#anyway Gil wakes up and he's like where's Thena

[softquietsteadylove]

Ohh you have to continue the zombie au!! Them finally meeting sersi and co will be amazing :D

"Welcome, Gilgamesh."

He frowned at those around him. He hadn't given them his name. Usually it was Thena who was deeply distrustful of anyone they came across, but he was happy to take up that mantle in her absence.

That was the worst part about this place, that he had yet to see Thena.

He had woken up in a fit over it, but they had told him - promised him - that he would see her if he kept himself calm. They returned his clothes to him, washed and everything.

"We take in all those who need help," the short doctor, Ajak he had learned, said beside him. The cafeteria was surprisingly bustling with people. "That was how you came to us."

They had told him that Thena had arrived with him on her back, which he couldn't help but doubt. Not that she would do it, but Thena was half his weight at most, and they didn't exactly have food or water to spare, last he remembered.

The last solid memory he did have was of feeling feverish, dragging his feet as they continued towards the next city. He must have been really lagging, because Thena did something they never did, which was commandeer a car.

He could remember being in the backseat, and he could remember Thena's voice whispering sweet things, his head in her lap, her tipping water up to his lips.

All the more reason for him to be wary of these people until he could see Thena for himself. He looked around the place, "I don't see her."

They sighed. He had been a broken record since getting on his feet, but he felt he had good reason to be. The other doctor patted his shoulder, although he flinched away from her. "Thena is just getting back."

"Back?" he frowned and turned. Sersi, the younger, taller doctor, and a third guy in a white coat named Phastos all stepped back from him. They were the only ones he'd met so far. "Where was she?"

"She joined some of our scouts on a run," Phastos attempted to be a voice of reason. "Some of the supplies we needed were for you, so she volunteered to go with them."

He wasn't exactly placated by the news. "So you sent her out there with people she doesn't even know? Are they really gonna watch her back out there? What if they can't protect her?!"

"Gil, please," Sersi joined in the effort to soothe him. "It's a simple run to the closest facility outside the hospital. We've been here a long time--since the beginning, really. We've already sectioned off half the city as safe territory."

Gil huffed. With Phastos behind him and the docs in front, he felt a bit like a caged animal. He looked around the bustling cafeteria again, "fine. When will they be back?"

"It should be any time now," Sersi promised before turning and trotting off.

"Sersi's husband is part of the field team," Ajak supplied in her absence, leading them closer to the rest of the populace. The people already there eyed them and kept their distance, but they didn't exactly pull out pitch forks and torches at the sight of him. "We have some very good people here with us."

Gil watched as Doctor Sersi trotted over to the door, her wavy black ponytail bouncing behind her. She must have seen they were coming, because she ran at the door and launched herself into someone's arms before they were even in the room.

A man walked in with her attached to him, tall and broad shouldered. Gil couldn't hear them, but he had an inkling that he was one of the men who had dragged him inside when Thena no longer could. The other one walked in past the married couple, not even glancing at them.

Finally, far behind the other two, a ghost of a figure hurried into the room and immediately split off and away from everyone. Despite the promise of food, she steered clear of the line for it, pushing a blonde ponytail off her shoulder and pulling off her backpack.

Her clothes had also been washed, and the jacket she was wearing seemed to be new, maybe as a form of protection. But that was definitely his Thena prowling away from the thick of the crowd.

"Thena!"

Heads turned and people jumped out of the way of the huge stranger sprinting across the room. Some of them yelped, as if he were a train barrelling forward on its tracks. But he could only see Thena.

"Gil!" she barely got out before he swallowed her up, his arms snaking around her and his massive form folding over her. Her knees bent in response but he held her close, swinging her around in his arms.

"Thena! You're okay!" he sobbed, openly at that. For all his reluctance to cooperate with their hosts thus far he let himself weep with joy as he finally felt Thena's light frame in his embrace again. She still smelled like fresh air, and she was warm, and she was kind of bony, but soft in the places it mattered. "I-I thought-!"

"Sh, Gil, I'm here," she cooed, running her fingers through his hair as he blubbered over her like a baby. She let him lean his weight on her, his face buried between her neck and her shoulder, their legs stumbling, "it's okay, just breathe."

