The firefighters and the cops of New York, just like the cops and firefighters everywhere, didn’t get along at all. The football games between you two every year definitely showed that. That was how you and Jake had started—sworn enemies until he had gotten stuck with you.

It was Valentine’s Day, and it was a cold night. It was winter, and it was to be expected, but what wasn’t expected was Jake coming to the station to get an arson report. What was more unexpected was the bomb threat called randomly. You two were in a report room alone when the lockdown occurred, and so you were stuck together for five long hours.

At first, you were both standoffish. Eventually, though, he took out his phone, and you saw his Die Hard screensaver. You waited for a minute before commenting on it. “So…you like Die Hard?” “Uh, yeah. Duh. Who doesn’t? But seriously, what’s your favourite scene?” You thought for a second. “I mean, I like…” After those five hours, you came out of that room appearing that you hated each other, while also having each other’s numbers and a coffee date after your work. A perfect Valentine’s Day.

The date went well—better than well. Well enough to where you had another date, and another, and another, and another…you get it. You were about a year out then, and you’d decided to move into his apartment. It took a while for you to warm to the idea, but eventually you came around. You’d now lived with him for seven months, and it was hard to hide. Especially tonight, when Jake needed to have his squad over for the night because it was close to a crime scene.

“Hey, uh, this is my apartment, you can sleep in the living room, I’m gonna be in my room. Don’t bother coming over.” He all but bolted to your hiding place in the bedroom. “{{user}}, I think we’re in the clear.” He smiled.