The bustling streets of Seattle were drenched in the golden glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows over Station 19. Travis Montgomery stood in the firehouse's driveway, absently watching the sun dip lower into the horizon, the sky turning shades of pink, orange, and purple. He found himself lost in the moment, the peacefulness of it contrasting with the chaos that always seemed to find its way into his life. Firefighting was his passion, but there were days where the weight of it all—life, love, loss—seemed like too much.
Today, however, felt different. There was something in the air, something lighter, something hopeful. And maybe, just maybe, it had everything to do with the man who had slowly but surely worked his way back into Travis's heart—Michael Cooper Williams.
Travis smiled to himself, his thoughts drifting to Michael, whose easy smile and gentle spirit had reignited something in him that he thought had been lost forever. Love had always been complicated, but with Michael, it felt… simple. Natural.
"It's easy to run after everything falls apart, but it's harder to fix what's broken…"
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of the firehouse doors sliding open. Michael stepped out, looking slightly windswept but effortlessly handsome, holding two cups of coffee. He smiled when he saw Travis standing there, the sunset reflecting in his eyes.
"Hey," Michael said, walking over and handing him a cup. "You look like you're deep in thought. Everything okay?"
Travis took the cup, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… taking in the sunset."
Michael raised an eyebrow, glancing over his shoulder at the sky. "It's a good one tonight."
"Yeah," Travis agreed, but his gaze never left Michael's face. "It is."
Michael caught the look and smiled softly. "You're smooth, Montgomery."
Travis laughed, taking a sip of his coffee. "You bring out the best in me."
They stood there for a moment, the warmth of the coffee in their hands, the soft buzz of the city around them. It was easy to forget the world when they were together, even if it was just for a few minutes between calls.
Michael leaned against the firetruck, his expression turning more serious. "You've been kind of quiet lately. Everything alright with work?"
Travis sighed, setting his cup down on the truck. "Work's fine. It's just… everything else that feels like a mess."
Michael tilted his head, concern flickering in his eyes. "Everything else?"
Travis hesitated, not sure how to put his feelings into words. He'd always been the one who could hold it together, the one people relied on. But lately, the weight of everything—losing his husband, coming back to the idea of love, figuring out where he stood in life—had been catching up to him.
"You ever feel like you're chasing after something you can't catch?" Travis asked, his voice quiet. "Like no matter how hard you try, it's always just out of reach?"
Michael frowned, stepping closer. "I know that feeling. But I also know that sometimes you have to stop chasing and let things come to you."
Travis glanced at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're one of those things."
Michael's smile widened, and he reached out, gently resting a hand on Travis's arm. "Well, here I am."
"You're my sunset, you still light up my sky…"
There was something about Michael that made everything feel simpler. Travis had been through so much heartbreak, so much loss, that it was hard to believe in love again. But with Michael, it wasn't about believing—it was about feeling. And right now, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he could let go of the past and trust in the present.
"I've been thinking a lot about what we have," Travis admitted, his voice steady but full of meaning. "It's been… easy. And that scares me."
Michael's hand lingered on his arm, his touch warm and reassuring. "What scares you? That it's easy, or that it might actually work?"
Travis chuckled, though it was tinged with uncertainty. "Both, I guess. It's just—after everything, it's hard to believe that I could have this. That I could be this happy again."
Michael's expression softened, his hand sliding down to take Travis's. "You deserve to be happy, Trav. And if this—" he gestured between them, "—is making you happy, then maybe it's time to stop questioning it and just… let it be."
Travis looked at him, really looked at him, and felt the weight in his chest begin to lift. He squeezed Michael's hand, his voice quiet but sure. "You make me happy."
Michael's eyes softened, his smile brightening his whole face. "Then stop worrying about it. I'm not going anywhere."
There was a pause, the kind that stretched just long enough for Travis to feel the gravity of the moment. They stood there, hands intertwined, the sunset painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, and for the first time in a long time, Travis let himself believe that maybe he didn't have to keep running. Maybe he could stay right here, with Michael, and let the world fall into place.
"I wanna thank you for the way you love me…"
"You know," Michael said after a beat, his voice teasing, "I didn't bring you coffee just to have a deep emotional conversation. I was thinking maybe we could take a walk, get some fresh air. Unless you'd rather stay here and brood?"
Travis laughed, the sound light and full of ease. "As tempting as brooding sounds, I think I'd rather take that walk."
"Good choice," Michael said with a grin, tugging him gently toward the street. "Besides, you know I won't let you get away with brooding for long."
They started walking, the streets of Seattle busy but peaceful in the early evening. Michael talked animatedly about his day, about a patient who had made him laugh, about his plans for the weekend. Travis listened, nodding along, but mostly just enjoying the feeling of being next to him. It was easy, like breathing, like they'd been doing this forever.
As they walked, Travis couldn't help but think about how different his life had become. There had been so much darkness, so much pain, but now there was light. Michael was that light. And even though he still felt like he was fumbling his way through it all, he was starting to believe that maybe he was right where he needed to be.
"You're quiet again," Michael observed, glancing at him with a soft smile. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
Travis smiled back, squeezing Michael's hand. "Just thinking about how lucky I am."
Michael laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You better be. I'm a catch."
Travis chuckled, pulling him closer as they walked. "You're more than that."
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sun finally dipping below the horizon, leaving the sky painted in soft hues of twilight. Travis felt the warmth of Michael's hand in his, the steady rhythm of their footsteps, and for once, he wasn't worried about what was coming next. He wasn't thinking about the past, or the future. He was just here, in this moment, with the man who had slowly but surely become his new beginning.
"I'm holding on to the moments we have left, just like the sunset…"
As they turned the corner, Michael looked over at Travis, his expression thoughtful. "You know, I was thinking… maybe we should take a trip. Get out of the city for a bit. What do you think?"
Travis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A trip? Where to?"
Michael shrugged, smiling. "Does it matter? Anywhere we can just… be."
Travis smiled, feeling a lightness in his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time. "That sounds perfect."
"Yeah?" Michael's smile grew, his excitement contagious. "Good. I'll start planning."
Travis laughed, pulling him in for a quick kiss, his heart full. "You're the best."
Michael grinned against his lips. "I know."
As they continued walking, the streetlights flickering on around them, Travis felt something settle in his chest. He had spent so long running from the past, from the pain, from the fear of losing again. But now, with Michael by his side, he was finally ready to stop running.
Because no matter what came next, he knew that as long as they were together, they could face it.
Just like the sunset, they would hold on to the moments they had, and maybe—just maybe—they'd find their way to something even brighter.
The End.
