Chapter Text
Lumine Viatrix walks into the locker room, still squeezing her shower-damp hair out with a small towel. She pushes her way past her coworkers, stepping over boots and bags until she arrives at her own assigned locker.
Her friend Noelle is just finishing donning her uniform when she spots Lumine and greets her with a polite wave. Sometimes Lumine wonders how a girl like Noelle ever wound up working with a group of Neanderthals like the Favonian Medical Response Team. She’s too sweet for this rabble, too pure.
“Hello, ladies.”
Lumine groans inwardly. Kaeya Alberich is the perfect contrast to Noelle’s good naturedness. He is a total flirt, often bordering on inappropriateness, and loves to stir up trouble whenever he can. He’s also quite charming and handsome, a combination that Lumine is ashamed to admit once worked on her.
“Kaeya! How are you today?” Noelle chirps, closing her locker.
“Can’t complain.” Kaeya nudges into the space beside Lumine, “How about you, pretty lady?”
Lumine drapes her towel over the top of her locker door. “Same shit, different day.”
She pulls her boots out of the locker’s base and sits back on the wooden bench behind her. Kaeya opens his locker and checks his reflection in a tiny, magnetic mirror he has attached to the inside of the door. For a man as confident as he is, Lumine thinks he sure seems insecure about his appearance.
He’s wearing the standard issued navy blue cargo pants and a gray FMRT tee shirt that is tucked snugly into his waist. Lumine wears the same pants, but she’s dressed in a black tank top and sports bra that keeps her heavy breasts from bouncing around uncomfortably during the day’s strenuous activities.
Kaeya ties his long hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of his neck and sits down beside her, shrugging his uniform shirt over his shoulders. Lumine steals a few glances at him while she laces up her boots, her hair still dripping onto the tile floor. She only stops to acknowledge him when she feels his fingers brush against her, to swipe hair behind her ear.
“You seem quieter than usual today. Partner.” Kaeya’s tone is his usual playful lilt, a bit suggestive and accompanied by a sly grin.
Lumine likens him to a shark or a fox, some kind of predatory creature that is aesthetically pleasing, but also potentially dangerous.
“I just have nothing to say to you that I haven’t already said, Kaeya.” She sighs, standing to retrieve her shirt.
“Did you guys get the memo from HR?” Noelle chimes in suddenly, “They’re reminding us to update our CPR certifications this month.”
Lumine smiles at her friend. “Yes, ‘Elle. I saw that. Thanks.”
Noelle is nothing short of the ideal employee - steadfast, dedicated, and following every rule to the letter. Her uniform is always crisply pressed and free of lint (she keeps one of those sticky roller things stashed in her locker), hair is always pristine, and her boots are always polished. She looks every bit the part of an ideal paramedic, but still lacks a bit in the confidence department.
“Well, I’m off to fetch Amber.” Noelle says by way of taking her leave, “You guys have a wonderful day!”
“Yes, you too.” Lumine says.
Kaeya calls to her, “Will you be joining us at Angel’s Share for some celebratory drinks later on?”
“What are we celebrating?” Noelle asks, blushing slightly.
“I heard Kreideprinz finally moved out of his mother’s basement. If that’s not cause for celebration, I don’t know what is.” Kaeya jokes, “Maybe now he can lose his virginity.”
Lumine snorts just as the subject of Kaeya’s jokes hollers across the locker room, telling him to ‘get fucked’. The entire exchange flusters Noelle to the point where she can’t even manage a yes or no response. Lumine reaches out and gives her shoulder a squeeze.
“Never mind these cavemen.” She grins, “Come with us. I’ll buy you a pint.”
“I’m not much of a drinker.” Noelle admits sheepishly.
“Then just come to keep me company. Don’t leave me alone with this boys’ club.”
Noelle sighs. “Will Amber be coming too?”
“Of course.” Kaeya says with a laugh, “She owes me a rematch for a game of darts we played last week.”
“Ok. I guess I could come out. For a few hours.”
Lumine chuckles. “Great. Catch you later.”
She finishes buttoning her uniform top, silently aware of Kaeya’s proximity to her. She can feel the heat coming off of his body, his breath against the nape of her neck. She stiffens when he fixes her collar with his hands, sliding his fingers around her neck.
“Maybe you could come by afterwards, hm? Like old times?” He murmurs.
Lumine snaps, putting distance between them. “That is not happening.”
“You used to like coming over.” Kaeya says with a wink, leaning against the locker door.
“Not a high point in my life.” Lumine admits, grabbing her kit and slinging the strap over her shoulder.
