#tommy will kiss buck quiet for the rest of their lives

[chaoticpositvty]

You already know.

[foxtrot91]

Dedicated Ally

Buck pants as Tommy rolls off of him, flopping down next to him with his own, equally heavy breaths.

“Fuck,” Buck grunts, grinning as he reaches over to Tommy, smoothing his hand over a muscular chest.

“Mmhm.” Tommy turns onto his side towards him, nose scrunching as a smile stretches across his face. Buck loves that smile, noticed it the day they met, thinks that smile might be the reason he went fucking insane trying to get this man’s attention.

Unable to resist, Buck leans in for a kiss. It’s chaste, considering the mind blowing sex they’ve just had. But sometimes those are his favourite, Buck thinks; a simple, easy meeting of lips, a kiss just to kiss, no expectations for more, just a way to stay close even after being as close as two people can possibly be.

Buck whines in protest when Tommy pulls away, hearing a huff of amusement in response before he’s being tugged into the other man’s arms. He’s pulled and arranged until his head is resting on Tommy’s strong chest and okay, Buck thinks, if they’re not kissing then this is the next best thing.

It’s not long before he’s drifting, not asleep but also not-not asleep. Just hovering in that quiet, pleasant space in-between. He’s warm, happy, satisfied, and Buck has the vague, faraway thought that he could lay here forever.

At least until Tommy’s chest starts shaking with barely suppressed laughter, which—

What the fuck?

Lifting his head, Buck gives Tommy a quizzical look, not sure what exactly is so funny.

“Sor-sorry,” Tommy coughs, waving a hand as laughter bubbles up to the surface now.

Buck runs through the last couple hours or so in his head, trying to figure out what’s so funny.

They’d had dinner, nothing new there. Buck had put on that new nature documentary that he’d been wanting to watch except that Tommy had been way too distracting and they’d ended up making out like teenagers instead.

That had been followed up with some truly spectacular foreplay — and Buck really needs to find out how Tommy does that thing with his tongue like yesterday, it was inspired, truly, before Tommy fucked Buck into the mattress like his goddamn life depended on it.

So, all in all, a really solid night. Nothing that should have Tommy bursting into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

“What is it?” He asks finally, giving up trying to figure it out on his own.

It’s a moment before Tommy answers, has to visibly force himself to stop laughing. Seeing the look on Buck’s face must help because he sobers pretty quickly before pulling Buck in for a light kiss and settled them both on their sides, facing each other.

“It’s nothing bad,” he starts, rubbing up and down Buck’s arms. “I was just thinking… remembering, really.”

He’s smirking now, a mischievous look in his eye. Buck’s about to ask what it is he was remembering but just as he opens his mouth, Tommy continues.

“You know, Evan, I never did thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“Yeah, for being such a good, dedicated, passionate ally.”

Buck groans as he suddenly remembers their first date, a little over six months ago now. He goes to lean back as he covers his face but Tommy pulls him back, chest shaking with mirth.

“Really, ten out of ten, no complaints. A must have for every gay man out there.”

“Fuck off,” Buck grumps, but doesn’t resist when Tommy suckers him in for another kiss. They’re both smiling too wide — Tommy, from laughter, Buck from embarrassment, so it’s not much more than a light press of lips.

“Would’ve bagged me an ally sooner if I’d known how dedicated they’d be in their… allyship,” Tommy murmurs, pressing another kiss to his brow, right over his birthmark.

Pressing Tommy back into the mattress, Buck hides his face in the crook of the other man’s neck, face warm as he shakes his head.

“You’re never gonna let me live that down, are you?”

“I think it’s sweet,” Tommy says, stroking his hair. “As terrible as that date was, you were adorable even in your obliviousness.”

Buck smiles, warmth blossoming in his chest. He’s not sure why, but every time Tommy tells him he’s adorable it’s like his heart feels too big for his chest, like it doesn’t know how to handle all of this love and affection it’s being fed and is set to burst.

“You know, it wasn’t easy walking away that night,” Tommy says, pressing his soft lips to the top of his head. “But you didn’t seem ready. And maybe a bit selfishly, I knew that if I was going to have you that I wanted all of you, not just bits and pieces doled out in the dark where no one could see.”

They haven’t actually talked about that first date like this before, not really. They’ve acknowledged it, certainly, but they’ve never deconstructed it in any depth like they are now.

“I’m glad you walked away that night,” Buck says honestly. “I was an ass— no, I was, and you walking away helped me realize what I wanted in a way that I hadn’t really been willing to before.”

Tommy hums, fingers trailing along the back of his neck, tracing random patterns.

“You certainly came to terms with it a lot quicker than I expected. A lot quicker than I did,” Tommy comments, referring to what Chim often refers to as his sexuality crisis speedrun after hearing the full story of how they got together.

“I had a really great incentive,” Buck says, grinning up at Tommy.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

ETA: Now on AO3 with some additions:

AO3

[cjlouwho]

Tommy just isn’t a bottom though it’s crazy to me that people force him to be just to match their weird ass fantasy.

I'm gonna make him bottom even harder now!!!

Continuation from this little guy

"Oh God, yeah, yeah, like that, Evan, fuck!"

"We- we're supposed t- to be talking," Buck stuttered, hooking Tommy's legs over his shoulders to get a better angle.

"We, mhm, we did. Good talk, ohmygodyes, good talk." Tommy brought his hands to Buck's sides, gripping him and pulling him in harder, faster. "Can you, uh-huh, kiss me, please?"

Who was Buck to deny him that? He leaned down, nearly bending Tommy in half, and pressed their lips together, licking his way into Tommy's mouth.

He couldn't thrust into him as hard at this angle, his movements short and sharp, but Tommy didn't seem to mind from the sounds he was making.

Sounds that drove Buck absolutely insane. He'd heard them a little in the supply closet, had to try and keep him quiet then, but he didn't have to do that now. And even with Buck's tongue halfway down Tommy's throat, Tommy managed to grunt and whine and nearly fucking purr with every movement Buck made.

"Shit, Tommy," Buck panted, resting his forehead against Tommy's. "I- I never heard you like this before."

"I miss- oh, fuck- I missed you, Evan."

Damn it, Buck was not going to cry right now. He didn't care how misty his eyes were getting, he would not cry. He lifted himself back up, staring into Tommy's eyes. They were wet too, red-rimmed with tears he was also unwilling to shed.

"I missed you too." He dropped Tommy's legs off his shoulders and, in one swift movement, rolled them over until Tommy was on top.

The movement buried Buck even deeper inside him, and Buck nearly came at the sight of Tommy's eyes rolling back in his head.

"Work for it," Buck demanded. He wrapped his hand around Tommy's cock and slowly, so fucking slowly, began to jerk him off.

Tommy shivered at the touch, at the words, at Buck's cock hitting right against his prostate every time he so much as moved an inch.

"I won't l- last long," Tommy admitted, a blush rising over his sweat-slick skin. God, Buck wanted nothing more than to lick the sweat off every inch of his body. He'd make a mental note to do that later.

Because there would be a later.

Tommy lifted up until the head of Buck's cock was all that was left inside him, then he slammed himself back down. Once, twice, three times, and he was coming all over both Buck and himself.

It didn't take long for Buck to follow after him, coming deep inside him for the second time that night.

Tommy nearly collapsed on top of Buck, their sticky bodies practically melding into one.

After a couple minutes of silence, Buck turned his head to the side and pressed a kiss against Tommy's temple. "You wanna get up?" he asked. "So I can get us a rag?"

"Can you just... stay in me?" Tommy replied, point blank. He bit down at Buck's pulse point, just enough to tease, then licked against it to soothe the skin. "Stay in me until your hard," he whispered, "and then fuck me again," he kissed along his neck, "and again," along his jaw, "and again," he punctuated the last one by clenching around Buck's dick, moaning against his lips. "Please, Evan."

"Holy shit," Buck breathed out. He wrapped his arms around Tommy's back and held onto him tight. "Holy shit, you're gonna kill me. B- but yeah, yeah I can do that."

Tommy smiled, resting his weight over Buck. "Want you in me forever, Evan." He spoke the words like a secret. A promise.

And while it might not be possible to physically remain connected to him for the rest of their lives, in this moment, Buck never felt more determined to figure out a way to do it.

[theladycarpathia]

I've seen too much stuff about Clipboard Buck and Tommy lately to not write this.

His boyfriend on a power trip should not be hot. 

“See,” Chim mutters under his breath, leaning over the rail to watch Buck down below. “I warned you.”

“So you did,” Tommy agrees, keeping his true thoughts to himself. Buck has the clipboard clenched in one hand, pen in the other, and directs a reluctant Hen and Eddie as they perform checks on the ambulance and the ladder. 

“He’s a menace,” Chim continues, with feeling. “He’s a dictator!”

“Uh huh,” Tommy says, watching the furrow in Buck’s forehead as he makes another tick. He gestures furiously towards something in one of the ladder’s compartments and Eddie puts down the jaws to argue back. 

“We keep hiding the clipboards,” Chim says darkly. “I don’t know where he keeps finding them all.”

“Unfortunately for you, I think that’s something they sell at most major retailers,” Tommy quips and rests his arms on the railing. 

He’s worked under power-crazed maniacs. He was in the army, and then he had Captain Gerrard. His own father was one fully for his way or the highway. 

Buck being like this should not be hot. And yet all Tommy can think about is lying naked on the bed while Buck does things to him from a very meticulous and organized list. 

Eddie makes an obscene gesture behind Buck’s back and Tommy smirks. 

