Archive of Our Own ^beta

The first time it happened, there was a good excuse. They were tired, exhausted even, after a shift from hell. As they changed out of their uniforms, the rest of the team spoke about going home to their partners, their children, their families. They shared how much they were looking forward to hugging their loved ones, to the company they provided. Bobby and Chimney, on the other hand, had no one to go home to.

Bobby's family were long dead, wife and children alike. Chimney was, once again, single, and didn't have the energy to go and pick someone up at a bar. So when, after everyone else stumbled out the bay doors, Bobby turned to Chimney and invited him over for dinner, he said yes.

They drove separately, since neither of them would be drinking, and met awkwardly at Bobby's front door. By this point, no one at the station knew much about their captain, just that he was a good man, and a better leader, and that he didn't talk about his personal life at all. Chimney would admit that Bobby's apartment surprised him. It was sparsely furnished and, in contrast to Bobby, who always seemed warm, it was cold. Not the temperature, but the feeling. There were no pictures, no blankets, no quirky dish towels. It was all beige, and brown, and white, and stark.

As he did at the station, Bobby cooked. He pulled ingredients from the fridge and cupboards, combining them to form the only colourful thing in the room. Chimney, naturally, sat at the counter, talking about anything and everything, occasionally managing to make him laugh.

They sat on the couch to eat, too tired for the formality of the dining table. They spoke while they ate, about any topic that pops into their heads, and Chimney had a realisation that he wouldn't mind doing this more often. That getting to know his captain was actually proving to be a fun experience. When they finished eating, Bobby took their plates to the sink and Chimney fidgeted in his seat, suddenly awkward. He didn't want to leave just yet, not wanting to face the silence of his apartment, but by this point, his suggestion would normally be a beer. That wasn't really an option in this situation, and so he panicked. 

It was like a first date, not quite knowing what the other person was expecting. The uncomfortable dance at the end of the meal - who was going to pay, was it too forward to go in for a kiss, were they going back to someone's place? - and the part Chimney hated the most. It's why he preferred dating apps, and picking up people at bars - the intentions were clear from the beginning. Not that he thought he was on a date with his captain, but...

He was man enough to admit that it felt fairly intimate.

Bobby returned to the couch with two bottles of kombucha, causing Chimney to snicker. Bobby threw him a dirty look. "Seriously, Chim? Are you too much of a child to drink kombucha?"

Chimney sucked his teeth, holding back a laugh. "No, Cap. It's just... I never took you for a wellness guy. Do you have one of those terrifying lumps in a jar somewhere around here? Do I need to call the Ghostbusters?" 

He couldn't hold back his laughter at that, and bent over the bottle, shaking slightly. Bobby scoffed loudly beside him, "I'll have you know that I'm very proud of my mother."

He paused after speaking, realising how strange that sentence was, before glancing at Chimney, which is when they both burst into laughter, Bobby needing to put his bottle down so he didn't drop it. They laughed for several minutes, and every time they were quietening down, they would make eye contact and start back up again. 

Eventually, Chimney leaned to the side, his head landing on Bobby's shoulder as they laughed. Bobby looked down at him, and Chimney glanced up to meet his eyes. Neither man could really explain where the urge came from, but they leaned closer, gaze flickering between eyes and lips, before they kissed tentatively. Bobby pulled back first, his face flushed. "I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

Chimney sat up properly, turning to face him. "Why?"

Bobby's brows furrowed, the distress plain to see on his face. "I'm your boss, your captain, it's... it's inappropriate."

Chimney leaned in again, resting a hand on Bobby's knee. "Is it inappropriate? Or are you just nervous?" He brought his other hand up to hold the back of Bobby's neck and pulled him close. "Tell me to stop." Their lips crashed together for a second time, this kiss far less gentle. It was all teeth, grazing and biting, and moaning. 

God, the moaning. They would, later on, both be embarrassed at the sounds pulled from them during a kiss of all things, but it had been a while since either of them had kissed someone they actually liked, and it showed. In the moment though, neither had the awareness to think twice about the sounds pouring from their mouths. Bobby gained confidence, one of his hands digging into Chimney's hip, while the other held his hair tightly.

Chimney could admit that that didn't help his situation.

