Chapter Text
Weeks since the wedding: 0
Buck had no plans for Vegas. Or well 24 year old Buck didn’t, somewhere in the past a bright eyed 18 year old Buck had hung on his big sister’s every word as she promised to take him there when he turned 21. A sibling trip like they used to, she'd said. Now he hadn’t talked to Maddie in 4 years. Well he’d talked, sent post card after post card, she just hadn’t sent any back. Hell he didn’t even know if she was getting them. But that day, and postcards, were why Buck was bothering to drive down the Vegas strip at all.
The plan was simple: grab a postcard and write a note about how he couldn’t wait for the day they did their sibling trip like they’d always planned. However Buck should have known better than to ever think his life could ever be simple, because as he tried to turn the key in the ignition of his jeep she sputtered and died. He slammed his head down on the dash, because it was too late to go to the mechanic, which meant he was stuck at whatever hotel was closest for the night.
That wasn’t entirely a problem, he’d been living out of his jeep for long enough that he wasn’t worried about clothes. But this trip wasn’t supposed to be done without Maddie, and staying in a hotel without her almost felt like a betrayal. He was aware that if she even knew he was thinking of sleeping in his jeep for a night to not betray a memory she might not even remember she would have slapped him upside the head. So he grabbed his backpack off the passenger seat and headed into the nearest, decent, but hopefully moderately priced hotel.
Just a place to rest his head he promised himself. A place to make a game plan for the coming days.
+++
Gameplanning sober was not the move. Somehow over the years of working at a bar, Buck missed that most nights he was some level of intoxicated. Sue him- he liked taking shots with the patrons. 24 and a functional alcoholic didn’t sound great, but hey, at least he was functional.
Luckily there was a spot at the bar, most people were probably still off gambling at this time of night, which suited him just fine. All he needed was to sip on a rum and coke or two and get his thoughts together. Find a spot on the map and head there, something that had suited him fine in the past. Maybe brush up his resume once again with the new job experiences he had gained these past few months and consider the references he still had.
Those thoughts went out the window however, when he got a good look at the man he sat down next to. And he was all man. But outside of that, he looked down at his drink like it could explain all the answers to life if he just let it try hard enough, and that was something Buck more than related to. Before he could get a word out, or maybe look away- stop gawking- the man broke out into a wide grin. Like he liked that Buck was looking, it was shameless, and it heated Buck’s cheeks in a way he always hated.
“What brings you down to the bar instead of the great attractions Vegas has to offer?” The man asked, and Buck slips his calm, cool, and collected mask on. Because this- this is something he doesn’t have to fuck up.
“I don’t know. It seems like this bar has its own attractions.” He flirted shamelessly.
“It sure does.” He said right back with a wink. “Kelly Severide.”
“Evan Buckley.” Buck replied, sticking a hand out, the man, Kelly, shakes it firmly. Hands rough with callouses, like he works with them. Something that Buck secretly loved, he’d been with his fair share of trust fund babies who had never had to work with their hands a day in their lives. They were never a good lay.
“Let me buy you a drink Evan?” Kelly asked, and Buck found himself nodding as Kelly flagged down the bartender.
+++
The rest of the night happened in flashes. He remembered telling Kelly his jeep broke down, and the man promising to take a quick look at it before Buck got taken advantage of by a mechanic. Buck very clearly remembered asking if that meant Kelly wouldn’t take advantage of him.
He remembered they moved on from dark liquor to tequila shots at some point.
He remembered that there was talk about some darker things, but he couldn’t pin point specifics. Just that they somehow ended up in a chapel with Elvis joining them in holy matrimony.
Remembered the hottest sex of his life to date.
But then the sky cleared on a new day, and he and a near perfect stranger- with a near perfect cock- had matching rings on their fingers, and Buck still had a broken down jeep and no destination.
Part of him told him that he should sneak out before they woke up, but the marriage certificate sitting on the bedside table, along with the copy of their wedding video told him this wasn’t as simple as running from a one night stand. So he stayed. He did all the things he told himself he’d do at the bar the night before. Texted his old bosses to make sure they were still viable references, brushed up his resume, and looked at a map which is how Kelly awoke to find him.
“What’s in LA?” He asked, voice deep with sleep and Buck shrugged.
“Not sure. A good bar scene probably.” He ran a hand down his face. “Once I get my jeep fixed I need to go somewhere to get a job and-”
“Come to Chicago.” Kelly said, like it was simple. Like he didn’t marry Buck on a whim because they were drunk. Like he actually still wanted him now that the sun was up.
“What?”
“Chicago. We have bars. I’ll look at your jeep like I said, and you can come to Chicago, stay with me.”
“I don’t want to impose-”
“You’re not.” Kelly insisted. “I need a roommate, actually my last one-” He cut himself off. “She’s not around anymore, and besides. You married me but we can’t room together? Seems a little silly to me.” He teased, and Buck bit the corner of his lip.
It was crazy right? Although the fact that Buck was married was crazy. Living his life going from city to city never setting down roots was just as crazy, what was another adventure under his belt? Worst case scenario he leaves Chicago with a divorce and a story for Maddie when she comes to her senses.
“You’re right.” He said, and Kelly blinks twice, head rearing back. Like he was shocked, Buck gave in so easy. “What? This is a much simpler plan than me trying to find a job and housing in a city where I know nobody. Besides, we have to figure out the whole you know, married thing at some point.”
“You’re right. It’s a good plan. I might have a bar I can hook you up with too, but I’m not sure if they need someone.” Kelly said, and Buck nodded.
“No worries if not. Bars are a dime a dozen.” Besides, if things didn’t work out it might be better if he wasn’t working somewhere that tied him to his husband. But he wasn’t about to voice that out loud and jinx things.
“So about that jeep?” Kelly said, effectively changing the subject, like his mind wandered the same way. And honestly, that alone reminded Buck why he fell quick enough to tie the knot with this man in a night.
+++
Turned out the problem with the jeep was a simple fix. Kelly did warn that he may need more work done in the future, but the fix was enough to last them the drive from Vegas back to Chicago. He asked Buck if he was sure they needed to drive, and Buck told him leaving his car behind was non negotiable. Something in his eyes, or tone must have spoken to Kelly because all he did was nod and shove his bag wherever it fit in the back.
It also turned out that a 25 hour drive left a lot of time to get to know your husband. It felt cliche, but 20 questions was how they passed the drive along, although their 20 questions lost count somewhere along double that.
He learned Kelly’s favorite food- pancakes, his favorite animal- foxes, his favorite color- red. He found out the basics about his family, divorced parents, lots of half siblings from a dad who apparently couldn’t keep it in his pants. Heard story after story about what it was like to work at a firehouse, and the stresses and joys that came along with the job.
He heard the way Kelly danced around some of the deeper topics, but that was okay because Buck did the same. They might have been husbands on paper, but they were after all glorified roommates trying to make the best of a tequila based decision.
Their next night at a hotel that they stopped at to get a few hours of real sleep before Kelly would take over for some driving reminded Buck about why he said it was the best sex of his life. And it was even better sober. They might have been dancing around some of the deeper things, but Kelly had no problems with this department, that was for damn sure.
In the end they didn’t get nearly enough rest, but it was worth it. The next leg of their trip both of them were a little more open with their answers. Buck talked more candidly about his travels. Kelly, more in depth about the coworkers he considered a family, and Buck really started to think this thing could work.