Work Text:
It was either one or the other.
Be a soldier or a firefighter. She chose the latter, even if being her shoulder was her dream at one point. Being a firefighter is not so bad though.
Everyone at the station loves her, from the chiefs to the new recruits. She knows the station like the back of her own hand, grew up in it ever since she was barely ten, meeting her father’s company members. Some of those very officers are still at the station, with much higher positions than they had back then. She looks up to many of them and prefers being the youngest 89% of the time. When she’s not too busy being one of the youngest, she’s training new recruits, seeing reflections of the same determined glint she had when she was just starting out.
Minjeong takes pride in saving lives and serving her community beside her brother and father. It’s been a long ride throughout the years, and truthfully, the redhead doesn’t see herself stopping anytime soon. She’s beyond grateful that her father gave her the chance to see how amazing being a firefighter was.
Their station, SM Blaze, takes on the roles of Emergency Medical Service and firefighting. Minjeong likes being able to tend to medical emergency, as well as the heavier work of firefighting. She’s still a little fascinated that the fire station specialized in both.
The job doesn’t feel like a job at times. Sure, it might be exhausting physically, devastating, mentally draining with a mixture of hard work—but Minjeong enjoys the adrenaline rush it gives her, the sense of relief that flushes over when she’s able to help people that need saving. While she’s exerted all her energy for the day running in heavy gear, or in her uniform, she always feels a smile reach her lips knowing that it was all worth it in the end.
Minjeong hisses at the reflection of sunlight that bounces into her eyes. The spring weather is slowly easing in, with a hint of coolness. She’s been cleaning equipment all early morning, her day at the station off to a slow start. Roll call was going to be starting soon and yet, she’s the only one fully up.
“Do you ever sleep in? Like ever?” Ryujin suddenly appears and grumbles, seemingly rubbing the tiredness out of her eyes. The redhead takes a good glance at her friend, taking notice of her pants being inside out.
Instead of telling her, Minjeong quietly chuckles. “No, not really.” She responds back with the shake of her head, giving the woman a pity pat on the shoulder. Ryujin grumbles some more before walking toward the equipment Minjeong has already cleaned and moving them back to where they belong.
Her days at the station are usually the same in the morning. She’s always the first one up, first few people to get dressed and organize the things that needs to be organized. Everyone asks her how she does it—continuously follow her grueling schedule. However, nobody understands how long it took her to maintain the tough schedule. Despite being younger than most of the members, discipline is something that has taken her a long way.
When Minjeong turns, she sees Yunho enter with some bags in his hand, a big grin on his face. “Christmas styled donuts, special delivery!” His voice projects loudly in the garage, probably loud enough to fully wake up everyone else.
Behind her, Ryujin springs to her feet, running over to grab the bags from Yunho. “Finally! I’ve been going to shop everyday to see if they had them.” The woman sets them down on the small counter and pulls the boxes from the bag.
In the blink of an eye, firefighters flood the garage, moving like a horde to pick a donut as if the smell erupted through the whole station. The redhead shakes her head in amuse, in disbelief that a bunch of firefighters sniffed out donuts from halfway across the fire house.
But of course, peace at the station only lasts so long.
“Engine 5, Engine 7, Truck 2, Rescue 1, and Battalion 3, respond to a reported structure fire at 1120 Kwangya Street. Caller reports heavy smoke coming from the 2nd floor, possible trapped occupants. Please advise if additional resources are needed. Time out: 9:32.”
Minjeong reacts quickly as soon as she hears the alarm go off. It’s muscle memory, although, she never quite gets used to the way her body jolts for the small millisecond she has before her body moves. There’s no time to compose herself—even if she has to. Every second counts and no emergency is too small.
The roar of the engines are the jumpstart of her day, as she swiftly puts on and buckles all her equipment for the emergency, a fire one. In the next few seconds, Minjeong and a few members quickly enter the truck, listening diligently for more details about the emergency.
As she listens to the details, the redhead let her head lean back on the seat, constant chatter rupturing back and forth through her hears. The truck begins to move, their captain going over what they needed to once they get to the location.
Lost in her thoughts and subconsciously listening to everything said, a hand knocks on the top of her head. “Kim. No reckless moves today. The level of threat is high, so stick to the plan so everyone can get in and out safely. Understand?” Her father, Changmin, looks her straight in the eye. A stern voice mixes in with the static in her ears.
Minjeong slowly nods, fiddling with the thick material of her turnout suit. It doesn’t help the thump and rapidness of her heart struggles through adrenaline. She needs to focus, try to calm her heart.
Leaning back in her seat and looking out the window, Minjeong recites the things she needs to do. That’s the thing about firefighting. Nothing is predictable, no matter how long anyone’s been in the job for.
When they finally arrive to the scene, smoke completely covers the area. Minjeong hops out of the truck, her members following along. They look toward the people who have already evacuated the building.
