𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗠𝗘 ─︎ 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗚 𝗫 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥

⇨︎ cнapтer тwenтy ; dead

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[CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE ETERNALS]
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PRESENT DAY - EMERGENCE SITE

Not everyone in this universe has experienced the same things, and most can't say they know how it feels to hold a loved one limp in their arms, not knowing whether or not their eyes will open to reveal their vibrant spirit. Multiple things come along with the package of distress. Breathing turns into one of the most impossible tasks in the galaxy, the false hope that everything transpiring was a dream and that you'd soon wake up next to the person you love the most. All of it ruthlessly afflicts people's minds.

It's haunting.

Despite the fact that Druig could control minds, he simply couldn't control his own as he gently shook his wife, desperately needing her to wake up. He had already lost enough of his friends; he didn't want to lose his wife too, the one person who stuck with him through everything.

Whenever the drowning guilt from watching humans destroy each other thoroughly consumed him, she was there, and she was the only one he could confide in, and he was hers.

"This is not the time to play around, darling," Druig begged. "Wake up!"

Ikaris watched the scene in horror, mouth slightly open as he stared at his sister's limp body and her husband trying to wake her.

"I'm sorry," Ikaris murmured, preparing for Druig to lash out, and he did. Vicious tears of grief trailed down Druig's face, taking the path many other tears took before them.

Resentment obvious in his eyes and trembling voice, Druig remarked harshly, "Leave. Sorry doesn't bring her back, Ikaris!"

His fingertips brushed against the developing bruise settling on her neck and the handle of Sprite's blade, debating if he should remove it. As Ikaris stepped closer to the couple, Druig swiftly discarded the dagger from her abdomen, pointing it at Ikaris.

Seeing no reason to hang around, Ikaris fled to find Sersi, modifying his original plan. All he wanted to do now was apologize, but he fully understood he would never be able to live with the strangling misery.

Losing hope, Druig clacked the knife onto the presently stable ground and glanced down at his wife's bracelet, noticing the abundant jet-black gashes on it. All the gashes essentially cloaked the green and golden pigments. Hope slightly increasing, Druig hastily removed the piece of jewelry and tossed it aside, wishing what he reckoned was true.

Luckily, he was.

Abruptly, a black halo made of power surrounded them, eagerly swirling around as if it had a mind of its own. Each particle of energy suddenly vanished, infiltrating Y/n's body to restore her life.

Just as Druig expected, the bracelet was holding back a tremendous amount of her power, resulting in her not being able to wake up and heal. Without her power stirring in her veins, there was no possibility of her awakening.

With a sharp gasp for air, Y/n's naturally shaded eyes bolted open, allowing Druig to let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. The stab wound and bruise Y/n possessed disintegrated, leaving no indication there was ever a laceration. Nothing can characterize the utter consolation seeping through Druig's body, replacing each pessimistic assumption.

"You're okay," Druig repeated, frightened if it all was a dream. "You're okay." A gentle smack to the back of the head cut him off. "Ouch."

"How dare you?" Y/n reprimanded, enveloping her husband in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead, and I was going to kill- Wait, where's Ikaris? That son of a bitch-"

"I don't care about him." Druig sighed, cherishing the person in his arms. If she hadn't made it, he would've continued to blame himself, contemplating he was the one to encourage Y/n to stop the celestial. "Never do that to me again."

"Maybe if you didn't make me think you were dead, I wouldn't have done that." Y/n retorted, nuzzling into her husband's chest.

"I love you," Druig whispered into her ear repeatedly, scared that she'd disappear. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

"I love you too, darling," Y/n replied, releasing a couple of delighted tears in her eyes.

The hug they shared was different, even though they had hugged infinite times before. Combining their warmth, several sensations hit them all at once, comfort and devotion. Hearts thumping in unison, they didn't want to separate from each other.

"I thought you broke your promises." Y/n murmured, wiping off her husband's tears.

"Never." he replied, connecting their lips together.

Each of their kisses had been delightful, but now there was something even more passionate. Determined and relieved. Both of their bodies dissolved into nothing but sensation as the air surged around the two, and soon, their lips separated. Leaning their foreheads against each other's with their eyes closed, they appreciated each other's aura, memories, and the vows they made.

Druig said softly, "You should know I never break a promise."

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Limping, the married couple approached their family, smiling. Thena dashed over to her sister, welcoming her in an enormous hug. A smile was plastered on everyone's face, relief swaying in the air.

"Ikaris said you died." Thena breathed heavily, suppressing more tears from escaping.

"You shouldn't have believed him. I deserve a cooler death." Y/n joked, feeling her limbs ache as they separated from the hug and leaned against Druig. "Did you kill the deviant?"

"Of course I did." Thena chuckled as they shared a fist bump.

"I knew you could. Where is the little traitor, by the way?" Y/n asked.

"Gone." Sersi answered after a moment of silence. Unexpectedly, Sprite appeared out of nowhere just in time to hear Sersi's answer, tears overflowing and passing over her eyelids.

"Is he really gone?" she sniffled, looking at the ground as if it were the most intriguing thing on the planet. She took their silence as a yes, clenching her hands in fists. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I just thought that I could-"

"Sprite, if you had the chance to choose, would you become human to have all the things you want?" Y/n questioned. Nodding, Sprite furrowed her brows. "I have better control of my power, and I can make you human, but there will come a day where you will die. Although, you can grow old, have kids, fall in love, and do everything you have been desiring. Are you okay with that?"

Eyes large with marvel, Sprite nodded again, willing to start a genuine life.

[SORRY FOR ALL ERRORS! I WAS DEBATING WHETHER I SHOULD MAKE A SAD ENDING, BUT IT IS THANKSGIVING. I CAN NOT HURT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS ON A HOLIDAY <3]