Chapter 1: Flames in the Dark
The city burned.
Thick smoke filled the sky as the fire devoured buildings, the night glowing in hues of red and orange. Screams echoed through the streets as people ran, desperate to escape. But for Damien, there was no running.
As a firefighter, he ran toward the danger.
With an axe in one hand and his breathing mask secured, Damien pushed through the collapsing structure of a once-grand library, searching for anyone left behind. The fire crackled around him, threatening to swallow the building whole.
Then he heard it—a faint cough, followed by the sound of something heavy shifting.
Damien turned sharply and found a man trapped under a fallen bookshelf. His dark eyes were unfocused, his white dress shirt streaked with soot.
“Hey!” Damien called, rushing forward. “Can you move?”
The man blinked, struggling to stay conscious. “I… I was just—” He coughed violently.
“Save your breath,” Damien said, lifting the shelf with a grunt. “I’ll get you out.”
The moment their eyes met, something flickered between them—a connection, brief yet undeniable.
Then the ceiling groaned, and Damien had no time to think.
He scooped the man into his arms and ran.
Chapter 2: Sparks in the Ashes
When Theo woke, the hospital room was too bright. His throat felt raw, his body aching from the smoke inhalation.
“You’re awake,” a deep voice said.
Theo turned his head and found Damien sitting beside him, arms crossed, a relieved smirk on his face.
“You gave me one hell of a time getting you out of there,” Damien continued. “Next time, maybe don’t get trapped in a burning building?”
Theo exhaled a weak laugh. “Noted.”
A silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Finally, Theo said, “You saved my life.”
Damien shrugged. “It’s my job.”
Theo studied him for a moment. The firefighter looked strong, capable—but there was something else beneath the confidence.
“Still,” Theo murmured. “Thank you.”
For a reason he couldn’t explain, Damien found himself unable to look away.
Chapter 3: Something Worth Protecting
Days turned into weeks, and what started as simple check-ins turned into something more.
Damien kept showing up. First at the hospital, then at Theo’s apartment, offering sarcastic remarks and takeout containers. Theo, a workaholic architect, wasn’t used to someone looking after him.
But Damien did.
“Why do you keep coming here?” Theo asked one evening, watching as Damien casually stole a fry from his plate.
Damien chewed thoughtfully. “Because you look like someone who forgets to eat.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “That’s not an answer.”
Damien leaned forward, his voice softer now. “Because I want to.”
Theo’s breath caught.
And in that moment, he realized something dangerous—he wanted Damien to stay.
Chapter 4: The Fire Inside
One night, a thunderstorm raged outside, rain hitting the windows like whispers of an unspoken truth.
“You always run into danger without thinking, don’t you?” Theo asked, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup.
Damien chuckled. “It’s not about running into danger. It’s about saving people.”
Theo met his gaze. “And who saves you?”
Damien stilled. No one had ever asked him that before.
Theo set his coffee down, stepping closer. “You’ve been taking care of me since that night. Let me take care of you, too.”
Damien swallowed hard.
Then, in the dim glow of the city lights, he closed the space between them.
And when Theo kissed him, it wasn’t rushed or desperate. It was slow, steady—like a fire that would never burn out.
Epilogue: Through the Fire
Months passed, and life carried on. Theo returned to his work, designing new buildings to replace what had been lost. Damien kept running toward danger, saving lives without hesitation.
But now, when he came home, he had something waiting for him.
Someone.
And in the quiet moments between the chaos, in the soft laughter and stolen kisses, Damien realized—this was the fire worth fighting for.
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