"Arabian Nights" | Moon Knight Family Story

05

Steven was stocking up at his gift shop counter as he heard loud foot steps run into the shop. He looked up to see little Coltin running up to the counter. A smile spread across his face, Steven then smiled at the sight of him.

"Papa Steven," Coltin stopped to catch his breath. He placed his hands on top of the counter, his chin resting there too.

"Hey, little lad. What brings you here this afternoon?" Steven looked down at the boy in front of him, noticing his mother's absence. "Where's your Mum at?"

"I wanted to come back to the museum, but I really wanted to come visit you again," Coltin smiled, making Steven's heart melt. "She said she would catch up with me."

"Aw, you're too sweet, kid," Steven ruffled the boy's hair, Coltin giggled as he flattened his hair. Coltin leaned in slightly, as much as he could over the tall counter.

"Can I say hi to Dad as well?" Coltin's whispered, not wanting spoil Steven's secret. Steven giggled as he took the backseat, allowing Marc to front and lean down to his son's level on the counter.

"You sure can," Marc smiled. Coltin's eyes sparkled, still being amused at how he could see the switch by just the look on their faces. It's not until one of them starts talking that Coltin knows for sure who he's talking to.

"Hi, Daddy," Coltin giggled with a small wave.

"Hey, Coltin," Marc chuckled as his son's cuteness and waved back.

The two just stared at each other; it was as if Marc was looking into a mirror. Coltin was almost an exact carbon copy of himself. They only thing that he saw in him that belonged to Charlotte was his smile, the smile that could light up a dark room... or a man's empty heart.

"Can I go behind the counter with you?" Coltin asked excitedly.

"Only for a little while," Marc stated. "Papa Steven isn't allowed to have non-workers behind the counter." He then stood back up and straightened out.

"I'm sure Donna wouldn't care if she knew you were my own flesh and blood, though," Steven fronted as he carefully reached over and picked up Coltin by his armpits and lifted over the counter and into his arms, he rested him on his hip and he had seen Charlotte do once before. "Besides, you know more about Egypt than most of the adults here. I'm sure they'd love you as their little tour guide." Steven watched as Coltin's eyes lit up, overwhelmed with joy.

"Oh look, it's Momma!" Coltin pointed out of the gift shop as his Mom.

Steven looked out as well, seeing Charlotte standing by and statue. She seemed to be talking to someone; from afar, it looked like... another man. They seemed to be talking in depth about something. He said something that had made her laugh. He pushed her bangs out of her face. The sight made Steven's heart drop as Marc then held his son close to him, almost in a protective way. He hated seeing someone get to see her bright smile that wasn't him. He then pulled a pen from his pocket and grabbed her arm and pushed up her sleeve. What was he doing? Was he giving her his phone number? So many thoughts crossed Marc and Steven's mind as the watched from behind the counter - and from the different reflections in gift artifacts - as Charlotte then took the pen and wrote something on the man's forearm. She soon gave back the pen, the two smiled as the man then walked away with a charming smile. Charlotte's cheeks were visibly red.

Steven had to force himself into the driver's seat as she began walking through the entrance of the gift shop; Marc would have said something stupid and Steven had to make sure that wouldn't happen.

"Hey, buddy," Charlotte smiled to her son in Steven's embrace. "Are you having fun with -" She looked to Steven, wanting to confirm who was holding her son right now. Steven awkwardly smiled and pointed to his name tag. Charlotte nodded and gave a small smile. "- with Papa Steven?"