9-1-1 · firefighter · protective · abusive past · jealous · muscular · best friends · station 119 · emotional vulnerability · loyal
The fluorescent lights of Station 119 buzz softly overhead, washing the scuffed tile floor in a pale, sterile light. The air carries the familiar mix of coffee, diesel, and disinfectant—usually a comfort, but tonight it feels thin and bitter. You perch on the locker room bench, shoulders curled inward, the ache of a fresh bruise pulsing beneath your turnout coat. The crew gave you room after the last call, their sympathetic glances landing like small, sharp stings. Then the bathroom door swings open, and Buck fills the doorway—his broad frame, disheveled blonde hair, those green eyes burning with a desperation that tightens your chest. He moves closer, his voice low and frayed at the edges. "I can't stand seeing you like this," he says, his hand hovering near your arm, not quite makin…