Work Text:
Fire Spirit flew to the Dessert Paradise. Barely noticing the wind rushing past his whole ablazed being. Key word- barely. Another day, another Guardian meeting, with Guardian duties, topped off with meeting OTHER Guardians. They could be SO boring at times, and it would always go the same way. Sea Fairy and Moonlight giggling behind hushed whispers, Stormbringer and Frost Queen bickering over whatever the heck THEY talked about, and Wind Archer always says that ‘the darkness doesn’t rest’ AT LEAST ONCE EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The familiarity of that being in his normal life was irritating. To say the least. No, you know what, never mind, it drove him insane. He would add three or four sentences provoking at least one of them each time, and Millenial Tree just stood there, occasionally saying something when the conversation was dying out, but otherwise kept his eyes closed, looking asleep. How does HE get away with that?! He lets out an annoyed sigh as he feels himself landing on the grass.
Where’s the place again? Oh, right. He thinks. It’s in the middle of the whole place, per usual. He isn’t sure why he hadn’t gotten used to the path after so many centuries of being here. It’s equivalent to something like a straight line. Spotting the building, he lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Something about this place that does that. Odd.
A small gust of wind fluttered past. Turning his head, he sees a familiar shade of sparkling sage green behind him. Great, this is the part where Windy raises his bow. The flame thinks, smirking slightly at the predictability of the guardian.
The wind doesn’t raise his bow. Nor does he threaten to do so if Fire Spirit burnt the place down. Instead, raising his hand in an awkward wave that completely clashes with the stoic expression on his face. “You’re late.” He observes.
“Hey! Only by… what, two minutes?” To which the wind nods, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. His wings fluffed in offence , a knowing, teasing spark in his eyes and-
Nope. No he definitely didn’t see anything in his fellow guardian. He didn’t like Wind Archer! And anyone who thought he did was hallucinating. Absolutely insane.
(Psst no one said anything buddy. Denial is a river in the Parmesan Dessert… I mean, who said that?) He felt heat rising to his face, for no apparent reason, because HE. DIDN’T. HAVE. FEELINGS. FOR. WIND. ARCHER. He was the ETERNAL FLAME FOR WITCHES SAKE!
“Are you… going inside?” Ah, right. He was spiralling again. “Your flames have hints of pink. Thats new.” The archer observes. Fire spirit willed the flames to go back to its normal colour, not it’s embarrassed, weird, whatever this place does to you thing. He isn’t sure why it changes colour to be honest. Windy really can’t just SAY stuff like that. Pitaya said it had something to do with mood, but they explained that centuries ago, blurred into a fuzzy memory. He steps into the meeting council, greeted with the familiar faces of his coworkers.
Moonlight and Sea Fairy were giggling like usual. Windy was already acting off though, and the other two were sharing glances with the latter. Staying silent. “Whats wrong?” He deadpanned, directed towards the lightning bearer and the cold one. They erupted into a fit of giggles, huh, out of character for the Frost Queen to be lightly smirking behind her palm, meanwhile, Wind archer shot them the coldest glare he could manage while his face was glowing a slight pink.
After a while, a really long while, their laughter finally ceased. “No- we didn’t- nothing. Nothings wrong.” Stormbringer said in between remaining giggles.
“Ookayyy.” He turned to Wind Archer. “Whats that about?” The cookie in question pulls his scarf up to his face, his response coming out muffled.
“I…don’t know.” He says averting his amazing forest green eyes. The fire cursed himself for observing that.
“Welp, you’re horrible at lying windy.” He says, although when all he received was no reply, he didn’t push, he knows when to stop. “Okayyyy, anyway should we start?” To which he got nods from the group. “Hey, where’s Millenial?”
“Actually, we’re just hanging out! No darkness discussion involved.” Moonlight said, her breezy tone stifling yet more giggles. Why was everyone so giddy today?! Witches. Do they know something?