"I told you--they're too committed to each other, they won't-"

"Ikaris, hush."

"Are we just gonna watch them make out, or...?"

"Give them some space," Ajak urged the rest of her team. Gil pulled his head up to see her waving them back, her back turned to them. She didn't have the distrust in him and Thena that he had with her. "can you blame them?"

"Gil," Thena called to him, pulling his attention back to her. She put her hand to his cheek, her eyes scrubbing over him, "are you okay?"

He nodded, leaning into her touch, "I'm okay. Wh-What about you? I woke up and a-and you-"

"Sorry," Sersi leaned over to offer her apologies, "I voted to move you into the same room, but I got outnumbered."

"We weren't sure what to make of you," the other man who came in alongside Sersi's husband shrugged. "And then you freaked out when she wasn't there, so-"

"So," Gil made a face, "you decided that keeping us apart longer would fix that?"

Ajak laughed, although the guy clearly didn't appreciate it. He huffed, putting his hands on his hips, "hey, big guy, I'm the funny one here, got it?"

"Okay," Ajak spoke to those crowded around them en masse again, "let's let the lovebirds have a bite to eat and settle themselves. We can discuss what happens from here on afterward."

What did she mean by that? But Gil looked down as Thena slipped her hand into his. He was going to have to ignore that 'lovebirds' comment for now too, huh?

"Come on," Thena pulled him by the hand, keeping their fingers intertwined, "you must be starving."

"Well, yeah, but-" he looked around, still feeling on edge in the completely new environment. It was being around people - living people - that had him so on edge.

"I'll tell you everything that's happened," Thena promised him, "after you eat."

He just sighed, looking at her like she was the sun and he'd been underground for years. He would do anything if it meant he didn't have to let go of her hand yet, "fine."

[hottpinkpenguin]

Saudade - Chapter I

Part of the Druig x Elena AU (see full AU list here)

Characters: Druig x Fem!OC (Elena)

Summary: Druig and Elena host the Eternals for Christmas. Two major revelations happen: one expected, and one not.

Warnings: MAJOR Eternals spoilers; angst

Read Chapter II here

Word Count: 2633

all my love to @bellejeanx❤ for her help, constant support, and consultation

Saudade - a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia

Christmas Morning - 2023 South Dakota, USA

Christmas Eve came quietly to South Dakota that year.

Gilgamesh and Thena did not.

The sun hadn’t risen yet, and Druig recognized the house-rattling pounds of Gilgamesh’s fist on the front door. Lyla was already halfway down the staircase, squealing in delight at the arrival of Auntie Thena and Uncle Gil, before Druig knew what was happening.

“What is that?” Elena murmured through a yawn, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes in the darkness. She hadn’t been sleeping well recently, and as much as Druig was happy to have the others joining them for Christmas, he wished Gilgamesh and Thena had left them to their slumber longer. Eternals didn’t need sleep the way mortals did, and Druig had seen darkening circles under Elena’s eyes in recent weeks.

“Thena and Gilgamesh,” he replied, tossing the blankets and comforter back so he could swing his legs out from the bed. “Go back to bed, Lena,” he encouraged, leaning over and giving her forehead a kiss. The sounds of the front door opening and Thena’s excited cooing over Lyla wafted up the staircase.

“No no no, I can’t sleep when we have guests, Dru,” Elena chided, sitting up and turning on her bedside lamp. Her dark hair was escaping from its braid and slung over one shoulder. She looked more refreshed than Druig had seen her in weeks - ever since the parent-teacher conference at Lyla’s school. Elena loved Christmastime, and she’d been doting over the preparations ever since Druig had pitched the idea of hosting the other Eternals (some of them, anyways) for the holidays.

Druig took a moment to drink Elena in as she undid her braid and raked her hands through her hair. She was wearing the red flannel pajamas he’d bought her for Christmas the year before, and the black stone pendant he’d gotten her for her birthday that summer glimmered in the soft light of the lamp. She stretched her arms overhead, face contorted in a yawn as she slowly worked her muscles into wakefulness. When she caught him smiling absently at her, she cocked her head at him, a playful grin dancing across her lips.

“Hey,” she taunted, nodding her chin at him.

“What?” he asked.

