Archive of Our Own ^beta

Station 118 was on a q-word shift in the way that only happened once in a blue moon. The kind of day where the biggest crisis so far had been Eddie losing his lunch burrito to gravity - still hot, but tragically splattered across the bay floor.

They’d also responded to a minor fender bender where the only injury was a bruised ego and a snapped acrylic nail. And earlier that morning, they’d wrangled an escaped pet pig named Lord Bacon from a backyard koi pond. The pig was very fast. Chim was still salty about it.

Buck was halfway through cleaning one of the rigs - not because he had to, but because he was a little bored and also liked the way the tools all lined up when they were properly stowed - when Hen and Chim came back from a medical call.

"No, seriously," Hen said, her voice animated as she tugged off her jacket. "He looked exactly the same. Maybe a little more sure of himself and relaxed, but that’s it. He has unfairly good genes."

"Pilot life’s treating him very well," Chim added in a way that made Buck curious.

Buck perked up, stepping out from behind the rig with a rag still in hand. "Okay, now I’m curious. Who are we talking about?"

Hen grinned. "That medical call at the highway bridge we just had?"

"Yeah," Buck said, tossing the rag onto the nearby bench. "I heard you guys needed a chopper evac over the radio, right? I was kind of jealous. I’ve always wanted to ride in one of those. Y’know, just once."

"You and half the department," Chim said, smirking. "They don’t let us just joyride, Buck."

"Not a joyride," Buck protested. "A professional, heroic ride in the sky."

Hen laughed. "Well, we didn’t get to go either. But the chopper pilot? We knew him. We got to talk for a minute while they were prepping the lift."

"Oh?" Buck tilted his head. "Who is he?"

"Tommy Kinard," Chim said with a grin. "He was part of the 118 crew here before you started. Actually…" He looked thoughtful. "You kinda filled his spot when he left."

Buck blinked. "Wait, seriously? That’s wild. The guy I filled in for is a firefighter pilot now? How was I ever supposed to live up to that?!"

"You turned out just fine, Buck," Hen said as she pulled a water bottle from the fridge and tossed it to him. "Tommy transferred to Harbor Station to fly again; Bobby helped him get back to it. He really missed it." She took a sip from her own bottle. "Back then, he and Chim were like this when I first arrived," she said, holding up two fingers pressed tightly together. "They were always tossing movie quotes and inside jokes no one else understood. And then when I came along - well, let’s just say after some initial tensions around the entire station - the three of us became a solid team for nearly… eight years? Maybe nine. Wow, time really flies."

"It was a good era, especially after our old captain finally got what he deserved and was kicked out of the 118," said Chim, a nostalgic smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Most of the guys couldn’t stand Gerrard. He was awful to everyone, and we just sucked it up and kept our heads down. But when Hen came on, things got way worse. The way he treated her pushed everything over the line. That’s when Tommy stepped up. He was the first to file a complaint with me. He and I talked to everyone, pushing and convincing the rest of the team to speak up, too. Eventually, they couldn't ignore it anymore. That's how Gerrard finally got the boot."

"After that, we used to go out after calls all the time: grab drinks, hit a late movie, sometimes even a concert if we had the energy," Hen added.

Buck chuckled at the warm nostalgia in their voices. "So what happened? Why did you lose contact?"

Chim shrugged. "He transferred, life got busy. You know how it is. Harbor’s not exactly next door. We kinda drifted. But I still text him sometimes. We run into each other now and then at pickup basketball games."

He paused suddenly, his eyes lighting up. "Oh! You know what? That time dispatch went completely haywire? When Eddie got trapped in that burning house with the kid?"

Buck blinked. "Uh, which time?"

"The time the water drop happened. That plane that flew over and doused the whole house? That was Tommy."

Buck gaped. "Wait. You mean that guy? The one who - he borrowed a freaking plane just because you called him to help save someone he didn’t even know?"

Hen chuckled, "Yep. That’s Tommy."

Buck shook his head, clearly impressed. "That’s so cool…"

"Well, it’s a shame we lost contact," Hen said, setting her gloves down on the bench. "But he’s still the same Tommy that we met today. Gave me the biggest hug like no time had passed. He mentioned that his station does these karaoke and trivia nights at a bar near the marina. Said we should come sometime."

"Karaoke and trivia?" Buck perked up instantly. "I love trivia!"

