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Buck doesn't think he's a very hateful person. Sure, there are certain things he hates: itchy scarves, long ads on YouTube, lightning or thunder, and other normal stuff. But, he doesn't hate people. Not really, anyway. Now and again he'll say something like, "God, I hate it when they do that". Or, "I hate how they always..." But, he never says it sincerely. Never before has Buck known someone that has made his insides furl, fists quake, and fill him with such unease that just hearing about them makes him feel nauseous.
And yet, that is exactly how Buck feels about Tommy Kinard. It's weird for a wide array of reasons. The most prominent being that Buck actually thinks- well, thought- that Tommy is a really cool guy. He flies helicopters into emergencies, and risked almost everything to try help Bobby and Athena. If that wasn't badass, Buck doesn't know what is! He also makes him laugh, and they got on to the point where they really felt like friends.
So, why does he now get annoyed every single time Eddie mentions him? It doesn't make any sense! Buck knows damn well that Eddie can have friends other than him- hell, Buck has a ton of friends that aren't Eddie- but something about him hanging with Tommy just...it drives him up the wall. At first it was small things: getting beers, chatting about basketball, and exchanging cool stories. All these were fine, right? But then it escalated into going on trips together or going to big basketball matches or doing Muay Thai together.
Eddie getting Ravi to cover his shift so that he and Tommy could go to Vegas again (what's so good about Vegas anyway?) is what pushed him over the edge.
"It's just frustrating, you know? They are always together! The other day, he invited me over, and I thought 'cool'. Turns out: he wanted me to watch Chris so he could go out with Tommy!" He complains while Hen and Chim sit on the sofa from across him. "Did you...not wanna do that?" asks Hen, eye brow raised questioningly.
"What? Of course- I mean- I love Chris, I'll always hang with him. It's just..." he trails off, wavering his hands in some gesture that he hopes conveys the emotions that he feels. Ravi joins the group now, while Bobby gets to work in the kitchen. "I thought that you liked Tommy? Aren't the three of you friends?" Ravi asks, confused. How does nobody else see how weird it is that Tommy and Eddie always hang out? "I do like Tommy, I-" He's at a loss for words.
Hen and Chim share an unreadable look, while Ravi just sits and watches. "I like Tommy, I do. Something about it just feels wrong." He says, well aware of how pathetic it sounds. None of the 118 seem to know what he means. "So, the problem is that he is hanging with Eddie? Not Tommy himself?" Questions Chim as the team moves to help Bobby dish out the pesto paste that he made. Once everyone has fixed themself a bowl, they sit around the dinner table.
"Sounds like someone is a little jealous." Muses Bobby with a smirk.
"Jealous?!" he echoes, brows furrowed. Nobody else looks even slightly bewildered at Bobby's comment, as if he was speaking their minds. "What's there to be jealous of?" Even the blares of LA traffic can't be heard over the awkward silence the packs the air. "I just mean tha-" Bobby tries to work himself out of the accidental hole, but the damage is done.
"Eddie is my best friend, why would I be jealous? Cuz- cuz he's been hanging out with Tommy?" Oddly, 'Tommy' is the word used with most emphasis. Before anyone else can join in, he reaffirms the statement. "I'm not jealous of Eddie's friendship with Tommy, okay?"
Nobody gets the opportunity to protest for the tones ring, alerting them of a call.
-
Hen, Chim, and Bobby all sit in the kitchen. It's been two days since their conversation with Buck, and now's the first time that they've had the opportunity to discuss it.
"We're all thinking the same thing, right?" Checks Hen, looking at the two men as they nod in agreement.
"That Buck is this close to finally realising his feelings for Eddie?" Chim confirms, smirking.
"Nobody tell Athena, I really want to win the pool we've had going." Warns Bobby as the three huddle around the counter, discussing the debts owed and predictions for how long it will take.
"Knowing Buck, even when he realises, he won't want to risk his friendship with Eddie. They'd have to wait for Eddie to realise!" Hen theorises, deep in thought. While Bobby agrees with her, Chim tuts in disapproval. "Impulsive, reckless Buck? Come on, he won't last. No, no, no. He'll do some grand gesture- or admit it mid fight, or when they're hurt on call or something!" He confidently declares, waving his hand around like he's a Shakespearean actor.
