Work Text:
It hurts.
Both the never ending hunger, and the loneliness. It's unbearable, but at least one of them he can ease with meat and blood. No matter how much Pyro eats, it won't fill the emptiness left behind by his isolation.
He had wanted so badly for this to where he belongs. He had fought tooth and nail to earn his place in the coven, and is constantly trying to keep it. Pyro thought he'd been doing well.
Scott was tolerating him, Owen didn't glare anymore, and Shelby let him listen to her talk. Sure, Scott hasn't spoken to him in days and Owen is nowhere to be found, but Shelby is there for him. Or, he thought she was.
It's a careful balance with Shelby. Pyro could listen and share his thoughts, but talking about feelings is off limits. She's never explicitly said that, and he didn't think she would, but he knows. He's gotten shut down enough times when trying to talk about his fear to think Shelby wants to hear about how he feels.
She's still his best friend, and so long as the topics stay light, Shelby is happy to keep him company. He really thought things were going well, but he must have missed something.
Maybe he talked too much, or was too desperate. Maybe she got bored with him.
He just never expected her to turn Avid.
She knew how Avid treated them, and even if that wasn't enough, Avid had hurt her too. He was a constant nuisance, always so caught up in his own narrative that no one's opinions mattered to him.
And now Avid is taking his place.
Scott listens to Avid ramble and Shelby is sticking close by his side. Even Owen was tolerating him.
Pyro is being pushed to the side. His place was already so tentative, and now even more so.
Scott doesn't need them anymore now that someone else is there to do his dirty work, and it's someone he likes more than them. Shelby has Avid now to listen to her. She hadn't taken time to keep them company even once since turning Avid.
They know that while Shelby is their best friend, they certainly aren't hers. They know that, but Pyro thought that they might be at least a little important to her. That they'd managed to make themself a decent enough person to spend time with. That she might care if they weren't there.
Clearly, they were wrong.
They offer smiles and greetings, but other than a smile or quick word in return, they're ignored. She's busy enough with Avid that she doesn't need to waste her time with them anymore, but Pyro doesn't have anyone else.
Owen had no interest in them and has never bothered to get to know them. Scott wasn't speaking to them, and Pyro wouldn't dare come to him for quality time anyway.
The town thinks they're a monster, so none of them are going to care for how alone they are unless it's to kill them.
Maybe that's why they're walking through the forest by themself. They didn't have a plan when they started. They just needed to get out of the castle.
It was suffocating to hear Shelby and Avid laugh in the dining hall, Scott chiming in with witty quips. They had wanted to join in, to be a part of the family, but they know they would have ruined the mood if they dared show their face.
Scott would roll his eyes, Avid would make jokes at their expense, and Shelby would laugh along like it wasn't hurtful.
Pyro presses their back to one of the trees, sinking down to sit on the forest floor. They hear the footsteps approaching them, but don't care enough to acknowledge whoever it is. They would leave Pyro alone or they wouldn't.
It would hurt either way.
"Pyro?"
They glance up at their name, closing their eyes when they see Apo standing there.
She looks angry at the sight of them, and they can't blame her, even if it does sting. They ruined things with Apo, even when they were trying their best not to.
There was nothing they could do to stop her from being turned. They know that. Scott is inevitable, and Pyro would never be able to stand a chance against him. But they could have spoken with her afterwards. They doubt she would have listened to what they had to say, but that doesn't mean they should have left her alone.
Pyro likes Apo. She's everything they're not.
Strong, determined, stubborn.
A fighter.
He knows she's probably going to kill him now. He has no plans to stop her.
Pyro just hopes it won't be painful.
He can hear her coming closer, her voice tight with barely concealed emotion.
"What is this? What are you doing?"
She sounds suspicious, though there's less bite in the words than Pyro expects.
He forces his eyes back open, looking up at her numbly. Apo looks just as tired as he feels, her lips pulled down into a heavy frown. He wishes he could see her smile before he dies. He bets she has a nice smile.
Apo reaches for him, and Pyro clenches his eyes shut.
Her hand falters, not yet breaching the distance to touch him.
"…Pyro?"
Pyro can't stop the shiver that wracks his body at the concern in her voice. It's feels like forever since anyone was concerned for him.
Apo doesn't say or do anything for a moment, before slowly, she settles down on the ground beside him. She hesitates before carefully taking his hand in hers, her fingers brushing over his knuckles. He can feel like calluses on her hands, helping to ground him.
He peers over at her, chest tightening at the look on her face. She still looks upset, though the anger has faded into a melancholic expression. Her hands are gentle, and the care she's handling him with brings tears to his eyes.
His voice is shaky when he speaks, quiet but still seeming much too loud in the silence. "I'm— I'm sorry."
It's the bare minimum of what Apo deserves from him, but it's all Pyro can offer.
Apo looks up at them, biting her lip. "I'm sorry too."
Pyro doesn't know what she's apologizing for, and they don't ask. They press their shoulder to Apo's, leaning in when she doesn't push them away.
They missed this. The comfortable quiet between them and Apo.
Maybe things could be okay.
Just for this moment.