“Lumi, that stings.” He fakes a pout, “Come on. Let me remind you of how good we can be together…”
“I’ve been trying to forget, Kaeya.” The blonde shakes her head, “I’m done having this conversation. If you plan on bringing it up every ten seconds, this is going to be a very long day and I’m PMSing, so I’m not in the greatest mood.”
Kaeya chuckles. “Fine. I’ll drop it. For now.”
Lumine makes her way to the garage where the ambulance is located and climbs into the back. It’s stiflingly hot inside the van, summer in Mondstadt can be pretty intense, so she leaves the doors open to air the vehicle out. She’s going through all of the supplies on board when Kaeya finally joins her.
He’s been her ride along partner for the past four years and has always insisted on being the wheelman. This used to bother Lumine because she believes she’s a very capable driver, but after so many years (and fruitless arguments), she’s become more accepting of the idea. Besides, more often than not, she gets to save people’s lives on her own while Kaeya races them to the hospital.
They may not be compatible outside the workplace, but as a paramedic team, Lumine and Kaeya work seamlessly.
“Here.” Kaeya tosses her a walkie, “Channel 6.”
Lumine catches the device and switches to the appropriate channel before clipping it to her belt. She signs off on the medications checklist after carefully checking each label, makes sure the batteries on the AED are charged, turns on the oxygen tank to be sure it’s functional, and monitors everything in between. Meanwhile, Kaeya is checking the sirens, lights, radios, and gas level. This is their pre-shift routine, done every morning before they start getting calls. They have it down to a science and they’re extremely thorough.
The first call is to an assisted living facility. It’s not life-threatening, but the patient is taken to the hospital to follow up with their primary care physician. The second call is to an elementary school where a child has fallen from a playground structure and fractured their forearm.
Lumine is always great with kids, knowing exactly what to say and do to put them at ease. She’s become quite good at communicating with them in a way that they’ll understand everything that’s going on. She usually deals with the kids while Kaeya handles the parents. Especially the moms.
“You’re such a perv.” Lumine says to him, munching on her sandwich, “You seriously had to get her phone number?”
Kaeya chuckles. “Did you see the way she was looking at me? She was definitely interested.”
Lumine rolls her eyes and wipes her hands with a wad of recycled paper napkins. “You’re delusional. She’s someone’s mom , Kaeya.”
“Yeah. But she was hot . Divorced. Total MILF.”
“You sound like a teenage boy. How old are you again? 13?”
Her partner laughs, washing down his last bite with a swig of soda. “You sound jealous, Lumi. You know I’d drop all of that for you, right?”
“Pfft. No one’s asking you that.”
He hums. “Maybe not outright.”
“Not even subliminally, Kaeya.”
The radio on Kaeya’s waist crackles to life. It’s dispatch and there was a 9-1-1 call made to a location nearby. Fire and medical are requested, though whether or not there is an actual fire has yet to be determined.
Lumine tosses the rest of her sandwich in the trash and hops into the van after Kaeya. He switches on the lights and sirens and races off to the location. It’s a motor vehicle accident involving more than one automobile on the interstate. The police have already arrived and have the right two lanes closed off to traffic.
“Fire’s already here.” Kaeya remarks, throwing the van in park, “And it looks like there might actually be a little fire.”
“Shit. Let’s move then. Get the O2 ready.” Lumine is out the door before Kaeya can say another word.
Because there are multiple injuries, Lumine notices that there are multiple ambulances, some from other companies. Noelle and Amber are already going to work, assessing some of the injured motorists.
Lumine rushes up to a minivan and peeks through to the driver’s seat. There’s an unconscious female driver with a noticeable head injury which is bad in itself, but what really worries Lumine is the toddler screeching in the backseat.
“Shit.” She says to herself, assessing the situation.
The front of the car is crushed accordion style and the doors are jammed shut. The passenger side is pinned up against the guard rail, preventing access from there. Finally, the truck behind the van has the hatch blocked so there’s absolutely no easy way for Lumine to reach the toddler.
“Kaeya! Get me the window punch from the glove box! Hurry!” She calls over her shoulder, setting her bag on the ground.
Kaeya tosses the implement to his partner while he attends to the injured motorist in the Chevy Tahoe behind the minivan. Lumine punches through the window to the backseat and pockets the tool, rolling up her sleeves to prepare for the climb through the broken window.
She’s so preoccupied with bringing the child to safety that she barely notices the firefighter who has approached her. She gets one leg through the window when he speaks.
“Hey, girlie. Why don’t you let me handle that?”
