A/N: This suddenly happened, sorry guys! Finished Moon Knight and it made me bawl, so this quick fic is my coping mechanism hehe.
Summary:Marc Spector is used to some good old tickle fights with Layla. Steven Grant isn’t. Unfortunately it’s the latter who suddenly has to deal with it, which is kind of his own fault. (Also on Ao3)
Word Count: 2210
“So. How about a coffee? Or lunch, or dinner. I know a good place. I. Know. A. Good. Place. Know a good place…”
….. “Stop that, Steven,” said Marc’s reflection in the fish tank. Steven frowned at him. What? This was just him practicing the Marc-accent a little more, which he had been doing for some weeks already. Almost on autopilot now. He couldn’t help it.
“It’ll come in use,” he defended. Marc shook his head. “You’ll gain nothing by pretending to be me. You can’t. And definitely not in this situation. You will only embarrass us.”
Sure, he could say that, but still, Steven was continuing his practice. The situation Marc referred to was kind of about the following. He wanted to ask Layla out on a date. Just a casual date. But things were still so awkward. Their relationship was still new, blooming. Unlike what she had with Marc, not talking about their almost-divorce and ‘you lied to me’-dramas, but still.
It was the same body, but definitely not the same when it came to the woman they loved. With Marc’s blessing, he wanted to get closer to her and yes, despite their eventful adventures together they had to start from step one. A date. A first date.
So, Steven wanted to ask her just to have coffee with him. Or lunch, or dinner. But why would she? He had asked Marc to do it for him. Ask Layla out, then mid-date, Steven would interfere merrily and take over the date. No biggie.
She would accept 100% if it was Marc, and Steven could keep her company for the rest of it. But if he invited her first, that chance for success was a mere 10% in his head. Maybe 15%.
“You even kissed, remember? She’ll go with you,” said Marc, growling in annoyance at Steven’s inner panic. Easy for him to say!
“If you won’t help me, I’ll just pretend to be you. I can do it. I can do it,” Steven said, hiding his British accent in the last bit the best he could. He looked at Marc and saw him roll his eyes again.
“She will see through that. She’s not stupid you know.”
“Yeah. Yeah I know.” Not helpful at all. His chance came not much later when Layla came over, looking fired up.
“I’ve got some information about Harrow. I think I know where he is,” she said in a hurry, walking in and taking out some papers. “Hi Steven, by the way. Marc,” she said breathlessly as she realized she hadn’t given a proper greeting before getting to business immediately, and she smiled. Steven’s heart fluttered for a moment. Why was she so pretty.
“H-Harrow, yeah? You know where he is?” he asked.
“Yeah. Still in Egypt. Cairo. I’ll need to handle some things but I think if we leave tomorrow we could…. Steven.. Are you alright?” Layla asked. Steven was sweating a little.
“Oh, yeah! Yes. Layla, it’s me by the way. M-Marc. Came to say hi.” In the reflection, he noticed Marc face palming.
“Marc! Hi, good to see you.” This never got any less odd, even if it was the normal circumstance of Marc taking over control over their body. He nodded awkwardly. Yes, this was definitely worse since he was faking that Marc was in charge now.
“So how are you? Good job by the way, finding Harrow. Brilliant as always,” he complimented.
“I don’t sound like that and she knows it,” said Marc but Steven ignored him. He had to keep trying, he was already this deep into it. Couldn’t go back now.
“Oh, good! Thanks for asking. Hope you’re alright too. And Steven. And,” she pointed at the fish tank. “Gus.” She smirked at him, making him feel uncomfortable.
“Oh! Yeah, we’re terrific. Me, and Steven, and Gus too. All good.”
Steven stared at her. For too long, so he quickly cut to the chase: “Actuallyー I was gonna ask. Maybe, before we head to Egypt, you and I could eat dinner? Together. Tonight, I know a good restaurant,” he suggested. Still in his Marc-accent but with a little bit of lingering Steven-awkwardness which was hopefully subtle enough.
She raised her eyebrows. Or not… Steven swallowed.
“You and me huh? I see. Does Steven think that’s alright?” she asked. Steven let out a shaky breath. Shit why was he so nervous.
“He does! He does. Of course,” he said. Layla nodded. “Hmhm! Well alright. Sounds fun,” she said. Steven immediately turned to look at Marc, looking at him with this ‘I told you it would work’- kind of face. But then Layla turned back at him, still smiling charmingly.
“You know, Marc! While we’re here, actually you know. On my way here I was just remembering how long it has been.”
… Steven’s eyes widened. “H-how long what has been?” he said, almost breaking his accent-act in panic.
“You know,” she said, walking her fingers up his chest and making him tingle. “Just you and me,” she said in a flirting tone as she started to push him backwards, slowly but steadily guiding him to his bed and making him go nuts.
“You, Marc Spector, and me…. your wife,” she whispered, leaning in as if she was about to kiss him. But then she finished: “…having a good old tickle fight.”
