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Tommy, who had just gone to bed after a 12-hour shift, wanted only one thing - a quiet and peaceful sleep. But the universe this time told him "bombaleelo", because he heard that damn knocking again. "Live in my apartment, it's very cozy here," she said before leaving. - "Live, water my children on schedule, and you will not regret anything," she said again before the flight. But she did not mention the neighbor, who, apparently, earns money as a striptease. Otherwise, how to explain the clicking of heels 24/7?
Even if her honeymoon with her son-in-law goes well, Tommy will definitely take revenge on her. Forest fires take a lot of energy. He never thought that he would get tired of flying, but today he worked on the ground. Because every time he sat in the pilot's seat, he felt like he was dancing on a frying pan. The heat from the fires beneath his feet made him cower in his seat, and the smoke was the last straw. The captain had given them a six-hour break, and Tommy planned to sleep every minute, but the knocking wouldn't stop. Eventually he slept through his alarm, and instead of taking a shower and getting something to eat, he decided that being petty was a good idea. He got out a piece of paper and a pen, scribbled something, stuck it on his neighbor's door, knocked a couple of times, and ran. What was he, five years old?
"Got it, I have a slight concussion. I'll definitely be out tomorrow. Thanks again, I owe you one," Tommy said, staring absently at the screen of his phone. The voice seemed like a sepulchral cartoon to him, and the unpleasant burning in his lungs from the smoke made him wince. After a glass of cold water and a sandwich from the local supermarket, he heard a knock on the door. Was it night already? Shit, had the captain sent one of the paramedics to check on him? This is cute... - he thought and headed for the door. When the heavy door opened, he was hit in the forehead with... bullshit. Wow.
- First of all, I'm a man. Secondly, I'm on crutches, idiot! - - Neighbor Vega wrote in the chat that I dance on a pole day and night, and warned me to at least think about you, because you are a pilot and a firefighter, saving people in forest fires that all the TV channels scream about! But, you know what? I'm a firefighter too. And I would help too, if not for that damn truck that crushed my leg! I'm training to go back to work! So stop bothering me, I want to be useful! You could have left a note in person, and not like a coward, you, a pilot! - Buck was so angry that, leaning on one crutch, even scared Tommy a little, standing with his mouth open. There was a second of silence. Buck had forgotten to breathe while he was talking, and now he was trying to catch his breath. Tommy clearly hadn't expected to see a handsome man screaming furiously in front of him - it caught him off guard. He hadn't thought the thumping was coming from crutches, and he certainly hadn't thought his stripper neighbor was a tall guy about his age, with curly hair, a dirty sweatshirt, and basketball shorts. And the fireman?! The man was barely standing on one leg, his hands were shaking, and his crutches were barely helping him.
"Sorry, I didn't know. I didn't mean to catch you off guard. I was just being petty after a hard shift...
"How can I help you? I'm really sorry," Tommy said sadly, mentally cringing in shame in front of the magnificent man.
"Lift me up and carry me," Buck snorted wryly and continued,
"I barely made it down, I'm exhausted. And don't come near my door again. Even if I dance on a pole, it's not your problem. If I don't become a fireman, then I guess I'll have to dance, damn it..." He rolled his eyes and blew the hair stuck to his forehead.
"I don't think you'll have to dance," Tommy chuckled, picking up his neighbor in his arms, despite the surprised look he gave him, as if expecting a refusal.
"Hey, I was kidding! Stop it! I'm heavy!" Buck began to stutter, surprising himself.
"No. You came down because of my mistake. I know the elevator hasn't been working for days. And going down two floors is quite a feat in your condition."
"But... It's like a workout, right? I'm sorry. Sometimes I make people feel obligated. Damn, I'm back to my old habit of being a burden, "he muttered, nervously biting his lower lip. Tommy was slightly out of breath. His hot neighbor was not so simple, he seemed even more beautiful up close. The spot on his temple - like a mole - immediately caught his attention. And that homemade smell... It was not perfume. More like laundry detergent, a little Chinese takeout, a slight smell of sweat and leather furniture.
