Archive of Our Own

He had never heard silence so loud. 

Leafy had always been tagging after him. No matter how difficult it got. No matter how many times he pushed her away, hurt her, ignored her.

She always came back.

But this time, she didn’t.

“BECAUSE, if the others know I’m your friend, they'll hate me too!”

God, how much he wished he could take back every word. The way her face contorted from one of irritation to pure sadness and betrayal hit him harder than he thought it ever would. Even when he won the island, Firey hadn’t shown that much emotion. But for the past few days, life had been pure torture. She wouldn’t even bother to look him in the eyes, completely shutting him out. 

Just like he had done with her.

Only now did he know how much it stung, but he couldn’t take it back.

Every time he tried to talk with her, she would walk off. Her eyes were lifeless, the childish wonder he loved now disappeared, replaced with a somber sense of longing and wishful thinking. She wouldn’t even respond to him, no matter how hard he tried. At this point, he didn’t care about whether he stayed in the game.

He just wanted to stay being her best friend. 

And he didn’t even know whether he would get that title, let alone if he deserved it…

He started at the wall, trying his hardest not to get up and burst into her room, trying his hardest not to apologise to her over and over again.

A burst of rage washed over him as he clenched his fists, his flames growing more and more rugged as the moments went by.

Your fault.

You made her feel like this.

Why would you do this to her?

“UGH!”

He didn’t know what he did. He didn’t know what had happened. All he knew was that his fist in a dent in the wall, his knuckles splintered with wood and bleeding. Firey just stared at his hand for a moment, processing what he had just done.

“FIREY! What happened?!”

“Oh, heh… I sorta… punched a tree?”

“WHAT?!”

“Yeah.. Might not have been the smartest move.”

“Firey- Gosh, you’re so reckless sometimes…”

“Sorry, Leafy…”

“... It’s fine, Fireball. Just- come to me if it happens, okay?”

“Heh, alright. You know you’ll always be the one I come to if I need to be patched up.”

Why had he sacrificed that? That kind of warmth that nobody - not even the flames on his head would ever give him. That feeling of being loved - he had forsaken it like a fool, why had he said that to her? ‘THIS IS WHY NO-ONE LIKES YOU!’ He was such an idiot ! He could see it again in his head - the way her expression fell, how her bottom lip quivered in hurt - hurt he had delivered. He had hurt her. He was such an idiot.

Firey punched the wall again, multiple times. The crashes echoed throughout his room, the sound deafening all rational thoughts that came to mind. He just continued to punch, channeling all his hate into the wall like it was the one who had hurt her - but he couldn’t lie to himself. If anyone deserved to be punched, it was definitely him. Idiot, idiot, idiot!

He collapses to the ground, sobs wracking his body as his hand dropped beside him. Firey could feel the tears rolling down his cheeks, slowly but surely extinguishing him. God, it burnt. It burnt like the disinfectant wipe that she’d use to tend to his wounds, only fifty times worse. He deserved this. This was his fault. 

Firey just sat there, his head resting against the wall as he let out another pained cry, sobbing uncontrollably. The blood from his knuckles dripped down onto the floorboards, a puddle of pain and regret forming in his eyes. 

And so he sat there, letting himself rot away. 

Because if anyone deserved it,

It was him.

__________________________________

Cheering.

Cups clinking together.

Drinks swishing.

Joyous Laughter.

Silence.

Hurt.

Betrayal.

Idiocy.

Firey didn’t know which one he could hear louder. While the Loser’s had been celebrating, he had his eyes glued to the floor, just staring off. That green, familiar yet so foreign hue, illuminated from the other side of the room. Yet he stilled, not moving an inch. Every now and then, Firey would glance up at her, before his head forced itself down in defeat and guilt. Something felt so recognisable, yet so wrong. Such longing, yet such distance between the two. He used to build her ferris wheels. He used to stay up all night stargazing with her. He used to beg for her to be recovered if she died. He used to listen to her go on and on about something he had no clue about.

How could he have thrown that all away? 

He forced himself to lift his head, his gaze landing on Leafy’s. The two stared at each other, the silence so deafening it could cut through boulders. He tried to search for something- anything in her eyes. Yet the only thing he could put his finger on was a deep, underlying sense of hurt that filled the room. There was something else, but he couldn’t tell what it was. 