“And this is Buck on a regular Tuesday,” Chim says and pops his gum. “Wait until you see Buck in an emergency or organize an event. It’s a good thing you stopped by. You need to know these kinds of things about a person before you get serious.”

“I’m glad to see you too, Chim,” Tommy says, although stopping to chat to Chimney hadn’t been on his agenda for today. He and Buck have had conflicting shifts lately, and they’ve barely seen each other. Texts and a few brief phone calls have been all they’ve had to get them by and Tommy finally had enough of it. Bobby doesn’t mind Tommy swinging by the firehouse and seeing Buck if they’re not on a call. And today is apparently so quiet that Buck has time to do a thorough inspection of the vehicles. 

“Are you?” Chim asks suddenly, twisting towards Tommy with a surprisingly calculating look. “Getting serious?”

Tommy just shrugs. He knows the answer, he’s just not entirely willing to discuss it yet. But it’s been long enough now that they keep toothbrushes and few essentials at each other’s houses, that they have evenings where they sprawl together in front of the TV, just happy to be together. Tommy knows about his sister, the loss of Daniel, the myth of Abby and has even read Taylor Kelly’s book. 

Which he did in bed, reading several segments out loud, much to Buck’s horror and embarrassment. 

“You seem to be,” Chim comments, and down below Hen throws a roll of surgical tape at Buck. “Not that I’m complaining. We like you, Buck likes you, you flew us into a hurricane…”

“I like him too,” Tommy says, because honestly he’s been smitten since Buck came up with that stupid motto back in the helicopter. “Funny to think that Evan and I never met before as he only got to join the 118 because I left.”

“You got there in the end,” Chim says. “I mean this as nicely as possible but you leaving worked out great for me. If you hadn’t left, there wouldn’t have been a space to fill. If Buck hadn’t joined us…”

“Then you would never have met Maddie when she came to LA,” Tommy says, understanding instantly. Funny how something that simple has changed so many lives. He doesn’t regret moving to Harbor, even with the closeness that the 118 has now. He wouldn’t be who he is otherwise, without that space to accept himself. If he didn’t have that, maybe he wouldn’t be the person brave enough to kiss Buck. “I get it.”

“Although,” Chim continues, still watching Buck down below. “We wouldn’t have the Clipboard Dictator if you had stayed…”

“You love it really,” Tommy says, because he knows Chim loves Buck. But then Buck’s eyes swing upwards, towards the first floor and the two of them. 

“Oh shit,” Chimney hisses and then ducks below the railing. It doesn’t work because Buck just shouts “Chim, it’s glass! I can see you!”

“That wasn’t your best idea,” Tommy says and then offers Chimney a hand. “Come on. I’ll go down with you. Maybe I can make the tyrant a little bit sweeter.”

Chimney doesn’t look soothed by this. 

“Hello, Chimney,” Hen says pointedly, sitting on the back of the ambulance. “Nice to see you. How funny you happened to be hiding in the bathroom when Buck gets his clipboard out.”

“I wasn’t hiding,” Chimney mutters, eying Buck’s clipboard with apprehension. “Kinard, save me.”

“Evan,” Tommy says, snagging his boyfriend’s free wrist with one hand. “I came by to see you. Maybe we give the workforce a five minute break?”

Buck frowns down at his list. “I wanted to finish this before Bobby was done with his paperwork,” he says before looking suspiciously at his friends. “And if they leave, I don’t think they’ll come back.”

“Damn straight,” Eddie says under his breath. Hen just looks innocent, although Tommy is pretty sure they’re about to see three empty firefighter shaped spaces. 

“Just ten minutes,” Tommy cajoles, stroking the soft part of Buck’s wrist with his thumb. “I haven’t seen you all week.” He drops his voice down for the next part, hoping that Buck is as desperate to see him. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Buck practically throws the clipboard at Eddie. 

“Taking a break!” he says cheerfully, half dragging Tommy behind the engine. “Be back in ten or I will hunt you down.”

“Will he do it with a chainsaw, I wonder?” Hen has time to ask (Tommy feels as though he should follow up on this later), before all three of them vanish. Tommy doesn’t see because he’s pressing his boyfriend up against the gleaming red of the engine and kissing the breath out of him. 

“What can we do in ten minutes?” Buck asks, eyes glittering, running his hands up and down Tommy’s chest. 

“Probably not a lot, as we’re in the open, in a firehouse, during your workday,” Tommy admits begrudgingly. A week is a very long time. Buck’s salacious texts and suggestive selfies haven’t been enough. “But we have time off in two days and I want to spend every second with you.”

“Good,” Buck says and the next few minutes pass very quickly. Buck tastes of coffee and he keeps both hands planted on Tommy’s rear - if he keeps squeezing like that, Tommy is going to have difficulty walking out of here. 

“I think we order takeout and movies and don’t leave the house for twenty-four hours,” Tommy suggests, just as Buck licks the shell of his ear. Fuck. This kid will be the death of him. 

“Fine by me,” Buck says and pulls him in for one last kiss. “But I really should get back to work. Call you when I’m off?”

There’s such obvious suggestion in his voice that want searches in Tommy’s gut almost instantly. He pushes it down and strokes Buck’s rather red jaw. 

“Can’t wait,” he says. “And Evan? Go easy on your friends.”

But the others are waiting for them, standing in a line by the stairs, obvious glee written all over their faces. Eddie is holding Buck’s clipboard and Tommy deftly removes it from his grasp. 

“Why, Mr Buckley,” Hen says, looking them up and down with a smirk. “That’s not a proper use of company time.”

“Ha ha,” Buck says mutinously, and with far more confidence than someone wearing a ridiculous amount of beard burn should have. “We have a lot to do. Where’s the…?”

Tommy hastily recaps the pen and hands it back to Buck, as though nothing is changed. He’d feel bad about it if it was an official document. But as it was Buck’s handwritten list of chores, he thinks the others might get some amusement out of it. 

He kisses Buck on the cheek and waves goodbye, quickly ducking out of the firehouse before Buck notices. 

“Who vandalized my list?” Buck shrieks indignantly and Tommy just skips all the way back to his truck.

[weewoowings]

Could this be it?

Buck and Tommy were draped over the couch, their limbs tangled in a comfortable mess. The living room was dim, the soft glow of a forgotten TV casting flickers of light across their faces. Something played on the screen—neither of them cared to follow it. The background noise was a hum, barely registering beyond the sound of their steady breathing.

Tommy’s head rested against the back of the couch, his eyes half-lidded, heavy with exhaustion. His fingers idly carded through Evan’s curls, the motion slow, soothing, as though each stroke could erase the weight of the long day from both of them. His boyfriend was pressed against his chest, his body relaxed, sinking into Tommy as if they were trying to merge into one.

They were quiet, their breaths syncing with each rise and fall of the other’s chest. The rhythmic in-and-out filled the space between them, steady, grounding. It was the kind of quiet that felt like home—words weren’t needed, the silence was enough.

His thumb traced the shell of Evan’s ear before his hand returned to its soft path through his hair. He could feel the tension slipping out of Evan’s muscles, the way he melted further into him, like he’d been waiting for this moment to finally let go. Tommy pressed his cheek against the top of his head, inhaling the faint scent of his shampoo, mixed with the lingering smell of the day’s sweat and city air. It wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect because it was them.

“You okay?” Tommy asked, his voice barely more than a whisper, as if anything louder would break the quiet.

Buck made a soft noise in response, something between a hum and a sigh. He shifted slightly, his face burrowing into Tommy’s neck, the warmth of him pressing in, seeking comfort. Tommy’s hand stayed in his hair, fingers curling gently, his touch so soft it almost tickled.

“I love you,” Buck mumbled, barely conscious of the words as they tumbled out of his mouth. They were unplanned, said without thought, like a secret whispered into the dark where it felt safe.

Tommy froze for just a beat, the words sinking in, and then he smiled. His hand stilled in Evan’s curls, his other arm wrapping tighter around him, pulling him impossibly closer.

“I love you too,” Tommy murmured, pressing a kiss to his birthmark. His voice was as gentle as his touch, as if the words themselves were something precious.

Buck, half-asleep, smiled against Tommy’s chest, his body growing heavier with the weight of comfort and certainty. The simple exchange of words had settled something deep within him, something he hadn’t even realized was tense. Saying I love you hadn’t been a decision, it had just happened—and the way Tommy had pulled him closer afterward, the warmth in his voice, made Buck feel like he’d found a home in that moment. He could still feel the echo of Tommy’s words, I love you too, lingering in the quiet, wrapping around his heart like a second layer of comfort.

Tommy’s hand had stilled in his curls, but Buck could feel the rise and fall of his chest beneath his cheek. He knew Tommy was awake, probably thinking the same thing, maybe replaying those words like he was. The ease between them now felt like breathing—natural, effortless. He didn’t need anything more than this right now. Just them, just being.

Tommy’s heart thudded steadily under Evan’s ear, and he found himself smiling softly too. There was no rush, no need to say anything more. The moment was full enough, and Tommy knew they had time—plenty of time for more words, more quiet moments, more soft confessions. This was the start of something new and easy, and the certainty of it settled over him like the perfect blanket.

They both lay there, wrapped in each other, breathing in the quiet, as the flicker of the TV faded into the background.

[leashybebes]

Can I ask for 6 for the kisses? Happy or sad, up to you

6 was on a falling tear. full disclosure - when i got married we got ready together so i don't really understand how first look photos work 🤷‍♀️

Eddie sticks his head into the room where Tommy is waiting with Sal, getting increasingly tempted by the hip flask Sal is waving in his direction.

