A/N: Hi all! I hope that you've enjoyed the story so far. :) As always, NatM and Moon Knight are not mine! Please note the following tw for this chapter:

TRIGGER WARNING: Depictions of suicide and depression. (More so than in the previous chapter) Reader discretion is advised!

Chapter Nine - The Sound of Silence

October

Steven was on top of a building in Queens. Or at least, he thought it must be a building in Queens - he wasn't quite sure.

He took a quick glance over the edge and determined that he was at least six floors up. How had he gotten here? It was all a bit fuzzy.

And suddenly he noticed someone beside him - Marc, also looking out over the edge of the building. And he wasn't in a reflection, either. Steven thought there was something strange about that, but he couldn't quite place what made him feel that way.

Marc gave him a weak smile. "Hey, kid."

Steven returned the smile and relaxed - whatever had brought them to this place, he felt good as long as Marc was with him. "Hello. What are you doing up here?"

Marc's smile faded, which made Steven deflate a little. "I've just been thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Us," Marc said as he turned his attention back to the street below. "You've done real good kid. You've moved to a nice place in Queens. You make enough money doing… what is it you do? Investing?" Steven nodded. "Right. You make enough doing that to earn a living. You're doing things you're interested in. You've found a great girl… You've really done it, kid. I'm proud of you. I wasn't sure this day would come."

Steven gave an embarrassed smile, but he also felt his insides tangle a bit - why was this making him nervous? "Thanks… But, what do you mean you never thought 'this day would come'? What day is that?"

Marc smiled gently. "The day that you wouldn't need me anymore."

Steven felt like he'd just been dunked in a cold pool. "What? What d'you mean by that? Of course I need you. I'll always need you."

Marc shook his head. "Kid, we both knew this was coming. It's what was always meant to be. You're my replacement."

And suddenly Steven felt his blood catch fire as he whipped around to face Marc fully. "Bullocks! That's a load of bullocks, Marc. I'm here because you needed me. And I need you. We need each other. I could never replace you." Why did he feel a rising sense of panic? What was Marc getting at?

"Don't worry kid - you'll figure it out. You always have." And before Steven could do anything, Marc climbed onto the edge of the building, his toes just over the edge.

Steven's breath started coming in quick bursts. Until he couldn't catch it at all. He started gasping desperately for air as he tried to reach a hand out to Marc. Why was he just out of reach? No matter how far Steven stretched, Marc was just out of reach. "Marc, please, we can talk about this, we can work this out-"

Marc looked back at him and gave him a sad smile. "Thanks for everything, kid." And then Marc took a step off the building and was gone.

Steven jolted upright in bed, letting out a strained scream as he grasped desperately at his chest. He struggled with the sheets for a moment before realization dawned on him.

"A dream…" He felt relief wash over him as he flung the sheets away. "Oh thank God, it was just a dream." Steven laughed at himself for his dramatic display. Everything was fine. Marc was fine. Right?

But when he thought about it, he couldn't remember the last time that he had actually talked to Marc. He'd just been so busy with class, and Dara, and everything else. It had been at least a few weeks since the two had caught up.

Steven ambled over to the nearest mirror and tentatively asked, "Marc?"

But no response came.

Dara noticed that the museum was suspiciously quiet, which usually meant trouble.

The past few weeks had gone by without incident. She and Mr. Gracey had managed to have an honest, if awkward, conversation about the events of his first night. And he and Ahkmenrah seemed to have bonded over their shared… Confusion? Sure. The confusion over her appearance.

But whenever Teddy and Reginald tried to broach the subject and ask how she felt about the strange encounters, she would brush them off. "It doesn't matter," she would insist. "It's just a weird coincidence." Or, "It doesn't affect my job." And even, "There are a lot of people who look alike."

But she still avoided the new portrait gallery in the Exhibition Hall. She figured it probably didn't look much like her anyways.

And so the nights at the museum had gone back to being filled with simple joys and adventures. Dara still wasn't able to escape the consuming emptiness when she went home, but when she was at the museum or with Steven, she was genuinely happy. It wasn't a perfect system, but she figured no one could be happy all the time.

