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The first time it happens Buck’s in the hospital. Except he’s not the one in a hospital bed this time - Hen is. A small incident happened on a call and she’d ended up needing to be admitted for observation due to a minor head injury. The 118 are spread around the room in various chairs, keeping her company, as nurses walk in and out.
Tommy has joined them after his shift, a sympathetic look on his face as he leans over Hen to give her a quick kiss on the cheek and ask how she is.
“I’d be better if these idiots weren’t lurking around me as if I’m about to die and they’re the grim reaper,” she remarks pointedly, looking around at the crew hovering nearby.
Tommy laughs as he shoots a look over his shoulder at Eddie who’s pacing back and forward. “I’m getting a coffee - anyone want anything?”
Buck shakes his head, worried frown creasing his face as Tommy presses a warm, reassuring hand to his arm on his way out the room.
It’s ten minutes later when Buck notices Tommy hasn’t returned with a coffee. He walks out into the corridor, his eyes searching the hallway up and down but he can only see a few nurses scattered about and his boyfriend is hardly difficult to spot given his physique.
He starts to walk towards the reception area where the coffee machine is and as he turns the corner he hears the unmistakable noise of Tommy laughing. He follows the noise with interest and finds Tommy leaning against a wall as a nurse in scrubs talks to him animately, their hands gesturing wildly. The nurse is a tall, slim guy with dirty blond hair and his eyes are sparkling with amusement as he talks. There’s an air of familiarity between the two.
Buck feels a twinge of something uncomfortable settle in his stomach as the man throws his head back, laughing at something Tommy replied with, and then places a hand on his boyfriend’s chest. Buck’s step falters and he swallows as his hands curl into fists at his side.
He takes a deep breath and walks up to them, a forced smile on his face wavering with uncertainty.
“Hey, wondered where you got to,” Buck says, glancing only once at the nurse before pressing his body up against Tommy’s side and sliding an arm around his waist. He knows he isn’t being subtle but he can’t seem to stop himself.
“Sorry, Evan. Just catching up,” Tommy explains, his eyes soft and slightly speculative as they take Buck in. “This is Aaron, he’s a critical care nurse here.”
Buck turns his body slightly but keeps contact with Tommy as he gives him a smile. “I’m Buck.”
“Nice to meet you. Tommy just mentioned he’s dating a firefighter,” Aaron comments. Buck doesn’t know if it’s his insecurity or something else but he swears he feels Aaron eyes roam over him critically, trying to find all of Buck’s weak spots. It puts him on edge.
“H-how do you two know each other?” Buck asks in a forced, cheery tone which doesn’t fool Tommy for a second if the look he shoots him is anything to go by.
Tommy looks down, avoiding his eyes, and Buck feels his stomach twist. “We, err, dated for a little bit. Couple years ago.”
Buck doesn’t let the smile drop from his face but his cheeks are starting to hurt with the strain. “Oh cool. Cool. Great,” Buck rambles awkwardly as Aaron peers at him with a hint of amusement, the look making Buck feel even more uncomfortable.
“I should go,” Aaron says apologetically, glancing at his pager attached to his scrubs. “Great seeing you as always Tommy. Nice meeting you Buck.” Aaron turns and walks away and the second he is around the corner Buck lets his smile drop and his shoulders slump.
“You seemed friendly with him,” Buck comments, trying his best not to sound like he’s sulking and that he’s merely commenting on the weather.
“He’s a good guy and we cross paths every now and again,” Tommy says, hesitating as Buck shoots him an unimpressed look at the compliment. “We’re on friendly terms, that’s all. Our relationship wasn’t great and we lacked compatibility in a lot of ways.”
“Uh huh,” Buck says quietly, trying not to feel so insecure and pathetic. He knows it isn’t fair on Tommy and he has no right to feel any jealousy toward an ex-boyfriend but it still makes him feel uneasy, like at any point that gorgeous nurse could turn around and want Tommy back and he would go. Tommy has never given reason for Buck to feel that way but his history with partners leaving him leaves long lasting scars.
“I have no feelings for him in any way,” Tommy states forcefully, putting his hands on Buck’s shoulders and levelling a reassuring gaze at him. “You’re all I want.”
This time Buck smiles properly and steps into Tommy’s space again, letting Tommy wrap his large arms around him and provide some comfort to soothe Buck’s insecurities. He knows he has to work on it still. Work on believing he is good enough for this man and he isn’t going to get left at some stage.