"You good, man?" Eddie checks.

"Yeah," Tommy says.

"Alright. Maddie's with Buck, you have like three minutes to get into position."

"Got it," Tommy nods. 

Sal claps him on the back. "Good luck, man. See you there."

The room where they're having these photos done is separate from the ceremony room, nothing really that special to look at. The focus of these shots will be just on them, not on any of the background - that'll come later. The room's empty apart from their photographer, Saf, and her assistant Charlie. She smiles broadly at him and gets him situated on one side of a screen in the middle of the room, facing away.

"How are you doing?" she asks.

"Honestly, way more nervous than I was expecting," Tommy admits.

"Everyone says that," she reassures him, then goes quiet when the door to the room opens again. Tommy holds his breath, counts the steps across the floor. He breathes again when he hears a soft knock on the screen.

"Hey," Evan says.

"Hi," Tommy says, and he feels Evan's fingers pluck at the sleeve of his suit. He reaches around the edge of the screen to hook their fingers together and Evan squeezes. Tommy's vaguely aware of Saf snapping a few pictures, but mostly he's aware of the warmth of Evan's fingers, and how immediately secure he feels with them wrapped around his own.

"Shall we do this thing?"

"Please," Tommy says.

"Okay, guys," Saf says in a bright voice. "If I can get you both to take three steps forward, Charlie will move the screen and I'll ask you to turn on the count of three. Got it?"

"Got it," Evan says, with a final squeeze of Tommy's fingers.

"Got it," Tommy agrees, his voice a little less steady than Evan's.

They take their three steps in unison, and Tommy listens to the sounds of Charlie moving the screen, him and Saf exchanging a few words before she checks in with them and gives them their countdown.

Tears burst into his eyes the second he turns and looks at Evan. He knew they would. Shit, that's half the point of a first look photo, isn't it? To get at least some of the blubbing out of the way before the vows.

"God, you look so beautiful," he manages, reaching up to press his hand over his mouth, trying not to actually sob. He knows he's an ugly crier, and they're going to have these damn photos for the rest of their lives.

Evan's eyes are shining with tears too, but he's holding it together better.

"Baby, c'mere." He reaches out to guide Tommy into his arms and presses a gentle kiss to his cheek, right where a tear is tracing down. "Don't cry on your pretty suit."

Tommy manages a laugh. "Bold of you to assume I have any control over this. We can't all be so butch, Evan."

Evan laughs, kisses his mouth this time.

"You look so handsome. Like a Disney prince. I can't wait to marry you."

Tommy kind of desperately wants to pull him closer, kiss him more, rumple up that gorgeous suit. But they're on a schedule today, step by step into the rest of their lives.

[kinardsevan]

30 day fluff prompt challenge: day three

"birthday"

It was supposed to be a surprise party. Evan had spent weeks planning it, ordering the supplies, and ensuring everyone in their group had off so that they would all attend. He hadn’t mentioned anything to Tommy about it because he’d wanted him to have this moment. He’d seen the way his boyfriend was around the other people in his life.

Granted, it wasn’t like Tommy ever spelled it out. Still, there was something about how Tommy felt about the outside world, that Evan knew matched inside him. It’s how he could see the little flicker in his boyfriend’s eyes every time Chim laid a hand on his shoulder before he told him a story, or when Eddie called Tommy instead of Buck to hang out. It was the flash of a microexpression every time Bobby invited Tommy to help out on a dish in the kitchen when they got invited over for dinner. 

So of course, when autumn arrived and Evan knew his boyfriend’s birthday was coming, he’d gone all out. He’d set everything in motion. Of course, the one thing he couldn’t plan for was the weather. Or, well, either of them being on call. 

They were coming up on the tail end of wildfire season, and while it had been relatively quiet since mid-September, there had been college kids partying in the Angeles National Forest. A week before Tommy’s birthday, a small brush fire became something bigger. Less than twenty-four hours later, fifteen acres of land had been eaten up. At that point, it became an all-stations alert, and instead of cycling through their typical shifts like they were supposed to, entire stations were barely taking off eight hours to rest and recuperate, more concerned for their hometown than the need to get back to their daily living. The 118 and Harbor were among those stations. 

He’d barely seen Tommy since the start of the fire. They were lucky to pass one another maybe once a day in the middle of their required breaks, if they managed to fall during the same periods of time. Still, even then, they were both too exhausted to do much more than sneak a quick hug and kiss in before heading back in to work. 

It was exhausting. As midnight approached towards Tommy’s birthday, Evan wasn’t sure how much he had left in him. He hadn’t been home since the second night of the fire, not wanting to take the extra time to travel. There were tents set up that stations would hunker down in to rest in shifts. They’d had a singular evening in the middle of that entire week where Tommy had snuck in and fallen asleep next to him two hours before the 118 had gotten back up and headed back in. They hadn’t had a real conversation in the midst of it all due to the circumstances. The most he got to hear out of Tommy during those six days was whenever his voice came over the radio, announcing that he was coming through with a suppressant. 

But then, they got lucky. Around three AM, officially Tommy’s birthday, the rain came. They’d contained about 95 percent of the fire at that point, but the rain coming through on a cold front helped. Many of the firefighters still there were so excited to see the downpour flooding the areas that they’d actually celebrated when it finally hit. 

By five AM, they’d all been called off to go home for at least twenty-four hours. Granted, the fire was still ablaze and plenty of them had every intention of returning the second they were allowed to, but they had also all been out there so long that many hadn’t seen their families over the course of the entire week. 

Evan was dead on his feet then. He’d been awake almost thirty-six hours, unable to sleep on his last break. He had no idea where Tommy was, but he could also barely keep his eyes open as Bobby drove A shift back to the 118, ordered them all to do as the fire chief had said and to stay gone for at least 24 hours from the time they walked out of the building. 

He would’ve called Tommy, but his phone was dead. It had been for three days. Sometimes he remembered to charge it when he went on break, but mostly, he just listened out on the open channel for Tommy’s voice to know he was okay. Anytime he heard him, he tried to radio out for one reason or another, silently return the favor of letting his love know that he was still alive on the ground. 

Still, he didn’t trust himself to drive. His eyes were so heavy that he wasn’t even sure he’d kept them open for more than five minutes during the time he took to shower and change at the firehouse. It was during the 20 minute period that he’d taken to do all of that, that he left his phone to actually charge so that he could order a ride once he was ready. He’d work out the semantics about his vehicle later. 

And like, he knew it was a hike out to Tommy’s; that he’d be paying more money to travel across town in an Uber than he would just driving his own car. He also knew that it was the safer option, and he was about to be paid out for an obscene amount of overtime. 

He fell asleep in the car on the ride over. The guy who’d driven him had been gracious enough, clearly aware of the situation plaguing their home. Plus, he’d picked Buck up from the firehouse, so he could only assume that the driver made inferences. 

He wasn’t sure if Tommy was home when he got there. The truck wasn’t in the driveway, but Evan also hadn’t driven himself, and he didn’t know how long it had been since Tommy had slept. Still, he let himself in with the key Tommy had given him early in the summer, dropped his bag and shoes at the door, and was stripping out of his jeans and hoodie before he was halfway through the house. When he made it to the bedroom, the older man was buried under a mountain of blankets. He kept the thermostat low, and Evan sometimes wondered if that was because Tommy wanted him to cuddle closer when they were in bed. 

Tommy didn’t stir as he settled. Evan was barely awake long enough to let his head fall into the space between his boyfriend’s shoulder blades. 

. . . 

He wakes up to the smell of coffee, and blinds being gently drawn. It makes him groan, tugging the blankets higher over his head. 

“No,” he groans. “Not enough sleep.” 

“Time to wake up, baby.” Fingers tugging at the edges of the blanket. He yanks them higher, burying his face in the pillow. Evan giggles.

“It’s my birthday,” he grumbles against the pillow. “This is rude.” 

Evan’s hand comes down on his back over the blanket, making gentle circles. 

“The chief sent out an all-stations notice. No one is allowed back for at least 48 hours now. I guess they finally have reinforcements coming in, although I don’t really understand the point now that the fire is mostly contained.” 

Tommy huffs, reaching up and pulling the blankets off his head. He glances up at Evan, freshly showered, smelling of his sandalwood and sage body wash. The blond smiles down at him. 

“Hi, sleepyhead.” 

“You suck,” Tommy grumbles at him, even as he reaches for the cup of coffee that Evan is offering him. 

“It’s two o’clock, T,” Evan laughs. “And I made plans for us weeks ago.” 

Tommy raises an eyebrow at him as he takes a long sip from the mug in his hands. Somehow, the first sip always calms down the grouchiness inside of him. 

“But if you really want, I could definitely suck something,” Evan adds. Tommy almost chokes on the hot liquid in his mouth. 

Once he’s swallowed, he sits up higher on the bed, leaning against the headboard. 

“What do you mean you have plans made,” he asks. “I thought we were just doing dinner tonight.”

“Sure,” Evan replies, leaning against his palm on the other side of Tommy’s legs. “Dinner. With twenty-five of our closest friends.” 

“Evan.” 

Evan waves his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. The wildfire kinda shot that to hell. I’m not about to expect everyone to show up after spending a week out in the forest. Eddie told me not to even text him in the next thirty-six hours, since Chris just got back.” 

Tommy nods. 

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t still have plans,” Evan states, waggling his eyebrows. 

Tommy raises an eyebrow at him. “Should I be concerned?” 

