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1. Buck Loves Cups
Buck’s eyes twinkle at the drink being set in front of him. While Buck was in the bathroom, Eddie had ordered both of their favorites, even though Buck’s favorite cocktail is an overpriced sugar rush that glitters bright blue under the bar’s dim, colored lighting. “Eddie, you shouldn’t have!” Buck beams, drumming his hands excitedly on the table.
“Alright, calm down, cowboy,” Eddie sighs, sipping his old-fashioned. “It’s just a drink.”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Eddie,” Buck wags his finger, eyes fixated on the glass before him. “It’s expensive as hell, and you’re buying, and look at the cup!” His eyes crinkle as he gestures at the cup; a rounded bowl with a wavy rim holds the aquamarine liquid, the stem surrounded by delicate ribbons of glass, creating a jellyfish-like appearance. The first time Buck ordered the “Mermagarita,” its vessel launched Buck into a thirty-minute spiel about moon jellyfish and how they grow upside down. Buck barely noticed how long he was speaking, only stopping to take in the unbearably fond expression Eddie wore, his chin resting on his palm and his kind eyes locked on Buck’s.
“It’s a good cup,” Eddie agrees.
Buck swallows, trying not to focus on how Eddie’s irises glow like his whiskey, specs of golden light bringing out the softness of his gaze. “Yeah, I tried to find them, but I can’t find the same glassware anywhere,” he takes a large sip of his drink, chasing a buzz to calm the nerves that are starting to feel an awful lot like butterflies. “I think they’re discontinued,” Buck finishes mournfully.
“That’s a damn shame, Buckley,” Eddie shakes his head, a slight smirk dancing across his lips.
“I asked the manager! And she said she ‘didn’t know,’” Buck huffs, crossing his arms. He knows he’s being dramatic, but he also knows his antics will pull more smiles from his best friend.
“Ridiculous,” Eddie nods emphatically, his smile widening, just as Buck predicted. “It’s probably a conspiracy.” God, Buck would spend the rest of his life turning the world into his stage, embarrassing himself until the end of time just to catch a glimpse of Eddie’s grin. Buck has never been seen so wholly by another human being; Buck’s always been too much to take in, but Eddie lets Buck exist free of restraint, accepting everything he offers with unashamed enthusiasm.
They spend the next forty minutes diving into the Cup Conspiracy, shooting ideas back and forth
until they’ve spiraled into a giggling mess, breathlessly talking over the other as they discuss which busboy is actually an alien spy trying to infiltrate wholesale restaurant supply. Eddie knocks playfully into Buck as they head to meet their Uber, the touch sending a jolt of warmth through his chest. He looks back as Eddie stops, muttering, “I left my duffle under the table, I’ll be right out, okay?”
“I don’t know why you brought your bag in,” Buck rolls his eyes.
“Hey, we only have so many brain cells between us,” Eddie snorts, waving Buck out the door.
A few months later, Eddie, Buck, and Chris gather at the Han residence for Christmas Day, Eddie choosing to skip the forced family reunion that came with Christmas in El Paso. Buck hopes that Eddie’s sisters will join them next year in L.A.; he’s sick of Eddie getting all of the embarrassing baby Buck stories from Maddie while he severely lacks ammo in the humiliating childhood stories department. He’s managed to get a couple out of Chris, like the time Eddie pissed his pants at a middle school haunted house, but Maddie, the traitor, had shown Eddie his MySpace account, and that trumped pretty much anything Chris knew about.
Eddie and Chris love their presents; Buck got them the same L.A. Zoo Family pass that he purchases every year for Christmas. Even though Chris swears he’s too old to love the zoo, he still grows giddy every time Buck plans an outing. Chris’s grin doubles in size when he sees the array of video games Buck picked out, and both he and the preteen laugh mischievously as Eddie pretends to whack Buck on the arm for spending well over the budget they’d agreed on. What can Buck say? He’ll do anything for Chris. For Eddie, Buck picked out novelty potholders that look like alligators, the thumb and finger pockets forming a mouth with little fabric teeth sticking out at jagged angles. When he'd seen them, Buck immediately thought it would fit right in with Eddie’s frog sponge holder. Eddie immediately slips on the pot holders and starts making growling noises at Jee-Yun, who squeals with delight as Eddie uses the alligators to tickle Jee’s neck. “Uncle Eddie!” Jee screams, giggles escaping from between her shrieks as she collapses to the floor with an arm thrown over her forehead.
“Uncle Eddie, save her!” Maddie laughs, snapping a photo of the scene before her.
Eddie tosses the pot holders over his shoulder and pretends to patch up Jee as she tries not to giggle through her fake death. Buck’s chest tightens as he watches his best friend run a careful hand over Jee’s ponytail, declaring her “fit for duty" and pulling her into his lap. He desperately tries to stifle the love pouring from his heart, but no matter how tightly he tightens the tap, some always manages to trickle out. He cherishes the family he’s built, and he’s terrified that one day, he’ll love too hard, and everything will crumble around him.