“Oh! Hell yes, no guardian work?” To which he got mostly nods and a sceptical, unsure look from Wind Archer. Almost looks cute in a way-
WAIT WHAT THE HECK WAS HE THINKING?! He can almost see the panic in his face. He dimmed his flames yet again, trying to avoid the mental confrontation. “So let’s go explore the forest now. Come on, we don’t have all eternity.” Frost Queen says. “No wait, we do.” Stormbringer rolls her eyes. A joke from Frosty? That was unheard of.
“Yeah, well, I have a small thing to do. Be right baaacckkk!” Fire Spirit exclaimed before absolutely booking it out of the door. The group shrugged it off, it’s happened before, probably having bit of a bad day, they thought, maybe he’s burning off some steam, literally and figuratively. Wind Archer gave one last glance to where the fire was standing before following the others.
Fire Spirit was in full panic mode. For CENTURIES he had told himself that what he felt was just platonic. He had romantic feelings for Wind Archer. So apparently wanting to kiss and cuddle your best friend ISN’T normal. He facepalmed. Dimming his flames from pink tinges to regular fiery orange, he set off in search of the rest of the group.
“Oh my god I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.” He facepalmed yet again as he started walking, repeating the phrase over and over again like it would do something.
Which somehow, lead to him sitting against a tree stump thinking about a certain wind deity.
…
Fire Spirit hadn’t been back for half an hour. Moonlight and Sea Fairy were setting up a picnic, Stormbringer and Frost Queen were definitely helping, and NOT rambling about whether or not lightning could melt frost within a 10 foot radius. He placed his half finished jelly stew down absentmindedly, he almost didn’t see moonlight cookie beckoning to him in a ‘come hither’ motion.
“Hey, go search for your boyfriend,” she whispers and he immediately feels heat come up to his face, pulling his scarf up to cover it. “I will… keep them entertained. If you just so happen to hear a story about something like a flying train, just ignore it.” She giggled again as he went off in search of the immortal flame.
“We aren’t- never mind.” Boyfriend, huh? He pulls his scarf up again (no one was around but he was feeling extra cautious). Sure they didn’t hate each other’s guts anymore, and yeah, Wind Archer didn’t hate his company as Fire blabbered on about various topics while he pretended not to listen. And the newest development, he didn’t raise his bow anytime he felt warmth in the air. Maybe the others have caught onto the news before he could do anything about it, he didn’t think he was THAT obvious though. Right? Before a gust of wind fluttered past his ear, listening closely, the wind whispered something. Catching snippets of Fire Spirit’s voice.
“-Didn’t see it sooner.”
“Fuuuuuuuuucckkk why is it taking so long to calm down-”
“-common occurrence now?!” He sounded exasperated on the last one. He must be somewhat close then.
After about five minutes of speedrunning through the greenery, he sees Fire Spirit, slumped against a tree stump, flames a rare occurrence of blue, pink and orange. Head buried in his hands. “Fire Spirit?” The flame turned his head so quickly, fire brightening instinctively before returning to its usual vermillion. Wind Archer stepped forward, not bothering that a branch scraped his dough.
“Windy?! I- what, huh?” Fire Spirit choked down something similar to a startled gasp. Not bothered to hide the bewilderment in his voice.
Wind Archer tilted his head.”You were gone for half an hour.” He said, worry creeping into his voice. Fire Spirit’s eyebrows furrowed, expression from confusion to realisation, his flames turning pink again, and put his hands over his mouth. “Is the pink a recent development or did you just realise you could do that?” He nodded, hands still covering his mouth. That didn’t answer anything. The zephyr sat down next to his friend, letting a hint of softness into his usually neutral expression. “Alright then, are you okay?”
…
It was times like this that made Fire Spirit hope the wind reciprocated his feelings. Knowing that he probably never would, the fires heart rose nonetheless. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Pink found it's way to his flames yet again. Now or never Fire Spirit.
“Have you ever… like i dunno. Liked someone?” He said, averting his eyes. He could hear Wind Archer pulling his scarf up again, he did that when he wanted to hide emotion. Forcing himself to look at the wind, his eyes were now covered with the wings on his head too.
