Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sersi POV:

Three hundred years after the split in Tenochtitlan, Ikaris and I live in a cottage at the edge of a coastal village in Scotland. I go into the village often, dressing like the women who live there. Ikaris won't admit it, but he loves this place. His accent, even when we're alone, sounds more like the men by the day. 

When I walk into the house, I hear a faint mewling. I smile, knowing Ikaris has brought home yet another kitten. But before I go see what the newest addition's story is, the first thing I need to do is get out of this ridiculous bustle. I change into a soft brown dress with short sleeves and a floral bodice. I made this dress once I saw the floral fabric in a stand in town. 

As soon as I'm changed, I turn around and see Ikaris cradling a tiny kitten in his hand. I smile at him, melting on the inside before putting a hand on my hip. "What's their name?" 

Ikaris grins impishly. "Lydia," he softly says. "We can keep her?" 

I pause, feigning contemplation. "I guess," I walk over to the tiny animal and scratch gently under her chin. "She is fairly cute." 

"Achilles brought her back. I already fed her." 

I coo softly at her and the kitten rubs her head against my hand. "She's so adorable," I tell Ikaris. "She likes you." 

"I figured we needed a new baby animal," Ikaris says. "And she was too cute." 

"She is," I tell Ikaris. He cuddles the small kitten to his chest and my heart melts. "Did you feed Achilles and Patroclus?" 

"Yes I did," He tells me as we walk to the kitchen. "I also remembered to water all the veggies and your garden. What did you find in town today?" 

I finally begin to unpack the canvas bags I had made for the market. "I got some flowers for the dinner table," I reply, turning the old ones to water and placing the new ones in the vase. I take the bread out of the bag as well, and place it in the box Ikaris made. "I also managed to get some of the last fresh bread and a couple of new books." 

Ikaris puts the books on the shelf after gently placing Lydia on the counter. The kitten begins loudly meowing, so I gently pick her up after putting the jams away in our pantry. Lydia immediately quiets, curling up around the contact. She's so tiny, I can hold her in one hand. I gently scratch behind her ears when Ikaris comes back into the kitchen. I smile up at him and lean into his embrace. 

He gently kisses my head and Lydia purs contentedly. Then, out of nowhere, I see a streak of gold come through our door while Patroclus and Achilles bark. Lydia is startled and immediately wants Ikaris. I hand off the small animal and give Makkari a wry look before smiling fondly at her. 

"Well that was a dramatic entrance!" I sign and say. "You scared the animals." 

"How many do you even have?" Makkari asks, tilting her head and giving us a look. 

"Three currently," Ikaris grumbles. "We did have four." 

Makkari's look changes to sympathy. "So you all have been on the coast for the last three hundred years?" 

I nod. "Have you been with Druig?" I give her a conspiratorial look while a grin creeps its way onto my face. 

Makkari flushes but still signs, "In and out. Just coming from there." She pauses, rocking back and forth on her heels. 

"Did it not go well?" I ask, giving her what I hope is a sharp look. But unfortunately, sharp just doesn't work with me, because I am about as threatening as a marshmallow according to Kingo. "Do I need to go kick my brother's ass?" 

Makkari smiles and shakes her head. "It's actually something a little crazier," Makkari says and then pauses. "Druig let his village go. There was a deviant attack, and he is concerned for their safety. So he's allowed them to go, but now we need a place." 

I take a deep breath, a tentative sense of excitement curling up in my chest, but not before worry tamps it down. "Deviants? We killed them all three centuries ago." 

Makkari shakes her head. "We thought so too. But when they attacked the village, there were two... They've evolved, somehow." 

I nod thoughtfully. 

"If deviants are back, it's better if some of us stay together," Ikaris says, shockingly enough. "Even if it means I have to live with Druig again." 

Makkari looks at him sympathetically, but not without saying, "You know good and well you incited several of the spats between you two."  

Luckily, Ikaris always liked Makkari, so he has the decency to at least look a little admonished. "Have you seen Ajak yet?" I ask, taking Lydia back in my hand. 

Makkari nods. "She knows. She told me to make sure Druig and I can stay somewhere that we can protect ourselves. And that she's still planning to come see you two, so keep Achilles and Patroclus alive until then." 

I smile. It had been no less than 150 years since I last saw mama Ajak. "Are you and Druig sharing a room?"

Makkari flushes and nods. "Which one of us wants to go get Druig?" 

"I can get him," I reply, still petting Lydia. "But it won't be a very fast journey. I'll be gone a couple days." 

Makkari and Ikaris nod. 

"You should go," Makkari says. "Druig will be happy to see you." 

I nod. "Then I'll prepare my things and head on. Where is he?" 

"He should be in the central building," Makkari replies. "You'll know it when you see it." 

"I'm sure I will," I reply wryly. 

Druig finds me before I have to look for him. 

"So I see you've came without Golden Boy," Druig says. I turn around to look at him while he takes a bite out of an apple. "Makkari told me that you'd be here to come get me." 

"Yes she did," I walk closer to him. "And we both made Ikaris promise to behave." 

Druig smirks but then walks down the stairs and unexpectedly throws his arms around me. I tightly hug him back, even with the height difference. Even though it's been three hundred years, all I can see is my little brother. Even if we're the same age. I think. Eventually, Druig lets me go. 

"I really have missed you guys," Druig says, walking in step with me. I take his offered arm. "How is Golden Boy?" 

"He's actually finally growing a soft spot for the humans," I reply. "He's started taking in animals. He brought home a kitten today." 

"That is out of character for him," Druig says, impressed. 

I nod in agreement. "We have a cottage on the coastline. There's this village that I go into every day while he takes care of the dogs and now the kitten. We have a garden. It's nice. Quiet. You'll love it there." 

Druig nods. "You've started dressing like them." 

"I like it. I make all my own dresses, even Ikaris's accent and clothing has changed because of the village," I pause and look at Druig. "Speaking of, we are going to have to stop and do an outfit change." 

Druig looks at me with an amused glint in his eyes. 

"The cult leader chic has to go," I tease. Druig laughs a little bit and pokes me under my ribs, making me squeal. I squeeze the spot between his neck and shoulder, which causes him to jump. "Now how am I supposed to expect Ikaris to behave?" 

"It's my job to be a little shit, I'm his brother," Druig says. I pretend not to feel my heart warming. Druig pauses to help me up. "Or whatever he considers me these days." 

I put a gentle hand on his upper arm. "He considers us his family. He just never really puts labels on our dynamics," I tell him honestly. He offers his arm again, which I take. "But if he does hurt you, I will do something about it." I pause. "Or Makkari will." 

Druig flushes deeply and I give him a knowing smile. 

"It's not really like you and Ikaris," Druig mumbles. "We haven't gotten married yet." 

I shake my head. "Ikaris and I did that for symbolism more than anything," I tell him. "It's not a requirement by any means." I pause before deciding to tease him. "Just be responsible." 

Druig turns bright red and shakes his head while I snort. I missed my brother. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV: 

"Do you want to stop here for tonight?" Druig asks, looking at me with worry. I want to say yes, but we need to keep going. There's still another half day at least to the cottage, and Druig doesn't even appear to be that exhausted. 

Druig is still looking expectantly at me when I realize several minutes have passed. "Let's keep going a little farther," I finally tell him. "We can stop in another couple of miles." 

Druig nods, but there's worry in his gaze. I take his offered arm but lean heavily on the other Eternal. I'm sure he notices, but he doesn't say anything, merely keeps us walking. We stay like that for a while, but that's when things go wrong. 

I take a step without noting a tree root before losing my balance completely and rolling down the side of the hill. Druig distantly calls my name and I hear the rustling of leaves before I feel something sharp running through the side of my abdomen. Druig reaches me, and I'm shaking in pain and exhaustion before I can stop myself. I try to think of what to do next, but it's impossible because I feel like my brain has been replaced with a stone and ice water is running through my veins. 

Druig is right next to me, putting a hand over my trembling ones. "Sersi," He says. I look at him, exhausted. "You need to use your powers. Try to turn the tree branch into something." 

I take the command and the log is turned to ice water in an instant. 

"Good," Druig says. I hear a tearing sound as he tears off part of his shirt and wraps it tightly around my midsection. I can't help the pained whine that escapes me, even as Druig says, "I know. I'm sorry." I only let out a sharp exhale in response, staying quiet as Druig's eyes flash gold. I try to reel in my shock, knowing that feeling my emotions might throw off whatever it is Druig is doing. I shut my eyes and weakly hold Druig's wrist if only to keep myself conscious. "Makkari and Ikaris are on their way. You'll be alright, Sersi." 

I open my eyes and weakly nod. Druig gently brushes the hair off my forehead because I'm sure he noticed the unconscious feeling of longing for mam-- Ajak. Then, my sight is drawn away from Druig's knowing gaze when I see Ikaris land next to me and hear Makkari kicking up leaves as she comes to a stop. 

Makkari comes up to us and crouches next to me with a reassuring look in her eyes. "You'll be okay," She signs. "Ikaris shouldn't be far behind me. We'll finish taking care of you." Makkari turns to Druig and I see her face turn to worry at his pinched facial expression. Their conversation is too fast for me to comprehend, which I imagine must be the point. It's a dance of harried facial expressions and barely audible words -- or vocalizations? I don't know at this point-- before Makkari turns her attention back to me. "I'm gonna have to take you back to the cottage. Druig is gonna send Ikaris after Ajak and we'll go from there." 

I nod. "Mama," I whisper before I can stop myself. Druig and Makkari smile sadly as Makkari picks me up and I feel my stomach drop as she starts running. 

Ikaris POV: 

I begin looking for Ajak the moment I land in North America. "Ajak?" I call. I hope I landed in the right place. "Ajak, are you home?" Desperation grows as I continue to look for her until I hear her voice from behind me. 

"Ikaris," Ajak's strong voice says. I turn around to find the much shorter woman looking at me with the same warm gaze she looks at all of us with. She puts her hands on my arms and looks up at me. "What's wrong?" 

"Sersi," I tell her. Ajak squeezes my arms, urging me to continue. "Druig told me she's been hurt. And I don't think we can take care of it on our own."

Ajak looks away for a moment, and something like regret fills her gaze. Then, she looks back up at me. "Take me to them," She tells me with finality. "Please." 

I nod while Ajak climbs onto my back before I take off towards Scotland. 

Druig POV: 

"You need to rest," Makkari argues with me. "I can take care of Sersi. I will wake you up if I need to." 

I shake my head, looking at Sersi again. She had fallen asleep after Makkari and I managed to barely stabilize her from exhaustion. "She wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for me. I didn't notice the tree root, and now we're at the mercy of waiting for Ikaris to get help." 

"You know Ikaris cares more about Sersi than anything in the world. He wouldn't get anyone we can't trust," Makkari replies. "And it wasn't your fault. It was just an accident." She gently lifts my chin with her fingers and kisses my nose, making me involuntarily blush. 

But before I can respond, I hear Ikaris land outside. "Ikaris is back," I sign, preparing myself for the full brunt of his worried company. Makkari nods and runs to check outside, leaving only Sersi and me until I see a tiny kitten tentatively walking into the room. 

The tiny animal sees me and lifts a paw, meowing loudly. I smile and gently pick them up before putting them on the bed. Apparently seeing its mother, the kitten goes straight to Sersi's head, nuzzling gently. It makes perfect sense that the kitten has bonded to Sersi. She was always the most nurturing outside of Ajak. 

The quiet moment is broken, however, when Makkari walks in with none other than Ikaris and Ajak. Immediately, Ajak crouches at Sersi's side and gently undoes the makeshift bandaging so she can begin working. 

"I really do appreciate you taking care of Sersi for me," Ikaris says from next to me. 

I inhale deeply to mask the gasp. "I'm shocked you're not sitting next to her," I deflect, looking instead at the doorframe Ikaris is standing in front of. 

"It's better to let Ajak work and watch from a distance," Ikaris replies. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" 

I look at him quizzically, not fully trusting his intentions. 

"Makkari already knows what I need to tell you. In fact, we can talk in the kitchen, where she is," Ikaris tells me. A little bit of hope cracks my heart, so I decide to follow Ikaris. 

True to his word, Makkari is in the kitchen. Ikaris's normally perfect thoughts are in such a chaotic disarray, a jarring change from the norm for him. I can't discern any evil intentions, which is a relief on my end. 

"Did Ajak ever tell you the truth of our mission?" Ikaris asks. 

I shake my head. "Ajak hasn't spoken to me," I tell him honestly. "Not since the split." 

"She didn't want me to tell, but this secret is tearing me apart, and if I can't do anything about it, I might do something stupid," Ikaris says. Normally, I would goad him, but whatever this secret is is more important. "We are here to build a better world. But Arishem sent us with Ajak for another reason." 

I nod and motion for him to continue before Ajak materializes in the doorway with a pained look in her eyes. 

"Ajak, before you say anything--" Ikaris begins, but gets cut off by Ajak. 

"No, Ikaris, it's time they know the truth," The prime Eternal says. "Especially while Sersi rests." 

"Shouldn't we wake Sersi up?" I ask. 

Ajak shakes her head. "It'll be better for her to know when she's rested," Ajak replies. "But what Ikaris is trying to tell you is that Arishem sent us here to protect humans, yes, but also because of the greater cosmic order." 

"Care to elaborate?" 

"Essentially," Ajak begins. "We have been helping humanity grow so in a couple of centuries, a celestial will be born and create a sun for a new planet to form." 

I lean back from the shock. "So the whole time, not interfering..." I trail off. 

"No more," Ajak promises. 

"The price is too high. And I don't want Sersi to lose this planet," Ikaris agrees. "We have to stop the Emergence." 

"The question is how," Ajak says. 

"Why not have Druig put it to sleep?" Makkari suddenly pipes in. 

Ajak pauses for a beat, chewing on her thumbnail. 

"That could work," Ikaris says. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV: 

When I wake up, I immediately notice the weight of Ikaris next to me. His arm is flung protectively over my shoulders, and his mouth hangs open slightly in sleep. I smile softly before noticing that the wound from yesterday has closed completely. Achilles sits at the end of the bed, the old dog sleeping peacefully. 

I hear Lydia meow before I turn to see Makkari leaning against the doorframe, with the kitten in her hands. I smile at my friend-- sister?-- and move to slowly sit up before she walks over and places Lydia next to me and gently pushes my shoulder down. 

"You need to rest," Makkari says. "Ajak did most of the work, but she said where your injury was so severe, you still might be weak." Makkari looks at me again and smiles fondly. "I see some of the appeal in Ikaris now. He is rather cute when he's sleeping." 

I softly laugh, cringing at some of the pain that lances through my abdomen. "He snores too," I sign in reply. I grin when a soft snore escapes Ikaris. 

"Best part of being deaf," Makkari signs. "I don't have to hear it when Druig snores. Or talks in his sleep." 

I smile. "How is Druig?" 

"He's good," Makkari replies. "Exhausted. Ajak sent him straight to bed after she finished talking to him." 

"Is she still here?" I ask hopefully. 

Makkari shakes her head sadly. "She had to go back to the horses. She'll be back though." 

I nod. 

"There is something Ajak wanted me to tell you though," Makkari says, settling into a chair by my bed. "Our mission, or at least the purpose Ajak gave us, is a half-truth. We were brought here to build a better world and protect humans, but this whole time, we've just been helping the population grow to give a celestial enough energy to be born and turn this planet into a sun for another cosmic universe." 

I don't respond to this. Frankly, I don't know how. My mind is reeling of all the times that Ajak told Druig and I not to interfere. It makes perfect sense now. We were never supposed to save them in the first place. Just grow them as celestial food. I look at Ikaris next to me. 

"But Ajak has decided enough is enough," Makkari signs. "We still have another few centuries to go, but we're going to stop the emergence." 

"Are we bringing everyone back together?" I ask. 

"Not yet," Makkari replies. "Ajak wants us to learn to live together. Ikaris and Druig have a lot of issues that they need to work on beyond the ten of us. And we don't even know how to hide this from Arishem." 

I nod. "And what if it works? What will Arishem do?" 

"I can't answer that," Makkari says. "But the cost of his design is not worth it this time." Makkari gently squeezes my hand, and I reciprocate. "Try to rest. We have plenty of time to wait for Ajak's plan to come together." 

I nod, still in shock. But, I find myself agreeing with the idea of rebelling nevertheless. Arishem has taken too much for too long. I turn on my side to see the still-sleeping face of Ikaris. Lydia meows, already maneuvered over to sleeping in the gap between Ikaris's head and shoulder. I lay my head on my husband's chest and listen to his solid heartbeat before finally falling asleep. 

Druig POV:

Makkari is asleep when I wake up. I see the dying sunlight outside our window and rub my eyes. How long was I asleep? I ask myself. The last thing I remember is keeping watch over Sersi before Ajak dragged me to the room Makkari and I shared and made me get some sleep. Makkari has her arms wrapped tightly around me and is slightly vibrating in her sleep. I smile fondly and flick a braid over her shoulder. I slowly climb out of bed and pull the comforter up to Makkari's shoulders. 

I quietly close the door and walk to Sersi's room, where she and Ikaris are sleeping peacefully with all three of their strays surrounding them. I smile softly. Ikaris is snoring -- loudly -- while he has an arm flung over Sersi's waist. Their kitten is snuggled between Ikaris's head and shoulder, while both of their dogs somehow manage to fit on their bed. It's an admittedly adorable sight, even if Ikaris is involved. 