When Eddie opens his second gift, a pair of silver cufflinks etched with the image of St. Christopher, he pulls Buck into a bone-crushing hug that takes his breath away in more ways than one. He doesn’t miss the look Maddie and Chim direct at him, their eyes moving pointedly between him and Eddie, intertwined on the couch.
“Okay, Buck,” Eddie says, gently peeling himself from the embrace. “Your turn.” If Buck didn’t know better, he’d swear Eddie’s hands shake as he presents the carefully wrapped gift. But, of course, Eddie’s hands aren’t shaking; Eddie is a skilled army medic, he has the steadiest hands Buck’s ever seen, and no one is like Eddie under pressure. Eddie doesn’t panic, except, of course, that one time.
Buck’s jaw just about falls off his skull and bounces across the floor when he opens the box to reveal four iridescent cocktail glasses he would recognize anywhere. In awe, he gingerly removes one from the tissue paper and spins it around in the sunlight, pale blue reflections bouncing across the room. “Holy shit,” Buck breathes, his eyes wide with wonder. “No. Fu-Freaking. Way.” Buck is going to explode. The steadily leaking love tap in his chest is going to burst.
“I feel like I’m missing something, man,” Chim chuckles, leaning forward in his seat to look closer at the glass.
“Oh my god, Chim,” Buck smiles, passing the cup to Chim for inspection. “This drink that I love at this place Eddie and I like, it comes in that cup, and I love it because it looks like a moon jelly, the jellyfish, and, oh did you know-”
“The cup, Buck,” Chim interrupts, raising an eyebrow.
“Sorry,” Buck murmurs, fidgeting with the wrapping paper, which still clings to the box on his lap. “I love the cups, and I can’t find them anywhere. The restaurant said they have no clue where they got them or if they were discontinued, but I guess...” he turns his blue eyes to meet Eddie’s, the gentleness of his gaze taking Buck aback. Eddie shakes his head imperceptibly, letting his lip relax from where it was caught between his teeth and grins. “How?” Buck demands, squinting playfully at the man next to him.
“Hey, you don’t have a monopoly on internet research,” Eddie shrugs like the whole thing is nothing.
“Yes, I do,” Buck smirks.
“Yes, you do,” Eddie pats Buck on the shoulder and adds, “I found them used, okay? It took a while, but it was worth it.”
“Man, we need to go back to that place,” he hums.
“Uh, well, we probably shouldn’t go back?” Eddie squeaks, ignoring how Buck, Chim, and Maddie whip their heads to look at him. “I got food poisoning last time!” He lies, praying that Buck will let it go.
“You should’ve told me!” Buck exclaims, almost dropping the box of glass. “I would’ve stayed and taken care of you.”
Chim coughs, and Maddie lets out something between a squeak and a sigh.
“It’s all good, Buck,” Eddie chuckles, “just maybe we won’t go back for a bit. Besides, now you have your cups.”
“Well,” Buck’s using every ounce of SEAL training he remembers to keep the tears gathering at his waterline from spilling over. “I am going to get some eggnog.”
As Buck practically skips into the kitchen, cups in hand, Chim and Maddie turn to Eddie with matching amusement. Maddie’s lips twist into a small smirk as she asks, “What did you do, Eddie?”
“What do you mean?” Eddie deadpans, leaning back into the sofa cushions with a satisfied sigh.
“By used...” Chim looks over at Chris, whose arm is wrapped around Jee as they peruse her newest picture book. “You stole them from the restaurant!” Chim whisper-screams, eyes bugging out in disbelief.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Eddie says, bringing a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. “Hey, Buck, get me a glass?” He calls into the kitchen. “Then, you can finish telling us about moon jellys.”
“Anything for my second favorite Diaz!” Buck sings in response.
“Hopeless,” Maddie sighs, dropping her face into her hands.
2. Dog Days
The weight of exhaustion tugs down on Buck’s eyelids, forcing him to rub his eyes vigorously as the engine pulls back into the station. Luckily, their last couple of calls had been medical, letting Buck slump to the side in the truck until they reached the end of their shift. “Can I stay at yours?” Buck groans, nuzzling Eddie’s shoulder.
“Still that dog, huh?” Eddie asks, brows scrunching together in concern.
Buck pouts, his mind immediately spiraling into worry as he thinks about his apartment. “Yeah,” he murmurs, gripping the sleeves of his turnouts. “I’ve tried everything, Eddie.”
“I know, bud,” Eddie rubs his back as they stumble off to their lockers, shedding their turnouts as they walk.
“The building manager won’t do anything, and somehow, they managed to clean up when the inspector came. That poor dog is alone all day and practically all night. I saw the state of the place when I dropped off the mail. I’d steal the damn dog, but they’d say it was me!” Buck rants, stripping out of his uniform. Eddie just watches him, eyes swimming with worry. Not only is Buck constantly fretting over the dog’s well-being, but the poor thing’s barking has been keeping him from sleeping. He feels like a dead man walking by the end of each shift.
