Chapter Text
Bobby closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. The sounds of the fast-paced city, loud and bustling, completely alive with activity, even after dark, filled his ears. Opening his eyes, the fire station was back in view, surrounded by an array of bright lights and movement. His heart races just a little bit faster in anticipation, the newness of everything finally starting to set in. No, they were not in Minnesota anymore.
His first shift wasn’t for a few days, but he wanted to come back and get to know the place, hence why he was there in the middle of the night. There wasn’t much staff at this time and he called ahead to make sure his presence wouldn’t be a bother. He wanted to get used how everything worked around here so his main focus would be getting to know his staff. Thinking of an entirely new team made him miss the one he had back home.
The notification of a text broke him from his thoughts. It was a message wishing him “good luck”. A small smile spread across his lips as he typed a response. Change was daunting, but often necessary. He’d miss Minnesota and all it’s memories, good, bad, and ugly, immensely, but this is was good for them. The change of pace and scenery is just what they needed. He had a strong feeling this would be the start of something major in their lives.
Taking another deep breath, he pocketed his phone and walked in the station. He took in the sight of the place, already taking note and inventory of everything around him. He had a general layout of the station from his official tour from the chief, but now he was taking time to take it all in. He walked around generally undisturbed. He talked with some of the night shift staff, trying to get to know them a little better. They all promised not to say anything to any of the other 118 firefighters as he wanted everyone’s impression to be genuine, the rumors about that were already circulating about him not withstanding, of course.
The dining area was already his favorite. His love of cooking, all the things he could do with those appliances leaping to the forefront of his mind. Only if that was something that was wanted by the rest of team. He’d gauge who they were and what they liked as he got to know them more. He took note that he would have to supply more than the basics they had: a task he was completely up for. He laughed inwardly about how seriously he was taking this, but his skills in the kitchen was something he took seriously.
As he passed the lockers he took note of names and things they had hanging on the outside, such as family photos, notes, and other things they held some type of sentimental value to all of them. He’d save his office for later wanting to finish his survey first.
Bobby made his way to gym, stopping as the sight of someone gave him pause. He knew he should probably leave, but the sight of her kept him rooted to his spot in the entryway. Though he hadn’t even thought about dating since his divorce, he wasn’t immune to the allure of an attractive woman. And this one… toned legs that turned into thick thighs as his eyes roamed up her body. A very shapely ass that, well, let’s just say he shelved those intrusive thoughts as soon as they appeared. The little bit of the toned waist he could see between the hem of her orange workout leggings and matching sports bra that spoke of long dedication to fitness. And if that didn’t tell him the ever present muscles in her arms as she put down her weights did. Deep brown skin that looked soft to the touch…
And this is part where he really started to feel like a creep. He should leave. He was going to when her head snapped up, their eyes met in the reflection of the floor to ceiling mirrors. A shockwave ran through his body. There’s absolutely no way… She removed her black wireless earbuds from her ears slowly allowing them to dangle from around her neck. They never broke eye contact and he could see the same level of recognition in her eyes as he had in his
She slowly turned and faced him. It was almost as if he could feel the seconds tick by as they stood there, taking in the sight of each other. Now that he was able to get a good look at her face, he knew it was her. There were a lot things that amazed him about this situation. The main one being how much she hadn’t physically changed since they last saw each other. It had to been over 10 years and, though her hair was much shorter than he remember, now styled in a pixie cut, she hadn’t aged a bit.
He was so lost in his thoughts, he was unaware who moved first or when he moved. The next thing he knew they were inches away from each other in the middle of the room.
“Athena.” Her name rolled off her tongue as easily as it had after she first told him all those years ago.
“Robert,” that smooth toned voice said just as easily. He wasn’t the biggest fan of being referred to by his full name, but coming from her lips, he definitely didn’t mind.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Oh, I was just passing through while I was checking the place out.” He said quickly. This was when he started to feel it. A pressure in his arm just beneath his wrist. It wasn’t painful. He looked at Athena for confirmation, but her hands were behind her back and her expression gave nothing away. Clearing his throat, he told her, “I’m going to be the new captain of the 118.”