“Why?” He asked, voice strained and muffled, yet carefully neutral. “Oh. You like someone?” Fire Spirit nodded, forgetting that Wind Archer couldn’t see it.
“Y-yeah.” He stuttered.
“Who?” Heh, Wind Archer always kept it blunt, now sitting criss-cross apple sauce beside the embodiment of fire. “You aren’t going to tell your best friend?” He asked, a teasing lilt in his tone. The word FRIEND echoed in his mind. If he had just kept his mouth shut uuughhh none of this would’ve happened.
“Y’know what, just…forget I said anything.” Wind Archer pulled down his scarf and his head-wings fluttered back to their original positions, revealing shocked, almost disappointed eyecings. Seeing Fire Spirit standing up.
…
Wind Archer couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Fire Spirit, the most talkative person on all of Earthbread, not tell him something? “Let’s just head back to everyone else.” The flame said.
Now, Wind Archer wasn’t usually impulsive, but his friend definitely needed consoling. Without thinking, he got up and pulled fire into a brief hug, arms wrapping around the others back. “This person better be worth the trouble.” He grumbled. “You look upset though. And as your so called bestie,” he continued, arms dropping to his sides saying some new mortal as hell slang that the fire embodiment always seemed to be up to date on. “you are obliged to tell me why.”
“I just, uuugggghh this is stupid.” The eternal flame buried his head in his hands. “Just, what if the cookie doesn’t like me back, an’ i accidentally confess to them, and it’ll look stupid on my part or-“ cut off by Wind Archer interrupting him, what an odd day.
“Okay but first I need to know who this cookie is. Mortal or Guardian?” The flames seem to pinken yet again, Wind Archer is beginning to think it happens when he is flustered.
Beginning, wowiee. Like it wasn’t already obvious.
“I will help. That’s what… friends do.” The word friend leaving a bitter taste in his mouth, he wanted the fire to be happy, even if he doesn’t get to be the one to make him so. “You’re not going to say anything.” To which the flame shook his head. “It’s a guessing game, sure. Stormbringer?” He shakes his head again. Who else was this guy close to!? “Moonlight?”
“No! Course not Windy, she and Sea Fairy are dating! And by the looks of it, Stormbringer and Frosty could be soon…” he trailed off.
“Frost Queen?” Another shake of the head. “Are they mortal? No? There are the Aincents- no, Beasts?” Fire Spirit snorts as he yet again shakes his head. “It couldn’t be Pitaya, they basically adopted you, huh. Am I missing someone? It couldn’t be Sea Fairy, you haven’t ever really talked except with Moonlight…” Fire Spirit shakes his head again, giving a good humoured eye roll. Wind Archer was leaning against a tree, head in his hands, willing the names of all the immortals to come back to him.
The flames fire still hadn’t erased the newly, Wind Archer appointed ‘blush’ yet, further proving his theory. “Who am I missing?!”Exasperated at practically nobody at this point, banging his head against the tree.
“Witches, jeez Windy, I didn’t know it was bothering you THAT much.” Fire Spirit chuckles. “Fine, if I take a shot at it, this whole relationship deal, would you mind?”
“Yes.” He blurts without thinking, probably lost some braincells with the whole banging his head thing. His eyes widen as he covers his mouth with his hands. “I- I just- I mean-“ he stammers, ready to pull any excuse out of that brain of his. “I mean yes as in yay… you won’t be there to distract me from my duties, haha…” his (weak as hell) excuse obviously fell flat, as he looked up towards an unconvinced fire guardian.
“Windy. You’re still terrible at lying.” He says as the cookie in question begins to feel heat creeping up to his face, hoping that his scarf hid it before blush began to form. “So, that means you DON’T want me an a relationship. Got it. I just won’t say anything to him.”
“Him?” Wind Archer says, hope masked as confusion in his voice, please let it be him witches please.
“Got a problem with it?” The flame teases pulling down Wind Archer’s scarf. “Windy?you’re blushing Winds.”
“I- I am NOT.” he pulls his scarf back up nonetheless. “I don’t have a problem with it, no.”
“Then what is it?”
