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stelladjarin · 2 years

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Daylight | Chapter 1

Word Count: 4.9k

Druig x Eternal!OC

This story is a collection of different eras I’ll be writing about focused around Druig and the female, Eternal OC. This first chapter is King Arthur’s Court, 537 A.D.

“There has to be more I can do,” Druig spat as we swiftly made our way to the King’s Court. It was late, candlelight leading our way through pitch black corridors and down flights of stone stairs. Tensions were running high as King Arthur sent band after band of his army to fight what he called dragons.

We called them Deviants.

I followed behind Druig, struggling to keep up with his quick steps. “There’s not,” I sighed. “We have to listen to Ajak. There’s hordes of Deviants north of the castle, not even Ikaris could kill them all.”

“Then why,” Druig began, spinning on his heels to face me, but he softened when our eyes met. “Then why are we letting the humans march to their death? We’re supposed to protect them. What are we doing for them right now? Sitting around and watching them die?”

Silence befell us. He was right. I knew he was. But Ajak’s word was our law. We couldn’t keep letting the humans know of our powers. For centuries, we had quietly begun hiding those parts of us from their eyes as they advanced. The last thing we needed was to expose ourselves, cause a witch hunt, set the humans back by centuries, and need to start all over again.

I didn’t know what to say to him. He was right. He knew that I knew he was right. Nothing I said would quell his frustrations, and I’d be lying if I told him he was wrong.

He knew that too.

“Hey,” Sprite hissed at us from further down the hallway. Warm candles flickered behind her, indicating the others were already inside the Court. “Can you two get a move on?”

Druig and I exchanged another look. I nodded silently at him, and he let go of a deep breath, his eyes pinching closed. “Let’s go, Aura,” he breathed.

“Enough,” Ikaris spat, his eyes warming with his anger. “We can’t fix all of our problems with your mind control, Druig. We’ll do what we can, but we can’t keep manipulating the humans.”

My hand dropped to Druig’s knee as he sat seething beside me. “So your grand plan,” he said lowly, “is to sneak out in the middle of the night, kill the hoard, and pretend as if nothing happened when Arthur wonders what happened to his mighty dragons. How is that any better?”

Ikaris’ head shook in disbelief. “The six of us will kill the Deviants tonight. You five will stay here. That’s the end of this discussion.” He stood, glaring across the table and daring anyone to challenge this. “Kingo, Thena, Gilgamesh, Makkari, Aurora, get ready to leave.”

We nodded quietly, and I used my abilities to test the energy in the room. It was unsettling. Half of the team believed what we were doing was right, but the other half thought we should be doing more. We were so disjointed, but there wasn’t anything else to do now. All I could do was kill the Deviants and put a stop to this infighting.

The bitterness of the energy flowing between us made my head hurt. I pulled away only to notice Druig had been staring at me. “Are you alright?” He mumbled.

I nodded swiftly. “Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”

“I’m sorry for arguing with them.”

“Don’t be sorry. If we’re going to push the humans to stand up for their beliefs, then we should be able to do the same,” I said. “We’ll be back soon. Just try to relax, alright?”

He blinked away from me and stared at his hands in his lap. “Be safe, please, my dear lady Aura,” he said with a sly smile.

My eyes rolled, and I huffed a laugh. “I will; I swear,” I replied as I stood from my seat and left to prepare for the impending combat.

“How many are there?” I asked as our group of six Eternals rode horseback through the English hills.

Can you scout ahead? Thena signed to Makkari who immediately raced ahead, trails of golden light whispering behind her slender frame.

We waited only for a few seconds before she returned with eyes wide. There are dozens, she signed to us.

Dozens.

We’d never fought so many at one time. No wonder none of Arthur’s men ever returned.

I took a deep breath as solemn silence settled in the cool night air. This would be a long night, and we only had a few hours until daybreak would bring a new set of mortals willing to die for their king’s favor.

As we neared the valley of hills, the chilling sounds of the Deviant’s hunting hit my ears. It was like every predator on the planet was there at once, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I clutched the reins of my horse tighter, watching Ikaris for any cue that it was time to get to work.

He merely stared forward as the horses became agitated and growls from the nearby trees sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up. I glanced over at Gilgamesh who was riding beside me. He was unusually tense as he leaned forward and whispered, “Ikaris.”

He didn’t answer.

Then footsteps thundered from the darkness, snarls startled my horse to the point of me losing control of her. She kicked me off, and I landed on the cold earth.

I looked up to see the gold energy of Ikaris’ powers searing a hole through a Deviant’s head. He landed in front of me. “No time for a nap, Aura,” he chastised me as he turned to lend me a hand.

I slapped his help away, irritation blossoming in my chest. “Why did we wait so long to start fighting?” I asked. “You practically let them ambush us.”

“We needed to get as far from the city as possible,” he answered simply. “Now, come on, we’ve got a job to finish.”

He flew off without another word, and I huffed to myself. He was irritating and arrogant, and I hated fighting alongside him. More often than not I envisioned disobeying his orders, but I respected Ajak too much to do that.

So I clapped my hands together and summoned the energy around me, raising a single palm high into the sky and bringing it down to the earth, triggering a tsunami of golden light barreling over the Deviants surrounding us. They stumbled, many snapping trees as they fell and others died upon the impact of my energy.

Thena sliced her blade through one that growled in her face before she turned to me with a nod of approval. “There’s more up ahead,” she said.

I looked past her to see Makkari whizzing around in a frenzy, Deviants being thrown into cliff sides in her wake. The sounds of broken bones indicated Gilgamesh was hard at work, Kingo’s blasts were firing in every direction, and I spotted Ikaris overhead. My eyes met Thena’s again, and we took off to join the others.

I flung another wave of energy forward which gained me the attention of several Deviants. Their eyes locked onto me, and I skid to a halt, backing up slowly.

Probably not my brightest idea.

But I wouldn’t have survived 5000 years fighting Deviants if I couldn’t handle myself.

One sprinted straight towards me, flanked by his disgusting friends foaming at the mouth. I was ready for them, wrapping a cord of energy around the leader’s neck, swinging him this way and that before I heard the horrible snap of his neck, and I dropped him like dead weight.

I ran past the dead Deviants, flinging blasts of energy at any that I could spot. I saw Kingo just ahead of me. A Deviant was snaking around his back. It had a large pincer. Something particularly painful for us. Something particularly deadly for us.

“Kingo,” I shouted.

My warning fell to deaf ears.

The world was too loud.

And then it was silent.

Silent except for the piercing scream that erupted from Kingo as he collapsed.

My heart sank, and my feet carried me faster than I thought possible. “Kingo!” My voice ached. Bright, electric white lightning crashed to the earth around us, and my vision filled with a brightness akin to daylight.

I slid next to him where he laid holding his bleeding side. He groaned as he tried to move and stand. Ikaris and Makkari were next to us in a flash.

“Hey,” Kingo strained, “that was a pretty cool move, Aura.”

“Stop talking,” I ordered him as I looked up to Ikaris for guidance. “He needs to get to Ajak. Now.”

He nodded. “Makkari, can you carry him back?”

She looked down with a great deal of concern in her brow. I’ll try, she signed to us before leaning down and gathering Kingo in her arms. She gave me a last look, and I nodded to her, an attempt to give her confidence.

I looked down at my hands which were now stained with Kingo’s deep blood. I wiped them on my skirt, trying to get the red off. I just wanted the red off. I hated how it stained. I didn’t want it to-

“My lady,” Gilgamesh said gently, his firm hand landing on my shoulder. He sank to my level, but I could hardly see his face through the blurry tears clouding my eyes.

“The Deviants are gone,” Thena said. “You did well, Aurora. Now, let’s go before the sun beats us home.”

I nodded, taking a last look at my red hands. “Yeah,” I breathed. “Let’s go.”

When we returned, dawn was blessing the horizon, and we snuck through the castle gates just as a new group of soldiers were departing. I was grateful for the fact that we had been able to save them. Their dragons were dead. The Deviants were gone.

“You’re back,” Sersi smiled as we made our way back to the wing of the castle Arthur had allotted us as members of his Court. “Makkari said there was trouble, but Kingo is fine. Ajak took care of him.”

Ikaris wrapped his arm around her waist as she led us down the halls. “We were fine,” he said calmly.

“Fine,” Thena echoed. “Fine until Kingo was stabbed by one of the dozens of dragons in that valley.”

Gilgamesh chuckled, “He’s fine. We all saw what Aura did to them after he got hurt. Hey, maybe we should get hurt more often and just let her loose.”

My eyes rolled. “Very funny,” I said dryly. “Can we see Kingo?”

Sersi nodded and opened the door to a large sitting room. Kingo was laid dramatically across a lounge chair as Ajak brought him a plate of fruits and sat beside him.

“My savior!” Kingo cried when he saw us enter the room.

Ikaris sighed heavily. “Get up, you’re fine.”

“Hush,” Ajak chastised. “He needs to rest.”

Kingo smiled deviously at Ikaris who only rolled his eyes in response.

“Aura,” Druig said in my ear, suddenly appearing behind me, “are you alright?”

I turned to face him, mustering a small smile. “I’m fine; I promise,” I said.

He frowned at me and tilted his head to the side, studying my face more intently than I was accustomed to. “You can’t lie to me, my little light. Come on, let’s get some air,” he said as he gently offered me his arm.

If anyone was watching us, nobody said anything as I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow and we disappeared from the room.

Druig took me further down the hall to where I knew his bedroom was. My heart leapt at the thought of him inviting me in. It was wrong, and if anyone saw us, rumors would flood the halls. The thought alone tickled up my spine, but paranoia soon struck my heart as we neared his door.

I peeked over my shoulder, scared a maid or servant girl would be watching us like a hawk, but there was nobody as I waited for Druig to open the door for me.

