[HIATUS-ish] From Zero to Inferno (Fire Force X Reader)

Protecting Something Precious (Chapter 26)

You walked over and dangled a soda in front of Vulcan's face, giving him a can of soda to drink to pass the time.

"Vulcan, how are you feeling?"

"I've- been better. But thanks for checking up on me (Y/N)." He cracks open the soda can and drinks out of it.

"Is Lisa okay?"

"Lisa will be fine. Whatever Giovanni did to her really screwed up how she thought. It's just- none of this would've happened if I just trusted you all. It's my fault."

You looked over at Vulcan who was talking himself down.

"Yu's in a coma because of me, Lisa's an emotional mess because I couldn't see her problems, and now-"

"Hey. Don't be too hard on yourself Vulcan. You did what you could-"

"It's just like Giovanni said. I did it because of my own selfish reasons. I didn't trust you or Company 8 until it was too late."

"Vulcan."

He looked up at you as you placed your hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault. You had every right to be cautious. You had every right to not let your guard down. Giovanni was part of the Industry after all, and he committed so many horrific things."

You and Vulcan looked inside the hospital room where Lisa was somewhat resting now, still scarred by what Giovanni did to her. She was moving around the sheets, placing her palms on her head as she quietly whispered Giovanni not to leave her.

Vulcan quickly walked inside trying to comfort her but to no avail. She was still scared.

"G-Giovanni.."

"Lisa. Lisa It's me, Vulcan. I'm here."

"D-Don't leave me.. I'll do anything, please just don't leave me alone again.."

You waited outside before Vulcan came back out with a very depressed expression. He felt defeated, confused for the first time, as even though he knew how to build from the ground up, it was hard to fix the things that have been broken.

He sat down near you as he sighed.

"I'm guessing you're staying here too?"

"Yeah I am."

A moment of silence passes as Vulcan finishes up the soda. He then asks a question.

"(Y/N). How do you continue on, knowing that the worse is to come?"

"You just do. The fact that you know that there is the worst to come means you're prepared for that to happen. It's just a good thing to keep your head up for the worst."

"You make it sound like you experienced it before."

You nodded.

"Shinra.. He wasn't always the happy-go lucky person. He wanted to kill himself back then."

"What? Shinra was suicidal back then?"

"Due to the constant bullying and his only family member telling him he shouldn't have been born, it was tough. Shinra was ready to end it all by diving off the fifth floor of his school. Luckily my dumbass was there and I smacked him in the head while sprinting towards the school entrance."

"What happened next?"

"Well..."

-FLASHBACK-

You wake up in the infirmary next to the boy who fell on your head.

"Urrrrrrggggh..."

The nurse comes over to check up on you as she hears your pained groan. You look around, confused how you got in the infirmary.