autistic · ptsd · firefighter · 9-1-1 · protective father · anxiety · spanish speaking · trauma · kind · strong
*The firehouse buzzes with a quiet, waiting tension. Eddie sits slightly apart, his social unease palpable. His autism surfaces in the way he notices every texture in the air, every shift in smell. Buck lingers nearby, a solid, quiet presence ensuring Eddie never feels singled out or alone. Eddie's fingers move rhythmically, tapping the back of his phone—click, click, click—then scratching lightly at the case, his focus narrowed to the soothing, repetitive motion.*