My heart was skipping as soon as I passed the threshold and heard the door click shut. It was highly taboo for unmarried women of the Court to be alone with men. The humans had developed such strict social rules, and Ajak required us to follow each and every one of them. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been alone with any of the boys.

“What happened?” Druig asked, walking past me to look out the window at the bustling ground below us.

I sighed, hoping my heart would relax, but it did not. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous now. Nobody had seen us come in; there was no risk of rumors. But the thought of Druig wanting to be alone with me made my cheeks flush with warmth.

There was nothing between us, or at least that’s what I told myself. We were just friends. We looked out for each other the same way the rest of the team did. Our relationship wasn’t special. Druig was my friend.

“We rode down to the valley,” I started, hating how my voice trembled, “and there were a lot of Deviants. Ikaris took us through a thicket of trees, we were practically ambushed, and in the chaos, a Deviant managed to blindside Kingo.”

He nodded along as I spoke. When I was through, he turned to me, golden morning light highlighting his features. “Are you okay? Makkari said you caused a lightning storm.”

I don’t know why I was embarrassed by that, but I felt it rise through me. “I was worried. It just sort of happened,” I mumbled.

Druig gave me a soft smile. “Ikaris likes to think he’s the leader of your group of fighters.” He made his way back towards me, the thump of his boots ringing in my ears as he walked across the stone floor. His eyes stared down at me, soft and baby blue. “I think you’re the strongest, my darling, Aurora.”

Fireworks rang out in my rib cage, and I was so awestruck with him that I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak even as my mind raced with a thousand things to say.

He seemed to revel in my stunned silence, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. “I know how capable you are, but I still worry about you every time you leave to fight the Deviants.”

Finally, my brain clicked back into reality, and I nodded a bit too eagerly. “I worry about you too,” I managed to say. “I hate leaving you all behind. But I guess you’re safer here.”

“It just makes your return all the more sweet,” he said.

These moments alone together. God, did I miss them.

I had nearly forgotten how flirtatious Druig was. How warm and safe he made me feel. The tingle of his words washing over my ears. The icy blue of his eyes as he stared right through me. The sneakiness of his smirking lips, how they teased and charmed me beyond belief.

It had been years since our last exchange like this.

Oh, how I wished it wouldn’t be the last.

I lifted my chin to him, and he mirrored my action with a grin growing across his features. “I missed you,” he said, soft as a feather.

“I missed you,” I said back to him.

His lips parted to say something further, but a knock at his door tore us away from this brief moment alone.

Druig stepped between me and the door, his hands guiding me backwards as he stepped to answer the knock. “Hello?” He asked.

“Druig?” It was Sprite’s voice. “Arthur is calling his Court together. We need to go.”

“Yeah, alright,” he answered, looking back at me with a tired expression. “We’ll be right there.”

There was a moment of silence on the other side of the door. “We?” Sprite asked.

Shit.

“I will be right there,” Druig tried to say.

I heard Sprite hum. “Have you seen Aurora?” She asked.

Druig looked back at me again with an apology written in his eyes. I shrugged. So much for being alone.

He slowly opened the door to reveal Sprite standing on the other side, her arms crossed in front of her with smug satisfaction on her features. “How long has this been going on for?” She quipped.

“How long has what been going on for?” Druig asked. “We were just talking.”

She hummed again, clearly not believing him. “You know, I have to tell Ajak about this.”

“No you don’t,” I said. My voice was pleading, practically begging for her to keep this a secret. I couldn’t bare the sternness of Ajak’s disapproval. The thought of her ordering Druig and I away from each other again made my heart ache.

Sprite eyed me. “Why not?”

“Because I’m tired of living like this,” I confessed. “I can’t talk to half of my friends because they’re men and it’s improper for me to do so. That’s ridiculous, and you know it. We’re thousands of years old, playing dress up with humans, playing by their rules. I’m sick of it, Sprite.”

She shrugged, sighing with a roll of her eyes. “I thought you liked humans, Aura. Now, you want to throw a temper tantrum because I caught you with your boyfriend. Cry me a river, at least you can have a boyfriend,” she said.

“Sprite,” Druig barked at her. “Leave. Get out.” He shut the door in her face much to her dismay.

I could hear her still talking on the other side of the entrance. She’d definitely tell Ajak now.

My eyes drifted up to Druig’s. He stared back at me, unwavering. “If I’d known how unhappy you were, I would have pulled you away sooner,” he said.

I laughed, biting back the bitterness that crept up my throat. “I just hate that we can’t be a real family anymore. I miss my friends.”

“I know,” he mumbled, pulling me into a gentle hug. His head rested against mine, and the warmth of his body pressed to mine calmed my nerves. “If it’s any consolation,” he said, “I don’t think we’ll be here much longer.”

“Really? Why?”

“Arthur wants to go to war.”

“War?” I asked, pulling away to look up at him. Druig spent more time in the Court, the politics of the Kingdom. He was privvy to information I only ever heard first hand.

He nodded. “There’s a famine sweeping through the countryside, and the people are getting restless. His own Lords and knights are ready to turn on him if it means the castles grain supplies and cattle can be given to the people,” he explained. “I doubt Ajak will let us stay here long enough to see it happen.”

I let go of a sigh. “Can we stop it?”

Druig’s jaw clenched, and his eyes dropped to the floor. “You know I want to. I could fix all of their problems without any effort, but we can’t intervene. It’s not our job.” His words echoed those of Ajak. She had too often reminded us of why we were here. The words that drove Druig crazy.

He really could fix all their problems without any effort. He was intelligent and capable of controlling humans. He could stop the war, distribute food and supplies to the people, and bring peace to this land.

But it wasn’t our job.

Our job was to kill the Deviants and let humans run wild.

I tilted my head to position myself under Druig’s gaze which was fixated on the floor. “You’re doing all you can,” I said. “We all are. It doesn’t always feel right, and we can’t always be happy with the choices we’re making, but we need to stay strong. We need to stay together. We haven’t been together, a family, in so long. Let this play out, and we can go somewhere else. Start over.”

He watched my eyes as I spoke, blinking as he processed my words. “Okay,” he said. “Okay.” He brought my fingers to his lips and pressed the faintest kiss to them. “Come on, let’s see what’s happening in the Court.”

“And what happens when Mordred takes the Castle?” Gawain, one of Arthur’s main supporters asked as Druig and I stood in the side-lines of the room.

I avoided the glare Sprite was sending my way, the unreadable stare Ajak had fixated on me, the tension in the energy between us. It made my spine tingle unpleasantly. Druig’s presence next to me was a useful distraction, and nobody else seemed to be paying us any attention.

My attention was drawn back to Arthur as he slammed his fist on the Round Table. “To Hell with ordred,” he seethed. “He dies at sundown. Prepare your horses.”

Silence followed, and not a soul in the room moved.

“Sire,” Merlin tried from his corner in the room, but Arthur raised a hand to him, and Merlin’s voice died off.

There was nothing to be done now.

Arthur had given an order. Mordred was to die. Perhaps that would quell the ambition of those that would rise against the Kingdom.

I did not think it would.

The Court cleared as the men left to gather their things for the impending battle. The Eternals gathered at the now empty Table.

“So what now?” Kingo asked.

Ajak shook her head solemnly. “We need to leave. The Deviants in this area have dispersed thanks to Ikaris and the others. A war is no place for us. There is nothing left for us to accomplish here,” she said. Her nails traced patterns into the grain of the wooden table, memories etching into her brain.

We would never see this place again.

“Where do we go now?” Phastos asked, clutching the back of a chair at the sound of horses departing outside.

“The Byzantines are dealing with more Deviants,” she replied. “We’ll go back there. Eliminate whatever we find and assimilate into the culture. We’ve been there before. It’ll be easier this time.”

“Are you going to let us be a family again?” Druig asked. “I’m getting a little tired of being unable to freely talk to my friends.”

Sprite laughed. “You mean your girlfriend? You don’t talk to anyone else.”

Awkward silence settled over us like a thick cloud.

Kingo leaned forward, “Um, what?”

Ajak lifted her palm, her eyes closing as she did. “Not now,” she said. “All of you gather your things. It’s time we left. Aura, Druig, a word, please.”

The room cleared, and I tried to look away from the glances the others tried to steal. Sometimes, I hated how motherly Ajak was, how far she was into all of our personal lives, her ever watchful eye and scarcely wanted advice. My chest tightened as the door shut, and Druig and I waited for her to begin berating us.

“You know you both are welcome to speak your minds at any time,” she said as she still stared down at the dark wooden table between us. “I am not a dictator. You don’t need to wait until a moment like this to have an outburst.”

“An outburst,” Druig mocked, and I could sense the energy swelling up his body. “We’ve followed you blindly for centuries, and now that I’ve said I want to go somewhere that will allow us to live as we once did, you accuse me of having an outburst? Give me a break, Ajak.”

She looked up at him, millennia of exhaustion whittling away at her deep brown eyes. “This may not be the job you want, Druig, but it’s the job we have. Whether any of us like it or not, we serve the humans. It is our duty.”

“Why?” He spat at her. “Why do we serve them? If we’re meant to be their protectors, their servants, then why are their societies so backwards? Why are they so blind to their own ignorance? Why can’t we rule them? We know more than they do; they’re idiotic, hateful, and selfish. We know better.”

Ajak stared back at him, unwavering in her stance. Her eyes shifted to me, and I felt like a child. “Do you feel the same?” She asked.