Hen pointed at him like she’d been waiting for that exact reaction. "Exactly why we’re telling you. Tommy said we should bring partners or friends - we need at least four people to make a team."

"And guess who we thought of first?" Chim said, a teasing grin already spreading.

Buck blinked, then grinned, touched. "Me?"

Hen smiled warmly. "You’re a walking catalog of weird knowledge and random facts no one asked for."

Buck puffed up his chest. "Thank you. I do pride myself on my completely useless trivia brain."

Chim snorted. "You once corrected the documentary playing in the lounge as we were waiting in the hospital."

"In my defense, it was wrong," Buck said, hands raised. "Napoleon wasn’t actually that short. It’s a metric conversion thing."

Hen and Chim exchanged a look, and then Hen gestured at him with a smirk.

"You see what I mean?"

"So," Chim said, nudging Buck with his elbow. "You in?"

Buck didn’t hesitate. "Hell yes, I’m in. Trivia night sounds awesome. And honestly? It’d be cool to meet the guy I unknowingly replaced."

"Tommy’s great," Hen said. "Super chill. Dry sense of humor. But one of the good ones."

Chim nodded. "You two might actually get along."

Buck felt a flicker of something - excitement, maybe. That low hum of anticipation buzzing under his skin. Trivia, karaoke, team bonding... meeting someone who’d once worn the same 118 uniform, flew helicopters now, done daring rescues from the sky. That already sounded badass. Maybe even the start of a new friendship.

"Alright," Buck said, clapping his hands together. "Team 118 Trivia. Let’s do this."

Hen rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You’re going to try to carry this whole thing on your own, aren’t you?"

"No way! This is a team mission," Buck said quickly, then added with a playful grin. "And karaoke is definitely not my thing. You two can handle that part. Please tell me you do ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ as a duet," he added, wiggling his brows at them.

Hen was already shaking her head. "I refuse to be part of whatever disaster that turns into."

Chim grinned at Buck. "Oh, I’ll be your karaoke guy. But I think you won’t be able to choose which song you want. But no problem for me, I worked at a karaoke place once, I can do them all."

Buck laughed, the kind of laugh that felt like it came from somewhere deep in his chest. He could already picture how the night would go - some weird trivia questions, good company, maybe a few gloriously awful 90s ballads, and a chance to meet a guy who sounded way too cool to be real.

Sounded like a perfect Friday night.

The bar was tucked between a laundromat and a boutique dog bakery - L.A. was weird like that - but inside, it was cozy and bustling in all the best ways.

Warm wooden tables filled most of the room, pushed together in clusters for teams. String lights zig-zagged overhead, casting a golden glow, and at the far end stood a little karaoke stage, complete with a mic stand and a sparkly gold backdrop that looked like it had seen both glory and disaster. Buck’s eyes lit up as he stepped inside with Hen and Chim, practically bouncing on his heels.

"This is awesome," he said, scanning the room. "It’s like trivia night meets dive bar."

"It’s definitely got character," Hen said, smiling.

"Character, and cheap beer," Chim added. "That’s the real draw."

Buck was still soaking it all in when Hen suddenly waved, eyes lighting up. "There he is."

Buck followed her gaze - and promptly forgot how to breathe.

Walking toward them was a man who looked like someone had googled 'Greek god' and hit enter. He was a little taller than Buck, with broad shoulders and a strong build that practically shouted I rescue people and casually carry entire tree trunks. His light brown, slightly curly hair looked artfully tousled, like he’d just stepped off a movie set instead of inside a bar. His blue eyes crinkled with a smile that could probably win awards.

Oh my god, Buck thought. His face.  

Sharp cheekbones. A jaw so defined it could cut glass. And right in the center of that ridiculous jaw? A cleft. Of course. He had a chin dimple. Like it was drawn on by a higher power who just wanted to show off. And that smile? Unfair. 

No human should be allowed to look that good and fly a helicopter. Is this guy secretly Superman? Maybe Buck could ask him about his workout routine. Then he might have a chance to measure up to the man he replaced…

"Tommy!" Hen greeted, stepping into a warm hug like no time had passed.

Tommy turned next to Chim, pulling him into one of those classic back-thumping bro hugs. "Man, it’s been forever."

"I know, right?" Chim laughed. "You look good. Buff as hell."

Tommy grinned, a little sheepish but clearly proud. "I try to stay in shape. Just because I’m flying doesn’t mean I can slack on the muscles. Still gotta pull my weight during the groundwork."

