entire series. Good thing, too, since the previous two books are so emotionally devastating. Having just made myself read those two books that I disliked so much, I can grudgingly admit that the impact of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan working together in this book would probably not be quite so powerful without their time apart.

But enough about that! Let's see what's going on in the Temple!

Jedi Apprentice #7: The Captive Temple by Jude Watson

Chapter 1

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return to the Temple and meet with the Jedi Council, who brief them on the situation. Someone set an explosive under a footbridge in the Room with a Thousand Fountains, which the Force warned Yoda about just in time for him to avoid getting blown up. There are also malfunctions with a lot of the Temple's systems, and no one can figure out how all of this is happening with security so tight.

"'You are thirteen years old, Obi-Wan. You are not a child,' Mace Windu said with a frown." - FFFFFFFFFFFF ;ldfskja;lgkjd;lgkjasd;glhjs;dfljdsfhjsd;flkj (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

They ask Obi-Wan if he has any insight on the situation, since he knew Bruck, but Obi-Wan has no idea. After all, they weren't friends, so they didn't know each other that well. Obi-Wan stumbles through a plea for them to take him back as a Jedi, but they sternly remind him of just how egregious his betrayal in leaving the Jedi was. Not exactly an encouraging interview.

Chapter 2

Obi-Wan meets up with Bant, and they go to the indoor lake. Bant is honest, but encouraging, reminding Obi-Wan to be patient with himself and the Council, as they carefully repair the broken trust. She asks him about Melida/Daan, but he can't find the words to talk about Cerasi with her yet. The pain is still too fresh.

"Suddenly, Obi-Wan was struck by a thought. What if the Council took him back, but Qui-Gon did not? If the Council allowed him to remain a Jedi student, he was already thirteen and past the limit to be chosen by a Jedi Knight as a Padawan. Who would ask him, if not Qui-Gon? He didn't want another Master, Obi-Wan thought in despair. He wanted Qui-Gon." - ☯﹏☯

Chapter 3

A tense little episode where a turbolift breaks, almost falling from its shaft to the lake far below where Obi-Wan and Bant are talking. Ten small children and their caretaker are inside. Bant runs to get help, while Obi-Wan climbs up to the turbolift and cuts a hole into the shaft, carefully carrying the children out to safety. Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council show up before too long, the Masters holding the turbolift up with the Force and Qui-Gon helping carry the children out. I have to say, Obi-Wan is super cute with little kids, even at thirteen years old. When the danger is past, everyone is commended for their quick thinking and bravery...except that Obi-Wan is also reprimanded for being impulsive and acting without waiting for help or guidance first. Like...I kinda get what they're saying, but...it was an emergency! What was Obi-Wan supposed to do, just stand there like an idiot while children were in danger? I don't think a single thirteen-year-old would have been able to hold up the turbolift all by himself! He's not Yoda! Super unfair.

"Obi-Wan stood, watching them go. He did not think this day could get any worse. Now it had. In the eyes of the Council, he could do nothing right. And in Qui-Gon's eyes, he was worth nothing at all." - *cries forever* ;A;

Chapter 4

Internally, Qui-Gon is much more sympathetic towards Obi-Wan's situation than Obi-Wan thinks he is. He thinks the Council is being too harsh on him, he wants to stay with him and give him moral support...but he submits to their wisdom, and he has more pressing matters to take care of anyway. It turns out that the Temple is currently holding a shipment of the precious mineral vertex while two star systems negotiate; without the Jedi's assurance of keeping the shipment safe, a great war could break out between them. So the situation is even more dire than it normally would be, that the Temple is effectively under siege right now.

"What if the shaft had broken free before the Masters had arrived? What if Obi-Wan had perished? Qui-Gon's heart stopped at the thought. His hurried pace resumed. He had learned much over the past weeks about how the heart could surprise you. He was beginning to realize just how deep and intricate the bonds were between him and his former Padawan." - Ooof, my heart!

