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Despite expecting that it might happen, Pyro isn't in any way prepared when Avid corners him in the center of town.
Avid is shorter than him, but Pyro still finds himself backing away as he gets into his space, pointing a finger against his chest. The hostility is familiar in a way that sends dread shooting through him.
Pyro already knows that this isn't going to end well for him.
“Don't try to deny it!” Avid says, his voice accusing. “I saw you coming from Scott's house. You're conspiring with him!”
Pyro stutters for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. “I– I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not conspiring with anyone!”
Avid's eyes narrow and he crosses his arms. Pyro can't help but stare at the crudely sharpened stake strapped to his belt.
Would Avid be sure enough in his suspicion to stake him? Pyro wasn't a vampire, but being stabbed would kill him all the same.
Pyro raises his hands up in a show of surrender, hoping to dissuade Avid from throwing any sharp implements his direction. “I really have no idea what you're talking about.”
His words do nothing to appease the other man in the slightest. “You're lying. I saw you.”
Pyro opens his mouth, a defense on his lips, when a hand lands on his shoulder. He startles, glancing back, both surprised and not to see Scott standing there.
Scott isn't looking at him, the scowl on his face directed solely towards Avid.
“Now, what's going on here? I can hardly think with all your horrid screeching.”
Avid falters a little at the sight of Scott, though he stands his ground. “I know you two are conspiring! I saw Pyro leaving your house.”
Scott raises an eyebrow, letting out a mean laugh. “Conspiring? What do you think this is? Some sort of play?”
Avid glares at them. Pyro shifts uncomfortably at the attention, though Scott seems completely unaffected by the anger.
“What was Pyro doing in your house then?”
Scott huffs, pressing a hand to his chest. “I don't think that's any of your business.”
Avid opens his mouth, but Scott cuts him off, a smirk slowly creeping across his lips. “But, if you must know, Pyro and I were just meeting to get some stress relief.” His hand trails down Pyro's arm. “You should try it some time. Maybe then you wouldn't be so uptight.”
Avid furrows his eyebrows, looking offended for all of a second before he processes Scott's words. His cheeks turn bright red, embarrassment clear in his expression.
Pyro isn't faring much better, his face burning as he forces his gaze to the dirt. He can feel the eyes of the other people in town, and wants nothing more than for the ground to swallow him up.
Scott wraps an arm around their waist, and Pyro can't do anything but nod along with his claim. Not if they don't want to undermine the vampire with their life in his hands.
Scott shakes his head. “Really, Avid. You need to stop sticking your nose in other people's business.”
Avid opens his mouth but nothing comes out. He turns around, stomping away towards the forest, his ears still red.
Scott laughs again as Drift rushes off after him, leaning in to whisper in Pyro's ear. “Well, that was easy wasn't it?”
Pyro stares after Avid and Drift as they move further away before glancing over at their audience. Abolish and Legundo stand a little ways away. Abolish is stonefaced as always, while the doctor looks concerned again.
They feel their face heat up again at the attention. Scott really implied that they were courting in front of everyone.
They wouldn't even be able to deny it. Not only would no one believe them over Scott, if they did tell, Scott would no doubt kill them for it.
Scott slowly pulls away, pressing a kiss to their brow as he does. “See you later, firelight.”
Pyro stands in place as Scott leaves them to fend for themself. The doctor looks like he wants to say something, but Abolish beats him to the punch, stepping forward towards them.
“Now that whatever that is over, I need to get more stone from the mines. Pyro, you should come with me.”
His voice is flat, but Pyro sees the calculating gleam in his eyes. It makes them nervous.
Pyro didn't think Abolish would hurt them, but he hadn't thought Scott and Owen would either.
Abolish tilts his head. “Pyro.”
They end up nodding their head, even though they aren't positive that this is a good idea.
They hope they aren't making another mistake.
-
Pyro had gone to the mine before, but it was considerably deeper than it was the last time they had been inside. They end up staying close to Abolish's side.
“How much stone did you need?” They ask, picking up a pickaxe and weighing it in their hands.
Abolish hums. “Not much. Just follow me.”
Pyro lets Abolish lead them into the mine, their nerves heightening the further they go in.
They reassure themself silently, fidgeting with their sleeves.
They trust Abolish. They didn't know the man that well, but he seemed reliable enough.
They didn't want to be wrong again.
“Pyro.”
They startle, looking over as Abolish sets the torch into a metal holding on the wall.
“Yeah?”
Abolish stares at them, the look intense enough to send a chill down Pyro's spine. “I need to talk to you.”
Pyro feels a nervous sweat form on the back of their neck. “Can– can't it wait until we get the stone you need? We can talk on the surface.”
Abolish crosses his arms. “I don't need stone.”
Pyro feels their heart sink in their chest. Curse their naivety. “But you said–”
“I lied. You never know who could be watching.”
Pyro shrinks in on themself, flinching when Abolish steps forward again. Abolish, to his credit, stops when he notices their fear.
“I don't plan to hurt you, Pyro.”
Well, that wasn't particularly reassuring.
“I want to talk to you about Scott.”
Pyro flinches. That wasn't good. “...About Scott? What about him?”
Abolish glances around. “He's not here right now. You can tell me.”
Pyro swallows. “About what–”
“Don't play dumb, Pyro.”
His heart flutters in his chest, fast and panicked. How had he already messed this up?
“I…”
He flexes his hands, looking over the healing scratches on his palms. They shut their eyes tightly.
“Scott's a vampire.”
When silence follows his statement, Pyro slowly opens his eyes again.
Abolish is nodding his head, looking no less serious than before. “I suspected so.”
Pyro blinks at him. “You believe me?”
Abolish points towards the bandages around his throat, which have gotten exposed, his shirt collar shifted down. “You didn't have that before.”
Pyro's hand lifts to his neck, fingers brushing over the bandages. He swallows. “What should I do then?”
Abolish steps forward again, and Pyro doesn't flinch this time. Abolish lifts his hand, meeting Pyro's eyes before carefully pulling the bandages down, exposing bitemark.
Pyro feels an inexplicable feeling of shame wash over him, but Abolish doesn't seem affected by the sight.
“I can help you, Pyro.”
Pyro feels his eyes water, an odd sort of guilt settling in his gut. “How?”
Abolish meets his eyes, the soft brown so much more comforting than the harsh ruby of Scott's. “Trust me.”
Pyro finds himself believing in Abolish despite his nerves.
“...Alright. I trust you.”