“Merry Christmas, love,” she replied, crawling over to the edge of the bed close to where he stood. He met her there, holding her head against his chest as she listened to his heartbeat, planting a few soft kisses against the top of her head. It was gratifying to see her playful demeanor peak back through the pall of worry they’d both been cast under in the last few months.

After losing Ajack earlier in the year and finding out about the looming Emergence (and subsequent obliteration of Earth and all its life), Druig had felt himself crumbling under the weight of a slowly increasing terror. The prospect of losing Elena and Lyla was all too real; he’d lost them before, for five years after Thanos had snapped half the universe out of existence. He’d been reunited with them after a triumphant miracle, but he knew better than to bank on another. He’d very nearly lost them yet again in the Amazon after a close encounter with a Deviant. And here he was, once more, teetering on the knife’s blade of a third tragedy. It felt like standing sightless on the edge of a cliff, with only the rushing wind to tell you how close you were to falling over the side.

And then there was the very real problem of Ikaris. A few months ago, at Lyla’s kindergarten parent-teacher conference, Druig and Elena had realized that Lyla’s close brush with Ajack’s death had been closer than they’d originally realized. In moments when Druig doubted the truth of his accusations against Ikaris, the image of Lyla’s drawing resurfaced from his memory: Ikaris, drawn in blue with lightning bolts shooting out of his eyes, hovering in the white space above Ajack’s blue-and-gold armored body on the ground, large black Xs where her eyes should have been.

Elena and Druig had agreed that Druig would need to read Lyla’s memories in order to see exactly what she saw that day almost seven months ago to lead her to draw that picture. They had also agreed to wait to do this with the other Eternals present, with the notable exception of Ikaris, of course. Christmas had presented the perfect opportunity to bring them all together. Druig wished the invitation he’d extended to his companions had been just that, a simple invitation extended in the spirit of hospitality, but life had taken a dark turn as of late. Druig worried that his and Elena’s days of simple invitations may be behind him, if they ever knew those days at all. With a pained twinge in his chest, Druig reflected on the magnitude of danger he’d put Elena and Lyla in since coming into their lives almost ten years ago. And to think he had originally thought that he could keep Elena safe by being in her life…

“Hey, my love, come back to me.” Elena’s hands framed Druig’s face, forcing his gaze to meet hers, her large hazel eyes swimming in concern. “Where’d you go?” she asked gently, probing his thoughts.

“Ah, nothing. Just thinking about how Gilgamesh is going to eat all the pancakes,” he quipped, hoping his light-hearted tone and subtle reminder of their guests downstairs was enough to distract Elena from pressing him further. He saw her worry collapse into amusement as she smiled back at him, a musical laugh dancing from her lips as she stood from the bed, sliding into slippers and starting down the stairs. He heard Lyla’s delighted exclamation of “mama!” as she recognized Elena’s footfalls, the sound of a stool sliding across the kitchen tile and small, sock-clothed feet pattering on the floor as Lyla rushed towards her mother.

Druig watched as his wife’s frame slowly retreated down the stairwell, her face lit in profile by the white lights of their Christmas tree as she lifted Lyla up into her arms, a captivating smile tracing her face as she extended her free arm towards Thena for a hug. A warm feeling of contentment settled in his chest, replacing the aching uneasiness that had been there a moment before. Worry would have to wait another day, he decided, making his own way down the stairs to join the others…

Later that night

Nice holiday? Makkari asked, settling in next to Druig across from the comforting warmth of the fire. Druig slid over on the couch, making room for his oldest and closest friend with a grateful smile. Of all the Eternals, Druig felt the closest to Makkari. Although she couldn’t hear, she was the best listener of all of them.

A perfect one, he replied, casting an appreciative glance over towards the kitchen where Sprite, Thena, Phastos, and Elena were engaged in a lively debate over the legalities of Phastos’ most recent Monopoly move. Sitting on the rug directly in front of the fire was Lyla, fast asleep in Kingo’s arms, rendering the usually garrulous comedian momentarily quiet, while Gilgamesh read to her from one of Lyla’s multiple Frozen-themed books, unaware that his audience had long ago succumbed to the drowsy warmth of the fire. Sersi, Phastos’ husband Ben, and their son Jack were visible on the porch through the french doors at the back of the house, taking in the South Dakota night sky, their breath rising around their faces in vapors.