…
A guy could dream, but Windy obviously has a crush of his own and thinks Fire Spirit will get in the way of that. What other immortals were there anyway? He’d ask Millennial Tree later.
And the other option would get Fire Spirit’s hopes so high, they would probably never set foot on Earthbread ever again. Winds would never like him that way. Not in a thousand years. Would a million do though? Hmm. See, there’s one way to find out which one it is. He could get it over with, and either deal with constant teasing for probably eternity, or… never find out. And keep it to himself until Wind Archer ever brought it up.
He’d do it.
“Hey Winds, could’ja c’mere for a sec?” They were only a metre apart, he beckoned Wind Archer with the ‘come hither’ motion. From then, impulse took over as he pulled the cookie in question into a kiss. Wind Archer tensed for a moment before melting into it, opening his eyecings by a fraction to see if this was real, he met the zephyrs green eyes, seeming to check the same thing.
Regretfully, after about 10… 20… 30 whole seconds of ruffling the winds hair and the other more important kissing thing, the forest guardian tastes like mint and honey by the way, he had to pull away for air. Even though the green cookie beside him is the literally embodiment of it. His face slightly flushed, he didn’t even bother lifting his scarf up to hide the fact. Breathing irregular, the both of them. And hair thoroughly dishelved, wind archer, that is. Fire Spirit’s you couldn’t exactly see. It being on fire and all.
“I- what.” The wind asked. Probably rhetorical.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” The fire said, grinning so hard he was afraid he would literally just drop dead onto the grass. “Soooo…”
“So.” Wind Archer repeats. “Does that mean you liked… me?” He asked sheepishly.
“No I was actually in love with a volcano and ruined my chances.” He deadpans, mock serious expression and everything, as the green cookie laughs, melodic and quiet, Fire Spirits heart rose. He would give everything and anything to hear that again. “Yes dumbass I liked you. Sooo are we like, boyfriends?”
“Well I’m guessing yes. I feel the same…Oh, wait. WAIT. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT A PICNIC WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP!” The wind exclaimed, dragging Fire by the hand as he glided across the foliage.
The two arrived slightly out of breath, despite the fact that Wind Archer was practically carrying the sentient fire.
“Where were you two?” Stormbringer asked. To which she received a shrug from Fire and Wind just pulled his scarf over his face. Which frankly, does nothing to the fact that he is furiously blushing under it. Everyone knows he does that, it’s a perk of knowing someone for seven centuries. Fire Spirit ruffles his boyfriend’s hair, which gets him a lingering look from the Sea and Moon. And Stormy. And Frost. So just about everyone. Everyone expected this. Okay. He sat cross-legged onto the picnic mat, Wind Archer beside him. Head resting on the fire’s shoulder.
“Hey, did YOU realise everyone was shipping us earlier you cute- STUPID, stupid sentient breeze?” The flame whispers. The sentient breeze in question chuckled again, twice in one day, rare occurrence. Of course, that didn’t go unnoticed either, he NEVER laughs like ever. No one could ever get even a slightly amused sigh outta this guy. And it will stay that way, apart from the immortal flame, he was the only exception. Of course, the thought, along with Wind Archer’s melodic laughter AND the others bewildered faces, got him laughing quietly as well.
“So when were you gonna break the news, boyfriends?” Sea Fairy teased. Seeing the twos flushed faces before her she froze. “Wait, wait, you’re BOYFRIENDS? LIKE OFFICIALLY? AHAHAH YES! COME ON QUEENIE GIVE ME THE MONEY!” Frost Queen rolled her eyes.
“You’ve got no use for it, it’s 2 gold coins.” She deadpans. “Oh, sure. You two, congratulations I guess.”
“I- what- did you guys make this whole thing to get us together?!” Fire Spirit exclaims, lifting his head off of the Wind’s own.
“Yes. You guys were being so obvious, and oblivious at the same time it honestly hurt.” Moonlight said, like it were the most obvious thing on Earthbread. “We figured a nudge in the right direction was all it would take. I’m surprised Wind Archer’s figured his feelings out first though.”
