Archive of Our Own ^beta

Today's shift has been relatively calm. Not too many calls, no car chases or shootouts. He has spent it mostly in his shop, drinking coffee and listening to the radio chatter and the voice of his partner in the passenger seat. And yet, Tim is in a bad mood. 

“And he's so funny!” Lucy says with a smile, one of her arms resting on the opened window, the breeze making some of her baby hairs fly around her face. “I should definitely bring him around for drinks sometime. Angela would love him!” 

She turns her head and looks at Tim with a smile so bright it nearly blinds him. He's happy to focus on the road and mumbles something that sounds close to a “Sure”, his knuckles nearly white from gripping the wheel so hard. 

He is not jealous. He is Lucy’s teacher and they have a purely professional relationship. It's not like he thinks about her all the time or feels the need to touch her whenever she's close. 

No, they have a very normal, very platonic relationship. It's what he tells Angela too.

And besides, Tim is convinced that Lucy's in love with that firefighter, Evan, she keeps gushing about. 

Lucy had met him a few weeks ago when she called 911 for a small car accident that she had seen on her way to work. And from her stories, he came in like a real hero and saved the day while making everyone in a 5 mile radius swoon. He probably did it all in slow motion and a sensual tune played in the background. 

Tim hates the guy a little bit.

The crackling of the radio interrupts Tim's thoughts and Lucy's gushing and Tim sends a silent prayer of gratitude to the sky for giving him something to do to take his mind off. 

“7-Adam-19 responding.” He speaks into the device in his hand, and the dispatcher's voice lets him know that there's a 5 car pileup just 2 miles from them that needs assistance. “7-Adam-19. Copy, we are en route.” He confirms and Lucy flicks on the lights and sirens. 

She closes the window and sits up straight, and Tim pushes his foot down, their shop speeding down the streets towards their destination.

*** 

When they arrive at the scene it's pure chaos. There is debris and smoke everywhere and both civilians and first responders are running around like headless chicken. Some people are crying, some are just standing around to see what's going on. Tim hates those the most.

Tim and Lucy try to get an overview of what needs to be done, of what the priorities are, but it's near impossible to figure out.

Tim takes a breath. “Boot, close off the scene and make sure none of the civilians were hurt.” He orders, mouth tight. 

Lucy nods and turns and he tries not to look after her. He doesn't need that distraction now.

It takes him 5 minutes to make out the senior officer on scene, and once he reaches her and asks where they need help and what even happened, Lucy is again by his side, the street cleared and red and white striped tape moving in the wind.

His elbow is touching her biceps and for once he's glad that she's still in long sleeves, the warmth of her body enough to make him sidestep, away from her.

***

It takes a long while to clear the scene – to separate the cars and pry open the doors and get out all passengers and take their names and statements of the accident and get the damaged cars off the road. 

At the end of it, Tim is exhausted and in desperate need of a shower, two beers and a nap in front of his TV. 

But because life is cruel, there's a mountain of paperwork waiting back at the station for him to fill out and sign off on. 

He sighs and turns to Lucy, who's already looking at him with her big eyes and her lips slightly pursed in the way that makes it hard for him to think. The front of her shirt is speckled with dust and on her pants – that hug her thighs just right and make him lose his train of thought regularly – there are two small grey hand prints from where she wiped her hands earlier. 

Tim's hands twitch to brush the dirt from her shoulder, instead he grabs onto his belt and clenches his jaw. “Alright, Boot.” He says and she smiles at the nickname. “What are our next steps?” He asks – he is her teacher after all, even though it sometimes feels like she's been in the job for years with how confident and fail proof her actions are. 

Lucy mimics his stance and thinks for a second. 

“Double check with the senior officer on scene, call it in, get the shop and drive back to the station and get started on the paperwork.” She concludes and nods to herself. 

Tim looks down on her and presses his lips together as he shakes his head. “You forgot the most crucial thing, Boot.” He criticizes with a hard voice. 

A small notepad is in Lucy's hands immediately and she flicks through the pages and reads her notes, her eyebrows furrowing closer together with each passing second. 

Tim can't help but smile at her when she looks up at him with a confused expression – he's fucked.

“Coffee.” He answers her silent question and his stomach flips as a grin spreads on her face and the confusion washes away. Tim turns away from her with a quickened pulse. “I already talked to the senior officer on scene.” He throws over his shoulder and makes his way towards the shop, already yearning for the cold breeze of the AC and a cup of coffee in his hands. 

