#drio

It's been 3 years since the Eternals arrived in Babylonia, helping the humans thrive and multiply their city into what is now a major empire on the planet.  For three years, The Eternals lived amongst the humans in Babylonia and learned from them, seeing the good and the bad in the species.  Clío grew to love them, as did the rest of the Eternals.  Yet Clío never thought she would fall in love with another, someone who saw her as an equal and as someone worthy of love.  

Druig, the mind controller and the love of her life.

They've only been together for two years, though their mutual love for one another ran deep far beyond that.  Clío knew her feelings for Druig were there for some time, yet she was too shy to say anything at all.  But once he kissed her under the stars, every insecurity was melting away. She felt that love deep in her core from the moment their lips touched, when his arm wrapped around her, and his heartbeat was right along hers.  Clío knew then what love must have felt like with humans when they loved each other, and she no longer had to wonder if she would feel that love herself.  

Druig loved her with everything he had in her, never once hesitant to bring her happiness and peace.  None of the others ever fathomed that they would see Druig act like a love-sick puppy with anyone, yet Druig never once shied away from it.  In fact, he would hold Clío's hand anytime he could, staying close by her not just as a sense of safety but as a sense of love and connection.  No matter the teasing he got from Sprite or Kingo, or the giggles and smirks from Sersi and Makkari, Druig felt his love grow for Clío as the years came and went. 

He knew he was in love with Clío. 

"It's beautiful up here," Clío hummed in amazement as she was scanning the scattered stars along the black sky.  Her head was still light and her chest was still warm, the feast where she and Druig came from was still going on into the wee hours of the morning.  The humans conducted the feast in honor of the Eternals defending them from Deviants.  She never thought she could dance for hours on end and lay so hard from some of Kingo's stories, or see Sprite cast illusions for the young children and watch their eyes widen in amazement. Yet the night was filled with laughter and joy, no fears or worries, and plenty of smiles were seen from both the humans and the Deviants.  Towards the end of the night, Clío felt Druig slip his hand in hers, ushering her away from the massive crowd in the middle of the dance floor as he whispered in her ear four simple words. 

"Come away with me,"

So they slipped away, giggling as they left the main hall where the feast was.  Neither of them noticed Ajak watching them slightly opening the side door to slip out.  Yet she smiled, already knowing their love was blossoming day by day.  They both jogged down the hallway, hand in hand, and the sounds of their laughter bounced off the walls around them while Druig lead the way.  After slipping through the shadows and away from most of the humans that were still mingling about in the marketplace.  

"It is, isn't it?" Druig asked as he looked over at Clío with a tilt of his head.  Of course, he knew she was talking about the stars and the city stretched out in front of them, bustling with life.  But he was mostly talking with Clío, seeing her hair almost glow in the reflection of the stars and the moon hung high in the air.  He was watching her freckles so bright along her arms and cheeks, and even the way she was perched against the railing of the balcony.  Her body language showed she was calm and safe, nothing was having her keep her guard up or be on alert.  This side of Clío was infectious, soothing, and calming.  Druig could watch her all day and never be tired or lose interest.

"This room, this building really, seems far too much for us doesn't it?" Clío asked nonchalantly as she was playing with the helm of her dress, her fingers twisting and playing along the silk fabric against her waist.

"Perhaps, although Kingo thinks it is not big enough for him and his prized possessions gifted to him by the humans," Druig hummed as he walked over to Clío slowly, his hands clad behind his back as he was keeping his eyes on her, "Not to mention Ikaris and his enlarged ego,"

"You still think of him in such a way?" Clío asked with a smirk as she looked over her shoulder at Druig, seeing him approach her softly and carefully, a soft gentle tempo in his steps as he rolled his eyes.

"I have the utmost respect for him….most of the time," He replied, Clío laughing as he joined her against the railing of the balcony, "I just find his ever-present need to please Ajak a bit much at times.  I know you think the same way, don't deny it,"

Clío said nothing and merely smiled, though Druig could sense her flushing a bit in her cheeks as he looked out at the marketplace below them, "I find this not too much.  At least for you, I think you deserve a whole palace yourself," 

"Druig…" Clío said with a hint of embarrassment as Druig smiled widely at her.

"It's true, I would never lie to you.  A palace may not be enough for you though, since I think you deserve all and more," He replied, reaching over to take her hands from fiddling with the fabric of her dress.  He laced their fingers together, palm to palm, just the right way he loved to hold her hand and never let her go.  It was one of the very first things that made him think of peace.  Knowing that the world around him would still evolve and change, his feelings for Clío made him feel grounded and consistent.  

"You always know how to say the right thing to me," Clío explained to Druig as he watched her with a glint in his eye, "And I fall or it every time, why is that?"

"My ever-present charm?" He asked coyly as she gave him a knowing look.  Druig just scooted closer to be next to her, arm to arm, and he simply gave her the kinder stare that he could, "I merely love you, Clío.  I love you for loving all the sides of me: the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of me,"

Clío stared at him with softness and yet intensity in her eyes, Druig almost losing his breath in how her hazel eyes were so bright and yet filled with all of the wisdom and admiration that she could ever have.  He could get lost in her eyes, in the tone of her voice, and in the softness of her skin along his fingertips.  Even beyond her unique beauty, Druig loved her kind heart and her intense spirit.  Beyond her fierce nature in battle and using her screams against Deviants, she was filled with warmth that the others sensed and would love to come to.  Druig always saw her consoling both humans and the other Eternals, considering himself lucky to have her in his life when he knew he was more willing to be observant and watch from afar.  

Sometimes he wondered why she would be with someone like him, someone with the weight of the world on his shoulders.  

"No parts of you are ugly," Clío stated to him, her voice calm like the softness of the wind along the ocean waves, "I never saw anything ugly within you, Druig, even after all of these centuries.  I only see good in you, and that goodness is seen by others too,"

Druig felt those words seep into his bones so strongly, like vines that were wrapping around him to make him feel it deeply.  Clío always gave him words of affirmation, more than he could ever give him.  Even before they got together as a couple and confessed their love for one another, Clío always told Druig of his worth.  She reminded him of his place with the Eternals and how important he was with his aid for the humans.  

There were times when Druig felt low and that his own beliefs were not in vain, but Clío never strayed from his side or left him alone with his thoughts.  Her words encouraged him to keep trying, to have him stand on his own two feet, and to never back down from what he knew was right.  He needed someone in his corner, and he found it in Clío.

