#puppy chim

[texasbama]

idc how many times I watch this episode, their reactions take me OUT every time LMFAOOO

[setmeatopthepyre]

Locker

[@118dailydrabble day 5] [part of my tommy begins snippets] [follows directly after this]

They trade the cigarette back and forth in silence. The tension in Emmerson's shoulders never eases, but his hands stop shaking quite so much. His thousand-yard stare inches closer to home.

Tommy tries not to watch him too obviously. Doesn't want the kid to feel judged.

Speaking of.

Emmerson grinds out the butt and seems to consider lighting up another. Tommy gives a quick shake of his head, moves back towards the staircase. “One's enough. Put that in your locker before Gerrard finds it. C'mon.”

The probie eyes him warily, but follows. His voice, behind Tommy, sounds a little lost still when he asks, “And then?”

“Then you shower. You eat lunch. And then you go save people.”

[makorragal-312]

-at the Bachelor mansion-

Contestant: If we can't get busy at the mansion, maybe we can get it at the station?😏

Eddie:

*turns to Buck*

Eddie: Buck, do you know that one line everybody says on this show?

Buck: Um, "they're not here for the right reasons?"

Eddie: Okay, thanks.

*turns back to contestants*

Eddie: Ladies. You're not here for the right reasons.

[doggirlbuck]

season one is so good and fun why would anyone skip this..............

[noisythingthing]

Okay but after Eddie leaves, Buck is moping around the station and to try to cheer him up Hen and Chim offer him clipboard privileges! (And then they get REALLY worried when he turns it down and slinks away like a sad puppy)

[dumbass-hyperfixations]

The text comes at 9:07.

Eddie: Happy birthday, Hen! Hope you have a good one :)

Hen smiles down at her phone as she sets down her bag in the locker room. Someone really ought to teach that man how to use emojis (seriously, is he secretly 50?), but the text warms her heart too much to be bothered by it. At least someone remembered, even from another state. She’ll take the typed out smiley emoticon as a win.

Hen: Thanks Eddie 🥳 how are you doing?

Eddie: Almost done fixing up my house and making small breakthroughs with Chris every day. But I’m sure Buck’s keeping you all updated. How about you? Any big plans today?

Hen: I’m sure it’s going great, we’re all rooting for you ❤️ and yes, Buck’s giving us all the updates, hasn’t shut up about you since you left 😂

Hen: No big plans today, though. Shift, then takeout for dinner.

Eddie: Not even cake? You’re breaking my heart :(

Hen sighs. She’s breaking her own heart over this silly little thing. She feels ridiculous, being so excited and then so disappointed over such a small thing. She scoffs as she kicks off her shoes and shakes off her jacket before answering Eddie.

Hen: I guess I’m just not in the mood this year. Maybe Karen and I will get dinner over the weekend.

Eddie: Oh, Buck and I tried this great Italian place the night before my last shift at the 118! You should ask him for details, their spaghetti bolognese was amazing :D

Well, definitely not doing that. Not while Buck and the rest of the 118 are being excited over a different H.E.N. in their lives right now. Another thing she’s ridiculously jealous of today: firefighting gadgets. And the way Eddie isn’t able to keep Buck out of their conversation even for a second. She bets Buck never forgets his birthday.

Hen: Thanks, I appreciate the tip 🤗

Eddie: Anytime. Hope you have a great day :)

Yeah, Hen thinks. Against all odds, she hopes so, too.

***

Another text comes around at 14:32, while Hen is taking a break on the roof after that call for Archie, the self-proclaimed invisible man.

Eddie: Hey, just got off the phone with Buck. I’m sorry those dummies forgot your birthday :(

Despite it all, Hen chuckles.

Hen: Don’t be acting like you didn’t remember just because of the Facebook alert. I know you well, Diaz 😉

Eddie: Guilty. Still sent the text though!

Eddie: And I know it sucks, but just remember that they still love you. We all do. Probably gonna be making it up to you for a week. I’ll bet you 10 bucks Chim’s gonna send you balloons. Maybe even a serenading mariachi band.

She snorts into her phone.

Hen: Oh god, I hope not. Haven’t I suffered enough?

Eddie: True. You can always guilt-trip Buck into doing yard work for you, though. He’s pretty handy with that. Kind of wish he was here now, helping me around the house.