Slowly, I back out of their room and walk into the sitting room Sersi most likely set up. It's small but cozy, with three bookshelves full of books, and some overstuffed furniture. There's a writing desk with fresh flowers and a paper and quill sitting atop it. I grab a book and sit down on the chaise lounge, content to read until everyone else wakes up. 

After a while-- if the sky is to be believed -- someone I quickly identify to be Sersi takes the book out of my hands. I look up, ready to say something until I see a mock-exasperated look in her eyes. 

"You should be resting," Sersi says as I move my feet. She sits down next to me. "Thank you. For saving me out there. I never got the chance to properly do that." She smiles at me and tucks her feet beneath her. 

"Well, you were busy trying not to die, so I think I can forgive you this once."

Sersi smiles, but then a sigh escapes her. "Makkari told me what Ajak and Ikaris told you." 

I swallow uncomfortably and nod. "All that time. If Ajak had had a change of heart sooner," I say, remembering that night when Tenochtitlan burned. Sersi squeezes my hand. 

"If only Ikaris or I had defended you," Sersi says earnestly. 

"Oh Sersi," I say softly. "I never blamed you for not doing anything. You were hurt, and Ikaris is still your husband." 

Sersi shakes her head. "And you're my little brother." 

"We're the same age!" 

Ikaris clears his throat in the kitchen, making both of us jump. 

"Morning," Ikaris says to both of us. Lydia climbs onto the kitchen counter and mewls. "Okay, I'm feeding you."

"So you really have been bringing home strays?" I needle Ikaris. "That explains how Makkari and I came here." 

"Don't push your luck," Ikaris replies. "At least Lydia is cute." 

"Did Sersi finally teach you how to have a sense of humor after how many centuries?" I reply. 

Sersi punches my arm. "Don't punch his buttons," She tells me. "He did agree to behave." 

"Well, I do happen to like sharing a bed with my beautiful wife," Ikaris says as he sets a bowl of Lydia's food in front of the tiny kitten. "And I know she will make me sleep on that chaise lounge you're occupying." Ikaris leaves Lydia to kiss Sersi on her head. 

"She would," Sersi says, reaching up to kiss Ikaris. I pull a face, which makes Sersi throw a pillow at me. "Let me be affectionate with my husband!" 

"I wish I could say I was sorry," I reply before heaving an exaggerated sigh. "Just use protection, you two." 

I see Sersi's face change ever so slightly, her eyes becoming slightly sadder, before she decides to recover with humor. "Not necessary, my dear brother." 

I let the subject drop, but still smile fondly. 

Ikaris pauses, but then he and Sersi share a mischievous grin. "Hey Druig, I don't think you've gotten to see the coastline yet." 

"I think Makkari and I might go later," I say in an attempt to deflect. "I don't like you looking at me in that tone of voice." 

Sersi giggles and kicks me playfully. "I'll go too. That way he has to walk." 

"Wait, what?" I ask, flushing as my voice cracks. 

Sersi snorts and begins giggling uncontrollably. "I mean, Ikaris can fly and drop you into the ocean." 

I see Makkari walking in, clearly still sleepy. She pets Patroclus, but then signs, "What's going on in here?" 

"Ikaris wants to drop me in the ocean!" I reply indignantly.

Makkari looks at Ikaris darkly. 

Sersi slowly gets up to tug on Makkari's wrist gently. "Just playful. Nothing serious." 

Makkari nods before wrapping an arm around Sersi's waist to lead her back to the couch. Sersi squeezes Makkari's hand as soon as she's able to sit down comfortably. The two share a smile before Makkari comes over to sit on my lap and wrap her arms around my neck. 

Ikaris finally picks up Lydia, who had been meowing for her Papa's attention for several minutes by now, and sits down in the overstuffed armchair next to Sersi. "So," He says, his accent thickly coloring his voice. "How long has this been going on?" 

"Since we landed in Babylon, Ikaris," Sersi says. "They're just not married like we are." 

"And I know how to--" Makkari slaps my chest to cut me off. I give her a goofy grin and she tilts her chin up. 

"Ignore him," Makkari signs. 

"With pleasure," Ikaris replies, looking away from me. 

Sersi softly laughs before slightly smacking her husband. "I missed you idiots," Sersi finally says. "It's good to have my brother and sister back." 

And I can swear that I see Ikaris smile fondly, even while Sersi takes Lydia out of his hand. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV:

"Ikaris," I chide gently. "Another one?" 

"It's a baby!" 

"It's a barn owl," I reply. 

"It'll keep snakes away from the eggs?" 

"We don't have chickens," I reply, putting my hands on my hips. 

"We can get some now!" 

"Absolutely not," I reply, no longer able to hold back a giggle. Ikaris gives me a pleading glance. "Don't give me the puppy dog eyes." 

"But Owls are cool!" He says. "The possibilities are endless! She can perch on your shoulder and make you look like the actual witch Circe!" 

I raise a brow. "How did you REMEMBER that story?" 

"It's hard to forget it," Ikaris replies. "Because you did actually tame a lion." 

"It was an adolescent!" 

"How is that any different from the owl?" Ikaris says. 

I am truly stumped, so I admit defeat. "Fine," I finally say. "But try to clean up after it. That includes the owl pellets." 

"Yes! I knew you'd let me keep her," Ikaris says. I walk closer to the tiny owl perched in his hand. "Her name is Artemis." 

I hum and gently stroke the top of her head. "She is cute." 

Ikaris grins and kisses my head, "But you're a little bit cuter." 

I tilt my head up to look at him and reply, "Just a little bit?" I put my hands on Ikaris's hips, letting my fingers settle into the slight divots on his back. 

Ikaris sets the small owl on the in-table and grins before kissing me deeply. 

"Ugh! You two," Druig says, walking into the kitchen. Ikaris and I share a laugh before we turn and look at our brother. "Get a room!" 

"We have one, you're just in it," I reply. "Where's Makkari?" 

Druig's face flushes while he laughs. 

"Druig," Ikaris says. "I don't like that look." 

I lightly smack Ikaris's chest and tell him, "Why don't you go water the veggies?" 

Ikaris gives me a look. 

"I think they might be ripe," I tell him, "Go see." 

Ikaris finally gets the hint and leaves the room with Artemis trying to perch on his shoulder. 

I turn to look at Druig and put my hands on my hips before giving him a look I hope mimics Ajak's knowing stares. 

Druig POV: 

Makkari lays her head on my chest and I wrap an arm protectively around her waist. 

"Druig?" Makkari signs. 

"Yes beautiful," I reply with one hand. 

"Do you ever wish we could have children?" 

I pause for a moment, looking off at the distant sea. I think about the sad look that washed over Sersi's face when I spoke without thinking at using protection. I remember being overwhelmed with Sersi's grief for days when Ajak told her that Eternals were effectively sterile while we lived in Norway. "All the time," I finally say. "I love the idea of evolving beyond whatever we were meant for and truly building a life for ourselves." 

Makkari hums and nods thoughtfully. "I wish we could," She tells me. "Maybe bring the reproductive systems back online." 

I nod. "Do you think that there's even a way to do that?" 

"I don't even know if Ajak would know how to do something like that," Makkari replies. "What if it messes with our powers or something?" 

"That would explain a lot," I reply, knowing she can read my lips. "We can be the perfect pawns that way."

Makkari nods. "What if we succeed in stopping the Emergence? Do you think-" 

Makkari's hands still, so I put one hand over them. "Kari, I truly hope so." 

Makkari and I go back to the cottage a couple hours later. We were both content simply basking in the other's company, but we both need food now. I can faintly hear talking in the kitchen, so I gently lead Makkari by the hand just in case there's danger lurking. 

I quickly let out a sigh of relief when I see it's just Ikaris, Sersi, and Lydia. 

"What kind of trouble are the two of you getting into?" I ask. 

Ikaris gives me an exasperated look while Sersi flushes red. "Seriously, Druig?" 

I chuckle while Makkari lightly slaps my chest. 

"We need to tell the two of you something," Sersi says, turning serious. 

"I don't like that look, Sersi," I tell her. My hands flex as Sersi's anxiety covers me like a thick blanket. 

"We might need to relocate," Ikaris says, letting Sersi compose herself. "Just to be closer to Thena and Gilgamesh." 

"Is there something else to it?" Makkari signs. "You and Thena were worse than an old married couple. And you don't know if she holds Tenochtitlan against you." 

Ikaris flinches at the mention of that night, and the expression on Makkari's face softens. 

"Maybe Makkari and I can go see them first to see if they'd be up for us to live nearby?" I offer. 

Makkari nods. "We'd be back relatively quickly, if you needed us." 

Sersi sighs, but then says, "Please hurry back." 

Makkari nods and squeezes Sersi's hand before picking me up and running towards the Australian Outback. 

"You're back earlier than expected," Gilgamesh says. "Thena isn't doing the best currently. She had another attack this morning, so she's not very fun to be around."

"Are you okay?" Makkari signs, looking worriedly up and down his body. 

"I'm fine," Gilgamesh signs and says. "Worried about Thena." 

Makkari nods sympathetically. "Is she by the tree?" 

Gil nods. "Go and see her. You might get through to her." 

Makkari zips off. 

"So," Gilgamesh says, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Thinking of relocating or something?" 

"Something like that," I smirk. "How'd you know?" 

"Call it intuition," Gilgamesh says. "Still living in the Amazon?" 

I shake my head. "Living with Sersi and Ikaris now," I tell him. "Makkari and I are in their spare room. We share a house with four animals." 

"You? Living with Ikaris?" 

"He's actually been... Not terrible? He's acted like a normal person. Sersi brings out the best in him," I reply. "Plus, she and Makkari are buffers between us both."

"I'm not surprised," Gilgamesh says. "How is Sersi?" 

"She's been good," I tell him. "She got hurt on the way here, but Ikaris brought in Ajak and she got Sersi fixed up." 

"That's good," Gil replies. "Honestly, she really is the sweetest Eternal." 

I nod in agreement. "How's T?" 

Gil's face turns sad. "She's been really easily triggered lately. And I feel like I'm not doing enough," He replies. "I love her. So much. I just don't want her to suffer." 

I nod. "I'm sure that she'd disagree with you not doing enough," I begin. "You love her unconditionally, you've helped her find hobbies that help her cope with what's going on in her mind, you help her sleep, oh and lest we forget the whole-ass feast you make three meals a day." 

Gilgamesh smiles, then pauses. "She's been talking a lot lately about having a son they took from her. I didn't think Eternals could have kids, but she has been saying this repeatedly." 

"I thought... Ajak told Sersi that Eternals were sterilized before their mission began," I reply. 

"I don't know," Gilgamesh says. "I.. I can't help but wonder what's going on in her mind." 

I take a deep breath again, and finally decide to tell Gilgamesh the truth. "Maybe it's memories of a past life," I sigh. 

"What are you saying?" 

"When Ajak came to patch up Sersi, her and Ikaris told me something," I tell him. "She basically said that we've been sent to help many other planets develop for billions of years, but it results in the birth of a Celestial. Which then destroys the planet to create a sun for a new solar system. Then, after that, our bodies are remade and our memories wiped." 

"So Thena's Ma'hd Wy'ry is a result of.. something going wrong with Arishem wiping our memories?" 

"I think so," I reply. 

Gilgamesh bows his head. "I have an idea." 

I raise an eyebrow. "And what might that be?" 

"Going through her past memories?" Ikaris asks incredulously. "Are we sure that's the best idea?" 

"I think it could work," Sersi supplies hopefully. "I mean, you did put her to sleep, didn't you?" 

I nod slowly and shovel more food into my mouth to avoid talking. 

"I mean, Ma'hd Wy'ry is memories we have left over. Thena's are coming in fragments, so wouldn't it make sense for her to process them in full?" Gilgamesh replies. 

I sigh. "It would," I relent.

"Maybe," Ikaris clears his throat. "We could do them in sessions?" 

"I want to try it," Thena pipes up unexpectedly. "I want to.. I want my memories." 

Gilgamesh smiles and squeezes his love's hand. 

"I think I can make it happen then," I finally say. "But not tonight. Not while you're still recovering. I want us both to be in the best conditions possible." 

Thena nods. "I know, but I want to try." 

Gilgamesh gives Thena a gentle squeeze. "The four of you all are going to have to share beds or the couch. We have one spare room, but that's it. We all need rest for what's to come." 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV:

"Are you sure you want to do this today?" Gilgamesh asks Thena gently. 

Thena nods. "I need to know. We need to know."

"Druig," Ikaris says. Druig's head snaps in his direction. "Do you know what you're doing?" 

"Well," Druig begins. "I know how to elicit reactions from you guys by entering your mind, so surely this can't be that different." Druig swallows hard and Makkari gently squeezes his arm. 

"How do you-? Actually, I don't want to know," Ikaris says quickly. "How do you enter one of our minds anyway?" 

"The way I understand it from Makkari," Druig takes a breath, "Is that I can't enter unless you open the door. And even then, it's more of a suggestion. When it comes to physical feelings at least. Memories will likely play out slightly differently." 

"Differently how?" I ask. I take a sip of Gilgamesh's wine. 

"There'll have to be a little more power on my end, most likely," Druig says. 

"Then maybe you should try it on one of us first," I ask. "Try it on me. Just to be safe. Make sure we won't hurt Thena." 

"Sersi, I don't like that idea at all," Ikaris immediately interjects. 

"It's not up to you, Ikaris," I tell him. "It's my mind ultimately. And Druig would never hurt me." 

"What if something goes wrong? You could be hurt!" Ikaris says. 

"Then you and Makkari could go get Ajak and have her back in an instant," I reply. My eyes soften at my husband. "We need to know this is safe, and I trust Druig." 

"It's not that I don't trust Druig," Ikaris replies. "We don't know the full extent of his abilities." 

"Which is why we need to try," I tell him. "Now, I don't need your permission, Ikaris. This is my mind. But I do want your support." 

Ikaris's worried gaze softens. "I could never say no to you," He says. Ikaris looks at Druig. "Don't hurt her." 

"I'll be careful," Druig promises. "I care about her too." 

"I know," Ikaris says. 

"Let's try it," I say to Druig confidently. 

Druig nods and takes my hands gently in his. He shuts his eyes at first, but when they open, they're shining a bright gold and I can feel my brother's power. 

"Let me through," Druig's mental voice says. "Not here for trouble." 

I close my eyes against the pressure at the front of my skull. I try to open the door, but I can feel the watchful eyes of Ikaris, Makkari, Gil, and Thena. I gasp softly, and Druig draws back some of the pressure. 

"If it's all the same to you four, can you draw back the worry a little bit? Or maybe not.. stare so intensely? I can feel Sersi's stress," Druig says out loud. Suddenly, I hear Ikaris's heavy footfalls walk away, as well as Gilgamesh's. I breathe a sigh of relief at only my siblings in the room. "There ye' go," Druig says as the wall in my mind slowly falls. "Not here fer' trouble.." 

"What do you need to see?" I ask him. My voice shakes with unconscious nerves. 

Druig gives my hands a reassuring squeeze before continuing. "Nothin' yet," He whispers. "Just gonna hang out for a second so ya don't panic." 

I swallow hard before Thena puts a supportive hand on my lower back. I feel Druig slip through my mind, almost like the ninjas we encountered in Japan. Then, suddenly, the presence hits a solid wall in my mind. Druig winces in pain, and I can't contain the spike of nervous regret in my mind. "I'm sorry!" 

"Shh, Sersi, it's okay," Druig says in a softer voice than I ever knew he was capable of. "Jus' draw that back in. It's okay." 

Thena rubs my back as the wall gradually drops in my mind, allowing Druig full access to my emotions. My breathing steadies out, and I can still feel Thena's presence. 

"Good," Druig praises softly. I feel him pressing on a particular part there, making me turn to goo in his hands practically. "Okay, not too much farther and we'll be in your memories. Is there anything you do not consent to me seeing?" 

"It's okay," I tell him quietly. "Just don't tell too many people." 

"O' course not," Druig says. 

I drop the wall to my memories, letting a few float to the surface. 

"Sersi, I should warn you," Druig says. "I'm not sure how this'll feel for both of us, so if you need to tap out, let me know." 

"Okay," I reply. "I trust you." Druig gently prods against my memories; there's nothing I can do about this barrier in my mind. Not as of now. The pressure on my mind is soft at first, but the wall still holds. 

"Thena," Druig says. 

"Hm?" 

"I might need you to hold on to Sersi. I need to put a little bit more pressure on 'er mind, and I don' want her to fall off the couch," He says quietly. 

I can feel Thena's arm go protectively around my waist as she repositions herself behind me. I take a deep breath as I feel the push on my mind once again. It's sustained for longer this time, making me lean against Thena. 

"The wall is budging a bit," Druig tells me. "Do you need a break?" 

I shake my head. "Let's keep going," I tell him. "We need to know how to do this safely." 

I feel Druig sigh, but he builds pressure until I can finally push a few memories to the surface. My stomach is churning but I can't give up now. 

"Good job, Sersi!" Druig says excitedly. He squeezes my hands encouragingly. "Still doing okay?" 

I sigh. "Just-- look through the damn memories," I reply. "That should help the wall come down." 

Druig sighs, but I can tell he looks through the memories judging by the warmth growing under my collar and the memory playing out clearly in my mind's eye. 

