Chapter Text
Eddie first interacted with Officer Buckley at Henderson’s, a bar frequented by first responders that filled up after shift. Eddie normally didn’t bother going out with the rest of the crew. He wasn’t much of a drinker, and he had Chris to hurry home to. However, it was the first night he had a sitter for Chris, who was willing to stay overnight if he needed them to.
“Someone got dressed for the occasion,” Chim said to Hen as Eddie took his seat at the table they had secured.
“Sure did. You got a plan, Diaz?” Hen smirked at Eddie.
He wasn’t wearing anything special. He changed into a good pair of jeans, a dark green henley, and shoes that weren’t athletic shoes. He may have styled his hair for once. He could make an effort when he wanted to.
“I think he might have plans.” Chim grinned.
“You have a babysitter!” Hen nearly shouted.
Eddie shushed her and looked around, noticing the attention she was drawing from the tables around them.
Hen lowered her voice, “Are you planning on picking up tonight?”
Eddie’s eyes widened. “No. I just needed …”
His head shot up when a rowdy cheer broke over the normal chatter. He wasn’t the only one who looked to see what the noise was about. The cops had a way of being a little more raucous than the rest of them. The group that had taken up residence on the opposite side of the bar was a good enough crew. The 118 interacted with them during auto accidents, mostly. Every blue moon, they’d deal with them on other rescue calls. But they were usually on the outskirts once rescue was cleared to go in.
“Buck, the man, the myth, the legend!”
The man in question ducked his head down as he weaved through the tables. Even ducked down, he was tall. His cheeks were red with embarrassment from the attention. Eddie couldn’t stop himself from the track his eyes took as they traveled from bicep to ass.
“Come on, guys. Cut it out. It wasn’t anything you wouldn’t have done in my shoes.”
“Nope,” Officer Ramirez, if Eddie recalled correctly from a call earlier in the day, shook his head. “You don’t get to do that. You saved a kid today.”
“Oh shit.” Hen’s eyes grew wide. “I heard about that from B shift.”
“What did he do?” Eddie asked. He picked the label on his beer.
Hen leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. If he didn’t know her as well as he did, he would have missed that she was impressed. “He jumped off the step bars of a moving squad truck to tackle a perp. It was a domestic violence case. Dad fled the scene and was searching for his kid, who had run and called the police. Dad spotted his son with his friends. If Buckley hadn’t jumped, it may have been horrible.”
“Lucy patched him up after.” Chim shrugged his shoulders. “A bit of road rash, but he got the dad before he could do more damage. The mom didn’t make it.”
“Shit.” Eddie shook his head.
“Buckley’s a good kid. I worked with him a bit when I covered some B shifts.” Hen looked at Eddie. He could see the calculation in her eyes. He didn’t like it.
They moved on from Officer Buckley and on to what they each had planned for the upcoming week. Chris had an art project that Eddie would no doubt have to complete. That was how it always went lately. Chris had ideas, but they forgot until the night before, and then Eddie stayed up late to get it done so Chris would get a good grade on the assignment.
Eddie threw back the rest of his beer. “I’m going for another. Anyone else?”
“Nah,” Hen shook her head. “I’m still working on mine.”
Eddie wound his way through the crowd. He posted up at the edge of the bar. It would be a minute before he managed to get any attention. A heavy sigh drew Eddie’s attention.
He was right. Officer Buckley was tall. Tall enough that he had to tilt his head back a bit. He noted the birthmark over his eye. Bright blue eyes that Eddie could get lost in if he gave himself the chance to.
“Do I want to ask what that sigh was about?” Eddie asked.
Buckley pressed his lips together as if he were debating internally whether he should say what was on his mind. Eddie could see the moment he thought fuck it.
“They saw everyone looking at me. Thompson bet I couldn’t get a firefighter’s number. If I don’t, I’ve got scut duty. Which means a lot of cleaning. Mostly after drunks get sick in patrol cars.”
Eddie snorted. That was a cakewalk. Why Buckley thought that was a big ask, he wasn’t sure.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds.” Buckley shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Come on, you know you’re talking to a firefighter. I’ve got three women at the table who would love to give you their number.” Eddie rolled his eyes.
“Except,” Buckley’s cheeks grew red. “It’s got to be a flirtatious kind of thing.”
“Still not seeing the problem,” Eddie said.
“I can’t get a woman’s number, because that’s not who I’d normally ask for a number from,” Buckley stated.
It took Eddie a second to understand what Buckley was saying. His eyes widened, “Oh. You’re gay?”
Buckley chuckled. He ran a hand through his hair nervously. “Mostly.”
“Well,” Eddie leaned across the bar and grabbed a napkin. He looked down a few seats and saw a pen sitting on top of a receipt. He swiped it and scribbled his number on it. He showed the napkin to Buckley. “Good enough?”
“Um,” Buckley tilted his head as he took the offered napkin.
You could save me any day …
“Wow, thanks. I don’t even know your name.”
“Eddie,” Eddie held his hand out. He ignored the heat that unfurled in his belly when he noticed Buckley’s eyes trailing from his face down his body. It was as if he was interested in what he saw.
He took a step closer into Eddie’s space. He tilted his head down to whisper into Eddie’s ear. “Buck.”
“Good to meet you, Buck.” Eddie breathed out. His grip on Buck’s hand tightened briefly. They were pulled from the moment when the bartender barked at them.
“Diaz! Are you planning on ordering anytime soon, or do you plan to take the man to bed? What’s it going to be?”
Buck smirked, “This one is on me, Sam. Whatever he’s having and my usual.”
“You got it.” She popped the tops off two beers and passed them over. “You better treat this one right, Buck. Diaz is a sweetheart. You hurt him; you don’t get to show your face around here anymore. Got it?”
Eddie shook his head. “Ignore her. Now, go show off your spoils. You owe me, Buck.”
Buck darted in and pressed a kiss to Eddie’s cheek. “I have to sell it.”
Eddie chuckled and saluted Buck with his beer bottle. Buck’s grin was all teeth before he spun around and returned to his table. Eddie watched as he deftly showed off the napkin before tucking it into his pocket. Buck turned back to Eddie and sent him a wink.
“You’re going to get yourself into trouble with that one, Diaz,” Sam said.
“Nah, he’s not even going to call.” Eddie headed back to the table.
The crew looked at him in surprise. They were quiet just long enough for him to sit back down. “What?”
“Did you just give that man your number? And did he kiss you on the cheek?” Hen asked with a squeak.
“Maybe.” Eddie grinned.
“Shut up!” She smacked his arm.
“It was a bet. I was helping him out.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” Chim rolled his eyes. “Didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes and seemed to be flirting.”
“He’s not even going to use it.” Eddie shook his head.
He had no idea how wrong he was going to be.