Chapter Text
Tommy had been a full grown, responsible, mature adult. More or less. Then he'd met Evan and Eddie. Both of his partners were good men, but Evan attracted and/or caused absolute chaos on a weekly basis and Eddie did not discourage any of it. Half the time Eddie was in the middle of it right along with him. (Howie's opinion was Tommy was being wildly optimistic claiming it was only half the time, but Tommy thought half was plenty to make the point.)
These days, Tommy kept finding himself in situations that indicated things had definitely gotten out of hand. He didn't hate it - clearly, considering he'd known what he was getting into - he just wanted the record to show Evan and Eddie were bad influences.
"Look, one of us has to be ready to bail the other two out of jail, and we all know the designated bail person isn't going to be Evan or Eddie."
Tommy was standing in the 118's loft with Hen, Howie, Evan, and Eddie. Tommy had just stopped by to drop off Eddie's wallet he'd forgotten, and, in true 118 fashion, it had somehow gone downhill. There was no actual illegal activity. That was theoretical.
"I would have bailed him out." Evan sounded miserable. "Things were just--"
Eddie pulled Evan in with one arm, tucking him up against one shoulder as he said soothingly, "It's okay, Buck, long time ago."
The illegal activity was supposed to be theoretical. Tommy turned back to Hen and Howie. "I have no idea what the fuck that's about, but I rest my case."
"Fight club," Hen supplied.
Okay, Tommy knew about that illegal activity, but he apparently didn't know the whole story.
"We don't talk about fight club," Bobby said, walking past.
They all stared after him for a moment.
Tommy started to ask, "Does he know--?"
"Pretty sure he doesn't," Hen said.
They all shrugged and went back to the conversation. Argument. Debate? Whatever it was.
"So what you're saying," Howie drawled, clearly amused and stoking the fire, "is you don't want involved in the shenanigans?"
"Okay, wait," Tommy could actually feel the maturity leaking out of his brain. "One--"
One Howie mouthed, holding up a finger.
"One," Tommy repeated firmly, "I didn't say no shenanigans." Why the fuck were they using the word shenanigans. "I said no jail. Designated No Shenanigans Likely to End in Jail person. I've heard about your bachelor party."
Eddie's face scrunched up in a confused frown. "You were there."
"You were both still sober and fully dressed when I left."
His face cleared again. "Okay, yeah, we didn't end up that way."
Chim hummed thoughtfully. "I still don't think it counts as my bachelor party if I wasn't there. It was just a party. Or maybe a rager."
"And again," Evan said, Eddie's arm still around his shoulders, "I would like to point out that no one called the cops."
"That either of us remembers."
"No, pretty sure no one did because Athena would've found out and given us hell. Then Bobby would've been disappointed."
Eddie shuddered dramatically.
Tommy ignored the usual commentary track. "And two--"
Howie held up a second finger.
"Two, I'm dating them for their priorities, not their amazing decision making skills. I already knew those were fucked."
The was a brief pause before Eddie muttered, "Goddamnit, I can't even argue with that." Which, considering some of the circumstances leading up to the three of them in bed together, he sure as hell couldn't.
"Their priorities?" Howie was enjoying himself way too much. "Is that what we're calling how their uniforms fit?"
"For fuck's sake," Evan said, pulling away from where he'd been trying and failing to be subtle about huffing the scent of cologne on Eddie's neck. "My uniforms are the right size."
"I didn't say they weren't, Buck, but you were awful quick with that response."
"Hurricane," Hen said, still scrolling through her phone.
"That is not a trump card forever!" Tommy protested. "And did I or did I not fish you out of nearly getting us all grounded? You were literally all in there with me!"
Hen tossed her phone next to her on the couch and leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her knees. "Were we in there with you or were you in there with us?" she asked, smirking.
"That's what I'm saying!" Wait, was that what he was saying? Fuck, he'd lost track.
"Point is," Hen drawled, "you hadn't even met them yet when you made a decision to knowingly pursue an illegal and extremely risky course of action. That negates your whole argument."
That was technically true, but he distinctly remembered losing a few brain cells as soon as they were introduced. The urge to show-off and impress two cute boys had been... Not insignificant. Tommy didn't think he needed to admit to that part, though.
Eddie nodded sagely. "Definitely not our fault he used mouth static on the Fire Chief."
"It wasn't good mouth static," Evan added helpfully. Tommy didn't know who he was trying to help.
"Okay, my turn," Howie said. He held up a finger. "One, I've known you longer than anyone here and I can provide receipts." The second finger went up and Tommy sighed. "Two, I think it took me less than thirty seconds to convince you to take a very expensive LAFD helicopter out for an unapproved rescue effort that hinged on flying the four of us into a hurricane. As responsible decision making goes, that might even beat the ladder truck incident."
Evan perked up. "Really?"
"Don't get too excited, you were in there with us."
"Damnit"
"I also wasn't trying to get laid," Tommy pointed out. Not when he made the decision anyway.
Howie grinned and Tommy knew he'd lost. "No, that was just a bonus."