Chapter 6

We get an introduction to Siri, a girl a couple years younger than Obi-Wan, who will be appearing in the series again. They weren't exactly friends before, but they were classmates who got along well enough. Now, however...well, they're both rather blunt and tactless, but Siri makes it clear that Obi-Wan leaving the Jedi has cast a shadow on all other prospective Padawans, because now potential masters might be thinking twice about taking anyone on, in case they go the same way Obi-Wan did. It's a hard lesson, but an essential one for a boy his age, I think. Our actions and choices always affect more people than we realize.

Qui-Gon discusses the intruder with the Temple's tech expert, trying to figure out how he's been sabotaging all the Temple systems. It's clearly above Bruck Chun's pay grade, so who could it be? Qui-Gon realizes that Xanatos is a likely candidate. He's smart and skilled enough, and familiar enough with the Temple--not to mention that he has a personal vendetta against the Jedi, especially Qui-Gon. Right as they're figuring this out, Obi-Wan happens to come into the room and overhears their conversation. And so Qui-Gon asks for his help!

Chapter 7

Siri comes to find them as they're discussing the investigation with Tahl. She tells them about a conversation she had with Bruck a while ago about his father that struck her as odd. Apparently, Bruck's father recently acquired power on their home planet--Telos, which is also where Xanatos is from! Tahl was skeptical about Qui-Gon's hunch, but this confirms it. Xanatos must have gotten to Bruck through his father, playing on his pride and anger and turning him to the Dark Side, paralleling his own descent to evil. And to Obi-Wan's great satisfaction, he will be included in the investigation, since he's faced Xanatos before. He and Qui-Gon will look for Xanatos and Bruck's hiding spot, while Tahl investigates Xanatos' connection to Offworld. It's clear that Tahl is frustrated that her recent blindness will prevent her from joining them in their search for physical clues, but Qui-Gon reminds her that her task could bring up some vital clues as well.

"Obi-Wan noted her new determination. Qui-Gon had done this. He had not dwelt on her dissatisfaction. He had acknowledged it compassionately, then flung out a challenge to engage her. I have so much to learn from him, Obi-Wan thought. And it is not only about battles and strategies and the Force. It is about the heart." - Yes! We're back to these two thinking admiringly of each other! This is what I'm here for! 8D

Chapter 8

Bant shows up with a sudden epiphany: Bruck must be using the water tunnels that run through the entire Temple, supplying water to all the locations things have been stolen from. As a Mon Calamarian, Bant knows the tunnels well. Both Tahl and Qui-Gon praise her for her sharp thinking, which makes poor Obi-Wan a li'l jelly~ :O

"Jealousy trickled through Obi-Wan. He fought against it. Jealousy was not an appropriate emotion for a Jedi. Yet he couldn't dampen it, or make it go away. ... Obi-Wan felt a shock as he realized that if Qui-Gon didn't take him back, he most likely would want another Padawan. Was he thinking of Bant?" - :C Of course, Obi-Wan's not privy to Qui-Gon's thoughts that he's never going to take another Padawan. This is so sad....

Sure enough, they find an out-of-the-way maintenance platform with signs that someone's been there. And then, just as they're examining things, someone comes up out of the water. EEEEEK, IT'S XANATOS!!!!! ＼(º □ º l|l)/

Chapter 9

Epic lightsaber battle! ୧☉□☉୨ Anytime these two fight side by side, especially against a Dark Jedi like Xanatos, I can't help imagining them fighting like they do against Darth Maul. Which, as we all know, is the coolest lightsaber battle in the entire series ;) Seeing as how we're not even halfway through the book yet, obviously they don't defeat Xanatos. Right when they begin to get the upper hand, water is flushed through the tunnels, and Xanatos uses the flood of water to get away while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan jump to safety.

"As he fought side by side with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan felt the familiar rhythm pulse between them. The Force was strong, bonding them together as one unit." - <3

Chapter 10

They find a speeder in the water tunnels that Xanatos must be using to come and go from the Temple, and have security take it away so he'll be trapped inside. Obi-Wan does some thinking, and remembers that Xanatos taunted Qui-Gon for relying on children, that without Bant's help he would never have figured out where Xanatos was. But how did he know about Bant? Is there a spy informing him of their movements? Partly because of the jealousy simmering inside him about how nicely Qui-Gon has been treating Bant, he suggests that Tahl might be the spy.

