2024 - Amazon Forest

Inside the rustic building nestled within the Amazon rainforest, the air is thick with anticipation. Karun stands by the entrance, camera in hand, capturing the moment as Sersi occupies the space between Hestia and Sprite. She leans forward, her voice steady yet urgent, as she explains their dire situation to Druig.

Ayaz reclines in the last row of seats, his golden blond hair catching the light in a way that draws attention even when he wishes to blend into the background. He props his feet up on the seat in front of him, his gaze fixated on Druig, the magnetic force of his presence nearly tangible. The man’s handsomeness is a visceral ache deep in Ayaz’s chest, a reminder of the forbidden allure that’s been haunting him for too long. Wanting Druig is a slow burn that threatens to ignite, the flames flickering in the corners of his mind like distant stars.

“You’ve given me a lot of bad news in one go, my lady,” Druig says to Sersi, his expression neutral but his eyes revealing a glimmer of something deeper—a pain or perhaps an indifference cultivated over centuries.

“Will you help us?” Sersi’s question hangs heavily in the air, charged with hope and desperation.

“I am glad that—” Druig begins, but his words are abruptly interrupted by Sersi’s phone, which buzzes obnoxiously with an upbeat tune that fills the room, shattering the momentary tension.

Ayaz can’t help but chuckle, finding the situation amusing as everyone else glares at Sersi, who fumbles in her pockets, frantic to silence the offending device.

“Hey, what’s your service?” Kingo whispers, leaning conspiratorially closer to Sersi. “I’m not getting any bars.”

Gilgamesh snorts beside Thena, who nudges him in the ribs, causing him to jolt awake, bewildered.

“Do you all remember this forest?” Druig’s tone shifts as he steps forward, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Karun, who still clutches his camera. “Beautiful. It was the last place we all lived together. I’ve protected these people for twenty generations now—from the outside world and from themselves.”

Druig’s voice carries a weight of responsibility that resonates with Ayaz, who watches intently as the mind controller turns his attention to the human with the camera. “Your kind, my friend, you will be responsible for your own extinction one day. Don’t you think?”

Karun, unflinching, replies, “I think we must learn from our mistakes and do better, sir. You must not give up hope.”

In an instant, Druig’s eyes glow ominously. With a flick of his wrist, he asserts his control over Karun, forcing him to hurl the camera against the wall. The device shatters into a million pieces, the sound sharp and jarring.

“Oh, no, you didn’t.” Kingo’s voice rises, and he stands, confronting Druig head-on. “Okay, new rule: no more possessing people’s valets.”

“Oh, where is your sense of humor, Kingo?” Druig quips, his smirk re-emerging, a blend of mischief and arrogance.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Karun apologizes, bewildered.

“Don’t apologize; it’s not your fault.” Kingo reassures the human before turning back to Druig, his voice unwavering. “You are not a god, you know that, right?”

“How ironic. Kingo, the movie star.” Druig teases, and Ayaz can sense the tension shifting in the room.

“I’ve directed some things, too,” Kingo replies, a spark of defiance in his voice.

“Oh, yeah? Like what?” Druig challenges.

“Some Internet content,” Kingo says with a shrug.

“How many views?”

“I don’t do it for the views.”

Ikaris, who has been silently observing, finally pushes himself off the wall. His irritation seeps into his tone. “Let’s go. He’s wasting our time.”

“We need him,” Hestia reminds, trying to keep the peace.

Ayaz, feeling a twinge of boredom from the escalating bickering, lets his powers dance at his fingertips. He conjures a delicate snowflake, its intricate design reminiscent of the one he created for a little girl during the Spanish invasion. It glimmers softly in his hand, a momentary distraction.

“Ikaris. I missed you,” Druig suddenly interjects, his voice smooth as he closes the distance to Ikaris. The tension shifts again as Ikaris freezes, caught off guard. “Are you gonna charm me or threaten me?”

“I mean, there’s a third option if you prefer that,” Ikaris replies, sarcasm dripping from his words.