"You didn't make me. I wanted to. And besides, I was wrong. I have to admit it.
"If you break your back later, I can't help you, man," Buck muttered, immediately stuttering and opening his eyes wide. God, why was my mouth faster than my brain? Where did that flirtatious tone come from?..
"That 'old man' is now carrying a big man in his arms, not a cloud," Tommy barely restrained himself from commenting on the "hot handsome man."
- Okay... By the way, did you know that clouds are not as light as they look? They weigh from 4 to 7 tons!
- Wow. Looks like I'll have to give up my dream of biting into a piece of a cloud in my carefree childhood, - Tommy said seriously and immediately heard a quiet, slightly embarrassed laugh. He never thought that grown men could giggle so cutely. When he finally went up to the fifth floor, he carefully lowered Buck to the floor.
- Well... Thanks. I'm grateful, although I am a little angry. Sorry for the informal language, - Buck looked into the blue eyes, using the same gestures he saved for Bobby - slightly pouting and widening his eyes, batting his eyelashes. It seemed to work, because the Adonis in front of him relaxed and smiled warmly, revealing pleasant wrinkles around his eyes.
"It's okay. We're even. I hope you don't have any more problems, uh ..."
"Evan. "My name is Evan," Buck answered quickly, understanding the pause.
"Evan," Tommy repeated. And that was all. Now Buck melted at the sound of his name. Adonis seemed to savor each letter. "Goodnight, pilot."
"Tommy. I'm Tommy Kinard."
"Goodnight, pilot Kinard," Evan smiled sweetly and winked one last time, leaving Tommy in the hallway of the apartment complex.
"You're going to be my trouble, aren't you?" Tommy muttered cheerfully behind the closed door.
Even if Buck had heard it, his crooked smile would have remained an invisible answer to the pilot.
----
The feeling of abandonment is the worst feeling. He used to think that being used, starving in the mountains of Montana or cleaning the roof of a hacienda for little money, sleeping with a shrink were the worst, but when your "family" turns its back on you, it makes hot tears of betrayal flow. What did Buck expect? He's in his fourth week in a cast, and no one wants to talk about work around him. It's like he's made of glass. Maddie says that a safe job will come and life will go on, but she doesn't understand that his life - being a useful fireman, saving people. Or becoming a nomad again - is meaningless. Bobby says that he shouldn't think about work - not now, when he's in a cast, and not after physical therapy. He gave the Buck of the past a second chance, but he doesn’t think the same Buck who created his own identity can give himself a second chance at this job. Hell, even Eddie doesn’t give him much time unless it’s about Christopher. They don’t understand him because they have something Buck doesn’t. They can all go back to their families, their kids, their homes. They have their backstories, their old jobs. But Buck? He’s a lost teenager in his sister’s Jeep. He’s a lost man among construction workers and bartenders and ranch hands. No one waiting for him at home, no stability and no family. Who is he without a uniform? Who is Buck?
“Evan?” he heard a familiar voice behind him and immediately sat up straight. Buck hadn’t even noticed that he’d been crying. Now that he noticed, he couldn’t tell if it was from physical pain or dark thoughts.
“Uh, hi, pilot.” He wiped his face with his palm. Tommy didn’t think he’d see Evan so soon. It had only been a week and now his hot neighbour was sitting on the first floor stairs, hunched over, his face hidden. The young man sat up straight when he called his name. Tommy felt sorry for his spine, he was sure he heard it crack.
“What are you doing here?” He walked around the boy and stood in front of him. The tears were especially noticeable on his face.
“I got dumped. Sort of. We were supposed to go to a quiz night at our local pub with the team tonight, but another station invited us to a duel at the local paintball camp, and the big shots from the academy, the bosses, were there. They had to drive fast, and I wasn’t even invited as a spectator.”
“Sorry,” Tommy said, frowning. How could they just forget him? It was a terrible feeling, being dumped. He knew what it was like from experience.
“It’s okay, I was going to finish my film and practice anyway.” Buck stood up carefully and picked up his crutches.
"Want a ride?" You shouldn't go up to the fourth floor. Tommy didn't have time to watch his language.