Words didn’t come easily to me, and I wasn’t even sure what my answer should or could be. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing left my lips. I shrugged indecisively. Carefully, I looked away from Ajak and down to my own hands as they traced the grooves of woodwork in the backs of my chair. “I don’t think it’s right for us to feel so suppressed,” I said. “But I also don’t think it’s right for us to control humans so directly. They’re on a dangerous path, Ajak. You have to see that. We need to correct them, one way or another. We can’t live like this, but neither can the mortals. Every day, I see how their own laws, customs, governments, rulers, families, and communities hurt them. They should be helping one another, using what we have taught them, but clearly we have failed in some aspects if this is what is considered normal. Men and women can’t speak to each other, men kill each other for food, children can’t read or write, literature and art have been lost for centuries. What are we doing?”

She nodded quietly. “We will do the best we can in Byzantium,” she said. “Thank you both for speaking your minds. Please, don’t wait until the humans start killing each other over wheat to tell me your thoughts. I value them, I value you. I want to hear your voices as much as I want to hear my own thoughts.”

“I’m sorry,” Druig breathed.

“Don’t apologize to me,” she said quickly. “I am sorry for letting our family come second. We cannot serve this planet if we forget who we are and what values we hold dearly. So, we’ll try again.”

Ajak stood straight, her eyes drifting off to look outside. The mid afternoon sun was beating down over the castle’s courtyard as knights and servants alike moved like frenzied ants. “Now,” she breathed, “what is this about you two being alone in a bedroom?”

I caught the hint of teasing in her steady voice. My cheeks flushed pink, and shame flooded my chest.

“It’s not like that,” Druig and I both said at the same time.

Ajak grinned and held her hand up. “I know. I only tease,” she said. “You two work well together, and I have seen how kindred your spirits have become. Watch over each other in this new adventure of ours, regardless what the circumstances between you are. Friends, lovers, something in between — there is depth in your connection. Do not lose it. For all of our sake, we need more connection between us all.”

She took a last look at us before nodding and walking past us. The clicking of her shoes faded down the hallway, and the heavy door was left open for us to follow.

We paused, basking in the silence. We were leaving. We were starting over.

Druig’s hand found mine as it rested on the back of my chair. “Lady Aura,” he said, “may I have this last dance before we leave?”

I looked up at his mischievous eyes, a slight smirk settled into the fine lines of his features.

“You may, Sir Druig,” I replied as I let him drag me towards the thrones of Arthur and Gwen. Our feet moved lazily, and not a single note of a song played. Only the echoes of our shoes against that cold stone flooring kept time with some imaginary music.

Druig smiled down at me. “What will your story be this time?” He asked me, his hand firm on my waist.

I hummed, pretending to think about who I’d pretend to be. “What about a priestess?” I asked. “I always loved the stories the humans conjured up about them.”

He chuckled deeply, the reverberations in his chest warming my soul. “Priesthood is my gimmick,” he teased.

“We can’t be priests together?” I asked.

He paused for a moment. “We can be whatever you want,” he said. “Just promise me we’ll stay together this time.”

“I promise.”

“You swear?”

“I swear.”

“Good,” he breathed. “I’ve missed being your friend.”

“And I’ve missed being yours,” I said, a smile on my lips.

We danced for a few moments more before Druig let me twirl away from me. There was a softness on his face, like new life breathed into him. “Let’s go, my priestess, we still have work to do,” he said as he offered me his arm.

“Packing is always my least favorite part,” I sighed, tucking myself into his side. “Do you think I could bribe Kingo to do all my work for me?”

Druig laughed, “I’m sure he’d do anything for a woman’s attention.”

I grinned, and for the last time, we left King Arthur’s Court arm-in-arm, smiling together for the first time in what felt like forever.

#hope you enjoy!#druig x oc #druig x y/n #druig fic #druig imagine #druig eternals #druig x eternal!reader #druig x reader #eternals

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inklore · 3 years

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rpf, necrophilia, incest, pregnancy, daddy/little play, age play, spitting, kitten, bimbo!reader, foot fetish, animal play, race play, watersports, underage scenarios, alpha/omega, domestic violence, kid fics, male!character x male!oc, i hate the word ‘doll’ as a pet name so i avoid it like the plague.

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marvel ↷

miguel o’hara, hobie brown, marc spector, thor odinson, loki laufeyson, peter parker (all variants), yelena belova, joaquin torres, doctor strange, wade wilson, carol danvers, eddie brock, scott lang, hope van dyne, kate bishop, hela, pietro maximoff, logan howlett, wanda maximoff, steve rogers, kraven, cable, druig, makkari, thena, blade

dc universe ↷

dinah lance/black canary, diana prince, clark kent, pamela isley/poison ivy, arthur curry/aquaman, harley quinn, adrian chase, pattinson!bruce wayne, edward nashton/the riddler

top gun: maverick ↷

jake 'hangman' seresin, bradley 'rooster' bradshaw, javy 'coyote' machado, mickey 'fanboy' garcia, natasha 'phoenix' trace, beau 'cyclone' simpson, reuben 'payback' fitch

star wars ↷

poe dameron, finn, kylo ren/ben solo, bo-katan kryze, din djarin, young!han solo

scream ↷

ethan landry, stu macher, billy loomis, chad meeks-martin, mindy meeks-martin, amber freeman, tara carpenter

bridgerton ↷

anthony bridgerton, colin bridgerton, benedict bridgerton, kate sharma, simon basset, phillip crane

house of the dragon ↷

ser harwin strong, daemon targaryen, aemond targaryen, rhaenyra targaryen

american horror story ↷

cordelia goode, tristan duffy, michael langdon, harry gardner, madison montgomery, kit walker, xavier plympton, ally mayfair-richards

etc shows ↷

villanelle, lip gallagher, tommy miller, carmy berzatto, luca (the bear), kate parks, daisy jones, billy dunne, warren rhodes, geralt of rivia, love quinn, max wolfe, olivia benson, roman godfrey, dream the endless, lucifer (sandman), jonathan pine, mira phillips, the salesman (squid game), hwang jun ho (squid game), kim geon-woo (bloodhounds)

movies ↷

john wick, finnick odair, peeta mellark, johanna mason, han lue, cipher, walter de ville, tangerine, dave lizewski, thomas sharpe, james conrad, neil (tenet), edward cullen, millie / molotovgirl, dante reyes, thrandull, steve kemp, charlie swan, marquis vincent de gramont, keys (free guy), akira (john wick), beverly marsh (it two), ben hanscom (it two), keith (barbarian), frank (don't worry darling)

adam driver ↷

kylo ren/ben solo, adam sackler, flip zimmerman, phillip altman, charlie barber, henry mchenry, commander mills, rick smolan, officer ronnie peterson, matt the radar technician, clyde logan, paterson, jude

oscar isaac ↷

santiago garcia, poe dameron, nathan bateman, jonathan levy, william tell, blue jones, rydel keener

pedro pascal ↷

din djarin, javier peña, frankie morales, javi gutierrez, joel miller, dieter bravo

chris evans ↷

ransom drysdale, lloyd hansen, andy barber, ari levinson, frank adler, steve rogers, jake wyler

#faq #who i write for #guidelines #fandoms #dni

254 notes · View notes

artaxerxesthegreat · 2 years

Text

Playing with Fire: Part 4

A/N: Everyone in this story is 18+, if minors are mentioned they aren’t getting in any weird, sick, twisted situations with adults. I also use female pronouns for the reader and the reader may be a bit OC. I would also prefer that minors DO NOT interact with this at all. Thank you.

Warnings: Dream based, Actors mixed with characters, College AU!, Mixed universes, Raffey Cassidy stands in as Sprite, Swearing, gaslighting, manipulation, cheating, mild violence (?), implied sexual content, mentions of bullying, college strife, MCU/X-Men/Spider-Man/Actors mashed in one universe, self- doubt, insecurities, depression, angst, fluff, enemies to lovers, slow burn, family issues, mentions of disabilities, mentions of accidents… (I’ll probably be adding more warnings as the story goes on. Please let me know if I’ve missed something too.)

Red- Makkari signing

Purple texts is Y/N

Also this chapter is short. I’m sorry 😞

“This is gonna bite me in the ass one day, I just know it.” I look off to the entrance of the library hearing the voices of students coming and going.

——-

Part 4

“Welp, I’m gonna go now.” I say turning to walk towards the library, “What’s that noise?”

Peering over my shoulder I see a flash of white hair and black hair, startled by the fast moving bodies coming towards me, I stumble into Druig who catches me by my waist preventing me from falling on my ass. My heart lurches in my chest for two reasons:

1.) Pietro is running at me full force with a girl with black hair in tow- they’re neck- and- neck.

2.) I can feel Druig’s breathe on the shell of my ear.

“I- I can’t… Too much is happening!”

“Y/N! Y/N! Quick, tell us who will win!” Pietro shouts at me, stopping in front of me with his mysterious friend, startled by it I press myself closer to Druig.

“Oh geez.” I whisper, closing my eyes trying to calm myself down.

“You alright?” Druig whispers in my ear, not helping my current situation at all. It almost sounded like he was smiling; as if he knew what was happening to me. I take a quiet shaky breath and answer with an “Mhmm.” Because let’s face it, I can’t trust my own voice at this moment in time.

“Well, Y/N?” A smooth Sokivian accent hits my ears bringing me back to the track star.

“Ummm, what?” Blinking a few times I get a good look at Pietro and his friend; both are wearing tracksuits, out of breath- panting as if they just ran a 10K, sweat running down their brows, waiting expectantly for my response, “What’s going on, exactly?”

The girl has a look of confusion and then it changes into a huge smile as she makes different gestures with her hands.

“Whoever touches her first wins.” Rushing forward she places her hand on my shoulder, “Ha! I win.”

“What the fuck just happened?” Jubilee stops in her tracks watching us in clear confusion, “Who is she and how come she gets to touch you? Why is Quicksliver panting? Where the hell have YOU been, Loki?! Wh- Why are you two so- so- close. I thought you hated each other?”

“Oh, we’ve reconciled- OOF!” I elbow Druig in the gut, “What was that for?”

