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"Oh, by the way, reminding everyone tonight Molly's is hosting the New Year's Party tonight. Be there!" Herrmann announced to the common room at Firehouse 51.
"We wouldn't miss it," Casey replied.
"Yeah, count me in," Severide nodded and Shay smiled.
"And I expect everyone to have a good time and give us their money," Otis pitched in.
Everyone laughed at the comment, then the alarm interrupted the moment. Some idiot with fireworks set his car on fire, with no serious injury or damage. The ride back to the firehouse was energetic, and everyone was excited for the new year rounding the corner. Otis nudged y/n's foot with his. They looked over from the window and met his eyes.
"You coming to Molly's tonight?"
They smiled, "Yeah of course."
Y/n was a new transfer from Minneapolis who had been at 51 for a few months. They're rather private about their life but friendly. They got close to Shay pretty fast, Cruz said it was something about both of them being gay. Cruz and Mouch have a bet running on what team they swing for because no one could figure out what gender y/n was. It's driving half of the firehouse crazy. And it is driving Otis up the wall.
Otis never questioned his sexuality before, it had been strictly women for him since he could remember. But when y/n walked into the common room, all mysterious and calm and collected, he was instantly pulled in. And to make it even better, they rejected Severide within two weeks.
"Sorry Kelly, you are not my type, but thank you. I'm flattered." y/n replied to another invite to grab a beer, along with a vague flirtation.
The common room froze. Cruz and Otis couldn't believe what they were hearing.
Severide accepted gracefully and laughed slightly, "Received and understood."
As he left the room, Otis and Cruz focused on y/n.
"You rejected Kelly Severide?" Cruz asked.
"Yeah? and?" y/n said with a shrug.
"I have never seen anyone reject Kelly Severide," Cruz stated.
"Yeah, he's cute and all, but not my type." y/n smiled before walking out of the room.
Cruz and Otis stared at each other dumbfounded. And it only grew from there. Otis understood the whole fireman kink. He understood that some were attracted to firemen because they ran into burning buildings and could carry people out and save cats from trees. He would seek out women who had this fantasy in the past- sue him, he's been desperate before. But he fully, totally, wholeheartedly understood the kink when he saw y/n dive into the river and drag some drunk guy out. Rescue Squad was a few minutes out and everyone knew that by then it would be too late, so y/n stripped off their turnout jacket and helmet and jumped in. Chief wasn't too happy about it- yelled at them the whole time. Otis watched with awe- and slight arousal- as y/n grabbed and hauled this guy to the harness dangling down into the river. The guy was saved with no serious injuries. And seeing y/n dripping wet, their shirt clinging to their strong shoulders and toned back, made Otis rethink some things about himself.
On one call, Otis and y/n were clearing the second story of a house fire while Casey and Herrmann cleared the first floor. Everything was typical and then the fire reached some type of fuel, causing a fireball to flood down the second-story hallway. Thinking quickly, y/n manhandled Otis into a small nook, letting the fire just graze their sides. They stood chest to chest and y/n cursed before letting a grin slip onto their face.
"That could've been bad," y/n huffed, then continued to walk down the hall.
Otis had to rewire his brain as y/n was pressed up against him and giving him that grin. He eventually followed them and cleared the rest of the house. Eventually, Cruz caught on, and Herrmann, and Mouch, and Dawson, and even Mills. Apparently he "would blush like a school girl whenever y/n would talk to him" and "followed them around like a lost puppy".
And now y/n is coming to the New Year's party on Otis's invite- technically Herrmann and Dawson's too, but they're going to be there. They've been to Molly's before and helped close from time to time. But tonight is different, Otis could feel it in the air. He smiled to himself and looked over to Cruz, who was giving him one of his teasing glares. He just ignored him and revelled in the excitement. The rest of the shift was pretty uneventful, with just a few minor crashes and a garage fire. As their shift ended, Otis reminded everyone about Molly's one last time before everyone went home to get cleaned up and changed.