It takes him 10 steps to realize that Lucy is not following him. 

He turns back around and there she is, laughing at something the very tall, very buff firefighter is saying to her. This can’t be happening.

Tim hardens his features and squares his shoulders as he stomps to the pair. “Boot!” He barks. “Is this man involved in our current investigation or why is it that you're not following direct orders?” 

“Tim, Sir, this is Firefighter Buckley.” Lucy says with a sheepish expression. “Buck, this is Tim.” 

Tim looks at the man, who looks back at him, all blue eyes and blonde curls and wide smile. 

It hits him then, that this is the man Lucy has been gushing about every shift. The big hero, who's funny and kind and who's probably sleeping with his-, with Lucy. Not that Tim is in any position to feel angry about that – which he doesn't. His bad mood is only because of the lack of caffeine in his system. Yes, that's it. 

Buckley, or Buck as Lucy has called him, puts his helmet on and extends a hand to Tim. 

“Hey.” He greets and points to the parked fire engine behind him. “I'm from the 118.” 

Their hands meet and Tim probably uses more force than necessary as he shakes his hand. “Bradford.” He gives a curt nod.

Silence falls between them, only momentarily interrupted by the chirp of a departing fire engine and ambulance doors closing as the scene slowly clears out.

“Did you catch one?” Tim asks and motions towards Buck's eye. “Want to file a report?” 

Laughter sounds from the pair in front of him and he feels like there's some big joke he's not in on. Perfect. 

“No.” Buck answers and smiles as he huffs a laugh. “It's a, uh, a birthmark.” One of his fingers rubs over the red spot. 

“Ah.” Tim nods again, his foot tapping against the concrete. Lucy is still smiling. 

“Lucy asked the same when we first met.” Buck grins and gently nudges her shoulder with his. There's something unspoken going on between them, and Tim fights against rolling his eyes. 

The fire engine with the white 118 written on it honks once and Buck looks over his shoulder. A man is leaning out the window and calling for him and waving his hands, motioning for him to get in the car. The smile on Buck's lips widens as he turns back to them. “Alright, gotta go.” He says. “Drinks on Friday are still on.” 

Tim watches as Buck turns and makes his way to his waiting team, rolling his eyes. When did a car accident become an acceptable place for making date plans? 

“And bring him too!” Buck yells over his shoulder and points at Tim, a shit-eating grin on his face. 

***

The counter is cold against his forearms as he leans over to order three beers, the 20 dollar bill crumpled in his hand.

“I am not jealous.” He repeats and turns to look at his best friend leaning next to him. 

Angela is smirking at him and pats his arm lovingly. “Sure, Tim. You barely saying a word and staring at Buck the entire time with daggers in your eyes is you not being jealous. Sure.” She giggles as he groans “I am her boss, Angela. I cannot be jealous.” “Okay.” She nods and takes the beer the barkeeper slides over the counter. “You are though.” 

Tim hands over the bill and grabs his bottle by the neck, taking a big sip. He looks over at their table, where Lucy, Buck and Maddie, Buck's sister, are sitting. Music is playing and still Tim hears Lucy laughing loudly at something Buck has said. His jaw clenches. 

“At least he'll know what to do when you've lit him on fire with your looks.” Angela muses and grabs Tim by the arm to pull him towards the table. 

The seat next to Lucy is free and Angela pushes Tim down with an evil smirk. 

“There you are.” Lucy says with a smile and as she turns towards Tim her brown waves fall over her shoulder. His fingers twitch to touch the soft hair and wrap a strand around his finger. He hands her the bottle of beer instead, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Sorry, line was a bit long.” He mumbles and his eyes follow the long line of Lucy's neck as she takes a sip. The bob of her throat has his mouth going dry and he quickly brings his bottle to his mouth, the liquid bitter as he swallows. 

Tim turns to the table, tries to find out what Angela and Maddie are talking about, but they're too quiet, occasionally looking at him before whispering again. He looks at Buck, who's been nursing the same glass of coke for about 30 minutes now. 

“I didn't know if you wanted a beer too.” He says and scratches at the label of his bottle, small bits getting stuck under his fingernail, condensation wetting his hand.

Buck smiles. “Thanks, but I'm okay for now. Not sure yet if I can drink tonight.” He replies, which confuses Tim since he's pretty sure he saw Buck and Maddie, who's exclusively been having mocktails, arrive here in the same car. 

But then he thinks of Lucy's car in the parking lot and the beer in her hand and it clicks. “Ah.” He grimaces and takes another sip, feels Angela's eyes on him. “Don't want to write you up for a DUI.” 

