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Tommy has no idea how it begins; between one tense shift and the next, between Bobby almost dying and Eddie doing…whatever the fuck he was doing. He remembers the first time Evan brought him flowers, a shy smile on his face, and he remembers the awe in his boyfriend’s eyes when Tommy gave him a bisexual flag to hang in his loft.
Maybe that’s how it begins? Little things that make them smile, little steps they take to get closer and closer, the pull between them clear to everyone.
He’s never felt like this before. Oh, Tommy fell in love before, he dated - casually and not casually - he moved in with two or three boyfriends… He did it all, and yet Evan Buckley steals his breath and makes his heart skip a beat. It’s like Tommy finally clicked with someone, and after the first few awkward dates they’re on the same page, seamlessly matching each other’s pace.
Besides, Evan is cute. He's cute, and he’s caring, and Tommy’s heart nearly explodes when his boyfriend comes back from Arizona with a gift. Evan and some of the 118 went there to help out with wildfires plaguing the state, and as much as Tommy wanted to help, he was stuck in LA, helping his cousin move.
“It made me think of you,” his boyfriend says sheepishly, but his eyes are dancing.
There, in his hands, is a small toy Aston Martin BD5, in iconic silver. Tommy stares at it, a helpless smile spreading on his face, and then he’s pulling his boyfriend into a hug.
“You’re ridiculous,” Tommy murmurs into Evan’s ear, because he’s a bit choked up with emotions and if he says something sappy, he’s going to start crying. It’s not the time.
“Yeah, but you knew that when you agreed to date me,” Evan replies easily.
It’s stunning to see the man slowly shed his insecurity about their relationship, flourishing by Tommy’s side, and it’s startling to realise that Tommy is sure too. Evan was gone for almost 5 days, but he never wondered if maybe the distance would make the man want to break up. Tommy just called and texted, and they fell asleep to each other’s breathing one time, and it was easy.
His boyfriend in his arms is infinitely better though.
“That I did, kid,” Tommy agrees. “Thank you. All I have is homemade spaghetti and your favourite beer.”
The moan Evan gives in reply is damn near pornographic, and if not for the way his boyfriend is swaying on his feet, Tommy would be all over him. As is, he pulls the other man into the flat, leading him to sit by the kitchen table, a cold beer already open.
“Chimney decided that my podcast about ancient shipwrecks wasn’t interesting so we ended up listening to his pop playlist the whole way back,” Evan whines. “If I never hear another Tylor Swift song it’s going to be too soon.”
Tommy chuckles as he plates their food. “That’s harsh.”
“I drove the whole way back,” the man explains. “Well, almost the whole way, Hen took over for 3 hours so I could nap. I didn’t nap, because Taylor Swift was blasting all over the car.”
“That’s rough, buddy.” Tommy’s hands on Evan’s shoulder soften the sting of the tease, and he looks fondly as his boyfriend melts under his touch, leaning his head back until it’s resting against Tommy’s belly. “Focus on eating now, and then it’s shower and bed.”
“You’re the best.”
Maybe that’s the moment it truly begins, with a little car figurine now proudly displayed on a cabinet in Tommy’s living room. The warmth just doesn’t leave, so Tommy decides to give back as well.
It’s always something silly and playful - a fire truck painted in bisexual colors , a poster with a buff man in a helicopter (so that Tommy has something to stare at when Evan’s gone), a plain white t-shirt with a shitty joke.
Each and every gift makes him soften more, and even the silliest one doesn’t lose any of its sentimentality. Tommy’s having fun, so much fun in this relationship, and before he knows it, they’re coming up on 10 months. Time passes in a flash, between dinners and dates, and hanging out with Eddie and 118, and it’s good.
That’s when Evan decides to surprise him once again.
“What’s that?” Tommy questions, staring at a page Evan just handed him, the other man almost vibrating with nerves. “That’s… I mean, it’s a good neighbourhood.”
On the page is an address, somewhere Tommy knows but never really visited. It’s within the 118’s radius and not too far from the 217, and-
“We got called to a fire in the neighbourhood,” Evan explains quietly, those blue eyes intense and fond. “And I was- uh, doesn’t matter, but this lady came up to me because she, well, she overheard and-”
“Evan.”
The other man’s mouth snaps shut and then he visibly steels himself. “She wants to sell the house, she’s moving closer to her family and- Well, it needs some fixing, but I thought we could, uh, we could take a look at it together?”
At first, Tommy thinks he’s hearing things because there’s no way Evan is asking him to look at a house together. As in, maybe move in together. As in maybe buy a house together when they don’t even live together full time now. It’s-
“Shouldn’t we try to… You know, move in together first? Somewhere less permanent?” Tommy asks, and immediately wants to kick himself. It’s bad wording, it always strikes him at the worst moments and now Evan will think-
“We could,” the other man replies, a strange calm settling over him. “And if that’s what you want, then sure.” Evan shrugs like it’s a casual conversation and not something that’s making Tommy think he’s about to have a heart attack. “But you’re something permanent to me. Be it one of our flats or a house, I want to make it work with you, Tommy.”
Tommy stands there, shocked and off-kilter and yet sure, and it makes perfect sense. They’re on the same page.
“Okay.” He steps closer to his boyfriend and cups his face with one hand, the other pulling at Evan’s hips until they’re pressed together. “Show me the house, baby.”
Evan’s smile could power the entire country for years, and then Tommy finds himself pressed against a wall and kisses senseless, until they break apart laughing.
“You’re going to love it.”
And fuck him, but Tommy does. The neighbourhood is calm, but close to their workplaces, the house is medium-sized and the garden is overgrown. Just like Evan said, it needs some fixing, but Tommy’s always liked DIY, and between the two of them, they’re more than skilled and strong enough to pull it off.