She snapped out of her daze, looking down once more. Firey sighed silently, those terrible thoughts clouding his mind. He heard her place her cup down, their shoulders brushing against each other as she went to her room, closing the door gently behind her. Firey kept his gaze low, his arms folded neatly despite the terrible state his flames were in. 

He had to go in.

He had to check on her. 

Something was wrong. 

Everything in Firey was telling him that it was a bad idea - that he would only run it more than he already had.
But his heart was in control now, and Firey was known for being stubborn .

He felt his legs move on their own, each step feeling like a piece of lead. That was, until he halted at the front of her door, the guilt washing over him once again.

Your fault.

Idiot.

Moron.

You can’t do this.

She won’t forgive you.

She won’t forgive you. 

No.

Without thinking, he stepped into her room, the door creaking open as his gaze landed on her.

Crying.

She was crying.

Firey’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at her, knees pressed against her chest as she sobbed. Her gaze landed on Firey, tears still falling from her eyes in silence.

Firey hesitantly closed the door behind him, his gaze never leaving hers as he paced towards her, sitting beside her. The wooden floorboards were covered by pools of tears, yet he didn’t mention that. Not now, anyway.

Leafy glanced at him for a moment, before hiding her head in her knees once more, her sobs dying down slightly. 

They say in silence for a few moments, the room thick with an unspoken tension. 

“... I’m sorry…” 

Firey glances up at her, his chest tight. Leafy lets out a broken sob, hiding her face from him in sheer panic and fear. 

Panic and fear that you’ll hurt her again.

He goes silent for a few moments…

She feels an arm promptly pull her closer to the flame, wrapping around her. 

Leafy goes ghostly-quiet for a moment, her head still buried in her knees as she lets out another broken sob, her happy facade finally cracking.
Her arms wrap around him, clinging onto Firey as if he were a lifeline. Firey freezes for a moment, before burying his face into her shoulder.

“Shh… It’s okay… I’m here,” He mutters softly, his reassuring tone seeping through his tough cover-up. He pulls her closer, tracing circles on her back subconsciously. She melts into the embrace, her head against his chest as she cries. God, how she had missed this.

“I’m sorry… I-I’m so sorry…”

“No, no. Don’t apologise, Leafy.”

“But it’s my fault! I-I’m the one who stole the island… This whole mess is on me.” 

Firey wasn’t an easy guy to break, but that sentence alone completely shattered him. He pulled back, cupping her cheeks in his hands, his touch soft and tender. It was a stark comparison from his usual cold and aggressive exterior. He spoke up, his voice quiet, cracking ever so slightly.

“No, n-no… This isn’t your fault, Leafy. I shoved you away. I-I ignored you and acted like you didn’t exist, and for what? Some “reputation”? I don’t care about that, b-but I still pushed you away, even when you tried to snap me back to my senses.” He rambled on, tears welling up in his eyes as he spoke. Leafy went silent, resting her head in his hands as he spoke.

“Firey…”

“No, Leafy. Don’t try to make me feel better. T-this whole mess is my fault. I ruined everything… ” 

Leafy pulls him back into the embrace, running a hand through his flames as he breaks into sobs, his figure trembling. Firey clutched onto her, as if she was his entire life purpose.

Because to him, she was . 

“I-I was supposed to be your best friend…. I was supposed to make you… happy… ” He mutters, his head still buried in her shoulder. Leafy’s heart sinks.. He had always been so confident and stoic… Seeing him like this,

It absolutely broke her.

“I messed it all up… Just like I did with the waffles …” 

She pulled back, his face held in her hands as she spoke.

“.. Waffles?”

A light pink blush forms across Firey’s cheeks as he averts his gaze.

“I-... I sorta tried to make you waffles last week… But they burnt…” He looked down in shame, his shadow casting a somber shadow over his usually bright flames that danced in the background. 

He had tried to make her… waffles? The thought alone made Leafy’s heart flutter, her cheeks slowly turning into a light shade of crimson. That was… quite different from what she had expected.

“I-I’m sorry I burnt the waffles Leafy. I’m so sorry…” Why was he apologising so much? It was just some waffles-

Oh.

This wasn’t about waffles. 

Leafy went quiet for a few moments, her hands still snaked around his bright figure.

“... I’m sorry I didn’t let you in the kitchen when you were just trying to help.”
Again, this wasn’t just about waffles. Sure, the two loved them, but there was something they loved more than that. 

Their friendship.

Leafy gently cupped his cheeks in hers, her thumb tracing across it.