Their captain brings the company in a small circle, on a time crunch. “Most have evacuated the building. But we need to find the source of the fire and attack it. Theres still people who are trapped inside. They’re scattered all over the floor and debris and heat prevent them from escaping. We need to work quickly in removing victims before the fire spreads.” They all nod in understanding.
Her father faces Ryujin, Eric, Taehyun, and Sunwoo and a few more firefighters. “Group 1, locate where the fire is coming from. Try to break some windows to get some air. If you find anyone, get them out. Minjeong, Chaeryeong, Aeri and Yunjin, Yeonjun and Soobin, group 2. Evacuate the people on the second floor. There’s more people on that floor so spread out and search for hostages. The rest will help from any other angles and try to put out the fire.”
Minjeong fixes her mask on, securing it on her face. They grab a few tools, and move out.
Navigating toward the building is difficult, tedious. There’s debris falling everywhere, heat burning ridiculously hot at the redhead’s skin. She simply ignores it, trying to focus on finding hostages. Behind her, her brother follows with a hose, blasting at the fire when necessary.
If she’s looking at this right, the fire is burning quickly vertically, and if they don’t find hostages and get out soon, something is either going to blow or the building was going to collapse. Minjeong keeps moving, eyes and ears laser focused.
“Help! Someone help us!” They hear a jumble of voices yelling for help a few doors down. Minjeong notices that their doors are blocked by debris, fire burning right above them.
Beomgyu and Minjeong sprint toward the door, swiftly hauling the large pieces of cement from the door. They only have a little bit of time before the fire above them sprays more debris onto them, which would make getting the hostages out even harder.
After a few minutes, they clear the doorway enough to get to the door. “Back away from the door! I’m going to kick it down!” Minjeong instructs. She gives them a few seconds before backing up and kicking with all her might.
It takes a few tries, but eventually, the door budges, allowing the two fire fighters to shove the door open. Behind the door, is a family. Beomgyu ushers them out, reassures them that everything was going to be okay.
Minjeong doesn’t have time, she’ll reassure them later. She knows that there’s more victims trapped on the other side of the debris. She reaches for her walkie talkie, needing backup to escort the victims they’ve already found. The redhead tells her brother to get them back outside so they can breathe.
Beomgyu’s screams are a series of mumble in her ears as she kicks the wall of concrete down until it falls. She jumps over it and follows the cries for help. If she’s heard right from their communication, there’s still 3 people trapped, with little time left.
The heat only gets hotter, fire crackling at her sides. She needs to get to the victims, she’s not being reckless. She has empathy, the one thing no one else at the station seems to have. Nobody gets left behind under her watch.
Running on adrenaline helps sometimes, flushing out the fear that she gets, the voices in her heads that tell her she won’t be able to make it in time. Minjeong’s lost people in her line of work and it never gets any easier. The regret and guilt settle in her chest and lasts an ample amount of time.
“Minjeong, Minjeong! You have to get out of there! We’ve gotten the victims out! It’s too dangerous!” Her best friend’s voice is heard from the walkie talkie. The redhead continues forward, ignoring the commands.
Her dad is going to kill her if this fire doesn’t do the deed.
And her intuition is right, Minjeong nearly sobbing in relief when she finds a mother and her child unconscious in the middle of the hallway. The redhead checks their pulses, and luckily, they’re still alive. The boy wakes up after a few shakes and Minjeong asks if he can walk. He slowly nods. With all her strength, she hauls the still conscious mother into her arms, and makes the boy stay in front of her.
The boy is covered in soot, his shirt burnt a little. The fire continues crackling around them, sending pieces of the floor above them falling hazardously. Minjeong runs as fast as she can, taking hits and shielding the boy and the mother from hot falling debris.
They run and run, and the firefighter wonders if they’ll even make it past, as the wall of debris has now been engulfed in flames. There’s such a little gap available, and yet, she feels daring.
Maybe this part is a little reckless, but it’s the only way they’re going to survive with the floor above them on the verge of collapsing.
While they’ve been running and navigating through the burning building, the mother in her arms finds her consciousness. It was a good sign in the midst of this all, gives Minjeong more strength to get out of this mess alive, no matter how exhausted she was feeling.
She pauses, only for a quick second, attempting to figure out what to do. She looks down at the boy, who is still holding her hand. “Do you trust me?” The redhead glances between the boy and the wall of debris.
The boy nods, a little bit of fear reflecting in his eyes. “I’m going to kick the pile down. As soon as it comes tumbling down, the path will open, but only for a quick second. I want you to run as fast as you can to the other side.” Minjeong instructs, making sure he understands what he needs to do.
She puts the woman down, seeing that she can walk just fine. “Ma’am, you two need to run as fast as you can to the other firefighters waiting toward the exit. The stairs are safe to go down.” Minjeong quickly tells the mother, preparing to knock down the pile.
1.
2.
3.
As hard as she can, Minjeong uses her strength to kick down the pile, making an opening large enough for them to run through. There’s a large metal piece that falls onto her back from above, hot metal burning through her suit. It nearly makes her see white but she holds the piece up, and motions for the two to go through.
