#but it's okay he has Sersi to cheer him up

[softquietsteadylove]

Thenamesh Boxer/Ballerina Au, Thena watches Gil (out of his sight to not distract him) as he trains (let it be a good and serious match) with Ikaris (who is also good) and is pretty impressed how fast, strong and agile he really is.

"He's good."

"Hm," Thena agreed quietly, her eyes glued to the ring as Ikaris and Gil moved around each other. Her hands had been clasped together anxiously since the two of them stepped into the ring.

This was just a friendly match for charity--a friendly match for old time's sake, as they said. Gil was happy to participate for a good cause, and had even cut back on his class hours to train for it in preparation.

She had watched him train a few times; she knew how good he was. But she also couldn't help but wince every time Ikaris got a hit in, the sound of the gloves on their headgear like a ball being slammed against a gym floor at full force.

"I thought you wanted to see this," Sersi smiled, nudging Thena from beside her. The sweet assistant teacher was much more invested in the fight than Thena.

"I said I wanted to support Gil," Thena muttered, shrivelling as Ikaris landed two hits on either side of Gil's head.

"He'll be fine," Sersi attempted to soothe her unusually nervous companion. "You said they were both professionals, and Ikaris isn't here to fight too intensely."

Thena kept in mind the day she had walked in on Gil absolutely wailing on Ikaris for whatever reasons they'd had. She let out a breath as the bell dinged, signalling the end of this and the break before the last round.

Sersi gasped as Gil smiled at them, waving on his way back to his corner.

Thena offered a softer smile, wiggling her fingers in a wave back to him. Her heart leapt as he shook his head, the sweat from his fight making his hair look a special combination of unkempt and cool. She had seen him practice, and she knew his strategy, too.

"I just have to wait for him to get tired out," he had told her with a laugh, as if it didn't mean letting Ikaris lay into him until that point. "He gets real sloppy once he runs out of steam, and that's when to really get him on the ropes--literally!"

Thena sat up even straighter - practically hovering on the edge of the bench - as they stood for their last round. "You can do it, Gil."

He couldn't possibly have heard her whispered encouragement, but he did turn and wave at her again before getting back to it.

Ikaris was panting, having properly tired himself over the course of the first rounds. He had a lithe, wiry figure. A little taller but a little more lean than Gilgamesh. He was all about wide, powerful strikes.

But Gil was a champion of endurance. He could take a few hits to the arms, the shoulders, even his sides. So long as he tempered what headshots came his way, he could outlast most anyone, and that included his old buddy from the pro circuit.

Ikaris made a few swings at Gil, his momentum dragging him around the floor. Gil let him, easily sidestepping and dodging him until his shoulders were sagging.

Gil tossed away Ikaris' strikes easily, the swing of them having decreased in power by at least half. Gil got in close, pulling his elbows in to get in fast but strong lightning shots.

Ikaris stumbled back as Gil bombarded his torso with stingers. He blocked one for every three, maybe, ending up against the ropes of the ring by the time Gil came in with the gut shot.

Gil stood back as Ikaris slumped down onto the floor of the ring. The count was had and his fist was raised in the air.

"And the king takes it!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, some jumping to their feet, everyone clapping at least. Thena clapped as well, leaning against Sersi's shoulder. "Thank goodness."

"I'd hate to see what you'd be like if he'd lost," Sersi giggled. She had known about Thena fancying Gilgamesh for longer than even Thena had, but it was sweet to see the reserved teacher so open about it now.

Thena kept her eyes on Gil as he pulled his headgear off, letting his gloves be taken for him. Those in his corner came over, swarming him with water and buckets and towels. She looked at Sersi, "you should attend to your beau."

Sersi blushed faintly, although her purse was already on her shoulder again. "Are you sure?"

"You go ahead," Thena smiled as Sersi started to rise before her sentence was even over. "Treat him to dinner for his loss."

"Oh, hush," Sersi snickered at her, "you tend to your boyfriend."

Thena smiled, waving again as she finally caught Gil's eyes unobstructed. He gave her that smile of his and she stood, ready to go over to him. She intended to do just that.

[baroquebucky]

soulmates

a/n: hi hi friends !!! enjoy this one shot for our favorite mind controlling boy <33 feel free to send some reqs in !! i am an absolute SUCKER for soulmate au’s <333

in which druig wonders what the name on his wrist means, and you wonder where the hell your soulmate is

word count: 1.7k

masterlist

contains eternals spoilers !!!! do NOT read if you haven’t watched !!!