Next to him, Makkari took in the scene as well. It’s good to have everyone together again, she signed, tucking her legs up underneath her. Druig nodded in agreement, wondering if the conversation was going in the direction he suspected.

Almost everyone, Makkari continued, raising her eyebrows at Druig pointedly. He took a sip from his whiskey, avoiding her gaze.

Druig, Makkari pressed on, why isn’t Ikaris here?

Druig chewed his lip, watching the way the firelight and the Christmas tree lights reflected in his glass. Druig knew Makkari better than to expect that she would let this go, but he figured hedging was still worth a shot.

Didn’t get the invitation, he replied curtly. Makkari pursed her lips, unsatisfied.

Because you didn’t give him one, she retorted, her reply less a question and more a statement. She knew Druig better than anyone, and she could see right through his weak attempt to divert her attention off of the subject. He tried to busy himself with studying the brown liquid in his glass again, but Makkari was losing patience for his stalling. She smacked his arm lightly. Don’t deny it, she continued.

Fine, I don’t deny it, he replied sullenly, earning an eye roll from her. He saw the dogged expression in her face and knew that he owed her an explanation; and she knew he knew it. He cast a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching before continuing.

There’s something Elena and I need to tell everyone, Druig signed, watching Makkari’s face for her reaction. She didn’t seem surprised.

Something about Ikaris? she asked. Druig nodded once, feeling uncomfortable with having the conversation in the open where the others could see, although they all looked engrossed in their respective distractions. Although they’d all find out eventually, he was loath to ruin the relaxation at the end of a perfect Christmas Day together.

Something about Ajack and Ikaris? Makkari asked again. Druig couldn’t help but let his eyes widen briefly in surprise at Makkari’s question. Although short lived, Makkari saw his reaction. So he killed her then, Makkari signed back, a grim expression settling in her eyes. Druig could hardly contain himself he was so taken aback by his friend’s statement.

How did you know that? he asked intensely. Makkari’s normally serene countenance was weighty and serious as she returned his questioning gaze.

I’ve had my doubts for a while, she admitted. At first, I thought it was lucky that Ikaris found Ajack so shortly after she’d died and that Lyla had been alive. Then I saw how Lyla acted around him afterwards. Always startled, scared of him. She’s not scared of anyone. Not even Gilgamesh.

Druig watched Makkari’s signing, racing to keep up as she got faster with the speed of her thoughts. He hadn’t considered Lyla’s reticence around Ikaris previously. Their time together was so short that he struggled to remember the interactions Makkari was referencing. Slowly, a few moments came back to him: when Ikaris had first shown up in the Amazon, when he’d come into Elena’s room at the hospital in Manaus. He realized Lyla had been unusually timid around Ikaris. Druig had chalked it up to exhaustion, but Makkari was right: it was out of Lyla’s character to be scared, even around beings like the Eternals.

What about Lyla? Druig asked. Lyla surviving was the one detail that plucked at Druig, because it didn’t fit with the narrative. Ikaris may be difficult and arrogant, but he wasn’t sloppy. Letting Lyla - a potential witness - live didn’t make any sense to Druig.

I thought about that too, Makkari agreed. But I don’t think Ikaris knew Lyla was here. He didn’t go to the wedding, so he wouldn’t have known that you and Elena were away or that you’d left Lyla here, would he? She must have hidden and kept quiet. He probably never even knew she was here. Druig considered Makkari’s points. The chaos of the wedding, the honeymoon, Ajack’s death, and the near-deadly brush with the Deviant in the Amazon had left Druig’s mind foggy to the details of the weeks prior. He remembered Ikaris hadn’t come to the wedding - and with a dark chuckle, remembered that he hadn’t exactly tried to make sure Ikaris received an invitation. It seemed a convenient coincidence to think that Ikaris would have found out about Ajack’s opposition to the Emergence, but not the fact that Lyla was in her care. As he continued to turn Makkari’s viewpoint over in his mind, however, Druig found himself warming to the idea.

Druig marveled at Makkari’s insights. The same facts had been staring him in the face for months, with arguably higher stakes, and he’d failed to see them. That familiar twinge in his chest bloomed into a searing pain as the dangers he’d put Elena and Lyla in were compounded by his own ignorance of the truth.

