Chapter Text
Part 1: The Coffee Exchange
The aroma of fresh coffee filled the firehouse kitchen, mingling with the scent of slightly burnt toast from the corner toaster. Buck was perched on the counter, his usual habit despite Bobby’s frequent lectures about hygiene. Eddie stood at the coffee machine, mug in hand, looking every bit the picture of routine.
“Black coffee again?” Buck’s voice carried an edge of mock disbelief as he watched Eddie pour the steaming liquid. “You know, I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again—you’re boring.”
Eddie didn’t even glance up as he stirred his coffee. “I’m efficient.”
“No, you’re dull,” Buck countered with a grin. “Coffee should be an experience, not a chore. Where’s the caramel? The whipped cream? The joy?” He raised his own mug as if presenting evidence. It was a frothy concoction of caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and what looked suspiciously like sprinkles.
Eddie finally turned, eyebrow arched, clearly unimpressed. “That’s not coffee. That’s a dessert pretending to be coffee.”
“This,” Buck said, gesturing dramatically to his mug, “is the nectar of life. It’s a hug in a cup. It’s—”
“It’s diabetes waiting to happen,” Eddie interjected, taking a sip of his plain black coffee.
Buck slid off the counter and took a step closer, narrowing his eyes. “You know what? You’re missing out.”
“Oh, am I?” Eddie said dryly, taking another sip.
“Absolutely,” Buck replied, then, without warning, held out his mug. “Here. Taste it. Expand your horizons.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “I’m not drinking that. I’m not seven.”
Buck smirked. “Come on, live a little. You might actually like it.”
Eddie stared at the mug for a moment, as if weighing his options. With a resigned sigh, he set his own mug down and took Buck’s. “Fine. But if this tastes like sugar water, I’m blaming you.”
As Eddie took a sip, Buck leaned in, watching intently. Eddie’s expression shifted from skeptical to thoughtful before he slowly licked his lips. “Huh.”
“Huh?” Buck echoed, crossing his arms. “What does ‘huh’ mean?”
Eddie licked his lips again, this time dramatically slow, savoring the taste like he was in a coffee commercial. “It means… it’s decent. For a milkshake.”
Buck groaned. “Decent? That’s all I get?”
Eddie handed the mug back with a smirk. “You wanted honesty.”
Before Buck could respond, Chimney walked into the kitchen, his gaze bouncing between the two of them. His eyebrows shot up as he saw Eddie wiping his mouth. “If you two are done sharing spit, can I grab the coffee pot?”
Eddie immediately frowned. “We weren’t sharing spit.”
Buck, however, grinned widely. “Oh, come on, Chim. Don’t be jealous. There’s enough of me to go around.”
Chimney rolled his eyes, reaching for the coffee pot. “You’re both ridiculous. I don’t even care—just don’t drink all the coffee.”
Eddie chuckled, grabbing his mug again. “You hear that, Buck? We’re ridiculous.”
Buck shrugged, taking a victorious sip of his sugary masterpiece. “Ridiculous but caffeinated.”
Chimney glanced back at them as he poured his coffee. “I’m serious. Whatever weird coffee flirting you’ve got going on, just keep it out of the common spaces.”
“It’s not flirting,” Eddie said, shaking his head as if the idea was absurd.
“Yeah, it’s just friendly banter,” Buck added, though the smirk on his face said he didn’t mind the insinuation.
“Sure,” Chim said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he walked out.
The kitchen fell quiet for a moment before Eddie broke it with a chuckle. “Friendly banter, huh?”
Buck shrugged, grinning. “What else would you call it?”
Eddie raised his mug. “A good start to the morning.”
“Cheers to that,” Buck said, clinking his mug against Eddie’s.
As the morning progressed, the team prepared for the day’s calls. But the coffee incident hadn’t been forgotten. Hen, of course, had caught wind of Chimney’s commentary and couldn’t resist stirring the pot.
“So,” Hen started as they geared up for the first call, “I hear you two were having a moment in the kitchen this morning.”
Eddie groaned. “It wasn’t a moment. It was Buck being Buck.”
“And Eddie being Eddie,” Buck added with a grin.
Hen gave them both a knowing look. “Right. Just like I’m Hen being Hen when I say you two are about two seconds away from being a rom-com.”
“You’re imagining things,” Eddie replied, though his ears turned slightly pink.
Buck, on the other hand, looked amused. “You’ve been watching too many cheesy movies, Hen.”
Hen shrugged. “Maybe. But don’t come crying to me when Chim starts charging you rent for all the space you’re taking up in each other’s lives.”
Eddie glanced at Buck, who was clearly enjoying the teasing far too much. “We’re not giving him any ideas.”
Buck smirked. “Agreed. I’m saving my money for more caramel syrup.”
Eddie sighed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re predictable,” Buck shot back, but there was a warmth in his tone that neither of them seemed to notice.
Hen, however, noticed everything. With a knowing smile, she walked away, muttering, “It’s only a matter of time.”
Part 2: The Hero Compliments
The rescue scene was pure chaos. A partially collapsed construction site had trapped workers on a precarious beam high above the ground. Dust filled the air, and the sound of twisting metal mixed with panicked voices.
“Eddie, you ready?” Bobby’s voice crackled through the radio.