"'No, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon said curtly. 'You are wrong. I am used to betrayal. I know exactly what it looks like.' He gave Obi-Wan a hard look and turned away. Obi-Wan felt a stab of pain. He knew Qui-Gon was talking about him." - >﹏<

Chapter 11

"The moment the words left Qui-Gon's mouth, he regretted them. His harshness had arisen more out of his frustration at Xanatos' escape than anything Obi-Wan had said. Yes, the boy had lost his trust. There was no need to torture him by constantly reminding him of it. It was behavior unworthy of a Jedi. It was his own flaw, Qui-Gon realized heavily. He was the one who could not take the leap to trust again. It was not Obi-Wan's fault. It was a combination of Qui-Gon's history and his nature. Although he felt a connection to other beings, he was slow to trust them. Once his trust was given, it was solid. When it shattered, he was at a loss as to how to refashion it again. His problem. Not Obi-Wan's." - SLYTHERINSLYTHERINSLYTHERIN such a Petrified Slytherin AAAHHHHH TT^TT I can't decide if this makes up for the pain of the last chapter or only makes it worse....

They return to Tahl to discuss what happened. Tahl has also discovered that Offworld Corporation has fallen on hard times due to Xanatos' mismanagement. That's probably part of the motive behind him infiltrating the Temple--he's planning to steal the vertex to deal with his financial troubles. They also figure out who the spy is: TooJay! There's a transmitter hidden on her that's been sending recordings to Xanatos all this time. As soon as I started reading the way Tahl pretended to be annoyed at her and shut her down, I suddenly remembered this part of the plot. This is how they're going to lay a trap for Xanatos.

Chapter 12

As part of the plan to fool Xanatos, Obi-Wan is tasked with finding someone of his height and build who can pretend to be him, while Qui-Gon does the same. Obi-Wan goes to find his friend Garen Muln, who would be able to pull it off. On the way, he runs into Bant, and all the jealousy he's been pushing aside for the whole book spills out into an accusation that she's just trying to ingratiate herself with Qui-Gon so he'll pick her as his Padawan. It gets to the point where she starts crying and runs off, poor thing. She was just trying to help :'(

"Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder, his steady words, sent a shiver through Obi-Wan. He had been unfair to Bant. If Qui-Gon was encouraging her, it was only because of his goodness. It didn't mean Qui-Gon wanted Bant as a Padawan any more than it meant he still wanted Obi-Wan. It only meant that he was encouraging strength where he saw it. Obi-Wan realized it wasn't Bant who stood between him and Qui-Gon. It was Qui-Gon's own feelings. He had known that. He just didn't want to accept it." - This is so sad.... ;A;

But then, just as Obi-Wan's assuring himself that he'll apologize to Bant later, and they're finalizing their plans, Xanatos calls Qui-Gon up on his comlink. Apparently, Bant went to the water tunnels, and Xanatos has taken her hostage. He's demanding a transport to get away in exchange for Bant.

Chapter 13

Okay, this is quite possibly my favorite chapter in the entire series. Even more than the delicious angst and irony of The Hidden Past's climax, I love this short chapter. Basically the only thing that happens in it is that Obi-Wan has a panic attack, and Qui-Gon talks him down. But that's enough. That's everything.

When I read this as a kid, I didn't have the vocabulary to determine that Obi-Wan is suffering a panic attack, but I can see now that that's what's going on here: "It was as though his body had taken over, refusing to listen to his mind. No matter how forcefully he told his legs to move, they would not. ... My fault. My fault. Bant will die. She will die. Xanatos is merciless. She will die. And again it will be my fault. ... He gulped down his panic, but he could not make it go away. Instead it rose in his throat again and again, choking him. ... The fear squeezed his throat, cramped his muscles. He could not move."

"He loved Bant as he had loved Cerasi." - Okay, I feel completely justified in interpreting his love for Cerasi as platonic.

