━━ CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE / love?

Ronny had spent the day following up leads on the whereabouts of Harrow's men but there hadn't been anything solid. Nothing concrete and she was exhausted. She had briefly seen Marc in one of the markets and Thoth had informed her that Khonshu had called upon the Gods - much like they had. But nothing had come of it. Harrow was completely free from their wrath and it only served to infuriate her more.

The hotel bed sheets were too warm as she lay, staring at the ceiling. Her shoes were discarded on the floor but otherwise, she hadn't changed. The sand that seemed to cling to every crevice of her being was getting onto the sheets but she didn't care. Nothing was safe from it so why try. She rolled over onto her front and reached out for her phone, checking for any new alerts.

The news was just filled with reports on Khonshu's trick on the sky. The entire world was baffled by the phenomena but Ronny didn't care enough to read what they were saying. She planted her face in the pillow and sighed. It was too hot and the soles of her feet hurt from the walking and the running and the fighting.

But at least she hadn't used the suit and bruised her cheeks. That was the one positive. She had gotten out of every situation relatively unscathed. She wasn't sure how long she had been lying face down on the bed but a knock on her door startled her. She rolled over off the bed and pulled it open to be faced with Marc.

He looked better than he had earlier. More confident and he didn't reek of alcohol. He had a cut on his temple and cheek but otherwise seemed fine. She stepped back and gestured for him to come in. He did and she closed the door, locking it behind them before she turned around. Her face fell into a frown as she looked over his cuts. She knew it would heal soon enough but she still wanted to look after him, care for him.

"Are you sober?" He asked and Ronny nodded. Though she wished she wasn't. A few shots of vodka and a pitcher of whatever cocktail she felt like sounded perfect. A good end to her exhausting day and night.

"Are y-?" She began but he cut her off by kissing her. One of his hands cupped her cheeks while the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. Ronny melted into his arms, leaning into him. Her mouth slanted against his as her hands moved to gently grip his shirt. His tongue slipped into her mouth and she felt weak at the knees. His kiss was passionate and rough but still soft as he pushed every emotion into it.

One of her hands trailed to his hair and she ran her fingers through his locks, letting them settle into the hair at the nape of his neck before she pulled away. He let out a disgruntled noise and Ronny met his gaze, smiling briefly.

"As much as I want this, with you. We need to talk, we can't dance around our feelings," She mumbled softly. He sighed, his forehead pressing against hers. His eyes closed as he moved both his hands around her waist. He held her tightly against his chest and she leant up to gently press a kiss to the cut on his temple and then trailed the kisses down his face to kiss the other cut. His eyes were closed as his muscles relaxed under her gentle touch.

"What do you want me to say?" He asked. He almost seemed frustrated by her words but then it dissipated and his head fell into her neck. There was silence between the pair, he already knew what she wanted him to say or deny, honestly. Ronny was willing to admit she was wrong about how he felt but his conflict spoke for itself.

"I don't want to force you to say anything you're uncomfortable with but I can't do this with you if I don't know what you want from me." Ronny was trying so hard to be respectful of his decisions. She knew how it felt to be under pressure but she couldn't let herself be vulnerable with him if he couldn't be honest.

"I want to keep you safe. I want you." Marc's gaze was back on her now and she looked back at him. Her lips turned up into a smile at his words, "I care about you, Ronny. Isn't that obvious?" He asked. Ronny shrugged and he moved his hand to tangle in her hair, pulling her face close to his. Their lips inches apart as she looked into his eyes, "Is that enough for you?" He was feigning annoyance, toying with her like they always did.

"I suppose," She responded, a playful smile on her face as she ran her hands underneath his shirt. He then attacked her lips with a few soft pecks before he kissed her properly. His hand moved to her thigh and he pulled her leg around his waist as he pressed her against the wall by the door. His lips moving from hers across her jaw, to her neck. Ronny gripped his hair as her back arched into the kisses, wanting to feel him against her. She wanted him everywhere, touching her in every way.

His lips travelled up to her ear and he rested his head there, listening to Ronny's soft panting as she waited with bated breath for his next move. Her hands moved to push under his shirt again but then he gripped her wrist and pushed it above her head "I'm the one in control tonight," He whispered and then he kissed her. It was searing, passionate and Ronny whimpered into it. She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into.