“S- sorry, it’s gonna take me a minute to get used to this.” I give him an apologetic smile moving out of his grasp. “Hi there, girl I don’t know.”

“Hello, my name’s Makkari, you must be Y/N. Pietro talks about you a lot.” She signs to me with a hinging smile.

“What?”

“She said her name is Makkari and that he talks about you a lot.” Druig translates.

“Hey, don’t make it sound bad. I only tell her good things, I swear.” Pietro says quickly to me.

“No, no, I know what she said, it’s just a lot has happened in this short amount of time. My brain is still catching up.” Rubbing my forehead I let out a groan. “I think I have a headache coming on.”

“So, you know sign language, then?” Loki asks, sitting on the table with his feet on the bench. “I must say, Y/N you never cease to amaze me.”

“I’m not fluent or anything, I just know bits and pieces, cuz of Clint.” I say cautiously.

Makkari smiles understandingly and signs, “That’s alright, it’s nice to know that you can understand me- even if it’s just a little bit.”

“I didn’t know Hawk-man was deaf.” Loki scoffs.

“Okay, first off it’s Hawkeye, and secondly he wasn’t always deaf. He had an accident when he was a kid, something about an arrow and a boom box.” Jubilee shrugs, sitting down next to Loki. “And you! Where have you been?”

“Oh you know me. Here and there, sometimes everywhere and nowhere.”

“Alright Cheshire.” She bumps shoulders with him, rolling her eyes.

“Wait, how do you know sign language?” I turn to face Druig who just smirks in response. “Smirking doesn’t answer the question!”

“I know.” He laughs out, still smirking.

“We’ve been friends for the longest. And don’t mind the smirking, it’s a defense mechanism.” Makkari laughs as Druig moves to flick her forehead.

“Hey now, don’t be telling everyone stuff about me!” His accent breaking through.

“Whoa dude, what happened to your voice?” Jubilee asks pointing at Druig concerned.

“Oh, yes, he’s a bit sensitive about that.” I drape my arm around his shoulder, using my free hand I pat his chest- wow, it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be. “You work out?”

“Is this your way of copping a feel?” He retorts, sliding a hand to my waist. Neither of us say anything, we just stare at each other unblinking. I know he’s challenging me, he’s just trying to get under my skin, but if I deny it it makes him sound right, and if I accept it… He’s still right!

“I’ll tell you this once, Druig,” I remove myself from him and grip the hand that’s on my waist. A pained look crosses his face as he opens his mouth, “Sh! I’m speaking now. If you want to keep using your hand, do not put it on me. Can’t even give him an inch.”

“Who’s copping a feel now?” Makkari signs laughing at the shocked look on Druig’s face.

“Whose side are you on?” Druig snaps at Makkari extremely annoyed.

“I’m not on anybody's side. All I’m doing is stating facts.” She crosses her arms, smirking back at him.

“Whatever.” He glowers, casting his eyes to the ground.

Makkari walks up to him, giving him a hug and kissing his cheek.

“Just friends huh? Yeah right.” I scoff as a light blush crosses Druig’s cheek; he’s trying to play it cool, but it’s obvious this Makkari person does things to him. “Ugh, gag! I’m not jealous! Just… disgusted… yeah, disgusted.”

My scoff might have been a little loud because Loki and Jubilee are giving me the ‘Ooo girl really’ look. No one else seems to have heard it so I can recover from this… Not that there’s anything to recover from, or anything. It was a scoff of disgust, not jealousy. I don’t get jealous, it’s a colossal waste of time and energy. I have more important things to do, and being jealous isn’t one of them. Besides, I have friends that kiss me on the cheek so it’s not a big deal seeing it between two friends- even if they are different genders…

I am. Not! Jealous… Not even a little bit. Mm-mmm, no jealousy here.

“You two seem rather close for “friends”.” Loki’s voice cuts through the white noise of my non- jealous brain. I involuntarily let out a sigh, which I disguise as a simple clearing of my throat. Loki glances at me, indicating that he knows what I just did. Rolling my eyes I turn my attention to Makkari who begins signing.

“We’ve known each other for a very long time; he is one of the few people who didn’t make me feel different from everyone else. He treats me with the same respect as any other woman.” She places her hand up stopping Loki from pointing out Druig’s track record with women, Loki bites his tongue waiting for her to continue, “I know, but I’m talking about when we were 8 years old, this person he’s decided to show case isn’t the Druig I grew up with. But I love him regardless.” She grabs his shoulder shaking him as she smiles at his expression- even though he’s smiling he’s annoyed at her bit of truth.

“Ah, I see. Well, that’s good to know. You know, for some of us, who were wondering.” Loki smiles at Jubilee, who nods her head in response.

“Oh, and we dated for like, what? 5 years?” Makkari adds nonchalantly.

“Oh.”

“…Oh…” All heads turn to me, “Nice. I guess?”

“It was.” She keeps her same smile, and I have to be honest, it’s kind of getting on my nerves.

“Alright, well Jube’s it’s time to go- been time to go! You’re gonna be late for work, so let’s go.” I change my focus, to avoid the looks from everyone. I’m acutely aware that my response to Makkari was…. Basically rude, but we didn’t need to know that they dated for 5 years. She could’ve just said they dated, but whatevs I guess.

“Right, I can’t be late again! I’ll get fired- AGAIN!” She scrambles off of the table but freezes as she spots something in the distance. I turn to see what spooked her so bad but I don’t see anything, just a few students walking to and from the library.

“Oh, your Man Crush Monday is walking this way.” Loki snickers.

“Wha- who?! Who is this man?!” I search wildly for her crush who is pointed out to me by Loki, “Oh, him?”

“Why’d you say it like that?” She shrieks at me.

“Whoa, calm down, I just- didn’t think he’d be your type. That’s all.” I raise my hands in surrender taking a step back.

“You have no right to judge, your taste in men isn’t that great.” She jesters to Pietro who had started laughing, but let out a gasp at her.

“Rude.” He mumbles crossing his arms, “I’m a great taste, just ask the cheerleaders.”

Makkari, Jubilee and myself make faces of disgust while the boys grin like idiots at Pietro.

“Okay, wow. Didn’t need that, at all. But, Jubilee, why don’t you talk to him? He’s just a person like you or me.” Tilting my head I can see panic rising in her as her crush walks closer. “The worst thing he can say is that he doesn't like you… Okay, yeah it would suck, but it isn’t the end of the world. Plus, it’s not like you’re gonna walk up to him and say ‘Hi! I’m Jubilee and you make me feel crazy. Will you go out with me” that’s not something a sane person would do. Do you know why?”

“Be- because it would freak them out…?” She winces.

“… You didn’t, Jubilee please, tell me you didn’t.”

“No! I- I didn’t… It was much worse.” Her head hangs in defeat.

“How?!”

“I walked up to him, prepared to talk to him, but I choked and ended up just standing there like an idiot with my mouth hanging wide open not saying a word until class ended.”

“Oh, Jubes. Well-“ I think of what I can say to help her feel better, I got nothing.

“I know!”

“Okay well you can still salvage this. Just say you were having an off day, it happens to the best of us. I can assure you that your MCM has had an off day at least once.” I give her a reassuring smile and look at her MCM whose face is vaguely familiar to me. We make eye contact, and I know he finds my stare uncomfortable, but the need to know why he looks familiar to me is strong. Then it hits me.

“Barnes?” Shock clear in my voice, his discomfort is morphs into to shock, then relief.

“Y/N, hey.” A soft smile graces his features and I’m reminded why so many girls fawn over him, “How’ve you been?”

“Eh, can’t complain too much. You? I see you cut your hair.” I pout slightly, glaring at his hair, “Guess I won’t be braiding it anymore.”

There’s a shift in the atmosphere at our familiarity, and I don’t need to look at Jubilee to know that she feels betrayed. I shift into a more comfortable position causing Bucky to reflexively drop his shoulders; his guard is still up, but now it’s more manageable.

“Yeah, I guess not. Sorry.” He chuckles. “I figured it was time for something new. Or, old, really. You know.” His eyes glance around our faces, telling me that he isn’t ready to share his trauma with strangers. I nod my head understanding what he was talking about.

I remember when he told me about his train accident; he didn’t even mean to tell me, it just happened. By the time he realized what he told me, it was too late, we barely knew each other and it was obvious that he was scared. Scared about what I would say, how I would treat him, whether or not I’d tell people about him. When I said that it wasn’t my place or business to tell, he couldn’t believe me; after that he’d watch me to see if I was serious or lulling him into a false sense of security, 2 months later he decided I was ‘good people’. Even introduced me to his friends, Steve and Sam- great guys, shame they’re dating- shame for me, not them! Seeing how happy they are with each other almost makes me wish I could have something like that too, but feelings are a distraction and gross, so, eh!

“It looks good, I guess, I’m gonna miss the long brown locks though.” I put my finger under my eye, sliding it down my face.

“It’s hair, it’ll grow back.” He shrugs smirking. “You can still give me head massages.”

“It’s not the same.” I look to Jubilee, looking for confirmation but I’m met with a glare, looking at Loki I’m met with amusement, “So Bucky, how goes the project?”

“I haven’t started it yet, it’s not a big deal since my great grandfather was a WWII soldier who kept a journal, not to mention my grandfather told me the same stories he heard growing up. Let me know if you want some stories, I don’t mind sharing them with you.”

“Oh no, that’s alright, those are personal and they were mean for you and your family.”

He gives me a shrug shaking his head, “It’s history, besides my grandfather would be rolling in his grave if I wasn’t telling someone about the real things that happened during the war; he took one look at my history book when I was in the 6th grade and threw a fit. After that, I was told about all the hardship, death, fear, and pain they went through, it’s something that needs to be known, not sugarcoated or glossed over in three small chapters.”

