𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗 || 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦

"SO, YOU ARE A DESCENDANT OF KING ARTHUR?"

"Yes."

"So, you know Thena and him dated?"

Duncan exhaled heavily, not caring to look back at the ginger. "Yup."

The girl, who he learned was a couple of thousand years old, was as persistent as a fly. Her relentless questions had been badgering him since he showed up at the airstrip with Flora and Thena. And through the flight to the Amazon, it'd been questions about his life and King Arthur's that he reminded her he had no information on.

Flora tried to save him from the rather snarky girl but found no luck with Sprite's continuous assault on his exhausted mind. But in some way, he understood the reasoning. She was as perplexed by his presence as much as everyone. It wasn't normal to find a descendant of the Great King Arthur hanging around in Australia where two Eternals were staying as well. It was a fucking miracle that felt more far-fetched than one would even comprehend.

But Duncan made no move to create a defence when he already had two Eternals siding with him. Instead, he found comfort in talking to Karun, Kingo's valet, who had been pulled into this situation much like he had. The man by all means had a better lifestyle by working with a Bollywood Superstar, but he was human, just like Duncan. And that seemed like enough for the Welshman to get along with the cameraman for the flight. Maybe even furnish a friendship to be built if they somehow stopped the emergence.

Now, he was stuck on a small boat, barely able to get any leg room, being badgered by Sprite for things that were the same annoying questions, but with different words supporting them. It honestly felt like the girl was just trying to poke and prod until Duncan reacted out of pure annoyance.

"And you had visions of the pair when Arthur died?" Sprite inquired, staring at the back of the man's head.

Duncan pursed his lips, nose faintly twitching as he glanced at Sersi sitting to his left. The woman had the most experience and time with Sprite and seemed all too aware that the girl was being a bit too pushy with the questions. And if she was supposed to be the one to reel the ginger in, she was doing a piss poor job.

Looking away, Duncan closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes."

"Such a shitty way to good. I mean, lost at sea? God! I wouldn't even begin to-"

"If you're goal was to annoy me, Sprite. You are successful." He looked back at the girl, navy blue eyes dripping in frustration. "So, let's cut it."

Sprite frowned. "I just want to know more about you..."

"Sprite, seriously," Sersi butted in. "Leave the man alone."

"What'd I do?"

"Annoy our guest. Who is also a fan!" Kingo gushed, placing his hands on Duncan's shoulders, and shaking the man. "I'll bring you to a screening of my next movie, man. I think you'd like it."

A quiet laugh fell from Duncan's lips with a shake of his head.

Sprite scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked out along the river. "If you think I'm bad, wait until you meet Druig."

Outside of everything that has happened in the past 24 hours, Duncan felt like he was handling himself rather well. Able to hold steady conversations with the rest of the Eternals when he was brought into the conversation. Even Ikaris was someone he could talk to, but Duncan couldn't find a single ounce of care for the man.

But outside of that, with the weight of the world and his existence placed on a very thin fraying tread, he liked to think he was handling himself fairly well.

Eventually, they beached up on the edge of the river where a pillar of smoke could be seen above the trees. They began their trek through the dense Amazon where green was all that could be seen in every direction. Waking up to the scorching heat of Australia and the rather bland plains he was accustomed to seeing every morning did leave more to be desired. But besides the addition of bugs being a real annoyance here, Duncan enjoyed the change of scenery.

Even if it would be for a few hours. 

The overgrown paths they made for themselves soon cleared with tracks of soles evident in the dirt. Progressing even further, chatter could be heard and a village was finally seen. A full-blown community prospering in the density of this Amazon off the grid from civilization.

There was a forge for the craft of weapons and other essentials, llamas, tents that looked to only hold two people and even a small structure for a school. And all of it was created by Druig. A man Duncan had only heard mixed feelings about. From what he understood, he was an Eternal with a very snarky attitude. Which, from his experience with Sprite, Duncan was sure he wouldn't get along with.