“... Sure, we made a few… stupid mistakes… But, we can move on from that. We’re best friends after all, right?”

Firey’s eyes widened in shock. W-what? She still thinks of me… as her best friend..?

He smiles weakly, brushing the tears from his eyes.

“Y-yeah… Best friends…” Leafy smiles warmly, her heart almost overflowing with a sense of hope. That feeling that she hadn’t felt in such a long time. 

“Hey now, don’t cry.. You’ll extinguish yourself,” She teased. He had always loved the friendly banter they had.

“Green with envy, are you?”

Heh, he didn’t realise that a small sentence would completely change everything . 

“Yeah, yeah…”

“I thought you were a tough guy!”

“... I have a few… soft spots. You’re lucky you’re one of them.”

Leafy smiled, her heart melting as he spoke, each word feeling like the lyrics to a soothing lullaby that finally put her mind at ease. 

“I promise, Fireball, we’ll make those waffles together. And they’ll be even better than they were before. Not burnt, not damaged, nothing.”

Still, not all about waffles.

"And even if we mess it up, it’ll be our mess.” 

Firey chuckles softly, his head leaning into her hands.

“ Our mess… I like the sound of that… I promise you, Leafy, I’m never going to burn those waffles again. I’ll be better this time, I promise.”

“And I will too, Fireball…”

A memory comes rushing back to Leafy, as she smiles warmly. Yes it was bittersweet, but not in the way that she was reminiscing. The way that she knew they could build it up again. 

“... Y’know, Firey, I think we should be friends.”

Firey’s eyes widened in shock… Those words… they were the exact same that she had said to him all those years ago, back when they were floating in space. He smiled warmly.

This was their new start. 

And he was determined not to mess it up. 

Not to ruin their waffles.

“You mean, like… form an alliance?”

“No- no.. Just- just friends, friends.”

“We can do that.”

“Let’s do it…”

__________________________________

“I feel great today!”

Leafy said that a lot, but this time, she meant it.

That talk with Firey had been… a lot. But she didn’t regret a moment of it. Those tears, the tight embrace they shared, those promises he said he’d never break..

And after a long time, it felt like he genuinely meant it.

Leafy yawned, stretching as she swung her legs over the sheets. Leafy strolled to her door, opening it before heading downstairs. The smell of bacon and toast wafted through the air, a delicious aroma spreading throughout the comfort of their house. Leafy sighed, a soft smile making its way to her face as she breathed in the scent. Firey glanced behind him, noticing Leafy heading down the stairs.

“L eafy? Where are-”

“Hug Attack!”

“Oof- H-hey!”

“Haha! Your face!”

“Haha, very funny, Leafs.”

“C’mon, you know you like it.”

“Whatever…”

Without a second thought, Firey rushed to her, tackling his Leafs into a tight embrace. She yelped, the two of them flying down the stairs and onto the floorboards. Firey manage to land on his back, holding Leafy in his arms securely. As soon as Firey’s back met the timber floorboards, he rolled over, Leafy underneath him as he smirked at her playfully.

“Miss me?~”

Leafy stared up at him, her mouth slightly agape. He got sent into a fit of laughter, his chest rising and falling with every breath. Leafy huffed, her cheeks turning a shade of red as she glanced away from him.

“Firey!” She managed to sputter out, covering her face with her hands.

He chuckled, his fingers prying her hands away. God, she was beautiful. The way the light fell on her green, vibrant hue, the way her eyes glistened with endless hints of hope and possibility, the way her lips would curl into a smile every time he cracked a joke…

God, did he love her.

“C’mon… Don’t hide your face,” He smiles softly, her hands slowly moving away, glancing up at him. “There’s no need to hide your beauty-” He cut himself off, his cheeks growing warmer and warmer by the second. Leafy giggled softly, the blush on her cheeks still evident.

“You’re such a tease,” She playfully retorts, becoming increasingly more aware of their close proximity.

Yet, some part of her didn’t want to move away. 

“You know you love me anyway,” He sticks his tongue out. The flames atop his head dance in the sunlight, only drawing Leafy’s attention.

“Do I?” She arches an eyebrow. Firey chuckles lightly, his hand brushing against hers.

“Of course you do, Leafs.”

“Uh….” A voice snapped the two out of their lovesick daze, their eyes travelling to the kitchen table.

Where all the other Loser’s were sitting.

