The balance between life  and death is a delicate matter. It requires perfection in order to  thrive, but in the case of Cleo Hassan, there lies a flaw. A girl born  with an incomplete soul, of whom by all rights should have entered the  afterlife, yet cheated death and gained immortal life through the  Goddess Cleopatra. Her very existence is unnatural and invites chaos.  The power she holds was meant to be a gift to honor the Macedonian  Queen, not to be given to a low-born Egyptian girl.

In  the case of Marc Spector, and by default, Steven Grant, their death was  reversed by the power of the gods, and as such, had the balance that  Cleo lacks.

She is the living, breathing embodiment of chaos.

Her sword lay underneath her bed, where it has dwelled since the battle in Cairo. Cleo has not worn her armor, nor even fought since that day. She wants desperately for a normal life, yet wakes up every morning in a pile of sand, one that grows larger every time.

Ana lays on Cleo's lap, curled up and purring as she watches a movie with Steven sitting beside her on the couch. Their eyes are locked on the screen and Steven's head rests on his girl's shoulders, each time he inhales getting a whiff of her Chanel perfume.

But as the third act begins, Ana wakes up. Her skin crawls and back arches as her eyes open. She begins yowling as her head turns to the front door of the flat, where she instantly hops off of her human's lap. Ana hisses at the wooden door, her tail straight and her ears bent.

" What's Ana trying to tell us?" Steven wonders as he lifts his head up, " Y'think she sees something? Or is she just trying to tell me to leave?"

" It's not you, my love," Cleo assures as she kisses the side of his head, " She does this sometimes."

From her spot on the couch, Cleo stands up and walks toward the front door to see what her little cat could be up to. She undoes all the locks and opens the door, but this time, Ana doesn't move. She continues hissing at the empty hall, as if staring the enemy in the face. Cleo pears out of the flat. She looks to the left, then looks to the right, only for her nostrils to flare up in disgust, prompting her to shut the door.

" Someone must have given their dog a bath," Cleo remarks as she walks back to the couch, " It stinks of wet dog."

" I didn't know dogs were allowed in the building," Steven utters with a tilted head and furrowed brows.

Cleo only shrugs off the encounter and returns her focus to the movie, for she doesn't remember what the policy is, the very policy on the lease she signed that states the only pets not allowed in the building are dogs.

As the movie continues playing, a subtle change in the atmosphere begins to take hold. The air feels heavier, as if laden with invisible tension. Cleo can't shake off the nagging feeling that something is amiss. She glances at Ana, who has resumed her place on the couch but remains alert, her eyes fixed on the hallway. An unsettling silence descends upon the flat, broken only by the faint sounds emanating from the movie. Cleo's gaze drifts to the mirror hanging on the wall opposite the couch. A shiver runs down her spine as she catches a glimpse of movement in the reflection, but when she turns to look directly, there is nothing there.

The film reaches its climax, and the tension within Cleo intensifies. She can't shake off the feeling of being watched, the prickling sensation crawling up her neck. Her mind races with questions and doubts, but she tries to dismiss them as mere paranoia. She squeezes Steven's hand, seeking reassurance in his touch, but even he seems subtly on edge. A sudden gust of wind rattles the windows, causing Cleo to jump. The lights flicker briefly before stabilizing, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Ana's ears twitch, and she emits a low growl. Cleo's heart pounds in her chest, the fear within her escalating.

"Did you feel that?" She asks with a quivering voice.

Steven's brow furrows, mirroring her concern.

"Feel what?" He ponders.

Cleo struggles to find the right words to describe the unsettling presence she senses. She can't shake the feeling that they are being observed, that some unseen force looms over them, but she can't bring herself to voice these fears aloud. The movie comes to an end, but the sense of foreboding only grows stronger. Cleo rises from the couch, unable to ignore the unease any longer. She paces the room, her eyes darting around, searching for any signs of intrusion or disturbance. The sand beneath her feet seems to shift and writhe, as if it possesses a life of its own.

"I need some air," Cleo murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

She heads towards the nearest window, yearning for the solace of the night sky. She opens it as wide as it'll go, and allows the gentle air to be inhaled through her nose. The moonlight casts an eerie glow over the city, adding to the sense of otherworldly dread. Cleo's eyes scan the rooftops and alleyways, searching for any signs of movement, but the night remains still and silent. Steven joins Cleo by the window, his presence providing a fleeting sense of comfort. But even he can't deny the palpable tension in the air. They stand side by side, staring out into the darkness, the weight of the unknown pressing upon them.

"What's wrong, Cleo?" Steven asks softly, his voice filled with concern.

"I don't know," She replies, her voice barely audible.

As Cleo's words hang in the air, a distant howl breaks the stillness of the night. The sound sends a chill down their spines, a haunting wail that seems to carry a message of impending doom. The same smell of wet dog reaches her nostrils, enough to make her gag. It all becomes too much, the sound and the smell. Under the gaze of the full moonlight, Cleo's mind and body begin to break from the tension so thick, even the sharpest blade couldn't cut it.

