Flames

                                    

                                          
Metal pipe to Shotgun!
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Astro pushed the door closed behind them, the sound echoing in the small room. 
The atmosphere shifted from chaotic noise to a tense silence, thick with unresolved emotions. Astro turned to Dandy, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. 
"Dandy." Astro began, his voice raised but controlled, "this is not the way to handle your problems! You can't just attack Cosmo and Sprout because you're feeling overwhelmed!" 
Dandy remained quiet, his fists still clenched at his sides. The fire in his eyes had dimmed slightly, but the anger was still simmering just beneath the surface. 
Astro stepped closer, his tone becoming more aggressive, "You think this is a joke? You think throwing punches will solve anything? It's pathetic!" He paced the small room, trying to contain his frustration. 
"You're making everything worse! Do you even realize how your actions affect everyone around you?" Astro's voice echoed off the walls, his intensity rising with each word. 
Dandy finally met Astro's gaze, his expression unreadable. He opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, the weight of Astro's words settling heavily in the air. 
Astro's frustration reached its breaking point. He stepped forward and, in a swift, decisive motion, slapped Dandy hard across the face. 
The impact echoed sharply in the confined space, the sting of the blow mirrored by the sharp intake of breath from both of them.
"Are you even listening to me!?" Astro demanded, his voice shaking with anger and desperation. "Do you get it now? Or do I need to spell it out for you?"
Astro stood, chest heaving, the echo of the slap still reverberating in the small room. 
Dandy recoiled slightly, a mix of shock and disbelief washing over his features, but the anger remained, simmering just below the surface. 
"Look at you!" Astro shouted, his voice rising to an almost frantic pitch. "You're a mess! You think lashing out at everyone is going to make you feel better? It's not! You're just pushing everyone away!" He gestured wildly, his frustration spilling over.
"Do you want to be alone?" Astro pressed, his eyes blazing with urgency. "Because that's where you're headed! You're going to lose everyone who cares about you if you keep this up. Is that what you want?" His voice cracked, revealing the worry that lay beneath the anger.
Dandy clenched his jaw, a muscle twitching in his cheek, but he didn't respond. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, as Astro's words hung heavily between them.
"Say something!" Astro demanded, stepping closer, invading Dandy's space. "I can't do this if you don't even try to fight back! I'm not your enemy here! I'm trying to help you!" His hands balled into fists, trembling with the weight of his emotions. 
"Do you even understand what you're doing to yourself?" Astro continued, his voice a mixture of rage and desperation. "Every punch you throw, every fight you pick, it's just a distraction! You're running from your problems instead of facing them head-on! And it's pathetic!"
Dandy finally broke his silence, his voice low and strained. "You don't know what I'm going through, Astro."
Astro scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't need to know! I can see it! You're suffering, and instead of reaching for help, you're dragging everyone down with you!"