Chapter Text
Deran has been up since 8 pm last night, pulling an almost 10 hour shift. They have one more run and then he is looking forward to rolling a joint, kicking his feet and not moving for the rest of the day. Whoever told him it was a good idea to become an EMT should be shot in the face.
He kicks his feet on the dash as he lets out a big yawn earning a laugh from his partner in the driver seat.
“Dude shut up.” He mumbled as he looks out the window at the sun that was just rising.
“What! I didn’t say anything.” J says keeping his eyes on the road. J is a good kid, not that much younger than him so they always get along fine. Everyone got a kick at finding out J was his nephew that he never knew but with a raise of an eyebrow it always shuts them up.
“Why so tired anyways?” J asks.
“Wait I thought I saw Lincoln on the way in.” He tilts his head with a smirk that Deran rolls his eyes at. Gosh Clark Lincoln was a mistake and a half. Yea he was hot and sex was good but then when Linc wanted serious he was pretty bummed that Deran didn’t. Now every time he sees him it is either a puppy dog face or a hopefully face.
“Don’t even start with that J.” Deran moans out.
“No way, I told you, don’t sleep with the nurses, that included Male nurses.” He teases and Deran wanted to punch him in his face but he also couldn’t help but crack a little smile. J was cool, a little asshole but cool.
Soon enough they get to their location which seems to be at a beach that Deran visited a thousands time when he was a teenager. One thing he was proud of was that no matter how tired he was he knew when to be in the zone and he never failed there. Knowing the procedure like the back of his hand, J being exactly where he was suppose to be, everything flowed them right down to..Oh shit Adrian Dolan.
Although on the outside Deran remained cool and collective, inside he wanted to know what the hell he did to deserve meeting his teenage crush while he looked like shit after pulling an all nighter. He looks over to his partner and sees him smirking which means maybe he wasn’t as cool and collective as he thought.
“I already told them, they didn’t need to call you guys I am fine.” Adrian’s voice brings him out of his thoughts as he looks down at the surfer sitting on the sand looking like he got the wind knocked out of him.
Deran kneels down next to him. “Alright well can you tell me what happen while I look at your arm?” He asks gesturing toward his arm that was being cradled near his chest. Adrian, at first, just stared at him before shakes his head lightly and slowly bringing his arm out.
“The wave caught me off guard, pulled me under, kept me in the barrel before slamming me on the reef. But I swear I am fine, nothing that hasn’t happened to me a thousand times.” He explains as he tries to sell his story. Deran could relate. Growing up in Oceanside, there wasn’t much to do as a teenage boy but surf. He remember surfing till the break of dawn, he also remember the cute freckled kid who shredded everyone around him. He looks over to J who seems to be taking his vital and see him nod that he seems to be okay.
“You broke your wrist a thousand times too?” He asks Adrian as he lightly holds the broken appendage.
Adrian rolls his eyes as he nods with a smirk. “I grew up surfing and skateboarding as a kid, what do you think?”
“I think it means you need to come with us Mr. Dolan.” Deran replies with his own smirk, standing up to his feet.
Adrian seems to be caught off guard with he hears his last name before he realized what he said and drops his shoulders. Deran sighs as he squats back down and places his hand on Adrian’s shoulder.
“Come on, the faster you get it looked at the faster you can get back on a board.” He sees out of the corner of his eye that J brought the gurney nearby.
“Fine but can I at least walk to the ambulance please?”
Deran wanted so badly to tell him yes, it was on the tip of his tongue but he guesses J could see his internal battle because he speaks out “Sorry it is against policy. You need to be on the bed.”
J and Deran worked together to get Adrian strapped in and the whole time he could feel J smirking at him, knowing there is a full story there. Deran raises his eyes to his younger partner and shoots him a glare. J softly laughs as he moves to the ambulance. Before Deran knows it J pushes him into the back.
“Don’t worry Bro. Go sit with prince charming, I’ll get you guys there safely.” Deran wanted to punch him in his baby face but instead he flips him the bird before closing the doors. He turns to Adrian and see him sitting there looking down to his lap.
“I thought you did this thousands of times, and you seem to be handling the pain like a champ, what’s up, worried about your board?” He says. As awkward as this could be, he thought might as well make conversation right?
“Nah, my roommate Chad is going to take it home for me. Just kind of bummed I broke my wrist. Thankfully I know how to still work with a cast, but now it means no surfing and a hospital bill. That is never in the budget.” He confessed as he throws his head back.
Deran watches him close his eyes and sigh. He clears his throat when he realizes he has been staring. “I am sorry Mr. Dolan.”
Adrian laughs as he lifts his head. “Come on dude, enough with that. Just call me Adrian since you clearly know who I am. Deran right?”
He laughs as Deran’s eyebrows shoot up. He didn’t know Adrian knew who he was. Sure, everyone kind of knew who the cody boys were but out of all of them, Deran was the least of everyone's worries. He didn’t think anyone even remembered him anymore, especially Adrian. He tries to keep his cool by nodding his head as he looks away, he goes to grab Adrian’s wrist again.
“Hopefully it is just a hairline fracture. Faster recovery.” Deran offers as he gently lays it back down.
“A EMT huh? How did you get into this line of work?” Adrian asks. Deran looks up and sees Adrian looking at him with those same soft doe eyes that he remembers as a teenager.
“Umm well when I realized surfing wasn’t going to go anywhere, I kind of started doing stupid shit, I was caught for car theft and got put away for 5 months. When I got out I just remember wanting something different. It blew smurf away when I told her, I think it shocked her even more when I actually made it but it’s been good. Keeps me out of trouble.” He smiles charmingly at the end.
