All the Stars - Moon Knight: Marc Spector / Steven Grant

I

She was extraordinary. She lit a path of radiance when she walked through the exhibit. She was magnetizing; it was almost as though something was pulling him towards her.

These were the thoughts of Steven Grant, an ordinary Museum worker in the UK. He couldn't compare to the likes of her. Her mere presence in the museum and her apparent desire for knowledge made her all the more attractive to him.

"Grant!" Donna, his overbearing superviser raised her voice from across the room, pulling him out of his fantasy. Her voice left an echo that left a sour note in his ear and a lot of turned heads, all facing him. "Whatchu just standin' there for? Get back to work!" She demanded, harshly.

Steven felt his face go red as he realized the girl was looking at him, just as all the other museum-goers were. He sighed and meandered back over to the gift shop, the least impressive place in the entire building.

He let his thoughts wander again, as he often did, having a blasé attitude towards all the children who wanted plushies of Egyptian gods. His eyes didn't lift from the cash register as the next costumer approached.

"A bit ironic, no?" A feminine voice appeared, interrupting his thoughts. Grant looked up to see the woman he was so mesmerized with before. His face flushed and he looked down again to avoid eye contact.

"I...I'm sorry?" he questioned, confused at her first words to him.

She let out a slight smirk. "I said it was ironic. You know, the whole 'working in an Egyptian museum' with your circumstances."

His face furrowed into an even more confused expression. "I'm not quite sure what you're getting at," he replied, hoping for an elaboration.

Not taking the hint, she continued. "I've heard about Khonshu. How could such a quirky little man like yourself be his avatar?" She snickered.

Grant was taken back, and slightly annoyed now. He payed no attention to what she had said about Khonshu, assuming that it was nonsense. "I'm sorry, am I supposed to say thank you? Lady, with all due respect, you are not making ANY sense and this whole interaction is starting to weird me out. Now if you aren't going to purchase your all-authentic Taweret plushie, I suggest you be on your merry way."

The woman's smile quickly faded and her face became stone cold. She raised one eyebrow, assessing the situation, making Steven Grant even more uncomfortable. She spoke again, "Playing dumb, are we? Mr.....?" She glanced down at his name tag. "Steven Grant."

"Yup that's my name," he replied cheerily, yet still uncomfortable. "Haven't had the pleasure of getting yours though," he chuckled.

"I am Xia, the avatar of the Goddess Bastet. You've heard of her, yes?" Xia replied.

Stevens brows furrowed. "Okay Xia, I don't know what kind of weird game you're playing, but you win, okay?" He sighed and increased the pitch of his voice in a mocking tone. "Yes let's make fun of the guy who was yelled at during work, that'll be amusing and make my entire day!" Steven walked around the counter to her side and began ushering her away from the gift shop.

She was annoyed at his audacity to touch her, and immediately swung her hand to him. In an instant, Steven blacked out, yet his arm was able to catch her by the wrist. His facial expression had changed. It was colder, darker.

The two stood in silence staring at each other sharply, awaiting the next person's move.

Finally, the silence was broken by Steven's voice. It was different this time, however. It was deeper, raspier, and with an American accent. "You are not needed here. I suggest you leave."

Xia raised her eyebrows again as the man dropped her wrist and went back behind the counter. She stood there, speechless and confused, staring at the man as his head fell down.

Steven took a deep breath as his head lifted again. He looked confused, as he usually did, and was muttering and pointing around. "What..? Didn't I just? Wasn't I... there? And now here...?"

Xia had no closing remarks, and just walked away. Steven did not follow. He just stood there confused at the entire interaction with her. Moreover, he was confused as to his little black out.

"Grant!" Donna yelled again, causing him to stand up straight and alert. "Better not be slacking again!"

——

"That was odd," Xia said softly to herself as she made her way back to her apartment. "Are you sure that was him?"

"Yes," a deep, feminine voice responded. "It does not surprise me that Khonshu chose such a strange human as his avatar."

"He's kind of funny though," Xia smiled at the thought of Steven Grant's confused face. Her smile then faded as she remembered his sudden change in personality. "Except for when he grabbed my wrist. What was that about?" She looked up at Bastet.

"I'm not sure," Bastet replied. "Khonshu always chose the most peculiar avatars."

"We should learn more about him before taking action, yeah?" Xia opened the door to her three cats eagerly greeting her and hoping for food.

Bastet nodded. "Tonight. We do not have much time, remember little one."

Xia picked up Miso, her youngest, orange tabby. "Why do we have to work with Khonshu's avatar? Why can't we just work with one of the others, just like before?"

Bastet sighed. "They are not like Khonshu. They will never go against the natural order of things, even when it is necessary. Khonshu likes to take matters into his own hands," She sighed again and spoke softer. "even when he shouldn't."

"So why are we?" Xia asked. "And why do we need him?"

"He is working towards the same goal we are — to stop Ammit from being resurrected. We are better working together than alone."

"But I thought you hated Khonshu?" Xia asked.

"Stop it with the questions!" Bastet snapped, causing the cats to run and hide.

Xia rolled her eyes and put her hands up in a surrender. "Okay, geeze. I'm just trying to prepare myself with information on who we're dealing with."

Bastet sighed, and dropped the subject without saying another word. The less she knows, the better, Bastet thought.