It was the time Druig helped me go against Ajak's rules and console a child. 

"You remember this?" Druig murmurs. 

"Of course," I reply. "First time I realized we both have a soft spot for the younger humans." 

Druig hums. He continues looking at the memories one by one until he encounters the wall, which is now cracked. "Sersi?" Druig asks. 

"Yeah?" I barely get out. 

"You did so well," He says to me softly. "You knocked out a section of the wall. Are you ready to do that again?" 

"I can do it," I tell him. 

"Tap out whenever you need to," He tells me. "Ready?" 

"Let's just do it," I tell him. I mentally prepare for the pressure again. 

Druig starts off slow but gradually increases his presence until finally, I can feel more than that breaking down. More memories flood out of that wall, thoroughly bathing me in warmth and making my brain feel like it would nearly burst--

Until Druig gasps, making me pull back completely. "No, Sersi, 'is okay," He says. "Come back. It's safe. We're sharing two minds, remember?" 

I slowly come back, squeezing Druig's hands. 

"Good," Druig says softly. "Good job. You're safe with me. I'm sorry I did that." 

"Not your fault," I tell him. "Just too much." 

"Shh," Druig says. "Sometimes our minds don't realize how to react to certain things, and that's okay. We don't have much longer." 

I nod. Slowly, Druig looks through the memories that came out of that section. The entire time, Thena rubs my back supportively while I all but lay on her. 

Finally, Druig finishes and says, "Alrigh' I need to come out of your mind now, but 'm also gonna help you rebuild the emotional and mental walls. It won't feel the best, but it helps." 

I nod again. Slowly, I feel Druig's presence leave my mind, but then we hit the emotional part of my brain. 

"Okay, this'll take a minute," Druig says. "But it's okay. Yer' in control, I'm just helpin' ya." I nod but I'm not prepared for the pure agony that lasts for the fifteen minutes it takes to rebuild my wall. I'm practically laying on Thena now, but she keeps a protective hold of me. 

"Almost done?" I brokenly whisper. 

"Almost," Druig whispers. "I just need you to try and relax for me. I can't leave your mind all at once, I don' wanna hurt ya." 

A whimper escapes me unwillingly. Druig squeezes my hands as he slowly leaves my mind. Thena softly rubs my arms and hums soothingly. 

Eventually, Druig's presence is entirely gone from my mind. Suddenly, I feel too sick to ignore it, and luckily Makkari notices it too and quickly gets me a trash can. I quickly take it out of her hands while Druig repositions me and Thena holds my hair back while I puke up tonight's dinner. Tears mix with the puke until eventually there's nothing left in my stomach. 

Mortification bubbles up as Thena hands me a glass of water. My head is pounding, and I feel as though I've overheated, which is confirmed by the look on Makkari's face when she feels my forehead. I can see the exhaustion in Druig's eyes even as he puts a supportive hand on my knee. 

"Go get some rest," Druig says. "You've earned it. I'll be by to check on you. Same with Makkari."  

"You can rest in my bed," Thena says. "I'll talk to Ikaris, tell him not to overwhelm you with questions." 

I nod and try to stand, just to see nothing but pure white. I feel Thena's arms wrap protectively around me again before she picks me up. "That table is made of glass," She says. "I don't think it would end very well if you fell onto it." 

"Me neither," I mumble. Thena's hold reminds me of Ikaris's, but it's distinctly different at the same time. "Can you stay?" 

Thena puts me on the bed while I look up at her. "I will for a little bit," She says with fondness in her eyes. Thena lays down next to me and I put my head on her chest before closing my eyes. "You're lucky you're cute." 

I drift off before I can come back with anything. 

Makkari POV: 

I hold Druig up while he showers. When Sersi was carried off by Thena, Druig immediately sagged against me. I gently pull Druig into my arms and let him rest for a few minutes. 

"Is he alright?" Gilgamesh signs as he and Ikaris walk back in. 

I wave my flat palm forward and backward from my left temple with my free hand.

"Not feeling well," Gilgamesh says. "All the strain on his mind. Not boding well." 

I move my other hand from Druig's hair to sign, only for me to feel the vibrations of his pained moan. My heart splits in two as I draw him in closer. I kiss his hair as he wraps his arms around me, obviously too tired to register Ikaris and Gilgamesh. Gil throws a blanket around Druig, and I wrap it tightly around him. I feel the vibrations coming from his pained moan as his face scrunches tightly in pain. 

"I should go get Ajak," Ikaris says, moving to leave. 

"No, don't!" Druig suddenly replies. "She'll make me quit, and I wanna help Thena." 

Ikaris quickly senses Druig's distress, but luckily Gilgamesh jumps into action. "Druig, it's okay," Gilgamesh says with a hand on his shoulder. "Nobody's getting Ajak yet. It's alright." Gil puts the back of his hand to Druig's cheek. "Shit, your fever's high." 

"Sersi-" Druig starts, but is cut of with a groan of pain as his stomach painfully cramps, judging by his face. 

"Thena has Sersi," Gilgamesh says softly. "Kari and I are taking care of you. It's okay." 

"Thena-- Episode-- Need to help her," Druig pants out. I hug him tightly and sway back and forth to calm him. 

"Thena's safe," Gil replies. "You can't help anyone like this. Let us take care of you." 

Bleary eyed, Druig looks at Gil and nods. Poor thing. I slowly pick up Druig and follow Gilgamesh to their other tiny guest room. 

Thena POV: 

"Is she alright?" Ikaris asks with worry in his eyes. 

I look down at the still sleeping Sersi. "She's alright for now," I begin. "But I don't like how high her fever's getting." Ikaris moves to open his mouth before I say, "Don't go to Ajak yet. Give it a couple days to see if we can break the fever or if it'll break on its own." 

Ikaris sighs. "Druig also insisted that we not call Ajak," He says. "He thinks that Ajak won't let us continue with this experiment of his." 

"I'm worried for him," I reply. "If Sersi expended this much of his energy, what'll I do to him?" I brush hair back from Sersi's forehead. "Can you go get me a cold cloth?" 

Ikaris nods and is back in an instant. He slowly begins braiding Sersi's hair back from her face. She stirs, making him stop in his tracks. 

"Shhh," I softly whisper. "You're safe. It's just me and Ikaris." 

"Where's Lydia?" She mumbles. 

"She's sleeping," Ikaris says. He gently strokes her face. "You should be too." 

She hums and leans into the touch. "Are you staying?"

"Of course," He replies. "But you need to go to sleep." 

Makkari POV: 

Druig lays on my stomach after I get him showered and into bed. Gil put a wastebasket next to the bed just in case Druig gets sick again. I keep a candle next to the bed so Druig can see me signing. I gently rub the base of Druig's skull to help soothe him into sleep. 

"Kari," Druig says so faintly I barely pick up the vibrations. I look down at him in worry. "Your shirt hurts." 

I immediately understand what he's saying and quickly shed the layer, leaving me in my breast band and pants. "How's your mind?" 

Druig shakes his head. 

"Need to share it?" I ask honestly. 

"Can't add another," Druig replies. "Too many of Sersi's memories. I can still feel all of her emotions." Tears escape his eyes, which I quickly wipe away. The vibrations of a pained moan hit my skin, which makes me want to cry myself. Instead, I settle for brushing hair off his forehead. 

"It's okay," I sign. 

"She's in pain," Druig signs. "If I shared with you, you would be too. Then you and her hurting would be my fault." 

"Druig, I promise it's not your fault." 

"It is!" He insists. I rub his back soothingly while he starts crying more aggressively than before. Worry swells in my chest unbidden. If he can't be consoled, he'll dehydrate. 

"Druig, Sersi will be okay. Her mind is just not used to you being in there. That's not your fault," I sign firmly. I rub his back until he finally stops crying. "Try to get some rest. Maybe sleep off this fever?" 

Druig pauses, then finally asks, "Are you sure it's okay if we share a mind?" 

"Of course," I reply immediately. "We can just share for a little bit, just long enough for you to get some rest and rebuild some of your walls." 

"That'll hurt you!" 

"I'll be okay," I reply. "I'm worried about you now." I open my mind to Druig and open the door, allowing him inside. Druig's eyes flash gold, and then I can feel his distressed presence in my mind. I can feel everything he's feeling, even to the point that it's causing my chest to hurt, but I don't dare say anything. 

Druig's breathing is already becoming less harsh and the pained moans are fewer after just fifteen minutes in my mind. I thought I was doing a good job of hiding my pain from Druig, but then he notices me unconsciously flinch from pain, which then makes him panic. 

"Sorry!" Druig signs over and over, trying to back out of my mind as quickly as I can. 

"It's okay, it's okay,"  I sign as well as communicate mentally. "Not your fault. It's okay." 

Druig shakes his head. His eyes return to their normal color as Gilgamesh walks in. "My fault," He signs, panic written all over his face.

"What's wrong? Thena sent me in here because she said I should check on you two, and she was clearly right," He says. 

"I hurt Makkari because I was sharing her mind and she felt pain that was mine and Sersi's--" Druig gasps to catch his breath. 

"Slow down before you make yourself sick," Gilgamesh says firmly. "Gather your thoughts, then tell me what happened." 

"I was sharing my mind with Druig so he would be able to rebuild his shields and rest," I sign first. "But he started panicking because he noticed a random pain and blamed it on himself." 

"I did hurt 'er! And Sersi is in pain too," Druig says, barely coherent at this point. 

"Sersi is asleep, Druig," Gilgamesh says. "You need to be too. Get some sleep, you need it so you can try to sleep off the fever." 

Druig shakes his head. 

Gilgamesh sighs. "Let me see if I can brew something that'll help with the pain and will help you sleep." 

Gilgamesh walks out and I gently pull Druig into my embrace. I run my fingers through his hair and kiss his temple. "My sweet Druig," I sign. "Hopefully whatever brew Gil makes for you will send you to sleep. Break this fever too." 

Druig's tears fall onto my chest, but I don't care. Druig's muscles finally relax against me. I hit a spot on his scalp which makes him almost groan in relief.

His eyes shut and he's almost asleep when Gilgamesh walks back in with a mug steaming with something. "Almost asleep?" Gilgamesh signs, not wanting to startle Druig. I nod. Gilgamesh puts the steaming mug on the bedside table. "If you need help, I'll be in the living room." 

I nod before Gil walks out again. I gently nudge Druig, who blearily opens his eyes. "Druig," I sign. "Gil made you some tea. To help with the pain, get you to sleep." 

Druig nods and tries to handle the mug, but his hands tremble too much, making frustrated tears leak out of the corners of his eyes. I kiss his head again and gently take the mug out of his hands before helping him drink it. He takes small sips, but still drains the mug before laying his head back on my chest. 

I smile sadly before running my fingers through his hair, which successfully sends him off to sleep after a few minutes. 

Thena POV:

"How is she doing?" Gilgamesh asks. 

"She's still asleep," I reply. "Has been for quite a few hours. She woke up a little bit ago when Ikaris came in, but he sent her back off to sleep." 

"How's her fever?" 

"Not broken yet," I reply grimly. "Maybe we should call Ajak." 

"I already promised Druig we weren't going to yet," I raise a brow before he continues. "He was in a panic, Thena, and he thinks she'll stop whatever it is we're attempting with your memories." Gilgamesh sighs. "But I made him a tea with pain medication and sleeping drought. Makkari had to pour it down his throat, but it should work. There's enough in there to knock out an elephant." 

I nod. "Sersi's okay for now, but I don't know what we're gonna do if we can't break her fever," I tell Gil. "Ikaris is worried sick." 

"I can imagine," Gil replies. He walks over and takes the no longer cold cloth from Sersi's neck. "I need to cool this rag off to keep her asleep." Gilgamesh walks out of the room before Sersi whimpers in her sleep. 

I softly shush her and stroke her cheek with the knuckle of my pointer finger. "Go back to sleep, little one," I whisper. "Ikaris and I are here." 

Sersi wraps a tighter arm around my waist, shrinking away from Ikaris. She grumbles something unintelligible before going back into a deep sleep. I breathe more slowly, hoping the rhythm keeps her asleep just until Gilgamesh gets back with that cloth. I'm fairly confident that will either soothe her or wake her up. 

Sersi begins to toss and turn, waking up Ikaris first. Oh shit, I think. Fever dream. Sersi's face screws up as she tries to fight Ikaris and I at once. 

"Sersi!" Ikaris calls. "Sersi, it's alright! It's just a dream!" He tries to pull the girl into his lap, but she thrashes tooth and nail before he finally grabs both wrists and crosses them over her chest. This wakes up Sersi with a cry before she finally sees me then Ikaris's hands. 

"Ikaris," She says in a breath. Then she regards me with glassy, terrified eyes. "Thena. I'm sorry. I don't remember you being here." 

I put a hand on her leg. "It's okay," I whisper. "It's okay. You weren't in control. You're safe, we all are." Ikaris lets her go right as Gilgamesh walks in. 

"What happened here?" He asks, handing the cloth to Ikaris, who was currently holding a teary-eyed Sersi. 

"She had a fever dream," I reply. "Ikaris woke her up." 

Gilgamesh nods and replies, "Pretty bad fever?" 

"Way too high," Ikaris says. 

"Might just be distress," Gilgamesh says. "She and Druig did share a mind, so it's a real possibility." 

I nod. "Plus all the exposure at once to his abilities." 

Ikaris nods and begins wiping his beloved's neck and brow with the cold cloth. Sersi leans into the touch and closes her eyes in relief. "We just need to try all the old fashioned ways that Sersi used when some of the kids in our old town would get sick. Maybe that'll help," He says hopefully. 

Luckily, neither one of the men in the room are asking me if I still want to go through with the memory recovery. Because, even though I'm seeing what Sersi is going through, my answer is still yes. I want to remember every life. My gaze turns to the poor girl in Ikaris's arms. 

"She'll be okay," Gilgamesh says. "Both of them will. They have us." He fixes me with a knowing look, and I flick my gaze downward as a half-smile tugs at my lips. 

Ikaris sighs as Sersi goes back to sleep. "I just wonder if we'll be enough." 

"We will be," I reply. "Besides, caregiving is kinda Gil's thing. Sersi and Druig are in good hands." 

Chapter Text

Ikaris POV:

Thena is asleep while Sersi sleeps on my lap. It's been two days since Druig went inside her mind, and while her fever has been coming and going, not much else has improved. Gilgamesh is with Druig at present, trying to get some water down my brother's throat. My heart twists painfully at the state of both of them. Regardless of how much Druig and I fought, he's still my brother, as Ajak would say. 

Gilgamesh walks in with a murky-looking tea and a worn look in his eyes. Gil sets the tea down on the nightstand and asks, "How is she?" 

I give him a sad look. "Her fever has come and gone," I reply. "But nothing else has improved. She's been having nightmares, waking up sick. Nothing she's tried has worked." My gaze makes its way back down to the sleeping girl in my arms. "How's Druig?" 

"Worse," Gilgamesh says grimly. "Can't hold down anything, has random outbursts of emotion, fever keeps spiking, physically lashed out at Makkari-" 

"Lashed out at Makkari?" I cut off Gilgamesh in shock. Druig would never physically hurt anyone, much less Makkari. "What happened?" 

"Makkari doesn't blame him, of course, but he woke up from a nightmare, and when Makkari started gently vibrating to soothe him, it had the opposite effect," Gilgamesh replies. "He thought Makkari was dangerous." 

I sigh deeply. "I think we need to get Ajak," I reply. "It's been two days. Neither one of them is making substantial improvements." 

Sersi stirs awake and looks at me with half-lidded eyes. "You called Ajak?" 

"Shhh," I put a hand on her cheek to feel the tepid skin there. "Not yet. Go back to sleep." 

Sersi doesn't have the energy to do anything but nod and resettle her head on my chest. I wrap my arms around her again and slowly rock back and forth in the rocking chair, just like all the nights we went to help another mum in the village when her baby wouldn't sleep. 

Gilgamesh sits down on the bed with Thena, finally putting his feet up for presumably the first time all night. We exchange a meaningful look as Thena unconsciously curls up, looking for her gentle giant. Gil puts an arm around Thena not long before I hear his quiet snores fill the room. 

"Ikaris?" 

"Sersi," I gasp in relief. I squeeze my wife tightly, noting with no small amount of relief that her fever's gone. Sersi winces, making me break the embrace. "What's wrong?"

"Druig," She says, wincing again. "I can feel what he's feeling." Sersi rubs her forehead and squints. "I think him going into my mind created a bond between us." 

I can't help the pensive look that crosses my face. "So, does that mean Druig might start re-experiencing Thena's memories when he goes into her mind?" Sersi nuzzles into the crook of my neck, momentarily distracting me. My breathing immediately softens as I look down at my wife. "I already know what you'll say," I say as I kiss her hair. I sigh. "I'm so glad you're alright." 

Sersi hums and even though I can tell she's not completely recovered, having her coherency back makes me feel better than I have in days. "Where's Lydia?" She asks her voice heavy with sleepiness still. 

"With Druig and Makkari," I whisper. "Druig wanted her to stay with them."  

Sersi makes a noise in the back of her throat and asks, "Can I see Druig? Is he okay?" Her eyes are wide with fervor and worry. 

I rub her back and nod, gathering her too-light frame in my arms. I walk to the other guest room, where Druig is sitting up, heavily assisted by Makkari. The two of them look at us with tired but relieved expressions. "Sersi!" Druig says with uncontained relief. 

