Chapter Text
Buck wakes up with a panic attack.
It's been a while since he's felt this way and there's only one reason for it. It's competition day. His adrenaline had kept him up half the night and though the gravol finally knocked him out, the sleep was artificial and definitely not the rejuvenating kind.
The truth is, most of the pressure he's feeling is thanks to Eddie. His parting words outside Buck's hotel door last night had been "Rest up - we need you in top form since you're probably Southern's strongest and best chance at the cup."
Buck was elated to hear those words come out of Eddie's mouth and yet the pressure of that responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders. Northern conference are elite - New York, Chicago and Seattle are known for producing top tier athletes. They've won the firefighter's cup for the last 6 consecutive competitions which are held every 3 years. Buck doesn't know what chances they have but he doesn't want to let Eddie down - this being the part he's most concerned about.
Buck swallows thickly around the words of a song that plays in his head over and over again. Goddamit. He doesn't even recall the last time he's listened to Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz. It must have been playing at the hotel bar last night or something. He shakes the song out of his head. Now's not the time. And takes a few deep breaths before finally pushing off the bed with the intent of kicking ass and bringing home the cup.
I've got this. He repeats inside his head. I've fucking got this.
---
The sports complex is already buzzing with people when the 119 and 126 arrive. It had been a short walk from the hotel and since the games are held in Nashville, the 113 roll in individually or in pairs. Buck secretly wishes they bring some luck with them since they've got home turf advantage. But this isn't hockey or football - there are no loud cheering fans. In fact, very few spectators come to the games except for the odd spouse or kid.
Buck is opening up his hips with some dynamic stretches when he spots Ryan walking around with another young man in stow. He met Ryan the night before when he came by to greet their team at the hotel. He's proper and polite. Definitely a Captain's kid. Buck watches as Ryan introduces the young man to their team members and Buck scoffs to himself when he sees the man try a little too hard to charm everyone at first sight. He also hates how ridiculously handsome he is.
"Howdy."
Buck is startled by TK who tosses his duffle bag to the floor and joins him against the wall to start stretching.
"Hey." Buck gives him a onceover. It's clear as day TK is pissed. He hadn't been that way on their walk over when TK was talking his ear off about some MMA fight from last weekend.
"What's wrong?"
TK rolls his eyes. "Don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." Buck isn't really in the mood to entertain it anyway. He would much rather size up their competition and get his head in the game. Except his eyes zero in on that the young man following Ryan again. Now they are standing with Eddie.
Buck swallows hard and leans deeper into his stretch until it hurts. Eddie's head falls back with laughter at whatever the three of them talk about. Ryan pats his back and that chump sidekick of his won't stop staring at Eddie with that stupid charming smile of his.
Buck doesn't realize he's frowning so hard until TK speaks again.
"Still lusting after him?"
Buck looks offended by the words.
"Please." TK scoffs. "It's so obvious you want him."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Buck knows exactly what TK's talking about.
He's getting bad at suppressing his urges. These last few weeks have tested him in ways no man should have to endure. All the extra training they had to do to prepare for the competition had him slipping down a slippery slope he should have never been on in the first place. Sure - he had an innocent crush on Eddie but something deep within him had snapped and it's not so innocent anymore. Buck's not sure if it's the months of voluntary celibacy firing back at him or if Eddie had grown more attractive and irresistible.
Buck couldn't keep his eyes off Eddie in the gym. He checked him out constantly - like he's addicted and Eddie is the hit he needed every minute.
He spotted Eddie from behind when he lifted heavy and Buck couldn't peel his eyes away from the dewy skin that formed beads of sweat; and when a few trickled down and formed one stream, Buck wanted to lean down and lick it clean. When Eddie curled out his biceps, Buck watched him intensely through the mirror and imagined himself biting the muscular bulge, tasting him, bruising him, and claiming him. The fantasies tantalized him and seduced him into a trance. It made him feel good. Real good. He had felt like a caged animal with ravenous desires. He had never felt this way before. Never thought he could.
But the strange thing was, the dark urges he felt came and went as they pleased. Buck had no control over it. And in its absence, he felt numb again though he still felt some way about Eddie that is not entirely platonic.
"You want me to kick his ass for you?"
Buck is wrestled away from his thoughts by TK's words. He is confused at first but then follows TK's gaze to Eddie. Buck's stomach plummets into the abyss. For reasons unknown that chump is riding on Eddie's back as he jogs back and forth a few steps. Eddie drops the idiot to the floor and Ryan says something to the two of them before they all high-five each other.