“That is true, if I can’t come up with something by tomorrow I’ll hit you up. Thank you.” He graces me with a genuine smile- those are far, few and in between.

“Anytime doll.”

A giggle escapes me at the pet name, coincidentally not lost to the members of our little group- Okay I know I said Jubilee could do better with her taste in men, but to be fair I didn’t see him up close, and yes, I may or may not have had a crush on him when we first met the semester before, but that’s besides the point. I knew that he needed a friend at the time not a girlfriend- that and I’m not compatible with him in a romantic sense. We kissed one time and it felt like kissing a sibling and we vowed never to do that again.

“Doll?” Druig mutters with a scoff turning his eyes to the library.

“So what’re you up to now?” Bucky asks unbothered by Druig.

“Nothing much, we were just about to leave.” I look to Jubilee, whose glare has evolved into a death glare that makes me jump a bit in surprise, quickly looking to Loki, I’m met with the same intensity. Getting the hint I look back to Bucky, “Hey Bucky- James-“

“James?” He laughs in disbelief, “I told you that you can call me Bucky. We’re close enough for it. James just sounds weird when you say it.”

“Uh, right.” Turning away from the two I can feel heat burning into my skull, “So. Bucky. Have you met Jubilee?”

Her death glare promptly ends, and she’s a deer stuck in headlights. Perfect!

“Hmm, don’t think so.” His eyes shift to her and there’s something there, something good, “Hi, I’m Bucky.”

She stares at his outstretched hand, and I jab her in her side causing her to reach out and shake his hand. It was a very noticeable jab, but Bucky being Bucky smiles and steps closer to Jubilee. Poor girl's heart is definitely racing.

“Is she bothering you, Y/N can be so mean sometimes.”

“Uh- y-y-yeah.” Her eyes still trained on their hands.

“Smooth.” As soon as the words leave my mouth Bucky kicks the side of my leg never breaking his- his whatever it is. He’s really just staring at her face since she hasn’t looked up from their hands, either way, “The kick was uncalled for. Just saying.”

“So what’re you up to?’

“REALLY?!” I throw my hands up in the air, “Unbelievable.”

“…Noth- nothing.”

My head starts shaking as they’re eyes lock.

“Nothing?! Girl, you have work!”

“You sure?” Bucky asks Jubilee.

“Yes I’m sure, I’m her ride!” I answer thinking the question is for me.

“Yeah I’m sure.”

“JUBILEE!” I pull their hands apart and step between them, “Yes I’m cockblocking right now, but only because you need to get to work. You can’t afford to get fired. Again! And you!” I spin around to Bucky, “You should know better! Just pick her up from work, she gets off at 9 tonight. Hell, you can even take her to wok now if you want.”

“Yeah?” The happiness in his tone changes my mind instantly.

“No. Nope, mm-mmm I’ve changed my mind, you sound way too happy and eager. Slow your roll dude.”

“Y/N you’re not my mom, if I want to go with Bucky I can.” She snaps at me.

Slowly my head turns to her as she begins to apologize.

“Get in my car.” I hold my keys out to her, “Now.”

She gives me a small ‘okay’ and does a walk of shame to the parking lot.

“I forgot how scary you can be, Bast. It felt like my mother was here disciplining me for lighting Thor’s homework on fire again.”

“I wasn’t mean, I was stern. There’s a difference, she can’t get fired again, or else she’ll be dealing with someone who is actually mean. Hey, give me your phone Buck, how else are you gonna tell her you’re waiting for her outside.”

“It sounds so creepy when you say it like that.” He hands me his phone, and I give it back after sending Jubilee a ‘hey this is Bucky’ text. A muffled shout is heard from my car as she stares at her phone.

“Good luck.” I smile, and begin walking backwards to the parking lot, “See yeah guys later! Bye Drui- Barr- Dru- *sigh* guy I’m doing a project with.”

“Smooth.” Druig smirks.

“Eh I try!” I wave walking towards my car to a hyperventilating Jubilee.

“OMG! OMG! OH MY GOD!!!!!!! Y/N!!!! HE TEXTED ME!”

“I know. I gave him your number, how else is he gonna text you that he’s waiting outside for you?” I put my seatbelt on and drive out of the parking lot.

“You know it just sounds creepy when you say it.” She grimaces at me as a loud laugh pass from my lips.

“God, you two are gonna get along great. Just remember to invite me to the wedding and make me a bridesmaid.” Stopping at the stop sign, I bat my eyelashes at her as she shoves me blushing.

“Shut up! Don’t get ahead of yourself. I don’t even know if he likes me or not.”

“Bitch really?” My eyebrow raises at her.

“No, I mean like like-likes me.” She sighs out.

When I don’t answer her right away she looks at me to see that my face is still the same.

“Bitch. Really?”

“Well you two seem close.”

“We are, but not like that. I know him well enough to know that he genuinely likes you. Not many girls make his eyes light up, let alone want him to shake and then hold their hands.”

“Drive Y/N.”

I chuckle checking the road and merge into traffic, Jubilee was quiet for about 5 minutes when she breaks it.

“I’m not the only one who had her hand held by a guy whose eyes light up.”

My foot taps the accelerator accidentally and we surge forward, “Shit Y/N be careful!”

“I- I am!” I say correcting our speed thankfully nobody was in front of us. “Besides I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“Right. Loki told me.”

“Wha- when?”

“You’re not even going to deny it?” She turns to face me, shocked.

“I’m tired and not in the mood, and there wasn’t any ‘eyes lighting up’ or anything. If I had a good night's sleep it never would’ve happened. The only reason it did was because I was tired and didn’t catch it in time. So, don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Mm-hmm, right~.”

“Don’t do that.” I pull into the strip mall parking lot pulling up the curb, “Nothing intense or romantic, or magically happened between me and Druig- BARRY! We just buried the hatchet, that’s all. I’ll be damned if I ever fall for that guy.”

“Alright.” A cat-like grin spreads across her face, and I know she’s not letting this go anytime soon.

“Seriously Jubilee, my morals are too high. Besides, even if something ever did happen between us, he wouldn’t even know what to do.”

“Ooooooo, cocky aren’t we?” She wiggles her shoulders at me as I push her out of my car.

“Got out, now go to work.” I laugh watching as she makes sure she has everything.

“Love you! See you later babes.” She blows me a kiss as I watch her go in. When i can’t she her anymore I drive back to campus, and the thought of seeing Druig again hits me. My stomach begins to churn from the overwhelming feeling of butterflies!

“Ugh! I thought I was done with this?! Damn coffee!” Stopping at the red I can’t stop the images of Druig from flooding in. From his smile, to the head tilt that he does when he’s trying to figure something out, all the way to his eyes. Those blue, blue eyes that compliment him so well, that seem to bring out a softness to him.

“What the fuck?!” I say startled at the honk from behind me, “Dammit, pay attention Y/N.”

Driving back to the library parking lot I see that everyone is gone, and my heart feels… heavy?

“How is that even possible? It’s just because I’m tired, yeah. I should go back to my room and sleep.” Driving to my dorm I park and sit for a bit rubbing my eyes, “Oh shit! I never got Dru- Bar- Dr-… I didn’t get his number.”

Let my head fall onto the steering wheel. I feel my phone vibrate.

LOKI 🐍✨

1:59 PM

“So, today was fun 😏.”

“Define ‘fun’”

“Oh, you know… 😏”

“…”

“No, No I don’t. What do you want Loki? I’m super tired.”

“Sigh fine, you’re no fun when you’re tired.”

“Duh.”

“This is for you.😘”

2:14 PM

“Loki?”

Read 2:16 PM

“Okay then?” I get out of my car and walk to my room. Unlocking the door I walk to my room and collapse on my bed, “Ooooooohhhhh how I’ve missed you.”

Snuggling into my pillow I feel myself drifting off, but it’s disturbed by the buzz of my phone, picking it up I see Loki has texted me back.

LOKI🐍✨

2:21 PM

“XXX-XXX-XXXX”

“Loki, whose number is this?”

“Text it and find out 😘😘 Love you!”

“🙃”

Read 2:23 PM

“Whatever, I’ll deal with this when I have the brain power… Oh what the hell.” Turning on my back I text the number.

“Sup.”

Read 2:23 PM

“Sup..”

“Not much, you?”

“Same.”

“Cool.”

“Who are you?”

“Who ARE you?”

“I asked you first.”

“What’s your point?”

Thought bubbles appear on the screen but disappear after a few seconds, but soon enough they’re back again. It goes on like this for about 30 seconds before I type.

“What? Cat got your fingers?”

“… ha ha…”

“😌”

“I’m Y/N”

“OH! Hey~”

“… bye.”

XXX-XXX-XXXX

“WAIT WAIT! It’s me Druig.”

Read 2:26 PM

“Hello?”

Read 2:26 PM

“Sorry, I’m falling asleep rn.”

“Rude.”

“Sorry I told you didn’t sleep well.”

“Oh I thought you were joking”

“I never joke about sleep”

“No, not when you told, I meant now. I thought you were saying I bore you.”

“Oh…no…”

“…very convincing”

“Heehee”

“Haha”

“Ok. Well I’m goin to sleep now.”

“K”

“Sweet dreams❤️.”

“Mm-hmm, if i don’t think of you i will have them”

Read 2:32 PM

“Did I hurt his feelings?” My phone buzzes as his text comes in.

“What’s my contact name?”

“Don’t have one yet. Still thinking.”

“Don’t hurt yourself”

“HA! Nice one.”

“I try😉”

“Mmmm k.”

“I’ll let you know when I think of one😘”

“Oh. Okay, I look forward to it, Dote.”

“Dote?”