Lydia meows loudly from her spot in Makkari's lap, insistent on getting some affection from her mother. I smile fondly and sit Sersi at the end of the bed, next to Makkari and Lydia. 

"How are you feeling?" Makkari signs.

"Better," Sersi replies. She smiles and puts her head on Makkari's shoulder while Lydia crawls into her lap. "How's my Druig?" She signs and says. 

"Tired," He says, accidentally forgetting to sign. "I'm still achy and sore. But better now that you're here." 

I grin. "You're gonna make Makkari jealous!" 

Makkari and Sersi share a look. "I'll be okay, I guess," Makkari replies with an impish grin. 

I can't help the relieved smile that crosses my face knowing that Sersi is okay. And well, I guess I'm happy Druig is alright too. 

Makkari POV:

Druig went to sleep not long after Sersi and Ikaris left. Even as much as today was an improvement with his fever finally breaking, Druig still had about as much stamina as a newborn kitten. I absently comb his hair with my fingers, trying to keep him as calm as possible while he rests. 

He had fought sleep initially, but had all but melted into my embrace when I resorted to holding him tightly as a last ditch attempt to have him get some shuteye. 

I can feel my eyes getting heavy when I notice distinct vibrations. I immediately raise up, shielding Druig with myself to make sure he's protected. I try to still as much as I can to focus in the dimly lit room, but then something unexpected happens. 

I can feel my body seize up as I feel the vibrations from everything. I can feel the tiniest movement of ant feet to the heavy vibrations of Ikaris's breathing and they all assault my skin at once. My heartbeat is suddenly between my own ears and then I can feel the vibration of my vocal chords as the scream-?- tears its way out of my throat as my vision completely goes milk white. 

I feel the heavy thudding of Ikaris's footsteps hit my skin before the rustling of the sheets lets me know that Druig is awake. 

"Makkari!" The vibration hits my skin quickly and suddenly, making another strangled wail escape me. Let me in, his gentle mental voice whispers. I drop the wall in my mind before he can even finish the sentence. The muscles in my body painfully twitch and seize, and I can only fully understand the feelings of Druig's touch without being overwhelmed. 

My body feels like it's experiencing a hostile takeover as my heart beats erratically and every vibration hits my skin--

I'm here, love. You're safe. Draw the power back in. It's your power, everything's okay. 

A strangled whine escapes my unused vocal cords. I put my hands to my head as I feel the vibrations of Ikaris taking flight. 

It's okay. Ikaris is just going to get Ajak. 

Slowly, I regain the feeling in my fingers and hands as my body slowly becomes my own again. 

Good. Focus on one thing at a time. 

I can't see, I reply with no small amount of panic. 

It'll come back, you just need to be patient. 

I just want to be slow, Druig. I plead in desperation. I want it to stop. 

I know. It will, just bring the power back in your control. 

I try to use one of the techniques Ajak taught me. I compartmentalize all of the vibrations of the ants marching and the chimes at the old tree outside and the shuffling of Gil's feet and imagine them like a rock. I can feel myself moving from Druig's deep breathing and try to copy his pattern. I'm reminded of Ajak's words. 

"Just breathe," Ajak told me. "The rock will drop, and it won't go anywhere. I promise." 

I'm imitating Druig's breathing now, even through the complete lack of vision. 

Your sight will come back, Druig says. Just let the rock drop. 

Finally, I feel the "rock" fall to the pit of my stomach and calm. I'm able to focus on Druig's touch and lean into it, unable to stop the tears from falling onto his shoulder. I grab Druig's hand and sign into them, "Something's wrong." 

"Ikaris went to go get Ajak," I can feel Druig say. "Ajak'll check us out, it'll be okay." 

"Mama," I sign. Druig kisses my temple and holds me close. 

Ikaris POV: 

"Druig did what?!" 

I sigh softly. "Ajak," I begin. "We had to. If there was a way to allow Thena to properly process these memories, we owe it to her to at least try. And Sersi volunteered, no matter how much I didn't want her to. But we're all in agreement--"

"We?" Ajak says with an incredulous look on her face. 

"Sersi, Makkari, Gilgamesh, Thena, Druig, and myself," I say with surety. "If the Celestials won't cure her, it leaves that task up to us." 

"Ikaris," Ajak says with a sigh. She blinks slowly, as if deciding how to phrase this. "We are pushing these forms to do more than our mission. And doing so could lead to unforeseen consequences." 

I look at Ajak, puzzled. 

"Thena once broke mission," Ajak says. "It was on a previous planet, Korfa. She met a being called Kro, and they had a son together. Thena was a fierce mother, and we all loved the child as our own. Then, one day, Kro disappeared." 

"What happened?" 

"Kro had been turned to stars by Arishem," Ajak says. "Thena was left with their son, just for him to die in that planet's Emergence." 

I lean back against the old rocking chair on Ajak's porch. I pause for a beat before saying, "Isn't that why we're rebelling against Arishem? I mean, we've obviously come to the conclusion that the cost of his design is too high. Why doesn't that logic apply to us?" I grab Ajak's hand and look at her desperately. "Please, help us. You're our mother." 

Ajak smiles with an emotion I can't quite place before squeezing my hand. "Damn right I'm your mother," She gets up, with me following right after. "Let's go." 

We land back at the house and Ajak walks ahead of me to go to Makkari. I remain outside in the warm night air while the wind lightly blows. 

"Ajak will take care of us, you know," Sersi says, standing next to me all of a sudden. 

"How's Makkari?" I ask. 

"I just finished taking her hair out of its braids," Sersi says. "Thena, Druig, and I helped her wash off. She still can't see, so we're solely relying on her understanding the vibrations." Sersi puts a hand on my bicep. "What did Ajak say to you?" 

I sigh before deciding to tell her. "She said that we are pushing our forms beyond the mission," I tell her. "She told me that it could lead to 'unforseen consequences.'"

Sersi begins biting her thumbnail nervously. "How so?" 

"Thena had a son," I begin and pause to look at Sersi's face. "In one of our previous lives. She fell in love with the being Kro and I have no idea how, but..." 

"She had the baby," Sersi says. "But it went beyond our mission." 

I nod. "Kro was turned into stars. And the child died in the Emergence." 

Sersi exhales sharply. "Well," She says. "That's why we have to try. Arishem needs to see his design, his will, is not infallible." 

I smile and kiss her forehead. "We need to get inside," I tell her. "Makkari and Druig need us, and we need to discuss a game plan in case anything like this happens to the rest of us." 

Sersi nods and leads me by the hand back inside. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV:

Ikaris and I watch as Ajak runs scans over Makkari. Nerves twist in my chest as I simultaneously hope for an explanation but also the confirmation that nothing's wrong. Druig told me that Makkari fell asleep not long after regaining her sight, the inexplicable malfunction of her powers leaving her exhausted. I begin gnawing on my thumbnail when another beat passes without Ajak saying anything. 

"She'll be okay," Ikaris whispers. "I wish you had let Ajak check you out though." 

"Makkari stands as needing a bit more attention than me," I reply. Ikaris rubs my arm soothingly and pulls me in closer. "I'm fine. Just weak still." I pause and watch Ajak finally drop the fields of cosmic energy she was using to scan Makkari before motioning the two of us into the room with her, Druig, and the unconscious Makkari. 

"Should we get Thena and Gilgamesh?" Ikaris asks. 

Ajak sighs before nodding and saying, "Get them quickly." 

Ikaris dutifully leaves the room while I perch on the end of Makkari's bed. "What's wrong with her?" I ask. "We've never had something like this happen, and Ikaris says that it's because we pushed our forms beyond the mission?" I don't try to mask the confusion in my eyes as I look at Ajak. Our Prime, the one who's supposed to have my answers. 

Ajak simply puts a hand on my wrist and says, "I'll explain everything once you all are in the room." 

A beat later, Ikaris returns with Thena and Gilgamesh in tow. The two of them sit on the floor while Ikaris takes a spot next to me. Ajak is the only one left standing and she addresses us all with the same look. 

"Makkari is stable for now," Ajak begins. "Her cosmic readings are at least 20% higher than any Eternal's should be, which was most likely what caused her episode." Ajak takes a deep breath before beginning to speak again. "I can only assume based on what Druig told me about his connections to both Sersi, who is a very powerful Eternal in her own rite, and Makkari, that Druig has some residual energy from the connection he was never supposed to have with Sersi in the first place." 

"'The connection he was never supposed to have?' What does that mean?" Thena asks. "Can't Druig connect with all of us?" 

Ajak sighs. "He can," She begins. "But we are now officially beyond our mission. And that is leading to unexpected manifestations of our energy, therefore causing malfunctions. We have only trekked this territory once, and it didn't end well. But a rebellion to this extent has not been charted before in our history. I can officially say that we will have to take this as it comes." 

"Take it as it comes?" Gilgamesh replies incredulously. "Ajak, I love you, but we need a better plan. How do we cope with these seizures Makkari is having and the episodes Thena has been having?" 

"Gil," Ajak says meaningfully. "I know you're as confused as we all are-"

"Confused doesn't begin to cover it, Ajak," He says. "Thena's been suffering for centuries, and now Makkari is joining her. We can't just sit here and wait for things to happen. I don't want that for Thena." 

"Gilgamesh," Thena says softly. She puts a hand on his bicep before she continues speaking. "I think our best bet is to let Druig in my head. Let him find the memories. I know the risks, but if there's a way that I can be even a little more stable and keep me in the process, then I think it's a risk worth taking." 

"Thena, I could trigger an episode if I do what I did exactly like how I handled Sersi's mind," Druig says. 

"Why don't you put Thena to sleep, then?" Ikaris says. "When she has episodes, can't you put her to sleep?" 

"Are we sure that's safe?" Druig counters. 

"I think it's a good idea," Thena says. "It's easier for everyone." 

"But we're missing something fairly vital here," I suddenly pipe up. "If Druig's surplus cosmic energy is already affecting Makkari like this, what about him? I mean, there's a pretty solid chance that going into Thena's mind could cause a similar event with his abilities. Especially if we're outside our mission. And, Ajak, what do you even mean by that? Are there going to be some sort of consequences from Arishem for this?" 

Ajak sighs and rubs her forehead. "As of now, Arishem has no idea about our rebellion. I haven't communed with him in several days, so he hasn't an inkling of what we're planning to do."

"But..?" Gilgamesh cuts in. 

"But as your Prime Eternal, I don't feel comfortable allowing you to attempt these things alone," Ajak says. She turns back to Makkari and puts a hand on her forehead. "So all I ask is that you let me stay close by and have me onsite anytime Druig wants to attempt going into Thena's mind." 

"What if one of these episodes happen to us again?" I ask. 

Ajak sighs. "I don't think it's an if," She begins. "I think it's a when."

Druig POV: 

It's much later when Makkari finally wakes up. Sersi and Ikaris had just gone to bed at my insistence, and Thena and Gilgamesh were beginning to doze off. She sharply gasps at my side, temporarily squirming until she realizes she's in my embrace. 

Makkari softens to my touch as I don't even try to tamp down the relief that she's safe. I run a hand over her hair as she signs, "Did you miss me?" 

I kiss her hair. "My beautiful, beautiful Makkari," I begin. "You have no idea just how much I did." 

Sersi POV: 

I find Ajak sitting in a chair on the back patio Gilgamesh built. Her brow is furrowed as her elbows rest on her knees. 

"You're doing that thing again," I say, effectively jolting her out of whatever train of thought ran through her mind. "You're thinking too much." I sit on the ground next to her and rest my head against her knee. 

Ajak runs her fingers through my hair, which I'm sure is embarrassingly tangled in some spots. "You should be asleep," She says chidingly. "Ikaris and Lydia are probably worried about you." 

I hum but don't move to leave Ajak. 

"I missed you," I whisper into the darkness. "Ikaris and I.. We wanted to visit the others, but it was always something. Makkari would come by often, dropping by relics she 'borrowed.'" I smile fondly at that part. Makkari would often rescue artifacts as they were about to be thrown out like waste. 

Ajak chuckles softly. "I told her that stealing was bad!"

I laugh fondly. "You're such a mom." 

"Damn right." 

I curl into the touch even more after that. I missed my mama, I think to myself. "How come you're not sleeping?" I ask in an attempt to fight sleep. 

"I wanted to be up in case anything happened," Ajak replies. "As of now, our emergency plan is hinged on me." The Prime Eternal sighs. "I worry about you six. Especially your brother and sister." 

"Druig and Thena? Or Makkari?" 

Ajak absently twists my hair around her gentle fingers. "All of the above," She says. "I never stopped worrying, but especially now." I look up at mama Ajak, and she makes eye contact with a gaze that holds a thousand emotions. "Do you really think this will work?" 

I sigh. "Ikaris does," I reply. "I mean, I want it to. I want everything to work. I want Thena to recover her memories and Arishem to stop.." I pause, considering my words. Stop what? Using us? Letting us live on a planet with a fractured memory all to keep us complacent? Stop controlling our bodies to fit his purpose? Luckily, I don't have to finish that sentence because Ajak is nodding along with a knowing look in her eyes. I look away from her gaze and lean into the anonymity that the darkness grants me once again. "I want a family, Ajak." 

Ajak doesn't verbally respond, and I know that means she's allowing me to keep talking. 

"I want a child of my own," I continue. "One that's a perfect combination of Ikaris and I. Or maybe not even perfect." I sigh. "It's impossible," I continue, trying to rebuild the wall that once stood between those emotions and I so that Druig doesn't feel my anguish from inside the cottage. 

"I know, child," Ajak replies. "I know." 

The tears fall before I can stop them, making me bury my face in Ajak's leg. 

"If this works, I will cajole the Celestials into giving you as many babies as you wish," Ajak says. "Maybe I can threaten Arishem with a cosmic chancla." 

I tearfully laugh before realizing too late that my tears are now stained onto Ajak's pajama pants. "I'm sorry," I begin. "I got tears on your pants."

Ajak waves a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it," She replies. "It's not the worst thing that's gotten on them." She suddenly rises from her seat and offers a hand. "I think it's best we head inside."

I nod and accept the help up before following her into the house. 

A few hours later, we're all eating breakfast. Lydia sits in Ikaris's lap while Achilles's head rests on my knee. 

"How many animals do the two of you have?" Thena asks while Ajak pets Patroclus. 

"Four," I reply. "Two dogs, a kitten, and a barn owl."

"An owl?" Ajak asks incredulously. 

 "Ikaris is trying to build a petting zoo," Druig supplies unhelpfully before putting another fork full of egg-drenched steak in his mouth. 

"They're babies! And none of you had this energy for Sersi!" 

"That lion naturally loved me!" I reply indignantly. 

"Everyone naturally loves you, Sersi," Makkari signs. "It would literally be like kicking a kitten if someone was mean to you." 

"Sprite was always really mean to me for some reason," I mutter.

"That's because Sprite is jealous of you," Thena says. "It doesn't count." 

I chuckle softly and take a large bite out of the avocado toast. Achilles sniffs curiously, but something draws him under the table. I don't pay attention until I see that Makkari literally has Achilles eating out of her hand. "Makkari!" 

"Sorry!" Makkari signs with one hand, even as her grin suggests the total opposite. 

"Are we just going to speed past the whole thing Thena just said about Sprite being jealous of Sersi?" Ajak asks. 

"You haven't noticed?" Druig asks incredulously. 

"I didn't know!" I reply. 

"Sersi, you're naturally inclined to see the best in people, therefore you couldn't have comprehended Sprite being jealous," Druig replies. "But Sprite has always been in love with Ikaris. She's jealous of Sersi because she views Sersi as simply getting something she can never have."

The statement hits me like a ton of bricks. For so many years, I treated Sprite as if she were fragile, as if... as if she were a child. I take a breath when I notice Ikaris casting a meaningful look my way. "That explains... a lot." 

"After all this time with you, I never once noticed it. I.. I had these journals that Arishem would allow me to keep on the Domo and I wrote down all these patterns that I noticed," Ajak begins. "I always thought Sprite just had a cruel streak in her." 

"What do you mean by 'patterns?'" Thena suddenly says, an indistinguishable look in her eyes. "Do I get Ma'hd Wy'ry on every planet?"

Ajak's entire countenance tenses at Thena's question. After a tense pause, she replies, "Yes, but it happens differently every time." 

Thena's gaze sharpens with anger. "You knew this would happen to me," She grits out. 

"Thena.." Gilgamesh puts a hand on her arm. 

"Do you try to wipe my memories on every planet?" Thena asks, her gaze only softening for a short moment when Artemis flies through. 

"We had never tried it before," Ajak begins. "I had wanted to on this planet." 

"So I'm just a cosmic guinea pig then?" Thena replies, her jaw set. 

"Thena, that's not what that means--" 

"How's she supposed to take it?" Druig asks. "I mean, at least now I know why Thena and I were never Mother's favorites." 

"Why don't we all just take a step back?" Ikaris says, attempting to be the peacemaker. 

"Says the one who was always allowed to sit at mother's righ' hand!" 

"For once, I agree with Ikaris," Gilgamesh says. "I think we should all at least let Ajak attempt to explain herself." 

"Thank you, Gilgamesh," Ajak says. 

"I wouldn't thank me too soon," Gilgamesh replies. "But I want an explanation just as much as the rest of us." 

Ajak inhales deeply before saying, "On previous planets, we all had different repeated behaviors. Gil and Thena would gravitate to each other, same as Druig and Makkari and Ikaris and Sersi." 

