Fandom: Enn Enn no Shouboutai / Fire Force.
Pairing: Shinmon Benimaru x fem!reader.
Content: Angst, death, loads of bad things including lack of proofing.
A/N: I know I should feel bad for this, but I don’t. Feel free to ASK (or reblog) for tag – in fact: always reblog. Thanks to those who have already <3
21. Ignite
... Reader ...
You’re not sure what you had expected and still you’re taken by surprise at the devastation a single insect causes.
Spreading from the impact spot on the girl’s chest, flames spring up and engulf the small figure, making the skin crackle and clothes melt. The worst part is the scream: the high pitched wail has turned into whimpers but even that is changing as you watch in horror. It’s becoming guttural. Gravelly.
“What a shame,” Giovanni’s voice tuts from somewhere behind you, “I always hope it’s the one. Always wish for the spark.”
Always...how many? “You’re insane.”
“It’s science,” he dismisses you.
Flesh seethes and bubbles, the stench quickly filling the room together with the heat of the flames, and you know it won’t be long now. When an infernal is fully formed (their previous life reduced to charcoal and blackened bones) the hunger sets in. Already, the girl’s shape is falling into the posture of a mad and starving animal trying to smell out its prey...and you’re first in line.
“Let me go.” You hate the tremor in your voice as you try to appeal to Giovanni’s kinder side. Does he have any? “Let my hands free at least!”
Eye sockets filled with fire zero in on your struggling shape and a wicked grin splits the blackened skull. Here she comes. The infernal’s first words are barely audible above the roaring flames, but you know what they are anyways because they always are the same – infernals are hungry for souls, for craving the heat of fire while still hating the pain as the last of their consciousness roasts forever.
You know, she can’t burn you. Compared to anyone else who might have been in this situation, you’re actually kind of safe...or you would have been if the fact that the flames won’t touch you is exactly what has gotten you into this mess in the first place. That and the fact that I can’t shut up and keep my head down, you berate yourself.
A skeletal hand reaches out, and you instantly recoil. “No! Don’t touch me!” It pauses as if considering your words and the fear powers you on. “The one behind me, take him...please. Not me, take him instead.“ Tears barely make it onto your cheeks before they evaporate from the blazing heat and you can’t keep your eyes open any longer as it prickles and burns. “Don’t touch me...”
The light shifts together with the scorching air, passing beside you and leaving the front of your body suddenly shivering at the change in temperature.
“Interesting,” the mad doctor comments.
There’s a muted crunch, then the flickering light dies together with the last of an innocent girl.
... Benimaru ...
Dark and damp, the Nether seems to exist in a different world altogether. The sounds of rats scurrying out of the way can be heard sometimes, but mostly it’s just the footsteps of the two men making their way along tracks that haven’t seen activity for centuries, maybe.
Once, they’d gotten to an area where stairs led upwards only to be blocked by rubble. Another time, they’d to edge past an abandoned vehicle, the stretched shape askew on the rails and the seats behind the dusty windows offering room for nothing but shadows and a hint of the old world.
That was hours ago.
“You don’t know where we’re going,” Benimaru drawls, “do you?”
Joker shuffles an unlit cigarette to the other corner of the mouth. “Never said I knew exactly where she’d be.”
On and on the walk, none of them saying much except when the path diverges and they must choose a direction. The captain hates it. Sure, Konro often tries to teach him to think first and act later, but there is nothing to consider here except making sure to be able to find the way out again – a task that’s ensured by stacking rubble every 200 meter.
Maybe we should’ve taken the left back there? It’s easy to second-guess everything down here where the cold slowly tries to seep into their bones. Benimaru doesn’t care about the subterranean climate: as long as he hasn’t reached his goal, nothing else matters. It appears Joker is of the same opinion. What does he want from her?
“Wait...” the man in questions pauses, slowly picking the cigarette from between the lips, “do you feel that?”
Benimaru has already figured out that his “friend’s” senses are sharp despite the dopey mannerisms, so he stops as well and tries to sharpen his senses. The thick soles of his boots doesn’t allow him to feel if there are vibrations, but not even the lightest pebbles shift in their spots – only a cobweb waves silently from the broken sign hanging above them. It’s moved by the faintest of breezes that also caresses Benimaru’s cheeks with a hint of warmth as it blows past, carrying the scent of dust and mould.
Wait. ”Warm air,” he gasps.
Whatever is causing it, it’s worth checking out and the men continue into the darkness.
... Reader ...
“Please...please do-do-don’t!” Your heart is beating loudly in your ears but it’s not enough to drown out the clicking noises of the beetle. “You c-can’t...please!”
But you know Giovanni not only can but also will because he’s got the beetle gripped with a pair of elongated tweezers and is steadily coming closer. He’s drawing it out, though, revelling in the panic you can’t hold back any longer as it begins to black out everything else.
“You should be proud,” his voice comes from far away, “the scientific importance of this is unparalleled! And the honour! If this works...it means you’ve been chosen to usher in the Second Cataclysm.”
“No...I don’t want...no, please don-”
You’re startled by the searing sensation as the insect lands on you and burns through the cloth of the jumpsuit. So this is how it feels. Flames have never caused you pain before and for a second, you can only think of this searing as if it’s freezing your skin, but as embers spread beneath your skin and smoke rises...Now I know what it’s like to burn.