They pulled back, staring into each other's eyes as they gasped for air. It was Bobby who moved first that time, both hands coming up to cradle Chim's face as he brought him in for another sloppy kiss. Chimney took the chance to swing a leg over Bobby's, depositing himself in his captain's lap and looping his arms around Bobby's neck, responding enthusiastically. 

He could feel Bobby's arousal pressing against his thigh, and knew the other man could feel his own. He grinded down on him, pulling another long moan from the older man, feeling Bobby's fingers press harder into his hips. They stayed like that for a while, longer than either realised, seeing as the next time Chimney glanced up, the clock read midnight. Their shift had finished at seven, and the duo had been eating dinner before nine.

Chimney rested his forehead against Bobby's and chuckled softly. Bobby squeezed his thigh in question and he bit his lip at the look on his face. "It's midnight."

Bobby turned quickly to the clock on the wall, eyes wide with disbelief. "How the...?"

"What's that phrase? Time flies when you're having fun?"

Bobby poked him in the side, causing him to squawk loudly. It broke the tension, and they dissolved into something far more friendly, but no less intimate, as Bobby tickled and poked at every part of Chimney he could reach, the younger man flailing as he tried to protect his neck and sides simultaneously from the sudden onslaught.

When Bobby found that magic spot on the inside of Chimney's elbow - alarmingly quickly - Chim reacted, his knee shooting up to hit Bobby in the stomach. That put an abrupt stop to their fun, with Bobby groaning, and Chimney spitting out a barrage of apologies. The rest of the night was spent in a more relaxed manner, the men sprawled on the couch, legs pressed together as they drank kombucha and watched terrible spy movies.

Despite the initial invitation having only been for dinner, neither man wanted to be alone, and they were enjoying one another's company far too much to say anything and break their tentative comfort. And so they fell asleep right there, in the light of the TV screen, hands outstretched so their pinky fingers brushed.

Chimney woke first in the morning, with the sun shining in his eyes and a crick in his neck. He groaned as he sat up, rubbing at the knot that had developed on the back of his neck overnight. He glanced to his side to see Bobby, still passed out, taking up the vast majority of the available couch. He chuckled quietly, and stood to stretch out. As was typical, he cracked and popped in several places, then jumped when Bobby's voice, sleep heavy, spoke from behind him. "I don't think I even make that much noise, and I'm more than a decade older than you."

Chimney moved to kick Bobby's foot, but Bobby moved faster, stretching his leg out just enough to catch Chimney's ankle and send the man tumbling on top of him. Bobby laughed low in his throat, resting a hand on Chim's lower back. Chimney sighed, taking the chance to kick his captain in retaliation, before propping himself up on his arms and staring down at Bobby, who was smiling tiredly. 

"What I said last night stands."

Bobby looked at him questioningly, "Which part? Because if you're going to judge my kombucha again, you can fuck right off."

Chimney barked out a laugh, having never heard him swear before. "Of course it's your kombucha that gets you all riled up. I just meant... tell me to stop if you want to, anytime, no judgement."

"Kombucha's not the only thing that gets me riled up." Bobby stared up at Chimney, and licked his lips. Chim swallowed, before leaning down slowly and connecting their lips again. The kiss is less hurried this time, more exploratory, as they map out each other's mouth, finding what makes the other moan and whine. It's not long before Chimney moves to seat himself in Bobby's lap, and they can feel evidence of each other's interest.

They make out languidly, Chimney taking the opportunity to slide his hands up Bobby's shirt, feeling the muscular physique all firefighters worked so hard for, while Bobby buried his hands in Chimney's hair, proving that the man did, in fact, have a weak spot for it. It was soft, and gentle, but no less passionate, as they became acquainted with each other, pausing every so often to exchange a soft kiss and smile shyly.

Bobby pulls slightly on Chimney's hair, dragging a high whine from his lips, separating them for a moment. Bobby stares at him for a moment, taking in his flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and glassy eyes. He swallowed, and traced a finger down Chimney's neck. "Do you have anywhere to be today?"

Chimney pauses before replying, and Bobby's gut clenches at the thought of him leaving so soon. He watches as the other man reaches across the couch, exposing a sliver of his stomach that Bobby's eyes are instantly drawn to. He picks up his phone, and looks at it for a moment, settling himself back on Bobby's lap. He taps for a minute, then brings it up to his ear.

