Fandom: Enn Enn no Shouboutai / Fire Force.
Pairing: Shinmon Benimaru x fem!reader.
Content: Awkwardness, sexual tension, nudity. Y’know ;)
A/N: Feel free to ASK (or reblog) for tag – in fact: always reblog. Thanks to those who have already <3
13. Seared
... Reader ...
Your body is aching both from the sparring a few days ago as well as the tossing and turning from this night. Something has changed but it’s impossible to identify what – all you know is that people seem more nervous. Serious. More than once, you’ve walked in on Konro and Shinmon whispering and then stopping abruptly when noticing you...and you don’t know why. No one tells you what’s going on. It’s no wonder this night has been sleepless when you’re occupying your mind with worst case scenarios. Finally giving up on rest, you get up and head for the showers. Maybe it’ll help wash away the worries and if not it’ll at least loosen up the tense muscles.
... Benimaru ...
Mmmmrrr...too early...Benimaru slings a towel over the bare shoulder and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. Wanna sleeeep. But he can’t today. Today he has to get up early to get the new watch plan working: no one is going to enter Asakusa without either him or Konro knowing.
Still half asleep, he stumbles to the nearest showers, confident that he’s the only one who’s up at the crack of dawn.
Warm, humid air engulfs him when he open the door, and it takes a moment longer before realization hits that someone else is in fact awake. Only a single lantern is lit to light the room. Standing on a bench next to a pile of mix-match clothes it illuminates the vapour in the air and casts a warm glow on [Y/N] standing under the running water. Drops sparkle like stars on the wet skin as they gather to form a waterfall along the spine, down between the buttocks, and finally splash between the feet – feet that are much daintier than the guys’ stinky ones after a day inside the heavy boots.
Benimaru is awake. Very awake, although the situation seems surreal enough to be a dream. I shouldn’t be here. He manages to suppress a confused groan. I shouldn’t watch...I should leave. Backing out the way he arrived, the captain struggles to think of a way he can forget what he saw or apologize for walking in on her – mainly because he’s got a nagging feeling that she’ll tear his head off if or when she finds out...but also because...because...
Damnit. Back in his own room already, he grumbles at himself for not going all the way to the men’s showers. How could I know? No one’s awake at this time normally?! It’s not the first time, the women’s shower has been put to use by either Benimaru or any of the other guys...but of course things has changed now there actually is a woman around (the twins don’t count and they’re normally noisy during bath time anyways).
Still, the curves and slopes of [Y/N]’s body in the shower is burned into his mind’s eye. Calloused fingers tug at his strands of black hair. Perhaps it’s an attempt to get the brain working, perhaps it’s instead of tugging at something else because Benimaru is becoming aware of a steadily growing issue. Nonono, not like this! Not...not her.
She’s smart, or rather streetwise, and has a tenacity and fearlessness rivalling that of the best of his men who (by the way) all have been charmed by her almost since day one. And she’s infuriating, stubborn, kind, gorgeous and...Benimaru falters, painfully aware of the row of complimenting adjectives he would use about the woman.
“And I promised to protect her,” he sighs. Not fall for her.
... Reader ...
“Konro,” you mutter nervously to the guy, “what’s going on?”
You can sense his chuckle more than actually hear it over the hubbub of the street where vendors are busy trying to keep up with their customers’ demands. “Haven’t you been listening? They’ll help keep you safe.”
Glancing back at the district’s oldest citizen, you can’t help but wonder what the ancient woman can do to ensure no one will come for you.
“That’s...nice.”
She’s the fourth person to conspiratorially whisper to you, transforming a simple shopping trip into a test of paranoia versus cold reasoning. And yes, you have been listening. You listened already the first time Benimaru announced you were going to enjoy the protection of Company Seven’s base whether you liked it or not...you just hadn’t believed him and, oh boy, had that taught you a lesson! Whenever he appears behind you, there’s a brief tension at the base of your skull.
“Why, though? They don’t know me.”
Konro glances over before returning his attention to the oranges. “Because Beni’s told them to.”
Pfft. “They do everything he says?”
“I rarely tell them to do anything,” a drawl comes from behind you, “but now you mention it...you’re the first one to ignore me and look what that brought you.”
A fucking headache. Twice. “So you’re saying you’re not always a pain?”
You haven’t turned, preferring to help Konro on the hunt for ripe fruits instead, but you know he’s rolling his eyes under the tussled hair. I should probably be nicer to him. After all, he’s the reason you’ve not in a lab somewhere, locked up until there’s nothing left to use.
“[Y/N]...” Shinmon sighs with a note of defeat.
“Benimaru,” you reiterate, finally turning and almost bumping into him due to the unexpected proximity, “I get that you’ve g-”
“We need to talk.”
The severity in his tone silences you. I’m in trouble? It wouldn’t exactly surprise you. Stumped by the captain’s intensity, you don’t even object as he grabs you by the hand and leads you back to Company Seven’s station.
The air is cold against your skin as he lets go, snatching his hand back as if he’d barely been able to stand touching you this long – not unlike how you should be feeling yourself. Your hand hovers momentarily where he’s left it in midair as you gather your wits enough to kick off the shoes (no longer stolen, but payed for with both money and an apology for your actions).
Even if Benimaru has let go of you, you still follow quietly into the kitchen. Leaning against the counter, you fold your arms to keep your hands from reaching out until you know for certain that you’re completely in control once more.
