#Thena: I can't read suddenly

[softquietsteadylove]

For the Agents AU, what if Gil was moved in different station for what he did? Or he would be working for a different boss temporarily (*whispering* a boss that is a rival of Thena on agent team or something and ON GILGAMESH, a boss that Thena would be jealous of🤫).

Gil visited her in the hospital and that's when he informed her that he was assigned to a new boss temporarily, but also assured her that he would be back on her team and will be always on her side. At first she was about to make a call to have him back on his agency (we all know she would never allow this) but Gil refused, he told her that he would be back to her in no time. She thanked him for protecting her and she wished him luck. And once he left her she was furious and I could imagine her throwing a tantrum of course having to know that he had been transferred to a supervisor who is a rival of hers, and he will be spending his time working for that boss.

Thank you!!! :3

Thena turned, sensing the presence in her doorway. "Hey."

"Hey," Gil smiled, although she could already feel something wasn't right. He seemed downtrodden, and he was hunched in on himself like a guilty kid. It was always an easy way to tell he had bad news.

"How did it go?" she asked as she sorted away the last of her things. She was finally cleared to come back to the office, although field work was another two weeks away. But at least she could find out how Gil's assessment hearing had gone.

"Well," he smiled and winced simultaneously, dragging himself inside her office with his go-bag slung over his shoulder. "I'm not fired."

"That's," she measured him with her eyes, tracking any indicator of what had him so uneasy, "good?"

"I'm not suspended either," he mumbled, "technically."

Thena set down the files she was trying to catch up on, pushing away anything that wasn't Gilgamesh. "Gil, what is it?"

"They're, uh," he looked down at his shoes, "transferring me."

"What?!"

"Temporarily," he was quick to amend, but it did nothing for the rapidly growing ache in her chest. "They're putting me in Minerva's unit for a month."

Minerva was a very competent, and bizarrely friendly, team leader who ran an aggressive extrication unit. They specialised in breaking in and retrieving, and every member needed to be nothing if not resilient.

"They're moving you to extrication?" Thena blinked as if he hadn't just told her that. She was still processing the 'Minerva' part.

He nodded, though, his mouth caught between a frown and a snarl. "I think they just want to know that I can behave if I'm on a tighter leash."

"And they think Minerva's leash will be tighter than mine," Thena assessed, to which Gil shrugged in reluctant agreement.

Gil shifted on his feet, no more comfortable with the position they were in than she. "Didn't you two come up in the ranks around the same time?"

Yes, she had worked with Minerva plenty before they became their own unit leads. Minerva was very warm in nature, very pleasant, but also exceedingly calm under duress. She had no temper to her, no buttons to push. In a lot of ways, she was a balance to Thena's own colder, more aggressive method of handling things.

The last time she spoke with Minerva they were both fighting to attain a certain Agent on their teams.

"It's just a month," Gil shrugged again, his voice going thin as a whisper. His throat was tight. "I'll be back before you know it."

Wrong; she was going to feel every second of his absence. Maybe it was a good thing she was being forced onto desk duty for two weeks. She would have more mind-numbing paperwork and less time to think about Gil working under Minerva.

"Hey," he moved around the side of her desk and closer to her. They had become closer naturally since their little rescue operation. And this was exactly why he was being transferred out from under her in the first place. He leaned his head down to hers, "one month."

"One month," she whispered back to him.

"Then I'll be right back here," he smiled, hoping to get one in return.

Thena made the effort--the attempt. It wasn't great, but he appreciated it all the same. "Right back here."

He leaned in, hand on her shoulder as he pressed his lips to her temple. "Where I belong."

"Where you belong," she repeated faintly as she felt him pull away. She held his eyes as he dragged himself back to the door. "One month--and not a second later."

He grinned at her, giving her a sharp nod (and a wink?). "Yes, Ma'am."

Thena waited until her office door was closed behind him. She counted to ten before picking up her thick stack of files and slapping them down on the desk and throwing herself into her chair. She breathed out a rough sigh, slapping the back of her head against her chair.

"This a bad time?"

"That door is closed for a reason."

Kingo walked in anyway, hands in his pockets. "So...Gil told you the news."

Thena toyed with her pen in her hand. "He should be grateful they didn't resign him to desk duty for a year."

"That doesn't mean extrication is the better answer though," Kingo raised his eyes to hers, "does it?"

She avoided looking at him. Kingo was a master of reading people, and she - somehow - was not exempt from that rule. She just didn't think Gil would like working in extrication. She didn't think it was a good fit for him, and it was never a smooth procedure to just insert a new team member into any specialty division.

Minerva had said she thought he'd be a great candidate. Thena had fought tooth and nail to have his application given to her instead.

"Well, I'm sure he'll like it in special ops," Minerva had smiled so blithely at her, not an ounce of malice in her petite little body. "I was looking forward to having such a handsome subordinate, though."

"Boss?"

"It doesn't matter what we think, Kingo," she muttered, finally. She tossed her pen onto her desk. "All that matters is that we all get through this next month."

Kingo pursed his lips, and she immediately knew he was about to say something borderline outrageous. "Are you worried about Gil working under Minerva? Or...are you worried about him being under-"

"Kingo!"

He snapped back physically, scrunching his shoulders and holding his hands up. "Don't mind me. Just...talking to myself."

She huffed; how was she supposed to endure Kingo without Gil to balance him out?

"Don't think like that, Boss," he grinned at her, as if he could read her disparaging thoughts right off of her. "I promise I'll be the perfect right hand. You won't even have time to miss the big guy!"

