━━ CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE / mi palomita

After far too much consideration, Ronny decided she needed to get a therapist. So, the next few weeks between conversations with Layla and time with Marc and Steven, she searched for the best therapist she could. Everyone had waiting lists, everyone had special qualifications and she knew - from reading - that her first therapist wouldn't necessarily be the best and she might have to change. But Ronny knew it was for the best. She had too much shit going on and she couldn't carry it alone anymore.

It needed to be talked through and there was only so much she could do herself. Now it was all just a waiting game but she had at least started the process which was better than nothing. She hadn't really told anyone yet. Not because she was ashamed but because it was private. A personal decision. She knew that she should have told Steven and Marc but Marc got antsy at the mention of a therapist and Steven seemed adverse to the idea.

Ronny never knew what happened to make them so scared of hospitals and therapists but she didn't question them. She knew it was something they would deal with in their own time and all she could do was be there. And she was, as much as she could be between missions with Thoth.

It was late when she came back from her next one. Nearing 4am and she went to Steven's apartment on automatic. It was only when she was standing at the door with a busted lip and bruised body that she realised she shouldn't have come. It was late and she didn't want to disturb his sleep. But she was here now so she took her key out and opened the door. The lights were off except the one by his bedside. He must have fallen asleep reading, again.

Ronny smiled softly and closed the door quietly behind her. There was a lump in the bed so she assumed that he was asleep. She pulled her coat off and slid her shoes off before she padded over to the bathroom door. The first aid kit was under the sink and she needed to sterilise her lip quickly before she got into bed with him.

But as she was dabbing the wipe to her lip, hissing softly at the pain it caused. Marc appeared behind her. His head rested against her shoulder and his arms wrapped around her waist. He pressed a few soft kisses to her neck and Ronny's face broke out into a smile as she dabbed her lip gently. He was a sight for sore eyes.

"Did I wake you up?" She asked gently as she dropped the wipe into the bin. Marc lifted his head, shaking it before he pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

"No. I wasn't sleeping well," He admitted, closing his eyes and just enjoying the warmth that Ronny's body gave him. But Ronny knew that his accent seemed off. She knew Marc's accent better than she knew her own and he sounded off. It was like someone was mimicking him but she didn't know whether she was just paranoid. It had to be him.

"Is Steven okay? I rushed out earlier." Marc nodded and Ronny smiled softly. She grabbed a hold of his hand that was wrapped around her waist and intertwined their fingers. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him but it would only cause her more pain and infect the cut.

"I'll get you a cold pack," He said as he pulled back from her. Ronny nodded, watching him go before she looked back at herself in the mirror. She couldn't tell if she was just being paranoid or that was someone else. She knew that there could be another alter. A third alter. That might have been who attacked her weeks ago but she didn't know. She just didn't and she was too tired to even care if it was someone else anymore. Her head hurt and she missed Marc and Steven too much.

Ronny pulled her shirt off as she walked into the studio flat. She discarded it on the floor and grabbed one of Marc's spare shirts before she flung her socks and trousers into the laundry basket. Marc came back with an ice pack wrapped in a towel but rather than giving it to her, he stepped closer. He took a hold of her jaw and gently pressed the ice pack against her lip.

"Your hands are cold," She mumbled softly, humour in her tone. Marc hummed in response, moving his hand down to rest on her waist. He pulled her into him and lifted the ice pack up, making sure that it was working as expected before he pressed it against her cut again.

"What happened this time?" He asked. Though his words seemed to falter and some sort of Spanish accent slipped through. She recognised it instantly and felt her body tense involuntarily. Marc could speak Spanish, that shouldn't scare her but it did.

"I had five guys on me and didn't get the suit on in time. It could have been worse and they were all unconscious pretty quick after," She shrugged it off, trying to play it cool but her heart was thumping in her chest. She could feel it in her ears. This was someone else. Whenever he spoke Spanish to her, it had ended up in a threat or pain and that terrified her.

Marc nodded and lifted the ice pack, adjusting the position before he let her take it from him. He crossed the room and took the book from the bed, placing it on a stack before he gestured for her to come over. She glanced around for any sharp objects before she clambered into bed with him. The ice pack briefly taken from her face before she settled under the covers.

"Did you miss me?" Marc had completely switched to Spanish now and Ronny smiled softly, nodding her head.

"Of course I did," Switching to Spanish was automatic and so easy for her. Even in her sleepy state, her mother tongue came so naturally. She wished she could speak it more, "What did you have for dinner?" She asked, shuffling closer to him.

"Steven's chilli, it's not the worst," There was humour in his tone and Ronny rolled her eyes, chuckling softly. She let the hand holding the ice pack fall to the bed, closing her eyes. The mission had made her so tired and being in Steven and Marc's bed made her feel so comfortable and at-home, she had missed them.