The mother and son make a dash for it, and they don’t look back as they run toward the firefighters waiting at the end of the hallway. When they get through, Minjeong looks for a way to get past without having the whole roof collapse on her.
The longer she holds the piece of metal, the longer it burns on her back. She’s pretty sure she’s dislocated her shoulder too. But atleast she’s gotten the last victims to safety.
She breathes deeply, knowing she’ll have to perform a certain maneuver to get out. She’s agile—it’s possible, even if it’s just a small amount.
“Minjeong. Do you copy?”
“Yes. Just in a little of a pickle here.” She tries to joke through the pain.
The walkie talkie hums and crackles. “Engine 5 to Dispatch. Fire is under control, primary search complete. We’re starting overhaul. Requesting EMS to check for smoke inhalation.”
“What? No! My daughter is in there. Minjeong, you need to get out of there!” Her father’s recognizable voice responds, sending a wave of panic.
Minjeong doesn’t bother responding, pushing the slab upwards so it leans against the wall to hold the floor up. It takes the remaining of her strength, however, it gives her time to dive away from the pile, only a few inches away as the other half of the building collapses.
The firefighter scrambles up to her feet, sprinting toward the stairway and skipping the actual stairs. She jumps, attaching the line that had been attached earlier onto her clip and falls straight down the line. It’s so fast, that she’s sure friction builds and threatens to light from the amount of material on her suit.
Somehow, she makes it out to outside, just before the fire blows, collapsing onto the grass in utter pain and exhaustion. Immediately, people hoard her, lifting her away from the building, seemingly too close to it and into a gurney.
Her mask is taken off, allowing her to finally breathe. “She needs medical attention!” Beomgyu shouts, and all Minjeong can think about is how nice it sounds to fall asleep. However, her brother shakes her awake. “Hell no, stay awake for me.”
Really, she was expecting to check up on the victims, not staring up at the sky helplessly. “Is everyone okay?” Her throat is dry, every word scratching at her throat.
Beomgyu’s face is stricken with tears, something very unfamiliar to the redhead. Her heart hurts, wanting to pull her twin brother into her arms and tell him that everything was okay. She got out safe.
The man nods, barely managing to answer as the rest of team pulls him away from his big sister. He thrashes, twists and turns, screaming about wanting to follow after the ambulance. Minjeong wants to laugh at her brother’s show of vulnerability, in response to her state.
Everyone is okay.
She can rest.
The mask that is put over her face takes away all the worries.
Her eyelids flutter close, as she begs and prays that everyone got out safely.
-
When Minjeong wakes up, she’s in a sterile white room with the hum of machines and the soft murmur of voices. For a moment, she thinks she was still on the scene, still fighting the fire. But then, she see the IV in her arm, the bandages around her hands and neck. She realizes she was somewhere else—somewhere safe, away from the smoke and fire.
“Don’t try to move.” A deep voice says, a little too sternly for her liking. Minjeong turns her head slightly to find a woman standing at the foot of her bed, her arms crossed and his expression blank.
There is something about her—a quiet authority that immediately draws her attention. Their eyes meet, dark brown orbs burning into her own. “You’ve been burned pretty badly,” She continues, tapping a clipboard in her hand. Glasses perch on her nose, long black hair fall down her back. “You’ll be in some pain for a while. We’ll start you on painkillers.”
Minjeong frowns, desperate for something to soothe her dry throat. “I’m fine. Do you have some water around? You’re so hot, I feel like my throat is dryer than the Sahara desert.” She gasps out, trying to sit up. Pain shoots up her body, especially her shoulder.
The doctor blinks. Hard.
Something about the doctor tells the firefighter that she’s not someone to take humor generously.
The woman barely budges. “No, you’re not fine. You’re going to stay put while I check you out. I’m Dr. Jimin Yu.” She doesn’t bother waiting for her to respond, already turning to adjust the IV in her arm. Eventually, Jimin walks over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and handing it the firefighter.
Minjeong mumbles a thank you, letting the doctor open the water for her since her left arm is immobile and stuck in a sling. She takes a long gulp, feeling her thirst bring quench by the second.
“I’m Kim Minjeong.” The firefighter practically breathes out, water pouring from her lips clumsily.
The raven lifts up the clipboard. “I know. It’s on your patient file.” Right. She wonders who filled that out.
The firefighter blinks at the bluntness, but something about it is attractive, like a push and pull. “Somebody’s grumpy.” Minjeong singsongs, chuckling at the tenseness of Jimin’s face.
Silence engulfs them, allowing the firefighter to finally take in Jimin’s appearance. The way she holds herself up, seeming like someone who just wanted to do her job. But the redhead concludes that the doctor has to be the most stunning person Minjeong’s eyes have ever been set on and now’s she’s determined to leave this hospital with her number.
She hopes—begs that this woman is not married with a kid at home.
The firefighter searches subtly for a fancy Diamond ring of some sort, silently cheering when she finds none.