“It’ll be okay,” Eddie placates, resting a hand on Buck’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, I hope,” Buck sighs, swinging his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll follow you home?”
“You go home; I’ll swing by the store because Chris’ll expect pancakes tomorrow,” Eddie smirks, spinning his keys around his finger.
“Don’t I know it,” Buck says, shooting Eddie a smile over his shoulder. He’d make pancakes every single morning for Eddie and Chris till the day he died if they’d let him.
Three days later, Buck skips into work with a bright grin, practically radiating with energy. “Good morning my friend,” Buck chirps as Eddie slides him a cup of coffee.
“Good sleep,” Eddie smiles softly, taking a sip from his own mug.
“Eddie, Eddie, Eddie,” Buck sighs happily, “Someone took the dog!”
“Wait, what?” Eddie’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline, and his mouth makes a little “o.”
“Well, technically, he ‘got out,’ but the owners swear one of us tenants took him. But, turns out
they got so many complaints from so many people that they can’t really do anything. Plus, people lost sympathy when it came out they left their dog alone for four days with no food or water.”
“Well, shit,” Eddie huffs. “Well, cheers, man,” he clinks their mugs together.
“Well, I don’t know. I hope wherever that little guy is, that he’s okay,” Buck looks up at his friend, searching for an answer.
“Listen, if he got out, then a shelter will find him. And realistically, one of your neighbors took matters into their own hands and ensured he was safe.”
Buck nods; Eddie is probably right. No one would take the dog just to put him in another unsafe situation.
If Buck sees a dog that looks just like his neighbor’s the next time he and Eddie take Chris to their neighborhood park, he chalks it up to coincidence. And if Chris and Eddie suddenly want to leave and grab lunch, he reminds himself that Chris is going through a growth spurt at the moment.
3. Key to my heart, keying his car
The walls shake for a moment when Buck slams the door to Eddie’s house, and he stomps forward, not bothering to kick off his shoes.
“Jesus, Buck!” Eddie yelps, the sound of something crashing following his words. “No door slamming!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Buck huffs as he brushes past Eddie to grab a beer from the fridge. “I’m just so pissed, man.” He flings the fridge closed with slightly less force than he’d used on the front door. The cool liquid burns as he gulps it down, the bubbles stinging his tongue as he finishes half of the bottle without taking a breath.
“Woah, buddy,” Eddie says softly, wrapping a gentle hand around Buck’s wrist to pull the beer from his lips. His eyes bore into Buck’s, his pupils slightly dilated as he guides Buck’s hand to place the beer bottle on the counter. “What’s up.”
“So, Tommy dumped me,” Buck grunts, playing with the hem of his shirt.
“Yes, he did. He’s an asshole,” Eddie nods.
“And he bubbled me the other day...”
“Buck, please tell me you didn’t text or call him again.” Eddie takes a small step back and runs a hand through his hair, though a swirl of dark hair falls gracefully back over his forehead.
“No!” Buck says quickly, eyes wide in horror at the suggestion. “He texted me. He asked me if I fucking keyed his car! ” He rubs his temples roughly, eyes darting from Eddie to the beer. He fishes out his phone and hands it to the other man, zooming in on the picture of Tommy’s car. A deep scratch runs through the silver paint. Buck can’t help but feel a little smug at the chuckle that rolls from Eddie’s lips, and he feels a smile forming. He’s more than a little irked that Tommy thinks he would do something this immature over the breakup, but that had been a thread throughout their relationship: Tommy thinking Buck’s childish. As Eddie had so kindly assured him, “You’re not immature, Buck. You’re passionate, caring, and invested. Now, drink your beer.” So, looking at Tommy’s fucked up paint job the second time, Buck feels much less offended and much more amused.
“That’s gold,” Eddie snorts, returning Buck's phone. “Why would you key his car?” He asks, nose crinkling as his lips curl into a scowl. “You were nothing but good to him, he can’t really believe that,” he waves in Buck’s direction like it’s obvious.
“Right,” Buck throws his hands into the air and tips his head back against the fridge, letting out a loud groan. “Literally, you were more pissed off at him than I was.”
“Still am,” Eddie mumbles under his breath, so Buck can’t hear him.
“I was like, Tommy, I was upset but my friends were more mad about the breakup than I was!”
“Uh, maybe you shouldn’t have said that, ” Eddie winces as his phone chimes shrilly. With a frustrated whine in the back of his throat, he shoves his phone under Buck’s nose.
Tommy (Hurricane/Basketball): Diaz, did you fucking key my car?
“What!” Buck guffaws, squinting at the message like it just called him a nasty name. “Wait,” Buck turns to Eddie, dumbfounded. “Hurricane slash Basketball?”
“Don’t say slash,” Eddie chuckles as he sends off a text.
