#tevan au

[sagasimon]

I ACCEPT THIS AU 👽🛸

[lcvebuckley]

cat lover!tommy x shelter attendant!buck au anyone?

Tommy hadn’t planned on visiting the shelter today, but loneliness had a way of pushing you out the door. Months after the stray cat he’d adored disappeared, the silence in his apartment had become unbearable. He needed a companion, someone to fill the empty space.

As he arrived at the shelter, the first thing he spotted was a guy crouched by a cage, holding a squeaky toy and grinning at a golden retriever like they shared an inside joke.

Both the guy and the dog looked up when they heard the familiar jingling of the shop door and Tommy couldn't help but chuckle at the cute sight. It was like being greeted by two golden retrievers, both radiating the same bright, infectious energy.

The guy stared at Tommy for a moment, and the faint blush on his cheeks didn’t go unnoticed. Tommy watched as he seemed to shake off whatever had him distracted and stepped closer.

“Hi! Looking to adopt?” the guy said, standing and dusting his hands on his jeans. His smile was blinding and Tommy had a hard time ignoring how his heart skipped a beat.

Tommy nodded, suddenly feeling awkward under his bright blue gaze. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about getting a cat. Been… lonely lately.”

The other's smile softened at the response, his gaze warm and understanding. "Well, luck is on your side today. I'm Evan, renowned resident cat expert and part-time dog wrangler," he paused and leaned in closer, a hand over his mouth as he whispered, "Self-proclaimed, but don’t let that sway your confidence in me."

Tommy chuckled and offered his hand, "Tommy. I guess I can trust you to find my perfect match?" he asked. Evan took his hand and the moment their skin touched, warmth spreads through Tommy, a quiet comfort settling in his chest. Evan’s calloused hand fit perfectly against his, and when their eyes met again, neither seemed eager to let go, their hands lingering and their eyes locked.

“O-Of course! You can count on me,” Evan stammered, pulling his hand back quickly when he realized he’d been staring a little too long. Tommy glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Please,” he said, his voice soft but grateful for Evan’s enthusiasm.

As Buck led him through the shelter, he started talking—well, rambling, really—about all the cats in his care. Tommy found himself smiling, charmed by Evan’s energy and the way he gushed about each one. He could tell that Evan really cares, and that alone sparked something in Tommy.

Tommy wasn’t the kind of person who fell for someone so easily and yet, being here with Evan made him think of the impossible. Tommy never let himself fall for someone in fear of getting hurt, but Evan feels different. He feels like he can trust him with his heart because of how gentle he is with the shelter animals.

"So, did you see anyone you like?" Evan asked, but Tommy didn't reply right away. He can't take his eyes off Evan, as if he's stuck in a trance. He was staring at his gorgeous blue eyes, the way his curls fell to the side of his face as he talks, his slightly flushed cheeks, his lips. God, his lips. Tommy knows he has no chance with Evan—he is way out of his league—but the urge to feel those lips on his was real.

"You..." The word slipped out before Tommy could stop it. Evan froze, his blush deepening as it crept down his neck. “What?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

That's when Tommy realized he just said that out loud.

Tommy snapped back to reality, mentally cursing himself. “Sorry,” he said quickly, but then, with a quick recovery, added, “I mistook you for a golden retriever. You look just like one—adorable and cheerful.” He prided himself on being quick-witted in awkward situations, but right now, he wanted nothing more than to disappear six feet under from sheer embarrassment.

The other stared at Tommy for a moment before bursting into laughter. His blush didn’t fade, but his grin grew wider. "But I thought you're looking for a cat?” he teased, gesturing toward the enclosures.

“I am, I just—” Tommy stammered, his flustered state making it impossible to look directly at Evan. Instead, his gaze wandered around the room, desperate for an escape, until it landed on something.

His eyes stopped at a small enclosure where three kittens tumbled over one another in a heap of tiny paws and tails. One of them caught Tommy’s eye immediately—a tiny black-and-white kitten with wide green eyes.

Evan noticed his gaze. “Oh, that’s Buttons. She and her siblings just got old enough to adopt. Their mom passed not long after giving birth. It was touch-and-go for a while, but they’re fighters.”

“Can I hold her?” Tommy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course,” Evan said, carefully opening the enclosure. He scooped the kitten up gently and handed her to Tommy. Their fingers brushed at the exchange, and Tommy glanced up and noticed the faint flush that crept back into Evan’s cheeks. It was endearing how easily Evan got flustered, and Tommy couldn’t help but smile.

Shifting his focus to the kitten, Tommy felt a pang of familiarity. Buttons reminded him so much of Spots, the stray Tommy grew attached to before she went missing. They have the same coat of fur, and they even sound the same. Tommy felt instant connection and couldn't take his eyes off her. “She’s perfect,” Tommy murmured, holding Buttons gently against his chest.

Evan smiled softly, his shyness giving way to something warm and genuine. “She’s got good taste," he said, not really aware of how that sounded. Tommy raised a brow, smirking. “You mean in me? Or are you saying she takes after you?” he teased.

Evan blinked, clearly caught off guard, before laughing nervously. “Uh, both?” he said, quickly turning away and mumbling something to himself. Tommy caught only a few words, including “stupid” and “obvious.”