But half the night had gone by with no surprises, which meant that they were overdue at this point. Dara was becoming familiar with the nightly happenings and had found that the incidents were usually like clockwork. As she discussed this point with Nicky, Reginald, and Teddy at the front desk, Ahk appeared suddenly at the upper railing looking disheveled.

"The tablet," he said through labored breaths, "It's gone!"

Everyone at the front desk jumped up in unison. "What do you mean it's gone?" Nicky was the first to ask.

"Well, it just… it is not there!" Ahk was clearly in the early stages of panic.

"Don't worry lad," Teddy said with his typical calm command, "We'll find it, surely."

And suddenly the phone at the front desk rang. Everyone paused - it wasn't very often that happened at night. Dara hesitantly picked it up and asked, "Hello?"

"Gigantress, we got a problem," Jed said from the other end of the line.

"What - how did you-"

"We had Attila dial for us from an office near the Hall of Miniatures," Octavius cut in to explain. "We have memorized the front desk number in case we need to communicate quickly since we have more trouble than most moving with speed through the museum-"

"Ockie, will you can it! We ain't got time!" Dara could hear a disgruntled Octavius moving away from the phone as Jed shouted at him. "It's Dexter. He's got the tablet." Dara sighed. That made sense. "We weren't quick enough to grab him - he was making his way to Ocean Life."

"Got it. Dexter and the tablet headed to Ocean Life. We're on it. Thanks guys," she said before hanging up. The others had clearly overheard her because they had already started toward Ocean Life.

Reginald was the first to speak. "We'll have to corner him. He enjoys being chased too much - if we give him an opportunity to leave, he'll take it."

Nicky nodded. "Right. I'll go up the left balcony, you go up the right. Dara, go down to the lower level in case he tries to jump down there." Dara hummed in agreement - she was glad that it was one of the rare nights that all three night guards were scheduled. "Teddy and Ahk, cover the doors in case he tries to make a break for it."

And with the plan agreed, the group burst into Ocean Life. Schools of fish swam through the air, and in the center of them all floated the gigantic blue whale that the exhibit was famous for. Dexter, the thief, was perched on one of the railings looking proud of himself.

Everyone approached their positions - Dara quickly made her way to the lower level, just below the nose of the hulking whale. As the others approached, Reginald began to speak calmly. "Now Dex, we've talked about this. There are other ways to play that don't involve stealing."

Dara thought that Dexter looked chagrined for a second - if it had been her talking, the Capuchin would have stuck his tongue out at her for sure. But Reginald had a way of calming the animals.

But apparently not enough, because as Reginald drew closer the monkey hopped off the railing and onto a passing dolphin that swam away from the balcony. He hopped off onto the back of the blue whale at the first chance he got.

Nicky tried to convince the capuchin next. "Dex, you can't mess with that. It's very important. You need to drop it." He scolded Dexter much as one would scold a dog that had a foreign object in its mouth. "Drop it right now."

And Nicky realized the mistake in his words a moment too late. Dexter did drop it. Right off of the nose of the blue whale.

Dara ran to intercept it, yelling, "I got it!" She managed to get underneath it just in time for the golden artifact to fall into her waiting arms.

Breath filled her lungs while blood rushed in her ears - and suddenly she wasn't in the museum anymore.

What the hell? Dara tried to say, but no words came out. She couldn't open her mouth. Or move her arms, or legs. It was like she was frozen in place.

But she wasn't, though - her body settled against something - a wall? No, it felt like a railing. She could feel cold night air hitting her back.

And it was nighttime - a sky full of stars shown above. And the moon was full. The balcony, or what she thought must be a balcony, was connected to a dimly-lit room that looked… old. But ornate. Like something out of a palace in a Middle Eastern fairytale.

But why couldn't she move? It was like she was trapped in her own body. And her sense of alarm only grew when her hands moved into her field of vision - she was holding a bejeweled dagger.

"Takhara?" A familiar voice asked. "What are you doing?" Ahkmenrah was clearly worried. And Dara couldn't blame him - she was kind of freaking out too.