Eddie: What the hell? No, man.
“What the hell is my name in your phone, Diaz?” Buck pokes Eddie in the bicep. “Show me!”
“No!” Eddie cups his phone to his chest. His cheeks grow pink as Buck crowds him against the cabinets, fingers wrapping around the hand holding Eddie’s phone.
“Eddie, if you have me as Buck parentheses work in your phone, I swear to god...” Buck laughs, but he can feel the hunger burning behind his eyes. He should pull back and break the electric current zipping through where they touch, but Eddie’s eyes are molten pools in the dim kitchen light, pulling him in as he tries to maintain an amused expression.
“Fine,” Eddie breathes, his voice hitching in his throat as he blinks up at Buck. He wriggles his wrist free and hands Buck his unlocked phone, though Buck obviously knows the password. He steps away with a light cough, breaking the tension.
That was weird, he thinks, fidgeting with the fabric of his T-shirt. He loves Eddie, of course, but he’s not in love with him... and he’s attractive, but Buck’s not into... but that felt... Buck shakes his head and scrolls to Eddie’s texts, breaking out in a blinding smile when he sees his contact name.
Buck 🔥👨🏻🚒♥️
Buck’s name has emojis , and the only other contact name with emojis is:
Mijo 💙
“Shut up,” Eddie grumbles, unable to stop the blush spreading over his nose and cheeks.
You’re cute, Buck can’t stop the voice in his head from saying. Fuck, you can think your friend’s reaction to something is cute. Means nothing, relax. Thankfully, the ping of Eddie’s phone interrupts Buck’s thoughts, and he clicks on the notification.
Tommy (Hurricane/Basketball): Sure...
Annoyance immediately buzzes under Buck’s skin; how could Tommy think this of Eddie? Thinking Buck is irrational is one thing, but Eddie would never key someone’s car over something trivial like Buck getting dumped; Eddie has a silver star! “He has to know you would never key someone’s car. You’re- you’re Eddie !”
“Oh yeah?” Eddie smirks. He wonders if Buck might be forgetting his foray into underground fighting. Maybe it’s all the concussions. He should really have Buck get that checked out.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m not saying you wouldn’t key a car if someone did something really messed up, like said a slur or something, but over this? No way. You wouldn’t do that over, you know,” Buck trails off, but the “ over me” hangs in the silence.
Eddie just sighs and opens a beer for himself before pressing Buck’s half-empty one back into his friend’s hand. He would absolutely key a car over Evan Buckley... again.
4. I can do a lot with 5 minutes.
“God, I am so glad I convinced you not to give those tickets back to that asshole,” Eddie practically giggles as he bounces a quarter straight into Buck’s glass. His hair is swept back except for one strand arcing down over his brow, and his cheeks glow pink from the beer and the warm interior of the bar. Buck laughs as he throws back the shot of water; he stopped after one beer since he’s driving, but Eddie’s on his second and last beer until they get to the Lakers game. Buck had been about to return the tickets to Tommy, but Eddie looked at him in abject horror before schooling his expression and giving Buck a firm, “No way. You’re taking me, Buckley,” and that was obviously that.
“Didn’t take much convincing, Eddie,” Buck chuckles shyly, running the damp label he peeled off of his beer through his fingers. “It’s going to be really fun.”
“Hey, I mean,” Eddie suddenly can’t meet Buck’s eyes. “I know you kind of hate basketball, so thank you for coming with me.”
Buck’s going to smash his head into the table if Eddie keeps looking down so bashfully, as if Buck would rather be anywhere else. “Eddie, I’ll have fun because I’m hanging out with you!” Buck grins, playfully swatting Eddie in the arm. Relief floods his chest when Eddie meets his eyes again. He looks happy and truly at ease for the first time since Chris left. Buck wants to capture this moment and save it in a jar under Eddie’s bed for bad days when Eddie’s whole demeanor is clouded in grey.
“Thank you, for everything, Buck,” his friend flashes him a smile, and Buck’s cheeks hurt with how wide he’s beaming. “God, this is just what I need after yesterday’s shift too,” Eddie humphs, leaning back in his seat.
“At least we didn’t get puked on,” Buck sighs, pressing his hands together in mock prayer.
“Thank god!”
“I know Jenkins will be pissed for a week about us laughing, but it wasn’t my fault.”
“Well, we were holding it in, but once Chim started, I couldn’t stop!” Buck snorts at the memory, the three of them shaking apart with giggles as Jenkin’s glop-covered face glared at them.
“Well, if you laugh, I laugh. You should know this by now,” Eddie says, gesturing at Buck. “I can’t help it, man,” his lips twitch into a soft, fond smile as he shakes his head, eyes fixed on where Buck’s fiddling with the beer label. “Alright, let’s go, cowboy,” Eddie says, glancing at his watch.
“Yeah, yikes, Let me get the tab.”
“Eddie, we can split it,” Buck insists, reaching for his wallet.