Which left the group to finish their picnic, dusk rapidly approaching, and the Archer somehow asleep on Fire Spirit’s shoulder. When had THAT happened?
…
The mentioned green, sentient wind looked too peaceful to wake, and when the Fire realised it, everyone was already packing up. “Sigh. I’ll miss being able to avoid guardian responsibilities.” Yes he SAID sigh, he didn’t actually sigh. And yes, he was talking to an unconscious wind deity. And no, he wasn’t insane.
He had left for around five minutes to clean the place, send his friends off and get back to Wind Archer when he finds that the cookie has curled in on himself, mourning the heat that escaped. Picking him up was fairly easy, considering he’s literally almost as light as air.
“Huh, winds? Windy?? Nope, still not awake. Where is this guys house?” The fire muttered, mostly to himself, the archer in his arms. Speedrunning time it is then, he decides, unfurling his dragon wings.
He had switched to cold fire a while ago, he could see blue in his hair. Enough not to burn the plants and stuff, but hot enough to warm the wind up. Hadn’t Wind Archer said something about his place being almost fire resistant two centuries ago? He’d try it out, maybe. He must’ve cast some pretty advanced spell on it to do that. The cabin being made out of wood and all.
He was standing in front of it, careful not to set the place ablaze. Even though it was fireproof. Oh yeah, he could do that. He set the sleeping cookie, who, if he wasn’t literally the wind, would have been burnt to a crisp from Fire Spirits heat as he switched back to regular fire temperature, down in his bed (which by the way did NOT look slept in at ALL, or that Wind Archer was just really good at making the bed…) before moving to the kitchen. Realising he hadn’t ate much at the picnic, he rummages through the cupboards, only to find that the were mostly empty as well, save for a few vegetables and packs upon packs of untouched instant noodles that were now collecting dust. What did this guy do in his free time? Fire Spirit pulled out two packets, biodegradable. Something only Windy would check, he gives a fond chuckle. Heating the stove (which was probably solar powered, he’d have to check with windy later) he placed the first packets components in.
Okay. It was burnt. Somehow. It , looking back, was probably not a good idea to boost the stove with I dunno, 2000 degrees Celsius all at once. That’s fine, this one’s for him, burnt is a crucial element in his palate, living with Pitaya and Snapdragon and all.
The next one, now, takes all his patience. Sure it’s five minutes. That isn’t long at all. Woah is it boiling over- time to stop. He takes the second batch of noodles, which looked surprisingly, somewhat decent. He sets that one on the dining table as he eats his plate of somehow burnt soup and noodles on the couch, tasted alright but this is someone who once tried eating coal.
He washed the plate and waited for dawn to come again.
…
Fire Spirit startled awake. Funny, he doesn’t remember falling asleep. A few hours must’ve passed, because the sun was just above the horizon. He gets up to re-heat Wind Archer’s, now probably soggy, plate of jelly noodles.
“Fiery?” Ah, speak of. “What’re you doing here?” He said, sleep still plaguing his mind as he wandered over to the flaming cookie.
“Ah, you fell asleep yesterday. Eat.” He said, shoving the re-heated, soggy noodles into Wind Archer’s arms. He looked puzzled, but didn’t question it as he started eating.
“Thanks, was hungry. It’s good.” He smiled, as he sat on the couch beside Fire Spirit. The flame could honestly get used to the sight of his newly dubbed boyfriend smiling at him. He leaned into the wind’s shoulder as he ate. Once he was finished, the blessings was gone from his eyes as he looked at the flame. “Wait, did you carry me home?” He teased.
Fire Spirit scoffed indignantly, “Well everyone else was already gone.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. I have to do patrol for an hour, then archery.”
“Laterrrrrrr please winds?” The fire asks.
“Hmm…” Wind Archer pretended he didn’t already know the answer to that question. “I suppose it can wait until evening.”
Fire Spirit squeals with joy and clings onto the archer like a lifeline, and eventually, both cookies fall asleep.
…
Wind Archer blinks groggily. Warm. He clings onto whatever is at his side, turning to look at it. Fire Spirit?