Her voice responded, but it wasn't Dara in control. "My king," she said with a hushed surprised, "Why are you awake? You are not meant to be here." The voice was definitely hers. She got the sense that it was speaking a different language, but somehow she understood. But it was definitely her voice talking, she just wasn't in control. What the hell was going on? And why was Ahk here?

"I could not sleep," he said simply. Dara thought the pharaoh looked younger than he did in the museum. Or at least less weary.

He took a hesitant step forward. Dara's arms flinched which caused the knife to move closer to her body. Ahk froze. "Please, do not come any closer." Her plea was soft.

"Takhara, what are you doing with that dagger?" Dara took a minute to focus on the blade in her hands. It had a golden handle and was inlaid with dozens of minuscule shimmering gems. It had one spherical opal near the hilt that featured indents resembling the face of the moon.

"What I must." She let out a breathless laugh. "Though I have had some trouble gathering the strength to do it." Suddenly the blade tip was pressed against Dara's lower chest, right above where she knew her heart to be. She felt panic rise in her throat.

Oh God, what is happening? Why is my body doing this? Why can't I do anything? I don't want to die here! The deafening thoughts tumbled around her mind as she fought to move even an inch away from the dagger. But her efforts were fruitless - she couldn't budge.

Similar thoughts must have been running through Ahkmenrah because his face went pale. "Takhara, I don't understand… We can talk about this, please…" The pharaoh's voice broke on his last word. Dara was crushed to hear the young king so devastated.

A hot tear rolled down Dara's face. Her body responded by blinking the tears away and taking a deep breath. "We never got to go on that boat ride together, did we?"

Ahkmenrah latched on to the words. "We still can! There is still time."

She smiled. And Dara was surprised that the smile felt genuine. "I hope we can, some day. In another life." Her eyes focused on Ahkmenrah's face. "My king, I am sorry that I cannot explain why I… why I must do this. I hope that one day you may understand." Another tear rolled down the other side of her face. "But no matter what, know that you are my everything… My moon and my stars."

As Dara's arms thrusted inward she heard Ahk shout, "Takhara, no!" But it was too late. Dara felt a pain like no other bloom in her chest, so sharp it locked the air in her lungs and knocked her to her knees. The icy chill began to set in as Ahk ran to her side.

"Please, please don't leave me…" The pharaoh begged as he cradled her in his arms. Dara's awareness was muddled by the pain, but she thought she could feel herself smiling. Why the hell am I smiling? She wondered as an inky black crept up to the corners of her vision. The last thing she saw before the darkness enveloped her was Ahk's heartbroken face as he planted a desperate kiss on her forehead. When she could no longer feel his lips she heard him whisper, "You are my everything, too."

Air rushed to fill Dara's lungs as she sat upright in Ocean Life. In the museum. Her eyes darted around the room to make sure it was real before the horrible realization hit her. The schools of plastic fish hung motionlessly, hanging from their strings that attached them to the ceiling during the day. Teddy was frozen in place as he guarded the door.

And the remains of a mummy lay on the floor, arm outstretched toward Dara.

She screamed as she let the tablet clatter to the floor.

Ahkmenrah coughed past the sensation of dust in his lungs as he usually did when waking up for the night.

Except the night had already started - he had returned to his daytime state, but during the night. How had that happened? And why was he laying on his stomach and not his back?

He propped himself on his arms and looked around. And it came rushing back to him.

Dexter had dropped the tablet. Dara had caught it and he'd died. Just like her first night.

And she was currently sitting with her arms wrapped around herself, as if she was in pain.

Memories of his life long past came back as he sprang to his feet. "Dara!" He shouted as he crouched in front of her. "Are you alright?"

Her face whipped up and she reacted as if she had seen something horrific. "Stay away from me!" She dragged herself backwards frantically, as if her life depended on it. Ahk, taken aback, moved away a few steps as he tried to figure out what was wrong. One of her hands stayed glued to her chest, right over her heart.

Right where Takhara… Right where it had happened before.

Ahk couldn't help himself as he took a short step forward again, his instincts kicking in. Last time he had stepped away and the love of his life had died. He wouldn't let that happen again. "Dara, are you hurt? What is wrong?" But before he could approach her further, a hand grabbed him roughly by his arm and pulled him away.