Qui-Gon is so gentle here, so calm and understanding. He takes the time to help Obi-Wan find his center of calm again, acting as the rock that Obi-Wan can cling to. There's no bitterness or impatience, none of the tension that's hung between them. He sees that Obi-Wan needs him, and he delivers. When Obi-Wan says he can't control himself, Qui-Gon assures him that he can. When Obi-Wan says it's his fault that Xanatos captured Bant, Qui-Gon gently and logically lays out the truth: Maybe he was unkind to Bant and needs to apologize, but he didn't force Xanatos to capture her.

"'You want to return to the Jedi,' Qui-Gon continued. 'Now be a Jedi. This is the moment. This is exactly the moment when you must. The very worst time is the time you must follow the Code. Cast away your doubt. Let the Force flow through you.'" - <3 ಥ^ಥ

Chapter 16

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan implement their plan to trick Xanatos by recording a message their decoys will act out, lying about where they'll be and that they're arranging for the transport Xanatos demanded. Instead, the two of them go to wait just in front of the vault door, to ambush Xanatos and Bruck when they come to get the vertex.

Sure enough, the plan works, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are able to surprise them. The element of surprise gives Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan the advantage until Qui-Gon knocks Bruck's lightsaber out of his hand and then Xanatos holds his lightsaber to Bruck's neck. He knows Jedi won't want to risk him killing one of their own, and Bruck has never been anything but a pawn to him. Bruck is surprised though - poor kid, he's only thirteen! Even Obi-Wan was taken in by Xanatos' lies at first. But ultimately, Xanatos just pushes Bruck away and keeps fighting. Bruck runs away, and Obi-Wan gives chase.

The duel between Qui-Gon and Xanatos is super epic. They fight in the Jedi Council chamber, Xanatos throwing chairs and stuff around and then cutting a hole in the window and leaping out. It feels rather reminiscent of the Mace Windu/Palpatine fight, actually - which is funny, because this book was published five years before Episode III came out. But still, a very cool fight scene, and I wish we could have seen it on the big screen.

Chapter 17

Oh, wow.... This chapter is so much more tragic than it seemed when I was younger than the characters. Obi-Wan catches up to Bruck in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, at the top of the artificial waterfall, which has been turned off. They fight, another epic battle full of ups and downs. It's really cool how the focus of this fight is just as much on what's happening internally in Obi-Wan as it is on what's happening physically. Bruck keeps taunting him (the return of the Oafy-Wan jab from the first book!), and Obi-Wan is struggling with his anger and fear for Bant.

"Bant is dying. I won't have to do a thing. I'll just make you watch it. We would have freed her if we got the treasure. But another person will die because of you. Right in front of your eyes. Just like your friend Cerasi." - Ohhhh snap... Bruck's in trouble now! D:

"In that split second, Obi-Wan saw the seeds of his own defeat. This is the moment. The very worst time is the time you must follow the Code. Cast away your doubt, Padawan. Let the Force enter you." - Whooooo! Qui-Gon's words break through the hatred and desire for vengeance, and Obi-Wan finds his calm center again! You can practically hear the music swelling at this point ヽ(＾▽＾)ﾉ

Obi-Wan maneuvers Bruck into the dry riverbed, knowing that the water is supposed to start flowing again any minute. Sure enough, it takes Bruck by surprise, and he's struggling to keep his footing. There's another moment that might feel derivative, had this book not come out before Episode II, let alone III. Bruck's lightsaber shorts out in the water, and Obi-Wan calls to him, "That's it, Bruck. Give up." But, just like Anakin will later, Bruck refuses to listen to him, and tries to keep fighting - only to lose his footing and tumble over the waterfall. He hits a rock on the way down and falls to his death. He's thirteen.

Obi-Wan doesn't have time to process what just happened or how he feels about it. He only has time to pull Bant from the bottom of the pool in the nick of time, and then race off to help Qui-Gon with Xanatos.

Chapter 19

Qui-Gon and Xanatos fight on a narrow ledge just outside the Jedi Council chamber. I don't care what anyone says, this is every bit as epic as Obi-Wan and Anakin's duel on Mustafar - though shorter and much less fiery ^^' The wind is buffeting them, and Xanatos throws out taunts aplenty: "Will you allow your precious Padawan to die just to kill me? He tried to get away from you once. Why don't you get rid of him for good?"

