Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rome was burning.

Their home was burning.

The parks they had walked through, the schools they had taught in the hospitals they visited.
Burning. All of it.

Makarri was the first to pick up on the smell of smoke days as soon as they returned to their home. The Eternals had been living outside the capitol, neat mount Olympus, for some time now. The last few years they had been traveling to other regions of Rome, spreading the wealth and knowledge that had been flourishing in Alexandria. Most of the Eternals came back to Mount Olympus to check on the progress of the capitol, except for Thena and Gilgamesh who were left to patrol the regions to the East. Immediately upon return to their home base, the speedster could tell something was wrong and Ikarus was sent to investigate.

“It’s the government buildings. It doesn’t look too bad yet, but if they can’t get it under control it will reach the rest of the city by tomorrow,” Ikaris reported.

Sersi was the first to speak up. “We have to help. The scholars, the leaders…Ajak, the library! If Rome burns and the knowledge here goes with it….humanity’s progress will be set back decades.”

“It’ll be worse than Babylon,” Phastos thought aloud. There was a distant look in his eye, pondering all he had done for them in Babylon and now all the progress he had helped with in Rome. All his work once again gone, about to begin again in a new place. Phastos was growing tired of repeating himself.

“Did you see any deviants?” Ajak asked looking directly at Ikarus, avoiding eye contact with anyone else.

Ikaris glanced a Sersi who was staring at him with water in her eyes. He looked back to Ajak and slowly shook his head, though guilt and sadness could be seen on his face.

Ajak took a deep breath and stared at the floor, eyes calculating. Not a plan of action, but a way to kindly give her family the disappointing answer they knew was coming.

“We wait,” she said. “We wait to see if they can control it themselves. Much knowledge has been spread already, but Sersi is right. A fire like this could set the entire world back. But we shall be patient.”

Makkari and Phastos approached Ajak, arguing that they should at least get the books out of the library.
Kingo and Sprite spoke to each other about losing the amphitheater.
Ikaris held Sersi off to the side of the room consoling her.

“What about the people?”

Everyone turned to the resident telepath. He was leaning against one of the marble counters that separated the main living area from the hallway to the bedrooms. His head never lifted. His voice a low, dejected tone. He stayed staring that the white tile beneath his feet.

When no one answered Druig lifted his head and looked at Ajak.

“It’s not just the buildings. There are people-people we’ve known for YEARS…BURNING.”

Ajak stood confident, staring right back at him. “Druig, I know you have developed a fondness for this place, but you know our position-“

“It’s not about the PLACE!” Druig emphasized again. “There are teachers and philosophers and inventors here unlike anywhere else in the WORLD. People we all have learned from! Even if we could save the papyrus and the scrolls and tablets, who will be left to teach what’s on them?”

Everyone seemed to take a step back as Ajak approached Druig. He stood straighter as she did, out of respect for her and to steady himself to face her powerful presence.

“I believe in these people,” Ajak said as she came closer. “We have taught them much and learned even more from them. I have confidence that they will have the situation under control.”

Druig bit the inside of his cheeks, pondering what to say. Was what Ajak was insinuating right? Did he not trust the people he had watched and helped to learn and grow and prepare for situations like this?

Before he could respond Ajak continued. “However, if by this time tomorrow, the fire has not died down or has gotten worse, you shall be the first on the scene to evacuate the city.”

Ikaris left Sersi’s side to protest. “With all due respect Ajak-“

The leader’s eyes never landed on Ikaris as she said, “Butting into someone else’s conversation is not respectful, Ikaris. To me or to Druig.”

That shut him up. For once, Druig thought. Ikaris obeyed but stayed where he was, leaving Sersi to hold herself in her own arms.

“You’re right Druig. There is only so much the 10 of us can do if the knowledge and the keepers of it perish. We shall give the humans a chance to help themselves, but if not you will get them to safety.” She looked at each of them as she said these words and until she landed back on Druig. Chin high and proud, he responded with a resound but quiet, “Yes ma’am.”

Ajak nodded at him then turned to the group, commenting matter of factly, “Besides, Deviants tend to prey on chaos. If the fire continues it will likely draw them in and we will have to interfere anyway. Everyone be ready. By this time tomorrow we will either be returning to meet with Thena and Gil, or fighting fires.”

“And Deviants!” shouted Sprite, long since bored with the arguments.