"But..?" Gilgamesh asks expectantly. 

"I have never seen events play out this way," Ajak replies. "Sersi, in previous worlds, you wound up with Makkari. And Thena, you had a son. Druig, you wanted to take over the minds of an entire planet to rid them of any flaws. But here... here things are playing out differently than I ever imagined." 

"How?" Makkari asks, speaking for the first time since Thena first questioned Ajak. 

"Arishem warned me that Thena would contract Ma'hd Wy'ry one hundred and fifty years before her first attack," Ajak begins. "He told me that I could have her decommissioned, and he would make it look like an accident." 

Thena inhales sharply. 

"And what did you say?" Druig asks, voice thick with unshed tears. 

"I told him that it wouldn't be necessary," Ajak replies. "I told him that I would do a great many things, but l wouldn't allow something like that." 

"You knew this was going to happen to me," Thena says. "You could've done something."

"Thena, I love you," Ajak begins. "But I didn't want to do something that could potentially lose you to us forever." 

"But taking away my memories was perfectly fine," Thena responds sharply. Gilgamesh squeezes her tightly to help her release the growing tension in her shoulders. 

"But it ends here," Makkari signs sharply. "No more cosmic slavery. Arishem needs to go down." 

"Makkari," I begin. 

"I want that to be enough," Thena says. "But.. I don't know if it will be."

"Thena, I know you're upset--"

"Upset doesn't even begin to cover it, Ajak," Thena replies. 

"How do I know that you're not goin' to jus' take Thena's memories through me?" Druig asks. The tears have fully fallen down his cheeks now, his eyes bright red. "Or, if your god finds out? Would you jus' let Arishem kill us?" 

"I would never let that happen," Ajak promises. "Now that we have a way through this, we will use it. And my god won't know what hit him." 

"How can we be sure you won't betray us to Arishem?" Thena asks. 

"I haven't done it before," Ajak replies. "And I won't start now." 

Druig softly gasps. His and Ajak's eyes are shining bright gold. "She's actually tellin' the truth," He says through tears. He lets out a choked sob, but none of us pry even as his eyes turn back to their normal color. 

My heart clenches in my chest for my baby brother Druig. Now I see all the years of Ajak's command crashing in on him through emotion. I inhale deeply. 

"We'll be okay," Gilgamesh finally says. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out." 

Chapter Text

Druig POV: 

"Thena, are you sure you're ready?" I ask. 

"I'll never be ready," Thena replies. "Besides, I'm already crazy anyway, so what's the worst that could happen?" 

Gilgamesh snorts, making tea go everywhere while I hear Sersi and Ajak softly chuckle. "As long as you're still you, my love," Gilgamesh says, reaching for Thena's hand. She squeezes his fingers tightly. Gilgamesh sobers and turns back to me. "Are you sure you're up for this?" 

"I have to be," I reply. "Ajak, you're standing by?" 

"All set," Ajak says. 

I nod and inhale deeply before pressing gently on Thena's mental shields. Luckily, hers fall much more quickly in my mental presence. The feeling of being in Thena's mind is strange, like walking through a creek, with the water running lazily around your ankles. Thena's emotions hit me suddenly, like walking into an unexpected bunch of branches. Suddenly, I'm hit with unexpected exhaustion from her. 

The emotions are underlying through the entire landscape of Thena's mind, where Sersi's were kept more tightly guarded. For a brief moment of time, I can't discern my feelings from hers. Which one of us was tired? Hungry? Vaguely nervous? 

I can feel Gilgamesh nearby, so I crack open an eye and see one of Gil's puppy dog stares. I sigh. "You can hol' one hand," I grumble fondly. Gilgamesh smiles and inches Thena's hand out of one of mine and Thena squeezes it tightly before I close my eyes again. Thena's mind steadies a bit with the outward presence of Gilgamesh, but there's still this underlying presence of exhaustion while a dense fog threateningly looms over her memories. 

"Careful in there," Thena's mental voice says. "I have no short-term memory, and the long-term ones become jumbled."

"I'm always careful," I reply. Thena's emotions wash over me as if simply being here was enough to break a dam. My heart breaks for my sister at this moment, knowing this is how she has to exist every day. 

Suddenly, I hit the fog and a subsequent gate. The gate is heavy and glows bright gold, threatening me almost. 

"Maybe it's not threatening you," Thena says. "Maybe it's taunting you." 

I smirk internally and push on the gate until I hear Thena gasp from the mental pressure. Immediately, I withdraw, almost falling backward until Makkari catches me. I nervously look around at my family gathered in the room, expecting them all to be horrified at me. My breath hitches in my throat in panic. The feeling of causing one of my sisters family pain will never not be a panic-inducing experience. 

Thena looks at me wide-eyed, an indiscernible look in her gaze.

"Maybe we should take a break," Ajak says. "Come back to this in a few minutes." 

"Just to be safe," Sersi says, squeezing my arm. 

I sigh, softening a bit. "Okay," I reply. "But only because I want Thena's mind to be kept intact."

"Or as intact as it can be."

Makkari grins and leads me to the couch, where I still can't shake the weight of exhaustion as she guides my head into her lap. Thena's mind, even for the short amount of time spent in there, is heavy to bear with the weight of my own. A dull ache persists at the back of my head, just there enough to be painful, but more of an inconvenience. 

"Get some rest," Makkari signs. I'll be here when you wake up."

Sersi POV: 

"Do you seriously think we can do this?" I ask Ikaris, curled up with him in the guest room. Achilles naps on Ikaris's lap while Patroclus lays on the floor. Artemis and Lydia are with Ajak and Thena... somewhere. 

"I think that we should at least try," Ikaris replies. "I think that humanity has done too much for us to offer them as celestial food. And I think that even if we can't cure Thena, we can improve her quality of life." Ikaris squeezes my hand. "I want to be a family again." 

"Even though that would entail living with Druig full time?" 

Ikaris laughs deeply. "Oh come on, I love Druig." 

I give him a sideways look. 

"Now, I love Druig," Ikaris amends. 

I gently slap his bicep. "That's a bit more like it," I reply. "I mean, are we forgetting about the centuries worth of dick measuring the two of you did?"

"I'm sorry, the what?" 

"You heard me!" I reply unapologetically before squeaking at Ikaris poking a tender spot in my side. I respond by tickling a spot in his neck. 

"Okay, mercy!" Ikaris says through fits of laughing. I grin at him before finally stopping so Achilles can get resettled. Ikaris kisses my hair when we settle in and inhales deeply. "To answer your question," Ikaris says softly. "Yes. I really do think we can do this." 

I nod. "Good," I reply. "I don't know if this would work if you didn't."

Druig POV:

True to her word, Makkari is still there when I wake up. Sleep heavily weighs my muscles, but I still try to sign, "Hello Beautiful."

"Hi back," She signs. "Feel better?" 

I nod. "D'you think that Thena's mind'll make me as sick as Sersi's?"

Makkari's face changes, considering. "I think that you were so violently ill with Sersi because it was a mind you had never connected to, and she feels things very deeply," She pauses again before continuing. "I think that Thena is a deeply tired mind, and it might weaken her more than you." 

I nod deeply before sitting up, thankful to not be feeling the same weight of feverish aching that I felt after Sersi.

Makkari's delicate touch follows me and rests at the base of my skull. In that moment, nothing else exists and I practically melt into her touch, wishing she could take me anywhere, as long as it was just the two of us. Makkari grins from beside of me before promptly signing, "I know what you want, but are you sure that's what you need?" 

I look at her and nod. "Please?" 

Makkari smiles and the world is zipping by until we're on some island.. somewhere. The place is completely deserted, with only a small hut by the water. Makkari drops me before I grin and kiss her. She deepens the kiss as I pick her up slightly. My fingers let her hair down from its bun while Makkari moans slightly. 

"Come on," She breaks the kiss to sign. "There's a hut. I'm not wanting to wash sand out of my hair." I barely have time to nod before Makkari speeds us to the bedroom of the hut, before she stops short. I look at her, worried. 

"Do you not want to?" I ask. "Because, if not, I have no issue with going back. I'll only do what you're okay with." 

"Are you sure?" Makkari asks. 

I don't hesitate to nod before I become self-conscious of the scars on my body. "Kari," I begin. Makkari walks up to me, without her powers this time, and squeezes my hand. "Are you sure you're okay with what you'll see?" 

Makkari lets go of my hand to kiss my nose and reply, "Your body could never make me do anything besides love you."

I smile softly.

"Can I take your shirt off?" Makkari signs. I nod, anticipation curling in my stomach as she takes the article of clothing off, giving me plenty of time to stop her. I shake under her touch as she guides me to the bed. I'm sure my muscles tense under her shoulders. "Do you want to take mine off?" 

For some reason, the question stops me as I decide if I want her to take full control. Something akin to unconscious shame curls in my stomach as I realize I don't want to be in control just this once. 

Makkari notices this and tilts my head up with a knowing look. "How about I just take care of you?" 

I gratefully nod. Makkari smiles again before taking her shirt off with much less tenderness than mine. Her abs are sharp, and her body cuts a tempting silhouette in the moonlight. Her hand rests on my stomach, just below my belly button and gently vibrates, already completely weakening. She takes her hand away and I moan at the loss of contact before she's gently lowering me down onto the bed. 

"Is this okay?" She asks. 

I nod. "Just want you." 

Makkari smiles and kisses my collarbone, her lips resting a moment longer with each kiss. My body bucks underneath hers, and she gently pins my hip to the mattress. Makkari looks at me and signs, "Let me go slow. I'll take care of you." 

I slowly melt into her touch as she makes her way down to my trousers, which I let her take off. She wastes no time pulling off her own pants, tight leggings that did not do justice to just how cut she is. My hands go to her back, feeling the soft skin there, just wanting a moment. 

Makkari softly strokes my bicep with just one finger, once again making me shake in anticipation. I don't try to stop myself from kissing her now, impossibly aroused and desperate in a way. Makkari breaks the kiss first, gently pushing me back down before asking, "Are you ready for me to take off your boxers?" 

I nod hungrily, letting her do the work, relinquishing full control to the incredible woman on top of me. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV: 

"Has anyone seen Druig or Makkari?" Ikaris asks at dinner that night. 

"I know," Ajak begins. "I haven't seen them since Makkari got Druig to lay down and rest." 

Thena, Gilgamesh, and I share knowing looks before Gilgamesh chuckles softly to himself. "Ajak," He replies. "Do you not know about Druig and Makkari?"

"I know Druig has been smitten since the literal dawn of mankind."

"Ajak, Druig and Makkari have literally been fucking for the last 200 years," Thena finally says. Ikaris spits out his drink, and I can't help the laugh that escapes me.

Ikaris gives me a look because of the uncharacteristic chortling leaving me, but I can't help it. After the worry of the last two days, I am simply beyond caring how I look. And even beyond that, even I knew. 

"Do you have something you'd like to share with the class?" Ajak says with an amused look in her eyes. 

My face flushes as I remember the time I walked in on Druig and Makkari in a... compromising spot. Conveniently, Lydia starts walking on the table, and I immediately grab for her. "Not with young ears present," I reply. 

"Sersi, that's a kitten," Ajak replies with even more amusement. 

"She's a baby!" Ikaris and I reply in unison.

Gilgamesh gives us a look as Druig and Makkari come blowing into the dining room. Immediately, I see his face fall as he notices... something. 

I turn around in my seat and immediately notice something I had hoped never to see again. Druig is ghostly pale, and he is nowhere to be found in his unsettlingly dazzling gold gaze. A soft gasp escapes me as I am quickly overcome with what exactly Druig is feeling.

Energy overwhelms me and tightens up my chest and makes every muscle tense. It's a becoming and an unbecoming at once. I try to grab the chair that I'm sitting on, and I quickly feel the wood change into a stark cold metal of some kind. A strangled sound escapes my throat, but I don't register it or Ikaris's touch as he guides me to the ground. I can feel every muscle tense and twitch, even as I hear the screeching sound of chairs being pushed away and feel something -- someone's shirt -- being put beneath my head. 

"I need to put her body to sleep," Ajak says suddenly. 

"But her mind will be awake," Gilgamesh interjects. "Couldn't that potentially be more dangerous?" 

"She might seriously injure herself if I allow her to stay awake," Ajak replies. "It will work until I can get her and Druig to the Domo." 

I don't register what Ikaris says before I'm put to sleep. 

Makkari POV:

Druig falls asleep the moment Ajak puts a stop to the chaotic energy coursing through my sister's body. Finally, it sinks in how quickly everything went wrong. Druig and I were simply laying in bed when I felt the vibrations of his pained moan. His hands had went to his head and I immediately knew what was happening. I had hoped that of all of us to have these power flareups, Druig wouldn't be one of them. 

In the present, I lay Druig on the cold metal slab in the Domo, which I had docked near where Babylon used to be. Ikaris comes in soon after me, Sersi in his arms and Ajak on his back. Luckily, I had kept the Domo nearby, choosing to shirk Druig's suggestion of parking in another country. 

"Do you know why this could've happened?" I sign. Ajak doesn't notice me, instead starts running scans with a pinched look on her face. 

Sersi's brow is furrowed, a twisted expression on her normally calm face. Next to her, Druig looks like he's sleeping fitfully, which worries me more than anything. Lines of sickly gold energy ebb and flow underneath the surface of Druig and Sersi's skin. 

Ikaris says something, judging by the unnaturally perfect rhythm of his vibrations hitting my skin. I pay attention to his face and can make out the word, "Ajak!" 

The sharp vibrations of Ajak shushing Ikaris hit me. I silently wince from the sharp vibration hitting me directly after Ikaris speaks. Unfortunately, Druig had expounded a lot of my capacity for today. And possibly the next couple of days. But still, I remain keeping a vigil between the two of them while I watch Ajak work. 

My gaze intensifies on the two of them when I notice a sharp twitch from Druig. 

"Makkari," Ikaris signs. "Did Druig.." His hands stop while forming a word, but he doesn't need to. I already know what he's wanting to ask. I protectively stand in front of Druig and harden the look in my eyes. 

"Don't even think about sending him to be wiped," I sign threateningly. "Ma'hd or not, he is my Druig." 

"Nobody is getting their memories wiped," Ajak says and signs firmly. "All Ikaris is wanting to know is if it's a possibility." 

"We would know if it was Ma'hd Wy'ry," I reply. "Look at Thena." 

"It presents differently with everyone," Ikaris signs. "This very second, Sersi could be the one with Ma'hd Wy'ry." 

"It can't be spread though, can it?" I ask. I look between Ikaris and Ajak, and what I see makes my stomach knot up. 

For the first time since I've known Ikaris and Ajak, they look completely unsure. 

"I don't know," Ajak finally signs. 

"But I know someone who might," Ikaris signs. He looks at Ajak. She raises a brow before sighing and motioning for him to continue. "I think we should go get Phastos."

Ikaris POV: 

"I'm sorry, so I'm looking at two more potential cases of Ma'hd Wy'ry?" Phastos asks. 

"Potential," Ajak says. "That's where you come in." 

"Um, do we not remember what happened last time I was around someone with Ma'hd Wy'ry? Thena almost killed me!" Phastos replies. 

"Thena was having a flashback of a traumatic experience in which she thought she had to fight to survive," I reply. "And you could help us." 

"People with Ma'hd Wy'ry are dangerous," Phastos replies.

"I'd argue that the mental hospitals you helped build are a tad worse," I respond, growing tired of Phastos's refusal to do the right thing. This is his family he's talking about! "I mean, whatever you could build to try and determine whether Sersi and Druig have Ma'hd Wy'ry is bound to be better than those torture devices you created for the asylums we saw on our way here." I know I'm egging Phastos on at this point, but the years have simply made Phastos a cynic. 

"I created highly advanced machines, but the humans that you and Sersi love so much decided to cut corners in the pursuit of profit!" Phastos spits. He quickly rises from the table and angrily takes his mug with him. But then the inventor looks at Ajak and gathers himself. "I'll invent whatever machine you need for Sersi and Druig, but these humans are not worth saving." 

"Phastos," Ajak begins, putting a hand on his arm. 

Phastos yanks his arm away. "They're not worth saving," He repeats sharply. 

Druig POV: 

Cosmic energy burns me from the inside. Is this a fever? I think absently. For a brief moment, I don't feel a thing besides burning. Am I dying?

"Nobody is dying yet," A voice unexpectedly chimes in his mind. It pauses, then explains, "I am Tiamut. I'm the celestial who can't be born here." 

"If you don't wan' to be here, why can't you just leave?" 

"The motivations of the celestials are beyond my understanding," Tiamut responds. "We don't have much time left. Just know that everything that will happen, happens for a reason. You and Sersi are on this mission for a reason. I believe in you." 

Before I have the chance to respond, Sersi and I are quickly rising from the stone slabs, gasping for air. We look at each other, wide-eyed. I slowly watch the golden cosmic energy refer from beneath Sersi's skin and sigh in relief. 

"Did you feel that too?" She asks, breathless. 

"Feel what?" Ajak asks. 

Ignoring the other woman, I nod. "I heard it too." 

"What are you two talking about?" Ikaris asks. 

"We had an encounter with Tiamut," Sersi says, pushing hair out of her eyes. 

"Tiamut? The celestial?" Makkari signs. 

I nod again. 