The doctor sighs, glancing at her watch. She begins walking toward the door, about to leave. “You’re going to be in here for a while. You can’t do anything either way. That burn on your back might scar and your shoulder took most of the weight so it’s slightly sprained.” The raven informs her, sending the firefighter into a turmoil of disappointment. But she brightens up when she weighs out the benefits.
Minjeong leans back into her bed, thinking about taking another nap and dreaming about the sexy doctor in front of her. “Better me than anyone else.” She shrugs absentmindedly. Her response leaves an ambiguity in the air.
Doctor Yu stands by the turn of the corner, staring at the redhead with a look, like she’s trying to study the firefighter. It isn’t the first time someone has attempted to. Minjeong’s a pandora box, willingly sealed away.
Although, a beat passes before Jimin straightens up. “Get some rest, Ms. Kim.” Then the doctor leaves, leaving the redhead with a goal.
-
She lied.
Minjeong doesn’t know if this goal is worth it. She hasn’t seen her own bed in nearly a week, her colleagues and family members have been doing nothing but scolding her for pulling that heroic stunt. Which she doesn’t understand because everyone already knows the one thing she’s stubborn about.
The food in the hospital is absolutely atrocious, every tray the nurse brings causing the redhead to gag. Her savior, Aeri has been sneaking in real food and giving her company.
Aeri settles on the seat next to the redhead’s bed, watching humorously as the firefighter digs into her food like she hasn’t been fed in ages. Her mother’s home cooked food brings tears to the redhead’s eyes.
While eating, Aeri crosses her legs and shakes her head. “You know, your father is still not too happy that you ended up in the hospital. Everyone in the station are on edge that their previous baby Kim got hurt this badly.” The other firefighter’s announcement catches Minjeong’s attention.
The redhead sets her chopstick down, her shoulders still trying to find their point of relaxation. “There was no one left in the building?” Minjeong locks her eyes with the other firefighter, her face serious and stern.
Aeri presses her lips together and crosses her arms and legs. She lets out an exasperated sigh, the one she does when she’s tired of Minjeong’s nonsense. “No casualties, fortunately. Two people in specific came up to us, wanting to find the firefighter who didn’t give up and saved their lives. A mother and her son.” The woman waits for the gears in Minjeong’s head to turn.
A smile paints the redhead’s lips in relief. “I’m glad they’re okay. It makes all this-” She motions to her injuries. “-Worth it.”
Her friend chuckles lightly, standing up to her feet. “Well, I’ll get going now and tell everyone you’re okay. Don’t give your doctor trouble.” Aeri gives Minjeong a knowing look, to which the firefighter raises her hand in surrender.
Eventually, Minjeong is left all alone in her room. While it’s nice to rest, the redhead can’t help but want to return to the station. All she feels being in this room is something similar to the homesickness she felt during college.
Just as she lets her eyes flutter close, the door slams open, startling her awake. “Is your visitor gone?” The same deep voice from the day before fills Minjeong’s ears.
The doctor appears in her line of vision. Her hair is more wavy, full of volume. She isn’t wearing any glasses today, giving Minjeong full sight of her eyes. They’re a beautiful shade of dark brown.
It almost hurts to look at the doctor.
Minjeong hums, too tired and full to even deal with the doctor’s bluntness today. She comes to a realization that soon, they’ll both go back to their jobs and lives, and never meet again.
“Get up and take off your shirt. I need to change your bandages.” Jimin instructs simply, prompting the redhead to sit up and turn her back toward the raven.
A question sits on her tongue as Doctor Yu’s small hands remove the old bandages from her back. She nearly asks it, but pauses when she notices that the raven is taking longer than usual to clean her burn.
She hears the doctor clear her throat, Minjeong flinching when fingers brush across her shoulders. “Do… Do you work out?” The raven presses into her good shoulder and the firefighter straightens, feeling shivers fly up her spine.
Minjeong breathes out slowly and lets the raven clean her wounds. “Yes. Like what you see? I’m a firefighter. I got to be strong and stuff.” She teases and then whines when the doctor presses the bandage a little too firmly. And she can’t believe herself, being this pathetic in front of gorgeous doctor. She rather let her father kill her than continue the embarrassment she repeatedly places herself through.
The doctor stifles back a laugh. “I can see that. I’ve never treated a firefighter before. They’re usually smart enough not to go against their captain’s orders, act reckless and end up in the hospital like this.” Jimin moves around the bed, pausing to inspect her shoulder.
When she cuts the gauze, blowing on the stitches at the top of the firefighter’s shoulder after cleaning it. She wraps the bandage around her shoulder, then without a beat, the raven pulls out a medicated large patch and places it across her stomach.
The remark stabs Minjeong a little, having heard similar words from everyone else. There’s been different ways to call her naive, however, it’s a bit ironic coming from Dr. Yu in specific. The redhead scoffs in disbelief, lifting her head to look up at the doctor.