Buck laughs and Tim relaxes into his chair, spreading his thighs slightly until his knee knocks into Lucy's. His breath hitches at the contact but he doesn't move away. She sends him a smile and his pulse quickens.

***

Eddie knows he's late. He knew he'd be late the second the parents of the other kids in Christopher’s class started asking questions regarding assignments and class trips and exams that are still months out. He knew he'd be late when the cars in the school parking lot all tried to leave at the same time and jammed the exit. And he knew he'd be late when he arrived home to change into his white Henley and freshen up and saw that he had 3 missed calls from Pepa. 

“Come on now!” Eddie groans as he hits the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. “Just go!” The cars in front of him stay exactly where they are, not moving an inch, and Eddie wishes his car had lights and sirens too. 

He picks up his phone from the passenger seat and shoots Buck a quick message saying that he'll be there soon. 

The radio is playing a Rock song and Eddie hums along, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and watching with a relieved expression as the cars in front of him start moving and the streets start to clear. 

10 minutes later he's parked in front of the bar and jumps out of his truck, making sure to lock it before walking towards the entrance. The music is audible even from outside and when Eddie pulls open the door it nearly rings in his ears. He looks to the side and spots the speaker right next to his head and grimaces as he walks deeper into the room. 

Maddie spots him first and waves with a smile, a woman he doesn't know next to her. Eddie smiles back and waves at them, motioning to the bar. 

He turns and orders two beers and watches the table as he waits. There's Buck, there's Lucy and there's Maddie and two people he's not met yet. The woman next to Maddie and the man sitting opposite Buck, eyeing him intensely. 

“Here you go.” The barkeeper says and Eddie turns and hands over the money and takes the bottles with a nod. He walks over to the table and slides into the booth next to Buck, body pressed against him from shoulder to knee. 

“Hey.” Buck says softly and presses his knee harder against Eddie's for a second. “Hi.” Eddie returns smiling and slides one of the bottles towards him. He looks around the table, smiles at Maddie and Lucy, and extends his hand towards the man sitting in front of him. 

“Eddie.” He introduces himself and gets a tight lipped smile and a curt nod in return. “Tim.” The man says and shakes his hand. 

Eddie's nearly lying on top of Buck when he offers his hand to the woman next to Maddie. “Angela.” She says, and Eddie can't help but notice the amused glint in her eyes as she looks from him to Tim.

The conversation picks up again and Eddie rests his hand on Buck's thigh under the table as he leans closer to speak into his ear. “Do you want to drink or can I?” He asks. “Or do you want to get a taxi home?” He squeezes Buck's thigh. 

“You can. I only had a coke and this beer.” Buck replies, his breath warm on Eddie's cheek. “All okay at the school?” “Yeah, Maria P’s mom just asked 300 questions instead of reading the Emails we all get.” Buck knows he's rolling his eyes without even looking. “Without me you also wouldn't be reading those.” 

Eddie grins. No luck denying that.

“So, you two work together?” Tim asks and leans back, mindlessly throwing an arm over the back of Lucy's chair, staining her cheeks a faint pink. “At the 118, yeah.” Eddie returns with a smirk and raises a brow. “And you're Lucy's boss?” 

If looks could kill Eddie would be dead, still he sends Lucy a smile. “I've heard a lot about you.”

“Oh, have you?” Angela throws in and leans forward, a wicked grin on her lips. She looks at Lucy and then at Tim and his arm over her chair. Eddie has a feeling that she and Maddie are getting along great, the meddling matchmakers they are.

“Just about how hard you are.” Lucy says quickly to stop Eddie and Buck from spilling her secrets, and Tim quirks a brow. 

“On me. How hard you are on me.” She adds, her cheeks now a deep shade of red. “Ah.” Tim muses. “I was starting to get concerned.” 

The table huffs a laugh and Lucy finishes her beer to hide the blush creeping down her chest. 

She pushes her chair back and gets up, movements a little bit too hectic to look nonchalant.

“I'm going to the bar, anyone want anything?” She asks and Tim stands up, holding up his empty bottle. “I'll join you.”

Now that they're not face to face with the two cops, Eddie slides his arm around Buck's waist, hooks his thumb into one of his belt loops. It feels like it's been ages since he last touched him properly, even though he knows they made out just a few hours ago on the couch in the loft before getting interrupted by a coughing Bobby.

