"Arabian Nights" | Moon Knight Family Story

08

"What the FUCK was that?!" Charlotte as the three of them stormed back into Steven's apartment. She shut the door behind her, giving Coltin an apologetic look for swearing in front of him. "Steven?! Marc?!" They stood and watched as the man practically paced back and force while mumbling to himself. 

"What the hell was that?" Steven frantically asked Marc.

"I don't know, Steven, I'm just as confused as you are," Marc answered, his eyebrows furrowed.

Charlotte and Coltin watched as Steven and Marc simultaneously carried on a conversation at the same time. Watching the switch back and forth was almost amusing to watch.

"Khonshu, he's still here," Steven whimpered. "Oh god, I can't believe it! That stupid pigeon still has -"

"How dare he not keep his promise!" Marc snarled. "We were promised freedom, and yet here he is trying to take over our lives again!"

"Not only our lives... our whole world," Steven froze and looked over towards Charlotte and Coltin. He rushed up to his son. "Oh my poor boy, are you alright?' Coltin took a step back and hid behind his mother. Steven frowned, but also knew he probably shouldn't rush at the boy who could very well still be in shock.

"He's alright, just shaken up still," Charlotte ran her fingers through her son's hair. "Honey, go play with one of your toys, or read one of your books; your Fathers and I are going to talk for a minute, okay?" Coltin slowly nodded and walked over to they sofa where he was previously sleeping. He picked up one of his books and sat down. "A word?" Charlotte gave Steven a serious look. Steven nodded his head. "With both of you." Marc fronted and nodded as well. He led her back to Steven's bed.

"Before anything," Steven spoke up. "Charlotte, Marc was telling you the truth. He never lied to you about who he was and what we did. So please try to hear us out." 

"Well, I'd say our son and I being flown around the streets of London, and being confronted by a giant talking skeleton bird wasn't enough evidence; I don't know what is," Charlotte folded her arms. "So start talking and please explain what that thing wants with Coltin, and why the hell were you going to just hand him over so easily."

"Charlotte, we're having just as much trouble trying to wrap our brains around this as you are," Marc fronted and tried to comfort Charlotte. "And believe me what I tell you that neither Steven nor I would ever let that stupid bird get close to Coltin."

"Then what?" Charlotte was confused. "If that wasn't you or Steven, who the hell was it?"

"I told Marc that something felt off," Steven confessed. "I think there might be someone else is here that we don't know about." He jabbed at his head, his heartrate increasing. "I mean, that would explain why we've both blacked at times; like when we were in Cairo..."

"And why this fucking hat keeps popping up in the apartment," Marc removed the hat that was still on his head and threw it across the room in anger. "Whoever this guy is, he must be the one keeping us tied to Khonshu."

"Well, the killer that he seemed to be back in Egypt, I wouldn't be surprised he'd become the pigeon's new avatar," Steven pointed out.

"Avatar?" Charlotte questioned. 

"Oh my god, Marc!" Steven shouted. "Since we're still tied to Khonshu through this mysterious alter, we can prove to Charlotte that what we've told her is true!"

Are you serious, Steven? Right now?

"He's not fronting to stop me, so clearly he doesn't mind," Steven took a step back, ready to show off his costume.

"Wait-" Marc stopped him. "Not in front of Coltin." He and Charlotte walked back over to the sofa where the son was and they saw him laying down, with his book in his small hands, fast asleep once again. He watched as Charlotte carefully pulled the book away from him and set it on the coffee table, then pulling the blanket up to his chin to keep him warm.