Minjeong bristles, her ears growing warm in anger. “You don’t know me. I think it’s a little funny coming from someone like you. Do you even actually care about your patients? Do you cry at night and blame yourself when you tried your best to save them but can’t at the end of day?” She pauses, Jimin’s fingers trembling against her stomach.
The redhead keeps their gazes locked, refusing to break their contact. Somehow, she searches and searches for some type of emotion behind the doctor’s eyes. A type of sign that Jimin carries the same burden that Minjeong carried everyday. Hell, she still thinks about the people she couldn’t save when she falls asleep at night.
“I know I do. I feel the responsibility of being a firefighter and if going against my captain’s orders, risking my safety to give two more people a chance to live is stupid? So be it.” The firefighter finally finishes. She watches the doctor swallow harshly.
Jimin diverts her gaze elsewhere, instead quietly finishes up on wrapping the firefighter. “You know that’s not what I meant, Minjeong.” She sighs in frustration.
But Minjeong doesn’t want to hear it, having enough for the day. “I want to request for another doctor.” The redhead blurts out after.
“Minjeong, you don’t mean that.”
The redhead glares at her, causing the doctor to take a moment to herself. “Oh, but I do. Since you know how stubborn I get.” Minjeong only stares back at her, keeps quiet and decides that she didn’t want to see the raven any longer.
Each second she remains in her hospital room leaves a bitter taste in the firefighter’s mouth.
Doctor Yu gives her one last glance before quickly cleaning up and walking toward the door. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Minjeong falls back onto her bed, and for the first time, breathing the hospital air burns her throat more than it ever has in the line of smoke.
-
Minjeong doesn’t like being in the hospital all day. Atleast at station, there was always something to do and she wasn’t deprived of human contact. Her injuries aren’t even that bad. But everyone had told her to stay out for once and she had no choice but to listen.
It’s different for once, being left alone with nothing but her loud thoughts. They bounce around in her head like they’re stuck in four walls. Usually, there would always be someone to receive her thoughts.
Really, she’s thinking about a certain someone again. That’s all she’s been able to do. Gush in love and scream in frustration like a teenage girl in highschool.
She gossips with one of her non-firefighter friend for once. Laid in her bed with her phone to her ear, she lets Yizhuo yaps and yaps into the speaker to Minjeong.
“You’ve been in the hospital for a few days and you’ve already found the love of your life? The said love of your life being the unreachable doctor Yu that everyone crushes on and that I’m friends with?” Yizhuo sounds in disbelief, like she couldn’t believe her ears.
Minjeong turns to her side, squinting her eyes at nothing. “Why do you sound surprised? And you haven’t visited me once!” She complains into the phone.
A scoff is heard from Yizhuo. “That’s because I didn’t know you were in the hospital? I work all the way in the radiology unit and I’m surprised because all these you’re telling me literally doesn’t sound like Jimin. Yu Jimin, blushing and whining?”
The redhead couldn’t blame her for that. All the doctor does is brood, with one emotion on dial. But Minjeong’s finally unlocked the other side of the woman and has experienced a little of other emotions so there’s not much she has to say anymore about her.
Then Minjeong remembers their argument and groans. “We had an argument yesterday and we haven’t talked since. Doctor Hwang came in instead.” She doesn’t know why she felt so bummed about it when she was the one who asked for another doctor in the first place.
On the other side, Yizhuo is quiet. Something about the silence tells the firefighter that she’s about to say something she’s not going to like.
“What did you two argue about?”
Minjeong suddenly feels a pit in her stomach as she recalls their incident. “She called me reckless for the mission and I blew up on her. I was just tired of everyone telling me the same thing. I guess she was the breaking point.” The redhead’s voice grows lower with guilt.
Her friend hums in understanding. She also lets the firefighter wallow in self pity. “I think she’s just worried about you. Jimin isn’t used to these type of things so it’s hard for her to express herself. Although, I don’t think it was right to take up your built up frustration out on her.” Yizhuo explains.
Shrinking more against herself, Minjeong feels the pit in her stomach sink more. “I know. I know. But I can take care of myself though.” The redhead responds, hearing Yizhuo on the other side of the phone shuffling from where she is.
“We know you can. Everyone knows you can take care of yourself. Just try to understand where she’s coming from and tell her how you feel. She probably just cares and is worried for you.” Her friend finally finishes.
The firefighter closes her eyes and places her hand on her forehead. This wasn’t just something she’d have to deal with once. She knows she’s going to have to have a large amount of talks with the company as well. Her head hurts just thinking about it.
Minjeong mumbles something incoherent before telling Yizhuo to go back to work. She harshly pulls up her blanket and begs the pain killers to kick in again.
-
Minjeong wonders what Jimin is doing. The episode of when the phone rings barely did its distraction.
She regrets being so harsh to the doctor. She guesses she was tired of everyone telling her the same exact thing. It doesn’t mean she’s going to apologize though.