Hearing that from Clío made Druig lean in to kiss her softly, feeling her melt against him while he held her hand.  Her lips were smooth against his chapped lips, Druig felt like he consumed a drug of sorts when he would kiss her over and over, almost in a trance or one of Sprite's too-real illusions as she kissed him back.   Her spare hand was reaching up to cup his jaw, for she too wished to keep him close as they kissed back and forth for a good solid minute.  

Clío would always get lost in her mind when they would kiss, ever since they kissed for the first time under the stars she would always feel both filled to the brim with love and lost at sea at the same time. She could feel his love when he kissed her, the hint of innocence and the flicker of devotion was always present and a routine feeling.

Maybe it was the flicker of emotion that was stirring inside of the pair of them, or even still having the high from the feast they were at moments before, but something was awakening inside them both as their kissing was processing from gentle and sweet to intense and bold.  Yet there was no hesitance in either one, Druig's arm around Clío's waist pulling her closer to him while her fingers were slowly drifting to sink into his hair.  

He loved that feeling of her fingers in his dark locks, almost like a weakness that no one else ever knew.  The softness of her palm against his brown hair and close to his skull nearly made him crumble as he pressed a hard kiss against her lips, whimpering a bit as her fingers slightly curled.  

She gave the softest tug, and a groan was heard from his lips from that action.

Clío heard it instantly and she felt warm all over, pulling away from Druig as he was trying to chase after her lips.  But she placed some distance from him, searching his eyes to see how they looked so warm with the blue almost heightened.  His breath was short and he gulped, maybe thinking he did something wrong to mess with the moment.  

Yet her eyes were showing no remorse, they were in fact just as bright and true as Druig's eyes.  Both of their feelings were heightened out there on the balcony as Druig searched her orbs.  Maybe he was going to say they can slow down, they can simply just enjoy the rest of the night together.  But she was the first one to speak, her voice sounding honest and bare.

"It's okay," She replied, those two simple words that seemed like nothing to anyone else.  But to Druig, he knew she meant more than just the kiss.  She was willing to be vulnerable to her and vice versa, there was no wall between them and no secret that they would keep from one another.  The openness and vulnerability were something that never diminished or changed, and Druig felt it as he searched her hazel orbs.  

He then knew what she was saying, and his eyes got a bit bigger.

"You sure?" He asked, his voice sounding a bit hoarse as she nodded her head slowly.  Although she nodded, Druig was still hesitant.  Clío leaned in a bit, almost nose to nose to peer into his blue eyes and have him somewhat feel her energy with him in front of her.  She softly smiled, Druig thinking of her smile alone as a radiant ray of sunshine that would always brighten his day.  Clío's smile alone would cure all the broken pieces of his heart and soul, mending it back together with ease.  

"More sure than anything on this planet," She replied, her voice remaining soft and her eyes never leaving Druig.  Her fingers moved to cradle his jaw again, her thumb close to his plump lower lip as they remained staring at each other intensely. Druig was almost worried to move first, his heart beating out of his chest and his breath heightened as her thumb then traced his lower lip.  Such a simple gesture made him tremble. 

He was a goner, and he leaned in to kiss her badly.

Humming against his lips, Clío grinned and returned her kiss as he was holding her so close in his arms and pulling her away from the balcony, away from prying eyes that could be watching.  His body was on autopilot really, he was only focusing on kissing Clío and running his fingers along her waist.  Her curves under his dress seemed so inviting to Druig as he couldn't stop his lips from touching hers.  

But his fingers started to wander, attempting to undo some of the ties that were holding her dress together.  Although he was still occupying his lips, he could tell he was stumbling on how to undo her dress.  Clío must have sensed it, giggling against his lips as Druig finally huffed and pulled away, looking down at her dress and seeing the intricate wraps.

"How do I get this off?" He asked in a breath, Clío had to laugh at how he was looking at the dress now in a managing way and now with love as he did earlier.  

"You in a rush then, are you?" She asked back as Druig merely smirked.

"Can ya blame me?" He countered back to her, though they both were grinning like mad at how they were acting.  Druig knew he was going to take a huge step with Clío, yet at the same time, they both were so calm and light about this too.  He should be a bit nervous about this, he's never done this with anyone before.  Nor could he remember if he did, so this was going to be something that was going to change him forever.  

However, this felt right with Clío.  She made his heart sing ever since she smile at him for the first time there on the Domo.  Her voice alone was a calming presence in his chaotic mind and chaotic thoughts, and a simple touch of her hand would bring him to his knees.  Clío was all Druig could ever want and need, solely because she made him feel so worthy on Earth when others wouldn't.

"Here, grab this part right here," Clío said to him carefully, placing his hand right along a small knot that was along her lower back.  Druig watched, his fingers touching the bunched fabric with her fingers there too, seeing the dark orange color of the dress in contrast to her fair skin.  Once he had some of the material in his grasp, Clio curled into him a bit more as she framed his face in her hands, making his eyes look right at her since she could tell he was having a moment of panic.  Reading Druig like a book was something Clío was good at, and now she could see the wheels turning in his mind at such. Frantic pace.

"Just you and me, okay?" She reminded him, seeing him gulp as she pressed a light kiss under his right eye, "I trust you, I trust us.  Nothing else matters to me than what I feel for you, Druig."

Druig felt those words sink under him, becoming concrete within himself.  Having another person love him, purely love him with no hesitance and no restrictions, made Druig feel so human.  It was the first time he felt human, no matter how long he's been on Earth and around humans to watch them grow and evolve, now he felt what they felt when it came to love.  All thanks to Clío and her never-ending love for him.

With one simple tug of the knot he was clutching, the top part of the garment she wore fell off of her instantly.

Her undergarments she wore were still on, but the dress was now pooled around her feet as Druig looked with some shock on his face.  The curves along her hips and thighs were evident, her freckles contrasting her skin and almost making her look like she was shimmering.  He always knew she was beautiful, but now she seemed beyond radiant for him to see. 

"How did it do that?" He asked suddenly, Clío grinning with a hint of blush on her cheeks as she shrugged.

"Makkari showed me how.  She hates how long it takes to get the dress on, so she showed me this trick to make it fast," She explained, sounding nonchalant about it.  But she saw the look he had on his face as he drank in the sight of her, only in her undergarments and showing more skin to anyone than she ever would for anyone else.  If it was anyone else she would feel petrified, but not with Druig.  Not with the very Eternal who saw her beauty from the inside out and brought her more joy and love than she could ever imagine.  

"Here," She said, reaching for his clothes and she started to undress his shirt for him as he still looked at her body in such a longing way.  Taking off the fewer buttons that were on his shirt, she pushed the garment up, bunching it around his armpits to have him move his arms up.  Although she was moving soft and slow, taking in the moment with Druig and seeing his skin more and more exposed for her, Druig simply threw the long shirt off and tossed it to the floor with impatience.  His bare chest in front of her, breathing a bit harshly as Clío laughed from his antic, Druig ruffled his hair and dived in to kiss her again.  

