Frost Heart → druig, marvel

Chapter 20: Miss Havisham

2024 - Iraq 

Once Phastos reluctantly agrees to accompany his fellow Eternals, Ayaz feels a mix of anticipation and anxiety wash over him as the group embarks on their journey to Iraq to locate the Domo. The atmosphere is charged with an urgency that feels palpable in the air.

Druig, clad in a simple yet striking ensemble—a leather jacket, a fitted black T-shirt, and dark jeans—grabs Ayaz's attention whenever their eyes meet. Each glance ignites a flicker of warmth in Ayaz's chest, a reminder of the past they share, of the undeniable chemistry that still lingers. Druig notices, a smug smirk playing on his lips, his confidence radiating as he basks in Ayaz's admiration.

"I know, my allure is blinding," he quips, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction.

"Twat," Ayaz retorts, his voice laced with sarcasm, a glare aimed at Druig with fierce. But even beneath the irritation, he can’t help but appreciate the sight before him, that familiar sense of attraction pulling at him.

As they arrive, Druig hides his presence behind Sprite, using his powers to subtly guide a group of archaeologists away, clearing the path for the Eternals. Ayaz watches Druig work, a mix of admiration and frustration swirling within him. There’s something captivating about the way Druig exudes control, yet it reminds Ayaz of the distance that remains between them.

The team boards the spaceship, moving through the dimly lit hallway when Kingo, ever the dramatist, turns to the camera, his tone serious yet teasing. "A foreboding atmosphere fills the air. An eerie stillness chokes our lungs."

Phastos glances at Kingo, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you doing? You know you’re creeping us out. You know that, right?"

Suddenly, a loud pop echoes through the darkness of the Domo, startling everyone into silence. Ayaz feels his heart race, instincts kicking in, prepared for anything, but all that emerges is Phastos, cowering with wide eyes.

"Oh! Oh, God! Stay calm, T, please!" Phastos exclaims, fear evident in his voice as he shrinks away from the source of the noise. As he glances around and realizes the startled looks from his fellow Eternals, he sheepishly looks down and reveals the culprit: a deflated bag of chips.

“Chips,” he chuckles nervously, holding up the bag like a trophy of embarrassment. “It’s just chips.”

Kingo faces the camera, a grin spreading across his face. “As you can see, being an Eternal does not preclude you from having human emotions such as cowardice.” His words earn a grumble from Phastos and a light snicker from Ayaz, who is reminded of how easily humor can diffuse tension among them.

When they finally arrive at what used to be Phastos's immaculate laboratory, Ayaz can’t help but wince at the chaos. Now it resembles a storage unit cluttered with Makkari's pilfered artifacts and an array of oddities.

“What has she done? Is that… a sarcophagus in my lab?!” Phastos’s panic rises as he scans the room, disbelief etching lines into his features.

Kingo, unfazed, introduces Makkari, who is casually immersed in a book, her eyes darting across the pages with astonishing speed. “This is Makkari. Or should I say Miss Havisham? None of us have seen her for centuries.”

“Ready to go home?” Makkari signs to the group, her excitement palpable, but her smile falters as she notices the nervous glances exchanged between the Eternals.

“Looks like you have a lot to catch up with, ma dame,” Ayaz comments, breaking the tension as he pops open a beer, taking a leisurely sip. When everyone turns to him, he meets their gaze with an innocent expression, as if he hadn’t just shifted the mood.

In this moment, Druig’s eyes linger on Ayaz, a mixture of admiration and something deeper reflecting back. The connection between them crackles like static electricity in the air, unspoken words hanging between them. Ayaz feels the weight of that gaze, warmth pooling in his chest. For all the layers of time and conflict that separate them, there’s still an undeniable bond, one that draws him to Druig even in the midst of chaos.

“What?” Ayaz shrugs, feigning nonchalance, yet he knows Druig sees through it. The two of them stand at the precipice of something uncharted, the tension thick and electric.