Evan just smirks, leaning forward on the bed to peck him on the lips. 

“Only if you have problems being covered in bite marks,” he murmurs before grabbing Tommy’s bottom lip between his teeth, biting down gently. The older man groans softly, all but tugging Evan back into bed with him. 

“Fuck dinner with all of our friends,” he murmurs once he has Evan pinned back down on his side of the bed, his legs laying halfway across Tommy’s lap. He nuzzles against Evan’s neck, nibbling against the spot below his ear. “I think I can find all of my birthday presents right in this bed.” 

Evan laughs again, though it quickly fades into a moan. 

“Happy birthday, baby,” he says, lifting his arms as Tommy tugs his shirt towards his head. 

Tommy nods, smiling down at him as he discards the shirt, leaning back in for another kiss. “Yeah. Happy birthday to me.” 

[bisexualbrainrots]

for my 911 what if, I once mentioned to @a-mel0n how I'd like for bucktommy's first kiss + time to happen in 3x09 because it just fitted with the theme of the episode (fallout) so I came up with this (long) snippet of their scenes from the ep (1/4). i also wrote this while sleepy so sorry if there are any inconsistencies <3

they're in tommy's place btw!

also, with some help I decided to keep the abby thing, but here it's way juicier! also yeah I'd like to tell y'all about andy sometime, he's the best.

The fridge made that sound again as it was opened, two cold beers being pulled out of it “And I’m sitting there thinking to myself “I have to run, I cannot be a second more with this guy”, that’s why I texted you, actually” 

Buck nods as Tommy gives him one of the bottles, open by the time it reaches his hands “Oh so I was just the distraction then” he smirks at the older, tilting his head, giving the beer a sip as the bottle reaches his lips and Tommy rolls his eyes, taking a sip too.

“Pretty much” he said deadpan as he leaned against the refrigerator.

His date had been horrible, and Tommy was ready to curse at one of his basketball buddies who suggested a blind date. The man wasn’t ugly by any chance, even making Tommy feel weak in his knees when he saw him, but it was his personality that made him want to run towards a cliff. The guy was negativity incarnate, complaining about anything and everything: the place was too quiet, the music wasn’t that great, the waiters were too slow, and the food wasn’t so good. But the last straw was something Tommy could never accept on anyone.

“He said he hates sweets Evan, I mean, What the hell?” Tommy moved towards the living room with Buck following him behind.

“To be fair, I don’t think there’s anyone who has the same sweet tooth as you, Tommy” Buck chuckled when the older shot him one of his looks, and shook his head as they sat on the couch.

“And it’s their loss then” he drank another sip of his beer, resting his head on the cushions “Hating sweets… What else does he hate? Rainbows? Fun?” he nudged Buck's shoulder when he heard the, very loud, laugh come out of his lips “Don’t laugh at me Evan!”

“I… I'm sorry” he had to take deep breaths to calm himself down “But you have to admit it's kind of funny that you're so worked up about a guy not liking sweets, I don't even eat them so often”

Tommy leaned in closer to Buck “That’s just because you try to get on ketosis every year, Don't forget I've seen you on cheat days too!” A second of silence happened before the two men were laughing, shoulders shaking as they tried to compose themselves again “Okay, okay… maybe I'm thinking too much about it, but it's just that I wanted my first time back in the dating scene to feel… special? I guess? I just… I wanted something good, not a date from hell” he sighed, taking another sip.

Buck tilted his head, a comforting smile on his lips “Was the guy at least cute?”

Tommy left the bottle on the coffee table to cover his face with hands and groaned as he sank his body into the couch “He was, and so hot too, which I don't know if it makes it worse that he was such a… pessimist, if I want to be nice” 

Buck whistled “Jeez, I don't want to imagine what you would call him if you weren't nice” he snickered when Tommy's fingers revealed his, very, annoyed eyes “But I get it, after Abby…” he stiffened, not knowing if it was appropriate to continue.

They hadn't really talked about Abby yet, besides that one time before Buck moved out of her apartment, and the younger didn’t know how to approach the subject either, not wanting to make Tommy uncomfortable.

The older gave him a sympathetic look, gesturing at him to continue “It’s okay, we can talk about her”

Buck took a breath, leaving his bottle on the table before speaking “After her I didn’t feel ready either, and it didn’t get any better when I realised I wasn’t the same guy I was before, like… I didn’t want to have something meaningless just to fill a void” he looked down when talking, avoiding the older’s gaze as he fidgeted with his fingers, “I’d say she was… transformative, in a way” he exhaled deeply, furrowing his brows “If I’m honest, a part me feels like I wasted so much time wishing for her to come back, and I regret it, you… You shouldn’t regret this Tommy, a bad date it’s better than stalling” 

Tommy held his shoulder for a while, squeezing a little to give him comfort “Hey, you’re better now Evan, and I could see back then how you weren’t ready to move on so, I don’t think you stalled, not really and… Thank you, for everything”

Buck lifted his head, a question in his face as he looked at the older “Tommy I… What do you mean “everything”?”

Tommy gave him a soft smile, shifting his body and resting his head on the heel of his hand “You helped me when Andy…” he took a deep breath, looking up for a few seconds before turning his gaze back to Buck “When he left, and you were the only to actually ask me how I was doing when nobody wanted to”

Buck frowned “They wanted to, Tommy, it’s just… they thought it was best for you to come to them when you were ready, Chimney almost caved once too” it was his turn to squeeze the other’s shoulder now, stroking the fabric “The only difference between them and me is that I don’t care that I get into everyone’s business” both men chuckled, the air feeling much lighter.

“Okay, but still, thank you for that I… I really needed someone then and I’m glad it was you, even though at the time it didn’t feel like it”

“Oh I know it, I had to fight the words out of you Kinard” he grinned at the older, who once again rolled his eyes at Buck, pushing his shoulder lightly. He looked at him for a while, a question popping into his mind suddenly, “Hey, can I ask you something unrelated?”

“Yeah?”

“Were you ever uncomfortable with me before I dated Abby?”

Tommy was stunned, not expecting the question, but also not understanding the point Buck was trying to make, or insinuating “Uhm, what do you mean Evan?”

Buck exhaled looking away, knowing the explanation could make it worse “I mean… I know I was a bit of a player before, new girl every night kind of guy and I fear… that it was one of the reasons you hated me so much” he brought his left leg closer to his chest, caressing the knee to soothe himself.

“Evan… I, I never hated you, not really” Tommy moved his body closer, chasing Buck’s gaze to make sure they were eye to eye “I mean, yeah, you were stupid and reckless and I really didn’t like it when you called me Thomas but real hate? I couldn’t really, and about the sleeping around thing…” he looked down for a few seconds before turning his gaze back on Buck, an embarrassed smile accompanying it “I can’t really judge when I used to do the same”

The younger’s eyes were wide open “W-what? How?” 

“Well, there’s something called dating apps, where you—”

“I know what a dating app is Tommy, I just” he exhaled through his nose, a nervous laugh coming out of his mouth “I never thought of you as the type to hookup, not that you couldn’t, I mean… but I just, you seem like such a romantic too”

And he was. Everything about Tommy screamed hopeless romantic.

“Who says you can’t be both?” he let out a short laugh, looking at Buck softly “I’ve always been in love with love I guess, it’s just, after Abby I turned to sex as a sort of self-destructive behavior” Tommy didn’t like to think about that time of his life anymore, the painful realization being too much for him sometimes “I slept with a lot of guys and I mean, a lot, but it never made me feel good or like I deserved to have anything good, it was more like a reminder that I, that I wasn’t allowed to be happy after what I did to her—” whatever he was gonna say next was stopped by the feel of two arms wrapping themselves around him “Evan?”

“I… I’m sorry” the words came like a whisper in his ear, which would make Tommy shiver in any other context but here they were overwhelming him.

“Why are you sorry? You didn’t… You never…”

“I’m sorry you felt that way, Tommy… I know I was a pain in the ass then, and I probably still am” he grinned against the skin of the older’s neck “But you deserve love, you may have hurt people but you are good, Tommy” Buck moved his head back, looking at Tommy deep in the eyes “You are a good person, even if you don’t believe it sometimes”

Tommy wanted to cry, his eyes glistening but not daring to go beyond that. For so long he hated himself so much, and let himself be used to prove that point. One-night stands that made him feel empty, bathroom and alleyway hookups that kept the momentum going, shame overpowering his body. Opening himself to love wasn’t easy, not even with a guy as good as Andy was, but he didn’t want to live in a lie anymore, he didn’t want to let hate burn him from the inside out and consume him.

Tommy gripped Buck’s back, not wanting to let him go just yet “Sometimes I think it’s funny, that my own self-hatred was projected onto many of my relationships, ours included”

Buck arched an eyebrow, intrigued “What do you mean?”

Tommy’s hands left the younger’s back almost as an instinct, feeling a heat reach his cheeks as he pulled away, embarrassment crossing his face “I… okay, don’t laugh please” when Buck reassured him he wasn’t going to he took a deep breath and leaned to take a sip of his beer, pretending it would give him courage “Alright, I… when we met I actually thought you were pretty cute, like I could’ve asked you out kind of cute”

Buck heard the record scratch in his brain, there was nothing else but those words.

‘I thought you were pretty cute’

“And that lasted exactly five seconds until you called me by my name” Tommy hid his face on the back pillows, groaning as his words were muffled by them “I can’t believe I just told you that”

“Tommy, you… you aren’t playing with me, right?” the older looked up, confused at the hitch in Buck’s voice. He looked different, something in him had changed in the way he was looking at Tommy, the older could swear he was seeing a glimmer in his eyes, but shook his head internally, thinking it must be the alcohol.

