𝑅𝐸𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅 𝑀𝐸 | druig

𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑒

Important a/n: Upon seeing Eternals for a third time (for research purposes, of course), I realized how little time passes between the earthquake and the final sequence where they deal with Tiamut. SO, for the sake of this story, we're going to pretend that instead of one week, there's at least a month between. Ah, the beauty of fanfiction.

Thank you for understanding and happy reading!

____________________________________

What happens after death is one of the greatest mysteries of earth. Nobody knows, even though some claim they do. Nita had her suspicions, as did the rest of the people of her little village. She believed her body to be just a vessel and her spirit would carry on into whatever dimension, realm, or lands it was meant to. She also believed that if one's spirit had unfinished business with the mortal world, it would never leave. Just float around watching the world carry on until said unfinished business was put to rest.

Whatever it was she thought, it didn't come close to where she found herself now. It was just darkness. Her mind was running, thinking of everything and everyone she was leaving behind. Thinking of Andres somewhere in the river, not knowing if he was alive or dead. And her mind  was no longer connected to the rest of her body. Her vessel was no longer conjoined with her spirit. She wasn't panicked, she wasn't scared, but she wasn't at rest either. Just thoughts were all that remained of her.

All thoughts until the sudden force. Nita thought she felt it or sensed it, but she paid no attention to it. The force was followed by some sort of vibration that rang through her thoughts like a tornado ripping through a town, leaving nothing but destruction and rubble in its wake.

The vibrations continued as more sudden forces came down upon her. Slowly, the vibrations became stronger and clearer. They were voices, or rather one voice in particular, calling her name.

"Nita," it growled, although she could barely make it out.

"Benita!" It growled again, this time a little clear. Her name, she could make out her name but not the rough voice of whom it belonged to.

Her mind then focused on the rhythmic force. Something was pushing down on her chest. She could feel it as she began to feel the rest of her body. Cold, tired, and sore. Whoever was saying her name in panic was also applying a pressure on her chest. Someone was trying to revive her. It was a faint glow of light that was growing brighter and brighter.

"Come on, Benita. Come back," the voice said. She recognized it then, the voice was Druig and she reached out to it. All too suddenly, life came rushing back to her at full force. She felt everything, like the sudden pressure of the water in her lungs, clawing up and out of her mouth.

Nita jerked onto her side, coughing and gagging as the water flowed out of her mouth and onto the ground. Her eyes opened next and panic consumed her entire body. Slight movement above her forced her attention to look up and there Druig hovered, kneeled beside her as he slumped back a little, relief taking over his features. Nita's eyes then darted around as she took in her surroundings. She was laying on a beach, the river rushing past her just a few feet away. The sky was a darker shade of blue, no longer the blue-black colour of night, meaning the sun was rising. How long had she been out?

"What h-happened?" She croaked, trying to push herself up but her limbs were still too weak so she collapsed back onto the sand.

"Take it easy, Benita," Druig said, reaching a hand out to her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Nita flinched away. "Don't touch me," she said in a low whisper as that was all she could muster. Druig instantly pulled his hand away but stayed where he kneeled, between her and the river.

As she looked out at the river, it all came rushing back to her. So hard and so fast that it made her stomach turn to the point where she almost doubled over, emptying its contents.

Leaving with Andres, floating down the river, something hitting the boat and sending it flying back.

She looked up at Druig then, her eyes brimming with tears. "What happened?" She asked again, her firm voice back. "Where's Andres?"

A part of her already knew the answer to the latter question but she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it. Druig just looked at her, his eyebrows curved upward a little as his eyes gave her the answer.

"I tried to find him, Benita. I'm sorry," he said, so gently she almost gave into him and fell into his arms. But instead, her face contorted into an expression of anger mixed with anguish and every other negative emotion she could portray. And then she started banging on his chest, weakly at that as she still didn't have her full strength.

"No!" She cried. "You can't say that! Where is he!" She cried again. Nothing made sense. Her mind was complete mush, her body was giving out on her. She was exhausted and in pain as the adrenaline began to decimate and she noticed the gash on her forehead, dripping blood down the side of her face. But none of that mattered. She couldn't care less about herself. She just needed Andres to be with her. She needed him to be okay.

She needed him to be alive.

"Go get him!" She continued to cry. "Please, he's alive. He's out there alone and needs us to come get him." Her tone now subdued to one of pleading. She was begging Druig, on her knees before him, one hand gripping his forearm as he held it out to her.

Tears were brimming his own eyes now as he watched her completely crumble before him. He wanted to help her, he really did. Andres was one of his people who he swore to protect. But he knew he was no match for whatever resided in those waters. For whatever had attacked the two with such force. He knew what it was and what it meant. But that wasn't of his concern at that very moment. She was.

"Please, Druig," she begged him again, bowing her head as tears fell from her eyes and blood fell from her cut into the sand.

"I'm sorry, Benita. It's too dangerous. Whatever hit you is still out there," he said as calmly as he could.

Nita then completely stilled as she lifted her head to meet his eyes. The anguish was gone from her hazel eyes, now completely consumed with anger and determination. He knew exactly what she was about to do.

"Nita, you can't," he said, more of a warning.

"I have to find him, with or without your help," she said through gritted teeth and then pushed herself up off the sand and stumbled toward the water.

Druig knew what he had to do at that moment. Something Nita would eternally hate him for. But unless he did it, he would never see her again. So, as she closed in on the water, Druig stood and faced her, his eyes turning to gold as he focused his mind on hers, calling to it and wrapping itself around hers, taking control.

"I'm sorry, Benita," he whispered to the wind as her eyes closed and her body went limp with sleep. In a few short strides he was by her side, catching her and hauling her up into his arms.

His lips twitched downward as a single tear slipped from his eye. "I'm sorry," he whispered again and turned back toward his compound.