Frost Heart → druig, marvel

Chapter 5: Heartbroken Snowflake

1521 AD - Tenochtitlan

Ayaz leans against the cool, ancient stone wall, his heart racing as he watches Thena lie motionless on the stone table, still unconscious. A feeling of dread settles in the pit of his stomach. "I thought Mah'd W'yry was just a myth," he murmurs to himself, anxiety threading through his voice.

"There is no cure. So no one really talks about it," Phastos responds, his tone laced with resignation as he stands a few paces away, worry etched across his features.

Just then, Thena gasps awake, confusion swirling in her beautiful green eyes. "What happened?" she breathes, her voice trembling.

"Thena, you attacked everyone. Wounded Phastos, Makkari... you nearly killed Ayaz," Ajak explains, her voice steady yet full of concern.

"I don’t remember," Thena whispers, desperation creeping into her tone as she searches their faces for answers.

"You have Mah's W'yry. Your mind is fracturing under the weight of your memories," Ajak continues, her words heavy with finality. Ayaz's heart sinks at the thought. He frowns, feeling the urgency of the moment, knowing their options are painfully limited.

"We have to inform Arishem and take you back to the ship where we have the technology to help," Ajak insists, her gaze intense.

"But it won't be Thena anymore," Hestia adds sadly, her voice soft as she takes in the gravity of the situation.

"What if it happens again? She could have killed you. She could have killed all of us," Kingo interjects, his voice rising in alarm.

"Please, I want to remember. I want to remember my life," Thena pleads, her voice a haunting echo of vulnerability.

"Thena, I love you, but listen to me," Ajak says gently. "It's not important that you remember or not. Your spirit will remain. You will always be Thena deep inside. Trust me."

"Why should she trust you? You are asking her to let you erase who she is," Druig retorts, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Ayaz steps forward, glaring at Druig, feeling an instinctive protectiveness flare within him. "Watch your tone with her. Will you?" he warns, his voice low and firm.

Druig chuckles dryly, but there's an edge of frustration in his laughter. "You always have been the secret mama's little boy—"

"Shut the fuck up!" Ayaz snaps, his patience evaporating.

"Druig, I know you are upset," Ajak tries to reason.

"Upset? We have trusted you for 7000 years, and look where it got us," Druig seethes, his voice rising. He strides to the entrance of the temple, his eyes locking onto the chaos unfolding outside. "I've watched humans destroy each other when I could stop it all in a heartbeat. Do you know what that does to someone after centuries? Could our mission have been a mistake? Are we really helping these people build a better world, huh?"

The fighting below ceases, a hushed silence falling over the battlefield as Druig's power grips the humans in thrall.

Ikaris shoves Druig against the wall. "Let them go."

"You’re gonna have to make me," Druig replies, his tone dismissive.

"Stop."

"If you want to stop, you're gonna have to kill me," Druig retorts, his voice flat as he turns away, making his way down the temple steps without so much as a glance at Ayaz.

Ayaz's heart sinks, an icy dread wrapping around it. He bites down hard on his cheek, the taste of blood grounding him in the moment. He knows Druig is furious at him for not taking his side. Would he ever forgive him? The thought spirals through Ayaz’s mind like a dark cloud.