Xanatos leaps off the ledge and onto an air taxi below, but Qui-Gon dares not follow because Xanatos announces that he's rigged the whole Temple to blow as soon as all the systems come back online. I never thought about this before, but...the driver of that taxi gets tossed into the air. Could Qui-Gon have caught him with the Force? Did he just go splat on the planet's surface miles below? >_<

But there's no time to worry about that! Qui-Gon gets back inside, meets up with Obi-Wan in the hallway, and they travel through the service areas to the maintenance hub, where they stop the system reboot just in time to discover that the missing healing crystals had been placed in the fusion furnace. The healing crystals would have caused a huge chain reaction as soon as the furnace started up, blowing up the entire Temple. Made it just in time!

Chapter 21

Everything gets wrapped up in the last couple chapters. Obi-Wan talks with Bant, apologizing for his harsh words and reflecting on what happened. Bant shows wisdom beyond her years, understanding that Obi-Wan was afraid of losing Qui-Gon, as well as how you can be glad to have stopped someone from doing evil, while still being sad that they're dead. And Obi-Wan finally tells her about Cerasi.

"'You loved her,' Bant said. Obi-Wan swallowed. 'Yes. She inspired me. We fought together side by side. We trusted each other. And when she died, I blamed myself. When I thought that you might die, I knew I could not go on if it happened. ' 'But you would have, Obi-Wan,' Bant said softly. 'We all go on.' She leaned against him, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. 'You saved my life. We will go on together.'" - TT____TT

Qui-Gon's conversation with Tahl has stuck with me all through the years. Not because of anything said in their discussion of everything that's happened, but because of a metaphor Tahl uses to encourage Qui-Gon to consider that maybe his relationship with Obi-Wan isn't broken beyond repair. She talks about the art of putting a shattered glass back together (similar to the real-world art of kintsugi, which is used to repair broken pottery with lacquer and gold). "He could not make again what he'd had. But what if the new thing he made was stronger than before, because it had once been broken?"

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meet with the Council, to debrief them on what happened with Xanatos and to decide what their next steps will be. Obi-Wan asks to be given a probation, where he'll take classes with Council members and prove to them his rededication to the Jedi Order. Qui-Gon asks to go in search of Xanatos, but the Council refuses. They think Qui-Gon is still too angry about this, so he should wait until Xanatos comes to him again. But after the meeting, Qui-Gon decides to go after Xanatos anyway. And Obi-Wan joins him. What will happen next???

[starrbar]

Ellen the narehate

The Witch's House: The Diary of Ellen + Made in Abyss spoilers

In the Diary of Ellen manga, there's a scene where for a brief moment, I felt joy for Ellen despite knowing what a horrible person she is.

It's the one where she's running in Viola's body and she's just overjoyed to finally, after a couple hundred years, be able to run without trouble and breathe clearly and just... be healthy. Something she always felt that other people take for granted because they don't realize how painful her disease was and how much it limited her. And she's thinking the words to herself in near-disbelief, processing the fact that it's real. She then hugs herself and kisses her shoulder. Not only feeling relief, but pure happiness at finally achieving the one desire she always had. Such a simple thing that should have been hers inherently, but that, in her view, was unfairly kept from her all her life.

With all that said, I'd love to give her the Mitty treatment! >:3 See how she finally loses her mind trapped in a blob body like that. Then Viola's ghost can haunt her or some shit idk.

Or just stick her in a Danganronpa execution hehe. It would work since despair is the key to a witch's death. 8D

Tbh though, I do love the idea of Made in Abyss AUs for Ellen especially. Like, sure, there's the idea of her getting ultra karma by becoming a narehate in the way you really DON'T want to. But on the other hand, what about an AU where she and Viola were genuine friends and Viola ended up essentially in Mitty's position, a sacrifice that gave Ellen a new fluffy narehate body? She would finally be healed from her sickness (says me, idk), but she would be alone without her one true friend.

It just reminds me of that line Nanachi says, "even though I know I didn't receive this body just to lie around and sleep all the time." I think Ellen would live out that ideal whether it's canon her or AU her. Everything she went through just to finally be able to run freely and explore what the world has to offer? She wouldn't spend another full day indoors, that's for sure!