“No, why would I?”

Buck’s body shifted, his side resting on the back pillows as he leaned closer to Tommy, without invading his space “Okay, this may be funny too but… I sort of got jealous when you told us about Andy��

Tommy tensed up, a million questions popping on his mind as he locked eyes with Buck “Wait, jealous? Why?”

Buck tilted his head, a shy smile appearing on his lips “I… I started to feel like that when you probably started seeing him, y-you changed the way you behaved around me, almost as if… I wasn’t worthy of your time anymore” he remembered how it felt, that strange sensation in his chest the first time Tommy stopped fighting him back, making a passing comment instead “Now I know that’s a stupid way of thinking of course, but, I didn’t realise how much I secretly liked getting your attention”

Tommy looked at him wide-eyed, a thought— a desire crossing his mind “My attention?”

“Yeah I guess so” he chuckled, a soft look in his eyes and a warm grin settling in “I… I was so envious of how easy it was for Andy to get your atten—” suddenly all thoughts were replaced with static when he felt the older’s fingers grab his chin and pull him in.

Tommy was kissing him.

Tommy Kinard was kissing him, on the lips. And Buck was returning it.

It was so gentle and sweet, warmth flowing through their bodies as the few seconds the kiss lasted stretched until it felt like hours, hours none of them wanted to end. Tommy’s hands were in different places, one resting on the younger’s chest while the other landed safely on one of the thighs, simply laying there. Buck’s hands were another story, not knowing where to put them, they gravitate around Tommy’s shoulders tentatively, never landing them anywhere before the kiss broke.

Buck opened his eyes first, looking at Tommy like he was from another planet, and with that a light-switch turned on his brain, a realization with it.

When Tommy’s eyes opened he saw a vision: a pair of glassy blue eyes looking back at him, pink lips agape, and a blush across the cheeks he desperately wanted to kiss now.

“Like that?” his mouth was faster than his head, letting him say things unfiltered.

“Yeah… yeah, that works” Buck was dumbfounded, one phrase crowding everything inside his brain: kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.

Tommy gave him one of his scrunchy smiles, the ones Buck had only seen directed at the older’s ex, and he felt good about it. He felt like he was the object of Tommy’s attention, and that was making him feel giddy inside, yearning to keep that going for as long as the older would want to. Buck got closer, their chest almost brushing the other’s.

“So that was okay?” the older asked, and Buck just wanted to jump him and join their lips again, but he held back even though his skin was itching with want.

“Tommy that was… better than okay, I…” Buck’s brain was officially scrambled, trying so hard to make neural connections and actually work to get the words out “I want to— I need to… God, I can’t think straight” he chuckled, leaning his head on Tommy’s shoulder, who proceeded to sink his fingers into his hair, playing with it. Buck was actually in heaven.

“Metaphorically or literally?” he let out a small laugh when Buck admitted to both, and let him lean back to look into each other’s eyes, Tommy’s hand traveling to cup the younger’s face “Hey”

“Hey”

Tommy nudged their noses together, enjoying the moment without getting to kissing just yet. There was a tenderness in the way he was treating Buck that he had never once tried on him before, and it was giving them whiplash. All the time disliking each other didn’t matter, not when Tommy had just changed Buck’s entire life.

“Tommy…” the neediness in Buck’s voice left the older feeling like all the air was out of his lungs, not knowing how to breathe properly.

“Yes, Evan?” The hitch in Tommy’s voice was making the younger feel like his skin was on fire, desperately wanting the other to put it off.

Buck gave him a peck, and then another, and another one as they leaned on the cushions, Tommy’s head resting on the armrest. Buck deepened the kiss, the feeling of Tommy’s wet tongue driving him to the edge in a matter of seconds, nothing else existing. The younger cupped the older’s face with his hands as the kiss continued, looking more like a makeout session at this point. He bit the other’s lower lip, getting a soft moan out of Tommy.

“I need… I need… more, Tommy, I want more” he said between kisses, and sighed against the older man's mouth when he felt his fingers digging inside his shirt, settling on his waist.

“I want that too, but… Are you sure Evan?” Tommy had to ask, even though he just wanted to have Buck all to himself and touch every inch of his body, a heat settling in his belly.

Buck nodded, a playful smile on his face “I’m sure, I want, I only want you now Tommy” and that did it for him, next thing he knew Buck dived back in, their tongues fighting as the younger started to grind against him, sighing with content.

If there was anything like Heaven, Tommy knew he must be in some version of it. And he was loving it.

[diazsdimples]

Fuck It Friday

Hi, it's my weekly "Fuck It I started a new wip bc I have commitment issues Friday" post. Decided to hop aboard the Buddietommy train with my usual introduction to a ship (give them kids).

Tagged for FIF by @aroeddiediaz @cal-daisies-and-briars @dangerpronebuddie @inell @daffi-990

and @neverevan (btw I'm so over this tagging glitch of Tumblr's, when will it end??)

This morning, Buck wakes up in the middle. It’s his preferred spot, with Tommy’s arms circled around his waist and face smooshed into his shoulder, while Buck’s head rests on Eddie’s chest. Eddie’s arm is slung haphazardly over Buck’s shoulder, his fingers tangling in Tommy’s soft, brown curls, and his cheek is pressed into the top of Buck’s head. He can feel his hair fluttering with every one of Eddie’s exhales, and he’s pretty sure Tommy is drooling on his arm. On the bedside table beside them, the baby monitor crackles to life as a small, high pitched whine pierces through the silence of the morning. Eddie’s chest hitches as he wakes, and he shifts beneath Buck’s weight as he moves to silence the monitor. “G’mornin’” he mumbles when Buck presses a kiss against his pec. “How long you been ‘wake for?” “Not long,” Buck replies with a yawn. He’s dying to stretch out, his legs cramping a little, and there’s the small matter of an awake baby that needs tending to, but Tommy is a dead weight against his back, and the man shows no signs of waking – not even when Eddie traces his finger from Tommy’s hair, down his nose and over his lips. “We gotta go get the gremlins.” Eddie begins to gently ease himself out from underneath Buck, pressing a kiss to his birthmark when he whines in protest. “It’s okay, I’m just gonna bring them in here. Stay in bed.” “You can’t carry them all by yourself,” Buck retorts as he begins to wiggle out from underneath Tommy, sending Eddie an exasperated look when the older man tightens his arms around Buck’s waist, his brow furrowing in his sleep. “Help me out here?” Eddie snorts as he watches Buck shimmy across the bed with Tommy chasing after him the whole way. Tommy’s always been a clinger in his sleep, something Buck was delighted to learn, but it has made early morning wakeups difficult. It’s not unusual for Eddie to have to step in, as he does this morning. Circling the bed so he’s on Tommy’s now-empty side, Eddie spreads himself out so he’s blanketing Tommy from behind. Tommy’s arms slowly loosen around Buck as Eddie cuddles Tommy close, pressing a small line of kisses from his shoulder, up his neck and onto his jaw. “Tom, hey, let go of Buck, sweetheart, he’s gotta get up,” Eddie whispers as he kisses up to Tommy’s ear, finishing with a gentle brush of his lips over Tommy’s earring. Tommy turns in Eddie’s arms, rubbing his nose against Eddie’s jaw, and yawns deeply. “Whassgoinon?” he slurs sleepily as he squints his eyes up at Eddie. Buck watches his boyfriends from the foot of their bed, his heart swelling until it feels fit to explode as Eddie kisses Tommy’s forehead and strokes his fingers through his curls, slow and gently bringing Tommy into the land of the living. He itches to join them, to burrow back under the covers and hold Tommy and caress his fingers over Eddie’s arms and kiss their knuckles, but a quiet, yet insistent cry permeates through their bedroom wall from the room next door, and Buck is reminded of why they’re getting up in the first place.

NP tagging @theotherbuckley @hippolotamus @watchyourbuck @bidisasterevankinard @babybibuck

@spotsandsocks @bibuckbuckgoose @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @nmcggg @jesuisici33

@wikiangela @loveyouanyway @exhuastedpigeon @kitteneddiediaz @thekristen999

@slightlyobsessedwitheverything @actuallyitsellie @idealuk @dangerpronebuddie @simpingforhotfictionalcharacters

@loserdiaz @elvensorceress @underwaterninja13 @rainbow-nerdss @thewolvesof1998

@steadfastsaturnsrings (lmk if you want to be added or removed or if you want to be on my buddie taglist and not bucktommy/buddietommy, it's hard to keep up with who's where)

[beefcakekinard]

[<- part one] ~ ~ ~ [part three ->]

'A few more minutes' lasts about half an hour, and the only reason it isn't any longer is that Buck's bladder finally wakes up and makes itself known. He grumbles as he peels himself off of Tommy and grumbles as he brushes his teeth. When Buck shuffles out of the bathroom in his slippers, he follows the scent of bacon through Tommy's house to the kitchen.

Breakfast is quick, and quiet - Buck's on his second cup of coffee as he finishes eating, and he's still waiting to feel his first.

"Here," Tommy says, reaching for Buck's plate. "I'll get the dishes, you pick out what you want to put on."

Buck yanks his plate back. "I don't think so. You cooked, I'll do dishes." Tommy raises his eyebrow and they stand off for a moment - Buck can practically hear Chim whistling that cowboy tune.