“Nope,” Eddie’s voice commands, and instinctively, Buck freezes. Christ, he thinks. ‘“I’ve got it, Buckl.” He just watches as Eddie hands his card to the waiter, then follows his fingers as he scribbles his signature on the check. Squinting, he can see the generous tip scrawled on the receipt, and Buck’s heart thu-thumps in his chest. Eddie is an excellent tipper because, of course, he is.
They stroll into the evening air, a gentle breeze brushing against the back of Buck’s neck, causing him to shiver.
“You cold,” Eddie asks nonchalantly, reaching around Buck to rub his arm.
“Uh, no...” Buck mutters, bumping his shoulder against Eddie’s. His heart sinks when he sets eyes on his Jeep, which now sports an unfortunate accessory. A boot is wrapped around his tire, a big fat steaming shit on their perfect night. “Fuck,” Buck shouts, dropping his head into his hands. “We’re going to miss the game, Eddie. Shit, I’m so sorry dude. An uber would be like... I don’t even know, and by the time I can call-”
“Buck,” Eddie interrupts, placing his hand at the base of Buck’s neck, thumb digging gently into the hollow of his collarbone. “Where’s your spare?”
“My spare?” Buck asks dumbly, not quite getting the point of the question.
“Grab me your spare; I’ll just change the tire,” Eddie shrugs, then peels off his button-down, leaving him in a white wife beater. He moves with such ease, leaning down to inspect the booted tired, not a trace of worry on his face. On autopilot, Buck grabs the spare tire and his toolbox from the back of the car, stumbling a little as his eyes catch on the lines of Eddie’s biceps in the street lamp’s glow.
“Eddie, if we don’t leave in like ten minutes, we’re not going to make it,” Buck sighs, looking down at his friend crouched on the sidewalk.
Eddie stands up, stepping unbearably close to Buck, breath warm on Buck’s cheek. He reaches out and wraps his hand around the toolbox handle, their skin burning where their hands meet. “Good thing I only need five, Buckley,” Eddie smirks, giving Buck a wink as he pulls the toolbox from Bucks's suddenly loose grasp.
Eddie’s arm muscles bulge as he turns the jack, the veins in his forearms growing pronounced. The tattoo wrapped around his arm ripples with the movement, and Buck’s mouth goes dry as Eddie grabs the tire iron. He works quietly and efficiently, reminding Buck of their first shift together when Eddie had driven him crazy with his competence in the field. Just as Eddie promised, he has Buck’s new tire on the jeep in precisely five minutes. He springs to his feet, smiling smugly at Buck as he wipes his forehead with the back of his hand.
“My hero,” Buck laughs nervously as Eddie kicks the booted tire further onto the sidewalk. He is so, so normal about this.
“Now, I better never hear you call me passenger princess again, man,” Eddie grins, grabbing his button-down from the ground and pulling it back on.
“Just because you can change my tire, doesn’t mean you’re not my passenger princess,” Buck admonishes, immediately flushing at the notion of Eddie being his anything. Eddie just breezes by him with a low huff of laughter, their shoulders brushing lightly as he rounds the car. “Uh, can we just, leave that there?” Buck cocks his head at Eddie as he slides into the driver's seat.
“Yeah, it’s whatever. It’ll be fine,” Eddie says with a reassuring smile.
“Okay!” Buck smiles back, forgetting all about the discarded tire as he turns his key in the ignition. “Hey,” Buck says as they speed off down the road. “We beat the boot!”
Eddie groans, but soon both men dissolve into giggles, shoulders shaking with the obsurdinty of it all, it feels almost perfect.
5. Fire in my heart
Eddie is back from Texas. Eddie is back from Texas, and he and Chris are living with Buck. Objectively, Buck should be the happiest he’s ever been, especially after Eddie not so subtly suggested that Buck just not move out for the time being. “It’s nice having you here,” Eddie had shrugged, making an earth-shattering statement blase as only Eddie could. However, even though Eddie continuously suggests that Buck just share his bed, Buck confines himself to the couch. They had shared during quarantine all those years ago. But Buck has come to the horrifying and exhilarating realization that the racing thoughts, butterflies, and warm expanse of love his best friend inspires are not platonic. Not at all. It took an ill-advised hook-up with Tommy and several stern follow-up talks with Maddie, but he got there, and there’s no leaving. He’s officially head over heels in love with his best friend. The leaking faucet of love within him flows freely now, flooding his body with a fondness so intense he can barely contain it around Eddie, with whom he was now constantly around. Still, he manages, stuffing his ever-expanding feels vacuum-sealed in his chest, tucked neatly between his heart and sternum.
A knock on Eddie’s- their door shakes Buck from his daydreams, and he squints up at Eddie, who’s in charge of breakfast for once, where he’s cracking a couple of eggs into a bowl. “Expecting anyone?” Buck asks, raising a brow.
“Nope. And certainly not at eight in the mourning, dios,” Eddie rolls his eyes, his morning grumpiness still clinging to his face.