-

Ronny snapped awake as it was nearing 3am. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was crying hard. And between the humidity and the sobs leaving her lips without permission, she felt like she couldn't breathe. Her throat closed up as she pushed herself to sit up on the bed. She threw the covers back and forced herself to her feet, not even thinking about the man that should be lying next to her, fast asleep.

Her night with Marc had been everything she had needed but the nightmares had clawed their way into her head. She couldn't even remember what had happened as she stumbled to where the a/c unit was blowing out cool air. Despite the unit, their escapades had left her sticky and sweaty all over and even despite the shower they had shared, she felt dirty.

She collapsed in front of the vent as the tears continued to pour. The nightmare was coming back now and she felt her heart twist and a renewed set of - loud - sobs fell from her lips. She hadn't had such a visceral reaction to a nightmare in so long. She felt ridiculous as she brushed the tears away, knowing that she just had to breathe.

The cold air against her skin became her focal point as she tried to forget the dream. Forget the pain. Her head against the wall as she wiped away any more tears that fell. She pushed her fingers through her hair and she straightened her legs out on the floor. The room was dark as she lifted her head to check if Marc was still asleep.

But then she realised he wasn't there at all. Her heart twisted in agony for a whole new reason as she stood up from the floor. The cool air was making her shiver and she grabbed a blanket, pulling it over her shoulders. She flicked the light on and glanced around. His clothes were gone from where they had been scattered on the floor.

Hers were in a neat pile on the side and she gently shook her head. Part of her wanted to be angry at him but she didn't have the energy. She switched the light off and collapsed back into bed, staring at the far wall. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep again but she tried anyway. She tossed and turned for half an hour before the hotel door opened.

Marc walked in and she lifted her head to watch him. The light from the hallway lit him up, made him look like something heaven-sent but Ronny could see that he was exhausted. The bags under his eyes were more obvious than before and she pushed herself to sit up completely as he closed the door behind him.

He undressed silently, not noticing that she was awake until he was getting back beneath the covers. His cuts had healed over now and he looked okay. Just tired, so tired.

"Khonshu had me deal with something," Marc explained. Ronny nodded and they both moved to lie down before she reached out and pulled him towards her. She pressed a few pecks all over his face before she nestled her face beneath his chin.

"You need to sleep." Ronny's words were quiet but loud enough for him to hear. He hummed in response and she could feel the vibrations from his vocal chords. She smiled to herself at the feeling and she lifted her head to look up at him, "I'm serious, Marc," She mumbled. He looked into her eyes before letting out a reluctant sigh. He shuffled around on the bed and Ronny pulled him against her chest, letting him get comfortable.

Ronny knew she couldn't sleep, so she kept a hold of him as he finally drifted into a well-needed sleep. She ran her fingers through his curls, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head, before she shuffled and settled down a little more. Her fingers ran through his hair, playing with the strands as she cuddled close to him.

Something about his presence made Ronny feel so safe. They had spent so long fighting each other, hating each other but he was so kind. She continued to brush her fingers through his hair, pushing the loose curls out of his face. The rise and fall of his chest was calming and she let her eyes close, just listening to him breathing.

Even her relationship with her husband hadn't been like this. There were quiet moments, of course, and she obviously loved him but it had been different to this. Her love for Marc and Steven was all-consuming while her love for her husband had - truthfully - been one of convenience. She loved him, she well and truly did but it wasn't the same. She hated that it wasn't the same but it gave her some sense of comfort knowing that this was the right thing to do.

They had always wanted for the other to be happy back then. They had grown up alongside each other and they fell in love. Highschool sweethearts that supported each other through everything. At the time it had always felt too good to be true and then it was. He was dead and she was entirely alone and now there was this.

The guilt was eating at her as her thoughts wandered. She knew that this was the right thing to do. She had made that decision but it was so strange. Her love for Marc and Steven was different to the love she felt for her husband. But maybe that's how love was. She was sure that's how love was because if you didn't love everyone differently, her whole marriage would have been built on lies. If what she felt right now was love, she had wasted years in a loveless marriage without even realising it. And that couldn't be true. Her husband had made her happy. The pictures of their wedding day prove it and her camera roll proves it.

Ronny buried her face in Marc's hair, squeezing her eyes shut. She wanted sleep to take her and it did but only for a few minutes at a time as the sun rose over Cairo.

-

NOTE 
there's probably going to be a few days before my next update, i have two exams tomorrow (and one on friday) and i've gotta do some watching of the show to fully figure out where i'm putting ronny into it before i can write any further! so enjoy this fluff and i hope you enjoyed!! <3