Work Text:
Buck strides into the gym, ready for a quick workout between calls. Chim is already working out in one corner and greets him a nod as Buck enters. As soon as Buck steps up to the weights, his eyes are drawn to a bright pink post-it stuck to the rack. Reaching down, he carefully peels the sticky note off and brings it closer to read the message left on it.
“Rerack the weights you asshole,” he reads out. He doesn’t recognise the handwriting but the note is signed E. He looks back up at Chim. “Who the hell is E?”
Chimney pauses mid-lift and arches an eyebrow at him. “Could it be E for Evan ?”
Buck gives Chim a look, “Sure, I just left myself a note, in handwriting that isn’t mine by the way, and completely forgot about it.” He stares back down at the note. Whoever it was doesn’t need to be such an asshat about it. They didn’t even say please.
Chimney just shrugs, “Beats me then.”
Without a second thought, he crumples the note up in his fist and chucks it towards the trashcan in the corner. It bounces off the rim and lands nearby. He reminds himself to pick that up on his way out.
And anyway, the whole weights thing wasn’t even his fault.
**********
When Eddie steps into the gym during a lull in calls, he’s pleased to see the weights are all racked in the correct order. The note he left must have worked. Except….yes, there’s a bright green sticky note waiting for him in the exact spot he left his note.
The note is written in a messy scrawl that’s barely readable but it’s definitely a reply to his message.
We had a call dumbass but I'll make sure next time -B.
“Who the hell is B?”
He’s alone in the gym so there’s no one to answer him. He doesn’t exactly like being called a dumbass but he guesses B’s excuse is a good one. Chucking the note away, he returns to the weights but only manages to get in a few minutes worth for the bell rings. He takes an extra second to put them back on the rack before running for the truck.
Eddie had forgotten all about the correspondence until a couple of shifts later when he heads to the fridge for milk and finds another post-it waiting for him. This one is orange and the message is in the same illegible handwriting as the last one.
Who finished the milk but left the gallon in the fridge, recycle it for the love of God - B
Eddie yanks the note off with a frown and puts it down on the counter beside his mug. With his mind occupied, he works on autopilot to retrieve the almost full carton of milk in the fridge. When he sets it down there’s a second note attached to the cap.
And you left B shift to replace the milk. You know the rules: You finish it, you replace it. You owe me - B
Eddie rolls his eyes at the message but pulls the note off so he can finish making his coffee. Sticking the noteless milk back in the fridge, he goes in search of a piece of paper and a pen to respond to B.
**********
“Can you believe this?” Buck stares at the note held up on the fridge with an LAFD magnet.
There was still enough left in the carton when our shift ended so had to have been one of yours who finished it off. Stop blaming C shift for things Idiot. - E
Hen sips her tea, “They have a point.”
Buck whips round to face her. He’s glaring but Hen’s never been intimate by Buck’s glare. “Not the point.”
“What is the point?” Chim asks from his spot on the table.
“I’m being called an idiot.”
“You should be used to that by now.”
Buck’s glare shifts to Chimney.
“You know what?” Hen starts, taking the note from Buck’s hands. “I think this has to be Eddie.”
“Eddie who?” Buck’s never heard of an Eddie before.
“Eddie Diaz? C shift’s new probie,” she answers.
Buck’s eyes widen, “I’m getting shit from a probie ?” The 118 wasn’t the kind of house that hazed the new recruits but there was a certain order to things and that included a little respect from the probies. The kind of respect this Eddie Diaz was not affording him.
“According to Bobby he was a field medic in the army, even won a silver star, so he’s probably not some wet behind the ears newbie.”
“Yeah, like you were,” Chim points out. Buck glares at him again.
“Still,” Buck rolls his shoulders, shrugging off his friend’s teasing, “Not sure why this Eddie’s got such a problem with me.”
“Maybe you should arrive on time for your shift once in a while and then you might actually meet the guy and find out,” Hen suggests.
“I turn up on time once, Bobby’ll expect it every week,” he grins. Hen stares at him incredulously for a second and then walks away.
**********
“God I’m so hungry,” Eddie groans as he jumps out of the truck and removes his turnout gear. The bell had rung just before breakfast and they had gone from one call to another without a chance to stop and eat something. It’s now nearly three o’clock and his stomach rumbles so loudly he’s sure everyone in the firehouse can hear it.