Ajack wanted to stop the Emergence, and he killed her for it, Makkari finished, almost out of breath from the ferocity with which her thoughts had come tumbling out. Druig felt smacked by the last statement as his mind grappled to connect the dots.

Ajack wanted to stop the Emergence? he clarified. Makkari nodded.

She told me and Sersi a few days before you left for your honeymoon. She wanted to wait until you and Elena returned before telling everyone else, she informed him. Ikaris must have found out, and he killed her.

“What are you two busy bodies yammering on about over there?” Kingo called from the rug, rising from the floor. Lyla - still fast asleep - had been lifted into Thena’s arms, the girl’s sleep-heavy head leaning against Thena’s shoulder as she carried her up the stairs to bed. It seemed the Monopoly game had finally broken up, and judging by the gloomy cast of Elena’s eyes, she had not been victorious.

Secrets of the universe, Kingo, Makkari shot back with an impressively casual smirk. After millennia of conversing alone in quiet corners, the other Eternals weren’t too suspicious of Makkari and Druig absenting themselves from social gatherings to secretly conspire, and thankfully they used it to their advantage. Despite the millions of questions tearing through his mind, Druig painted on an expression he hoped was as convincingly nonchalant as Makkari’s, stretching out his arms to hug a pouting Elena as she sank onto his lap.

“I lost,” she grumbled, her pretty mouth turned down into a laughably outsized frown. Druig couldn’t help but chuckle a bit; he always found her ridiculously endearing when she pouted.

“And I didn’t,” Sprite practically sang as she pranced into the room, small golden and green fireworks dancing around the ceiling to celebrate her victory, courtesy of her powers of illusion.

Phastos groaned from where he’d come to lean against the doorway to the family room, his husband Ben materializing beside him to place a peck on his cheek. “And we’ll never hear the end of it,” Phastos grumbled, his own sullen expression almost pouty enough to rival Elena’s.

“Well, Phastos, I seem to remember you still haven’t let us forget about your little stunt with that round navigating thing you gifted to the Chinese - what was that, like eight thousand years ago now? And what was that thing called again?” Kingo was up now and, in typical fashion, riling everyone up.

“A compass,” Gilgamesh called out, earning a collective groan from the Eternals as they all remembered Phastos’ incessant centuries-long bragging.

“Oh, I see, so we’re comparing one of the most significant moments in all of human evolution to a game of Star Wars Monopoly,” Phastos replied indignantly, unable to keep himself from rising to Kingo’s taunts. Ben swatted playfully at his husband’s shoulder.

Druig felt Elena’s shoulders shaking in laughter as the group devolved into raucous but good-natured bickering around them. Her oversized pout slowly dissolved, replaced by an expression of ease as she nestled against his shoulder, her arms wrapped lazily around his neck. He grabbed her chin with his hand, bringing her lips gently up to meet his for a soft kiss. For the second time that day, Druig decided that his worries could wait just a little bit longer…

[softquietsteadylove]

Hey love! So, I know you already have the proposal au, but I was wondering if you could do an arranged marriage au. And basically, Gilgamesh is in the mafia and Thena's horrible abusive father (Arishem) steals money or drugs from him that Thena doesn't know anything about. And Gilgamesh and his men just show up to her home while Thena's not there and when she comes back she finds out that she's being forced to marry Gilgamesh (which she's not that mad about bc Gil is fine asf🤭). But Thena is basically just shocked and she has to get used to being treated how she should and with princess treatment (like opening her door, giving her gifts just because, etc) Maybe a little age gap like Thena's in her early 20s, Gil is in his Early 30s👀. Also maybe like Gil gives her princess treatment but disrespectful in bed vibes😜.

But anyways I love you and your whole existence and when I found your Tumblr acc it quite literally the happiest day of my life and I literally would kill for you. You're my whole world I live for all your posts and sit waiting everyday for you to post. You are the best thing that happened to me and I'm so grateful you're alive. I love you so much!😘❤️

"Thena?"

She startled, but a warm yet gentle hand touched her shoulder, "hey, it's okay. It's me--I'm sorry to startle you."