"Kingo-"

"You can count on me, Boss Lady!" he snapped his wrist in a crisp - and also mocking - salute before heading right out the door again.

Thena hung her head in her hands, groaning. She missed Gil already.

[cdragons]

"Strawberry Cream Frosting" - Next Gen Eternals AU

Summary: Ikaris and Sephia's son fell in love with Thena and Gilgamesh's daughter. Chaos ensues.

Warning(s): Fluff, accidental love-bombing, Thena and Gil being the best adoptive parents EVER, Mara can't process emotions for shit

Author's Note: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ONE AND ALL! I hope everyone had a wonderful day reading a bunch of fics and looking at fan edits!

When Mara opened the front door, she had her baseball bat ready and was prepared to give whatever fucking dumb solicitor was on the doorstep, ringing the doorbell for the tenth time on a Saturday morning.

She wasn’t expecting…whatever the hell this was.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!”

It was a giant box that looked about four cubic feet big and was wrapped in shiny red wrapping paper, pink ribbons, and glitter. On the top was a little sign stating, ‘Bee my Valentine?’ with a little crochet bee keychain attached.

Mara just stood under Gil- her parents’ doorway for thirty seconds. She didn’t say anything. She just blinked at the giant package- until she blurted out the first coherent enough thought in her mind.

“What the fuck?”

A head popped from behind the…thing, and suddenly, it all made sense.

Laurie. And from how insane his hair looked, he decided it was a good idea to fly from Scotland to Ka’ena Point, Oahu.  

“Happy First Valentine’s Day!” he exclaimed before shaking the box for emphasis. As if she couldn’t notice how fucking gargantuan it was from just staring at it.

“…Laurie, what the hell am I looking at?” Mara asked. She pointed at it. “Is Arthur in there with a confetti cannon?”

Laurie furrowed his brow in confusion. “What? Oh! No, I know it’s a little big. But it’s your first Valentine’s Day, and I wanted to do something nice be–”

“What the hell is ‘Valentine’s Day’?” Mara interrupted. “Is it like a food day or something?”

“You don’t know what Valentine’s Day is?” he gaped.

She shook her head. “No…what’s the big deal? Is it like that Christmas thing I went to with the small boxes under the tree?”

The mega-watt smile Laurie flashed to her made Mara slightly worried. Despite how predictable he was, Mara could never get a good read on the guy. He wasn’t dangerous- that much was obvious. But whenever he and Mara were in the same room, he would act like he was glued to her hip. It didn’t help that Uri and Arthur immediately clicked on their first meeting.

And it really didn’t help when she shoved a shotgun in his face before his dad with the pew-pew eyes slammed her against the ground by her neck.

“Don’t make that face,” she ordered. “I don’t like that face.”

But Laurie wasn’t listening. He was jumping on the balls of his feet in excitement. “I have to teach you about it! It’ll be lots of fun, I promise! We can do a bunch of stuff! Wait, just let me–”

Mara moved to the side to let him in. “Oh, yeah. Just–”

He set the heavily decorated box on the ground before asking if he could use the bathroom. She pointed it down the hall. When he was out of sight, Mara tried to lift the box to see how heavy it was, and- holy shit, it must have been over thirty pounds.

How the fuck did that tall-ass twig carry this?

She felt a different heat presence behind her- whipping her head, she calmed down when she realized it was only Gil.

“My dad, everyone,” Mara thought wryly while wearing. “The powerhouse of strength in the Eternals, wearing a ‘Kiss the Chef’ apron.”

“Why was Laurie at the door? And what’s in that box?” he asked while holding his famous quiche in a hot cast-iron pan without gloves.

Mara just shrugged. “Hell, if I know. He said it was for Valentine’s Day or something like that.”

“Ohhhh,” Gil smiled. “For Valentine’s Day? And that big box is all for you? That’s Sephie’s kid for you all right.”

“What’s Sephie’s kid?” came a new voice.

Turning her head, Mara watched Thena walk down the stairs carrying Uri on her hip. It still baffled her to witness how the ancient goddess never had a bad case of bedhead the entire time she and her brother lived with her and Gil.

Gil answered. “Laurie came to visit, giving a certain someone a gift for Valentine’s Day.”

Mara’s dad wiggled his eyebrows at his daughter before setting the quiche down on the table while she rolled her eyes at what he was implying.

Uri looked at his sister and then Thena before tugging on his mom's sleeve.

“What’s Valentine’s Day?” he signed.

Smiling at her sunshine son, Thena explained. “It’s a day humans made to celebrate love. You spend it with friends and the people you love. When you love someone very much, you ask them to be your ‘Valentine.’”

She bopped his nose with a finger and softly laughed from hearing his contagious giggles. Mara smiled, too. Uri’s happiness was infectious. His smile alone was her reason for fighting and running as long as she had. She’d do anything to ensure he was safe, which made her happy to know it paid off.

He signed another question. “If my Valentine has to be someone I love lots, does that mean you, Mara, and Daddy will be my Valentine? Or can I only pick one?”

Mara replied as she reached out to hold him. “You can have as many valentines as you want, Uri. No need to ration out the love.”

She pressed a kiss on his chubby cheek. Peace washed over her when he pressed a loud kiss on hers before wrapping his arms around her neck to hug his sister. Uri was the sunniest sunshine summer child to be born. He radiated comfort with his entire being. There was more love and warmth in his toothy grin than…anything. He was her whole world, and she was his. That was enough.

Laurie walked back into view. “Hey, Uri! How’ve you been?”