-

No one was more confused than druig when he saw the name on his wrist. When did it get there? Had it always been there? He would sneak a glance at the other eternals’ wrist, but they were all bare. He furrowed his brows and softly brushed the name with the pad of his thumb.

y/n y/l/n

The name was engraved into his mind, the curve of every letter swirled through his mind for years as he traveled the world with the others. Even Ajak was at a loss when she found out about the name on his wrist.

Then they learned that they would be heading to earth. Ajak found out about the soulmate system that had taken root on the planet, it was unexplainable how it had happened or how it worked. However it did explain one thing, the letters on Druigs wrist.

“they’re your soulmate Druig, your other half” she explained to him, but he was confused. Why only him? Why not everyone else?

“the universe works in mysterious ways my friend” Kingo spoke up, “maybe they know you need someone to cheer you up, not be so brooding all the time” he chuckled, the other stifling their laughter. Druig only rolled his eyes, heading away from them and giving himself time to think.

He had a soulmate.

You had a long day, you were exhausted and all you wanted to do was cry your eyes out and never leave your room ever again. With a heavy sigh you unlocked your apartment and set your bag down, breathing in slowly and calling out for your dog, maybe some snuggles would make you feel better. You looked over the name on your wrist,

Druig.

It was upsetting you had yet to meet your soulmate. It felt as if everyone around you met their soulmate so soon and you had yet to even have a tug in your chest drawing you towards them. The pit of sadness grew in your stomach and you frowned. Druig wouldn’t want you sad, right? You had to be strong, it’s just one bad day, you would be okay. Nothing else could go wrong, right?

“Icarus? C’mere buddy!” You called out, wanting to take the canine into your arms and give him all the pats in the world. Within moments you could hear the sound of his nails against the hardwood floor, rounding the corner as his ears flopped as he bounded towards you, tongue out as he jumped on your thighs for attention.

“how about we go for a walk hmm? Maybe that’ll help clear my mind yeah?” You spoke to your pet, as soon as he heard ‘walk’ he began to bark, running to the drawer you had his things in and whining as if he was telling you to hurry. You smiled as you slipped on his harness and clipped his leash on, locking the door as you made your way out to the trail nearby your apartment.

Druig didn’t know why this city suddenly popped into his head a couple days after stopping the emergence. It was as if he was given the final piece to a puzzle he had been trying to solve for years. The whole team had decided to stay on earth with Phastos and his family for a couple days before everyone would part ways. He was gonna leave with Thena and Makkari he had decided. Hundreds of years had passed and he has yet to find you, nothing was going to change anytime soon. And the he felt a tug in his chest when it came time to leave, he couldn’t do it.

“They’re here- my soulmate” he spoke up, looking at the others, “I think i know where they are” they had never seen Druig look so excited, a small smile on his face as he thought about finally finding you after so long.

“Go” Sersi spoke up, Thena next to her with a smile on her face, “go find your soulmate Druig” she assured him, the others nodding in agreement and he smiled at them, it was a genuine smile.

“let me help you, I’ll let you use my jet to get there” Kingo offered and Druig nodded, thanking him.

Before he knew it he was all packed up and saying goodbye to the others, excitement flowing through his body as he though about meeting you, his other half.

And so here he was, walking along a park trail and thinking of where you could be in the city. What did you work as? What did you like? What was your favorite color? Did you like candles? He was tired of not having you by his side, after hundreds of years he just wanted you.

You who were meant to be with him. You who were his perfect match. You who were-

Druig let out a groan as a dog jumped onto him, his front paws hitting his stomach and knocking the air out of him.

“fuck” he groaned, regaining composure and looking down at the dog, his eyes sparkling and tongue sticking out. “hi little buddy what are you doing here?” Druig smiled, crouching down and petting the dog, looking at collar, a sad smile taking over his face as he read the bold letters.

“nice to meet you too icarus” he smiled, “now where are you supposed to be” he was about to flip the tag over when he saw you running towards him, broken leash in hand and tear stained cheeks.

“I’m so sorry! Oh my god I’m so sorry!” You called out, stopping infront of the man and your dog, who looked up at you ever so innocently. “The leash broke and I tried to catch him but he’s so fast- i don’t even know how it broke it’s brand new- did he hurt you? Im so sorry it’s just-”

Druig saw the state you were in, usually he would mind control anyone who bothered him too much, but something about you rigged at his heart and he just wanted to hold you and make everything better.

“hey, hey! it’s okay I’m alright” he spoke softly, on hand on Icarus and the other motioning to his body, “all in one piece see?” He smiled up at you and you simply sniffled, smiling at him softly.

