"What do you think Y/N's been up to for all these years?" Sprite asked as Phastos, Sersi, and Ikaris walked up to the car that was parked on the corner. Druig raised an eyebrow, zipping up his leather jacket to protect him from the Chicago wind. His body leaning on the cold metal of the car. Y/N. He hadn't heard her name in centuries, he stopped listening to her mind back in the 1820s. Listening in on how her life without him was going took a toll on his emotional state after all these years.
Phastos laughed, "She became a princess of a small country in Europe a couple of years ago," he revealed. A princess. Druig scoffed to himself as he stared down at the dark asphalt, glowing a deep yellow from the streetlamps above. He always knew she was destined for great things but a princess? He should be happy that Y/N moved on and found a real prince. He assumed this prince of hers was everything she needed. There was a touch of bitterness on his tongue.
"How do you know that?" Sprite asks, her face scrunched in confusion while looking up at the inventor.
Phastos took out his phone from his pocket and pressed a few buttons, his eyebrows low in concentration. "Ben's uh, a royal watcher. He lives for this kind of stuff."
"Where can we find 'er?" Druig's raspy voice cuts in, his eyes still fixed on the ground as the group looks to him. Sersi knew. She knew all about the past that the two Eternals shared before the fateful night in Tenochtitlan. Her warm brown eyes shoot Druig a sympathetic look that he missed. He didn't want her sympathy; it was his own fault.
"Uh," Phastos begins, his eyes squinting as he pulls up an article, "The Caldovia Ballet's opening night of Swan Lake...she'll be there tomorrow night."
Sersi purses her glossy lips and looks towards the sky, "So do we go as a team... or," she hesitated, deeply hoping a certain someone would speak up.
"I'll go," Druig says calmly, pushing himself off the side of the rental car, "Alone. Just have the car ready."
The next evening, he stood against the back wall of the stuffy concert hall. The cramped room was full of foreign dignitaries and guests with too much money in their wallets. The chatter dissipated with the flickering of giant chandeliers overhead, signaling the start of the production. Taking that as a cue, he folded his hands in the front of his lap and followed the crowd's movements towards their seats.
Druig stopped in the middle of the aisle as a stout man in a white tuxedo walked to the middle of the stage, eagerly adjusting the mic stand. The Eternal stepped to the side, standing next to an usher against one of the exit doors. The lights went dark except for the single spotlight on the announcer. "Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed guests," he spoke with a thick Irish accent, resembling Druig's own. "Before we begin tonight's performance, I would like to give a special welcome to the patrons of the Royal Ballet."
The Eternal's head shot up, eyes hastily scanning the crowd. She wasn't down here, he noted. His heartbeat began to pound against his ribcage as the spotlight began to move in search of her. It finally landed on the royal couple standing in the velvet-red box on the second floor.
There she was, stepping into the spotlight. Just as radiant as the day they met. The day his eyes met hers from across the room in the Domo, wearing matching seafoam green robes... the day they were assigned to earth. Her red-painted lips smiled, arm looped around the handsome man with curly black hair and high cheekbones. Placed on her perfect head was the glimmering Vladimir Tiara with teardrop sapphires hanging from the center of each diamond-encrusted circle. "Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Andrew and Princess Y/N of Caldovia."
Druig stepped back further into the darkness, praying she wouldn't see him as she looked down and gracefully waved at everyone. He couldn't dismiss how happy she looked with that wide cheerful smile. He remembered that smile, he witnessed it so many times. He was even the cause of some of them. Suddenly remembering the mission, he extinguished the small fire igniting in his heart.
When the spotlight went off and the orchestra began to play, Andrew joked about how bright the light was and took his seat. Smoothing out her gown, Y/N took a seat next to him, her eyes fixed on the elegant dancers.
A tingle itched at her head, she hadn't felt that feeling in decades. She let out a small pained whimper and tilted her head forward in hopes of relieving it "Are you alright, Y/N?" Andrew asks quietly, leaning in. She nods and rubbed her temple with her pointer finger.
"Y-yeah, I think it's all the bobby pins," she responds, pushing a few of the said pins around. The feeling only intensified, like every nerve inside her brain was vibrating against one another.
