Captain Beckett

Ignatius 'Nate' Beckett Tired Dragon Captain at V.H.F.D. 34 500 years old Living in Blackrose

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

[firefighting-nate]

dctectivc:

In all the eight years they’ve been together Ryan could count with one hand how many times she’d seen her husband like this. And every single time it hurts just as much or more than the last time. Nate was strong, stronger out of the two, Ryan knew this. So to see him like this, if anything at the point of breaking down it worried her more than anything ever had. It scared her more than having someone pointing a gun to her head, as impossible it was to believe. Ryan’s hand on his shoulder was nothing but a reminder that she was here, that she wasn’t going anywhere. Now the idea of a fight seemed silly and far away as the detective awaited an answer. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

“ What are you talking about? ” After a moment of silence, she finally asked. Her mind was running with ideas of what could it be that had him like this. What was it that it meant he’d kept it from her. How long had he kept it a secret? Her hand fell from his shoulder as a thought struck her. What if what he’d been talking about was that he’d been with someone else? What if Nate had done the exact thing she had? The thought alone left her breathless but she tried as she could not to show it. But the thought was gone as soon as it came. Because Nate wasn’t like her, the man she loved didn’t break like she had. Ignatius was kind, he was loyal. And she didn’t deserve him. This only made the guilt weigh heavier on her shoulder. Ryan needed to tell him, but not now. He was hurting, and she couldn’t put that on his shoulder.

“ Come on, tell me. ” Though her voice remained calm and low, no sign of alteration in it, Ryan was nothing but anxious and worried. More ideas of what it could be that her husband had kept from it, raging through her mind. Though none of them came close to what it really was. Not that Ryan knew this. “ I’m always here for you, you can tell me anything, babe. ” Both of her hands took a hold of his then, reassuring him that she was here, real. And that she wasn’t going to leave despite whatever it was he needed to say. Even if it meant he’d killed someone, even if it meant he was someone else.

Human lives are too short for secrets. Dragons, however, can live forever while keeping their secrets close to their chests. Hell, the same can be said for many supernatural creatures. Their very existences are a secret, it’s natural for them to have many more secrets that are kept just as well. Nate himself can be very secretive, with the things he’s seen, heard, and done, it makes sense for him to have his own horde of secrets. But with Ryan, he’s always been honest. The first year, he lied to her just like the rest of the people he’s come across. Not outright lying, but careful wording and a trustworthy expression that makes people less likely to ask him questions. People assume he has nothing to hide. Then he realized that nothing got past this woman, plus he didn’t want to keep anything from her. She was trustworthy and reliable, even after the first two years he knew that they could stick together through anything. It may have been foolish thinking, a hopeless dream, but it worked for 8 years. Then they came to Verth Hollow and many things change.

But who is to blame for that? Nate himself.

“When I asked you to move here with me, I had reasons, other than getting the job I have now.” Nate explained, knowing he was being vague, which wasn’t helping anything, yet hesitation held him back. Could he drop multiple things on her right now? He wanted to tell her everything, only now realizing just how much this stuff had been eating away at him, but how would she react? Would she hate him? Think he doesn’t trust her? Assume he’s hiding other things and ask if there’s anything else?

In the end it’s a combination of her voice and the softness of her hands that pull him out of his thoughts. She’s calm, but urging him on, as if knowing his hesitations. He looks into her eyes and finds honest worry, but also safety. “My parents used to live in Lovewell Creek. They lived there for a long time, but I only visited them a handful of times. When I was looking for a better job, I found that Verth needed firefighters, and I thought you could meet them.” The words were coming out a lot smoother than he thought they would, and he found he was rambling. “But when we moved here, I found out about the flood, and how there was no Lovewell Creek anymore.” Despite the facts that they’ve lived here for so long and his parents have been dead for so long, he still found it hard to actually say it out loud. “I was devastated, I didn’t know what to do, let alone how to tell you, and I just, dove into work. That wasn’t fair of me, to keep you in the dark for so long, and I am so sorry.”

