Everything's (not) okay
When Druig tried to move away, he was manhandled back into place. An arm slung behind his back, pulling him closer. Despite the split second of stiffness, he found himself liking the comfort rather than recoiling from it. Sprite – the rascal that caught him sneaking away from the festivities – noticed and pulled him even closer to a side hug.
Sprite often played tricks and seemed to enjoy the scorn of her fellow Eternals but behind her sometimes childish antics, she was sworn to her family. It was the reason she had one of the keenest eyes for noticing even the slightest bit of change in a person. Especially if it was one of her people.
She looked behind her shoulder, one arm still clinging to Druig’s side. As she expected, most of the villagers that met her eyes quickly turned away, ashamed of being caught. Some quickened their steps so they could get home sooner, no doubt done with the late-night festival. She remembered Ajak explaining that not all humans would accept them. Most would probably fear them. While for Sprite, the people loved her illusions and story, the opposite could be said for their view of Druig.
“He controls minds.”
“Do not look him in the eyes-“
“- who knows what he could do to you.”
Those words she often heard walking through the village. Up till now, she ignored them since they obviously weren’t meant for her. She knew exactly who they were meant for and the man in question didn’t seem bothered by them. Or so she thought.
Damn. Her keen eyes seemed to have gone dull lately.
A palm landing on top of her head snapped her out of her thoughts.
“If you keep glaring at them they’ll start talking about you too.”
She huffed but turned her head to instead look at the Eternal still sitting beside her. “Let them.”
It was Druig’s turn to huff out a mirthless laugh. “You say that now, but when fewer children watch your next performance, do not pout and mumble your troubles to me.”
She glared at him.
“It doesn't bother me,” Druig murmured, his voice steady. “Let it go.”
She studied his face, sharpening her eyes once more. This time she wouldn’t let a lie slip by. But she found none. Druig didn’t look hurt or annoyed, if she had to say, he looked quite resigned. That worried her more.
He moved to stand, ready to walk away, and she felt as if she couldn’t let him leave without getting rid of this itchy feeling in her gut.
“Are you sure? Because it’s okay if it does. It- It should bother you.” She pressed on, brows scrunching with how sure she was of her statement.
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.” She tripped over her words as she processed the fact she just offered to lend her ear to his troubles.
“Or, if you prefer Makkari..” Her sentence trailed off. Who was she kidding? Of course, he’d prefer Makkari.
But then before she could throw away her gaze in shame, he met her eyes. There was an intensity behind them that sent a shiver down her spine. Then he sighed.
“Talk then.” He replied curtly, the tension in his jaw the only thing betraying his controlled expression.
Sprite blanked for a few seconds before coming back to herself. She was so sure of her statement that it wasn’t wrong for Druig to be hurt by how the people were acting towards him and the wrong thing was for the humans to act that way. But as he waited for her to start talking, he was met with silence.
Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth as she gnawed on it slightly. She stood up. Eyes darting around, restless, and avoiding, she racked her brain for any supporting reason she could give that would be enough to convince Druig. Because she knew better than to offer empty words of comfort to her fellow eternal.
With her mind full of thoughts of unfairness, disgust, and anger, she didn’t have time to process her actions before she lunged forward. She threw her arm around Druig’s middle. Unsuspecting, he stepped backward but his arms reached out instinctively to prevent her from falling to the ground.
She enveloped him in an embrace. Her hands grasped desperately at his arms and back, hoping it would convey all her anger and sadness on his behalf.
Druig, stoic as ever, held her stiffly, but he tolerated the hug, Sprite’s weight wholly on him.
After a few moments, he murmured gently, “Enough,” pushing her off of him.
Sprite did as he asked, backing away, her head hung low.
Expecting Druig to walk away – perhaps to the Domo or to find Makkari – he surprised her by taking one of her hands. Not quite holding it but more of lightly clasping her palm in his. If she pulled even an inch, their hold would break. So, she moved closer.
Carefully, she took focus on her hands, making sure she didn’t waste the rare show of trust Druig was giving her.
When she was near enough to his side, and only then, did she let her gaze wander. She didn’t look at him, knowing he had received enough attention from her for the day.
A light squeeze of her hand told her he was grateful.
She realized halfway through their track, that they were heading back to the domo. And by the look of it, it was most likely almost early in the morning. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but the air wasn’t as cold as it was before.
The domo was in sight. Sprite’s hand automatically rose to cover her mouth as she yawned, no longer linking with Druig’s. Her eyes watered as her sleepiness hit.
“Haven't you done enough crying for the night?” A voice from the previously ever-so-silent Druig, spooked her a bit.
She shook her head. “Just tired.” Right on cue, she had to cover yet another yawn.
“Off to bed then.” His voice was nonchalant, and she would have taken his words as another one of his jokes prodding at her child-like immortality, but the look in his eyes made her think otherwise.
His eyes were relaxed, tired even, with no hint of his usual snapping half-hearted insults in them. Then there was the soft smile – almost unrecognizable in the dim lighting – plastered on his face.
He was tired, probably both physically and mentally. Sprite was half to blame for that. But his gentle actions now were genuine, and she took his words as a rare show of concern.
“I will,” she answered simply, then replied, “you should too.”
She didn’t wait for an answer and made her way up into the domo, to her room, where her bed awaited.
After everything that happened, she wanted a long-deserved nap.