"Hey, Hen. Sorry, I know it's early."

Bobby chokes at the name, earning himself a sharp look from Chimney.

"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm calling, I can't make it later. I know, I know, I'm sorry."

A smile creeps over Bobby's face as he realises that Chimney is cancelling his plans for the day. So he can spend more time with him.

"Oh, don't give me that, like you've never cancelled before. No! The last time you cancelled was because Denny was sick, but the time before that was 'cause Karen got off work early and you wanted sex!"

Bobby closed his eyes and ducked his head, hiding a smile at the best friend's arguing. He brought his hands up to squeeze Chimney's waist, and the man sucked in a breath, then threw him another look.

"You couldn't possibly know that. No! I'm not with a woman, God, Hen, what kind of man do you take me for?"

A soft huff of laughter fell from Bobby's lips, and Chimney covered his mouth with a hand.

"No, you didn't hear anything. I'm alone. Just not feeling up for it, you know, my back's bothering me a little, I think I slept on it funny."

Chimney pushed Bobby to face the floor, so he stopped looking at him with such humour in his eyes. 

"Hen, I swear on our friendship that I'm not with a woman right now." There's a slight pause, before Bobby hears Hen shout through the phone. "You're with a man, aren't you!?" 

At that, Bobby can't hold it back anymore and barks out a laugh, before Chimney shoved three fingers into his mouth and hissed "shut the fuck up" at him, eyes wide. It's obvious that Hen is crowing on the other line, and Chimney sighs.

"Yes, I'm with a man. Honestly, I was kind of hoping you forgot I came out to you." He laughs then. "Yeah, I know it's stupid, but can't a guy hope? Okay, yeah, love you too, I'll talk to you about it tomorrow." He sighs again, giving Bobby a look of defeat. "Yes, I'll tell him that you say hello. Hen says hello." 

Bobby chuckles and whispers "hi" so she doesn't recognise his voice. "Okay, he says hi too, now will you leave me alone? Okay, thank you. Goodbye, Henrietta."

He hangs up and throws his phone to the side, not caring when it audibly hits the floor. "Now where were we...?" He leans in to kiss Bobby again, but the older man flips them before he can, so Chimney's back is to the couch with Bobby's legs caging him in. He groans, and grabs the sides of Bobby's face to pull him into a deep kiss.

They make out like teenagers, to the music of Chimney's notification sound in the background, making Bobby smile against his lips every so often. Eventually, Chimney growled, and pushed Bobby up and off him, forcing them both to stand. He took Bobby's hand and walked to the small hallway, giving him a pointed look. Bobby grinned, and pushed the door on the left open, leading Chimney in, before closing the door and pushing him up against it. Twin groans spilled from their lips, as they fell back into each other.

They made it to the bed, and Bobby ended up flat on his back, with Chimney holding his hands loosely above his head. He could safely say that he had never had a partner who could manhandle him right back, it was surprisingly nice. Chimney abandoned his lips, instead trailing kisses down his neck, before sitting back and pulling his own shirt off, tossing it across the room. Bobby's eyes immediately found the tattoos adorning his chest, transfixed. Chimney laughed softly, and worked on removing Bobby's shirt for him, promptly sucking a bruise onto his clavicle as soon as it was exposed.

Chimney was rather proud of how many noises he could pull from his usually stoic captain. Sure, Bobby was quick to flash a smile, but he rarely expressed himself as plainly as he was in this moment. Chimney shuffled down the bed, and started working on Bobby's belt, causing the man to sit up and rest a hand on his.

"You calling it?" Chim asked, suddenly nervous. Thankfully, Bobby shook his head, smiling. "Faster this way."

Bobby began to shed his remaining clothes, and Chimney hopped off the bed to do the same, taking a second to look around Bobby's bedroom - finding it just as generic as the rest of his apartment. He glanced back, to see Bobby watching him hungrily. He swallowed nervously, suddenly feeling a little like he was being hunted.

Bobby wrapped a hand around Chimney's waist, and hauled him closer, immediately wrapping a hand around Chimney's hard length. He threw his head back and moaned, ignoring Bobby's laugh for his own sanity. The older man stroked him skillfully, making Chimney wonder about his experience level, and how he would hold up to it, seeing as his own experience was minimal. The satisfied smile on Bobby's face made Chimney want to wipe it off.