Tommy chuckled, a warmth spreading in his chest. After everything that happened today, he was starting to think he might actually have a chance with Evan. “I like her already.”

By the time Tommy left the shelter, promising to return once he’d prepped his home, he couldn’t decide what he was more excited about—bringing Buttons home or finding an excuse to see Evan again.

[queerasbuck]

Sexy Shameful Saturday

here's a little teaser for the problematic age gap fic (<- any suggestions for a title, send 'em my way pls) wherein tommy's definitely Not fantasising abt buck:

He doesn't watch the boys (Evan) in the pool. Focuses instead on the burgers and the hot dogs and the vegetables on the grill, making sure nothing burns, and he does not watch out of the corner of his eyes as Evan, almost naked and dripping wet, climbs out of the pool to grab a soda from the cooler.

He does not watch the droplets of water sliding down Evan's chest, nor the way Evan's nipples harden, and he most definitely does not think about sliding his hands down that chest to the slim waist nor about biting down on those hard nipples, tugging on them a little maybe, leaving hickeys all over that chest, he doesn't wonder what noises Evan would make in response, doesn't wonder if Evan would get all high-pitched and whimpery or let out deeper, throaty groans, if he'd pull on Tommy's hair, if he'd beg for more, call him daddy—

"Tommy!" Abby's voice, sharp and a little irritated, pulls him from his thoughts.

tags under the cut:

@thecarrott @corporatebanana @nzchance @epiphainie @letsdosciencetoit @ineffablecabbage @adiprose @bendingreality @sugarpenchant @wee-fuckin-woo @beanarie @kinardnatural @trombonechurchill @leashybebes @chemistry66 @trilliath @fookinstevienicks @hyperfocusthusly @a-mel0n @sherlocking-out-loud @peppermintquartz @sad-girl-hours23

[setmeatopthepyre]

Bucktommy and sharing a dessert 🩷

(@ambernotember)

I know I sent you a tidbit of something that was going to be for this prompt fill but I decided to use that for something else so here is something completely different! oops another au. went for strangers on the road from this poll though if I ever end up writing more I may add the other winner too. I've been yelling at @trombonechurchill about my desire to write something medieval-ish ever since I saw this gorgeous artwork by @chimneyz, though also very much based on my own fencing experience and desire to write homoerotic swordfighting. of which there is tragically none in this ficlet. but it's the thought that counts. gonna call this sweetmeats au just in case I decide to return to it

-

sharing a dessert [bucktommy | 620 words]

The young knight has the sleeves of his undershirt rolled up, tendons shifting in strong forearms as he pokes and prods at the coals of the fire, getting them to spread evenly.

“You’re planning to cook?” Tommy inquires, his resolution to only engage in conversation for the sake of acquiring news quickly forgotten. Sure, the man doesn’t appear to be traveling particularly light, but neither has Tommy spotted any fresh game on him that would require preparation.

Blue eyes blink up at him, contrasted by bright splashes of pink high on the man’s cheeks from the fire’s heat. It’s a very pleasing look on him. Tommy decides he won’t notice such things going forward.

He fails at that, too, when the knight smiles at him, cheeks dimpling sweetly.

“Not cook, exactly, but I have some hand pies that taste much better warmed. Would you want one?” With that, he produces a bundle from the satchel behind him and unwraps the waxed cloth, showing Tommy its contents: flaky dough brushed generously with egg wash, shining and golden and crisp despite their time packed away. Not the pies one buys at the riverside market, where the dough is just a necessary vessel for the often questionable filling. These were made with care in a home. They look much, much better than the dried provisions Tommy plans to fill his stomach with, the hard bread that he needs to moisten to be able to eat. And here he’d thought his meal would be a luxury since he had wine to wash it down with tonight.

“A kind offer, but unnecessary,” he wills himself to say. There’s no need to be indebted to this stranger if he can help it.

For his part, the knight just glances up at him a moment, then continues on, undeterred. “I have herbelades, as well as sweet pies with apple, if you rather not eat pork,” he says, tilting the wax cloth so that Tommy can better see. “I, uh, made those myself,” he adds as if embarrassed. “I learned it in my lord’s kitchens so I wouldn’t have to go without.”

“You baked these?” Tommy finds himself asking. It’s a disarmingly charming thought, this knight begging his way into some lord or inn’s kitchen to bake sweet apple pastries to eat on his travels. Tommy wonders, not for the first time, who this man’s patron is, what lord would provide for his knights to spend their free time baking in kitchens instead of inflicting their boredom on the local peasantry.

“I did,” the knight confirms. He doesn’t insist Tommy take one or even repeat the offer, but he places three hand pies on the stones by the fire: one of the herbelades, and two of the apple, the dough yellow with saffron and smelling sweetly of cinnamon and cloves and ginger. The scent makes Tommy’s mouth water, his stomach audibly interested, and the knight grins up at him from his place by the fire. “It won’t be but a moment,” he says knowingly.

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Tommy tries, but he can hear how unconvincing he sounds. He’s always had a weakness for sweets - and for men with even sweeter smiles.