Then he turned to Buck, and Buck realized he’d been standing there like a statue, hands shoved in his jacket pockets like some awkward teenager meeting a celebrity.

"And you are…?" Tommy said, offering a hand.

Wow, Buck thought. Even his voice is nice. It was warm and smooth, confident without trying too hard, but still somehow friendly. Unfair!

"Uh - yeah." Buck stepped forward, shaking his hand a little too eagerly. "Hi. I’m Buck - uhmm - Evan Buckley."

Tommy’s handshake was firm but not showy, like he knew his strength and didn’t need to prove anything. His smile only deepened. "Nice to meet you, Evan. Heard you’re our secret weapon tonight."

Buck flushed and lowered his head slightly. "What? No way. I just... know things. Sometimes. Random things." 

What was wrong with me? What a way to impress a potential cool new friend by behaving like a babbling mess.

"Don’t let him fool you," Hen said, nudging him with an elbow. "Buck’s a treasure trove of absurd knowledge. Like a walking Reddit thread."

Chim nodded. "Yup. If you ever need a phone-a-friend, Buck’s your guy."

Buck gave a helpless shrug. "Okay, yeah, I remember weird facts. But not, like, on purpose. It’s not a superpower or anything."

Tommy looked amused. "Sounds like a win to me."

Buck felt a jolt at that, somewhere between pride and a weird, warm flutter in his chest. He chalked it up to the thrill of being noticed by Mr. Cool-Helicopter-Pilot. That alone was enough to make him want to grin like an idiot.

Then Tommy added, "You want to go with Evan, or should I call you Buck…?"

"Evan is fine," Buck said quickly, before he even really thought about it. There was something about the way Tommy said his name, gentle, soft, like he already liked saying it, that made him want to hear it again.

Hen and Chim exchanged a glance, brows lifted, definitely confused. Buck didn’t care. He was too busy wondering if maybe Tommy would go to a workout with him.

The four of them found a table near the back with a clear view of the trivia screen and close enough to the stage to catch the karaoke action. It was the perfect spot, strategic, but still tucked enough to feel like their own little corner of chaos.

"Okay," Hen said, unfolding the team sign-in card. "What’s our name?"

"Ooh, how about Code Redundancy ?" Chim offered. "Like, we’re Code Red... but also kind of a mess."

"Absolutely not," Hen said flatly.

"We could be The Emergency Brains, " Buck offered, then immediately winced. "Nope. That sounds worse out loud."

"How about Fireflies ?" Tommy suggested. "You fight fires, I fly most of the time... seemed fitting."

Buck’s eyes lit up. "That is the coolest idea. Let’s go with it!"

Tommy smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Evan."

The way he said it - casually yet meaningfully - sent a little jolt through Buck’s chest. He smiled, perhaps a bit too brightly. He was definitely going to make a new friend today!

Hen laughed and scribbled the name down. "Okay, Fireflies it is."

Buck leaned in over the table, energized. "If we’re actually trying to win, we should figure out who’s good at what."

"I’ve got medical and science," Hen said confidently. "Karen’s been bingeing Jeopardy! lately, so I’ve been absorbing trivia by osmosis as well."

"I’ve got TV, movies, and pop culture," Chim said, puffing up slightly. "And I demand full control over any music round. Also, I call dibs on all karaoke turns."

Tommy leaned back in his chair, his arms draped loosely over the back. "I know sports, movies, geography, and vehicles of all kinds. My station goes to trivia nights often, so I’ve picked up a decent mix of everything."

Everyone turned to Buck.

"I dunno," Buck said. "Just… random stuff. My brain’s full of facts nobody ever asked for. Like, did you know wombat poop is cube-shaped?"

There was a beat of silence. Then Tommy chuckled. "See? That’s exactly the kind of nonsense that we need to win."

Hen pointed at him, triumphant. "Told you."

"I feel like I need to start studying," Chim said, pretending to sulk. "You guys are gonna leave me in the dust."

"Nah," Tommy said, nudging Chim’s arm. Then he looked at Buck again. His eyes were really blue, Buck thought. "But honestly, sounds like you’re the team’s secret weapon."

Buck’s ears burned. "Thanks," he mumbled, trying to sound casual while also trying not to explode into confetti. He thinks I’m helpful. Maybe we’ll actually be friends.

By the time round one started, Buck was practically vibrating with excitement.