Steven almost gasped in shock. A what! Layla then pushed him down onto his bed and climbed on top of him, but not in the way he expected her to. Her fingers immediately crept under his shirt and grabbed his sides, digging in.
“HYAH!” Steven shrieked. What! Ho shit.
“What’s wrong? Forgot the rules? I tickle you, you tickle me. Last one standing wins,” she said with terrifying determination. No!
“Hahahahang on wahaha- no ahaahactually Iー EHEH!” Steven laughed awkwardly. He tried to reach for her hands, but she was agile and strong, and he cackled when she started to tickle his ribs.
“You really lost your touch, Marc. Can’t believe you’re going down without a proper fight. And what happened to your laugh? Sounds a bit different, doesn’t it?” she said, and Steven was already busy wondering how the hell Marc’s laugh would sound then, but she then gasped out dramatically, pulling him back from his thoughts. “Or maybe! That’s because you are notMarc. Are you? Steven.”
Steven’s eyes widened. “Told you so,” said Marc’s reflection in the distance. Shit!
“Aaahahahahah ahahalright you cahahaught me!” he laughed, but Layla was still tickling his torso mercilessly, her fingers scratching at the ridiculously ticklish spots right below his underarms. Steven never even knew he was so ticklish there, but of course Marc surely knew. Damn that Marc.
“You think you can fool me? Nice try though,” Layla said gently, but her fingers were less gentle, attacking Steven with the experience of a pro-tickle fighter. He just didn’t possess those skills.
“Mahahaharc! Hehehelp! C-come ouhout! Y-you gehehet controhohohol!” he shrieked uncharmingly, and he arched his back and managed to roll over to the side, but she simply pinned him face-down to his bed and clawed at his twitching torso, making him howl. From this position he could easily see Marc smirking at him.
“I’m not helping. You brought this onto yourself,” he said smugly. Steven whined and just let his laughter out - not like he had a choice - and he felt her tickle him mercilessly.
“HEEEHHEHE! Gahahha nohohoho!”
“I’m gonna need some popcorn,” was Marc’s dry commentary as Steven’s ticklish predicament was dragging for longer than he could handle.
“So, why were you pretending to be Marc hm?” Layla asked, and although she seemed eager to start a conversation, her fingers kept drilling into Steven’s poor ribs that had never gotten tickled like this, and this was a hell of a first.
“AHAhhah I’ll tehehell you! Hahahave mehehercy!” he cackled pathetically.
“What did you say?” she pretended not to hear, and meanwhile her fingers found Steven’s armpits which had been exposed due to Steven’s hysterical movements with stretched out arms.
“AAHh! Nohoho not there!” he shrieked, pulling his arms back immediately, but her fingers were already trapped there and wiggling.
“What did you say, Steven?” Layla said again, still continuing the tickle attack on him.
“I sahaahaid I’ll tehehell you!” he laughed. She chuckled, and at last her fingers slowly came to a stop, giving him a moment to breathe.
“Haa, haa p-phehehe! T-thanks,” he panted, thankful for her mercy even though it was somewhat overdue. She sat back and nodded. He awkwardly squirmed until he found himself lying on his back, looking up at her. She was still straddling him, and their position was a little suggestive, but eh, sure. No time to be flustered now. He gasped for breath and rested his hand against his heaving chest.
“L-like I said, I would like t-to go to a restaurant. With you,” he said. She smirked.
“On a date?” she said, and Steven jolted a little when her fingers dug into his tummy slightly. He nodded.
“Yeah! J-just feared you might say no if i-it was me asking,” he said. Layla cocked her head.
“Hmm. And why would I say no?” she said casually. Steven gaped at her.
“I eh….” He was then surprised when she pulled him up by his shirt and kissed him. Their second kiss. He felt her smile a little during the kiss, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle in relief as well. She then pulled back and showed him that pretty smile again.
“You know what? We can go right now. It’s lunch time. I’ll wait while you can get changed.” She moved off the bed and walked back to the desk where her documents were. Steven was still lying there, his hand on his chest, feeling his racing heartbeat. He then got up and quickly grabbed some better clothes.
“I’ll allow that,” Marc said while Steven replaced his comfy shirt for a more charming blouse. “Taking her out, and kissing her. In the end she likes us both, I know she does.”
"You could’ve helped me, you know,” Steven muttered under his breath, still blushing and panting a little as he recovered from that tickle attack.
“Nah. I thought you got what you deserved. Besides, now you know what it’s like to be her partner,” Marc said. “Also, not my fault you’re making it so difficult. See, if you were going to pretend to be me, could’ve texted her as well to invite her.”
Steven almost whined in realization. Text her. Damn. No, wait! He quickly defended his foolishness in his mind. Texting someone and asking them out wasn’t okay. He needed to do it personally like he did. Yeah. Justified.