[firefighting-nate]

faeharlows:

Fae scrunched up her nose slightly before letting out a laugh. As much as she’d like to pretend she wasn’t flattered, she truly was. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m as harmless as they come.” She smiled, pushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, I’m not as young as I look, as you very well know. So practice makes perfect, or so they say. It’s mostly about ignoring a lot of things and you… well, you’re gonna have to learn that one on your own. Everything else, you know I’m always happy to help.” She finally leaned back on her chair, letting her gaze trail over him. Neither of them looked a day younger than the day they met, but there was something different about him. Something, she couldn’t quite pinpoint. “It’s been alright, there’s not much new for people like us, but there’s… some entertaining people around lately. I’m not so sure everything’s okay with the rumors I’ve been hearing and all the disappearances but… what can we do?” Though some of them were on her hands, the others, she wasn’t so sure were a werewolf problem.

Nate raised his eyebrows at her, clearly not believing her ‘harmless as they come’ talk. Even ignoring her full moon habits, she’s dangerous with her cleverness and occasionally her hot-temper, but her smile and harmless act would leave one thinking otherwise. Honestly? Nate thinks she’s adorable, but in a respectful way, if that’s at all possible. “I haven’t had time to go anywhere besides work or home either, but I’m glad I bumped into you the one time we both decided to come here.” He said, a bright smile shining at her with genuine joy, though it is soon followed by a dramatic groan, “And I know, it takes a long time to master these things, it’s just I thought I’d mastered all the things I came with a long time ago.” When she leans back, he assumes she is done talking about their hidden lives, but his ears easily pick up on the weight of the words she says next. He nods in agreement, knowing there isn’t much they can do regarding the disappearances and rumors, but he’s never settled for anything like that. “Honestly I feel that there’s so much going on, but it’s hard to decipher what involves us and what doesn’t. Too many mysteries for such a small town.”

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

[firefighting-nate]

dctectivc:

Ryan was taken aback as soon as he spoke again, she was all but ready to hear whatever he had to say. Even though she’d been wanting this to be over – she was ready to take whatever he’d said at her. So fair to know she was yet surprised again when he walked away. She was left with nothing but dead silence and her trembling hands. Let him walk away, let this stop. She told herself, but the anger was too plenty and the guilt and just everything. She was supposed to be apologizing but instead all she wanted to do was yell after him. Call him a coward for backing away and leaving her there alone. But she didn’t. It wasn’t fair, and she wasn’t being fair to him. Instead Ryan picked up all of the papers scatter around in her desk, grabbed her bag and was ready to leave the apartment. She didn’t trust herself like this, the woman would end up saying the wrong thing and hurt him far more than she already knew she’d done. But couldn’t bring herself to fully acknowledge.

“ I’m going back to the station. ” She all but called from her office still, at least to let him know what she’d be doing. And it should’ve been that easy, grab your things and go but something stopped her. It was no receiving an answer back at least some kind of acknowledgment that he’d heard her. Anything. It was a silly to get upset over but here she was, upset nonetheless. Let this end, go away. Like a mantra the words were repeated like a broken record but instead she found herself looking for him. Still ready for another argument to rose up but all promises of a fight vanishes as well as her anger as soon she got a glance of him.

It all dawned on her then, how selfish she was being. How she hadn’t even bothered to properly ask what was going on with him. He was probably having it as bad as her and all she had thought was about herself, her pain and her loneliness. Ryan hadn’t been fair… she wasn’t fair. With nothing but a defeated look she moved to sit besides him. Ryan was quiet for a moment before finally breaking the silence between the two. “ Nate… what’s wrong? ” After a moment she inched closer, with a hand on his shoulder they spoke again. “ Honey, c’me on. You can talk to me. ” Her voice was different than before, low and calm – showing just a bit of undertone of how worried she was becoming.