Ajak smiled fondly at her, “You, my dear, will be helping Druig should the time come. Phastos see if you can contact Thena and Gil and let them know…”

Makkari walked over to Druig as Ajak and the others made plans for the next 24 hours. He was standing in the same spot, hands behind his back, his usual confident stance. But Makkari knew better. There was no smug satisfaction of winning the argument. Instead hai brows were knit together in confusion, staring at one of the lounge chairs, mind far away.

She sidled up next to his right side, shoulders touching (or close to it, his shoulder being a good 4 inches higher than hers). His head tilted towards hers, but his eyes never left the chair. His mind wasn’t totally focused on the present.

She stuck her dominant hand in his line of sight, signing a short “O-K?”

Druig blinked in rapid succession and turned his head fully towards her. He gave her a slight nod and even slighter smile.

Makkari responded with just an arched eyebrow. Druig chuckled and nodded again. “Really,” he signed. “Just surprised. Now…I have to put my money where my mouth is.”

She looked at him with a titled head then nodded towards the door that lead to the balcony.

Chapter Text

He followed her as the rest of the group began discussing packing and getting enough sleep to be prepared for whatever the day would bring. Phastos saw Makkari and Druig walk off, assuming they were going to discuss the game plan for tomorrow. “Night guys,” he said.

The 2 turned and gave him a polite wave and exited out onto the balcony.

The smoke could be seen easily now as the glow of the fires illuminated the night sky. Makkari’s heightened sense of smell made her wrinkle her nose.

“I’m sorry it’s bothering you,” Druig sign-talked. As if the fires or the smoke or her ability to detect smells and vibrations was his fault.

Makkari just shook her head and waved off his comment. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” she insisted.

“So blunt,” he said. When she didn’t have a comeback to his teasing, he continued. “I’ve never been on the front lines before. Always wanted to, but always told to hang back. To wait instructions. To move only those you guys couldn’t get to. What if…” his hands and his words hung in the air. She touched his arm, prompting him to continue when he was ready.

Druig took a deep breath and went on. “What if I can’t get to everyone? I’ve never controlled so many at once. I’ve thought about it, you know that. But I’ve never even tried.” His signs became shakier and bigger but his voice got smaller. He finally dropped his arms, them grip the railing in front of him, head hanging low.

Makkari stepped closer to him, one hand on his back and the other touching his hand. She gave him a moment to breathe, then removed her hand from his and brought it to his face. She turned his head to look at her and waited until he was looking her in the eye.

“ My heart ,” she started, middle finger touching her chest where her heart is. “ You are one of the strongest people I know. Not just of the family and certainly more than any human. ” She knew he was about to counter her with herself or Ikarus or Gil or Thena being stronger but she continued quickly with both her hands. “ I don’t mean physically, but mentally and emotionally. I know the toll humanity’s thoughts have on you. You’ve been bearing them by yourself for thousands of years. You’ve stood up for them all, even if each time you were decided against. You have been nothing but loving and kind to the people and respectful to Ajak. Now you have a chance to prove everything you’ve been saying and wanting to do can and should be done. And I know for sure that you can and will do it.”

Druig just stared at her for a moment. Of all the people in all of their home plant Olympia, and all the ships he could have been put on, he got to meet his best friend, his favorite person, his own personal goddess.

“I’ve never done it alone, you know. Never would have been able to,” he said, stepping toe to toe with her, head inclined towards her. He touched his finger to her chest. “You, my heart, have been with me ever since we got here. Even if you weren’t with me here, you were with me here,” putting his hand over his own heart. “Calming me, steadying my mind.”

She smiled, blushed, acutely aware of the butterflies hatching in her stomach. After all these years how he could still…

“Well, thanks to you and your big ideas,” she lifted her necklace beneath her robe that depicted a pair of hands holding a heart. “You’re stuck with me tomorrow and forever.”

He lifted his bracelet she had given him that had a matching charm. “Tomorrow and forever,” he confirmed. As his hand finished the last sign, it came to rest on the back of her head, drawing her closer to him. His other hand found her waits and she cradled his face in return, kissing each other with hundreds of years of love behind them.

Their matrimony charms glinted in the light of the moon. They had been with the Celtic tribes when he proposed, and Makkari, ever impulsive, couldn’t wait to return to the family. And Druig, ever the recluse, had no interest in a big ceremony. So they decided to have their own small wedding, designing their own symbols of love and being married by the local leader.

