Chapter Text
The Nix family owed Fire Spirit a favor.
Just a few years back had Sherbert, a member of said family, came to him asking for a favor. See, on any normal occasion would Fire Spirit turn the youngster back and decline for it would waste his own precious time. Yet something about the inexperiened teenager gave him pause. The innocent look that was haunted with unbearable sights at such an age. Had his hands on all sorts of unimaginative dirty work, such as Fire Spirit himself. And for once in that bastard's life did he find himself not being selfish.
But now, it was time for the debt to be returned in full payment.
"I understand that you will be able to care for these two? Provide them with a stable household with more than enough money for college, housing, and all that jazz?" to which Sherbert smiled happily, nodding his head in confirmation.
"They will be funded appropriately in Lumisade, Fire Spirit. The costs of living, education, and clothing will be upheld by the Nix family in gratitude for your favor those few years ago, sir," the gentle voice sounded off. Fire Spirit felt as two pairs of arms intertwined around his legs, neither Angel nor Devil willing to let go.
"We-We expect calls every single day from you, mister!" Angel cried out, shoving her tear-streaked face into Fire Spirit's pant leg. The man could only retaliate with that warm, soft smile he could only muster up for his children, leaning down to scoop them both up into his arms.
"And you'd be very smart for once in your stupid life to not die without visiting us!" Devil sobbed, hands gripping tirelessly at Fire Spirit's shirt. The latter flashed him a triumphant grin, eyes flashing with an emotion that was unlike himself.
Melancholy
"Of course I will visit y'all! How could I not? And yes, I will call every night." He then turned back to Sherbert, who had a soft smile plastered onto his lips at the family's final goodbyes.
As he set the duo back down, he leaned down on his knees to be at eye-level with the pair. "Do not be outside past 10 pm, and most definitely do not join any gangs, mafias, whatever. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir!" Devil and Angel exclaimed together, even as tears marked their faces. Fire Spirit's eyes softened further at that before he wrapped his arms around the two with a gentle yet fragile embrace.
"I love you. Thank you for showing me the purpose of life."
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Fire Spirit finds himself recounting the events of that fateful day of his encounter with the sniper over and over again. From the way he had slid down a building with three life-ending injuries yet still breathing with enough adrenaline running through his systems. How he would be dead if not for the fact that the priceless possesion just resting in his pocket was keeping him alive and going. He remembers the way he slipped through the archer's bathroom window, clutching at his chest as he limped to the pristine cabinets, now marred with his crimson blood. How he yanked the doors open, luckily finding an unused First-Aid kit there. With trembling fingers, he hurriedly opened up the container, pulling off his shirt feverishly before he wrapped the bandages around himself like a madman before pressing his lean back against the bath tub connecting to the wall, falling into a mostly-peaceful nap besides the horrid dream.
When he woke up to that arrow pointed between his eyes, he knew that he could be able to worm out of his predicament somehow.
After all, the Devil's Sharpshooter was the one standing in front of him.
He put on a theatrical performance, because although he was not born in the genre, he had a knack for it. A little talent, if you will. So, like the flames of a passionate blaze, his eyes hardened, staring at the bow's owner as though he were challenging him to release the arrow. To impale that mighty, silver thorn upon the crown of his head.
Perhaps Fire Spirit would have been satisfied with either outcome in the end.
Yet he found death least favorable at the echoing voices of his children. Perhaps it wasn't Fire Spirit saving them, yet the complete opposite.
So, in return for them, Fire Spirit made sure to start cracking at the forbidden walls of the unloveable Wind Archer. A few jokes sprinkled here, a flirtation there, and-oops, he was suddenly in Arbor Vitrae. But the archer did not take that news lightly. During his first time at the table after the news broke out, Fire Spirit's gaze flicked up to search for a reaction from Wind Archer.
Oh boy, did he get one. He watched silently as the other suddenly stood up with the devastating force of a fucking goliath, nearly flipping the table over out of...surprise? Anger?
Nonetheless, Fire Spirit's plan was working. Because as much of a doofus he seemed to be, he consistently had the right cards at the right time, and he played the game of lying very well. Judging his reaction to the news of Fire Spirit joining the family, the former Underboss couldn't help but feel as though Millenial Tree would play into this as much as possible, pairing them together whenever he got the moment. That meant more time to sneak his way into the other's heart just enough to provide protection for jimself, and since Devil and Angel were Fire Spirit's most prized possessions, more than even the Dragon's Bead itself, therefore the deadly sharpshooter would provide care for them as well.
Admittedly this would prove to be true, but only after he had come to the realization that it was always and would always be Millenial Tree. All of those weeks of attempting to get closer to the other had been in vain-most of it being his entire fault. He remembers being held up by his hair in Pitaya Dragon's sharp talons, beaten within an inch of his life. Hell, he couldn't even see Wind Archer's face when the former had the news broken to him that Fire Spirit was this dragon's underboss, not enforcer.
Fire Spirit knew that he had a look of betrayal on his face, though.
He'd already known before that Wind Archer would choose Millenial Tree over him given the choice, and he would choose his boss in a heartbeat. But after that revelation, that truth had doubled down and absolutely tore at Fire Spirit.
So then why did Wind Archer go through the trouble to save him?
He began to wonder how it would feel to have Arbor's deadliest man himself to drop anything and everything just to save him. Why him of all people Fire Spirit couldn't begin to comprehend because he already had a plethora of people who would do what he wanted Wind Archer to do.
All of those pairs of eyes, yet you want his.
...
...
...
...How selfish.