Lumine barely spares him a glance. He’s tall, dressed in regulation fire gear and carrying the Jaws of Life in his hand. She shakes her head and proceeds to climb into the backseat.
“It’s ok!” She tells the screaming child, “I’m gonna get you out of here!”
The straps on the toddler’s car seat have so much tension applied to them, that it’s difficult for her to unhook the buckle without harming the kid. With a muttered curse, she leans over the bench seat and shouts to the firefighter.
“Hey! You! Hose Jockey!”
The firefighter bows his head to peer in through the broken window. “Cute. What d’ya need, Ditch Doctor?”
She scoffs. “See that bag on the pavement? Right by your feet?”
“The big black and blue one? Says FMRT on the side?”
“Yes. In the side pocket, there’s a pair of safety scissors! I need you to hand them to me.”
The firefighter disappears from sight for just a moment before reappearing with the scissors. He hands them to Lumine through the window and she swiftly cuts through the car seat’s straps.
“Take him!” Lumine shimmies over to the window and passes the child off to the firefighter. “My bus is over there.”
He sets down the hydraulic arm and hoists the toddler into his arms. “What about the mom? She DOA?”
Lumine reaches over and palpates the woman’s throat with her fingers. “Nah. There’s a pulse. But it’s weak. Nasty head lac.”
“I don’t mean to rush you, girlie, but I’ve got gas pooling from somewhere and a whole lot of sparks… Well, I don’t have to tell you what that means.”
Lumine shakes her head. “Give me 5 minutes. I can get her out.”
“You have 3.” He tells her firmly, “Make ‘em count.”
The blonde climbs into the front seat while the firefighter takes the child back to Kaeya by the bus. The child’s mother doesn’t appear to have life threatening injuries, but one of her legs is pinned from the knee down.
“Fuck.”
Lumine can smell the gas. She can hear the clamoring of the rescue team outside as they pull the victims to safety. She’s running out of time. She slices through the seatbelt and tries to lift the unconscious woman from her seat. She manages to get her to the center console, but her lower leg is still trapped.
“What’s the status, girlie?”
The firefighter has reappeared and he looks slightly more concerned than he did before. Lumine grunts with the effort of trying to free the woman’s leg.
“She’s pinned!” The blonde says, completely out of breath. “Dash has her leg.”
“I have the jaws for that purpose.” He reminds her. “I can cut her out, but the vibrations could set off the airbag.”
“It’s fine. Do it!” Lumine says.
“Well, I don’t want you in there when it goes off, pretty girl.” He attempts a charming smile, “Wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
The blonde mutters under her breath, but still clambers into the backseat. The friendly fireman assists her out through the window, catching her in his arms when she comes tumbling out.
“I’ve got you.” He says, his face now inches from hers. “I’m Ajax.”
Lumine snorts and shoves off of him. “Not the time nor the place, Romeo. Get that mom out of there. Her kid needs her!”
She can hear Ajax laughing behind her as she jogs over to the bus. He calls out to her over the rabble, loud enough for Kaeya to hear.
“Didn’t catch your name!”
She glances over her shoulder. “Didn’t give it! Do your job!”
When she reaches the bus, Kaeya is smirking at her with a fiendish gleam in his eyes. She frowns, even as heat rushes to her cheeks.
“What?” She snaps, grabbing her stethoscope and wrapping it around her neck.
Kaeya shrugs. “Nothing… It’s just that you’re blushing, Lumine…”
She makes a fist and socks him in the shoulder. “Cut the crap. Did you check the kid?”
Her partner rubs his shoulder with a chuckle. “Yeah. Just a bit shaken up. Ativan should help with that. But damn , Lumi! Your right hook is as mean as ever!”
“And don’t you forget it.” She grins, sitting beside the child on the stretcher.
Kaeya leans against the door, watching the fireman use the hydraulic tool to extricate the woman safely from the van. He raps his hand against the doors to get his partner’s attention.
“He’s got the mom. Grab the board.”
Lumine springs to action, grabbing the bright red transport board. She hops out of the ambulance and they head back over to the accident victim. Lumine tries to avoid interaction with Ajax, but he’s persistent.
“I’ll get her feet.” The blonde tells Kaeya. She turns to the fireman. “I need you to step back.”
Ajax does as he’s told. “Why don’t you tell me your name, hmm?”
Kaeya chuckles, positioning himself behind the unconscious driver. “It’s much better that you don’t know it. Trust me. I once chanted her name in front of a mirror 3 times and she appeared to steal my soul.”
“Fuck you, Kaeya.” Lumine grunts. “You got her?”
“I’ve got her.” He nods. “Count of 3.”
“1… 2… 3!”
