Summary: You’ve been in love with Druig since you came to Earth but he wants nothing to do with you. Maybe you can still be friends or maybe not.
Content Warning: Near death experiences, arguing, unrequited love, (Druig is an asshole in this)
When you first saw Druig you knew you’d want to know everything about him. He was gorgeous and before he even had the chance to speak you knew he’d be your reckoning. It wasn't long before you all had a routine on the charming little planet of Earth. The people, the food, the music, all of it was beautiful and filled you with such a sense of wonder and joy. If the stoic telepath had any love for the ball of rock he didn't show it; he merely watched from behind pillars and listened to chatter from the outskirts of gatherings.
Of course he wasn't too serious. On some occasions you would catch him joking with the stable boys or mingling with the women washing their clothes by the river; something that made you more jealous than you would like to admit. But it was refreshing to see him smile.
Your power is the ability to manipulate thermal energy, to put it simply it means that you could freeze a person to death while they were standing in a bonfire or keep an entire family warm during snowstorm (something you had to do couple times). You thought that everyone had incredible gifts but it had always been Druig that amazed you. Even though his power wasn’t flashy or grand, it was captivating nonetheless. The ability to control minds is impressive if not intimidating, there are moments where you wondered what he’d do if he could use them on you. That’s not to say that you’re scared of him, but you couldn’t deny that the hairs on the back of your neck stood whenever you watched him in battle. He was dangerous and scary and occasionally rude, yet here you letting him take up most of your daydreams.
You’d destroy the Sun just to have Druig look at you the same way he did at Makkari. The two of them have been on and off for forever but you never felt animosity towards her. In fact, you were almost happy that she was able to make him smile; for whenever you’d try to strike up conversation with him it was the complete opposite. There was something that he just didn’t like about you and even though you’d do anything for him to just be content with your presence, you didn’t see that happening anytime soon.
And you would have to be okay with that.
The Sun had just begun setting over the desert horizon when Phastos had sent you over to the local blacksmiths with some molds as well as some prints that they could use for farming. He was always sending you into town with new ideas that would help the community progress and you didn’t mind it; meeting with the people of Earth and learning along with them was one of your favorite things about being an Eternal. A warm and comforting breeze swept through the small Southwest Asian village and you could hear the faint noise of men laughing. As you neared the house you began to sense the people within the building. You could feel three heat signatures: a large man that was probably in his mid-thirties, a younger man in his twenties, and...Druig.
Your palms grew sweaty at the thought of talking to him. Of course the two of you had conversed before but it seemed like he wanted nothing to do with you. When the Eternals first began their mission on Earth you had tried befriending him (perhaps a little too hard); and maybe it was the fact that you we’re always surprising him. Whether it be with small gifts or even just your presence, you remember him being less than happy to see you. But the question remained: what did you do? For the longest time you had lead yourself to believe that it was because you weren’t gorgeous or that you were gross or some other superficial thing that someone like Druig would think up.
Two hours earlier (Flashback)
"I just don't get it. I've literally tried everything just to get somewhat of a bond with him and he hates my guts!" You and Sprite were both laying on her bed in the Domo after fighting off Deviants in North America. You were positioned near the top and she was spread along the bottom, both looking at the intricate details that decorated the ceiling. "I bring him gifts, he gives them back. I compliment him after a battle, he ignores me. What do I have to do to get him to not completely detest me?" You groaned.
Sprite turned her head to glance up at you , clearly not thinking too hard with a slight smile on her face. "It sounds like you like him"
You sprung up at the accusation. "What! I can't like someone who looks at me like a bug under their show, Sprite. And news flash: Druig's an asshole. Plus if I did like him, I would never do that to Makkari even if they’re not “technically” dating; she’s too good a friend and far too kind for anything along that nature to happen. But doesn’t mean that I want Druig to absolutely hate me!”
She giggled at your antics before laying back down, looking at the ceiling. "Well if you want an honest answer why don’t you just ask him?"
You rolled your eyes at the thought of talking to Druig. “I can’t just go up to him and ask. He’ll say something snarky or just flat out ignore me like he always does.”
Sprite raised an eyebrow at you. “Y/N if you want an answer I don’t know who better to go to. Get some balls and ask the guy!”