Yeah, she bets he does. God, those two are so sickeningly codependent. She’s gonna have to hold an intervention one of these days.

Hen: He’s been giving me THE WORST puppy eyes since they realized they forgot. Could probably make him wash the cars too.

Eddie: Yeah, saw ‘em. He called me all sad, asking about your favourite pie. If you don’t talk to him soon, your house is going to look like a bakery display for a week.

Hen: Thanks for the tip. I DO NOT need my kids on a sugar high after all of this 😂

Eddie: At least they remembered, right? And Karen?

Hen: LOL. Mara dressed up real cute. Not for mama though, for picture day 💔 and Karen at least noticed my (very very nice) birthday outfit, but didn’t connect the dots.

Eddie: Ouch

Hen: Yup. I guess she forgot because of the kids’ schedules. Still hurts, though. There’s usually not a thing missing from her trusty planner.

Eddie: I guess she figured she’ll remember. You guys have celebrated how many thousand birthdays together now? She probably just got too confident in her ability to remember everything she loves about you.

She tries to scoff, but it comes out a little wet. Of course, he’s right. And Karen’s gonna feel so bad when she realizes.

Hen: Damn you for being right.

Hen: I’m gonna be angry with you about that, because you and Athena are the only two people I can’t be mad about missing my birthday.

Eddie: Hahaha sure, if it makes you feel better! Gotta go now, getting ready for work.

Hen: I still can’t believe I’m gonna walk back down to the loft and not see you on shift with us 😔 your talents are being wasted in that Uber

Eddie: Don’t I know it :( take care, Hen. And make Buck your gardener! I’ll be expecting pics.

Hen: 🤔🤔 starting to think gardener Buck is more of a gift for you than it is for me…

What can she say, even in her desperate sorrows, she loves making fun of the whole BuckandEddie thing, no matter how platonic it might be.

The answer is immediate.

Eddie: I’ve gotten tired of all the cooking/baking photos Maddie keeps sending me. He needs new hobbies.

Hen: How many of those do you have?????

Eddie: So many.

Eddie: Save them all, though. I like seeing him happy.

Eddie: He is happy, right? Not just putting a brave face for me every time I call?

Well. She can’t even make fun of that.

Hen: Ever seen those videos of amputated dogs that are learning to move around with prosthetics?

Eddie: Yeah?

Hen: Looks kind of like that. Happy, but still getting used to those wheels instead of legs ❤️

Hen: (The amputated legs are you. And the wheels are all those six thousand two hundred and twenty-two FaceTime calls you’re having on and off shift.)

Eddie: Yeah, I got that. It’s the same for me, really.

Eddie: Really gotta go now. Let me know if Chim sends you balloons!

***

At 21:20, Hen’s the one to send the text.

Hen: [image attached]

Hen: I actually got those fucking balloons. Are you psychic?

Hen: Also featuring chocolates from Bobby.

Eddie: Ha! Not psychic, he’s just predictable.

Hen: LOL, that he is. The worst part is that I actually kind of love them.

Eddie: Not seeing 10 different pies on the table, though. Master baker crisis averted?

Hen: Not yet, but he acted like an awkward butler around me for the rest of the shift. Needed some time to cool off, but I’ll ask him tomorrow.

She sets the phone down and opens the basket of chocolates. There’s a note inside with yet another apology, a birthday wish, and a promise of homemade dinner on their next 48 off. I am loved, I am loved, I am loved, I am loved. She thinks the words on a loop in her head, intending on doing so until she believes then again. God, today sucks.

Her phone pings again, Eddie’s contact illuminated on the screen.

Eddie: I just realized. We have never texted as much as we did today.

Surprised, Hen snorts out a laugh.

Hen: That can’t be right. We’ve known each other for well over 7 years now.

Eddie: I’m serious! Check our previous messages.

And Hen does. The last text before today was a few months ago, when she wished him a happy birthday during their 96 off, to which he responded with a simple thank you. Before that, a bunch of school-related email screenshots and links, mixed in with some carpool-themed “I’ll be there in 15!”s and some Denny and Chris sleepover related negotiations. Each short text thread at least a few days, if not weeks apart. Wow.

Hen: LOL, are we even friends 😂

Eddie: Right?! Like, I know we are, but we have absolutely no way of proving it.

Hen: I’m blaming it on the twelve hundred groupchats the Buckleys have created over the years.