Buck pulls back with a mischievous look. “Am I better in bed than he is?”
Tommy laughs, eyes crinkling, and presses a quick kiss to Buck’s lips. “You are in a league of your own in that department. You know that.”
Buck smiles smugly as Tommy walks him back to where Hen is, Tommy’s arm a secure and reassuring weight across his shoulders.
- - - - - - - -
“You must have a picture,” Buck says as he lies on the sofa in Tommy’s house, his feet in Tommy’s lap as Tommy goes through the gallery on his phone.
“I’ll find it.”
“If you come across any naked selfies of yourself in there feel free to forward them on,” Buck says with a grin when Tommy pauses and gives him a look.
“I think you have enough dick pics from me to last a lifetime,” Tommy comments before going back to scrolling through his phone.
“More is better. What if there’s an angle I’m missing? Or different lighting?” Tommy throws a cushion half heartedly at Buck who lets out a chuckle.
“Here ya go,” Tommy announces, passing his phone to Buck who shifts onto his elbows and looks at the picture. It’s Tommy with a thick beard standing somewhere in the french countryside with a hiking stick, shorts and a thin t-shirt on. Buck should be focusing on how insanely delicious his boyfriend looks in the photo but instead his eyes slide immediately to the man next to him who is grinning widely and has his arm curled around Tommy’s waist. He’s shorter than Tommy and slightly stocky but clearly strong given the tanned biceps and calves on show.
Buck realises he’s frowning at the screen when Tommy interrupts his thoughts. “Not a fan of the beard then. Good to know.” Tommy reaches for the phone but Buck snatches it back, not done zooming in on the guy standing next to Tommy and assessing every part of him.
“Who’s the guy?” Buck asks as casually as possible. Tommy sighs which means it didn’t come out casual.
“Luca. We met when I was in Paris. Hit it off and travelled together for a bit. He was from Italy but was doing some photography work around Europe.”
Buck nods and pinches the screen again to look at the guy’s arms and then his handsome face, all dark hair and eyebrows. “He’s, err, hot.”
Tommy pushes a hand through his hair and Buck gets the sense he’s already a little annoyed by this conversation.
“He was, yeah.”
“I’m guessing you slept with him,” Buck asks as his eyes roam over the screen.
“This might shock you, Evan, but I slept with men before you. He was just a vacation fling. That’s all.”
Buck sighs and finally drags his eyes off the screen to meet Tommy’s. “I know you’ve had men before me but I don’t know, meeting them and seeing them is different for some reason, you know?”
Tommy scratches his chin and peers at Buck softly. “You’ve had a lot of girlfriends and I’ve accepted that and hopefully you can accept that there’s been men before you. Most of them were just fun. You’re more than that to me, you know that.”
Buck nods and let’s out a small smile as he finally moves his finger across the screen and takes a look at Tommy with a full bushy, dark beard. He swallows.
“Fuck,” Buck mutters. He quickly crops the picture, because he doesn’t need the random Italian, and sends it to his own phone with a pleased grin. “That pic is going to get a lot of action the next time you’re on shift and I’m horny.”
Tommy laughs and tickles one of Buck’s feet playfully. “It’ll make a change from you staring at pictures of my dick on your phone.”
Buck’s eyes twinkle as he reaches over down to shove his own sweat pants down, getting ready to take a pic for Tommy.
Tommy shoves his feet off his lap and makes a grab from him, stopping him before he can get very far. “You’re a nightmare. Come to bed,” Tommy orders, promise in his eyes.
Buck throws Tommy’s phone down and stands up, ready to follow. “Ya reckon we could buy a stick on beard or something for you?” Tommy rolls his eyes but halts when Buck grabs his arm. “Maybe we could get you a plaid shirt and an axe so you could be a sexy lumberjack.”
Tommy raises his eyebrows as Buck stares at him wide eyed, clearly thinking it over.
“Maybe next time I grow it out I’ll fulfil that dream. If you’re good.”
“I’m always good,” Buck insists as they take the stairs up to the bedroom. Tommy snorts in reply.
- - - - - - -
“Do you think I could pull off a crop top?” Buck asks, his voice loud and slurring slightly, speaking over the music. He’s sat at the bar with a colourful drink in his hand, watching some guys grind against each other on the dance floor, as his knees knock against Tommy’s who’s sitting opposite him on the other bar stool.
