Work Text:
It’s 11:59pm when Buck walks into the lounge area of the harbor firehouse.
“Incoming,” Lucy whispers to Tommy, nudging him with her elbow.
Tommy looks up from watching the tv the crew is gathered around. Before he can say anything, Buck grabs him by the arm and starts pulling him out of the lounge.
“Ev- Buck. I’m at work,” Tommy says, as Buck stops them in the open hanger.
“And I need to talk to you, and I have forty seconds to do it,” Buck replies quickly, checking his watch. “Tell me you don’t want me.”
“What?”
“Tell me you don’t want me. Your speech before was about how I wasn’t going to want you, which isn’t true, by the way. But you didn’t give me the chance to say that before you walked out. So tell me you don’t want me.”
“Ev- Bu- I- I don- I-” Tommy stutters in response.
“Tell me!” Buck demands.
“What do you want me to say?” Tommy snaps.
Buck pauses.
“You know what they say about New Year’s? They say that if you kiss someone at midnight, you’ll be kissing them for the rest of the year.”
“I…” Tommy hesitates, turning his head away.
The crew starts to shout the countdown along with the tv.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” Buck says once more, giving Tommy a stern look. “Six… Five…”
“I can’t want you,” Tommy whispers, still not looking at Buck.
Three
“To hell with that,” Buck says, shaking his head.
Two
Buck takes a step closer to Tommy and grabs the side of his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. His other hand settles on the small of Tommy’s back.
One
Tommy lets out a surprised sound as his mouth meets Buck’s. After a moment, he moves his hands to Buck’s face and hip, and kisses back. The crew and tv are all shouting “Happy New Year”, but neither of them can really hear it.
When they pull apart, Tommy sees the determination that was in Buck’s eyes fade, leaving behind vulnerability. Vulnerability and hope. Tommy caresses Buck’s cheek with his thumb.
“Evan,” he starts before being interrupted by the klaxon.
“Be safe,” Buck says as he lets go so Tommy can do his job.
Tommy runs towards the helicopters.
“I’m gonna call you tomorrow,” Buck calls after him, sternly.
Tommy turns his head and nods, smiling as he gets in the helicopter.