Chapter Text
Ryan pushed open the door to the bar and stepped inside, the familiar warmth and low hum of conversation wrapping around him. After a long shift at the firehouse, this place had quickly become his favorite spot to unwind. Truth be told, it wasn’t really the bar that kept bringing him back. It was the bartender. Ryan slid into a table near the back and let his eyes drift toward the bar. Sure enough, there he was. Blue stood behind the counter, stretching up onto his toes to grab a bottle from the top shelf. His shirt lifted just enough to show a strip of tan skin above his waistband. Ryan tried not to stare.
He failed.
Two months earlier, Ryan had signed the papers finalizing his divorce from Samantha. It had been a hard pill to swallow, realizing they wanted different things out of life. What made it worse was how it happened. Sam had shown up at the firehouse in the middle of Ryan’s shift and handed him the divorce papers right there in front of his entire crew. No warning. No conversation. Just a quiet, humiliating moment Ryan still hadn’t quite shaken. The day he signed those papers, Ryan decided he wanted to forget everything—the arguments, the tension, the slow way they had drifted apart. So he came to this bar and got completely wasted. That was the night he met Blue. Ryan had been halfway to falling off his stool when Blue slid a glass of water across the counter and said in a soft Tennessee drawl, “Easy there, honey. Reckon you’ve had enough for one night.”
Ryan had expected judgment. Instead he got a conversation. They talked until last call. When the lights came up and the last customers wandered out, Blue took Ryan’s keys and drove him home. Nothing happened that night. But something started. Now, two months later, Ryan found himself back here almost every evening he wasn’t on shift. Not for the drinks. For Blue.
Ryan watched him move behind the bar—quick hands, easy smile, that soft drawl that reminded Ryan of home. Blue laughed at something one of the regulars said while wiping down the counter. Eventually the crowd started to thin. A few people paid their tabs and left, the door swinging shut behind them. Ryan stood and wandered over to the bar. He slid onto a stool in the corner, resting his elbows on the counter. Blue didn’t notice him right away. Ryan didn’t mind. He was perfectly content just watching. Finally Blue turned around—and the moment his eyes landed on Ryan, his whole face lit up.
“Well hey there, sweetheart,” Blue said, strolling over. “Didn’t see ya come in.”
Ryan tipped his head. “Was watchin’ you work.”
Blue raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
Ryan shrugged “Mm-hmm.”
Blue chuckled under his breath. “Careful now. You keep sayin’ stuff like that and folks might start talkin’.”
Ryan leaned back on the stool. “They already do.”
Blue laughed and reached into the cooler. “Your usual?” Ryan nodded. Blue set the bottle on the counter, but when Ryan reached for it, Blue caught his hand first. Before Ryan could react, Blue lifted his hand and pressed a slow kiss to his knuckles. Ryan felt heat creep up the back of his neck.
Blue smiled like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Evenin’, darlin’.”
Ryan squeezed his hand lightly before letting go. “Evenin’, Blue.” Blue didn’t pull his hand away right away. His thumb brushed once across Ryan’s knuckles before he finally let go, like he’d almost forgotten he was supposed to. Blue leaned against the bar, a towel draped over his shoulder.
Ryan took a sip of his beer. “So,” he said casually, “you workin’ tomorrow?”
Blue shook his head. “Not tomorrow.”
Ryan’s grin spread slowly. “Well now that’s perfect.”
Blue eyed him suspiciously. “That so?” Ryan nodded.
“I’m off for seventy-two hours. Figured maybe you might finally go out with me and we can make this official.” Blue laughed softly and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Ryan, we been doin’ this dance for two months.”
“That ain’t a date.”
Blue tilted his head, looking slightly hurt. “Feels like one.”
“That’s bar time,” Ryan said. “That’s me sittin’ here watchin’ you work.”
“And you drinkin’ the same beer for three hours,” Blue added.
Ryan pointed at him. “That’s ’cause you keep distractin’ me.”
Blue leaned forward across the bar. “Oh, I’m the problem?”
Ryan looked him up and down slowly. “Well… you do keep stretchin’ like that.”
Blue snorted, though a faint blush crept up his neck. “Lord help me.”
Ryan smiled. "You keep lookin’ at me like that,” Blue said.
Ryan didn’t even try to hide it. “Can’t help it, baby.”
Blue blinked. Then he shook his head, trying—and failing—not to smile. “See? That right there’s exactly what I’m talkin’ about.”
Ryan leaned his elbows on the bar again, a little closer this time. “Ain’t my fault you’re easy to look at,” he added quietly.
Blue’s ears turned faintly pink. “Lord, Ryan…”
Ryan chuckled. After a moment, Blue sighed and leaned his forearms on the counter. “I would,” he admitted quietly. “But tomorrow’s kinda a study day.”
Ryan nodded toward the backpack tucked under the bar. “Academy midterm comin’ up?”
Blue groaned. “Fire behavior and building construction.”
Ryan chuckled. “The fun stuff.”
“It is not fun,” Blue said immediately. “It’s brutal.”
Ryan smirked. “Says the man who decided firefightin’ sounded like a good idea.”
Blue pointed a finger at him. “You’re the one keeps tellin’ me it’s worth it.”
Ryan shrugged. “It is.”
Blue’s expression softened. “Still don’t make memorizing half that handbook any easier.”
Ryan lifted his bottle thoughtfully. “Well, good thing I’m excellent moral support.”
Blue raised an eyebrow. “You are, huh?”
“Absolutely. I can sit quiet, bring food, quiz you with flashcards.”
Blue laughed. “You testin’ me sounds dangerous.”
Ryan leaned a little closer across the bar.
“I been doin’ this job ten years and am lieutenant,” he said. “Reckon I can handle flashcards.”
Blue studied him for a moment. Something warm settled into his expression.
“I guess havin’ an actual firefighter around while I study might help.” Ryan grinned.
“Perfect. I’ll bring coffee.” Blue tilted his head.
“For me?” Ryan nodded. Blue watched him for a long moment, something softer flickering behind his eyes.
“Careful now, Ryan,” he said quietly. “You keep showin’ up like this and folks might start thinkin’ you actually like me.”
Ryan didn’t hesitate. "I do like you.”
Blue didn’t answer right away. Instead he reached across the bar, brushing his fingers slowly over Ryan’s hand. The touch lingered just long enough to make Ryan’s chest tighten. Then someone down the counter called Blue’s name.
Blue sighed and pushed himself upright.
“Don’t forget,” he said as he stepped away. “Flashcards tomorrow.”
Ryan leaned back on the stool, watching him go.
“Don’t worry,” he called after him. “I’ll bring the coffee, baby.”
Blue didn’t turn around. But Ryan caught the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.