Her burns have been hurting a little less, as well as her shoulder. She’s been thinking of seeing if she could get discharged early and go back home. She knows she won’t be able to work for a while but it doesn’t mean she couldn’t hang out at the station.
Minjeong eyes the clock on the wall, noticing that it was almost time for the doctor to do her annual check up. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t expecting a certain raven haired woman.
There’s a few knocks on the door, but she barely budges when it creaks open. “Minjeong?” A head peaks from the corner.
The firefighter shakes her head at how awkward Jimin looks, her silly glasses perched on her nose. “I asked for another doctor, remember?” Minjeong sits up with on hand, with a slight tilt to her head.
Silence takes over for a long period of time, the doctor slowly approaching the bed little by little. “I’m really sorry for what I said yesterday….. I understand where you’re coming from and I do- I do cry whenever I can’t save a patient. I just try hard not to show my emotions because it makes things easier. I used to breakdown everytime I lost a patient, but my seniors tell me that it happens and it never gets any easier.” The raven basically rambles, making herself comfortable on the bed by the firefighter’s feet.
As her fingers fiddle with eachother, the doctor closes and opens her eyes, seemingly in thought. “A little someone has been making my life a little harder and making me deal with emotions I haven’t dealt with before. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way and insult you.” She meets the firefighter’s eyes, emotions shifting the longer she keeps her gaze.
Minjeong shifts, taking in Jimin’s words. She had some things she’d like to get off her chest. “I do think when I do things. I just care too much to leave anyone behind, and I’m human just like everyone else. I’m tired of everyone telling me that I’m reckless or naive and I don’t like people babying me. I’m not a child, I know what I’m doing.” She looks down at her hands, her shoulders rising and falling. As the words finally escape her lips, her body feels a little lighter—less tense.
Soft small hands reach for Minjeong, brushing her fingers over the square bandage over her hand. “I know…. You’re not stupid. You care and you have a big heart. Being a firefighter is a huge responsibility, and you risk your life by jumping into danger.” Doctor Yu eventually peels the old bandage and carefully replaces it.
Jimin holds her hands carefully, tracing her skin. She soon moves one of them to her cheek and melts into Minjeong’s hand. “I care about you and the thought of something happening to you terrifies me. I know it’s your job but just- please take of yourself.” The doctor emphasizes—begs her.
Minjeong thinks the doctor is slowly warming up to her. She doesn’t know what to think of the tingles that erupt in her skin everytime Jimin touches her. She wanted to deny it at first, that maybe, what she has been feeling was nothing but a fleeting moment.
But at this moment, the feeling is the strongest it has been her whole time at the hospital.
When the firefighter lifts her head, she meets Jimin’s glassy eyes, and for the first time, there’s an expression other than a blank face. Tears streak down the doctor’s cheeks, barely there until the raven harshly wipes them away.
“I’m sorry.” Jimin’s apologies sincerely, blinking away her tears.
Minjeong swallows, moving her hand from under Jimin’s hand, and tentatively moving it up her waist. She waits for a sign of discomfort, anything that the doctor disliked it. But the raven doesn’t move. Slowly, Minjeong leans forward to engulf her in a hug.
The more she holds the doctor there, the more the redhead thinks it’s where she’s meant to be. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have blown up on you. I’ll be more careful. I promise.”
Jimin melts into her embrace, sobbing. The redhead’s shirt becomes drenched in tears, yet in that moment, Minjeong doesn’t seem to care. All she does care about is the way the doctor’s arms wrap around her waist and nestles into her shoulder.
Doctor Yu shakes in her arms. Her grip on the firefighter’s shirt is tight like she doesn’t want to let go. Minjeong doesn’t make her let go.
Jimin is human too. Minjeong decides to forgive her.
-
There’s been a little constant schedule, where Jimin comes into the room to check on the redhead and change her bandages. The painkillers have been working miracles and she’s beginning to ease from 2 to 1 pill a day.
Minjeong feels a little embarrassed that her favorite time of the day has been whenever the doctor entered her room. She likes the little banter they have going on, where the redhead flirts and she earns empty threats from the raven with slightly dusted cheeks. There’s something twinkling between them and Minjeong hopes she’s not the only who feels it tethering.
Because they are still on a patient doctor relationship basis, they remind eachother to tone down the obvious,
She’s met some other doctors too, and is becoming a favorite among them. For example, whenever she takes walks to for some recovery. (Which technically, isn’t recommended for someone like her. She can walk! Her upper body’s just the problem.)
“Ms. Kim, what are you doing walking?” Dr. Hwang approaches her, with a raised eyebrow. In a way, she’s Jimin’s counterpart, but much nicer and smiley. Although, Minjeong doesn’t appreciate whenever she snitches to Dr. Yu about things she’s not supposed to do.
The firefighter’s eyes wander around, avoiding the doctor’s gaze. She’s just wants some fresh air. “I’m fine. I just wanted some fresh air.” Minjeong simply replies, silently begging there wouldn’t be anymore questions asked.
