It started with little things. So small you didn’t really think much of it at first.
With Druig and Makkari always doing something. Whenever you asked them to go to the market with you, they were busy. When you attempted to sit next to them at meals, they’d already eaten. When you asked if they were ready to go to bed with you neither of them were tired, but yet both of them were up and long gone by the time you woke up.
At first you tried to write it off on your own insecurities. After all, Druig and Makkari had gotten together long before they brought you into the fold. Becoming a poly couple required a bit of an adjustment period that's all, that's all this was. Growing pains.
It hadn’t been like this in the beginning. You remember when the three of you were practically attached at the hip, even before you got together. It's how your feelings grew for them the way they did, and the way they came to love you in return. When Druig and Makkari sat you down after about a few years of flirting around the truth, and asked if you’d be interested in joining their relationship you had been ecstatic. That had been coming up on a century ago, a bit of a long time to develop growing pains but it was an easier excuse to stomach then face the harsh reality of what you knew deep down was going on.
But reality was a bitch and wasn’t content to let you live in your little bubble of denial.
The fight with the deviants hadn’t been anything memorable up to that point. Gilgamesh and Ikaris were dealing with a large deviant, while you and Thena were tasked with the more medium-sized one. Fighting alongside your family meant you got to know their moves as well as your own. Thena was no exception if anything she was the perfect example. She was a true warrior. Graceful yet lethal in her movements.
You tossed one of you energy discs managing to slice the deviants side. The creature roared and charged at you allowing Thena to land a fatal swipe against the deviants neck effectively slitting its throat. Unfortunately for you, you let your guard down- or maybe your own misery compromised you. The deviant's horn riddled tails swung in his final, and dying efforts. You were too close the the tail hit you, the force sent you flying.
“Y/n!!” Thena yells.
Your body was stopped by the tree and you hear the sickening crack of bones breaking before the black spots impairing your vision took over.
When you woke up your body ached terribly.
“Don’t move,” Ajak says, sitting beside your bedside. “You got seriously hurt out there. You’ve been out for a few days.” Ajaks explains and you nod.
“Thank you,” You say, your mind instantly going to one place, and if the sympathetic smile Ajak gives you is any indicator- she knew exactly where your mind was going.
“I believe they are out in the market today. Would you like for me to send for them?” Ajak asks and but despite what you want deep down, you shake your head.
They weren’t here. You’d gotten hurt and neither of them were here, and you knew they hadn’t been. This wasn’t the first time you’d gotten hurt in the course of your relationship, it was the nature of your existence. Your lovers had habits you knew well. Makkari would always bring flowers, Druig would read. When they got hurt, you’d always lay the blanket you made back in Greece on them- it was their favorite. Looking around the room there wasn’t a single petal nor vase, no pile of books that you theorized Druig didn’t truly read.
Neither of them even brought you your blanket.
“You had a close call y/n, there was a time when even I wasn’t confident you’d make it. You should rest.” Ajak says before taking her leave.
Once alone you allow yourself to lay back down. You couldn’t deny the obvious any longer. Makkari and Druig weren’t interested in having you in their relationship anymore. They’d been pushing you out for awhile now, you were just too in love with them to want to see it.
Had you done something to make them fall out of love with you?
You push the thought aside. You knew it wouldn’t lead to any place good. You had been the best partner possible, or at least what you were possible of. You loved both of them so, so much. And you thought- they felt the same.
Anger quickly gained inside of you. If they didn’t want to be with you anymore, why couldn’t either of them be mature enough to just say so. Why did they string you along? Prolonging your pain. Making you doubt yourself, making you feel guilty for doubting them.
You weren’t sure how long it had been since Ajak left when Druig and Makkari entered the room. Both of them looked relieved, you didn’t doubt that. They may not love you, but neither of them were cold enough to want you dead.
“How are you feeling?” Makkari signs sitting on the bed, but you quickly move, putting the much needed distance between the two of you.
You knew exactly what you needed to do. If neither of them had the decency to do it then you would.
“Y/n?” Druig asks, the shock clear in his tone. The hurt and confusion clear on Makkari’s face too.
“Can I just ask you both something?” You ask, anxiously fidgeting with your fingers.
“Anything,” Makkari signs, you try to pretend you don’t notice the slight trembling of her hands.
“When did you guys know you didn’t want me around anymore?” You sign and say, hating yourself for your voice wavering slightly.
“What the fuck is that suppose to mean?!” Druig yells angrily, crossing his arms taking a step forward.
“Its obvious. I- I didn’t want to believe it at first, thought it was all in my head but, it isn’t. You guys have been phasing me out of this relationship for a while. Any time I try to spend time with you guys, it's always something. You're both always too ‘busy’ for me but never one another. I-I can’t remember we did anything together- just the three of us.” You say wiping the two stray tears that fell. “So let me spare you both any more trouble. We’re done.”
“No, please.” Makkari signs and you can see her eyes fill with tears.
And fuck does that break your heart. But couldn’t they see you were doing this for them? They obviously didn’t want you anymore. You were freeing them of their burden.
Druig said nothing, his face completely and utterly unreadable. It looked truly as though he didn’t care, which you supposed could be true.
“Lets go.” Druig said and Makkari looks at him shocked.
“Its okay Makkari really.” You say, not wanting her to feel guilty.
Makkari walked out but clearly hesitantly, while Druig walked out without a second's hesitation, if anything he was rushing out of the room.
Once alone you grab the pillow and sob yourself to sleep.
