Chapter Text
Strange Patient…
Maru had to suppress a grin at the thought of his conversation with Windlifter a few days prior. He’d met his fair share of firefighters whenever he was on call for them but he had never met anybody quite like him. I mean, many of them live for the job like it’s their calling. But somehow, with him, it’s deeper. Much deeper. Even though I have no clue how the hell that is possible…
He knew that Windlifter belonged to a tribe, had often read and even heard and seen for himself that their connection to nature was different, ran deeper. He had just never seen anything quite like it in a firefighter. You may have acted according to your beliefs in letting those small fires burn but I could see it in your eyes that you hated it. Maru had never seen such a fierce need to protect simply shine in somebody’s eyes. It had told him more about Windlifter that anything he could have said.
He’s a firefighter at core.
And after what had just happened, Maru was pretty sure that Windlifter would no longer be able to keep his desire to protect locked down and let ‘nature run its course’. He had seen the despair in the heavy lifter’s eyes and knew that he was past the breaking point. Well, that’s what I’m here for.
The night before, he had gotten a radio from Chief Tamati Cian of the Piston Peak Air Attack team. Their mechanic had gotten himself maked and had decided to leave the team for a safer job in order to take care of his child. Since it was the beginning of fire season where it was crucial to always have a mechanic around they had asked Maru if he would be willing to come. And since I just got fired anyway, I might as well help out. He had never been to Piston Peak before but he had heard about them plenty enough on his other jobs. Apparently, their national park was notorious for catching fire that had a tendency of quickly evolving into something dangerous due to the density of the forest and the way the park was structured. It was also said to be one of the most beautiful places to serve in the entire country. Which led to Maru sneaking around his old workplace on his way to Windlifter’s room.
I may not know you very wel, but from what I’ve gathered, it seems like the perfect place for you.
Finding a way around his old coworkers was harder than he had first expected but it also left him with the smug satisfaction of knowing that he was doing the right thing whereas none of them had the slightest clue as to what was going on. He distantly wondered how he had ended up working in a hospital in the first place. It was so full of rules that sometimes prevented mechanics from doing what was needed. And you were under constant surveillance, the smallest things perceived as mishaps landing you in unimaginable trouble. Maru grimly shook his head. I’m surprised I stayed as long as I did.
From the way it had sounded on the horn, the opening for a mechanic seemed permanent. And Maru had always liked being a part of something bigger, being able to help these heroes by making sure they were able to save others and came out intact. Or as close to that as possible. He wanted to help. Actually help, not the cheap version of help that this hospital sold. He wanted to be able to make a difference. And if I didn’t know where to do that before, you showed me the way, Windlifter. So I guess I owe you.
The sleeping mat was empty when Maru entered the room, leaving him wondering for a second if maybe he was too late and Windlifter had already been released. He was on the verge of turning around and try to bribe one of the nurses into giving him the details when he heard a silent hum through the half-open window. Windlifter was standing in the small garden that was connected to the hospital, eyes closed and silently humming with the wind. Maru couldn’t help the small grin that spread on his face as he regarded the helicopter.
“Classic…”
Shaking his head he exited the room and made his way over to the garden. Before he even got a chance to announce himself Windlifter already greeted him with a small smile, eyes still closed. At this point, Maru wasn’t surprised. He just quietly laughed and rolled over to where Windlifter was standing in the breeze.
“Hello, Wind. You’re looking good. Are your injuries all healed?”
“Using my own nickname against me.”
The statement sounded sollemn enough for Maru to chuckle and give the helicopter a sidebump before regarding him with a smirk.
“Out of the two of us, you are the one talking to the winds. I’d say that qualifies you better for it than me. Besides, it’s a short version of your actual name, you know, like nicknames usually are.”
Windlifter actually grinned at that, leaving Maru puzzled for a moment but at the same time happy that he had made the other smile.
“I guess we’ll both be using it then, wind. Though my version of it is for you to hear and noone else, so I expect you probably won’t ever hear it again.”
“Huh?”
“As you pointed out, my injuries have healed sufficiently. I have been released from the hospital this morning and therefore no longer require you to take time to come and watch me.”
Maru’s smile softened at the somewhat weird reply. Well, here goes nothing.
“Yeah, about that, I kinda had an ulterior motive before coming.”
Now it was Windlifter’s turn to look surprised and Maru couldn’t help but laugh.
“Remember that I told you I’m on call for fire departments? Well, I got a call yesterday from the Piston Peak Air Attack. Don’t know if you’ve heard of them but the place is supposed to be incredible. Sounds like just your kind of thing. And, no offense, but the way you were talking yesterday you didn’t seem entirely happy with your former ‘department’, so I thought since I’m going anyway I might as well offer to take you with me. It’s fire season, I’m sure they wouldn’t say no to an extra pair of rotors. And who knows, maybe you’ll like it there.”
For a moment Windlifter looked like he couldn’t belief Maru had just said that. Maru was on the verge of apologizing for overstepping his boundaries when Windlifter suddenly broke into a chuckle, evolving into quiet laughter as he regarded Maru with a mix of disbelief and slight fondness.
“And this, Maru, is why you are the wind. You have the ability to read what’s on peoples’ minds, even if you don’t realize it. You just blow past them and take it all with you.”
Maru snorted, joining in the quiet laughter. Okay, so you talk in riddles and metaphors. Noted. He found it rather amusing.
“So, do you want to come with me? I’m sure I can convince Chief Cian to give you a job.”
“That won’t be necessary. Tamati already told me I’d be welcome any time I wanted.”