She looked around her. She wasn't at home--well, she was. She was no longer in her father's home, where falling asleep out in the open could lead to her getting her hair pulled if he was feeling particularly inebriated and particularly mean spirited.

She was home, in her home with Gilgamesh. It was a massive, modern and sprawling house. She had her own room, despite sharing the house with her husband. It had its own walk-in closet and full bathroom suite. He had installed a library having found out that she liked to read (that was all the incentive he needed, apparently). The only thing her room didn't have was a kitchen, and Gilgamesh did all the cooking anyway.

The first two weeks, when she wouldn't emerge from her room at all, he would leave trays out for her to take inside where she felt safe.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, speaking softly and moving so she could see him, showing her his hands. "I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that. I wanted to see if you were hungry, or if you wanted to move into your room."

A gangster for a husband, and he made sure her room was always open for her, that only she was allowed in it, unless there was any house keeping she wanted done. He had even hired a female cleaner, specifically in hopes of making her feel more comfortable.

"Thank you," she smiled at him, hoping to assuage his fears of scaring her. She let the book on her lap fall closed and curled her legs up under the blanket thrown over her. "Sorry, dozed off between chapters."

"You don't have to apologise," he assured her, moving slowly as he took a seat on the sofa. He wasn't at the far end of it, but it was more than enough space for her to feel separate from him. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Are you okay? You seemed to be having a bad dream."

She was. Even removed as she was from that place, sometimes she would think was waking in her room, her desperate attempts to start a real career crammed into the corner of her room where her father wouldn't know to go digging for money.

The crinkle of her clothes in plastic bags so that he couldn't get them all wreaking of alcohol before a job interview. The way she would walk on the balls of her feet so as not to wake him when he was passed out on the couch in the middle of the day. The fear that every knock on the door would be another debt collector.

"Hey," Gilgamesh said as softly as he could again, "what do you need?"

If she hadn't woken from such a terrible dream she might swoon. It was almost a shame their relationship was one of contract. Gilgamesh was very good at seeming romantic.

She inhaled, putting on a braver face. "Some food sounds good."

"Okay," he nodded. His hand hovered, as if he would pat her knee under her blanket. But he stood instead, pulling himself away from her. "I can do that."

Thena stood, nearly slipping on the stairs of the elevated seating area to follow him into the kitchen. "Do you need any help?"

He did let his surprise show on his face, and instances like these she was reminded of the menacing - as well as cocky - gangster who had first appeared in her home and informed her of their marriage. "Setting a fire?--no, sweetheart, thank you."

She huffed, and she even managed to get a chuckle out of him. Laughing suited him more. "You must have had a hard day."

He immediately looked at her, trying to tell how any clue of how his work had gone could have slipped through the cracks. He worked very hard to keep all aspects of his business out of their home life.

She leaned against the spotless granite island/sink. "You seem more tense than usual."

He didn't rise to her bait, focusing on putting together a meal for her--for them.

But she was in the mood to poke the bear, as it were--the big grizzly teddybear in the pinstripe suit. "I figured I would get a 'no need, princess', at least."

He shook his head at her, pulling out a clay pot and retrieving the ingredients necessary. For a man living outside the law, he really was a great cook. "No need for a house fire--that's true."

"I am not that bad," she insisted, rising to her own bait if need be.

Gil - not Gilgamesh but Gil - finally looked at her with a little more mirth. He even chuckled, "Need I remind you of the eggs?"

She rolled her eyes at him. He had this big, beautiful kitchen, and she was home alone all the time. And sometimes she didn't want to wait for delivery to make it all the way to the house (and past security) while Gil was at work. She had figured making herself some eggs couldn't possibly go wrong.

"The hob at our-" she paused and moved on like it was nothing- "at my old place would take ages to heat up. I could never have known that this monstrosity can boil water in under a minute."

Gil glanced towards his very fancy oven on the other counter and then back to her. "Who turns the heat up all the way to make eggs in a pan?"

She shrugged, "they cook faster."

Gil let out a real laugh now, finally relaxing some as he finally started preparing the veggies. She could tell he was enjoying it when he slid them onto an angle to slice them. If it were strictly business he would cut them into little cubes instead. He shook his head. "I told you not to lift a finger while you're here."