So he did.

He moved to straddle Bobby's lap, the older man squeezing his cock briefly, pulling a throaty groan from Chim's mouth. He placed his hands on Bobby's shoulders, and pushed the man back, before descending on his neck, biting and sucking until Bobby's nails dug into his back and hips.

There was something surprisingly pleasurable about reducing the usually so put together captain to incoherent gasps and instinctual touches. While Chimney was always someone who could be considered a generous lover, the sheer scale of Bobby’s reactions, the way his abdominal muscles contracted as Chim traced his fingertip over them, made him especially determined to offer up everything he could, just to discover exactly what made Bobby Nash fall apart. 

“Chim, sweet Jesus.” Bobby groaned, letting his head fall back onto the bed, no longer having the wherewithal to hold his head up and watch the look of fascination Chimney wore as he explored the bare expanse of Bobby’s body with light, curious touches. 

Chimney smiled, a small, gratified thing, as he scratched his nails softly across Bobby’s chest before he continued on, dragging it across the other man’s jugular notch, making him shiver as it trailed up his neck and over his chin, resting a single finger against Bobby’s barely parted lips. Bobby looked up at Chimney, taking in his disbelieving expression, like he couldn’t believe this was happening, and took Chim’s finger into his mouth, sucking it slowly while he stared into Chimney’s eyes. They glazed over prettily as he watched Bobby’s actions, a low moan slipping from his lips without his consent. 

“Fuck…”

Bobby grinned around Chim’s finger, grazing the calloused skin with his teeth, just to hear his name fall from his lips. 

“Bobby, shit-”

By this point, composure and good impressions had fallen to the wayside, and both men found it difficult to focus on anything other than the primal urges to satisfy the lust burning through their veins. Ripping his finger from between Bobby’s lips, Chimney leaned in close and smashed their mouths together in an uncoordinated - and sloppy, if he was being honest - kiss. Their teeth clattered together, tongues intertwining as Chim braced himself against Bobby’s chest, allowing the other man to tangle his fingers in his hair, the other hand holding him close by the back of the neck.

It was all hot breath and spit, something decidedly unsexy, but both men found themselves so hard it bordered on painful as they gasped against the other’s skin, the slight scratch of stubble an unexpected aphrodisiac. Eventually, Bobby managed to get a hand between them, halfway engulfing their cocks in his hand, stroking them against each other, the dry friction pulling a slight whimper from Chimney, a delicious sound Bobby would find himself searching for time and time again.

As much as he loved the feeling, the intense sensations quickly brought him to the point of overwhelm rather than pleasure. Chimney pulled back from Bobby and spat in his hand, nudging Bobby out of his way, taking them both in hand and sighing quietly as the rough handling was soothed away by the pure indulgence of his actions. He stroked them slowly, taking the opportunity to really savour the feeling of Bobby in his hand, pressed up against him, and the soft sighs that poured from his mouth in appreciation.

“God, Chim…” Bobby groaned, his hips bucking into Chimney’s hand involuntarily. Chim grinned against Bobby’s neck, eagerly continuing his ministrations. It wasn’t long before Bobby roughly grabbed the back of Chimney’s neck, ripping him away from the bruises littering his neck. “I’m gonna… you gotta stop, Chim.”

Chimney smirked at the older man beneath him, before mumbling “nah” with a wink and twisting his hand, pulling a guttural swear from Bobby’s lips as he fell over the edge, taking the cocky man with him. The strength of his orgasm took the strength from Chim, forcing him to fall, boneless, on top of Bobby. He pulled his hand from between them, wiping it clean on the bedspread with a mildly disgusted expression while Bobby laughed tiredly, draping an arm over his waist and pulling him close.

They lay in silence for a long while, both catching their breath and processing the unexpected nature of their day off. Eventually, they moved, a comfortable silence remaining as they cleaned up the room and their bodies. Separate showers were deemed necessary, since Chimney was heading straight to Hen’s from Bobby’s apartment. They easily agreed that this was a one time event, and that neither of them would tell anyone what had occurred between them.

They were wrong.

