400 AD
GUPTA EMPIRE

"Do we have to?"

"It's Sersi's and Ikaris' wedding day. They were there for ours."

"Ours was improvised. They had two hundred years to plan this and they left it until the last minute." Druig grumbled and I rolled my eyes fixing the outfit Sersi chose for me. "Which reminds me! I got you a little something."

"Which means it's a big something that I need to find more room for it." I chuckled turning around to face him.

"Close your eyes and don't open until I say so." Druig smiled and I did as he said. "Okay, now don't move. I swear I know how to do this."

"What in the name of Olympia are you doing, my charming Druig?" I laughed feeling him place something in my hair.

"That should hold... I think. I wish I payed more attention when Sersi explained how to put this thing on." He mumbled and dragged me to see my reflection. "Do you like it?"

"When and where did you get this and why is it so beautiful!?" I said with a big smile and turned to him. "This is so beautiful, Dru! Thank you."

"Anything to see that smile on your face." He said grabbing my hands and kissed them.

"You just want me to outshine Sersi today."

"Have to make sure they know we're the best couple in this family, not them."

"It's their wedding, Druig."

"So? Our was better." He shrugged kissing my cheek.

"Ours was improvised." I pointed out.

"So? We're still the best."

"I'd argue with you... but you're kind of right for the first time." I said and he widened his eyes. "It feels weird admitting your right."

"That's called growth, my darling Vena." Druig said smugly and I groaned rolling my eyes.

"I take it back. I'm fueling your ego." I smirked wrapping my arms around his neck. "But even if you have a big ego and are a little shit, I still ask myself what did I do right to end up with you?"

"A thousand lifetimes we could've lived and yet we managed to exist in the same one. How is that?" He smiled holding my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. "My beautiful Vena... I'm home."

"We're home, Dru... We're home."

...

"May the gods unite you with the bond of this marriage."

"Ajak... are you... Are you crying?"

"No." Ajak choked out and held Makkari's hand tightly. "This reminds me of the night you and Druig got married. So perfect and in love. A true sight to see."

"I say Vena and Druig's was better. On the sole basis that everything happened at once and we didn't have to wait two hundred years." Thena whispered.

"You're just saying that because you pretty much adopted them." Kingo muttered and she nodded. "And Makkari is the unhinged older sister."

"It's not our fault we're better just because we're Thena's children." Druig smirked placing an arm over mine and Makkari's shoulders. "Face it, Kingo. Thena's children are better than all of you."

"Karri and I are algo Gil's daughters if that counts for anything." I called out and Gilgamesh nodded with a smile on his face. "And if all of you are done arguing about who's children are better, you'd notice that Sersi and Ikaris are literally in front of us."

"We have been for a while actually. It's hilarious." Ikaris laughed and I tackled him into a hug. "I take it that you're happy?"

"You have no idea." I whispered and laughed when he spun me around. "I'm glad you grew some balls, big brother. I never thought you could do it."

"Glad to see you have faith in me, little sister."

"Never doubted you for a second. Druig however, thought that you two would keep pining each other for the rest of our eternity." I smirked and turned to Druig who just shrugged and pulled Sersi into a hug.

"No offense, Vena... but your husband's an asshole." Sersi laughed and I shrugged.

"So is yours, sweetheart."

"Believe me, I know."

...

"You disappeared after the ceremony, I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I want to be alone."

"I know it hurts, Sprite-"

"How would you know!? You literally have the perfect husband!" She spat and I sighed giving her a look with my glowing eyes. "Forgot for a second."

"It's okay, Sprite. It's not something I use all the time too." I shrugged sitting down next to her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Can you hide these emotions? Like Druig did to your nightmares?" She asked and I gave her a sad smile. "I don't want to feel it anymore."

"Sprite, like Druig, I don't know what I'll take away until it's too late. Emotions are too fragile for me to just go on and mess with them willingly. I have to make sure that this is something you truly want to do."

"I do, Vena. I can't take it anymore." She mumbled and I nodded placing my hands on her temples.

"Fair warning, Sprite. It won't go away permanently. If what you have are true feelings, they will always come back sooner or later. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" I asked.

