( italics in the past means that they're speaking a different language! )

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575 bc — BABYLON

ANTHEIA WATCHED AS CITIZENS WERE HURRIED INTO THE ZIGGURAT TEMPLE as the bell toll rang throughout the city. Above her, Ikaris flew through the sky, towards the oncoming deviants. She was stationed by the gate of Babylon beside Druig as they frantically urged more of the civilians inside. Sersi was further into the city with Sprite, trying to guide the people to safety.

"Come on now,"  Antheia spoke, crouching down to help a child to his feet as he stumbled on the dirt. "Go on. Into the centre." She smiled after the little boy as he scurried inside before she was knocked back by a surge of civilians. She covered her head as people continued to run past her, yet miraculously none of them stood on her.

She pried an eye open, coming face to face with an outstretched hand. Antheia looked up to where Druig was standing, his eyebrow raised. Without hesitance, the girl slipped her hand in his, allowing him to pull her off of the dusty ground which had now sprouted a few tufts of dried flowers and grass.

"Thank you," she smiled, dusting off her suit before standing up straight. "I didn't expect them to stampede."

"Luckily I was here to help you then," Druig smirked, tipping his head before standing beside the girl to try to push the people further into the city. Antheia's eyes lingered on Druig, her lips drawing into a wider smile, her cheeks growing rosier. Her hands brushed against the people as the noise around them grew louder and louder. Loud thudding caused the ground to shake, and both Druig and Antheia backed away the outer walls of Babylon, which were trembling under the weight of a deviant from the other side.

Her eyebrows scrunched together in worry for her friends fighting the deviants. This wasn't just a singular one, when the alarm had been rung, there had been five charging towards Babylon. Antheia's worry shrouded over her, her shoulders tensing as she glanced behind her at the cowering civilians.

"They're okay, right?" Antheia asked as she found her head turning towards Druig who already seemed to be watching her. "I mean there's a lot of deviants—"

"Annie, they are fine," Druig finally cut her off, "It's what we're here to do. They can handle a few deviants." Antheia's heart fluttered at the nickname, yet the pit of dread in her stomach caused her head to drop to her chest as she feebly nodded.

"You've never called me that before," she hummed lightly, her fingers fiddling with the material on her arms.

"I can stop if you'd like?" His eyes flickered to her, as she shook her head.

"No, no it's fine! It's just new."

It wasn't long until silence finally descended, the fighting coming to a close. Antheia practically sped out of Babylon's gates, desperate to ensure her friends' safety.

Druig watched as she ran out, his eyes following her as she reached the group, searching any of them for any major injuries. He could see her signing to Makkari, making sure that her close friend was okay. Antheia latched onto her friend with a soft sigh, her arms around Makkari's shoulders. His lips lifted into a half-smile, watching as she talked animatedly with the other girl. His eyes traced her happy face, her soft eyes visible despite the distance.

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"WOULD YOU LIKE ANY TEA? OR COFFEE? Or maybe hot chocolate?...uh, we also have water?" Antheia stammered her way through her sentence, her eyes flitting from Sprite, Sersi and Ikaris who had all taken up residency at her kitchen table. Sersi had Sylvester up in her arms, the cat glaring at Antheia who had ignored his earlier attempts of attention when the three had first arrived.

"Maybe I should let this one take me home instead." The cat scowled. "She'd probably take me to work or not leave me alone all day with the other human."

Antheia found herself chuckling in midst of the silence. "Sylvester, my love, I was gone three hours, calm yourself." She softly spoke directly to the cat, suddenly freezing when she remembered the other three were listening. Standing back up straight, she scratched her head with an awkward grin, as Sylvester leapt from Sersi's arms brushing against Antheia's legs. "Sorry...did you guys say you wanted anything?"

"No, we're fine," Sersi smiled, "Thanks, Antheia."

"Yeah, no problem at all." She answered, leaning against her kitchen counter. "I'm sorry if this sounds rude but...what are you guys doing here?— not that I'm not happy to see you, it's just so late and unexpected, I just—"

"We were attacked by a deviant," Ikaris stopped the girl's rambling. "We're trying to bring back the team. We were going to go to Ajak first but you're closer."

"A deviant?!" Antheia's fingertips brushed her mouth in surprise. "—but you guys killed them all centuries ago."

"Yeah, we thought that too," Sprite cut in, her legs curled underneath her as she spoke. "Guess we missed a few."

"So, you want to go find the team and try to stop them?" Antheia's gaze fell to the floor. "I don't think I'll be much help,"

"You're an Eternal," Sersi reassured, "You'll do fine...We need the entire team."

Antheia bit her lip as she weighed her option but just as she went to answer, Georgia swung open her bedroom door, rubbing her eyes.

"Antheia..? What are you—Woah," the girl did a double-take at the sight of the three strangers in their kitchen. "Who are these people?"

"Oh...Georgia, these are...my friends from, uh, college!" Antheia fumbled, clasping her hands together.

"You don't go to university..?"

Antheia's smile wavered ever so slightly. "Right! I didn't say university...I said they're old family friends!" She tried once more, her eyes widening.

"You're a terrible liar," Georgia yawned, as Antheia scrunched her nose up in anticipation. "Look, just please keep it down, I'm trying to sleep, see ya in the morning..."

"Night!" Antheia called after the girl with a wince, watching Georgia retreat. She turned back to the three Eternals, her face screwed up. "Sorry...you were saying?"

"Who's that?" Sprite questioned with a smirk, wiggling her eyebrows.

"She's my roommate," Antheia quietly laughed, "—and my closest friend."

"We need you with us," Sersi suddenly spoke up, her warm voice soothing the girl. "Come with us."

Antheia looked down at Sylvester who was whining to get up in her arms, his judging eyes staring right at her.

"Don't give me that look," Antheia mumbled, leaning down to scratch the cats head. Her eyes drifted towards Sersi, Ikaris and Sprite. "How long would we be gone?"

She watched as Sersi glanced towards Ikaris, who sighed and pushed himself off the wall. "We just need to figure out why the deviants are back." He started. "Our best bet is to go to Ajak. We're leaving now. Are you coming?"

Antheia looked around, a soft sigh leaving her lips. "—but I have work and a cat, and also Georgia needs to be reminded to drink water, she never drinks it on its own, it's quite unhealthy." She rambled. "And Owen's expecting me to go into work tomorrow and, oh my sweet blossoms! The shop must be destroyed from the earthquake, I'll have to—"

"Antheia," Ikaris cut her off. "Are you coming or not?"

Antheia bit her lip before nodding her head slowly, "I'll come, but please wait until sunrise. It's late and I need to sort a few things out. Besides the first flight out of here is at eight forty and that goes to South Dakota." She quietly spoke, "You guys can take the couch if you'd like to rest. If you need anything, the kitchen is open for your use. Now if you'll please excuse me."

With that, the girl left the main apartment, slipping into Georgia's room with Sylvester at her side, leaving the three Eternals sitting in silence.

"She hasn't changed at all has she?" Sprite chuckled, turning her head towards Ikaris.

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HELLO!

As a forewarning, these chapters are and will remain shortish mainly because I write them as a stress reliever and they're fun to write!

ANYWAYS, I hope you like Antheia as much as I love her and how would you feel if I made a drukkari x oc poly fic??

LOVE YOU ALL <3