Work Text:
Eddie stared at the flyer in his hand with a straight face. Taking in the dark purple background with dancing flames framing a shirtless man in the centre, clad in turnout trousers and suspenders. His eyes swept over the words at the top of the flyer.
LAFD Sizzle and Spark Bachelor Auction
He slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting Buck’s wide hesitant ones, “You’re joking?” He asked deadpan.
Buck stopped fidgeting with his hands and slumped, reaching out and grabbing the flyer from Eddie’s hands hastily, “You think it’s a bad idea?” He asked, biting his lip as he cast his eyes over it once again.
Eddie hesitated, “I mean, it is for charity I guess but… well this can’t be mandated by the department surely?” He asked, gesturing to the man on the flyer.
Buck snorted, “You’ve seen the calendar remember? Just ask Mr April over there, the department using shirtless firefighters to raise money is nothing new.” He said.
“Shirtless firefighters?” Chimney echoed, his head lifting from his laptop for the first time since he sat down, he pushed his chair back and stood, gesturing for Buck to hand him the flyer. His eyebrows raised and an amused smirk rose on his face, “You’re entering the firefighter bachelor?”
Buck frowned, “It’s for charity!” He defended, holding his hands up, “Come on, it’s at the annual gala just before the private dinner. We will be there anyway to mingle with the public, I might as well raise some money at the same time.”
Chimney hummed, “Shirtless?” He asked.
“No!” Buck grumbled, “No, I’ll be in my department issued dress suit like everyone else.”
Eddie laughed quietly, “What are they auctioning for anyway? A tour of the engine? A free lesson in fire safety?” He teased.
Buck scratched the back of his neck, “U-uh it’s a date.” He said, wincing slightly at the way Chimney's eyes lit up. Eddie’s grin dropped from his face, a sinking feeling in his chest as Buck's words settled in.
“A date!” Chimney exclaimed gleefully, “Oh Buckley, do you even know what you're getting yourself into?”
“Buck, maybe that’s not the best idea-“ Eddie started, his hand automatically reaching out for Buck’s shoulder. Buck stilled under his touch before slumping and letting out a sigh, “-come on Buck. You’ve seen the people of LA when they’re obsessed with firefighters-“
“Badge bunnies!” Chimney supplied helpfully, his grin widening.
“- w-well yes. Crazy obsessed with the job you do, that’s all.” Eddie finished.
Buck took a step back, “I know, but come on, it’s not a real date. It can’t be that bad surely. I go to dinner, get fed, show off my arms, call it a night.” He shrugged.
Eddie let a choked noise slip from his throat before he could stop it. The thought of Buck sat opposite some woman, showing off for her, recounting his best stories and biggest saves for her sick enjoyment of their job. He ignored the bad taste in his mouth.
“W-weren’t you just saying you want something real?” Eddie asked, his tone forcibly casual.
Buck chuckled freely, “Like I said, I’m going into this knowing it’s not real.” He replied, “Come on, it’s for charity, you should enter too!”
“Absolutely not.” Eddie shut it down, “I told you, I’m not-“
“Yeah yeah,” Buck waved him off, but his bright grin and mischievous eyes let Eddie know he was only teasing, “You’re not interested.”
Eddie nodded, “Exactly.”
“You’re going to support me though right?” Buck asked, jutting his bottom lip out in a pleading pout.
Eddie ignored the curdling of his stomach and forced a smile, “Of course bud, charity right?”
••
Eddie didn’t hate charity.
He just hated this stupid event.
“Okay! Next up for the taking is… Evan Buckley of the 118!”
Buck wasn’t a prize (ignoring the fact in this context - he was), and he wasn’t a bit of meat to be paraded in front of a cheering crowd. He wasn’t some cut and dry macho fireman with the personality of wet drywall.
He was brave, and strong, and kind, and considerate, and he deserved better than to be standing on some poorly constructed stage in downtown LA about to be auctioned off to some random person for a night of romance.
Eddie’s mood soured at the cheers that filled the hall as Buck, his Buck, made his way onto the stage. Bucks bright grin made his heart thud in his chest, a painful dull ache spreading through him. The lights on stage caught Buck in a beautiful light, bouncing off his curls and enhancing his bright blue eyes. Bucks eyes swept the crowd, catching Eddie’s gaze for a moment.
Eddie wanted to stand, but he stayed glued to his seat as he watched Buck reach the presenter. His uniform clung to him sinfully and Eddie hated the way the audience's eyes were glued on Buck. He could see the glazed eyes and small, shy smiles from women around the room as Buck waved awkwardly from the stage.
Eddie wanted to hit the woman three tables over who was making a show of fanning herself with her auction card. Her stupid giggle, her stupid red lipstick, her stupid face looking at Buck with interest and excitement.