“My nickname for you, dont worry it’s nothing weird, or gross lol”

“Alright good! 😂”

“I’ll text you more about the project later”

“Look forward to it Dote”

“You know you don’t have to text me just for the project you know”

“You know you wrote ‘you know’ twice…you know?”

“🤓 nerd!”

“Thank you❤️”

“You’re welcome 🖤”

“Black heart?”

“I like black, besides red hearts are so over done. And people get the wrong idea about it”

“?Y/N.exe has stopped working.”

“Lol”

“At least for me, girls get the wrong idea when I sent a red heart. So I only send black.”

“Ok. I guess”

“A heart is a heart but whatever.

“Anywho good night dude.”

“You can do better than ‘dude’”

“I’m stil thinking! Geez!”

“So impatient 😒”

“Sorry😘”

“🖕”

“Really now, you dont strike me as that kind of girl.”

“🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕”

“🤣”

“Get some sleep Dote”

“❤️”

“Thanks”

“🖕🖤”

Read 2: 46 PM

Placing my phone on the nightstand I feel the weight of sleep pulling at me, before my head hits the pillow again I’m already asleep.

——————

Tag list: @aquanova99 @tompetersebbuckyhazleo @slytherin-shitposts @treaclesquirrel

It’s been a good few days since I’ve posted and i want to let you all know that it will get worse. My family and I are in the process of moving across the country (US) so posting is gonna be a while. But hopefully it won’t be too bad.

#fanfiction #college au #druig x reader #druig x you #eternals #playing with fire #druig #angst #enemies to friends to lovers #enemies to lovers #Makkari #marvel #marvel x you #playing with Fire part 4

47 notes · View notes

hottpinkpenguin · 2 years

Text

Saudade - Chapter II

Part of the Druig x Elena AU (see full AU list here)

Characters: Druig x Fem!OC (Elena)

Summary: Druig and Elena host the Eternals for Christmas. Two major revelations happen: one expected, and one not.

Warnings: MAJOR Eternals spoilers; angst

Read Chapter I here

Word Count: 5402

all my love to @bellejeanx❤ for her help, constant support, and consultation

The next morning

“So, what’s this all about?” Sprite asked, perched on the ottoman munching on an apple. Druig and Elena had asked everyone to gather in the family room for a “family meeting”, and curiosities were piqued.

Elena stood next to Druig, holding Lyla in her arms and swaying absentmindedly side to side. Lyla was unnaturally quiet, and she’d been moody all morning. Elena had tried to play it off as a residual sugar crash from all of the desserts and candy Lyla had eaten the day before, but Druig knew both his wife and daughter better than that. Lyla might be only five, but she was acutely attuned to the emotions of others, particularly his and Elena’s. He knew Lyla had sensed their growing anxiety as the moment of revelation about Ikaris drew near. Druig suspected that Lyla’s own moodiness was a reflection of her parents’ fears, barely concealed now that the distraction of a holiday was behind them. And he suspected that Elena’s minimizing of Lyla’s moods was a manifestation of that fear, the same fear that threatened to choke the breath out of his lungs.

Druig took a deep breath in, tenderly tucking a stray piece of hair that had escaped from Elena’s bun behind her ear. The affectionate gesture brought a nervous smile to her face, but seemed to steady her slightly. Druig felt himself grow calmer under her touch, and as much as he wanted to relish the moment, he knew it was time to come clean to the others.

“There’s something Elena and I need to tell all of you,” he began, making eye contact with each of his fellow Eternals in turn. Thena, Sersi, Gilgamesh, and Phastos returned his gaze with a compassionate curiosity; Sprite and Kingo looked more disaffected. Makkari gave him an encouraging but serious nod. “We think we know what happened to Ajack. And it wasn’t what we all thought it was. A Deviant didn’t kill her.”

As Druig’s words settled in the room, a tense silence descended over the group gathered there. The background sound of Sprite noisily chewing on the apple lapsed into quietude as they all waited for Druig to continue. Only the distant sounds of Ben and Jack laughing over Mario Kart upstairs punctuated the silence. Druig and Elena knew Phastos would confide in Ben later, but they both felt it was best to spare Jack the details and allow his dad’s to decide what to tell him, if anything at all.

Druig pulled out the folded drawing Lyla had created - causing quite a ruckus in her kindergarten classroom and earning a concerned line of questioning from her teacher, Miss Longheart. He unfolded it, the image of Lyla’s crayon Ikaris with yellow lightning bolts suspended over the blacked out eyes of dead Ajack below. He handed it to Gilgamesh on his right, watching carefully as the drawing was slowly passed from hand to hand. “Ikaris killed Ajack. He found out that Ajack wanted to stop the Emergence and wanted her removed. He led a Deviant here, and let them do it. But it was Ikaris’ doing.”

Having finally given voice to his accusations, Druig felt a small piece of the weight pressing on the back of his mind lift. Now there was only the waiting.

Makkari stood up, catching everyone’s attention in the process, and lent her support to Druig’s statements. Ajack told Sersi and me about the Emergence right before Druig and Elena left on their honeymoon. A few weeks later, she turned up dead. And somehow Ikaris knew enough about the Deviants who killed her to tell me to search Alaska for the spot where they’d broken out of the ice.

Druig gave his friend an appreciative smile, as did Elena. Makkari’s voice counted for a lot amongst the Eternals, especially now that Ajack was gone.

“That doesn’t explain how Lyla survived,” Kingo commented, his voice cautious and laced with skepticism. “Lyla was here with Ajack, wasn’t she, while you two were on your honeymoon?”

Elena piped up this time. “We-” gesturing to herself, Druig, and Makkari “-think that Ikaris didn’t know Lyla was here. He didn’t come to the wedding, and he didn’t come to send us off like all of you - sorry Phastos.” Phastos and Ikaris had been the only two Eternals absent at Druig and Elena’s wedding in the spring earlier that year. Ikaris hadn’t received an invitation, although Druig had assumed he’d hear of it through Sprite or Kingo. Phastos had declined due to his son Jack’s fourth grade graduation.

Phastos gave a conciliatory smile and waved Elena’s comment away.

“That’s a big accusation to put on Ikaris,” Thena spoke up, her voice grave and somber. Druig was surprised, and somewhat hurt. He’d assumed that both Thena and Gilgamesh would be easier to convince. “We know you and Ikaris haven’t always seen eye to eye, Druig, but do you really think he’s capable of murdering Ajack? That is what we’re talking about here, isn’t it? Murder?” Thena’s incredulity was echoed amongst the others, save Makkari and Phastos.

Druig heard Elena swallow thickly next to him, her heart stumbling faster in her chest. He reached over and gently rubbed her back, hoping to reassure her. He knew Elena shared Thena’s misgivings about accusing Ikaris of something so heinous. As much as Druig wanted to think he could be objective about Ikaris despite their conflicted history, he’d had his own doubts at times.

“There’s one way we think we can settle this and know the truth.” Druig’s voice silenced the muttered grumblings and growing discontentment of the group. “Elena and I think Lyla may have seen something the day Ajack died, based on what she drew in that picture.” Druig pointed at the drawing, now resting on Kingo’s lap. “Elena and I talked about it, and we think that I should read her memories.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Kingo spat. He sounded angrier than Druig had anticipated, and he automatically tensed, pulling Elena ever so slightly closer to him protectively. “How are we supposed to trust what you say? You’ve clearly made up your mind, what’s to keep you from lying to us and telling us what you want us to hear?” Although Kingo’s skepticism didn’t earn as much support as Thena’s earlier expression of dissent, Sprite nodded eagerly, clearly sharing Kingo’s mistrust of Druig’s word.

Druig’s heart sank slightly at Kingo’s challenge. Although disappointed, he wasn’t surprised; Druig had feared the conversation would come to this point. He knew eventually he’d be asking the others to choose between his word or Ikaris’.

Trying to steady his own racing heart, Druig chewed his lip for a moment, letting Kingo’s words hang in the air before responding.

“You’re right, Kingo,” he eventually admitted, earning a startled eyebrow raise from both Kingo and Sprite. They’d both expected Druig to respond defensively, but his honest reaction had disarmed them. “Ultimately, this comes down to trust. Either you trust me, or you trust Ikaris.”

Once more, a weighty silence blanketed the room. None of the Eternals returned Druig’s gaze as they each retreated into their own thoughts, considering Druig’s proposal. After a few moments of apprehensive quiet, Phastos’ voice broke the hush.

“I trust you, Druig. And I trust Elena. If what you believe Lyla saw is true, I’m with you.” Druig felt both his and Elena’s shoulders drop a few inches in relief to have their first vocal show of support. They already knew Makkari was with them, as did the others, but it felt good to have Phastos’ vote.

“Me too,” Gilgamesh added, earning a curious expression from Thena. He shrugged in response to her probing gaze. “What? We all know Ikaris has always wanted to be the Prime Eternal. He follows Arishem more strictly than Ajack did. If Ajack really did want to stop the Emergence, I don’t put it past him to do whatever it took to make sure Arishem’s plans weren’t interrupted.” Gilgamesh’s support seemed to rattle Thena, whose eyes now fell nervously to her hands in her lap.

Sersi, her voice barely above a whisper, was next. “I’m with you, Druig, Elena.” Druig fought to keep his expression from showing the astonishment he felt internally at Sersi’s words. Druig knew that Sersi’s past affection for Ikaris made her a wildcard in the scheme of things. He’d assumed that she would side with Ikaris. Her vote - one from the person in the room who inarguably knew Ikaris the best of all - was a resounding blow to the shrinking camp of skeptics still silent on the matter.

With only Kingo, Sprite, and Thena left, Druig and Elena waited with bated breath. At long last, Sprite stood up, although the tight set of her jaw betrayed her position before she spoke. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe Ikaris would murder Ajack.” Her eyes were fiery and her voice was tinged with outrage. Druig wasn’t surprised. Sprite’s unrequited love for Ikaris was one of the worst kept secrets amongst the Eternals. Out of respect for Sprite, no one addressed it directly - perhaps with the exception of Kingo, who cared very little for mincing words or saving feelings - but nevertheless, it was well known.