For the next seventeen months they slept together exclusively. For the latter thirteen of those months, they were also in a relationship. Dinner dates, birthday and Christmas presents, movie nights, and heated looks in the workplace made up that time. They were rather good at hiding it, Chimney talking openly about their sex life under a different pseudonym every few weeks, and Bobby remaining as tight-lipped as ever about his personal life. The peace that their relationship brought them both was something special. A person who understood the job, down to the exact same calls, was rare and beautiful. The ability to sit silently on the couch, staring at a wall together, was a type of security that neither man had experienced before, and they were grateful for it.

When the anniversary of his mother and brother’s deaths crept up on him, leaving him heaving on the bathroom floor, Bobby was a steady presence for Chimney. When Bobby knocked on his door with bloodshot eyes and an unopened bottle of whiskey, Chimney carefully plucked the offending bottle from his hands and ran a bath for them to share.

Both men knew that their relationship, however wonderful it was, had an expiry date. They loved their jobs at the 118 too much to leave, and they knew that the secret could only remain contained for so long before someone found out. That discovery came in the form of Evan Buckley, who clocked their affectionate glances on his third shift. It was obvious that the kid didn’t want to disturb the team dynamic, but his probing questions to various members of the station ended with the couple sitting out on Chimney’s apartment rooftop, watching the sunset together for the final time.

“He’s a smart kid.” Bobby murmured.

“He’s a little shit.” Chimney grumbled, taking a swig of his kombucha. 

Bobby laughed softly, glancing over at his soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. “Don’t be too hard on him. He’s got a lot of potential, I know you see it too.”

Chim rolled his eyes. “I know, I know. I just… God, I didn’t think we’d actually end up here, y’know?”

Bobby simply reached out to squeeze Chimney’s hand.

They didn’t speak until the sun had firmly set, the brightness of the city the only source of light. “We’re still friends.” Bobby said aloud, reiterating the conversation they’d had only hours earlier. “We will still be there for each other. We’ll still be happy for each other… when we move on.”

“If.” Chimney retorted.

“When.” Bobby emphasised, squeezing his hand once more before letting go. “This isn’t the end of us being happy. It’s just the end of this chapter.”

Chim sniffed loudly. “Fuck you for that.” He mumbled, wiping his eyes. 

Bobby simply chuckled before letting them lapse back into silence.

Their goodbye that night was awkward, neither knowing what the proper boundaries were, settling on a very stilted hug before Bobby drove home to his apartment alone.

It took a while for them to get back into the rhythm of being just friends, but they managed with minimal confusion, both men sighing in relief when Buck seemed to move on from his initial suspicions, forgetting about them within a few weeks of their breakup. 

Things reached a level of comfort, becoming their new normal rather quickly. That was, until Bobby called Chimney into his office, the older man pacing anxiously around the small space. Chimney gave him a strange look, sitting down in front of the desk to watch Bobby’s antics silently for a moment. Mere minutes later, Chim cleared his throat. “Okay so I feel like I’m about to be fired, or something equally awful… How right would I be to think that?”

Bobby stopped pacing immediately. “Not. Not at all, you’re way off.”

The drastic option had achieved what Chimney intended, knocking some sense into Bobby and forcing him to clarify. “Alright then, what’s going on?”

Bobby looked tense as he sat in his chair, facing Chimney. “I’m, uh… fuck. I’m seeing someone.”

Chimney raised an eyebrow. “Like dating or a therapist?”

“The first one.”

“Hm. You should probably do the second one too.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong. Is that… is that all you have to say?”

Chim gave him a knowing look. “Is it Sergeant Grant?”

“... How?” Bobby looked completely baffled.

“She’s friends with Hen. But also… well, honestly? You look at her the way you used to look at me.” Chimney smiled softly at the stunned man across from him.

“I’m sorry.” Bobby winced.

“Don’t be. It was always going to be one of us. I’m glad it was you, though. Genuinely.” 

It was clear that Chimney meant what he said, he was genuinely happy for Bobby. He wanted happiness for the man. He wanted him to fall desperately in love and get his happily ever after. He wanted Bobby to be loved loudly, to be with someone who would show him off proudly, to come home to someone after every shift. Though the joy he felt was bittersweet, because it should’ve been him dammit, it was joy nonetheless.