"That's some tiara you have on, Y/N," a voice echoed in her head, she could just feel the smirk. A small gasp got past her throat, her eyes widening as open as they could be. Druig. Subconsciously, her eyes welled with pent-up emotional tears. It had been thousands of years since she heard his voice. Centuries of trying to forget it. Centuries of failing.
"What do you want?" She thinks, taking in a deep breath to try and compose herself. Y/N knew she spoke with a hitch in her voice, she rolled her eyes at the lack of control. Leaning forward in her chair she saw him, his all-black suit almost blending in too well with the darkness of the theater. He hadn't changed physically, he even kept the same haircut. Her fingertips began to itch recalling all the times she ran her fingers through it.
"We need to talk. It's important." His voice was low and stern. He meant business. Why did he show up after all this time? Was he here to apologize for leaving her in a burning city to fend for herself? Her fists clenched the delicate fabric of her dress; there were sure to be wrinkles in it now.
"I'm busy, Druig."
"Y/N. Please."
She took another deep breath inward, red lips pressed together and making a tight line. "Second floor. Second VIP box... that's if you can make it past all the security."
The freezing cold air conditioner couldn't help the warmth engulfing Y/N's body. She felt this before; this scalding feeling of raw emotion and Druig always held the box of matches. The warmth against her cheeks was like the orange flames from the night he left his family, left her behind. His reasons why he took the people were valid to Y/N, but she never got past why he left her behind. "I'm going to marry you one day or maybe every century we can have a new wedding," she recalled one of the expressions of love he said to her in private. Druig never asked her to flee with him when Ajak let them go, he just pressed his glistening forehead against hers and disappeared into the trees forever. Until now.
"I'll be right back," she says out loud suddenly, lurching forward and out of her seat. The prince and two guards watched with puzzled faces as she quickly exited the room.
Gasping for air, she pressed the clammy palms of her hands against her stomach, y/e/c eyes looking forward at her faint reflection in the window. "Leave," she commands the two guards in front of the door.
"Sorry your highness, we've been instructed to stay here," the taller of the two tells her, no emotion in his voice. Y/N furrows her eyebrows and turns to meet the blank faces of the guards. Pointing a manicured finger she used the cosmic energy she possessed.
"Leave," she repeats. The two men in black tuxedos didn't protest this time, instead, they simply bowed to her and went inside her private box.
Druig watched it all happen from three small carpeted steps below the princess. Fixing his bow tie and his hair while her head was turned, he couldn't help himself; he wanted to look presentable in front of her. All he could do was stare at her and how that powder blue tulle gown hugged every curve. The floral embroidery covering the parts of her chest only he had the pleasure of seeing, touching, and loving so intimately.
"So," he speaks, her head whipping around to face him. "Do I call you Your Royal Highness now? Should I bow to you?" Sarcasm was dripping from his lips, his hands tucked inside the front pockets of his pants. Druig, in actuality, would do anything to get on his knees in front of her again.
Y/N fiddled with her large emerald engagement ring, her head held high while she fought back every urge to run into his arms. "Why are you here, Druig?" she questions, spoken like a true royal.
He evaded her question, not wanting their moment to be over, "That tiara looks nice, princess. You've always looked good in a crown." Y/N grits her teeth so hard she swore one of her back teeth was about to crack under the pressure.
"If you're done, I'm going back to the ballet," she snarled, kicking the bottom of her gown for easier movement as she turned towards the door. Druig quickly ran up the stairs and reached for her elbow before her hand could grip the golden door handle.
Y/N pulled away and turned around, the sapphires in her tiara making a small clinking sound "Answer me, Dru. Why are you here?" Her bite had no venom, she sounded like a woman who had been scorned by the love of her life.
He felt it, and it only made him feel more guilty. His eyes locked with hers, the ones that were as sparkly as the diamonds she wore. He should've looked away, step back and explain the real reason why he was here. Ajak was dead and they needed to save the world they both desperately loved.
"I miss you," he blurts out instead, his plush pink lips hanging open like he was shocked at his own words. But the words that fell from his lips were true, they were the only words he wanted to tell her. The mission could wait for just a few more minutes.