Tommy rolls his eyes when he relinquishes the plate, but he can't hide his smile. "Alright. What do you want to watch? I can get it ready."

Buck shrugs and starts gathering the rest of the dishes. "I don't really care, as long as it's not Hitchcock."

"You heathen," Tommy says. He leans in close, presses a kiss to Buck's forehead over his birthmark, and cops a squeeze of his ass. Buck kicks at him and rolls his eyes as Tommy chuckles his way to the living room.

The dishes gathered into the dishwasher and the skillet drying on the counter, Buck wanders into the living room, his slippers tapping quietly on the hardwood. He finds Tommy on the couch with basketball highlights playing on the TV and a stack of DVDs on the coffee table.

"Babe, you're single-handedly keeping DVD printers in business," Buck says, taking his own seat on the couch. "What's the verdict?"

Tommy raises his eyebrow. "The Criterion Collection alone sells an estimated-"

"Kidding, I was kidding!" Buck says, shoving a pillow into Tommy's face and laughing at how he squawks. There's a wrestling match for it, which Buck yields, only to ruffle his hand through Tommy's hair.

"Our options," Tommy says, fruitlessly trying to smooth his hair down and gesturing at the stack of DVD cases on the table. "I didn't know what you're in the mood for, it doesn't have to be any of these."

Buck picks up the stack and shuffles through it - there's two box sets, for Planet Earth II and The Lord of the Rings, and underneath those, a slimmer case for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He spreads them out across his lap and considers them, looking between each of the covers.

"Here," he says, holding up My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

"What, really?" Tommy asks, looking bewildered. "Is it my birthday or something?"

Buck shoves at his shoulder. "What, I can't want to watch a rom com? I can't be in the mood for romance when I'm with my boyfriend?"

Buck loves saying that word. When they had the labels conversation, Tommy floated the 'partner' option, but there's nothing like the thrill he gets from being able to say 'my boyfriend'. He gets such a thrill from it, actually, that his coworkers have started to drop hints that he's maybe over-using it a tad. Screw them, he's happy.

Predictably, Tommy's face goes all gooey and soft. That's the best part about the whole 'boyfriend' thing - Buck knows he's not alone in loving it. "Alright, whatever you say," Tommy says.

He gets up, takes the DVD from Buck, and gets everything ready. Buck wastes no time when Tommy returns to the couch: he's sprawled over Tommy's side even before the opening music starts playing, Tommy's arm around his shoulders, his fingers tapping along to the music on Buck's bicep. The movie doesn't matter, not really, not when this is what Buck was looking for.

[<- part one] ~ ~ ~ [part three ->]

[calicomarie11]

Buck grabs one chocolate chip cookie and hesitates before snatching up 3 more to add to the growing pile of food on his plate. He ignores Tommy’s raised eyebrows as he loads up on junk food from the appetizer and dessert buffet laid out on Bobby and Athena’s new dining room table. 

“What?” he asks with a frown.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat a cookie,” Tommy comments.

“Well if I’m going to have to sit through this I want carbs,” Buck pouts.

Tommy sighs, and Buck knows he’s been whining about this party for the last two weeks, but damn it, he’s still annoyed that Bobby and Athena’s Housewarming party is coinciding with the premier of season 3 of Hotshots.  

“We agreed to come and support Bobby,” Tommy says reasonably.

“But he doesn’t even work on the show anymore,” Buck points out. “He’s back where he belongs at the 118. I just want to put the past 4 months behind us and focus on the future.”

Tommy takes his plate away and sets it on a clear spot on the table so he can take Buck’s hands in his, thumbs rubbing soothingly over Buck’s knuckles. 

“Baby, it’s one night that we get to spend with your family…”

“Your’s too,” Buck interrupts.

Tommy’s nose scrunches as he continues without acknowledging the interruption, “and it means a lot to them to have you here.  It’s just a show and those are just actors playing characters. Yes, there are some similarities to your experiences but those characters have grown and changed in different ways from you. Everyone knows it’s all make believe and they’re not going to judge you based on a tv show.”

It’s Buck’s turn to sigh, knowing he’s being ridiculous when everyone else seems to be okay with their lives being used as plot fodder for Taylor’s show. Heck, last week Bobby gave the actor who plays him a tour of the firehouse and allowed him to come for a ride along. 

“Okay.  I will eat my carbs and try to keep my opinions to myself.” Buck grudgingly agrees.

“It might not be that bad,” Tommy says. “It’s a good show.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Buck scoffs. 

Tommy lets him go so he can grab his plate and pile a few more lemon bars on top of the mountain of junk before they join the rest of the crew in Bobby and Athena’s new living room.

————

As the trailer for the next episode plays the room is quiet, everyone’s eyes darting to and away from Buck and Tommy where they have claimed a corner of the couch, no one wanting to be the first to break the silence. 

It’s Bobby who breaks the stalemate, rising from his seat. “I”m going to start cleaning up, if anyone wants to pitch in.” 

He escapes to the kitchen and is quickly followed by Athena, Chim, Maddie, Karen, Hen, and Eddie, leaving Buck and Tommy alone, the noise from the next show (something ridiculous set on a cruise ship) barely covering the noise of everyone talking at once in the next room. 

Buck turns to Tommy, a knowing smirk on his face. “So how does it feel to have an actor playing you on tv?”

Tommy is still staring straight ahead, a stunned expression on his face. “How, why, that’s not how it happened. There’s no way Johnny is based on me.”

Buck just chortles. “Sure, there’s no way the hotshot helicopter pilot who flew into a lightning storm to rescue Cap and Artemis from the top of a mountain that was on fire is you. The pilot who was roped into helping by Shaft and Bea, his old colleagues, and who took Sandy and Ricky along too.” 

“Where are they getting their information?” Tommy asks, eyes darting around the room looking for hidden cameras.

“They didn’t get everything right,” Buck says, shit eating grin firmly in place. “It took you a lot longer to kiss me than it took Johnny to plant one on Sandy.” 

Tommy turns to Buck then, deadpan as always. “Well Sandy was a lot more obvious about his interest than you were.”

Buck squawks and hits him gently on the shoulder. “Hey, bisexual revelations take time.”  He snuggles down next Tommy, linking their hands together. “But really, are you okay?” He tilts his head back to look up at Tommy.

Tommy lets out a slow breath. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.  I’m starting to see why you were weirded out by the whole thing.”

They sit quietly for a while, the sounds of laughter and conversation from the kitchen washing over them. Buck squeezes Tommy’s hand. 

“So, what do you think their ship name will be? I’m thinking Jandy, but maybe they’ll go with Sohny. Oh, or Jolaine could be cool.” 

Tommy snorts and shakes his head. “It’s lucky you’re adorable,” he says, before leaning down for a kiss.

(Read on AO3)

5 times the Firefam talks about the show Hotshots and the 1 time they watch it together

[piningbuddies]

hiii what are some of your tommy or bucktommy headcanons if u wanna share

heheheh HELLO always down for bucktommy

buck loves wearing tommy's clothes almost as much as tommy loves seeing buck in them. he accidentally wears one of tommy's old, worn LAFD t shirts to the station one day, getting really confused when chimney whistles, saying you got something you wanna tell us, buckaroo? he blushes like mad when he realises, but walks around with a massive smile on his face for the rest of the day, thinking about one day getting to wear his name for real

tommy's very into casual physical contact - he slips his hand into buck's back pocket when they're walking down the street, pressing a hand to the small of his back when ushering him through a doorway, an arm around his shoulders when they're watching TV on the couch. it's not even a conscious thing most of the time, but buck fucking loves it

inspired by @canonbibuck 's headcanon of tommy having a fixer upper and @bigfootsmom 's incredible fic, tommy buys a house and he's asking buck's opinion on everything. the colour of the walls in the living room, the backsplash in the kitchen, even the fucking light fixtures. buck's confused by it, and when he brings it up to tommy, he gets shy and quiet in a way buck hasn't seen him get before, saying evan, it's going to be our home one day. you know that, right? it's only fair you get your say. and buck is so fucking taken aback by how much he loves that man that he presses him to the nearest hard surface and kisses him senseless

speaking of, buck just loves ??? just kissing tommy ??? like with no expectation of it leading to anything else ??? (although if it does he definitely doesn't complain). they'll roll around in bed for an hour before a shift, just pressing eachother to the mattress in different ways and kissing eachother senseless, the world falling away until it's just the two of them

sleepover weekend!

[cjlouwho]

Our Future

(a bucktommy mini(ish) fic)

ao3 link or read below

Summary: Buck gets a little reckless at work, and Tommy gets a lot upset.

It had started with the silent treatment when Buck first got home from work. Tommy was fixing dinner, forcefully plucking basil leaves from the stem and tossing them into the pot when Buck came in.

He knew something was wrong right away, especially when he was only greeted with a monotone, “Hello,” and no attempt to move away from the pot that did not actually need to be stirred at the moment.

Buck had walked over to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek before going to shower.

Once he was showered and dressed in sweats and a t-shirt, he came back out and sat down at the kitchen island, where Tommy was now aggressively chopping lettuce.

“So, how was your day?” Buck asked cautiously.

“Fine.”

“Do anything fun?”

“Not really.”

“Get some rest?”

“Tried to.”

Buck rested his hands on the counter, tapping his fingers a few times before asking his next question. “You didn't... Did you happen to catch the evening news?”

Instead of answering, Tommy stopped chopping the lettuce, put the knife down and went to the fridge to get a cucumber. A thick silence filled the space between them as Tommy washed the cucumber and returned to his cutting board. He picked back up the knife and resumed the harsh chopping.