To no avail, Dr. Hwang pulls out her phone and places it to her ear. The firefighter deflates in defeat, this moment being the one time she didn’t want to see Dr. Yu. Before she settles into her ultimate doom, Minjeong makes a run for it, and beelines for the garden. Now all she has to do is sneak into the security room and delete the embarrassing moment of her running.
Dr. Hwang doesn’t bother chasing her, knowing a certain raven will deal with her instead. She presses her lips against eachother and tucks her hands into her coat pockets.
The firefighter makes it outside, the garden full of people screaming and having fun. Minjeong feels her heart loosen its tenseness, slowly adjusting to the outdoor air.
She finds a bench to sit on and crosses her arms as she leans back. A boy approaches her, silently sitting next to her. Minjeong doesn’t budge, barely acknowledging him.
Suddenly, a hand poked her arm, bring her out of her reviere. Minjeong looks down at the culprit, blinking back at huge brown orbs.
“Are you a firefighter?” The boy asks curiously. The redhead chuckles, wondering how he ended up figuring her occupation out.
Reaching into her pocket, Minjeong pulls out her badge. “I am. I work at Sm blaze station. Have you heard of it before?” The redhead hands the badge to the boy, who lets out a sound of awe. He fiddles a bit with the badge, which causes the firefighter to smile.
The boy raises his head. “I have. I watched on the news how you saved a mother and her son! I was a bit scared when you were the only one who ended up hurt.” He points to her sling.
Minjeong snorts through her nose, lifting her arm from him to see. “See, I’m fin- Ow!” She yelps when someone pats her tender shoulder. When she turns back to reprimand the culprit, the redhead shrinks as she meets Dr. Yu’s glare.
Next to her, the boy giggles brightly at the situation they’ve been placed in. He hands the firefighter back her badge. “I have to go. What’s your room number? I’ll visit you!”
The firefighter chuckled as she ruffles his hair, quickly jotting down her room number on a piece of paper from her note book and ripping it out. Minjeong gives it to the boy, who grins widely before saying his goodbyes. Both women watch him run off toward his parents, the redhead waving back to them with a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, Jimin settles next to the firefighter. Her strong perfume forms a bubble around them, proving to the redhead that she smells as good as she thought she would.
“Are you obsessed with me or something?” Minjeong nudges the doctor.
Jimin scoffs and shakes her head. “You wish. You should’ve told me you were going outside.” She turns serious and Minjeong’s beginning to become tired of it. The sudden switch ups when she thinks they were getting somewhere.
Turning her head toward the garden, the firefighter tucks her badge back into her pocket. “I’m not a child, Jimin. We’re a year apart.” She sighs heavily. The bench shifts under their wait.
Lightly, Minjeong feels fingers brush across her’s. She flinches, looking down at the doctor’s small fingers tangled with her own. The redhead wants to gasp, but she settles it as an accident and keeps her findings to herself.
Dr. Yu leans closer, shifting her body until their shoulders bump. “I didn’t say you were. But as my patient, you’re my responsibility. I was worried when I entered your room and you weren’t there. Then Dr. Hwang called me to tell me that you ran out to the garden.” Jimin moves her hand, until her hand is completely covering Minjeong’s.
The firefighter decides to take a risk, just like she did at the building when she saved those victims and slightly moves her hand until their palms are pressed flat against eachother. Their fingers tangle hesitantly but afterwards, their hands fit perfectly together.
Minjeong bites back a smile as she watches the raven’s ears turn a hue of red. “Do you hold hands with your patients?” She teases and the doctor whines, attempting to pull her hand away. “Relax, there’s no one here.”
However, the firefighter laughs lowly, readjusting their grip. After a moment, Jimin stops fiddling and stays put. “Stop being annoying. I’m supposed to remain professional. You’re still my patient for another few days so don’t push it.” The doctor tells her with a bit of bite but the redhead knows it was all playfully.
Not wanting to put her license in danger, Minjeong lets go of the doctor’s hand and puts space between them. The raven pouts—actually pouts and it does something to the firefighter’s heart.
However, the redhead doesn’t fall for it. “Discharge me faster and then we can talk.”
They forget who the childish one is at the end of the day.
-
When the door to Minjeong’s hospital room opens, she’s expecting her father to visit and tell her that she was finally getting discharged. She’s in the middle of closing up her bag, finally dressed in comfortable clothes. Her father and brother visited a few times, in worry, actually. However, she’s surprised to see Doctor Yu, in regular clothes instead of her usual attire.
Minjeong’s jaw drops, her eyes studying the woman from head to toe. She’s absolutely stunning, her dark black hair flowing gracefully behind her back. Pink lips shines evidently and as simple as the doctor’s outfit is, the redhead finds her ten times more beautiful as she already is.
Jimin smiles—actually smiles and it sends the redhead’s heart into a pile of mush at how beautiful it is. “I’m off today, but I’m here as a visitor. I couldn’t help but check up on you since you’ll be discharged today. Since you’ll no longer be my patient, I think it’ll be okay to finally let you take me out on.” The raven bites her bottom lip nervously, staring at firefighter for a response.
