#Thena nearly cries with joy

[softquietsteadylove]

Here is an idea.

For the human AU a new deviant appears. But it’s not that kind of deviant we know. It has some special abilities and Gil is in danger. How about some horror for this one? 👀

"Gil!"

His head whipped around. He was helping clean up some of the ruins of the outer city, since that was all he was good for, now. The moon was high, providing a good amount of light.

The others were reluctant to let him outside Babylon temple--they were reluctant to let him do anything. He had to all but sneak out to even do this much, especially without worrying Thena.

"Gilgamesh!"

That was definitely her voice, though. Gil dropped the rocks he was moving and looked around again. He couldn't sense anything, but his senses were diminished at the moment. He tried to listen for the slightest sound, but he couldn't pick up anything.

He cursed his human condition, not for the first time.

"Gil, help me!"

That was definitely Thena screaming. It was her voice, at least. Gilgamesh started walking, looking around the corners of crumbled homes and around the deep shadows of the rubble. His cautious steps turned to a light jog.

"Gil, please!"

"Thena?" he called out, but he swore it was just the open air to hear him. What was happening? He jogged closer to the edges of the walls. The wall was still technically under construction, Phastos working as fast as he could. But Gil was the main source of their work efforts, and Babylon wall was huge.

"Gil?" it sounded like a whisper, now. But it was still her voice, thin and high, as if she had been crying. He had never really heard her like that before. But it was his Thena. It was her voice.

"Thena," he repeated, whispering for her as he crept around in the dark. "Thena, if you-"

"Gilgamesh," the voice changed. This sounded less like her. He knew it was off.

He froze. He didn't have Eternal strength or senses anymore, but humans had the best survival instinct. His was screaming. Something wasn't right. It wasn't before and it really wasn't now. He crouched lower, looking around but slowing his breathing as much as he could. His heart was pounding.

"Gilgamesh, help me," the voice cooed, but it was closer. He could better hear what was wrong with it--the wiry echo trailing after it. It sounded almost mechanical, like the grind of Phastos' gears.

Gil lowered to one knee, trying to peek around one of the corners of a building's remains. He hadn't heard it at all, but he saw the massive foot come down. It was wiry, thickly muscled, a terrible colour.

"Gil, help!" it repeated, in the same tone and intonation as last time. It could only conjure so much.

He held his breath, and when he did need to breathe, he pressed his palm over his mouth and nose. This was like the one that had rendered him all but human. They were evolving, and not just new appendages or wings or even that gas. This one was luring them into a trap.

"Gilgamesh, help me!" it repeated, louder this time. It prowled around the house. It was assuring that these things still had some weaknesses to account for.

He watched as the thing rounded the corner. Its head looked like it was a bare skull in comparison to the rest of its body. Perhaps it didn't have a sense of smell, and that was why it was depending on using the sounds it was producing to lure its prey.

Its horrible maw opened again, its paws hitting the ground. "Gil, please."

He didn't like that it could make it sound so convincing. It really sounded like Thena--it sounded like her voice crying for him. How would this walking nightmare know what that sounded like? And how did it know exactly whose voice to use to lure him out here?

"Gil," the beast repeated in his sweet Thena's voice. Its teeth clicked against themselves as its jaw swayed back and forth on its head. "Gilgamesh, please."

He could hear it now. The way it chopped up the words, not sounding totally fluid. But he had to get this close to hear that? If he weren't careful, he would already be fighting this thing.

And that wasn't an option for him now. He was in no condition to fight a Deviant, let alone an evolved one. And it had lured him out here, in the dark, alone.

Fear: humans felt fear. They had incredible instincts for self-preservation, protection, survival. But every cell in his body - whatever body it was - was feeling fear. And he had never felt fear quite like this.

He could die out here.

The Deviant drew closer to him. It repeated the sounds of Thena's distress, switching to screams of terror and agony. What a terrible monster these things could be. They really were here for a reason; humans couldn't fight these things.

He couldn't fight this thing. He couldn't fight at all, anymore. Pure instinct had brought him out here--a need to protect Thena. But she was the one protecting him. She was the Fighter of them now.

He had never had to consider life without Thena. She probably hadn't considered it either. Would he be leaving her alone if he died out here? What if she fought this thing? Would it use his voice to lure her out alone like it did with him?

She could fight it. She was stronger than this thing. He was still glad that it wasn't her that had been turned human. He hated being this vulnerable--this useless. But he hated the thought of it being Thena even more.

"Gilgamesh," that thing whispered. It was right on top of him.

