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Wanderer didn’t like children, and he hated dealing with them. With Durin, it was a different case. While the dragon turned human acted mature sometimes, he still had moments where he had the excitement and wonder of a child seeing the world; when upset, he throws a tantrum or shuts down completely. Over time, Wanderer started to try and find methods to deal with the explosive anger fuelled by the abyss.
Durin had found a bird nest with birds whose parents were absent. Feeling fascinated, he had decided to spend his free time on guard until their parents came back. Wanderer had to threaten to throw out his share of food to get him to rest. That was a misstep, however, as when Durin returned, the nest was tipped over, the babies sprawled on the ground. Besides them were signs of battle, and dead mercenaries.
The dragon stood above the bodies, his eyes looking around for any signs of life. He wasn’t checking for life in the mercenaries, but for any birds who had survived. After a few minutes, he found nothing. Wanderer watched from a distance, unsure on what to say. There's no doubt in his mind that Durin would blame him, and then apologize later.
“Let it be, there’s nothing we can do about it.” Wanderer said flatly, crossing his arms.
Durin’s tail swayed, and his fists clenched. He slowly turned to look at him, his eyes starting to tint red. “Nothing we could’ve done? I could’ve saved them!”
Wanderer couldn’t understand personally why Durin would be so upset, animals die all the time in his eyes, but he said nothing else regardless. He pressed his lips together, knowing that any other words would worsen Durin’s mood. Although he stayed silent, Durin stalked towards him, eyebrows furrowed and his pupils sharpened.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?!” Durin demanded.
“Because I know you’re angry.”
“I AM NOT ANGRY.” He replied, his voice rising.
Wanderer sighed and started to turn to walk away, “I’m leaving you to cool down out here, find me in the inn when you’ve calmed down.”
Before he could walk away, Wanderer felt a burning hand grab his forearm. He winced, looking down to see abyssal flames, and Durin holding him with a strong grasp. “Let go of me.” Wanderer tried to pull away, but the flames grew stronger, the searing pain almost tearing a yell from his throat.
“Durin, let go of me,” He repeated, urgency starting to creep in. Despite that, the dragon held on with no change in his expression.
Wanderer glanced back down at his arm, the artificial skin was going to be burnt beyond repair if he stayed, ruined to the point Nahida would have issues restoring him. He gritted his teeth, summoning anemo in his free hand, and summoning a small vacuum. He threw the ball behind Durin, and it began pulling Durin, but the grasp didn’t loosen.
“Wake up Durin!” Wanderer started grasping at Durin’s wrist, trying to pry it off only to burn his hand. The pain was starting to get overwhelming, Durin’s expression still not changing as he stared blankly at him.
Soon the anemo faded away and Wanderer managed to pry Durin’s hand off, falling backwards onto his back. He knew his arm must be a mess, and he didn’t want to look at it, so he stared at the sky.
--
“Durin….wake up!”
That’s Hat Guy’s voice. Durin thought distantly. What was I doing again?
He slowly came back to himself, his hand in a claw shape as if he was grabbing something, but nothing was there. Before him, Wanderer lay on his back. He stood there for a moment, his muddled mind refusing to catch up, but soon it came flooding back. His anger, the birds, and the memories of burning his friend.
He instantly ran over and dropped down, tears starting to form. Wanderer’s arm was nearly burned beyond recognition, his other hand similarly wrecked. His eyes were closed and his chest was still. Durin pressed his ear to Wanderer’s chest, praying for a heartbeat, but nothing came. He lifted his head, the horror of the situation dawning on him. He just killed his first friend over some baby birds.
“No, no, no…” Durin with shaking hands reached to shake Wanderer, “Please, wake up!”
Still, Wanderer didn’t react, his body still like a corpse. His thoughts started racing, what the dendro archon was going to do? He killed her student, and he would be proving to her he’s too dangerous to be out and around. Desperation began to seep into his voice, “PLEASE, I’m sorry, don’t die, please…”
Durin rested his head on Wanderer’s chest, tears now flowing freely. He spent a few minutes crying into his friend’s chest, before he felt something move. He sat up to see Wanderer’s arm shifting gingerly, and his eyes starting to open. “You…you’re alive!”
Wanderer’s eyes flicked towards him, not a single sign of anger. “What are you crying for?” He asked, “I’m still alive, aren’t I?”
“I thought you were dead,” Durin said through hiccups, “you weren’t breathing, and I couldn’t feel your heartbeat.”
Wanderer signed and raised his hand as if he was going to rub his head, only to put it back down, presumably remembering his hand was burnt. “It would take a lot more to kill me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know you are,” Wanderer started to sit up.
“I’m so, so, sorry.” Durin said again. “I hurt you, I’m so…so…”
“Don’t” Wanderer interrupted him, “Whatever you were going to call yourself, don’t. We all make mistakes, and we only started on managing your anger last week.”
“I should be better by now.”
“Nobody improves themselves in a week, I would know.”
Durin fell silent, sniffling and rubbing his eyes. Wanderer lifted himself off the ground and onto his feet with anemo, now looking down at him. With a sigh, Wanderer summoned anemo, forcing Durin to stand up. “If it makes you feel better, make it up to me by taking me to Nahida.”
To Wanderer’s request, Durin’s face brightened up. He was offered a chance to fix what he burnt away. “O-Okay.”
With Durin’s help, Wanderer was taken to see Nahida to be healed. He found himself waiting in his own room, trying to distract himself with books, when the door opened. Wanderer stood in the doorway, no sign of the injury left on his skin.
“Hat guy!” Durin exclaimed, nearly dropping his book.
“C’mon, I’m getting you some dinner.”