Chapter Text
It was six weeks into Buck and Tommy’s relationship, and Buck still kept it a secret from everyone. He knew what he was doing wasn’t quite fair to Tommy but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not that he expected the 118 to not be supportive; he knew they would be over the moon with this news. But he still couldn’t do it. He still needed time to figure himself out. To define his relationship with his… boyfriend?
He didn’t even know what to call themselves.
And Tommy… was so supportive during this confusing time for Buck. When they met Eddie and his date in the restaurant, he told Tommy he wasn’t ready yet and Tommy understood. And he hasn’t pushed or talked about it since. It made everything easier for Buck and he was thankful for that. He was thankful for Tommy.
But lately; especially in the past few days, he felt like it was time. It was time to tell the news to everyone and talk about his relationship with Tommy. But he didn’t know how. Whenever he opened his mouth to say something, the alarm would go off or he couldn’t find the right words. It was so much harder than he imagined and all he wanted was some advice from Maddie but he couldn’t even talk to her about it.
Tommy was supposed to bring pizza for the team tonight. He wanted to spend some time with Buck because lately their shifts overlap a lot and they didn’t spend much time together. So when Tommy texted him that he was coming over, Buck was more than happy. He hadn’t seen him in two days.
Ever since he started dating Tommy, he knew it was different. He wasn’t just talking about their sexual life (which was great, by the way) but the whole relationship. It felt… right. Like for the first time in a long time, he was relaxed. He wasn’t worried about saying or doing the wrong thing. He was just in the moment with Tommy and enjoyed spending time with him. Buck knew he was with the right person this time and he didn’t want it to be over.
Tommy was different than he thought and at the same time, exactly as he imagined. He always had a way to make Buck laugh with silly jokes and surprise him with unexpected kisses now and then. like when he was watching TV and felt Tommy’s soft lips on his neck, or when he was resting his eyes on the couch after a long shift and Tommy just made it all go away with a deep kiss on his temple. The way he woke him up in the morning by dragging his fingers in his messy hair and looking at Buck when he was talking about something that happened at work that day.
He loved the way Tommy cared about him and he hoped Tommy knew he cared about him too. He tried to show it to him as much as he could.
Around eight p.m., Tommy finally showed up with the pizza. Everybody else was in the loft, setting the table but Buck decided to give Tommy a proper welcome before he came upstairs.
When Buck saw Tommy walking to him with the pizza boxes in one hand and a plastic bag in the other, he smiled at him and decided to greet him with a kiss. But it seemed like Tommy had the same plan because before Buck could say something, he pulled him into a deep but quick kiss. Even though they were alone, they didn’t want to risk it. So Tommy took a step back.
“I missed you.”
He said, with a warm smile on his face.
“Missed you too.”
Tommy takes a look around to make sure they’re still alone.
“Uh… do we have time to wash up?”
Buck knew what he meant and god… he really wanted to be alone with him, but shook his head.
“Sorry, there are a lot of hungry firefighters upstairs. And if we won’t be there in three seconds…”
Chimney cut him off.
“Hey! Buckley, Kinard! We’re starving up here! Why don’t you move your asses upstairs?”
Tommy shook his head.
“Yeah… got it! Let’s go.”
Buck laughed quietly and they both ran upstairs to feed the team.
It was the first time that Tommy joined them for dinner. Most of the time it was just him and Buck at home because Buck was trying to avoid running into someone he knew in the restaurants.
So it was hard for both of them to just sit there next to each other and do or say nothing. But they managed to go through dinner without being suspicious and be content with stolen glances every now and then.
After dinner, Tommy volunteered to wash the dishes and Eddie offered to help him. Everyone else was on the couch watching TV or playing cards on the table. After a long argument, Eddie finally gave in to Tommy wearing Bobby’s apron because he was the one washing dishes and Eddie was the one drying them.
“So… how are things with Marisol?”
Tommy asked.
“Uh… great!”
Tommy didn’t say anything in case Eddie wanted to tell him more about his girlfriend. But when he saw Eddie silently drying the dishes, a soft frown appeared on his face, and smiled.