“Check the fridge, maybe there’s some leftovers from Cap,” Johnson suggests.
Eddie doesn't hesitate and takes the stairs two at a time. There’s no one in the kitchen when he arrives and he heads straight for the double fridge that often contains leftover mac and cheese, lasagne or meatballs from their Captain. The food was good, better than anything he could cook and he has secretly smuggled containers of leftovers home to feed his son on more than one occasion.
He’s pleased to find a couple of containers labelled in Bobby’s handwriting and he nearly reaches for one, but then he spots another container with a different note, one with handwriting he’s begun to recognise.
Buck's Food. Do NOT Eat. Poison. - B.
Eddie grins and reaches for that one instead. Inside is a huge sandwich filled with pastrami, swiss cheese, tomatoes, gherkins, mayo and more. His mouth waters at the sight.
He’s yet to meet Buck. There are always people coming in and out of the firehouse and with unpredictable calls, shifts changing regularly and plenty of people to keep track of, it’s not uncommon for firefighters on different shifts not to meet. That’s not to say he hasn’t heard a lot about the guy. Everyone seems to have some kind of story to tell about him, some of which Eddie hopes to God aren’t true.
He’s been told about the rollercoaster, baby in the wall, sex in the truck and an emergency tracheotomy and it’s left Eddie with no idea who Buck really is. From what he’s been able to put together, Buck’s like a golden retriever. Excitable and enthusiastic but sometimes a little bit of an idiot. Eager to please but with a reckless side which apparently is giving the captain grey hairs before his time.
The more he learns about Buck, the more curious he is to actually meet him. He’s seen pictures, there are a few up on the walls around the house and he may have looked Buck up on social media a couple of times. There's a particular photo of Buck standing by the truck, rope rescue harness on and axe slung over his shoulder, that Eddie has caught himself staring at more than once.
Until the time comes to meet face to face, Eddie’s determined to mess with the guy. It was all just too much fun and he began picturing the expression on Buck’s face when he saw half his sandwich missing.
He grabs half and devours it in no time at all. With his hunger satiated, he places the container back in the fridge with a note left for the sandwich’s owner.
You make a pretty good sandwich for being on 'B' Crew dude. -E.
The next day, the note he left is stuck on the outside of the fridge, a different magnet holding this one up. Underneath his message is a response in blue sharpie.
You jerk. You're lucky you left half or I'd tell you off. - B.
He smiles at the message but feels a bit bad all of a sudden. It is kind of a cardinal rule at the firehouse not to touch another firefighter’s food. He sends a quick message to his Abuela, requesting her famous enmoladas and picks them up a couple of days later whilst dropping off his son.
He leaves them in the fridge at work with a new note.
Best enmoladas you’ll ever eat, enough for two - E
The next shift, half the container has been eaten and there’s another message scribbled under his.
Oh my God, those were delicious. Who do I have to pay/kill to get more? - B
Eddie grins
**********
It’s been a quiet shift, (not that Buck would say that out loud) and most of the crew are in the bunk room trying to make the most of the calm. Buck however has other plans. He has the whole TV area to himself, which is just the way he likes it and immediately switches on the TV and console. He’s so close to beating his own top score on SpaceshipBattle 2, he just needs a few more tries and he knows he’ll manage it.
The game starts up and the top ten high scores roll across the screen as usual. Except instead of his name nine times (and Chimney appearing once in the number 10 spot) Five of the spots have been replaced with Eddie, including at number one.
Buck huffs and throws the controller down onto the couch. Replacing all the high scores is going to take all night now.
Much later, with the sun now high in the sky, his hands are stiff and his neck aches from sitting hunched over the controller for the last few hours. He’d been alone for most of it until Chimney had appeared. He had curled up into a chair nearby with a cup of coffee and yawned every few minutes whilst trying to distract Buck with various probing questions about his sister who was back in town. Half an hour later Hen had plonked down beside him whilst she polished off some eggs.
He’s so close to beating Eddie’s top score when the bell goes. “No!” He cries out in frustration but doesn’t hesitate to drop the controller and run to the truck. By the time they return the shift is over and it’s time to go home. He’ll have to beat Eddie next time. Before he leaves, he presses a note to the controller.
