Work Text:
1.
Buck realized early on he was in love with Tommy. Really early. Really really early.
Tommy was calmly listening to him jabber on about his work day that led to another tangent which led to another. He only interrupted to ask questions that were actually insightful.
In that moment, watching his boyfriend smile fondly at him and engage in his strange fascination for random facts, he knew he was in love with Thomas Kinard.
It was barely a month in to their relationship. And here stood Evan Buckley, in love with his first boyfriend. He knew he couldn't say it yet, even if this felt different from every other relationship he'd ever had. Even if this was the first time he truly felt cared for, and not afraid to ask for what he wanted or needed.
But two weeks after his realization, he was about to burst with it. He was in love. He wanted the world to know. He wanted TOMMY to know.
Tommy was on shift, but when Buck had texted him Good Morning, his phone rang with a video call. He was still laying in bed, not having mustered up the energy to get up yet. But he answered anyway.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself, handsome."
They smiled at each other through the screen. Tommy's eyes took in every inch of him, but seemed to catch on his hair.
"Damn, Ev. Fuck work, I'm coming over there."
Buck chuckled, and lifted the phone to give Tommy a view of his naked torso. "You're the one who called me."
Tommy groaned, "Not fair. That's not why I called."
"No?" Buck put the camera back on his face and shifted to lay on his side so he could prop the phone on the pillow next to him. "Then why did you call? Boring shift?"
Tommy shrugged, a shy smile on his face. "Not necessarily. Just missed you."
They smiled at each other again. But before Buck could respond, or spill his guts, the alarm at the station rang.
Tommy shot an apologetic look through the camera, Buck just smiled softly. "Be safe!"
Tommy jumped up and began making his way to his gear. "Always. Talk later?"
Buck nodded. Then the screen went black.
"I love you."
He knows Tommy didn't hear him. He knows the call was ended when he said the words. But he still said them. Out loud. To his phone. To himself. To Tommy.
2.
A few days later, he's the one on shift while Tommy sleeps in. They spent the night together, at Tommy's house. Sure the loft was closer to the 118, but Tommy had worked a bad shift and Buck wanted to be there for him. In his own space. Waking up a bit earlier to get to work on time wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
They had ordered Thai and watched a couple of 80's movies that Tommy (and Chimney) had insisted were classics. Then fallen into bed and cuddled until they fell asleep. They hadn't had sex, Tommy was too tired. Still it had been one of the most intimate nights they had shared to date.
Buck was careful not to wake his boyfriend as he got out of bed and got ready for his day. Quietly, he moved around the house, tidying up the plates they left on the coffee table the night before. He made a pot of coffee and left a note, asking Tommy to text when he was awake and wishing him a good day.
Then he snuck back into the bedroom to press a kiss to the older man's cheek, and tuck him into the blankets. If he was also adding the picture of his hot pilot all relaxed and looking younger to his mental catalog, he'd never tell.
As he closed Tommy's front door behind himself, he couldn't help but say, "I love you." The door didn't acknowledge him, but he knew it heard.
3.
It's was a rare night for him these days. He was alone.
Maddie was dropping Jee off at around 6:30 the next morning because she had an appointment and some errands and Chim had picked up an extra shift. He'd have his niece for at least 4 hours.
Tommy hadn't wanted to give Jee any ideas, even if Buck insisted she's only 4.
"What ideas could she possibly get?"
Tommy had just given him a look and said, "Spend the morning with your niece. We can get lunch after?"
So he was alone in his bed. Didn't stop them from talking, of course. He and Tommy had just had phenomenal phone sex. He was sated and panting, Tommy's heavy breathing in his ear through the phone speaker.
"I should clean up. And you should sleep. It's late."
Buck groaned. "Why do you have to be so sensible. First you won't stay over and now you're imposing a bed time?"
Tommy chuckled. "Evan, you've got your 4 year old niece coming over bright and early tomorrow. You'll kick yourself if you're too tired to enjoy spending time with her."
"See, sensible."
Tommy chuckled again.
"Ugh, fine. But you know you could help me babysit her, right?"
"Ev," Tommy sighed, "I'd love to. I really would, but-"
Buck waited, but all that he heard from the other side of the phone was a heavy sigh.
"It's too soon. Got it. Next time then." His heart clenched in his chest.
The older man let out a breath and whispered, "Yeah. Next time. Good night, Evan."
"Night, Tommy." Then he heard the tell-tale sound of the call ending.
"I love you."
4.
It had become a sort of habit now. Saying those 3 words out loud, into the air after he knew Tommy couldn't hear him. After phone calls, or in person. Tommy would leave and he would whisper it to the room at large.
So much of a habit in fact that he forgot Eddie was there. Tommy had to be up early for his next shift, so after the 3 of them had won bar trivia, he left. Pressing a kiss to Bucks mouth, then hugging Eddie, he promised to text them both, then left the bar.
The door closed behind him and Buck said, "I love you." Just like he had done everytime he saw a door close behind his boyfriend.
Only this time he wasn't alone.
"You know he didn't hear you right?"
"Oh, um, I- yeah. I know. I forgot you were there." He ducked his head, knowing his face was beet red.
Eddie clapped him on the back. "I figured. I'm happy for you, man. For what it's worth, he'd say it back."
+1
It was Thursday. This week marked two months they had been together. Not that they had anything planned cause that wasn't necessarily a huge milestone, even if it felt like it.
Tommy had spent the night and they had spent most of the morning lounging around and being lazy. Before 11, Buck had gotten up and made a brunch for them.
Tommy wanted to help, of course, but Buck refused to let him.
They had finished eating when Eddie had messaged about the pick up game. Tommy wanted to go, Buck knew that.
"Go have fun. I'll see you later, right?"
"Are you sure? I can skip this week. It's no big deal."
Buck kissed him, "Go. I'll clean up here and go to the gym. Call me when you're done, I'll meet you guys somewhere for dinner?"
"Okay, but I'm stealing some basketball shorts."
Tommy was dressed and pressing a kiss to Buck's cheek before he was finished cleaning up his brunch mess. When he heard the door close, his back was to the door where he was standing at his sink.
"I love you."
The clatter of keys hitting the floor and a squeak had him whirling around and facing his wide eyed boyfriend.
They stared at each other for a second before Buck cleared his throat. "Sorry. I thought you'd left. I- uh. Sorry."
The second sorry must have snapped Tommy out of his daze because he stalked forward, rounded the island in three quick strides and crushed his lips to Buck's in a searing kiss.
They broke apart, panting.
"I love you, too."
Buck gulped, searching the older man's eyes for the truth. His voice was barely a whisper, "You do?"
Their forheads pressed together and Tommy chuckled softly. "Yeah, I do."
Needless to say, Tommy did not make the basketball game that day.
And when Buck confessed his habit of saying I love you when he left or hung up, Tommy melted and fell even more in love.