The Lost Queen (Druig x OC) (Eternals)

Chapter 38: Control

Druig opened his eyes to find he was no longer standing with the rest, or even on the island, but in a void. Nothing was around him on any side. Just black. That's all he saw was black, until he saw her. She was a hundred yards away from him and facing the other way, but Druig knew it was her. He could always tell when it came to her.

"Reina!" He called out, running towards her causing her to turn around. Her face lit up when she saw him. As soon as he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her as close as he physically could.

"What took you so long?" Reina joked, a laugh escaping her lips.

"Where are we? What's happening?" Druig's face grew concerned as he pushed her back a little so he could look her up and down, scanning for any injuries before looking around confused.

"You're in my mind Druig," Reina replied simply

"It's never been like this before," Druig responded, in a whisper that almost sounded like he was talking to himself, still looking around.

"You've never had to fight for it before," Reina smiled sweetly, "You've never needed permission to enter a mind before."

"You're letting me into your mind? Why? Why now?" Druig's voice grew unsteady, his nerves starting to get the better of him. 

"Because, this is the only option I have left. I need your help."

"Anything," His answer was automatic, not needing to pause, or stop to think of possible dangers. If it meant saving her, he didn't need an explanation, he would do whatever it took.

"I need you to take control of my mind," Reina waited for a response but when she didn't get one, she took that as a sign to continue, "Once you control my mind, you need to activate my fire, once you do that, the ice should start to melt."

"We can't melt it from the outside? Ikarus can use his laser eyes, or..or..."

"It wouldn't be that easy. The ice my body creates, can't be melted by anything other than the flames." Her voice was still extremely calm compared to Druig's, which sounded frantic.

"Why can't you just activate your powers?"

"Because I'm exhausted. I can't get my power to work, but you... you can." Reina grabbed Druig's hands in order to comfort him

"How will I know if I'm hurting you?" Druig asked concerned

"You won't, but I'd rather be hurt than dead." Druig took a deep breath in and nodded in defeat. As much as he hated it, it was the only option he knew of to save her, so he conceded, and agreed.

Reina smiled at him and placed a hand on his cheek and a kiss on his lips, "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Focus on the heat, and the flames will follow. Now close your eyes." Reina whispered in his ear as she hugged him. Once she let go, he felt a rush of cold.

From inside the ice, Reina remained still but her eyes were now wide and glowing gold, a sign of Druig control on her. All he saw was the ice yet he still felt the warmth from outside. Reina's last words to him kept replaying in his head. Focus on the heat, and the flames will follow. Focus on the heat. He focused on the heat from the flames, left behind from the battle. He focused on the heat of the sun that was starting to disappear. His head filled with images of flames, magma, the sun. Anything he could think of that was hot.

He watched through Reina's eyes as the reflection of the ice began to show a faint glow of orange, growing stronger as the heat began to rise as the ice began to melt, only a little at first but it continued to grow.

From the outside, the others looked on, confused by the sudden glow of red, emitting form under the ice. The ice grew thinner, allowing Reina to be able to move more, and for the others to see in. They now had full visibility on Reina, her eyes still glowing golden, and flames surrounding her hands as the ice continued to melt.

The flames had almost fully melted the ice when Reina's eyes faded back to blue and Druig lost control.