A gasp tore from his throat as Druig shot upright in his bed. Chest heaving and sweat soaking his body, he felt his eyes wildly taking in his surroundings. It took him a moment to remember he was back aboard the Domo, lazily gliding through the universe.
He rested back on his arms, willing his breathing to return to normal. Letting his head fall back, he kicked the blankets off of him to allow the cool air of the room to caress his overheated body.
The nightmares hadn't plagued him for years, but lately they'd flared to life again. Perhaps it was because he was back aboard the ship, or perhaps it was due to the fact that all of the Eternals had been together again. While only Makkari and Thena had accompanied him to space, he was still reminded of the old days.
The days when he was forced to watch humans do unspeakable things to each other, all while he had the power to bring them peace. All their sorrow, all their bloodshed, it didn't need to happen. He shouldn't have let it happen. He was responsible.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he padded barefoot to the large window in his room. Beyond it was a void of endless stars. It was beautiful. Even someone like him could appreciate the wonder of the universe.
Someone like him.
He snorted. Someone like him.
A pawn. An idiot. Used. Betrayed. He hated who he'd let himself become, how he'd trusted Ajak and that what they were there to do was just. All of the horrible things happening right in front of him, all of the things he'd turned a blind eye on in the name of their mission - they weren't things he could take back. Those lives, those fleeting human lives, weighed heavy on his shoulders.
Turning away from a beauty he didn't deserve to look upon, he made his way into the bathroom to step into the shower. He let the water run over his body without letting it warm first. The cold jolted him, but he stood in place, letting the sharp, momentary pain take over his head.
Druig didn't always wallow in his own self pity. It was always in the back of his mind, the dark thoughts and memories, but he tried to do his best to keep them there. But when the night terrors tore him from his sleep, when he woke from his own screams, he couldn't help but succumb to his own mind, the only one he couldn't control.
The lukewarm water calmed him, slowing his racing heart and cooled his burning skin. He stood with his forehead pressed against the smooth stone, letting the water flow freely over every inch of him. The sweat washed away and he sighed, sinking down to his knees, and then he was sitting in the stream of water, his arms resting on his knees.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't rid himself of the sorrow and the anger he felt. He had once thought, naively, that the years would dull the ache, but all they'd done was weigh him down by haunting his sleep. And while he couldn't ever remember the nightmares in detail, he remembered how they made him feel.
Helpless.
And Druig was not helpless.
Long after the water turned to freezing, he decided to go back to bed. It would be a useless bought of restlessness, but his bed was comfortable, and he could watch the stars as he had in his forest colony.
Drying his hair with a towel, he wrapped it around his waist and opened the door that led back to his bedroom.
To his surprise, there was someone sitting on his bed, flipping through a book. Despite his sullen attitude, he felt his lips quirk, "You're lucky I'm wearing a towel."
Am I? Makkari signed, arching a sarcastic eyebrow.
"I can take it off if you want."
She grinned, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, You're shameless.
He watched her turn away as he dug through his dresser for a pair of pants. The first he found were black silk that hung from his waist and gathered at his ankles, his favorite for lounging.
Flopping next to her, he eyed the book in her hands and signed, What are you doing here? Other than trying to see me naked.
Makkari gave him a look, and then grew serious. Facing him she said, I felt you wake up.
And?
It wasn't pleasant. Her eyes held his, boring into him, seeing him in a way that no one else did. She always managed to strip him bare, leaving him reeling from her unrelenting gaze. It was how, no matter how hard he tried, he could never hide anything from her.
He only shook his head, laying back against the pillows, and trained his eyes on the ceiling.
Leaning over him to place herself in his line of sight, she asked, Are you okay, Druig?
He sighed, Yeah, I'm fine.
I can feel when people lie, you know.
This time, it was he who gave her a look, "I had a nightmare, okay?"
Her head tilted to the side, eyebrows pulling together. He always liked when she looked confused, or concerned. If the universe was beautiful, then Makkari was radiant, especially when her emotions shown on her face. She was the light in his darkness, the beacon to guide him home. The only thing keeping him grounded to himself during all those years apart, was the thought that he would someday be reunited with her again. Now, being able to sit next to her and talk to her again, to be able to reach out and actually touch her, he was still left wondering if she was real.
About what? She asked.
"Do we really have to talk about it?"
No, but you should. She said, If not to me, then to Thena. But you can trust me, you know.
"I know, Makkari." He took her hand without thinking about it, and she let him, "It's just… I've never had anyone to talk to."
You've always had me, Druig.
He could only stare at her as her shoulders lowered and, not for the first time, he wondered what it was like for her all those years alone, without anyone, keeping guard over the Domo. Had she felt the throws of loneliness as he had? Had she experienced the helplessness as regret dug deep? Had she missed him as much as he'd missed her?