Sprite nodded and I took a deep breath as my eyes glowed and so did hers. After a few minutes, they changed back to normal and I wiped her fallen tears.

"Are they gone?" She choked out and I shook my head removing my hands from her face.

"They're hidden. It's your job to find out if what you feel for Ikaris is love or lust."

"What's the difference?"

"Lust wears off, true love does not."

...

"Headache?"

"How do you know?"

"I felt it too. Your thoughts were too loud, my darling." Druig smiled softly with glowing eyes and soothed my headache. "Better?"

"Much. Thank you." I mumbled glancing at Sersi and Ikaris who were dancing what seemed like their hundredth dance of the night. "I did something... I don't know how I feel about it."

"Want to tell me?" He asked sitting down and handed me a drink. "I knew something was wrong when I didn't see you dance with Makkari or Sersi like you always do. I just didn't want to pressure you."

"I hid someone's emotions towards someone. I don't know if it was the right choice."

"Was that person by any chance Sprite?"

"How'd you- Nevermind, I already know." I chuckled and he smiled softly scooting closer to me. "But yes, it was her."

"You did a good thing. Sometimes the only thing I hear at night is her tearing herself apart. It's heartbreaking to hear. I've tried to ease her mind without her knowing, but it's not as simple as it sounds." He sighed and I pursed my lips nodding in agreement. "You felt it?"

"I've learned to block out the emotions of everyone. I really don't need to feel any sexual urges that aren't my own." I grumbled and Druig laughed. "It's disgusting!"

"It's not fun to hear about it too, Aphrodite... But still, why did you do it? I thought you said that this was a power you chose not to use."

"Emotions are different than thoughts, my love. They're sporadic, chaotic. They can make or break you. They're a part of the mind, but it's the only part we cannot control-"

"Except for you, of course." He smirked leaning his head on the palm of his hand and I shook my head.

"I don't control, I manipulate. I can't control what's already there, but I can manipulate it to one's favor. You control thoughts and every aspect of the mind, but not the emotions. Ever wondered why?" I asked stifling a smile.

"Maybe... But I wanna hear you say it."

"They're uncontrollable. It's the primal urge to feel something all the time. It makes us feel alive. At least that's the way I see it." I shrugged and noticed Druig was staring at me with a smile on his face. "You look stupid."

"You know what I'll never get tired of?" Druig asked holding my hand with his free one.

"Mm?"

"Listening to your rants. They soothe me, believe it or not. Like back in Egypt, I was having a shitty day. Ikaris was on my ass about everything, but just hearing you talk about the papyrus and seeing how happy you looked, and I dunno... I just felt at peace and that's when I knew." He shrugged.

"That you fell for me?"

"Oh, no. I fell for you when you were drenched in Deviant blood holding one of the heads and threw it at Kingo who ran for the hills." Druig smirked and I rolled my eyes smiling at the memory.

"I think he almost outran Makkari that day." I laughed.

"It truly was a sight to see... But that day in Egypt, just the two of us sitting on top of that unfinished pyramid, it was the most peace I felt for a while... until the Deviants had to screw it up."

"I'm glad you can feel that way with me, Dru. I just wish that both of them can feel that way towards each other." I said gesturing to Sersi and Ikaris and Druig laughed. "What?"

"I dunno. Their entire relationship is funny to me, I guess." Druig shrugged.

"And why is that?"

"I mean... You and I are pretty much the perfect couple, or so everyone says. Those two are the product of a seduction act a thousand years in the making. It's honestly a miracle that they're married now."

"I think they truly care for each other, Dru. You can't go comparing other people's relationship to our own. We do what works for us and they do what works for them. If going at it like rabbits every single chance they get works, then let them do it." I scoffed.

"Still... Something feels very odd in their relationship and that slightly worries me."

"From who's part?"

"Ikaris. Sersi is truly in love with him. Ikaris however, I dunno. I just hope I'm wrong." He sighed and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"For all of our sakes... I hope you are."

MEMES:

A/N: I'm supposed to be on vacation... anyways enjoy this new chapter.

And I didn't put a lot of memes because this is just a wholesome chapter🥺