An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go (Cartoon 2015) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: The Mechanic/Kinnear Characters: The Mechanic (Thunderbirds), Kinnear (Thunderbirds) Additional Tags: ThunderPride, Thunderpride 2024, bar bets, Fluff, accidentally in love, Dating on a dare Series: Part 13 of Fluff Standalones, Part 1 of Tragic Dream Summary: Edan Kinnear never really thought about romance. He was more enamored by number and formulas than small talk and awkward dates. But in a small decision to take on a bar bet, Kinnear finds himself falling hard for one of the best athletes in school. Based on a response to this ask.
@idontknowreallywhy You asked to let you know if there was more to this. This is expanded from the story I wrote but I do have two more pieces planned to go along with this as I try to get back into writing again <3
Hope everyone enjoys!! Full text below the cut.
Edan Kinnear never really thought about romance. Where his friends and classmates were splitting their time between studies and dating, Edan never really found the whole process of dating pleasurable. He’d dated a few times, if you could truly call awkward conversations between awkward silences at a café dating. That hadn’t changed since he had entered university. He was proficient enough at making friends and enjoyed a place in several of the university’s student groups.
He'd found an incredible group of friends in the engineering society. They would meet up to discuss their various engineering projects, troubleshoot each other’s issues, and, when interschool competitions arose, compete to bring home glory and honor. At least that’s how they all saw it. Most of all, it was a way to be social and talk about things he was interested in. It was honestly one of the tightest circles of friends he had had in a long time.
On this particular night, he'd just come back from an engineering competition and was riding the high of the team's victory at the competition. The air was electric with the hum of victory on the ride back to the university. Everyone with a phone was texting someone. There were boyfriends and girlfriends and enby partners to tell of their great feat. Kinnear himself had texted his parents a picture from the awards that had been circulated from someone’s phone. He couldn’t help but smile at the champagne and party hat emojis his parents sent back to celebrate his victory. The ride seemed to be over before he knew it.
Once the team had dropped everything off to their building to be dealt with at their next meeting, it seemed that the only thing left for the team to do was to celebrate in the only way they knew how. The group walked to their favorite pub, the one nearest campus where all the students hung out, whooping with delight and celebration on the whole walk there. Most of the team invited their romantic partners along. Kinnear didn't have one of those, but he was well liked by all of the team and considered a part of the family. And as with any family, once the drinks started pouring, the teasing commenced.
The whole team knew Kinnear was horribly shy when it came to the whole dating thing. It didn’t help that he was completely oblivious to flirting and was absolutely hopeless at initiating contact. One of his teammates motioned for another beer as he sat with his girlfriend in his lap.
“Kinny,” he said as he took the beer he had ordered from the waitress. “When are you going to bring someone along with you to these celebrations?”
“I suppose that depends on how many times you think we’re going to have cause to celebrate,” Kinnear said. “That victory was hard won.” His teammate scoffed.
“They weren’t even a challenge,” he said.
“I suppose if you are that desperate to see me with someone,” Kinnear said, “I can always go and get the robot from the engineering building.” There was an eruption of laughter from his teammates and one of his female teammates hit his shoulder playfully as she leaned back into her own girlfriend.
“You dumbarse,” she said. “We just want you to be happy.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, Claire,” he said. “But happy doesn’t have to include a romantic partner. I am happy.” She rolled her eyes.
“Come on, we know it can be a lot to be around all of us,” Claire’s girlfriend said. “You aren’t going to be lonely on our watch.”
“I don’t need to be set up on any dates,” Kinnear said, waving their concern away. “I’m happy to drink to the success of our team.”
“Your glass is empty. You aren’t going to drink to anything with an empty glass.”
“Thanks Aaron,” Kinnear said to his teammate. It was his turn to roll his eyes. He went to motion for another beer, but Aaron pushed his hand down to the bar.
“New Rule: You aren’t allowed to buy yourself a drink,” he said, his eyes alight with mischief. Kinnear frowned.
“So how am I supposed to continue celebrating if you won’t let me drink.”
“I’ll bet you $15 you can’t get someone to buy you a drink,” Aaron said, the others surrounding them oohing at the dare.
“I’d go in on that. Another $10,” chimed in another teammate. The other teammates and their partners kept putting money into the pot until they had a total of $75 between all of them. Kinnear rolled his eyes, though he had to admit that the money was a very tempting offer.
“And that’s it? Anyone to buy me a drink?” Kinnear asked.
“Double or nothing if you can get someone to kiss you,” he said. Kinnear blushed as the others laughed and teasingly oohed once more.
“You’re just in it for the sport of it,” Kinnear said, turning to look at the patrons in the bar, his mind calculating odds. He had no intention of taking a bet he couldn’t win.
“You have ten minutes,” Aaron said. Kinnear looked at him.
“But I haven’t—”
“Clock’s ticking,” Aaron said. Kinnear looked to the other patrons once more. He couldn't very well back out now and still keep his head held high. His eyes swept over tables with groups. If he had to be humiliated, he didn’t need an audience as well.
In the back corner he found someone sitting alone. Not just anyone, though. He found one of the star athletes for their school. Lochlyn Rutherford, if he remembered correctly. His teammates called him ‘the mechanic’ because every time things seemed bleak, he was in and fixing the problem, always leading the team to a victory. Lochlyn Rutherford was one of the handsomest guys in school and one notorious for not entangling himself with romances. He was the only one already separated from the pack though, and Kinnear needed to not have to shell out the money for a lost bet.
So off to the back corner he went, sitting down at the table across from the athlete, who raised an eyebrow, the only change to his sullen expression.
"Do have a seat, won't you?" Lochlyn remarked dryly as he took a drink. Kinnear took in a deep breath.
"Look, I'm going to cut to the chase. You don't know me-"
"I do." This stopped him in his tracks. Lochlyn Rutherford knew who he was? “Edan Kinnear. You’re on the engineering competitive squad. I’ve heard your name in the engineering building.” Kinnear shook his head in disbelief.
"Ok...so...maybe you do know me," he said. He made a dismissive gesture with his hand as he tried to school his thoughts. "I'm going to cut right to the chase. My buddies at the bar made a bet that I couldn't get someone to buy me a drink in the next ten minutes. If I can't get someone to buy me a drink, I'm out $150 to pay out to all of them."
"And all you need is someone to buy you a drink?" Lochlyn looked skeptical.
"That's all I need. I don't need to go double or nothing," he said. "I just need to not pay $150." He looked over his shoulder slightly to see his entire crew was watching. "Look, if you buy me the drink, I'll give you half the winnings." Lochlyn seemed to consider the offer a moment, an unreadable expression on his face.
"What's the double or nothing criteria?" Lochlyn asked. Kinnear's face reddened.
"Er...you'd have to kiss me," Kinnear said, his cheeks reddening. Lochlyn let out a snort but got to his feet.
"What's your drink?" he asked. Kinnear gave a bright smile. He couldn’t believe this conversation had actually gotten him to win the bet.”
"Whatever the cheapest beer is," he said. He didn't care. He was over the moon that he wasn't going to have to pay up to his buddies. Lochlyn shrugged and went over to the bar and grabbed the drinks, setting the beer down in front of Kinnear when he came back. Kinnear looked up to tell him thank you but when he did so, Lochlyn was bending down, his hand coming down on the chair behind him. Time seemed to freeze for a moment as he felt Lochlyn's lips against his own as he gave Kinnear the soundest kiss he had ever received in his life. When Lochlyn broke the kiss, Kinnear's eyes were wide and he struggled for a response to what had just happened.
"I like the sound of $150 better than $75."