“I will take that as a yes,” Buck mumbled. He sighed, briefly resting his head in his hands before continuing, “Say something, Tommy. You've got your grumpy face and everything; I know you're mad.”

“I'm not mad,” he answered, obviously mad. “And I do not have a grumpy face.”

“You very much do have a grumpy face.” He tried to meet Tommy's eyes from across the island, but Tommy was avoiding him. “Come on, Tom,” Buck said calmly, patiently, “Talk to me.”

Tommy put down the knife and, for the first time since Buck got home, he looked at him. His eyes were red. It almost looked like he'd been crying.

“I just don't get it, Evan. What would possess you to do that?”

“It's my job,” Buck defended. “It's our job. It's what we do.”

“No. No, what you did was way beyond the job. You know how I know it was beyond the job?” He asked rhetorically. “I know because, when I was watching the news, I could hear Bobby on the live feed yelling at you to not go back in.”

“I- I had to go back in though, Tommy. I had to save him. If I didn't go back in, he would have died.”

“He. Was. A. Hamster!” Tommy replied, emphasizing each word. “You risked your life, for a hamster.”

“Of course I did!” Buck said, as though it was crazy to think he wouldn't go back in. “Tommy, you didn't see that little girl crying. Sh- She just got Georgie a couple months ago for her birthday a- and she took such good care of him. She was freaking out. I didn't really think about it, I just went.”

“That's the problem!” Tommy exclaimed, motioning to Buck. “You didn't think about it. You never think about it. You go, and you run into the fire, and you become the hero, and you never once stop to think about you!”

“Hey, that's not fair-”

“What if the ceiling would have collapsed?” Tommy continued. “What if your exit had become blocked? Or the buildup of smoke got you lost? You never considered those things, did you?”

“I told you I didn't think about it,” Buck replied. His voice was quiet, reserved. He wasn't sure if what he was feeling was anger or shame. Either way, he hated it.

“Well, you should have.”

Okay, now Buck knew it was anger he was feeling. “Oh, thank you for those- those wise words. You've really changed my perspective. You should have,” he mocked, getting up from his seat. He went to head toward their bedroom, every intention to slam the door behind him, but instead he turned back around to face Tommy. “You know, we've been together for two years and never once have you made me feel bad for doing my job! In fact, most of the time, you seem to find it pretty hot.”

“When you're not being careless.”

“I was not being careless! I was saving an animal! I was helping that kid wh- who just lost everything she had.”

“Yeah, well what about us, Evan? What about everything you have? Our future? Our kids?”

All the retorts Buck had prepared suddenly disappeared. He stared at Tommy for a moment, dumbfounded, before uttering out, “Our... Our kids? Tommy, we don't have kids.”

Tommy put his hands on his hips, standing straighter. “No, not yet, but one day we will.”

“You think about that?”

“Of course I do,” Tommy replied as though it should be obvious. “We've talked about having kids someday, Ev.”

“Yeah, I- I know we talked about it I just didn't know you thought about it.” Any hint of anger in his voice had long fallen away.

“Don't you?”

Buck nodded. “Yeah. A lot.”

Tommy took a breath, rubbing his hands over his eyes to try and wipe away some of the exhaustion from the day. He moved around the island, taking a few steps closer to Buck. “I just worry,” he said, his voice faltering. “I worry that one day you're going to run into a burning building looking for a turtle, or a fish, and then I'm gonna have to explain that to our kids. I'm gonna be left,” he paused, “left alone, and I can't- I can't handle that.”

“But what if it's a person?” Buck asked. “How would that be any easier?”

“It wouldn't be easier,” Tommy admitted, “but at least I'd understand it then. Listen, Evan, I love animals as much as the next person but I love you a lot more. I'd like to know that when you're at work, you're there with the priority to come back home.”

Buck moved closer to Tommy. Close enough to reach out and grab his hand. “I can't promise you that I'll never run into a building looking for an animal again. That's just me, you know that. But I can promise you that surviving and coming home to you, and our future children, is always in the front of my mind. Always.”

Tommy nodded, blinking away tears. “Today was, um, it was the first time I was ever home, just sitting and watching the news and there you were. They had a special alert for the fire, and it was just live coverage of everything happening, and there you were,” he took in a shaky breath. “I couldn't do anything but watch and when you ran back in, I- I started counting. It was four minutes, twenty three seconds and I don't think I took a breath that entire time. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it kind of felt like my heart was breaking apart, piece by piece.”

Buck shook his head. “That's not ridiculous,” he said, squeezing Tommy's hand even tighter. He pulled Tommy closer, wrapping him in a hug. “I would've felt the same way if it was you. I'm sorry.”

Tommy rested his chin on Buck's shoulder, closing his eyes. “You don't need to be sorry.”

After they held each other for a moment, Tommy pulled back just enough to look at Buck. “Evan, I don't want you to change who you are. You know that, right?”

“I know,” Buck replied, and it was true. He knew Tommy loved him for exactly who he was, even if he was a little reckless sometimes.

“I just-”

Buck raised a hand to Tommy's cheek, stopping him. “I know,” he assured him. He leaned in, giving Tommy a soft kiss. Tommy sighed into it, the tenseness from the day leaving his body.

“I think we should order out,” Buck said once they parted. “Dinner's starting to smell a little charred.”

Tommy's eyes widened. “Oh God,” he said, rushing over to the burnt pot of food on the stove.

“So, did they say anything about me on the news?” Buck asked cheekily as Tommy turned off the stove and dumped the pot into the sink. “Come up with any good nicknames?”

“Oh, actually, yeah,” Tommy replied. “They were calling you the Rodent Rescuer.”

Buck's face fell. “You're kidding.”

Tommy smiled. “I'm not.” He walked back over to Buck, pressing another gentle kiss to his lips. “I prefer Hamster Hero,” he said, smacking Buck's ass playfully as he headed into the living room to get his phone and order some food.

Buck smiled. “I hate you,” he said, plopping down on the couch beside Tommy.

Tommy wrapped his arm around Buck, pulling him to his chest. He leaned down and kissed the top of his head, running his fingers through Buck's hair. “Yeah, I hate you too.”

[chimneyz]

bucktommy + 2. …goodnight

The stars hung above in the night sky, it was quiet, peaceful, a prefect night for a goodnight's sleep. Unfortunately, Buck was still awake, his eyes moving along with one of the ceiling fan blades as it slowly circled around. Last he checked his phone it was 2:43 in the morning. He wasn't sure as to why he couldn't get any shut eye, but his mind raced. Maybe it was the upcoming wedding, they still had so much to do in such a little amound of time. Maybe it wasn't so much that he had quite a bit on his plate, maybe it was the butterflies in his stomach flapping around with excitement that kept him up.

Buck wrapped his arms around Tommy a little tighter as Tommy peacefully rested on his chest. He sniffed in the teak wood shampoo that forever cemented it's self in Tommy's soft waves of hair. He still couldn't believe that it was happening, that they were actually getting married. It all felt as of it were a dream. It it was he wanted to stay there forever and ever.

There was a sudden shift in the air, Buck could feel Tommy’s body tense under his arms, his hands gripping Buck will a dull sense of pain from the hold Tommy had on Buck. He could feel the rise and fall of Tommy’s chest becoming quicker more erratic.

A nightmare.

They weren't often but it was distressing to witness none the less. First time Tommy had a nightmare with Buck in bed scared the living daylights out of him. He usually is able to sooth Tommy down but there were times it just didn't work. Buck went to work bring Tommy in a bit closer peppering kisses ontop of Tommy’s head rubbing his sweaty back.

“Tommy it's alright, I’m right here. It's just a nightmare hon’ you are safe and sound,” Buck softly whisper.

Tommy started mumbling incoherently into Buck's chest. He could feel his tears tarting to soak through his tee shirt.

“Tommy, baby, you're safe with me ok?”

His mumbling became louder, his chest heaving. Quickly, Tommy’s eyes snapped open, pushing himself away from Buck eyes darting around the room, wide with fear.

“Hey, hey,” Buck hesitantly reached out still not touching Tommy but aching to do so, “You are ok, you're home.”

“Home,” Tommy muttered. His breathing slowed, his body relaxing.

Buck always wondered what Tommy’s nightmares ever were, he wonders if Tommy wonders. Tommy never remembered his nightmares. It was rare for him to even remember peices of it, vauge ideas really. Buck shifted a little closer as Tommy's body relaxed piecing together he was safe in his own bed. The tears were becoming sluggish, less frequent. Buck finally reached out to place his hand on Tommy’s back, anchoring him to reality.

“It's been a while huh?” Buck tilted his head, rubbing circles on Tommy’s back. His still felt so warm to Buck’s touch.

“Yeah,” Tommy finally croaked, “Shit I am so sorry Evan.”

“Tommy, husband of mine, you never have to apologize to me. Ever.” Buck smiled reassuringly.

Tommy tilted his head towards Buck, eyebrows knitted together with confusion. “We aren't married yet.”

“Technicalities,” Buck gleamed “Besides you will be my husband in a couple of weeks, and I will be yours. Forever and ever.”

“Forever and ever,” Tommy sighed with a smile of fondness.

“Now I'm going to kiss those nightmares away.” Buck grabbed on to Tommy’s cheeks pulling him closer peppering kisses along Tommy’s face.

“Evan,” Tommy giggled.

Buck pulled himself away looking into Tommy's stormy eyes. He could stare into those eyes for as long as he was alive “There, no more nightmares.”

“No more nightmares.”

