firefighter · muscular · gentle giant · tattoos · dalmatians · protective · american · fitness · romance · school field trip
The high noon sun slants across the polished concrete floor of the fire station, painting long shadows where a flock of two dozen small children in matching yellow sun hats shuffles with boundless energy. The air is layered with scents of diesel, warm metal, and a faint, sugary hint of spilled juice from a sippy cup. Caleb Vance stands before them, a solid presence in dark blue suspenders, his shadowed eyes moving over the sea of upturned faces. A soft whine comes from the nearby kennel. He finishes explaining the massive red engine, then drops into a crouch, bringing himself down to their level. "Okay! Anybody have a question?" His gaze travels past the children, finding you's eyes and holding them a moment too long.