They never intended to keep their union a secret from the others. But upon return to their group in India they found Sersi and Icarus preparing their own ceremony and didn’t want to distract from the event. Immediately after, there was a deviant attack. Then they moved locations. Then they had to get to work in that area, all dividing up the work and separating. Makkari and Druig requested to go together, which Ajak granted as they worked so well together. Eventually years had passed and no one had caught on, so the unintentional secret was kept.

Now, as a part of Druig’s mind was pierced by the screams of people miles away and Makkari’s skin crawled with the vibrations of buildings crumbling, they made mental promises to each other that no matter what happened tomorrow they would have each other’s backs, as always.

As the world around them changed, they would always be constants.

Chapter Text

That morning, Makkari and Druig laid in bed together. After their moment on the balcony, the couple continued on to their room and drifted off into a fitful sleep together. Makkari woke as soon as she felt Ikaris prepare to leave for early morning patrols.

With a deep sigh in resignation at the fact that she wouldn’t get back to sleep, she turned to her husband who had finally seemed to enter a dream state. She watched his eyes move back and forth beneath his lids, his chest rise and fall in even breaths. She brushed her fringes through his hair, causing him to turn instinctively at her touch.

She stayed like that for a few minutes, channeling calming thoughts toward him. Not an easy thing with her mind and body always buzzing with energy, but for him she tried her hardest.

She suddenly felt Ikaris return and make a beeline for their bedroom. Moving at a ridiculous speed, Makkari kissed Druig and sped out of the room through the balcony window on their room before Ikraus could even open the door.

Feeling Makkari leave so quickly left Druig to wake up slightly dazed and confused. To add to it, Ikaris burst through the door without knocking. Druig sat up with a jolt and tried to grab at the linen sheet to cover himself up.

“Deviants are about to reach the city. You’re up, Golden Boy,” Ikaris said. He tilted his head and took in Druig’s state. “You always sleep in the nude?”

The door closed just as a pillow came flying at Ikaris’ head.

Guess that’s me, he resigned as he got out of bed. No wonder Makkari left in such a hurry. She’d be in her “room” getting ready. Really it was just the place she kept a few things and pretended to go before joining Druig.

He put on his armor quickly and joined the others in the main living area. As soon as he walked in, all eyes were on him. He received looks of confidence and reassurance from Ajak, Phastos, Sersi and of course his beloved. Kingo, Sprite and Ikaris seemed less than enthused with this plan. But Ajak only looked to Makkari and gave her a nod in confirmation.

She would be running Druig into the city, then join Ikarus and Kingo in battling the 3 Deviants Ikaris had spotted this morning. Sprite and Phastos would be with Druig helping people get out of the city. Ajak and Sersi would be waiting on the outskirts, ready to help and heal anyone that came their way.

“ Ready?” Makkari signed to Druig. It had more meaning than “Ready to go,” it was “Are you ready for the moment you’ve been waiting for?”

He could only put on his usual mask of confidence and give her a cheeky grin. Only this time it wasn’t a mask. He was finally starting to feel more sure of himself. “If you are, beautiful.”

She grabbed him and they took off before they could catch Phastos rolling his eyes or Sprite making a gag noise. “How does she stand him talking to her like that?” she asked.

“That’s just Druig,” Sersi defended. “Besides, I think she can tell he’s nervous.”

“The nerves will do him good, knock him down a few pegs,” Kingo commented. He turned to Ikarus, “Ready, boss?”

The fly-boy gave a confirmation nod, leaned over to give Sersi a kiss on the cheek and walked out onto the balcony with Kingo to take off for the city.

Kingo made a superhero pose as he looked over the burning valley. He arched his brow, smirked. “Time to save the known world.”

Chapter Text

It was working.

If only Druig could breathe. Or see. The smoke was becoming thicker, so much that the city had become dark despite the fact it was now midday.

He was making his way down the streets away from the city center, sending out commands to every building he passed. More and more people rushed out. He attempted to extend his thoughts to the opposite end, where he didn’t think he would get to in time. But he was only able to get to a few dozen. He knew there were much more, but he was getting drained physically and mentally.

Makkari rushed to his side. “ What do you need?”

“This areas mostly cleared. I need to get to the opposite side of the city,” he yelled above the cacophony of human screams and crackling wood.