"You're crazy, it would take a miracle to get you up here." Carrying someone up five floors?
"I can do it."
"My insurance barely covers my medical expenses,I can’t share them with you if you get hurt, man.”
“Drop it. You want to do this?” Tommy rolled his eyes at Evan’s unnecessary drama. Buck didn’t want to hurt the poor guy, but he sure as hell loved the way he was being held and lifted. He felt light as a feather in the pilot’s arms. The weird feeling that had been churning in his stomach for weeks, and here he was again, offering to do him a favor.
“You know, I could get used to this.”
“Yeah?”
“Come on, lift me up.” Buck spread his arms, a slight smirk on his face, looking up at Adonis with a slight smirk. Adonis’s big hands, nice perfume, and perfect profile were doing weird things to him. How had Buck never noticed beauty in men before? Was it the painkillers? Or was bisexuality knocking at his door at thirty? He’d never noticed beauty in men before. And now here it was. I wonder what his workout routine was like? This guy clearly doesn’t skip leg day – great glutes that only enhance his worn jeans. Buck himself lost several pounds in the hospital after surgery. Now he can’t even move freely until the cast is removed without assistance, let alone work out.
“What are you thinking about?” Tommy asked, noticing Evan’s frown. The young man was clearly deep in thought, judging by the expression on his face, and was unusually quiet. And they were already upstairs.
“Workout. I need to recover. I’ve already lost weight, locked myself in my apartment, and I look like shit,” he snorted.
“You’re allowed to look bad when you’re in bad shape. The main thing is recovery. Don’t think about anything else, this is for another day with healthy legs,” Tommy wanted to add, “you look great,” but decided not to say it.
“Everyone says that, but I don’t know how to be patient.”
“Keep yourself busy, babe” Movies, books, crafts, or some online courses. My sister is on her honeymoon, but she studies every night to get a certificate in Italian history and the Italian language, Tommy tried not to show his tiredness in a calm voice.
“You won’t believe it, but I’ve even read Christopher’s books, and I’ve already finished mine. I took a course in religion at Boston University, but I didn’t get the certificate, just for fun. By the way, congratulations to your sister. I like Italian, it sounds a little like Spanish, ”Buck threw his head back and stared at the gray wall of the hallway.
“Yes, we are Italian, but we’ve lived in the United States since birth. That’s why our Italian is broken. What about movies?”
“Why do I get the feeling that you are a movie buff and will judge me for the answer?”
“You try to answer and then we’ll see,” Tommy had barely made it to the fourth floor by then.
“I like documentaries and I don’t know much about cinema. A coworker of mine, who is now dating my sister, once told me off for not knowing Rambo. When we started talking about Titanic, he threw a bowl of popcorn at me! I swear I saw steam coming out of his ears. Evan gestured and spoke enthusiastically. Tommy wanted to laugh, but:
- You don't know who Rambo is? Kid,How old are you? He’s a legend! I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t know Rambo. And Titanic? It’s a masterpiece of cinema, it’s Hollywood!
— I still don’t know. I can’t watch movies calmly and all the way through — I have to be distracted often, making comments, asking about things I don’t understand. or don’t know. My sister Maddie used to sit with me when we were kids, holding my hands and putting up with me. It’s going to seem weird now. I’m used to documentaries, podcasts — when I traveled, I’d listen to them from start to finish — Evan didn’t seem to notice his emotions, but his vocal cords were shaking with nostalgia — he sounded a little depressed now. Tommy noticed, but didn’t want to point it out — bad times, I guess.
— It’s not weird to ask for what you want. There’s a risk, but you’ll know better than to think and not know. That’s all. I talked to the company yesterday – they’re ordering some small parts and the elevator will be up and running by the end of the week.” Tommy released Evan, and part of him didn’t want the warmth from the younger man to leave him.
“Thank you, pilot. I’ll remember that. Now I’m not going outside until next week, I’m a prisoner of my apartment.” He bared his white teeth in a half-smile. Tommy wanted to ask about friends or colleagues, but Evan, noticing his sharp frown, beat him to it.