"Are you sure?" Thena asks. I sharply turn my head, not expecting to see her and Gilgamesh. 

"Absolutely, what else could it be?" Sersi replies. She sees Ajak's face change before drawing back in questioning. "Ajak..?" 

Phastos then walks in and looks regretful. "Sersi, you and Druig are showing signs of Ma'hd Wy'ry. I ran brain scans and they match closely to Thena's from her struggles on the last planet." I exhale in shock before Phastos continues. "I'm not completely certain, but since we know.. We have to do something about it." 

Ajak nods. "But for now, the two of you need to rest," She says. "One way or another, we'll work it out. Go to bed, you two."

Sersi and I nod before heading to our old quarters. 

Everything that will happen, happens for a reason.

Chapter Text

Ajak POV: 

"Ajak!" Phastos calls. I begin walking down the hallway to his lab. "You're gonna want to see this!" 

I pick up the pace before I see Phastos surrounded by his scans. "What is it?"

"It looks like Druig has something in his mind, healing him," Phastos begins, but then stops short, looking at what I presume to be Sersi's scans. 

"But.."

Phastos sighs and looks at me. "Sersi looks like she's slowly getting worse," He says. "If I had scans of Thena at the start of her Ma'hd Wy'ry, it would be easier to confirm." His hand goes to the stubble growing on his face as he starts thinking. "I just don't understand. What could be healing Druig?" 

I sigh before the answer hits me. "Tiamut," I reply. "The celestial energy could be healing his mind, making him stronger." 

"Why would Druig need to be stronger?" Phastos asks. 

I stare at a point on the floor, deep in thought. "Maybe Tiamut has plans for Druig as it relates to us all," I sigh again, then pause. "Or."

"Or?" 

"Phastos," I reply. "I think Tiamut knows about the connections between Druig and Sersi and Druig and Thena." I clasp my hands in front of me before I continue. "And I'm reasonably certain that Druig is being used as a protector for the two-" I am cut off by Sersi coming awake with a cry and her eyes glazed a sickening milky white. Oh no, I think quickly. Ma'hd Wy'ry. 

"Sersi?" Phastos asks. 

I approach the girl like I would a frightened animal, making my footsteps audible. "You're safe here," I speak in a low voice. My heart thuds beneath my collarbone. This has never happened before. Then my brain flitters to, Why Sersi?

"I'm going to die," She whispers, gold shining brighter for a brief instance. The slab beneath her turns to a bright metal in the midst of her haze. She looks down and looks back up at me. "You're all going to die." 

"Sersi, you're safe here," I reply calmly. "Your mind is just trying to protect you from a perceived threat." I put my hands out in front of me so the frightened Eternal can see them, know I mean no harm. I am standing right in front of Sersi now, and I tell her, "I'm going to put a hand on your shoulder." And even with that warning, Sersi still shoves me away, making me land almost on top of Druig. 

Druig POV: 

"I know you're weary," Tiamut says suddenly. "But your family needs you. Wake up." 

I quickly rise as if someone dumped ice water on me and suddenly see Ajak's form above me while Sersi's eyes glow a lurid white. Not Sersi too, I think to myself before shakily standing. "Sersi?" I ask softly, calling my sister. My mind reaches out tentatively, frightened still from its weakness. 

"Druig?" A sliver of sanity from Sersi. 

"Yea, i's me Sersi," I whisper. "Why don' you come back, yeah? Nobody's upset, everyone's safe." I suddenly get a strong projection of the image Sersi sees- having to keep my hands away from my body so I don't violently hit Ajak while she's trying to heal some of my self-inflicted scars. It hits me solidly in the chest, remembering that moment from a mass slaughter in South America. The suffering of thousands was simply too much for me to take. I shake my head and focus again on Sersi. "That was four hundred years ago, Sersi," I tell her softly. I reach and successfully grab her hands and squeeze them tightly. "I'm safe now because of you and Makkari."

A little bit of the haze around her eyes clears. Sersi brushes her fingers against the bumpy skin of my wrist. Suddenly, she steps forward and clings to my forearms before putting her face in the crook of my neck. 

Tentatively, I reach out to her mind to coax the last of the episode out. Sersi whines a bit from slowly opening the door of her mind, but I softly shush her and begin slowly working to temporarily repair my sweet sister's mind. 

"Ma'hd Wy'ry?" Makkari signs. Sersi went to sleep the remnants of her episode off with Ikaris, leaving Makkari and I on my bed. Exhaustion and worry pulls at me, and apparently it shows on my face because Makkari begins rubbing at the crease in between my eyebrows. 

I nod. "It's the only thing that makes sense," I say and sign. "And Phastos found it in 'er mind." 

Makkari sighs and puts her head on my chest. "Why Sersi?" 

I kiss her head. "I wish I knew," I reply. I pause, considering whether to tell Makkari what happened to me. "I spoke to Tiamut. Before I woke up." I look at Makkari meaningfully, and we make eye contact. "He told me that 'Everything will happen for a reason.'" 

Makkari rolls onto her side and signs, "Tiamut knew Sersi would have Ma'hd Wy'ry?" 

I nod. "That's my theory." 

"And Tiamut gave you extra energy to be a protector." 

I nod again. "I guess where Gilgamesh protects Thena from hurting others, I'm protecting Sersi from hurting herself." 

Makkari shakes her head. "Tiamut knows that there was no way of preventing Sersi's Ma'hd Wy'ry, so he wanted you to protect her." She pauses before continuing. "Sersi is the most gentle of all of us. How would an episode cause her to hurt us?" 

"Sersi is a low risk to hurt us," I reply. "With her, the concern is that she is going to hurt herself." I know that I'm reiterating at this point, but my mind is simply too exhausted to think of new phrases to describe Sersi's mind at this moment. 

Makkari runs her fingers through my hair before signing, "Get some rest. The others are here and I'll be here when you wake up." 

I nod and find myself falling asleep before I can fully curl into my Makkari.

Chapter Text

Ajak POV: 

"Ajak," The solemn voice of Arishem booms. I look at two of his six eyes, anger boiling in my soul. "What of the mission?" 

"I think you know exactly what is happening on the mission," I reply, petulantly referring to Sersi's Ma'hd Wy'ry. "Why do two of my own now have the Eternal Madness?" My hands rest at my sides, betraying the steely resolve I feel. Usually, my hands are clasped behind my back in quiet deference to the Celestial, but the desire to not take one of Thena's weapons and send Arishem's head to the other Celestials overpowers any respect I once felt. If Arishem could take a breath, I'm sure he would've. I resist the smug smile that tugs at my lips that, for once, I hold power. For so long, I was powerless against the being that stood in front of me, I had to keep his secrets and hurt my children in the pursuit of pleasing him. 

"Sersi has been afflicted for the simple fact that she is sensitive to the highs and lows of this planet," Arishem replies. "It is not something I can control." 

"No, it is simply something that results from your lack of a failsafe," I shoot back. 

Arishem hums. "I'm giving you discretion on what to do with Sersi," He replies.

I raise a brow in disbelief. "And what of her memories?" 

"You've disregarded what I've advised in the case of Thena," The being tells me. He pauses. "You're hiding something."  

Druig POV: 

Sersi wakes up while Ajak is still out.

Makkari springs to her side before I can even breathe, wrapping her in a quick embrace and fingerspelling, "S-A-F-E." I can feel Sersi's worry calm slightly at the strength of Makkari's embrace and the signed, quick, assurance. 

"Did I hurt anyone?" She asks. 

I shake my head. "Everyone's fine," I reply. "We're worried about you." I reach over and squeeze Sersi's hand reassuringly. When she looks at me again, I have to shake the image of her sickly white eyes from a few hours before. "Ajak is communing with Arishem, she's trying to figure something out for us Earth Eternals." 

"Where's Ikaris?" 

"On patrol with Gilgamesh," Makkari signs. "Thena is outside. We're all okay." 

Sersi opens her mouth to talk but thinks better of it and starts signing instead. "Is Phastos afraid of me?" 

"Phastos isn't afraid of you," Makkari replies. "Phastos simply fears your condition. He fears it because he seeks to understand, despite the fact that many people don't." She squeezes Sersi again, making the gentle Eternal smile. "But Druig and I won't let him use you and Thena as lab rats." 

"Give me something besides a rat," Sersi says good naturedly. "I'm much nicer than a rat." 

Makkari gives her sister a look before signing, "Well, I'm not going to say lab kitten. I think that would scare Lydia." 

This draws a laugh out of Sersi as she gives Makkari a squeeze in return. I can feel the last of the remaining panic pour out of Sersi. Suddenly, Ajak's emotions overpower me, and my heart clenches in my chest. 

"Druig?" Sersi asks, noticing the change before anyone. "Druig, what's wrong?" 

A shuddering exhale precedes my statement. "Arishem knows." 

Makkari looks straight at me as Sersi's look grows more distant. "Can you find out anymore?" Makkari signs. 

"Let me try," I reply. 

Ajak POV: 

I glare intensely at the hulking figure of Arishem, now fully brought into the loop on the bold plan to disrupt a process thousands of years in the making. I can tell my gaze unsettles the cosmic entity, even as he's silent in his judgment. 

"In all my billions of years serving this galaxy, the Earth Eternals are the only ones to rebel," Arishem says, finally breaking the silence. "I am nothing short of impressed, Ajak. But there must be greater reason to save this planet than petty feelings." 

I take a breath, waiting on his next statement. 

"I will give this planet a year. If Earth, and its people, show that they are worthy to be preserved, I will plead their case to the celestials and Tiamut will be born outside of Earth."

I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I gather my remaining wits to demand a final wish of the being older than time itself. "And what of Sersi and Ikaris's wish to have children?" 

"If Earth passes this test, she will have Eternity," Arishem begins. I want to roll my eyes, but recenter my temper. "During that time, a thousand years will pass. If she still wishes to have another Eternal child, there is a short window that will come with the passing of that millennia. Then, she and Ikaris will be most likely to conceive." 

I nod. "Thank you Arishem," I solemnly reply. "These people are special. I can only hope you will see that." The connection breaks after that, and I am left sitting in the living room of Gilgamesh and Thena's cottage. One year, I think to myself. He's giving Earth one year to seal its fate. 

"Ajak?" Ikaris asks from the kitchen. 

My head snaps in my second-in-command's vicinity. "Arishem knows," I say, using the wooden table to pull myself into a standing position. Ikaris runs and offers a hand, which I take. "He's giving Earth a year." 

"Ajak, what does that mean?" Ikaris asks. "A year until destruction?" 

I shake my head and grab Ikaris's wrist insistently. "He's giving Earth a year to prove they deserve to live. If they do, he's going to stop the emergence." 

Ikaris looks at me in shock. 

"We need to bring everyone back together," I tell him, looking at him intensely. My gall comes back, finally, and I'm able to straighten up to my full height. "It's time." I begin walking as quickly as I can towards the Domo outside, Ikaris falling perfectly into step with me. "Where's Gilgamesh?" 

"Outside with Thena," Ikaris replies, his voice hardening like he's ready for war. "Sersi is with Druig and Makkari. We need Phastos." 

I nod. "Do you know where Kingo is?" 

Ikaris shakes his head. "Last I heard from him, he left Sprite in Macedonia." 

Ikaris and I enter the Domo to see Phastos working, like usual. "Phastos!" I call, making him jump and send whatever machine he was working on across the room. "We need you," I tell him. 

"I'm working as fast as I can on something for Sersi and Thena," Phastos replies. "The brain is not something to mess with." 

"It's not that," I begin. 

"Arishem knows," Ikaris suddenly says. "He's giving Earth a year to prove it's worthy of being saved, so we need you to invent something to find Kingo and Sprite." 

I frown but shrug it off, thankful Ikaris is shorter than I am. 

"I already told you--" 

"It doesn't matter," I suddenly cut in. "You are blinded by your apathy and your cynicism towards these people. I know that you and I are treated differently by the people of this planet. You think I don't notice when the white vaqueros in North America call me names? You think Sersi hasn't dealt with anyone cruel where she and Ikaris live? We all deal with hardship, regardless of the planet. It's not an excuse to give up."

Phastos looks away before Ikaris cuts in. "Do the right thing, Phastos," Ikaris says. His voice is uncharacteristically soft. "It's not just for the humans. I'd like to keep us together."

Phastos sighs. "Okay," He says. "I hope the two of you are right about humans." 

Druig POV: 

"How is she?" Ikaris asks when he walks back in the room. 

"She's fine," I quickly reassure him. "Kari's just helping her get a shower. The three of us figured it might be best for Sersi just for safety." I sigh. "What did you an' Mother Dear work out with Phastos?" 

"We're getting everyone back together," Ikaris says. "Phastos is working on an invention that'll help us find Kingo and Sprite. Have you seen Thena and Gil?" 

"They dropped by while ye' were on the ship," I reply. "Beins' it's a fairly late hour though, they're most likely asleep." Ikaris smirks at me before plopping into the seat next to me. 

"Did you eat anything?" Ikaris asks. 

"Not since lunch."

Ikaris gasps. "Druig? Not eating? The world truly is ending." 

"Yer a little shit," I reply with a grin. 

Ikaris wrestles me into a headlock before replying, "Don't I know it." He playfully messes my hair up before I poke him in the ribs, causing him to squeal. Suddenly, I hear the loud, insistent meowing of Lydia at the door, so Ikaris releases me to go to the kitten. 

I melodramatically sigh. "You and that kitten," I tell him with mock exasperation. 

"I don't understand how Arishem doesn't want to protect Earth at the sight of Lydia alone," Ikaris replies. I give him a look. "Oh, I didn't tell you. Arishem decided that he was impressed enough with our courage to rebel that he wasn't going to immediately exterminate us. Instead, Earth has a year to prove that it is worthy of saving." 

"Oh, great," I reply. "No pressure." 

"We'll be okay," Ikaris says. "So will Earth."

Chapter Text

Ikaris POV: 

"Sersi, you haven't been eating," I gently chide. It's been three weeks since Sersi's last episode of Ma'hd Wy'ry, and Ajak just recently allowed me alone with her for long periods. Currently, everything down to eating has been a struggle. "Please try to at least finish the chicken." Immediately after saying that, my heart drops at how Sersi's face goes ashen gray. Wrong move, wrong move, wrong move-- I cut my inner monologue off with my words. "Sersi, I'm sorry," I reach for her hand, but she moves away, fear filling her eyes. I put my hands on the table, so Sersi sees I won't hurt her. "I didn't mean it that way. Why don't I put the food away for now and we can try again later?" 

Sersi nods and scampers away before I can say anything else. 

"Sometimes Thena does the same," Gilgamesh says. "It's nothing you're doing. A person with Ma'hd Wy'ry... they're not always fun to be around." Gilgamesh walks around and grabs Sersi's plate, humming at the large portion of chicken left. "The important thing is that she eats some food. And that you're there. Nobody can always say the right thing, but I know that Sersi would rather have your imperfect support than none at all." Gil squeezes my shoulder. "Go get your girl," He says. 

I smile and then head to our bedroom on the Domo. For a moment, I pause outside the door and can't hear Sersi. Slowly, I punch in the code to our room and take a step in before I hear Sersi retching from the bathroom. I jog to the bathroom then, seeing her hunched over the toilet, holding her own hair back. Quickly, I crouch by her side, take her hair from her hand, and rub her lower back. Shockingly, this is the first touch today that she hasn't flinched at. "Oh Sersi," I whisper. "You're alright. You're safe." I say that repeatedly until she finally sits up from the toilet. I blindly fumble for a towel so she can wipe her face off. 

"I'm sorry," Sersi whispers in mortification. "I tried to deal..."

I quietly shush her and brush a hair back from her face. "You don't have to," I reply. I lean forward and gently kiss her forehead, giving her time to stop me. Sitting back on the floor, I offer her a hand, which she takes. I kiss her knuckles, making a smile tug at her lips. "There she is." Unexpectedly, she climbs into my arms, wrapping herself around me. I gladly take the contact not a moment later, giving my wife a gentle squeeze. "We'll be alright." I slowly get up and walk over to the bed. 

Achilles and Patroclus climb onto the bed, unhurried in their old ages. Sersi doesn't move. I try my hardest to make her comfortable so hopefully, she sleeps. We had a long night, and our sleep was much overdue. Yet, even as Sersi is slowly lulling herself to sleep while I run my fingers through her hair, worry forms in the pit of my stomach. Sersi has barely been eating or sleeping, and I’m powerless to stop it. Both of us are at the mercy of her mind—Sersi balls a fistful of my shirt in her grasp, her breath stuttering for a moment. "I don't want to sleep," She mumbles. 

"I know you don't want to, but you need to," I reply. I kiss her hair. "Your body needs sleep and food, and you're not giving it much of either." Sersi squirms in my arms slightly before settling back down. I pause and toy with the ends of her hair. "Why don't you rest your eyes for a little while, hm? Bound to be better than just lying awake."

Sersi adjusts her position and thankfully nods, keeping an arm around my middle. I put my cheek on the crown of her head as she finally closes her eyes. 

Druig POV:

"Something's up with Thena," Makkari signs. "It's like she's not really here." 

I nod. Nobody has failed to notice how Thena has distanced herself and lost what little personality she had regained. "I think that Thena doesn't know quite what to think about the fact that Sersi has a seemingly easier fight." Makkari straightens up and her gaze intensifies. "Thena views Sersi's fight as easier since the two of them do not have the same abilities, nor the same disposition." And it is true, unfortunately. Thena's abilities center entirely around war, around using the weapons she can readily conjure. Sersi's abilities are gentle, or they can be, just like her. 

