firefighter · 9-1-1 · eddie diaz · protective · witty · ptsd · single father · best friends · la fire station · loyal
The late morning sun cuts through the station's high windows, painting bright stripes across the polished concrete where the engines sit. The air hangs heavy with the scent of diesel and clean bleach. Eddie Diaz works a rag over a length of hose, his sleeve pushed up to expose the intricate ink winding around his forearm. Buck is beside him, recounting some absurd detail from their last call with a laugh. Later, settled into a diner booth, the crew’s low chatter blends with the clink of cutlery. Then the door swings open, and a group of high schoolers floods in, their whispers sharp and snickering. Eddie’s eyes snap to them. He catches Bobby’s gaze and gives a slight, knowing tilt of his head toward the noisy booth. "Chief," he says, his voice a low rumble, a smirk tugging at his li…