“I insist,” the knight says, and Tommy is unable to argue, is left only to wonder at this strange young knight, traveling alone with satchels laden with pastries that smell like heaven. If Tommy were the kind of man to believe in the fantastical tales the old ladies tell, he would be afraid this man was one of the fair folk come to lure him into the woods with the promise of sweet treats for eternity. Thankfully, he isn’t, and Tommy knows these woods better than anyone.

-

thank you @ambernotember <3

(now on ao3)

[citrus-lou]

For One Night Only.. Maybe

My new Bucktommy fake dating/clipboard Buck au!

Read on AO3 or below.

Enjoy!

🩶

**********

Chapter 1

Rating: G (for this chapter. Will be M or E later on)

w/c: 4320

Summary:

Tommy Kinard asks Evan Buckley to be his fake boyfriend for one night to keep his aunt Clara off his back about dating.

The problem begins when it goes well.

Too well.

Tommy tries to ignore the fact that he’s falling for a straight guy.

While Buck is trying to figure out what these new strange feelings he’s having mean.

**********

“Thanks again for dinner.”

“No problem, Tommy.” Chimney said clearing the dinner table. “I’m just glad we actually found the time to properly hang out”

“Yeah and not in the back of a helo in a hurricane.” Hen added.

“Anybody ready for dessert?” Chimney called from the kitchen.

“Oh, no.” Tommy patted his stomach. “Anymore food and my shirt will burst.”

“Yeah, like it’s not already pulling at the seams from your ridiculous muscles.” Hen joked. Tommy lifted up his arm into a bicep curl with a grin and Hen rolled her eyes as they laughed.

“You should definitely join me and Eddie at our pick up basketball games.” Chim said sitting back down at the table.

“I’d love to. You play as well, Evan?”

“Oh he hates basketball.” Chim answered for him.

“What?!” Tommy responded looking at Buck. “How can you hate basketball ball? It’s the sport of kings!”

Buck shrugged. “Just never interested me.” He replied honestly.

“Travesty.” Tommy teased.

“I’m gonna make coffee.” Chimney stood up.

“I’ll help.” Hen followed him into the kitchen.

“So what hobbies do you have?” Tommy asked.

“Uh, I-I love to cook.” Buck said. “Bobby’s been teaching me pretty much since I arrived at the 118.”

“Man, I miss his cooking. Those family dinners were the shit.”

Buck chuckled. “They still are. Actually he’s having a dinner this weekend. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you came too.”

“Ah, I’d love that but I got family coming to visit this weekend.”

“The queen is finally asleep.” Maddie said walking out into the living room.

“How many stories did you have to read?” Hen asked.

“Four.” She said. “In the end I had to make one up about Tommy.”

“Me?” Tommy questioned.

“Oh you’re the star of the evening—Daddy’s friend who can fly. Right now you’re the coolest person she knows.”

“She’s not wrong.” Tommy joked, popping his collar.

“Maybe I should tell her the story of Maurice.” Hen said.

“Oh, come on!” He replied.

“Who’s Maurice?” Buck asked. Hen and Chimney looked at each other and laughed.

“Well..” Chimney began the story as Tommy shook his head in embarrassment.

*****

Buck sat at his island eating his breakfast checking his texts. He’d received one from Maddie thanking him for coming over for dinner. It never failed to make him laugh the she always did that, even though there was no need—he was her brother.

It had been a nice evening all around. He loved getting to spend time with Jee, who didn’t miss the opportunity to make Uncle Buck promise that next time he came over they’d bake cookies, and he’d enjoyed getting to know Tommy more.

He’d heard the stories from Hen and Chim about Tommy’s time at the 118, and he knew that he’d helped them out with that fire at Doheny park years ago. They had talked about him with fondness how it would be nice to catch up with him- though neither of them thought it would take a capsized cruise ship and a category 5 hurricane to do it.

Tommy was just so cool. But in an understated way—he didn’t talk or walk like he thought his shit didn’t stink, but instead seemed quite humble and on more than one occasion seemed a little uncomfortable when Hen or Chim were praising him. Which just made him even cooler.

What Buck noticed the most was just how masculine he was. He was tall, broad and muscular. His hair was similar to a regulation military cut, perhaps a little longer and his lower face was caressed with dark stubble. The cleft was something Buck couldn’t stop himself from looking at the most. He’d always admire the feature on a man. And Tommy was indeed a man.

But his masculinity what balanced, however, by his deeply blue eyes surrounded by long dark lashes. He was somehow incredibly handsome and equally pretty. Strangely, Buck couldn’t stop looking at him.

As he threw his breakfast plate into the sink a knock on his door echoed in the apartment and he opened his door to the last person he expected.

“T-Tommy.”

The man smiled. “Hey, Evan. Can I come in?”

“Uh, sure.” He stepped aside to let him through.

“Wow! Maybe I’m working at the wrong station.” Tommy said as he looked around Bucks living space.

“Is-is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” He said waving away Buck’s concerns. “I actually have a, uh, favour to ask.” He scratched the back of his head. For as confident he’d seemed so far, this morning he seemed.. nervous? Perhaps not nervous but certainly less confident that he had been the evening before.

From the moment Tommy had met them at Harbour station weeks ago, he’d done nothing but ooze confidence. His body language, the way he spoke, the way he did his job—Buck had watched in awe at the way his hands delicately glided over the controls as he flew the helicopter back after the cruise ship rescue. In the handful of times they’d met since then, Tommy always seemed to come across quite squared away and sure of himself.