But Duncan was just amazed by the community that had managed to develop so far from any known civilization. Flora, walking by his side, leant over slightly, noticing the admiration in her friend's eyes. "Don't be fooled by the cover. Druig doesn't have purpose without vessels like these people."

As Duncan was about to question, he took notice of all the people staring at him and the rest of the group. A blank look in their eye as they stood emotionless. It's almost like a hive mind connected to one user and Duncan didn't need to question who the leader was.

"I missed all of you." The man they'd been searching for stood before them, having exited what looked like a church of sorts. "Please, make yourselves at home."

"We will. After your day is ruined," Flora announced with a smirk, walking past Druig, and bumping shoulders with the man. "And I can't wait."

Everyone had funnelled into the building and found themselves scattered across the room. Sitting on benches with Druig stood at the front. After Flora and Sersi had explained everything about the emergence, their purpose and Ajax's death, the man stood silently. And out of everyone, Flora looked the most pleased with the silence the man projected.

Duncan had checked out of the conversation and had his amusement focused on the bearded dragon resting on Thena's lap. Staring at the creature with his finger gently scratching its chin.

"You've given me a lot of bad news in one go, ladies," Druig stated, looking at the pair of women.

Sersi smiled, a hopeful look in her eyes. "Will you help us?"

"I am glad that..."

His sentence was interrupted by a ringtone filling the air with the source being Sersi, who quickly pulled her phone out to look. She shut it off and glanced at Ikaris before stuffing the device back into her pocket.

"Hey, what's your service? I'm not getting any bars," Kingo whispered.

"Do you all remember this forest? Beautiful. It was the last place we all lived together." Druig stopped in front of Duncan, GIlgamesh and Thena. "I've protected these people for 20 generations now from the outside world and themselves."

He stopped in front of Karun, leaning down at the man as he said, "Your kind, my friend, you will be responsible for your own extinction one day. Don't you think?"

"I think we must learn from our mistakes and do better, sir. You must not give up hope."

As Karun finished speaking, his eyes began to glow, control being stripped from him. And without warning, he had tossed the camera from his hands and at the wall, no hesitation found in his actions. But as fast as the control had been taken from him, Karun seemed to be giving his mind and body back.

"Oh, no, you didn't." Kingo stood to his feet. "Okay, new rule, no more possessing people's valets."

"Oh, where is your sense of humour, Kingo?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Karun muttered.

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," Kingo reassured the man.

Turning his gaze toward Druig once more, he squinted. "You're not a god. You know that, right?"

"How ironic. Kingo, the movie star."

"I've directed some things, too."

"Oh, yeah? Like what?"

Kingo shrugged, pursing his lips. "Some internet content."

Druig nodded, humming. "How many views?"

That seemed like enough for Duncan to growl in annoyance, standing to his feet. "Oh, this was a fantastic trip. Real glad I came on this suicide mission to be entertained by this shite."

"Duncan's right," Ikaris spoke up, pushing off the wall. "Let's go. He's wasting our time."

"We need him," Sersi tried to reason, watching the man already making his way to the exit.

But before he could get far, Druig stopped him. "Ikaris. I missed you." Looking the man up and down, Druig asked, "Are you gonna charm me or threaten me?"

"I mean, there's a third option, if you'd prefer that," Ikaris said, turning to the man.

"It must be heartbreaking to find out that you're not Mother's favourite," Druig mocked.

"And I'm sure she'd be real proud of what you've been up to," Ikaris fired right back.

Seeming to have had enough of the bickering, Sersi stood to her feet. "Druig, this is serious."

"I'll tell you what's serious. I've just been told I've been sent on a suicide mission for the past 7 thousand years, and that my entire existence was a lie." Although what he said was true, Duncan couldn't help but find it rather insulting for the man to be this angered about the news. Ajax, their leader, had died yet no one seemed to be putting up a fuss about this mission since they already had their hearts in the right place. Karun and he shouldn't even be on this mission, but they had volunteered to do what they could for their species.  "So, excuse me for not giving a shit about your plan right now."