Druig acknowledged Sprite’s words with a solemn nod of acceptance. She exhaled, casting a quick glance around the room, before addressing Druig’s wife, her voice somewhat softened but still hard. “Elena, thank you for a lovely holiday, but I won’t stay here for this. Goodbye.” With a last purse of her lips, Sprite turned on her heels and left the others, walking out towards the front door. It wasn’t until the echo of the front door shutting and the sounds of Sprite’s muffled footfalls on the steps outside died down that Thena spoke up.

“I’ll hear what Lyla has to say,” she ventured cautiously. “I’ll give you both that much.” Trying to mask the sting of disappointment, Druig nodded gratefully at Thena.

“Well, I for one don’t think I can stay for this either.” Kingo stood up, handing the drawing back to Phastos on his right. “I’m not sure what Sprite has in mind, but I won’t fight any of you, Ikaris included. I don’t want any part of this. I’m sorry,” Kingo bowed his head apologetically towards Druig and Elena, and for once Druig saw the unmistakable glint of sincerity in his eyes. “I love you both, I really do, but what we’re talking about is murder, and you’re basing it on the memories of a five year old human. I just can’t go there. Find me when this is over, please.” Following Sprite’s lead, Kingo left the room, the front door closing behind him.

The seven Eternals and two humans remaining let the significance of the moment linger for a few breaths before Elena gently placed Lyla down on the empty spot on the couch left by Kingo.

“Ly, we need to do the thing you, me, and Daddy talked about last week. Do you remember?” Elena’s voice was unnaturally high pitched, a reflection of her anxiety. Lyla nodded quietly and seriously. Druig and Elena had agreed that Druig wouldn’t use his powers on Lyla when she’d been a baby, but Lyla still knew enough of her father’s abilities to know that he could see people’s thoughts, as Elena had explained to her. Late one evening the week prior to Christmas, Druig and Elena had told Lyla that there was a particular memory of hers that Druig might ask to see. Lyla hadn’t been particularly bothered by the notion, but she was reading the strained atmosphere in the room and seemed to be retreating into herself on the couch.

Druig gently took hold of Elena’s shoulders, guiding her up and to the side as he crouched down in front of Lyla. Her large trusting hazel eyes met his, a soft smile on her lips. Druig’s heart skipped a beat as he felt a familiar, intoxicating warmth flood his chest at the sight of her.

“Hi, petal,” he cooed softly, taking her small hands in his. Her smile widened in delight at the use of his favorite nickname for her. Elena always teased Druig that Lyla was a daddy’s girl, and at moments like this, Druig had difficulty denying that fact.

“I’m going to peek inside your mind now, OK?” he continued, keeping his voice light and gentle. Lyla nodded innocently, her hands fidgeting slightly against Druig’s palms. He rubbed the backs of her wrists gently with his thumbs. “It won’t hurt, but my eyes are going to turn gold for a second, like you’ve seen before.” Druig tried to exercise caution around Lyla when using his powers, but there had been a few occasions where she’d witnessed the telltale golden glow in his irises.

Once more, Lyla nodded. “OK Daddy,” she replied sweetly. Druig felt Elena’s slightly trembling hand come to rest on his shoulder.

“Mummy and Daddy are right here, ok baby?” Elena asked. “Don’t be scared.”

“I’m not,” Lyla replied simply, and in the nakedly honest tone of a trusting child.

Anxious to get the deed done with, Druig took Lyla’s statement as a green light. He felt the surge of his powers rising up his throat and into his ears as he lightly reached out, feeling for Lyla’s mind. Human minds were intriguing in their diversity, and he especially enjoyed children’s minds. They were often smaller, less mercurial, and more vivid than the minds of adults. True to form, he felt the soft, smooth edge of Lyla’s consciousness bump against his powers. He let his own mind envelop hers, and he began calling to her memories as if calling to his own. A myriad of images flew past his mind’s eye - Elena smiling down at her, the inside of her bedroom bedecked with Frozen posters, Jack sharing a spoon laden with cookie dough with her. Druig flicked past them all, searching for Ikaris’ familiar face. After a moment of searching, he found the memory he was searching for…

It was hazy outside, diffuse sunlight in an overcast sky… Ajack standing in the kitchen, her back to Lyla, the sound of something sizzling on the stove… a strange blurred object in the sky, flying over the South Dakota horizon towards the house… Ajack’s voice, laced with worry: “Lyla, go upstairs please”... the sound of small feet scampering up the stairwell… voices from the front yard outside… the image of Ikaris and Ajack arguing, stolen from glances through the bedroom window… snippets of overheard conversation: “This isn’t part of the plan”, “billions will die”, “can’t let you do that”, “don’t do this”... a creature with iridescent blackish blue flesh sinking razor sharp teeth into Ajack’s leg… flashes of light out of Ikaris’ eyes… Ajack falling to the ground…

Druig tried to focus on letting Lyla’s mind sink gently back into her own mind, but the tight knot in his chest made it difficult. After he felt Lyla’s luminous consciousness settle, he let his powers recede quickly and forcefully. Lyla’s memory raced around his head, now sharper and clearer once removed from the faulty recall of a child’s mind. He noticed he was breathing hard, his hands gripping Lyla’s tightly. He looked up to see her hazel eyes returning his gaze.

“Good job, Daddy,” she told him, leaning forward and patting his cheek lightly. Druig found himself chuckling despite himself, the others following suit as they reveled in the purity of a child’s heart. Elena crouched down next to Druig, her relief palpable next to him. He knew that Elena had been frightened that Lyla would be scarred somehow from remembering the moment of Ajack’s death. Although Druig had assured her that there were ways to read memories without forcing the person to remember it themselves, she’d remained protective and anxious on the matter. He couldn’t blame her. Druig was used to manipulating human minds, but Elena had only known the confines of her own head, and this was not just any mind he was reading, it was their daughter’s. He planted a chaste kiss on the side of his wife’s head, happy to have the moment of truth behind them.

“Well?” Gilgamesh asked, bringing their attention back to the room. Druig stood, turning to face the others.

“Lyla saw it. Ikaris confronted Ajack outside about the Emergence. He let a Deviant finish her off.” It felt crude and disconcerting to think that scene had taken place just a few paces from where they sat now, discussing murder, but Druig also felt a sense of respite. Although he’d been tempted many times before, he’d promised Elena he would only read Lyla’s memory of that day once, and they’d both opted to wait until they were with the others before doing so. After weeks of build up, Druig’s suspicions were confirmed. Now there was the question of what to do next.

“Well, that settles it then,” Phastos spoke up. When no one finished his thought, he looked at them skeptically. “Obviously we can’t let the Emergence happen. Now we know that Ikaris is going to try and stop us too. Sprite also, probably.”

Druig nodded, his mind racing down the same track as Phastos’. Gilgamesh, Sersi, and Makkari nodded as well. Only Thena remained unaccounted for in the milieu, and the others’ gazes eventually settled on her. Her eyes were blank as she stared off into space, but Druig could practically feel her mind stretched like a taut wire as she made her decision. Gilgamesh gently nudged Thena after a few moments of quiet. She startled slightly, looking to him as if surprised he were still there, then at the others, comprehension dawning on her face.

After one more apprehensive heartbeat, she spoke. “I trust you, Druig. I trust all of you. If you think Ikaris did this - and if you say Lyla saw it, then I’m with you.”

Druig exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The thought of fighting Ikaris was daunting enough; fighting both Thena and Ikaris might well be impossible, even with the support of Gilgamesh, Sersi, and Makkari. He was glad that he’d never have to be on the receiving end of Thena’s swordplay. Next to him, Elena similarly relaxed, her hand coming to interlace with his.

“Thank you all,” he said gratefully. He felt Makkari’s slender hand come to his shoulder, squeezing him reassuringly. He shot her a particularly appreciative smile. The group relaxed briefly as the unanimity of their mission crystallized in their futures.

After a few short moments of relative peace, Gilgamesh’s question punctured the feeling with the question on everyone’s minds.

“Now what?”

Three Days Later

She’s still not awake? Makkari signed, her brows knitted in concern at Druig over the kitchen table. Druig shook his head, trying to push worry out of his mind. Elena had been sleeping more than usual lately, and her sleep was disrupted. More than a few times in the last few weeks, he’d been awoken in the middle of the night by Elena’s nightmares. The blankets twisted around her legs and waist from her thrashing, her skin glistening with sweat, and the words “please, no” and “come back” murmured from her lips. He’d asked her what she was dreaming about, and she’d told him she couldn’t remember, although her eyes never met his. For the first time since they’d met, Druig didn’t believe her, and that fact had lodged in his chest with an acidic burn.

The morning sun was high in the sky at this point, and still Elena was sleeping upstairs. He knew that Christmas had tired her, and in the last few days Elena had let the facade of an energetic hostess fall to reveal the exhaustion beneath. He’d resolved to let her sleep, but with each passing minute he became more disconcerted. Elena had always been an early riser; for her to still be in bed at this hour was out of character.

Makkari leaned over, placing a reassuring hand on Druig’s. I’m sure she’s just tired, she told him, an encouraging smile on her face. Druig nodded, trying to mirror Makkari’s smile for Lyla’s sake, who was watching the interaction with interested eyes from the stool next to Druig, patiently waiting for the omelet Makkari was making.