“You know, we need to stop this routine. I don’t know how to repay you for helping me.”
“Don’t think about it. I’ve been in your place – being locked within four walls is hell. Rest, Evan.” Tommy wished he could lift the uncertainty and panic from the younger man’s shoulders and throw them away.
“Okay. Okay. Uh… thanks again. See you around. Yeah, bye.” Buck, still hesitant, biting his lip, opened the door to his apartment. Tommy watched Evan leave with a lighter smirk, and as soon as the door closed, he let his arms suffer. God, his arms were numb from the weight, and his legs were shaking.
----
As soon as Tommy returned from the supermarket, he put a few bottles of beer on the refrigerator, and the ready-made salty popcorn and a few bags of candy found a place on the countertop of the kitchen island.
“Time for a great romantic comedy and stress relief,” he thought before heading outside, but when he met Evan, he even forgot about the purpose of his exit. Now that he had accomplished his mission, he was going to spend the day off ignoring the text messages from the group chat. Better to watch old movies than hang out on barstools, watching aeromedics argue with drunk Harbor pilots. As he had already changed his shirt to a more comfortable t-shirt with holes from the 118, he heard the clatter of crutches and the rough sound of something or someone falling. The anxiety in his chest was rattling, but he didn't know how to ask or disturb Evan again.
Maddie's going to kill me, was Buck's first thought as the giant vase his parents had given him fell to the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces. The universe hated him, and he hated it back today. First the cancellation of the plan, then the awkwardness with the pilot, and now the vase. And in his head he heard his mother's words,screaming at him about how chaotic he was for just wanting to grab a book off a fucking shelf. Who the hell puts a giant vase on a bookcase? While he was terrorizing the broken vase on the floor, he heard a knock on the door. Putting on his most dramatic face, he moved towards the door and opened it a few seconds later.
"Tommy?" He clearly hadn't expected to see the pilot in his loungewear and carrying a bag of snacks and floppy disks.
"You got it," he snorted and pointed to the floor where a piece of paper lay with the words "Want to watch a movie? We're both single, thought this would help us reacquaint ourselves without getting into trouble." Buck smiled, oblivious to the chaos that was currently reigniting his apartment and amused by the pilot's antics. He had read a completely different note a week ago, and now they both had stupid grins on their faces.
"Well, I have pizza and you have appetizers. Come on in," Buck stepped aside and gave Tommy an excuse to walk into the apartment.
"Wow, this is really pretty." Oh, so the sound of trouble was coming from the vase," he immediately noticed the shards and placed the bag of popcorn and candy on Evan's desk while he closed the door.
"Yeah, I meant to get a book, my arms are too long, I used my crutches but I missed. You can laugh," he rolled his eyes.
"I didn't mean to," he blurted out a little lie.
"Say, what movie do you want to watch?"
"Let me clean up this trash first, where do I get a bag and a vacuum?"
"No, I'll clean it up myself." Evan.
"Pilot."
"That's not help, that's a suggestion. I want to."
"To the bathroom. You know, you make more in four weeks than my friends and family combined, - Buck sat down on the couch and shook his head sadly, while allowing a smirk to escape his mouth.
- Is this supposed to be funny or sad? I'll give you a hint, it doesn't look like a joke, - Tommy's voice came from the bathroom.
- Both? Either way, it doesn't matter now. What CDs do you have? - He started looking at the CDs with bright covers, reminiscent of movies from the 2000s.
- Romantic comedies, I love them. You can pick one, we'll watch it together. I've watched them a thousand times already and I know them by heart. Buck looked at the different covers, all bright and with beautiful elements, but one stood out from the rest. It had several actors on the cover and a note on a piece of paper, it looked like a story about how Tommy met. It made him smile stupidly, and it was probably a good movie to calm down. - Love Actually? You're gonna have to explain it to me dude, this looks like an old movie, what year was that?
- Good choice, 2003.
- God, I was in high school then.
- Now I feel bad, in 2003 I was an LAFD intern after the army. - The army? Cool, my friend Eddie was in the army too and he knows some really cool stuff.
