(authors note; ikaris and anahera get together basically the same as him and sersi. i didn't think i needed to include it, but if y'all want that, i can add it in.)
BYBLOS
2192 BC
SOME PEOPLE HAD AN AWFUL AMOUNT OF PATIENCE, so much so that it could be considered a gift. Venus didn't exactly hold the world record for patience— in fact, that award probably went to Ajak— however, she did consider herself to be civilly patient... until her nerves were pushed the absolute limit.
And she was on the verge right now. "My beautiful Venus, have you thought about what I've asked you?" Druig questioned once again, like clockwork every morning she walked out of her room.
"No, Dru. I don't need to, because I gave you an answer and it hasn't changed." The dimpled woman sighed. 2000 years of pushing and pushing, while she was retreating and retreating. He wanted to back her against a wall, but she was adamant on playing in a wide, open dessert full of nothing but sand and temporary holders that left stinging torture on her skin every-time she backed into them.
"Why not?" Druig demanded, finally willing to push her against a cactus if it meant they could both stop walking aimlessly in a tiring game of cat and mouse. "Druig." The dimpled woman warned with a glare.
"Don't "Druig" me. It has been 2000 years, give or take and not once did you explain why you refuse to give me a chance." The mind-reader pointed out frustratedly and Venus let out sigh. A pained escape of breath that made Druig want to rewind time so that he would never have to hear that sigh in his entire existence.
"Because it will hurt." Venus whispered as she looked down. "Why? Why does it have to hurt?" Druig questioned pleadingly."Dru... please. Please just stop." Venus begged as she backed away, but he wouldn't let her. Not again.
"No. I won't. I refuse to, because I can't fight it, I can't stop it. I am in love with you, with all that you are." Druig declared strongly, and Venus froze, staring at him. He watched her disbelief turn into cynicism, and he knew he had lost her again. "You don't know what you're talking about." The dimpled woman scoffed, shaking her head as an empty, pained laugh escaped her.
"I do. Do you love me?" Druig questioned, only for her to glare at him. "Don't do that!" She snapped sternly before she groaned."You're supposed to love me, Dru. Everyone is supposed to love me. That's part of my power, you don't actually love me." Venus laughed bitterly as she pointed that out.
"I do. I do, Venus. I'm telling you I do." Druig objected and the dimpled woman groaned. "You think you do, you think you still will, but it won't be long before you realise it was all a lie. A trick. An illusion of what you believe is a dreamy existence of joy and happiness." Venus pointed out, dropping her head into her hands as tears stung her eyes.
Druig grabbed her hands gently, pulling them away from her face before he carefully pinched her chin and titled her head up so that she was looking straight into his eyes.
"You're not an illusion. You're not a fantasy. You're not a dream. You're real, your laughter is real, your smile is real, your strength is real. Your emotions, your chaos, your joy. You're a reality that I want to love freely. You are not a dream, you are chaotic beauty." Druig spoke softly but firmly, wiping away every tear that fell so freely down her cheeks.
"The reason I keep pushing is because you never once said that you didn't want me. You don't have to love me back, not right now." The mind-reader continued, and Venus shook her head.
"Dru—" She started, but was cut off when he raised his hand to pause her.
