2024 - South Dakota 

The air is cool and crisp as Ayaz stands outside Ajak’s homestead, his gaze fixed on the Domo as it rises into the sky, sleek and majestic. The repaired starship gleams under the fading sunlight, a testament to their resilience and a symbol of new beginnings. Ayaz's golden blond hair ruffles lightly in the breeze, and a sense of pride swells in his chest as he watches the spaceship ascend. This is the start of a new mission—to find and free the other Eternals scattered across the world, to awaken them to the truth.

Beside him, Jack’s eyes widen in awe, his young voice bursting with excitement. “Oh! Yeah! Wow, Dad, the Domo’s so cool.”

Phastos, standing tall and proud, glances down at his son with a wide grin. “Your dad fixed that with his bare hands,” he says, the pride in his voice unmistakable.

Jack looks up at his father with admiration shining in his eyes. “Can we go to space, too, one day?”

Phastos chuckles, a deep, warm sound. “Let’s wait until you get your learner’s permit, okay?” He ruffles his son's hair affectionately, his gaze drifting back to the Domo as it climbs higher.

Druig steps forward, his familiar smirk playing on his lips as he addresses Phastos. “Hey, Phastos. Take care. This world is lucky to have you,” he says, the sincerity in his voice softened by the hint of his usual dry humor.

Phastos meets Druig’s gaze and raises a brow. “Thank you. I know you’re not a hugger, so…” He trails off, but before he can finish, Druig steps in, wrapping him in an unexpected hug. Phastos lets out a startled chuckle before hugging him back. “Okay, okay.”

Ayaz steps forward next, and as he embraces Phastos, the coolness of his touch lingers, a remnant of his power. He pulls back, flashing a playful smile. “Don’t miss me too much, pote.”

Phastos scoffs but there’s warmth in his eyes, a glint of amusement. “As if, Captain Ayaz,” he retorts, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips.

As Ayaz steps back, Druig falls into step beside him. The golden light of the setting sun casts long shadows across the grass, and Ayaz feels Druig’s presence close, steadying him as they prepare for what lies ahead. The quiet moment stretches between them, a comfortable silence filled with the understanding of what they’re about to undertake.

“You think when we find the other Eternals out there, that they’ll accept the truth the way we did?” Druig asks, his voice low, almost thoughtful as his eyes scan Ayaz's face.

Ayaz’s gaze shifts toward the horizon, his expression contemplative. “It won’t be easy,” he replies, the depth of his accent adding a weight to his words. “But we have to try. The truth… it has a way of changing everything.” His golden eyes flicker slightly, as if some internal fire is sparking within him. There’s hope in that flame, tempered by the pain of their shared past.

Makkari joins them, her smile bright as she begins to sign, her hands moving swiftly. “Because the truth will set them free,” she signs, the motion fluid and reassuring.

Ayaz’s eyes soften, and he nods in agreement. There’s a quiet strength in Makkari’s words, a belief that he shares. As he prepares to teleport them onto the Domo, he feels the comforting weight of Druig’s hand on his shoulder. It’s not just a touch; it’s a promise—of solidarity, of love, of facing the unknown together.

Druig’s fingers linger, gently squeezing Ayaz’s shoulder. “Ready, mon ange?” he murmurs, his voice carrying a hint of teasing endearment. There’s an intimacy in the way the words roll off his tongue, something only the two of them understand.

The nickname sends a warm flutter through Ayaz, a reminder that despite all the centuries they’ve lived and the countless battles fought, this—they—are real.

“Always,” Ayaz replies, his lips curving into a soft smile. The glow in his eyes intensifies as his powers surge, a dark grey mist curling around their feet. He reaches out, catching Druig’s gaze with a look that says more than words ever could.

With a flicker of gold in his eyes and a swirl of dark grey smoke, Ayaz teleports himself, Druig, and Makkari onto the Domo to meet Thena inside. The cold bite of his power lingers in the air as they materialize inside the spaceship’s metallic corridors, the hum of the ship’s engines vibrating through the walls. The four of them look out through the viewport as the familiar landscape of South Dakota shrinks below them, slowly replaced by the vastness of the sky.

Ayaz takes a steadying breath, his fingers still interlaced with Druig’s. There’s no turning back now; the journey ahead is unknown, and the weight of their mission presses down on his shoulders. But as he feels Druig’s hand tighten around his own, he knows he isn’t facing it alone.

“Together?” Druig whispers, his voice a quiet anchor in the midst of uncertainty.

“Always,” Ayaz echoes, his smile growing as the Domo surges forward, carrying them toward the stars and the Eternals who await their awakening.