He leans closer, presses a kiss against Buck’s jaw, his stubble prickly against the soft of his lips. Buck smiles, a second later his hand is on the back of Eddie's head, pulling him close. 

The kiss is all lips and tongue, slow and lazy. Nothing like at the beginning of their relationship when Hen had to regularly remind Eddie that No he could not sit in Buck's lap and make out with him in a bar before 10pm even if he really really wanted to. 

They pull away and Buck smiles, slides his hand to cup Eddie's cheek, chuckles as Eddie tugs him closer. “Chris is with Pepa the whole weekend, yes?” Buck whispers, eyes flickering between Eddie's lips and his eyes. It makes Eddie's insides feel all gooey. Like they're made out of jelly. “Correct, got the whole house to ourselves, big boy.” 

Buck kisses him again, if only for the pet name. 

“I think it's so funny.” Angela says suddenly, smiling at Buck as he turns to face her and throws a lazy arm over Eddie's shoulder. “What?”

“That Tim thinks Buck and Lucy are dating.” 

“He what?” Eddie barks, covers it with a cough, tries again. “Why would he think that?” When he looks at Buck he sees the same confused expression on his face. 

Maddie groans and throws up her arms. “See, they are totally oblivious!” She says to Angela. “Now imagine what a pain it was to get them together.” Angela laughs, nods her head towards Lucy and Tim making their way back to the table. “Tell me about it. Gonna need your advice for those two.” 

The pair sits down with new drinks, now alcohol free, and Tim pushes his chair slightly closer to Lucy's. Their shoulders are now touching.

“When are you gonna be around for game night again?” Buck asks Lucy, giving her one of the smiles that's reserved for close friends only. Judging by Tim's facial expression, that's not helping their case. Perhaps, Eddie thinks, he just has to turn it up a notch. Not that he minds.

He scoots even closer to Buck, now nearly sitting in his lap, and smiles at Lucy. “Perhaps you can bring Tim!” He proposes and looks at the man. “Not really a fan of games.” Tim shoots back, shrugs his shoulders. “I’m more of a sports guy.”

“Buck and I love playing basketball!” Eddie exclaims, turns his head to look at Buck who’s eyeing him with a frown. “Do we?” He asks quietly and Eddie quickly pinches him in the side, earning a pout and a muffled yelp. Maybe Buck is the oblivious one. “We do.”

“Baseball.” Tim says with a half apologetic smile. “But I like watching it more.” 

“We try to stay away from sports with smaller balls, ever since that one call where a guy had a golf ball stuck in his eye.” Buck says and Angela visibly recoils at the mental image. 

“That one was brutal.” Eddie adds. “I immediately cancelled our reservation for mini golf the next week.” He splays his hand on Buck's waist, resting his head on his shoulder. Tim is still staring down at his boyfriend like he wants him to drop dead. 

“Christopher was gutted.” Buck remembers, a soft smile on his face. “But we made up for it with ice cream.” 

***

A good while later they've abandoned their table and took on a game of darts instead. 

Eddie leans against a wall, sipping on his beer as he watches Buck’s fluid movements. The arrow flies through the air and hits the 18 and Buck groans. “Come on!” He complains and throws up his hands and Angela laughs, already lining up to take her shot. “Didn’t you say you were good at this?” She teases and a giggle breaks out of Eddie at Buck’s expression. It reminds him of a sad puppy. “I am!” He shouts and stands next to Eddie, who reacts quickly and puts one of his hands in the back pocket of Buck’s jeans – his happy place.

Angela aims for a second, then throws and hits the double six, the dartboard lighting up and blinking and loudly proclaiming her the winner of the game. Lucy and Maddie cheer for her and Angela grins as she twirls and bows. Tim watches with a smile and high-fives Angela as she goes to stand next to him.

“Unlucky at darts, lucky in love?” Eddie offers and smiles cheekily at Buck, who lets his head fall forward on Eddie’s shoulder, his curls tickling the delicate skin. “I’ll never recover.” He mumbles, Eddie’s body vibrating as he laughs. “Drama.”

“You’ll win next time.” Lucy promises and pats Buck’s shoulder in passing, which promptly earns him a grim look from Tim. Eddie is starting to grow not only a little bit frustrated. 

As funny as it is that Lucy’s boss slash crush seems to be missing the very big, very gay elephant in the room – how, Eddie has no idea – it gets to a point. 