Once your mind had cleared a bit you realized how embarrassing this was. You were in tears over your dog and he was this extremely attractive man in a leather jacket baby talking your dog. You cursed yourself as you wiped away your now dried tears.

“I’m y/n by the way, I’m sorry once again-” Druig’s head snapped up and his body froze as you spoke.

“what?” He whispered, standing back up and looking at you, his eyes searching your face and flickering towards your wrist.

“i was just- i figured i should introduce myself” you mumbled.

You should feel nervous. You should feel anxious that this man suddenly froze at the mention of your name.

You should pull your hand away when he reaches for it. You should tell him off for grabbing you without warning. You should take Icarus and get home before it got dark.

But you don’t.

Instead you feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders. You feel like you finally found some sense of peace and warmth in your life. You feel like you’ve finally found your home.

Instead you let him grab your hand, his hands were gentle as they grabbed your wrist and pulled back your longsleeve, revealing his name in the same font he had burned into his mind.

Druig

“It’s you” he sighed out, his eyes meeting yours after a moment, “i finally found you” he smiled. You knew exactly what he meant and you didn’t stop care to stop the smile that formed on your face. You didn’t care to stop yourself from throwing your arms around his neck.

Druig felt warmth bloom in his chest as you hugged him, he felt love flow through his veins and he smiled as his arms wrapped around your waist, pressing kisses to the top of your head.

“God you don’t know how long I’ve been looking for you my love” he whispered, your heart skipping a beat at the suns of his voice.

“You found me when I needed you most” you replied, pulling away, this time really looking at him. You both stared at each other, lovesick smiles on your faces, drinking in every last detail of the other.

The sound of Icarus’ bark pulled you both out of your bubble, you hand immediately flying to grab his harness so he couldn’t get away again.

“do you maybe wanna go back to my place so I don’t have to worry about him running off again?” You chuckled and Druig smiled, nodding.

“if it means I get to be with you I’d chase after him right alongside with you” he replied, loving the way you grew flustered at his words.

You thought you would be at least mildly upset that your soulmate hadn’t found you sooner, or that you hadn’t found them sooner. But you weren’t, not even a little bit. Because here you were with hot chocolate in both of your hands, smiling bashfully with the definition of a bad boy. But he was nothing but a sweetheart with a soft spot for your dog.

And here was Druig, sitting on his soulmates couch. He knew as soon he held you close that all those years were worth the wait. He knew it for a fact, because nothing could compare to the way his heart swelled in his chest when you smiled at him.

Nothing could compare to the way your laugh made him laugh. Nothing could compare to the way the two of you fell in sync so easily. Nothing could compare to the way the two of you fell in love with each other before you even realized it.

Nothing could compare to you. He loved you. He loved you with every fiber of his being and he knew he was never going to let you go. Not when you were his soulmate and especially not when you were the love of his life.

[taylorkellyreporting]

i hope no one minds if i liveblog this bitch: eternals

BEAUTIFUL MAKKARI

oh shit ikaris and sersi got married??? i thought they just dated and then broke up

druig’s just like me 🫂 (always eating)

thena ☹️

i get where druig’s coming from but obviously mind controlling people is not the answer

“my friends from college are here!” 😭

sooo ikaris definitely killed ajak right?

“one time i turned a rock into air! :D” oh i love her

tony stark you will always be famous

“ajak didn’t even choose you to lead us.” 🗣GET HIM

gil is so funny i love him

“druig sucks!” “he does sir.” pls

I’D DO IT AGAIN ON ANY PLANET

sprite is in love with ikaris? oh wow

i really thought makkari and phastos were in the entire movie not just bits and pieces 🥴

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IKARIS

“i’ll remember. i’ll remember.” I HATE IT HERE

“he gave up on humans a long time ago.” ummm isn’t he married to one??? 😭

phastos has a beautiful family 🥺

“fall collection. ikea. ass.” lmfaooo

his goodbyes to his family ☹️

did they just forget makkari’s existence??? they haven’t mentioned my girl once this whole movie

MAKKARI THERE YOU ARE MY LOVE

“at least my boredom will end.” she’s just like me

DRUIG REALLY GAVE UP TWINKIES(is that what they were) FOR MAKKARI OH HES DOWN BAD

“MY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MAKKARI DID YOU MISS ME?”