Eddie: Seconded! Why do we need one for every get-together? The original groupchat is fine.

“Mama?” Hen looks up to see Mara standing in the doorway, looking a little unsure of herself.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Mom’s calling you for dinner,” Mara says. “Or, she’s asking if you feel like joining us.”

Hen sighs and stands up. To her surprise, the weight of her chest is lifted somewhat. She didn’t even notice that she calmed down and switched her mood during their chat.

“Of course, I’m coming,” she says and hugs Mara again for good measure before they head to the kitchen. Just to let her know nothing is wrong, that she’s not mad at her. Or anyone, in fact. This stuff happens. I am loved, I am loved, I am loved.

After dinner, she sends Eddie the picture of the cake Mara and Denny brought her.

Hen: [image attached]

Hen: Got the cake after all ❤️🎂

Hen: Thanks for today ❤️

Eddie: Looks good! And, anytime :D

[911-incorrect-quotes-dispatch]

Hen: You’ve been charged with, breaking into a pet store? 

Buck: I thought the animals might be lonely.

Chim: It says here that you also had an accomplice?

Eddie: In my defense, those puppies looked like they needed a hug.

[scottishaccentsareawesome]

Tommy(opens his door to see Chimney):...Chim! Chimney: I'm here purely on business, Tommy, as a representative of Firehouse 118, as well as Maddie Buckley. Tommy: What? Chimney: Word is, that you've started dating one Evan Buckley. Tommy: I have - am - yes. Chimney: OK, then. [Chimney lifts up a large, FULL binder and presents it to Tommy]...Here's everything you need to know. Allergies, likes, dislikes, unhealthy hang-ups, what to do when he gets in his "Sad Puppy" Mood, how to handle him in his "Excited Zoomies" Mood, how to handle him when he's pissed off, facts about his family - and yes, those two do tend to coincide - Tommy: Chimney - Chimney: - As well as written and signed statements from nearly everyone in his life - including one from Jee-Yun, whose statement I typed out, but she signed in crayon - that they will hunt you down and kill you if you hurt him in any way. Tommy(takes the binder): OK...? Chimney(stares at him for another moment, then smiles): - Happy for you, dude! {claps Tommy on the shoulder, then turns and leaves]

[circledwithaheart]

Buck is a few shots deep (when did he switch to shots?) with his new bar buddy. An attractive older guy who, as it turns out, also used to work at the 118 under Captain Nash.

"You worked with Bobby?" Buck lights up and rambles on before the guy can answer. "That means you must've worked with Hen and Chim, right?"

The guy mumbles a few things that Buck can't hear, and probably doesn't want to, before confirming he worked with Hen and Howie.

"Yeah, right. Howie. You know he married my sister? Gave me the cutest little niece." Buck beams and pulls out his phone to show off the album of Jee Yun photos. And then the other thought strikes again.

They look about the same age. It's possible, he thinks. Well, it's not impossible. Buck goes to pocket his phone again, only he misses his shirt entirely and it clatters on the table.

"Sorry 'bout that, uh, so if you worked with them- did you, uh, work with, uh, T-tommy? Tommy Kinard?"

Why is the name that used to slide off his tongue so easily now trip and stutter like it doesn't belong there?

The guy laughs, not seeming to notice Buck's elocution issues, and takes another shot. “Fuck, I’m getting too old for this shit.”

He spins the empty shot glass like a top. “Kinard? Yep, sure did. One of the best partners I could've asked for. At least he got to leave on his own terms.”

Buck furrows his brow, something familiar scratching at the back of his tequila addled brain. “What, uh, what did you say your name was again?”

“I didn’t,” the guy says matter of factly.

“But, you seem like a nice guy, so I'll tell you," he adds with a wink. "It’s Deluca. Sal Deluca.”

Buck's heard the name, a few stories here and there. Heard he moved to the 122, but doesn't know why.

"You transferred, right?" Buck asks cautiously.

The guy - Sal - shrugs his acknowledgement. "More or less. Anyway, I guess I better amend my introduction then. It's actually Captain Deluca. But Sal is fine. Or just Deluca."

"Buck."

Sal looks at him like he's got three heads. "Is that something new the kids are saying these days or...?"

"No, uh, 's m'name. Buck. Well, Evan Buckley, but you can call me Buck."

Sal studies him for a second before holding a hand out. "Nice to meet you, kid."