"Do you think that Sersi sees you when she has an episode?" Makkari asks. "Do you think she sees you about to get hurt?" 

I don't miss the way Makkari's hands jerk when she says anything about Sersi's episodes. I reach over and squeeze her hand. "Sersi will be alright," I reply. "We'll get something figured out." I hear a knock at the door before it opens, revealing Ajak. 

"We're almost to Kingo," She says and signs. "You two might want to get some rest before we get there. I'm still not sure how we're shaking out who's staying here." 

Makkari and I nod before she leaves, closing the door behind her. "Let's get some rest," I sign. "I'm exhausted and also confident that if I'm needed, Ikaris will come to grab me." Makkari nods and settles her head on my chest, softly playing with my hair until both of us are asleep. 

Ikaris POV: 

"How long has she been asleep?" Ajak asks from inside the doorway. 

"A while," I reply. "At least for an hour. How's Thena?" 

"Sleeping," She says. "Gilgamesh is trying to get her out of the haze she's been in for the last few days. It's like being back on here isn't good for her." 

I nod. "Have you decided who's venturing off the Domo to go get Kingo and Sprite yet?" Ajak opens her mouth to answer before Sersi moans in her sleep and a tear leaks out of her eye. I rub her back, trying to calm her back into a deep sleep. Ajak sits in the armchair next to the bed and watches me. Sersi starts squirming in her sleep, so I gently lift her onto my lap and hold her tightly now, my heart twisting in my chest. I can practically feel the dread thrumming through her body as I sway back and forth, whispering comforting phrases in her ear in Gaelic. "Shhhh, a thasgaidh, you're safe. You're alright." I turn to Ajak. "Can't you wake her up?" 

Ajak shakes her head sadly. "Sometimes your mind needs the dream to finish before it allows your body to wake up," She replies. "I can't do much about that." 

I shake my head before turning my focus to Sersi once again. I continue rocking her back and forth and occasionally toying with the ends of her hair until her whimpers finally subside and she settles back into a hopefully peaceful sleep. I sigh in relief and ask, "Where do you think she goes when her dreams settle?" 

Ajak hums. "Somewhere nice, I hope." 

"Me too," I reply. 

Chapter Text

Druig POV:

"Druig!" 

I hear Sersi's distinct cry in my dream. I jerk my head around, seeing nothing but white. 

"Druig!" 

This time, I run toward the sound of the voice, but I can't seem even to find Sersi visually. I hear my heart pounding between my ears as I begin sprinting. Then, I run into a rock-solid chest. Looking up, I see Thena, sickening lines of gold flickering beneath the surface of her skin. "Thena," I pant. "Don't you remember me?" 

Thena looks at me with a tortured expression, anguish written all over her face. "You're gone. You died," She says with an eerie finality. 

"I'm right here, T. You remember that from another planet," I reply, calm smothering my tone. 

"No, you're dead," She says. The war goddess conjures a spear. "Everyone's going to die." 

"Thena--" 

"Druig!" 

I turn my head, then I hear Thena swinging her weapon-- 

And I'm being shaken awake and lashing out at someone until my wrists are caught, unleashing the dam. A strangled sound escapes me until Makkari presses me against her body in a tight hug. I can't help it; in her embrace, I fall apart. Choked sobs leave my lips while Makkari slowly sways back and forth. I feel like a child as I ball a fistful of her shirt to cling even tighter to her. 

Suddenly, I hear the door open and feel Kingo's sleepy worry permeate the room. "Makkari, are you two okay?" 

I feel Makkari shake her head. She keeps her arms around me, and for that, I'm grateful. Makkari is giving up her ability to communicate to comfort me instead. Luckily, Kingo gets the hint and slowly leaves the room, presumably signing to Makkari beforehand.

Finally, after a painfully long time, my tears stop and I lay back down. Makkari lays down next to me and gently scratches my scalp. "You're safe," She finger spells with one hand.

"Gilgamesh?" I sign haphazardly. 

"Asleep with Thena," She takes her hand out of my hair to fully sign. 

"Sersi?" 

"Resting," She replies. "You should be too." 

I shake my head and aggressively sign, "No." My hands are trembling, so I do not doubt that it's barely discernible. Makkari grabs the hand and squeezes it reassuringly. I bury my face in her shoulder, finding I have just a few more tears to shed. Then, suddenly, some of the pressure in my chest dissipates. At first, I don't realize why, until I pinpoint the exact frequency. 

Makkari is humming an old melody.

The vibrations are unsteady, but they make up the most comforting sound I've heard. She pauses briefly to kiss my hair before she continues humming. Tentatively, I put a hand on her ribcage and feel the vibrations, the sound and feeling finally putting me to sleep. 

Sersi POV: 

"So we have two people with Ma'hd Wy'ry now?" I hear Kingo's voice before I reach the common area of the Domo. "And it's Sersi? There has to be some mistake. Thena couldn't give it to her." 

I peek around the corner but don't make my presence known yet. I wait with a calm breath at what will happen next. 

Phastos crosses his arms and replies, "It's a mental illness, not the flu." 

Kingo lets out a squawk. "Well, either way, you can fix it, can't you? Fix both of them?" I can see Kingo's stance change to a more tense one. My stomach sinks at the change in stance and the tone of his voice. "There has to be a cure! I mean, especially for Sersi. She hasn't gone through anything that traumatic!" 

At this moment, I can't help myself. I drop to the floor with Kingo's words ringing in my mind. Fix her. Doesn't he get it? I can't be fixed, I can't help it. "That's not something I chose." This makes Ajak, Kingo, and Phastos turn in my direction. Immediately, Kingo's face drops. "I don't want this, Kingo! I mean, how would you propose Phastos fixes me?" I stand up now, facing down my brother. "Do you want him to pump me full of electricity till my brain doesn't function properly anymore? That way, maybe Arishem will reprogram me! Make me easier to handle, right?" 

Kingo steps forward. "Sersi, I didn't mean it that way," He says softly. Regret shines in his eyes, but I don't care. 

"Thena and I are not puzzles to be solved!" 

"What's going on in here?" Ikaris walks in. He notices my heavy breathing and softly takes my hand. Then, he looks at Kingo and simply knows. He sighs and tugs my hand. "Why don't we go back to our room for a bit?" 

Not breaking eye contact with Kingo, I nod and walk away with him. I force my breathing under control before landing on our bed. Luckily, all the animals slept through the commotion. I lay on Ikaris's chest and listen to the steady beating of his heart. "Kingo wants to cure me. He said that I haven't gone through anything that traumatic, but he hasn't seen what I've seen. He-- He didn't have to watch a mum give birth just to die the same night. He hasn't had to spend time in the Red Tent when a girl far too young had to be seen. He-- he just doesn't know!" 

Ikaris allows me to talk, nodding along and offering a reassuring look the entire time. With one hand, he smooths away the hair from my forehead. "Do you want my opinion?" 

I nod. 

"I think that Kingo is very shortsighted. He focuses on what he can control, and when he sees something he can't anticipate, like Ma'hd Wy'ry, he seeks control. But he loses the fact that there's a person he's talking about. So no, he doesn't try to be an asshat, but he simply can't compute anything beyond his idea of perfection," Ikaris kisses my temple. "It has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the fact that he knows very little and is projecting that particular lack of knowledge. But when something doesn't fit in a box, you don't cram it in the box, you build a new box." 

I laugh a bit at Ikaris's polite way of calling Kingo an idiot. Ikaris kisses one of my cheeks. 

"There she is," He says. "Try to get some rest. When you wake up, we can try to restart today." 

And for the first time in weeks, I oblige my husband immediately.

Druig POV: 

Thena punches Kingo's shoulder with an icy look in her eyes. "How could you say that about Sersi?" She asks sharply. "I don't care if you think that about me, but Sersi has more heart than both of us put together. What the fuck is wrong with you?" 

I stand with my arms crossed, carefully biting my tongue. This is not a time to react; I'll get that chance later. I breathe deeply and focus on sending a quiet signal of calm across the bond to Sersi. The lines of energy ignite every so often, burning out on my end. So, to spare us both some distress, I simply fold the power in on itself and send calm instead. Arishem knows she needs it. 

"I just want the team to be safe," Kingo replies. "And I want you all to be safe from your own minds." 

"Safe from our minds by throwing them out!" 

"Maybe we should all find our corners and cool off," Makkari cuts in. Then she shoots Kingo a look. "I'm still angry with you." She walks off and I follow, going back to our quarters. 

As I follow  Makkari, I can feel Sersi's emotions finally calm on my end of our bond. As we get into our quarters, I sit on our bed and offer an embrace to Makkari, which she gladly takes. I slowly lay down with her and her muscles finally relax from the argument with Kingo. I sigh softly at the comforting weight of my girl against my side. "Are you okay?" I sign with one hand. 

Makkari nods. "Kingo is a jackass."

"That's what I've been saying!" I reply with a grin. Makkari swats my chest playfully. "I need to go check on Sersi. Make sure she's alright."

"She's still sleeping," Makkari replies. "I checked on her earlier. She's okay." 

I nod. Aside from soothing her mentally, I haven't seen Sersi all day. Luckily, Ikaris is with her. Never thought I'd be grateful Ikaris is around, I think to myself. I silently rub my thumb over Makkari's hip bone and breathe her in. 

"Why don't you try napping for a bit? You had an early morning," Makkari temporarily takes her hands from my hair and neck. "I'm sure Sersi and Ikaris will be by later." Makkari kisses my head. "Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." 

I nod and curl into her embrace before sleep takes me. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV: 

A baby sits in my arms. Even if it's supposed to be impossible, I just know she's mine. She's so small, perfectly resting against me. The baby has fine black hair on her head, with two silver patches, just like Ikaris. I rub her head gently, taking care of her soft spot. 

She's just so tiny. 

I wake up right after this, but not violently so. Ikaris is still asleep; deeply so. I smile slightly, not waking him up because he deserves sleep after staying awake with me. I tiptoe to the bathroom and wash my face. The ship is asleep by now, with it being well into the night. We're only missing Sprite, otherwise, we'd all be back together again. 

If only it wasn't so debatable on whether it was good to have Kingo around again. His words ring in my mind. "She hasn't gone through anything that traumatic!" Resentment bubbles in my chest. I might not be a fighter, but watching a 12-year-old girl be stoned to death over the sins of her father is absolutely a traumatic experience. Or watching a 17-year-old painter have her fingers crushed to "verify" her rape story. All of those things are traumatic. Right? 

I sigh. I still remember the painter. 

~I knocked on Artemisia's door the evening after her first day of testimony.

"Artemisia?" I call from in front of the door. "It's Sersi. Are you awake?"  I hear shuffling before the door opens, revealing Artemisia with messy hair and blackened eyes. I follow her into her room and sit with her on the bed. 

"You'll have to excuse my current state," She finally says, desperate to maintain propriety, even despite the shake of her voice and her gaze focused on the bedding we're sitting on. "I wasn't expecting company." 

"Nothing to excuse," I reply. I look down, looking for her gaze when I catch sight of her hands. My stomach churns, threatening me with the second appearance of brunch. Her fingers and hands are a dark purple, and her forearms are even swollen. "You did well today." 

This breaks the dam, making Artemisia finally burst into tears. "I may never paint again! They crushed my fingers," She sobs. "I don't know why I said anything, to begin with. They tortured me because they didn't believe me. They tortured me, and now I may never paint again." 

My heart twists and I pause before finally sweeping a fingertip under Artemisia's eyes. "It's okay," I whisper before I can stop myself. "Everything will work out. It will be okay in the end. And if it's not okay yet, then that means it's not the end." ~ 

Artemisia didn't break. Later, I bought the painting of her beheading her rapist Judith Slaying Holofernes. I believe Makkari still has it in her collection. 

"Penny for your thoughts?" Ikaris asks from behind me. 

I exhale sharply. "Had a strange dream," I reply. "She had your greys and my hair." 

Ikaris slowly moves to kiss the side of my head and wraps an affectionate arm around my waist. "Why don't you come back and lie down with me? We're finally getting some rest caught up with you." I let him lead me back to the bed as I'm nodding, tiredness still weighing on my bones. 

I lay next to Ikaris and drape an arm across his stomach now, my head laying on his chest. Ikaris smoothes my hair back from my head, quietly providing support. "What would you name our daughter?" 

"I've always loved Poppy," Ikaris says. "I heard the name in the village once and I've loved it ever since." 

I nod. "I love the name Isla," I reply. "I remember her and her mum. Remember, I helped deliver when the doctor fainted out?" 

Ikaris chuckles. "I do," He replies. He smiles down at me. "You do remember." 

I nod. "I wish I didn't some days," I reply vaguely. 

Luckily, Ikaris doesn't ask for clarification. For as long as we've been married, that's how it's been. He has never asked for clarification, and never demanded an instant answer from me. I sigh contentedly in my husband's embrace. 

Gilgamesh POV: 

Thena is curled against me in the first deep sleep she's allowed herself in weeks. I run my fingers through her hair to keep her calm, keep her from dreaming. Thena twitches in her sleep, and I immediately go on guard, waiting for something to escalate. I gently brush her hair back from her face and stroke her temple, hoping to calm her. 

Thena sharply inhales and I still my touch for a moment before she finally calms back into sleep. 

It's been a long couple of weeks. 

No relapses yet. 

Sersi POV: 

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Ikaris asks for what must be the thousandth time. 

"She's fine!" Makkari signs. "You and Druig are stuck with Sprite retrieval duty regardless." 

I giggle quietly and put my head on Makkari's shoulder. "I'll be okay, Ikaris. Makkari, Ajak, and Thena are here." 

Ikaris kisses my forehead. "As long as you're sure," He replies. He turns to Makkari and signs, "If she has an episode, Phastos has a sedative inside the bedside table and some food for when she wakes up or if she has a panic attack-" Makkari puts her hands over Ikaris's swiftly signing ones. 

"I know. And Thena has the same thing, so if I need her or Gilgamesh, I can get them," She replies. "Now go." 

Ikaris smiles and finally leaves before Makkari and I share a grin. 

"I thought he'd never leave," Thena says, materializing in the doorway. "Mind if I join you? I don't have any alcohol, Gil says it's only for 'Mentally stable people.'" The war goddess fondly rolls her eyes while Makkari makes room for her on the bed. 

"Do we even have glasses in here?" I ask. 

"We can all just drink from the bottle," Makkari replies. 

"Sounds good to me," I reply after a beat. Thena opens the bottle and takes a swig before offering it to me. I take a long drink. It tastes strongly of vanilla and something else. Ginger? I give the bottle to Makkari. 

"Tastes like a drink Druig and I had once," Makkari signs wistfully. 

"Oh?" Thena asks, knowing Makkari can read her lips. "Gonna elaborate?"

Makkari gives a mischievous grin in response and then I remember what incident she's referring to. "You weren't too drunk to remember?" 

Makkari blushes deeply and grins. "I remember more than I let on," She replies. "But I'll leave it up to your imagination." Thena and I share a look and catch Makkari's contagious grin. 

I suddenly feel a wave of tiredness wash over me while Makkari passes the bottle to Thena. I perch my chin on Makkari's shoulder and I can feel her smile before she gently bumps her head against mine. I grin in return while Thena smiles fondly at both of us. 

"When we find Sprite, how do you think she'll react to the news?" Thena asks. 

"Which news? That I've gone batshit insane or that we have a year to save the world?" I ask. 

"Yes," Makkari signs. 

Phastos clears his throat from the doorway, making the three of us turn his way. "Sorry," He says and signs. 

"What's wrong?" Makkari replies, immediately seeing his face. 

"They found Sprite," Phastos says before moving to sit in the only free chair. "But not in the way that you'd think. I don't know how else to say it, but Sprite's gone." 

The air goes out of the room when Phastos says this. Unconsciously, my arms tighten around Makkari. She gently rubs my arm, still processing the news herself while my chest tightens in dread. "What happened to her?" I finally break the silence, not even trying to sign with how hard my hands are trembling. Makkari squeezes my fingers, unintentionally making me hyper-aware of the sudden numbness in my hands. An uncomfortable feeling creeps its way into my mind. Not here, I silently beg the Wy'ry. Please, not here. 

"It looked like a human did it," Phastos replies. He lets out a long exhale. "Ikaris thinks it was either that or it was self-inflicted."

"It wasn't your fault," Ikaris says that night. Neither one of us can sleep, and it's doubtful that we're the only ones in that boat. "None of us could've predicted it." 

"I should've," I hoarsely whisper. My voice is gone from the sheer amount of crying I've done tonight. "I didn't know the signs with her or Druig." Ikaris flinches, my words unconsciously evoking the memory. "'m sorry," I mumble. The tears start coming down my face again. I need to stop crying or else Phastos will have to come up with yet another machine to take care of me. A rock forms yet again as I think about how much everyone has had to change because of me, even as we had to split up hundreds of years ago simply because of fear and tension. 

"It wasn't your fault," Ikaris repeats. He wipes my tears. "Do you want to try to drink some water? I don't want you to dehydrate."

I nod. My stomach churns unwillingly, even as my headache makes itself known. Still, Ikaris gives me the cup of water and supports me while I gulp down a couple of mouthfuls. The water feels good against my dry mouth, which had begun to feel like it was stuffed with cotton balls. 

