Dragon Tommy monsterfucking.... oh my GOD please share with the class that sounds incredible
(they're not at the fucking part of the monstery goodness yet but i wanted to shoutout this wonderful art that got the ball rolling, even though my tommy is human looking.. at least for now?
got inspired by @btmonsterfuckermonday so here's 1k of meetcute to kick off a little series for Dragon Tommy 🐲 1 of ? (also on ao3)
It was a trick of the light, it had to be.
It doesn't get cold enough at night in LA to see your breath, not even in winter and especially not at an active fire scene where the radiant heat from the blaze of an engulfed multi-level structure can reach them over by the line of engines, even if the fire is now contained.
People don't just exhale, uh, smoke, and if it's a firefighter then that means they inhaled it to start with and should definitely get checked out by a medic. Smoke inhalation is no joke, and yet this guy seems.. fine.
Better than fine, actually, judging by the way he's laughing with Chimney like they're best friends. No coughing fit or difficulty breathing or pallid complexion, just soot smeared over a chiselled jaw and etched in the grooves around his eyes as he laughs loud, head thrown back and shoulders shaking. Chim has to grip the guy's arm for leverage to hold himself steady as he doubles over at something the guy says in response, like it's the funniest thing Chim’s ever heard in his life.
Who the hell is this guy? Buck should know if his brother in law has a close firefighter friend outside the 118 but Chim hasn't mentioned anyone so did they just meet on the job tonight?
Athena approaches Bobby within earshot, dividing his attention between Chim’s mystery guy and the updates on the incident. “CCTV confirms one of the workers tossed his cigarette butt off the roof. It landed on the balcony of a floor under construction, door was open, canvas and paint thinner caught the embers, the rest is up in smoke,” she gestures at what's left of the office building, water canons dousing the last of the flames.
He feels kinda dumb for not thinking of cigarettes as an explanation for what he saw, but surely no firefighter is dumb enough to smoke in his turnouts within throwing distance of a blaze, so actually he's not dumb, the idea is dumb. And anyway, he doesn't think Chim would be so buddy-buddy with a guy that dumb. Chim should thank him for thinking so highly of him.
“Good news is, there are no fatalities and no serious injuries.”
He already knew that. They got everyone out mostly unharmed before two levels caved in. They're supposed to be packing up while the 145 douse from the ladder truck and another house handles overhaul.
“That's good to hear. See you at home?” Bobby presses a brief kiss to Athena's cheek, careful not to transfer any soot, and Buck waits for her to walk away before approaching.
“Do you know who that guy is, with Chimney?”
They watch Chim introduce him to Eddie, and then Hen appears and– pulls the guy in for a hug?
Buck’s face scrunches up in confusion. Bobby just smiles.
“That's Tommy. Old 118 alum.”
“Yeah. He transferred out to the 217 not long before you joined the 118, if memory serves.”
“Really.” The 217 must be the other house on scene. The number itches something in the back of Buck's brain but he ignores it in favor of watching Tommy now apparently having Hen in stitches and he's got Eddie grinning at him like he's just met his new best friend. “How ‘bout that.”
There's something about this Tommy guy he doesn't trust.
Bobby pats his shoulder and starts off towards them. “C'mon. You can meet him before we head out.”
A fresh peal of laughter erupts as they reach the group. “Uh, what's so funny?”
“Buck!” Chim grins, still catching his breath. “Hey! You gotta meet our Tommy.”
Our Tommy? Like, collectively?
“Tommy. Good to see you.” Bobby and Tommy shake hands and trade smiles and Tommy calls him Cap like he's still a part of the team.
“Our resident golden retriever,” Chim tacks on, making Buck bristle.
“Uh, hi. Evan Buckley.” He reaches out to meet Tommy's hand and finally gets a close-up look at the guy.
Firm handshake, but not like he has something to prove, he's just a strong guy. His hand engulfs Buck’s, which is kind of distracting. Blue eyes, deep blue, but something warm in them; nice eyes, welcoming, friendly. A few waves of sweaty dark hair curling over his brow that Buck kind of wants to tug to see if the guy unravels. Broad shoulders; good build for a firefighter. Kind of the dream build for a firefighter.
“Tommy Kinard. Nice to meet you, Evan.” Tommy smiles at him and it doesn't feel just for show or forced at all. A nice smile, a real one.
Buck’s hackles lower. He doesn't bother correcting Tommy on his name. “Y-yeah, y-you too.”
He wants to figure this guy out. Find what makes him tick, what he cares about, what Chimney said that made him laugh like that - with his whole face, his whole body.
Tommy's smile dimples and Buck notices the cleft in his chin for the first time. He's handsome. A handsome, buff firefighter with a nice smile. Probably has women throwing themselves at his feet. He wonders if Tommy ever posed for the charity calendar as his eyes sweep over him.
A throat clears somewhere off to their right and Buck follows Tommy's gaze to their still-joined hands, abruptly letting go. “S-sorry, um.” He presses his sweaty palm to the leg of his turnouts, fingers flexing to feel the rough canvas and pinching a fold of it to ground himself, trying to breathe deep and furtive to keep the embarrassed flush from showing on his face.
He risks a glance up at Tommy: the lights of the scene around them reflecting back at him like sparks. It's kind of mesmerising.
Bobby's radio crackles, reminding Buck where they are. He responds to dispatch then says: “118, we're out of here in two minutes.”
Buck deflates with disappointment. He doesn't want to leave. He loves his job but he doesn't want to cut the chance to get to know Tommy short.
“Uh, you from the 217?” The rest of the team splits off to finish packing up as he scrambles to get some information.
“Harbor Station,” Tommy says patiently, not cutting their conversation short or stepping away.
“No, but maybe we should get some.” It's a joke. Tommy's smiling like it's a joke and there's no one else around to hear it now so Tommy made the joke just for Buck. “We do air support, mostly. We also have a ground crew.” He gestures at his turnouts, “Which I am helping today.”
Tommy's smile widens. “I do.”
“That's so cool.” It's awesome. A firefighter and a pilot? And he's funny. And he's talking to Buck like he wants to talk to him. And he can tell instantly that Tommy loves his job as much as he does. “Uh, maybe I'll see you around?” It might be unprofessional but he hopes the 118 needs air support in the near future so he can see Tommy in action.
“Buck, let's go,” Eddie calls out from the rig.
“I gotta..” Buck thumbs over his shoulder at where the engine and the rest of his team are now waiting on him.
“Yeah. Have a good night, Evan.”
It takes effort to turn around, to willingly leave Tommy’s company. Is this how the others felt? They scattered pretty quick, though. But they had already met Tommy and Buck was a little behind.
As he climbs into the rig he looks over at Tommy. Just to.. to get one more look at the guy. To see if his demeanor changed since Buck walked away, to see if Tommy looked relieved he was gone. To see if he was a liar and had fooled Buck with his charm. To see if he needed to be worried about his team.
Tommy is staring right at him. Not the rig, not the rest of the team. Just Buck. A smile quirking his lips and a hand raised in a casual wave goodbye. Buck’s hand lifts against the window as he settles in his seat and the rig pulls away from the scene, onto the next.
He’s further away now but for a brief moment he could swear Tommy’s eyes seem to flash gold. Not reflecting the red and blue and white of the floodlights and vehicles around them but the flames of the burning building. Only, the building is no longer burning.
Must be just another trick of the light.