And Duncan couldn't find it in himself to keep his trap shut. It's how he got himself in so many brawls that he had one and lost. But maybe it was the fact that Druig seemed so much like him that Duncan could finally see why people found his snarky attitude frustrating at times. Much like him, Druig knew how to press at certain points that pulled the anger out of people. Make them speak and act rashly without much second thought.

"So, you finally know how me and Karun feel, huh?" His voice filled the air, grabbing most of the group's attention, including Druig's. The Eternal turned to Duncan, almost surprised he finally spoke to him. "It's bad enough that every one of you never acted on any of the past catastrophes that happened to our species. But now, with our world about to be destroyed–you along with it–you're going to get red in the face and be a fucking baby about circumstances? I don't see Karun getting up and complaining and I sure as hell ain't. We're here, dealing with the reality and you are over there whining like a toddler."

Flora, sensing the rapidly growing tension, turned to her best friend, whispering, "Duncan, what're you doing?"

"I'm telling him the truth!" He announced, jabbing a finger in Druig's direction. "He needs to understand that this is bigger than him. This is his chance to make do with this life and try to do more than what his sorry ass has been doing..."

Duncan's words began to drift off as he felt his mind began to slip. A growing headache as his body wished to act on someone else's intent. He could hear voices, either from the others or from the depths of his mind, he could hear them like faint echoes bouncing around in his skull. But most of all, he could hear Druig's words. Like a sweet lullaby, they compelled him to act upon the man's request.

But the knowledgable part of him that understood what was happening, pushed against the Eternal's powers. Ever so slowly pushing against Druig's voice and blocking it out with his own. He groaned at the pounding that worked in waves as through the haze, he met Druig's eyes. "That all you got, piss-pot?"

Even though Duncan broke through the mind manipulation, which intrigued Druig, he walked toward the man. "I've protected humans for as long as I have been on this planet. But I have no problem making you an exception, Duncan Kenway," Druig threatened, a smirk cutting across his face.

"Yeah, and when you are done hiding behind those powers, I'll knock your fucking head off, you twat," he groaned, feeling the arms of Flora lift him to his feet.

The others stared at him in alarm, unsure of what had just happened and if Druig might very well kill him. Because although Duncan put on a strong front, he knew Druig could kill him at any second. Hell, for all he knew, his mind could still be under the influence of Druig and forced him to slice his own throat. Now, Duncan feels like he would know as it was his own body. But after the past few days, anything seemed to be a possibility amongst the group he just couldn't get away from.

Standing on his own two feet, he glared at Druig before brushing past him with Flora close in tow. She shared a very heated look with Druig as she walked past.

But as Duncan shoved the front doors open, he called out over his shoulder, "So, save us the time and hurry to an answer, yeah? The people you've been protecting don't just get to start over again."

Time was a fragile system that shouldn't be mettled with under any circumstance. But time was on no one's side as any day now could be the end of all their lives. The difference was that the Eternals would live on with their memories wiped, but the human race would be destroyed. And Duncan, through his anger toward Druig, preferred having all the more people on board with this mission. It gave them all a chance to live on and save not only the world but themselves.

And although he wanted to sit on his couch sipping some white wine while listening to some music, he knew his existence at that point would be meaningless.

Sitting on the steps of one of many huts, Duncan rubbed his temples, soothing the fading headache as Flora sat beside him. She did her best to help in the small ways she could with her powers. But they only did so much before she had to sit by and wait for the man to recover.

"I'm glad someone spoke up to him for once," Flora commented, a smirk on her face. "He's been a pain in my ass since I've known him."

"He's just emotional. Can't blame him for being angry after hearing about Ajax and the Celestials," Duncan excused, shrugging. "I only hope he is more inclined to help us."