Before he could blink Druig was swept away to exactly where he needed to be. The smoke wasn’t as bad here, and he was grateful for the breath of mostly fresh air he could take in. As he expanded his mind, Makkari checked every home she could, checking for anyone who may be stuck.

Sure enough, she found a young girl, only about 4 or 5, with braids and skin tone similar to Makkari’s, screaming bloody murder. Her eyes glowed gold, but she was stuck under a fallen beam, unable to follow Druig’s direction. And her mind seemed to be punishing her for it.

Makkari didn’t find anyone else in the house. Was she a slave’s child, forgotten by the owners? Did she even live here or did she just run in here amongst the chaos to avoid being trampled?

All questions Makkari didn’t have time to answer. This house was coming down quickly, the whole roof having caught fire and the rooms filling with black ash and smoke.

She hit the beam with a sonic boom and it split in two. The girl started to run for it but screamed once more and fell to the ground.

Makkari looked and saw the girls leg had been broken by the beam, she wasn’t getting out of here by herself.

The speedster coughed and gagged against the smoke filling her lungs as she grabbed hold of the girl. She sped out of the house just as the top floor started to collapse.

She went to find Druig but he wasn’t where she left him. She looked up and down the streets, trying to catch her breath for the first time in her life. Looking down, she noticed the child in her arms was still crying, but her eyes no longer had the golden glow of a person controlled.

Through their personal connection she could tell he was alive but far away. He’ll be fine, she thought. Right now, she had to get this girl to her family.

Makkari hacked up what felt like a whole lung, took a strangled breathe, and ran.

*******

Druig fought Ikaris the whole flight.

Once the Deviants had been taken care of, the self-proclaimed co-leader decided it was time to go. He swooped down and picked up Druig without a word.

“LET ME GO! THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DOWN THERE!” Druig protested as loud as he could against the wind in his face.

“And who’s fault is that?”

Had he….did he just say….

They arrived at the refugee camp Ajak and Sersi were stationed at. Ikarus dropped him abt 7 feet above the ground, causing Druig to land less than gracefully. Regardless, Druig popped to his feet and angrily strode towards where Ikarus now stood.

“You arrogant, self absorbed prick!” Druig screamed as he ran towards his opposer, his bully, his brother. Until Phastos wrapped arms around him to stop him.

The 2 had never gotten along well, but always agreed where it mattered and never took shots at each other personally.

Until now, I guess.

“You tell me to get the people out and then grab me before I can complete my mission?! What kind of twisted-“

“Hey I gave you every chance to finish the job! I went and got the others out before you to give you more time! It’s not my fault you didn’t have the brain power you thought you did!”

Druig made another launch at Ikaris but Phastos still had a good grip on him. “Hey hey hey, woah guys, there’s no need for this. Everyone did everything they could,” Phastos placated.

“According to Ikaris, everyone BUT ME!” Druig was furious. Fuming. How dare he.

The other Eternals present were drawn the the sound of an argument. “What is going on?!” demanded Ajak.

Sersi saw Ikaris first, who was breathing heavy and had his head cast towards the ground. Next she saw Druig writhing in the Inventors arms.

“Druig?” She asked. “What are you-“

“Ask your little play thing! He grabbed me from the middle of the city after he brought you…all…” Druig stopped yelling and looked around. Seeing that Druig had stopped struggling against him, Phastos let him go.

“I thought you said you got everyone out,” Druig said without looking at Ikaris, instead looking around at the camp. Feeling with his mind. Where was she?

“ What?”

“You said you got all of us out, where’s Makkari??” Druig questioned again more emphatically.

“Makkari can run out faster than I can fly her out, she’s fine on her own.” Ikaris defended. “Look, Druig I’m sorry but-“

“I know she’s fine on her own but we need to get her out of there, it’s-“

As he continued to search for her mind, he was suddenly overwhelmed by her senses as she burst through the camp, almost causing a sonic boom and wiping out the tents. Her gust of wind did blow away some of the clothes hanging, waiting to be mended, but no one seemed to mind that Hermes had come among them.

Druig breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her, but didn’t completely relax as he noted her exhausted look and black smudged clothes.

Kingo was closest to where she stopped and ran up to inspect the bundle of blankets in her arms.

“Makkari are you ok—wait, what is this?”

“ Need….parents…can’t find…” was all she could weakly sign with one hand. Kingo took the child from her arms carefully and passed it off to Sprite, not knowing what else to do with it.