“Everything going good?”
Eddie shook his head.
“Yeah, yeah. You know… it’s going… smoothly.”
Eddie said; not knowing what word should he use.
“Wow! That sounds exciting!”
Tommy said sarcastically.
“I didn’t mean it to come out like that. It’s good. I’m… happy.”
Eddie chuckled.
“Great. I’m glad.”
“Thanks, man.”
After a few seconds, Eddie opened his mouth again to ask Tommy about his dating life but Buck interrupted.
“Hey… your apron is loose… let me fix that.”
Buck said and tied Tommy’s apron tighter.
“Oh… thanks, babe.”
Tommy said before even thinking about what was coming out of his mouth. And it was loud enough for everyone to hear it.
Both Buck and Tommy froze and didn’t do anything. The loft went quiet. Too quiet, actually. The water was still running and the only sound in the room was the TV.
Maybe they could make an excuse. Tommy thought to himself. Maybe he could say he didn’t mean to say ‘babe’. God… what rhymed with babe that could make sense?
Nothing came to his mind. At least nothing that could help him.
Buck was also getting nervous. He stopped mid-walk and couldn’t bring himself to move. His mind went blank and prayed to god that no one heard Tommy but the way the whole loft suddenly went quiet, he knew they all heard him.
Ravi was the first one to talk.
“Did he just…?”
He looked around to make sure that everyone heard what he heard.
Tommy put the plate that he was holding in the sink and took out his phone from his back pocket.
“Uh… so… I just remembered I have an important phone call that I have to make…”
He made the lamest excuse and gave Buck an apologetic look, hoping he’d follow him downstairs.
He walked down the stairs and Buck went after him.
“Tommy… wait!”
They left the whole team speechless.
Tommy went straight to the washroom and Buck walked towards him.
“God, Evan. I… I don’t know what happened. It just came out.”
He sounded very upset.
“I never wanted to out you like this. I mean… I never wanted to out you at all. It was your decision to make not mine. But I still think we could fix it…”
“Tommy…”
“I can just tell them I meant to say… ‘hey’. Does that… does that make sense?”
“Tommy, it’s okay.”
“…no, it doesn’t. I’ll tell them… what?”
Tommy cut himself off and looked at Buck.
Buck chuckled and stepped closer to him.
“I was panicking too but it’s okay. Really.”
“Yeah…?”
Tommy seemed more relaxed now but still had a hint of worry on his face.
“Yeah. I’ve been planning to tell the team about us for days now but chickened out every time I opened my mouth. So… you kinda made it easier for me.”
Tommy let out a breath, smiled, and put his hands on Buck’s hips. He leaned to him slightly and brushed his lips to his.
“So… we’re going to tell them?”
He said quietly.
“Yeah… in a second. I still need some reassurance that you have my back.”
“Uh…! like this?”
Tommy said and finally closed the small gap between them by kissing Buck’s lips. This time they made sure it went longer than the last time. Buck put one hand on Tommy’s face and slowly brushed his hair.
They parted slightly and Buck smiled at him.
“And never apologize for calling me babe.”
“Oh… you liked that?”
Tommy smiled playfully.
“Yeah. It seemed… right.”
“Yeah. it did.”
Tommy put another kiss on his lips.
Even though he didn’t want to, Buck took a step back and pointed to the door.
“I think we have a minute before everybody burst in here and ask us a million questions.”
“Right… let’s go.”
When they were walking upstairs, they could hear Hen and Chimney talking.
“Maybe he just calls his close friends like that?”
Chimney said.
“We’ve been friends for years, Chim. When did I ever call you babe?”
Hen asked.
“Right.”
“Look… whether it was a mistake or not, it’s none of our business until they’re ready to talk about it. We shouldn’t pry.”
That was Bobby.
“Oh come on Cap! This is huge!”
Chimney protested.
“Stop acting like a child.”
Hen said.
“You know what? I take it back. Even Jee-Yun wouldn’t act like that.”
“What do we do now?”
Ravi asked. Trying to avoid an awkward situation.