Eddie, already secured in a harness, gave a quick thumbs-up to Buck, who was holding the rope at the ground level. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” Eddie said, tightening his grip on the beam as he prepared to make his way toward the trapped worker.
“Be careful,” Buck called up, squinting against the sun. His voice was steady, but the way his hands gripped the rope gave away his nerves.
“When am I not?” Eddie shouted back, his smirk visible even from a distance.
Buck rolled his eyes. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe that time you ran into a burning building without backup? Or that time you—”
“Focus, Buck,” Bobby interrupted over the radio, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
As Eddie edged closer to the stranded worker, the beam groaned ominously. The worker, a young man in his twenties, was clutching a support bar, his face pale and his breathing rapid. “I—I can’t move!” he stammered.
“You’re doing great,” Eddie said, his voice calm and reassuring. “Just keep holding on. I’m almost there.”
Another creak from the beam made Buck’s stomach drop. “Eddie, that thing doesn’t look stable!”
“Relax,” Eddie said without looking down. “I’ve got this.”
“Yeah, that’s what you always say,” Buck muttered under his breath, his knuckles white on the rope.
With one final push, Eddie reached the worker and secured a harness around him. “Okay, I’m going to hook you to me, and we’re going to go nice and slow,” Eddie instructed.
The worker nodded shakily, his grip tightening on Eddie’s arm. “You’re not going to let me fall, right?”
“Not a chance,” Eddie said, his voice steady.
The descent was tense, every shift of the beam making Buck hold his breath. But, true to his word, Eddie maneuvered them both down safely. As soon as they reached solid ground, the worker was whisked away by paramedics.
Buck immediately dropped the rope and strode over to Eddie, clapping him hard on the back. “You’re so damn amazing sometimes it’s annoying.”
Eddie let out a breathy laugh, pulling off his helmet. “Amazing, huh? You sure you’re not just jealous?”
Buck scoffed. “Jealous? Of you? Please.”
Eddie smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. “Admit it. You’d miss me if I weren’t around.”
Buck opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, Bobby’s voice cut through the moment. “Save it for when you’re not wearing helmets, lovebirds.”
Both men froze for half a second before turning to see Bobby walking past them, his expression completely deadpan.
“Lovebirds?” Eddie repeated, glancing at Buck.
“Probably Hen’s fault,” Buck said, waving it off, though his ears turned a little pink. “She’s been on this kick lately, teasing us about—well, you know.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “About what?”
Buck hesitated, fumbling for words. “About… us. Bantering. Whatever. It’s dumb.”
Eddie chuckled, slapping Buck’s shoulder lightly. “Relax. If anything, I’m the one who has to deal with you constantly talking about caramel syrup and your workouts.”
“Hey!” Buck protested, though he was grinning. “You’re lucky I don’t charge you for all the motivational speeches.”
“Motivational speeches?” Eddie asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is that what you call yelling ‘You’re a superhero!’ every time I save someone?”
“Well,” Buck said with a shrug, “you kind of are.”
Eddie stared at him for a moment, his smirk softening into something warmer. “Thanks, man.”
Buck blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in Eddie’s tone. “Uh… yeah. Anytime.”
Before the moment could get too serious, Chimney jogged over, grinning like he’d just overheard the best gossip. “Bobby wasn’t kidding, huh? Lovebirds in action.”
Eddie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You, too?”
“Oh, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking,” Chimney said with a wink.
“Yeah, well, think quieter,” Buck shot back, though he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips.
As they all packed up the gear, Eddie leaned closer to Buck and said under his breath, “If they keep this up, we’re going to need a new nickname.”
Buck chuckled. “What’s wrong with ‘lovebirds’? It’s catchy.”
Eddie gave him a look. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are,” Buck replied with a grin.
Eddie shook his head, but there was no hiding the fond smile on his face.
Later, Back at the Firehouse
The rescue was already becoming one of those calls they’d laugh about later. As the team debriefed, Hen joined the table with a knowing smirk.
“So, how are the lovebirds doing after their heroic adventure?”
“Hen,” Eddie said, his tone exasperated but his smile betraying him.
“What?” Hen said, feigning innocence. “I’m just saying, if you two ever need relationship counseling, I know a guy.”
Buck groaned, resting his head on the table. “It wasn’t even flirting. It was—”
“Friendly banter,” Eddie finished for him, though he was clearly enjoying Buck’s discomfort.
Hen raised an eyebrow. “Sure it was.”
“Can we not?” Buck asked, his voice muffled against the table.
“Fine,” Hen said, though her smirk didn’t fade. “But if Bobby starts planning a wedding in the firehouse, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Eddie laughed, clapping Buck on the back. “Better start practicing your vows.”
Buck lifted his head, narrowing his eyes at Eddie. “Oh, you think you’re funny.”
Eddie grinned. “I know I am.”
Hen leaned back in her chair, watching the two of them bicker like they were the only people in the room. “You know,” she said, mostly to herself, “this is better than TV.”
The day ended much like it began—Buck and Eddie still teasing each other, still completely oblivious to how their banter came across to everyone else. But as Eddie caught Buck’s eye one last time before they called it a night, he couldn’t help but think that maybe Hen wasn’t entirely wrong.