Sprite buckled slightly under the new weight in her arms. “Geez, what do they feed human kids these days,” she complained as she and Kingo brought the child further into the camp.

Druig was the next to come up to his bride. 

“ My heart, are you ok?” He signed just so she could see.

She lifted her hand to his face, which he took into his own. He cradled her back to bring her closer. He could feel her labored breathing as she wheezed. He saw her eyes roll back into her head and she collapsed into his arms. He screamed as he caught her and lowered her to the ground.

“Makkari?? Makkari! MAKKARI!!”

Chapter Text

Ajak ran to Makkari’s side and dropped to her knees. Her hands hovered over the speedsters body before she looked up at Druig and said quietly, “We need to get her back to the house.”

Druig looked absolutely distraught and lost as he nodded at his mother figure. Ajak motioned for Ikaris to come and fly her back.

Druig barely perceived Ikaris words of reassurance that he would fly carefully as his wife was taken from his arms.

Phastos quickly constructed a large hovering disc to transport himself, Ajak and Druig. Sersi, Kingo and Sprite were instructed to stay in the camp and find the girl’s family.

The ride to the house was silent and anxiety filled. Druig stared straight ahead, following Ikaris with his carefully. As if he took his eye off of him something terrible would happen.

“I’ve never seen her like that,” Phastos noted while he steered at the front of the disc, half way to the house, his voice just above a whisper. “Barely seen any of us like that but never Makkari…she’s too fast…”

Druig’s chin started to wobble as he tried to hold himself together. He was vaguely aware of a hand in his shoulder and turned slightly to see Ajak.

“She’s going to be fine,” she said. Druig couldn’t tell if she was responding to Phastos, consoling Druig or reassuring herself. But he took a deep breath nonetheless.

Druig realized maybe he didn’t have confidence in humanity to save itself. After today he definitely didn’t have confidence in himself to save them. But if he had confidence in anyone…it was Ajak.

He had confidence that Ajak would heal her.

He had confidence in Phastos, that he would get them there in time to help her.

He had confidence that Sersi, Kingo and Sprite would find the girl’s family so he would have some good news when she woke up.

Despite himself, he even had confidence in Ikaris to get her home safely.

Above all he had every confidence that she was strong enough to make it through….whatever it is that happened to her.

He still didn’t know. Ajak had yet to give him any details. Whatever it was, it was enough for even Ajak to get them away from prying eyes. And that was enough to worry him.

After an eternity (or 5 minutes when you’re not panicking) they arrived to the house. Ikaris had already set Makkari on her perfectly made, never once slept in bed when Ajak walked in.

Druig followed closely, then Phastos. They all watched Ajak go around the bed and face Makkari.

His beautiful, beautiful Makkari. As still as he’d ever seen her. Even when she slept, her body was still in motion; legs kicking, fingers twitching. He was always happy to hold her tight and push stilling thoughts into her mind. But this…this he’d never seen before. And it terrified him.

“Everyone out! I need silence and not the sound of Phastos’ heavy breathing,” Ajak ordered.

“What?? Me?!”

“Go! Bring back the others and see how far Gil and Thena are.”

Ikaris and Phastos walked towards the door. Druig stood resolutely opposite Ajak who was already working her hands over Makkari’s body. He couldn’t stop staring at her.

“I assume you’re not leaving?”

When Druig does take his eyes off Makkari, he finds Ajak staring at him. He swallowed against her piercing gaze.

Ikaris appeared in the doorway. “Druig, you should come with-“

“Druig stays. I’ll need his help,” Ajak answers for Druig.

It was as if Ajak was speaking an alien language. Ikaris could not have looked more confused as Druig caught his eye. But, ever the teacher’s pet, he nodded and closed the door, going to find Phastos.

“Besides,” Ajak started as soon as the door shut, “you have spousal privilege.”

If Druig’s heart wasn’t already in his throat it would have dropped into his stomach.

How did she know? How long had she known? Did Makkari know she knew? Would she tell others?

He tried to ask these questions but all that came out was, “H-how….when..uh…wh-“

“Because of Makkari’s powers she has a greater lung capacity than us,” Ajak began to explain over Druig’s nonsense. “This gives her longer endurance but also means she inhaled more smoke than the rest of us. Our wheezing and coughing tells us to get away, but Makkari’s ability combined with her propensity to press ahead despite her own pain, means she took in twice as much smoke as her body can bare.”