With a groan, Buck creaks to his feet and shuffles to the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Hello?” He hums sleepily, swinging the door open. The wind is knocked out of him as he sets his eyes on the last two people he expected to see. “Mom? Dad?” He stutters, trying to keep his voice steady despite the sudden tremor in his hands.
“Are you going to invite us in?” His father grunts, gesturing at the entryway.
“It’s eight A.M.,” Buck blurts as if that would ever be a good enough explanation for his parents. “We’re in the middle of breakfast,” he adds, shifting his gaze to look back at the kitchen.
“Oh, so you’re still living with Eddie then?” His mother asks, eyes searching the space behind her son.
“Yes.”
“Buck?” Eddie’s voice echoes down the hall.
“My parents,” Buck shouts back, the strain evident in his tone. His body is cold, goosebumps prickling along his arms and the back of his neck. Breathe, he reminds himself, squinting his eyes shut for a moment of respite.
“Just let us in, Evan,” his father says, a sigh of exhaustion hanging off his words. “We’ll be quick, we were in town to check on the baby and wanted to see how you’re doing after the move.”
Buck exhales heavily. Maddie had told him that his parents were in town, but after almost a year of not speaking, he never expected them to show up at his new address. He has no clue how they got Eddie’s address. “I moved months ago, mom. You could’ve called if you wanted to know how I am,” he says, ice frosting over his features.
“Evan,” his mother chides, “it’s not the same over the phone. Let us try!”
Buck wants to laugh, wants to expel every nasty tendrils of hurt crawling up his throat. Instead, he focuses on Eddie and Chris sitting around their kitchen table, shoveling down breakfast in preparation for another day spent together, the three of them. “Mom, Dad, I-” he starts his protest but is cut off by the sudden blare of the smoke alarm.
“Buck!” Eddie screams, poking his head into the kitchen and frantically beckoning him back into the house. “Buck,” he practically whines, eyes pleading.
“Gotta go, bye!” Buck says, hastily retreating and slamming the door closed. He rushes to the kitchen, almost tripping over himself as he skids across the hardwood. “Jesus, Eddie!” Buck shrieks as he sees the fire raging in the pan on the stove. He cups his ears to drown out the beeping as Eddie searches the cabinets. “Under the sink,” Buck shouts, and Eddie dives for the door, swinging it open and grabbing the extinguisher.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Eddie pants as he hits the release, a cloud of white billowing over the stove. Buck presses the silencer on the smoke detector, sighing in relief as the noise comes to a halt.
“Eddie, what the hell?” Buck demands, surveying the damage. The now-ruined eggs are still in their bowl, and he frowns as he peers into the pan only to see... a wad of charred paper towels. “Eddie, what?”
“Uh,” Eddie avoids Buck’s gaze, reaching a hand to rub the back of his head.
“Eddie...”
“Your parents showed up!” Eddie says, gesturing frantically towards the door. His eyes plead with Buck for understanding, but Eddie’s words have done nothing to remedy Buck’s utter confusion. “I didn’t want them in our house, making you feel like, like they do,” Eddie stutters, eyes fixed on the floor. “I want this to be your safe space, Buck, I was just giving you an out,” He finishes lamely, arms flopping to his side.
“So you lit your kitchen on fire?” Buck cries.
“Yes?” Eddie squeaks back, voice a good three octaves higher than usual.
“You didn’t know where the fire extinguisher was! You could’ve started a real fire! You could’ve accidentally committed arson ; I mean you kind of did!” Buck’s panicking because since when does Eddie light shit on fire !
“So?” Eddie croaks, eyes going soft and gooey the way they do when Eddie wants something from him.
“Oh my god, why would you do that?” Buck sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I just wanted to protect you,” Eddie says, looking so raw that Buck’s chest aches with the tidal wave of love crashing against his bleeding heart.
“I love you,” he blurts, immediately slapping a hand over his mouth when he hears the words echo through the silence.
“Buck,” Eddie whispers, reaching out a shaking hand to cup Buck’s cheek. He trembles under the touch, chasing the warmth of Eddie’s palm. His heartbeat drums loudly in his ears, and he has to grip the counter to keep his knees from giving way. “I would do a lot more than light my kitchen on fire for you, mi amor,” Eddie runs his thumb over Buck’s cheekbone.
Buck’s Spanish isn’t great, but he understands that much. He takes a wild guess that his very handsome best friend isn’t stroking his cheek and calling him “my love,” platonically. He lets the love pour out of him, surging forward to press his lips against Eddie’s, a satisfied gasp leaving Eddie's mouth as he accepts Buck’s kiss. “I love you too,” Eddie breathes out in between kisses, following his declaration with his tongue, which slides in to tangle with Buck’s as he pushes him against the fridge.
“Fuck,” Buck moans, raking his hands up and down Eddie’s sides. “Wait, wait,” he pants, gently pushing Eddie away from him.
