Chapter Text
Evan, now known at Buck thanks to his Fire Academy class having three Evan’s, was oddly nervous for his first day at the 118. He was tapping nervously on his steering wheel of his truck. He got it after his basic training when he was seventeen and he couldn’t find it in himself to part with it for a better vehicle just yet. He had thirty minutes till he was to report for his first shift. He was going on for 12 in the middle of A-Shift’s 24. His stomach felt like it was eating itself and his leg that had been shot a year ago while he and his team was saving the people in that downed Army Helicopter ached.
“Sunshine, we’re going dark and landing as close as we can. Be ready.” Buttercup, the commander of Nix, told the Lieutenant as he shook him awake. Sunshine made an affirmative noise, slowly opening his eyes from where he was leaning against the back of his seat. The team was in various states of exhaustion but they were up and ready by the time the helicopter landed.
Buck was jerked out of his thoughts by his phone buzzing. Think of the devil, and he shall text, it seemed.
Butters
Stop sitting in your truck and go in, Sunny. I know you are sitting in your truck, kid.
Sunny
I’m scared, Butters. I don’t know why I’m scared. You know what we’ve done. This should be nothing.
Butters
This is your first time having a job as a civilian, Sunny. That’s why you’re nervous. But you’ll be fine, kid. Call me after your shift.
Sunny
I will, Butters. I’m heading in, I guess…
Butters
Good. Don’t stress it, Kid. You’ll do great. Just like on Nix.
Buck swallowed hard at that. God, he hoped he did. He also prayed he didn’t slip into Sunshine. Sunshine, contrary to his name, was anything but. He was a calculated war hero who didn’t take shit and didn’t show his emotions. Or, like most referred to SEALs, a Red-Eyed Robot.
But Buck wanted to be…Buck. Buck was going to be what Evan wanted to be but never got the chance to be because his parents hated him. But Buck, for all he cared, didn’t have parents. They sent Evan away when he was seventeen by signing the papers for him to join the Navy. From Evan, Sunshine was born. And from Sunshine, Buck came to be.
Buck was going to be different from Evan. Buck was going to be happy. He was going to find a new family. Something to call his own. Just like Sunshine’s family was Nix. With that thought, Buck got out of his truck, grabbing his bag from the passenger seat. He felt around his waist quickly, wincing when he felt his holster. He hadn’t grabbed his gun but he had forgotten to take his holster off his belt.
As soon as he had gotten back to the States and to LA, he had gone for his concealed carry permit. His Military ID had made the process quick, allowing him to skip the class. Which, thank god for that. He didn’t think he could sit in a class of people who didn’t know how to properly handle a gun and keep his mouth shut. His background check had caused a bit of holdup when the years he was training and a part of Nix came up blank. But that had been easily fixed with a note from the Admiral explaining what could be explained.
Buck made quick work of undoing his belt and pulling the holster off of it, sticking it under the driver’s seat for him to retrieve later. He picked his bag up from the floorboard and made his way inside, worrying his bottom lip in between his teeth. When he got inside, his eyes scanned the room and he didn’t see anyone. Which, he thought, was odd seeing as the RA units and trucks were still in the bay.
However, his thoughts were quickly interrupted by voices from the loft. Buck made his way up the steps, his eyes landing on a woman and two men sitting at a table. He tilted his head ever so slightly (something that Wildcard had always said made him look like a golden retriever) before he made his way over to it.
“Hey! I’m looking for Captain Nash?” He asked, trying to not worry his bottom lip between his teeth again. He could imagine Angel telling him off for doing it clearly in his mind's eye. He missed her. She had been like his older sister in SEALs. Everyone’s older sister. Similar to how Buttercup had been the dad. Sunshine had been the little brother since he was the youngest on the team.
“Do you know a Captain Nash? Do you?” The older man at the head of the table asked, looking between the other two. Buck felt his stomach drop. Did he come to the wrong station? Did he have the wrong name? Did he—
His spiral was cut off by the older man and two others laughing. “You must be Evan. Sit. Breakfast just got done.” The man said, motioning to the empty seat beside the other man. Buck visibly flinched at the name Evan. “Yeah. But you can call me Buck, Sir.” He said, pulling the chair out and sitting down, dropping his bag beside him.
“Only if you promise to never call me Sir again. Cap in the field or Bobby while we’re here.” The man—Bobby—replied. Buck nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. There was silence for a moment. “I’m Hen. I’m a paramedic.” The woman across from Buck said, holding out her hand.
Buck smiled and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Hen.” He replied, his eyes scanning her face and posture out of habit, trying to see if she was a threat. Which, he knew she wasn’t. He didn’t have to do that anymore. But it was a habit that was going to be very difficult for him to break.
“I’m Chimney or Chim. I’m the head paramedic and the Lieutenant. It’s nice to meet you, Buck.” The man beside Buck said, holding out his own hand. Buck raised a brow but shook his hand either way. “What’s with the name?” He asked, raising a brow. Maybe it was a nickname. Like Sunshine was his call sign. Hen laughed into her coffee across from Buck, shaking her head. “You don’t want to know.” She replied, watching her partner’s flushed face.
Buck let out a short laugh at that. “Probably not. Just curious.” He replied, looking back at Chimney. “My real name is Howard, or Howie. But I got stuck with Chimney when I first joined the 118 so that’s how I tend to introduce myself.” Chimney explained. Buck nodded slowly, turning to look at the table again. There was eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. A proper breakfast. It kind of surprised him. They were told at the academy that proper food was rare while on shift.
“Is it always like this?” He heard himself asking before he could stop himself, the confusion evident on his face. “Always.” Hen replied, smiling at him. It was silent for a few seconds before Chim added, “At least whine Bobby is the captain.”
Buck found himself smiling, his eyes darting between the three people. “I think I’m in the right place.”