[the-infamous-coat-of-baron-zemo]

When You Least Expect It | Chapter II

Moon Knight 2022 | Marc Spector x F!Reader | Steven Grant x F!Reader

Word Count: 2553

Chapter One

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On AO3 Here

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I cannot even believe I got another chapter out. This is unprecedented. And there is like.....direction lol. At least I know where the next chapter is going, lots of action in that one. 

I hope you guys enjoy! 

OOOOO

 The first thing you noticed when regaining consciousness was that it was quiet. No talking, no shifts in movement around you. You could hear the spinning of what sounded like a fan. With your eyes still closed, you realized your body was lying down on something soft. A mattress. So, you were brought indoors after your collapse. Christ. Did Marc have to carry you back to your adjoined hotel room? You screwed your eyes shut, even further, in despair. You were absolutely mortified. Marc was never going to let you go anywhere again. It took a lot of convincing just to let you tag along to Egypt, after the incident losing the scarab to Harrow. He entrusted you to hold your own and at the first test of wandering off, you up and faint on him. Since you weren't being attacked by anyone, you hope he'll chalk it up to heat exhaustion. Maybe he'll just do that whispery yell instead of being angry shouty. 

Continuing to take inventory on yourself, you felt a heavy cloth plastered on your forehead. It was lukewarm against your brow. You must have been out for at least an 30 minutes to an hour, given the lack of coolness of the washcloth. Knowing you couldn't fake being unconscious any longer, you raised your right arm to grab the cloth off your forehead. Opening your eyes, you blinked a few times from your position on the bed to stare at the ceiling. Except, you weren't greeted by the ceiling of the hotel room. Instead, your vision was clouded by a very pointed fossilized face mere inches from your nose. 

"Ah, she lives," Khonshu said, voice positively dripping with exasperation. 

Having the Egyptian Moon God's face shoved inches from your own, shocked you. With the unexpected invasion of personal space, you reacted how any normal human would, by screaming. You shifted and scrambled to the side, trying to move up into a seated position as quickly as possible. You didn't take in your surroundings well enough and failed to notice how close you were to the edge of the bed. In your haste, you ended tumbling off. You nearly swiped Khonshu in the process had he not have his God-like reflexes to deftly move away.  

You landed on the floor face down, with a resounding, 'thump' and a groan. 

Pounding feet were heard in the adjacent room and the sound of a gun loading. As the footsteps grew closer, you managed to heave yourself onto your knees. Your arms were now resting on the side of the bed, when you heard both Layla and Marc calling out to you.

Layla came barreling into the room with Marc hot on her heels, gun raised, ready to fight. 

"Hey. Hey. Sorry, m'fine," you wheezed out, waving at them as you caught their gaze.

You saw Layla observe the current position you were in and seemed amused by the uneventful circumstance. Marc, on the other hand, was a different story. He lowered his weapon and pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. He looked like he was equally parts mad and relieved. You saw his shoulders sag once he assessed there was no immediate threat.

"You humans. Such delicate creatures." 

"Khonshu, just don't right now," Marc bit out, holding out his hand in a stopping motion.

You wanted to make a scathing comment to Khonshu as well, it was his fault you were spooked in the first place! But you had already drawn enough attention in the past hour. Things needed to get back on track and find a way to located Ammit's tomb. You also didn't know whether Khonshu had explained to Marc the new revelation of what was discovered earlier.

Shit.

He really said you two were soulmates? Like, actual soulmates?

It was a jarring discovery, and you weren't even sure how you felt about it. You needed some time to digest what was shared with you, but there wasn't any to spare right now. You also wanted some sort of tangible proof. You had seen a lot in your time with The Avengers over the last decade. Though, you weren't an actual avenger, per say. You had managed to pick up a thing or two. But this - this was completely new territory on a very personal level. 