That was true. After the fire had been put out, her housekeeping companion had insisted she simply ask if she wanted a meal. It was part of her requirements for the job and everything! Which was a little insulting, no matter how aware of her own cooking habits Thena was.

"I thought men wanted a wife who would cook for them as soon as they got home."

But Gil didn't latch onto her joke. He put down his knife, slowly and gently. He dried his hands on the hand towel below. Then he moved towards her, holding his hands out and asking for hers.

She watched as he did, curious enough to give her hands over to him. He held them so gently, even as he brought them up to his lips to kiss the back of each. She shivered.

He opened his eyes, peering down at her as he stroked her hand with his thumb. "Those aren't men. And you are not just 'a wife', Thena."

Did he want her to fall in love with him or not? The times when he was at work, and then completely secretive about it at home really seemed that he didn't. It seemed that he was upholding his end of the agreement with her father, and his vow to respect her and not to allow any harm to come to her.

But then other times he would say things like this, and she wouldn't know what to think.

She blushed as he left one last kiss on the tip of her finger. Then he was back to chopping, as if he hadn't nearly swept her off her feet (metaphorically speaking).

"Why don't you go sit down, sweetie? I'll come up and join you once this is on the heat." Back to that respectful distance.

She pursed her lips, moving away from the kitchen island as he started rinsing the rice and mixing sauces. That was just like Gilgamesh, to say something so breathtaking and sweet one moment and be a husband in name only the next.

She glanced at her book, although she couldn't even remember what she was reading in it before she had dozed off. Throwing herself back on the couch did seem to catch his attention somewhat; she could tell by the tilt of his head only vaguely in her direction. She also pulled the blanket over her again, with a little more force than the light cashmere needed.

If he only wanted to be half a husband then fine, but he didn't have to be a full time flirt to do it.

She peeked up from her phone as Gilgamesh walked up the three small steps to join her. He had a bad knee but wouldn't admit to it, maybe that was adding to the pressure of his day today.

"Okay," he groaned as he too threw himself onto the couch. He looked over at her, at her safe and respectful distance. "So?"

"So?" she asked in return, bristling at the grin on his face. It suited him a little too much.

He nodded, as if he had been thinking something to himself and had the affirmation he needed. She didn't know what he thought he knew, but she almost didn't want to. He leaned back on the couch, relaxing his posture. This was how a gangster would sit, she imagined. "Well."

"Well?" she prompted him again. But all he did was lazily wave his hand at her. She raised her shoulders, "you want me to...?"

He shrugged, even turning his head away from her. "If you want, I mean. You seem like you want the company."

He was calling her out on her wanting his attention, he meant. And he was right, but she didn't appreciate it. She turned her nose up at it.

"If you wanna sit in my lap, you can say so."

She shivered again, turning and half expecting him to be nose to nose with her. But whens he did look, he was back to pretending like he was halfheartedly watching something on the obscenely large tv mounted on the wall.

To his credit, he didn't say anything as she quietly shifted her position. She didn't tuck herself into his embrace or anything. They weren't actually married.

Gil lowered his arm from the back of the couch to her shoulder, letting her lean partially on him but not so close that she would feel trapped. "Put on that show you like."

"The one that puts you to sleep?" she smirked, even as she picked up the remote.

"It does not put me to sleep."

"It does," she corrected him, and it was moments like these when the marriage did feel less like a business agreement and more like...well, like something. "What about the food?"

"It has a timer, just take it off the heat when it's done."

It was he who was on the verge of nodding off, now. He really had endured a truly terrible day to be so exhausted. And she wouldn't be the one waking him.

She did put on her show, a historical drama she liked. And he really did nod off, the clay pot dinner simmering in the background silently. And only because he was dead asleep did she take the liberty of tucking herself against his chest. Just this once.

[softquietsteadylove]

Just thought about Thena having a different kind of Episode: Sleepwalking. What do you think?

"Thena?" Sersi yawned and rubbed at her eyes. She'd only risen to get some tea before heading back to bed--in her own room. The Warrior Eternal didn't answer. "Are you okay?"

Thena didn't even blink, just turned and carried on walking past the kitchen and down the hall. She padded along in bare feet, her grey sleeping robes billowing with her every step.

