Elyus's POV:

TWELVE YEARS AGO
THE AFTERMATH OF THE AVENGERS' BATTLE OF NEW YORK
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

"And...here are the keys." Julian gently smiled, placing the set of keys in the palm of my hands once I finished filling out the paper work. "The Hyde Out is all yours. Have you decided to name it?"

I quickly shake my head. "No, no. This is more than enough for what you've done for me, Julian. I need at least one thing to represent what made this bar what it is today so I'm keeping the name. I owe you everything."

The elderly man scoffed as he dismissively waved his hand. "Ay, you owe me nothing. Ever since you escorted some of the people from the pride parade in 1974 when this place barely just opened, you and I didn't know it then but you changed my life and others for the better. Like what this Ari—cómo se dice—said when he sent you and your family down to Earth, it's always what you were meant to do."

"Arishem, and they're not my family." I counter, feeling my heart sink as I thought back to Ajak's order of when she'll find us to leave this planet with Arishem. "But what if one day I have to leave? How do you know that you can trust me?"

"You just...feel that someone has good intentions. Not everyone is as heartless as you make them to be." He comfortingly placed his hand over mine to close my hands over the keys. "Why do you think I let you in this place all those years ago?"

I sadly smile before I pull him into a hug. "Are you sure about leaving this place to me instead of those buyers? Is there any way I can convince you to stay?"

He pulls away and reaches for the television remote, turning on the device which immediately was on the news station. "Despite the devastation what has been confirmed as an extra terrestrial attack, the extraordinary heroics of the group known as The Avengers, has been to many of cause not only for comfort but for celebration--" He flicked to the next station, showing another interview of a man wearing a suit with a red tie and a look of annoyance. "These so-called heroes have to be held responsible for the destruction done to the city. This was their fight! Where are they now?"

The interview panned to the destruction of Manhattan, showing parts of buildings that were torn apart along, the streets filled with rubble, and several civilians that were unfortunately hurt by the battle where some were either limping to the nearby ambulance or being wheeled on a gurney. Metal fragments of the alien soldiers were sprawled across the streets and a large metal-like snake laid in the middle of the town square.

"What, that this is somehow their fault? Captain America saved my life." The video panned to a disheveled blonde-haired woman with dirt smeared across her head and clothes but still wore a small smile of relief. "Wherever he is and wherever any of them are, I would just...I would want to say thank you."

"I have to make sure my daughter and the rest of her family are okay. I'm not sure how long that will take but I don't want to take not seeing them for granted again." He explained. "I haven't seen them in years since I've been a bit busy here with money being a little tight but because of this...I see it as a sign for me to pass the mantle on to someone else. Someone I consider family and not some random pendejo in a suit who will make sure that this places' history for Pride is forgotten."

I reluctantly nod before squeezing his hand. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Hyde. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't." He chuckled, patting my arm a few times. "But I should thank you for being my friend. For making me into a better person." A honk from outside causes his eyes to widen slightly and we turn, seeing the yellow taxi parked outside. "That's for me. Thankfully a buddy of mine works for the taxi company so he's gonna drive me to the airport. Impatient geezer, I tell you."

"Have a safe flight, Mr. Hyde." I chuckle, grabbing his suitcase as I walk with him to the exit.

"Gracias, Ellie. Seriously, change the name of the place and let me know what you pick." He instructed as I carefully place the suitcase in the trunk. "I'll call you as soon as I land."

"That's if he remembers." His friend scoffed, causing Julian to roll his eyes in annoyance as they got into the car. "Barely remembers the time of his flight."

"Oh, nobody asked you, wise guy." He remarked, waving his hand dismissively to his friend. "If I wanted to hear nagging, I would've asked Mrs. Driscoll to drive me. With her broken leg!"

"Okay, easy you two." I laugh, closing the trunk and pat it a few times before I walk up to the window. "You don't want to miss your flight."

"Adios, Ellie." Julian softly smiled, reaching over to clasp my hand. "I hope you continue to make this place your haven for the rest of your life."

"And I hope your family are okay. Don't forget to visit."

