Chapter Text
The Thai summer did not care about romance. It cared about melting the asphalt of Bangkok, making uniform shirts stick to backs like second skin, and turning a simple lunch break into a test of human endurance.
"If you put one more chili in that som tum, Est, I will personally report you to the UN for chemical warfare," Pond muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He adjusted his heavy firefighter turnouts, leaning against the side of Engine 99.
Est, currently pounding bird’s eye chilies into a clay mortar with the intensity of a man trying to break bedrock, didn't look up. "Captain, true love requires heat. If William cannot handle my spice, how can he handle my heart?"
"He's a paramedic, Est. He handles cardiac arrests, not a burnt esophagus," Nani chimed in from underneath a rescue truck, his face smudged with grease. Beside him, Sky was holding a wrench, looking at Nani with eyes that practically shot little pink hearts into the smoggy air.
"Don't worry, P'Nani! If your esophagus burns, I'll breathe for you," Sky offered brightly.
Nani hit his head on the undercarriage. "Sky. Shut up and hand me the 10mm."
Before Sky could daydream any further, the station's alarm wailed, its harsh electronic shriek cutting through the casual banter. Simultaneously, the dispatch radio crackled to life with Satang’s frantic voice.
[DISPATCH]: All units, we have a Code 3 structure fire at an abandoned warehouse off Sukhumvit Soi 22. Report of an explosion. Central Hospital EMS Team Alpha is already en route. Be advised, local police are reporting suspicious activity prior to the blast. Treat as a potential volatile scene.
Pond’s entire demeanor shifted in a millisecond. The easy-going, sarcastic captain vanished, replaced by a man whose eyes calibrated risks faster than a computer. "AJ, JJ, drop the cards! Dew, get out of the bathroom! Move, move, move!"
Across town, the interior of Ambulance 04 smelled like antiseptic and Fourth’s third iced Americano of the day.
Phuwin was calmly securing a line on an IV bag while the ambulance swayed violently through Bangkok traffic. Up front, William was white-knuckled on the steering wheel, swearing under his breath at a taxi that refused to move.
"William, if you crash this ambulance before I get my bonus, I will resurrect you just to kill you again," Phuwin said smoothly, his voice a stark contrast to the chaos outside.
"Phuwin, there is a literal column of black smoke rising over the highway," William stressed, checking his side mirror. "And Est’s unit is dispatched there too. What if he runs into the fire? What if his beautiful, muscular arms get singed?!"
Phuwin rolled his eyes so hard he nearly sprained them. "He wears fire-retardant gear, you absolute sap. Focus on the road. Emi, Bonnie, what's our ETA?"
"Three minutes, Chief," Emi called out from the jump seat, checking her medical kit. "But dispatch just updated. This isn't a normal warehouse fire. The police found tied-up casualties near the perimeter before the blast. This is arson. Maybe a cover-up."
Phuwin’s hands paused for a fraction of a second. A crime scene. That meant unstable variables, dangerous people, and a high probability of things going sideways.
"Great," Phuwin sighed, checking the stethoscope around his neck. "And I wore my good shoes today."
When Ambulance 04 pulled up to the burning warehouse, the heat hit them through the glass. Sirens wailed from all directions as Engine 99 roared onto the scene, its tires screeching.
Pond was the first one out of the truck, barking orders to the twins to secure the hydrant. But as he turned to assess the building, his eyes locked onto the arriving ambulance—specifically, onto Phuwin, who was stepping out with a trauma kit slung over his shoulder.
Amidst the smoke, ashes, and the screaming crowd, their eyes met.
Pond gave a sharp, authoritative nod. Stay back. Phuwin raised an eyebrow, a subtle, stubborn tilt of his chin. Try and stop me.
It was just another Tuesday in Bangkok. They didn't know that inside that burning building lay the first piece of a twisted puzzle that would entangle their lives, their hearts, and a highly illegal international smuggling ring.
"Let's go save some lives," Pond yelled over the roar of the flames, dragging a hose line forward.
The game was on.