i hate sprite

HE KNEW???!!!? glad my hate for this guy is valid

THAT’S WHY HE REACTED THAT WAY WHEN KONGO SAID THAT TO HIM. BC HE SAID IT TO AJAK BEFORE KILLING HER

IKARIS IS NOTHING BUT A COWARD

need ikaris GONE immediately

i hate how almost none of the eternals sign when talking to makkari

“i already gave that speech! ✋🏻" i love thena lmao

oh God makkari’s cry for druig i am not doing okay

MAKKARI KICKING IKARIS ASS IKTR

WACK HER AGAIN DRUIG

IKARIS DIED? WE ALL CHEERED

SHE FELT HIM

“it’s okay. it’s okay.” CRYING

sprite doesn’t deserve to be human

“stand behind me, actually.” 😭

“don’t go anywhere near him.” lmfaoooo

oh shit sersi

oh there’s definitely a sequel coming

so the movie was good i guess? i liked the characters a lot more than i liked the plot if i’m honest.

i’m gonna need a shit ton of makkari and phastos scenes in the next movie bc the ones we got in this one weren’t enough

[myuntimelydemise]

Warning: 18+, Minors DNI

Banded Together

A/N: An idea flitted across my mind and this was birthed from that lol, enjoy I guess?

Since your relationship with Druig had begun, you were both very touchy in private but he wasn't a fan of PDA. You guys usually makeout after sneaking into each other's rooms in the Domo, but really nothing more than thought. His hands have travelled once or twice but neither of you have really pushed it past that.

Druig surprises you one night, a few years after Ikaris and Sersi's wedding with a ring of your own. He's never really valued marriage but he knows you love the idea and he would do anything for you. He slips the ring on your finger and you watch as it sparkles in his eyes, feeling nothing but love for him.

The wedding went off without a hitch, it was very beautiful and you had the time of your life, but your heart was beating for something else.

You anxiously twist the glittering band around your finger, your eyes catching the silver one on his. And though you're surrounded by a crowd of people, you have no thoughts in your head besides the man standing next to you.

You want to rip his suit off.

You subtly lean over to him, leaning onto your toes in your tall heels. Nose grazing his ear, you whisper, trying to catch his attention.

"My love," he turns his grinning face over to meet your eyes. You slide your hand up, grabbing his chin and turn his face back in the opposite direction as to access his ear again.

"I want you. Now." He meets your eyes again, noting the serious look on your face.

"Alright, Phastos, do you mind wrapping this up for us?-" Druig grabs your hand.

"Wait what-" Phastos barely has a chance to answer, as the rest of the Eternals all glance your way.

"Cheers Lad." Your husband winks, and rushes you behind a secluded corner, and out of the back door.

You both giggle like teenagers, after escaping your own wedding party and jogging back to the Domo. You barely make it up the stairs and into the entrance before Druig has his fingers dug into your dress, yanking it up to your hips.

Your lips connect in desperation, fingers flying to the buttons of his suit jacket. His tongue flicks over your lips, delving into your mouth before you have the chance to breath him in.

You're suffocating, in the best way.

He finally gets your dress up your hips, holding it behind your back with one hand as the other grips your thighs and pulls on your skin perilously.

You can feel his wedding band digging into your skin, leaving marks in its wake. The feeling has your whimpering.

By the time he gets your dress all the way off, you're beyond wet and aching, in need of more than just his touch.

"Please, I want you in me. Please-" he groans, covering your begging with a kiss, undoing his belt and letting it hit the floor.

The ping that resounds from the cold metal floor is a harsh reminder that you're still standing at the door of the Domo, in just your panties.

"Fuck," your husband groans as he palms himself over his slacks, eyes drifting down your semi-clothed body.

"Wait Dru! The door!" The haze in his eyes seems to clear up, realising that you are both, indeed, in sight of anyone who could happen to be walking nearby.

"Shit. Okay, um.... here." He helps you step out of your now crumpled wedding dress and tucks it under his arm, pulling you down the hall to his room.

"I can't believe I almost fucked you out in the open like that, jeez." He chuckles, pushing you into the room and sealing his heavy door behind him.

"I wouldn't have let you, and even if I did... you could wipe their mind no?" You chuckle, sitting on his bed, realising you're only in a skimpy bra and panty set now.

Druig wasn't the biggest fan of erasing peoples memories, he felt like that was a power that no one deserved. Not even him.

He walks over to you with mock distaste on his face. "Nah, they'd just have got lucky today." He jokes. Walking over to his bed to stand in front of you.

You look up at him, through your lashes, as he looks down at you, a sinful look glazing over his face. He bites into his lip, unbuttoning the top of his slacks and undoing the zipper. Never breaking eye contact.