"You're far too impatient," Clío murmured against his lips, though she slightly moaned as he licked her lower lip with his tongue to open her mouth more. 

"And you're far too beautiful," He replied just as softly while his fingers were running along her bare arms and then her waist to feel the thin material against his calloused fingers, "They should have a shrine of your beauty, big enough to block out the sun, and yet it would still fail in comparison to how you look to me,"

"I don't want a shrine," Clío explained as her fingers were running down his chest and touched along his hips where his pants were hanging low, "I don't want anyone else to look at me in such a way.  I just want you to love me,"

Druig stared at her dead in the eyes, his fingers freezing from going under his garments to touch her bare skin along her hips.  

"I'll love you until there's nothing left in me, Clío.  I promise ya," He vowed to her.  Clío smiled so wide, her heart feeling like it could explode with all that she was feeling in that second from hearing Druig say such things.  Within a second, Druig wrapped Clío in his hold to pull her towards the large bed that was already turned down, the sheet cool to the touch as he was sitting on the edge of the bed and he had her sitting in his lap within a moment.  

Clío gasped from the sensation, her arms linking around his neck as his hands found her bare thighs, her undergarments tucked up to pool around her hips.  She felt his pants along her core, and her breath heightened for a moment as he drank in the image of her.  Clío, perched on his lap in her nearly bare undergarments and her hair down to frame her face.  Both were still for a second or two, knowing that there was no turning back on what they wished to do.  But neither of them cared.

"I love you," Druig hummed to Clío as he peered up at her, his hands rubbing her thighs carefully and soothingly to almost calm her nerves while she looked down at him.  He kissed her softly, no longer rushing or desperate as it was moments before when this all started.  He was now going to take his time, unfolding each layer that Clío had and he was not going to hold back.  One hand moved to the straps on her shoulder blade, touching the thin martial that would be the only obstacle in the way of having her completely bare in front of him. After pausing for a moment, Druig hummed softly at Clío while he kissed her in a way to ask permission.  

"Yes," She whispered back, moving her arm for him to let the strap fall and her arm moved out.  He moved to the other strap, Clío doing the same while they were still kissing and caressing each other on the edge of the bed.  Once both straps were finally freed, the top of her undergarment slipped down to her waist. Clío, bare from the waist up, shivered from the cold that she felt against her skin because of the chilling air.  

"God, Clío," Druig full out moaned as his hands moved up to cup each breast that was right in front of him, Clío gasping from feeling his palms along her nipples as he kissed her jawline and down to her sensitive neck, "You feel amazin', I can't stop touchin' ya no matter how hard I try,"

"Don't," Clío softly pleading as his kisses along her neck were going lower and lower with every press of his lips along her skin, "I…I don't want you to ever…stop…Druig!"

She nearly cried out as his lips circled one nipple and he started his kisses there.  Clío clung onto him for dear life, still in his lap and her fingers were once again digging in his hair as he was still touching and caressing her chest with both his lips and his hands.  Clío could feel everything around her and yet not enough at the same time, her skin felt so electric with every ship of his tongue or every brush of his fingertips.  It was nothing that she's ever felt before, the most beautiful feeling she's ever felt up until that moment in time.  

Clío knew of humans touching like this, hearing stories from the others, or accidentally seeing humans in the act when they were hiding away in the shadows or alleyways.  It never occurred to her that she would feel what they feel, the pleasure building inside of her that seemed all-consuming.  Of course, love could be felt in so many ways, shapes, and forms, but now she was experiencing it in a whole new light with the very being that gave her the definition of love. 

Her hands moved from his hair and neck and downwards, touching his chest and along his ribs, before they descended further and further to where his pants were.  There was an evident bulge there, she could feel it against her leg.  Her fingers were lightly touching the top of the bulge, feeling Druig shiver as he moved from kissing one breast to another.  Clío's fingers moved again, a bit bolder now as her hands went to touch the top of his pants along the hem.  His stomach full-on quivered as Druig pulled away from kissing her breasts to let out a shaky moan.  Clío thought he sounded heavenly, open, and raw for no one else to hear or experience as his breath was shaky against her skin 

He looked right up at Clío, his eyes dilated and mirroring the very pleasure he was feeling as her hand slipped down into his pants and touched him.  He gasped out, Clío seeing how heavenly he appeared.

If this was how love was truly supposed to be felt, then Clío would want it forever with him.

"Fuck," he gasped out as her hand moved, his mind completely shutting down and was only filled with pleasure he was feeling all over.  Having the love of his life there, bare and open for him to witness, gave him the same amount of blinding pleasure and the feeling as if he could fly like Golden Boy Ikaris.  But he highly doubted Ikaris would be able to truly feel this bliss, even with all his cockiness and bravado.  Not with how Druig was feeling it in his toes and along his spine, how he could even put a sentence together as Clío would twist her wrist or pick up her pace a bit faster.  He was no longer in control, but he liked it. 

Clío could bring him to his knees and he wouldn't care.  

"Druig," Clío hummed his name, softly to get his attention.  Druig looked right into her eyes, seeing how they shined and stayed consistent in his gaze.  He wanted to say something but he was feeling too much, her movement was at a slow rhythm, but teasing and yet taking care of that itch that he had.  It was building, almost like climbing a peak, and was about to slide right back down.  His eyelids were heavy and his breath was still shallow, his skin was so sensitive and his heart was pounding.  But now he was focusing on Clío, who was watching him as if he was the most precious thing in her possession. 

"You okay?" She asked as a small tug of a smile was on her lip.  She felt that tension building more and more.  Clío merely wanted to check in with Druig and see if he was alright, even in the heat of the moment and with her hand around his cock.  It seemed rather silly for him to ask since he was already on cloud nine, so close to being on the brink of orgasm with the love of his life, but he finally found his voice.

"More than," He replied, his voice sounding like he had run a for at least an hour.  His fingers were clinging to her for dear life, almost like she was an anchor in an ever-rough ocean that was throwing him all over the place.  But he carefully moved her hand, letting her release his cock with such reluctance as she eyes him carefully.  He shook his head and moved to stand up, letting her stand up too as he wrapped her in his arms and twirled them to have her on the bed.

It didn't matter that his pants were now bunched around his thighs and his cock was standing erect and exposed to the air to have him shake, his mind was now on Clío as she was now sprawled out on the bed.  His mind was solely focused on making Clío feel just as good as he was feeling.  Her skin was soft against his fingers as they moved along her chest and ribs, her eyes shining from the candles lit in the room, and her red hair sprawled around her head like the rays of the sun.  Druig merely saw her as a Goddess, a true Goddess that should be worshiped from sun up to sun down. 

