Chapter Text
Fireheart was working on a job that poseur and Calico dragged her out to do, that was the first time fireheart remembered others pointing out her behaviour.
was it really so bad?
"Brat, I already told you to stop clawing at your arm like that. it's not good for you, especially with all those burn scars that are always healing back up."
poseur had suspicion of the burn scars not only being from using them in battle anymore... Considering how little the girl often used her fire anyway. She had unwavering concern for the fourteen year old brat, even though she's terrible at admitting it... Considering how little they bond.
calico was standing not too far away, glancing between her two teammates as if she was on the wrong page. she checked on her younger friend first; noticing that she was In fact scratching at her arm really bad. She's seen the habit before, as much as it can be minor... Poseur was right about it not being that good of a coping mechanism... Or whatever. Neither her or Poseur knew much about fireheart anyways.
She watched as Fireheart looked to the ground in the quiet guilt she seems to always be carrying. Not really responding much to Poseur. But that's also probably because things were still... Mending after the whole situation where they accidentally pushed too far and overwhelmed fireheart. Calico still feels bad about that.
"you better listen to the boss, you little devil!"
Calico goes back to being mischievous, but she knows.... She's going to be keeping a better eye on her teammate
Rena stared at herself in the mirror when she got back home last night.
Her dad was still out again, so she just reheated some leftovers from one of their last dinners to eat earlier.
Clawing at your arm.
She hasn't really given her behaviour much notice... Mostly because she's been running on auto pilot a lot of the time, but when she actually looked in a mirror when she wasn't wearing her usual long sleeves (although she almost always does, considering she's still uncomfortable about the whole missing-her-arm thing.) she looked at the metal prosthetic arm on her left. And the burnt + injured arm on her right. Poseur was right that her arm was clearly being used to out a lot of her stress.
She didn't realize how much it's hurting her arm.
she has felt a slight discomfort anytime she had to move it, but she assumed it was because of how clumsy she was. Not because she was subconsciously scratching at her arm.
It hurt the more she looked at it... Considering the fact she's focusing on the injuries now.
She felt tired, she wanted to go to bed. So she didn't tend to her arm or anything. she just went back to her room and put on her long sleeved pyjamas. It was way easier to ignore the problems anyways.
The second time she realized someone was pointing out something she was unaware she was doing was when she was hanging out with the teenagers.. Which was unfortunate for her, considering how much they've been supporting her. She just didn't want to disappoint them
-# especially vivi and vermillion...
It was Vermillion who pointed it out. Of course it was.
She didn't mean that in a bad way... She doesn't know how she meant it, she was just tired. And the teenagers were starting to understand that she was struggling, but since fireheart hasn't completely opened up to anyone... It's hard for them to help her the way she needs it most.
"you keep squeezing and scratching at your arm."
that's all it was. That's all vermillion said to her, and it's been replaying in her head since, and they were still hanging out, but she was too out of her focus to realize that both vermillion and vivi looked somewhat concerned about this growing habit.
I mean.. after vermillion pointed it out it was almost like she was doing everything in her power NOT to scratch at her arm. but she just looked more uncomfortable the more she tried not to. it was stimming, and she knew it was something she did to regulate herself even though she doesn't even know what stims are and what regulating means.
God this girl is so neurodivergent and most people know it except for her.
Fireheart was just sitting on a bench as she watched her friends talk and hangout, she was still present sure... But she was definately struggling to focus; which some of them probably picked up on, because they tried not to overwhelm her with any questions or... Anything at all
Which was nice of them... She didn't even notice how much she was struggling to keep up with whatever they were talking about until they let her zone out a bit more...
god, shes thinking about everything and nothing. She feels overwhelmed even though nothing's triggering her. At this point she was debating on if she should pull vermillion to the side to ask if she can have some more of those pills she gave her the last time she felt this horrible.
Or maybe she'll go and steal one of her older friends cigarettes or something. She wasn't exactly sure on a game plan.
