Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I need this."
Steven knew you said it more to yourself than to him, but he nodded in agreement. "You've got this, love."
You exhaled shakily, anxiety evident in the restlessness of your movements.
You both sat on a couch in the waiting room, Steven and Marc there to offer you support. Your legs bounced beneath your hands, your throat working as you swallowed reflexively. Steven saw you try to control it, your fingers curling into your palms. Placing a hand over yours, he rubbed circles with his thumb over the back of your hand.
"It's okay to feel anxious," he assured you. "This is a big step."
Head jerking in a nod, you stared at a spot on the floor, gnawing the inside of your cheek.
"We'll be waiting for you the whole time, yeah? We'll be right here."
Your attention slowly shifted to him, your eyes searching his. You twisted your hand until it fit with his, fingers lacing together. Warmth flooded Steven's chest, a flush creeping up the back of his neck as he gently squeezed, offering as much reassurance as possible while enjoying the feeling of your skin against his.
"It means a lot to me that you're staying," you whispered.
"Of course, love. Wouldn't dream of leaving you."
"I meant...I know you and Marc fought about it when we first met. It just...it means a lot to me that after everything was over-after you helped me-you stuck around." You met his gaze. "The both of you."
The flush reached his cheeks. "Yeah, well, can't let go of one of the only people in the world who knows who I am." All three of me remained unspoken, the third one still hidden in their mental shadows. "And it helps that you know about Khonshu and everything, too."
In the reflection of the stainless steel coffee table at your knees, Marc nodded in agreement, flush with feeling, too. It was strange, spending time with you together and separately, working out a slight schedule so that both spent an equivalent amount of time with you. He thought it wouldn't work, but so far, it had.
Both men had been on individual dates with you, the other respecting your time together and staying quiet. The week before, they had both been on the date, switching seamlessly as though they both sat separately at the table, engaging you on all fronts. The best part of it all? You hadn't even batted an eye, treating both equally and never once being surprised whenever they switched.
A door opened to your right, a woman emerging through it. She called your name.
You tensed. Steven gripped your hand tight, pouring as much reassurance as he could into the touch.
It had only been a month since you had purged Hermes from you. With his absence went the compulsions to steal. But the other ones remained, as did, on occasions, the numbing despair. Both Marc and Steven did their best to help, but on bad days, it wasn't enough.
One night, you texted, Tell the bird he was right. Neither man had understood what you meant, but the next morning, you scheduled your first visit with a therapist.
"Ready when you are," the woman said, smiling encouragingly.
Exhaling heavy through your nose, you turned to Steven.
"You've got this," he assured you. "I know it."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I believe in you."
You blinked. Then you leaned forward, pressing your lips to his. Shock coursed through him, his body and mind frozen. You hadn't yet kissed, the boys still trying to work that particular detail out.
Instinct took over in the moment. Steven leaned into the kiss, enjoying the soft press of your lips against his. Sparks traveled through him.
You pulled away first, a smile playing at your mouth. Steven stared at you in awe, eyelids fluttering as the feeling of you overwhelmed him, your scent and taste intoxicating.
"Thank you," you murmured.
"I-I should be the one saying thank you." Steven opened his eyes, stared into yours. "Thank you."
Chuckling lightly, you glanced at the doctor. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck," Steven managed to say, floating.
Giving his hand a squeeze, you stood and let the therapist lead you through the door into the offices beyond. You paused at the threshold, cast one glance back at Steven. He waved, then offered you an encouraging thumbs up. Smiling shakily, you disappeared through the doorway, shoulders squared as you took the next steps toward healing.
"You're a lucky duck," Marc said, shaking his head.
"We're a lucky duck," Steven corrected, beaming. "We are."