“Uh, sure.” Buck walked over to the counter. “You want a coffee?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“So what’s the favour? Nothing illegal is it?” Buck teased pouring them both a mug.

“I- What if it was?” Tommy enquired with a curious look to his eyes.

“That would depend on what it was.”

“Wait, so there’s some illegal activity you would be willing to engage in if I asked?” Tommy raised an eyebrow. Actually if he looked at Buck with those eyes Buck probably be willing to do a lot.

“Well, like murder? No. Breaking into a lab to rescue animals—I’d be down.” He answered placing Tommy’s coffee mug in front of him on the island.

“Thanks, and duly noted.” He chuckled. “No, it’s nothing like that. You remember last night I mentioned I had family coming to town?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s my aunt Clara who’s coming.” Tommy said.

“Is she not very nice?”

“No, she’s great. Practically raised me after my parents-“ He abruptly stopped himself from finishing the sentence. “She’s a great lady. The problem is that from the moment I came out to her a couple of years ago she has constantly been trying to set me up with men she knows. And, God love the woman, but her taste in men is awful.” Buck couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you wanting me to set you up with someone? ‘Cause, I’m sorry but I don’t think I know any single gay men.”

“Oh, no, that’s not- That wasn’t the favour.”

“Oh?”

“I’m actually not looking to date anybody, which she cannot seem to accept. But, when she wouldn’t let it go on the phone last week, I kinda, sorta lied and told her I already had a boyfriend.” He admitted.

“And now she’s coming to visit..” Buck said picking up what he was getting at.

“She’s expecting me to introduce her to him.”

“Oh.” Buck responded.

“So-“ He elongated the word. “I was wondering if you would consider.. pretending to be my boyfriend for an evening?

“Oh.” Buck said again. He had zero idea of what the favour was going to be but he never would have guess that.

“She’s only on town for 1 night and it would just be a couple of hours for dinner, which I’ll pay for so you’ll get a free meal out of it.”

“Why me?” Buck asked, truly confused as to why Tommy would pick him of all people. Tommy was effortlessly cool and accomplished—Buck was a dork, who never shut up.

“Two reasons, really. Firstly, I don’t have anybody else to ask. She met Chimney a couple of times back when I was at the 118 and knows he’s straight. That leaves Bobby, which, absolutely not, or Eddie and no offence to him but he screams straight guy—no way he could pull off queer.”

Buck laughed at the true statement. “But you think I could?”

“God, I hope so.” Tommy said. “Plus, you’re closer to my type anyway so it’s more likely that Clara would believe it.”

Tommy’s face was kind of adorable, really. Buck wasn’t sure if he was deliberately putting on those puppy dog eyes, but they were working, regardless.

“What would I need to do?”

“Just have dinner with us.”

“That’s it?” Buck asked.

“You’re expecting more? I’m not sure that would be appropriate at the dinner table, Evan.” Tommy winked and Buck’s cheeks immediately pinked up.

“That’s not what I meant!” He protested to Tommy’s amusement. “I just meant like, would I have to hold your hand, have my arm around you etc?”

“You wouldn’t have to. Not if that would make you feel uncomfortable, I mean.” He explained.

“I-I don’t mind. When is the dinner?”

“Friday night.”

“Okay. That gives us 3 days to plan.” Buck said unlocking his phone and opening the notes app.

“I’m sorry.. plan?” Tommy said confused.

“Well yeah.. If we’re going to make this believable we need to make sure we get our stories straight.”

“She’s my aunt, not the Spanish Inquisition, Evan.”

“And what happens if-if.. Say I order you a drink and it’s one you hate and she knows that you hate it.. wouldn’t that be weird? Or-or if she asks how we met and we give different answers.”

“I think you’re overthinking this a little.” Tommy said gently.

“I think you’re under thinking this a lot.” Buck countered.

Tommy looked at Buck for a few seconds and sighed resolutely. “I’m not going to win this am I?”

“Nope.” Buck replied with a grin.

Little did Tommy know that he’d just met Clipboard Buck.

***

“So, what sort of plan do you have in mind?” Tommy asked as they walked through a local park. It was a beautiful sunny and warm day—the first in almost a week of cloudy, drizzly weather. If nothing else, Tommy could at least get some vitamin D out of this ridiculous plan.

The thing is he admired Evan’s commitment to the cause, but it really was just going to be for one night of dinner. And it’s not like Clara was going to torture them for information to test their “relationship.”

But, though he wouldn’t admit it even on threat of death, Tommy actually found Evan’s excitement of it all quite adorable.

“We need to learn basic things about each other like favourite foods, where we grew up etc. You know—stuff your partner would know after.. how long have we been together?”

“2 months.”

“Right, after 2 months together. But we don’t have a long time to do it.”

“So, we need the cliff notes of each other is what you’re saying.”

“Exactly.” Buck said.

“Is there a form I could fill in for this?”

“See, I just learned something about you.” Buck said almost triumphantly.

“What?”

“You’re quite bitchy.” Buck informed him. There was no malice or judgement in Buck’s voice—it was actually one his favourite qualities in Tommy so far.