“What if it’s something terrible?...”
“...Or something that I can’t fix...”
“...what if he absolutely hates my guts and want nothing to do with me for all of eternity!” You flopped back onto your back with a sigh of frustration
“Y/N,” She said sitting up. “you can ask and finally know or you could wait another thousand years. But in the end it’s up to you. I’m not going to tell you what to do but I hate seeing you this way”.
Pushing open the blacksmith's door you removed your hood and made your way over to the workbench.
"Ah, Y/N! What does Phastos gift us with this time?" The head blacksmith, Andreas, asked. His face had pink hue due to the heat inside the shop and his long curly black beard was peppered with white ash. He was wearing a while linen cloth with a blood red robe thrown on top. The sleeves and edges of the robe were frayed, worn from the years of wear. His working apron was sitting on the chair across the room where Druig and Omar (Andreas’s apprentice) were sitting.
"Farming tools! From what I understood — and you know how Phastos is — there should be some things here for land managing and some other stuff for better irrigation, but it's hard to tell since I’m not to familiar on how to read prints all that well; if you have trouble with these molds I'll just pry Phastos from his workstation and bring him down here."
You set down the molds and blueprints then took off your cloak. Underneath you wore a fine emerald green garment that cuffed around your ankles and wrists. It was decorated with beautiful gold beads. The one-piece was a gift from a noble family in the last village you visited.
"We were just about to eat." Omar said as he uncovered a large bowl on the back table. "Eleni brought us stew a few minutes ago. You’re invited to join us if you'd lik —."
“I’m sure she’s busy enough as it is," Druig interrupted, a false sense of innocence in his voice. "No sense in wasting time here with us when she could be doing much more productive things. Isn’t that right Y/N?"
“Well what are you up to, eh? I’m sure I could help.” You spoke back with a weak attempt of staying cheerful. Even if he hated your guts you were going to try your best to be pleasant even though you felt your heart squeeze every time he glared at you.
“I’m not sure you could, I doubt you’d be any good at it” He quipped.
“I bet I can manage. Plus I don’t see you digging a well or saving a village,” You spoke with a bit of edge. “You know, productive things?”
He motioned to the various sketches and designs on the table in front of him.“Actually I’ve been helping these two with some new armor improvements. You’re more than welcome to stay,” He sneered. “but as you said you’re not too familiar on how to read prints”.
You felt your face heat up as embarrassment swept over you. "You know what? It’s fine. I just ate anyways," You said turning to Omar. "so thank you for the offer, but perhaps we can meet up another time, hm?”
Before Omar could even reply you started making your way back to the workbench to retrieve your cloak and headed out the door.
As you laid in bed you thought of how much it stung to have the one person you had heart-eyes for hate you with such a passion. He had no right to be so rude and crass with you, especially when all you’ve wanted since you’ve known him was companionship.
“Come in!” You beckoned to the visitor.
The door to your room opened as Makkari made her way into your space. She was in her lounge clothes and greeted you with a soft smile.
“Hey what’s up?” You questioned. It wasn’t like you and Makkari didn’t get along, you just didn’t hangout often.
“I was just wondering how you were feeling. I saw you kind of stomp in and figured you might want a friend”.
You weren’t exactly sure what to sign. Of course you didn’t wanna lie to her, but how do you tell your friend that you’ve been in love with her on-again-off-again boyfriend for over a millennium?
“I got into a little argument with someone down in the village, nothing major.” You felt a little guilty for not telling her the whole story, but it was still technically true, right?
“Let me guess it was Druig, again?” She rolled her eyes at the thought of him.
You eyes widened when she signed his name. “How’d you know?”
“He’s the only person who makes you this upset; it makes sense since he’s also the only person who seems to fight with you.” She put her hand on your shoulder before sitting down next to you on your bed.
“Um yeah he kind of told me to buzz off earli— why does he hate me?” You asked exasperated.
Stunned by the switch of conversation Makkari took a deep breath. “I don’t know if he hates you. Maybe you should ask him” She shrugged .
“Yeah that’s what Sprite said.” You signed.