"Druig is a man of many faces. More annoying than sincere. But he'll help," she reassured. "He's always wanted to protect humans, but this will be more than enough for him to come along. It might even feed into his pride as well."

Duncan scoffed. "As if we need to add that to the long list of dislikes for the man."

Since their departure on this daunting mission, Duncan had finally laughed and got to hear Flora's. In all honesty, he'd forgotten what it had sounded like. With the chaotic weeks stacking on more and more stress, he'd forgotten about the things he cherished. And with his emotions being all over the place, he recognized that he had been pushing Flora away.

And it hadn't been his choice either. He held grudges as bad as the next resentful man. Truthfully, he felt betrayed by her as it'd been years he had spent by her side and still didn't know the full truth of her past.

"If you'd told me sooner, I might've never acted out so bad."

Flora looked at him, a deep frown on her face. "What?"

"I've seen superheroes on the news, Flora. I've seen Tony Stark, Thor, and all of them. I wouldn't have cared if you just came forward and told me the truth," he explained, meeting her gaze. "If you thought it might ruin this relationship between us then you were wrong. And it was selfish of you to make that decision even when you knew I had visions of Thena."

"I didn't want you to get pulled into all of this."

He scoffed. "Flora, when we became friends, I became friends with someone I thought I knew–someone I wanted to know inside and out. No matter the ugly and dark. I wanted to know you more than anyone before." Sighing, the man ran a hand through his hair before seeing the clear shameful look in her eyes. A sense of disappointment in herself which was not at all warranted.

So, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. "And I'm not angry that you have powers and all that shite. I'm angry that it took you 4 years to tell me because you had no other choice," he explained softly, face tucking itself in her hair. "I care, Flora. I care about you and everything about you. And I don't want to wake up one morning and find out I never get to see your beautiful smile ever again for something beyond my knowledge."

That had been enough for Flora to wrap her arms around the man, tears slipping down her cheeks as she tucked her face in his neck. Those warm tears touched his skin, smearing as she pressed further against the man.

Nobody could fill the place Flora did for Duncan. Through all these recent troubles, she'd been there no matter what. And despite how he might be feeling with her not being truthful, she was one of the last few people he had left. Not only that, if they failed to stop the emergence, he would be at her side when the world ended.

And that made it impossible for him to even hold malice in his heart for the woman.

She didn't deserve it for something she thought was right.

Pressing a kiss to her temple, he muttered, "You may be older, but I love ya, kid."

A soft laugh fell from her lips as she sniffled. "And I would kick your ass."

As wholesome as the moment had been, the pair had heard a yell in the distance. A shiver ran down Duncan's spine as he turned in the direction of the sound. Sersi could be seen, yelling something that was becoming muffled as the Welshman took notice of a creature mounted on a tree, its glowing eyes staring back at him.

There had been little warning as to its attack, but Flora had been fast enough to pull roots up from the ground and act as a shield. And seeing three needles pierce through the wood, just barely touching his skin had made Duncan fall back into reality, face first.

"We need to go!" Flora exclaimed, taking his hand and pulling him along.

In what seemed like seconds, the entire village had been plunged into chaos. Homesteaders were forced from their homes, running from the Deviants who showed no care for what they destroyed. And the Eternals engaging did their best to buy the villagers time to run and get far enough that no lives would be lost.

They worked quickly to help villagers to their feet, ushering them toward the church. Sersi doing the same and standing by the door, waving them inside.

Duncan looked over his shoulder and took notice of the Deviant watching with its tail shimmering. And as it pounced, Duncan acted quickly. "Flora-!" He shoved her away before the animal slapped him away.

The impact of its paw had been enough to propel him back. He hit the ground and rolled, grunting and groaning at the ache that seemed to grow larger with each second.

When his body collided with a rock, stopping his rolling in substitution for a likely cracked rib, he groaned with his fists pressing into the ground and carefully lifting him to his knees. His hand fell to his side, wincing at the pain that should've very well had him go into shock. But from the adrenaline coursing through his veins, it fell to a numbing gnaw at his muscles.