You had to focus on the mission at hand, deal with the aftermath later. You could see and hear Khonshu. No big deal. You got your answer, and it wasn't anything detrimental that would put Marc, Steven or Layla at risk. So, it's not like anyone else needed to know, right? It would only disrupt this careful balancing act you have with Marc and Steven. Even your new friendship with Layla. Everyone needed to be at their best. Not to mention the relationship between Marc, Steven and Layla. That too, was in a precarious place.

In the end, all you wanted was for Marc to be happy, and if that was with Layla. So be it. Besides, it's not like there has ever been any indication either Steven or Marc have feelings for you beyond friendship. Oh my friggin' god, why are you contemplating whether they might have feelings for you. God dammit Khonshu. Me and my big mouth. You just couldn't let it go. 

Both Steven and Marc meant too much to you to jeopardize the relationship you have with them. You could sort out your feelings for them when this was all over. Yes, good. A plan. Don't tell Marc or Steven. Make sure Khonshu keeps his beak shut. 

Lost in thought, it wasn't until you felt Marc's hand on your shoulder that you realized he had knelt down to offer you assistance getting back up. You took his proffered hand and he tugged you around to the front of the bed, gesturing to sit down with him. 

Looking over the room, the door was now closed and Layla no longer present. Khonshu had also disappeared, but that was less of a surprise, after Marc's heated exchange with him. You sat down and half turn to him, one leg resting on the bed, the other swinging off the end. You were about to go into a long apologetic ramble when suddenly you're engulfed by an armful of Marc. You barely had time to register the surprise on your face before your nose was buried into his collar bone from the force of the hug.

Unsure where the sudden burst of emotion was coming from, you hugged Marc back in earnest. It was unusual for him to show such a display of open affection. Steven was big on displays of affection with no hesitation. Marc was much more reserved, grounded. You could smell his cologne with each breath. You inhaled deeply. You felt safe, calm and at peace. He felt like home. You froze at the revelation. 

Marc pulled back from you at your stilled reaction. You cursed at the thought you made him think you felt uncomfortable touching him. 

"Sorry, I-." 

"I didn't mean-."

We both fumbled over our words. You gave him a soft smile, and light push on the shoulder letting him know everything was okay. He allowed a small uptick in the corner of his mouth before turning serious again. The intensity in his eyes was unsettling. He looked pretty shaken up. You must have genuinely gave him a scare. 

"You okay?" 

"I am. Sorry for the all drama. Long couple of days is all," you replied. 

"What happened?" Marc asked. 

Aaaaand we're back to business as usual I see.

You narrowed your eyes slightly at his question. Did Khonshu really not say anything to him? You had never lied to Marc or Steven. Not about anything, but this was the worst possible time to have the kind of conversation required. You settled on a half truth, hoping Khonshu hasn't blabbered something you couldn't refute.  

"It's all a little fuzzy at the end. You know I don't do too well with long periods of time out in the sun, and it had been warmer than the norm today." 

Marc leaned into you slightly, placing the back of his hand on your forehead, "So nothing nefarious then?"

"Nope. Just me being a space cadet in Cairo," you joked. 

Marc gave a short huff of laughter, retracting his hand back. He was looking at you with what you could only describe as fondness. He took your answer at face value, not needing to push any further. You relaxed a bit more.

It appears Khonshu didn't want to meddle with the whole soulmate debacle. Not that you would blame him. Dealing with Marc and Steven as his avatars was a handful for him as it stands. In retrospect, you're certain he's protecting his own interests by keeping that piece of information from them. You'd have to keep an eye out and make sure he doesn't try to blackmail Marc by holding that over his head one day. Whatever the reason may be. If he did need to know, you wanted to be the one to break it to him, not Khonshu. 

You watched Marc shift to look at the mirror for a moment before scratching the back of his head with one hand. He shook his head at his own reflection, "I already asked her that! No, I'm not going to ask her again; I know you heard her too." 

"Steven wants you to ask me something?" you prompted. 

"He just wants me to double check and ask if you're sure, you're feeling okay," he responded. 

You dipped your head down to hide a grin. Steven really was the sweetest sometimes. You glanced at Marc's reflection in the mirror. You wonder if you stare long enough, you'll see whatever it is Marc sees and hears from Steven. But you know you won't. You shifted back to gaze at Marc and grabbed his hand in the process. 