“Two against one. Just get it over with Y/N! It might make you feel better once you receive, I don’t know... closure? Maybe if you both just air out what needs to be said, you can get along”
“I know, I just thought putting it off would be okay,” You cringed at the thought of earlier as confrontation. “but it’s creating more of an issue.” You pouted.
She gave a shoulder a squeeze before leaving your room and shutting the door.
You sat in the kitchen. You had eaten hours ago and only the evidence of the curry that you made earlier was a dirty bowl in the sink. Just as you were about to call it a night you heard the faint noise of footsteps. As you looked up from the table you saw exactly who you were dreading, Druig.
He looked as glorious as the first time you saw him. He was glossy from the sweat and grime of working with the blacksmiths. He wore a beige cloth draped across his waist with a loose robe sitting low on his shoulders. There was something about how he walked and a sort of glare that danced along his eyes that conveyed he was irritated and if you hadn’t been sitting there for hours on end maybe you would’ve waited to have this conversation, but you couldn’t back down now.
“You’re still up I see” Your voice was rough from not talking for awhile. Looking up you waited for his response.
“So how did the rest of the night go with Andreas and Omar? Any progress with the new armor?” You asked as he grabbed a clay mug from the cabinet. You we’re pressing and you knew it. Whenever he’d ignore you, you’d usually just drop it. But not tonight. Tonight you were going to get him to open up whatever thoughts he was having about you whether he liked it or not.
“Druig...” Nothing, again. He reached into the pantry and fetched a jar of tea, but you weren’t going to let him get away. “Hey! I’m talking to you.” You huffed. At this point you were getting impatient.
As he turned to take the mug and tea back to his room you decided to do something you’ve never intentionally done before: touch him.
Placing a firm grip on his shoulder, you stopped him in his tracks. “I don’t know why you think you can treat me like shit but I’m stopping it,” You paused, unsure of how he was feeling. “now.”
He turned his head back towards the hand on his shoulder. Glancing from the shoulder to your eyes, you felt yourself recoil at the connection. Never in your life had he been this close, this...intimate. You could see his thoughts turning behind his eyes but you couldn’t tell what exactly he was feeling. His glare was now hardest on you, his mouth controlling into a disgusted snarl.
Shifting his stance he placed both the mug and jar in the crook of his left arm and used his right to remove you from his shoulder. “You want to know why, Y/N?” He tilted his head as he questioned you, irritation evident on his face. “It’s because you” He dug his finger into your chest. “follow me around like a puppy dog, giving me gifts and compliments just hoping— wishing— for a lick of attention. You don’t think I notice it? Well I do. I’m obviously not into you Y/N and you’re going to have to get over it. Just cause Makkari and I aren’t a thing right now doesn’t mean I wanna settle for someone like you. So leave. Me. Alone”.
He brought himself back up from his looming stance over you before taking a deep breath and turning back towards his room.
You stood there frozen for awhile. The feeling of utter dread and rejection flooded through you and before you knew it tears started to prick out of the corners of your eyes. Fearing that someone would see you at your weakest you ran to your room where you would undoubtedly cry yourself to sleep.
You had thought long and hard about what Druig had said last night. Currently, you were in your room. You we’re wearing a soft loose tank top (or the equivalent of this time) with an earthy floor length cotton skirt. The sunlight of the early morning trickled it’s way through your windows and onto the bed where you were laying.
‘Just cause Makkari and I aren’t a thing right now doesn’t mean I wanna settle for someone like you’. You winced at the fresh memory. Even though you were indisputably in love with Druig, you valued your friendship with Makkari too much to move in on her ex right after a break up. Even though they would routinely break up and get back together just about every other year, you’d wait until they were both sure on how they felt before even thinking of pursuing the telepath. Of course you would love to not have to go after anyone’s ex, but as everyone in the group knows by now: it comes with the price of being an immortal being in a mortal world.
The sound of your stomach growling took you from your thoughts as you made your way to the kitchen (otherwise known the crime scene where your heart was massacred last night). As you entered the kitchen you were met with a bed-headed Kingo. He was eating a piece of toasted bread glazed with butter made from some of the bakers of the last village we were in.
“Morning,” You said softly. “looks like you slept pretty well”.