A snort to his right caused Eddie’s head to whip over to Ravi, who was smirking at him, “Are you okay over there?” He asked, keeping his voice down.
Eddie frowned, “I’m fine.” He replied, but it came out slightly gruff causing Ravi’s smirk to drop.
“Hey,” Ravi started hesitantly, leaning closer and lowering his voice, “I know this maybe isn’t the place, but that night at the club… did I understand the look you sent me?”
Panic jolted through Eddie and his heart thudded in his chest, he looked at Ravi with wide eyes, but started to settle when he saw Ravi’s kind and patient expression looking back at him.
Eddie shuffled in his seat, “Most likely,” he confessed, his eyes dashing back to Buck for a second as he went through his introduction, “there might be a small chance I’m not interested in women.”
Ravi smiled softly, “Proud of you man,” he said, clapping a hand on Eddie’s shoulder. A warm feeling spread through Eddie’s chest and he grinned back at Ravi, but quickly fell as the mischievous smirk returned on Ravi’s face, “so… are you interested in men or a specific man?”
Eddie glared at him, “What do you think?”
Ravi snorted, “I think you should open your wallet, your boy is about to be auctioned off.” Eddie narrowed his eyes before slumping in his seat with a huff.
“Hey,” Ravi said gently, nudging him, “I am really proud of you.”
Eddie smiled softly, “Thanks Rav.”
“Okay, it’s starting, it's starting!” Karen exclaimed, her eyes bright as she gathered everyone’s attention. Eddie’s breath caught in his throat as he locked his eyes on Buck once again.
“I reckon like $350.” Hen said.
Chimney cackled, “Way too high, he’s worth $60 at best.”
Maddie was quick to slap his shoulder lightly, “Watch it,” she laughed, “he’s priceless.”
Eddie tuned out the rest of the conversation as the auctioneer stepped up to the podium, “Okay, opening bids are starting at $50-“
“$200!”
Eddie choked, his head whipping round to the woman three tables over, her stupid auction card no longer a fan but now held proudly in the air, claiming her stake. Her red lips curled into a satisfied smirk at the ripple of excitement through the crowd. Buck was laughing on stage and grinned at her.
“$230!”
“$240!”
The shouts echoed around the room and Eddie’s stomach curdled, his heart dropping like stone in his chest. Eddie knew Buck was attractive. He knew Buck was desired, it shouldn’t be a surprise that people were desperate to get a date with him - he was great to hang out with.
The problem wasn’t that other people wanted him.
The problem was that Eddie wanted him.
And instead of being honest with himself earlier and allowing himself to understand his feelings for Buck, he suppressed them. Now he was missing his chance and watching as Buck was auctioned off to the highest bidder.
“$270!”
“Two Seventy-FIVE!”
“$290!”
Eddie could see it so clearly. The horrible woman with the red lipstick and sweating problem would win, Buck would take her to whatever swanky restaurant the LAFD had booked out for these dates. He would sit opposite her like a man carved by god, dressed in his best clothes and smelling heavenly in his date cologne. The one that Eddie bought him for Christmas.
“$300!”
“$350!!”
“$380!!!”
They would order their mains, and then share a dessert. The drinks would be flowing and the kitchen wouldn’t be able to clean their cocktail glasses fast enough before the next one was on the table. The awful woman would smudge her lipstick on the glasses, does she not know how hellish it is to clean lipstick off a glass!?
“$400!”
She would tilt her head, look up at Buck with glazed eyes and a suggestive smirk.
“$420!”
She would lean back and let her heel clad foot trail the inside of Bucks calf.
“$450!”
Buck would smile sheepish but confident. A look that only Eddie should ever see would come over his face. He would ask for the bill.
“470!”
They would stand. Buck would help her put her jacket on, and push the chair back in behind her. He would hold the door for her as they left, giggly and tipsy together.
“$500!”
He would lead her back to his truck, offer her a ride home. Open the door for her and send her soft smile at red lights and pretend he didn’t notice the suggestive looks she would send him.
“$530!”
He would laugh when she suggested he come in, but he wouldn’t say no.
“$560!!”
He would kiss her-
“$800!”
Eddie registered a second too late that he was suddenly standing. His chair had scraped back harshly and he wasn’t sure if that was why everyone was suddenly looking at him, or whether it was because he had loudly, and proudly, just bidded on a date with his best friend.
His eyes slipped from the stage, to the crowd, to the people at his table. The hall was quiet, small ripples of chatter and whispers as people looked from him to Buck and back.
Ravi, Hen and Karen were grinning wildly.
Athena was watching with a proud smile.
Maddie had a wide smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
Chimney was smirking at him, his eyes bright with mischief.
Eddie then looked at Buck.