When Otis walked into Molly's wearing one of his nice shirts and cologne, Herrmann and Cruz made sure to tease him about getting all dressed up for y/n. He just denied it and rolled his eyes as he when behind the bar. As the night went on and more of Firehouse 51 started to fill in the bar, Otis grew more and more nervous. Y/n hadn't shown up yet and it was two and a half hours till midnight. He watched the door like a hawk.
"What has you wound up, Otis?" Casey asked as he approached the bar.
Otis shook his head, "Nothing."
Casey raised his eyebrows, not falling for the poor lie.
Cruz spoke up, "y/n hasn't shown up yet."
Casey chuckled, "I see."
"Oh shut up Cruz," Otis groaned and handed Casey his usual.
But then the door opened and y/n walked into Molly's. Otis immediately singled in on them as they mingled with the rest of the patrons. Herrmann and Cruz snickered to themselves as Otis paid all his attention to them. Y/n approached Dawson and ordered a drink, leaning against the bar. God does this person know how to dress, Otis thought as he dragged his eyes up and down y/n's frame.
Dawson slid up next to Otis and began pouring into a glass, "you should close your mouth, flies could get in there."
Herrmann and Cruz laughed and Otis sarcastically joined in.
"Very funny," Otis said finally taking his eyes off of y/n.
Dawson just shook her head and put the glass on the bartop and called out for y/n. Otis panicked slightly, realizing Dawson is luring them over to him. But he put on a confident face as y/n strolled over.
"Hey guys, how's it going?" y/n asked as they picked up their drink of choice.
"Great, real great, how bout you?" Herrmann responded.
"Ah, you know," And y/n's eyes met with Otis's, "it's good."
Otis flushed and averted his gaze. Cruz just shook his head. And the night went on- painfully for those who watched Otis pine from behind the bar. Eventually, the dancing music came on, just some pop club music but the place lit up. Otis watched with poorly disguised jealousy as y/n, Shay, and Severide danced to Beyonce. And as the night went on, and as more drinks were handed out, Mouch realized something. He made his way to Cruz and Herrmann who were chatting about the recent hockey game.
"A question for you two, has anyone seen y/n drunk before?" Mouch asked, slightly interrupting.
The two look at each other and then to y/n dancing with Dawson, who was dragged to the floor by Shay. They turn back to Mouch, who has a small smile on his face.
"Oh, we are gonna see a show tonight," Cruz said with excitement.
"Let's just hope drunk y/n will put an end to Otis and his yearning," Herrmann said as he pointed to Otis who was farther down the bar, still watching y/n dance with a jealous look in his eye.
But as the three of them watched Dawson and y/n dance, they could understand why Otis was a little jealous. They were a very skilled dancer and they knew how to move their hips. And they were not afraid to run their hand along the sides of Dawson's body. This definitely wasn't the first time y/n danced with a woman like this.
"So we thinking they swing for the ladies?" Mouch asked Cruz, wanting his $20.
"Nah, just wait. I'm not convinced yet," Cruz replied, protecting his bet.
"I just need one of them to make a move. This tension is killing me," Herrmann commented, shaking his head as y/n gazed over at Otis.
As the clock approached midnight, and as more layers had been removed from either the heat of dancing or drunkness or both, Otis simmered in his feelings. He watched almost all night as y/n danced with almost everyone, even dragging Mills out to dance to a Britney Spears song. At some point, y/n noticed that Otis was practically pouting from behind the bar, and they chuckled and beelined for him.
"You are unbelievable, Zvonecek-" y/n started.
Herrmann patted Cruz's shoulder and pointed over to the two.
"Oh finally," Cruz sighed.
Otis huffed, flushing at the name use, "what do you mean?"
y/n smiled and grabbed the glass out of his hand and brought it to their lips. Otis watched with parted lips. Y/n maintained eye contact the whole time.
"Oh holy shit, they're a flirt when drunk," Herrmann laughed.
Y/n placed the glass down and wiped their bottom lip with their thumb.
"I mean, you haven't danced at all tonight, and it's almost midnight."
Otis shook his head, "I'm technically working."
"So was Dawson, but I managed to snag her."
"Are you offering to snag me?"
y/n's smile widened, "isn't it obvious?"
