Scarlet Warrior

three

 „We are Eternals, from a planet called Olympia." Ikaris starts still observing Sersi's interaction with the mortal right in front of him. The girl leans closer in curiosity and his muscles tense at their proximity. „We came here 7,000 years ago on the Domo, our starship, to protect humans from the Deviants. We thought we killed them all five centuries ago, but now they're back." She stays silent, staring straight ahead processing the information.

„Sooo, you are like 7,000 years out of my league?" Ikaris rolls his eyes at the ridiculous question, yet deep down flattered.

„This is serious." Ikaris answers turning to look into my eyes with such intensity it makes me almost cower under him. „Oh I know I'm just still not over the fact you're not Superman. I was waiting for the glasses to reappear." I blurt out trying to light up the situation. „Superman?" He cocks his head making a lock of his perfectly tamed hair slip down onto his forehead. „Yeah, you know, Clark Kent and such. You have the whole, I shoot laser beams out of my eyes and can fly, marketing thing going on," I reach and delicately push the stray hair back into its place.

Ikaris freezes at her touch, her delicate pale skin sending electricity down his spine. His eyes wander over her heart-shaped face and he takes her in. How her cupid's bow stands out, accentuated even more by the glossy coat she applied. How her right cheek would pull up into a dimple he recognized even after all those years. The similarity was frightening.

„Why didn't you guys help fight Thanos? Or any war? Or all the other terrible things throughout history" At the sound of my voice he turns away breaking the suffocating tension building between us. Those words seem to ignite something in him, but I can't pinpoint what. „We were instructed not to interfere in any human conflicts unless Deviants were involved." He replies much colder than just a moment ago. „Why?" I push. „If we'd protected humanity from everything for 7,000 years, you'd never have had the chance to develop in the way you were meant to." How could he justify this? They had the powers yet they let the people kill each other, wiping out generations, legacies. Purpose. The voice again.

„But if the Deviants were eradicated a long time ago, why are you still here?" My question comes out much meaner than I intended to show. „We've been waiting to be told we can go home." Liar.

The voices in my head were much stronger than normal since I have met these people. I guess they brought my trauma back, making my mind act up.

„So.. Sersi? How long has that been going on?" I change the subject in hope of putting my mind at rest again. His shoulders visibly relax at the lighter conversation and he lifts his head to look at Sersi. „It never really happened." I roll my eyes. „Oh come on I may be ‚mortal' but I am not dumb." He chuckles. „There was another," my brow rises at the surprising information. „Tell me about her," I whisper. His eyes look distant like he was reliving his memories.

„She was a fierce warrior. Could easily kill me if she wanted to. You could easily spot her on the battlefield, her fiery red hair glowing in the light and dark. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my 7,000 years of immortal life. Her compassion was like a breath of fresh air. She always put others first. And that eventually killed her." His voice was heavy with sorrow he couldn't hide, it broke my heart.

„I never acted on my feelings, she was much too dedicated to our cause to surrender to her heart. So I tried to cure my broken heart with Sersi but she wasn't her. No one was like her." His honesty surprised me.

I place my hand on his back making him turn to look at me. „You know what they say. You always meet twice in life. You never know what may happen." I stand up and pull his coat off. „Thank you but I should get going," he stands up and takes the coat back. „Where are you going?" His words confuse me. „Home. I have to make sure my roommate is safe." with that I turn around walking away in the direction where I should have gone an hour ago. Throwing a last curious glance over my shoulder his eyes meet mine again before I disappear behind the brick walls.