#acesartemis

thank you for this lovely prompt @acesartemis. It took me a moment to get it right, but I love how it turned out ☺️

“What more do you want- a booboo kiss?!”

They both freeze at Tommy’s words.

The last few months of tentatively trying to rebuild their places in each other’s lives—as friends, as people who want to stop ignoring that they mean something—has been going well. They go out with friends, they text, they hang out in open spaces where they can’t just fall into bed together and ignore things.

Buck would be lying if he said he didn’t want more. If he continued to claim he wasn’t dating because it’s not on his radar right now. He’s pretty sure everyone knows it’s because he’s already spoken for.

Buck’s tongue darts out to wet his lips, he meets Tommy’s gaze with a confidence he doesn’t actually have. “W- well, it probably wouldn’t hurt.”

“Evan.” Tommy’s voice is cautious. The yellow line you’re supposed to stand behind on the train platform. A warning not to step over.

“Please?”

He knows he’s playing with fire, but that’s why he’s a great firefighter, isn’t it? Because he knows what to do with things that burn.

Tommy steps closer, takes Buck’s bandaged finger, and holds it up close to his face. Without looking away, Tommy presses a kiss to the fingertip. It’s barely more than a brush of lips, but it may as well be a live wire.

“Better?” Tommy murmurs.

“No.” Simple and honest, because now that he allowed himself this one transgression he wants more.

Tommy turns Buck’s hand in his own, brings it to rest on Tommy’s cheek. He angles his head to press another kiss to the inside of Buck’s wrist, allowing it to linger.

“And now?” Tommy’s looking up at him from under his lashes.

“I think, actually, when I shut that cabinet, I might have hit my head.” He points to his temple. “Here.”

“Hmm, that won’t do.” Tommy drops Buck’s hand in favor of cradling Buck’s face between his massive palms. He leans in, hovering just over where Buck had pointed. “You sure?”

“Mmhmm. Yeah, there. It’s really been bothering me.” His eyelids flutter closed as Tommy kisses his birthmark instead.

“Anywhere else?”

“Maybe- maybe one more.” He taps his bottom lip. “Here.”

“I wouldn’t want to miss anywhere. Can’t be too careful with these things.” Tommy’s breath fans across his skin, faint hints of the strawberry pale ale lingering from earlier.

Finally, finally their lips meet and Buck’s every nerve ending sings with it. He chases Tommy’s mouth when it feels like he’s pulling away, greedy and desperate, like a man starving. His arms wrap around Tommy’s back, fists clutching at fabric.

Eventually they do have to break apart for air, but hold onto each other. Buck can’t risk letting go, not yet.

“How was that?” Tommy asks, still panting slightly. “Better?”

Buck pulls him in for another kiss, this one slower and more tender, but no less meaningful. When they separate, he rests their foreheads together.

“Yeah,” Buck confirms quietly. “The best.”

📝📝📝📝

And I appreciate you so much for that, beloved @acesartemis. Thank you for your patience 🥰

This snippet is the first time I’m taking a crack at younger pre heartbreak Evan. It’s Spring 1899 and the world is full of possibilities for him 🥲

Evan, with his eyes closed, face toward the sky, and arms thrown wide open, turns in a circle on the station platform. It earns him grumbles and complaints from others, but he can hardly care right now while the sun warms his cheeks and the essence of spring fills his lungs.

The northern start of the trip was all along the coast, every city reeking with freshly caught ocean delicacies brought up from the docks. Now though, it’s bits of sky, dirt, wildflowers and trees, and the faint scent of dried tobacco. It’s no wonder Persephone was granted half the year to frolic among her creations, gently coaxing them back to life. Maybe this journey will do the same for him.

“Move it,” someone says, knocking into Evan and jostling him out of his appreciative state.

Thank you for this prompt. It inspired me and I had to do it right away!

Hello, dearest and Thank you for the ask! Some sentences for you 🫶🧜‍♂️

Thank you, friend!

The next time he glances at the bar, he finds that two different people are seated where Buck and his date had been. Regret pangs sharply in Tommy’s chest, and he chastises himself. What did he think was going to happen? That Buck would see him across the room and abandon his date to come and talk to him? Not likely. The two of them are probably sharing an Uber back to Buck’s loft. Tommy can’t stop himself from imagining them falling into bed together.

It's going GOOD mel 🫶 I feel like i'm in a good rhythm with my baby and my teacher schedule allowed for me to stay home with her all summer. Everything takes 3x longer to do with a baby and my life revolves around her feedings lol, but all the sleepy snuggles make it worth it.

Ohhhh, I love this!

I personally HC Buck as the most early bird of the bunch, Eddie is a Forced morning guy that would sleep until 10 if his body let him. When given the choice, Tommy is most likely awake in the morning because he’s *still* awake and hasn’t gone to sleep yet.

So, if the three of them have an AM shift to get to? Ohh boy.

Buck is reluctant as hell to get up first because he wants to indulge in all the cuddles. It’s just so nice there between his two partners, y’know? But he does manage to pry himself away for first shower (hey, them curls aren’t gonna style themselves) and then off to rouse Chris and get breakfast going (the house is positively miserable when he’s not feeling well and has to rest).

Somewhere in there Eddie and Tommy have finally gotten out of bed. Between their military backgrounds (and overall habits) one of them automatically starts making the bed before they’re even fully conscious while the other follows the scent of coffee to the kitchen. Buck is more than happy to push a mug to Eddie and Tommy and indulge in a few sleepy ‘good morning’ kisses.

After that it’s a bit of a blur getting dressed, making sure everyone has the correct work duffel, getting Chris out the door. But they always, always, always kiss goodbye and promise to do their best to make it home to each other.

Here is a little Buckley-Han family beach day for you!

Maddie's sitting close enough to the shore that she can feel the spray of the crashing waves. Jee-Yun screeches as Chimney chases her across the sand, pretending to let her win their little race. Pristine seashells, which had been stacked carefully by her daughter, rest beside where she sits and holds little Robbie.

There's so much joy here in this moment that it's impossible to remember the time at the beach she thought she'd never feel joy again. Because how could she go back there? She's here, with her beatiful family.

It's not the life she ever imagined.