“I am not!” He protested. Buck just gave him a look. “Yeah well, you.. yap. You’re a yapper.” His face was smug as though he’d figured out something nobody else knew.

“I know.” Buck said without a hint of shame. And he truly wasn’t ashamed. A few years ago, he’d have thought differently. On more than one occasion Taylor Kelly, his ex girlfriend, had called him a yapper and never meant it affectionately.

After that ended, he started working on a newer and improved version of himself. (Although he couldn’t remember if he was supposed to be Buck 4.0 or Buck 5.0. So what? At least he was trying to improve, right?)

“We could play 20 questions or something like that?” Buck asked.

“I’m sorry are we 14?” Tommy replied.

“Sorry.” Buck said looking down. But Tommy could tell that he thought he’d done something wrong. Maybe Evan was right about his bitchiness. Guilt pricked at his chest.

“I’m sorry. You’re right—it’s actually a good idea.” Tommy conceded and Buck threw him a skeptical look. “I promise.” He smiled softly. “I guess I was just being bitchy.” He added with a deliberate smirk. Buck playfully rolled his eyes before continuing to walk alongside Tommy.

“I guess I’ll start—What’s your favourite movie?” Buck asked.

“Love Actually.”

“I’ve never seen it.”

“What?! How have you not seen it?” Tommy asked.

Buck shrugged. “Just not a big movie watcher. My sister and are were kinda sheltered from a lot of movies and shows as a kid so never really got into them. I love documentaries though.”

“Noted. Worst injury you’ve had on the job?”

“That would be the engine that crushed my leg.” Buck answered. Tommy stopped still.

“Wait that was you?!” Buck nodded. “I remember watching that on tv.”

Buck scoffed. “So did my girlfriend at the time. She didn’t handle it well. Broke up with me as soon as I got out of hospital.”

“Charming.” Tommy responded sarcastically. “How long did it take to heal?”

“Uh, about 5 months for my leg to heal to pass my physical, but then I threw a blood clot in my lung and set me back another 2 months thanks to the blood thinners.” Buck explained.

Tommy couldn’t not notice the sadness on Bucks face as he remembered that time in his life. He recognised the look from his own reflection when he caught himself thinking about his own past. He tried not to allow himself to do that much as it was too painful. But every so often those memories would slide their way into to his consciousness.

“What about you?” Buck asked.

“Chopper went down in Afghanistan. Got a punctured lung and broke my arm in two places.”

“You were in the military?” Buck asked, surprised.

“Army.” Tommy replied. “Enlisted at 18. It’s why I transferred to Harbor—I missed flying.”

“I bet it feels like having a super power.” Buck said back.

“On occasion.” He said.

“Man, I would love to be a be able to fly.”

“I can give you lessons if you want?” He offered. 

“Really?” Buck questioned excitedly.

Tommy nodded. “It’s the least I could do for helping me out.”

“I don’t think that’s equal.” Buck argued. “At least let me buy you a beer. Actually, speaking of—what do you like to drink?”

“Like every other boring cis male I mostly drink beer. Occasionally a nice red wine. You?”

“I like an IPA. Just keep me away from the Margaritas.”

“Do I want to know?” Tommy eyed him up.

“I kissed Lucy.” He admitted, embarrassed.

“Donato?!”

“Yeah. Actually, she kissed me first for the record. But I-I, uh.. had a girlfriend at the time.” 

“Oh.” He said elongating the word.

“Yeah, not my finest moment.” Buck said.

“Are you still together?” He enquired.

“Oh, no—we broke up a few months after that. Different reason though.”

Tommy didn’t push the subject. They continued leisurely walking around the park trading basic personal information: Where they were from—Tommy was born and bred in L.A, Buck from Pennsylvania; music tastes—Buck liked pop music and whatever was on the radio on his drive in to work, Tommy liked what Buck teased as dad rock; Favourite place to eat—Tommy loved a local pizza joint, Micellis, Buck liked Sushi Palace.

It was, admittedly, not as hellish an afternoon as Tommy had been expecting. In fact it had actually been quite pleasant. There was an ease talking to Evan. He wasn’t arrogant or judgmental like a lot of men Tommy had met that were Evan’s age. Instead, though he was confident, he was also open; wasn’t ashamed of the things he liked and certainly didn’t seem to be putting on any airs and graces to impress Tommy.

**********

“Hi, Evan.” Tommy answered the phone just as he sat down in Habors rec room. “What’s up?”

“What are you wearing?” 

“Wow, and so early in our relationship. I dig it.” 

“Hilarious, Tommy.” Buck said as Tommy chuckled. “I’m talking about tomorrow night.” 

“Uh, I don’t know. Haven’t really thought about. I’ll probably just grab a shirt from my closet. I might even wear clean jeans. Why?”

“I was thinking we should coordinate.”

“It’s just a casual dinner, Evan. It doesn’t really matter all that much.” 

“But I-I want to make a good impression on your aunt.” 

Tommy couldn’t help but smile at his ridiculous new friend. Chimney had told him that he was the type to go all in with whatever he did and he wasn’t kidding. 

“Evan, you really don’t have to worry. I’m sure you’ll look great whatever you wear, and honestly Clara isn’t going to care.”