His Buck, standing tall and strong on stage in front of the public and their department, looking at Eddie like the world had tilted on its axis. His eyes were wide, his lips parted in shock, his cheeks a deep red. Then, after his moment of shock, a bright grin bloomed in his face and he looked at Eddie like he had hung the stars.
“$800, going once!”
No one spoke.
“Going twice!”
The woman three tables over glared at him but sat back with surrender. Her red lips downturned.
“Sold! A date with Evan Buckley for $800.” The presenter announced, “Please come to the stage to collect your prize!”
Eddie grinned, pride oozing from him, when he suddenly felt the amusement from his coworkers and friends. He looked back to the table and felt his face go warm, “What?” He asked, a slight shrug to his shoulders.
Like the dam broke, the table dissolved into laughter and teasing. Ravi stood to shake his shoulders and congratulate him again.
“Dude, I had you down for cutting in about $200 dollars ago, took you long enough!” Chimney teased, “Proud of you man.”
Eddie laughed and rolled his eyes, “Thanks Chim.” He said softly.
Maddie stood to hug him, her eyes still glistening with fresh tears. Hen, Karen and Athena all stood to hug him as well. Hen gave him the tightest hug she could muster, whispering a soft “Go get em tiger.” into his ear.
Eddie laughed, and pulled away with a nod. He fixed his suit jacket and ran a hand through his hair, loosening the gel. He pushed his chair in and started weaving through the crowd, his face warming at the whistles and shouts from other stations as he passed.
“Go on Diaz! Get your man!” A familiar female voice whooped. He laughed as he caught Lena Bosko’s eye as he passed. He blissfully ignored the very obvious exchange of money going on between different houses, a suspicious amount going towards Captain Mehta.
He briefly caught the sour look on Tommy Kinard's face, and he couldn’t help the sick satisfaction that bloomed. His face split into a wider grin as he finally made it through the maze of tables and could finally see the end of the stage.
Buck was waiting for him at the bottom of the steps, his hands in his pockets and a nervous look on his face. It was clear he was spiraling, trying to justify why Eddie would bid on him.
Eddie approached him calmly, “Didn’t realize a date with you would cost me so much.” He joked.
Buck choked a laugh, lifting his hand to scratch the back of his neck, “Yeah, no offense man but can you even afford that?” He asked, his voice unsure.
Eddie shrugged, “You’re worth it.” He said simply, taking a step closer, “I’m gay by the way, I think I’ve known for a while but I’ve been too scared to accept it until recently. So yeah, gay… and into you.” Eddie couldn’t remember why he had held back from saying that for so long.
Bucks eyes lifted, wide and surprised, but burning with hope. He licked his lips, “You are?” He asked, “Y-you didn’t have to pay for a date with me. You could have asked for free… I would have said yes.”
Eddie’s heart thudded in his chest, “You would have?” Warmth settled over him like a warm blanket, his eyes soft as he looked at the man in front of him.
Buck laughed, “Of course I would have.” He took a step closer, “It’s you, Eddie. I’m yours for the taking.”
••
A week later, Eddie spent the day as a ball of nerves (much to Bucks amusement) as he changed in and out of five different shirts, styled his hair three times, and almost had a panic attack at the thought of his date cologne running low.
Buck knocked on his door at 6pm on the dot with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and the sweetest smile on his face. He held Eddie’s hand as they drove, he opened the door at the restaurant when they arrived, and he pulled out Eddie’s chair at the table.
Buck sat across from Eddie like a man carved by god.
They ordered their mains, and then they shared the dessert. They tried every cocktail on the menu and the waitstaff were more than happy to collect their lipstick free glasses!
Eddie tilted his head, looking up at Buck with glazed eyes and a suggestive smirk. He leaned back and let his foot trail the inside of Buck's calf. He laughed as Buck stuttered his way through asking for the bill, his face a deep red and flushed.
They stood. Buck helped Eddie with his jacket and pushed the chair in behind him. He held the door open for Eddie as they spilled into the cool night air giggly and blushing.
They didn't make it back to Bucks truck before Eddie hauled him down for a kiss. Whispering Buck’s name like prayer as he blindly led them to where they had parked. They would kiss at red lights and laugh and joke and tease.
They would unlock the door of 4995 South Bedford and the door would close with a slam as Buck pushed Eddie against the door, taking his lips for himself once more. They wouldn’t care that there was going to be a trail of clothes to clean up in the morning as they reached the bedroom.
Eddie smiled, wide and free as he looked up at Buck, “Best $800 dollars I’ve ever spent.” He whispered.
Buck chuckled softly, shaking his head, “Shut up.” He murmured, gently shoving Eddie.
Eddie landed on the bed on his back, breathless and happy as Buck climbed on top of him. Yeah, this was definitely the best money he had ever spent.