Druig continued to stare at Ajak, lips parted, barely comprehending all the information he’d gotten in the last 30 seconds. “Can….can you fix her?”

Ajak finally looked up at Druig with a smile. “I already have, my dear.”

Ajak’s hands continued to move over Makkari’s chest in swirling motions. Finally, one hand moved over her throat, her face, until Makkari’s head tilted back and a large puff of smoke emerged, forming into a ball that just kept getting bigger and bigger until it was almost the size of her torso.

The Healer expelled it out the window then pressed both hands to Makkari’s head. “I’m making her rest, she’s going to need it.”

Druig just nodded, focused on his love’s face. Ajak moved to lift a chair from the corner of the room and sat it just behind him. She put a hand on his shoulder, pressing gently.

“You need rest too, my dear. Sit with her and let me know when she wakes up. Maybe try to sleep yourself,” she noted, voice ever calm and pushed him downward.

He nodded as he sat. He was vaguely aware of her leaving, head spinning from the days events. It was a lot of information to take in in 30 seconds…

“How long have you known?”

Ajak was almost at the door, but turned to look at her boy. He, in turn, faced her, water in his eyes. My poor boy…

She came towards him with a reassuring smile on her face. Bending her knees she came eye to eye with him. “I knew not long after you came back from the Celtics. That’s when it happened, yes?”

Druig remained stunned, unable to move beyond a small nod.

“My dear,” she placed her hands on either side of his face. “You and I might not always agree on everything, but I have loved and looked out for you both as if you were my own. I know you better than you think I do, maybe even than you know yourself. And I couldn’t be happier for you.”

Druig couldn’t stop the tears from falling now, and he didn’t want to. She loved him. He always viewed her as a mother figure, but to hear it…

“I-I…we…wh-what yo-“

“I know. It’s ok. I know.”

After failing to say the words and feeling ashamed, Druig mustered up enough courage to look her in the eye and say, “Thank you, Ajak.” For everything.

Satisfied, Ajak stood and walked back towards the door. “Just let me know if either of you need anything. She might feel a little groggy when she wakes up so try to keep her still for a bit, don’t let her run off until she feels better.” She looked back at him as she opened the door, “And I mean it; try to sleep. I healed you up too, let your body rest.”

Druig nodded as she left. When the door clicked he released a breathe he didn’t know he was holding. She had healed him? When?? He realized he did feel a lot better, breathing less ragged, muscles less sore. He hadn’t even been aware of what she was doing.

What Druig didn’t know, is that Ajak had watched these 2 fall in love more times than she could count. Sometimes something would go wrong. One would die in a Deviant attack before they could reveal their feelings, one would end up falling in love with someone else for a time, or neither would confess their love before the next Emergence.

But Ajak was glad that on this, what was so far her favorite planet, they had become one so quickly and so easily. She only wished it would be like this, here, forever. Like they were planning.

Druig looked again to Makkari and chastised himself for taking his eyes off her for even a moment. He didn’t want to sleep. He couldn’t. He had to watch her. He perched forward, elbows on his knees, taking her small hand in his much larger ones.

“You’ll be ok, love. Just rest.”

Druig didn’t know how long he stared at her before he felt his own eyes start to drift closed. He fought it for a while but eventually found himself resting his forehead against their clasped hands. Just need a minute… suddenly out like a light.

Chapter Text

The first thing Druig noticed was how stiff he felt.

The second thing he noticed was Makkari’s mind. It was firing at its usual rapid pace once again.

He moved slowly so as not to jostle her in case she wasn’t fully awake yet. As he lifted his head he saw her lids starting to flutter open. Druig leaned forward and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. As she became more awake she saw him and smiled.

Druig gave her a big smile in return. “Hi. How are you feeling?”

Makkari nodded slightly, then brought her index finger to her throat, drawing it down from her chin. “ Thirsty.”

“I’ll go get you some water.” Druig stood to move, but felt her squeeze his hand.

“Girl, ok?” She signed weakly.

“The others were looking for her family when we left. I’m sure she’s ok.”

Makkari nodded but looked away, unconvinced.

“Hey,” Druig freed his dominant hand from hers so he could sign his words clearly as he spoke. “You saved her life. You did more for her than I could. She’s going to be ok.”

She smiled slightly. “ Thank you.”

