Mr and Mr Diaz
In Chimney's defence, he lasted at least a day before spilling to Bobby and Athena about the bet. They had been around at the Grant-Nash house hold, everyone bar Hen, Karen, and Chim had already left as Denny and Harry were finishing up a game. Maddie was over for a bit before having to leave to put Jee to bed, but insisted on Chim staying a while longer.
Whilst the boys were in the other room, the grown ups were sitting around the table chatting away.
“Well I for one think that is a wonderful idea Hen, I think maybe we should have a games night, no phones, no computers, just good old fashioned board games” Bobby said in response to Hens suggestion of a board game party.
“Of course that is something you would enjoy,” Karen replied.
Athena laughs as she poured wine into the empty glasses on the table.
“We could make it a couples only night?” Karen suggested.
“I don't think Buck and Eddie would like being left out very much” Athena countered.
At that comment Chimney decided to make his presence in the conversation by adding “Well funny you should say that actually as me and- Ow!” Hen had managed to kick him in the shin under the table. “Why would you do that Hen!” he said accusingly.
Hen simply looked at him with a whispered “Shut up” in Chim’s direction.
Bobby was looking between the two suspiciously. “Something you want to share with the rest of us” he said, staring the two down with an accusing glare focusing on Chim knowing he was more likely to break.
Chimney sighed, realising he had already said too much to back out now. “Alright, alright. You caught us. Hen and I have a little bet going on.”
Hen groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Chim, you couldn't last a day, could you?”
Athena leaned in, intrigued. “A bet? About what?”
Chimney, now committed to his revelation, continued, “We have a bet on if and when Buck and Eddie will start dating.”
Bobby raised an eyebrow. “Really, Chim? Betting on our friends' personal lives?”
Hen quickly added, “It's all in good fun, Bobby. We just noticed how close they've gotten, and some things I have seen them do definitely go beyond the ‘boundaries’ of friendship.”
Athena's eyes sparkled with interest. “You know what? I'm in. How much?” she said while fishing around for her purse.
Hen and Chimney exchanged glances, surprised by Athena's enthusiasm. “Twenty bucks,” Chimney said, pulling out the bet book.
Athena reached in her found purse and handed over a crisp twenty-dollar bill. “Put me down for three months. Those two are practically made for each other, I've definitely seen Buck's love struck puppy dog eyes.”
Bobby sighed, shaking his head. “I’m not betting. I think it’s silly to wager on our friends’ relationships.”
Karen, who had been listening quietly, nodded in agreement. “I’m with Bobby on this one. I think we should let Buck and Eddie figure things out on their own.”
Athena took a sip of her wine and grinned. “Well, even if Bobby and Karen are out, I’m still confident. They just need a little nudge.” she pauses. “Or a giant smack in the face, whatever comes first”.
Chimney jotted down Athena’s bet in the book, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. “Alright, three months it is.”
Hen, still a bit embarrassed, added, “Just remember, this stays between us. The last thing we need is Buck and Eddie finding out and feeling weird about it.”
Athena raised her glass. “Here’s to Buck and Eddie and whatever the future holds.”
The group clinked their glasses together, bar Bobby who just sipped his water and shook his head fondly at the antics.
—--
Chim and Hen sat around idly as they watched the news having a coffee break. The bet book was safely hidden from prying eyes, tucked away. They had started paying closer attention to Buck and Eddie's interactions, and today, they were in for a real treat.
The shift had hit a slow point, and the team was busy with their usual routines. Buck decided to wear a hoodie today even though the weather was on the warmer side. He had been tasked with cleaning the truck after the call they had just gotten off. Eddie on the other hand was just finishing up with re-organising the supply closet.
Whilst he was cleaning Buck began to get a bit warm, he quickly discarded the hoodie he had been wearing as he continued on with his task.
However unknown to Buck the shirt he had grabbed that morning wasn't exactly his…
Misha was a temporary member of the 118 after a firefighter who shall not be named, was fired due to harassment, abuse of power and a whole boatload of other things that had slipped past other captains' watches, But not Bobby’s.
Misha had been around for a few days but had a hard time remembering names. He Knew the names they all go by but struggled with putting faces to those names. Unfortunately this inability to remember who was who had led Misha to read and trust the names on their turnout coats and badges. Sometimes he was lucky enough that a few of them also had their names on the back of their LAFD t-shirts and sweaters.
Misha made his way over to the front of the water truck as he was instructed to check the pressure gauges. However he needed to access the panel that locked on the side of the engine. He looked around for the keys before giving in and asking the fire fighter who was currently on top of the truck facing away from him.
“Diaz?” he called out hesitantly.
However the man on the truck seemed to not hear him so he raised his voice a little louder.
“Hay Diaz!” He shouted this time.
Eddie poked his head out of the storage closet he was currently trying to re-organise.
“Yeah what's up newbie?”
Misha looked towards him confused "No, not you. I mean Diaz!" he repeated, pointing towards Buck.
Buck straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag looking over at the two of them.
“Don't you mean Buck?” Eddie corrected as he walked over to the engine.
“Huh?... Wait, that's Buckley?” Misha asked, looking between the two.
The conversation had attracted the attention of Hen and Chim who were now peering over the railing from the loft, silently still sipping away at their coffees.
“But his shirt says Diaz?” He pointed out when Eddie nodded.
Buck tried, like a puppy chasing his tail, to see what was on the back of his shirt.
“Oh man,” Buck said chuckling, “I must’ve grabbed your shirt by mistake.”
Eddie shook his head, amused. “How do you not notice you’re wearing my shirt?”
Buck shrugged, grinning. “Yours are softer. Plus, you left it in my locker.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Softer? You’re gonna stretch my sleeves!”
Buck flexed his arms playfully. “Can’t help it, man. These guns need room.”
Eddie rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Alright, come on. Go get changed before anyone else notices.”
“But what if I don't wanna” Buck argued back as he climbed down from the engine.
As they walked towards the locker room, still bickering , Chimney had started to hit the side of Hens' arm as she nodded aggressively, hands flailing in the direction the two had left. As their silent over dramatic conversation continued, they didn't notice Bobby coming up behind them. He cleared his throat.
The two spin around quickly facing their Captain, trying their best to plaster on a face of innocence as he spoke.
“Here is a twenty, I’m saying 1 month”
Hen and Chim look at each other with raised eyebrows. Chim then took the 20 with a small nod.
“Pleasure doing business with ya Cap” he said, giving a mock salute.
Bobby turns away before pausing and turning back to face them.
“When I say a month, I mean a month ago by the way”
He walks away leaving the two gawking like fish out of water.