Uri smiled wide before wildly clapping. He loved Laurie and his family. He mostly loves Ari, Laurie’s baby brother, who became Uri’s best friend after two minutes of meeting him.

She still remembers how Thena decked their dad after he asked if Uri gave his son any drugs after seeing them spin in circles in the dirt. Mara laughed so hard that tears came pouring out of her eyes.

Laurie put his hand to cover his mouth and loudly whispered in Uri’s ear. “Do you think I can take your sister out today? I want to teach her about Valentine’s Day.”

This distressed Uri as he scrunched his face while clinging tighter to Mara. He adapted wonderfully when Thena and Gil took them in, but he hated being separated from his sister for any period. The first day of her new school was a complete shit show because he cried while she was gone.

“But, I promise that I will bring her back shortly. We’ll even bring you souvenirs!”

Uri looked at her in confusion.

“Presents,” she clarified. “I’ll still be your Valentine, and we can go out and look for some pretty shells tomorrow, okay? You can show them to all your fishy friends.”

Although he liked the idea of presents and spending all of tomorrow with his favorite person in the whole world, Uri still didn’t want Mara to go- at least not without him.

“Why don’t we eat breakfast first? Laurie, can you help Uri get ready? I need to make sure Gil doesn’t dose his coffee with any booze.” She handed her brother to her…friend before going to the kitchen.

Gil had a big fucking smirk on his face when she walked in.

Mara snarled as she grabbed the apron he and Thena made for her as a new home present. “Not a fucking word. I don’t want to hear it. By the way, do we have any cinnamon rolls left in the freezer?”

He only smiled wider. “I wasn’t going to say anything. And we do. Why do you ask?”

Taking the leftover rolls, she preheated the oven. She then grabbed some oranges from the basket on the floor. Slicing them in half before setting the sieve over the plastic pitcher, and taking one half of an orange over the sieve. Taking a deep breath, Mara centered herself.

“Karla,” the name echoed in her mind as the soul covered her hand, and Mara squeezed the orange until the pulp was dry.

She took the rinds and absorbed the remaining qi inside it as a tribute of thanks for her friend’s help. Karla was the youngest and wasn’t called on as much as her other sisters, so Mara wanted to include her in something. The warmth on her skin when she returned to her ink-painted nest was a sign she appreciated the gesture.

Thena walked in and stood behind you. “You should go with Laurie.”

“Why?” she groaned out. “I don’t feel like it.”

The oven dinged once adequately preheated, and Mara plopped the rolls on the rack. She grabbed a metal mixing bowl and all the ingredients to make the cream cheese frosting- including some crushed-up freeze-dried strawberry slices. After measuring them and placing them in the bowl, she started to stir.

“You need more friends,” the two ancient beings spoke in unison.

Thena pressed a kiss on her daughter's head. “You don’t talk to anyone at school. And you can’t spend all your free time surfing, at the shop, playing with Uri, and studying.”

Gil pulled in for a giant bear hug. “Hey, no pressure. But you have to admit, it’ll be a nice change to have someone spoil you for once. And with a tall, pretty boy, too.”

Mara glared at her adoptive dad as he moved past her to get to the bathroom. She tried to fight down the red blush blooming on her cheeks. But she only continued to stir the bowl until it became thick and made the color she wanted.

“I get spoiled enough by the two of you as is,” she grumbled. “And also–”

Laurie and Uri, coming into the kitchen, cut Mara off. “We’re here! And I made sure Uri brushed his teeth and flossed. And – woah, Mara! Why is your face so red? Are you sick?”

He put down Uri and raced to her side. He put his hand on her forehead to take her temperature and used his other one to touch his for comparison. He was so close that she could smell the wind on his skin and the mint toothpaste on his breath. Mara stared at his face- how were his eyelashes so long? And why were his eyes so blue? She felt her face heat up even more and cleared her throat before turning her head.

“It’s nothing,” she croaked. “Can you…can you help Thena set the table? The plates and cups are in the overhead cabinets, and the utensils are in the drawers.”

Laurie moved to grab everything to help set up the table on the outside deck. Mara watched as Thena cupped his face with a warm smile and told him how tall and strong he was becoming. Gil returned and ruffled his air before asking if he was still set on becoming a doctor with how much his muscles had grown. Uri tugged on his sleeve to ask if Ari had missed him as much as he missed him.

This was the part of Laurie that Mara could never figure out how he fit in perfectly and seamlessly without issue or error in any situation. She could analyze and pinpoint a person’s position and physical weaknesses with her abilities without blinking. Every living thing had a heat signature that she could exploit.

But with Laurie…she didn’t want to do that to him. It was like his weaknesses only made him more appealing to others. Ever since the girl first met him, he would follow her around like a puppy desperate for attention from its owner. It bugged her for months. And if she were being honest, it still did after a year of knowing him.

Mara couldn’t really explain it. But it was like...his warmth was inherent- it came from a softer place where only goodness existed. It was less of a raging inferno like her own and more like a gentle campfire. If Mara was a snake, then Laurie was a bunny. A bunny nearly six-foot-tall with clear blue eyes and light freckles–

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

The oven’s timer went off- breaking her out of the analogy and into reality. She took the rolls out using an oven glove and placed them on a cooling stone.

“Are those cinnamon rolls?”

Mara looked over her shoulder, and Laurie was crouching right behind her. His chin was practically on her shoulder.

She nodded. “You like them, right? You said your mom made them for you for breakfast on your…um…what’d you call it?”

He was giddy with glee. “My birthday! I told you that at Christmas! We were all at Brympton d'Evercy to celebrate Sersi’s and Dane’s engagement! I can’t believe you remembered that!”

