Moments later, EMT's were tending to the running stranger and the dog, Cedric feeling like an obstacle in everyone's way and helpless. But seeing that someone put two blankets around the very build man's shoulders soothed him a bit. So he wouldn't get pneumonia on top of a smoke intoxication.
Cedric felt himself getting flustered when he realized how long he had been staring at all that wonderfully tousled and windblown hair already, a mixture of wheat and nut colors, marveling at how lovingly the big man held a clear-plastic mask so the little dog was able to get some clean oxygen while breathing from such a mask himself.
"Thank... thank you," Cedric said rather clumsily, making some awkward steps over to the man sitting in the open back of the ambulance, still clutching the strap of his sling back with both hands that he had picked up before crossing the street for reasons he couldn't have named anymore.
But his suitcase was still behind the Corolla. At least he hoped so.
"I'm Cedric Cunnings."
He trust out one hand, feeling blood rushing to his cheeks. Why was that always happening to him when he was speaking to handsome men?
"I'm Ian," the other man grinned behind the masked that muffled his voice a bit.
When they shook, the blankets fell from Ian's shoulder and Cedric grabbed for them, rearranging them before he knew that he was doing.
"Sorry." He pulled his hand back as if he burned himself with the scratchy wool, instantly clasping for the strap again.
"Oh, no, that's alright. Thank you," Ian said, shifting the little fella a bit. "That your house?"
Cedric instantly looked to the ground when he saw just how bright Ian's hazel eyes where.
"Yes," he croaked, rubbing his neck.
"Man, I hope you have a good insurance." There was sympathy in Ian's voice. "But hey, the kitchen was like from 1972, so now you can remodel."
Beside the remark being a bit tasteless, Cedric found himself feeling grateful for Ian's attempt at lightening the mood. He himself was so good at worrying, he certainly didn't need help in that department.
"At least your dog came out in one piece," Ian spoke on, one big finger patting the tiny puppy between it's ears while around them people where shouting and running and making a lot of commotion.
"I've never seen this dog before," Cedric admitted, pushing his glasses back up that had made their way half way down the bridge of his nose again. "I guess it might be my sisters. She lived here for the last months while I was gone."
"You just came back from a trip?"
Cedric nodded to Ian's question.
"That sucks major balls, mate," the gorgeous man sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. But I found no sign of someone being in there. Already tried to call your sister?"
"Oh, no!"
Instantly Cedric began to sift through his bag until he realized he had put the phone into his coat, without even ending the call with the emergency operator, he remembered now.
When he met Ian's gaze, he saw the other man's eyes sparkle and felt his cheeks flush again. He hated it to feel embarrassed by his clumsiness and couldn't get used to the amusement he caused others with it, even living with it for over thirty years now.
"Are you the owner of the house?" a voice behind asked him.
In the same moment, there where shouts and then the windows on the first floor burst with a boom and splintering glass.
Everything around Cedric went black.
Morning, everyone and a happy 2nd December :-)
I'm sorry that the story is pure drama up until now, so I put a little eye candy on top, just to sweeten your day.
See y'all tomorrow ;-)