Athena integrated into their family beautifully. It was like she’d always been there, cooking by Bobby’s side and mocking them in good faith as they did with each other. Their relationship became more serious, with Bobby leaving behind the apartment they’d spent so much time in together to move in with her. Chimney helped him move. It felt like closure. Bobby got everything he’d ever wanted. Everything he was always meant to have. A wife. A son. A daughter. A firehouse. 

It took some time, but eventually Chimney found himself falling in love again. Maddie Buckley entered his life in a whirlwind, bringing chaos and peace in equal parts. He never even had to tell Bobby that he loved her, the man just nodded his approval once on a team night out, before wrapping an arm around his own wife’s shoulders and turning back to the conversation. Even as their relationship progressed, the chaos remained. It became something Chim expected, the absence of which had the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He knew well from experience that the other shoe always dropped.

Always.

And for him, the shoe came in the form of a modified virus. 

One that he himself caught. One that Bobby watched him get the only cure for. One that Bobby let kill him so that Chimney could live.

He didn’t know. That was his only defence. Chimney didn’t know that Bobby was sick too. If he’d known, maybe things would’ve been different. Maybe he could’ve helped him. But Bobby made that decision without consulting any of them.

And Chimney was fucking furious.

How dare Bobby sacrifice himself? How dare Bobby take away his choice? How dare Bobby not tell them? How dare he destroy the family he had worked so hard to build? 

As he stood on the edge of the roof of the firehouse, a bottle of vodka in his hand, Chimney contemplated stepping off. It seemed almost comical to him, the idea of nullifying Bobby’s sacrifice, of dying despite the dead man’s efforts to preserve his life. It wasn’t until that exact moment that he understood Bobby fully. Losing someone you love was, of course, horrifying. But when it’s your fault?

Well, it was safe to say that Chimney thought about joining him.

It didn’t help that Athena blamed him. She was right, though, it was his fault. That was simply a fact. If he had died, Bobby would be alive. The funeral was… beautiful. In a way. To see the city step out and honour this man who gave his life for them all. But part of Chimney felt that it should’ve just been him, Athena, and a few bottles of wine. The people who knew him best. The people who knew him like no other.

It took a long time for him to feel okay again - to feel like life might be worth living again. He stopped drinking. He started therapy. And he told people about them.

First was Hen. When he revealed that he had dated their captain, Hen stared at him in stunned silence for several minutes, before immediately realising that she had nearly caught them on multiple occasions and burying her face in her hands with a groan. 

She encouraged him to share.

So second came Maddie. He finally told his wife about his first great love. She listened without judgement, laughing and crying with him at various parts of their story. Her easy acceptance of this long kept secret reinforced all of Chimney’s reasons for loving her. While Bobby was an important part of his life and who he was, she really was his soulmate.

The third person he told was Athena. Who laughed in his face.

“You think I didn’t know?” She couldn’t seem to stop laughing.

Chimney spluttered into his kombucha, made with the scoby he had inherited upon Bobby’s death. “It’s- I- how?”

“I married the man, I’d hope I knew him pretty well. It was never something I didn’t know. You two dated for… I’m not sure exactly how long, but a while, before we met.”

Chimney just stared at her slack-jawed. “He told you?”

“Of course he didn’t tell me. But the man was as sentimental as they come, I found pictures of you two. That was just confirmation.”

They stayed up all night drinking kombucha, sharing memories, and crying through photo albums. Maddie picked him up at seven o’clock in the morning, his eyes bloodshot and his face tearstained. “Good talk?” she asked, pulling out of the driveway.

“Yeah.” He whispered, clutching the album to his chest. “Good talk."

Seven weeks later he handed his newborn son to Athena, watching nervously as she gazed fondly at the baby. Maddie held his hand tightly as he revealed the name of his son, terrified that she wouldn’t approve. But instead of rejecting him, she simply smiled softly at the child and murmured “hi, Bobby.”

When he returned from his paternity leave, he officially took over as the new captain of the 118, filling the shoes that Bobby had once told him he deserved. Setting up his new office, he hung photos of his family. His mom. Kevin. Albert. The 118. His wife and children. Bobby. To remind him to be the person that they all deserved. Finally, it felt like closure. He got everything he’d ever wanted. Everything he was always meant to have. A wife. A son. A daughter. A firehouse.