And he was going to worship her with everything he had.

His fingers grazed her hips and then slowly descended, her long and thick thighs quivered from the touch of his palms as they were finally reaching her core.  He kept his eyes on her as his digits were now slowing along her folds, seeing the reaction in her eyes as her body nearly buckled.  She felt divine under his finger and under her gaze, Druig couldn't think of any other image that was just as angelic as Clío sprawled out on the bed and being pleasured by him.  

Clío felt as if she could hover above her own body as his fingers were moving along her folds, making her wet before she knew it.  She could feel her hands shaking from how much she was feeling, Druig reached over with his spare hand and held her hadn't tight right near her head as one finger was finally slipping inside of her.  Clío moaned, her body arching from the sensation as Druig never stopped his movement.  Of course, he's never done this before with another person, but reading the minds of human men in passing or when they were talking to one another gave him enough pointers on how to pleasure a woman.  Even at the time, he thought nothing of it, merely something humans did.

But now he was doing the very thing to Clío, and watching her melt under his touch was amazing.  

"Oh….oh Druig….I…" Clío couldn't even talk about how much she was feeling, her pleasure was felt everywhere and within her at the same time.  Druig leaned down to kiss her all over her face and neck, slipping another finger inside of her and feeling her shake even more.  The peak was coming for her, so close to breaking into a million pieces that he was afraid it would come too soon. But how could that be, when she felt so good under Druig?  

Druig finally pulled his fingers out, both Clío and Druig looking with a glazed look at how wet his fingers were as her thighs were quivering and her hips moved on their own accord for a brief moment.  Druig's eyes widen at the sight, Clío was trying to catch her breath. But they were thinking the same thing.

"You're so fucking divine, Clío," Druig said in a grumble as he looked from his fingers to Clío, watching her for a brief moment before he slicked up his cock with the juices from his fingers.  Part of them wanted to rush, and another part want to this moment and let it drawl out. But this one place in time could change everything for them.

So he took the chance, looking at Clío directly in the eyes as he guided his cock into her entrance.

It took some time, inching in little by little to merry make sure Clío was comfortable.  He could sense and feel it, how tight it was around him as he leaned down to be nose-to-nose with Clío.  Watching her squirm a bit and almost squint, he stopped and kissed her face all over, waiting ever patiently to sink in further.  He would wait for however long it took for her to let him in, her legs bracketing his hips and her hands clinging to his back as she breathed out a deep long breath.  He kissed away the discomfort on her face and the trembling of her jaw as he inched in a bit more, feeling her wrapped around his cock too tightly.  But it felt beyond amazing to him, feeling her walls around him in such a vice grip. 

Was this what he was missing this whole time?  He won't ever miss out on it again.

"You okay?" he asked against her lips, feeling her nod and cling onto him a bit tighter as he pushed the hair out of his eyes, "Clío, you…you feel so amazin'."

Clío took in a long breath, feeling how he was snug against her walls and filling her to the brim.  It was a nice sensation, almost consuming her inwardly and externally as she found her voice too.  Reaching up with a shaky hand, she touched his lips with her fingers as she shakily said, "I can feel you everywhere, Druig."

Druig could have crumbled if he could, then finally moved in the last inch to be fully inside of her.  He moaned, stopping and trying to collect himself before his hips would move.  There was no other feeling like this one, nothing could come close to how he felt as though their souls were finally intertwining.  In the physical act of love, being connected not just emotionally but now physically made him beyond emotional.  

Clío noticed the small tear that was in the corner of his eyes as she reached up to cup his face.

"Druig?" She asked, searching his blue eyes and wondering what was making him cry at a time like this.  But Druig shook his head, inhaling sharply in hopes that he could hide it, and was about to turn his face away before Clío framed his jaw in her fingers.  Eyes locked, both staying still while he was deep inside of her, and Clío spoke again, "I'm right here, Druig.  Let go….just let go and be here with me,"

A simple request meant everything to Druig.  So he did.  He let go.

His body knew what to do before he could, his hips started to roll as he held her close against him.  Clío let him, her head against his own as they were breathing one another in and feeling his pleasure come over him.  Druig only wanted to savor this moment, trying his best to let Clío feel so good and feel that same intense love he had for her. 

Every push into Clío made Druig feel that insane pleasure up and down his spine, it was almost cosmic to him how much he was feeling and experiencing.  Up until that moment, he only had an inkling of what humans felt.  He wasn't human himself, only watching it from the sidelines all that humans did with one another.  The good and the terrible.

Not this, not with how he was feeling.

He peered down at Clío as he was still rolling his hips, picking up his pace as his spare hand was clutching her hip.  Just seeing her underneath him, her hair sticking to her neck and shoulders, eyes rolled back in ecstasy and her spare hand clutched his arm in a death grip. Druig was watching Clío in such a vulnerable state 

But to Druig, she looked beyond beautiful.  

Skin flushed with a hint of sweat along her freckles, lips plump and deep ruby red from being bitten a few times by both himself and Clío, and simply her entire energy was open and vulnerable.  To be open with one another, in the most intimate way that any two beings could ever be, both expanded and broke Druig's heart at the same time.  Maybe he was thinking too much at the moment, but he wouldn't trade this kind of affection, this kind of world-binding love, for anything else in the world. Druig knew then and there, he only wanted this with Clío and no one else.  

She was his, and he was hers.

Clío focused back on Druig above her as he hit a certain spot deep inside of her making her almost howl.  Once she saw him, she almost faltered for a moment from what he was witnessing.  Druig, hunched over her and cradling her in his arms as if she was the most valuable gem or mineral on the planet, sweat plastered along his own body and his hair against his forehead, but with evident tears in his eyes.  

Druig was crying.

Clío felt it too, maybe they were feeling it together.  That sense of being one in the heat of the moment and everything else melts away.  Even as their sweat was mingling together, the gasps and moans they both were sharing in unison almost like they were creating their own melody.  Sheets clinging onto Clío's backside, sweat pooled Druig's chest and breath was shortening, both of their peaks were so close to tipping over. 

Clío leaned up and kissed Druig, touching his tears with her spare hand as he sped up a bit faster with his hips, still driving into her deeply and showing no signs of slowing down.  How could he, with how high he was feeling?  He was so close, kissing Clío and trying to make it last a bit longer.  He could also feel Clío tremble against him, the shaking of her thighs along his hips and her fingers catching his jaw for dear life.  