“We just act like always. Go watch TV, play cards, do the rest of the dishes.”
Bobby answered.
“No need to do that. We want to talk about it.”
Buck said when they reached upstairs.
Everyone turned to them but didn’t say anything.
Buck stepped closer, looked down, and checked shyly.
“Uh… so, yeah. Me and Tommy are together.”
“Like… together, together?”
Chimney asked.
“Is there any other kind?”
Hen asked.
“Yes… together, together.”
Buck finally looked at the team and laughed.
Then he turned his head to Tommy who was smiling at him. He didn’t want to intrude but put a hand on his back for a second to show him he was there if Buck needed him.
Buck smiled back at him and turned to the team again.
“We’ve been together for… over a month now.”
“So you’re…”
Ravi said.
“I’m… pretty sure I’m bi.”
Buck shook his head.
No one said anything for a few seconds and the silence made Buck nervous. He knew he didn’t need to be worried about how the 118 react to his coming out but overthinking was a routine for him.
That was until Bobby broke the silence by going over to him and tapping his shoulder.
“I’m happy for you kid…”
His gaze turned to Tommy.
“For both of you.”
Buck and Tommy both smiled at that and Tommy went to shake Bobby’s hand.
Bobby leaned over and whispered something to his ear that only he could hear it.
“Wouldn’t even dream of it, Captain.”
Tommy chuckled.
“Good.”
Bobby gave him a half-serious look but smiled at him.
After that, they all went to them to congratulate them and tease Buck a little.
What they hadn’t noticed was Eddie, standing in the back, looking at them. Confused about feeling unhappy for Buck. He had to go over there, tap his shoulder, and make some jokes about him being jealous of Tommy and Eddie just a few weeks ago.
But instead, he stood there by himself; trying to figure out this overwhelming feeling.
***
Buck throws himself next to Tommy on the couch and huffs out a breath.
“That was an unexpected turn of events!”
“Yeah… it sure was.”
Tommy turned his head to Buck.
“A good one though.”
“Definitely.”
Buck locked eyes with him and smiled.
Tommy put a hand on Buck’s shoulder and pulled him closer. They both closed their eyes and slowly relaxed their bodies while kissing.
It was weird how Buck couldn’t get enough of kissing Tommy. It was like the best addiction in the world and he knew the feeling was mutual.
But a thought interrupted him, making his mind not to be completely there with Tommy. So he pulled back slightly.
“Hey… did Eddie seem weird to you? I mean… after we told everyone. he suddenly went quiet.”
Tommy scratched the back of his head.
“Yeah… I saw it too. He didn’t say much after that.”
“You think he’s upset?”
“Maybe… but why?”
Buck pulled himself up on his couch and stared at his reflection on the TV.
“Uh… maybe because I didn’t tell him about us.”
He turned to look at Tommy again.
“I mean… I got pretty jealous of you two just being friends. And I’m not saying that Eddie’s like me but… maybe he feels I should’ve told him.”
“Yeah, right.”
Tommy put a hand on his shoulder.
“You should talk to him tomorrow.”
“Yeah… I will.”
Buck looked at the coffee table until another question popped into his head.
“Hey…”
He said, smiling.
“What did Bobby tell you?”
“Bobby?”
Tommy frowned slightly.
“Yeah… when you shook his hand.”
Oh…!”
Tommy laughed.
“Well… let’s just say if I ever treat you wrong, he and Athena know where I live.”
“Yeah… sounds about right.”
Buck laughed.
Then he decided to stand up.
“All right… I’m going to take a shower.”
Tommy suddenly wrapped his arms around Buck’s waist and pulled him towards himself.
“Oh come on! Without me?!”
Buck laughed but kept his balance; avoiding falling on Tommy.
“You are welcome to join me. Only if you treat me right!”
Tommy stood up and turned Buck to himself.
“Yes, sir.”
Then, he pulled his boyfriend to himself and gave him a deep kiss on the lips. Buck breathed Tommy in and a small smile appeared on his lips.
For the first time in a long time, Buck was happy. And didn’t want this feeling to go away. Ever!