“Tamati?”
“He is the one that trained me and helped me find ways to combine my people’s belief with what I found was the right thing to do. Or tried to at least…”
“Wait, you got certified in Piston Peak? Of all places?”
“Not quite.”
At that Windlifter actually looked a little sheepish.
“He was on downtime and decided that for some reason he wanted to have his vacation near us. When I found out that he was a firefighter I asked him to train me to the best of his abilities and he agreed. I learned quickly enough and by the time his vacation was over he said I was ready and handed me the certificate.”
“Good for you.”
“Indeed.”
Maru couldn’t help but grin. If this was how they handled things at Piston Peak then he was going to feel right at home. It sounded almost too perfect to be true. But at the same time, this familiar, albeit a little unprofessional behavior was exactly what proved that it was in fact real.
“Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
Maru was actually getting excited and he knew it was showing. Windlifter didn’t seem to mind as he quietly offered to carry Maru in his harness if he had no other means of transportation. Since Maru hadn’t had time to plan anything yet – and man was that place far away from their current location – he gladly agreed.
If nothing else this should be interesting.
The flight went by in a blur, both of them content with watching nature unfold beneath them and swapping the occasional story about their lives. Maru learned about Windlifter’s profession as a lumberjack and was already forming plans on how to build him a proper tank in his head that would fit his model and allow him to carry much more retardant than he was currently able to. He himself didn’t have that much to share. He had always dreamed of becoming a mechanic and he had become a pretty good one. His life in hospitals had been worse than boring and had actually diminished his skills instead of improving them like it was supposed to so he had started to take on odd jobs where he could. First, he helped those who couldn’t afford treatment and thrived on the challenge. Then, one of those patients had been a firefighter’s widow and she had pointed him into the direction of her husband’s old department. What started out as a trial week ended with him as a viable asset to the on-call mechanics and now he was hoping on joining the fighters permanently.
“Yeah, that’s about all there is to my life.”
“So you’re all work and no play? I had not thought you the type.”
Maru snorted, sending Windlifter a playful glare.
“Like you’re any better. And you spent half your life defying your own morals on top of it.”
“While honoring those of everybody around me.”
Maru got the sense he shouldn’t push on the topic so he let him be and changed the topic to their destination.
“So, what’s the chief like? Is he any good?”
“Those who have received shall not doubt the giver.”
“Okay, no judgment from you, got it.”
His grin widened. He was half sure that most people would be irritated with the helicopter at this point but he found he quite liked the change of pace. Windlifter was a silent force to be reckoned with but that made him all the more powerful.
“Are you at least excited?”
“No.”
“Ouch. Flatt out refusal. How cold of you.”
Maru yelped at the plane that had suddenly appeared beside them, giving Windlifter a fond look that the heavy lifter returned with a raised eyelid.
“Cheerful as ever Tamati.”
“Well of course. I got myself an infamous mechanic and my little rookie is finally coming home for the season. How’s the village?”
Little rookie, huh? I think I like this guy.
Maru noted that Windlifter’s entire demeanor changed with the plane’s arrival. He relaxed, if only a little, and Maru was starting to get the feeling that that was when he felt the most comfortable. Relaxed, reserved, observing.
“And I guess you’re Maru? I’m Tamati. Welcome to Piston Peak. I heard quite a bit about you. Let’s hope you live up to your reputation.”
Maru smirked.
“And here goes my hope that Piston Peak doesn’t live up to its reputation.”
The chief quietly chuckled.
“You’ve got some humor. That’s always good in this job. I think we’re going to have fun together.”
“Likewise.”
“So, you ready to meet the rest of your team?”
That question was directed at Windlifter and a silent nod was all the answer. Tamati shook his head, a fond look in his eyes as he sped up to show them the way. The first time Maru laid eyes on his new home he could barely believe it. He had seen many national parks but Piston Peak was on a whole new level. The seemingly untouched nature full of wildlife, the geysir, the rock formations, it was all so incredible to look at.
“I think I’m gonna need an extra tour to be able to take all that in. Or three.”
Tamati laughed, flying a small spiral and openly reveling in the sight.
“I know what you mean. If I didn’t have to go scouting every day I would probably fly around and just look at everything anyway.”
Maru distantly nodded, eyes trained on the sights before him as he watched the waterfall fly by. Incredible. When they finally reached the Air Attack Maru was surprised to find the entire team gathered in the center space of the base. He had received their files beforehand in order to be able to prepare himself so he could vaguely identify them. Besides Tamati there were three air tankers – Fireflight, Alair and Tobulouse –, a SEAT – Melro – , the communications officer – Finx – and the 18 Smokejumpers and Hotshots that he couldn’t identify from the air – Malvorie, Ann, Licroy, Marshall, Steede, Drolin, Ashet, Bria, Linnt, Liore, Michgal, Evall, Ornat, Flurne, Burrell, Hala, Geelt and their captain Jurigan. The entire team wore matching grins, waving a giant banner in the air.
‘Welcome home, brother we never met. And welcome poor soul destined to save our afts.’
Maru was sure the looks on their faces were priceless. Before he even had a chance of realizing what was going on he was already being unstrapped and both of them were shoved into the middle of the crew, Tamati pressing a button on a camera and jumping in after them, the entire team, even Windlifter and Maru joining in when he shouted their name with the brightest smile Maru had ever seen.
“PISTON PEAK AIR ATTACK!”
The picture was one of the silliest he had ever seen or been in. But it described their team and their future relationships to each other perfectly.