“What?” Eddie asks, eyes searching Buck’s face frantically.
“Chris?” Buck waves a hand in the direction of Chris’s room.
“I already talked to him,” Eddie smiles. “I was uh, going to ask you on a date soon,” he adds sheepishly.
A blush heats Buck’s cheeks, and he suppresses a giggle. “That’s uh, great news. I’ve been going a little insane trying not to tell you how I feel.”
“I always want to know how you feel,” Eddie replies earnestly. “But, I uh, figured I needed to make the first move, since you think I’m straight and all.”
“Whatever you are, Eddie,” Buck sighs, placing a kiss on Eddie’s jaw. “I am so proud of you.”
“Plenty of time for labels later, Buck,” Eddie smirks, diving in to slip his tongue between Buck’s lips.
“Eddie, mph, Ed-” Buck pulls away, putting a foot of distance between them. “I am really happy Chris is okay with this, but he’s literally in the next room. I don’t need him scarred for life,” Buck chuckles, wiping the spit from his mouth.
“Oh shit,” Eddie says, cheeks going pink.
“Oh shit,” Buck repeats, “should we be concerned that he slept through the smoke alarm?”
“Probably,” Eddie says with a grimace, tracing a hand up Buck’s arm, hunger still burning bright behind his gaze.
“Should we worry about you starting fires?” Buck jokes, closing the space between them once more.
“No, no don’t worry about it.” Eddie murmurs against Buck’s lips.
“Okay,” Buck snickers as he crowds against Eddie for another kiss.
“We need to order breakfast,” Eddie mutters in between soft kisses.
“Yeah, you ruined ours.”
“Worth it.”
+1)
*Buck and Eddie have a safe word system; this is all very safe, sane, and consensual
“I want you so bad,” Eddie whispers, his lips tracing the shell of Buck’s ear, sending shivers down his spine.
He presses his hips against Eddie’s as they move to the music. His lips find eddies in the darkness, and he sinks into the warmth of Eddie's mouth, lapping against his tongue, then tracing along his boyfriend's sharp canines. A hiss escapes him, and Eddie captures his bottom lip between his teeth, biting hard enough that a metallic burst of blood paints the tip of his tongue.
“Sorry,” Eddie murmurs, stroking Buck's lip. He can barely be heard over the pumping music.
“I like it,” Buck gasps, capturing Eddie's mouth again, punctuating the move with a harsh roll of his hips. A broken moan from Eddie sends blood rushing to Buck's cock, adding to his already painful erection. He whines as Eddie palms his groan, fingers tracing the outline of his hard-on, and he feels the mischievous grin forming against his lips.
“Let’s get out of here,” Eddie grins wickedly, teeth glinting in the black lights.
“I’ll get the uber,” Buck pants, trying not to whimper at the loss of contact.
“No,” Eddie growls, gripping the back of Buck’s neck. Buck's muscles go slack, turning to putty under Eddie's firm hand. “Good boy,” Eddie says in a low voice, tightening his hold for a moment before letting go. “Out back,” he commands, guiding Buck to the door with a hand on his lower back. He’s in a daze as his boyfriend guides him through the crowd, all squared shoulders and chiseled lines, his fiery eyes daring anyone to look in Buck’s direction. Arousal dances across his skin at the possessive hold Eddie has on him, making his claim known. He has the overwhelming need to drop to his knees in the middle of the crowd and take Eddie into his mouth, driving forward until his cock is stuffed down bucks throat, making him gag on it as the crowd learns just who he belongs to. He shudders as the fresh air brushes over his nipples, which are exposed in his mesh top.
“I can see how turned on you are through your jeans,” Eddie observes darkly as he pushes Buck into the alley next to the club. “you’re so pathetic for it, aren’t you, baby?”
Baby . Two months in, and the petname still sends electricity cracking through his veins. “Only for you,” he moans, following Eddie blindly into the darkness.
“Good answer, mi amor,” Eddie snarls, shoving him harshly against the brick wall. He whines at the feel of Eddie pressed up against his ass. Eddie’s erection grinds against him, pressing his own into the wall, and he hisses at the pain and pleasure of it all. “I’m going to fuck your face, baby,” Eddie’s breathy voice sends Buck reeling.
He tips his head back against Eddie's shoulder with a groan. “Fuck yeah.”
“But first,” Eddie chuckles, pulling Buck back to lean against his chest, hands ghosting gently up his sensitive sides. He brings his hands to cup Buck's chest, squeezing the hard muscle forcefully enough to bruise. Pleasure erupts from Buck's throat in a satisfied sob as Eddie flicks harshly over his nipples. “Not too loud, baby,” Eddie scolds, sticking two fingers past Buck's lips. Buck groans, half in protest at the lack of attention to his right nipple, half in excitement at the intrusion of his open mouth. Saliva spills from the corners of his mouth as he bobs up and down on Eddie’s fingers, enjoying the salty taste pressing against his tongue. He wants to choke on it, wants Eddie to reach inside of him and take his heart to keep beating in his open palm forever.