They shake hands and Buck thinks about the way Sal called him 'kid'. It's not like when Tommy said it. More like Bobby or Chim. Familial.

"Sorry to drink and run, but I gotta get home," Sal says, pushing out of his chair. "Wife's gonna kill me if I'm home too late."

"Oh, yeah. Sure. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Yeah, maybe." Then he's throwing some cash on the table and walking away.

~~~~~

As soon as he's out of sight, Sal taps on the camera app. It's probably a little unethical to surreptitiously be taking photos of the kid- Buck- but it's for a good cause.

Once upon a time he might have tried to pick him up, something about the kicked puppy look pulls at his heartstrings. Among other things. But now he's a happily married man with a whole brood to think about. Gina really would kill him, decorated fire captain or not.

He swipes over to messages and fires off a quick text.

Met your boy tonight. Christ Kinard he’s as bad as you. Should really put yourselves out of your collective misery.

It doesn't take long before the bubbles appear.

I did, remember? It's better this way.

Sal attaches the picture this time.

Better for who, exactly?

The bubbles appear and disappear again, until his screen eventually goes dark and no more responses come. Sal sighs and gets in the cab of his truck, contemplating another text, but ultimately decides against it. Tommy will talk when he's ready.

He steals another glance through the giant plate glass window where Buck is still sitting, sullen and lost, albeit with what looks like water this time.

"I hope it works out, kid, and he doesn't wait too long." Sal pushes aside the phantom acrid scent of a dinner forgotten in the oven while they fucked on the kitchen floor, the fear in Tommy's eyes when Sal asked when they could tell people about them. Because it had been months of sneaking around to each other's apartments. Of being more than just work partners- or so he thought. "Maybe he'll get his head out of his ass before it's too late this time."

[soliadiaz]

living in a world where all is well and no one is leaving and buck is just asking eddie with the eyes matching puppy's if they can keep the dog "for christopher!" and eddie rolls his eyes and says "for christopher huh?" and then still agrees because he's a weak man for the puppy eyes and chim says "the puppy eyes huh? no one else's" and eddie playfully pushes him and then buck and eddie go home together and disappear into the sunset

[eddiazx]

you are in love - evan buckley x reader

“I need a date.” Buck announces to anyone who will listen at the firehouse loft. 

“Need is a strong word.” Bobby says, quirking his eyebrow from his position behind the kitchen island, cutting bell peppers. 

“No, Cap, it’s the perfect word for my situation. Taylor is getting married and I absolutely need to bring a date.”

“Why are you even going to an ex’s wedding?” Eddie asks, not looking up from his game of pool with you. 

“The perpetual need to be liked, Eds. Now please, someone help me.”

Hen, Chim, Eddie, Ravi, and Bobby chime simultaneously: “Not it.”

You straighten up with your pool cue, betrayed by the people you consider friends and slightly impressed at how choir-like they said those two words. You then look at Buck, who’s already staring at you with pathetic, pitiful puppy-dog eyes. You sigh dramatically and say, “Fine. I’ll be your date. You better buy me a bunch of booze, Buckley.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Buck says, placing a sloppy kiss on your cheek before bouncing away happily. 

This can’t end well. 

-----------------------------------

You were right. Because Taylor Kelly decided to get married 4 hours away, and Buck said he’d get the two of you hotel rooms so you didn’t have to wake up early and get ready in a rush. 

Because life was like a movie: there was only one room and one bed available. 

“I can sleep in the armchair.” Buck tries to offer, extremely unconvincingly. 

“I know you need to stretch your bad leg out to sleep well, Buck. We’re friends, we can share a bed.”

“Oh, thank god.” Buck says, flopping onto the bed. 

You smile fondly at the dork you call your best friend, and head into the bathroom to get changed.

When you come back though, you hesitate. Sure, you've seen your Buck shirtless and in just his underwear countless times due to glass locker rooms, but sharing a room and a bed was different. It's intimate.

Buck, seeming to know what you were thinking, pats the empty side next to him. "C'mon. I promise I won't bite."

"That's tragic, I do like biting." You tease.

Buck blushes a faint pink and drops his hands in his lap to cover a rising situation. "Good to know."

-----------------------------------

