Eternal Love [Druig]

Twenty-four

A strangled cry fought its way from the back of his throat. "Druig." Ira pushed himself up and stumbled towards the man. "You're alive."

"Did you really have so little faith in me, my love?"

Ira shook his head, a small smile playing on the corner of his lips.

"What are you-" he began, words lodging in his throat as he struggled to take in the sight before him. "What are you doing up here?" He asked.

"Trying to stop the emergence." Druig responded after a moment. He continued after a contemplative pause. "But I'm not strong enough." He said. "Sersi needs to do it instead. Do you know where she went?"

Ira nodded, recalling the distinct way Sersi had gone before they all started fighting Ikaris. "No," he changed his mind though, eyebrows furrowing. "I only know she came up here. Anything after that I can't recall- I was too busy fighting Ikaris."

"Ikaris?" Druig pressed. "Is he ok?"

Ira went to respond, mouth opening and then closing like a gaping fish. It was an odd question, the level of concern held in the air. "He's fine. We've managed to neutralize him," Ira said, peering over the edge of the cliff once more to see Ikaris struggling against the bonds Phastos had created, looking heavily weakened the more he struggled. Druig came up beside Ira and peered down too, a small frown on his lips.

Ira straightened. "He'll get out." Druig said with a sort of resoluteness that Ira had never seen on Druig before as the man always seemed to think twenty steps ahead; always thinking of his next words and action. This- this was different. Ira was beginning to wonder just how hard he might have hit his head.

"Phastos is strong." Ira responded. "The rest of the Eternals are on their way to help and after you and Sersi stop the emergence then..." he trailed off. Of course he hadn't thought of what might happen should they have completed their goal. Time simply never permitted it.

"Kill him?" Druig asked though his voice wobbled slightly, different than the usual evenness Druig's voice usually held. But the circumstances here were understandable.

Ira shook his head. "No." But he didn't know what would happen to Ikaris if they succeeded. They'd cross that bridge when they got to it.

"What if-" Druig began. "What if he's right?"

Ira's head snapped to the man he loved in an instant, all attention on him. "What?" He asked breathlessly.

"I'm obviously not strong enough. He took me down in an instant and if he gets to Sersi, she would suffer the same fate- worse, even death."

"What are you saying?"

"I don't want more people to die because of me, Ira."

"They won't." Ira took a step forward again. "They believe in you. I believe in you."

A strong hurricane bubbled in the depths of Ira's stomach. He could feel it clear as day. Something wasn't right. "I always will." He added on, testing. Though his tone was as sincere as it ever could be.

"Then you'd know when it's best to stand down." Druig said, fists clenching by his sides. "If Ikaris could get rid of me that quickly, imagine what he would do to you. You're weak. Do you think I don't notice it? There are only so many emotions you can harbor before you break, Ira."

Ira was hurt, words lodging in his throat as his movements stilled, feeling like his limbs were treading through thick waters.

"You don't mean that." He shook his head.

"I do. Stand down Ira. Come with me to convince the others. They'll listen to us. And then we can say we completed our mission and continue onto the next earth, together.