“Not even close.” He said with a groan. Stretching his arms over his head he tried to shake himself awake. “Our royal couple had another fight last night”
“Oh really? Usually Sersi stops by my place after her and Ikaris have their little arguments” You said as you tore a piece of bread from the loaf.
“No, no. I’m talking about Makkari and Druig. She came by my room last night talking about how ‘she’s tired of this whole back and forth thing’ and ‘he thinks that she’s just going to wait and eternity for him’ . Just a whole bunch of angsty couple stuff, you know the deal” He said as he took another bite.
“Not really” You half-chuckled. Maybe that was the reason why Druig was such in a poor mood you thought. You internally cringed and actually felt guilty for cornering him last night.
“But I don’t blame her. How long have they been dating? And how many times have they broken up?” He asked.
“Too many for me to count”
“I care about her too, Y/N. And...I don’t know...it just frustrates me when all she’s telling about is how terrible their relationship is.”
“Well we don’t know how they act all the time” You said. “Of course she’s only going to tell you the bad things about their relationship when she’s venting to you. I don’t think it’s good for you — for us— to get involved in whatever’s going on between them. If they don’t work out then they don’t work out, but we should leave that decision for them, it’s not our place.”
It was almost comedic how you, Kingo, and Sprite worked. You watched him pine over Makkari, Sprite after Ikaris, and in turn they watched you. It was like you all bonded over the fact they you’d never be with the one person in the world that you wanted. It was almost comforting. Almost.
He ran his hand down his face. “You’re right”
Leaving the people who had touched your heart in such a special way was always something that was bittersweet; knowing that you’d never see them again was depressing, but you took refuge in the thought that you were going to help new people \who you’d learn to love.
It had been a pretty easy week despite the interaction with Druig. Most of your downtime was spent helping the locals or learning about their cultural traditions. It’s times like these that made you love your mission. The people of Earth were so special to you and you were happy to watch them grow. Unfortunately, the peace couldn’t last for forever.
Today you were woken up by the sound of screams coming from the town. Quickly dressing yourself and running to the commotion, you were met with your fellow Etrernals who we’re doing the same. “What’s the plan, Ajak?” Gilgamesh asked.
Ajak joined up to your left.“Sprite, Kingo, Druig, and Phastos are working defense. Get as many people to the top that hill.” Looking out to where she had pointed, you noticed that it was just a bit south of the town. “It’ll be easier to fight off Deviants if they’re the ones who have to come up to us.”
Once given their commands, the four split off to round up civilians. You tried to fight the urge to watch as Druig left and even though he couldn’t read your mind, you hope that he knew you were rooting for him. One fight couldn’t erase the unfathomable love you carried in your heart for him.
“Thea, Ikaris, and I are on offense. We’ll clear them out the best we can. There’s going to be some stragglers that we won’t be able to get in time, so Y/N, Makkari, and Sersi clear-out all the deviants on and around the hill; we don’t need them slowing down the other group”
With your commands given, you and your group started running.
Atop the hill you and your group had managed to kill a small amount of the deviants present, this was a larger number of them than anticipated but it was nothing that you couldn’t handle. Sweat was dripping down your forehead and your fingers were covered in grime. This was just one of the key principles that you and your fellow Eternals knew: war was dirty.
It was probably twenty minutes since you had last seen the others when you had noticed a small blob coming from the village. Shielding your eyes from the sun you were able to see that it was the defense group with a sizable amount of people among them. Judging the distance, you could guess they were probably a little less than half a mile away. As they continued their pilgrimage to the hill you could make out a 5-9 deviants coming from the village towards the group. You were dowsed in the feeling of fear as you looked from the group to the deviants and back to the group. They weren’t going to be able to defend themselves and the humans without casualties.
Glancing back to Makkari and Sersi, you decided to take it upon yourself to attempt to meet the group halfway in order to alleviate the pressure of deviants on them.
“Sersi I’m going to need you to cover for me, okay?” You said as you dodged a deviants attack.
“I’m on it!” Was all you needed for you to dart across the field to where the group was, and with the downhill slope on your side you were able to get to them in a relatively short time.
“Y/N we need more cover, take the backend of the group with Kingo and Druig while we keep pushing forward”
Using your powers to create a pathway of ice, you skated to the back of the pack where the two Eternals were fighting. Slowly but surely the group progressed further up the hill. “Well what do we owe your presence?” Kingo joked over the commotion.