The DJ, a guy with a handlebar mustache, sequined vest, and a rhinestone-covered microphone, took the stage in a cloud of fog machine mist.

"Ladies and gents and all in between, trivia warriors, and questionable vocalists," he boomed. "I’m DJ Sparkle Carl, and welcome to Trivia & Tunes!"

Buck was already grinning.

DJ Sparkle Carl continued. "Here’s how it works: four rounds, nine questions each. The final tenth question of each round is a music question, and here’s the fun twist: the first team to buzz in with the right answer gets the chance to sing the song on stage. That part doesn’t count for points, but it does count for glory."

The crowd cheered.

"Oh my god," Buck whispered to Tommy, who was sitting beside him, arm still resting lazily across the back of his chair. "This is, like, peak trivia atmosphere. I love it already."

Tommy leaned in just a little closer. "Just wait until someone butchers Adele. That’s when the real entertainment starts."

Buck grinned. "What, you don’t like to sing a good power ballad?"

"Oh, I do," Tommy said, raising an eyebrow. "But I’m saving it for a special occasion, like when I'm home alone in the shower."

Hen, without looking up from the snack menu, muttered, "Are you two done flirting?"

Buck rolled his eyes. "Haha. We’re just talking about karaoke!"

Tommy just chuckled.

"Let's start easy. Question one," Sparkle Carl announced, turning everyone’s attention to the stage. "Which U.S. state is the only one with a one-syllable name?"

Hen barely had to think. "Maine," she said confidently.

Buck jotted it down.

DJ Sparkle Carl leaned into the mic. "Next up, which creature has the largest eyes of any living animal?"

Buck answered almost instantly. "The colossal squid," he murmured to the team, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Tommy glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "You didn’t even think about that."

Buck shrugged. "Biology was my best subject in school. And my interest in it kind of stuck. That and… weirdly, Home Ec."

Tommy blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yeah," Buck said, grinning. "I was really good at making cookies. Haven’t done it in years, though. Maybe I should try again."

Tommy chuckled, leaning just slightly toward him. "Maybe you can bake me some nice cookies, Evan."

Buck grinned back. "Sure, I can try." He felt a little spark of pride at how easily they clicked, as if they had known each other for much longer. They were besties in the making, no doubt!

Chim let out a low chuckle, but Hen nudged him sharply with her elbow.

Buck frowned, glancing between them. "What?"

"Oh, nothing," Chim said quickly, smirking.

DJ Sparkle Carl read the fifth card. "What's the term for the imaginary line that runs from the nose to the tail of an airplane?"

Tommy answered instantly. "The longitudinal axis."

Buck looked at him, impressed. "It's actually so cool that you can fly! I mean, helicopters and planes... so cool."

Tommy shrugged with a small smile. "Well, I teach new recruits. If you're interested, I could teach you."

Buck looked at him, starstruck. So cool!

Question seven was "What is the collective noun for a group of flamingos?"

"A flamboyance," Buck said immediately, earning a whoop from Chim.

"You make bird trivia sound charming, Evan," Tommy grinned.

Buck laughed. "I have a very specific skill set."

Tommy looked at him, the kind of look that lingered a little. "Yeah," he said, almost to himself. "You really do."

"Last question of round one," Carl boomed. "Name this song, and the first crew to buzz with the right answer gets the honor of entertaining us. This 1985 hit by a Norwegian band became famous for its groundbreaking pencil-sketch animation music video."

Chim’s eyes lit up like Christmas.

"Take On Me!" he yelled, nearly tripping over Tommy to hit the buzzer.

DJ Carl gave him the nod, and Chim sprinted to the mic.

The crowd went wild.

"Is this - does he know the falsetto part?" Buck asked, eyes wide.

"Oh, he knows it," Hen said, smirking.

And sure enough, Chim hit that chorus like he’d been born for this.

"TAKE! ON! MEEEEEE - !"

The whole bar erupted in applause. A woman near the front waved a napkin in the air like it was a flag. Even Sparkle Carl looked impressed.

When Chim returned, flushed and victorious, Buck gave him a high five.

"That was incredible."

"I peaked tonight," Chim panted. "It’s all downhill from here."

Tommy leaned into Buck. "He may have the voice, but I think you’ve got the brainpower on lock."

Buck looked up, surprised. "Really?"

Tommy’s eyes crinkled in that way again - like everything he said came with a side of warmth. "Absolutely. I’m sticking close to you."