Y/N moved away from the door, brushing past Druig as she walked to the window. Her mind struggled to process his sudden words, "What did you say?" she asks weakly, her voice barely a whisper.
"I miss you," he repeats, making patterns in the carpet with his blue eyes, avoiding her. "I've never stopped missing you, Y/N," he was pleading for her at this point, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
Her shoulders slumped. Closing her eyes tightly, warm tears cascade down her cheeks. "Well," she hissed, turning around to face him, "you should have thought about that before you left me back in Tenochtitlan!"
Her words cut into him like a searing blade, but she was right. "And I live with that regret every fucking day of my life!" he yells. "All I wanted was to keep those people out of conflict, a simple life away from society! You got the tiaras, and dresses, a-and royal balls! Would you have really gone with me?"
Y/N angrily crossed the room until their chests were almost touching, Her pointer finger thrusts against his chest "I would have given everything up to be with you forever! But you never gave me that option, Druig!" She yells in his face. Her face was red with anger, it felt good to let out centuries' worth of emotion pour out. It felt good for both of them.
Silence lingers in the air, the soft muffled music of the ballet could be heard in the background. The two Eternals stared at one another with tears of anguish in their eyes. So close to each other yet so far, until Druig steps closer and pressed his forehead against hers, just he did the day they fell apart. She didn't pull away like she should have, instead, she melted into Druig's touch. "I never stopped loving you," he whispers, barely heard over the music.
But he was too late. His guilt and regret cost him the one person that made his life bearable; she moved on. "Your husband," he says sadly, pulling away from her, using his knuckle to wipe away the tears in his eyes. "He seems like a nice guy."
She could have left it there. She could've agreed and let Druig drown in his final words of love. But Y/N needed him as much as Druig needed her "He is," she responds meekly, "Andrew's boyfriend thinks so too."
Druig's head snaps up, "Boyfriend?" he questions in surprise.
Y/N sniffled, folding her arms over her chest as a means of protection. "My marriage is fake, Druig," she admits. Druig wasn't sure if she let out a laugh or cry of relief in her admission. "Andy is my friend from college. He needed to marry in order to keep his heirdom and I offered to help. He could still be king and I could use the royal status to get better help for his people," she explains.
"So you're not really married?"
"Legally yes," she chuckles, "-but I could never let you go. I tried for so long."
"Y/N-"
"In six months there's a marriage equality bill that's going to be presented in front of parliament. It has a really good chance of being passed and after that, Andy and I are getting divorced."
Hope. Druig hadn't felt that in so long, it was refreshing. He could wait another six months for her, he'd already been waiting thousands of years for her to be in his arms again. Six months. Tiamut. Shit. "Y/N!" He yelps, suddenly remembering the real reason why he was here.
Before he could explain the outburst, Andrew walks swiftly out of their box alone, his military metals clinking as he walked, "I heard yelling, are you ok, Y/N?" he starts, then his eyes catch sight of the shorter male. "Druig," he says.
The man in question cocks his head, watching as Y/N stood at Andrew's side. "So he knows about me?" Druig smirked.
"She talks about you often- wait, so what's happening here?" He motions between the two Eternals.
Y/N noticed the panic in Druig's body, the way his hands began to shake, and how his eyes couldn't focus on her anymore. "Druig... you didn't come here to confess your love for me, did you?" she asked worriedly.
Druig shook his head, "No. That had a mind of its own. I'm here because Ajak's dead and we need to stop a Celestial from being born and destroying the earth." His explanation was short and to the point, he refused to sugar coat it like the others.
Her throat began to close up, leaning on Andrew for support "No, no! I spoke to Ajak last week, she was fine." She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, this is a lot of information in such a short time.
"I'm sorry Y/N. But everyone's outside waiting and we really need you." Y/N's eyes swivel in between Andrew and Druig, searching for answers in their expressions.
Andrew stepped and front of her and placed his caring hands on her trembling shoulders, "Go," he whispers urgently, "I can hold everyone off until you get back."
"But- I can't just leave in the middle of the show!" She responds panicked.
