Horns Like A Devil || Shinra x Reader || Fire Force

1 | Infernal

Somedays, you wondered how your nights compared to others. When the sun falls asleep as the beautiful moon rises into the dark sky sprinkled with far away stars. How most people were sound asleep, tucked away in the comfort of their bed, and danced away in their dreams. Somedays, you wished your nights carried on like theirs.

Instead, you were awake at 2 am, ice cream sandwich in one hand as you sat on the cold floor of the kitchen, back pressed against the fridge with your other arm laying on one of your propped knees, head tilted to rest against the material as you contemplated your existence.

It was hot.

You took another bite of your cold desert, savoring the familiar flavor you've come to enjoy as it slowly cooled the rest of your oven-like body. Your hair was soaked and the top of your shirt was drenched with water from when you splashed your face in the bathroom, well, more like dumped your head under the cold running water in an attempt to cool off. Tiny droplets now dripping from your chin and onto the hard flooring.

It's your fault.

Finishing your midnight snack, you ran a hand through your hair to stop the water from falling onto your face, a sigh escaping your lips in the process.

"Kasai?" A little girl called your name, her voice echoing from the living room. Turning your head to face her, you locked eyes with the 11-year-old girl you lived with.

"Katsumi?" You called back as the little girl walked over to you. "What are you doing up this early?" You questioned, watching as she slid beside you, pulling her head under your arm so you embraced her. You instinctively tried to move back, only to be stopped by her trapping you in a side hug.

Bringing up her legs and mimicking your position, a weight was placed on your shoulder as Katsumi rested her head there. "It was hot."

A pang of guilt ached in your chest as you stared at the floor, not daring to look at her tired face as it would make you feel even worse. Even if it was entirely your fault.

"Are you okay now?" Katsumi asked, cutting you off from saying the apology that was stuck in your throat from the moment you saw her. You gave a weak smile, your lips shaking as your tried to stop your voice from cracking, clearing the unsettling feeling in your throat.

"Yeah, I feel much better," You assured, standing up and pulling the girl to her feet as well, careful to make sure she didn't step on the puddle of water that pooled beneath you. You looked over to your scattered covers hanging off the couch that were discarded from your body when you started heating up. Most days you cursed yourself for what you were, but for now, you pushed that aside, looking back to Katsumi. "Let's go back to b-"

"Are you leaving soon?" She asked, stopping you from rushing her back to sleep.

It was a question you were all too familiar with. It was a decision you had to but didn't want to make. To leave or not to leave.

It was simple, really. Either you stay home and continue to take care of Katsumi and her mother, or become a Fire Force Soldier.

Becoming a soldier meant leaving home and being far away for long periods. It was a demanding occupation, but it was better than working some mundane job that you were bound to mess up in some way due to your pyrokinetic abilities being a handful to control. Staying, on the other hand, meant you got to spend time with Katsumi and help out her already ill mother.

"I haven't applied for a company yet," You said truthfully, still hesitant and unsure of what you should do.

"I think you should..." Katsumi mumbled, walking over to the couch you slept on as she picked up the covers and wrapped them around her shoulders. "You should use your fire and save others too, like all the cool heroes do in stories and stuff."