Buck laughed, unaware he’d just turned red. "Okay!"

The second round went really smoothly. Buck chipped in with answers as best he could.

"What fruit has its seeds on the outside?" Carl read.

"Strawberries," Buck said instantly. "That one’s easy."

Tommy bumped his shoulder with Buck’s. "I’m gonna need you on my team for all future bar nights."

"You could request a transfer back to 118, and then we'd have the same shifts all the time. Just think of all the trivia events we could go to," Buck grinned.

Tommy gave him a look. "If I thought you were part of the deal, I’d consider it."

Buck blinked, then laughed. "Yeah, I come with my own trivia package and emergency response skills."

Tommy smiled, clearly delighted. "Now that’s a hell of a deal."

Buck turned back to the stage, waiting for the next question. "Okay, what's next?"

Hen rolled her eyes again, muttering, "Oh my god, they’re hopeless."

What did she mean? Buck was really doing his best to win the trivia game and impress his new friend!

DJ Sparkle Carl grinned like he was about to drop a banger. "Okay, music question: Name the 2004 debut single by The Killers that hit the charts in over a dozen countries and refuses to leave your head once you’ve heard it."

Chim’s hand hovered over the buzzer, but the bachelorette party at the next table slammed it first. "Mr. Brightside!" one of them yelled, and the place erupted in cheers.

DJ Sparkle Carl hit play, and the opening riff filled the bar. The bride jumped up to the mic, already belting it out with zero shame. By the time the first refrain hit, their whole table was singing, and so were they.

Buck found himself shouting along with Hen, Chim, and Tommy, voices blending into the roar of the room. He could feel the bass in his chest, laughter bubbling up between lines. For a second, he just looked around - at his team, at Tommy laughing with his head tipped back, at strangers singing like best friends - and felt this deep, warm happiness.

God, this was fun.

Then round three was starting: "What element has the atomic number 79?"

"Gold," Hen said without missing a beat. "Karen made me memorize the PSE like flashcards for fun."

"Of course she did," Buck said. "Remind me never to play against her."

Tommy laughed, and it was the kind of warm, open laugh that made Buck feel like they’d known each other longer than three hours.

"Which planet spins backward on its axis compared to the rest of the solar system?" Carl called out.

"Oh!" Buck slapped the table. "Venus. It’s weirdly slow too. Like, a Venusian day is longer than a Venusian year."

Everyone stared at him.

"…What?" he said.

Tommy gave a low chuckle. "You just keep surprising me, Evan." His tone was light, but there was something in his smile.

Buck just grinned, taking it as a casual compliment. "Yeah, well… I have a lot more useless space facts if we need them."

Tommy looked like he wanted to say something else, but the next question was up.

"What novel opens with the line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'?" the DJ asked.

Hen smirked. "A Tale of Two Cities," she said. "Dickens. Easy.”

Next was a pop culture stumper: "Name three performers who have achieved EGOT status."

Chim leaned forward with a grin. "Whoopi Goldberg, Rita Moreno, and Audrey Hepburn."

Tommy answered the next question without hesitation. "Which country has more islands than any other in the world?"

"Sweden," he said confidently.

Then, a group at the far end of the bar correctly answered the music question. When their win was announced, they jumped up and started singing. The opening beat of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls came through the speakers, and before long, the whole bar was clapping and singing along.

Then the final round started.

"Which actor turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix?"

"Will Smith," Chim said before Carl had finished reading. "Still regrets it."

"What’s the only mammal that can truly fly?"

"Bats," Hen answered, "not gliding like sugar gliders - actual flying."

"What’s the name of the largest volcano in the solar system?"

Buck lit up. "Olympus Mons! It’s on Mars. It’s like three times taller than Everest."

Tommy gave him a playful nudge. "How do you know that?"

"I had a big space phase as a kid," Buck said. "Okay, I still have a space phase."

Tommy leaned in again, that same gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I feel like I’m learning all the best things about you tonight."

Buck grinned. "Hey, same. You know everything about geography. And you just casually do trivia like a second language."

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "So you are a little impressed."

"Very," Buck said sincerely. "You’re like… effortlessly cool."

Tommy tilted his head. "Funny. I was just thinking that about you."

Buck blinked. "Me?" Ha! His new friend thinks he's cool, too!

"Mhmm."

Hen looked like she was about to explode.

