Insecurities

There was no doubt about it.

Even when the pan sizzled with fatty oil oozing from the fish he caught and the tangy and spicy aroma of freshly picked herbs that grew in the forest vegetation wafted in the afternoon air, Red still didn't give him much regard.

She was truly madly deeply enraged with Archer.

It was evident with how she keeps on rejecting his attempts to extend her a helping hand. Archer was an extrovert and had no problems with getting along people; humans, elfens, pixies, light faeys, vampires, heck he even has a daemon friend.

What Red is doing is torture to someone like him.

It was frustratingly difficult to communicate with someone who does not want to talk. When Red had finished the chocolate bar Archer gave, he wanted to discuss how they should proceed finding Ari but struggled to have a proper conversation since she didn't even want to face him.

She kept on turning her head away from him like a child throwing a tantrum when she wasn't allowed to go play outside the mud puddle. Kind of cute, but annoying too.

He felt like he was being punished.

It was definitely understandable though; he actually deserved the cold shoulder. Even he himself admits that he went too far to upset her this much. They have been sitting beneath the palm trees and Archer knew they needed to keep moving if they wanted to find his brother.

Who knew she packed a whole lot of attitude with such a tiny frame? Maybe it could be because of her affinity for fire. For millennia, fire had been revered as a symbol of passion, rebirth, destruction, and purification. It is a very formidable element for it could both easily destroy and restore.

All Archer could see was Red's tiny back. She looked so small, so delicate like a flower slowly rising from her deep winter slumber, her crown shone in the afternoon sun, beautiful as petals slowly blooming one by one revealing the veiled exquisiteness within.

He needs to remind himself that he has to thank Ari for insisting he comes along and help them in this whole queen selection seven trials bullcrap.

If he had been left to his own life choices, he would've still been living the life of a vagabond. Wandering from place to place and never really having a clear goal in his long, long life span. He thought it was what he wanted – what he deserved.

A life of merely existing.

But seeing Red, he became alive. The first time he saw her all flushed from the morning sun, coming up and down Granny Cane's apartment, there was something about her that sparks joy in his heart and the vivacity felt foreign to him.

Red may not notice it, but Archer can tell that she sees Ari more than him.

That she regards Ari better than him.

He wanted her to notice him too, but he becomes too nervous and it turns to arrogance and bravado.

An act of self-defense to hide his insecurities that his brother will always be the better sibling.

The better guy.

The better warrior.

He looked at her again and saw she was also deep in her thoughts. What is she thinking right now? Is she contemplating on his apology? When will she actually allow him inside and just be able to talk? He should just serve the food he had prepared to see.

Taking the fish out of the pan, he laid it on a banana leaf he cut off when he went inside the island forest. He was lucky enough to chance upon fruit bearing plantain trees and some bushes of berries that he was able to bring back nature's dessert as well.

Stoking the embers of the fire below the improvised stone tripod, he poked out hot potatoes which was all that was left of the food supplies from the fall.

They ate in silence and Archer anticipated Red's disposition. Back at the apartment when she had been furious with Ari, she had completely turned from hell's sales rep to a cheerful puppy happily munching at the pizza they offered her.

They discovered that food was that fine line that separates her opposite personalities.

Red gingerly accepted the makeshift plate with the fish and fruits and little by little she picked up the food and delivered it to her watering waiting mouth. She didn't realize she had been quite famished up until now and was eating like it was her last.

She didn't know Archer could pull off this kind of food from scratch.

Red, totally engrossed with the explosion of flavors in her mouth, absentmindedly picked the potatoes and gobbled it, instantly regretting her action as the potato was apparently still too hot and burned her tongue and throat.

She choked and gagged the piece she bit off from the tuber and Archer immediately jump in to help her out, providing coconut water for her to drink. She sounded like Sir Arthur when he gagged out a bunch of hairballs.

And that was pretty horrendous to hear, more so to see.

Ugh, so embarrassing.

"You ok?" Archer inquired as he tapped her back gently, trying if maybe it could dislodge the burning piece out her mouth.

"Yeah," cough "I think so." Cough. She felt Archer's big hand stopped tapping her back and she realized she had broken her silent little war with him. Shit. She wanted to go a bit longer see his tormented expressions.

A bit sadistic, but he deserved it so who gives a fuck.

Red craned her neck to look at Archer whose face was slightly hidden by his mane of jet-black hair. He used to style his layers of locks but as he had gone diving to catch fish, his hair lost the signature clean-cut, slicked back style.

The top layers now drooped down towards the front, the salty water curling his hair like that of a 90s heart throb.

Something caught Red's attention and had shocked her more than Archer's apology. She turned to actually look him in the eye and he deliberately covered his face with his hands, shielding his embarrassment from her scrutinizing eyes.

"Are you crying?" she finally asked him.