𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

the fire in the bay

Summary:

A routine supply run turns into a rescue mission. A collapsed tunnel. A trapped friend. And Nico, the boy who used to look out only for himself — dives headfirst into the smoke and rubble, no hesitation.

The mission was supposed to be simple.

A quick trade at one of the half-abandoned bay settlements. In and out. Split into three groups — Thomas leading one, Vincent the other, and Hugo with Nico bringing up the rear.

Bea had stayed behind on light duty, her shoulder not fully healed. Nico had glanced back at her just before leaving. She gave him a lazy salute.

"Don't let Hugo talk you into anything stupid," she said.

He grinned. "Only slightly stupid. Promise."

But none of them expected the explosion.

It hit just as they entered the old trade tunnel beneath the bay cliffs — a burst of sound and flame, then the sickening rumble of stone crashing inward.

Vincent's voice shouted through the comm:

"The tunnel collapsed! I've got Thomas and Vicky here, we're okay — but someone's missing—"

"Wait," Hugo's voice cut in, breathless. "Where's Nancy?"

Nico's blood turned cold.

He turned back down the rubble-strewn path without thinking.

"Nico," Vincent warned through static. "Don't. That place is caving in."

"She's still breathing in there," Nico said, already pulling on the rebreather mask. "I'm going."

Inside the collapsed tunnel, the air was smoke and dust.

Nico moved by instinct — ducking falling beams, crawling over scorched metal. His old instincts screamed at him to run — to save himself.

But he didn't.

Because he heard her.

"Help—"

It was faint. Buried.

Nico dropped to his knees and began shifting rocks with raw hands, the heat blistering. His lungs burned. His heart pounded. But he didn't stop.

Until,

"Got you," he breathed, finally seeing Nancy's soot-covered face between the cracks.

She was trapped, her prosthetic leg pinned under twisted scaffolding.

"Nico?" she rasped. "What the hell are you—"

"Saving you," he said, voice rough.

He tore at the beam with everything he had, shoulder screaming from the effort. Blood ran down his arms, but he didn't stop.

And when the support above them creaked like thunder — he threw himself over Nancy just as it gave way.

Black.

Then light.

They pulled him out first. Vincent's team. Hugo yelling something. Thomas prying the rocks off with fire in his eyes.

And when they got Nancy out, coughing and bruised — she looked at Nico like she was seeing him for the first time.

Later, back at the camp, Nico sat on the med table, his hands bandaged, burns treated. His hair still smelled of smoke.

Nancy walked in.

Everyone else had cleared out.

She stood in front of him for a moment before she said,

"You could've died in there."

He gave a half-shrug. "You would've, if I didn't."

"You're an idiot."

He smiled faintly. "Bea says that too."

Nancy stepped forward and to his surprise, pulled him into a brief, fierce hug.

"Thanks, pirate."

"Ex-pirate."

"Right. Hero, then."

He blinked.

She left without saying another word.

And when he walked outside into the golden dusk, he saw Minho waiting for him with a bottle of water, Thomas giving him a nod, and Bea — Bea just smiling like she already knew what he'd done.

And maybe that was the moment it hit him:

He wasn't trying to earn a place anymore.

He already had one.

★