The final music question dropped. "All right, the next one is the final performance: Which song won the 1988 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female?"

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody! " Chim shouted as Buck hit the buzzer.

Then he turned to Tommy and said, "Come on, you invited us. Now deliver on the last note."

Tommy shook his head. "You’re not seriously making me sing right now."

"Group performance," Buck said firmly as he grabbed Chim and Hen. "No one sings Whitney alone."

The result was a very off-key quartet that somehow made the entire room cheer harder and sing along.

By the end of the song, Tommy had his arm slung around Buck’s shoulders; both were breathless from laughter. Buck leaned into it without thinking; he was all warm and loose from the singing and trivia glory.

They took second place in the end. Buck insisted that it was a moral victory.

And, okay, their team hadn’t won first place, but Buck didn’t care. Second place came with a neon-colored rubber chicken trophy that Chim called Maurice. Tommy groaned, explaining that they once had to catch a rooster named Maurice while he was still at the 118. Hen had immediately threatened to hide it if Chim brought it to the station.

They lingered in the bar after the official trivia ended, winding down with nachos. Chim had a beer; Hen sipped a fruity cocktail with a twist of lime. Buck had switched to a non-alcoholic drink because he had to drive home later. He was nursing a club soda with a ridiculous cherry and umbrella in it - Tommy’s idea.

"Presentation matters," Tommy said, handing him the glass like a gentleman. "If you’re not drinking, your drink should still spark joy."

And it did spark joy. Like all of tonight had. There was laughter, ridiculous trivia, funny performances, and the casual ease of being around Tommy, who was just effortlessly cool, kind, and... Buck was kind of proud to be friends with the 'Cool Guy' now. He didn't make new friends that easily.

Hours later, Karen arrived, perfectly timed to collect the slightly drunken Hen and Chim, sweeping into the bar with a knowing smile as Hen waved her over.

"Did you win?" Karen asked, already kissing Hen hello.

"Second place," Hen said proudly, giggling a little tipsily.

"First in singing and drama," Chim added, his words a little slurred.

Karen looked at Buck. "So I assume you’re the nerd who carried them?"

"Hey," Hen said. "We all contributed."

Tommy grinned. "Evan’s the real MVP."

Buck laughed. "No, Hen got all the medical ones. I just knew about flamingos and squids."

"And Venus spinning backward," Tommy added. "Can’t forget the sexy planetary facts."

Buck blushed but waved it off. "It’s - it's just weird science."

"Hey, science is sexy!" Karen protested, a little smirk playing across her face as she looked between Buck and Tommy like they were a puzzle she wanted to decipher.

After exchanging goodbyes and hearing a few more jokes from Chim about forming a traveling karaoke act, Karen ushered them both out the door.

Buck chuckled and glanced back at Tommy. "Wow, these two are so wasted. They're definitely going to regret this tomorrow."

Tommy laughed softly. "Yeah, but at least they went home safely with Karen."

"I should probably head out too before it gets too late," Buck said.

"Let me walk you to your car," Tommy offered. "I called an Uber for myself."

They stepped outside together into the warm night, the city buzzing softly around them. Buck stretched his arms over his head, still energized from the good time he’d had.

Buck swung his arms loosely as they walked. "Man, that trivia night was so great! I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun."

Tommy glanced at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'd be happy if you joined me for trivia again. You were impressive." There was a subtle, almost teasing lilt in his tone.

Buck grinned, feeling his ears warm. "Thanks. I just like researching stuff, you know? Like the question about Olympus Mons? It’s so wide that it would cover the state of Arizona. Also, if there is lava, it flows super slow compared to Earth’s because of the lower gravity and how Martian lava cools."

He kept going, weaving in fact after fact about volcanoes on Venus and Io and even some weird underwater ones.

Tommy chuckled softly and walked a little closer. His eyes followed Buck’s animated gestures, soft and amused. "You really love this stuff, huh?"

Buck blinked, a little caught off guard, but he kept talking, grinning. "Yeah! It's just fascinating! Space is wild: Planets, moons… But I also like other stuff, like… Insects! Did you know…"

Tommy listened, the corner of his mouth twitching. He seemed completely entertained by Buck’s enthusiastic ramblings.

When they reached Buck’s car, Buck stopped and blinked at the time on his phone. "Whoa. It’s after midnight."

Tommy leaned his shoulder casually against the hood of Buck’s Jeep. "Guess time flies when you’re enjoying good company." 

