Imagine a young, new probationary firefighter, Buck, joining the 118. He meets his new partner, Eddie, who shows him the ropes but has just joined a year before him. Buck is nervous, but excited.
He's hot-headed, and Eddie is exasperated and sending his captain pleading looks. Little by little, Buck grows on them. Like an eager young pup wiggling into their hearts. Eddie gets a surprise when Buck becomes Chris' new favorite person. He's surprisingly very good with kids, much to the 118's surprise one day at a BBQ at Bobby's place. Buck sat right with the kids on the ground, large gangly legs criss-crossed as he shared a riveting story.
One day, during one of Buck's off days while Eddie and the others are at work, he's on the phone with the blonde, chattering away, when Buck gets quiet.
"Abby?" Buck says with excitement. Eddie's eyebrow quirks up, glancing up at Hen and the others who blinked with curiosity.
Chim mouths a wow.
Eddie hears clothes shucking off, the clattering of a belt, and Eddie is about to hang up.
"Hey, Eds I gotta g--" Buck screams. The shout sends shivers down Eddie's spine, making him sit up fully alert. Athena swivels her head from where she sat with her husband. "You're not Ab--who are you?! What the fuck are you doing in my apartment?!"
Before Eddie knows it, Athena is right by his side, listening in.
He hears the phone clatter, and a door bursts in as Buck lets out another shriek.
"Christ, I knew this was a bad idea-" A voice says, deep and a voice they don't recognize.
"Buck?!" Eddie says into the phone, before he hears Buck shout again, this time muffled.
"Shit--" the phone gets cut off. Athena is already out the door, Bobby sending her Buck's address.
"Come on!" Bobby says, worried about his young probie.
By the time they get to Buck's place, there are already a couple of police cars in front, Athena beating them to it. They all head upstairs and slow down when they see a couple of officers leaving. Bobby sends them a questionable look.
"False alarm, kid hit the back of his head though, so you might wanna check that out," the officer says.
Eddie's eyes land on Buck when he steps inside, followed by Hen and Chim.
Buck was sitting on the sofa, wrapped up in a towel, face entirely red as a woman winces and holds a small hand towel to Buck's head.
"Buckaroo?" Hen says. They watch as Buck crouches over, face hidden in his hands as he whines.
"This is so embarrassing," Buck says, half of his sentence muffled out.
"Evan, sit still or you're going to bleed on the couch!" the woman says. Eddie blinks. That was not Abby.
"What's going on here?" Bobby asks, his eyes flickering to Athena where she had her hand to her forehead. The woman sighs.
"Meet the family, plus an extra," Athena says wryly, glaring at the older man who's standing back a little.
"I said I was sorry," the man says gruffly.
"Derek, unless you learn to be less scowly and more smiley, people will assume you're a bad guy too much," a voice says, walking into the living area. Eddie eyes the kid wearing Buck's LAPD hoodie. "Uh, hi." the kid waves. "I'm Stiles. Younger brother."
"Maddie, I'm his older sister" the woman who was holding the towel to Buck's head says as she steps away and lets Hen and Chim take over. Maddie goes to Buck's side and holds his face gently in her hands. "Are you okay Ev? Not seeing any double vision? You hit your head pretty hard."
"Maddie, I'm fine, stop," Buck whines again. "You're embarrassing me, and you just got here."
Then, a fourth person walks out, also dressed in Buck's extra LAFD shirt. He smiles, hair wet and tousled. He waves at everyone, going over to Athena and sticking a hand out, to which Athena cautiously accepts. "Sorry for the commotion. Name's Danny. I'm the oldest."
Stiles points to Derek. "He's the bodyguard." Derek crosses his arms and raises his eyebrows at Stiles. "Kidding, he's my boyfriend."
Eddie and everyone else blink incredulously.
"By breaking into his place?" Eddie says with a little bite to his words.
"It was supposed to be a surprise! He's supposed to graduate soon and be an official firefighter!" Stiles defends himself.
"By moving into my place?"
"Bro, definitely not your place, but I'll let that slide. We're moving to LA too, surprise!" Stiles grins, arms wide in front of Buck. "It'll be the four of us all together again!"
Derek sighs, finally approaching Athena. He sticks his hand out as well for Athena to shake. Athena's grip is hard when she shakes Derek's hand. "Derek Hale. Both Danny and I are the new transfers to LAPD. I'm sorry we had to meet this way."
Athena raises her eyebrow. "Breaking and Entering, a casual thing you always do?"
Stiles snorts.
"Of course not. Stiles mentioned he had a key and that Evan knew we were coming."
"Buck," Buck says. "I go by Buck now."
"Buck?" Stiles wrinkles his nose. "Weird nickname."
Derek turns to Stiles. "Really?"
Buck glares at his little brother. "Excuse me, Mie--"
Stiles smirks. "Kidding! I was kidding." Stiles wraps his arms around Buck. "God, I missed you." Stiles squeezes Buck.
#project hail mary
#the amazing digital circus
#lana del rey
#aromantic
#wlw
#heated rivalry
#photography
