Work Text:
Shelby was ecstatic. The supernatural was real, and now she was a part of it! She didn't even need a lantern or a torch now, she could see in front of her so clearly even though it had to be pitch black out.
Not to mention that she could hear everything. The sound of animals moving in the dark, the rustle of the pine branches, every quiet step Scott takes.
She could hardly keep herself still, Scott sending her amused glances as she skipped down the forest path.
“You're that excited?” Scott asks, sounding entertained by her enthusiasm.
Shelby grins, nodding her head. “Of course I am! I was right!”
Scott chuckles, shaking his head. “It does seem that way, doesn't it?”
She opens her mouth to respond, when the dilapidated bridge comes into view through the trees.
Shelby brightens as she and Scott approach the castle ruins, a figure visible just inside.
She rushes over as soon as she sees them, calling out to get their attention.
“Pyro!”
She sees them startle at her voice, turning to face her. She hears Scott walk up behind her, though she keeps her eyes on Pyro.
“Shelby?”
Their eyes flit from her to Scott and then back again. She watches their eyes scan her over, a sort of anxiety there that makes Shelby herself nervous.
A look of sickness takes hold of Pyro's expression as they stare at her. They turn to Scott, eyes wide and disbelieving.
“You turned her?”
Shelby holds back a wince at the fear that enters Pyro's tone as they ask. She's quick to step forward, fighting to keep a smile on her face as Pyro flinches away from her approach.
“It's okay!” She reassures, wanting to ease the awful look of terror that's entered Pyro's eyes. The last thing she wanted was for them to be scared of her. “I asked for this.”
“You… what?”
Shelby nods her head. “Scott told me about him. He asked me if I wanted to turn.”
It was a shock, but the initial surprise had quickly turned to excitement. The supernatural existed, and that meant that her journey hadn't been for nothing. It meant that what she went through was worth it.
When Scott asked, Shelby paused to think about it, but Scott convinced her in the end. He even promised they could still be roommates. The thought of living in a castle with her friend was like a fairytale come true!
Then Scott had told her that Pyro was there with them as well, and that excitement grew. She likes Pyro, they were smart and open minded. They hadn't mocked her at all for her beliefs.
Now though, watching Pyro's reaction, she can't help but feel nervous. She hadn't expected fear from them.
Scott's voice sounds from behind her. “I'm offended, Pyro. You really think the worst of me?”
Shelby watches Pyro wilt, his shoulders hunching in. It makes her chest ache.
“...No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.”
Scott says something else, but Shelby doesn't pay attention to whatever it is. Her eyes are locked onto Pyro's neck, a pit forming in her stomach at the bite marks littering the skin. The marks looked clean enough, but they were deep. It looked painful.
Did Scott do that to them?
No. No, Pyro probably offered.
Scott wouldn't.
Shelby forces another smile on her face when Pyro turns to her again. Their expression has evened out, and it softens as they move over to where she's standing. She avoids looking at their hands as they tremble, the pit growing deeper.
“Sorry about that. I was only surprised.”
They smile weakly, and Shelby wishes they hadn't. It's such a shaky look it makes Shelby feel ill.
“I didn't mean to imply anything.”
Shelby lifts her hand, squeezing Pyro's shoulder. She wants to hug them.
Pyro's eyes move from her to Scott and that desire only solidifies more firmly.
“I'm glad you're happy.”
Shelby lowers her hand, taking Pyro's in hers. “Thank you, Pyro.”
She turns to Scott, pushing the sick feeling in her gut away. “I'm going to catch up with Pyro! Is that okay? I don't want to just leave you here by yourself.”
Scott's eyes crease, a softness in his smile. It calms something in her that feels a lot like doubt.
“Go ahead and catch up. I'm going to go hunting.”
Scott turns to Pyro, a smirk forming on his lips. “I can't feed from you all the time, firelight. If you want my mouth on you that badly, all you have to do is ask.”
Shelby freezes, her eyes widening. Her gaze darts from Scott who looks smug, to Pyro who's flushed red.
“Are you two together?’
Pyro chokes next to her.
“Something like that.” Scott's smirk widens as he turns to her. “I'll see you later, Shelby.”
He starts down the bridge but not before waving to Pyro. “Bye, firelight.”
Shelby shakes her head, turning to Pyro, who's still blushing.
They shake their head, looking mortified. “I don't know why he said that. We– we aren't together. We just… have gotten a bit closer.”
Shelby clings onto those words, taking Pyro's hands in hers. “Tell me everything.”
The ache in her chest fades as Pyro smiles at her warmly. Everything was fine.
Pyro tilts their head. “Let's just find somewhere to talk. I'll see what I can tell you.”
Pyro was fine. Shelby didn't need to be worried.
She doesn't know what she was thinking. Scott wouldn't do that. He had been nothing but kind to her, and while Pyro seemed a little intimidated by him, they still flustered at his teasing.
She tells herself it was just nerves. Nothing was wrong.
Of course Pyro would be nervous about getting into a relationship with Scott. They seemed the anxious type.
That was fine.
She could help with that.
Scott had told her they could be a family. That was what families did.
They helped each other.