"Please tell Steven that I am fine, and I appreciate his concern. Oh, and that I found a keychain in a small shop at the bazaar that he can add to his collection," you told Marc, rattling off the last bit as in afterthought.

Marc simply grunted in response, somewhat unhappy. 

"He can hear you," he grumbled.  

You smiled adoringly at him. At least they're getting better at communicating with each other. Baby steps. Speaking of...

"Hey, back on topic. So what's the plan locating Ammit's tomb before Harrow finds it?" 

Marc had been staring down at your joined hands, distracted. He inhaled noisily through his nose at your abrupt change in conversation. 

"Uh, Layla has an old contact who might be able to help us out - Anton Mogart," he said. 

"Mogart? The black market antiquities dealer? He's not exactly someone to be trusted. And you believe he can help?" 

"I trust Layla. If she says he can get us what we need, then we need to take the chance," Marc replied. 

"Alright, and how exactly are we getting in?" you queried, making a mental note to get blue prints of his compound before you left. 

"Layla suggested she and I pose as our married selves. Less evasive questions and we can both answer honestly without having to provide lots of cover story," Marc suggested.

Of course. Logically it makes sense. They were essentially a perfect couple. You did your best to hold off on making an outward reaction. You're happy for them. You are. This is the right course of action. You're just being stupid. You must have hit your head when you fell. This whole day has been ridiculous. As you mulled over everything, you only now pick up the innocuous rubbing on the inside of your wrist. Oh. Marc was back staring at his reflection. You wondered if he was even aware of what he was doing with his hand. It was such a relaxed and lazy circular movement. Almost as if hieroglyphics were being traced over your skin.

You shook yourself out of your reverie, "So - you need me to run perimeter security. Make sure there are no hidden surprises, yea?"

Marc gave you a lopsided grin, "Exactly. There's no one else I'd put my trust in when it comes to running comms and security. You're my best girl." 

Your heart did a funny flip-flop inside your chest at his reply.

The door opened at that moment and Layla came into the room. You and Marc must have come to the same realization that you were holding hands and pulled away as if we had burned each other. You coughed and tried to subtly put some distance between yourself and Marc. 

You saw her give a curious glance between the two of you, but it was fleeting as it was gone within moments, "Hey. You both all finished up here? I've confirmed everything and we should probably hit the road pretty soon if we want to get out to Mogart's compound this evening." 

You darted off the bed and went around to lean on the dresser, "Definitely. Marc just finished catching me up on the plans for tonight. Just let me grab my gear and I'll start downloading all the prints we need and start linking up our comms." The words were tumbling out of your mouth a little faster than you would have liked, but you recovered well enough no one noticed. 

"That'll be great. Let me give you the USB information I've stored on Mogart. There should be some useful data for you," Layla said. She started to turn and leave the room again, but paused and tilted her head towards Marc, "You coming?" 

You can see Marc out of your peripheral, and his eye line has moved to the far corner of the room. You can hear him give a gruff cough, "Yeah, I'll meet you both out there in a few minutes." 

Puzzled by his lack of eagerness, you shrugged at Layla and moved to leave the room. As you bent down to grab your backpack by the foot of the bed, you finally see what caught Marc's attention. Khonshu was back in the room. Not that he's hard to miss, but you hadn't been looking for him either. 

You froze briefly mid-lift and caught his gaze. He tilted his head slightly in your direction, then back at Marc. This time Marc caught your stilled motion and his eyes flew to yours and then back to Khonshu. 

His frow burrowed in confusion, "Is everything - " 

"Yup. Good. Just remembered I left my laptop charger at that café on the corner. I'll just buy a new one on our way out. See you out there!" You dashed out the door without waiting for a reply from either Khonshu or Marc.

Closing the door behind you, you quietly rest your head on the back of the door, bag dangling from your left hand. You take in a couple of large breaths to calm yourself down. That could have been bad. You're going to need to keep your reactions in check. Dipping your head down, you moved away from the door and start down the hallway. With once last look at the closed door, you pray whatever conversation Khonshu and Marc were having, it wasn't about you. 

   OOOOO