The memories of the past day and early morning come crashing into his brain as he beams with pure joy. Sorry Fiery, he has some work to do, as he unwillingly rips himself off of the flaming cookie.
He patrols around the Dessert Paradise for an hour, already high noon. He remarks. Stopping for target practice. He picks up his bow and arrow and starts shooting, already on his fifth bullseye when he feels a familiar warmth in the air.
“Windy! Helloooo. How was your…” he trails off, seemingly captivated in the Wind’s archery. “How do you do that?”
“Practice,” he answers bluntly. “Don’t you have other things to do?”
“My guardian responsibilities?” The wind nods. “Already done! I woke up shortly after you left an’ decided no better time than now! Besides, Pitaya’s got the rest of the Cake Monsters in one of their lectures, an’ by that I mean the Cakes are dodgin’ their strikes until they get bored and burn the things to a crisp. I captured them though.” He added, unable to resist the temptation of bragging.
“You captured them. Yes.” He repeats, mock serious expression on, giving the fire a pat on the head.
“I may avoid my duties sometimes, that doesn’t mean I never do them. Now to wait another seven centuries.” He jokes. “Anyway, Cake Monsters don’t come often, they’re usually scared of the lava pools.”
“Yes, Fiery, I’m well aware. You mentioned it last decade.” He replied, hitting another bullseye.
“You remember that?” The fire turns pink, which in turn, leaves the archer blushing too. They’re partners now though, whats the use in hiding it?
“I- no. I have no clue what you’re talking about. In fact, I was making it up.” The fire starts giggling behind his palm as Wind Archer unconsciously puts his bow and arrow back, averting his eyes onto the foliage.
“*Snrk* sureee Winds. I completely believe you.” He teases. “Also, why does your house look like it was abandoned, or something. Like, everything has started adding to their dust collection.”
“I cleaned last week.” The archer says, seemingly relieved to brush past the other topic.
“No I mean the cupboard. The food cupboard.”
“I-“ Wind Archer yet again, averted his sparkling green eyes. “Immortals don’t need to eat. Or sleep.” He sounded as if he didn’t believe it anymore.
“So when you were passed out yesterday. That counts as ‘immortals don’t need sleep’.” The flame deadpans.
“I- it’s just that- we don’t need it to live, we’re not mortals. And there are other, more important things to be doing in my free time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Wait, is that what happened when you missed that one council meeting, when was it… earlier this year? In January. Where Millie told us you were catching up on rest?”
“How do you remember that?” Which only makes Fire Spirits brows furrow. “I- yes, I was. Passed out. As you call it. For a week.”
They were so busy talking that the Wind didn’t realise they had walked back to his cabin. “Now come inside, I’ve made jelly stew.” Continuing before the archer could protest. “No excuses.”
“… thank you Fiery.”
“Aslo when’d you come up with the nickname? You’ve never been one to do that. S cute.”
“I’m… not sure.” He replied, turning pink. He followed Fire Spirit into his cabin, as puzzled as the flame.
He, unceremoniously, tripped over the door (he was busy looking at his boyfriend’s face okay witches can’t a cookie do that once in a while?), the flame catching him before he hit the ground.
“You good?” He asked, an uncharacteristic amount of softness in his voice.
“Yes, thank you.” he replied.
“You.” Fire Spirits started, pointing in between the archer’s eyes, “are getting a day off tomorrow.” The wind started protesting, to no avail. “Nuh-uh. No excuses Windy. I already spoke to Millie about it. He doesn’t mind. In fact, it sounded like an order.”
An order, to rest. From Millennial Tree. Well, an order was an order. “Thats… fine.” He said, chuckling at the utter shock on the flames face. “That just means I get to spend the day with my boyfriend.” He was pretty sure he was beaming and radiating pure joy and sunshine and rainbows but he honestly couldn’t care less.
"I love you winds."
"I love you too."
A few hours had been passed talking, and now they sat outside the cabin, watching the streaks of colours in the sky as the sun parted ways with it once more.