You gulp in anticipation, you've been waiting for this, for nearly a century. He lets his pants drop, but doesn't move after that.

He tilts his head like a puppy, with expecting eyes, waiting for something.

You catch his drift as you peel down the straps of your bra, and let it slip down to your hips. He grins, keeping eye contact with you, and finally leans down to capture his lips in yours.

The two of you get heated quick. One second he's leaning over you, the next you're both a tangle of arms and legs and lips. You feel his fingers dip between your legs, exactly where you want him the most. His wedding band, again digging into your skin. There's nothing like that feeling, you think to yourself. He's all yours.

[softquietsteadylove]

I would love to read more about Thenamesh and Dane. They are invited to Sersis birthday and they go to a bar or club. And Thena is tense all the time because she worries Mahd Wy'ry will crash the party.

xoxo

"Happy Birthday Sersi!"

Sersi made a very good show of looking surprised and delighted as some of their friends came out with a cake and candles for her. According to her, she always avoided giving people a solid birthday for her, so that no one could ever accuse her of lying (and not aging). But she had been in London long enough now that it was more suspicious to not have any birthday whatsoever.

Dane clapped politely as Sersi blew out the candles, letting the other party goers cheer and jostle her around. Everyone was a few pints in by this point, if not well on their way to being pissed.

He leaned back from the line for cake. Cake and beer really wasn't that delicious a combination. And he was - not so officially - keeping his eye on another guest to the party.

Thena had been quiet all night.

Sersi had asked him hastily and quietly to just keep somewhat of an eye on her sister for the night. Thena had agreed to come solely so Sersi and Gilgamesh wouldn't feel the need to stay home and watch her. But Sersi knew Thena would be far from comfortable in a packed little pub, pounding music, a dance floor, and nothing but loud humans to drown it all out.

She seemed to be doing okay, but Dane knew better than to assume anything by this point. And despite his initial impression, Sersi insisted that Thena liked him, so...

Dane excused himself, shimmying past people with his pint glass in hand. No one paid him much mind, much more focused on his partner--the woman of the hour. He set his glass on a tray with other dirty glasses and leaned against the edge of the counter. "Want some cake?"

She shook her head.

"I'm sure Sersi would be happy to save you a piece," Dane carried on. He found that the best way to get Thena talking was to do plenty of the preamble himself. Then, she could insert her one or two words as she pleased. "Or perhaps it doesn't stack up against what Gilgamesh makes."

He was maybe using all his best moves too early.

But Thena smiled faintly at the mention of her husband, "he did offer to make one but it seems more customary to partake in whatever someone has bought."

"I suppose, yeah," Dane nodded, still watching as Sersi did her best to cut small pieces and get them to everyone around her. She met his eyes, inclining her head in such a way to indicate that he was making the right move, according to her.

"Should you not be up there with her?"

"Ah, well," he tucked the corners of his smile into his cheeks and tapped his hands against the counter. "Just...need another pint. What about you?"

"I can see and hear her just fine from here."

She was even more tense in here than she had been on the tube.

Dane clasped his hands together on the countertop. He looked over at her, "you're doing well, for what it's worth. I know you're worried about that."

Thena didn't even move, locked up so tightly it seemed that moving her eyes over to him took effort. "If I go under for a second, I could-"

"No, no," he shook his head, discouraging the sentiment before she could speak it aloud. "None of that, now."

Thena looked at him more fully now, even if it was to express her annoyance at his dismissal. "You choose now to become abundantly confident?"

Dane put a hand on his hip. "While you seem determined to worry and think only of the negative possibilities. Have I rubbed off on you?"

She continued to glare at him.

"Is that why you're over here, sequestering yourself?" Dane looked from her over to Sersi and the party again. "Protecting them, as it were?"

"Indeed I am," she asserted more poignantly, just to shut him up.

"Come on," he insisted, though. He would have to be careful about just how far he could push the literal Goddess of War. But he leaned on the counter again, "I'm not saying you have to dance, but mingling a little wouldn't kill you, would it?"

"It is not my death that concerns me."

"You seem fine right now," Dane pointed out, and watched Thena absorb that observation from someone else's perspective. "You haven't slipped, there's no gold in your skin. I think you're okay, Thena."

"Hm." Dane was by no means an expert of communication with Thena. There were a lot of nuances and subtleties to it. But that 'hm' almost sounded...unsure. It sounded vulnerable and delicate.