The paramedic team transfers the woman to the board and begin strapping her in safely. The fireman is still hovering and Lumine is starting to get annoyed.
“You know, I don’t think I’d mind if I happened to conjure her presence.” Ajax grins, “I’d be more worried she’d steal my heart.”
Kaeya guffaws. “Goodness. That is priceless!”
“Don’t you have some fire to spray with your hose?” Lumine asks, securing the woman’s ankles.
“I’d say he’s more interested in spraying you with his hose, Lumi.”
“Lumi? Is that your name, pretty girl?” Ajax asks with a satisfied smile on his face.
She lifts the board with her partner and gives the firefighter a look. “Yes. My name is Lumine. But as far as you’re concerned, I’m not interested. Let’s go, Kaeya.”
“Aww, Lumine! You’re breakin’ my heart here!” Ajax calls after her dramatically.
She ignores him, walking the injured driver to the bus while Kaeya enjoys a good laugh at her expense.
“Is he following us?” Lumine asks.
“No. You’re safe. For now.” Kaeya winks. “Something tells me he’s not gonna forget you any time soon.”
“He’s a fire boy. He’ll have forgotten about me before the weekend.”
“You underestimate your appeal, partner.” Kaeya says, helping her lift the mother into the back of the ambulance.
“I have no appeal.” Lumine shuts the doors and climbs into the passenger seat. “I’m loud. I’m opinionated. I don’t like to cook nor do I enjoy cleaning. I’m the worst woman to try and date.”
“Oh, I agree with all of that.” Kaeya says with a smirk. “But you’re hot. That’s all guys really care about.”
“Wow. Shallow much?” She rolls her eyes as her partner switches on the sirens and heads in the direction of the hospital.
“I’m messing with you. There’s more to you than good looks. Not a lot more, but…”
Lumine punches his shoulder again. “Asshole.”
Kaeya rubs his arm where she’d just hit him. “Luckily for you , every hose jockey I’ve ever known has ridiculously low standards. So I’d say you have a good chance with pretty boy there.”
“ Not interested .” She leans against the window, “And even if I was , every fireman I’ve ever known has been a dog.”
“Give a dog a bone, Lumi. He might be a great guy.” Kaeya shrugs. “And even if he isn’t Mr. Right, doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun.”
~*~
Angel’s Share is a bar in town that is known to be a favorite among Mondstadt’s first responders. The beer is cheap and the owner doesn’t cut them off (even when he should), so it’s the premier spot for any paramedic, cop, or firefighter to get absolutely sloshed after a long hard week.
Lumine has always been ‘one of the boys’, often indulging in their stupid drinking games and competing with them to see who can drink who under the table. For as little as she is, Lumine can take quite a few drinks to the head before she starts seeing double, a fact that has earned her the moniker of ‘Tank’. Something she is ridiculously proud of for some reason.
The company is about an hour and a half into their outing and things are starting to get rowdy. It started with Kaeya challenging Amber to a rematch of darts and ended with the guys daring her to make out with Lumine. The two girls shared a sloppy kiss for about 2 minutes that had those idiots hooting and hollering like a gang of howler monkeys.
Currently, Kaeya and Lumine were playing a game of pool versus Noelle and Albedo. The latter team was up by quite a bit, seeing as they were far better at pacing themselves than the former. Lumine stands at the corner pocket with the chalk in her hand, rubbing it repeatedly over the tip of the cue. Kaeya comes up to her and whispers something in her ear.
“Y’know… if you keep that up, Kreideprinz might pop a blood vessel.”
Lumine snorts loudly. “You dumbass! Back up. You’re gonna screw up my good shot!”
Lumine finally puts down the chalk and leans over the table, setting her forearm against the green felt surface. She closes one eye and lines up her shot with the cue. However, right before she takes it, the door of Angel’s Share swings open and a group of firemen stroll in.
And guess who happens to be among them? Coincidence? Lumine doesn’t believe in coincidences.
Her hand slips and she fudges the shot, earning her a disappointed groan from her teammate. She stands up with an indignant look on her face and thrusts the cue into Kaeya’s hands.
“Ah, I quit anyway. This game sucks. We’re getting fucked, and not in the good way.” She starts to walk away and Kaeya grabs her wrist.
“We could rectify that situation.” His tone is suggestive.
Lumine feigns a gagging sound. “Blow me, Alberich. I’ve got shit to do.”
Kaeya spots Ajax from across the bar and nods, understanding. “To do, huh? Is he on your to-do list now, Lumi?”