He was about to tell this to Marc, when Marc already continued to speak: “But… I know I said I wouldn’t help you. But still, I do have a proposal for you. And I’ll offer this for free.”
It only took one minute for Steven to hear what Marc had to say and to accept. So a fleeting moment later he was looking at the scene as a spectator: Marc himself walked over to Layla who was waiting for Steven while reading some papers.
“Ready to go?” she asked, turning around, but Marc - with his fair amount of tickle experience as he had called it - grabbed her arm, spun her around so he pinned her against him from behind, and he started to tickle her ruthlessly.
“Ready when you are, but doesn’t seem like it,” he huffed, and he turned and winked at Steven. Ha! Take that, Layla!
“Go Marc, go Marc,” Steven cheered nerdily while Marc tickled a very surprised Layla until her knees gave in. Even then he followed her to the floor and squeezed and clawed her sides mercilessly. He also ran his fingers all over her tummy and at one point one hand was suddenly a little higher, scribbling all over her ribs and poking her armpit. He even tickled her knees until she was squealing- what a beautiful and satisfying sound, Steven thought with a blush.
He looked at Marc’s tickles with wonder, wondering if he could also learn that someday. Marc then finally released her and stepped back.
“Now we’re even, right Steven?” he said, and he clapped. Then, he handed control back to Steven, and Steven reached out and helped Layla get up.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “That was kind of necessary,” he added, grinning. Layla looked at him with a tired smile, a blush on her face and her hair a little messy. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Sure it was. You guys, really,” she sighed, but still she casually walked back to where she’d dropped her things, packed her bag again and went to the door.
“Ready for first our date, Steven Grant?” she said, smiling. Oh how forgiving. He nodded and went after her.
“Yes!” he chirped, and with a teasy “Good luck, dork!” from Marc behind him - as if he wasn’t going to stalk them through every single reflection they’d pass or even in his mind - and with that Steven left the flat with Layla and went on their first romantic date.
Mr. Marc “ I have to divorce my wife as soon as possible because i have to protect her but also can’t see men touch her or hit on her” Spector ladies and gentlemen!
Layla is such a strong character, she stayed strong even after so many things! This is a May Calamawy appreciation post, she portrayed Layla perfectly!
I feel so sad for Layla, poor baby got to know that her husband was in the mercenary grp that killed her father and then had to see her husband get shot in front of her eyes!! She’s so strong though! I would’ve given up tbh
Steven Grant got to know that Layla like French poems and French language and hasn’t stopped talking to her in that language ever since. Talk about being obsessed with your other personality’s wife! Although I’m a little confused about how this dynamic would work eventually, is she THEIR wife now or just marc’s, like how do you separate this thing?!! I wonder if people with DID get married or live with different personalities
That was the best finale for moon knight! Couldn’t ask for more and we know by now that we’ll get a second season because our dear friend in khonshu, the spanish sexy mf jake lockley has been introduced. And I can’t wait for his adventures along with marc and steven finally re united. Also we got layla as the “scarlet scarab” and she looked so good kicking ass! I’m so excited for season 2
So I think Marc and Steven (and Jake) is on a metaphysical plane somewhere. Specifically that boat Steven talked about in episode 1 that takes them to the Field of Reeds. And my girl Taweret (Goddess of Rebirth) here is to help them come back to life. But in order to do that, Marc will have to deal with his past and his present.
Where’s my proof? Remember when Marc is running down the hall of the mental ward and the lights and carts are swaying and shifting around? It’s like they’re on a boat. And the trailer has shown a boat like this showing up.
Plus some critics accidentally got to see episode 5 when they were given advanced previews by Disney and they said not only will we be surprised but that this episode will deal with Marc’s backstory and his Jewish heritage.
I think the boat is supposed to manifest a persons fears as a way to test them. So this episode is where we’re going to meet Jake. This is where we’ll learn Marc’s backstory. And this is where we’re all going to cry because Marc is so scared of his condition that his test comes in the shape of a mental hospital. But he’ll triumph by embracing all sides of himself.
Also I think Layla will sadly sign those divorce papers by the end of this. Mainly because I see Marvel setting her up to be the MCU version of the Scarlet Scarab. An antihero/villain that goes to extremes to steal back Egyptian artifacts. Technically Layla is already doing this thanks to her Madripoor connections. Her name is similar to that of the character in the comics. The red flares Layla used through the episode invokes the red fireballs the Scarlet Scarab uses in the comics. Plus they gave us a little Easter egg of a red scarab drawn on a bandage Fake Layla wore on her pinky in the mental ward.
I’ll even bet she’ll get recruited to the Dark Avengers. And she won’t be able to do that if she’s married to the avatar of an Egyptian moon god of justice and his adorable alters. Plus after the tragic passing of the actor that was supposed to play Moon Knight’s arch enemy, I can see them setting up this dynamic of a hero literally in love with his villain. And it would be so interesting to watch.