Mara supposed the way he smiled was…sort of cute… nowhere near as blindly adorable as Uri’s, but attractive enough.

“Yeah…well, you did fly to give me that…thing. And you're even teaching me about this Valentine’s Day stuff. So, I thought…this could be my present to you.”

If Mara was facing Laurie, she would have seen the softest look of love and adoration grace an adolescent boy’s face in the history of humanity. Laurie loved Mara Drake so much. His dad said he was too young for dating- let alone love, but he knew they were destined for forever.

He wanted to kiss her so badly. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be pinned down like how he was when they first met.

Mara scraped the little dried spot on the kitchen island. She so did not like feeling as stupid as she did right now. But…she had a gut feeling Laurie was worth it.

“Um…I crushed some dry strawberry things and added them to the frosting. It turned pink, and I thought that was okay since I saw pink on the box and thought–”

“Cinnamon rolls are my favorite, and I love strawberries,” he whispered. “And pink…pink’s my favorite color after blue. It reminds me of my mom.”

“And if you have time, we can…go find some good spots for sea-shell hunting. Uri can take forever, and it’ll save me some time. I know it’s kind of shitty- especially because you’re doing this whole thing.”

“I love you.”

Mara choked on her own spit and turned her head in shock. Her eyes were bulging out of your head.

What- what did he say?

“What?” her voice cracked.

Now, it was Laurie’s time to turn red. Did he really just say that? And with Gil and Thena literally less than twenty feet away? Was he trying to get the love of his life to hate him forever? Oh fuck, he needed to backtrack.

“IT! I meant to say, ‘I love IT!’ I’d love to help you find seashells! I could even bring some for Ari and Aggie! Actually – they made some Valentine's gifts for you and your brother, too! Ari made this really cool card for Uri. He summoned a bunch of turquoise and made this cool heart! So, um…thanks.”

His voice cracked as he stammered to save himself before awkwardly pausing to express gratitude.

An awkward silence echoed as the awkward future couple mutually decided that their feet were the room's most exciting part.

And the dads decided to make it even worse.

“MARA! IKARIS TOLD ME TO TELL YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT LAURIE’S VIRGINITY BETTER BE INTACT WHEN HE COMES HOME!”

Mara was caught so off-guard that she dropped the spatula in her hand. The pink frosting splattered all over the floor and would be a bitch to clean up.

Fucking-

“TELL HIM TO EAT A DICK AND FUCK OFF!” she yelled back as Laurie buried his face in his hands.

He really hoped Aggie had more luck not humiliating herself with Hamish the way he had with Mara.

Somewhere in Scotland, a little Ari sat on the couch with his mommy as she stroked his daddy’s hair. His daddy was lying in his mommy’s lap.

“Mama? Why is Da crying?” he innocently asked.

You only smiled. “Karma.”

At the same time, in the Amazon, a young girl was planning her and her forever love’s future wedding when she suddenly stood up and looked in the distance. Her future husband asked whatever was bothering his little lady love.

The young girl only sighed while shaking her head. “The idiot fucked up.”

Tagging: @ethereal-athalia, @valeskafics, @asa-do-your-thing, @arcielee, @jolixtreesunn, @beananacake, @redheadspark, @vikingqueen28, @lexyysworld, @lilacliquors, @tesha-i-guess, @tess-love, @inejismywife, @bumblebeesuniverse, @aphroditesmoon

Click on this link if you want to read more about this universe!

[jasontoddswhitestreak]

gold rush | 3

LOVED YOU IN SECRET.

pairing: druig x eternal!reader

summary: in which druig found himself falling for the gentle soul who was also known as the goddess of human love and flowers.

warnings: this series WILL include major spoilers for marvel eternals. angst, pining, unrequited love

word count: 3.8k

a/n: third chapter!! this one is hella long so good luck with that! just wanted y’all to be aware that if you do get inspired by my fic and write fics relating to it i would really appreciate it if you could credit me or @ me so I can see it since I spend hours planning and writing these chapters :/ + once again I have not proof read this as it’s almost 3am

masterlist - series masterlist

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Phastos, didn’t Ajax say less working?” She questioned the Eternal who was standing in the center of the room. A few of the Eternals were scattered around the main room of the Domo, sitting as they watched Phastos continue to create plans for the advancement of technology while the rest of the Eternals were out fighting deviants.

Given the fact that it was around 575 BC at the time the Eternal rolled her eyes playfully as Phastos began to describe a steam engine he invented. She listened to him giddily explain his invention whilst Sprite decided to have fun, changing the man’s outfit into something he’d hate to be seen wearing erupting laughter from the other Eternals while she stifled her own laughter.

Footsteps were heard making their way towards the Eternals causing Sprite to immediately change Phastos’ outfit to the way it previously was, Ajax looked around the room as she walked in, shaking her head in disappointment as her eyes fell on the inventor who was still working.

“Phastos, did you go to the party last night like I told you to?” She questions the Eternal, wanting nothing more than him not overworking himself. He began to stutter, struggling to make up a lie.

“Uh- yeah the party, it was very-“

“He worked all night.” Druig commented, exposing him whilst chuckling at the fellow Eternal’s reaction, he was sat against the wall cross legged, beside him was her, fidgeting with something Phastos created earlier in the day purely for her entertainment.

“Who was talking to you?” Phastos retorted, causing Druig to laugh even harder, she swatted his arm rolling her eyes at him for getting Phastos into trouble.

