The Moon and The Stars

Who Is Steven Grant

It was a slow day in the museum as per usual. The dreary days took a while to get used to, as they were so different from what I was used to. I'd been in museums all over the world, but never to work and help preserve the art. No, I was used to the more sneak in and steal priceless artifacts side of things. But I put that life behind me. I had to, or else I was going to become completely lost to it. 

I found myself staring at a piece; a vase from Ancient Egypt. The paint was almost completely faded, though I could still make out the silhouettes of long-forgotten people along with some smaller details like lines and dots. I ran my fingers along the name plate of the archaeologists that found them;

Elizabeth and Liam Reece.

But to me they were just Mom and Dad.  

I heard a familiar voice behind me which caught my attention long enough to turn around, Steven. "Will you look at that? Looks like someone mistook the Great Pyramid of Giza for a rubbish dump."

A little girl with an annoyingly straight bob spoke in an equally annoying tone, "It's not like there's anything in there."

S: "Yeah. Maybe not. But, in there," he pointed to a display case, "is something wicked. Check it out." He took the gum wrapper from the pyramid and walked to the sarcophagus, which was out of my earshot. 

After speaking with the little girl for a moment, he whipped around and rushed to our boss Donna, taking a large stack of boxes from her. I joined them and took some off the top, "Morning, Steven."

"Good morning." he smiled.

"Don't know how many times I have to tell you this. You're not the bloody tour guide, Stevie." Donna huffed.

S: "Steven, actually. I am... Steven."

D: "No, you're bloody useless unless you're actually doing what you're paid to do."

"And what are you doing, Darla?"

She gave me a nasty look, "My job, managing the two of you. Now get to work." she walked off.

S: "You didn't have to do that."

"No, I did. She walks around here like she owns the place. That manager position went to her already over sized head."

He giggled quietly and our coworker, Cassie, walked up to us,

"Hello."

S: "Hello."

C: "How's the sugar trade going?"

S: "I don't know what this has to do with Egypt, really." He picked up some package I couldn't place "They didn't have that back then, did they? No. The liked figs and dates, and-"

C: "My next tour's here but just checking, we still on for 7 tomorrow?"

I looked up from my boxes and eyed the two of them.

S: "7 tomorrow?"

C: "Best steak in town?"

S: "Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah."

C: "Yeah? Okay." She laughed a little, turning to get to her tour.

S: "Sorry, but..."

"What?" She asked, turning back again.

S: "Are you asking me out?"

She laughed again, "You're funny. I'll see you then." she walked away.

He smiled stupidly, "I have no idea what she was on about, but I have a date."

"You don't remember asking her out yesterday?" I asked, amused.

S: "No? Because I didn't."

"Steven, how do- wait, steak? You're a vegan."

"I know." He let out a noise that was a mix of confused and amazed.

"Well, I'm happy for you."

S: "Thanks." 

We went back to unboxing merchandise, my mind not being able to stop trying to figure him out- not that it ever really did.

---

From the moment I stepped foot in the museum, I was intrigued by him. I was eyeing one of my parents' findings almost teary-eyed when he came up to me. He started going on and on about some of the surrounding artifacts, magically lifting me from my slump. 

"You seem to know a lot about all of this." I said in a melancholic voice.

"Yeah, it's kind of my thing, I guess." he smiled nervously. 

"I spent my childhood learning everything I could, but I just lost it along the way, I guess." I looked at a piece then back at him, "I'm here trying to find it again."

"Well, I could tell you anything you need to know." 

I smiled. "That sounds really nice, what time do you get off?"

"Six."

"You drink coffee?"

"Yes."

"How about the coffee shop down the street, my treat."

"Sounds lovely, I'll see you there."

We met up and we talked for hours. I came back to London because of the museum, I wanted to see how my parents were still affecting the world in their own tiny way. And then there he was. He was immediately the most kind human being I'd ever met, so different from the crowds I used to hang around, which were filled with criminals. I ended up telling him about my parents, and his eyes lit up.

"You're telling me that your parents are the Recces?" 

I nodded, smiling sadly, "Yep. I was there for pretty much every piece they found in one way or another. I was kind of hoping to see if I recognized one but I didn't stay long, so..." 

"How long are you staying here, in London?"

"As long as I feel, I guess. I was thinking about settling around here."

He grinned. "If you want to know more about your parents, there's a gift shop position just waiting to be filled."

"Oh, I don't know..." I thought about it for a moment, something about the twinkle in his eye and the thought of reconnecting with my past convinced me. "Yeah, okay, I'll look into it."

---

Now, I settled into my couch with a slice of day old pizza in my hand and Rafad, my gift from the gods, in my lap. I've been in London for a month now, I was still getting used to my apartment, still getting used to having a 9-5. And Rafad was still getting used to being an apartment cat, which was vastly different from what he was used to as well. Still, when I was at work, he'd stretch out to his full size, leaving a giant tiger-shaped warm spot on my bed. Like him, I hadn't completely let go of my old ways- I wasn't about to completely stop using my powers and I'd given myself a mission;

Who Is Steven Grant

Of course, I've debated changing the 'who' to 'what' on account of knowing he was different. His demeanor would change day to day, his accent, the way in which he thought. I wasn't sure if he had some kind of power like myself, if he was just playing a game to mess with people for fun, or if he was just a weird guy.

Still, I planned on finding out the answer before I moved on, if I moved on. To be honest, London was kind of growing on me.