Ryan being right is not a new concept to Nate. He didn’t just marry her for her gorgeousness after all. Like all women, she has a brain, something that can’t be said for all men. But Ryan, her brain runs fast and solves problems in the most efficient way. Nate will happily admit, as her husband and a 500 year old dragon, Ryan’s thoughts are usually much more collected and methodical than his own. While he would rush into things, ready to save to day, she would consider possibilities and adapt to the situation. She saves the day in her own way, that’s why they’ve worked so well, right? They can both be a bit irrational and hotheaded, but in the end they have traits and perspectives that help to cool things down. But, right now, this fight was a losing battle and Nate knew that from the beginning, so is she right? Was all of this, all eight years of it, a waste of time?

He hears her call out to him from her office, words of escape, words of intention to leave. Nate presses his palms harder against his face. What would he do if she left? Live on sounds so easy, but he’s never thought of this, never thought of what he would do if Ryan left him. But she will, eventually, won’t she? Her life is so much shorter than his own, a mere fraction in comparison. Why had he never really thought of that? Or, the real question should be, why has he never let himself think those thoughts? Because a life without her isn’t a life he wants to consider. Most would say its cheesy, romantic even, but it’s devastating to fully realize. He knows people die, knows that there is an end to every beginning, he’s seen it himself many times. Yet hers is so hard to grasp. Though hers is not the first. His parents. They are gone. Not on the other side of the world, not in hiding, they are dead, there is a stone with their names and a large river to prove it. He’s avoided the truth, ignored the thoughts, and just pretended that it wasn’t there, but he knows. 

There’s a shift in the couch and he feels warmth beside him. She didn’t leave. He relaxes slightly, her familiar presence enough to calm some of his nerves, but the thoughts linger. Her voice is calm, low, and chases away his demons. “I’m sorry, I-” He starts to speak, but his voice is choked and his body shudders. He feels like he’s wasting time, her time, her important time. She moves closer and he feels her hand on his shoulder. The warmth is soothing, so is her voice, and he takes a deep breath to compose himself before lowering his hands and turning his head to look at her. “I haven’t been fair to you,” He says slowly, guilt weighing heavily on her shoulders, but he’s comforted by her presence and moves on, “I’ve kept things from you.”

[firefighting-nate]

Exes and Fires | Lamashtu & Nate

The fire is all around him, all encompassing, all consuming. He grew up with fire, but nothing like this. This is not fire that beats like life, this is fire that hungers for death. He knows there’s one last person, can hear their wife screaming outside, and he knows he has to get them. His throat is dry from shouting and his scaly body is heavy, but he pushes through the fire, manipulating it so it curves away from him. He no longer cares about exposure, then again he never does, no in situations so dire. When he finally finds the woman, she is trapped under debris and he must use his strength to hold up the wood and pull her out. As they finally break through the door, they’re both breathing heavily, yet she is leaning against him and he is standing well enough on his own.

Moments later she is with her wife, in an ambulance, on her way to get the help she needs. Nate’s hair is messy and his body is covered in sweat, but a smile is on his face as he watches them drive away. Then he frowns. That fire was dangerous, it clawed at his clothing, but paid more attention to the helpless woman, as if knowing it could not kill him. He hadn’t seen fire like that in a very long time. His team is gearing up to head back, but he waves them off and explains that he’ll meet them there. Assuming he’s staying to talk with the police, they nod and leave him, yet after they’ve turned down a block, only one thing has his attention. She’s not too far, enjoying the show just as he expected, but when their eyes meet she smiles as if he is the main entertainment. He’d already taken off most of his gear, leaving him in a dark shirt and the heavy pants they all wear to emergencies, but he needs no protective gear as he calmly approaches the woman. “Haven’t seen you in quite a long time.”

@thefeared-lamashtu

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

[firefighting-nate]

dctectivc:

A surprised gasp passed her lips then, almost visibly taking a step back at his words. He wasn’t being fair, both led busy jobs and neither could avoid a damn call even if they wished to, but his words hit her right across the face. Spat with all that anger that made her wondered if he knew what she’d done? He couldn’t possibly know, otherwise he wouldn’t be this calmed. “ As if you didn’t do just the same! ” While his voice remained the same she simply raised hers, it wasn’t a point of who was making a greater argument now but simply the only way she’d learned how to express her anger.