"Of course not. How could I ever leave behind this place?" He chuckled before he releases his grip.

I wave, watching as he drove down the road until I couldn't see him anymore.

PRESENT DAY 2024

I didn't know it then but it was the last time I would ever see him in person. Unfortunately due to barely scraping by to pay bills, food, supplies, enough money for the bartenders, and consistently staying busy with Haven's Pride, I couldn't find time to visit Julian.

He understood my situation since it was what he was going through as well which made him want to retire in the first place. Though, it didn't stop him from trying to save up to visit me again while still spending every moment that he could with his family, rambling on and on about how I would love it there and how he couldn't wait to show me the city park one day.

He never got the chance to.

Unbeknownst to me, he had been sick for some time and missed a couple of check-in calls with me but I didn't think any of it. I assumed that he was busy but it all changed when I unexpectedly got a call at a time I was closing for the night, learning about how he peacefully passed away in his slumber.

Even with connecting with his daughter and the rest of his family at his funeral, I couldn't help but distance myself from them. I didn't want to go through the pain of living out the rest of their lives while I was stuck like this again.

I didn't want to go through the same cycle of becoming close with someone until they were suddenly ripped away from my life, leaving me by myself...I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't want to go through the pain again.

So for years, I refused to acknowledge anyone but the bartenders that worked for me, continuing to keep Julian's legacy in this place.

I refused to...until I met someone who practically made it their life's mission to get me to talk to them by coming to the bar every day.

I carefully walk down the steps that led to the underground pub and immediately I recognize the song Sugarfoot by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears blasting through the speakers in the building filled with a crowd of people dancing along.

Or should I say...attempting to dance along the beat.

"There she is!" A voice I recognized to be Dane's yell out with a laugh, seeing as he held up a cup filled with beer in his hands and walked up to me to wrap an arm around my shoulder. "Ms. Eleanor Forest!"

"Call me by my full name again, I'll break your hand." I fake a laugh before holding out his birthday present to him as he unwrapped his arm. "Happy Birthday, Dane."

He places the gift down on the table and tears the wrapping paper off, revealing the medium-sized cardboard box. "Don't tell me there's a box inside of a box--"

"Of course not! Would I lie to you?"

"Well--"

"Just pull open the lid already, you drunk." I cut in which caused some of his friends to erupt into laughter.

"I'm not drunk, I'll have you know." He peels open the lid and his eyes instantly lit up. "Oh wow!" He exclaimed, holding up the shot glasses where one had an engraving of the crest and his initials and a bottle of Henry McKenna bourbon whiskey. "You're really trying to get me wasted, aren't you?"

"This is one of my rare vacations I can take where we can hang out for a week." I joke, watching as he immediately opened the bottle.

"Oh, do you work at a hospital? I hear getting time off in America can be rough." One of his colleagues spoke up from beside Dane.

"Not exactly. I...run a business that anyone can come into." I nervously explain. "A safe haven, if we want to be specific."

"Oh, then are you in the social justice department?" A woman curiously asked.

"No I uh--"

"Obviously it's a law firm, Amelia." One of the guys that had an arm around her waist chuckle.

"Or it could be with animal rescue, Leo." Another woman that sat in one of the tables snorted. "How do you think she handled Dane for so long?"

"But Daisy, I genuinely believe it could be in the social justice--"

"I own a bar." I awkwardly cut in through their shared laughter with one another. "For a good couple of years, actually. Haven's Pride...it's sort of where I got the bottle."

Their eyes slightly widen in surprise, not daring to speak up but thankfully the music in the pub made it a bit less awkward since there wasn't silence.

"It's how Eleanor and I met!" Dane spoke up, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. "Two years ago I asked for the strongest bottle she had and...may have gotten a bit wasted when I wanted to get to know the grumpy and brooding bartender. She was forced to endure my questions until the rest of the bartenders went home and surprisingly didn't ban me for life."

"As long as you kept the money coming, why stop right?" I nervously shrug, earning a couple of awkward laughs from his friends before I turn to face Dane. "You know, it's starting to get late and we could always drink the bottle another time--"

"What? No, no, no--"

"Birthday boy!" Amelia exclaimed, excitedly patting his shoulder for him to turn. "Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" She began to sing, along with the rest of his friends.