Adrian laughs as he nods along. “I remember surfing with you. I don’t know why we never hung out, we had the same friends. I remember you always being there, everyone wanting to be around. Be your friend. I think it is because they all thought you were so cool.”
Deran couldn’t help but snort at that. He remembered it being the other way around. Everyone was Adrian’s friend. He was a killer out on the water but probably the nicest person you could meet off it. “No they wanted to be my friend because I could score them bud.” He adds with a laugh, smiling brighter when it caused Adrian to laugh.
“Bud sounds pretty good right now.” Adrian admits.
“What about you?” Deran replies, trying to keep the conversation going.
Adrian shrugs as he looks back down to his lap. “I am doing okay. I tried to make the circuit. Surfed the QS a couple of times before I got too broke to keep competing. Started with with Tao up at Real Surf shop. Been taking class down at UCSD for Business Management.”
“Sounds like things are going good then right?” Deran remembers feeling like that, feeling like the dream becoming impossible, having to make real decisions, be an adult away from the safety of your parents. He believes that why Smurf hated that he became an EMT, got a real job, and moved out. He didn’t need her anymore and she hated it.
“Hang in there Adrian, Things will work out okay.”
A silence grows between them as they keep looking at one another before looking away again. J breaks the silence to announce they are pulling up. Deran moves to get Adrian set up to leave when Adrian grabs his wrist.
“I like you like this. You look good.” He whispers. Adrian flushes like he is embarrassed at admitting it but wanting to stand his ground. Deran can feel himself blush as he turns away and runs his hands through his hair.
“Let’s get you set up.” Deran answers and turns away. He sees Adrian drop his head and feels a punch in the gut. He didn’t want to make him sad but Deran isn’t one for compliments. It's hard when they don’t come your way too often. He manages to catch Adrian’s eyes on more time and tries to give him a smile. Adrian sees it and gives a small smile before looking back down at this hands as he and J move around him. He spouts out all the information to the receiving nurse as they move throughout the hospital. Once they get to the end of the line he knows it is time to go back to the truck and leave for the day but he hesitant by the bed.
He tries to catch Adrian’s eyes one more time but sees the doctor talking to him. So he sighs as he turns to walk away before he feels that light touch on his wrist again, he looks down at the hand then up to Adrian’s blue eyes.
“Don’t be a stranger alright Mr. Cody.” Adrian tease as one side of his lips curls up into a smirk. Deran felt like a weight leaves his chest that he didn’t know he was carrying and he lets out a laugh before nodding his head.
“I guess I will have to see you around then. Adrian” Putting an emphasis on his name. He finally manages to turn away and walks towards J at the end of the hall. He tries to hide his smile knowing J will give him shit. Hearing the little snickering coming from his side he knows that he is failing and pushes J to the side, causing him to laugh harder.
~*~*~*~
It took him two weeks, a lot of teasing and encouragement from both J and Craig, self pity sessions mixed with weed, and pep talks in the bathroom mirror before he finally found himself parked in front of Real Surf Shop. Seeing Adrian again, talking to him about surfing and life, remembering the cute kid who made him questions why he wasn’t like Craig or Baz or even Pope, attempting to flirt with him at one point. It couldn’t be for nothing right?
With one last harsh breath out, Deran finally steps out of the car and makes his way into the shop. He sees two workshop both occupied with a worker. He makes out which one Adrian’s in, noticing the cast on his wrist, a tank top showing off arms that he doesn’t remember noticing that day and board dust covering his hair. He stands there taking him while waiting for him to look up. He hopes it doesn’t take too long before he loses his nerve. Finally their eyes meet and Adrian turns off the machine and takes off his mask.
“Wha..Hey Deran.” He says sounding like he is out of breath, almost in disbelief. Deran can’t really blame him.
“I was wondering if you like beer and burgers?” Deran spits out quickly before he has a chance to talk himself out of it.
Adrian smiles bigger as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Who doesn’t”
Deran’s shoulder drop in relief as he comes to realize that he still has a chance. “There is this hole in the wall bar I go to and was wondering if you would like to join me. We could you know.. Talk some more maybe.” He starts. Adrian starts to move around the board and starts walking to Deran never leaving eye contact till Deran couldn’t anymore and turn his eyes to the floor and runs his hands through his hair. “Maybe we can you know..do something afterwards.” He mumbles to his feet not sure if Adrian could understand him.
Part of couldn’t believe he was doing this. Deran doesn’t do this, he doesn’t ask guys out. He doesn’t try to go on dates with them. He hooks up and has fun and does not have any strings attached. But then again none of them were teenage crushes, none of them were Adrian.
He hears Adrian chuckle and looks up to see him smiling at Deran, both amused and happy with what was going on. Adrian nods as he uncrosses his arms and lightly brushes Deran’s fingers with his cast hand.
“Deran.” He says quietly “breathe.” he tells him.
Deran laughs as he pushes his shoulder. “Dude come on.” He pleads. He does not need to be made fun of here and he knows that is exactly what Adrian is doing. Adrian finally grabs at Deran’s hand and pulls him to his chest.
“Time and place Cody. I’m there.” Adrian tells him with a smile daring him to do something. Deran smiles as he feels himself wrapping his arms around Adrian’s lower back. He does take a quick sweep around the shop wondering if there was anyone watching them.
“I am going to hold you to that.” He whispers to Adrian as he leans closer to him.
Adrian whispers his respond with a smirk that makes Deran wonder what the hell he is getting himself into but looking forward to it desperately. “That is what I am hoping for.”
Deran knows this guy is going to be the death of him and well…. Deran never backs down from a challenge.