Not cool man - B
Returning to the game the next shift is easier said than done. It feels like there’s just one call after the other and Buck starts to wonder if they are jinxed. He finally manages to squeeze in some time to play. Finding the controller, he discovers a response from Eddie which makes him roll his eyes.
Not my fault if I’m better at this than you - E
Buck’s more determined than ever to beat Eddie’s top score and finally overtakes him half an hour later, choosing to put Suck it Eddie as his name against the score alongside a sticky note response:
You wanna go for the title? I’ll just beat you again - B
The next day, his pink post-it has been replaced with a green one.
Nobody likes a sore loser Buck - E
**********
The latest post-it note from Buck is stuck to his oxygen tanks when he next goes to check his gear. He spots it from a distance, the neon green note bright against the black and grey tanks.
“What now?” He groans to himself as he strolls over and crouches down next to where his tanks are stored in between calls.
Noticed there was a malfunction on your cylinder valve. I’ve replaced it for you - B
Huh.
When had Buck gone from someone who left snarky messages to someone who went out of their way to fix his faulty gear? Eddie’s not sure he would have noticed the issue with the valve straight away. That’s something that only comes from a year or two on the job. If he’d been out at a fire when it had failed completely, it could have had major consequences. The kind of consequences that meant he didn’t get to go home to his son at the end of the day.
He ponders how to respond for most of the shift before realising the only thing he can do is show gratitude. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to repay the favour, he’s sure. Before leaving for the day, he slaps a post-it on Buck’s helmet and walks away.
My hero - E
**********
Buck’s exhausted. What was supposed to be a twenty four hour shift had turned into more like a thirty hour shift when you included the hours spent at the hospital. He had received a nasty gash to his temple during a call that needed stitches. The house fire they had attended had already spread across the entire property by the time they had arrived and the wind had helped it spread across to the house next door too. Buck and Chimney had entered to look for survivors but no-one could have survived that blaze. Buck had learned at the hospital that a family of five lived there. On their way out of the house a chunk of ceiling had fallen down on top of them, Buck throwing himself over Chim at the last second.
After hours of poking, prodding, x-rays and stitches, he had finally been released and Bobby had immediately picked him up and driven him back to the station to collect his things. He'll be off for a few days recovering.
C shift are out on a call when they arrive so it’s blissfully quiet as he steps into the locker room. He groans at the sight of another pink sticky note, this one stuck to the nameplate on his locker. After the shift from hell, he’d rather not know what he’s done wrong now.
Letting out a yawn, he reaches for the note and reads the note. It’s a short message but his eyes are tired and the cut on his head throbs so it takes him a few seconds for the words to sink in.
Heard you had a bad one, hope this helps, shout if you need anything, to talk, whatever - E
Hope what helps? He asks himself. His question is answered a moment later when he opens up his locker and finds a six-pack of beer pushed onto the shelf.
Huh.
A hand slaps down on his shoulder and he spins in surprise, he relaxes as soon as he realises it’s just Bobby come to check up on him.
“You okay getting home?” Bobby asks.
“Yeah, absolutely.”
“Do me a favour, message me when you’re home.”
Buck rolls his eyes at his captain’s fatherly behaviour. “Yeah, yeah,” he promises.
Buck watches as Bobby’s eyes focus behind Buck and the beet in his locker. “Gift?” He asks.
“Yeah, uh, from Eddie Diaz.”
“I didn’t realise you two knew each other.”
“We don’t, not really,” Buck gives Bobby a half shrug. “He just heard about today.”
Bobby nods. He starts walking back out the room when he stops and turns back to Buck. “Just so you know, he’s asked if there were any openings on B shift.”
“Oh yeah?” Buck tries to act nonchalant.
“I said I would have a think about it and let him know,” Bobby explains. “I think you two would get along well.”
Bobby leaves before Buck can respond and instead he turns back to look at the beer, wishing he could figure Eddie out.
A few days later, when he’s back on shift and feeling a lot more human, he returns the favour.