Otis's blush crept down his neck, and he took the towel off his shoulder, "Well, mission accomplished."
He walked around the bar and ignored the whispers from Cruz and Herrmann. Y/n watched him like a hawk as he walked closer, giving him a once-over. He stopped some distance away and waited for y/n to make a move. Y/n chuckled and pushed off the bar.
"Are you always this shy?" y/n commented and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the small crowd who were dancing.
Otis let himself be dragged and counted his lucky stars so that he didn't have to make the first move. But then he rethought that idea as y/n pulled him close and swayed to the music. A smile crept on his face as y/n pseudo-sang the song lyrics to him as they ran their hands across his chest and shoulders. The blush returned when y/n rested their hand at the nape of his neck. And that's when they started talking.
"So Brian,"
"So y/n," Otis copied, not being able to find any words.
"A few minutes until midnight,"
"Yeah,"
"Gonna kiss anyone?" y/n asked, feigning innocence
Otis chuckled and looked at his feet, "I don't have any plans."
"Hm, perfect." y/n hummed.
Otis looked up, eyes wide and hopeful, "what?"
"It's 11:56 and it's four minutes till midnight."
"Uh yeah, but what you said before?"
Y/n smiled and patted his chest, "Ah, don't worry about it darling."
Otis blushed at the pet name.
"God, you are so cute. Look at you," y/n said, running their hands up his chest and resting their forearms on his shoulders.
"And you are insanely hot," Otis replied, his skin buzzing under y/n's hands.
Otis couldn't tell if y/n was flushed from the alcohol or from the compliment.
"You aren't too bad yourself," y/n met his eyes.
Cruz smirked over at Mouch and pointed to the pair. Mouch raised his hands but didn't wander over to Cruz. As Herrmann was drying some glasses, Chief walked over to him.
"Chris," Chief waited for him to be within whispering distance.
"Are those two... involved?" He asked as he motioned over to Otis and y/n.
"Not yet," Herrmann grumbled.
Chief shook his head, "They just need to get it over with."
"Wallace," Herrmann exclaimed, surprised by his brazen comment.
"I'm not blind Christopher," Chief stated and Herrmann chuckled.
As the final minute of the year started, Otis looked over at Cruz, looking for some kind of advice on how to proceed. Cruz made a 'get it over with' motion with his hands and Otis looked back to y/n. They were looking at him with fond eyes and a soft smile. The countdown in the bar got louder.
"Uh so, the New Year." Otis shrugged.
"Oh my god, you are so bad at this." y/n muttered and brought their hands to rest on the side of his face and jaw.
"What do you mean?" Otis whispered.
The countdown got closer and the excitement filled the air.
"You're hopeless," y/n said as the last seconds of the year go by.
Molly's bursts with cheers and confetti poppers and those little kazoo things. And y/n pulled Otis in and pressed their lips to his. Both their eyes are closed as the celebration happened around them, completely lost in their moment. Y/n ran their hands into Otis's hair and Otis finally wrapped his arms around their middle.
"Fucking. Finally." Shay said, looking over to the rest of the firehouse.
"You got that right," Herrmann agreed.
"Pay up Mouch," Cruz laughed as Mouch rolled his eyes but got his wallet out anyway.
"I am just glad that we won't have to see Otis pine anymore," Dawson joined the conversation.
"Thank god for y/n," Chief said, many agreeing with him.
They watched as y/n pulled back first, Otis kept his eyes closed for a moment. Once he opened them, y/n patted his cheek and pulled away. He watched as they walked over to the bar to grab their jackets, y/n asking Herrmann to hand them Otis's. He couldn't hold back the smile as his friends began to cheer.
"I told you, Otis, they're into you!" Cruz said with a smirk.
"Okay I believe you," Otis replied as he grabbed his jacket y/n was handing him.
"Happy New Year everyone and I'm afraid I have to steal one of your bartenders Herrmann," y/n stated, wrapping an arm around Otis's waist.
"Oh, you can keep him," Herrmann joked.
Otis laughed and y/n smiled as they turned to walk out of the bar. They both knew the new year was off to a good start.