Firey and Leafys’ faces turned beetroot, as he rolled off her, hiding his face. Firey extends a hand to her, still managing a small smile, though flustered. Leafy takes his hand, their fingers interlocking as they head to the table, sitting next to one another. Firey notices Coiny’s mouth completely agape, staring in disbelief at the two.

“What? Never seen two contestants holding hands?”

“Never seen you two holding hands, that’s all.” 

“You’ve never seen anyone holding hands, Coiny, ‘cause you're gonna die alone.”

“And you’re gonna die with Leafy in your arms-”

“SHUT UP-”

Leafy laughed softly, her hand intertwining with his from underneath the table. He managed to crack a smile, glancing in her direction.

… Maybe he did love her.

__________________________________

Droplets of water fell from the sky, sliding down the umbrella Firey had in his grip. Both leafy and him took shelter underneath the awning, her hand draped around his. The two of them glanced up at the grey clouds clouding over them, the steady patter of the rain hitting the umbrella creating a peaceful atmosphere. Although grey, his figure brought an odd sense of warmth to her. More specifically, her heart. Firey glanced over at Leafy, his gaze trailing off to the canopy of trees she had her eyes glued on.

“Hey, Leafs!”

“Hm-?”

“Tag!”

“Hey! Get back here!”

A small smile forms on Leafy’s face as her mind drifts back to that moment. She glances at Firey for a few moments, before tapping his shoulder, and bursting out with a-

“Tag!”

She rushes off, her legs taking her as fast as she could go. Firey stares at her for a few moments, dumbfounded, before stifling a chuckle. He drops the umbrella, the droplets trickling down his face as he dashes behind her.

“Hey! You cheated!”

Leafy sticks her tongue out, continuing to sprint away. Firey chuckles, letting the umbrella fall into the blades of grass as he chases after her. The rain falls onto the blades, a slippery surface under their feet as they chase after one another. 

The trees surrounding made a safe haven around them,

But when was life with Firey ever safe?

She bolted past the canopy, her feet sliding across the surface of grass blades folding beneath her feet. He laughs, his mind drifting back to the better days. But… who said they can’t get those moments back?

That was, until she pulled herself to halt. Her breath hitched  as she met the ground, her arms instinctively flailing out, trying to catch something, yet to no avail. 

“LEAFS-” 

He tried to pull himself to a stop, but it was too late.

Firey went tumbling down, clenching his eyes shut as he hit the ground.

“Ah- Shoot! Leafy, are you-...” He pauses, his eyes widening in shock. 

He had fallen on top of her.

His breath hitched, cheeks blossoming red. Firey’s limbs were entangled with hers, and for what seemed like forever, neither of them moved. His heart hammered in his chest, palms against the ground, palms next to her face . He could almost feel her warm breath on his cheeks, on his lips. It only made it more acutely aware of their position right now. The rain poured down onto the two, making it feel like they were glued together. 

Leafy lay there, stunned, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, but looking into his eyes made it even harder. A flush of warmth spread to her cheeks as she gazed up at him, droplets of water pattering down onto her figure, but ultimately, only making the moment more intense. 

For a few moments, they just stayed still, lying on one another. Something in Firey’s head was screaming at him, telling him to get off before he ruined anything else between them.

But he felt paralysed, lost in those emerald eyes of hers. It was like he had been turned to stone just by a single glance from her, and he couldn’t fathom a single sound.

“I-I-...” 

Leafy tried to speak up, yet the words got caught in her throat. She goes quiet, just gazing up at him. The way his metallic flames would dance in the breeze. The way his bright orange eyes felt so bold, yet so much like home. Like a warmth from a fireplace that she just couldn’t get rid of.

He couldn’t pull away. He couldn’t move. He just stayed there, hands pressed against the ground, bushing against her face. His gaze tried to memorise every single detail about her, the way her eyes glistened in the light, how the rays hit her face like an offering to a goddess, perfect in every single way. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t know why, but he just didn’t want to.

… He propped himself up on his elbows instead of his hands. Leafy tried to stifle her gasp, although it didn’t exactly work. They were closer to each other than they had been before. She could see his lips aligned with hers.

And some part of her desperately wanted to just lean in and feel them against hers-

“GUYS?”

Coiny’s voice snapped through their daze. Firey immediately shot up, glancing around them frantically. Thank god Coiny hadn’t gotten to them yet. He immediately rolled off her. They sat up, not daring to look each other in the eye.

