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It wasn’t dramatic or even romantic the way they got back together again.
It was because of a cup of coffee.
It started as a tradition between the both of them. Ever since that disgusting coffee Evan had ordered for him on their second date, they made it a game for him to figure out Tommy’s coffee order (mocha with a splash of sugar cookie syrup; it's very endearing how big of a sweet tooth Tommy has) and when he figured it out, making sure a cup of coffee was sent to the Harbor exactly just before his shift of the day starts, no matter how his schedule goes (he suspected someone in the fire house were colluding with Evan in regards of his shifts), each cup accompanied with quirky, adorable notes and sweet reminders to be safe.
So when the breakup happened, Tommy thought that the tradition would be over.
And yet, to his surprise there was his usual cup of coffee, were waiting for him at the station, along with a box of beautiful decorated red velvet cupcakes (Evan’s favorite flavor and increasingly becoming his as well every time he licked it out of the man’s mouth after they have cake together) and a note bearing the words ‘You’re an idiot. Call me when you’re ready to talk. Stay safe.’
Oh.
Evan is not mad at him.
The Harbor was drowning in baked goods.
And everyone blamed him for this infestation.
And frankly, Tommy thought remorsefully as he bit into the deliciously tart mixed berries loaf and taking a sip of his coffee, he blamed himself too.
“Fix this Kinard!” His aeromedic, Miriam, shook her fist at him, the other hugging protectively the container full of triple chocolate brownie that she had won from one of the pilots in Shift B. “Before Buck perfected the techniques in making chocolate eclairs and I will never lose all this weight at this rate!” She ended with a dramatic wail.
“Maybe you shouldn't have told him that chocolate eclairs are your kryptonite then last week.” His co-pilot, Zachary said dryly as they took the last lemon and blueberry muffin, reminding all of them that they, Miriam and Evan had hung out as usual at their favorite queer friendly cafe last sunday.
“But he’s the one offering to make them as a bribe to make sure Tommy is doing fine!” She huffed
“Then you only have yourself to blame.” Tommy ignored the two bickering as he walked away with his loaf cake, shaking his head. He was glad in a way Evan still cared for him enough to make sure he was doing fine after he broke his heart via his friends in 217.
(Not that anyone from 118 approached him after the breakup. Heck he’s pretty sure even Milton in Harbor Shift C who barely talked to everyone checked on Evan when he found out about the breakup, apparently the two men struck friendship over Russian literature of all things.
According to the note Evan left with a basket of freshly baked zucchini bread that Captain Pilot Pruitt took off with, the 118 had been blocking Evan from texting Tommy, calling him a desperate idiot for trying to reach out to Tommy. In a way he was glad Evan’s relationship with 217 had survived the breakup unlike his so-called friendship with 118 despite knowing them longer.)
Damn, Tommy thought, as he stared at the decadent looking eclairs of various flavors in the basket he was holding, along with his usual coffee. Evan really figured out how to make them.
“Hey, Miriam, Evan made eclairs for you.” He called out as everyone looked up from their respective chores and looked hungrily at him.
“Damn you Kinaaaaarrrddddd.” Miriam howled as she ran past him, snagged the basket of goodies and ran off as half of Shift A and C as well standby pilots chased after her. Shaking his head at their antics, he stared at the angrily scribbled notes stuck to his coffee cup.
‘Chim and Maddie told me to move on and it’s not worth it waiting for you.’
What the fuck? Tommy quickly read the next note.
‘The hypocrites, where was that energy when my sister dumped Chim twice? And Chim chasing her all the way to Boston after punching me in the face?’
What the hell?! Chim punched Evan? When was this and where was I when this happened? Tommy thought furiously.
I’m tired of people giving me advice and behaving like I’m a fragile kid who just had his first breakup over his first serious relationship.
Tommy winced.
You’re an idiot. Call me. Don’t make me go there and kick your ass for ignoring me. Stay safe.
Oh, Evan. Tommy’s smile twisted ruefully. He shook his head and turned to look for Lucy. Maybe she and her vast gossip pool can clarify what Evan meant with Chim punching him.
I saw Connor and Kameron yesterday. Tommy stared in confusion at the note in the envelope that came with his coffee. He remembered Evan mentioned them as his friends from back when he was in Peru and the reason why he moved to LA. But why is Evan mentioned it here? He continued reading. I told them about our conversation leading up to the breakup and they pointed out that I was moving too fast and probably scared you off in the process and we should have had a proper conversation about what we want in this relationship instead. They did however agree that you’re an idiot with your first and last speech and called you biphobic.
