First Day
Regulus stops by Sirius’ home. It’s his first day at the new station, and even though he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s nervous. He thinks that maybe seeing Sirius will help calm him down, so he decides to visit.
Thankfully, Sirius is still at home and hasn’t left for his shift yet. Sirius is a dispatcher, and he loves his job. After leaving an abusive household, all he wanted to do was help people, and this is his way of doing that. He takes emergency calls—something that might seem easy to some, but in reality, people calling 9-1-1 are often at their most vulnerable. Sirius calms them down, sends a team to them, and makes sure they’re okay.
“Hi,” Regulus says when Sirius opens the door. Sirius looks tired. He was probably on a night shift, Regulus thinks.
“Hey, come in.” Sirius steps back, allowing Regulus inside. “First day, huh?”
Regulus just nods. “I—” He hesitates. “I wanted to stop by before going to work. I know you have friends there… and I hope you didn’t tell them I was your little brother.”
Sirius immediately laughs. A year ago, he had decided to find his brother. He might have even used dispatch resources to track Regulus down. That’s how he found out Regulus was training to be a firefighter at Station 120.
Ah, Station 120… One of the worst stations in the Los Angeles Fire Department. The captain was abusive, and there had been countless complaints about the place. Sirius knew it was only a matter of time before the station was shut down. He kept his distance, watching Regulus from afar, until one day, during a call, Regulus recognized his voice.
Things got better pretty quickly after that. Regulus was still shy and hurt. When he saw Sirius after ten years, he didn’t know what to do. He had wanted to hug him but couldn’t. He had thought about shaking his hand but couldn’t do that either. So, Sirius just smiled and led him to a café.
Sirius knew there would soon be an opening at Station 118, and he wanted Regulus to take it.
Actually, he really—really—wanted Regulus at 118 for several reasons. First, Sirius had friends there: James, Dorcas, and Remus. He was closest to James, having met the other two through him, but he still knew they would look after his brother. Second, 118 had a friendly, family-like environment, and Sirius believed that was exactly what Regulus needed.
There was only one problem—Regulus would never accept help from anyone. So, Sirius came up with a plan. It was risky, but after Station 120 was shut down, he managed to get Regulus assigned to 118.
“They know you’re my brother, Reg,” Sirius says. “It’s not a secret. But they promised not to treat you like just my brother. You’re your own person.”
“Yeah,” Regulus mutters. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to your party last week. I knew people from 118 would be there, and I wanted to meet them on my own terms.”
“I get that.” Sirius reaches out, briefly touching Regulus’ arm and smiling. Regulus glances down at his hand and forces himself to smile back. He’s not a big fan of physical touch, but since Sirius came back into his life, he allows it. Sirius is always so gentle with him. Regulus thinks he might not even be angry at him anymore. They’ve worked so hard to rebuild their connection.
“There’s James, you know… a very close friend of mine,” Sirius continues.
Regulus knows James, of course. Sirius has always spoken highly of him—a friend from college. After running away from home at sixteen, Sirius finished high school far from the Black household. Then, in college, he met James, and they moved in together. Back when Regulus was still secretly keeping tabs on Sirius through social media, he’d often seen pictures of them together. Sometimes, he had even felt jealous of James. But today, he actually appreciates him for taking care of Sirius.
“Dorcas is really nice too. I’m sure you two will get along well. And Remus… well, he might come off as cold at first, but he’s nice too,” Sirius says.
Regulus is almost sure that Sirius has a crush on Remus, but he doesn’t bring it up.
“I know, I know. And I’m leaving now, okay?” Regulus stands up, gives Sirius a quick hug, and heads out the door.
—
“I like girls, but that’s a beautiful man.”
James hears Dorcas say it. He immediately wonders who she’s talking about, and then he sees… He sees someone who resembles Sirius—shorter hair, thinner, and a little shorter. That’s Regulus. Sirius’ brother.
He’s always known that his best friend had a brother, but he’s never actually seen Regulus outside of childhood pictures. He and Sirius used to spend hours trying to find him, but Regulus had always kept his life private. No social media, no photos… That’s why, right now, James is a bit mesmerized by how good-looking he is.
“That’s Regulus,” James murmurs.
Dorcas and Remus immediately turn to him, both making a sound of understanding.
