Azure Akuma [Fire Force x M!Reader] REWRITING IN PROGRESS

«|| 15. Discipline

   Hibana whips out her fan and holds it out in front of her. From where she'd pulled it from, you'd never really know. "Imagining things, you say?"

"Who knows? That's how it looked to me," Shinra grunts out with his hands on his knees. He brushes off the clumps of ash on his jacket before standing at his full height. Hibana's expression shifts into one of annoyance and she swipes her fan in a flourish, sending a flurry of flowery flames in your direction.

"Don't play games with me, boy!"

Before the flames hit your bodies and render you both useless for the time being, you leap in front of Shinra. You clap your hands together before opening them back again to reveal a staff-like creation out of your newly learned skill; compressed flames.

Twirling it as you would with a baton, you do just that, only at a higher speed to push back the petals from searing your skin. Wasting no time, Shinra leaps over your head in Hibana's direction, but just as he did so, she activates her Heat Syncope, sending him into the furthest wall, while you were only lowered to your knees.

Hibana smirks in twisted satisfaction as she hears the bodily thud of Shinra hitting the wall behind you.

"Why are you stumbling about, huh?" She laughs. "Still think dizziness is your imagination?"

Slowly, you rose to your feet, chanting 'As long as I get Iris, I'll be fine' over and over in your head. Hibana's petals continued to sear your skin, as you had already dissipated your staff as soon as Shinra hit the wall. It burned, but you didn't let it show, lest it boosts the pink-ette's ego higher.

She hummed before smiling wickedly. "Seems like you're still standing, [Name]. Whether it is out of sheer determination or not, you still deserve to burn as badly as our sisters did." You gritted your teeth as the harsh words lashed your skin. She was still going on about it after all this time and it hurt more than you thought it would.

She flicked her fan once more, sending large amounts of petals hurtling at your body. The pain was intense, even for someone with a natural tolerance to fire, but you didn't voice your complaints.

"T... that's enough, Hibana. You don't have to keep doing this." You found yourself stuttering out. Hibana let out a loud scoff, making Iris jolt.

"Enough? Enough? Did you stop when the sisters continued to cry out? When they could do nothing but beg for you to stop? Did you? Or did you persist? Answer that for me, would you?"

Shinra grunts behind you, and the padding of his bare feet get closer until you hold out a hand in front of him, making him stop fully in his tracks.

"I- h- how many times do I need to tell you that I wasn't the one who started the fire, Hibana!? Stay there, Shinra. I'll take it over from here." Your eyes never leave Hibana as you say that, practically boring holes into the lady.

"Huh!? But-!"

You cut off Shinra before he could say anything else. "No- look, I'll convince Lieutenant Hinawa to give me your share of chores for this week...?" You were practically begging at this point, much to your chagrin. Begging was one of the things you hated doing.

The black-haired teen tapped his chin in what seemed to be in thought before backing up a couple of paces. He gave a small smile and two thumbs up.

"Fine, but I'll step in if I feel like I should." You released a hefty sigh but nodded anyway. As soon as you turn around, Hibana loudly clicks her tongue.