Wait, what? Tommy frowned. He’s not biphobic.
Isn’t he?
He shook his head before continuing.
Anyways baby Tristan says hi. Call me when you’re ready so we can talk. Stay safe.
He then realized that there was a polaroid in the envelope and pulled it out, staring at it in shock. In the photo, Evan looked tired with the bruised eye bags and unruly curls, and was holding a young toddler wearing a birthday hat, their identical cornflower blue eyes sparkled at the camera.
Behind the polaroid, scribbled in Evan’s handwriting was one sentence. Baby Tristan Collins, first birthday, with god-father and sperm papa Evan Buckley .
WHAT THE FUCK??!!
“LUCY!” Tommy bellowed.
She took one look at him and the polaroid he was holding and quickly retreated, her hands up as if trying to ward him off. “Oh hell no, Kinard! If you want to know, you ask him, not me! Stop being a coward and talk to him already!” She yelled back before running off.
There was no coffee waiting for him when he got to work that morning.
He fretfully waited for an extra ten minutes, wondering if the delivery person was late that day but then spiralled.
What if Evan was tired of waiting for him to find his courage to finally talk? What if Evan was finally moving on? What if Evan FINALLY found someone while looking lost at the bakeware aisle?!
No!
He’s not ready to lose Evan for good!!
Tommy whimpered before running out of the firehouse, forgetting he had a shift at that moment.
“Did it work?” Miriam popped out of her hiding place, holding the coffee cup she stole along with the note Buck cautioning Tommy about the weather alert and reminding him to be safe.
“Yup.” Zachary nodded. “Now someone tells Milton to come back and cover Tommy’s shift.”
“Awesome.” She sighed. “Now they're definitely gonna get back together again.” Miriam absently took a sip of the coffee she was holding before immediately spitting it out.
“ACK!! TOO SWEET!!”
Holding a cup of coffee for Evan (Spanish latte with oat milk) Tommy entered 118, frantically looking for him. Chim and Eddie, noticing who just came into the firehouse, quickly moved to intercept him.
“What the hell, Tommy? You can’t be here!” Chim hissed at him, trying to push him out.
Ignoring him, Tommy tried to peer up at the loft, wondering if Evan was upstairs. “I need to talk to Evan.”
“No way man, you already broke his heart, you’re a person non grata here now.” Eddie tried to drag him out.
“Tommy?” Everyone froze and as one, looked up to see Buck peering down at them, wearing street clothes. To 118’s surprise, Buck didn’t look heartbroken or devastated staring at Tommy, but instead was very happy to see him. “Hey, finally ready to talk?” He said with a teasing smile as he approached them.
“I-I,” Tommy pushed the warm coffee cup at him. “Coffee.”
Evan’s eyebrows were quirked in mirth as he took a sip. “Thanks. You looked stressed.” He tilted his head in confusion.
“You didn’t send me coffee today.” The pilot blurted out. “I thought you finally moved on.”
Evan frowned. “What?! No, I’m still waiting for you to stop being an idiot and come talk to me. And I did send you coffee as usual. See?” He showed his virtual receipt and a notification of the drink with a personalized note was delivered 40 minutes ago. A text notification suddenly came in.
Lucy
It’s for both of your own good. Now make up and start dating each other again.
Miriam
Kinard, your coffee is disgusting. Good luck with the talk!
Zachary
And don’t worry about your shift, Milton’s covering it.
Buck tried to smother his giggle but judging the way Tommy slapped his face in frustration, yet not hiding the smile on his face, both of them were being too giddy from the final push from their friends.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Chim piped in, staring at both of them, Eddie and now Hen were staring at them unhappily. “Are you guys getting back together or something?”
Buck ignored the hypocrites (he’s still mad after finding out 118 dropped Tommy the moment after the break up like hot coal for all they were sprouting shit like they were all a family to Tommy for the past six months they were together) and grinned at Tommy. “I was just leaving since Johnson and I swapped shifts yesterday for his daughter’s birthday. How about we grab coffee at our usual place?”
Tommy smiled, looking both fragile and yet hopeful at him. “As long as you explained about baby Tristan. And that punch. Oh, and on that latest deep dive of yours that you've been ranting to Zachary last Sunday.” Hands linked together, both of them walked out of the firehouse, ignoring everyone's loud questions.