Author's Note: Welcome to another go-around. This prompt was suggested by PenNameArtist. If you have a suggestion for a prompt for the next letter of the alphabet feel free to either put it in the comments or DM it to me.


A is for AAA


Blade had given Maru a very odd look when he found out that Maru maintained a Triple-A membership, which on reflection Maru had to admit was a better reaction than he had gotten from Nick. Nick had burst out in uncontrollable laugher when he had found out. Blade had luckily shown a higher level of self-constraint though he continued to think it was odd that Maru continued to pay for his membership even after the two of them fled big city life for the life of rural wildland firefighters.

They had been living on a shoestring back then, pinching pennies to make ends meet, but every single year Maru still forked out the money. Blade had made a couple of comments about being perfectly capable of giving Maru a lift if he ever got stuckā€¦but the helicopter was smart enough to let things drop when the mechanic refused to participate in that particular conversation. It would take the helicopter years for him to realize that Maru's Triple-A membership had nothing to do with towing or battery jumps. Instead, it scratched an itch deep inside that the mechanic rarely had the chance to indulge.

What Blade finally saw when the pair of them were finally made full-time employees at Piston Peaks and were given vacation days for the first time in decades was that Maru craved travel. Yes, he loved all of the challenges his job provided, but sometimes the tug just wanted to see new vistas, eat new food, and drive in a different gear.

"I think it is time for you to book the rooms for the Baja trip." Maru spoke into the phone the moment that Blade and Maru's first vacation request had been cleared by the park service.

"Are you actually going to finally take this trip?" The vehicle on the other sounded both surprised and amused.

"Yes, Connie." Maru glanced up to Blade with a broad smile splitting his face. "Yes, we are."

For Maru his Triple-A Membership hadn't been about the safety, it had been about the dream. And it was truly a liberating feeling to know that some dreams come true.