“I think I could bend you over that table right there and Tim would still believe you and Lucy were dating.” Eddie whispers into Buck’s ear, who looks up at him with a mock pout. “You can’t say stuff like that.” He returns and slides one of his hands from Eddie’s waist to the small of his back underneath his white Henley. “Why?” “Because it gets me hard.” 

A barking laugh breaks out of Eddie and Buck too is giggling (and also slightly readjusting his jeans), getting the group’s attention. “What’s so funny?” Maddie asks with a raised brow, three arrows in her hand as Tim starts a new game on the board. “Nothing.” Eddie lies, tips of his ears burning hot and a grin spreading his lips. “I hope that at least one sibling brings the win home.” “Amen to that!”

As they watch the game, Maddie is actually very good, Buck clears his throat. “Eddie and I gotta go for a minute.” He announces and tugs on Eddie’s arm, more or less discreetly nodding his head towards the bathrooms. “Do we?” Eddie mumbles but allows Buck to move him. “Yes, Eddie. Remember that phone call with Chris?” Buck asks and keeps pulling on him, until it finally seems to click and his face lights up. “Ah, yes of course. The phone call with my son.” Eddie says and shakes his head with a smile. “How could I forget?” He lets Buck pull him away.

“Are they aware that it’s midnight?” Angela asks, grinning, and takes a swig of her drink. “For the sake of my mind,” Maddie says and forcefully throws the dart into the very middle of the board, “I am going to pretend that my brother’s son is actually still awake.”

***

A few hours and many unplanned drinks later, Maddie gets into the passenger seat of the car and leans on Chimney as she waves goodbye through the driver side window. “Goodnight guys!” She shouts and grins as a sleepy Chimney, who’s already in his pajamas, leans over to put on her seat belt and lock the passenger door. 

“We have to do this again some time!” “Definitely!” Angela grins, holding tightly onto Wesley’s arm. “I’ll call you for advice.” She inclines her head towards Tim and Lucy.

Eddie uses his free left hand to wave goodbye, the other is planted firmly on Buck’s waist, not letting him get away as they watch Chimney’s car speed off. 

Angela is off soon after, getting dragged to her car by Wesley who’s still in his suit from a long night at work. Her giggles echo over the parking lot and it takes a few minutes until the car starts and Wesley drives onto the street with a bit of red lipstick smudged on his nose.

“I hate to say this,” Tim says and Buck and Eddie turn to face him, “But I can’t let you drive like this, Eddie.” “He won’t.” Buck says quickly, flashes Tim a reassuring smile. “I am.” “And Maddie’s car?” “She’s getting it tomorrow.” Eddie explains, holding onto Buck for dear life – not necessarily because he’s drunk (he’s tipsy at most), but just because he wants to. “We’re going home.”

Lucy searches in her purse for her keys and pulls them out with a triumphant grin. “Me too.” She says and stifles a yawn. “I got a shift tomorrow.” “And you better be on time.” Tim mumbles, a smirk pulling on the corner of his mouth. “Yes, sir.” 

“Alright.” Eddie says, grins and starts pulling Buck towards his car, hands already grabbing for him. “Good night!” Buck shouts, his words nearly swallowed by Eddie’s hot mouth on his. The hood of the car is digging into his back and he groans as Eddie hungrily sucks his bottom lip between his teeth, one hand already palming at his ass. He has waited long enough.

“Oh.” Tim says, mouth slightly ajar and his brows furrowed. “Oh.”

Eddie grins into the kiss, breaks apart briefly to wink at a blushing Tim before diving back in, Buck already grabbing him by the collar.

Lucy’s laugh grows quiet in the distance and soon a car is leaving the parking lot.

Buck moans into Eddie’s mouth, grabs a fistful of hair and tastes the beer on his tongue. His hand moves all the way from Eddie’s waist to his ass, stopping briefly to paw at it and then continuing its way to the front of his jeans.

“Right here?” Eddie breathes into his mouth, trails kisses to the sensitive spot below Buck’s ear that makes him whimper. “Bit freaky but it’s kinda hot.”

“Eddie.” Buck says, hands now digging into the front of Eddie’s jeans. Eddie continues sucking a mark into his skin, to show everyone what’s his. His teeth graze the soft skin.

“Eddie.” Buck repeats and gently pushes against his chest. Eddie pulls away, dark eyes glazed over and pupils blown wide. “Yeah?” He breathes, takes in Buck’s red lips and the way his birthmark is a perfect color match. He commits the view to memory.

The jingle of keys grabs his attention as Buck pulls them out of Eddie’s front pocket and holds them in front of his face with a smirk. “Let’s take this home.”