Tommy raises an eyebrow. “Yes. I would love to see that,” Tommy mutters darkly, leaning forward and rubbing his large hand on Buck’s thigh. Buck smiles, pleased, his face slightly warm and flushed from the heat inside the bar, the alcohol and his boyfriend’s attention on him.
“They’re all so confident,” Buck states wistfully, waving a hand to the men dancing. He wraps his mouth around his straw and drinks the last of his drink before Tommy pushes a new one towards him on the bar top. He’s definitely feeling tipsy. Tommy has moved his stool closer which Buck hopes means he’s about get felt up a little but it’s far more likely it means he wants to ensure Buck doesn’t fall sideways off the stool.
“You wanna take your top off and dance, baby? Feel free,” Tommy suggests in a light tone, his eyes travelling over Buck’s shirt.
“Maybe I’ll give you a private dance later,” Buck says boldly, waggling his eyebrows and causing Tommy to let out a laugh that fills Buck with warmth.
“You better,” Tommy says lowly, leaning in and pressing their lips together in a quick kiss.
“Tommy?” a male voice says from behind Buck. Buck turns as a man around his own age comes up to them, standing between their stools. He has black, floppy hair hanging over his forehead, deep brown eyes and is wearing a tight, thin blue t-shirt that clearly shows off how in shape he is underneath the cotton.
“Marshall! Hey man, long time no see,” Tommy says with a smile, getting up off the stool to share a quick hug. “Thought you were in New York now.”
“I am, just back in town visiting my sister,” Marshall replies before turning his eyes on Buck and then back to Tommy. “You going to introduce me?”
“This is Evan. Evan, this is Marshall who is a good friend from a while ago before he left to follow a boy across the country,” Tommy explains but Buck feels like something is missing in that story.
“Most people call me Buck.” Buck shakes his hand, eyes scanning him critically.
“Big, strong guy. Can I assume a firefighter?” Marshall asks with a wink.
“Sure am,” Buck says back, a slight edge to his voice, his eyes taking in the guys muscles as if assessing him for a fight. He knows his thought process is ridiculous but the alcohol is causing things to become a little more hazy than he likes.
Tommy’s giving him a wary look, eyes narrowed, which he usually does when he feels Buck is becoming slightly unpredictable. Marshall gives him a slow smile in a considering way that makes Buck shift on the stool.
“You’re cute,” Marshall states, head tilted. “You guys open or…?” Marshall looks at Tommy, eyebrow raised in question.
Buck looks between the two men in confusion as Tommy’s face goes hard and he shakes his head. “No, we’re not.” Tommy’s tone is assertive and there’s a warning there as he levels a gaze at Marshall.
“Shame because I think we could all have a lot of fun together,” Marshall says suggestively, glancing at Buck with a leer and putting a hand on his thigh. Buck’s brow furrows deeper, his brain trying to connect what’s happening as he stares at the hand that is definitely NOT his boyfriend’s touching him. It’s quickly removed by Tommy who’s now standing tall with an annoyed look on his face, his body turned slightly like he’s trying to block Marshall from Buck.
“We’re exclusive,” Tommy snaps again. “Don’t touch him unless he gives you consent, understood?”
Marshall immediately backs off, hands up in surrender as he steps away from them both, reading the situation. “Apologies. You know my number if you boys change your mind,” Marshall turns and walks away, glancing over his shoulder once at Tommy before he’s swallowed up by the dark dance floor.
“Another ex?” Buck asks with a roll of his eyes, taking a sip of his new drink and swaying a little. Tommy turns to face him fully and pushes into his space, Buck’s thighs spreading to accommodate him. Tommy looms over him and Buck can’t help by place a hand on his big, warm chest with a pleased smile that this gorgeous man is his.
“Just a guy I used to hook up with. No relationship, just casual,” Tommy explains, hands gripping Buck’s thighs possessively. “He wanted a threesome.”
Buck’s face contorts into disgust and Tommy gives a laugh. “Yeah, I’m not sharing you, Evan. Don’t worry. I’m the only one who touches you, OK?”
Buck grins up at Tommy drunkenly, eyes slightly glazed over. “And me. I only touch you. Only me. OK?” Buck says loudly, jabbing a finger into his chest.
“Only you,” Tommy says softly as his warm breath fans across Buck’s pink cheeks. “Let’s go home, baby.”
Buck has never been happier to leave a bar.