inspired by that one episode of modern family where alex gets a fireman boyfriend. cannot stress this enough, everything is incredibly inaccurate JDJSKWKSK. i did research but... yeah just, everything is inaccurate and supposed to be a meet-cute. very high probability i write more for this au.
Now, Theo didn't mean for any of this to happen. You see, he had just come from the hospital where he covered someone else's shift (making it so that he was there far longer than he should've been; at least the pay is going to be good), so he was bone-deep tired. Being a nurse is not for the weak, but he's glad Melissa pushed him into it.
Being that tired but also starving, Theo decided to heat up his leftovers, placing the cold pizza and wings in the oven, and then putting a timer on.
Jokes on Theo, he never actually put a timer on for the food. He just had an oven that was on that was heating up his food without ever alerting him that hey! maybe his food is actually fucking done and ready to be taken out.
However, Theo thought he put a timer on that would beep very loudly and surely alert him. Except, Theo's final mistake was deciding to sit down on his couch in the living room. Within minutes, Theo was knocked out on his couch, unaware of the oven not having a timer to wake him up, and unaware that a small fire was building up in that very oven that had his food.
Theo would also like to say that he doesn't get startled very easily. Not after his crappy childhood. But, when someone breaks down the door to his apartment, storming in with fireman gear, Theo is pretty fucking startled.
"Hello! This is Beacon Hills Fire Department! Is anyone here?"
The smell of smoke hits Theo's nose quickly after that.
"Fuck!" Theo springs up from his position on the couch (where he was fully laying down at this point) and scrambles towards where he last heard the voice.
When the fireman spots Theo, he lunges for him, grabbing his arm, and starts reassuring him, "It's okay, sir. Let's get you out of here. Everything is going to be fine."
"Wait, wait," Theo digs his heel into the floor (fuck, he's barefoot with only his socks on!). "I think it's just my food on fire. In the oven."
The fireman is quiet for a few seconds, "Sir, someone else will be in here shortly to deal with that. The priority is getting you out of here."
"But can't you deal with it quickly?"
With an exasperated sigh, the fireman doesn't answer again, only urging Theo to get in front of him. There's only a small cloud of smoke that is up towards the ceiling, and the color is gray but none of that is registering in Theo's brain.
He digs his heels in again, "But I have a fire extinguisher. Can't you just let me use it really quickly?"
"Sir, this is not the timeβ"
Theo interrupts the fireman again, voice bordering on hysterical. (This is his apartment! He doesn't want it to all burn down!) "But if you could just let meβ"
His sentence is cut off quite quickly when the fireman scoops him up, one arm around his back, and the other supporting his knees. Not knowing what else to do, Theo wraps his arms around the fireman's shoulders, too stunned at the effortless way the fireman is carrying him (Theo is by no means a small man).
"Hang on tightly," the (now very, very hot and handsome fireman who can carry Theo like it's nothing and is saving him from his very small kitchen fire) fireman grumbles, sounding annoyed. In an awkward maneuver, the fireman grips his radio as he goes to safely start leaving Theo's apartment.
He must be radioing to someone, but Theo is starting to get more and more dazed, not paying attention to what's happening around him anymore. It's like a switch clicked off when the fireman starting to really take over the situation. Something telling him it's okay to not be so observant and let someone else handle the situation for him.
Although he is aware when he's placed onto the ground, but the arm around his back doesn't move away yet. Theo is woefully unprepared when the fireman moves in front of him (arm still on his back!) and takes off his helmet. The very strange, very handsome man is sweaty, hair plastered across his forehead and neck but it is still somehow a look on the man. A good look.
Theo's knees feel a little weak, and it's not just because of the fire and smoke.
"Sir, sir, are you okay?"
"Yes," Theo says, coughing when he feels the words get stuck in his throat. Smoke inhalation is really not good. He knows this from his own job, having seen patients come in from fires of their own.
Without a helmet on, Theo can see the way the stranger's eyes flit around Theo, scanning him from head to toe.
Those blue eyes are deadly.
So is the smirk on his face.
Why is the strange, hot man smirking?
"Thanks, I don't think I've ever had anyone say that to my face about my eyes before."
The classic, 'thought I said this inside my head but actually just embarrassed myself by saying it outloud'.
Gosh, he needs to get out of here.
"My apartment... my apartment!"
Theo tries to turn around, try to see what's happening behind him. There's not too much commotion, which must be a good thing, right? Before he can fully turn around and maybe try to run back into his apartment, the fireman moves his arm from his back to grip his shoulder, keeping him in place.
"My name is Theo! Stop calling me 'sir'," Theo snaps as best as he can. He's starting to get more stressed the more he thinks about what he's going to do now. His apartment is currently burning down behind him with all his possessions. Fuck.
The fireman gives him a gentle smile, unfazed by the attitude. "Theo," the fireman corrects himself, "we are working on containing the fire. It seems to be just a small kitchen fireβ"
"I could've told you that."
Without missing a beat, the fireman continues after Theo's interruption, "β with minimal damage, okay? It could've been worse, but it's not. Your apartment is going to be fine... after some repairs."
The words do little to actually soothe Theo, but he does start to calm a little bit. Just the slightest.
"Okay, now we need to get you checked out and to the hospital."
Theo may not be a firefighter, but he knows the procedure for smoke inhalation before they take him to the hospital. He nods. He knows how important it is that he gets checked and then cleared by the hospital.
"I'm Liam, by the way. You know, in case you wanted to know."
"Liam," Theo says, trying out the name in his mouth, seeing how it rolls off his tongue.
Liam starts to guide Theo towards the ambulance where a paramedic is already standing by, cheeks a little bit red, but that must be from having a helmet on his face during a fire (you know, and not from Liam having heard the very handsome stranger who doesn't know how to use an oven saying his name so sweetly).
"Hey, Talbot. This is Theo, smoke inhalation but not for very long. Got him out before the smoke was too bad. Has been looking a little dazed, though," Liam rattles off to the paramedic who nods at the information while helping Liam get Theo up onto the stretcher.
The paramedic grabs the oxygen mask, securing it to Theo's face. "Hey, Theo. We're gonna keep this mask on until we get to the hospital, alright? I'm also going to need to check your CO levels, alright?"
"Okay, Theo, you're in good hands. Take care of yourself and make sure to try not to start any more fires," Liam says, getting out of the ambulance, voice bordering on teasing. He closes one door but hangs onto the other one for a few seconds longer.
Theo turns his attention back to Liam, directing a fierce glare at the firefighter.
Liam chuckles before flashing a blinding smile. It's only then does Liam close the door.
It's a fact that Theo won't be able to get Liam out of his head anytime soon.
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