Pyre/Adhana

Pyre has some problems

NOTE: Pyre's hair isn't that colour, but thats what the braid looks like (it is longer)

*partially edited*

to preface: his background is 'haunted one', a traumatizing event haunts his past and he has never gotten over it (an oni took his sister at a very young age). sometimes because of this he has "episodes" which usually only last 1 or 2 days. During an episode he isolates himself and acts out a lot, putting himself in unnecessarily dangerous situations (his mindset is that he's protecting others and he has to because he couldn't protect his sister)

Prompt: Pyre is having a breakdown, Adhana's response is to give him space for a bit and to talk to him to help him with his feelings. He usually ends up crying and Adhana cuddles him and kisses him and braids his hair, weaving preserved flowers into it.

If you asked him why he was acting that way, he wouldn't answer. The only person he felt he could talk to about his past was Adhana, and even then it took a while for him to fully open up. He just doesn't want to burden people with his tragic backstory, why's it relevant anyway?

Of course as soon as they finish dealing with that dumb beast he needs a break. He always fights harder than usual during his episodes and he always gets more injuries and less energy. Adhana gently touches his shoulder and he flinches as if her hand is ice cold. He walks away from the group, towards where they pitched their tents, Adhana follows.

"Pyre, are you ok?" her voice dripping worry and concern

He raises his voice "Have I ever been 'ok' Addie?" he storms off to her tent, his own feeling too chaotic at the moment.

She lets him sit alone for a while, knowing he needs space. Adhana idly converses with the feisty 8 year old on their party, Laufy, ignoring his oddly flirtatious comments. As Callie joins the conversation and gets into a heated debate with Laufy about something or other, Adhana decides this is a good time to go check on Pyre. She slowly opens the tent, seeing pyre sitting on her bedroll. His hand is idly resting on the large scar the oni left on his neck, silent tears are rolling down his cheeks and Adhana doubts he notices he's even crying.

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After yelling at his dear Addie, Pyre rushes to her tent. He doesn't know how to handle himself, and he wishes that oni had just taken him instead of Pyro, she'd love Addie better than he ever could. He sits in silence his mind flashing through memories of that horrible night, and he starts to cry, although he doesn't notice. Somewhere in the back of his mind he hears the fabric of the tent rustle but it's not enough to snap him out of his upsetting trance-like state. Adhana gently taking his hand off his neck, where he hadn't realized he'd placed it, does.

The two of them sit in silence before Addie breaks the stagnant air.

"..Pyre, do you want to talk about it?" she gently wipes his tears and scoots closer to him

"I- I'm sorry" he buries his face in her shoulder and starts sobbing quietly

"Oh Pyre! Sweetheart, it's ok." she wraps her arm around him and gently strokes his hair (although it is a little awkward with their three inch height difference).

They sit like that for what seems like hours. Pyre stops crying after a while and softly murmurs about what happened and how he should've saved his sister and how he's sorry. Adhana soothes his worries with soft words and gentle kisses to his neck and shoulder area. Eventually, he calms down and pulls away from her shoulder and gives her a sad look, but she can sense a question in his eyes. He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles before quietly, barely above a whisper in fact, he asks her to braid his hair. She gets up off the bed and grabs a jar about three-fourths full of many different pressed flowers.

Pyre sits of the floor and Adhana stacks a few pillows, to get a more comfortable angle. She runs her hand through his hair a few times, gently untangling the knots. She laughs to herself when he leans back into the touch and she catches a glimpse of his face, the beginning of a smile on his lips and his eyes closed contentedly. She begins a loose braid, grabbing flowers and effortlessly weaving them in when she sees fit. She ties his braid with a ribbon, and gently kisses the spot where his neck meets his shoulder. A shiver runs through his body and he leans back into her lap.

Their moment of serenity is  broken by Callie yelling loudly at Laufy to get away from the food, followed shortly after by Laufy poking his head into the tent

"Food is- did I walk in on something 'private'?" he asks teasingly, knowing how easily Pyre flusters.

"Oh no, we'll be out in a jiffy" Adhana says, Pyre is too busy hiding his face in his hands to answer.

Laufy leaves the tent and immediately Addie begins laughing at Pyre. He jokingly scolds her for laughing at his embarrassment before getting up and offering her a hand. This gives him the leverage he needs to through her over his shoulder in a fireman's hold, she yelps in surprise and he slings her over his shoulders and parades out of the tent like that. Callie laughs at the two lovebirds before offering everyone food and asking Pyre to put Adhana down (which he does).

The four eat their small meal together, situated in a sort of a circle around their fire. Now that Pyre has calmed down he realizes that it's actually a good day to go for a swim. He asks his party to join him in the nearby river, they all agree and strip to their underwear. The four of them spend many hours in the river before shades of navy blue and dark pink begin to tint the sky, signalling that dusk is approaching and its best to find their way back to camp in the fleeting light than the pure darkness that comes with night. The four leave, all feeling relaxed and refreshed.

The four return to their camp, Pyre taking lead in marching order.  Adhana makes sure to extinguish the last of the smouldering embers as the other 3 adventurers head to their respective tents, Pyre waits outside of Adhana's, beckoning for her to come. The two go into the tent and Pyre asks if he can sleep with her.

"Addie, can I sleep with you tonight. You know how I can't sleep without you, and I don't want to be in my tent right now" he sheepishly asks

"Of course goofus, when have I said no? Now come here" she gestures for him to come over

He smiles that charming smile of his and strips his shirt before joining her in bed, laying down and embracing her in a protecting hug.