She heard shuffling and then felt a kiss pressed to the corner of her lips, avoiding her busted lip. The kisses then spread across her cheek and down her jaw before he nuzzled his face into her neck. Ronny wrapped her arm around his head, pressing her face into his hair.

"I'm going to fall asleep if you're not careful," She mumbled softly. Marc pressed a soft kiss to the fabric that covered where her heart would be.

"Go to sleep, mi palomita," Ronny smiled at the nickname but was too tired to question or tease him for it. Sleep took over quickly and the pain subsided as her consciousness was consumed by the dream world.

-

Her lip hurt when she woke up. Her face throbbing softly from the pain as her eyes blinked open. The curtains were open and she squinted her eyes against the glare of the sun as she turned over, searching for Marc or Steven. She knew that they should be around and hopefully awake. But she couldn't immediately see them so turned to her phone to check the time. It was way past mid-day and she felt awful for staying asleep this long.

"I was wondering when you were gonna wake up." Marc's voice startled her. The familiar Chicago accent filling her ears and made her grin and then whimper from the pain it caused her. He frowned and she sent him a pained look, "What time did you get back?" He asked as he walked over to the bathroom and then the kitchen. He came back with the first aid box, a fresh ice pack and a glass of water.

"Around 4, did I not wake you?" Ronny asked as she pushed herself to sit up. She could swear that she had spoken to him before she fell asleep. But she was exhausted so she might have imagined it. She wasn't entirely sure anymore. Reality and her dreams merged together messily more than ever at the moment.

"Nope. Just woke up with you here." Ronny nodded though she felt somewhat suspicious of that answer. But she didn't push and took the painkillers he gave her with the glass of water before putting the ice pack against her lip again, resting back.

"Sorry you won't be able to kiss me for a few days," Ronny said, half-joking as she looked up at him. Marc shrugged and pushed the lid back onto the first aid kit.

"I'll find other ways to entertain myself." Ronny stared at him, somewhere between unimpressed and turned on by the implication. But rather than responding, she just moved to lie back down. Her face hurt from the pain and her head was spinning from sitting up too quickly. Marc pressed a kiss to the top of her head before he went and put the first aid box away.

But when they returned, Steven had taken Marc's place. Ronny turned over and could see his change in demeanour. It made her want to smile but it would only hurt her lip more.

"Are you alright, love?" He asked. Ronny hummed in response as she rolled over so she could face him. He crawled into bed beside her, shuffling closer so that they were lying across from each other. She rested her head against the pillow and looked up at him, smiling to herself.

"Just very tired." She admitted softly, trying not to move her mouth too much. The pain was slowly subsiding but she knew that she would crack the wound open if she wasn't careful. It had barely begun to heal.

"I fell asleep reading, did you put it back?" He asked. Ronny didn't remember picking up the book. In fact, she was sure that he had put it back or Marc had but she didn't want to worry them so instead, she nodded her head.

"Mhmm," She responded, her eyes closing. The sleepiness hitting her full force. Steven moved his hand to gently push hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.

"Who did this to you?" He asked gently. His soft British accent was always such a contrast to Marc's Chicago one but it held the same sentiment to what she knew Marc had asked her last night. She remembered him asking her something just like that.

"Just some guys I was stealing from. I didn't have my armour on in time. They paid for it though," She mumbled. Now, she was sure that she was repeating herself. She opened her eyes and looked at Steven. He always looked at her like she had hung the stars. It made her feel light again and her worries drifted away, "Marc's been fronting a lot recently. Is something wrong?" Ronny asked curiously. Steven shook his head.

"No, no, I'm just tryin' to let him live," Steven mumbled. Ronny chuckled and tilted her head down, adjusting the ice pack on her lip. She really wished she could kiss him right now.

"Well, I missed you. I love Marc but I also love you and I want to see you more. I know I keep coming back injured and that scares you but I'm not glass, I promise." Ronny reached out to gently cup his cheek and he grabbed a hold of her hand, pulling it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to her palm before he let it go.

"I know, love." Ronny nodded.

"Can we do something together today? Go out for dinner? We can go and sit in the park and read? Whatever you want." Steven seemed to consider her offer for a moment before he nodded. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"That sounds wonderful, love."

-

Ronny had been on back-to-back missions for the past few days and she hadn't even got a chance to breathe or text Steven and Marc. But she knew that it would be fine. They would be waiting for her at home whenever she made it back. They had Layla to talk to and had even started making some more friends outside of their little bubble. She knew it would be fine.

And once she'd prevented the faience from being stolen by an unknown third party, she could take it and deliver it to its rightful owner. That's all she wanted and on the surface, it felt very typical. It was being auctioned off and she was - like always - dressed up in a long flowy dress, walking around the event like she owned the place.

Walking around with an air of arrogance was the way to gain respect from the people who went to blackmarket auctions like these. They were all in it for themselves and cared for nobody else. They were in it to gain something and if you didn't share that same goal, you were rejected. Human decency was abandoned or not even registered. It was a strange other world that Ronny found herself regularly dipping her feet into.