She turns around and inconspicuously gives him the finger. Then she makes her way to the other end of the bar where Ajax sits with a few of his friends. The blonde says nothing to his companions, but walks right up and sits down beside him.
“Hey.” She says.
“Ahh, it’s you.” He gives her a once over. “You look different outside your work clothes.”
“And you… You look different without your helmet.” She reaches up and takes his hair between her fingers. “You have red hair.”
He laughs. “Your powers of perception are impressive. These are my friends and coworkers. Scaramouche and Rosalyne.”
Lumine waves politely at the others. “Lumine. We just met today. Which is actually interesting because I’ve never seen you all here before. And I come here a lot.”
“Yea, it was his idea.” The man known as Scaramouche hooks a thumb in the other’s direction. “Now I see why …”
Lumine laughs. “Ajax. Did you come here because you knew FMRT frequents this dive?” She leans closer. “Did you come here to see me ?”
Ajax rubs the back of his neck. “Maybe. Maybe I was hoping we could actually talk.”
The woman, the blonde named Rosalyne, announces her intent to give them more space. She stands and clears her throat, waving at Scaramouche to follow her. Soon, Lumine finds herself alone with the blue-eyed firefighter.
“So, Ajax.” Lumine asks, “Are you married?”
“Nope.” He holds up his left hand to show that it’s devoid of a ring or a tan line. “And I see you’re not either.”
“Pfft. No . Definitely not.” Then she arches a brow. “Girlfriend?”
“No.” He rests his elbow on the bar and leans against his hand. “How about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”
She shakes her head. “God, no. I don’t have time for that stuff.”
His blue eyes flicker in Kaeya’s direction. “Seems like you and your partner are… close.”
Lumine finds Kaeya in the crowd, not a difficult task since he sticks out like a sore thumb. Her ride along partner is staring right back at her (unsurprisingly). She bets he’s going to give her a ration of shit for this on Monday.
“Nah. We’re friends.” She smiles at Ajax. “You know… I’ve seen you around before today.”
“You have?” He asks curiously.
“Mmhmm. I never forget a face.” It’s true. Lumine has an almost photographic memory. She’s definitely seen the firefighter at several scenes, though this is the first time they’ve ever really spoken.
“Can I tell you a secret?” He says, lowering his voice and leaning in.
“What?”
“I noticed you, too. Before today, I mean.” He tugs on a piece of her fringe by her face. “I’d never forget a face as pretty as yours.”
Lumine chuckles. “Ok, Rico Suave. There’s no need to blow smoke up my ass.”
Ajax blinks, looking mildly offended. “I wasn’t? It’s true. I think you’re really pretty.”
“Look, I was already planning on going home with you, so you don’t have to try so hard, ok?”
He laughs. “Seriously? What if I didn’t want that? What if all I wanted was a chance to get to know you?”
She frowns. “Are you saying you don’t want me to go home with you?”
He shakes his head. “No. No ! That’s not what I’m saying at all. But…”
“Then let’s just dispense with all of the small talk and get out of here, huh?” She suggests, standing between his knees, “Whattya say?”
Ajax sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Shit…”
She grins when he pays his tab and stands up to leave with her. He waves casually to his friends, their expressions surprised. Lumine tugs on his shirt.
“I’ve just gotta get my jacket.”
She makes her way back to her group where her leather jacket is draped over the back of a chair. Amber approaches her with a silly smile on her face, nearly tripping over her own feet.
“Ooh! Who is he ?” The brunette casts a look in Ajax’s direction.
“Some hose jockey who is actually kinda hot.” Lumine shrugs. “He was at the wreck today.”
“Yeah, and he wouldn’t stop flirting.” Kaeya appears beside them suddenly, “My, my. And here I thought you weren’t interested.”
Lumine shrugs on her jacket. “Was it not you who told me to have a bit of fun?”
Her partner scoffs. “Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d actually do it so soon…”
“Are you jealous, Kae?” Amber teases.
“Please. I can get a woman whenever I want.” He folds his arms over his chest.
“Mmhmm.” Lumine props herself up on her toes and kisses his cheek. “Just not this one. See ya later!”
She saunters over to the exit and walks through the doors, finding Ajax standing outside on the curb. He looks at her and cocks his head to the side.
“Ready?”
She nods. “The better question is, are you ?”
He breathes out a small laugh. “Born ready. Sure you don’t wanna change your mind?”
Lumine steps up in front of him and slips her arms around his neck. Then she presses her lips to his. After some hesitation, he settles his hands on her waist and kisses her back. With tongue. He tastes like vodka and soda and smells really fucking good. When they break apart, she laughs.
“Does that answer your question?”