“To the fact that you’re getting your ass kicked” You yelled with a cocky grin.
You, Kingo, and Druig had fought side-by-side countless time before — just as you had with all the other Eternals — and you found yourselves getting into a familiar groove. First Kingo would blast the deviants in order to distract them while you froze their limbs to the ground. Once frozen in place Druig would be able to cut of their heads with his long sword. Even though you were getting the job done, you felt like there was something different about your dynamic.
Usually there was a sense of fluidity to your fighting pattern. The three of you would almost move in a waltz: blast, freeze, chop, blast, freeze, chop. But Druig (of course it was Druig) was somewhat stiffer than before. You noticed there was hesitation in his movements and it ended up slowing you and Kingo down in the process.
“Hey could you two speed it up? Not really feeling the drag happening right now” Kingo shouted as he blasted another deviant.
“Talk to Y/N! Maybe if she had her head out of the clouds her shots wouldn’t be such shit” Druig snapped.
You were taken aback by the utter disrespect happening, especially on the battlefield. Druig was always rude to you but never in serious moments like these. Fighting together meant that you had to fully trust your teammates and you began to feel yourself sinking further into your insecurities (something you probably shouldn’t be doing in the middle of a fight).
“My shots are just fine, just do your job” You bit back as you froze a deviant to the field.
“Don’t worry Kingo,” Druig continued. “you’ll probably just have to pick up her slack as usual since Ms. Puppy-dog is having another off day” .
Your heart twisted at the reference to your earlier confrontation. Looking out at Kingo you noticed his face had turned sour. “What’s your issue, dude?”
“Nothing” Druig huffed as he swung his sword once more.
“Clearing it’s something since you can’t shut your mouth for a mission” Kingo pressed. You knew he was angry on your behalf, especially since you two were fairly close. You found comfort in the sentiment but it seemed to be taking your collective attention away from the fight.
“It’s fine Kingo, let’s just focus.” You were grasping at straws to keep the peace. As they continued to bicker you felt them grow slower and slower against the attacking deviants.
“No, Y/N. It’s not fine.” Said Kingo. “I’m so tired of him running his mouth and nobody says anything.”
Druig scoffed. “Oh really? You don’t think I know what this is really about? You don’t give a shit how I treat Y/N. No, this is about Makkari.”
“Druig that’s enough” You warned.
Kingo was gradually getting closer to Druig, his eyes filled with more rage than you had ever seen the jokester have.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Druig. I don’t need an ulterior motive to say you’re an asshole.” Kingo said. His figure standing a few inches taller than the telepath.
Turning your attention from them, you noticed that as the argument progressed, your small trio had fallen behind the main group. Looking up ahead you looked to Phastos that was witnessing the bicker. “What’s going on? We have people to save up here!”
Deciding to take matters into your own hands you placed yourself between the two men and gave commands. “Kingo make up our lost ground and blast any deviant coming up behind the main group. Druig, I still need you and that sword so we’re going to continue down here.”
Kingo’s eyes shifted between you and the man in front of him.
With a sigh he turned away from the two of you and started running up the hill.
Getting your mindset back into the fight you started attacking any deviant you could get your hands on with Druig in tow. It was harder now without Kingo but you were making do.
“You and Kingo are perfect for each other” You heard behind you. Druigs voice was serious and was full of resentment.
“I’m not doing this now” You said as you continued the fight.
“I bet you two just sit up all night waiting for Makkari and I to break up, eh? Make it a little club or something? You got Sprite in there too? ‘Cause we all know she’s ready to pounce on Ikar—”
His sentence was cut off by your fist hitting his cheek. “I don’t know what the fuck you think you are, but you are not going to speak about anyone that way” You said. Your blood was pumping more than it had been during the whole fight.
Stunned by your strike, Druig brought his hand to his lip that had split on contact. “You know what,” He shoved you back a few steps “I’m so tired of your shit. I’m tired of you sitting here acting like an innocent lamb. But that’s not true is it? No. Not with you constantly throwing yourself at me. And now you’re telling Kingo to talk shit about me to Makkari?”