Minjeong slings her bag over her good shoulder, still trying to snap out her daze. “Cute but I haven’t even stepped out of my room yet.” She walks over and settles for a simple hug. “You look great.”
Jimin hugs her back, deeply inhaling. “Thank you! Now come on. Let’s finally get you out of here. I’ll meet you outside.” She pulls back to place a kiss right on the apple of the firefighter’s cheek.
Before Minjeong can even decipher what has just happened, the doctor is out the door, leaving the redhead with only her strong perfume to remember her by.
That woman is going to be the death of her.
The redhead shakes her head, remembering what she stood up to do. She makes a round and says goodbye to all the doctors before finding herself at the reception desk. The nurse up front checks her up because giving her papers to sign. As Minjeong does her absolute best to sign the papers, the constant vibration of her phone throws her off.
It takes longer than she wanted to but after a while, the firefighter thanks the nurse and begins making her way toward the entrance.
Finally, she reunites with real civilization. Minjeong takes a deep inhale then exhales. “Ugh, finally, freedom! I’m so close to meeting my own bed.” The firefighter grips her away bag closer to her.
Her celebration comes to an abrupt end when she gets a message from the number she had been waiting for. Briefly reading the message, the redhead shakes her head, lifting her gaze to look for the doctor’s car. She finds it after a few seconds, and skips over to the fancy looking car. Minjeong opens the passenger door and steps in quickly. Instantly, heat soothes her body in contrast to the stark transition to winter outside.
Jimin laughs cutely beside her, fumbling with the navigation system.
“Where to?”
-
She wasn’t quite expecting their first kiss to get this heated.
They kiss like they’ve been deprived of oxygen, of eachother. And somehow along the way, Minjeong finds herself pressing the doctor against the door to her bedroom. Jimin wraps her arms around her neck, all while the redhead used the one available arm and hand to pull the woman closer.
Fancy perfume intoxicate the firefighter, makes her feel that the safe wait was worth it. She can feel their fast and harsh heartbeats thrash in their chest, evidence of the overwhelming feelings they have for eachother.
If Minjeong’s telling the truth, she’d definitely used the rest of her leave time from the fire station to be able to feel the raven tremble under her touch, let her fingers trace shapes under Jimin’s shirt and on her stomach.
There’s not much memory of when the lines blurred. All Minjeong does remember is that one day, Jimin wouldn’t laugh at her jokes or smile, and the next, she was watching red creep up to the raven’s face as she flirted while getting checked up.
Jimin’s smile is the best thing Minjeong’s has been lucky enough to be graced with.
They reluctantly pull away from eachother, heaving heavily. They stay staring at eachother, until soft smiles gleam.
The fond gaze in the doctor’s eyes is evident, in no rush to be hidden. Jimin moves forward until her forehead rests against Minjeong’s. “I can’t believe I’m saying this. I didn’t even imagine I’d meet someone like you in the way I did. But, I’m really glad I met you. You managed to brighten up my life with your corny pick up lines and jokes.” Jimin giggles when the firefighter nuzzles at skin.
To be fair, Minjeong got way more than she bargained for. She was expecting the doctor to make it difficult for her to even get her number at the end of her hospital stay. However, here she is, breathing Jimin in.
The raven lets her eyes wonder, her body relaxing little by little. “I really like you and my heart hasn’t been able to let me rest ever since the day I found out who my admitted patient was. Before you, my coworkers called me a workaholic. I didn’t look forward to anything. Just went to work and then went home. But now, I have a reason to get through my day, and if you let me, I could have someone to come home to.” She leans back to cup Minjeong’s face carefully.
A wide smile makes way to Minjeong’s face, her head slowly nodding. “Of course. I like you a lot too…. maybe a bit too much.” She leaps forward and connects their lips in a brief kiss until they erupt in happy giggles. “Gosh, it feels like a dream hearing that you like me back.”
Jimin pokes her side playfully, soon apologizing and cooing when the firefighter complains about her side still hurting. However, when she notices that the woman is messing with her, she swats Minjeong’s good shoulder.
After heartfelt confession, the redhead offers for a movie night and some take out. It’s not an ideal first date but Jimin tells her that it’s perfect as she cuddles into Minjeong’s side and rests her head on her shoulder.
Absolute bliss. She can’t wait to tell Yizhuo and Aeri.
-
**4 years later **
(“Ms. Yu? Some sexy firefighter left you some food.” The front desk nurse pushes the items toward the raven haired doctor, feigned envy on her face.
The others all look at eachother with a knowing look, and Jimin winks at the nurse. “Ah, you must be new here. That sexy firefighter is my fiancée. She’s taken unfortunately.” The raven tells her, bobbing her head in gratitude before walking off.
Left behind, the nurse sinks in embarrassment as the doctor smiles at the adorable note Minjeong left her.)