Buck chuckled. "Yeah, I really enjoyed getting to know you tonight." 

"I’m glad you came," Tommy said softly, still looking at him. 

Buck turned to him, about to make a joke, but then paused. Tommy was suddenly much closer than Buck had expected. For a moment, the night felt still. Something shifted in the air. 

Then, Tommy leaned in.

Slow. Intentional. No rush. Just… closing the distance, the way someone does when they’ve already made the decision in their head. Like he knew this was the moment.

Buck’s breath caught - and then Tommy kissed him.

It wasn’t rushed. It was gentle, firm, confident. Like Tommy knew exactly what he was doing, like the answer to a question Buck hadn’t realized he’d been asking all night.

And Buck froze for a heartbeat.

Then his lips moved without thinking, parting slightly as he leaned into it. It felt easy and good and right, warm and dizzying in a way that scrambled his thoughts completely.

Tommy’s hand came up to cup Buck’s jaw, thumb brushing lightly against his cheek.

Buck made a whiny, involuntary noise into the kiss - low and soft and surprised by how good this was. It ended slowly, Tommy pulling back just an inch or two, lips brushing against Buck’s one last time before separating.

Buck opened his eyes, wide and stunned. His heart was hammering.

His brain caught up half a second later.

Wait. WHAT?!

"I - uh - " Buck stepped back, blinking, staring at him, eyes wide. His chest was fluttering, and his brain felt like it had short-circuited. "I’m straight."

Tommy’s face fell. He looked mortified. "Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I thought - I thought you were flirting…"

"No, wait! Don’t be sorry! It was good!" Buck said quickly, shaking his head as if that could reboot his scattered thoughts. His heart was racing, and a strange warmth spread through him. "I mean…"

Tommy blinked. "What?"

Buck exhaled, wild-eyed. "Okay, I’m not mad. Just… confused. That was a really good kiss. Like… confusingly good."

"Okay, now you’re confusing me," Tommy replied.

"I might not be as straight as I thought I was a minute ago?"

Tommy’s mouth opened slightly. "What?!"

"Yeah," Buck said, half-laughing, half-panicking, his heart hammering. "I mean… I kissed back, right? And there was, like… whining. That has to mean something?"

Tommy was definitely trying not to laugh. "It was a good kiss."

"Yeah, it was," Buck muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. He felt dizzy with excitement, every nerve alive. "Oh my god, how did I not notice sooner?"

"Well, to be fair," Tommy said gently, "I was flirting with you all night. And I had the feeling you were flirting back."

"I thought you were just… so cool! I wanted to be friends! But… maybe not just friends?"

"Well, I don't know about the 'being cool' part," Tommy said, grinning. "But what I do know is that I'm really into you."

Buck let out a breathless, flustered laugh, feeling heat rush to his cheeks. "Okay. Cool. Great. I - uh - I think I need a second to catch up."

"No rush," Tommy said softly. "And no pressure, okay? If you’re not ready…"

"No!" Buck interjected, a fluttering panic in his chest that Tommy would pull back. "I am! I am ready for… something?"

"Evan, one minute ago you didn’t even know this was on the table for you…"

"I know, so what?! Who cares? I can’t promise where this is going, but… I am ready for something."

Tommy took a deep breath. "Okay… maybe I could get your number for now?"

Buck looked up at him, this unfairly handsome helicopter pilot with a soft voice and warm eyes, and felt a thrill in his chest. He smiled, heart still fluttering. "Yeah," he said, pulling out his phone. "Yeah, okay. Give me your phone."

They swapped numbers in silence, a little giddy, a little overwhelmed. When Buck handed the phone back, Tommy lingered just a moment longer, and Buck felt a delicious pang in his stomach.

"Maybe we could go for coffee on Saturday?" Buck asked, his heartbeat doing stupid things.

"Yeah," Tommy said. "Saturday sounds good. I’m free." Then he leaned in and kissed Buck’s cheek, and butterflies erupted in Buck’s stomach, flaring all the way to his toes.

Tommy smiled and stepped back. "Goodnight, Evan."

Buck stood by his Jeep for a few seconds after Tommy walked away, staring at the spot where he’d been. His chest was still racing, warmth lingering in a way that made him dizzy and giddy all at once.

Then he got into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and said aloud to no one, "Okay. So that happened."

He grinned.

And didn’t stop grinning all the way home.