- Not so cool, but okay. I'm done, let's see, is your pizza normal, without pineapple and greens? My Italian roots call for cheap cheese and lots of sauce! - Tommy sat down on the couch next to Evan, and while Evan was setting up the CD,He placed the snacks on the table.
“Let’s watch it,” Buck settled himself more comfortably, placing his foot on the edge of the table and his crutches on the floor.
The two hours spent with Tommy flew by. The movie was great, with a deep meaning and good acting. No matter how many times Buck had to pause the movie and ask about small details, Tommy answered happily and never showed signs of fatigue. Usually Buck couldn’t watch the whole movie anyway, but there was some kind of calming and special aura with Tommy. Perhaps the glint in the man’s eyes and complete love for the movie calmed him down too. Tommy even held out his hand so Buck could examine every callus and scar on his palm. He felt like a kid with a new toy.
“I’m going to add this to my list of favorite movies,” Buck said and awkwardly reached for the coca-cola on the table, but he didn’t reach it. Tommy immediately took it and even opened the lid before handing it to Evan.
Buck raised an eyebrow at the gentlemanly gesture.
“You’re thoughtful. Have you always been like this?”
“Only with good-looking guys.” Buck chuckled.
“I see.” He didn’t really understand, and his heart was beating like a pulsar.
“What else is on your list?”
“Besides documentaries?”
“Sure.”
“Nothing else. Die Hard is a Christmas movie,” my colleague says, and after his tirade about Rambo, all I remember from him is that Rambo is Sylvester Stalloni. And he’s Rocky, That’s all,- Tommy laughs, he actually finds it funny. The charming man with zero knowledge of Hollywood and a purring expression on his face is the cutest thing he’s ever seen.
“Well, you’re not that far off. Want to have a movie marathon while your leg heals? I’ll teach you the difference between Tom Cruise and Tom Hardy and all that.”
“It’s a dangerous game. I might mistake them for Tom Holland and fall in love, fall into a pit of THOMAS.”
“Then I’ll have to save you.” Buck chuckled;
“It sounds like you just want to heroically carry me.”
“You can’t blame me,” Tommy just shrugged.
“We’re flirting right now, aren’t we?” Buck asked, and they both froze for a second, but when Buck chuckled, Tommy seemed to relax.
“Maybe when your leg heals, I’ll ask you out.”
“Another motivation, I’ll remember that then. In the meantime, a movie date will do.” Buck didn’t realize the words were flying out of his mouth at lightning speed, his filter clearly breaking in front of Tommy.
“A movie date? I like that.”
Tommy was in a bad mood when his sister asked him to stay at her apartment as a favor, and he was angry when the clicking of heels wouldn't stop, but who would have guessed that his neighbor in heels was actually his charming future boyfriend? Now - fiance. There were many firsts in their acquaintance: the first kiss with a man, the first love of his boyfriend, their related stories from the past, their first fights and even visits to hospitals, even a breakup. But each time, instead of talking, they showed up at each other's doorstep with notes and exchanged them until the moment they made up.The people around them thought they were both idiots, but for them it was a special ritual. This is their story of how they met, this is their beginning and development in feelings, in relationships. They made this decision in the process of getting to know each other's past. Yelling, ignoring and emotional lack of love made two individuals out of them. Now they try not to let the yelling, difficult words and aggression take over, but simply solve problems with notes. Tommy's favorite movie was "Love Actually", and now the special elements of this movie have become a solid foundation in his relationship with Evan. Tommy knew how to wait, take a break when everything in his life goes to hell, and Evan is a daredevil, he even managed to file a complaint against the department, but they did not go to court, thanks to Tommy. His boyfriend is impulsive, sweet, but abrupt and always says what he thinks, in any situation. Their relationship began as a comedy novel: they complement each other, drive each other crazy, but still together. If Tommy had known that temporarily staying at his sister's apartment would lead him to meet the love of his life, he would never have changed this story. Today, as usual, they will watch "Love Actually" and Tommy will give him a note that he will keep for months along with the velvet fittings that contain the personalized ring for Evan.