“Get a life.” Ajax demanded, not wanting the Eternals to spend the years cooped up in the Domo while the rest of them defeat the deviants and protect humanity.

“Ouch.” Druig muttered, still attempting to hide his amusement while she elbows him.

She suddenly stood up from her seat moving to get the food that Druig was snacking on, deciding to snatch it out of his hand which led to him gasping in disbelief. He got up from his seat to get more for himself and his counterpart.

Hours later the group found themselves surrounded by humans, Sprite stood at the center using her projection abilities to cast images into the air for the humans to see, she began to tell stories about the Eternals from the past, about how they came to earth to protect humans from deviants and the made up story about Ikaris about how he flew close to the sun.

“I can't sit here knowing there are deviants still wandering around, hurting others.” Thena confessed, surprising the other Eternal who didn’t know anyone was standing next to her, she glanced at the woman sympathetically.

“At least you have the ability to protect them.” She shrugged, looking around the room to avoid eye contact with Thena as she felt a wave of self deprecation overtake her emotions.

“They began to call me the Goddess of human love, did you hear about that? I’m incapable of using my powers to protect them yet they give me such a title that I’m not worthy of owning.” Thena looked at her sympathetically, arms going around the Eternal in an attempt to comfort her before forcing the Eternal to face her, fingers holding her chin to make their eyes meet.

“Then let’s go.” Thena suddenly declared, the Eternal looked at her curiously.

“Let’s get out of here, let’s prove ourselves worthy of the names they give us. We cannot sit here and be idle while there are creatures out there to fight.” Thena continued, attempting to convince the hesitant Eternal.

She glanced up towards the air where Sprite’s projections lit up the room, remembering how almost all of the Eternals were mentioned in the stories, except for her.

She knew Sprite didn’t do that intentionally, she didn’t intentionally want to hurt the Eternal but by excluding her from the stories in which the Eternals saved the globe once again from deviants made her feel less and less like a hero and more of a spectator.

“But, all I can do is conjure up flowers and greenery, what good is that when I’m up against a deviant?” She questioned Thena truly believing she truly wasn’t capable of more.

Thena tsk’s in response shaking her head.

“You know if Druig heard you talk so low about yourself he’d do anything in his power to make you think otherwise.” Thena explains, hoping that her friend could see herself the way everyone else did.

“What he thinks doesn’t matter as much to me compared to what I think of myself.”

“You must not limit yourself, you’re a force of nature, literally, it’s in your powers.” Thena claimed, causing a giggle to escape the shorter woman, a soft smile appeared on her face as she kept her friend within arm’s reach.

“Just think about it okay, I’ll be here if you ever need a partner in crime other than the brooding telepath.” She teased before making her way towards the door, only to be stopped by Ikaris.

The Eternal couldn't hear the conversation between the two, deciding to make her way around the rooms and opting in small talk now and then with the humans. They relentlessly ask for her to visit their homes and bless their crops as she tries to explain that she doesn’t have the abilities to do so, her attempts were in vain as they were determined to get her to visit to which she eventually agreed.

There was a flash of gold in the air that ran passed her, the unmistakable entrance of the one and only Makkari holding a handful of trinkets that she placed on a table in front of a group of men, Druig sat across the men. While Makkari’s back was facing towards her, she could see Druig seated in front of her only a few meters away.

“The beautiful Makkari, you’re late.” She overheard Druig announce, a smile forming on his face as the speedster made her way closer towards him. Glancing away from the two in front of her she looked around the room, noticing that Thena was nowhere to be seen as she’d usually be found at Gilgamesh’s side. Ikaris stood next to Ajax, it seemed that the two were in the midst of an important discussion, but she had to distract herself from the self doubt that began to bubble up inside of her.

She was wandering around the room alone, torn between ideas, should she just retreat back to the Domo or stay at the event? The only Eternal to approach her at this party was Thena herself, other than that she spent the last hour or so hovering near the food.

She regretted making her way closer to Ajax and Ikaris, unfortunately overhearing an important confession from Ikaris.

“I won’t let my feelings for Sersi distract me from our mission.” Ikaris announced, determination written on his face, she was in shock after overhearing the confession, feeling guilt from eavesdropping and had to announce her presence to the two.

“But you’re allowed to live a life. Go, go tell Sersi how you feel.” Ajax insisted, Ikaris hesitated, not knowing what to do.

“I could help with that.” She declared, making her presence known to the two. They turned their heads towards her. “I apologize for eavesdropping, I was just about to leave, but, I do think this is wonderful news Ikaris!” She smiled, arms wrapped around him as she enveloped him in a hug, giddy with the idea that her two close friends will find love. Ajax believed that the goddess of ‘human love’ could in fact help with Ikaris’ situation, urging him to accept her help which he reluctantly did, she felt overwhelmed with excitement, mind racing with hundreds of ideas to help him.

Ajax left the two alone to plan together, now sat at a table with two drinks sat in front of them. From her seat she could see Kingo, Sprite, Sersi and Gilgamesh sitting together surrounded by humans who begged for more stories to be told. To the left of her behind a pillar was the table Druig sat at with Makkari standing in front of him, she could just about see some of the gestures Makkari made to the man as he began to stand in front of her, his head tilted up in a teasing manner as she mimicked his own. She struggled to hear what conversation the two were having due to the liveliness of the room, only being able to just about see Makkari’s hand gestures as she signed to Druig.

Due to Makkari’s back facing her, she only managed to understand the word’s ‘love’ ‘confess’ and ‘I love you’ before turning her attention to the man in front of her. “What do I even say to Sersi?” He broke the silence and disrupted her train of thoughts to which she was grateful for, he was unsure on how to tell Sersi due to the lack of experience he had with these kind of situations.

