Chapter 5
The world was not ending, he knew.
This was not something important, or life changing. He was just being a little whiny bitch, perhaps, but he couldn't help himself. Sometimes, Druig got tired of being strong, looking tough and unapproachable.
He knew he'd had to, while he was with the people on the colony. It was hard enough to see them grow old and die when keeping them at arm's length, if he actually befriended them... And it had been his town, his rules, his decision. After all those centuries just feeling everyone's hurt and hurting himself he deserved some tine where he hurt the least, right?
He still hurt, of course. He missed the others, he questioned his choice he hated the fact that maybe he was becoming something he hated. It had been a long and lonely 500 years. It had definitely not been easy, and sometimes he'd honestly felt like just breaking down and crying. But he stayed strong. The people had been counting on him, and he'd wanted to be a strong reference.
And then the others came back, and although he was happy to see them... Ajak and Gilgamesh were gone and he was being asked to perform something that semed almost impossible. Then they found out that Ikaris had turned on them, abd he'd been almost killed. Gosh, had that hurt. It had hurt badly.
But after it... Well, he'd reunited with the ones left, he'd reunited with her, and it had been a proper reunion. He loved listening to the story of how she'd kicked Ikaris' ass after she thought he'd been killed. That their late brother hadn't had a chance to even use his stupid lasers. That she'd gone mad with grief, that she'd surprised everyone. It was a great story.
So yes, after so long feeling everyone's pain and hurting, Druig was finally ready to be happy and calmed and to feel loved for once. He just wanted a little bit of happiness, was that too much to ask? Apparently it was.
Everything had been sorted out and now he and Makkari had a little full of her priceless treasures and books. He'd perhaps mind controlled some billionaire to share his fortune to all his workers and also with them, so they have the means for a nice little time to themselves. It should be good. He wanted it to be good.
But he couldn't enjoy it, after all this time, all this preparation, all this action and all this waiting. He couldn't enjoy it, as much as he wanted because his stomach hurt and he was dizzy and unwell. And it was stupid.
Druig imagined that whatever had happened would pass soon - maybe it was something he ate, something in the air, or sometimes even strong emotions were enough to make him sick, if they were strong and deep enough. So, this would probably pass, it wasn't that serious.
Then why was he crying on the bathroom floor, tears going down like they hadn't in centuries? Well, just because of that. Because this was nothing important, and yet it was ruining one of the most nicest moments he'd ever lived, he had Makkari, he had this house, the world wasn't ending...
And instead of being cuddling with her in bed, he wasn't thrown on the cold floor next to the toilet, in case he threw up again. He'd thought that "it wasn't that bad" before and nearly puked all over their sheets. And that was a big no-no. He may have to deal with feeling like absolute crap but Makkari shouldn't have to deal with his puke. She was too beautiful and nice for that.
So there he was, sitting on the floor and holding the toilet with one hand, while he held his stomach with the other. Held it tightly when cramps decided that no, actually, him being alone and cold and crying wasn't enough hurt, and he needed to be hurting a bit more. Hadn't he gone through enough? He'd rinsed his mouth after throwing up, but the taste of bile still lingered on his throat.
It was awful. And he just wanted it to end, he wanted to feel better and go back to his, for once, decent life. He understood that he was supposed to have patience, that some things couldn't be rushed but it had been too long already and the notion he had hours still, hours of feeling like crap, perhaps even days...
Now, Druig had never been someone weak. He fought monsters, helped civizilations, used his powers and had some semblance of family relationships without losing his cool demeanor (except for her, with whom he was just soft). He had seen horrors, he lived through horrors and had prevented some, when allowed. He could fight, be it close range or from far away, and he could think as well, was no puppet.
Could take a blow or ten, had in the past. Was resilient. Druig had endured really horrible experiences without breaking down (too much). But everyone has limits, and 7000 years of feeling human suffering, plus the responsibility, plus losing half of their family, plus being so close to death you can almost taste it... Maybe if this was more serious he'd be his usual strong, untouchable self.
But it wasn't. It was just a stomachache and he could do nothing about it and he hated it, hated how sad it made him, hated that his entire world seemed to falling apart because of it. Hated himself and his weakness. Hated that his body was ruining a good thing by not functioning properly. The waste of time. The waste of feelings. All of time.
He had always been a very self-reliant person. He didn't need anyone else, didn't need help, could handle everything on his own. He had a good grip on his emotions and a strong personality, with very clear ideas. He was fine on his own, and absolutely could look after himself.
But in that moment... In that moment everything was wrong. His head was wrong, his stomach hurt bad and he could barely move without getting super dizzy. Even if he knew this would end soon, in that moment life sucked and he felt ill and tired and sad.
Time passed so slowly. Why couldn't he be good already? This was taking too much time. And he was crying, despite being a mighty eternal, because it hurt, a bit too much. He hurt. And he was tired of hurting. Druig felt like shit, he was alone and nauseous and in pain.
The world felt unkind.
And then... Someone at the door.
Makkari immediately sat in front of him, with a worried expression.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
He looked at her through bright bloodshot eyes.
"My stomach hurts."
She caressed his face, gently, slowly.
"Have you been feeling like this for a while?"
He shook his head, sending the world spinning. She held him, though.
"Just a few hours."
"Why didn't you say anything? I was just there."
"Didn't want to bother you."
And Makkari looked at him with the softest, gentlest most loving look, and continue caressing his face.
"Never. You're half of my soul, Druig. You never bother me."
He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by emotions, letting the tears fall. He'd been alone for so long... It was practically all that he knew. To have someone who cared so deeply, was amazing.
Makkari smiled at him, and then world was a little less wrong.
"Come on, let me look after you."
And so she did. She cleaned his face, taking her time, helped him to bed (with a bucket ready just in case) and then just lay next to him in bed, looking at him, gently stoking his gorgeous face, occasionally signing fun anecdotes to cheer him up, or simply saying reassurances (I love you, and I love looking after you, you're my only, my soulmate, my sun and stars). Anything to distract from the pain.
And she was doing a great job, too. The pain was still there, and it was still annoying, but being there with her, after so long being the idd man out, the black sheep, the villain of the story, to feel loced for once... It was an incredible feeling.
He had someone to be there for him, someone to listen to him and look after him.
It meant the world.