“ You are fucking unbelievable. ” Despite the burst of anger raging through her Ryan had no energy to move. To walk up to him or just walk out of the damned office. She hated this, she hated them arguing but she knew it was the tension building just from everything. Just moments ago the detective been too overwhelmed from the case she’d was currently working on and with the seethed anger from being stood up, she just let it out on him. For a moment she leans against her desk, head bowed with her gaze once again focused on the cases on those papers. Eyes stuck on images of families and children hurt by some fucking psycho, but his words bring her back. And within seconds Ryan’s giving him one hard look.

“ What did you want me to do? Go looking for you on the street? Keep calling you? You didn’t answer the first few times and didn’t even bothered to let me know after you were done. Why waste my time anyways? ” Words left her lips and she was immediately regretting them but didn’t apologized. Her chest heaved, and tears were picking at her eyes. Anger, they were there because of anger not because she was hurting. Though it was clear all they were doing was hurting each other.

He knew it was the wrong thing to say. The way her body recoils, as if physically harmed, emphasizes that fact. No part of his is satisfied by that, if anything he feels even more guilty. He doesn’t want her to hurt, doesn’t want to make her hurt, so why is he still talking? They could go back and forth on this for hours and end up in the same place they began. Knowing this, why do they do it? His thoughts come to a stop there. He’s never claimed to know what Ryan is thinking, never spoken for her or anything of the sort. So, why is he assuming that she feels the same way now? Nate knows that this is wrong, that this fight will take them no where, solve nothing, and he feels guilty for everything he’s done to upset her. But does she feel the same?

It’s a dark tendril in his mind, a question that creates hesitation and doubt, things that will undoubtedly fester and grow like the anger they are both unleashing now. But still, the question remains, does she feel bad? Does she know this is a mutual thing? The burst of anger from her words makes the thought seem more true and it hovers at the forefront of his mind. Yet, as he watches her lean against her desk, he sees that she is just as tired as he is. Now he questions if he is one of the weights that makes her shoulders look so heavy. Could he handle that? Finding out that the reason she is so tired, so angry and frustrated, is because of him? And then she turns, her eyes meet his, and her expression is one of anger.

He opens his mouth to reply, to scoff and explain that he would never expect that of her. But how can he say he wished that she’d waited by the door for him, because that in itself is such a selfish thought, isn’t it? His eyes take in her body language, the way her chest moves quickly, as if she’d run a race. Her eyes, filled with anger, all focused on him. Yet there is a sheen to her eyes, wetness that is threatening to expose itself. And his shoulders sag. She is hurting. Ryan, the powerful woman he fell in love with, the woman that spoke of herself with pride when talking about becoming the youngest detective, his wife, she is angry, but also hurting. And it’s because of him. And what is he? A dragon, something that has lived for many years and can expect to live on for many more. He has time, a lot of it. But she does not. And that’s when he realizes that she is right. Why waste her time, the small fraction of it that she has, on him? His eyes move to the floor, tilting his head so far down he can only see his shoes. “I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.” He says, voice low even to his own ears, “I’ll leave you be.” And with that he turns and leaves the room, making his way to the couch where he all but collapses, head in his hands as he tries to keep his own tears at bay.

[firefighting-nate]

blairbrcckham:

“If one more miserable creature asks me for my phone number I am literally going to throw in the towel. Throw it in a bowl of chloroform and then at their face.” She shook her head, continuing to mutter curses under her breath as she cleaned the remaining glasses and put them soundly down onto the bar. With a sigh, Blair went on to the next customer. “Sorry about that. What can I get you, sugar plum?”