She focused back on the conversation the others were having, and she noticed vermillion glancing at her, clearly wondering if she was doing okay... fireheart didn't want to worry anybody, so she just gave a small smile and responded to something voltiare said.
vermillion mentioned to vivi that she was noticing how fireheart was behaving, moreso physically. she doesn't know why she went to talk to vivi about it, but the two decided to get fireheart a gift! to hopefully help her feel more comfortable.
The two girls knocked and waited in the hallway with a shopping bag in Vivi's hand. They were hoping it was okay to drop in unexpectedly...
and as usual, it was Rena to be the one that opens the door, she was in oversized clothes today... A long sleeve that hid her hands, and comfortable hello kitty pyjama pants. They didn't pay any mind though.
"Rena, hey!" Vivi smiled. "Could we come in for a bit? We wanted to talk to you!"
vivi didn't bother mentioning what was in their bag yet. it's a surprise!
Rena nodded and smiled, opening the door wider.
"Sorry it's not that clean... My dad asked me to clean up a bit earlier but I fell back asleep."
Aways bringing up her dad even though none of her teenage friends have actually met him, as if that was even a good idea...
"it's fine." Akako said calmly, entering the small apartment and glancing around, it's not like she hasn't seen the place she lived in before... but she was just looking for any sign of an absolute mess... There wasn't
and she felt more at ease knowing her best friend wasn't absolutely living in a mess or anything. but based off of what detonation says about her dad, he probably tries to help her too... Not like she can make a solid judgement though.
Vivi nodded in agreement and also stopped inside, closing the door behind her before sitting on the couch akako followed and sat down as well. They both could tell Rena was confused about the surprise visit.
"so... what's going on?" Rena asked and tilted her head as she moved to the living room, sitting on the floor as she looked between her two friends.
"Well.." vivi started off, she wasn't sure if she wanted to start off, or if akako wanted to. But akako didn't seem to mind vermillion speaking first.
"akako talked to me about your... Arm issue, and we thought we would just come and give you a gift!"
*vivi handed over the bag.*
"It was Akakos idea! we did the shopping together!*
Vivi knew a lot about what Rena was interested in anyway... Akako and Rena haven't been shopping together as much.
Rena looked a little surprised at the fact that they got her anything at all. yet alone because she was struggling with her... She doesn't know the word but it's stimming and being overwhelmed.
she opened the bag cautiously. Not because she was scared that they got her something bad... Just because she wasn't sure about accepting a gift from her friends in the first place...
but whatever vivi and akako are pretty well off anyway so it's not like they make this a big deal.
She pulled out a... Hoodie?
Rena looked confused. It was simple! Red, but she wasn't sure if there was anything special about it or anything? They didn't mention the gift being anything to help her or whatever...
Akako could tell that Rena was confused. She glanced at Vivi before speaking up.
"It's basically a portable anxiety blanket. It's weighted. It's also fluffy on the inside? Vivi said you'd like that."
she gave Rena a small smile as she looked like she understood what it was now.
"That's cool!" Rena almost instantly lit up- which was nice for both of the girls to see, considering how much she was out of her own personality recently.
the next time all the teenagers hangout, vivi and vermillion look happy to see rena wearing the hoodie they got her.
out of costume, feeling comfortable and relaxed. It was a nice change they haven't seen in awhile!
She seemed calmer... And vermillion was happy to see that the fluffy inside of the fabric also meant that it was hard for Rena to actually hurt her arm if she scratched at it.
knowing that her habit was subconscious considering she looked confused when vermillion pointed it out last time, anytime she glanced at her friend it was nice to see that she only scratched one time in two hours of hanging out with their friends.
Vivi also looked happy! mostly because of the fact Rena was so comfortable.... Hex and voltiare could even tell that Rena felt more calm. and she was definitely more focused, considering she decided that the next time it snowed that she was going to make voltiare into a snowman.
Which all of them looked confused about. But the fact that voltiare goes to the ice rink sometimes... That's probably related to her idea.