“Me?” You said getting incredulously. “I didn’t tell Kingo to do anything. And just cause your girlfriend is starting to realize how much of an asshole you are, doesn’t mean you can treat me like trash”.
Druig let out a laugh before meeting his fist with your left cheek —ultimately knocking the wind out of you. You looked up to see Druig towering over you, his shadow blocking out the sun.
“Don’t you ever talk abo—” Druig’s sentence stopped abruptly. A look of utter horror and shock struck his face as he looked down to his chest.
Lodged just above his stomach was a claw. A deviants to be exact.
Suddenly the world had come to a halt. The indescribable sense of rage had left your body and had been replaced with the purest feeling of panic and terror. It had happened almost instantaneously: you’re body ignited and you were no longer a mere instrument of heat — you were on fire. Within a split second you had discovered your newfound power and burned the towering deviant to the ground; reducing it’s body to ash. Everything happened so fast that you still had time to reach out and catch Druig before he fell to the dirt.
“Druig? Druig.” You said as you slapped the side of his face.
His eyes were searching around as if he couldn’t make out exactly what was happening.
“Wh...what’s going on? Y/N, my chest...” His words were drowsy and he motioned to his ribs. “my chest...i-it hurts...”
You looked down to where the deviants claw was still embedded. You wanted to wait until Ajax could heal him before you even thought about removing it, but there was so much blood escaping around it.
Tears began to run down your face as you began to think of the worst. “Druig this is going to hurt but you’re going to be okay.” You used the tip of your finger like a welding gun to seal the gaps around the claw where the blood was escaping. You tried to ignore his grunts and screams but seeing him in pain like this only made you cry harder.
Unbeknownst to you, the defense group was having trouble of its own.
The other Eternals were having trouble with the increasing number of deviants trying to get to the humans. Even with the addition of Kingo, Makkari, and Sersi it wasn’t enough to hold back the blood-thirsty predators, and if they didn’t do something quick people were going to die.
“Where’s Druig and Y/N?” Yelled Sersi.
“They’re further down the hill” Kingo replied bitterly, recalling the argument from earlier.
Sprite huffed. “Well we need their help. Call them up here!
Looking down to where you two were located Phastos couldn’t quite make out what was going on, “Y/N we need you two up here!”
You were too preoccupied to care about what was happening uphill. The only thing on your mind was saving Druigs life and you were going to do that.
“Druig!” Sprite shouted in an attempt to get your collective attention.
As the fighting progressed more and more deviants pounced on the group, now outnumbering the Eternals greatly.
“I can’t!” You cried glancing back down to the telepath, your mind frantic and overwhelmed.
You didn’t know what to do. Do you leave him here to die or go up to help your teammates? There was too much going on and you were frozen in place. You placed your hands over your ears to concentrate on your options. How could you get him up the hill? Was he too injured for you to move him? Where would you put him while you finished the battle? With all of these questions running through your head you didn’t notice how the world began to gradually quiet.
Your attention was taken by the sound of flesh tearing.
Looking up you saw that Thea, Gilgamesh, and Ajak had made it to the scene and were helping the rest of the group kill of the remaining deviants. They all worked like a fine oiled machine and finished off what was left of the predators.
As amazing as they were, you turned back towards the man on the ground.
“Druig” You said sternly. “Druig I need you to stay awake, okay? Can you do that for me?” You pleaded.
You looked for any sign that he understood what you but were met with none.
“Druig. Please please please, stay awake.” You said as you grasped his hand. “I’m sorry for all of that earlier, okay? When you wake up we’ll sort this out — and you’ll wake up — but please. We need you to stay awake, Ajak is going to be here soon. Just stay awake.” You sobbed.
You heard the sound of footsteps approach and saw your teammates had made it down the hill; each and everyone of them were converted in blood and dirt from the battle. If you hadn’t seen what had just happened you would’ve assumed they took a bath in blood.
Once in sight Ajak rushed to Druig’s side. Her face was full of worry and she was careful not to move him as she assessed his injury. The entire group was quiet as you all feared for the worst.
You stood naked in front of the shower. You mind blank as your processed what had happened not even an hour earlier. Looking at your shaking hands you felt sick at the crimson red that stained them. You were covered in his blood and it shook you to the core just how close you were to having him die in your arms. Is this how you were going to live? On the edge of life and death?
