Chapter Text
Chimney had never met people so uncomfortable around their own children.
Not just uncomfortable, but awkward, in the way you would be if you were forced to socialize with a friend of a friend, someone you didn’t really like, that you had talked shit about behind their back, and pretended you didn’t know the worst of them.
Or when strangers forced their small talk on you, and you’ve never been socialized in your life, living like a recluse behind shut windows and closed doors, keeping you in and everyone else out.
So, that, but with your own children.
Margaret Buckley sat of Chimney, her hands gathered together over her lap, her eyes avoiding everyone else at the table, but sometimes shifting to her left, where her son was.
Philip Buckley had his forearms resting on top of the table, more relaxed than his wife- not that it was hard- with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, that he kept on Buck- sorry, Evan. Evan, that pretended than neither of them was there and all was fine.
And you see, Chimney adored his brother-in-law. Not just because it was thanks to him he had met the love of his life, but because Buck was, admittedly, the kindest soul out there. Sure, he was annoying sometimes- most of the times, but like Kevin had been. Like Albert was.
So seeing Buck so much unlike himself, so quiet, so… not present, it felt weird. Not uncomfortable, not awkward. Just… painful.
“I’m glad the flight went well,” Maddie said, to Chimney’s right, her father’s left, sitting directly in front of Buck, her eyes only on him.
“The TSA agents were really helpful,” Margaret said.
“Did you know they make you take all your electronics out, now? You have to put them in a separate tray,” Philip said, looking at his wife first, then his eyes skimming over Buck, then to Chim and then Maddie.
“The TSA agent, she was a lady, she was very kind, she did it for us. Everyone seemed annoyed with these new policies,” Margaret explained, addressing both Chim and Maddie.
“I’m pretty sure it has been in place for a while, Mom,” Maddie pointed out. “Maybe at least since 9/11.”
“Well, we never had to do it before!” Margaret said pointedly, as if Maddie had come up with the idea herself.
“I’m glad it went smoothly,” Chim said, his hand next to Maddie’s, interlocking their fingers together.
Buck remained silent throughout the whole exchange, his chin resting in his hand, eyes lost in the faraway, towards the kitchen.
“Thinking of baking, Bu- Evan?” Chim asked with a nervous laughter, panicking as he wanted to include Buck in the conversation, considering that maybe, he shouldn’t. Maddie squeezed his fingers.
“Hm?”
“Oh, you cook, Evan?” Philip said, jumping on the excuse Chim had just provided him to change the subject of the discussion, hopefully alleviating the weird tension that had fallen over the table.
“Oh, Evan is the best, maybe second to Bobby- uh, our captain, I think you met him, back in uh… the hospital, last time. But uh, yeah! He’s been feeding us well! still thinking of that lemon loaf you made!”
Chim wished he would stop talking. He was panicking, and much like predators, in-laws could feel fear too. He didn’t want to cause more problems to the Buckey siblings with his stupid rambling.
“I don’t remember you much in the kitchen,” Philip continued with a scoff, “apart maybe from going through all the cupboards.”
Buck didn’t deign reply to that, just levelling his gaze at Maddie, who pursed her lips.
“He wasn't one for chores, that’s for sure,” Margaret added.
“Didn’t we have a cleaner?” Maddie didn’t really ask.
Margaret didn’t reply to that, as she pursed her lips in the same manner Maddie had. Buck arched an eyebrow at his sister, and Maddie remained stone faced.
“So, Howard, how’s work going? Lots of fires to fight?” Philip asked after a silence lasted for too long.
“Oh, yeah, we had one last week, a four-alarm fire in an abandoned factory. We were there for hours-“
“Do you leave, in those cases, when you’re done with your shift?” Philip enquired.
Buck’s eyes rolled so far back his head, Chim really thought his head would follow and he would fall backward off his chair. At least, neither Margaret nor Philip noticed.
“Uh, no sir. We finish the job. We just go overtime. We can’t leave a call unfinished.”
“That is really not fair,” Margaret said. “What about the other firefighters, can’t they come to replace you?”
“That’s- Mom,” Buck sighed, “it doesn’t work that way.”
“Why not?” Margaret asked, as if it was Buck’s personal fault for not trying hard enough to find a solution.
“Mom, we have the trucks and the ambulance with us when we go to a fire. When the next shift comes, they simply cannot get there. And also, it is part of the job. We’re firefighters, we help people, and emergencies are not on schedule. They just happen.”
Margaret looked annoyed by Buck’s explanation, as if by making sense, he was personally affronting her.
“It’s a very demanding job,” Philip said, looking between Chim and Maddie, as if to let them know of something they weren't aware of.
“Someone has to do it,” Maddie said. “And I’m glad it’s in good and competent people’s hands.”
She had said that, turning to offer Chim a smile, before drifting back to Buck, offering it to him to. He looked at her, not returning the smile. But there was something soft in his eyes.
“Not very suitable for family life,” Margaret said, lips pursed once again, her eyebrows doing something funny, while she touched her fork, not looking at anyone.
“Again, Mom,” Maddie said, through clenched teeth, “someone has to do it. it’s not ideal, but it doesn’t mean firefighters do not deserve love and families of their own.”
That had not been said to Margaret, but directly at Buck. He squinted at her ever so slightly, and finally, for the first time that evening, he chuckled, even though he once again rolled his eyes.
Maddie was still smiling softly.
“I guess it’s good for young people with no family of their own like Evan, to be there. Is there an age limit to being a firefighter?” Philip enquired, and that had the effect of dropping a hydrogen bomb onto the table. It gave Chimney such whiplash that he recoiled as if he had been slapped.
“Dad!” Maddie shouted.
“Wha-“ to his benefit, Philip looked really confused. “What?”
“Buck has a family,” Maddie exclaimed. The words seemed to hit Philip like a brick wall.
“Oh. Oh no, yes, of course, that’s not what I meant, Evan,” Philip said, turning towards Buck, putting a hand on his arm.
Buck scoffed, disbelief on his face. He shook his father’s hand off his arm, to come rub his eyes in exhaustion.
“I mean people with children and spouses,” Philip carried on.
“Dad!” Maddie’s voice rose even higher.
“I-“ again, Philip had no idea what he was saying wrong.
“Maddie, please, come on. You know what he was trying to say,” Margaret intervened.
“Well, before I met Maddie, I didn’t have either children or a spouse, but I’m glad I didn’t get sacrificed to the fire,” Chim said with a fake laugh, falsely elbowing Maddie. “And I personally think that even unmarried people with no biological children deserve to be happy and loved, but that’s just me!”