"Look," he said more gently, even pulling out the seat next to her, "I know it took a lot for you to come here. That doesn't escape me, and you know it means the world to Sersi."

They both looked over again, Sersi almost glowing from sharing in the human energy in the room.

"She wants you to get out more, enjoy the world as it is now," Dane expressed on behalf of his girlfriend. She had told him all of this before, particularly from a place of guilt over not having seen Thena in so very long before reuniting last year.

"That is much more easily said than done, Dane."

"I know," he nodded, and it was true, it was. "But you're doing great so far. Why not - I dunno - run with that, a little?"

Thena looked at him with a smile furrow in her brow. She didn't always excel with modern figures of speech.

Dane chuckled, which only seemed to annoy her further. "How about this?--just a dance. Not all of these songs are going to be loud bops, and when a gentler song comes on, you can get on your feet, just for a little."

"Hm." That sounded much better than the last one!

"You and--where is Gil?"

"Hey!" he announced himself, rushing over to them with his coat on but not buttoned up despite the cold London air (just for show). "I had to go grab something."

Dane happily got up, surrendering the space next to the Warrior Eternal to the man who would truly know exactly what she needed and how to help.

Gilgamesh pulled out a tiny cake--an individual little mousse, of sorts. "There's a little convenience store around the corner and they had these in the case with the samosas and stuff."

Thena brightened considerably at the sight of a dessert which wouldn't require her to brush elbows with the rest of the party. "It is Sersi's celebration."

Gilgamesh didn't listen, pulling her head in to kiss her temple. "She can celebrate all she wants."

Dane skittered a little closer to the empty tray of glassware again. It was actually topnotch move, and he would have to remember that for the next time Sersi seemed down about something (or he was in trouble for something).

"Another, pal?"

"Please," he smiled at the barkeep. He eyed the couple as Thena dug into the single serving mousse, offering Gilgamesh the first bite from her fork.

"Hey, it's not bad!"

"You could make better," she declared without any room for argument, even as she took a bite of the light and fluffy chocolate with a sigh.

"How're you doing?" Dane heard Gilgamesh asked her much more quietly. His hand ran down her back. "I was a little worried about leaving you, but Sersi said Dane would keep you company."

He blushed faintly, unsure of how to feel about being the designated company keeper for his very lethal sister-in-law.

Thena smiled, though, her hand on Gilgamesh's knee, "he is a fine man. I greatly appreciate that Sersi has him."

Dane jaw nearly dropped as he tried to sip his beer and pretend he wasn't listening. She had never said anything like that to him! Probably never would, too.

"Good," Gil sufficed to say, kissing her cheek again. "So, no flares?"

She shook her head, apparently feeling much more confident in it than a minute ago. Perhaps the little dessert really did that much to improve her mood. "We should dance."

Dane nearly choked on his beer, averting his eyes as he did.

Gilgamesh was definitely surprised by it too, but it didn't take much for him to agree to dance with his own partner, "don't mind if I do."

As Dane had promised, the club mix faded and a much more gentle melody replaced it. He had requested a few 'crowd bummers' himself, as it were, just to ensure that Thena had at least some relief from the pounding dance music.

He smiled into his beer as, on their way past, a hand gave the sleeve of his shirt a faint pinch. She didn't excel in expressing herself with words, but he had to assume it was a way of saying thank you.

[softquietsteadylove]

Hey, it's me again! I thought about this for al long time and decided to ask you to write it. I thought about Sersi and Dane getting Married after she and the others got rescued after the Emergence. And they are all at their wedding, dancing, having fun. Everybody but Thena. Jack is trying to cheer his aunt up but it doesn't work. And Eros comes to the party with his "wedding present" for Sersi and Dane. It's Ajak ('cause she didn't wanted to die and wanted to try safe the earth) and Gilgamesh, because he realized that he's got no chance to take Gilgamesh's place and Thena will love him forever. So he brought them back. As a present.

This roamed my head for weeks now. And i live for cuteness and reunion and fluff and AHHHHH

She looks beautiful, Thena thinks, and she does. Sersi looks lovely in the emerald green wedding gown. It contrasts Makkari's dark red one, as she swirls between dancing with her sisters and returning to Druig's waiting arms.

Sersi is dancing with a Sprite that looks closer to Druig's age than Jack's, now. They both have tears in their eyes, laughing when Dane cuts in to spin around his - in a funny way - niece/sister-in-law and then his wife.

Thena is happy for them. She is. She is trying to be.

Everything is a muddled mess of sounds and colours and smells. And yet it all feels...bland. Like food that hasn't been seasoned properly. All the ingredients are there, but they haven't come together.