"Do you want to try to go to bed?" Ikaris asks gently. "I think you might make yourself sick if you keep crying like this without resting." I nod and curl into him, making him chuckle. He kisses the top of my head before whispering, "Get some sleep. We'll figure it out in the morning."

Chapter Text

Ajak POV: 

"Why did you take Sprite from us?" I already know that my emotion must be rolling off of me in droves, but this is one instance where I just don't care. "She was just a child," I want to say. But even then, I know that's factually incorrect. Even still, she was my child. "None of us have died in millennia," I say instead. "Why let us die now?" 

"Ye are not your own," Arishem says quite unhelpfully. I exhale shortly, wanting to say something, before the Celestial continues. "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." 

The Bible? Since when is Arishem fancying himself a child of God? The anger seeps through once again, imbuing itself into my words. "What am I supposed to take from that? What is that scripture supposed to mean to beings which were once able to live forever? Am I supposed to take that back to Sersi and Kingo, who are heartbroken?" My chest rises and falls rapidly from the barely contained wrath. My hands ache to ball into fists at my side, but I join them behind my back instead. My need to protect my remaining nine overtakes my anger. 

"What will happen is much bigger than Sprite," Arishem finally says. "I am impressed again by your determination, but you will simply have to wait to see the product of Sprite's death." 

Before I can respond, I'm back in Domo's lab, alone once again. We need to make a plan, I think to myself, mainly because Arishem is entirely unhelpful. 

"Ajak?" Kingo suddenly materializes in the room, making me jump. "Sorry."

"¡Híjole!" I exclaim. "Make a noise, would you?" I sigh. "I'm sorry," I reply. "I just got through speaking with Arishem about Sprite. He had no answers. He only left me with more questions." I sit down on the ledge next to one of the gardens created for the lab. "We have no plan, Arishem is being purposefully irregular, and I'm severely concerned about Thena." Thena was another puzzle entirely. In the week since we lost Sprite, she'd been spaced out far more than usual, asking strange questions as if she was living in the past, just for Gilgamesh to convince her to sleep it off. 

"Well," Kingo begins. "What exactly did Arishem say to you?" 

"He quoted a couple of random bible verses," I begin. "He said that we are not our own and something about being a living sacrifice. I don't know what to make of it." My head drops into my hands as I groan in exasperation. Kingo puts a hand on my shoulder in comfort, and then I realize how tired I am. 

"It's my fault if anything," Kingo says. "I shouldn't have abandoned her. Otherwise, she'd have been with me." 

"I think that Arishem would've taken her regardless," I reply. "Especially since we are a 'living sacrifice.' Whatever that means." 

Kingo hums. "I think I might know," he says, almost mumbling. "Have we considered that maybe Sersi's wish is like wishing on a monkey's paw?" 

Thena POV: 

I wake up with Gilgamesh affectionately brushing my hair away from my forehead. I hum blissfully before it hits me. My body aches down to the bones, and I feel too heavy to even think about holding myself up. I try to search my memories for anything from last night. I certainly wasn't drinking. Gilgamesh made sure to keep any and all alcohol away from me. 

"You're awake," Gilgamesh says, suddenly noticing me looking up at him. He feels my forehead and worriedly tuts. "You've been fevering since last night." 

"How," I stop to clear my throat. "How long have you been awake?" 

Gilgamesh shakes his head. "I'm okay." 

"Not what I asked." 

"I've gotten a couple of hours," He says. "I'll be able to look after you." 

"What happened?" 

"Phastos developed a chemical restraint for you and Sersi," Gil begins. "You completely blew up at him. I have to be honest; it was kind of badass if I'm being honest. But I was concerned you'd go into an episode, so I got you back to our room and you were so exhausted... a few hours later, you had spiked a fever. I've been trying to cool you off since."

Fragments of Gil's story slowly come up in my mind as he talks. "I want to smack Phastos half the time," I mumble. I desperately need to go to the bathroom, but the dizziness might honestly take me before I ever get there. I feel like an elephant has sat on my ribcage. My panic spikes suddenly as I mumble, "I don't remember the last week. Did I--"

"You didn't hurt anyone," Gilgamesh quickly reassures me. He takes a washcloth and smooths it across my forehead, pulling a whine out of me. He quiets me softly, continuing his ministrations. "Try to get some rest. I'll be here." 

I hum and close my eyes again, drifting off before I get any real chance of staying awake. 

Makkari POV: 

"I'm worried about Thena," I sign quickly. "She snaps at Phastos and comes down with a virus that night? It doesn't make any sense."

"You're right," Druig replies. "But it was stupid of Phastos to suggest something like that when Thena hasn't had an episode in almost a month." Druig scrubs his face as I feel the vibrations of him sighing. 

"We should go check on her," I sign. I reach for Druig's hand as he looks away. I tug on his hand insistently before he turns my way again. "Where's your head gone?"

"This ship," He says and signs. "Sersi's mind. Thena's mind." Druig's signs are choppy, and I can see in his eyes that he needs something. The kicker is that I can't figure out what that something is. I gently grab Druig's hand again and pull him to sit next to me. He gently bumps his head against mine while I squeeze his hand. "I want off," I feel him say. "I need to go somewhere." 

I immediately nod and let go of his hand. "I'll go talk to Phastos," I sign. "We can go to our island, just for a break." 

Druig simply nods before I quickly disappear from the room. I can feel the vibrations of Phastos talking to Ajak in the lab, so that's where I immediately head. When I walk into the room, I see Phastos examining some kind of diagram and talking to Ajak. I purposefully make my footsteps loud, forcing the two of them to look in my direction. "How soon can we land?" I sign. "I need off of this ship." 

"We're making our landing approach in 3 hours," Ajak signs. "I need to go by my house, then you can be turned loose." 

"Since you're here," Phastos begins, giving me what I quickly deduce to be a beseeching look. 

"What?" I sign. "I don't like that look." 

"I just want you to wear this," Phastos says before producing what looks like a gold cuff bracelet. 

I give him a look. "Bracelet? You made me a bracelet?" Nevertheless, I take the cuff from our resident scientist to allow him to sign. 

"It's a tracking cuff. It allows me to see how fast you're running, your heart rate and brain activity, and the amount of cosmic energy you have," He says, hands moving rapidly. "It also has an SOS that's easily accessible in the event of an emergency." Phastos sighs while a tired look comes on his face. "Please Makkari. Just for peace of mind."

I put the bracelet on, and it immediately adjusts itself to my thin wrist. I finally smile empathetically at the larger man and squeeze his shoulder. "Thank you, Phastos," I sign meaningfully. 

Ajak taps my shoulder before signing, "Please be careful." 

I smile and wrap my arms around Ajak, giving her a tight hug. "We'll be okay, mama," I reply when Ajak finally releases me. Ajak smiles fondly and cradles my face before I speed back to Druig's quarters. 

Thena POV: 

I wake up again, and the room is spinning. There's something heavy on top of me, and it immediately sets my nerves on edge. I try to say something, anything, but it's like my mind can't tell my mouth to form words. I move to conjure a weapon, but my body is too weak to move. Instead of words, noise simply escapes me, which Gilgamesh takes notice of. 

"No, shh, it's okay," He softly rambles. Gil puts a gentle but firm hand on my arm and pushes me back down onto the bed. "You need to rest." 

Before I can properly put a filter in my mind, a whine escapes me. Gilgamesh softly shushes me again and lays a cool washcloth on my forehead. I hum in relief and before I can think again, I'm going back to sleep. 

Makkari POV: 

Druig and I make it to our island the moment The Domo lands and I can almost instantly see Druig relax. 

"Better," He signs when he turns to me. Then the glint in his eyes turns mischievous as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer. I grin before pulling him in for a kiss, a hand going around his neck. I can feel the vibrations of his heart beating faster and his grip shifting to the small of my back. Druig obviously knows this too, signing "I love you," against my back. I finally break from the kiss for air and pull myself back enough to look in his eyes. "Are you sure?" 

Druig nods. 

I take his hand and we land in the master bedroom before he can blink. I can see him visibly relax before a mischievous grin crosses his face. Druig pulls me in flush to his chest before I lean up to kiss him sweetly. My arms go around his neck while his other hand cradles my head. For the first time in weeks, the tension bleeds out of my body as I relax into my Druig. Ever since coming back from this very island, everything has become more complicated. Episodes. Seizures. Babies. A year to save the planet. Druig seems to feel me spiraling, because he pulls away quickly. 

"No worrying here," I can feel Druig say. He gently touches his forehead to mine. He smiles at me, and I can't help the attraction that stirs. I already know Druig can tell as he takes me by the hand and leads me to the bed. "Why don't you let me take care of you this time?" 

"Yes!" I want to sign. But I pause, instead replying, "Are you sure?"

Druig nods. "I don't think you realize just how much pleasure I get above you," He says. "Just relax, let me take care of you." 

I nod, desire getting the better of me. Then a smirk crosses my face. "I bet you couldn't get more than you did in the 1600s." 

Druig chuckles. "My beautiful Makkari," He begins, biting his lip. "Now you've given me something to prove." 

I raise an expectant brow before he begins kissing me slowly, pausing at a tender spot on my neck. Pleasure curls in my stomach as I hold the nape of his neck there. Slowly, Druig brings a hand up to take my hair down, lifting his head to see me give permission. I nod, letting him loosen the braided ponytail. "I love you," I sign into his back. I feel the tickle of Druig's breath as he gives me an appreciative grin as always. The ponytail finally comes down as I sigh in relief. "Thank you," I sign once he can see me again. 

"Any time," He signs. "Are you still wanting to see what else this mouth can do?" 

I nod wholeheartedly. 

Thena POV: 

I finally wake up fully as the sun is going down. My mouth is dry, and I'm sticky with sweat. My bones ache, compounded by what I quickly realize are cold packs all around me. Gilgamesh is asleep in the chair next to me, snoring loudly. If I had the energy, I'd smile, or try to nudge him awake. Instead, all I can do is watch him. I note, with no small amount of embarrassment, that I'm only wearing my underclothes and one of Ikaris's large shirts. 

"Good, you're awake!" Sersi materializes in the doorway, making me turn my attention to her. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. You've been asleep for about two days, and we had to cool off your fever." 

My tired brain produces part of a memory of weakly moaning while Ajak and Sersi hurriedly change my clothes and surround me with cold packs. 

"We're at Ajak's house," Sersi continues. "Druig and Makkari needed a breather, so they're at their island currently. Ajak said you should try walking around when you feel up to it, because she owns several acres here." Sersi steps further into the room and takes the seat next to Gil before I gently take her hand. "I'm glad you're alright, Thena. According to Phastos, all of the stress was what made you sick. Traveling and the quick changes." 

I nod appreciatively and give Sersi's hand a squeeze. I might not have the energy to verbally reassure the gentle Eternal, but I can definitely reassure her nonverbally. 

"Try to get some more rest," She says softly. "Gil and I will be here when you wake up." 

I gladly oblige. 

Ajak POV: 

I've recruited Kingo to help me build a memorial for Sprite in my backyard. The work is hard, but it's rhythmic enough that it gives me the chance to meditate on everything that's happened, and everything that's been said. "What if you're right, Kingo?" 

"On what?" 

"What if Sprite dying was a result of Sersi's wish?" I reply. "What if Arishem sacrificed one of us for that wish?" 

Kingo pauses in planting one of the flowers. "It would make too much sense," Kingo replies. "He doesn't want more than ten of us. So he sacrificed the tiniest Eternal." 

"The one he viewed as the weakest," I continue. I sit down on the grass, dusting off my pants. "He expected Sprite to present her body..." 

".. As a living sacrifice." Kingo and I share a look. "Sprite sacrificed herself so Sersi could heave her dream." 

I sigh and look down at the ground. Then, a determination sets up in my chest. "We have to stop the emergence," I quickly say, brokering no room for argument. 

Chapter Text

Sersi POV:

Ikaris fell asleep holding me. The both of us are exhausted, but I can't find it in me to sleep. Kingo had inadvertently told me about his and Ajak's grim theory. What if it was my fault Sprite is gone? What if it's all for nothing? 

Kingo was still reluctant to be around Thena and me. Makkari and Druig try to convince him that I'm not dangerous, and neither is Thena. But he is scared. He views Ma'hd Wy'ry as a mistake from the Celestials. 

"He's grieving the loss of the Sersi that he used to know," Ikaris told me when I brought this up. "Kingo is still stuck with this image of Thena's first bout with Ma'hd Wy'ry and is determined that that is what'll happen to you. Even with all the proof to the contrary." 

I look down at the red scratch marks on my chest in the present moment. I didn't let Ajak heal the wounds from my episode yesterday. My chest tightens at the thought of yesterday's particular instance. I curl my fingers in the comforter, seeking to fight the tremor there. I feel Ikaris wake up slightly, but any attempts to soothe myself are failing, with my husband waking up all the way. 

"Sersi," Ikaris sleepily grumbles. He leans on one elbow. "Sersi, what's wrong?" 

"My hands won't stop twitching," I reply lamely. Ikaris rubs my upper arm gently, waiting for me to elaborate. When I offer nothing in return, he decides to fill the silence himself. 

Ikaris lays back down and offers a space closer to him. Wordlessly, I crawl closer and lay my arm across his waist. "Where's your mind gone?" 

"I'm not the person you fell in love with," I say quietly as if speaking any louder would puncture the tenuous hold I had of myself. "I feel like I'm losing my mind." 

Ikaris kisses my temple. "No," He replies. "You have your mind. It's just different now." I sigh but lean into Ikaris's touch when he begins smoothing my hair back. Neither of us fills the silence now because it's not an uncomfortable one. My heart slowly begins to slow, the momentary wave of high anxiety finally mellowing out. I know I need to sleep and try to stave off the last of my anxiety, but I want to stay in this moment. Ikaris notices this, and says, "Get some sleep. But wake me up if you need me." 

I nod and finally drift off into an exhausted, dreamless sleep. 

Phastos POV: 

"Phastos," Ajak calls in what has officially become her 'mom voice.' 

I'm in trouble. "Yes?" I call back in what I hope is a neutral voice. I turn around to find her with a longsuffering look on her face before I awkwardly close the diagram behind me. An awkward pause extends between us before I start rambling again. "Look, all I'm saying is that--" 

"Phastos, we already agreed against creating a sedative for the sole purpose of drugging Kingo." 

"There will come a time when you want that sedative," I reply, giving her a look. 

"What of the bracelet? Or studying Kingo's theory?" Ajak changes the subject, an eyebrow cocked. 

"It works swimmingly. According to the data, there's no emergency yet. I thought there would be when Makkari's heart rate spiked several times," I reply before Ajak raises a hand to stop that particular tidbit of information. I clear my throat, the pieces coming together in my tired mind. "As for the second question, there's nothing to disprove that theory, so I'm going to officially say that it's true." 

Ajak sighs soberly. Then, she straightens up and says, "I'll be in my room if there's a need for me." 

Kingo POV: 

I miss everyone. Understandably so, none of the others have particularly wanted to be around me. I just want what's best for everyone, humanity included. I miss Sersi the way she used to be. I miss Thena the way she used to be. 

Sersi, who was so bubbly and constantly late. I smile at the memories. She used to run through the street in Athens, Ikaris following her like a lost puppy of course when she heard the news of one of her human friends who had welcomed a child. Ikaris truly didn't know much about babies or how to handle them, but with Sersi, he learned. Sersi used to have a killer sweet tooth. And she loved spicy food. I remember buying her gyros with a little bit of extra seasoning on the roasted lamb and sneaking them to her when she was on patrol. 

Thena, on the other hand, was a whole different breed. For as much as she was a formidable warrior, she was equally sharp-witted and intelligent. Thena would teach the children of the village, those who couldn't afford education, how to read and how to see through the deception. I would sneak the philosophy texts that she swore she didn't read, but I knew she kept them, nonetheless. 

I miss them. 

The admission feels like a betrayal-- like I'm unable to love my sisters as they are. But I miss who they used to be. I miss who I used to be. It's like my mind is unable to let go of this version of them that's no longer there, and I hate myself for it. But I can't reconcile the Sersi that I see now. At least Thena, the version she used to be, died centuries ago. 

I find a place to sit beneath a tree outside, near Ajak's stable. 

"I figured I'd find you out here," Sersi says from behind me. I turn around to see her, illuminated by the dim lamp. She's wearing a thin nightgown, and her hair is gently pulled back, more than likely by Makkari. "Mind if I sit next to you?" 

I shake my head and scoot over, where she joins me. "I'm sorry," I say without preamble. "I've really been an ass the last few weeks." 

"I get it," Sersi replies. "I didn't before, but Ikaris told me once that you were grieving the version of me you used to know." 

I nod, regretfully. When I hear it repeated back to me, it sounds so much worse. "I'm sorry," I repeat lamely. 

"I know," Sersi replies. "I wish I could tell you that I'll go back, but that's just not how it works. I won't be that girl again, and even if Phastos offered to reset those memories, I wouldn't take the offer. I can't imagine those years being taken away from me so I can become more palatable for others, and that includes me and you." 

I sigh. I can understand her decision. Sersi squeezes my hand and I look at her meaningfully. 

"Come on," She slowly stands up and dusts herself off. "We both need sleep." 

I get to my feet. "Yep," I reply, sharing a look with her. "We need to rest before another day of watching humanity seal its fate."