"Go with him, Y/N. You're an Eternal first before anything! Go save the world," he pleads with her. Her eyes shift to Druig who was holding his hand out for her to take. Finally, she nods and wraps her arms around Andrew's shoulders, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Andy. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Hurriedly, she takes Druig's hand and rushes off down the hall "We need to get past all the cameras and guards," she tells him in a hushed tone. Druig simply nods, his grip tightening on her hand, eyes turning gold.
Making it to the car around the corner in the alley, Druig stood back and watched the others wrap Y/N in tight hugs, admiring the way she looked. Kingo shrieked with glee and bowed over dramatically while Sersi asked about the designer of her dress. Even Phastos asked her for a selfie to send to Ben; for the bragging rights, he claimed.
"I really hate to break up the royal lovefest but we really need to get going," Sprite chimes in from the back seat. Y/N laughs and looks down at what she's wearing, it wasn't the most suitable for travel.
"Let me change and we'll be on our way," Y/N said, pointer finger extended to use her powers. A hand wraps around her wrist to stop her. Stunned, she turned around, Druig's face close to her again.
"Get in the car. Go, go," Sersi hurriedly whispered, her hands pushing on the backs of the others to hurry them into the car. A knowing smile on her lips as she takes her place in the passenger seat.
"Druig?" Y/N questions, eyes meeting his.
The man swallows hard, his words stuck in his throat. His blue eyes slowly glance up and land on the glimmering tiara. His hand releases her wrist, gesturing upward "May I?" he manages. Y/N sucks in her lower lip and nods, watching as he reaches up and gently removes the tiara from her head. A small weight lifted off her head, she let out a soft relieved hum.
Placing the tiara gently in her hands, he steps forward so that their noses brush. His hands covered hers, "Princess..." he whispers.
"Yes?" she whispers, chuckling.
"In six months, i-if we manage to pull this off and you're free of any obligations, will you stay with me? Anywhere in the world. It'll be your choice... as long as we're together. I can't let you go again"
Y/N takes another step forward, leaning into his touch. His hands begin to trail up the sheer embroidered sleeves of her dress, committing the pattern to memory. "I love you, Druig," she finally tells him before leaning forwards to kiss him passionately. Clutching the tiara with one hand, she drapes her arms around his neck. He clutches the sides of her waist and draws her in closer, their chests pressed together. Lips moving together in perfect harmony, her red lipstick leaving his lips a deeper shade of pink.
Druig touched the bare skin of her back, it was just as soft as he remembered. Her skin formed small goosebumps, a chill down her spine from the intimate touch.
A loud honk pulls them out of their moment with goofy, lovesick smiles adorning their face. "Alright, lovebirds!" Sprite shouts as she hangs out the window. "You can make out later! Gross."
Druig was the first one to pull away, whispering sarcastic comments into her ear. Her giggles filled the alleyway, using her free hand to cover her mouth. "Oh my god! Let's go!" Sprite yells again. Druig held onto the tiara as she transformed her clothes before holding her hand all the way to the car.
"7 months ago we were struck with a worldwide earthquake. Experts are still looking into the unknown object found in the Indian Ocean. In other world news, The Prince and Princess of Caldovia have announced their separation with the passing of the Caldovia Marriage Equality Act in the small country's parliament."
Turning the TV off with a proud smile, Y/N shuffles through the mail as she leans against the wall. Her eyes look up and out the window, Druig making his way towards the barn on Ajak's property, his hands tucked in the pockets of his leather jacket.
She threw their mail on the table and ran out the back door, giggling as she eventually collided with his back. With a loud grunt from the impact, Druig turns and wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her into a deep kiss "Hi, princess," he greets as he pulls away.
"Hi, my love," she laughs, pressing her face into the crook of his neck.
"Anything interesting in the mail?" he mumbles, lips pressed against the top of her head.
She nods, "A couple of wedding invitations. Sersi and Dane are getting married next summer and then Andrew and Miles in the winter."
Druig hums in response, swaying her from side to side, "When are we going to fit our wedding in?" he jokes. Y/N looks down at her ring, a simple band of silver on her fourth finger.
"Tomorrow if you want?"
"How about the spring, m'darlin?"
She nods, her smile widening, her lips graze the soft skin of his neck, "The spring sounds lovely."