"At least stay for the song and a drink with me." He quickly says to me before turning to the rest of his friends.

I let out a huff but as soon as I turn away from the door, it felt like all of the oxygen within me escaped in a second as soon as I saw the familiar woman holding the platter of cupcakes with a single candle on top wearing a wide smile.

The same woman I haven't seen in decades...the woman that solidified my reasoning into wanting to depart from the rest of the eternals.

"Happy Birthday, dear Dane!" The girl, holding the platter of cupcakes, sang as she stepped closer to him. "Happy Birthday to you!"

As he blew out the candles, her eyes shifted to mine and her grip on the plate almost loosens but Leo swiftly grabs it from her hands with a cheer. "Alright! Sweets time! Happy Birthday Dane!"

"Thank you so much, everyone!" Dane laughed before tugging the woman's arm to pull her towards me. "Eleanor, this is the person I wanted you to meet at the museum. She's an incredibly intelligent professor at the Natural Museum." He introduced before turning to the girl. "Sersi, this is my best friend from America, Eleanor Forest. Eleanor, this is Sersi."

Sersi's surprised expression remained but I didn't let mine waver, not wanting to show Dane I already knew of her existence. "Dane, we already sort of uh--"

I cut in, holding my hand up for her to shake. "Nice to meet you...Sersi." I awkwardly clear my throat. "Dane's told me a lot about you.

Her expression faltered but she quickly recovers by shaking my hand. "Good things I hope?"

"Sure, let's say that." I say before shoving my hands in my pockets, timidly picking at the clothing in an attempt to soothe my overwhelming nerves. "Things."

"I could sense a great friendship already!" Dane patted our backs, wrapping his arms around our shoulders. "Eleanor before you got here, I was just telling Sersi about your bar and--"

"Actually hold that thought," I interrupt, taking a step away from this embrace. "I'm just...I need some air." I excuse before walking towards the backroom, ignoring Dane's calls.

I accidentally bump into someone else which causes me to stumble a bit and I glance behind, seeing a red-haired woman wearing a floral long-sleeve. "I'm so sorry! It's a bit dark and--" The red-haired woman transforms, breaking the illusion to immediately turn to Sprite wearing a simple suit and turquoise tie, causing me to furrow my brows in confusion. "Sprite? What the hell are you...oh my god."

It all made sense. It was never Makkari at the museum. The aunt that's taking care of Sprite is Sersi.

"Listen, I wanted to tell you who I was here with, but I knew you wouldn't have hesitated to leave." Sprite quickly explained, taking note of my angered expression. "I made it seem like I was here with Makkari so that you and I could talk. Just how things used to be."

"Things will never get back to how it was before. Get that into your head, Sprite!" I angrily raise my voice. "I understand that it's been awhile since we last saw each other but you still lied to me."

"You can't avoid her forever, Elyus."

I scoff. "It worked the first time for a good couple of years. It's just pure coincidence that a friend of mine somehow befriended Sersi. All I have to do is never come to Europe again."

"You're such a child." She shook her head with disbelief. "You can't always run away from your issues the first chance you get."

"How can you say that when you know what she did to me? She made her decision and I'm making mine. I don't want to be in the same room as her!" I exclaim and step around her to walk towards the backdoor. Before I could grab onto the handle of the door,

"Ellie." A voice called, making me freeze in my steps.

I wince at the nickname and turn, seeing as Sersi stood behind with solemn etched into her expression, almost as if she heard the entirety of Sprite and I's conversation.

Just being in her presence again erupted all of my feelings I suppressed for years to emerge from inside. The never-ending pain, the sadness, I couldn't go back to it.

Not again.

I take a deep breath before I give a short nod. "Tell Dane that I had an emergency that needed me to go back home." I firmly state, adjusting the scarf around my neck. "Don't follow me. In fact, don't ever contact me."

I push open the door, not bothering to turn around as I walked into the night with tears trickling down my face.