#Hey is it just me or does Tequilla look kinda.. younger

[which-qsmp-egg-would]

I'm feeling anxious today so have a fun drawing of Tequilla threat displaying :)

[detectivereyes]

Even Dust Was Made to Settle

Summary: Mateo tells TK about what Owen said  (or the coda fic no one asked for)

Note: an outline featuring paulteo as roomies might also exist as an extension of this.... we’ll see how this one does first ;)

read on ao3

Pulling back into the station following their rescue of kid from his own birthday party, it seems like everyone can’t get out of the truck fast enough. The entire ride back to the station the engine felt like a pressure cooker, ready to explode if anyone dared to say a word.

As soon as the truck comes to a halt, Owen is the first one out, slamming the door shut and walking up to his office without a word.

The other members of the crew file out, with Paul, Marjan, and Mateo hanging back in their own circle.

“And the award for awkwardest truck ride back to the station goes to…” Marjan trails off, leaving the rest of the implied sentence unspoken.

“Someone should probably give TK a heads up about what’s going on,” Paul says, giving Mateo a nudge and pointing to where the younger Strand could be seen stocking the back of the ambulance.

Mateo looks startled. “Who? Me?”

“You’re the one who Cap spilled his guts out to,” Marjan says with sympathetic grin.

“What if he gets mad at me?”

“He won’t,” Paul quickly interjects. “If anything, he’ll be more mad if he doesn’t hear it from you first.”

Mateo shifts from foot to foot unsurely. It’s not that him and TK don’t get along, but it was one thing to betray Captain Strand’s confidence to Paul and Marjan; two of his closest friends. But TK is the Captain’s son, and the thought of going to him behind Cap’s back was enough to fill his stomach with anxiety.

“You just gotta get it over with, probie,” Marjan says with a gentle nudge in the direction of the ambulance bay.

“We’ll be right over here. For moral support,” Paul adds.

Mateo nods before slowly making his way across the station. He clears his throat once he’s within close distance of the paramedic, catching his attention.

“Hey, what’s up probie?”

“Hey, TK. Can I uh- can I talk to you for a second?” Mateo stutters out, trying to keep his nerves at bay as TK shifts to give him his full attention.

“Sure, what’s up?” he asks, clearly sensing the importance of the conversation.

“It’s just,” Mateo starts to say but cuts himself off, before starting over. “I’m worried about Cap.”

“Why? Did he say something?” TK furrows his brow, waiting for Mateo to continue.

“I mean he said a lot of things,” Mateo says. “When we had our ‘tequilla time’ the other night-”

“Wait, you guys had ‘tequilla time’?” TK cuts him off. 

“Yeah, well I’m kinda crashing in your room. Well, actually it’s not your room anymore according to Cap, it’s the guest room now, I guess-”

“Mateo.”

“Right, sorry,” Mateo gives him a small smile. “We both got pretty wasted but he was going on and on about how his house blew up. Which is crazy because my house actually blew up, and that’s why I’m staying with your dad-”

“Mateo,” TK urges on.

“Anyway, I think since your mom left and you moved out, he’s just not sure what to do with himself.”

TK looks down, and Mateo feels twinge of guilt for implying that it was TK’s fault Cap was feeling this way. 

“I should have known something was going on,” TK says quietly. 

“I don’t think it’s all you,” Mateo quickly adds. “I mean, it’s definitely something deeper going on. When he said about canceling his surgery I knew-“

“He canceled his surgery?”

Shit.

Mateo knew it would come up in this conversation, but he meant to ease into it more. Not blurting it out, knowing TK wasn’t aware of his dad’s decision.

He nods, dread building at the hurt look on TK’s face. This is exactly what he didn’t want.

TK’s quiet. Too quiet. Mateo’s about to open his mouth again before TK slams his hand down on the bench. “Fuck!”

Mateo recoils a bit at TK’s small outburst. “TK, I don’t-“

“I should have known,” TK continues, tone firm. “I should have pressed harder. I knew something was going on,” he sighs, placing his head in his hands.

“I’m sorry,” Mateo offers. He knew telling TK wasn’t going to be easy, but he underestimated just how much it would hurt to see his friend so upset, knowing his words are the reason why.

TK looks up at him, the slightest hint of confusion on his face. “You don’t need to apologize, Mateo. I’m glad you told me. It’s just frustrating because I thought things were looking better, you know?”

Mateo nods, knowing exactly what TK means. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Does anyone else know?”

“Yeah, I told Marjan and Paul, and then Judd found out too,” he explains, opting not to mention that everyone on the open radio channel, including Captain Strand also found out.

“Okay,” TK says, the gears turning in his head. “Can you just give me some time to think about it?”

“Yeah,” Mateo says with a nod. “Whatever you need, TK.”

TK gives him a weak smile, before returning his attention back to taking stock of the ambulance. 

Walking back across the firehouse, Mateo meets the gazes of Marjan and Paul who anxiously waiting to hear how it went. Mateo just shrugs. “He was really upset.”

“That’s understandable,” Paul says. 

“Yeah, but it was good you told him,” Marjan agrees, giving Mateo a clap on the shoulder before heading towards the bunk room.

Paul gives him a reassuring smile. “At least that’s settled now.”

“Yeah, well I still have to live with Captain Strand. And I don’t think he’s going to be very happy when he finds out I ratted him out to his son.”

“Well, I do have a couch you’re welcome to crash on if you would rather,” Paul offers with a shrug.

“Really?” Mateo asks, trying to gauge whether Paul is serious. He definitely considers the other man one of his best friends, but sometimes questions if he values his friends more than they value him. And he definitely didn’t think he and Paul were close enough for him to offer Mateo a place to sleep for more than few nights.

“Yeah, for as long as you need. Think about it let me know,” Paul says, giving him a smile before following Marjan up to the bunkroom and leaving Mateo to question what exactly just happened.