Nate really did not want to be at the other end of this woman’s rage. Her words were full of venom and while he didn’t know her well enough to say whether or not the threat would be acted on, he didn’t want to be the last ‘miserable creature’ to set her off. “Ah, nothing, sorry I was just looking for someone.” He explained, almost getting whiplash since the woman was so threatening one second then calling him ‘sugar plum’ the next. 

[firefighting-nate]

fin-murphy:

“Christ, is there anything cool in this town?” Fin mumbled under their breath, though truth be told it had been their intention to catch the attention of whoever was standing close enough to hear.  “Like a record store or a half decent bar? Or anything that doesn’t look like it belongs sandwiched between a frozen yogurt store and some glitter bitch boutique?” 

“There’s plenty to do in town.” Nate replied, sensitive hearing making it sound as if the other had spoken normally instead of mumbling. “Though if you’re looking for a bar I’d suggest the Butcher’s Arms, from what I hear that’s one of the better places. But honestly if you’re just looking to get drunk I’m sure any bar would do the trick. Not sure about a record store though.”

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

[firefighting-nate]

dctectivc:

Ryan was surprised to say the least, that had not been the answer she was expecting at all. Nate would walk away and not tell her anything, she wanted him to keep walking away some part of him but he didn’t. And he was right it wasn’t like could’ve called and said something not when there’s an emergency going on, specially not then. But Ryan didn’t care; it wasn’t fair of her but she didn’t care. She wanted for him to at least have said something. Irrational as that was. “ Is not like you ever call for anything either way. ” Her tone had arose now, she stood up from her chair yet didn’t move forward. One of the things she hated the most about arguing wasn’t only because they were bound to hurt each other but words but the fear it struck in her.

Ryan knew Nate would never hurt her, never like that. But every time his rose his voice and they got like this all she could think about were the times her foster dad would too and that it soon would be followed with a beating. It was only natural of her to react that way, to want to keep her distance even though she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. “ A simple text could’ve done it. ” It was not fair, she knew that but she couldn’t help it. Now anger and guilt becoming one mix that she had been trying to avoid.

“ I was worried, Nate. Sorry for that I guess. ” It was supposed to be an apology, avoid what she knew would definitely happen next but the anger was too much and couldn’t just pretend she was fine all together.

Nate was tempted to apologize for snapping, but something kept him from doing it. Was it his own tongue? The slight anger he felt at her accusatory tone? Whatever it was caused the silence to stretch on. When his wife spoke again, it was much louder and carried more venom than he’d been expecting. Then again, what else should he expect after snapping at his wife. Despite his thoughts, her words struck him again and he found himself retaliating instantly. “My apologies for not calling someone who never picks up their phone.” His voice was not quite as loud as hers, but it carried the same anger and frustration. “Wait, that’s not right. You do pick up your phone, for work.” That wasn’t fair, he did the same thing, anytime his phone made a noise he was there to check it. The two of them could be paged to work at anytime, it’s common because of the jobs they chose. But he wasn’t lying, she rarely picked up the phone when he called and as often as he told himself not to be hurt, he still felt pain.

He kept his distance from her, even when she rose from her chair, watching from his position by the door frame. Her body was lined with tension, anger that was just barely being contained. He was asking for it, wasn’t he? She had every right to yell at him. He was never home, worked late nights, and was honestly a workaholic. But, she was similar. That’s how they made things work, with a mutual understanding regarding the jobs they each had and how demanding they could be. However, they used to be good at balancing work and pleasure too. They had date nights, movie nights, and even ‘don’t bother calling me because I’m spending all day with my wife/husband and if you interrupt it’ll be your own death’ nights.

Now there was no balance, just work.

Part of him knew that her words were final, that this was the end of whatever was happening, but he couldn’t leave things here. It wasn’t about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’, it was about facing the truth of their situation. The hole that they’d put themselves in. Of course, even as he thought this, his words didn’t echo any of it. “I can tell you were so worried, especially when you’re in your office, working.”