“Let’s not stare at him, okay?” James says, pushing both of them to the side.
He walks toward Regulus, who still hasn’t noticed how close James actually is. When Regulus finally turns around, he sees him.
“Hi, I’m James.” He extends his hand for a handshake.
Regulus looks at his hand before finally shaking it.
“Regulus,” he says. He tries to be polite, but seeing James in real life makes him realize just how many moments he’s missed in Sirius’ life.
“I know…” James stops for a moment. “Sirius told me about you. Told us, actually. The whole station has been waiting for you. Do you want me to introduce you to them?”
Normally, Regulus would refuse. He likes to meet people on his own, not be introduced like a child. But today, he decides not to be bitter.
“Sure,” he says simply.
“Dorcas—she’s also a medic. This is Remus—he gets grumpy in the middle of every shift, don’t mind him. Our captain, Fleamont—actually, my dad.”
As James introduces everyone, he gestures toward them and points out different areas of the station.
“I know you were already a firefighter, but in this house, we have each other’s backs. You can trust us.”
Regulus forces another smile.
“Captain!” James calls out.
A man with brown skin and dark eyes turns toward them. If Regulus had to guess, he wouldn’t put him older than fifty.
“This is Regulus, our new medic and firefighter,” James announces.
Regulus quickly shakes the captain’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir,” he adds.
Fleamont and James share a quick glance.
“Welcome to the 118, Black,” Fleamont says.
“I can take care of the rest,” Fleamont tells James.
James nods and steps away to find Dorcas and Remus.
The captain turns back to Regulus. “I’m sure he told you everything, but maybe I can add a few things. I don’t know how things were at 120, but here, we put safety first—yours, mine, everyone’s. Also, if you ever have a problem, come to me. Sleep whenever you can. And we eat together every day. I cook. You don’t need to bring food from home. Just give me a list of any allergies if you have them.”
Regulus looks at the captain. He already wants to hug him and tell him how much he appreciates everything.
“I don’t have any allergies,” he says instead.
“Good, then. James and the others are probably around the firetruck. You can find them there,” Fleamont says before letting Regulus go.
—
Regulus feels weird. God, he feels so weird. He quietly makes his way toward them.
Remus is leaning against the fire truck. He is tall—Sirius mentioned that he was tall, but Regulus didn’t expect him to be this tall. He has some scars on his face. Regulus would never ask how he got them, but the scars don’t look ugly on him. They actually look good.
Dorcas is standing right next to Remus, looking flawless in her uniform. Her hair is braided, and she basically looks… perfect. She definitely doesn’t look like someone who works 24- to 48-hour shifts.
And then there is James. James, who is now wearing glasses. A minute ago, he wasn’t. He looks a lot like his dad—same skin, same features. He’s tall too, not as tall as Remus but still tall. He is holding a coffee cup and chatting with his friends. Yet, he is the first one to notice Regulus. Their eyes meet, and Regulus slowly makes his way over to him.
Thankfully, the first one to speak is Dorcas. “We didn’t properly meet. I’m Dorcas,” she says. She really does have a comforting presence.
Remus is next. “Remus,” he says shortly. Some people might find his attitude cold, but to Regulus, this is better.
“I’m Regulus,” he says. “Nice to meet all of you,” he adds.
“You really look like your brother,” Remus says, literally staring at Regulus as if trying to memorize him. Regulus isn’t surprised that Sirius has a crush on this man.
“Right?” James joins the conversation.
“He’s the better-looking one, though,” Regulus jokes.
“Give yourself more credit,” Dorcas says. Then, “Tell us about 120.”
120… Regulus thinks. He hated it there. He hated every second of it. The only reason he didn’t quit was because he didn’t want to be a failure. He knew that, back then, no one was backing him up, so his only support system was himself. He didn’t want to disappoint himself, so he sucked it up.
“It wasn’t like this, that’s for sure,” he says. “Our captain made us clean the entire firehouse every day before our shifts, and if he ever saw something wrong, he’d make us clean it again. Every day. And he would call us names.”
“Fucking prick,” Remus interrupts. “Sorry, I just really can’t stand people like that. No offense, but I’m glad 120 got shut down.”
“Me too,” Regulus says. “It wasn’t fun at all. All my coworkers were just copies of the captain anyway.”
