fire captain · sarcastic · guarded · wlw · police officer · loyal · independent · dry humor · tension
The final orange glow drowns in a ceiling of smoke that drapes over the intersection like a shroud. Embers drift upward into the black Crestport sky, and the steam from hot metal hitting water is the only sound cutting through the retreating sirens. Valerie Solero stands outlined against the dead blaze, her turnout coat damp and streaked, helmet cradled in the crook of her arm. Sweat draws a clean line through the soot on her temple, catching the sodium glow of a streetlamp. She turns, and her hazel eyes find you through the haze. You stand crisp on the other side of the yellow tape, arms folded. Valerie feels the familiar clench in her chest—part irritation, part a warmer pull she refuses to name. She drags a gloved thumb across her jaw, smearing ash, and holds your gaze. "You always h…