[firefighting-nate]

faeharlows:

“Too long,” Fae nodded, leaning down to press a quick kiss to his cheek before sitting down on the chair beside his. A laugh passed her lips a moment later, “I never yell at you, but I’m glad you missed me, means I’ve made a mark of some sort.” She grinned at him, resting her elbow on the table as she looked up at him. Now that was something to be happy about in a godforsaken town. “Fires are stealing you away from me? How rude.” She teased. “But seriously, how have you been? I’ve missed seeing you around. How’s the…” Her finger touched the tip of her nose, before she took a glance around the cafe, full of humans that didn’t need to need the truth about them. “Coming along?” 

Nate’s smile widened, if at all possible, despite feeling bad for not visiting his friend in so long. The kiss was sweet and though he would insist others not do it, he knew that Fae was just a friendly girl, and often let her get away with it. “You leave a mark every time I see you.” He said, meaning the way she made him smile and laugh despite the strange things happening in the town around them. “Fire are very demanding, they need a lot of attention, kind of reminds me of someone.” He joked, not quite sure how to reply on the question of how he’s been, “I’ve been, okay, and that’s getting more troublesome each week, I don’t know how you manage it.” He didn’t even spare a glance at the humans around them, focusing himself on Fae and not the noises around them. “How are you? I mean, besides missing me of course.”

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

[firefighting-nate]

dctectivc:

Being upset didn’t come close to how she felt, Ryan had gotten out of work early just because they’ve agreed they would both be here by the same time. Have dinner, catch up on everything that was going on with the other, or at least she had excepted it to be that way. Though of course, her evening didn’t go as planned as she was left waiting for him hours on end and Nate hadn’t even bothered calling. Ryan understood they both led busy work life and it would be quite impossible for them to even have a nice evening, just the two of them. Hell, this wasn’t the first time it’d happened but it seemed that it was a constant thing since coming to Verth Hollow. And maybe she’d been a bit more upset than usual ‘cause she had to cancel all her plans for the night only to be left alone all the same but she was not going to think about that now.

The woman had been unfazed by the sound of someone entering their apartment, truth to be told she hadn’t really realized someone had entered the place up until she heard the footsteps nearing. And while she was mainly on alert, just if it didn’t happen to be her husband, Ryan didn’t move from where she was. Not even looking up from where she was. At this point she had lost all her concentration, everything she’d found out being a bit too overwhelming. Far more than her work in the cities they’ve lived before but the woman needed to do this. Keep herself busy. “ Yes, leftovers are on the fridge if you’re hungry. ” Came her answer as a matter of fact, still not looking up. Not acknowledging his apology. She was overreacting, the detective knew so yet she didn’t do anything to hide her visible anger and just how upset she was.

“ How was work? ” The question came after a while, only then sparing a glance towards his husband direction. She didn’t want to argue tonight it would be silly honestly. This was their life, constantly busy, barely spending any time with the other. Barely even knowing what was going on in each of their lives at this point but she missed the way they were before coming here. She missed him. “ I guess it was a busy night seeing you weren’t able to let me know you were going to be more late than usual. ”

Sometimes Nate questions if Ryan really is just a human. Not in a way of distrust or suspicion, but sometimes he thinks she too dangerous to be a human. The way her anger flares, even if her body is calm, makes him feel worry. He’s not scared, per say, just knows her well enough to see and hear how angry she really is. If she were a dragon, she’d be the most dangerous of them all. Stunning and beautiful, yet very, very dangerous. Even with no fire or enhanced strength, both her bite and bark are equally threatening. Any creature would laugh at Nate for looking at the ground instead of the back of his wife’s head, but this dragon is no fool. He knows that there is boiling anger under Ryan’s cool exterior, and he does not want to be at the focus of her anger should she snap. He feels guilt, of course, quite a lot of it. He made a promise that he couldn’t keep, he understands her anger.