She knows she's being extra miserable when she's thinking in cooking metaphors.

She misses Gilgamesh.

Her Gilgamesh was always the life of the party. He would have been ecstatic to attend another of Sersi's weddings. He loved weddings. It was being around happy people, really--he was happiest when the people around him were happy.

They had danced at Sersi's last wedding. It was so long ago, and she doesn't blame Mahd Wy'ry when she has to search for memories of the day. But she could never forget the smile on Gil's face as he spun her around, pulled her into his arms, whispered in her ear that if she ever wanted to-

"Aunt Thena?"

She doesn't let it show--that he pulled her out of a deep, deep vortex of thoughts. She just looks at him, "what is it, Jack?"

"Are you okay?" the boy asks, and in such a quiet and understated way that she can already imagine him grown up. She can imagine him looking like his father - her brother - when he talks like that.

"I'm fine."

Jack doesn't take the words and run. He sways a little on the spot, pulls at the fancy clothes he's put on for the occasion. Then he looks up at her again, "you don't seem fine."

Damn the child and his perceptive abilities. Thena takes in a breath, hearing the tremor in it. Jack must hear it too, because he reaches up to her. Neither quite know what to do with the gesture, but Thena uncrosses her arms, and Jack takes advantage to hold her hand. His little palm closes around her long fingers.

"You miss Uncle Gil?"

The name spoken aloud rips something apart inside of her. She looks back to Sersi dancing with Dane. She forces her eyes to dry. "Yes."

Jack nods, still holding his stoic aunt's hand as if she might fall into a million pieces otherwise. She doesn't seem to like it, but he thinks that maybe she needs it regardless. "Dad told me about him. He said he was really funny, and kind, and he always had a smile for even people he didn't like. And he made great food."

Thena closes her fingers around Jack's smaller hand, feeling the warmth his human body gives off. He's so small, so breakable, and she realises that if anything happens to him, that she will destroy the world more thoroughly than Tiamut managed. "Uncle Gil...he was the very best, Jack. Kinder and warmer a soul, you would never find."

Jack listens to Thena describe the one of a kind soul that was Gilgamesh. He looks out at his other aunt, dancing in the arms of a human man. He only met Dane a few times, but he seems nice. "You saved Aunt Sersi and Dad from the World Forge, right?"

"Yes," she looks around the room. Druig has given up on dancing, happy to watch Makkari enjoy herself. Sprite has drifted to Kingo's side. "Sprite helped us too. She won't say it, but she loves your Uncle Kingo very much. He's as much her older brother as your father is to the rest of us."

"Who's the oldest?"

They all awoke at the same time as ageless beings in a spaceship, over and over again in a thousand and one different lifetimes.

But she says, "I don't know."

Jack accepts it, just nodding as if she's said more than she has. He looks up at her again. "Do you know how to dance?"

"No."

"Me neither," he sighs. But he stays beside her, looking around. His fathers are dancing together, speaking softly and looking at each other in a way that Jack doesn't quite understand yet.

Thena is pulled from her melancholy again when he tugs at her hand.

"Wanna try?"

Who is she to say no to her brother's child? So she offers what smile she can and lets him pull her to the dance floor. Everyone smiles at them fondly--adoringly.

Sersi smiles, and she knows immediately that her sister can tell what's on her mind. And that won't do, because she can't be the reason for her unhappiness on a day like today.

So, Thena lets Jack take her hands in his, looking down at their feet and counting steps out loud.

"One-two-three," Jack mutters, walking them in a box like his Baba taught him just for tonight in case he wanted to try his hand at dancing with someone.

"Very good, Jack," Thena smiles, charmed just for the effort. She follows his lead, taking smaller, more graceful steps as Jack trots around in circles. He smiles up at her and she feels just an ounce out of an ocean of grief lighten off her.

"Mind if I cut in?"

"Uh," Jack looks up, looking at the serious face of his aunt. "Were you invited?"

The man chuckles, pushing back some very fancy hair. "Smart lad--I suppose not. I'm here to...deliver some presents."

"Jack, go to your father."

"But-"

Thena doesn't repeat herself. The Goddess of War does not have to. But she pushes him away with a gentle hand on his shoulder, turning him towards the safety of his father's protection. Not that this man is necessarily an enemy, but she doesn't think she considers him a friend, either. "Are you here to collect on a debt?"

"Do you think so little of me?"

"You do not wish to know what I think of you."