“I can’t help it—I’ve never been on a date with a guy before.” He said earnestly. “You asked me to help and I want to do a good job for you.”

And didn’t that make Tommy feel a certain way he definitely shouldn’t be. 

“I appreciate that, Evan. And you for helping me. But really, you don’t have to worry. I promise.”

“Okay.” Buck said back but Tommy heard the concern in his voice.

He was probably going to regret his next suggestion. “If it will make you feel better, why don’t you come to my place before dinner and you can pick my outfit.”

“Really?” Tommy could practically hear the grin on Bucks face.

“Really.”

“Cool.” 

**********

Tommy walked into his house desperate for a shower. He’d been working ground support on a landfill fire and smelled like what could only be described as burnt plastic wrapped in fish. 

He took three steps up his stairs when his doorbell rang. He’d hoped it would be Larry across the street whom he hated for being the neighbourhood busybody who would complain about anything and everything. He’d love Larry to get a big old whiff of him right now. 

He was surprised however to see his aunt on the other side of the door. 

“Aunt Clara? I thought we were going to be meeting at the restaurant.”

“I wanted to surprise my favourite nephew.” Her small 5 foot frame stepped forward and she reached up to grab Tommys face, planting a kiss onto his cheek; her long black flowing kaftan, despite her small stature, almost enveloping him. 

“I’m your only nephew.” He reminded her which she ignored. 

“Grab my bag, darling.” She gestured behind herself. “Did something die in here?” She remarked.

“Oh, sorry that’s me. I was just about to have a shower.” She waved her hand in front of her face trying to waft away the ripe stench coming from him.

“Is there a problem with your hotel?” Tommy brought her bag inside as she turned and made her way into the kitchen. 

“Some issue with their power. They’ve cancelled all reservations for tonight. I hope you have better coffee this time, and not that cheap crap that tastes like it’s already been through somebody.” She opened and closed his cabinets until she found his coffee, which as it happened was better than what he used to buy.

“So, you’re staying here?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Uh, no. No, of course not. It’s- I just wasn’t expecting it. I haven’t set up the guest room.” He said.

She waved her hand; the sound of her beaded jewellery clacking as she moved. “You don’t have to go to the trouble, I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Tommy looked at her incredulously. “I wouldnt be caught dead sleeping on a couch—I have standards” - that’s a direct quote from you.” 

“People change, Thomas.” She argued as she squinted at Tommys coffee machine trying to figure out what buttons to press. “What happened to just using a simple coffee pot? Your generation are obsessed with these damn robot machines.” 

Tommy chuckled. “Aunt Clara, you go sit down and I’ll make the coffee.” 

“Thank you, darling.” She affectionately tapped the side of his face. She stopped after taking a step past him. “On second thought you better take that shower first—you smell like my first husband. After he died.” 

***

Tommy emerged from his shower feeling like a brand new man. He threw on some sweats and a T-shirt and headed downstairs to make his aunt coffee.

He found her standing in front of his fireplace admiring the photograph of his mother that sat on top of the hearth. His mom was standing by his grandmothers Christmas tree with a 1 year old Tommy in her arms. Her smile was big and happy—the picture taken back at a time when her smiled outnumbered her cry’s.

“She was so beautiful.” Clara remarked hearing Tommy enter the room.

“Yeah.” He agreed.

“Shame she met your piece of shit father. Actually, that’s not entirely fair—she got you of it,” she patted his upper arm. “The only good thing to ever come from him.”

She walked back over to the sofa and sat down, tucking her crossed legs underneath herself.

“Speaking of pictures—I want to see one of this Evan boy.”

Shit. Evan. He was going to be coming over soon and judging by the nerves he’d already had at the prospect of tonights dinner, he was probably going to shit himself entirely when he turns up and gets an early and unexpected introduction.

Also, how was he going to explain not having any photos of Evan? Perhaps his reassurances to Evan that tonight would be fine was preemptive. 

“I- it’s a new phone so I don’t have any pictures.” He said on the fly and hoped she’d believe it.

“What about his social media? You kids post everything in there these days.”

“I don’t really use it.” That was the truth. Lucy had made him set up an instagram account once but he’d posted one picture of a sunset taken from the helm of his helo and that was it.

“Oh you should, darling—I’ve met some wonderful men from instagram. I haven’t paid for a dinner in months!” She said happily.

“Aunt Clara!” Tommy chastised “You can’t just meet random men from the internet! Do you know how dangerous that is?”

“Sweetheart, when you get to my age, danger is just a little extra excitement.” She told him “Besides, a woman has needs that must be-“

“Woah!” Tommy threw his hands up. “I so do not need to know the rest of that sentence.”

Clara rolled her eyes. “It’s 2024, Thomas—women like sex too. It’s not something to be ashamed about.”

“Yes, I get that, and agree. However I don’t need to know about your sex life, thank you.” He told her and she laughed. “Besides, since when did you use social media?”

“I told you—to meet men.”

“You joined social media to get laid?” He said; incredulity all over his face.

“For company, Thomas. At our age people are dropping like flies.”

“You’re 62, not 90.” He reminded her.