Steven's concern intensifies. He sees the sweat building above her brow and how her body has a slight tremble.

" Cleo... Cleo, love, listen to my voice," He starts, " Let's sit down, yeah?" he gently grabs her hands as his knees bend, with her following his movements, " That's good, very good," he keeps his eyes on hers, but her chest still rapidly rises and falls, " Right, now, let's breathe. Take a breath in," they inhale together," And breathe out," they exhale together," Take a breath in," they inhale together," And breathe out," they exhale together, " Breathe in," they inhale together, " Breathe out," they exhale together.

Cleo's breath slowly crawls back to normal after repeating the familiar exercise, but her mind is still frantic and heart still accelerated. Her eyes never leave his, for they are the only thing keeping her grounded in this moment.

" Tell me about your happy place," Steven softly utters, " Could be anything. Anything at all."

" My jadda's," Cleo responds breathlessly as the tears prickly her eyes, " With my grandma and surrounded by all her animals. I just... being with those animals was the one place I felt wanted as a child. It was like... like they actually cared for me. Like they wanted to be around me. And now, I can't blame my parents for it anymore... but it doesn't mean that wound never existed," and only then does she break the eye contact and tilt her head down to her lap, " Sometimes I still feel like that unwanted little girl."

Steven's heart aches at Cleo's vulnerability, his grip on her hands tightening in a reassuring gesture. He knows the pain she carries, the weight of past wounds that still linger within her soul. Gently, he lifts her chin, guiding her gaze back to meet his.

"You are not unwanted, Cleo," He whispers, his voice filled with sincerity, "You are everything to me. I-I genuinely don't know where I would be without you... a-and Marc too. We... we need you, love."

Cleo's eyes well up with tears, emotions swirling within her like a tempest. She takes a shaky breath, allowing Steven's words to seep into her wounded heart. The distant howl and the stench of wet dog fade into the background, momentarily forgotten in the presence of Steven's unwavering support.

" But I think you should accept that job offer," He utters with a sharp breath, " As much as I need you... I-I love you too much to stand in your way."

Cleo's heart flutters as Marc's heart clenches.

" Then come with me," She suggests with wide eyes, " Come with me and... and we can make it an adventure. Together."

" I-I'm not an archaeologist, love."

" You're better... you're an Egyptologist."

In the stillness of the night, as the moon bathed the room in its ethereal glow, Cleo and Steven found solace in each other's arms. Their bodies, intertwined with a tenderness that transcended the physical realm, spoke a language of love, trust, and understanding that surpassed mere words. Time seemed to stand still as they melted into each other, their hearts beating in perfect synchrony as if they were two halves of the same soul destined to be reunited. Gazing into Cleo's eyes, Steven could see the depths of her being, the raw vulnerability and strength that resided within. In that gaze, he saw his past, present, and future intertwined, a tapestry woven with the threads of their shared experiences, laughter, and tears. Her every breath, every subtle movement, was a symphony that resonated within his very core, drawing him closer to the essence of who he was meant to be.

Cleo, in turn, found sanctuary in Steven's embrace. His arms encircled her, providing a haven where she could shed the armor she had worn for far too long. In his touch, she felt a warmth that chased away the shadows of doubt and fear, replacing them with a radiant light that illuminated the darkest corners of her soul. With him, she could be unapologetically herself, vulnerable and flawed, knowing that he loved her not in spite of her imperfections, but because of them. Their connection ran deeper than mere physical attraction; it was a profound meeting of minds, hearts, and spirits. They shared a connection that defied logic and explanation, a cosmic bond that had withstood the tests of time and adversity. It was as if their souls had recognized each other, intertwined in a dance that spanned lifetimes, seeking solace and completion in one another's presence.

In this moment of intimacy, they were stripped bare, their souls laid bare for the other to witness, to cherish, and to hold. Their love was an ember that burned with a fervor that could ignite the world, yet remained gentle, nurturing, and unwavering. It was a love that transcended the boundaries of ordinary existence, a love that defied the constraints of time and space.

As they held each other, their bodies pressed together in a symphony of curves and contours, the world around them faded into insignificance. They were cocooned in a bubble of love, an intimate universe where their whispers and murmurs were the only sounds that mattered. With each touch, each caress, they inscribed their love upon the fabric of the universe, leaving an indelible mark that would resonate through eternity.

Their souls intertwined, entangled in a dance of passion and tenderness, they reveled in the knowledge that they had found their soulmate in one another. In the silence of the night, their love spoke volumes, a language that only they could comprehend. They were bound by an unbreakable bond, a connection that would weather any storm, for they were two souls eternally intertwined, forever destined to love, support, and uplift one another as they embarked on the grand adventure of life, hand in hand, forever soulmates.

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[ cleo + marc + steven are my favorite ship ]