Druig leaned forward and kissed her forehead. He spoke against her skin so she could feel his words. “I love you, darling girl. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

After a moment pressed against her skin, he backed away and left the room to get her water. He walked as quick as he could to the aqueduct faucet outside the house with a cup in hand.

As he was filling it, he felt an annoying presence behind him. Then, the presence had the audacity to speak. “Is Makkari alright?”

Druig took a moment to breathe deeply, shuts off the faucet and turns to Ikaris. “Yeah. She just woke up. Just getting her water.”

“That’s great! I’m glad she’s ok.“

Druig nods curtly and starts to head to the house.

“Druig?”

He stops. He doesn’t want to hear anything Ikaris has to say for a very long time.

Ikaris takes this as a sign to continue talking. “I’m sorry about earlier…what I said…I…I stepped out of line. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Druig whirled around and snapped, “No you’re not. You’re never sorry. Because at the end of the day, you always believe that you are right and everyone else be damned!”

“But I am, I swear!” Ikaris sighs heavily. “Look, neither one of us is very good at…talking. Sharing. But I know what I said hurt you. And I truly am sorry. I just…I meant what I said. About wanting to get to everyone else first. I tried to give you as much time as I could. But I could see the fires getting closer to you and we just couldn’t afford anymore time. We couldn’t afford to…to lose you.”

This surprised Druig, to say the least. He’d never known Ikaris to complement him. Ever. He was starting to think this was some sort of game or prank he had missed. 

When Druig didn’t say anything, Ikaris continued. “I think that was the closest you’ve been to a battle, yes?” Druig nodded. “Well, you did good. Great. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to everyone. But you did more than any of us could’ve done.”

Having said what he wanted and knowing he wouldn’t get any kind of response from Druig, Ikaris walked towards the house but stopped at the door. “You’re my brother, Druig. I’m always watching your back. Like I know you are for me.”

Druig just stood there…with stupefied look on his face…a holding a hollowed out stone with water in it…looking and feeling like an idiot as Ikaris walked through the door.

After a minute Druig remembered what he was doing. He shook his head in an attempt to process the information and traced his steps back to Makkari’s bedroom.

He found her attempting to stand, moving slower than he’s ever seen.

“No,” he said. “No moving. You need to rest, love. Here.” He came over to her and handed her the water.

She took it and started to sip before chugging the whole thing. Druig chuckled, “Want more?”

Makkari shook her head. “I think I need to rest a bit more.” She went and sat on the bed. While she normally radiated energy and warmth, the biggest emotion Druig could sense from her was exhaustion. The drain was evident on her face too, a new look for her. She mustered up as much of a smile as she could and held a hand out. “Join me?” she signed with her other.

Druig hesitated, not wanting to risk disturbing her but at the same time…the thought of sleep…in a bed…was almost all-consuming. “Are you sure?”

Makkari rolled her tired eyes but otherwise refused to move, keeping her hand outstretched towards him. Always towards him.

He ceded, if only to get her to sleep. Druig came toward her, took her hand. Kisses it. Her hand comes to cradle his face and she looks him in the eye as she signs with her free hand, “I’m here. I’m ok.” She makes her hand into a distorted V-thumb between middle and index-and moves it between the 2 of them. “We’re ok.”

Druig nods, tears in his eyes again. Damn, how many times is this going to happen today?

She leans back and lays down against the soft pillows and he joins her, first straddling and laying on top of her, keeping his weight off. Druig smiles at her. It’s small and tired, but Makkari isn’t looking at his lips. She can see in his eyes all the love he has for her. The relief that she’s still here. The darkness that had crept in when he thought he had lost her.

Druig kisses her forehead, her nose and finally lands in her lips. It’s sweet and reverent and soft and the last thing she feels as she feels herself start to succumb to sleep, body finally overcome with exhaustion.

He moves off her, but settles in right beside her body. He throws his arm around her keeping her close, never wanting to release her again. After today, he may not. This was the closest they had come to losing each other. Not again.

Makkari snuggles into his chest, breathing him in, sharing his thoughts, but knowing that she would always push herself if it meant helping others. If it meant saving him.

They both fall into the steadiest sleep either has had in a long time. Maybe since they first woke up hovering above this planet. That day, they both woke up with a clear purpose. After a thousand years here, they have a new purpose.

Each other.

And no Being in the sky, no Monster below, and no enemies surrounding them would change that.