She was even clutching his cock tightly, in a vice grip too deliciously tight.  She was close too.

"Clío…I'm about to—" Druig tried to warn her, but his breath was lost and he felt his entire body release that tension that was building over time.  He never felt something that intense before in his life, and his eyes slammed shut, and groaned loudly in the room.  The release almost made him paralyzed, making him too feel like he could float away from Earth and up amongst the stars.  

He felt like he was, and he never wished to forget that feeling ever again. 

It felt like the sensation was going to last forever, yet it wasn't just Druig who orgasmed in that breath.  Clío did too, her entire body shaking from the sudden orgasm.  No matter all the rumors she heard from the humans in the past, of the undertone whispers from the other Eternals, feeling it herself was almost cosmic, to say the least.  And to think Druig was the one who was bringing her this kind of cosmic sensation. which made Clío love him all the more.  

Finally, as the heat of the moment was slowly dwindling within the room and their labored breathing, Druig and Clío locked eyes with each other.  Nothing else seemed to matter to either one of them, just simply realizing that they took this step together.  Druig still kept his hands on Clío, not wishing to let her go or not be able to touch her.  Maybe she was sensing the same, clinging onto him while she felt like she was descending back to earth again.  The only thing that was making her know it was real was Druig pressing kisses all over her, his lips along her neck and eyelids, and then over to her chin and collarbone.

Druig was the first to smile, genuinely smile, as if he was getting her for the first time all over again on the Domo so long ago.  Clio broke out into her smile too, the pair of them breathing out almost a sigh of relief and some giggles too.  

"Did we just do that?" She asked, clearly still catching her breath and feeling her heartbeat still pounding against her chest.  Druig nodded, kissing her face all over again to hear her squeal in delight.

"Yeah, yeah we did," he hummed against her skin, still reeling himself.  His skin was buzzing and almost vibration, his mind was on overdrive in replaying all that happened moments before, and yet at the same time he was so glad he could enjoy this blissful moment with Clio.  Even after such a life-changing event, they both were feeling lighter than ever and had no sense of regret or remorse.  

Druig carefully pulled out, sensing the small discomfort from Clio as he tried to go as smoothly as he could.  Once he was completely out, he moved quickly to grab a rag that was near a washing basin, next to the door. He almost wobbled from the new sense of gravity, but he never slowed as Clio perched up a bit in bed.

"Dru?” He heard her ask.

"Hang on!" He replied over his shoulder, getting the rag wet in the basin before ringing it out and jogging a bit back to Clio.  Seeing her still naked, perched on top of the now ruined sheets, and grinning at him made his heart beat a bit faster as he climbed back onto the bed with her.  Carefully and with precision, he wiped both himself and Clio down from both the sweat and the mess that was accumulated.  Clio let him, feeling the gentle swipes of the rag along her skin.  It was a soothing touch, humming as he was getting her cleaned up again before tossing the rag to the ground and wrapping her in his arms.  

They both said nothing, simply letting the coolness of the night come into the room and the sounds of the party still fill their ears.  Clio's head on his chest, her hair cascading down along his shoulder and arm made Druig grin like a made man as Clio had her arms around his lower waist.  

Neither of them knew at the time, but it was the start of their relationship deepening.  The new path was now laid out and waiting for the pair of them to follow.  Not simply because they were falling in love with one another, they already were.  But in their minds, their souls were now intertwined for the better with no signs of being separated ever again.  

The End

Or someone was off.

She looked behind her, Melody was frozen at the table and looking right out the kitchen window that was facing the horse corral, and her eyes were determined.

"Mel?" Clío asked, turning a bit as she watched her daughter, "What is it, baby?"

"They're scared," Meldy replied, her eyes still on the corral and the small shelter in the corner of the fenced-in area. Clío looked at the corral too, knowing the horses were in the shelter but she couldn't see them.

"They're safe in the shelter, Melody," Clío reassured her as Melody's eyes were not leaving the view of the corral. Her face was stern and serious, almost concerned as the rain was getting a bit louder. Clío knew Melody loved those horses, she loved talking to them and chatting with them constantly and riding them with her parents at the end of the day.

Ever since Druig and Clío knew she could communicate with animals, the horses were her friends and confidants when it came to what was on her mind. Melody also became protective of them too, sensing their fear and when they were skittish.

"Nothing's going to happen to them, okay? I promise," Clío reminded Melody calmly as the soft sounds of Druig's truck pulled up. Clío dried off her hands and walked out of the kitchen, going through the living room and seeing it was Druig parking the truck next to the house and rushing in to avoid getting too wet.

"How was the drive?" Clío asked him as he got in the house and closed the door, kissing his cheek and ruffling his damp hair.

"Fine, but the roads are getting muddy from the rain. We're gonna hunker down for the night and we're stuck if things get worse," Druig explained as he got his rain jacket off and then was toeing off his boots.

"I'm glad we went shopping then," Clío hummed in relief, but then the sound of the back screen door slamming shut was heard. Bot Clío and Druig looked over instantly, Clío moving back to the kitchen.

The rain was a bit harder now, and the dinner table was deserted.

"Mel?" Clío asked, looking around the kitchen for any sign of her daughter. Her crayons were still on the table, and some of the papers blew off and were on the floor. Druig came in too, looking around and a bit confused.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Melody was just here coloring when you came home," Clío explained, planning her hands on her hips. She knew Melody was quiet, but not this quiet. Melody would have run over to greet Druig, wrapping her arms around his waist and asking him all about his time at work. So where was she?

One of the horses whinnied from the corral, Clío's head shooting up and she saw her own daughter out in the corral, her head poking into the shelter.

"Shit," She said in a rush, rushing over to throw on her raincoat and out the door. The cold weather hit her all over, along with the raindrops that were now drenching her hair and face. But her focus was on Melody, who snuck under the fence of the corral and was not poking her head in the shelter where the horses were. Of course, Clio was thinking that Melody was going to get sick in the cold rain without her rain gear, let alone being alone in the corral with two massive horses who could be spooked.

Clío has seen people be harmed and killed by spooked horses, and although she knew deep down her own two horses would never dare hurt Melody, she wasn't willing to take the chance.

Not with her daughter.

"It's okay, horseys! It's just thunder! I'm scared too, but momma says it's just a noise and it won't hurt me!" Melody said into the shelter as Clío made her way into the corral. Her head was in the window, her feet barely touching the dirt ground beneath her as Clío finally approached her and heard her talk to the horses, "The noise won't hurt you!"

"Melody Sersi!" Clío said her name in urgency as she squatted down to be at her level and touch her waist, "We need to go inside before you get sick, and you can't be in the corral alone, you know that!"