**********
Eddie spots the bright orange sticky note on his locker door straight away and a spark of excitement runs down his spine. Whilst the notes had started off with name-calling and complaints, the last few messages he’s received have been different. He’s started to look forward to finding a brightly coloured note with a message signed B.
Hear you’re finally admitting B shift is better and joining us, it’s about time - B
Bobby had called him into his office at the beginning of the shift to let him know his request to move shifts had been accepted. Foster was happy to switch with Eddie and next shift Eddie would be joining Buck and his team.
Eddie peels off the note and carefully folds it. Whilst the first few notes had gone straight into the trash, he found himself saving the more recent ones. Opening up the door, he finds a duplicate six-pack of beer to the one he gifted Buck a few days ago. There’s another note.
Just a small welcome gift. Don’t think I’ll go easy on you though. Thanks for the other day btw - B
The note and gift leave a warmth in his belly and a feeling in his chest he doesn’t have the words for yet. It’s crazy really, the effect these notes, this man , has on him when they still haven’t met.
Suddenly he notices a third note, this one stuck to the corner of the single photo he has blu-tacked onto the inside of his locker.
Super adorable, is he yours? I love kids man - B
Fuck.
**********
Buck freezes mid-step as he looks up. Standing in the locker room is a shirtless Eddie, getting ready for his first shift on B-team. As Eddie pulls on a t-shirt, Buck swears it happens in slow motion. It’s not long before he’s spotted and Eddie grins at him. Buck doesn’t move from the spot but Eddie doesn’t seem to mind and walks over to him.
Buck doesn’t miss the way Eddie’s eyes look him up and down and he feels heat fill his cheeks at being under such intense scrutiny.
“Hey,” Eddie greets him easily as he comes to a stop a couple of feet away.
“Hey,” Buck replies.
“Nice to actually speak to you in person.”
“Uh, you too man,” Buck mentally kicks himself. He’s usually a lot suaver than this but there’s something about Eddie that is making Buck feel awkward around him. It was a whole lot easier when they were communicating with post-its.
“Guess this means no more notes,” Eddie says like he knew Buck was just thinking the same thing.
“You started it,” he reminds Eddie.
Eddie’s smile widens and he lets out a soft laugh, “Yeah, guess I did.”
As Eddie walks past, Buck can’t help but turn and check him out.
Bobby was right about them. They do work well together. Eddie fits seamlessly into the team, jumping from firefighter to medic whenever it's called for it. There's a confidence in Eddie that leaves Buck a little jealous. He's still technically a probationary officer but takes to firefighting like he was made for it.
Because they work so well together, Bobby pairs them together regularly and it’s often the case that they are the first through the door, down the cliff edge or jumping into whatever danger they are facing. It’s strange for him to think that in just a short amount of time, they've gone from leaving passive-aggressive notes to each other, to trusting each other so completely that they often didn’t need to speak to understand what the other was saying.
There’s just one problem.
Whilst the duo are the picture of professionalism when on calls, the heavy flirting in between calls is getting to ridiculous levels. Chimney and Hen have threatened to lock the pair up in the supply room on at least three occasions. It’s driving Buck crazy. He’s not sure what Eddie’s waiting for.
“You don’t?” Hen asks when he says that to her one morning. He’s helping her restock the ambulance because Chimney is nowhere to be found. Buck honestly doesn’t mind. Chimney has just started dating his sister and the last thing he needs is for this to get back to her and her meddling ways.
Buck frowns, “Should I?”
“Look,” Hen puts down the box of gauze and focuses her attention on him in a way that makes Buck feel a little too seen. “He’s a single dad to a kid with special needs, he’s got an ex-wife out there somewhere, he’s probably got a little PTSD he’s still dealing with from his days in the army and you’re...you.”
“What’s that mean?” He tries not to sound too offended.
“Whilst he wasn’t around for Buck 1.0, I’m sure he’s heard the stories. Of course he’s going to be a little bit cautious.”
“But I’m not that guy anymore.”
“Does he know that?”
Buck will just have to show him.
Maddie always tells him that actions speak louder than words, so that’s what he does. He introduces Eddie to Carla to help him navigate all the red tape that has been stressing him out for weeks. The look of wonder in Eddie’s eyes as he realises who Carla is and what she can help with is staggering, especially when the look is focused solely on him.