Down the hall as soon as the door closes on the room you, Makkari and Druig typically shared. Druig felt a tear begin to trail down his face. It had taken everything in him not to break down in front of y/n. Makkari didn’t seem to have that same reservation because her tears hadn’t stopped coming since they left the recovery suite.
“How did this happen?!” Makkari signs and Druig shakes his head sitting down, his leg bouncing with anxiety.
“We messed up.” Druig signs and Makkari was pacing her hands shaking terribly.
“We need to fix this. We need to win her back. I love her!”
“I love her too, but she’s hurt.” Druig explains.
“This is our fault,” Makkari signs, before sitting on the edge of the bed.
Neither of them said it but they were both thinking the same thing. What if they truly lost y/n for good?
In two days you were back on your feet, and avoiding Makkari and Druig. It wasn’t a small undertaking, but you were very determined. The only time you couldn't avoid them were dinner or celebratory parties which is where you currently found yourself.
The sad part of you wanted to just grab the first bottle of alcohol you could find and go back to the room you’d taken for your own after moving out of the room you shared with Druig and Makkari. But you knew Sersi wouldn’t allow it.
While you hadn’t told anyone what had happened, it was clear that everyone knew. Sersi had clearly taken sympathy on you and had been making an obvious effort to cheer you up- which meant dragging you to this celebratory party which was probably the last place on this planet that you wanted to be.
“You know, Kingo is handsome,” Sersi says, coming up beside you and you smirk but roll your eyes.
“I appreciate the effort Sersi, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find someone else.” You say and Sersi sighs leaning her head against your shoulder, and you rest your body against hers.
“For what it's worth, I think they are fools.” Ikaris says approaching the two of you.
“It's not their fault. They don’t love me, it's as simple as that.” You shrug, jostling Sersi's head a bit causing you both to chuckle.
Unbeknownst to you, Makkari and Druig were watching you getting awfully cozy with Sersi and Ikaris from across the room. Both of them get more and more jealous as time ticks on. Makkari feels her teeth grind together when Sersi lays her head on you. Druig clenched his fist, when Ikaris says something that brought a small smile to your face.
The past few days you’d been practically like a ghost, and now here you were and Ikaris and Sersi had descended on you like vultures.
“I’m going to kill him,” Druig signs and for once Makkari doesn’t see the need to talk Druig out of his idea. She was more then happy to take Sersi and Ikaris into the middle of the ocean and leave them there.
“We need to do something, now.” Makkari signs.
You were in the middle of forcing a laugh at one of Ikaris jokes that really wasn’t all that funny but you didn’t want to offend the guy who was taking time to at least try and make you feel better.
Suddenly there was Druig grabbing and you and practically pulling you outside, you nearly tripped over your own feet in an effort to keep up with his fast pace.
“What the hell are you doing?!” You yell trying and failing to get your wrist free from his grip. You knew Druig was strong but this was something different. But Druig didn’t answer you which only frustrated you more.
Before you could yell at him again, he came to a halt. You see Makkari is already there. You were standing in a clearing in the woods just barely outside the village. You felt yourself violently taking your wrists back from Druig and giving him a murderous glare.
“I told you to ask her to come with you,” Makkari signs.
“She’s here, isn’t she?!” Druig signs back clearly frustrated.
“What the hell is going on?” You yell frustrated that they’d dragged you out here.
“What the hell is going on with you and Sersi and Ikaris?!” Druig yells and you felt your eyes narrow at him.
“Its none of your business,”
“I think we deserve to know.” Makkari signs.
“Why?” You argue.
“Because you're ours! And we are yours!” Druig snaps.
“No, we stopped belonging to one another when you two started phasing me out! When you two didn’t have the decency to end the relationship with me! I loved the two of you! I would have done anything for you two. But neither one of you cared enough about me to put me out of my misery! To stop stringing me along!” You yell. You’d been calm and civil during your last conversation with them, but now your emotions and thoughts had a few days to simmer.
“We didn’t want to end things with you y/n!” Makkari signs.
“Well you two have a funny way of showing it!” You argue.
“We were planning something for you! And I know it looks bad but, y/n you have to believe us.” Druig says, showing a rare moment of desperation. You wanted to believe them, so, so badly. You wanted to go back to how things were, to fall asleep between the two of them.
“Why weren’t you there when I got hurt?” You asked, hating how vulnerable your voice sounded, but you needed to know. To eliminate any and all reservations you had.
“We were scared. Ajak said you might not make it. Neither of us could face losing you. I don’t think either of us slept while you recovered. When Ajak left the recovery suite it was when we knew you were going to live.” Makkari signs.
“And what were you planning?” You ask kicking a few pebbles that lay at your feet.
“We wanted to propose.” Druig says and you felt your jaw drop.
“What?!” You breathe.
“We love you. And we want this, all of us to stay together for as long as we have. Sprite made a joke about it- but we really liked the idea of it.” Makkari signs, and your heart flutters at the bashful look on her face.
You felt the lead weight in your stomach melt away. Your heart once aching, now feels warm and full. Without them you’d been miserable, incomplete. Now here they were telling you that they hadn’t wanted to lose you -ever. They wanted you forever, and you wanted them.
“Yes,” You say, Makkari and Druig both look confused.
“What?” Makkari signs.
“Yes I want to be with you two forever.” You say, without an ounce of hesitation.
“Really?” Druig breathes and you nod.
Before you knew it Makkari’s lips were on yours, her hands cupping your face like she was terrified you’d fade away. You kiss her back with just as much passion, your hands resting on her hips. The kiss with Makkari felt like it lasted for ages before Druig lost his patience and turned you around so that you were kissing him.
There wasn’t a doubt in your mind that this is exactly where you belong, between the two loves of your life.