“Yes but the men my age that haven’t eaten or drank themselves into a heart attack, all want housewives; women to wipe their asses for them like it’s 1950.” She shook her head. “I want to spend my final years on this earth eating good food, drinking fantastic wine and having mind blowing orgasms,” Tommy grimaced. “And only the younger ones know how to give those.”

“How.. how young are we talking?” Tommy asked mildly terrified of the answer.

“The last one was..” she looked up at the ceiling as she recalled the answer. “41.”

“Christ, Clara he’s my age!”

“And all the better for it.” She winked.

“Okay!” He abruptly stood up. “We’re done with this conversation—I’m going to make that coffee.” He quickly made for the kitchen to the sound of Clara’s laughs behind him.

He closed the kitchen door and pulled out his phone to call Buck, swearing to himself when there was no answer because presumably it meant that he was already driving to Tommy’s.

He made himself and Clara coffee then hovered near front door to hopefully catch Evan as he arrived. Luck was on his side when he spotted the jeep pulling up against the curb. He quickly ran to meet him.

Buck lifted out a bunch of hangers, each holding a different shirt. “Hey, so I brought a couple of options for-“

“She’s here.” Tommy interrupted.

“Huh?”

“My aunt. She’s here. Turned up like an hour ago.”

“I thought we were meeting her at the restaurant?” Buck asked.

“So did I. But there’s an issue with her hotel so she’s staying here tonight.”

“Wow. Okay.” Buck looked toward the house to see a woman with dark curly hair wiggling her fingers at him with a smile. He took in a deep breath. “We haven’t discussed our relationship, yet. Like-like who asked who out, what we like to do on dates, and-“

Tommy placed his hands into Bucks shoulders to, let’s be honest, shut him up. “It’ll be fine. But.. I should probably have warned you that she’s.. well, she’s not like most women her age. She’s remarkably progressive and very open about a lot of things. She also sometimes forgets her boundaries, so prepare for some invasive personal questions.”

“You couldn’t have told me all this before?” Buck argued.

“I was going to when you got here but I wasn’t expecting her first. If you don’t want to do this I completely understand. I can tell her your sick or-“

It was Bucks turn to interrupt. “No, I want to. I promised I would help. It’s fine.” He gave a somewhat nervous smile.

“Okay.” Tommy nodded. He turned and held out his hand for Buck to take. “You ready?”

Buck slid his fingers into Tommy’s and was immediately surprised at how soft his hands were. Tommy led them up the path and into the house.

[mycovenmagazine]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

BUCK/TOMMY - Embers on the Ridge - Chapter 6 is now online on AO3

Sneak Peek: After taking a brief, cold shower, they tended the sheep under the bright sun, the herd grazing lazily across the meadow. Alone with the flock, they stole moments—kisses behind a boulder, Evan’s fingers on Tommy’s wrist, Tommy’s hand on Evan’s lower back. Their eyes met often, charged with a shared secret and a hunger tempered by something softer, something growing.

"You keep looking at me like that, and we'll never get these sheep to pasture," Tommy murmured once, brushing his lips against Evan's ear.

Evan's laugh was a burst of sunlight: free and unguarded. They made the cabin a home as best they could. They swept out the dust, aired the blankets, and dragged a rickety table closer to the fireplace. Evan found an old tin mug in the trunk and set it on the table like a trophy. Tommy carved their initials into a beam—E.B. + T.K.—a quiet claim on this fleeting space. “Do you think anyone will find that?” Evan asked, leaning against Tommy. His voice was playful but curious.

“Let ’em,” Tommy said, his arm looping around Evan’s waist. "Means we were here."

[paperyowl]

Inception AU, in which Tommy gets hurt at a job, and Evan frets.

Tommy smiled at him. This menace who had taken a bullet for Buck dared to smile all sweet and alluring, while his pale lips pressed together. There was sweat on his brow that didn't entirely come from the heat.

"It's not that bad," Tommy muttered, his teeth faintly red with blood. It was the kind of thing that people only said when, in fact, it was that bad.

Buck wanted to scream at him, wanted to shake some sense into him. But he'd been a firefighter once. So instead, he found himself simply putting more weight n the jacket he had bundled up and pressed to the fucking hole in Tommy's side-

"Evan," Tommy slurred, blinking a few times before his eyes focused. "I'll be fine."

"Stop. Talking." Buck seethed.

Tommy—infuriating, beautiful Tommy—never lost that calm expression and reached to touch the skin just below Buck's eye. It was a tender touch, very unlike his usual business demeanour, which spoke volumes about how bad this was.

"I'm not scared as long as you are here," he said, not commenting on the tears or the way Buck's gaze snapped to his. Buck would have yelled at him to stay awake if he thought it made any difference. The only reason he didn't dissolve into sobs was because he couldn't. Tommy needed him.

+

They were arguing too loudly. Buck knew it would wake Tommy, who wasn't under that far. They'd been careful with the painkillers, worried about what it would do with the cocktail of substances that was still in Tommy's system after the dream. But even when Buck felt Tommy shift beside him on the bed, and knew Tommy was halfway to consciousness, he couldn't make himself lower his voice. Buck was so fucking angry.

"You say that like it's my fault!" Eddie looked furious, and Buck made it worse by laughing humourlessly at him. There was no room in his mind to cut Eddie any slack here. He was done making excuses.

