Work Text:
The Beginning
Lower Mesopotamia, 2310 BC
The sun hovered over the horizon, its rays reaching for Makkari’s curly hair as she sat on the bank of the Euphrates River. She was leaning back on her hands, her legs straight. She’d marveled at the sunset for over 2,000 years now. It was breathtaking every time, but her eyes were closed at the moment. In her mind, she pictured the river in front of her, but it was framed on both sides by majestic mountains. Not the flat, uninspiring plain that was currently before her.
“Makkari. Makkari .”
She opened her eyes and turned to the familiar vibration of her name, and her breath caught. Druig. She hurried to her feet and wiped her butt and the back of thighs.
Are we gathering? She signed, pushing her daydreams to the back of her mind.
“No, I...I came to check on you, actually, ” he signed. “ I heard you got a stern talking to. ”
Makkari rolled her eyes. And who did you hear that from?
“Phastos, ” he answered with a tiny smile.
She rolled her eyes again and turned back to her view, reclaiming her seat on the sand.
Druig took that as an invitation to join, so he lowered his form next to hers but kept a professional distance.
For people who don’t spend a whole lot of time together, we sure know how to gossip , she signed, frowning. Phastos was definitely not in the room or close by when Ajak had been lecturing her.
“I’m surprised,” Druig teased. “You’re the good one. Now the dutiful Makkari has gotten in trouble.”
Makkari didn’t smile. She was too curious. How did he know she was good? They didn’t speak to each other more than they had to. Not in 2,000 years of working together. Yet...he always watched her. When Ajak briefed them before a fight. When she boarded Domo after battle. When she debriefed her findings after a scouting mission. It wasn’t the same look he gave to Ikaris when he debriefed. Or to Thena. Or to Sersi.
During her time in Mesopotamia, she’d become familiar with many things: the settlements that neighbored theirs in Sippar, the Sumerian people and their ways, and she was learning about the Akkadian people, the Sumerians’ new ruler. And she’d also become familiar with Druig’s gaze.
Druig noted that his joke was not appreciated and nodded awkwardly. “ I’m only ribbing. I just meant...you were the only one who adhered to Ajak’s rules up to this point.” Thena goes looking for Deviants to fight by herself. Gilgamesh has introduced ingredients and spices that were forbidden. Phastos keeps pushing boundaries with his inventions. Sprite has introduced elements in her stories that are unimaginable to these beings. And Kingo takes being worshiped way too seriously and keeps promising things he should not deliver.
Makkari enjoyed the slow reverberations of his tone, but she nevertheless appreciated that he’d switched to sign only. Mmm , she gestured. And you?
Me? I’m a good boy.
That got her to smile. And she wondered how good he was exactly. A very inappropriate thought to have about her teammate.
Ikaris is the only good boy around. He’s the one who caught me .
Phastos said you ran to both ends of the river.
Unfortunately, I stayed away too long, because fucking Ikaris caught me coming back.
Makkari’s skin prickled as she realized her mistake. She needed to mind her honesty. I don’t mean any disrespect. I greatly admire Ikaris as our field leader. He’s strategic and has saved my life plenty.
And you’ve saved his. He still has a stick up his ass.
Makkari broke into laughter, her nose wrinkling. She was pleasantly surprised by his candor. He has a big responsibility , she reasoned .
He’s a jerk. A goody two shoes who oversteps. You’ve seen Ajak check him more than thrice. He’s an ass who barely has a sense of humor. I can keep going.
Don’t , she signed emphatically. Her laughter was punctuated by lilting breaths as her shoulders shook. She laughed harder when Druig joined her, his mirth interrupting the silence that had been existing amidst the movement of their hands and fingers.
You are not a good boy.
But you agree.
Only if you don’t tell anyone , she gestured as her laughter subsided.
“I won’t tell.”
Makkari nodded firmly, and he did, too. She took a deep breath and exhaled. I don’t want my personal...explorations to tarnish my reputation on the team.
That isn’t possible. Ikaris admires you, too, you know. I’ve been present many times when he talked about you in your absence. We’ve all got our thing. I’m sure it makes Ajak’s job interesting.
Makkari considered him carefully. She hoped that sharing her observation would not make him shut down. Your thing is wanting to create peace among the humans.
Druig’s expression closed only a little. That’s the epitome of good, if you ask me. You’ve...repeated what Ajak has said. We shouldn’t interfere in their conflicts. But do you agree?
Makkari was surprised. No one had ever asked her what she thought about their mission. Honestly, she’d never asked anyone on the team what they thought, either. They all pretty much went around repeating whatever Ajak said, without question. And Ajak repeated whatever Arishem told her, without question. It was simple that way.
I think...I think that it’s a good rule to have. We are here to protect them from Deviants, not from themselves. But I understand why you get tempted. The Akkadians’ war against the Sumerians...the conquest...it was hard to witness.
“We could’ve done more than witness it,” he messaged passionately.
You saved a lot of lives, rescued a lot of women and children from terrible fates. Ajak said so herself. I was relieved when we finally got in Domo and left this place for a few years until the worst of the war was over.
What would you do if you had my power?
Oh, Druig. You’re not wrong. As strong willed as she is, I don’t think even Ajak could resist interfering if she had your power. It’s easy for us to tell you not to interfere. I recognize that. We all do.
Her sympathy made his shoulders relax. I guess that’s why Arishem didn’t put me in charge.
Makkari smiled. My thing seems trivial now.
What is your thing, exactly?
Makkari hesitated. But since he’d been indulging her thus far… I’m bored.
Druig laughed.
I take much pride in my assignment of helping humans develop a writing system. It’s fun and fulfilling, but I’ve grown so bored! I should be commended for lasting 2,690 years!
Not so fast. I thought we’d become friends. Are you lying to your friend?
What do you mean?
You have not lasted 2,690 years, Dingir.
Makkari’s body warmed all over. Dingir. The word for goddess in the Summerian language. It shouldn’t have such an effect on her, because the Eternals playfully called each other that, as it was the same word for god, for a time after the Summerians bestowed them deity status and built temples and shrines. So it was silly for her to want to float now.
Did I offend you?
No. No, you did not.
He nodded, his blue eyes boring into her. His look was so intense that she averted her gaze. She tried to refocus her thought. As the fastest person on earth, she was also the fastest thinker. It was extremely difficult for something to trip her up. Yet here she was. She felt him move and looked in his direction.
I’ve noticed your little absences over the years.
She smiled, although she tightened her lips to keep her teeth from showing. You are right. I did not last 2,690 years.
“I knew it!”
Don’t tell anyone!
Your secret is very safe with me.
Phastos briefed us on a big, beautiful, dynamic planet before we entered the atmosphere. Of course I had to see it.
You stole one of the Isibs, Druig deduced, referring to Phastos’ real-time maps that fit in the palm of the hand.
More like he lends me one whenever I ask.
Druig quirked a brow. An accomplice.
And now you’re one, too.
I’d like to add a condition to that.
What?
I’d like to accompany you on one of these quests. If...if you don’t mind. It’s not a strict condition. I’m not blackmai---
Deal.
Deal? You’re sure? It’s only if you want. I was only joking.
I said deal, Druig , she signed, smiling.
Okay. Deal.
***