He breathed into his palm. He couldn't control his heart, he couldn't control his lungs. His body was crumbling under the pressure. Thousands of years of fighting and it was lost on the human adrenal system. He squeezed his eyes shut.

Maybe he could manage to see Thena one last time before he died.

"Gil!"

That time sounded different. He kept his eyes shut, although he heard footsteps somewhere in the distance. Then, nothing, then, impact.

"Run!" Thena landed with force, cratering the ground between the Deviant and him. She already had her swords ready, slashing at the thing.

It roared at her, first with her own voice, then its usual, beastly cry.

Thena stood her ground, swinging her staff around, keeping her back to him and her arms raised. "Are you hurt?"

His stomach lurched. She had come running to his aid, just like any weak, defenseless human. "N-No."

The Deviant swiped at her but she raised her shield, swiping at it in return. These evolved ones were smart, guarded, it knew she was a threat, and it wasn't pursuing her needlessly. It was watching her.

He couldn't see her face, but he saw her body locking up.

The Deviant opened its mouth again. "Thena!"

"What in all the stars?" she asked rhetorically.

"That was how it got me down here," he admitted. The thing's jaw clicked and its teeth rattled around again.

"Thena, help!"

"Celestial demons," she cursed it as she shifted her spear into a different shape. She directed the point at it, tri-tipped and wide. It was a weapon not for slicing but for inflicting an irreparable wound. The great warriors of Greece copied this very weapon. "Try it."

The beast chose not to. It gave her another half-swipe, only for show before retreating. Its long, wiry body slithered away from them and through the crumbling cracks in the wall.

Gil let out a breath as its form disappeared into the shadows. He dragged himself up the wall behind him and to his feet, not liking the state of his knees. "We gotta get that fixed."

Thena didn't say anything.

He frowned, fidgeting with his sweaty palms. "You okay?"

"You shouldn't have been out here."

He was tempted to wince at the cold tone of her voice. She was right, he shouldn't have let that thing lure him away, especially knowing he was in no condition to fight.

"What were you thinking?" she asked him. It was worse than her yelling and shouting at him, her voice was barely above a whisper. She turned to him, her powers fading into the air like sparks. Her hair picked up in the wind. "What were you thinking, Gilgamesh?"

He was feeling properly chastised now. "I-I just..."

She waited for him to finish rather than prompt him.

He sighed. "It was your voice, Thena. You were calling for my help."

She didn't argue. She didn't chastise him further, she accepted his answer. She even moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. Her cheek was cold against his warmer one. "Don't ever scare me like this again."

"Sorry," he patted her shoulder before moving his hand to the cutout of her armour that allowed him the relief of her soft waist.

She huffed at him, but her hold on him didn't loosen. "I'll have more to say about this later."

"Yes, ma'am," he chuckled despite her anger. He let out another breath, relaxing his body more. His limbs felt heavy as Thena began leading him back to the temple.

She gave him a nudge, "I should tell Sersi about this--she'll be livid."

He laughed, giving her a nudge in return.

She stumbled.

They both stared. He blinked, looking at the hand he used to nudge her arm. "Uh, s-sorry."

Thena just stared, at the hand and then at him. She had been expecting a gentle nudge--a human one. He had given her a push that an Eternal would give.

He blinked, surprised by first her kiss and then by her laughter. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. It was easy, but it wasn't that easy--whatever it was had been a freak accident. But it was a promising sign.

[natashasbanner]

A Promise

Summary: In the aftermath of the Emergence, in the quiet of Ajak's farmhouse, Makkari and Druig find each other.

A/N: Hello, I've been obsessed with this pair since the first time I saw Eternals and I finally decided to try my hand at writing them. I hope you all enjoy :)

Also on AO3

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The old floorboards of Ajak’s old farmhouse creaked and Druig’s eyes flew open. The living room was dark and still from his makeshift bed in front of the couch. He listened for the creaking, but none came and he chalked it up to the house settling.

He closed his eyes again and shifted into a more comfortable position when there was the unmistakable sound of someone coming down the stairs. Druig pushed himself to sit up, his aching muscles protesting the motion.

He squinted in the dark, trying to catch a glimpse of who was wandering the house at this late hour. He expected Thena to appear at the bottom of the stairs, restless as she was or even Phastos’ son looking for a late night snack.

But to his surprise and delight it was Makkari who peered around to corner. Her eyes widened when they fell on Druig, clearly surprised to find him still awake.

Druig reach over to turn on the small lamp next to the couch and squinted against it’s soft glow.