You didn’t want that for yourself. You knew that much.
After getting cleaned up you made your way back to the main room to fetch your armor that hadn’t made it to the wash yet. Turning the last corner you were met with a surprise: your team waiting for you.
“I think we need to talk, Y/N” Ajak said firmly as she motioned for you to join the rest of them.
The feeling of anxiety once again was present in your mind as you made your way to the circle.
“You are an Eternal, correct?” She asked.
“Y...yes?” You weren’t sure exactly where this was going.
“Then why aren’t you acting like it?”
“Your job is to protect life on this planet no matter the cost. I know that. Druig knows that. Everybody in this circle knows that. So why don’t you?”
You were growing frustrated at her accusations. “What was I supposed to do? Let him die? What would happen if that was you, Ajak? Or anyone else here?” You questioned.
“Then I would expect you to do what’s best for the mission. You can’t let personal feelings get in the way of that. I love you all as if we were family but I will not compromise the job for anyone. We needed you out there. I heard that Sersi, Sprite, and Phastos called for help and you weren’t there! I know it’s hard but that is our reality. This is no time to be selfish; our mission comes before the individual and you need to figure that out.” Disappointment was evident in her voice as she looked you down. “Am I clear?”
As the sun set over the desert horizon you were almost finished packing.
A couple pairs of clothes along with enough jewelry to pay lodgings and food was all you really needed for your journey. The thought of bringing more sentimental items flashed in your mind but you feared that it would make you turn back. Make you come back home to the war, and the loss, and the bullshit you just couldn’t deal with.
You sighed. Maybe running away is the cowardly thing to do but you knew Ajak was right; you had lost sight of the mission and you couldn’t go through the agony of watching your friends die one by one. It was just easier to cut them off; severing the relationships you had with them sounded a lot better than submitting yourself to the heartbreak of death. Now the important question was: did you even want to say goodbye? If you did you weren’t sure if you could actually leave. If Ikaris even got word of you trying to leave he’d report back to Ajak and that wasn’t something that you really wanted to face.
But you remembered that there was one person who couldn’t tell a soul.
Druig was lain out on a cot with a wool blanket draped over him. His chocolate hair was messy and his lips were cracked but to you he looked ethereal. He wasn’t awake of course — his condition would probably last a few days as Ajak had stated — but that didn’t stop you from saying goodbye.
You took a deep breath as you approached his sleeping figure. “I’m leaving. For good.”
You seated yourself on the side of his bed. “I know you probably don’t want me here but...I don’t have anyone else to talk to that won’t tell the others.”
You felt tears start pooling around your eyes as you continued. “You were right. Everyone was picking up my slack today and I just figured it’d be better if I took off, you know? Avoid facing a situation like this again. The whole thing today and last night...it just made me think. I can’t watch my friend die, Druig. How is everyone just okay with that? How am I wrong for valuing your life in such a way? I tried doing what’s best for the mission, it’s hard — so —hard to accept that because...”
Biting your tongue you debated your next words. “...because I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you and I couldn’t just let you go. Not even after how you treated me. And I’ve fought so fucking hard to keep myself together as I’ve watched you love someone else all-the-while you act disgusted by my existence. But despite all the signs telling me not to, I’ve loved you since we arrived on Earth. And I should have told you, and maybe —just maybe — that would’ve saved us all this shit,” You said motioning towards his injury.
“but you know what? Now I know.” You face grew into a scowl as you thought back through the thousands of years of insults and rejection. “I know that I didn’t deserve how you treated me. You actually made me believe that I was wicked for wanting you to like me — to treat me like a person — how crazy is that?” You half-joked.
“I’m not evil, or selfish, or any other name you’ve slapped on me because...because I deserve love. I want someone to love me just as passionately as I did you, and I want to make connections with people who I won’t have to leave after a week, and I want a life filled with friends that won’t abandon me for some stupid fucking mission!” You cried.
“And guess what, Druig?” You stood up, and wiped the tears from your eyes with your sleeve.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Ive never really written fan-fiction before but I really wanted more Druig content so here you go. Lmk what y’all think and I’ll try to figure out how to open my requests lmao