You wake up the next morning extremely well-rested and snug. Sometime during the night the two of you had gravitated towards each other. Buck's front was plastered against your back, and you had woven your fingers with his, resting your linked hands on your stomach.

You slowly turn around to face Buck, watching as he blinks awake. A big, albeit sleepy grin graces his face. "Mornin'."

You smile back at him and respond softly. "Good morning."

"Hey, I don't think I ever thanked you for coming with me."

"You already did, Buck. I just don't understand why you came. You don't really talk to Taylor."

"You know... I think I wanted an excuse to come spend time with you."

"Me?"

Buck nods. He then stills as an epiphany overtakes his entire being.

"You're my best friend." Buck says, voice full of wonderment.

"Don't let Eddie hear you." You joke half-heartedly, but the raw honesty in Buck's voice was making your heart beat so fast, you would think someone was hunting you for sport.

"I'm serious. I always look for your reaction first whenever I tell a joke, I know your coffee order better than my own, and you're the one I want to talk to whenever I have good or bad news. I fell in love with you slowly and then all at once - because you're my best friend."

"You're in love with me?" You ask, barely audible, happy tears filling your eyes.

"I am." Buck admits, uncharacteristic shyness marring his features.

You reach over, smoothing a stray curl back from his forehead before whispering. "I love you too, Buck."

Buck takes those words as an invitation to maneuver you onto your back while he hovers on top of you.

"So, what you said last night about biting..." Buck starts, and you shut him up with a laugh and a kiss.

[theotherbuckley]

Just some Bucktommy headcanons <3

- Buck always struggles to hide his surprise every time Tommy goes out of his way to turn up for him because he’s not used to someone actually showing up for him. Tommy sets out to always prove him wrong.

- Tommy was completely prepared for Buck to be a baby gay (inclusive) and still chokes every time Buck is super flirty, not that he’s complaining.

- After bad shifts they both take care of each other and help each other wash off and then cuddle together.

- The first time Tommy sees Buck with Jee he damn near has a heart attack. Buck sees him and gets worried but Tommy just tells him he’s adorable and Buck blushes.

- Buck gets butterflies and blushes so hard every single time Tommy calls him cute or adorable or anything like that because he’s not used to being perceived in that way and he loves it.

- Every single time Buck sees a helicopter he sends a pic to Tommy asking if it’s him. This leads to Tommy sending Buck photos of random doggos and asking if it’s Buck.

- Buck can’t shut up about his how his boyfriend is a pilot and will tell anyone who will listen.

- Buck loves how Tommy calls him Evan it makes his heart skip a beat. One day Tommy asks him about it because everyone else calls him Buck and should he? And Buck ducks his head and says “I like the way you say it.”

- They have a vulnerable discussion and Buck tells Tommy about Daniel and growing up constantly getting hurt and Tommy shares his rough childhood with his parents divorce and feeling like nobody was in his corner. Tommy vows never to let Buck think he’s worth anything less than everything and Buck makes sure Tommy knows that hes got him has a steady figure. He invites Tommy to all the 118 gatherings to make sure he knows that he has them too.

- At one of the gatherings Bobby takes Tommy aside and he thinks he’s getting the shovel talk but Bobby just hugs him and welcomes him to the family. Tommy has to wipe his eyes before going back out to the gathering.

- Tommy talks to Hen privately and profusely apologises for his behaviour at the 118 which leads to them both in tears by the end of it. Hen promises to give him a Christmas card every year and Tommy laughs.

- The first time bucktommy has a fight it’s over something trivial, Tommy leaves to get some fresh air and returns an hour or so later to find Buck crying. Buck looks shocked that he came back. Tommy tells him he will always come back and vows to communicate more clearly with Buck.

- Buck always talks about wanting to get a dog and Tommy just shakes his head and laughs. One day Tommy comes home covered in soot with a small golden retriever puppy that he saved in his arms and tells Buck he couldn’t let go of him. They name him Leo. Chris becomes obsessed with him and begs Eddie to get a dog too. Instead Carla takes Chris over after school to see Leo and feed him when Buck and Tommy can’t. Leo loves Chris and always barks when he leaves.

- Buck teaches Tommy how to dance because he never learnt. Buck tells him how he learnt for Maddie.