"You wound me," Eros shakes his head and smiles in good nature, but she can see something else in his eyes as he says it. He works hard to keep it concealed, but he's not as good at hiding things as he thinks he is.

He's nowhere near as good at it as she is.

Thena crosses her arms, putting her deadly hands away, also in a show of good will. "We do owe you."

"I told you to go."

"Still," she tilts her head, "you held off the defenses so we could escape with them."

Eros looks over at Sersi, Phastos and Kingo, standing along the edges of the room. Anyone else might just think they have a bad history. But he knows that the other Eternals in the room as watching him carefully as he speaks with their sister, ready to pounce.

Makkari and Druig clearly remember him, looming closer than the rest. Druig's eyes are already aglow, daring Eros to make a single wrong move.

"But you had to leave something behind."

Thena keeps herself from grasping his neck and throwing him through the floor and into the level below. Just barely.

"A sacrifice we were all aware of you making in the moment," Eros concedes in a surprising gracious way, bowing his head in recognition. "They know better than I what it cost you to come so close."

No one knew--no one would ever really understand what it cost her to be so close to having him back and having to turn away.

"I'll go back for him again."

"You don't have to."

"You intend to stop me?" Thena glares, her palms burning. She'll pin him down--let Sersi evacuate everyone from the room. Then she'll let Mahd Wy'ry wash over her - maybe forever, this time - and destroy the man before her.

"I didn't say that," Eros holds up a hand. His smile is a little sadder now, "I said you don't have to."

"Ajak?"

The woman steps forward, looking around her in bewilderment. There's obviously a lot for her to absorb in the moment. But she sees her family there, staring at her. She opens her arms.

"Ajak!"

It's Sprite that reaches her first, throwing herself at her and crying all of her human tears. Ajak holds her precious Eternal Child--Eternal no longer. Sersi reaches her next, folding around both of them and burying her face in Ajak's lush brown waves of hair. Makkari leaps into the group hug, and Ajak is smiling and crying as she holds her children again.

Dane approaches more cautiously, knowing the name well enough by now to know that this is his equivalent of a mother-in-law.

Thena barely sees or hears them. Everything is a muddled mess of sounds and colours and smells. It all fades away as she feels familiar, heavy steps.

He looks around him, taking it all in. Perhaps he's gotten the same briefing as Ajak did. Because there's no confusion, or wonder when he looks at her. It's all recognition and warmth and love. "Hey."

Thena throws herself at him. She uses her full strength, not wasting a second to get to him and feel his arms around her again. But he braces himself and stands strong, as he always had. He holds her as if she's delicate, and not the deadliest Warrior the planet has ever known.

"Sorry I'm late."

Her tears fall freely, and she lets them. His shirt absorbs them.

Gilgamesh stays silent, running a hand over her hair as he holds her, letting her get her grief out. He knows exactly what she needs, what she wants, and the balance between the two. He has spent his entire life with this woman at his side.

Thena pulls away only to pull his lips to hers, and it's neither new nor old, but it's right. It's so right to have him here, with her. For him to be alive and well under her hands, feeling his heartbeat--nothing could be wrong so long as she has this.

Gil holds her, the moment stretching out and bubbling around them. Their foreheads rest together, his hand at the small of her back, just like it was at Sersi's last wedding. He could never forget the feeling of dancing with his Thena.

"Gil, we should-"

"Um, excuse me?"

Gil blinks, pulling away from Thena with the utmost reluctance. But she turns, giving her attention to the young man shuffling towards them. Gil doesn't know who this kid is, but he reminds him of someone. "Uh, hi?"

"Are you," the boy shifts nervously. His eyes move to Thena's, and Gilgamesh realises that the boy trusts Thena, and even more shockingly, that she is fond of the boy. "Are you...Uncle Gil?"

Gil instantly loves the kid. He smiles, leaning down to him with an open palm. "I guess that's me."

Jack shakes the open hand with a smile. "Aunt Thena was waiting for you."

He has no idea how true that is. Gil blinks his tears away, still holding Thena's waist in his other arm. "I know. But I'm here now."

Jack smiles as he catches sight of the smile on his aunt's face. She has the same look that his fathers get that he still doesn't quite understand. But she seems happy. "You can dance with her now, I guess. But she says she doesn't know how."

Gil chuckles, taking Thena's hand in his as he leads her away. "That's not true."

And he's right, Jack realises. Maybe Aunt Thena doesn't even know it, but he sees her moving smoothly and gracefully - Uncle Gil's hand, wrapped around hers - and thinks she can dance.

So long as she has her partner with her.