Firehouse Oasis 118

13. Buck

They were late.

Bobby and Athena were supposed to be back before sunrise, and yet the sun was rising and they weren't there.

Buck scoured the soil for even the tiniest of weeds to pull, careful not to pull up any of the small plants that were actually supposed to be there. They weren't grown to full size quite yet, but Bobby seemed sure that they would be in the next week or two. Within a month they'd get some of their first produce.

Except, Bobby might not be here to see it. Not if they'd been captured, or killed if their true colors had been discovered by any potential captors. He should've gone with them! He knew he should've, even if he understood why they didn't want him to.

That stupid voice in the back of his head said to dismiss all the perfectly logical reasons they'd given him though. It said they didn't want him to come because they didn't trust him. They didn't think he could have their backs and be helpful. That he was too stupid to be of any real use to any of them, he could barely read at age fifteen for Christ's sake. Even with the spotty at best education, all the other kids he'd met his age could manage it.

It wasn't a good thought path to follow, to say the least. He tried not to indulge his feelings of inadequacy too much, but it was hard sometimes. Especially when he was worried about his friends.

"Hey, kid." A voice called from behind him, "the garden's looking good."

Buck whipped around to see Bobby standing there, a small grin on his face. Buck felt himself beaming as he scrambled up and practically tackled Bobby in an enthusiastic hug. Bobby didn't wrap his arms around Buck in return, but he didn't push him away either. He knew that Bobby didn't let himself touch others for fear that he might accidentally use his powers on them, but Buck didn't care. Right now, he wouldn't care if Bobby saw his whole life story, he just wanted to hug his friend that he'd missed and been worried about.

"You'd think I'd been gone years." Bobby chuckled once Buck finally let him go.

"It's dangerous out there." Buck shrugged, "I could've never seen you again. I was worried."

"Well, I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. So is Athena." Bobby promised meeting his gaze and holding it, "We even picked up some stragglers. One of them is your age, I'm sure you'll like him."

"You what?" Buck stuttered out, stomach dropping.

He didn't know what he'd do now that he wasn't even the newest of them. He provided so little to the team, other than occasionally powering small electric appliances. He'd just started feeling like he'd found a foothold here, a space of his own that he'd carved out in the group. Now it was all going to change again. He resented these new people on principle.

"Yeah, one of them is even a yellow, like you!" Bobby continued enthusiastically.

His stomach clenched painfully at hearing that bit of news. Now, the only unique thing that he brought to the table was gone. There was someone else who could do it. God, he really was always going to end up being useless to every group he joined. Connor had been right, he was easily replaced.

"We got a ton of supplies too." Bobby told him as he led them down the steps from the roof, "Trust me, we're going to be living like kings from now on."

Buck followed Bobby into the loft area and Buck saw Athena. He walked over with his arms out to hug her, which she surprisingly allowed.

"Where's Eddie?" Bobby questioned Athena and Hen who were sorting through the mound of supplies on the kitchen counter.

"Chim took him to grab a shower," Hen answered, then pointed to the couches behind them, "Chris is playing cars with Denny."

"C'mon," Bobby nodded his head for Buck to follow, which he did reluctantly, then he called out, "hey Chris, I've got someone for you to meet."