"Momma," Melody poked her head out and looked at her mother, Clío seeing the concern in her little eyes and on her face as Melody looked at her, "They're scared, momma! They don't like the noise, like me! I wanna help them like when you and Da help me!"

Clío could see it and hear it in her voice, how she was worried about the two hoses who were out here in the rain. Clío knew Melody was more headstrong and assertive in what she wanted to do, and there was some stubbornness too that Clío was convinced she inherited from her father. There was no doubt in Clío's mind that Melody was going to navigate her own course with no remorse, even now as 4 years old she knew that she had to help those who needed it.

Her spirit was strong and embedded, almost channeling Ajak herself.

"I know honey, but they'll be okay. We need to go inside now, okay? Come on, sweetheart, we need to go in," Clío said soothingly to her daughter, not wanting to be too harsh with her since she was merely checking on the horses. Melody bit her lower lip, not wishing to leave her friends behind as the thunder was coming closer to her home.

One of the horses neighed softly a Melody, getting her attention. Melody was clearly listening to what the horse had to say as she was snuggling into Clio. Clío wrapped her jacket around her body. Hoisting her up and holding her close, she shuffled out of the corral as a clap was thunder was heard. Melody shivered, clinging onto Clío tightly as they were making their way into the farmhouse again. Once they were inside, Druig move immediately to get Melody out of Clío's arms.

"Mel, what were ya thinkin'?" Druig said as he took Melody out of Clío's arms and held her close, Meldoy holding onto her father as he pushed the hair out of her eyes, "You can't scare me and your mother like that, ever! Okay?"

"Sorry, Da! I didn't mean to scare you," She mumbled into his shirt, her drenched clothes and hair were getting his dry clothes all wet. Druig sighed and kissed her head over and over while Clío was stripping off her raincoat and getting her long hair in a messy bun.

"You're okay now, Mel. It's okay," Clío reassured her as she rubbed Melody's back, "I know you were worried about the horses, but we're more worried about you being in here with us, okay?"

"That's what they said," Melody explained, Druig and Clío looked at her as she looked up from her head on Druig's shoulder, "They told me to go back inside and listen to you and Da,"

Clío and Druig eyed each other silently, mentally glad that those horses were now looking out for her and telling her to listen. Her powers were still new, but seeing her work her ability in that moment with the horses amongst the rain was nothing short of extraordinary.

"Come on, Petal. Let's give you a bath and get ya in your cozy Pj's," Druig said in a calmer tone, his own anger and worry melted away as he took her to the stairs. Melody looked at Clío over her father's shoulder, Clío giving her a wink and Melody grinned as Druig took her upstairs. Once she was upstairs with her father, Clío let out a long sigh and rubbed her face as the rain was now pounding down on the farmhouse.

It was never a dull moment in their farmhouse

The End

Druig was working out on the side of the house, Finn next to him playing with some of the toys that he got for his birthday from Phastos. Oliver was under the weather so he napped while Melody was working on her watercolors and Clío was prepping dinner for the night. The warm summer afternoon was not unbearable, and since Finn wanted to be next to his father and watch him work on the house, Druig figured he would stay with him while Clío was getting dinner ready.

"What are you doing, Daddy?" Finn asked as he was perched on a small bench next to Druig, looking up with his wild red hair bobbing along with his movements.

"Fiixin' this window pane," Druig answered, "It's too lose and it makes too much noise when your mom and I try to sleep at night,"

"It doesn't look broken though," Finn commented, tilting his head as he placed the toy he was fiddling with down and standing up to get a better view,"

"Aye, it is though, Finn," Druig explained, "You gotta look hard to be able to see it,"

He wasn't looking at Finn while Finn was coming a bit closer, only focusing on tightening the screw that seemed to give him the most trouble. His step ladder was also wobbly since it was old, yet the last thing he expected to happen was the window pane giving out, and falling from his grasp to the ten-foot drop to the ground.

Right on top of Finn's head, he was looking up the whole time.

Druig's heart stopped

"FINN!" Druig screamed,

The sound of the pane cracking was deafening, the panel snapping in half and collapsing to the ground as Druig jumped down and ran toward his son. His mind was reeling, thinking of the worst since the pane itself was rather heavy. Was he hurt? Was he bleeding?

He hurt his son. Oh no, not Finn...

But when he launched off the ladder and slid onto his knees, thinking that he was going to see Finn covered in blood or some massive injury on his innocent and young skin, he was shocked by what he saw. Finn, hunched over and covered his head, was okay. Druig saw in a split second something shimmering over Finn, who was shaking like a leaf and crying from the pane that should have hit him. The shimmer was almost gold....gold and transparent. But it flickered away before Druig could touch it, and he heard Finn crying.

"Finn...you're okay. I got ya, I got ya right here," Druig hushed his son as Finn crawled into his lap and cried into his chest. Druig moved his fingers along FInn, wondering if he was going to feel for any kind of scratch or signs of blood. There had to be, that panel was beyond heavy and it fell so fast right on top of him. But once again, he found nothing on his son's body.

Not a single scratch or blemish. As if....as if nothing fell on him.

"DRUIG?! WHAT HAPPENED?"

Clío was rushing outside, her eyes big in a panic and Meldoy was right on her heels. Finn held onto him tightly, afraid to let go of his father for one moment as Clío looked over the scene. From the way Druig screamed out FInn's name, Clío only assumed the worst. She knew the tone of Druig's voice, and she knew it was beyond scary.

Yet she was just as shocked as Druig was, seeing nothing wrong with Finn but a shattered pane next to Druig and Finn on the ground.

"I-I'm sorry d-d-daddy," Finn hiccuped into Druig's shirt, Druig still feeling his heart beating out of his chest as he shook his head rapidly and kissed his son's red hair.

"Hey, it's not your fault, baby. You're okay, alright? You did nothing wrong," Druig explained to his eldest son as Finn looked up at him, so scared with fat tears rolling down his pale cheeks.

"But I got too close, and you always tell me n-n-not to when you're--" Finn was trying to explain, hiccuping as he went. But Druig interrupted him gently.

"It's okay, Finn. I promise you did nothing wrong, you hear me? I'm just glad you're okay," Druig reassured his son. Finn's lower lip wobbled, sniffling a bit as Druig hugged him again and looked over his head at Clío. Both Clío and Melody were shocked at the scene, yet Druig was giving his wife a unique stare. Almost as if he was talking to her with his blue eyes piercing hers.

"Did it fall on him, Da?" Melody sheepishly asked, looking at the destroyed pane that was on the grass near Druig and Finn. Druig was about to answer her when Finn piped up.

