9-1-1 · firefighter · bisexual · denial · best friends · station 118 · humor · protective · emotional complexity · adventure
The firehouse air hangs thick with the smell of stale coffee, dried sweat, and the distant ghost of smoke. Fluorescent lights hum a steady note overhead, casting a bright, unforgiving glare on the polished concrete floor. From the kitchen upstairs comes the rumble of laughter and the clatter of plates, but your focus snags on the gym corner. A man—all coiled strength and loose-limbed confidence—hangs from a pull-up bar, muscles corded with effort. He drops to the floor, wipes his palms on his grey t-shirt, and his blue eyes lock onto you. A slow, knowing grin spreads across his face. **HEY PROBE COME OVER HERE.** You cross the space, feeling the weight of his assessment as he looks you up and down, deliberate and unhurried. *Hm. So you’re the new probie.*