“This is so illegal,” Buck chokes out when Eddie removes his hand to work both of Buck's throbbing nipples at once.
“Do you,” Eddie snarls, snapping his hips forward. “Think,” snap. “I give” snap “a single” snap “fuck?”
The friction of Eddie’s cock against his ass and the burn of the brick against his clothed dick is almost too much to bear. He groans, his voice cracking mid-whine as Eddie pinches his pec hard. “I fuck you where and when I want, Buck. The law can fuck off,” he murmurs, trailing soft kisses along bucks throat. Then he whispers, “Green, baby?”
“So fucking green,” Buck affirms, stroking Eddie’s arm.
“That’s my boy,” Eddie smiles. “On your knees for me.” Buck turns and drops to the ground, not caring if he might need to burn these jeans by the end of this. He stumbles a bit on the way down, only caught by Eddie’s strong hands. “Careful baby,” Eddie giggles and Buck presses his forehead against Eddie’s thigh.
“Shut up,” Buck laughs, face flushing as Eddie’s leg shakes with his laughter. For a second, they’re the same two oblivious idiots giggling as they drive off into the night, leaving an abandoned tire in their wake. “Okay, okay, let’s go,” Buck grins once he’s regained his composure. He settles back into himself and stares up at Eddie through his lashes, pouting in a way he knows drives Eddie crazy.
“Perfect for me,” Eddie gulps, tracing Bucks's bottom lip with his thumb. “Now open.”
Buck lets his mouth fall open, taking Eddie’s breath away as he hastily undoes his belt and then his jeans. He shoves them down just far enough to free his cock, which springs free, flushed and dripping. Eddie grins as Buck's pupils dilate with desire. “Tap my thigh if you want me to stop,” Eddie says in a hushed voice. He wraps a hand firmly in Buck’s curls, anchoring him in place, and slides his cock past Buck's swollen, pink lips. Then, he starts thrusting into Buck's warm, wet mouth. The first time Eddie hits the back of his throat, Eddie moans. When he thrusts again and feels himself slip somehow further down Buck's throat, he can’t help but whimper. He holds the other man there for a second, smirking as Buck looks at him, brows furrowed in frustration as his eyes silently beg.
Buck's fingers dig greedily into Eddie's thighs as if to demand More . Buck swallows hard around Eddie’s length, the muscles of his throat clamping down around him, forcing a whimper from his lips. “Brat,” he grunts, tugging on Buck’s hair. Buck lets the tears in his eyes pour down his cheeks, fluttering wet lashes up at Eddie.
Eddie slides out and then rams back in, setting a brutal pace. As he slams his cock in and out, he draws a cacophony of gurgles, gags, and moans from Buck, and he matches them with his own low groans. He stuffs the hand not wrapped in Buck’s hair into his mouth, biting down to muffle the obscene noises falling from his lips.
Despite his brutalized state, Buck’s tongue is managing incredible feats whenever the head of Eddie's cock is within reach. Buck’s mouth and chin are covered in spit, his nose running, and his eyes swimming with tears, creating a picture worthy of the MET. He wonders if Buck would be down to let him film this, then reminds himself that it’s Buck, and Buck probably already has sex tapes floating out there with people who aren’t Eddie. Never again , he thinks as he delivers a particularly harsh thrust that has Bucks's eyes alive with hunger. They haven’t broken eye contact once, and Buck’s blue eyes sparkle with delight, even in the darkness. Eddie bites down harder on his hand as a groan fights to escape his self-imposed gag; he tightens his hold on Buck's hair. Now it’s bucks turn to whimper.
Mineminemineminemine, Buck thinks as he happily accepts Eddie deep into his throat.
“Fuck.” Eddie breathes, finally releasing his aching hand from the grip of his jaw. The tension in his abdomen is about to explode, “I’m gonna cum, Buck.” Eddie whispers, moving even faster. Buck’s hand starts massaging his balls, and Eddie immediately shoots down Buck's throat. Mouth open in a silent exhale of white-hot pleasure, he pulls himself from Buck’s mouth with a smack, heartbeat only quickening as a dribble of cum drips from the corner of Buck’s mouth.
Buck quivers as Eddie captures the drop with his thumb and feeds it back into Buck's mouth. He closes his lips and sucks on Eddie’s thumb, still buzzing with lust.
“You’re gonna fuck me at home?” Eddie asks, almost shyly.
“Always,” Buck pants, voice horse and shattered.
“I love you,” Eddie breathes, pulling Buck to his feet and into a tight hug.
“I love you too,” Buck smiles into the crock of Eddie’s neck, melting into Eddie’s soothing brace.
“Loved that... but we probably shouldn’t make a habit of that,” he adds with a quiet laugh.
“Whatever you want, Buck,” Eddie affirms, caressing Buck's temple. “Always.”
The end!