Chapter Text
Evanna Buckley had always had one dream, and that dream was to be a firefighter.
So naturally, she became a Victoria’s Secret model instead.
It wasn’t an idea she had planned for her future, it just kind of happened. In 2007, her friend was signing up for modeling tryouts and begged Evanna to go with her. Just for fun. Just to see.
They showed up with fresh headshots taken the day before and a little too much confidence.
Stand in line. Wait for your number. Walk when you’re told.
When her number was called, Evanna stepped forward with confidence and attitude, adding a little extra flair because… why not?
It turned out that wasn’t the smartest decision.
Before she knew it, she was signing contracts with huge companies, her face plastered across campaigns, becoming one of the most recognizable names in the modeling industry.
She never meant for it to blow up like this. At first, it was fun. It paid the bills. It opened doors most people only dreamed about. She met people others would kill to meet and lived a life that looked perfect from the outside.
But she always wanted something more.
She wanted action. Danger. Noise. Dirt under her nails and adrenaline in her veins. She never knew why. She had everything she was supposed to want, and yet it never felt like enough.
Don’t get her wrong, she loved modeling. It gave her stability, freedom, and opportunities she was grateful for. But no matter how much she loved it, her eyes were always on something else.
Firefighting.
She learned about it in grade school, and it never left her. Every worksheet that asked What do you want to be when you grow up? got the same answer. Every plan, every dream, every version of her future led back to it.
Some dreams don’t work out.
Or do they…?
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Evanna did it.
She filled out the academy papers for the LAFD. Against all protests of her manager, she worked until her whole body ached.
Evanna wanted this more than anything, she still doesn't know why but she does.
Finally after 6 months of training she passed the academy. She worked for every mark she earned, pushing herself harder than anyone else, determined to prove she belonged there.
She altered her appearance in small ways. Minimal makeup. Different hair. Simpler clothes. She told everyone to call her “Eva” instead of “Evanna.” Not because she didn’t love her name, she did, but because she didn’t want to risk anyone connecting the dots
But after 6 grueling months of hiding who she was underneath and terrible back pain some days that made her question everything.
She had passed the fire academy.
She had been assigned to station 118, under captain Bobby Nash. She was nervous
but confidence is key… right?
She pulls up to the parking lot of the 118 shaking with nerves and excitement. She steps out of her car and heads towards the bay doors trying to seem confident but on the inside, she was shaking like a leaf. The lieutenant said she was to report to captain Nash on her first day, but she can't seem to find him, so she asks the closest person near her.
“Hi my name's Eva, I'm the new probie and I was told to report to Captain Bobby Nash, can you tell me where I can find him?” She asked this brown haired lady, she had the brown eyes that were like a baby deer, it was comforting in a way, but there was something else to her that she couldn’t pick up.
“Addison, Captain Nash would either be up in his office or in the loft.” She doesn't really say it with a warm welcome,
but that's fine.
She’s new.
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She makes her way over to where she thinks the office is. She can hear people arguing about what she thinks to be Mario Kart, after all the yelling about blue and red turtle shells and banana peels?
She finds the door with the plague that reads “captain's office”. She knocks once before she hears “come in”.
“Hi I'm the new probie that's starting today, I was told by the lieutenant to report to Captain Nash.” Surprisingly she manages to get the words out without stumbling.
First impressions are always important.
He looks her up and down for a moment. “Sorry but you’re in the wrong office, Captain Nash is upstairs.”.
She feels her stomach sink to her toes, why the hell is she so nervous?! Then he just starts laughing probably because she has this stupid look on her face, but whatever.
“I'm just messin’ with ya’, I'm captain Nash and it's nice to meet you Evanna. And please just call me Bobby.” He says in between laughs.
Evanna can't help but let out a breath, feeling just a little lighter, “That's good you had me scared there for a second.”
Bobby looks her up and down for a moment. “Sorry about that, you can take a seat while we discuss your file.”
She sits down, hands folded in her lap, but something in Bobby’s voice is calm and welcoming, it makes her calm down just a little more.
“So I've viewed your file and your recommendations are really good. Everyone says you work really well under pressure and that you’re very reliable, and that's what I like to see in my recruits.” Bobby says looking up from what she can guess is her file.
“Well thank you, I do say I work really good under pressure, and I promise whatever you need done I will get it done.” Evanna says sitting up straighter
Bobby seems to just hum in agreement, not really saying anything.
“Is there anything else that I should know before we continue?”
Evanna straitens up and sits there for just a beat debating if she should tell him, “Nope, that's pretty much it.”
Bobby finally looks up from her file, “Ok Evanna let me tell you this, I want you to go get your uniform on, and I will introduce you to everyone, you will also be paired up with Addison Diaz and if you guys work well together, she will be your partner for the rest of your probationary year.” He says standing up to meet her.
“Thank you captain- I mean Bobby, I wont let you down, and you can just call me Eva ” Evanna says, shaking Bobby's hand like she has a hundred other times.
“Alright Eva, now go get dressed.” Bobby says shaking her hand back
“Oh and Eva, Welcome to the 118.”
“Thank you Bobby.” She says turning on her feet
As she walks toward the lockers, one question keeps replaying in her mind.
Is there anything else I should know?
She pushes it away.
For now.
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