“... I-I guess I got you,” He manages a smile, although it wavers for a few moments. Leafy chuckled softly, standing up and offering Firey her hand. He smiles, taking it in his as he stands up. The feeling of her eyes glued to his, his hands pressed against the ground beneath her stuck in his mind. Was it a blessing? Was it a curse?

“Told you I’d get you.”

“ Sure , Fireball…”

__________________________________

The thoughts wouldn’t stop. No matter how hard she tried to silence them, her mind kept running back to that promise.

““I promise, Fireball, we’ll make those waffles together. And they’ll be even better than they were before. Not burnt, not damaged, nothing.” 

Knock, knock.

What was she doing? Gah- this is probably just a bad idea-

“Mmf… Leafs..? You okay..?”

The door opened, revealing Firey standing on the other side, one hand running through his flames, the other holding onto the doorknob. She stifled a soft laugh… It was… kind of cute, to be honest. The moon rays shone through his window, casting a soft glow in his room. It was pretty late, but that promise kept running in her mind, and-

“Hey… Could we make those waffles..?”

Why had she said that? Of course, he wouldn’t be up to make waffles. It was night anyway. She shouldn’t have even gotten out of bed-

A soft chuckle broke through her haze of thoughts. “Heh… I mean, if you’re up for it.” He grins, rubbing away the sleep from his eyes. Oh god, how she loved him. The way the sides of his eyes crinkled whenever he smiled, his eyes, the ones that used to be so cold and distant, now full of life and comforting. She couldn’t ask for more…

“Come on, Fireball.” She takes his hand in hers, leading him to the kitchen. Firey laughs softly. She was always so upbeat, so lively, bringing joy wherever she went. He couldn’t believe that at one point, he had tried to reject it. 

“Ready to make the best waffles in existence?”

“Heh, ready as I’ll ever be. Can you get the pan ready, Fireball? I’ll get the ingredients.”

He nods, grabbing the waffle iron from the cupboards. Frankly, he didn’t know how to use it at all (partly the reason as to why he burnt the waffles in the first place), but waking up Pin at this hour probably wasn’t the best idea. 

Firey glances over at her, noticing her reaching up to grab some ingredients for the batter. She was… beautiful. His voice died down for a few moments, just gazing at her. Sure, for the past few years, Firey had seen her as a friend, and nothing more than that.

But… something felt… different now, and he and he were sure it wasn’t him just being delirious. She had always been so sweet, so brave, so considerate… He had thought that maybe she was just trying to be the “nice contestant” she had been esteemed as, but after her trying for seven years to get him back, it was pretty likely it was more than just that. 

… and Firey felt like he did want to be more than just that.

Leafy noticed him, shooting a quick grin before proceeding to get the other ingredients. He chuckled softly, placing the pan on top of the stove. 

“Right… Uh… Remind me how to make waffles again?” Leafy bursts into laughter, bending over slightly to catch her breath. But everytime he gazed at her, his mind had a mental blank.

“How about this, yeah? I’ll make the batter, you just ready the iron. Okay, Fireball?”

“Yes, ma’am,” He grins, noticing her warm smile before plugging in the tool. He noticed Leafy emptying the proper ingredients into the bowl, grabbing the whisk and mixing them together. He was in a lovesick daze, that’s for sure. Without thinking, the flame strolled behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulder and over her neck.

“Hey, Leafs?”

Leafy couldn’t help the flush that blossomed on her cheeks as soon as she made contact with Firey. And it wasn’t from his heat. She rolled her eyes playfully, trying to disguise her emotions. Firey was known for being a troublemaker, especially around her.

“What is it, Fireball?”

“Can we make a bet? Y’know, just for fun.”

She laughs softly, pausing to look behind her. Firey’s eyes were half-lidded with love, but he was trying to hide it.

“... Fine. What is it?”

“U-Uh… S-so… If we mess up the waffles, I have to tell you a secret. But, if we make the best waffles you’ve ever tasted-”

He pauses for a few moments, humming, as if he was thinking about what the next part of it should be. Leafy laughed softly, meeting his eyes.

“Well, then you have to tell me a secret.”

She rolls her eyes jokingly, turning around to face him. Though, his hands didn’t move from her sides, rather, they wrapped around her.

“Fine. But I’m confident that one of our pancakes will end up burnt.”

Firey puts a hand to his chest, gasping dramatically. “So you don't have any faith in me!”

Leafy giggles, ruffling his flames with one hand. He practically melted into the gesture, glancing down. 

“No, no. It’s not like that, Fireball.”