Ahk met Reginald's sharp stare with one of his own. The night guard gestured with his head toward Dara. "You're scaring her. Give her a minute." And as Ahk turned back to the situation, he realized his mistake. Dara was visibly shaken and tears had started to fall down her face. She continued to drag herself backwards, and her eyes were locked on one person… him.

It broke Ahk's spirit to see Dara so utterly terrified of him.

"I'm sorry," the pharaoh said as he backed away with his arms raised. "I did not mean to frighten you."

Dara stopped moving away, but she kept her pupils fixed on him. Thankfully Nicky intervened and brought her attention to him instead.

Nicky crouched in front of her and waited for her breathing to slow. "…Dara, you okay?" He asked hesitantly.

"No," she said. Ahk felt his body tense as he fought the urge to run to her side.

"What's wrong? Should I call 911?"

"I… I was stabbed." Ahk felt his breath catch in his throat. Dara pointed her chin down at her chest and lifted her hand as if to show the wound. But there was nothing there.

Dara fumbled with her clothes for a moment as she looked for the missing mark, then looked desperately up at Nicky. "I'm sorry, I… I don't know what happened, I… I felt it, and I saw it, I…" She turned suddenly to Ahkmenrah, as if she expected him to confirm what had happened.

Ahk felt dizzy. He grasped at Reginald's shoulder to steady himself; the old night guard obliged by resting a strong arm against Ahk's back. The pharaoh couldn't bring himself to respond to Dara's pleading expression. She turned a confused gaze back to Nicky. "I'm sorry, I… I don't know what happened. But I think I'm… fine?" She removed her hands from her chest. "Yeah… I'm fine. It's fine."

She shot up too quickly and nearly fainted as she returned upright. "Woah!" Nicky caught her by the arm until she could regain her balance. "Take it easy. Let's get you back to the security office to rest. And maybe you should just head home for the night. You don't look too great."

Ahk turned to inspect Dara. He was right. Ahk could see that the blood had drained from her face, and her eyes were red and wide with shock. Dara just nodded silently in return as she let Nicky lead her back to the security office.

Reginald moved a hand to Ahk's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

The pharaoh gave a tight smile. "I am fine."

"Hmmm. No you're not," Reginald said, "but I won't push. Let me know if you wanna talk, kid."

Ahk gave a humorless laugh. Even though he was thousands of years old, Reginald still thought of him as a boy king. Ahk found it refreshing. "Thank you, Reginald."

Ocean Life had returned to its peaceful atmosphere when Ahk left with the tablet in-hand. As he made his way back to his exhibit, he passed through the upper floor of the lobby and saw Nicky and Dara talking at the front doors. Dara looked miserable. Shaken. Haunted. Ahk wished nothing more than to be able to aid her, but he didn't think his presence would be of much comfort to her right now.

"Does it ever get easier?" A voice asked from beside him. Ahk turned to see Edward Gracey standing at the railing. The gentleman's eyes were fixed on Dara. Ahk raised a brow at him, to which he responded: "Seeing her, the one who shares your love's face, in such pain?"

Ahk felt his chest tighten at the memory of Dara with her hand clutching her heart. And how she had looked just like Takhara. "…No. It doesn't."

Steven sat on the steps of the natural history museum, as he did most mornings when he and Dara had class.

Clicking sounds indicated that someone was unlocking the museum doors. Steven stood up and turned to greet Dara as he usually did. But all he saw were Nicky and Reginald, two of Dara's coworkers.

"Hey guys," Steven greeted. Dara had introduced them, and the four had even gone for coffee a couple of times. "Where is Dara?"

The two shared an uncomfortable look with each other, as if they were trying to determine what they should share. Eventually Nicky sighed and said, "She went home early. She had a… rough night at work."

Steven blinked. Okay. That was fine. Was it fine? "Is Dara alright?"

Nicky waved his hand, trying his best to seem nonchalant. It wasn't working. "Yeah, I'm sure she'll be fine. Just needs some sleep."