"I didn't want it t-t-to hit me," Finn sheepishly said against Druig's shirt. Druig looked from his son to his wife again, they both were sharing the same look that they shared with one another some time ago. Back to when Melody was talking to a bird and flipped their life around.

It was happening again.

"He should have been hurt, Clío,"

"But what if he rolled out of the way just in time before--"

"Clío...baby, I know what I saw."

Clío shuttered, looking from her husband over to the children on the couch, watching a Disney movie and Finn being swaddled in the middle of his brother and sister. Finn had his head on Melody's shoulder, his favorite blanket up to his shoulders as Melody had an arm wrapped around him to tuck him close to her.

Finn was shaken up since the incident, and rightfully so since it happened so fast and abruptly. Clío was beyond worried about her child, checking him over and over in case they missed an injury. But there was nothing, not even on his clothes. He was mostly spooked, barely eating his dinner and not wanting to talk about what happened. Melody thought it would be a good idea to watch Toy Story, one of FInn's favorites, to calm him down since she could tell her brother was still scared. Oliver was just as worried for his twin, not leaving his side and hugging him over and over since Oliver knew Finn loved his hugs.

"That panel was over 45 pounds," Druig said to Clío as she looked back at Druig, "It was right over his head when it fell, and it should have slammed him hard. The panel was shattered, Clío, and there was a shimmer around him,"

"A shimmer?" Clío asked him, a bit confused.

"The kind of shimmer that reminds me of Thena....or Gilgamesh for that matter, when they would use their abilities," Druig said slowly, coming to the realization himself. The more he thought about it, back to that small moment that he saw with his son, he knew it was the truth. It didn't matter that Finn was still young, he knew it was going to come sooner or later. It did for Melody at the most unusual moment.

Now it was happening again.

"Are you saying...our son....he protected himself with an, an ability?" Clío voiced out loud, looking back at her son once again as he was looking at the movie with undivided attention. Her son, who was filled with spirit and adventure, whose laugh was infectious and heard far and wide, being and Eternal?

"Clío, he would have been badly hurt if he didn't protect himself, he would have broken a bone and we both know that," Druig explained to her some more, giving her hand a slight squeeze to keep her grounded, "He even said himself that he didn't want to get hurt. He reacted on instinct, and his ability saved him,"

Clío took in a long breath, trying to hold herself together since she was rethinking that moment all over again. Seeing the shattered panel next to her father and son, her son crying and looking beyond shell-shocked, it was making more sense now. He did protect himself and he made sure to keep himself alive. But he was still so young, and things would have gone south if it was any other circumstance.

"He's so young," Clío said in a low tone, her voice on the verge of breaking as Druig pulled her into a hug, "He's so little.."

"Not as young as Melody was when she started talking to animals, remember?" He said to her as they hugged silently in the hallway, clinging onto each other and Druig pressing his head against hers, "Maybe we've forgotten what it feels like, knowin' our child is like us. But we can do this, right? We did it with Mel, we're gonna do it with the boys,"

Clío dug her head into his shoulder, feeling him rub her back up and down to calm her as she clung onto him tight. She knew Druig was telling the truth, and she knew that this new journey for Finn has just begun. Thinking of going through the process of teaching her child to be an Eternal was exhausting, she didn't think she did a good enough job for Melody already. And now to relive that all over again with her sons, it was going to bring her to her knees once more.

"We got this," Druig reminded her, Clio moved her head up to look at her husband again as he searched her eyes, "I know we got this. You believe me?"

Clío nodded once and gave him a sweet kiss, feeling him lean into her a bit more while they were alone in the hallway. Clío had to mentally be thankful that things didn't go in the other direction, and that her son was safe and still alive. She would have to be willing to teach Finn the ways of the world through the eyes of an Eternal. Maybe it will be okay in the end, or it would be a challenge.

All that mattered to Clío was that Druig was going to work with her to help Finn and that in itself was going to make his journey easier.

Oliver, in true nature with his personality and observing nature, waited to show his abilities a few weeks later.

Sure, Clío and Druig did assume he would have an ability himself, and there was a 99% chance that Olvier was like his parents and siblings. The rest of the Eternal Family was not surprised, already going down this road when they were told about Melody. But with Finn, they were not surprised at all.

"Honestly I thought it would be sooner, given that the kid is a walking stunt double,"

"Sprite, that is not helping the situation at hand,"

"Well, am I wrong, Thena?"

With Finn and his new ability flooding Clío's mind constantly, she knew she needed a small break and a refresh of her mind. Thankfully, it came in the form of taking Oliver to the park, wanting to have some one on one time with her youngest as Druig was taking Melody to horse riding lessons, and Finn wanting to tag along to watch his sister ride. Oliver preferred to be with his mother, loving the solo attention he would get with her and the park was the perfect place.

With the weather perfect, Clío and Olvier ventured to one of the more popular parks near their house. Clío already felt a bit better, setting out a picnic blanket near the playground and watching from her spot as Oliver was climbing at his own pace. She loved that Oliver would go nice and slow, taking the easy steps and never pushing the boundaries.

Clío heard her phone ring from a text, she looked down to see it was from Druig. She opened the text, seeing a few pictures of Melody at her practice, going around the ring on her horse, and having the best time. The last picture was of Finn and Druig, making silly faces at the camera and making Clío laugh.

"Mommy! Can I play some more before we go home?" Oliver asked as he ran over to the blanket. He plopped down and grabbed some grapes from the ziplock bag Clío brought along, munching away as Clío put the phone away.

"Sure you can, your sister is still riding and we have plenty of time to be out here," Clío explained as she ruffled his brown hair with her fingers, "You like this park more than the other one near your school, don't you?"

"Uh-huh! This one has that cool bridge and the slide goes REAL fast!" Oliver explained with enthusiasm, "Plus sometimes there's deer here! I brought red apples in case they come,"

"How do you know they like red apples?" Clío had to ask in curiosity as Oliver chewed on some more grapes.

"Melody told me so," He answered, almost sounding pompous. Clío took some grapes and ate too, the both of them sitting together for a few long moments and enjoying the atmosphere of the park. The cool breeze of the ocean, the calm swaying of the trees, and the sweet smell of the food truck parked behind them with funnel cakes ready to buy at the window. There was calm at the park, calm and peace that Clío always loved about Oregon.

Then, it shifted.

Oliver sat still, too still with his backside rigid and straight and his hand hovering over the open of grapes. Clío watched how still he went, almost statue-like, as his eyes were focused on the cluster of kids that were on the playground structure.