“Hmph! I’m offended, Leafs.”

Firey dramatically, moves away from her, standing in front of the waffle iron with his hands firmly against his hips. Leafy chuckled softly, strolling over to him, her arms wrapping around him. As soon as he felt her touch, Firey softened, turning around and hugging her.

“Hm… I guess I can forgive you for that,” He responds, a hint of playfulness in his tone. Leafy giggles, squeezing him. 

 Her head whips back to the waffle iron, spotting the smoke arising from it.

“Ah- shoot!” She quickly turns it off, accidentally cornering Firey. He stifles a gasp, face turning red. Leafy goes quiet, realising she was pinning Firey against the counter. Her cheeks blossom the colour of posies as she stares at him. Firey’s flames grew higher, eyes blowing wide as they stared back into each other's gaze.

And for a few moments, all he wanted to do was pull her closer...

“Aha- Anyway- L-lets just get the batter done!” She pushes herself off Firey, turning away quickly to hide her blossoming cheeks. He stifles a small laugh, going back to fix the waffle iron. Yet… he couldn’t take her eyes off her. Something- no, everything about Leafy was just so mesmerizing.. The way her smile lit up, the way her vibrant green eyes always caught his…

Leafy glanced back at Firey, cheeks already red. Some part of her, however, was willing Leafy not to tear her gaze away. Sure, he was reckless, but that’s what made being him so fun… So exciting. He was so kind and loyal- stubborn, sure, but that only made him all the better. 

Firey snapped out of his daze, noticing Leafy gazing at him, smiling softly.

“You’re staring.”

She broke out of her trance, her face flushing as she glanced away. “Hmph…”

Firey burst into laughter, trying to stifle the sound, though it didn’t go as planned. She was so cute… 

Leafy mixed the batter, glancing over to Firey every now and then.

“Fireball! I think it’s ready!”

“Really? Alright then let’s get to it!”

Leafy giggles, strolling over to the waffle iron. That was, until Firey stopped her in her tracks, holding her hand. 

“Nuh-uh. You get princess treatment, Leafs,” She arches an eyebrow, before Firey scooped her up into his arms, sauntering over to the other side of the table, where some chairs were placed. She held onto his shoulders, laughing softly.

“F-Fireball! Let go of me!”

He smirks, setting her down on the chair before rushing back to the waffle iron.“Calm down, Leafs. I just wanna show you that I can make these waffles. And, I won’t ruin them this time!” He grinned, taking the bowl in his hands. He seemed a bit more… hesitant. Leafy gave him a reassuring smile, leaning over the table and squeezing his hand.

“Hey, I know you can,” She smiles warmly. It wasn’t exactly about the waffles. 

Firey manages a soft smile, before pouring it into the waffle iron and closing the machine.

“Uh… Is it supposed to make that sound?”

“Don’t worry ,Fireball, it’s fine.”

They waited a few moments, before the machine clicked. Firey opened the lid, taking out the crispy, golden brown waffles and placing one on each plate.

“Wow, these are actually pretty good!”

He grinned, taking pride from his amazing cooking skills. 

Well, if Leafy thought they were amazing, he’d take it willingly. 

“See? I told you!”

Firey smirks, two more waffles drifting to her plate. Leafy glanced at them, that warm and comforting scent wafting through the air. As he cooks, they release a sweet, buttery scent around them, making them feel safe and comforted, despite the cold breeze that came from the night. The room felt warm. Maybe it was just his heart fluttering in his chest, maybe it was just her cheeks warming up every time she caught a glimpse of him, but it felt warm. She had almost forgotten that he was still stacking waffles onto their plates. 

“I’d say they look pretty good, Leafs. Almost as good as you~” He winks, one of his dimples flashing towards her. It was straight from a fairytale, half-hero, half-villain. It was impossible to ignore that cheeky, wolfish smirk playing on his lips.

“Shush, Fireball…” She gazed at the pancakes, stunned. They were… perfect.

She could already feel him smirking at her.

“W-wait, we still have the taste test!”

“I guess. But, I’m still pretty sure I’ll win this one, Leafs.”

She rolls her eyes playfully, gently nudging his shoulder. Firey chuckles before diving into the waffles, eyes blown wide as he glances at her in wonder.

“God- these are amazing!”

Her fork cuts through the sugary crust as she bites into it, awestruck.

“Wow! These are great, Fireball!”

He grins at her, his chest puffing out slightly, although it was involuntarily.

