Incendiary Hearts

Chapter Fourteen

Michael slept horribly that night, haunted with dreams of Kevin deciding he'd had enough of him and ended up together with a young, happy lad from Britain. Apparently, their sex was great...

He wasn't surprised when the person in the bathroom mirror had dark shadows under his eyes. He splashed some water over his face and made himself ready for work.

It didn't take long to reach the station, even shorter time to change into his workwear. Manuel was already in the kitchen when he entered, sipping on a cup of coffee. "Well you look like shit," He greeted Michael, ever the friendly one.

"Running out of things to say, huh?" Michael retorted, earning a chuckle as he went for the coffee machine.

They all sat down while they received reports from the off-going shift. It had been a rather calm night, no significant calls. Then, per usual, after the off-going shift had left, they moved on to the trucks, taking detailed inventory of all apparatus assigned to the station and the tools and equipment stored in them. They ran the engines, checked the tires, fluids, and the fire pumps, tested the aerial ladders, ground ladders, power tools, and the air packs they wore, finding no issues that needed repair. Throughout the different checkups, Michael worked like a robot, refusing to let his emotions touch the surface.

After they'd made the meal list, Michael offered to do the shopping, anything really, to keep himself busy. Manuel was quick to join him. They did the shopping in silence, but as they left the store, Manuel couldn't hold it in any longer. "You okay, man? You haven't been yourself recently. I mean, you're broodier than average."

Michael almost threw the bags in the trunk of the car before shutting the door. "Just... not today, okay?"

Manuel watched with furrowed brows as his friend walked over to the driver's seat, starting to really worry over his friend. "Okay..."

When they got back to the station they joined the other fellas with the station duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning the bathrooms and so on. It was an unusually calm day, and Michael absolutely hated it. He didn't wish for something bad to happen to anyone, but he would have welcomed the distraction. They did, however, receive a couple of calls, assistance to some domestic disturbances, an animal rescue, and a mild car crash with no severe injuries. Michael went on as many rides as he was allowed to, but of course he couldn't claim them all. Either way, he managed to keep himself busy enough up until dinner.

Dinner was nice though, as usual, when you really got to hang out with the coworkers – unless a call came, of course – and see how they were doing. It also aided Michael in diverting the attention away from himself. He didn't have any children to marvel about or spouses to complain over, so not many questions were directed his way.

He'd just had time to clear his dishes in the dishwasher when the captain entered the room. "We have a special guest visiting us today," the captain informed the whole crew, which grew quiet.

Michael turned around only to spot the last person he wanted to see here, at work. His heart stopped beating all together. What the fuck was Kevin doing here? Cause it was Kevin he was seeing, alright. Dressed in black jeans and a green button-down shirt that matched the color of his eyes. Of course he had to look gorgeous as hell. Fuck! He'd also brought with him a basket of homemade cinnamon buns whose delicious scent quickly overtook the room.

"Kevin!" Cheers erupted from the guys, especially those who'd been close to Jonathan and had met Kevin before.

"Hi," Kevin smiled brightly, put the basket on the table and hugged the guys who went up to him.

Michael wiped a nervous sleeve over his nose but stayed put.

"Hey Kevin!" Manuel smiled as he went over to Kevin to give him a hug. Michael could hear his pulse in his own ears, and the warning clocks of a pending panic attack started to ring in the corners of his mind. What the fuck was he doing here?! "It's so good to see you!"