“Well for starters, maybe you should show her you care, do the things she enjoys to do, spend more time with her, continue to create that bond with her.” She advices, he nodded his head in response, making notes in his head as she continued. “Sersi clearly loves spending time with all of us, so you’d have to make an effort with that, no running off when we’re all in the same room, okay?” She teased, causing Ikaris to let out a groan of annoyance, his forehead leaning on his arm that rested on the table, she laughed at his childish antics, patting his head in a way to comfort him.

“I know it’s all stressful and complicated right now but these things take time. You don’t want to rush into anything and risk ruining it, and don’t worry I’ll be here to help you with any questions or worries that you may have.” She offered a smile, Ikaris looked back up at her, face relaxing as he took in her words.

“Thank you.” He responded, grateful to have the help of someone who understands his situation without knowing much. She couldn’t help but smile the entire time she plotted with Ikaris, sharing ideas back and forth with one another. The fact that her two friends could fall in love and spend the rest of eternity with one another made her heart burst.

And on another positive note, this allowed her to get her mind off a certain telepath who she believed couldn’t take his eyes off the speedster. Unfortunately missing the way his eyes would glance over at the table she sat at every couple of seconds, staring at her hand resting on Ikaris’ arm. Druig couldn’t stop staring at her smile, the way her head tilted back as she laughed, in different circumstances seeing her laugh would make the telepath’s heart grow twice its size but as he stared at the eternal next to her he couldn’t help the jealousy that flooded in.

“When are you going to confess your love for her?” Makkari signed to him, sick of his lovesick expression as he watched her talk to anyone else but him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He responded sarcastically, causing the speedster to hit him in the arm, glaring at him.

“Okay fine! But not love, at least,I don’t think it is. And who said anything about confessing?” He shrugged, avoiding the eyes of the woman in front of him. She looked exasperated, tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, her frustration increasing by the second.

“You can't keep up with the lovesick act, stop thinking you’re not good enough for her. The rest of the Eternals and I love you and we know she does too.” She paused.

“You’re not some bad villain you enjoy to paint yourself to be.” Makkari signed before making her way from Druig and towards the group of four Eternals, allowing him the time to think about what he was told.

Days later their plan was finally set in motion, everytime she hung out with Sersi, Ikaris would drop by and join them, expressing his interests in what they were doing, eventually the other Eternal would let the two continue bonding, making an excuse for her sudden departure and making her way to the beach that sat beside the village, home of the human’s who asked for her to visit a couple days ago in which she did.

Sitting on the beach alone allowed the Eternal to gather her thoughts while admiring the waves crash against the shore before pulling away, a repetitive cycle. The melody of the waves as it made its way closer to the sand brought her some comfort, the sound of water itself mesmerized her, something so simple yet so beautiful that can be seen in different forms such as lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds and so forth. The eternal decided from then on that if she were to live her life the way Ajax suggested, that she would live next to the river so she would wake up to the sound of running water every single day for the rest of eternity.

Unlike Sersi and Ikaris who now have each other to spend the next thousand years with, she was content with being alone. What's the point of finding someone to spend your life with when you can’t spend it with the person you truly loved?

The last few days since the party led the Eternal to intentionally avoid her telepathic friend. She couldn’t bring herself to be near him whilst knowing his secret, the feelings that he had towards the speedster. She was happy for them of course, they were her closest friends and if they were in love she’d support it, she’d do anything to make the people she considered family happy.

She wanted to tell Druig what she overheard Ajax talking about, she thought it would be best if he knew Ajax’s encouragements towards Sersi and Ikaris and that if he made the move to Makkari then he’d receive nothing but support from the rest of the Eternals, including herself.

Everytime she saw Druig, the speedster was found closely behind, it felt wrong to mention Ajax’s words in front of Makkari in case Druig wanted to be alone when he confessed his feelings but the eternal couldn’t bring herself to pull him aside, to be standing with him knowing his heart belongs to another whilst her heart belonged to him.

It’s okay, she thought. No one would have to know about her feelings towards the telepath, she’ll just bury them so deep that she forgets about them. That’s what she’s good at, right? Her abilities are related to nature and gardening so she can bury this as well.

For the meantime she’ll just have to love him in secret.

She thought about her abilities, comparing it to the other Eternals abilities. Ikaris could fly, Sprite could conjure up projections, Druig could control minds and Makkari can run three times faster than the speed of sound according to the inventor himself, Phastos.

But what can she do? Conjure up flowers? How could that help when up against a deviant.

Ajax’s words continued to echo in her mind from the first time they arrived on earth. How the fate of the human race is in their hands yet creating flowers can do nothing to protect them from these creatures.

Due to all the self doubt she felt after the event and the conversation with Thena she knew who she had to talk to.

“I don’t feel like I’ll be of much use here, I cannot sit idle while the humans give me such titles I’m not worthy of.” She confessed, Ajax nodded in response to show that she was listening, encouraging the eternal to continue as her hand stroked her back, comforting her while she expressed her worries.

“I don’t think I’ve reached my potential, I’m not good enough to be a hero right now and I need to find myself but I don’t know how.” She disclosed to the eternal who sighed in response at the self deprecating words, wanting nothing more but to help her.

“When Arishem gifted us our abilities he gave no limit to what we can achieve with them.” Ajax began, gently stroking the Eternal’s hair as they sat in the Domo away from the other Eternals, the maternal gesture leading the Eternal to lean her head on Ajax’s shoulder allowing herself to be comforted.

