Chapter 5 - Unseasonably Warm

Ayden rolled the window down, and was savored the uncharacteristically balmy day. The warm wind filled the cab of the fire truck. They were on their way back from a factory fire that had lasted most of the night and well into the morning. He hadn't slept in almost twenty four hours. They were all covered in sweat and soot, but they had won the battle. All of the guys were spent, both mentally and physically.

They were a family, he thought looking around the cab at the guys around him. A small group of firefighters operating out of one of the rougher sections of the city. No one wanted to be where they were and they were fine with that. The city left them alone because they were god at their jobs and they didn't cause trouble. They liked not having to answer to anyone. They had even earned the nickname the Demon Department. The numbers of their company didn't help, of course, them being Engine 6, Ladder Company 66.

The sweet spring breeze ruffled his sweat drenched hair. Ayden closed his eyes and let his mind wander. He had gone back to the diner a few times, even going on one of his days off, just to see the waitress, Kyle. Just thinking her name, his mind flooded with images of her. Ayden readjusted himself in his seat.

He frowned at the realization that he had only seen her in the confines of the diner.

Sometimes, she felt like water through his hands. He had figured out pretty early on that she was a guarded person. She was very outgoing and funny, a master at small talk. But somehow, when he asked her a direct or personal question she always managed to side step it. He wanted to know more about her, what did she do when she wasn't there? What was her favorite food? What was her favorite color?

Ayden had interacted with women before, of course. He wasn't that young. In fact that drive had controlled his life for far too long. He broke many hearts and worse. Once those emotions were controlled and contained, he kept to himself the best he could.

Reflection is a tricky, somber thing. When a person looks back through hours, months, years, they see who they were and who they have become, growth and deterioration, acts of kindness versus acts of treachery. Sections of life play before them, childhood, pubescence, young adulthood, adulthood.

When Ayden looked back at who he had been, how he behaved… he was ashamed.

Not at his childhood or even pubescence, but as a young adult, he was thoroughly ashamed. The people he had hurt, the way he had behaved. It was like looking back and seeing a petulant, conniving child in his body. It wasn't just women that brought him to that point, mind you. It was excess as a whole. Food, alcohol, sex, impulse, all of the vices joined together. He consumed all those things as fire does, with no remorse and with a unrestricted appetite. No matter how much he devoured, he craved more. He grew to hate that person and swore he would never become them again.

Kyle had awakened some of those long dormant feelings. He still wasn't sure what to make of that, whether his awakening was a good thing or a bad thing. The dangerous part about a fire is that it can go from a warm ember to a raging inferno in moments. Age makes you feel like you have more control than you did in your youth. He would be cautious in proceeding but he couldn't deny the way he was feeling. He could not resist the urge to understand more. And the waitress was just too tempting a treat to ignore.

He opened his eyes and turned his attention back to the window and the passing cityscape. People moved throughout their day in the old, run-down neighborhood. Though it did have a higher crime rate, there were those who still worked hard but had just fallen on hard times. Some chatted on corners of exchanged waves as they ran for the bus. The older residents still swept their portion of the sidewalks, picking up the garbage and keeping their area looking nice. Businesses were busy during the day, especially when the warm weather brought everyone out of hiding. Small mom and pop delis and bodegas had their front doors propped open, airing out the musty winter air. The smells of the various foods cooking wafted into the air. Ayden's mouth watered, it had been too long since he last ate. As the truck turned onto one of the main drags, they could only creep slowly in the mid-morning traffic. His eyes settled on a familiar shape making its way up the street.

Her long brown hair trailed down to the small of her back, streaks of light brown and blonde wove through the dark tresses. The spring wind blew through it inciting it into waves. The blue backpack he had seen her with at the diner was slung on her shoulder. Her jeans hugged her every curve, though the cuffs of the legs looked as though they were frayed from her walking on them. Her T-shirt had ridden up to show enough skin to make him lean forward in his seat to get a better look.

"Is that the girl you've been hounding for the past few weeks?" Brandt always paid too much attention for his own good, Ayden thought. Brandt craned his neck around Ayden for a better view, steadying the wheel of the fire truck at the same time.

Brandt let out a low whistle, "Oh, look at that sweet little thing," he crooned.

Ayden let out a snarl.

Brandt ignored him. "I see why you've been following her around everywhere. My God man, I may start eating more often at that crap ass diner!"

Ayden turned to face Brandt; he narrowed his eyes, a growl forming in his chest.

"Ayden," he said laughing, shoving him on the shoulder, "I'm just fucking with you man. She's cute and all but not my type. You're my brother; I wouldn't do you like that."

Ayden shook his head, freeing it of the possessive fury that had come over him. Of course Brandt would never. He didn't know what had come over him.

Brandt chuckled as he watched Ayden's confused expression.

Ayden relaxed back in his seat. He watched her dodge around an older woman, smiling at her. Her hips swung with rhythm and her feet barely touched the ground.

The sound of the fire horn ripped through the cab of the truck and down the street.

She stopped and spun around, shielding her eyes from the sun. He saw the moment her eyes fell on the giant red truck and recognition washed over her face.

"Something that sweet should not be walking around alone, especially around here. You know, dangerous creatures and all," Brandt said chuckling and leering at Ayden.

All Ayden could do was stare. His mouth went dry as his eyes widened.

"Get out, McKay. Your shift's over anyhow."

When Ayden didn't move, Brandt leaned over to open the passenger side door and put his foot on the seat to shove him out of the truck. "Jesus Christ, McKay, grow a fuckin' set and get out of my truck!"

From the street it looked as if a man had just been thrown out of the fire truck.

Ayden landed on his feet, the sound of Brandt's laughter was cut off by him slamming and locking the door behind Ayden. Traffic began to inch on. Drivers were honking their horns at the ejected firefighter.

With no other option, he started to run across the blacktop, his heavy boots drumming as he ran across the intersection dodging cars. He knew right where he was. The firehouse was only a few blocks up and around the corner. As he approached her, a smile crept across her lips. He wanted to sweep her up into his arms and kiss those perfect lips, but he stopped himself.