She was prepared for it to be an easy mission but then she saw him. Marc was standing across the room. He was conversing fluently in Spanish to another man and she stared at him, tilting her head. That didn't make sense. Why was he here? He should not be here. The only reason he would be here is because of Khonshu.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt but I need to steal my husband here." Ronny wasn't sure why she interjected herself into the conversation or why she approached but it was too late. She looped her arm with Marc's and began to lead him away from the crowd. She had spoken in fluent Spanish to the man. Her language skills came in useful as they always did during events like these.

"Marc, what are you doing here?" She spat, sticking to Spanish as she dragged him away from the group of people. There was silence until they were into an empty room down one of the abandoned corridors. Marc closed the door behind them and turned to her, his eyes blazing.

"What am I doing here? You just interrupted a very important conversation, mi palomita!" He was seething and Ronny took a step back.

"You got rid of Khonshu! Why are you here!" She responded. To anyone outside, it would seem like any other couple arguing in a conversation that most people here wouldn't understand. It hopefully wouldn't arouse too much suspicion.

"You had no right to interrupt." Marc was completely ignoring her complaints and questions and it was infuriating her. She didn't understand why he was acting like this, why he was here. It didn't make sense for him to have followed her and the only reason he would be at an event like this is because of Khonshu but Khonshu was gone. Marc had an agreement.

"Why are you here." Ronny put her foot down, not allowing him to get away with this. Not again. He was confusing her. First someone seemed to be imitating Marc's accent and now this, there must be a third alter. She didn't understand.

"To steal an artefact," Marc snapped in response. Ronny's face dropped. Or was this just Marc and he didn't trust her? She looked away for a brief moment before she turned to look at him.

"Do you not trust me to do it myself?" She responded in equal annoyance. Marc rolled his eyes and went to leave the room but she grabbed his arm and dragged him back. But she used a little too much strength and he stumbled backwards from the force. "Who are you." This was not Marc.

And then Khonshu's ceremonial armour took over his body and Ronny stared at him. Her jaw dropped as she stepped back. Khonshu wasn't gone. This was him. He was still here and Marc was a damn liar. She didn't know how to react.

"If you don't let me leave, I will hurt you." It wasn't a request. It was a threat and Ronny shook her head.

"I thought we were past this Marc. Khonshu has no morals. I can't let you take it." Ronny then let the suit take over. Her skin covered by the ceremonial armour and the mask appearing over her mouth. Marc looked away for a moment before he met her gaze. She lunged at him and her feet smacked into his chest. He stumbled back but managed to find his footing quickly.

Ronny got to her feet but received a swift kick to the rib. She yelped but recovered, throwing a punch towards him. He dipped underneath, grabbing a crescent moon from his chest. He slashed at her leg and the blade cut through to her skin. She felt it cut her skin but gritted her teeth against the pain. She reached underneath the cape and pulled out the staff.

She swung it to hit across his jaw but he snatched it mid-air, pushing against her blow. She let go and Marc swung it at her. She kicked at his wrist, leaning back to avoid the staff hitting her before snatching the staff from mid-air.

He stared at her and she tilted her head, adjusting her grip on the staff. He threw a blade her way and she knocked it out of the air. It clattered to the floor so he picked up two more from his chest and lunged at her this time. Taking hold of both ends of the staff, she used to block the blades and shoved back. He stumbled before he threw and the blade stabbed into her arm, lodging underneath her skin. Considering the healing charms that covered her armour, they really did nothing to stop her from getting hurt.

"You don't need the artefact this badly, Marc." She snapped as she yanked the blade from her arm. She discarded it onto the floor and pushed the staff out, managing to catch him off guard. It hit the side of his hooded head and she twirled it around, hitting underneath his chin before she stepped forward and kicked against his chest. He stumbled back but kept his footing.

"No but I need you to stop asking questions." The next few minutes were a blur as Marc came back at her full force. He didn't pull his punches like she was sure he had been previously and let his blades slice her everywhere but the major areas. But even despite his best efforts, he wasn't as good as he had been.

And she stood over him victorious, her staff against his throat. Ronny's foot pressed against his chest before she knocked him hard against the side of the head. It gave her anywhere from half a minute to a few minutes to get the artefact and get out. It was hard to predict how long Marc would be knocked out for.

But she took the opportunity and ran for the door. She already knew where the artefact was hidden and was hoping for a smoother getaway than this but desperate times.

-

TRANSLATION
mi palomita = my little dove

NOTE
so we only have 3 or 4 more chapters left of this and then ronny's story will be done (until we get either a new season of moonknight or a reappearance of my favourite boys in the mcu), i'm kind of having to leave the ending a little ambigious due to the uncertainty of marc/steven/jake in the mcu but i hope it will be good enough, BUT for now, i hope you enjoyed this chapter <3