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Fire Spirit watched as Wind Archer effortlessly began to peel an orange. He didn't struggle for even a second, just removing the peel like it was nothing. A bit of zest caught under his nail.
"Damn, you got some type of orange peeling magic I didn't know about?" Fire Spirit said, chuckling a bit.
Wind Archer glanced up as he said, "Its not magic. They aren't hard to peel."
Fire Spirit rolled his eyes. "They are to me," he took the orange back once it was peeled and split it in half. He handed half to Wind Archer. "Here."
Wind Archer shook his head, pushing Fire Spirit's hand back. The warmth always caught him off guard, and now was no exception. "No, you have it. Witches know you need more vitamins in your life..."
"Hm, you sure?" Fire Spirit asked. When Wind Archer nodded, he popped a slice in his mouth. "Well, you're missing out!"
"Don't talk with your mouth open," Wind Archer said. He put the orange peels in his bag. "For compost," he explained when Fire Spirit gave him a weird look.
"Your bag is gonna smell like oranges..." Fire Spirit said.
Wind Archer rolled his eyes. "So? Oranges smell nice."
Fire Spirit rolled his eyes back as he said, "Until everything you own smells like them."
"Its still not a bad scent," Wind Archer said, "Just eat your food."
-----
Fire Spirit came by again the next day, tossing an orange. It smacked against his palm every time he caught it. It was that noise that caught Wind Archer's attention. He turned to face the other with an eyebrow raised. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't peel my orange. You mind?" Fire Spirit asked, smirking. His expression was almost amused, much to Wind Archer's confusion.
Also to Wind Archer's confusion... "Last I checked, you don't eat fruits unless I force you," he said, though he took the orange and peeled it for his friend, "Or anything healthy, really."
Fire Spirit scoffed and took the orange back. "Well... oranges are good. Thanks, Windy!" He said before flying off.
Wind Archer wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but he wasn't complaining. If Fire Spirit had decided to change his diet to include more than fried foods, who was he to complain? He put the orange peels in his bag again.
---
Fire Spirit again came by with an orange the following day. He didn't even ask this time. He just handed it to Wind Archer with an eyebrow raised expectantly.
Wind Archer peeled it for him. "You really should learn to do this yourself," he said, "You can't come to me every time you want an orange. What if I'm busy?"
"Then I'll wait until you aren't!" Fire Spirit chuckled. As he took the orange back, he watched Wind Archer put the peels in his bag. He gave a small tilt of his head. "So... compost, you said?"
That was even more bewildering to the archer. "Yes..." he said, "You were listening?"
Fire Spirit sputtered for a bit before responding, "O- of course I was! Don't be stupid," he flicked Wind Archer in the gem, who frowned and rubbed it, "I was just... curious I guess. About why."
"It adds nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil," Wind Archer explained, "But they can increase the acidity."
"So why use them?"
"Why so many questions all of a sudden?" Wind Archer asked. Though he normally would jump on an opportunity to gush about his beloved plants, Fire Spirit was not the type to care, let alone ask.
Fire Spirit's face froze for a second before he answered, "Can't a guy be curious? Maybe I'm planning on starting my own garden!"
Wind Archer hummed. "I doubt the Dragon's Valley could support plants," he said, "Its far too hot and ashy."
Fire Spirit huffed. He gave Wind Archer an annoyed look. "You don't know that. Its not like you ever visit! I always gotta come all the way out here..."
"It isn't that far. The Dessert Paradise is just across the sea," Wind Archer said, "And you can fly."
"Flying or not, you should visit sometime!" Fire Spirit said. His voice grew higher as he started to whine, "C'mon, Windy! You can take a break to hang out with me for one day!"
Wind Archer raised an eyebrow. "Am i not hanging out with you now?"
"No, you're peeling an orange for me. There's a difference," Fire Spirit said as he crossed his arms, a smug look on his face.
Wind Archer turned away. "I already peeled it."
"Huh," Fire Spirit paused. After a moment, he flew away. "See ya, Windy!"
Wind Archer tilted his head as he watched the spirit fly away, not entirely bothered, but not content either.
---
When Fire Spirit didn't return the next morning, Wind Archer wondered if perhaps his inexplicable love of oranges had ended. It wouldn't have been the first time Fire Spirit had randomly became a bit obsessed with something only to give it up a few days later.
Then Fire Spirit arrived midday with a handful of orange peels. Wind Archer blinked a few times, eyes wide. "What... where did you get those?"
"I had an orange," Fire Spirit shrugged, "I figured you'd want these?"
Wind Archer couldn't help but notice that his breath didn't smell like orange. "I thought you couldn't peel oranges."
"I..." Fire Spirit faltered, "I can. Its just hard. I like it when you peel them for me."
"You do?" Wind Archer asked, eyes widening further. It sounded far too genuine for Fire Spirit.
He, in turn, scoffed and turned away. "Don't make a big deal of it! It doesn't mean anything!"
"I didn't... say it did. I suppose I'm just a bit..." Wind Archer thought for a second. What did he feel, exactly? Concerned, maybe? No, not quite. "Confused."
Fire Spirit said, "Whats there to be confused about? Its just oranges."
"Youre being really weird. You never eat healthy foods, you never ask for help, and you certainly don't say that you like when I do things for you," Wind Archer said. He raised an eyebrow, challenging Fire Spirit.
Fire Spirit made a weird face, one that Wind Archer couldn't place a solid emotion on. After a moment, he threw the orange peels at Wind Archer. "Just- just take the damn orange peels! Youre the one being weird!" He insisted.
Wind Archer stared at the orange peels, which had landed unceremoniously on the ground. "You know, I really would like to talk about this. If you'd just--"
Fire Spirit took off before Wind Archer could finish, leaving him stunned. He just stared for a bit at the flash of light slowly becoming one with the horizon before picking up the orange peels. They were slightly burnt around the edges. Almost in the shape of a heart.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence. It wasn't like Fire Spirit to make gestures like that. And it certainly wouldn't be like Fire Spirit to LIKE him.
Fire Spirit didn't ask him to open oranges anymore after that, but Wind Archer did notice peels in his compost bin that weren't there before, and Fire Spirit never had the scent of orange. But it didn't mean anything.
Fire Spirit wasn't that type of guy.