- When Buck gets hurt on a call Tommy won’t leave his side. He asks Eddie how he did it when Buck actually died and Eddie shakes his head and said he didn’t. Eddie takes Tommy home and forces him to shower and eat. Eddie, Chris, and Tommy sit together talking about Buck until they get the message that Bucks okay.

- When Eddie gets hurt on a call Buck is beside himself. Buck tells Tommy about the will. Buck tells Chris his dad is hurt again and Tommy holds Buck when he breaks down afterwards remembering the shooting.

- The first time they go further than making out Buck tells Tommy he loves his tits and then blushes and apologises. Tommy just chuckles and tells Buck he loves his tits too.

- Buck comes in with a limp one day and turns red when they ask him to explain. Hen keeps laughing at him but Chimney is so confused and keeps asking about it. Buck breaks and tells him. Chim can’t look Tommy in the eye at the next BBQ

- When they get married Tommy says how grateful he is to have an ally like Buck in his life.

[trashremover43]

Evan Buckley had always thought of himself as a pretty straightforward guy. He liked fast cars, loud music, and women. That was it. Simple. Straightforward. No complications.

So when Tommy Kinard walked into the firehouse six weeks ago, all tall, broad-shouldered, and blue-eyed, Buck’s first thought had been, Wow, that guy looks like a G.I. Joe action figure. A totally normal, dude-bro thought.

The second thought had been less normal: I wonder what it would feel like to have him look at me like that.

Buck didn’t know what “that” was, exactly, but it kept happening. Tommy would talk to him about a call, or glance his way during a basketball game, and Buck’s brain would short-circuit. The worst part? Buck couldn’t even blame adrenaline for it.

And today, it finally hit him—like a truck, like a ten-car pileup on the freeway, like Bobby’s disappointed face when Buck forgot to check the truck inventory. He wasn’t just thinking about Tommy a lot; he was thinking about Tommy a lot.

It happened mid-lunch. Hen, Chim, Eddie, and Buck were eating in the kitchen when Tommy strolled in, looking stupidly good in a plain black T-shirt and jeans. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, gave everyone a casual nod, and leaned against the counter.

Buck, mid-chew on a sandwich, felt his brain betray him. God, his forearms look amazing. How is that even possible? Who has hot forearms

Hen squinted at him. “You good, Buckaroo? You’ve been chewing that sandwich for about five years.”

“Fine!” Buck practically yelled, swallowing the bite with an audible gulp.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. “Uh...okay?”

Buck fled the room, muttering something about checking the inventory.

---

“Let me get this straight,” Hen said later, cornering Buck in the locker room. “You have a crush on Tommy?”

“I—what? No!” Buck’s voice cracked, which immediately betrayed him. “I mean, no. Of course not. That’s ridiculous. I’m...straight.”

Hen crossed her arms and leaned against the lockers. “Sure you are, Buck.”

“I am!”

“Uh-huh. So that’s why you’ve been staring at Tommy like a lovesick puppy every time he breathes in your general direction?”

“I don’t—” Buck stopped. He did. Oh God, he did.

Hen smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “You know what? This is going to be fun. I can’t wait to see how you try to deny this while making a fool of yourself in front of him.”

Buck groaned, slumping against the lockers. “Hen, this isn’t funny. What if...what if he realizes?”

Hen shrugged. “Oh, he won’t. Tommy thinks you’re straight. Chim told him.”

“Chim told him?!”

“Yep.” Hen’s smirk widened. “So, uh, good luck convincing him otherwise.”

---

That night, Buck lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was a whirlwind of questions. Was he really into Tommy? Or was it just some weird, temporary thing?

It’s just a phase, he told himself. Like when I was obsessed with pineapple pizza for two months. That went away.

But then he remembered Tommy laughing at one of Chim’s dumb jokes earlier, the way his whole face lit up, and Buck felt his stomach do a stupid little flip.

Nope. This wasn’t a phase. This was something else entirely.

By 2 AM, Buck had spiraled so far that he found himself googling, “How to seduce a man when you’re not gay but you think you might like him?”

The results were...not helpful.

Step 1: Be confident.

Great, I’m confident. I can do this.

Step 2: Compliment him often, but not too much.

Okay, I can say nice things. Like...“Nice arms, bro.” Wait, no, that’s weird. Damn it.

Step 3: Physical touch can help build chemistry.

Right. Totally casual. Like a shoulder pat. Or...I don’t know, leaning against him during movie night? Would that be weird?