Buck leaned in for a soft gentle kiss taking as much of Tommy in as he could. He could feel the pads of Tommy’s fingers running through his curls as he kissed Buck back. He press his forehead against Tommy’s, “Goodnight, husband.”

Tommy huffed out a tender laugh, “Goodnight, husband.”

send me a number and a ship

[fulltimesapphic]

So I have this headcanon/kinda fic idea that after Buck and Tommy get married (and/or have their daughter) Buck gets like really had anxiety. He can barely function sometimes because he is so scared that something is going to happen. It gets bad enough that Bobby has to start making him man behind and Tommy has to be constantly checking in and calling. Everyone is obviously worried but Buck won’t talk about what’s happening. Bobby and Tommy are the only people that Buck talks to about this but even then it’s only a little bit.

Then one day the 118 are at the station, the news is playing on the tv and they see a story about a house in the same neighborhood as Buck and Tommy’s house with a truck in the living room that killed two people and injured two more. Buck has a panic attack and struggles to breathe. After it passes, with help from Bobby and Eddie, for the rest of the day Buck can’t stop shaking. When he’s packing up to leave Bobby stops him and tells him that he needs to get help. When they’re at home Buck is still shaking and is quiet, Tommy can’t get him to say a word. At some point in the night Tommy wakes up and Buck isn’t in bed next to him.

Buck is in the living room, sitting on the couch, crying. Tommy crouches near Buck and it all breaks. Evan tells Tommy all the fears he’s gained, all the terrible scenarios that have been filling his brain, he tells Tommy about the panic attacks that he’s hidden, about the ones that he hasn’t, he tells him about being scared that he’s broken. And Tommy listens. When Evan is finished, Tommy wipes away his tears, kisses his head, and leads him back to bed. The next morning Buck doesn’t get out of bed and hardly eats. The next day Buck sets an appointment with a Dr Theatt from the department.

Buck slowly starts to get better, he’s still quiet and doesn’t smile as much. But he’s starting to get better. He starts taking antidepressants and anxiety meds, he starts going out on calls again and he survives a whole shift without hearing Tommy’s voice. Dr Theatt (who prefers to be called Max) says that he’s doing better, that he’s opening up more about his fears. One day, in the final hours of a 48 hour shift, Buck leaves the bunk room and finds himself in the kitchen. Bobby is in the living area and when Buck looks lost Bobby gets up and teaches Buck to make crepes. Buck smiles, a genuine smile, he laughs too, a full body laugh that can be heard echoing all throughout the sleeping station.

Buck is starting to get better. The longer he’s taking his meds the more they work. When he’s at an appointment with Max, they ask him if he was ever diagnosed for ADHD. So he starts getting better. Eventually, he goes two months without shaking hands or shortness of breath because he started thinking about a crashed helicopter. And then one day Tommy stops by the 118 house and sees Evan making everyone laugh and he himself is smiling while he pours the macaroni noodles in the pot of boiling water. Tommy thinks he falls in love all over again.

[trashremover43]

RECONSTRUCTING HOME

The quiet hum of domesticity had become second nature to Buck and Tommy. Living together felt natural, as though they’d always shared a life. They had their routines, their moments, and the little ways they showed love that made every day feel special. 

 For Buck, who had spent most of his life chasing after affection that always seemed just out of reach, the steadiness of their relationship was nothing short of miraculous. And for Tommy, who had grown up guarding his heart, Buck was like sunshine breaking through the cracks of his carefully constructed walls. 

 Their days were filled with little moments—some sweet, some silly, and some that left Buck staring after Tommy with his heart so full it felt like it might burst. But recently, something had started to shift. 

---

The day started the way most of their days did. Tommy was in the kitchen, hunched over the coffee maker with a furrowed brow. The machine sputtered as if refusing to comply with whatever Tommy had done to it this time.

Buck leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching with barely concealed amusement.

“You know,” Buck drawled, “for a guy who’s smart enough to fly helicopters, you’d think making coffee wouldn’t be your arch-nemesis.”

Tommy glanced over his shoulder, his lips twitching into a small smirk. “Flying helicopters doesn’t require me to measure water and beans at six in the morning, Evan.”

Buck snorted and stepped in, gently nudging Tommy aside. “Let me save us both from your tragic coffee experiments.

 ”Tommy didn’t protest, letting Buck take over. Instead, he leaned against the counter and watched Buck work, a soft fondness in his eyes. Moments like these—quiet, domestic—were what Tommy cherished most. He reached out to brush a thumb across Buck’s temple, and Buck turned to flash him a smile, warm and unguarded.

 “Do I get a kiss for my coffee-making heroism?” Buck teased, holding up a freshly brewed mug.

 Tommy obliged, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to Buck’s lips. “You get much more than that, but later,” he murmured against Buck’s mouth before pulling back.

 The promise in Tommy’s voice made Buck’s cheeks warm, even as he handed over the mug with a mock-scowl.

---

When either of them worked late , they made a point of staying connected through texts. Buck would send long, rambling messages about his day—often accompanied by fun facts from whatever rabbit hole he’d fallen into that week.

 

“Did you know octopuses have three hearts?” Buck had texted one night. “One for the body, two for the gills! Isn’t that wild?”

 Tommy’s reply had been almost immediate: “And here I thought I was the only one who gave my heart away too easily.”

 Buck had grinned at his phone like an idiot, earning an eye-roll from Chimney, who had caught him at it. “You’re disgustingly in love, aren’t you?” Chimney had teased.

 “Yeah,” Buck had replied, unabashed. “I really am.”

 But lately, Tommy’s responses had taken longer to arrive. And while they were still sweet, they lacked the warmth and wit Buck was used to.

---

 Cooking together had always been one of their favorite shared activities. Well, it was more accurate to say that Buck cooked, and Tommy acted as his willing sous-chef.

 “Chop the onions,” Buck instructed, gesturing with his knife.

 “Yes, Chef,” Tommy said, adopting a mock-serious tone.

 “You laugh, but this is serious business,” Buck retorted, turning back to the stove.

 Tommy chuckled and started chopping, though his pace was slower than usual. Normally, he’d pepper Buck with sarcastic commentary, but tonight, he was quieter. Buck noticed.

 “Hey,” Buck said, glancing over his shoulder.

  “You okay?”

 Tommy looked up, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

 Buck frowned but didn’t press. Instead, he walked over, resting a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “You know, I don’t mind ordering takeout if you need to rest.”

 Tommy shook his head. “No, I like this. Being here with you.”

 The words were sincere, but something still felt... off.

The first time Buck noticed the backyard project, he’d been surprised.

“Wow,” Buck said, stepping outside to see Tommy smoothing a freshly cut wooden plank. “What’s all this?”

Tommy straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. “Just a little project. Thought we could use an outdoor space to relax.”

Buck smiled, touched. “You’re building us a movie theater?”

Tommy shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Seemed like a good idea.”

“It’s an amazing idea,” Buck said, wrapping his arms around Tommy’s waist from behind. “But you didn’t have to do all this by yourself.”

Tommy leaned into the embrace, but his voice was quieter than usual when he said, “I wanted to.”

 Later that afternoon, Buck decided to make dinner—an elaborate recipe he’d been dying to try.

 “Evan, you’re going to burn yourself if you’re not careful,” Tommy warned from the doorway, his arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. 

 “I know what I’m doing,” Buck replied, his tone mock-offended. 

 Tommy stepped closer, peering over Buck’s shoulder. “That’s a lot of garlic.” 

 “Garlic’s good for the heart,” Buck said, flashing a grin. 

 “Then you should eat it by the bucketful,” Tommy teased, earning an eye roll. 

 As Buck chopped, sautéed, and stirred, Tommy stayed close, sneaking tastes and stealing kisses whenever Buck’s hands were free. 

 “Hey! No eating until it’s done,” Buck scolded, swatting Tommy’s hand away from the sauce. 

“But it smells so good,” Tommy whined, his grin boyish and unrepentant. 

Buck shook his head, but his annoyance was short-lived as Tommy wrapped his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on Buck’s shoulder. 

 “Thanks for doing this,” Tommy said softly. “You didn’t have to go all out.” 

 “I wanted to,” Buck replied, leaning into Tommy’s embrace. “You deserve it.” 

 As they sat down to eat, Buck couldn’t help but notice how Tommy’s laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a small thing, something most people wouldn’t have caught, but Buck knew Tommy better than anyone. And for the first time that day, a small knot of worry settled in his chest. 

--- 

The signs were subtle at first. Tommy still smiled, still kissed Buck goodnight, still teased him about his endless energy and his over-the-top recipes. But there was a weight behind his smiles, a distance in his eyes that Buck couldn’t ignore. 

 He started noticing it in the little things. The way Tommy lingered in the backyard, pouring himself into a project that seemed more about keeping his hands busy than anything else. The way he’d brush off Buck’s questions with a quick, “I’m fine, Evan. Just tired.” 

 And then there were the nights when Tommy would slip out of bed, thinking Buck was asleep, and sit on the couch in the dark. Buck would pretend not to notice, his heart aching with the knowledge that Tommy was carrying something he wasn’t ready to share. 

---

  One evening, Buck sent Tommy a text while they were both at work: 

 Buck: You okay? 

 Tommy: Of course. Why? 

 Buck: Just feels like something’s up. 

 Tommy: I promise, I’m fine. 

 But Buck wasn’t convinced. He stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as he debated whether to push further. In the end, he typed, *I’m here if you want to talk* and left it at that. 

 Tommy didn’t reply