It was one of those rare nights in Los Angeles when the air was cool, the city was calm, and the sky, normally hazy with smog, was dotted with stars. Evan "Buck" Buckley sat at the bar of a low-lit dive, nursing a beer and trying to shake off the tension of the latest emergency. After a day of chaos at Station 118—rushing into burning buildings, pulling people from twisted metal—he needed to unwind.
He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the bar lazily. It wasn't the kind of place he usually went to. It was smaller, quieter, almost out of the way. He'd needed somewhere to think, somewhere to just be. And right now, the noise in his head was louder than the quiet hum of the city outside.
"Late at night, I was out with some friends, feeling like nothing could go wrong…"
Buck wasn't expecting to run into anyone familiar, much less someone like Tommy Kinard. They hadn't crossed paths much since their teenage years, but Tommy was hard to forget. He was all sharp edges and smooth charm, with a reputation that preceded him.
And then there he was. Tommy slid onto the barstool next to Buck, his signature grin on full display. It was the kind of smile that could mean trouble or fun—or maybe both.
"Well, well, well," Tommy drawled, leaning an elbow on the bar, "if it isn't Buck Buckley, the man who runs into burning buildings and gets the girls. How's life treating you, hero?"
Buck raised an eyebrow, smirking. "And if it isn't Tommy Kinard, still as full of himself as ever. What brings you here, man? This doesn't seem like your scene."
Tommy shrugged, ordering a drink from the bartender. "You know me, I like to keep things interesting. Plus, I heard this place had some of the best whiskey in town. Figured I'd give it a shot."
Buck chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. "You? Trying whiskey? I always figured you for the kind of guy who stuck to something smooth, like a rum and coke."
Tommy's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who says I can't try new things? Gotta keep life exciting, Buckley."
"I saw the devil, yeah, I met him last night…"
There was something about Tommy that had always intrigued Buck. He was reckless, unpredictable, always walking the line between charm and danger. In high school, Tommy had been the guy who made every girl swoon and every guy jealous—or at least curious. And even now, years later, Tommy hadn't lost that magnetism.
Buck leaned back in his chair, watching as Tommy tossed back his drink, not a hint of hesitation in his movements. "So, what's your story these days?" Buck asked, genuinely curious. "You still out there living the wild life?"
Tommy chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass before setting it down. "Something like that. I'm still figuring things out, you know? Trying not to get tied down, keeping my options open. What about you? Still the golden boy of Station 118?"
Buck rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. "I'm not the golden boy. Just… doing my job. Saving lives, working hard."
Tommy leaned in, his voice dropping just enough to be conspiratorial. "But what about outside of work, huh? What's Buck doing for fun these days? Or is all that energy spent running into burning buildings?"
Buck hesitated, not sure how to answer that. His love life was a mess, as usual. He wasn't even sure what "fun" meant anymore. "I guess I've been... distracted. Work keeps me busy. You know how it is."
Tommy raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Come on, Buckley. There's more to life than work. You used to be the guy who lived for a good time. What happened?"
Buck sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I just grew up. Things got more complicated. You know, relationships, responsibilities… life."
Tommy looked at him for a long moment, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah, I get that. Things get messy. But that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun along the way."
Buck laughed, shaking his head. "And I'm guessing you're here to show me what 'fun' looks like, huh?"
Tommy's grin returned, full of that familiar mischief. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm here to remind you that you don't have to take everything so damn seriously all the time. Come on, Buck, when's the last time you let loose?"
Buck thought about it for a moment, realizing he couldn't remember. It felt like ages since he'd had a night where he wasn't thinking about work, relationships, or everything that had gone wrong in the past few months. Maybe Tommy was right. Maybe he did need to loosen up.
"But I won't be caught up in the drama, no, I won't be caught up in the lies…"
"Alright," Buck said, standing up and grabbing his jacket. "Let's go. Show me what this 'fun' looks like, Tommy."
Tommy's eyes lit up, and he slapped Buck on the back. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
They left the bar, stepping out into the cool LA night, and before Buck knew it, they were weaving through the city streets, ending up at a rooftop bar that overlooked the city skyline. The view was incredible—twinkling lights as far as the eye could see, the city alive with energy even at this late hour.
"This is more like it," Tommy said, handing Buck another drink. "See? Sometimes you just need to step out of the chaos and enjoy the moment."
Buck sipped his drink, his eyes fixed on the skyline. He had to admit, it felt good. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't thinking about work, or relationships, or any of the million other things that usually weighed him down.
"I'm not falling for your lies, you're a devil in disguise…"
But Buck couldn't ignore the way Tommy looked at him, that playful glint in his eye, like he was always up to something. There was something between them—there always had been—but Buck wasn't sure what it was. It felt dangerous, like Tommy was leading him somewhere he wasn't sure he wanted to go.
"Okay," Buck said, leaning against the railing, his drink in hand. "I'll bite. What's your angle here, Tommy? You've always got one."
Tommy smirked, leaning next to him. "No angle, Buck. Just two guys having a good time. Maybe reconnecting a little. What, you think I've got some grand scheme?"
Buck gave him a look. "With you? Always."
Tommy laughed, his eyes glinting in the light from the city. "Fair enough. But seriously, Buck, you've been wrapped up in all this serious stuff for too long. You deserve a break."
Buck looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, he saw something more than just the carefree playboy Tommy had always been. There was a depth there, something hidden behind the charm and the smooth lines. Something real.
And suddenly, Buck wasn't sure if this was just another one of Tommy's games or something more.
"I know you, I met you last night, and I think you're something more than what you show."
The air between them shifted, the banter falling away, leaving behind a silence that was charged with something else. Buck wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't deny it any longer.
"Tommy," Buck said quietly, turning to face him fully. "What are we doing here?"
Tommy met his gaze, his usual smirk softening into something more serious. "I don't know, Buck. Maybe we're just two guys trying to figure things out. Maybe this is something. Maybe it's nothing. But either way, it's good to see you."
Buck felt his heart race, the words hanging in the air between them. He wasn't sure what was happening, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like running away from it.
"I'm not looking for drama, Tommy," Buck said, his voice steady. "I've had enough of that."
Tommy nodded, his eyes never leaving Buck's. "Neither am I. But this doesn't have to be complicated. Maybe we're just... here. Right now. And that's enough."
For the first time that night, Buck felt like he could breathe. Maybe it didn't have to be complicated. Maybe, for once, he could just let things happen without overthinking it.
He took a deep breath, leaning back against the railing and looking out at the city again. "Yeah. Maybe that's enough."
And for the rest of the night, it was.