Ravi saunters over, arguing: "What? Do we live in a soap opera? Come on, man, be a realist." Hen nods at him, and Bobby makes a hum of agreement as Chim fights for his view.
"Lets face it: we're the most dramatic firehouse in the LAFD! Why not have dramatic romances? They've been pining for six years, and now Buck's jealous that Eddie is hanging with another dude! Open your eyes, people!" Counters Chimney.
The debate lasts awhile, with each person bringing a fresh theory or pointing out extremely homoerotic things that the 'best friends' have done in the past.
"We can all agree on one thing though, right?" Bobby says above everyone else, hushing them as they listen to their captain.
"Buck's jealousy is the nail in the coffin?" Guesses Ravi, shrugging.
"That, and that we do not tell them about this." Chim makes a noise of protest.
"I agree with Bobby, they need to navigate this themselves. Even if it's taking six years." Hen says, pinching Chim.
"But, with this, it's only a matter of time." Ravi finally says, this time everyone agreeing.
-
Somewhere along the line, it goes from off-handed comments to a full out event. A group chat is formed of: Chim, Hen, Bobby, and Ravi. Maddie, Athena, and Karen are added soon after. Each person fills in new bizzare moments of the two alongside new theorises or ideas. People wage money over almost everything. Who will realise first, confess first, when, how, why, where, and all sorts. There are even ideas on Chris' reaction or where their first date may be. One night, when Buck and Eddie are in El Paso to see Eddie's family, everyone comes to Bobby and Athena's to go over all the crazy shit from over the years. It's briefly considered that they are being creepy and over stepping, but it's quickly discarded.
Even when Buck gets with Tommy- a twist none of them had actually predicted- they hold out hope. They continue their theorising on the side, secretly dissecting interactions, or over-analysing their body movement throughout the six month relationship. Bobby tries to act casual, but Chim knows that the captain is equally invested. It's a whole rollercoaster of events. When Tommy dumps Buck, they respectfully put a hold on the ideas to support their hurting friend, but are back to pulling out the whiteboard in no time. Ravi bets there was more too the break up. Chim was convinced he had won, and they'd be together in a week. Then, with Eddie moving to El Paso, Bobby sadly concluded that he thought it was a lost cause- and that Chim wouldn't get his cheesy romcom confession. Hen nearly throws in the towel when she hears that Buck slept with Tommy again. But, when Chim blurts out what Maddie may or may not have told him as a secret, about the real reason behind the breakup, they are all back in the game, and Ravi celebrates his correct theory.
Bobby's death brings everything to an abrupt halt.
Suddenly Chim, Hen, and Ravi don't feel like theorising. Buck and Eddie living together- something they would have earlier eaten up- doesn't feel as amusing when the only reason behind it is Bobby's funeral. Athena stops making playful remarks about them, too busy with the weight of her grief to try. Chim's guilt fosters beneath his skin, ever-present, and he can barely look Buck (the one that they all know is basically Bobby's son) in the eye without the constant reminder, never mind spend his time analysing it. Every time the duo do something that Bobby predicted- like Eddie's stupid stunt to save Buck and Ravi- their hearts ache.
Hen makes a comment every so often, Ravi gives a funny look here and there, and sometimes Chim will dramatically roll his eyes behind their back if they act coupely. But, it isn't the same. Not without Bobby to shake his head while doing that smirk of amusement and disbelief like he always used to do.
It isn't until months later, when Eddie (back with the 118) and Buck (weirdly still living with Eddie) admit to the 118 to have been dating for a month, that their enthusiastic spark reignites. Money is passed through the group, rumours proven and disqualified, and "I told you so!" is decreed about a million times. Athena, Karen, and Maddie join in the celebration of finally being right after eight long years. Hen, Chim, and Ravi all make a private toast to Bobby- congratulating his spirit (that Chim is convinced is listening) on his correct predictions.
-
"What's all this about theories? I'm so confused?" Eddie asks, clearly taking note of the not-very-discreet money passing. They are all sat at the dinner table in the loft, eating Buck's pasta. Hen snorts into her hand, trying to pass it off as a cough. Buck and Eddie look equally confused. "That...is a long story." Ravi assures them, swiftly trying (and failing) to change the subject. "So?" Buck prompts, looking around for somebody to answer. All eyes eventually settle on Chim. He sits forward, clearing his throat.
"It all started two years ago, when Ravi covered Eddie's shift..."