"Because it is," he seethed. It was unlike him to make his words cut, but Tommy had almost died. "If you had listened to him, this", and he gestured toward Tommy, who was shivering under too-thin sheets. "Wouldn't have happened."

Eddie took a breath but stopped himself from actually forming words and stormed out of the room. Buck sighed shakily and hushed a fraught little noise from Tommy. Thankfully, it only took a moment for him to settle again and fall back asleep.

+

Hours later, Tommy moved beside him. It instantly drew Buck's attention from whatever stack of documents he'd been skimming through. He sat with his back to the headboard, shifting towards Tommy when his hazy eyes focused on Buck.

"Hi, you," Buck said quietly. "How are you feeling?"

Tommy pressed his face into Buck's hip, groaning when the movement pulled at the wound in his side. Buck steadied him, gently telling him to stop moving. He ran his fingers through Tommy's hair, hoping to soothe him while he still seemed a little out of it, not quite responding to Buck's question.

"Sleep some more if you're tired," Buck offered, moving to lie down next to him. Worry was an iron band around his chest. Tommy reached slowly for Buck's face.

"'M okay," he mumbled, and Buck closed his eyes for a long moment, trying to hide just how scared he'd been, how scared he still was. He couldn't form an answer answer.

"Evan," Tommy said, still raspy. "I'm okay."

"You're really not," Buck told him very quietly. "You need another blood transfusion and a different brand of painkillers, and-" he stopped himself.

"'s not painful," Tommy muttered. "Just… hazy. Itchy. It's okay. You've got me."

Buck's heart hurt.

"Go back to sleep, love."

[queerasbuck]

Several Sentences Sunday

I made this post yesterday and it hasn't left me alone since so here's a wee snippet from it (it kinda turned into a bucktommy captain america fusion so. idk if I'll finish it or if this scene will even fit into the final narrative but whatever):

London, 1944

Buck is not drunk. He wishes he was - christ, does he fucking wish - but his system burns through alcohol too quickly these days and so all he gets is the vicious burn of whiskey as it travels down his oesophagus with none of the drunken fuzziness.

All he sees, whether his eyes are open or closed, is Tommy - Tommy falling from the train tracks, disappearing into the snow-covered gorge below, reaching uselessly towards Buck.

God, Buck feels useless - he is useless; what's the point of being Abraham Erskine's lab rat if he isn't even able to save his -- his --- Tommy?

"Buck?" a soft voice calls from the door behind him, full of uncertainty.

"I'm here, Abby," he answers, turning halfway and watching as she steps through the makeshift door, over the rubble, towards him. For a long while neither of them say anything, tension rising between them. Buck is the first to break, turning back to his glass and the half-empty bottle.

"Doctor Erskine said that the serum would make me almost entirely impervious to permanent damage, that I'd heal any injury in hours instead of months," he fills the glass again, considers the whiskey for a moment before he slams it back, almost relishing the burn in his chest, "which means I can't get drunk anymore. Isn't that fun?"

"Yes," says Abby, coming to sit across from him, "he thought that might be one of the side effects." There's a terrible sympathy in her voice and on her face, and Buck can't stand to look at her.

"Probably didn't want anyone stealing his schnapps," he mumbles instead; the words have the cadence of a joke but he's incapable of infusing them with any humour.

He lifts his gaze again after a long moment of silence and finds Abby still watching him, the look on her face softer, kinder, than he's ever seen before.

"It's not your fault, Buck," she says, putting her hand over his.

"You read the report?" he asks. She nods. "Then you know that isn't true."

"You did all you could-" she starts but he can't have that, can't allow her calm reason to convince him that it wasn't his fault, not when he knows it was.

"No, I didn't," he says, "no, I went in without thinking, I went full-buck, and I didn't see what was gonna happen, but I would have seen, I would have realised if I'd taken just one fucking moment to think!" He's standing over her, he realises though he doesn't remember getting up, chest heaving, eyes burning with unshed tears. "So don't tell I did everything I could or that it wasn't my fault because it was, I should've been - been faster or, or, or stronger or smarter --!"

"Did you trust him?" Abby interrupts, sharp. "Did you respect him?"

"You know I did," Buck answers, slumping back into his chair.

"Then stop blaming yourself," she says. "Allow Tommy the dignity of his choice. He damn well thought you were worth it." Her voice cracks and Buck realises there are tears in her eyes, and then he remembers; she knew Tommy so much longer than he did, was going to marry him once - that kind of love doesn't just die.

"I'm sorry," he says and now he's the one reaching for her hand. She shakes her head, saying nothing, but she does take his hand, holding so tight it hurts a little bit. "Once I'm done with this," Buck says after a long moment, gesturing at the bottle of whiskey, "I'm going after the Red Skull and I'm not stopping until he and all of HYDRA are either dead or captured."

np tags under the cut:

@beanarie @emakataken @leashybebes @chemistry66 @trombonechurchill @sad-girl-hours23 @queerbuck @eosfog-btsideblog @sugarpenchant @meibhin @fookinstevienicks @quintessenceofdust88 @bidisasterevankinard @atevanfool @hyperfocusthusly @peppermintquartz @unfuckablebogtroll @thecarrott