“He told me it was important for us to stick together throughout our entire mission, to give a helping hand to humanity and help them advance as people.” Ajax paused.

“I’ve seen how you’ve reacted everytime the others had to defeat a deviant, how you yearned to be there beside them rather than stay here spectating.” She continued, looking around the Domo as she spoke.

“It pains me to see you like this, but I know that what you need is to help yourself before you can help others. Thena’s right my dear, you are capable of so much more than you know and It’s in your hands to become the person you are meant to become.” She finished, wiping the fallen tears on the cheeks of the shorter Eternal.

“Oh, none of that nonsense.” Ajax joked, her grin widening as the other Eternal managed to laugh.

“They won’t be mad?” She questioned, overwhelmed by the feeling of guilt from the idea of leaving her family.

“Why should they? It’s not like you’ll be gone forever, you need to learn more about your powers and who you are, this is no place for that.” Ajax declared, pointing to the desert that could be seen out of the window.

“But-“

“No buts. When we need you, we’ll know where you are. This isn’t a goodbye.” Ajax cut her off.

She nodded in response, taking Ajax’s advice into consideration and deciding to take a break from the life of an Eternal and to learn more about her powers. Hours later she found herself packing the things she owned and wanted to bring with her, at this point only one person knew that she was to leave in the evening to make her way to a place Ajax suggested she should stay at.

She decided to pack objects with a memory attached to it such as the things Phastos made for her and the objects Makkari managed to steal and gift to her and the gifts human’s gave to her in a way to show their appreciation for her.

She thought it was best if she left the items Druig gifted her but decided against that later on.

“What are you doing?” Sersi interrupts, holding Ikaris’ hand as she stands in the corridor. The Eternal paused, turning hesitantly with her belongings piled up in her arms.

“Nothing?” She questions which encouraged the two to make their way towards her, noticing most of her belongings were being wrapped up in cloth, almost as if she was-

“Are you leaving?” Ikaris asked in shock, grabbing the objects from her and keeping them hostage in his arms, she rolled her eyes when he refused to give them back until she explained what was going on

“I’m just going away for a little while.” She explained.

After answering all the questions the two had for her, she paused, noticing the different energy between the two, gasping in response. “You told her, didn’t you?” She exclaimed, looking at Ikaris who nodded, attempting to keep a stoic expression on his face. “He told me that you helped him with the whole thing, so I wanted to thank you in person.” Sersi claimed before abruptly embracing her in a hug causing a laugh to escape the other.

“I’d do anything to see the people I care about truly happy.” She confessed, smiling warmly at the two before they bid farewell, promising to not tell the others about her departure until after she left.

She glanced around one more time before leaving the Domo, she was hesitant about leaving without saying goodbye but Ajax was adamant on the fact that saying goodbye would make it seem permanent which it isn’t.

But she can't say she isn’t grateful that she didn’t have to be the one to tell Druig about her departure, she knew he’d be against her leaving. In her mind she was sure she was doing this for herself and for her to become a better Eternal but there was a voice in the back of her head claiming that she was running away from rejection, running away from seeing Druig continue to fall in love with one of her closest friends as she’d be forced to watch from the sideline.

She gave another glance around the Domo one more time before leaving, making her way to her new home.

“Congratulations, guys!” Kingo cheered after Sersi and Ikaris told them their news. All of the Eternals were full of joy at the news except for one. Kingo slyly nudged Sprite. “Aren’t you going to congratulate them?” He teased, causing the aim of her glare to be directed towards him.

“Wait, shouldn’t we all be here to celebrate this news?” Makkari questioned, the rest of the Eternals nodded in response.

All of the Eternals were in the room, except for one.

“Well, where is she then?” Druig asked, relieved that she and Ikaris didn’t have anything going on between them as he’d initially thought.

“She’s not going to be here for a while.” Ajax began to speak, causing the Eternals to suddenly speak over one another in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“Where is she?”

“What did you do now Ikaris?”

Ikaris shot Druig a glare for the last question, only to incite a laugh out of the telepath.

Ajax briefly explained that the missing Eternal is going away for space and on a journey of self discovery, wanting to respect the Eternal’s wishes of not telling the others the detailed reason of why she left as she didn’t want their pity or sympathy.

Makkari looked at Druig in concern, the telepath who previously planned to tell her how he felt towards her was frozen, to say he was mad would be an understatement.

He was infuriated.

Infuriated with her for avoiding him for the last week only to leave without saying anything.

Infuriated with Ajax for not telling the whole truth.

Infuriated with himself for not telling her everything he wished he could tell her soon enough.

But then the gear’s in his head began churning.

He glanced back at the new couple, before looking back at Ajax, she couldn’t have left because of this news, right?

Memories of the two at the gathering flickered through his mind as well as the recent memories of Ikaris and Sersi frequently seen with one another whilst you were nowhere to be seen.

He felt a twist in his heart as he realized what had happened and he too late to do anything to stop it.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

all works: @yelenabelovasgf @amourtentiaa @husherstan @peggycarter-steverogers @drpepperobsessed @ghost-bich @whosedevil @meg-nyt @freddiecore @missusstark @hehehehannahthings @tandefeaffe @rafecameronswhore @secretsthathauntus @idontwannabetherightwayround @crymanny

druig taglist: @dontstopxx @itscheybaby @halsmultibitch @hereiamhereigo @redroomproperty @serrendiipty @bellaiscool @justifymyfeelings @measure-in-pain @swaggieee @maddyt28 @minxie98 @bookthingz @whatdoyxumean @zofps @she-wintersoldat @the-killer-queenie @felicityofbakerstreet @bizzlepotter @elennory @camilaricci @thesecrethistoryofamanda @bittergomez @lalafl12

[softquietsteadylove]

Some soft beautiful and cute moments for thenamesh Doctor au? They deserve a little break ❤️

"How is she?"