Looking over at the sound of a roar, the same Deviant that had slapped him attempted to attack Flora, Sersi, and Druig. All of them drew its attention, keeping it away from the church holding all the villagers. The use of Sersi's powers had made the exterior strong, but it wouldn't be strong enough if continuously put under

Hissing, Duncan stood to his feet and began to jog. Keeping his gaze fixated on the Deviant. Then that jog turned into a sprint, legs cutting through the air like blades. Running, he could see the Deviant crawling from beneath the tree that had collapsed onto it. "Flora, roots!" He exclaimed, sprinting at the beast.

Flora, acting quickly, twisted her hands and groaned, creating an elevated path for the man, who sprinted across. With the edge coming into sight, a sword made of these magical roots had risen from the wood, the perfect level for him to grab.

Duncan snatched it and leapt, catching the Deviant off-guard when it looked up at him. He drove the sword through the creature's head and out the skull. Twisting the weapon before the creature let out a moan and collapsed.

Running a hand through his hair, Duncan retrieved the weapon from the creature's skull and huffed. Glancing up at the three watching him with a sense of astonishment in their eyes.

"Maybe you aren't as useless as you look," Druig commented, watching Duncan hop down from the creature and walk toward the trio.

"You still haven't shown any promise."

The conversation couldn't carry on any longer as Ikaris flew past them and directly toward a Deviant attacking Kingo and Sprite. Using his heat ray, he caused the creature's attention to shift to him. Evading the beams and propelling itself off a tree to tackle him through the air and into one of the huts.

As they sprinted over, Sersi pressed her hand to Duncan's blade, causing the wooden properties of the weapon to transform to metal. The sudden weight alarmed Duncan, he continued to work on the adrenaline strength given to him for a short period.

They arrived just in time to see Ikaris being overpowered by the Deviant. The Deviant kept its hand on the back of Ikaris' head, keeping his beams from hitting it. "Ikaris!" Sersi picked up a wooden branch, doing the same thing as she had done with Duncan's sword and stabbed it into the creature's side.

It had been enough for the creature to step away from Ikaris and walk toward Sersi. With its attention solely on the woman, Duncan had an opening to sprint over from its side and drive his sword into the deviant's eyes, blinding it. It stumbled about, slashing at random in hopes of catching one of them.

Flora twisted her hands once more and with the ingredient of Sersi's powers, metal roots shot up from the surface like spikes and plunged deep into the Deviant's body, lifting it into the air.

"Where's Thena and Gil?" Duncan questioned, looking between the group.

Ikaris had a look cross his face, like a realization. And there had been no other word uttered as he flew in the direction of the pair. The others followed and Duncan would like to think his heart wasn't trembling at the thought of Thena being injured. Or worse, responsible for hurting another Eternal. But he knew that this attack would only spark her episode again.

The group followed a few paces behind Ikaris, roughly following where he flew towards. Yet, when they arrived, they were too late.

Thena cried, her sobs deafening in Duncan's ears as she laid her head on Gilgamesh's chest. The man's skin was a devilish gray with blood seeping through holes in his chest. Duncan clenched his jaw, carefully walking toward the woman before crouching by her side.

"I'll remember."

He didn't say anything. All he did was place his hand on her shoulder, providing a soft assurance that he was there. It was all he could offer when the wound of loss was so fresh and raw. He had to work around them and Duncan was willing to be patient.

But he didn't have to wait long as Thena unfurled her hold on Gilgamesh and sought solace in Duncan's arms. And he didn't hesitate to hug her tightly. Her face found its place in his neck, her tears soaked up by his shirt. So many yet so little time to allow all of it to be shed.

After what felt like hours, Thena eventually peeled herself off of Duncan. The man shifted in his position, placing a shaking hand on Gilgamesh's chest and exhaling shakily. Closing his eyes, he whispered, "You'll never know your fortune. But we'll carry it for you. No matter what."