"Thena?" Sersi poked her head around the corner and called to her again. Even if Thena was the quiet type, she certainly wasn't one to walk away point blank from someone. Well, no one but Ikaris.

Sersi followed her cautiously, just walking behind her silently as the blonde haunted her way through the narrow halls of the Domo.

What are you doing? Makkari asked with one hand while she yawned wide mouthed into the open air. Her manners could be just as bad as Druig's sometimes.

She's sleepwalking, Sersi signed back to her shorter sister as she joined in her following. Her eyes are open, she looks completely awake. But she hasn't heard a word I've said.

I didn't know we could even do that, Makkari admitted candidly before looking back to Thena in front of them. She snapped her fingers a few times to test and truly, as Sersi said: nothing. She's out like a light.

"Except for the walking," Sersi frowned and took a sip of her tea as they turned another corner. "I don't even know if she's headed anywhere."

She probably doesn't either, Makkari shrugged and yawned again. Have you tried to wake her?

The Thinker's shoulder drew up and inward. "I didn't really think it would be wise to."

Sersi had a point, and not just because she wasn't one for confrontation. Thena was especially dangerous to startle. Anyone who had ever tried to wake her even from regular old sleeping knew that well. Where's Gil when you need him?

Sersi smiled at the joke, but she had thought that initially too. She had even thought about waking him just to retrieve the Warrior Eternal. Not that she thought Thena would appreciate it.

"Hey," Kingo looked up as he strolled toward them. "I'm just getting off night watch. Nothing really-"

Kingo blinked as Thena walked dead ahead, narrowly missing a collision with him. He grasped her shoulder, "Thena, are you o-!"

Makkari and Sersi winced as Thena tossed him into the wall as if he were no obstacle at all. She'd picked him up as if he were Sprite's size and threw him out of her way without so much as blinking.

"Okay, not in the mood to talk," Kingo grunted as he picked himself up. He nodded as Sersi and Makkari rushed over to make sure he was okay. "What's with her?"

Sleepwalking, Makkari answered concisely, still watching as Thena continued on. I want to see how far she goes.

"I want to make sure she doesn't hurt herself," Sersi clarified her own motivations as well as scolded Makkari for hers.

"Or someone else," Kingo blinked and shook his head in his shock. He followed them, though. "Where's Gil?"

That's what I said!

"Asleep, I'm sure, like the rest of us should be?" Sersi shook her head, her fluttering black hair puffing up around her. "Maybe we can try and guide her back to her room--without waking her."

"I don't really recommend trying," Kingo pointed out, rubbing his shoulder for emphasis.

What if we steer her in the direction of Gil's room, Makkari suggested with a one-shoulder-shrug. Gil is the only one who can handle her anyway. And if she goes to bed in there, then--two birds, one stone.

"And will you be the one to explain to Thena how she ended up there?" Sersi signed, her reply coming as Makkari stretched her arms and yawned again, facing away from her. "That's what I thought."

"Wait," Kingo gripped both their shoulders and pulled them back and behind him.

Thena had stopped, frozen in place, not even visibly breathing. Then she turned. She was headed their way again.

It really was creepy, how her eyes were open and perfectly clear. Kingo backed away a few steps, standing in front of his sisters. "T, now'd be a great time to wake up."

She continued walking towards them. And as soon as she was within arm's reach, she swayed.

Gil caught her raised hand in his easily, a few hairs rustling from the force of her movements even while asleep. "Hey, you."

He didn't get an answer, of course.

"Gil," Sersi whispered to him, trying to explain the situation.

But he clearly knew what was happening already. He moved his hand slowly and gently, his fingers never leaving her as he trailed down her wrist and to her elbow. "Come on, Sweetheart."

The other three Eternals watched, eyebrows raised as far up as they could possibly go. They had never heard anyone call Thena anything so...cute. Was it new? How long had they been like this? Were they always?

Thena said nothing, but it was working, because she drifted away with Gil, her hand in his as he led them to his room.

He paused before turning the corner, waving to his family. "Sorry guys, I got up for some water and I guess she slipped out. Thanks for not waking her."

All three jaws dropped. How long had this been going on? The sleepwalking, the sleeping together, the 'sweetheart'--any of it?!