#taliah x rafaele

[taliah-tezel]

Location: Firehouse Tag: @rafmorata

"You did good today," walking over to Rafaele at the end of the shift, she offers a smile. "It's good to see that scaffolding didn't compromise your skillset." Taliah shrugged on her jacket. "Jokes aside, I'm really glad you're ok. You had me worried for a while." It had to be said, she wanted him to know she valued him as much as the other team members, caring about each of them like she would her own blood. "I'll swing for a couple drinks and plate of nachos if you don't have other plans?" She was going either way and so, thought it would be nice to extend an invitation.

[taliah-tezel]

"Sounds like there's some good stories to that statement. Or bad ones, depending on how you want to look at it." Raising a curious brow, she couldn't deny her interest in what he meant by not being the best behaved, but she wouldn't pry if he wasn't up for sharing. "Every parent likes the saviour stories." Laughing softly, she knew her mom would be the same if she was still a part of the living world.

Taliah only offered him a smile, paired with a nod of acknowledgement, happy enough to give praise where it was deserved and hopefully make him feel even better about his achievement. "Great! It's nothing fancy, just casual dress, not that I'm saying you couldn't show up in black tie if you really want to." Grinning, she turned into the restaurant doorway, scanning around before pointing to a quiet side table.

"Yeah, he swings by when he's got some free time." Something she always looked forward to, except for the times she was out of a call and missed his visit. "Well, at risk of sounding like a total cheese stick, he means everything to me. When I moved here, with the exception of my cousin and Uncle," family, "Cole was the first person to take the time to talk to me and not just at me. He's been seared onto my heart ever since." Taliah couldn't help but smile warmly, brown eyes always sparkling with a softness that showed whenever she talked about him.

"Don't say that," a soft protest and a little scowl of disapproval, she shakes her head. "You shouldn't put yourself down, anyone would be lucky to have you." Maybe he'd think she was just being kind but the truth was she believed it, Taliah thought that he would have a lot to offer someone if he ever wanted to. "... What do you want to drink? I'll go order." Not that she was rushing, but her mouth was already watering at the thought of nachos.

"She was but I guess she was glad it was trouble I didn't get myself into for once." Raf clarified. "She worries about me here. I wasn't exactly the best behaved kid." He added after a beat. He could only imagine the kinds of phone calls and house calls she received when Raf was growing up and living in Tonopah Valley. He had brought far too many cops and angry Tonopah Valley residents to their family home.

"I will, she likes to hear the saviour stories." He spoke with a smile. When Raf first qualified as a paramedic, she would beg to hear the stories of him getting to people on time, bringing them back to life from the brink of death. She had told him that it strengthened her faith in God and proved that anyone, despite their past, could be forgiven. Although she had never said it outright, he knew that last part was about him.

Raf wasn't the kind of man to seek out praise, nor did he expect it. "Thanks though, that means a lot." He sat with the positive words and let them sink in, appreciating them for what they were - a declaration of admiration for a job well done. Raf had always like Taliah. He had liked that she had gone out of her way to talk to him, and her attempts to integrate him into their work group. Despite his initial efforts to keep work and life separate, her persistence - mostly - and her charm had worn him down. "Of course. I'll be there." He responded with a smile. Still, it felt nice to belong.

"Yeah he came down whilst you were on a job and yeah just got talking." Raf had left out the part where the pair of them had initially bristled in each other's company - like territorial cats. "Didn't realise he meant that much to you." Raf knew better than anyone how much someone a person loved could save them. "Nah not me, here or back home." He had made a point to break off a relationship before he left. "It's fine for you ask. Not sure I'd be any good to anyone anyway."

[taliah-tezel]

"I bet she was worried, yeah," frowning slightly, she took a moment to study him. Or more accurately, think about if there was more to that comment than he let on. Ultimately, it wasn't her business to pry, and so, she put the smile back on her face and shrugged. "Maybe you can pacify her not just by saying you're fine, but by telling her about today? You acted fast and I don't feel dramatic in saying you saved that man's life. Not too shabby, ay? Maybe the pride will outweigh the worry for a while."

Grabbing her purse, she wandered towards the door, waiting for him to collect his things. "There's a party next week, too. For Ryan," one of the firefighters. "He's turning 40, it's all hush hush, so don't say anything. His wife has hired out Licence to Grill, next Saturday, we're all invited, and I've already bought a gift and a card, you only need to sign it." Taliah nods, telling him it was from all of them combined. "If you can make it, you should come." Leaving the option open, she didn't want to make him feel like he had to.

"You did?" Raising her brow, she can't help but break into a grin as they set off down the street. "Yeah," Taliah nods. "He really is." Raf's comment warmed her heart, for as simple as it was, it was always nice to hear someone else say what she already knew. "To be honest, I have no idea where I'd be without him. Nowhere good, probably." She chuckled, though it was a completely true statement. "What about you," gesturing to him. "Do you have a partner? Or someone in your sights? ... Is that ok for me to ask? We're off the clock now, you can tell me to fuck off and mind my own."

Raf turned at the sound of Taliah's voice and gave her a small smile and a nod. "Thanks." Raf took his work seriously, he respected his team and no one more than Taliah. He hated having to take time off, not because of the money (and that was an issue), but he knew a man down in a team like theirs was felt.

Nodding at her mention of the accident, his hand instinctively reached to the still healing cut on his head buried beneath curls. "My mom went all the way to The Sagrada Familia to pray that it would knock some sense into me." She then went into full detail to Raf over the phone, without pausing for breath, about what 'sense' meant. For her at least, it saw him married with children and back in Spain.

"It means a lot, honestly." Smiling at the invitation, he paused for a moment, tempted to decline out of habit, "Yeah that'd be cool." He gathered his things up ready to leave, "I met Cole the other day, he seems like a decent guy."