“Thankfully, the only captain’s copy in this firehouse is me,” James says.
Regulus finds himself giggling.
“But jokes aside, nothing like that will happen here. Don’t worry,” James reassures him.
Before Regulus can say thank you, the fire alarm goes off.
—
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” Sirius asks calmly. He never rushes people on the phone. Some calls have been especially difficult for him—like child abuse cases. But even then, he tries to remain calm. All he can think about is saving the child, and in that moment, the only person who can help is himself.
“Our house is burning!” the caller screams into Sirius’ ear.
“Stay calm. What’s your name?” Sirius asks.
“Bryan. Please, you have to send someone.” He is crying now, his voice trembling.
“I will, Bryan. Can you tell me your address?”
“4567 Sunset Boulevard,” Bryan says between sobs.
Sirius quickly types the address into his monitor, dispatching a fire team. “Okay, Bryan, help is on the way. Is everyone out of the house?”
“No. No. My baby brother—he’s still in there. Please, my brother—” The call disconnects.
Sirius feels a tightness in his chest. After hearing Bryan cry for his brother, this feels personal. He dials the number again, but no one picks up.
All he can do now is inform the firefighters about the child still inside. He does that, then takes a deep breath.
He sees that Station 118 is taking the call. That’s good. That’s a relief. They have some of the Los Angeles’ finest firefighters. Bryan’s baby brother will be okay.
118 is taking the call. Sirius’ baby brother will walk through the fire. His baby brother will be on the line. His. Brother.
—
Everyone was quick to jump onto the truck and put on a serious face—Regulus included, of course.
Remus was driving, with Fleamont beside him in the captain’s seat. Regulus sat in the back with James and Dorcas. Actually, Dorcas was right next to him, while James sat across from him.
They were chatting, making plans for the call—discussing what to do if the hallways were blocked, if the building was collapsing, or even in the event of an explosion.
Regulus only listened—or at least tried to. This wasn’t his first call, nor his first fire. He had been through all of this before. There was no reason to panic.
But the thing is, even though he has already proven himself to the city and officially become a full-time firefighter, this is his first real call with the 118. And he desperately wants to prove himself to the team, too.
The anxiety sits heavy in his chest, coiling tighter with every bump in the road. It’s irrational—he knows that—but the fear of failure is something he’s never been able to shake. If he messes up, if he isn’t good enough, he won’t just let the team down; he’ll humiliate himself. The thought alone is suffocating.
He spent his entire childhood walking on eggshells, terrified of making mistakes, of disappointing the people who were supposed to care for him. His family had forced perfection on him, demanding nothing less than excellence in everything he did. Every misstep, no matter how small, was met with cold disapproval or sharp reprimands, a reminder that anything short of flawless was unacceptable. He learned quickly that mistakes weren’t just mistakes—they were proof of weakness, of failure. And that fear never really left. It lurks beneath the surface, waiting for moments like this—when the pressure is high, when the stakes are real—to remind him that failure isn’t just a setback. It’s a confirmation of everything he was made to believe about himself.
And he can’t let that happen. Not here. Not now.
The truck screeched to a stop in front of the burning house. The heat was suffocating even from the street.
Regulus barely had time to process before the doors were thrown open. James was the first one out, helmet on, already assessing the situation. Dorcas was right behind him, radioing in their arrival.
Remus pulled off his headset. “We’ve got a confirmed entrapment,” he told them. “Kid’s still inside.” His eyes met Regulus’ for a split second. “Let’s move.”
Fleamont, standing beside the fire engine, gave orders like clockwork. “James, Dorcas—attack line. Remus, ventilation. Regulus, you’re search and rescue.” His voice was steady, firm. “You get that kid out. We can’t waste any more time.”
Regulus barely nodded before moving. His hands felt clammy inside his gloves as he adjusted his mask, forcing himself to focus.
Bryan, the caller, was on the front lawn, sobbing, trying to push past the police officers holding him back. “Please! He’s still in there! Please, you have to—”
“We’re going in,” James told him, gripping his shoulder. “We’re gonna get him.”
Regulus followed James toward the entrance. The fire roared, the front door barely hanging onto its hinges. Dorcas and Remus were working fast, trying to control the flames as much as possible, but the structure was unstable.
James glanced at Regulus. “You good?”
Regulus gave a stiff nod.