Slowly, she reached out and put a hand on his cheek, You can tell me anything.
He turned into her touch, closing his eyes for just a moment, before saying, "I don't usually remember what happens in my nightmares, but I know what my regrets are."
That you didn't do what you did sooner?
"Among other things."
You know none of that is your fault.
He frowned, "Of course it is. I could have saved so many lives."
Makkari shook her head, But they weren't your responsibility.
Looking back to the stars, he felt himself frown, "It wasn't our responsibility to stop the Emergence, but we still did. What's the difference?"
That is true, She agreed, and look at all the lives you saved from a fate that they didn't choose.
He shook his head, That was Sersi, not me.
You don't give yourself enough credit.
You give me too much.
She reached out and wrapped her hands around his wrists, giving them a slight tug. Her face was pulled into a frown, and she let go to say, You're a good person, Druig. I've known you all my life, and I've never thought less of you. I-
She abruptly cut herself off, sitting on her hands as her cheeks flushed.
His gaze moved from her legs where her hands were tucked away, up to her face, "You what?"
She shook her head, shrugging.
"You what, Makkari?"
Her dark eyes found his, illuminated by the universe before her. If her gaze brought out all the secrets in him, they radiated the truth in her.
Druig had always loved Makkari. His first memory, his first waking thought, was of how beautiful she was. All the lifetimes he was able to share with her only solidified his feelings. Though he had never explicitly shared them with her, he hadn't hid them, and she always seemed happy to reciprocate his affection.
There were so many times he'd wanted to reach out and embrace her, to feel her in his arms, to kiss her, to know what it felt to be loved by her. But Druig was darkness and regret, and Makkari was light and joy. She deserved someone as bright as she was, and no matter how hard he tried, Druig would never be the sun.
She hesitantly pulled her arms out from under her, and said, You already know, Druig.
He sat up, the blankets falling away from his bare chest, and faced her. Reaching out, it was his turn to place a careful hand on her cheek, his breath shallow in his lungs.
It's always been you. A small smile played on her lips, Seven thousand years, you're the only one I've ever loved.
"Loved." He repeated softly, "Why?"
Because you never stopped hating yourself. Someone needed to love you if you wouldn't.
He felt his eyes widen.
And out of everyone, you made me feel the safest. You were comfort to me. Wherever you were felt like home. I wanted to be that for you, too. I still do.
"You are, Makkari." He breathed, his thumb tracing over her cheekbone, "You always have been."
We're not very good at this, are we? She wrinkled her nose, Seven thousand years, and we're just telling each other how we feel.
"I'm sorry," He said, and at her confused look, he continued, "for leaving you. I didn't want to, but I couldn't stand to be under Ajak anymore. What we were doing…"
I know. I never blamed you. The only thing I regret was not coming with you.
He leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together as he had so many times before, "You're with me now."
Her hands found either side of his face, ghosting over his cheeks and up into his hair. With the slightest tilt of her head, Makkari's lips were on his, and seven thousand years of wonder was finally answered.
Druig felt something in his chest that he'd never felt in all his life. It was like his heart beat a different tune, his blood dancing along with it. He wanted to memorize this moment, engrain it in his head, so that when his thoughts traveled somewhere dark, he could remember the time he felt so light.
The time, he felt Makkari's light.
Her lips were so soft, so warm against his. She tasted of something sweet he couldn't place, and he'd never been intoxicated by something so much in his life. The hands in his hair continued to run through it, and he unconsciously pulled her closer to him with his own.
Makkari pulled away, staring up at him with the same wonder he knew was emblazoned on his face, and then a smile blinded him as she threw her arms around him in the embrace he'd always longed for. He leaned his cheek against the side of her head, closing his eyes to revel in her warmth.
As she lay next to him in bed, she asked, You're okay, though? With the nightmares and everything else?
He smiled, bringing one of her hands up to place a kiss against her knuckles, "I've had them for thousands of years, I've learned to cope."
Seemed pretty mopey to me.
He smiled, something only she could bring out in him, "Sulking is my talent."
She mirrored his smile, her shoulder brushing against his, Then good thing I have enough positive energy for the both of us.
He chuckled, putting a hand on her arm as she turned onto her side and tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. She'd so easily distracted his thoughts, taking over his mind with no effort at all. He couldn't control his mind, but it seemed Makkari could, with or without the power of the Eternals.
And so, Druig fell asleep next to the only woman he'd ever loved. And for the first time in thousands of years, he felt peace.
A/N: I've been wholeheartedly obsessed with Druig since I saw the Eternals on Saturday night. I haven't been this into a character in a very long time, and it makes my heart happy tbh! I believe in Druig and Makkari supremacy, and that we were ROBBED of their relationship. So here's a drabble of something cute, totally planning for more. Probably one-shots!
Until next time!