She eyed him curiously, but her features quickly returned back to neutral before saying, “that’s amazing, congrats on the promotion. You’ll do well.”
“I hope so.”
“You will,” her lips curved into a small smile. “Plus the bar is low because your predecessor was a real piece of shit.”
That got a chuckle out of him. “I’ve heard, not quite as boldly as you put it, but similar statements have been made.”
“Hm, lucky I didn’t arrest his ass.”
“What did he do?”
“If I kept digging long enough I would have found something.” Her eye rolled was endearing as he could tell she was only partially joking.
“Still a cop I see.”
“Field Sergeant of the LAPD.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to interrupt your workout. I was just passing through.”
“It’s fine. I was just finishing for the night anyway. I should be getting home. I just used the gym sometimes to blow off a little steam.” She turned and went to her tote bag from in front of the mirror. Taking off her headphones off and her phone from her pocket she placed them in the bag, replacing them with a hand towel she placed around her neck.
“Which you’re still welcome to do anytime,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she said as she past him towards the entryway.
“Until we meet again, Sergeant.” He couldn’t help but say as a goodbye.
“Knowing this city it will probably be the day of your first shift, Captain,” she threw back at him. The idea of seeing her again excited him in ways it most likely shouldn’t have.
He waited until she completely out of sight to release of deep, long breath. Now was the perfect time to make his way towards his office and made a beeline for it. He kept his composure until he made it there closing the door behind him. Sitting down on the office couch slowly, he was trying to take it all in. He knew the fresh soulmate mark was on his left arm could still pressure of where the mark appeared. Every detail of the feeling just as described to him. This was the third time he’d seen met her. It all made sense, logically. Well, how much logic can really be applied to this sort of thing? The whole idea of soulmates and everything that was associated with it felt as if it defied logic.
It was her.
He couldn’t believe it. He would have never guessed them meeting over were fate rather than coincidence. He couldn’t help but think back to the first time he he’d met her.
xxxxx
December 1987 - Minnesota
“I’m not paying to stand around, Nash”, his boss’s voice rang out as a semi heavy box thudded on the marble counter.
Bobby rolled his eyes as he stood up straighter at the counter. He couldn’t wait for his shift to be over at the antique store. He grabbed the box started doing inventory of all the things in it before he went though the aisles and stocked them.
The sound of laughter caused him to look up as three girls entered the store. He instantly recognized the first girl that walked in as his friend from high school, Jada, but the other two he didn’t. By the way they waste all interacting they were most likely friends of hers. All of them were pretty, but the one in the middle of the group seemed to catch his attention the most. Soft brown eyes, beautiful smile, face framed by long curly hair. She was wearing a University of Florida sweatshirt over several thick layers of clothing. He chuckled. “Definitely not from around here,” he mumbled to himself.
As soon as she made eye contact with him, he looked away quickly not wanting her to think he was staring, which, in all honesty, he was a bit.
“Hey Bobby!” Jada yelled excitedly, rushing over to him arms spread wide.
“Finally decided to remember where you came from?” He came from around the counter and squeezed her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Just because you’re glued to this little podunk city, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be.” Jada said pushing him lightly in the shoulders.
“If only I could be so lucky.” He said cheekily.
Turning back towards the two girls behind her, “these are my roommates Mali and Athena,” she introduced.
He shook Mali’s hand and then Athena’s who was still shivering a bit underneath the thin material of the gloves. Gloves that were way too thin for the harshness of the winter here, he noted. The real question was: why did he care so much about this stranger?
“Have a look around and if you need any help, I’ll be around.” With that he went back to his tasks.