By the time his alarm went off a few hours later, Buck had decided on a plan: he was going to be subtle. Just ease into it. Maybe start with some compliments, see how Tommy reacted.

It would be fine. Totally fine.

---

It was not fine.

By 9 AM, Buck had already managed to embarrass himself twice.

First, during morning roll call, when Bobby was assigning roles for the day. Tommy volunteered for a routine inspection, and Buck, for reasons he couldn’t explain, immediately blurted out, “I’ll go with him!”

The entire team turned to stare at him.

Bobby raised an eyebrow. “I was going to assign Eddie, but...sure, Buck. If you’re that enthusiastic about fire extinguisher checks.”

Tommy just shrugged, but Hen was smirking again.

Second, during the actual inspection, Buck tried to compliment Tommy’s skills. What he meant to say was, “You’re really thorough.” What came out was, “You’re, uh...really good with your hands.”

Tommy froze, extinguisher in hand, and gave Buck the most confused look of all time.

“Thanks?” Tommy said slowly.

Buck wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

---

By lunchtime, Buck was ready to give up. He was a disaster. A walking, talking disaster. Subtlety clearly wasn’t his thing, and Tommy probably thought he’d lost his mind.

But then Tommy walked past him in the kitchen, gave him a brief, curious look, and smiled.

Buck’s heart skipped a beat.

Maybe he wasn’t as hopeless as he thought.

[setmeatopthepyre]

i've just. been thinking about this scene from chimney begins a lot, especially in relation to the bucktommy break up.

in this episode, the changing relationship between chimney and the general population of the 118 is shown through his (attempts at) interaction with tommy. so this conversation he has with eli is as much about 'the other firefighters' in general as it is about how tommy has been treating chim.

and there's... something there in the 'you don't name it until you know it'll pull through' and the 806 breakup in which neither tommy nor buck say the words i love you but they do say pretty much everything else. it feels like they've both been hurt before by this thing called love that might make it feel like they're pushing their luck to name it. and there's something there in tommy ending things before buck can hurt him.

and then there's this:

and there's something there in buck looking at tommy and thinking, wow, he's so cool, he's so confident, (he has a cleft), he's so comfortable with who he is and that makes me feel comfortable.

eli tells chim: [switching to my quick attempts at gifs here bc the text is spread out over so many shots otherwise]

and what eli's saying is: feeling like a hero isn't enough. it can be your motivation to start, but it can't be the only thing that keeps you going. you can't always be a hero. no one can. everyone is flawed and everyone's gonna slip up. there's a darkness, and if you don't account for that, you're going to run into the hard things, the things you can't solve by being a hero, the things you have to struggle through, change your perspective for. if you try to ignore those things, you're going to learn some really tough lessons really fast.

and I'm thinking about tommy and buck not knowing the details of each others' pasts, being maybe a little too comfortable with how comfortable they were, enjoying that honeymoon phase rush and thrill, not really having dug into the darkness. they learn some tough lessons really fast.

tommy leaves buck. they both didn't name the puppy. (it still hurts)

chimney loses kevin. he faces the hard, dark parts of this path he's chosen and he chooses to continue anyway. because of this, he's is in the right place at the right time to save tommy's life.

[dangerpronebuddie]

What A Mental Fire Alarm (6k)

“I have an idea,” Hen declares, drawing everyone's attention. “Why don't you make your own quiz?” Buck tilts his head like a confused puppy. “Yeah,” Chim says, drawing out the word. “Maybe your answer will come to you while you make it.” “You'll need a control though,” Hen says. “Someone straight.” Buck looks to Eddie. “Would you be my control?” Hen coughs and thumps her hand against her chest. Eddie raises an eyebrow at her. “You good, Hen?” “Fine,” she croaks. “Perfectly fine.” “Would you?” Buck asks, knocking their knees together. “Of course I would,” Eddie assures him. An excited grin slowly spreads across Buck's face. He hops to his feet and dashes for the stairs. “Where you going?” Eddie calls. “I need a clipboard!” Buck hollers back as he rushes down the stairs.

[read on ao3]

For my darling @ronordmann 🥰 Happy birthday dear!

[iamharryhale]

Chim: Eddie will never agree to this plan.

Buck: Sure he will!

Hen: He’s already refused three times.

Buck: Okay watch the master at work.

Buck, turning to Eddie with puppy dog eyes: Can we—

Eddie: Yes.

Chim and Hen: 👁️👄👁️