The price is what gets them, though. Annie, a lovely 86-year-old woman, has lived and raised her kids in this house, and she just wants to hand it into good hands. She knows the house isn’t perfect, she knows more money needs to be put into it, and she doesn’t ask for much.
It’d be downright criminal to turn such an amazing offer down.
When it’s done, Tommy lays in Evan’s bed, with the man plastered to his side, gently kissing Tommy’s neck and jaw, licking over hickeys and bite marks - they had to celebrate buying a house together.
“We haven’t even been together for a year,” he notes absent-mindedly. “And we’re buying a house together.”
“Technically we did buy a house together,” Evan says helpfully, and when Tommy glances down at him, smugness is almost pouring out of him. “And 10 months is almost a year.”
“That’s still not that long.”
Evan shrugs. “I know what I want with you,” he says simply. “You spent so long making sure I felt secure in our relationship, and I do. I want this, and I want this with you.”
“Me too,” Tommy assures quickly, before kissing his boyfriend gently. “I’m just…thinking out loud.”
“Trust me, I’m familiar with the process.”
Evan shifts gently and pulls Tommy into his arms this time, one hand landing in his dark hair, the other wrapped around Tommy’s waist. He goes easily, sighing as he sinks into the hold, and all the buzzing thoughts quieten down. It’s stupid anxiety, he knows - Tommy’s just as sure as Evan is, and he’s excited about fixing the house with this man.
To be completely honest, he’s thinking about getting down on one knee soon, because… Well, he wants to spend the rest of his life with this man. And isn’t that a revelation?
Of course, nothing is quite that easy when you’re dating one Evan Buckley, and Tommy has no idea why he thought differently.
He had plans - maybe a lovely helicopter ride, something with a sunset, maybe a picnic… Romantic, making Evan feel as cherished as he is, something they could think back to in the future, maybe tell their kids about.
In reality, it’s a wildfire. With temperatures as high as they’ve been and a lack of rain, Tommy isn’t exactly surprised, but it’s probably the 4th wildfire in the last 6 months, and it’s getting to be a bit much. This time it’s bad enough that the 217 is helping from the air, solid 8 stations on the ground, trying to get it under control. The 118 is one of them, and that’s always a bad idea - the whole LAFD knows they’re cursed, while also miraculously pulling rescues that would kill a normal person.
“Your boy’s been reckless down there,” Lucy tells him when Tommy lands to refuel. “I heard some screams.”
Tommy sighs deeply as worry takes root in his heart. “He’s… It’s not recklessness, not really, but he’s more daring than most. But he has Eddie, they should be fine.”
“They saved a couple that got stuck in the car when the fire spread,” Eric mentions, jogging up to them. “Very heroic, I see why you’re dating him.”
“Mostly because I love him,” Tommy replies dryly.
“Oh, come on, Kinard, you have a hot firefighter boyfriend, brag about him a bit,” Lucy teases.
Tommy downs half a water bottle, takes a few deep breaths; the air smells like smoke, and it’s smolderingly hot, but they’re slowly getting it under control. They have some time before it becomes a true danger to civilians.
“I’ll brag about him at our wedding,” he throws over his shoulder before going back to the helicopter.
Lucy screams after him, but soon enough they’re busy at work. The winds are slowing down, so it’s getting easier and easier, but Tommy’s exhausted. His whole body aches after hours in the chopper, his hips snap when he finally exits it, and his lungs are definitely a bit congested with smoke. A typical day, really, only this time Evan’s here.
The other man looks terrible - his turnouts are covered in blood and soot, and there’s a small cut at his temple, his hair is curly and messy after taking off the helmet. Tommy stares at him, smitten and worried and so in love, and he opens his arms for his boyfriend when Evan walks into them.
“I did my best to be careful for you,” Evan mutters into Tommy’s ear, voice hoarse. “Didn’t want you to worry.”
Tommy shakes his head. “I’d prefer if you were careful for yourself, but I’ll take it,” he decides. “You’ll be the cause of all my grey hairs, kid.”
Evan pulls away with a smile and a shrug. “You’ll make a hot silver fox,” he says shamelessly. “And, well… I brought you a little gift from the fire, to make up for worrying you?”
“A gift from the fire?” Tommy repeats, suddenly aware people are looking at them. “If it’s a burnt stick, I promise I have some already-”
All words die in his throat when Evan slides to one knee, a little black box already in his hand.
“It’s not a stick,” Tommy whispers in the sudden silence. “Evan…”
“Tommy.” Evan’s eyes are big, blue and so startling on his soot-covered face. This is like that kiss in the hospital, the same bravery, the same determination. Tommy’s head swims. “There are so many things I want to say, but I’ve been on my feet for 38 hours and we just fought a wildfire together, and… I just love you. I keep falling in love with you, every day, and I want to keep doing that for the rest of our lives together. Would you do me the honour of marrying me, Tommy?”
There’s only one answer.
“Yes, of course.” Tommy cups Evan’s face and pulls the man up, catching him when he stumbles, and when they kiss, cheers ring out all over them. Over Evan’s shoulder, Tommy can spy Howie tearing up, Eddie filming. Firefighters from all over LA are cheering for them, and they’re happy. “Evan, I love you.”
“You better,” Evan jokes through the tears. “You just agreed to marry me.”
“That’s got to be the best gift you ever gave me,” Tommy murmurs against his lips.
“Just means I’ve got to try harder in the future.”
Tommy laughs and kisses his fiance breathless. They have their whole lives to one-up each other.