“Then let’s go.”
They pushed inside. The smoke was thick, swallowing everything in darkness. The only sound was the groan of the burning house and the occasional burst of fire crackling through the walls.
“Sweeping left,” James called.
“Taking the hallway,” Regulus responded, stepping forward, his boots crunching on charred debris. He moved fast, keeping low, searching.
Then he heard it. A faint, desperate voice.
“Help!”
Regulus’ heart pounded. He followed the sound, pushing into a bedroom. Smoke coiled around the ceiling, and Regulus dropped even lower. His flashlight cut through the darkness, landing on a small, trembling figure curled up near the bed.
A little boy—five, maybe six years old—his face streaked with soot, his arms wrapped tightly around himself.
Regulus rushed forward, crouching to meet him at eye level. “Hey, buddy. I’ve got you.”
The boy’s tear-streaked face lifted, wide, terrified eyes locking onto Regulus. “Bryan?”
Regulus’ chest tightened. “Your brother’s outside, waiting for you. Let’s go to him, okay?”
The kid hesitated, but when Regulus held out his arms, he launched himself forward. Regulus scooped him up, holding him close.
“I’ve got him!” Regulus shouted into his radio, adjusting his hold on the boy.
But before he could turn back…
The ceiling above him groaned, and in an instant, part of it collapsed. A beam crashed down, blocking his way out.
No, no, no. Fuck. No. He thought.
The boy whimpered against his chest. Regulus’ breath came fast and shallow. His grip on the kid tightened.
Regulus was trying to find another way out but in his mind there was someone who’s been telling him that he was going to fail.
What if I fail right now? He thought. He was literally holding a child.
His mother’s voice echoed in his head. “You are not born to make mistakes, Regulus.”
A childhood of walking on eggshells. A lifetime of being too afraid to make a mistake.
Not now. Not here.
Regulus took a deep breath, forced himself to think. Focus. He needs to focus.
“Southeast bedroom! I’m blocked in—need another way out!” he radioed.
“Hold tight, Black, I’m coming!” James’ voice came sharp through the static.
Meanwhile, miles away, at the dispatch center, Sirius gripped his desk. His heart pounded as he listened to the radio feed. He had known from the second he saw the call come through—the second he saw 118 responding—that his brother was walking straight into the fire.
Sirius clenched his jaw. “Come on, Reggie” he whispered under his breath.
James’ silhouette appeared through the smoke, axe in hand. “Get down!” he shouted.
Regulus crouched, shielding the boy as James swung, breaking open a side exit. Fresh air rushed in, the smoke swirling toward the opening.
“Go, go, go!”
Regulus didn’t hesitate. He bolted forward, holding the boy close as he stumbled out into the night air. Paramedics swarmed, taking the kid from his arms.
Bryan ran toward them, sobbing as he saw his little brother safe.
As soon as Regulus brought the little boy out, Dorcas was already moving. She knelt beside Bryan, her voice steady but gentle. “Hey, Bryan, I need you to take a deep breath for me, okay?” But Bryan was shaking, his hands clutching his brother’s soot-covered shirt. His breaths came in short, panicked gasps. “He—he was inside! I couldn’t— I left him!” His voice cracked, his chest rising and falling too fast. “I should’ve—”
“Bryan, listen to me,” Dorcas said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You did everything right. You called us. That’s why your brother is safe.” She gave him a reassuring nod, scanning him for injuries. “But I need you to focus on yourself now. You’re breathing too fast. Do you feel dizzy?”
Bryan wiped at his face but didn’t answer. His whole body trembled, his breaths still too shallow.
Dorcas softened her tone. “Okay, I want you to breathe with me. In for four, out for four.” She demonstrated, slow and steady. “You can do this.”
Bryan tried to follow, his breaths stuttering at first. Dorcas stayed right there, unwavering, guiding him through it.
And finally—after a few shaky attempts—his breathing evened out just a little.
“That’s it,” she said. “Good job. You’re safe now.”
Regulus barely registered it. His lungs burned, his body ached, but he was standing. He’d done it.
And when he turned, James was there, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
“Hell of a first call with the 118, huh?”
Regulus exhaled a shaky breath. “Yeah.”
James grinned. “You did good, Regulus.”
For the first time in a long time, Regulus thought—Maybe I did.