Ajak turns with a smile at the head just barely poking into the room. She waves him in, and Gil shuffles in quietly, his hands pushed deep into his hoodie pockets. "She's okay, Gil. She's coming down from the anaesthetics, her vitals all look good. Aside from some physio and some time off, she'll be just fine."

Gil chuckles, walking around to the other side of the bed with Thena sleeping soundly. "She'll be furious she has to take time off. If she comes in for physio she'll probably just slip away and try to work."

Ajak shrugs, giving him a grin, "I'm sure you wouldn't let her anyway."

"You're right."

Ajak averts her gaze as Gilgamesh reaches out to push some of Thena's hair away from her face. Maybe he's forgotten they aren't alone, or maybe he just doesn't care who sees him do it. "You know you can't take two weeks off too, right? I know you want to, but if Thena isn't here, then I'll need you more than ever."

Gil nods solemnly, his hand almost back in his pocket when he suddenly decides the place for it is around Thena's hand. "She wouldn't let me take the time off either, I'm sure. I can check on her between my shifts."

Ajak just shakes her head. It's not as if she would be able to do anything to stop him from doing so. "Just remember to get your proper rest, too."

"Yes, Ma'am," Gil offers a tired smile before looking down at Thena again. He reaches up to her hair again, but this time he trails a finger over her cheekbone, then down her jaw. "Oh, Thena."

Ajak is about to leave the two lovebirds alone when Thena shifts. "Thena?"

"Honey?" he whispers, leaning to get a look at her eyes. They're still hazy, but she blinks at him. "Hey, Sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Hey."

Ajak's eyes sneak over to the heart monitor displaying her heart rate, blood oxygen and blood pressure readings. The heart rate has picked up speed a little, not that either of them have taken notice.

"Morning, Sunshine," Gil chuckles, visibly relieved at the sound of Thena's voice. He leans over her, liberally planting a kiss on her cheek. "How're you feeling?"

Ajak observes a funny little skipped beat, but it seems to be a momentary effect.

"I'm okay," Thena whispers to him, her eyes still struggling to open all the way. She makes the faintest attempt at pulling herself up.

"Hey, easy," Gil rushes to hold her. He wraps his arm around her shoulders, helping her up to her desired angle and bringing a cup of ice chips up to her lips.

Ajak adjusts the bed so Thena can lie down/sit up comfortably. Not that they notice that either.

Gil takes the cup from her as she swallows down the much needed water. "Better?"

She nods, her thumb moving against his absently as she tries to absorb her surroundings. She - finally! - looks over at Ajak. "What happened?"

Ajak smiles at her, pulling her blankets up again. "We got you right into surgery, got some blood in you. You're lucky it wasn't more serious."

Thena sighs, lying heavier against her pillow. "How long?"

"Two weeks, minimum," Ajak says firmly, and watches Thena make a face like a teenager being forced into a family reunion. "And that's if things heal quickly and your physio goes well."

Thena rolls her eyes at it, although she gets jabbed in her good leg with Ajak's pen for it. "Hey!"

"Don't roll you eyes at me, little lady," Ajak smirks at her, happy at least to see Thena regain some of her usual fire as she glares back at her. "I'm going to tell them that you're up. You two, wait here."

"I'll do my best," Thena grumbles, further ensuring her recovery. She smiles at Ajak on her way out before looking at Gil again. "Are you okay?"

"Me?" he asks, and then openly scoffs. "You were stuck under a car, Thena--for hours!"

"It wasn't hours."

"Well, no one would tell me how long it was!" he protested, "so I had to imagine the worst!"

Thena just sighs. She has a clear memory of him lying down with her, holding her hand and whispering sweet comforts to her as the rain and wind and her own impending death loomed over her. "Thank you."

Gil leans over her again, pressing his forehead to hers, as he had done in the moment under the car. "I wouldn't have let anything happen to you, Thena. I swear."

"I know you wouldn't," she whispers back. Her eyes flutter open again while Gil's are still closed. He's so close he's blurry, but she can make out the pinkness of his lips.

Gil pulls back, smoothing over her hair again. "Hey, what were you going to say?"

"Hm?"

"Just at the end," he frowns, twirling a long of blonde around his finger. "You started saying 'Gil if-' but I wouldn't let you finish."

"Oh."

That heart monitor is beeping faster again.

"I didn't want you to say anything because there was no if, then," he shrugs, more able to talk about it now that the immediate danger has faded a little. He tilts his head at her, "so, what was it?"

Thena's eyes dart around a little, listening to that damned heart monitor blaring her guilt. Not that it was as loud as media made them seem, but it wasn't as silent as she would like.

"I don't think I remember."

Gil tilts his head at her and her sudden unwillingness to look at him. He leans over until she has no choice but to see him (being stuck in a bed, and all). "Hey, wait."

Thena's fluster only worsens as his palm presses against her forehead. She squeezes her eyes shut, "Gil, it..."

"You look a little flushed," he frowns at her, and just now looks up at her monitor readings. "BPs kind of high too--you might be fighting an early infection. I'll get Ajak."

Gil takes off before Thena can really stop him and tell him not to. And at least it gives her a chance to try and get her traitorous heart to calm down a bit.