Steven pursed his lips. When he tried to ask the night guards what happened, Nicky just responded with some nervous babbling about a minor malfunction in the Ocean Life exhibit and something about a tablet. And then he excused himself far too quickly. Steven turned to Reginald for answers.

The wise night guard put a comforting hand on Steven's shoulder. "She'll be fine, kid. She just needs to be alone for awhile." And with that, Reginald bid him a good morning and was on his way, too.

Steven sighed. It was really none of his business, he guessed. He had missed class without telling Dara before, too. (Although he certainly would have if he had been awake for any of that) So Steven went to class without much fuss, although he did send Dara a quick text: Good morning! I'll take some notes for you at class today. :) Everything alright? But no response came.

Steven did as he said and took some notes in the format that Dara liked. It was Professor Daley's first day back too, and after class he asked where Dara was. Steven let him know that she had left work early and maybe wasn't feeling well. Professor Daley frowned, and Steven itched to ask him why he seemed so surprised by that. But he didn't. Instead, he shot Dara another quick text: Professor Daley is back today! He was asking about you. Would you like me to bring you some soup?

Steven felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as soon as he sent the text. He was probably being too clingy. She was probably fine.

And those thoughts rattled around his brain the entire train ride home. As he stepped into the elevator at their apartment complex, he pressed the button for the 6th floor instead of the 4th. No harm just checking in, he figured. They were practically neighbors after all. And he had stopped on his way home to pick up a pack of sour gummy worms which he knew she was fond of, so he wanted to give those to her, too.

Steven stepped up to her door and prepared to knock, but paused when he heard sounds coming from her apartment.

Dara was sobbing. She was clearly trying to muffle them by crying into a pillow or something, but Steven could still hear her.

Steven felt his heart clench as he let his forehead slump soundlessly against the door. What had happened last night at the museum? Why did Dara sound like she was in so much pain? And why didn't Dara want to talk to him about it? He wanted so badly to help her, but he simply didn't know how.

And through it all, where was Marc? He missed his brother. Marc would know what to do.

Steven backed away from the door and let himself slide down the wall until he sat on the floor. His knees came up to his chest as he fought back frustrated tears. "Marc?" He whispered softly. "Where are you? I need you…" And then he couldn't hold back the tears anymore. They fell on his jacket as he wiped his sleeve futilely against his running nose, feeling like a child.

"Kid?" The voice came softly from a reflection in the floor and Steven felt a wave of relief wash over him. And then annoyance.

"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Steven asked accusingly.

"I was… busy. And you were busy," Marc offered, and Steven scoffed.

"Well I'm never too busy for you. And I need you, you absolute fool." Steven gestured down to his tear-soaked sleeve. "I mean, look at me!"

Marc laughed, but he was clearly worried. "Yeah kid, you're kind of a mess. What's wrong?"

Steven gestured to the door. "Dara. She's…"

And then Marc took over for a moment to listen to the strained crying that could be heard from the other side of her door. His brows furrowed over dark eyes. "What happened? Who did this?"

Steven shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Something happened at the museum. Nicky and Reginald and Professor Daley seem to know something, but won't tell me."

Marc nodded in understanding. "Okay… That's simple enough then. We just need to find out what the hell is going on in that museum."

Steven blinked. He hadn't thought of that. "But how are we-"

"Is that party still happening at the end of the month? That… ball thing?"

Steven nodded. "The Masquerade Ball? Yeah, it is."

"And Dara invited you?"

Steven nodded again.

"Well then, that settles it. We'll just have to find out what's going on in that museum for ourselves."

Steven relaxed against the wall. Knowing what was going on in the museum at night would make him feel better. Dara often talked about other mysterious coworkers, but he had only ever met Nicky and Reginald. Maybe one of those other people was causing her problems.

And above all, Marc was back. The world could be on fire and everything would be okay as long as he had Marc. Steven sighed to relieve the tension that had built up in his body over the past few weeks. "That sounds like a plan. And Marc?"

"Yeah?"

"Please don't scare me like that again… I missed you."

Marc smiled. "I missed you too, kid."