Chapter Text
Pyro fucking hated him. Genuinely hated his guts. He couldn't explain why, so he passed it off as suspicion. But that goddamn blacksmith was driving him insane.
Which is why Pyro found himself painstakingly writing notes about every interaction he'd had with Osteon and trying to figure out what it was that made him angry. Was it how Osteon spoke, so unnecessarily formal (...like Pyro)? Was it how Osteon carried himself, tall and straight-backed (...like Pyro)? Was it Osteon's face, always so calm (...like Pyro wanted to be)? Perhaps it was Osteon's dragon, the fact that theirs was all grown up and Pyro's was not. Was it the armor and scythe, did Pyro want a cool weapon like that? Was Pyro... jealous?
Shit.
He was pretty sure he was jealous. There was no other explanation for it. Osteon was too annoyingly perfect and Pyro was jealous of them. No one would ever let him live this down. Ever. Pyro slammed his notebook shut, cupped his hands over his mouth, and screamed. Then he made a sort of pouring motion, taking his rage and pouring it down the drain. He would be fine. No one had to know he was jealous. Cindy worriedly chirped at him from the gold pile where she lay. Pyro sighed, walking over to the dragon and petting her head. He was fine, this was fine, everything was fine. A knock rang on his door before it was pushed open.
"Pyro? Pyroooo?" Scott called.
"I'm upstairs," Pyro replied.
The door closing, followed by footsteps. Scott poked his head into Pyro's sleeping area. Pyro sat with Cindy in his lap, leaning against her hoard. Scott smiled slightly and Pyro stuck his tongue out. Scott was holding a package.
"I really need to get to Thawdale. It's urgent. Can you give this to Osteon to take to Tegrith?" Scott asked, setting the package on the floor.
"It's urgent?" Pyro asked. "Is all well there?"
"Ulric is ill or something of the sorts, and he sent a very loud pigeon to my room to inform me of this," Scott explained. "And I really need to get this mailed to Tegrith, it's dragonfire for mum and dad to hopefully get some ever-blazing fire for the winter."
"Ah, what a shame. I hope Ulric gets better soon. Of course I can deliver the parcel, is there anything else with which I may be of assistance?" Pyro offered.
"No, nothing else, thank you, Pyro, I owe you one," Scott said, already almost at the door.
He left before Pyro could say a goodbye. Pyro picked up the package and inspected it. It was cool to the touch, but he could hear the fire crackling within. He trusted Scott enough to not check it. He went to get Cindy her bag, but the dragon screeched at him. Pyro tried pushing her in and almost lost a finger.
"Ow! Your teeth are sharp!" Pyro hissed.
Cindy did not look even remotely apologetic.
"Fine, be like that. I'll leave you in here for now, I won't be long," Pyro said, annoyed.
He scribbled a quick note saying that he was out and that Cindy was only in his room because she refused to leave. Then he let Cindy lie back down in her hoard and he left his room. Now to find Osteon... ugh. Pyro couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly. He made it to the main hall before meeting Drift.
"Hi, Pyro," she said brightly.
Pyro smiled at her, though judging by the concern on her face, it was not a very convincing smile.
"Hello, Drift," he greeted.
"What are you up to?" Drift asked.
Pyro shrugged. "Scott asked me to give this package to the new "head of security" since he has taken it upon himself to inspect all our mail."
"Okay, say you hate Osteon without saying you hate Osteon," Drift deadpanned.
"I do not hate him," Pyro said defensively.
Drift raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you being such an asshole about it?"
"I am not being an asshole about them," Pyro said. "What gave you that assumption?"
"Every time you talk about him, it's all "Oh, they're so high and mighty," and "Oh he's the quote unquote head of security," and whatnot," Drift mimicked. "It's almost like you're jealous of them or something."
"I don't sound like that, and I'm not jealous!" Pyro yelped, his voice going higher at the end of the sentence.
Drift looked at him for a moment, eyes widening with realization.
"You're jealous of them?!"
"Say it a little louder, I don't think they heard you in Tegrith," Pyro snapped.
"Sorry, sorry," Drift whispered. "But seriously, you're jealous of Osteon? You?"
"Would it be any different if it was someone else?" Pyro demanded. "Why is the concept of me being jealous--which I am not, by the way--so shocking to you?"
Drift blinked as though she hadn't understood the question. She seemed to debate in her head before answering.
