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Chimney, despite what many may assume, loved mornings. He liked the stillness of the quiet house as the sun slowly began to shine through the window, bathing him in warmth while he gathered his things for work.
He liked kissing his beautiful wife goodbye as she sleepily grumbled and waved him off with a small smile, not opening her eyes the entire time before snuggling deeper into the blankets.
He liked to kiss his daughter goodbye, too, lifting her in his arms to deposit her gently onto the couple’s bed where Jee instinctively latches onto her mom as Maddie sleepily opens her arms for the toddler.
He liked watching them both sleep, faint snores coming from the two that Chimney now realizes is a Buckley noise, having heard the same soft snoring coming from a certain blond while sleeping in the bunks.
So yes, Chimney loved mornings and he was happy about it.
Until he walked out of his car after arriving at the station and sparing a glance towards Eddie’s truck nearby the parking lot.
Instant regret flooded his veins.
Seeing what he considers his little brother straddling Eddie in the driver’s seat with his tongue practically shoved in the other’s mouth is not how he wanted to start the day.
It was like a car crash he couldn’t look away from as he noticed Eddie looked to be visibly panting, staring at the blond in his lap in awe. The man bared his teeth before yanking Buck’s head closer by his hair and into a messy kiss.
Buck’s face was flushed red and his curls were flattened and frizzy in different areas as his eyes were half-lidded.
Chimney grimaced and realized that when they pulled away from each other for a moment, he could visibly see a line of spit connecting their mouths before they jumped right back in.
When he realized that the truck was slightly moving from Eddie grinding roughly into the younger man, Chimney decided right then that he hated gay people.
He was so caught up in the horror that the sounds of someone stepping closer didn’t register until his eyes were covered by a familiar hand.
“I’LL CALL HR ON YOUR ASS, BUCK! THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS WEEK!”
Scratch that, he loves lesbians. His beautiful, strong, kindhearted lesbian best friend who protects him from the literal gay porn that was happening in that truck.
Chimney only heard the faint mechanical whir of the car window being rolled down completely before Buck replied loudly (and breathlessly, which he chooses to politely ignore), “THIS IS OUTSIDE THE WORKPLACE UNDER THE GUIDELINES. I CHECKED THE BOOK, HENRIETTA.”
Then, Eddie chimes in, “Give me a break! I just got him a few days ago!”
He held back a laugh, remembering the way that love confession went. You’d think it was a private moment, maybe in their homes or in a dramatic way like in the rain.
But no.
It happened during a call while Buck was being chased by a stray dog (who the shelter had apparently named Buck in his honor) and Eddie was covered in puke. The veteran had practically squeaked out his love declaration in front of the entire team and the patients being treated.
Hen groaned and turned away to mumble, “I never read the policies, so I can’t tell if he’s lying.”
Chimney took her hand off his eyes to stare at her in disbelief.
“You never read the workplace guidelines?”
Hen made a face and turned to stare at him in bewilderment. “Did you?”
“Yes! I annotated it and highlighted my own copy!”
They both stared at each other, ignoring Buck slowly raising the window and resuming to make out with Eddie.
“Annotated? You’re joking.”
“It’s an important part of working on the job!” Chimney heard his voice crack as he defended his (rather bored), but beloved masterpiece he had giddily done when first becoming a first responder.
Before Hen could reply, a noise of disgust came from behind them as they turned to see Bobby facing away from them with Athena beginning to point a finger at Eddie’s vehicle.
“THAT BETTER NOT BE MY SON COMMITTING A PUBLIC INDECENCY CRIME AT HIS WORK AND IN FRONT OF HIS COP MOTHER! AND HIS FATHER WHO IS HIS BOSS, MAY I ADD!”
Chimney looked back to see Buck flailing himself out of Eddie’s lap, honking the horn with his foot and roughly smacking his head on the passenger window. Eddie frowned at being interrupted again before curling down into the seat sheepishly as he met Athena’s narrowed glare. Buck quickly got out of the passenger seat, scurrying to Bobby’s side while Eddie threw his hands up and exited the truck.
Athena silently fixed Buck's hair, smacking the back of his head quickly before the trio walked further into the fire station.
Eddie stopped next to Hen and Chimney, grumbling unintelligibly before he spoke,
“How’s your guys mornings going?”
Hen only sighed and walked to follow the others with Eddie hot on her heels, leaving Chimney standing alone with the need to bleach his eyes.
Chimney hated mornings.