Fireball didn't think he would become close with anyone, even after s1 was cancelled. But when Winter rolls around, Fireball finds himself helping a certain coin out.
Or
5 times Pound asks Fireball to help warm him and one time where he didn't have...
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A/n: I just watched ep 7 and honestly it was just a rollercoaster of emotions for me, the elimination made me so sad tbh:(
Anyways posting this before I go to sleep so don't be surprised if you sees mistakes, I'll probably fix it up in the morning.
Warning!! : a little bit of angst, also this chapter in particular includes a lot of headcanons so I hope you don't mind it too much.
~~
2
Fireball always had a hard time talking to people.
He can obviously hold a conversation or two, yeah no, the problem was that he could never find a way to really connect with others. It felt like a high-stakes game, one whose rules he could never quite grasp, which only fueled his frustration.
He understood that his negative attitude and frequent anger played a significant role in his social difficulties. Yet, he reasoned with himself that if people weren't willing to accept the darker facets of his personality, they certainly didn't deserve to see his better qualities(assuming that he had any at all)
Eventually, he gave up on the idea of having meaningful connections, convinced that no one was genuinely interested to actually getting to know him.
In the past, there had been half-hearted attempts, typically from prideful individuals who claimed that they could break down his defensive walls. Naturally, they all failed, because the truth was there weren't any walls to begin with. That was simply just who Fireball was.
This realization affected how he perceived others. It seemed that most people only approached him to get something out of it or to boast about their brave encounter, declaring, "I was able to talk to Fireball and not die in the process!" It became clear to him that no one ever sought his company for its own sake.
As he reflected on this disheartening truth, he found himself spiraling into a deep sense of despair and dread at the thought of conversing with anyone.
To combat his fears, Fireball devised a simple yet effective solution: pushing everyone away. If people recognized that engaging with him was a futile endeavor, they would leave him alone. This strategy saved him from the constant disappointment and the harsh reality check regarding the pitiful state of his social life.
When he arrived at CTBC, he adopted the same approach, and it worked like usually, but maybe a little too well.
Typically, others would simply ignore him, but here, contestants actively avoided him. Even if he was merely within a two-meter radius, they would flee to the opposite side of the room. This only intensified his anger, creating a vicious cycle where contestants avoided him even more.
Fireball knew he was partly to blame for this situation. He recognized the consequences of the outburst he had during that one dodgeball challenge.
He had prepared himself for the judgmental glances and hushed whispers that followed him. He expected it all.
