♯ 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗥

𝓯.our

he was speechless up until now. he didn't know what words to spit out, or his mouth itself forbade shinra to open up a topic, rather, which he agreed to. he himself didn't want to talk about what he currently has in mind. he just kept staring at the (h/c)nette that was sitting across him on the dining table as they're having their dinner together.

"you've been quiet." (y/n) spoke with a worried tone and expression, staring right back at shinra's crimson-colored hues. this action caused shinra to avert his eyes away from her line of vision and gulp, hoping that the invisible lump in his throat would wash away with his own saliva, but that alone didn't give him the chance to speak up. it would've been easier for him if he personally knew her for years, but since they just met, it was difficult.

noticing the black-haired male's current condition, (y/n) heaved out a deep sigh and finished her food before speaking once more. "if you're curious about something, just ask. i'm still not giving you my full trust, though. who knows? you might be an assassin that was ordered to kill me, right?"

"it's not like that, dumbass! geez, (y/n)."
"what? you can never be too careful."
"tch. whatever."

their short feud came to an end when the female stood up and brought her plate to the sink, washing it right away so that she can finally enjoy the remaining hours of the night. shinra took this as a cue to ask her about the issue. he gathered his courage up and breathed in and out before he spoke.

"i- i'm kinda curious... um, you know. about your family." he stammered with his words as he avoided eye contact due to embarrassment, a faint tint of a pink hue crawling to his cheeks.

as (y/n) finished with her small chore, she exhaled and faced the male with her hands holding onto the ceramic material behind her for support. hearing his words, she pulled off a frown as her alluringly beautiful (e/c) orbs faced the floor, unable to answer.

it was a sensitive topic. well, at least for her. she never thought that this day would come, the day that she'll be questioned regarding her family affairs. she swore that she will never speak of the topic ever again to secure her feelings, but she can't help but let it out once in a while. it has been a while, anyway.

getting ready to tell her story, she took a seat and faced shinra with nothing but a blank expression. "like any other kids out there, i have parents and a younger brother. even though we weren't rich enough to own a mansion, our family was great. it's a family that anyone would die for." she started off, reminiscing those good old times, causing shinra to take the risk and finally stare at her again, attentively listening to her words.

"but eventually, they died. the three of them." she added, which took shinra aback. that's cruel. he thought, but he immediately erased it with a gulp to ask a question.

"w-what caused their death?" he stuttered, eager to know the reason why they have met their end, for a sudden flame inside him has lit up. a familiar flame.

sighing, she replied. "death by fire."