Did I wake you? She asked, lingering in the doorway.

Druig shook his head.

She pulled at her fingers for a moment before she signed, you should rest.

I could say the same for you, he signed.

Makkari looked down at her feet and swayed slightly. He waited for her to look at him again before he asked, is everything alright?

She hesitated for a moment, her hands held limply in front of her before she finally answered. I couldn’t sleep.

Druig tilted his head as he took her in, sensing there was more she wasn’t saying. He held out his hand in offering and made room on the floor next to him.

“Sit with me?” he asked.

Makkari nodded and crossed the room to his side. She placed her hand delicately in his and lowered herself to the floor beside him. Druig scooted closer to her and she sighed as she leaned back against the couch. They sat like that for a long time before Druig finally asked,

“What’s on your mind?”

Makkari lifted her head to meet his eyes again and it is only then that Druig see the tears welling in them. Instinctively, he reached out to cup her cheek and used his thumb to swipe away the few tears that escaped.

She took a shuddering breath and leaned into his touch, covering his hand on her cheek with her own.

“You were checking on me?” He asked, the pieces starting to fall into place in his head.

She nodded and closed her eyes again. Druig pulled her close and she buried her face in his neck as she let her tears flow freely.

Druig felt tears of his own prick at the corners of his eyes and swallowed around the lump forming in his throat. The memory of nearly being crushed to death sprang to the front of his mind as Makkari cried. There’d been a moment when he thought he was never going to see the light of the surface again, rocks pressing down on him from all sides.

In that moment, he realized that it was true what the humans always claimed. That in the moments before death, your life flashes before your eyes. Moments of his eternal existence, played on a reel in his mind’s eye. From the day they first set foot on this earth, to the moment his fellow eternals walked into his colony. All of his happiest moments, his deepest regrets threatening to swallow him whole.

And for a moment the fight left his body. How could he claw his way out when the weight was too much to bear. But then he saw her, her smile that made him weak in the knees, the joy he felt reuniting after all the time they’d spent apart. His beautiful, beautiful Makkari.

It was in that moment that he decided he wasn’t going to die at Ikaris’ hand. He’d crawled his way out of that hole and lived to see humanity saved. He wouldn’t say it was worth it, but he surprised himself and that’s what he was choosing to focus on for now.

He wasn’t sure how long they sat there, but eventually Makkari’s sniffles quieted and she pulled away to look him in the eye again.

I thought I lost you.

Druig placed his hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know,” he said. “But I’m not on going anywhere, anytime soon. Promise.”

The corner of her mouth quirked and Druig’s eyes were drawn to her lips.

Makkari’s breath hitched slightly and in that moment the world shrank until it was just the two of them, their faces inches apart. His heart pounded in his ears as he looked beck into Makkari’s eyes, asking the question he’d longed to ask for millenia.

Makkari bit her lip and nodded her head ever so slightly.

Time stood still as Druig leaned closer, gaze locked with hers. He hesitated when their noses touched, but Makkari closed the remaining space between them.

Their kiss was light at first, just a brush of her lips against hers. It was like a spark that shot through him and warmed him from the inside out. He knew she felt it to when she brought her hands to hold his face and press her lips more firmly against his.

Druig’s hands fell to her waist and without thinking he pulled her toward him, practically into his lap. He couldn’t help himself. He’d waited long enough for this moment and now that it was happening, he craved whatever she was willing to give.

Makkari smiled against his lips and Druig was helpless to do anything but return it.

Makkari was the one to break the kiss all too soon and rest her forehead against Druig’s. She slid one of her hands from his cheek and let it rest against his chest. He felt her fingers curl into the sign for “I love you”.

Druig smiled and bumped his nose against hers. He covered his hand with his and pressed another chaste kiss to her lips. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath that morphed into a long yawn.

Druig chuckled and finally pulled away. “We should get some sleep.”

Makkari nodded reluctantly, but stole another quick kiss before she started to stand. Druig caught her hand.

Stay? He asked, hoping it wasn’t too much to ask.

What about the others?

Please?

She bit her lip before she grabbed the extra pillow from the couch and tossing it nest to his. Druig grinned and turned out the light while she made herself comfortable beside him.

They laid facing each other, legs tangled together like it was the most natural thing in the world. Makkari reached for his hand and Druig intertwined their fingers. He let his thumb run along the back of her hand and he watched as her eyes drifted closed in the moonlight.

When her breathing evened out, he finally let sleep take him with a smile.

And that’s how Thena found them at dawn, hands still clasped between them, foreheads touching.