The fact that she wouldn’t even look at him made the man feel even worse. A sudden shiver ran down his spine. It wasn’t really cold outside, but to compensate for the cold around him his body’s inner heat went up. Then going inside, someplace warmer, meant his body had to readjust to the new temperature. Even though he knew this, the man partly wondered if he was feeling the true effects of receiving a ‘cold shoulder’. “Thank you, I’ll make sure to grab some in a minute.” He said, wanting her to know he still appreciated the fact that she made dinner. The two of them settled for takeout, fast food, and even tv dinners all too often. Having a home cooked meal was something he looked forward to all day. Even though he knew he should leave her to work, the man still lingered, wanting to see if he could pull her away from her desk without making her angrier. After a minute of silence, he turned and made his way to the door, knowing that was probably what she wanted him to do anyway.

The next question hit him hard enough to make him freeze at the door frame. It was so simple, but carried a lot of weight to it and Nate glared at the floor, as if it were to blame for his current situation. He tried to come up with a reply that didn’t sound like he was making up excuses, but he’d waited to long and she spoke again, this time making him turn his head to her. “We got dispatched to the other side of town, I couldn’t exactly ask my team to give me a minute while I called my wife.” He hadn’t meant to snap, but he was so tired and the day had been so long. He knows how hard Ryan works, and he feels bad for making her wait, but in the end he’s been working near 15 hours and his home is starting to feel just as stressful as his department.

[firefighting-nate]

faeharlows:

( @firefighting-nate.)

“Wow,” Faelyn started as she entered the coffee shop around the corner of her own work. She let a smile grace her features, walking towards a familiar figure at a table. “You have hidden your pretty face from my shop for way too long, I hope nothing’s going wrong with the missus.”

The smile that came to Nate’s face was instantaneous, the sound the woman’s bright voice combined with her familiar smile bringing happiness to the tired man. “It has been a while hasn’t it?” While her comment was right on the mark, the man still shook his head then gestured for the woman to join him at the table. “As much as I’ve missed you yelling at me for picking flowers that don’t match, work’s kept me busy.”

[firefighting-nate]

Fires and Bikes | Nate & Celia

Nate had been checking the equipment when the alarms went off. It’s instinct to gear up and go straight to the truck, but it still amazes him how people can be writing reports or even sleeping, then be in the truck in a span of a few seconds. Before he knew it they were already blocks away from their department, dispatch telling them the situation through their radio. The location is a storage unit and, while the fire currently isn’t much larger than a single unit, that may not be the case for long. Dispatch explained that it was the unit’s owner who had reported the fire, but the woman didn’t stay on the line long enough to talk about anything else. When they arrived on scene, Nate was the first out of the truck and quickly assessed the situation. The flames were licking at the nearby storage units, so he put two of his men in charge of containing it, then another two in charge of hooking up the hose. 

Of course it was then he heard something, or someone, moving in the unit. That’s when it occurred to him that they hadn’t come across the owner. After informing the closest of his men that he was going in, the man rushed into the unit. He didn’t have to look too hard for the person, as the unit wasn’t too large and she was the only thing moving besides the flames. “You need to get out of here!” He shouted, stepping into the other’s field of view so that she could see him. Of course then he noticed that she was carrying things, and he didn’t have to think hard about why. “It’s dangerous in here, we need to go!”

@townsend-celia

[firefighting-nate]

Trouble in Paradise | Ryan & Nate

It’s late when Nate finally reaches their apartment complex. Later than he expected to be home and much later than he told his wife to expect him. The crisp air feels sharp in his lungs while the darkness around him is a foreboding presence. He walks quickly, wishing he’d driven to work earlier that morning instead of walking, but it had been much warmer then, so he figured the walk home would be similar. Maybe if he’d gotten off on time then he wouldn’t have to face the frigid air that whipped around him. When he finally reached their door he man quickly entered his home, sighing in relief as the warmth enveloped him the second he walked in. After locking the door behind him, the man discarded his jacket and kicked off his shoes, happy to finally be home after a long day. 

Unfortunately, the only thing that welcomed him was silence.