Buck is seething with anger. "What the fuck are they doing?" He says through gritted teeth.
"Ah... I knew it!" TK is unnaturally chipper now, smiling like a damn fool and taking pleasure in Buck's misery. "Don't worry Buck, we are going to get your man today. At least one of us will." He murmurs the last sentence under his breath.
Buck is about to protest the idea when he hears Eddie's voice in his right ear.
"Here he is." Eddie is smiling wide. "Buck this is Blue, the 113's latest recruit and Ryan's step brother. Blue, this is Buck - our war machine."
Buck reluctantly stands up from his stretch. It kinda feels nice to tower over the guy so maybe it's not a bad idea. He ignores the bitter taste in his mouth when he accepts Blue's outstretched hand.
"Nice to meet you Buck." Blue flashes that perfect smile at him too. Buck restrains himself from slapping it off his face.
"I'm TK." Buck is so glad for the intervention and steps aside to let TK in. "I'm with the 126 - Captain's son too."
Blue smiles wider at that. Buck doesn't register what they are saying because Marjan calls out for everyone to huddle around the center.
Buck is about to follow those instructions but a tug on his arm yanks him back. He finds Eddie staring at him with concerned eyes.
"You good?" Eddie asks.
"I'm fine."
Eddie tightens his grip on Buck's arm. "You are going to do great Buck. Don't worry about what's going on around us - just stay focused okay?"
Buck nods. Eddie smiles at him reassuringly and that's the fuel Buck needs to propel himself forward.
"Common gentlemen, you heard the woman." Chimney motions his head for them to get going.
Eddie releases Buck from his grasp and that triggers Buck's demons to switch on. He wants to grab Eddie and pull him back in his orbit but he can't. He suppresses the urge by letting his fingers graze the skin where Eddie's hand was rested just seconds ago.
"Let's go Buck." TK pats him on the back.
What is happening to me.
---
No one recalls taking a vote to make Marjan and Ryan team captains but somehow the end up with the title and waste no time getting to work. Fire Captains, Chimney, Owen Strand and Don Hart are supervisors and in charge of keeping everyone in check. Which may sound like an easy job but given that the four youngest keep disappearing, they quickly learn they have their work cut out for them.
The supervisors keep giving the same spiel about sticking together but Eddie doesn't see any reason why. Not everyone is going to take part in today's games and they are mostly here to fill in the quota needed to participate. The captains get busy assigning everyone to the different challenges. Buck, Eddie, Hen, Ryan, Blue, Marjan, Paul and TK are doing most of the heavy lifting.
TK shuts his eyes tightly at yet another whistle blow. Was that necessary?!
He finds himself overstimulated in this environment. There is commotion and noise all around him. He folds in on himself, wrapping his arms around his crossed legs. This is why he needed Carlos here but it looks like Buck will have to do.
"Hey TK." Marjan adds to the noise, squatting down next to him. "I know I said I'd do the rappelling with you but do you mind if we pass it off to Ryan and Blue? They've got better time than us."
"Yeah - I don't mind." TK shrugs, uninterested and unenthused while Marjan runs off, not bothering to ask why he's in a mood.
"Great."
TK looks to Buck with a perked brow. "What?"
"That means they're joining me and Eddie." Buck doesn't hide the displeasure in his voice and TK grins at that.
What a menace. Buck thinks. "You really enjoy watching me suffer huh?"
TK chuckles. "Nah, I just think it's cute how you get all worked up over your man."
"He is not my man." Buck growls.
"What's his deal anyway?" TK nods his head towards Eddie who is in the far left corner of the gymnasium with Hen and Paul.
"What do you mean?"
"Is he still beating around the bush?"
Buck looks at him then. He's not sure how to answer that so TK does it for him.
"He wouldn't stop talking about you at the last Firefighter Games by the way."
Buck didn't make it to the last Firefighter Games. It was supposed to be his first run but he was bed ridden with a work injury.
"Every time we did something, he'd make a comment about how much faster, better, more efficiently you would have done it."
A smile tugs at the corner of Buck's mouth. No one from the 118 told him that - likely not wanting him to feel left out. Plus they had lost terribly so all mention of the games was taboo after that.
Buck is about to reply when Ryan runs over and tells him they're about to start their first challenge. Buck jumps to his feet. The sight of Eddie and Blue already harnessing together gets his engine going. He will be coming in hot and ready with rage.
"Go show 'em whose boss!" TK winks, standing next to him and slapping him on the ass.
Oh, I will.