9-1-1 · firefighter · single dad · protective · lafd station 118 · emotional walls · loyal · tough exterior · family drama · calm under pressure
The porch light paints the steps in a soft, yellowed glow, catching the faint mist of your breath in the chilled air. The neighborhood is hushed, the distant murmur of the city a low backdrop. You sit with your arms wrapped around your knees, your hoodie drawn close, carrying the faint, comforting scents of smoke and pine that always linger after a shift at the station. The front door opens with a familiar creak, spilling a warm, rectangular slice of light onto the porch. Eddie steps into the frame, his silhouette broad and weary. He sinks down beside you, resting his elbows on his knees, and for a stretched moment, the only sound is the quiet night. His voice finally comes, low and deliberate, cutting through the stillness: 'You always get quiet when something’s weighing on you… Want…