He joins Eddie and Christopher for days out when they’re both off at the same time. They visit the zoo, a million parks, the beach more than once and of course the aquarium. Whenever Christopher starts to tire, Buck lifts him up onto his back and carries him the rest of the way back to the car. When Christopher drops his ice cream, Buck doesn’t even hesitate to hand over his.
After tough calls, Buck looks after Eddie. Whether it’s answering his phone in the middle of the night if Eddie’s had a nightmare or taking him out for a drink to help wash off the day they’ve had. They talk about everything too. Eddie tells him all about Shannon, his overbearing parents and the few snippets of life on active duty that Eddie feels comfortable enough to share. Buck knows there are more stories, ones Eddie doesn’t want to talk about and might never want to, but at least he knows Buck will listen if that time ever comes.
The note sharing doesn’t really end either. Whether it’s a suggestion of pizza and beer after work stuck to his helmet or the last piece of cake in the fridge which Buck claims for Eddie because he knows it’s his favourite.
As time goes by, Buck wonders if Eddie will ever want more. The flirting continues and neither of them accepts any of the many phone numbers they are both offered both on calls and on night outs. Still nothing changes and he can’t help the doubt that fills his mind. That he’s not good enough for Eddie, that he’s just imagining that he wants Buck just as much as Buck wants him.
**********
Eddie has a lot of regrets in his life, but there are two decisions he made which he’ll never regret. Choosing the 118 and switching to the B shift.
There’s one more decision he knows he has to make and the longer he puts it off, the more likely it is that he’ll lose his chance before he even takes it. He doesn’t know why it’s taking him so long to make the first move with Buck. He knows Buck is into him, that much is obvious but what exactly does Buck want?
If it’s just a fling, a night to finally dampen down the sexual tension he knows follows them from room to room, then he just can’t risk it. They work too well together and one mistake could wreck that. Yes, he could go back to C shift or even switch houses, but he’s just started to build a real family here.
The answer is made crystal clear to him a few days later when he and Buck are getting ready for a shift. A flash of green catches Eddie’s eye inside Buck’s locker and he feels his breath stolen from him as he realises what it is.
My hero - E
The note isn’t just stuck to the inside of Buck's locker, it’s been taped there. Permanently. Suddenly everything seems so obvious and he knows exactly what he needs to do.
He’s nervous for the rest of the day and whilst Buck notices, he doesn’t say anything. They work seamlessly like always. They save a couple from a crushed car, rescue a woman who gets her foot stuck in a grate and runs a kid with a toy car up his nose to hospital. At the end of the shift, Eddie puts his plan into action. He rushes out to the parking lot ahead of Buck and presses the sticky note to the driver’s side window where Buck won’t miss it.
Once in place, he steps out of view and waits.
It takes Buck a while to appear and Eddie is about to go back inside and look for him when he finally exits the firehouse and steps out into the sunlight. He has his bag slung over one shoulder and his keys already held in his hand.
He watches as Buck walks over to his Jeep and then stops by the door. Slowly, Buck reaches out towards the note. He stares at it for a long time, even though the message is only four words long.
Dinner? My place, tonight? - E
Finally, Eddie steps into view.
Buck’s eyes snap to his. “Really?”
“Sorry it’s taken me so long,” In just a couple of strides, Eddie is standing in Buck’s personal space.
Standing so close to him, Eddie has to look up a bit and he watches Buck’s lips spread into a grin. “You’re worth the wait y’know.”
Buck lets him press even closer and doesn’t say a word as he crowds Buck up against the car. He tilts his chin up just as Buck lowers his and their lips meet in a soft kiss. He feels Buck’s hand on the small of his back, splayed out and holding him against Buck’s body firmly.
The kiss ends but Eddie doesn’t move away. He loves the feeling of their bodies together and can’t wait to explore what it’ll be like horizontal and with fewer clothes involved. By the expression on Buck’s face, he can’t wait either.
“Yes to dinner by the way,” Buck finally answers him.
There’s no doubt in Eddie’s mind he's made the right decision and he’s about to kiss Buck again when he hears Bobby’s voice shouting from just inside the firehouse.
“Hey, does anyone know where all my post-its have gone?”
Their eyes meet.
“We should-
“Go? Yeah.”