“It must be heartbreaking to find out that you’re not Mother’s favorite,” Druig taunts, his smirk deepening.

“And I’m sure she’d be real proud of what you’ve been up to,” Ikaris shoots back, the two locked in a battle of wits that Ayaz watches with increasing interest.

In the midst of their banter, Ayaz accidentally loses control of the snowflake. It tumbles from his grasp, shattering against the floor like glass, drawing all attention to him.

“Merde!” Ayaz bites his lip, his stomach twisting in embarrassment as he watches the remnants of his creation scatter.

A sudden silence blankets the room, and he looks up to find every pair of eyes—Druig’s piercing gaze included—fixed on him.

“No, no. Go on. You two were saying?” He waves his hand dismissively, trying to ease the awkwardness but only drawing more attention to himself.

Druig’s smirk widens, his voice smooth and teasing as he moves closer. “My beautiful… beautiful Ayaz. Did you miss me?”

“Fuck you.” Ayaz rolls his eyes, his heart racing as heat floods his cheeks. Why is it suddenly getting hot in here?

“Is that a to-do list?” Druig asks, stopping directly in front of Ayaz, their proximity electric.

“You don’t get to be the smartass clown,” Ayaz shoots back, narrowing his eyes at Druig. “That’s my job.”

“This is new because I hate it,” Kingo comments, disgust twisting his features. “When did that happen anyway? All this time I thought you two were close friends.”

“We’re closer than friends,” Druig corrects with a smirk that only fuels Ayaz’s annoyance.

“We were fuck buddies for centuries and not anymore. Let’s move into the important subject, like saving the bloody planet, shall we?” Ayaz suggests, crossing his arms over his chest. A part of him wants to strangle Druig for revealing their secret in front of everyone. Another part yearns to leap into his arms and kiss him breathless, to drown in that tantalizing smirk. The temptation is a siren call that he struggles to ignore.

“I thought you weren’t interested in the whole saving the planet plan,” Kingo interjects, drawing Ayaz out of his spiraling thoughts.

Ayaz blinks at his friend, trying to reorient himself. What is wrong with him? No kissing. No strangling. No fantasizing. If possible, he mentally vows to keep a safe distance from Druig—ten meters, at least. That’s the new plan.

“I don’t. It’s meant to happen one day anyway,” Ayaz shrugs, casting a glance at Kingo. “Nothing lasts forever. Have you not heard that yet?”

“What about your untitled girlfriend?” Kingo probes, his eyes alight with curiosity.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Ayaz replies, irritation rising within him.

“What girlfriend?” Druig growls, a flicker of jealousy darkening his expression, the smirk fading from his lips.

Ayaz groans, running a hand through his golden blond hair. “None of your bloody business.”

Tilting his head with feigned innocence, Druig mocks a French accent, “Sounds like my bloody business.”

Ayaz scoffs dramatically. “Seriously?”

“Druig, this is serious,” Sersi interjects, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

“I’ll tell you what’s serious,” Druig snaps, frustration boiling over. “I’ve just been told I’ve been sent on a suicide mission for the past seven thousand years and that my entire existence is a lie. So, excuse me for not giving a shit about your plan right now.” With that, he storms out of the building, slamming the doors shut behind him with a resounding thud.

“Told you. He’s meaner than me.” Ayaz stands, stretching his limbs lazily, trying to shake off the lingering tension.

“Druig sucks,” Kingo blurts out, earning a nod of agreement from Ayaz.

“Believe me, he does.” Ayaz smirks, the playful banter easing the weight in his chest.

“Ew.” Hestia cringes at the implication.

“Says the little red riding hood,” Ayaz retorts with a laugh.

“The what?” Hestia shoots back, confused.

“We all know how you used to ride the big bad laser wolf,” Ayaz asserts with a casual shrug, mischief dancing in his eyes.

“You’re a horrible person,” Hestia declares, though a smile tugs at her lips.

“I know. It keeps me awake at night.” Ayaz salutes her before teleporting himself out of the building, leaving behind the charged atmosphere, his heart still racing from the unresolved tension with Druig.