The department does this every year, and in the past he has enjoyed it. As awkward as the whole thing is, he always earns a price high enough to stroke his ego. Maybe he doesn’t love being seen as a piece of meat, the older he gets and the more he finds self worth in other ways, but Bobby always made it fun. He’d turn it into a competition between the 118 and the other houses, encouraging them all to work for a higher bid. Chim would vamp, Eddie would turn red, and Hen would take bets on the whole thing. It was great.
It won’t be like that this year. Chim uses a bullhorn to tell Buck he’s not getting out of it before Buck even asks. It makes Buck decidedly less enthusiastic about the whole thing than a warm hand on his shoulder and a teasing “Come on, kid. Let’s show ‘em we’ve still got it” said low in his ear.
But Buck is a company man, and this dumb competition meant a lot to Bobby, so he puts on a tight short sleeved button-up that shows off his arms and his chest without being overly slutty, he does his hair, and he psychs himself up in the mirror. He looks good, he knows. He tells himself it’s one night of being a piece of meat, another night of going on a fake date with an older woman who will touch him too much, and then it’s over for another year. He can do this.
While they wait for the event to start, Buck talks to some of the firefighters from the other stations. This is the only time he sees some of them outside of a scene. He enjoys the camaraderie, especially in such an awkward situation. Most of the other firefighters don’t want to do this either, but they all have a good time teasing each other for their careful hairstyles and tight shirts.
And then, across the room, Buck sees Tommy. Of course Harbor would send him, Buck thinks. Who wouldn’t pay for a night with Tommy? He’ll probably even get a higher bid than Buck.
Tommy looks so good: dark button-up unbuttoned an obscene amount, chest hair visible even at this distance. His hair is curly on top and his stubble is the perfect length. Buck can’t breathe.
They make eye contact. Tommy doesn’t look surprised: the 118 is hosting, after all. It’s too late to pretend they didn’t see each other, but Buck finds that he doesn’t want to. He needs to talk to Tommy, needs to- to-
Buck leaves Ravi to a conversation with someone he trained at the academy and makes his way through the crowd. Tommy’s eyes stay on him the entire time. Buck knows because he can’t look away either.
“Hey,” Buck says when he comes to a stop in front of Tommy.
“Hey,” Tommy says back, the hints of a teasing smile tucked into the corners of his lips. “Come here often?”
Buck laughs. “Every year, actually.”
“I should’ve known. I bet you fetch a good price.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” Buck admits. He’s very aware of how close together they’re standing. He’s also very aware of how much closer he wants to be. “Have you done this before?”
Tommy shrugs. “Not in a while. Not since I left the 118.”
“So we’ve never been in the same auction?”
“No,” Tommy says in that simple, confident way of his. “I would’ve remembered you.”
Buck ducks his head, feeling his face heat up. His heart flutters the same way it always does when Tommy flirts with him.
“I uh, I would’ve remembered you too. Actually, I kinda wish you’d done this my first year in the department. I would’ve figured out I’m bi a lot sooner.”
A warm, surprised sort of pride flickers across Tommy’s face.
“Sorry it took me so long.”
“It’s okay,” Buck says, swaying closer. “You’re here now.”
They fall silent for a moment, just looking at each other. All the hurt, heartache, and pain that has passed between them is gone. It doesn’t matter. Even after so long, the affection and the uncontrollable draw are still there. They can salvage this. Buck is sure about that.
“Is it too much if I tell you that you look good tonight?” Tommy asks, voice low. Some part of him must be thinking the same thing.
Buck’s breath catches in his throat and he smiles. “Not- not too much, no.”
“Good.”
Tommy’s eyes are kind and heavy as they flick down to Buck’s lips. Buck doesn’t care where they are, who else is in the room, what their obligations are. He’s about to launch himself at Tommy. Tommy looks like he’s not far behind.
Chief Simpson’s voice comes over the microphone, breaking the moment. He instructs all firefighters to please stand with your respective houses.
Buck doesn’t want to leave Tommy’s side.
“It’s too bad we can’t bid on each other, huh?”
Tommy reaches out and fiddles with the buttons on Buck’s shirt, pulling him closer.
“You don’t have to bid on me, Evan,” he says, popping open another button on Buck’s shirt. “You just have to text me.”
Buck’s heart flutters again. He wants to feel like this forever. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Tommy rearranges the fit of Buck’s shirt, which is firmly in slutty territory with this much chest showing. “Now go. It’s showtime, kid. Let’s see who gets a higher price.”
Tommy winks.
Buck ducks his head and laughs. “I’ll text you,” he promises.
“I hope you do.”
Buck makes a show of taking out his phone, pulling up their conversation, and sending a heart. Tommy grins, wide and goofy.
Buck makes himself walk away before it goes any further. They have an auction to get through. For the first time since Chim pulled out his bullhorn, Buck is glad he's participating.
(Tommy ends up getting the higher bid because a date with him includes a helicopter ride. Later, Buck pouts about how unfair that is until Tommy kisses the words out of his mouth.)
anyone willing to trade some cards? 👀 i’m from germany, and i am IN DESPERATE NEED OF the (49) vincent cards, (56) turf war, as well as (62) the offer.
numbers next to the checked boxes are the spares i have.
i also still have a spare of vox populi and vox dei i’m willing to trade.
What do you mean you've never had to rip your husband's head off in order to stop you from killing himself and everyone else in existence in order to impress his ex?
@aroace-dead-end word of GOD RIGHT HERE WHAT MORE PROOF DO WE NEED?? HE'S NOT EVEN JUST ARCHING BACKWARDS, LOOK AT HIS ARM, HE'S PULLING VAL'S HIPS INTO HIS!!
This AND how genuinely happy he was getting swung about by Val and slung between those skyscraper legs of his even tho he started the dance leading!! From our mouths to God's ears
Bbg just really really needs to say it out loud already IT'LL FIX YOU I PROMMY
Like all other characters I like, this one gets an insane amount of hate too... But I love his aesthetics too much, not to praise his actions in the show - however, we are allowed to love anything in a fantasy world... right?
A little headcannon that he used to perform before he and the other vees become the overlords of hell, and he was hella good at it :)
One thing that frustrates me is this idea from some of the fandom and some of the interviews is that somehow Tommy should do more or be more for Buck.
Tommy is consistently the guy who shows up for Buck. What we’ve seen, even with how little of it we’ve seen, this is a constant thread. I almost sometimes feel like I’ve dreamed this whole thing, because what we’ve seen and what we’re hearing from all sides makes it seem like somehow we’ve misread all of it. It’s confusing.
I think about how so far we’ve had Tommy show up MORE than once for Buck. He’s taken care of Buck more than once. He says things like, “of course,” and, “Not without feeding you.” and, “and for you.” He watched Buck break down after Bobby died. And it’s head scratching because what exactly is everyone looking for in a love interest for Buck (besides Eddie 🙄)?
Thinking about Tommy, the ex who sees an upset Buck and cries with him even if he can’t actually be with him.
Versus Eddie, the supposed “best friend” of 8 years who, the very second Buck shows an emotion and tries to speak, gets in his face and yells at him, telling him he’s selfish and only makes things about himself.