"Because you're-- well, Pyro, you're you. You're effectively perfect. Sometimes I get jealous of you. And you're telling me you're jealous of a little old blacksmith? Trust me, just because he's competent doesn't mean they're your competition," Drift said, pausing at the end to laugh at her own wordplay.
"Well--I'm not jealous, so it's fine," Pyro said firmly.
"Suuuuure you're not," Drift agreed. "Keep telling yourself that, buddy."
"I'm not," Pyro said, "and I have to go deliver this, so I'll see you around."
"See you around, jelly!" Drift sang after him.
Pyro debated setting her on fire. But he didn't, because he was a changed person. He made his way to the forge, where Osteon was just entering his office.
"Osteon?" He called.
Osteon turned and dipped his head in a nod. "Pyro. May I be of assistance?"
"Scott has given me a package to pass onto you, since he is too preoccupied with his town to make time to find you," Pyro explained, handing them the package.
"Hm. To Tegrith, I presume?" Osteon asked, taking the package.
"Yes, it is for his family," Pyro affirmed.
Osteon nodded. "Very well. I did actually have a question for you, if you would come into my office?"
"Sure," Pyro said with a shrug, following Osteon into their office.
Osteon stood in front of his desk rather than behind where they usually stood.
"Not taking any notes?" Pyro asked, half-joking.
"This is more of a personal question," Osteon replied.
"Oh?" Pyro wondered.
Osteon took a deep breath, looking almost... nervous. Pyro wondered briefly what it was about him that was making Osteon so conflicted. Then Osteon asked his question, and Pyro's entire brain faltered for a moment.
"Why is it that I displease you?" Osteon asked.
Pyro blinked. "Displease me? You do not displease me."
"You seem irritated by my presence in the academy. I wish to know why, so I can perhaps change my behaviors to ensure I am not unwelcome," Osteon explained.
"I promise, I am in no way irritated. In fact, having someone competent is quite a breath of fresh air," Pyro said, only half-lying.
Osteon sighed quietly, leaning back against their desk. "Then is something else on your mind? You've seemed unhappy."
"I am fine," Pyro said.
Well. That was definitely not the right thing to say, since it made the other look far more concerned. Pyro wasn't sure how to backtrack from that, so he remained silent.
"Tell me what is on your mind. I promise I will not be angry, nor will I judge you," Osteon offered. "I may not be trained in psychology, but I've had to comfort many a person before."
"There's really no need," Pyro lied through his teeth. "Nothing's wrong."
Osteon raised an eyebrow at him.
"Nothing is wrong?" Osteon echoed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fucking sure--" Pyro cut himself off, taking a deep breath to steady his emotions. "Yes, I am sure. Everything is fine."
"...Y'know, I'd believe Professor Terry saying he was a drag queen more than I believe you right now."
Osteon's sudden switch to informality--almost a casual tone--was jarring to Pyro, rendering him silent for a split-second.
"Why do you care?" Pyro snapped.
"Because your anger is distracting you, and until you figure out what's bothering you, I'm going to bother you into telling me," they replied flatly. "I don't tolerate bullshit, Pyro."
Pyro scowled. "I'm fine. Just leave it."
"Distracted people make mistakes."
It was a simple sentence. One that really shouldn't have had as much of an effect on Pyro as it did. But... Osteon was right. Distracted people made mistakes. Pyro was, indeed, distracted by Osteon. Pyro would inevitably make an irreversible mistake. Pyro would make a mistake. He'd make a mistake. A mistake. A mistake. A mistake. A mis-- no. Pyro managed to catch himself just before the spiral. He would be fine. And a mistake wouldn't be that bad. Not anymore.
"Look, I'm fine, okay? Anyways, I have to go, uh, work on my town a little bit," Pyro said, "I just came to drop the package. See you around."
"Wait," Osteon called.
Pyro stopped despite every bone in his body screaming at him to ignore them. He turned slowly as Osteon approached.
"What?" Pyro asked.
Osteon kissed him. Well, it was just a peck on the cheek, but that still counted. Osteon's lips were cold like Scott's (probably a side effect of the wither), brushing against Pyro's face gentle and featherlight. Pyro froze completely, his entire body tensing with something, some unfamiliar emotion.
"Stay safe out there, and talk to someone if you need anything," Osteon advised.
Pyro nodded as steadily as he could. "I will."
He walked out of the room with perfect composure. As soon as he was in the hallway, he bolted for his dorm. Whatever he felt about Osteon? It was not jealousy.
It was definitely not jealousy.