Phastos, seated on Druig’s other side, chimed in. “She’s been through a lot,” he said in a conciliatory tone, casting a worried glance at Ben. Druig and Phastos had forged an unexpected bond over their shared fears for their mortal spouses. Druig saw in Phastos’ eyes the same mixture of guilt, terror, and a fiercely protective streak towards Ben that Druig felt for Elena. Druig felt a unique affinity for Phastos. The Emergence and imminent destruction of Earth hadn’t sat well with any of the Eternals, some more so than others, but it was particularly poignant and terrifying for Phastos and Druig. Not only were they faced with the crushing knowledge that their past was a fabricated lie, but they were also poised on the edge of losing the people who gave their futures meaning.

“Can confirm,” Ben chimed in from where he was standing next to the sink, his back to the others, slicing scallions for their breakfast omelets. “It may come as a surprise to all of you immortal beings, but learning that our planet is about to get ripped apart from the inside out and we’re all going to be cast into oblivion doesn’t exactly sit well in the stomach.” Ben’s words were harsh and sarcastic, but there was an unmistakable note of panic in his voice.

“Benjamin, please,” Phastos chided angrily. Ben looked at his husband over his shoulder as Phastos shot a loaded glance towards Lyla. Druig felt his temper rise like boiling water at Ben’s impropriety at discussing the topic of the Emergence so graphically in front of Lyla. Makkari, recognizing Druig’s anger, squeezed his hand slightly as if in warning. For Lyla’s part, she looked distinctly unbothered. Druig combed his daughter’s features, looking for the familiar mask of indifference that he so often wore to disguise his true feelings, searching for some confirmation that she had heard and understood Ben’s words. He found none, and felt his shoulders relax slightly. His relief was fleeting, however.

“Mommy’s heart is sick,” Lyla chimed in, dispelling Druig’s hopes that she hadn’t been listening to their conversation. He felt an icy coil of fear twist in his chest at Lyla’s words. He looked down at his daughter, who was fiddling absentmindedly with her new Elsa doll (a Christmas gift from Sersi). Lyla’s large hazel eyes looked back up at him with disarming innocence. Druig chewed harshly on his lip as her words rolled around in his memory.

“What do you mean, petal?” he asked, hoping his voice was sufficiently unconcerned as to hide his intense uneasiness.

Lyla shrugged, smoothing Elsa’s long blonde braid with endearing concentration. “Mommy’s heart is sad. I can feel it,” Lyla told him in the same frank tone. “I think she misses my father.”

Druig felt the breath catch in his throat, and he had to turn away from her to hide the mixture of confusion and anguish in his eyes. Druig and Elena had agreed that Lyla was entitled to know about her biological father, Galen, who had died before her birth in the Battle of Sokovia. Although Druig knew that Lyla loved him as completely as any child loved a parent - biological or not - there was a deep, instinctual melancholy in Druig’s heart that he would always, in some capacity, share the title of father to Lyla.

As he struggled to blink back tears, Makkari’s grip on his hand tightened. He dared a glance up at his friend’s face. Makkari knew his feelings on this subject more intimately than even Elena did. He’d always felt selfish confiding his shameful bitterness about Galen to Elena, so instead he’d divulged to Makkari. As always, her friendship was steadfast and compassionate, and he knew she didn’t begrudge him this very vain and human emotion. She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb with a half smile, her eyes shining with empathy. Phastos and Ben had fallen into a tense silence, unsure of what to say. They both knew that Druig was not Lyla’s biological father - just as Phastos wasn’t father to his son, Jack - but the details had never been discussed. Druig suspected that Phastos shared his anguish, although their friendship hadn’t deepened enough to discuss those most intimate feelings.

Trying desperately to maintain control of his emotions, Druig turned back to Lyla. “How do you know that, Ly?”

Another unbothered shrug. “I can tell when people are hurt,” she replied cryptically. Druig didn’t doubt that: Lyla had always been an extraordinarily sensitive child, able to pick up on others’ moods and emotions before she was old enough to put those feelings into words. He’d never heard her talk so specifically about what was bothering someone else before, but he supposed her bond with Elena would be stronger than any other, given that Elena was her mother.

The rhythmic sound of the knife thumping lightly against the wooden cutting board resumed as the tense moment passed and Ben busied himself once more with omelet preparation.

“Do you think we can help Mummy feel better?” he ventured curiously. Ever since Elena had started to retreat inwards, it seemed that Lyla was one of the few people who could make her mother truly laugh. Druig knew Elena still loved him, but he’d seen her eyes grow sadder and her smile grow softer in the weeks since they’d learned about Ajack’s murder by Ikaris. More than once, he’d felt a twinge of envy at seeing the familiar twinkle in Elena’s eyes - a twinkle that he had once put there - only for Lyla now.

Lyla nodded sweetly, smiling up at Druig. He found himself smiling back. Lyla had her mother’s eyes, and even though Elena’s twinkle had dimmed lately, Lyla’s had only gotten stronger.

“She’ll be OK, Daddy,” Lyla encouraged him, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Druig felt a bit sheepish at the knowledge that his five year old daughter was consoling him; every fiber of his being told him it should be the other way around, but the dull ache in his chest subsided slightly at Lyla’s words. “We have to help her let go of death.”

For the second time that morning, Druig felt his breath give out on him at her ominous words. In the same instant, from where she was standing across the kitchen, Druig heard Ben groan as the knife he was using clattering to the tile floor, its blade stained with blood. Ben turned to face them, clutching his hand which bore a deep gash through his palm. Blood was already dripping from the edge of his hand onto the tile, and the color was waning from Ben’s face.

Phastos shot up from his chair, hurrying over to his husband. All of the Eternals had seen enough of human combat to know that this wasn’t a fatal injury, but it was grisly nonetheless. Unlike Eternals, humans bled gratuitously, a constant reminder of their mortality. It pained Druig deeply to see either Lyla or Elena hurt, and he didn’t need to read Phastos’ mind to know the thoughts racing through it at the sight of Ben’s mangled palm.

Acting quickly, Makkari grabbed a towel hanging next to the sink and began wrapping it around Ben’s palm to stopper the bleeding. Phastos placed his hands on Ben’s shoulder, gently leading him to the couch. Like many humans, Ben seemed to be dangerously close to losing consciousness at the sight of so much blood.

Druig was shocked to see Lyla pushed her stool away from the kitchen counter and start walking towards Ben, her Elsa doll left forgotten on the counter. He felt like his mind was working through quicksand as it struggled to pivot from her disturbing proclamation to the scene unfolding in front of him. If he’d been more alert, he would have stopped her before she reached the others, but Druig was decidedly distracted.

Stunned, he watched Lyla confidently approach Ben. There was an unnatural sense of purpose to her movements of someone much older, and the others felt it too, because they fell silent as they watched Lyla with interest. Ben’s face was pallid and covered in a soft sheen of sweat as he teetered on the edge of fainting. Lyla gently grasped his hand wrapped in the towel, a small bright red bloom already forming over the site of the wound. She began to unwrap the towel, and although Phastos protested, Lyla waved him away with a similarly commanding but gentle confidence.

Phastos shot Druig a quizzical expression, but Druig’s eyes were glued on his daughter, holding his breath. There was a warm aura flooding Lyla’s mind. Although Druig wasn’t using his powers, he could feel it from where he sat. It was a velvety, golden light, and it swam through Lyla’s being the way sunlight cuts through water. There was something incredibly familiar about it, but he felt the memory of the sensation evade his consciousness as he grasped for it, trying desperately to place where he’d felt it before.

The bloodied towel fell to the floor, and Lyla took Ben’s hand in her own. She didn’t say anything as she gently brushed her fingers along the flesh on either side of the cut. Slowly, miraculously, Druig saw the bleeding wound slowly stitch itself back together. The free gush of blood slowed to a trickle before disappearing completely. The wound closed entirely, and the skin at the site of the gash faded from an angry red to an indistinguishable shade of warm coffee that matched the rest of Ben’s skin.

No one moved, or even breathed, for a moment, their eyes trained on Lyla and the now nonexistent injury. Only the blood-stained towel and droplets of blood on the white tile floor remained to remind them that they hadn’t dreamed the last few moments.

“Oh my god.” Elena’s whispered voice startled Druig. He hadn’t heard her come downstairs. He turned to face her, tears pooling at her lash line and an odd expression in her eyes as she stared at Lyla, her hands covering her mouth. Apparently she had witnessed the shocking revelation too.

Lyla turned to look back at her parents. Druig felt that familiar warm aura slowly fade from Lyla’s mind. She was smiling, a proud and contented smile.

Ben’s color was returning as he marveled at his hand. Phastos and Makkari exchanged incredulous glances as they touched Ben’s perfectly intact palm, their eyes darting back and forth between the healed palm and Lyla.

Lyla walked over to where her mother stood, wrapping her arms around Elena’s legs. Elena stood rooted to the spot, a smile of disbelief as she returned Lyla’s embrace and looked up at Druig.

“Dru, I don’t believe it,” she whispered. Behind them, Phastos and Ben were laughing in awe.

“What is it?” Druig asked, sensing that Elena knew something about what they’d just witnessed that he didn’t. There was an expression in Elena’s eyes he couldn’t place, but for some reason it rattled him.

“She got his powers,” Elena replied, her voice still hushed. Elena picked Lyla up in her arms, the little girl basking in the happy feeling that had swept over everyone as the tension broke. Elena let a dazzling smile dance across her lips as she peppered Lyla’s forehead with kisses. Druig watched as his wife retreated from the kitchen, her attention focused on her daughter and on the wistful memories of a long lost love. Druig didn’t need to hear a name to know who Elena was referencing. With a sharp stab of bitterness, Druig placed the expression in Elena’s eyes. It was one he’d seen on her many times before, but not for a long time. It was the expression she’d been wearing when he’d first met her, almost six years ago in Sokovia, shortly after losing Galen. Druig had hoped, selfishly, that he’d never see it again - that he’d be able to love that expression away for good - although he knew now that he had been hoping in vain.

It was longing.

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