“See? I told you I wouldn’t mess up on the pancakes this time!” 

Leafy’s gaze softens as she smiles at him, her hand resting over his. “I never doubted you.”
That small action made him completely melt, a lovesick smile forming on his face. He was smitten, that’s for sure.

Leafy stifled a laugh, before Firey realised that he was staring, immediately switching his gaze to the strawberries she had decorated around her pancake. 

“Strawberries, huh? Alright, Leafs. That’s pretty fancy. But… just saying, blueberries are way better.” Leafy notices him attempt to cover up the slip-up, a gentle smile tugging on her lips.

“Blueberries? Absolutely not. Have you even tried strawberries with waffles?” 

He goes quiet for a few moments, placing a finger against his lips, “pondering” on the question. Though, that wasn’t really helping Leafy’s case of the butterflies.

“Can’t say I have, actually.”

“Well, why not?” She grabs a new fork, passing it to him, both a strawberry and a waffle dangling from the metal. He smiles, taking a bite.

“Damn… That’s… not too bad,” He noted, as Leafy beamed.

“See? I told you so!” She exclaims in triumph, fisting her hands in the air. Firey bursts into laughter, nearly falling off his chair completely.

“Haha! Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Leafs.” A smirk tugs on the corners of his mouth as he speaks up once more. “There is still one more thing you have to tell me.”

She perks up, before the realisation washes over her.

The bet. 

Goddammit- Why had she agreed to that?!...

“Do I have to?”

“Aw, c’mon, Leafs! I won’t judge, y’know that,” He smiles, his tone growing softer as he speaks. What was she hiding from him..?

“... Firey, I-...”

Leafy sighs, her gaze fixated on her hands before speaking up…

“... We’ve been friends for years now. You’ve always been so kind and loyal- a-and… just, amazing. Even if you can be reckless at times, that’s what makes being with you so exciting… Even after all those- those stupid fights, we always manage to get back together,”

She smiles at him gently, a flush rising to her cheeks as the seconds went on. God, she could feel her face burning, her skin was hot, everything inside her was on fire. 

Firey was-... Well, his cheeks were burning up, and his flames were growing higher and higher.

“I just-... You stand with me through everything Firey, that’s just the sort of person you are. And… I love that. I love the way your flames move. I love the way your hand feels in mine- I- I love you! ”

The two just stare at each other in silence for a few moments. His heart pounded in his chest, he could’ve sworn he could hear it. That last sentence just floated in the air for a few moments, the room getting warmer as the moments went by. 

In a sudden moment of pure instinct, Firey leaned forward, only the slightest bit, but enough to make her heart race. His hands reached up to cup her cheeks, a thumb stroking against it, making Leafy weak. 

“L-Leafs, I-”

“I-If you don’t want to, it’s fine. I just- I wanted to tell you…” She flushed red in pure embarrassment from what she had just done. Why hadn’t she thought this through? If he didn’t like her, their friendship…

At that moment, her heart could shatter her ribcage entirely from just how fast it was beating. It felt like they were in the rain again, his warm breath hitting her like a tidal wave. She could only sit there as he edged closer, unintentionally toying with her heartbeat. His voice dropped to a low whisper, something she hadn’t heard from him. 

“... I’ve never been… great with words… But god, do I love you.”

His lips embraced hers, a hand shifting down to her waist sending butterflies rampaging in her stomach. She pulled him closer, the scent of ash and smoke surrounding her, but she loved it. She loved him. Firey’s eyes lidded slightly before closing, drinking in the taste of her lips, sugary sweet, just like the waffles. To Firey, she was his goddess. Her touch made his heart set ablaze, no matter how high his flames would rise. Her hand gently brushed against his, before resting on the back of his head, the touch sending a set of fireworks through his body. 

At that moment, it was just the two of them.

They pulled away after a moment, faces flushed with warmth, love and devotion. She could see how his flames rose, the top of one curling in on itself to make a small heart. His unsteady smile caused her heart to burst. Her gaze was half-lidded, those emerald eyes he had always loved feeling like a pool of desire and love he could drown in, and never regret it.

… Leafy’s mouth twitched slightly, as she smiled to herself, her voice a whisper as not to break the magic of the moment.

“... Strawberries.”

His head cocked to the side, that lovesick grin still playing on his lips.

“What?”

She laughed softly, reminded of how he had just taken a bite out of her strawberry waffles. 

“You taste like strawberries.”