"Oliver, you okay sweetheart?" She asked. She looked too, maybe Olvier was seeing something serious that was about to happen or a confrontation. But there wasn't anything alarming, just a group of 5 kids running around together and laughing.

"Oliver, what's the matter--" She looked back to her youngest, yet once she did her eyes went big and she too froze. Oliver's eyes were no longer hazel, they were a different color.

Almost glowing yellow. Just like his father's eyes....when he would be using mind control.

Was she dreaming? Was she having some kind of psychotic breakdown or hallucinating? Did she see correctly or was it the light tricking her into thinking that his eyes were glowing? For a solid second, she had no idea what to do, simply because they were out in public with other humans around, and she didn't know if she could spook Oliver too much if she spoke to him in such a state.

But it was over before Clío could dive deeper into her thoughts, Oliver blinking a few times and his golden orbs melting away into his hazel eyes again. His back was loose again, leaning back to his old position and his fingers digging back into the bag for more grapes. As if nothing happened, and Clío was now nervous.

"Oliver, what just happened, sweetheart?" She asked him carefully, knowing that the way she was going to use her words with Oliver was a bit crucial.

"He's not nice," Oliver explained to his mother, pointing with a singular finger to one of the boys running around on the playground. Clío looked, only seeing a bright smile on his face as Oliver kept talking, "The girl with the pigtails is nice, so is the boy with the hat on. But the other girl in the green dress is a bit mean,"

Clío, a bit confused as to how Oliver would know this since he never once talked to any of them since they arrived at the park, looked at her son again, "How do you that, Oli?"

"I saw it," He answered with a shrug, looking over at Clío now and seeing a confused look on her face, "I saw it on them, Mommy,"

"You saw it on them?" Clío repeated back to him, seeing him nod his head as she leaned back a bit, thinking to herself about how to dissect this more. Then an idea struck her, Clío reached over to Oliver's backpack and took out the small art pad he would keep in there and some of the crayons in the bottom of the pack.

"How about you draw it for me?" She asked him, handing him the art pad and some of the crayons, "Can you show Mommy what you see on those kids?"

Oliver simply took a blue crayon and started working away, tongue sticking out as he was drawing out each child a bit clumsily but with some dedication. Clío still had questions running in her head, and although she was thinking of plenty of ways this could go, she wanted to wait and see what Oliver was going to show her. Of course, it could be something very mild and simple, nothing to be too worried about. Then again, Clío could be proven wrong and it was something way more complicated.

A few minutes later, Oliver placed his crayons down and looked at his mother with a hint of worry, almost sensing her worry.

"Here, like this Mommy," He replied, showing Clío what he drew. There were the four kids from the playground, stick figures really, all on the paper in different colors. But there were shadows, almost like flames, on the four figures. Two of them had shadows and flames around their chest, small and simmering almost like gentle waves. But the other two had more vigorous and violent flames around their heads.

The children who were nice and kind had the waves, leaving the bullies to have flames around their heads.

"Is this...what you see?" Clío asked Oliver tentatively. Oliver nodded his head, his eyes never steering him wrong as he stared at his mother. Clío bit her lower lip for a moment, looking from her son over to the picture again. Deep inside she knew that this was a clear sign that he too had an ability, but there was more of a mystery behind it. Because it was not going to be as simple as Meody's ability or hers for that matter. Perhaps it was more complex just like Druig and his mind control, but it was still too new.

She had to show Druig and get to the bottom of it

"I don't know what this could mean," Druig said slowly as he placed the drawing back down on his workshop table, leaning over it to study the picture a pinch longer as Clío sat in his chair, her arms crossed and her eyes on him.

"His ability is more mental, like yours," Clío murmured, running her fingers in her hair to de-stress herself, "He says he sees these...these flames on these kids."

"Flames?" Druig asked.

"Maybe waves, I don't know," Clío sighed as she got up from her chair and stood next to Druig, pointing to the two children to the left, "He said these two kids were nice and kind. And these two," her fingers moving to the other two with violent flames, "Were bullies and mean."

Druig studied the pictures again, seeing the contrast between the children and the drawings of them as Clío watched her husband. She wanted to know what was going on in his brain and how he was going to interpret this.

With Finn and Melody, it was so simple with what they had and what they could do. But now with Oliver, it was complicated to say the least.

“Maybe he senses them?” Druig suggested, Clío raising a brow at him as he spoke again, “Oliver insists he saw it on them, but no one else can see it, right?”

Clío nodded

“So if it is mental, like you said, he senses their nature…or intuition maybe. Almost like a mood ring,” Druig suggested, “But that seems a bit much for a three year old, don’t you think?”

“Well, it makes sense to me since he never liked strangers or anyone new coming around,” Clío hummed as she too was thinking about it, “Compared to the other two, he hates meeting new people. Oliver’s shy,”

“Or cautious on who he meets,” Druig stated, making Clío pause.

“I’m not following,” Clío said wearily.

“I'm thinkin’, and this is strictly a theory, that Oliver can sense of someone is…let’s say…good or bad,” Druig explained, leaning against the table and shrugging with his arms crossed, “Maybe noticing if someone gives off good energy or bad energy,”

“Don’t all people do that?” Clío had to question.

“Eh, most say they do. But a rare few actually can. I think in the case of our son, he doesn’t read minds like I do, or controls them really. He reads their …energy,”

“What, like their aura or something?” Clío skeptically asked. Druig nodded

“Precisely. It wouldn’t surprise me since that kid is beyond empathetic and he can read our mood before you and I can." Druig explained some more to Clío as he looked back at the pictures. Something about Oliver reading a person's mood or how he interacts with people made sense in Druig's mind. Although he was the shyer twin, Oliver still held his ground and absorbed information. He would prefer to people-watch when they were out and about, though he was shy and would hide behind his mother's leg when he met someone new. Still, Druig sensed there was more to his son than his gentle and timid nature and his kind eyes.

This might have been it.

"This is going to be a long haul, for both of the boys," Clío explained as she hugged Druig from behind while he was still looking at the picture, his arms wrapping around hers as she spoke again with her head along his shoulders, "I don't know where we're going to start when it comes to helping them,"

"We'll start where we started with their sister: from ground zero," Druig reassured Clío as she kissed the back of his neck, "Thankfully, we have the others to help us out with this, just like they helped with Mel. The boys are in good hands, and we'll take it one step at a time,"

"I know we will," Clío agreed with him, feeling him hug her a bit closer, "But I think we're going to have to reconsider making this house a bit more durable,"

"You sayin' make this house Gilgamesh proof?" Druig asked, making Clío smile against his neck and he chuckled.

"You said it, not me," Clío said in a lighter tone

"Aye, aye we will."

The End