𝑅𝐸𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅 𝑀𝐸 | druig

𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

Nita and Druig stood facing each other for a few moments–Druig waiting for Nita to speak and Nita trying to organize her thoughts to decide what information exactly she needed from him. She had many questions that she needed answers to; like what the boats loaded with guns were for? How much time did they have before the next deviant attack? What did he do with Diego?

"Would you like me to read your mind if you're having trouble speaking?" He asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"No," she said without hesitation. "No more of that. Not on me."  Druig slightly raised a brow then nodded once.

"I think I can manage that but on one condition," he said and both Nita's brows shot up. What could he possibly want in return for Nita's fair request in getting total control of her own mind?

"And what's that?" She asked as he clasped his hands behind his back, a small smile on his face.

"No more putting yourself in situations where I have no choice but to use my abilities," he said and Nita was a little taken aback by his condition. But she couldn't blame him. After everything that had happened in the past couple of days, she didn't plan on putting herself in any more life threatening situations so she nodded but didn't say anything.

"Walk with me, Benita," he said, then turned around and started toward the edge of the village where the pathway that led to his cabin began.

"It's only Nita," she corrected him as she fell into step behind him.

Druig turned his head with a small smile. "I happen to like your name, Benita. Do you know what it means?" He asked, facing forward again. She didn't say anything as she didn't really know what to say so Druig continued on. "It means the blessed one. It also means brave like a bear. And you, milady, have proven time and time again that you are." His words forced a knot in Nita's throat because she felt the exact opposite of the meaning and was almost shameful about it.

Druig turned back to her when she didn't say anything, one eyebrow raised. "You don't agree?" He asked. Nita just looked up at him, now standing only a foot or two away. Besides on the beach after the deviant attack, she'd never been that close in proximity to him and she began to notice just how blue his eyes were... how beautiful and rare they were.

Shaking that thought from her mind she just gave him a small shrug. "Why did you tell me that?" She asked, a little thrown off by his small praise that made her thoughts of him even more confusing.

She saw his jaw tighten a little as his features hardened. "Because I feel as though you don't hear it enough. And I feel as though many have underestimated you, as I have," he said. Her heart rate began to accelerate as the truth of his words sank in. Andres had been the only one to compliment her and tell her things that made her heart flutter. The only one to help her realize that she was meant for something far greater than the current life she lived. But coming from Druig? The man who was responsible for her current reality? She felt torn.

"Oh," was all she could say as she dropped her gaze to the dirt ground.

"Come along, Benita. There's something I want to show you," he said and then turned to the right, down a different path that forked off the one leading to his cabin. A path she had never once travelled down before.

Nita hesitated for a moment, her mind pulling her thoughts in every different direction. The blessed one. Brave like a bear. Many have underestimated you, as I have. Why did he tell her that? What did it mean? Because in truth, she felt far from blessed and far from brave. Reckless, would be the more accurate word to describe herself. Reckless and stupid.

She then found her legs carrying her forward without thinking, not because Druig was controlling her because he wasn't, but because she actually found herself wanting to spend more time with him. And not just because she had urgent questions for him.

The short trek through the jungle was quiet save for the nightstong of the birds and chirping of insects. And as the sun disappeared, the darkness began to obscure her vision. She then noticed Druig slow a little so he was less than an arms length ahead of her, guiding her through the darkness.

"Just up this way," he said quietly, turning to the left and up a small incline, using the roots of the large trees as steps. Nita took a step up and a small pain shot through her torso, forcing a small gasp from her lips.

Druig suddenly stopped, almost making her bump into him. Turning to her, she saw a very clear look of concern on his features. A look she never thought she'd ever see on him, especially her being the cause of it. "Your rib. How could I have forgotten?" He reached out and took her hand and she let him. It was slightly calloused but overall soft, what she'd expect from someone who could control other people to do anything for him.

"I'm fine," she said and  held onto it as he helped her up the next step so she was standing next to him, now only a few inches between them. So close that she could feel the warmth of his breath fan across her cheek.

"We can go back, Benita," he said in almost a whisper, his eyes capturing hers. Even in the dark they seemed to almost glow, but not the gold that she hated. The icy blue that reminded her of a beautiful cloudless sky.

"Are we almost there?" She asked.

"Just around that cliff." He pointed ahead but it was too dark for her to see.

"Then let's keep going."

The corner of his lips twitched and gave her a small nod then continued on.  To Nita's surprise, he held onto her hand as they walked a little slower. When they had to climb over a fallen log or up another small yet steep incline, she noticed that he'd hold on tighter, taking on most of her weight to make it a little easier on her aching rib. And to add to that surprise, she found that she didn't mind it despite internally battling with herself as to whether or not she should pull her hand back. She didn't.