Nate knew where Ryan would be, there was no question about it, though a large part of him hoped he was wrong. Following the sound of shuffling papers and pencil scratches, the man found himself standing in doorway of his wife’s office. Seeing her hunched over the desk, just as he assumed she’d be, made his expression sadden. Knocking on the already open door, Nate spoke lightly, “Honey, I’m home.” He didn’t want to bother her, knowing what she was doing was very important, but he also knew that they both deserved some rest. “I’m sorry I’m late, have you had dinner yet?”

@dctectivc

[firefighting-nate]

Nate & Josie [Closed]

After a long, late night shift, Nate found himself walking home in the early hours of the morning. The sun was rising steadily, lighting up the sleepy town and bringing life to the otherwise barren streets. As much as late nights at the department killed him, the early morning walks usually helped to wake him up. Knowing he’d probably already missed his wife, the man took his time walking down the streets, enjoying the chirps of birds and the dog walkers he passed. Deciding to splurge a little, he took a detour in the direction of the nearest pastry shop. He’d probably pass out the second he got home anyway, so some food, regardless of calories, would definitely do him well. Just as he entered the pastry shop, his phone beeped. Immediately the man pulled it out of his pocket to check if he was being paged back to work, but because the man was still moving forward he found himself walking right into someone. “Pardon me,” He said quickly, looking up to apologize more formally, only to hesitate when he recognized the woman in front of him. “Josie?”

@josiexmarella

[firefighting-nate]

lookoutjonah:

It was a Monday night, and Jonah had the next two days off. He hadn’t caught the first wiff of Malachai, though he’d asked around and someone did match his description… at the moment it didn’t seem very promising. People could say anything. He hadn’t lost hope, never that, but he was feeling slightly down on his luck. And lonely, which was never something he enjoyed. Not after knowing what it was like not to be. So here he sat in Perkatory, with his large iced caramel and his laptop, pretending to be less alone than he had been at home. He’d already inhaled his cheese danish, and was currently trying to pull up anything on Verth Hollow’s history when he felt before saw the individual standing next to him. Blues were cautiously cast up, more out of habit than anything else – “…Something I can do for you?”

Nate had been working many long hours, which was nothing new, but they were catching up to him all at once tonight. He decided a quick coffee break would do him good. Perkatory wasn’t too far from his department, so he let the dispatcher know he wouldn’t be too far and that he’d have his phone on sound the whole time. He’d spent most of the day training new recruits, but he was also on standby in case of an emergency. Besides, most of his company was sleeping, they’d survive twenty minutes without him. He wasn’t in full uniform when he arrived, but the standard clothing he wore was enough for people to be nice enough to let him move to the front. Normally he would’ve insisted on waiting in line, but just this once he let himself say thank you and get his large black coffee. After getting his drink and thanking the barista, the man turned to leave, but stopped when he saw someone he recognized. Well, kind of recognized. Of course, by the time he was sure where he recognized the other from, the other had already noticed and addressed him. Straightening himself up, the man smiled, hoping he didn’t sound too strange as he spoke, “Sorry, but do you happen to work at the pet clinic?” 

[lost-shoe]

Man of Steel (2013)

[dvnwild]

Otis: A lot of people out there are probably wondering why we do this job. Um, and it’s true. Some days are bad. We grope around in zero visibility, hoping we grab onto an arm or a leg, and we pull someone to safety. Sometimes you can search through an entire room, come up empty. And you hear about the kid you missed under the bed. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care how many years you’ve had on the job. You think to yourself, “How did I miss it? How come I didn’t reach just a few feet further?” No doubt, there are days you want to pick up your helmet, and you wanna chuck it in the lake. Some days, you get to see things that no one gets to see. A wife grateful you dragged her husband to safety, a grown man dripping like a faucet ‘cause you saved his son. And every once in a while, you get to see a baby take its first breath in the middle of a ten-car pileup with lights and sirens and a whole group of firemen standing around just clapping till it hurts. Those are good days. You want to know what I’m thankful for? I’m thankful because I have two families. And not too many people can say that.