Since it was no one else in the store beside them. He allowed all of them to keep the items they picked out at the counter. Bobby would look up periodically, eyes always drifting to Athena as she browsed one thing or another, catching himself not to linger too long. Before he talked himself out of it, he took a pair wool gloves that they kept at the counter, scrawled a note saying, “you’re going to need these. - Bobby,” and placed them in a bag he’d give to her when she bought the rest of her things. He prepared check out bags for all of them so it didn’t look suspicious.
The three of them soon paid for things and left. He found out from Jada they were here for Christmas break and would be here til January before they left. He’d taken to hoping that they would run into each other around town, but it didn’t happen. He’d volunteered for every afternoon to closing shift at the store, in hopes that he’d see her again.
Before he realized, it was three days after the start of the new year. He’d missed a couple days at the store for having to help with his siblings. As he put on his uniform in the back room, his boss came in and quickly handed him a note. Before Bobby could ask he started explaining, “A young lady came around here looking for you yesterday. Of course I didn’t say nothing about where you were. Wanted me to give this to ya. Seems like you left an impression on her.” With that, he left as quickly as he came.
Opening the note and was met with some of the most beautiful handwriting he’d ever seen. Almost like calligraphy. It simply read, “Thanks for the gloves. - Athena”, closing the note he felt defeated. He missed her. And he was pissed about it. He stopped himself from kicking the box in front of him.
Taking a second to calm down, he tied his apron and went out to the front. His manager was taking inventory at the register. “Hey, did she, um, say anything else, you know, when she gave you the note?”
“Not particularly. But she one of Jade’s friends, right. Her mama told me they were heading back to school, flew out this morning.”
Bobby knew he wasn’t hiding his disappoint well. “Oh, okay,” was all he could think to say.
“If it’s any consolation, she looked pretty beat up about the fact that she didn’t get to see you.” He patted him on the shoulder as he walked by and that was the end of it.
It was just as well. She was only here for a short period of time, she wasn’t from here, and, with her being in school and all, most likely had a lot more going for her life than he did with his. Plus all of his responsibilities left no time for any of that stuff anyway. It never would have worked out.
Regardless of all that… it still felt like she got away.
xxxxx
The impromptu trip down memory lane did little to help. Deciding it would be best if he headed home for the night, he told them he was heading out and drove through the LA on autopilot. Parking in his space, he entered his complex, taking the elevator up to his 3rd floor condo.
Walking into the home sparsely furnished home, he found his 12 and 14 year old sprawled out on what little bit of living room furniture they were about to get here. They had more stuff on the way, but with it being a cross country move, they were still days away from getting it.
“This is as far you got?” he asked as he looked around at all the open boxes. Nothing had really been taken out or put on the shelf. Even the boxes for their rooms were still in the middle of the floor.
“We’re tired” Bobby Jr. whined.
“And hungry,” his sister, Brooke, echoed in the same tone.
“I was only gone for a couple of hours and I made you something to eat before I left.”
“We’re growing children, dad, we have to eat multiple times,” his daughter told him as if it was the world’s most obvious thing in the world.
Letting his children be the distraction that he needed, he just went with it and took them to a restaurant near their place. The food was decent and his kids weren’t complaining. As he conversed with them about their upcoming plans and the unpacking he would make sure they all did, he found a bit of peace from the myriad floating through his mind. Though, he still couldn’t help the wayward stray thoughts that would cross his mind.
He was more than thankful that his mark was hidden beneath his long sleeved shirt. He needed to figure this out for himself before he even thought about bringing his kids into it. He still feels the pressure around the mark, almost as if it’s lingering to not let him forget it’s there. It occurred to him that he hadn’t even looked at it yet. He will, eventually, he’s just not ready. With everything going on in his life right now, it wasn’t the best timing (was there really a such thing as best timing for things like this?). He’d just moved to a new city. Though he’d been divorced for the last couple of years, they were all still adjusting to life changes that it brought. He was essentially starting anew.
Never, in a million years, would he have guessed this “fresh start” would include being shown his soulmate and he had no idea what to do with that information.