Chapter Text
Around 40 minutes later, Buck awoke to soft murmuring and the smell of rice being fried. Whatever he was sleeping on was really soft. And warm. And breathing? Buck's eyes shot open and his cheeks went red. He'd been sleeping on Eddie. In the common area. While Bobby and Hen and Chim were 10 feet away. Eddie was still fast asleep and Buck awkwardly climbed off of him and looked to see what Bobby was making for 'dinner'. It was past 12, so maybe it was early breakfast?
"Have a nice nap?" Hen asked while smirking. "Hey what happened to your cheek? It looks like you got hit by something."
"Uh-" Buck scrambled to think of another excuse.
"He got clipped by some of the ceiling as we were heading out with the kid." Eddie showed up behind him, like the savior he was. "Don't worry though, I already checked it out. Nothing fractured, only bruised."
"Alright, alright, just checking up on our Buckaroo." Hen backed off with a chuckle. Eddie grumbled at her teasing.
"Hey, Buck, you want to help me out with this?" Bobby called him over to prepare the sauce for him. It was like old times again. Maybe Eddie was right about telling them. Maybe. Not just yet. After they finished making dinner, they all sat together at the table, digging into the food. Eddie was next to him, a safe, comforting presence. "It's looking like the floor needs mopping, can you boys handle that?"
Buck and Eddie made eye contact before grinning at each other. They headed downstairs and down a long hallway, where the bulk of the cleaning supplies were head.
"Y'know, Diaz, you make a pretty great pillow."
"I think I could tell by the way you fell asleep thirty seconds after I moved you onto my lap."
Buck let out a scoff. "I stayed awake way longer than that. At least thirty-one seconds."
"Whatever you say." Their easy banter was interrupted while they were walking to the main area where the firetrucks were held and they heard another guy's voice. Buck placed it immediately.
"You guys must be Bobby, Hen, and Chim, right? Buck talks all about you. I'm really sorry to disturb you all like this but could I speak to Buck? He hasn't been answering his phone and I saw that fire on the news, I just want to make sure he's okay."
"Sorry, who are you?" Bobby asked, an edge of wariness in his voice.
He laughed, "Oh, sorry, silly me, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Luke, Buck's boyfriend."
Buck and Eddie both stopped in their tracks at the sound of him. Eddie's jaw clenched. "Luke! What are you, uh, what are you doing here?" Luke's head turned towards them and Buck could see the slight change in his face when he saw Eddie. He still maintained an easygoing smile, looking the picture of a perfect boyfriend.
"You weren't answering my calls. Or texts." Luke's eyes grew a little sharper, a little more angry.
"Sorry, it must have gotten damaged during the fire."
"You gonna properly introduce me to your crew?" Buck shrunk a little at the condescending tone. Eddie noticed it and immediately stepped in.
"I'm sorry but we're on shift right now. We don't exactly have time for social visits."
"Eddie." Buck muttered quietly.
"Looks like you're not busy right now. I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, pal. It's Eddie right?" Luke continued, unbothered by Eddie's hostility.
"I'm not your pal. And I think you should leave. You're not welcome here."
"Eddie, what're you talking about? Is something happening here?" Bobby looked worried, and the rest of the 118 was also noticing the tension.
"What did he tell you? You know, you can't believe a word out of his mouth."
"He didn't have to tell me anything!" Buck could tell that Luke realized he'd been caught by someone else.
"Hm, Buck? What lies are you spreading about me? Are you saying I'm abusive, you ungrateful bitch?" At that moment, where the 118 was shocked at what was spewing out of Luke's mouth and Eddie was frozen with anger, Luke took his chance and swung at Buck. Hard. That spurred everyone into action. Buck would've thought Eddie would be the first to reach him, but it was actually Bobby, shoving and punching him square in the nose. You could hear the crunch of what Buck assumed to be his nose.
"Don't you lay a finger on my kid." Bobby's voice was cold and unforgiving, something Buck had never heard before. Bobby manhandled Luke to his stomach and held his hands together. "Someone get me a pair of zip-ties!" Hen rushed to where some were kept in the ambulance before handing them to him.
"You can't do this! This is assault!"
"Assault is hitting a first responder." Bobby responded dryly. He left Luke on the floor and turned his attention to Buck. "You okay, kid?"
"Yeah. Yeah, thank you, Bobby." Bobby had only just started forgiving Buck and yet he was willing to throw a punch for him? He couldn't believe Luke would show up here and then try and punch him. Bobby stepped out for a moment, though he didn't know why. Buck's attention was soon torn away as Hen guided Buck to a couch upstairs, far, far away from Luke.
It only takes a few gentle words and hugs before Buck starts to cry. He didn't think they'd care like this. That they'd defend him and believe him no matter what. Bobby came back in and it only took a beat before he was folding Buck's much taller body into his own, wrapping him in a tight hug. "It's alright. He's gone. Everything's gonna be okay. Athena and I will deal with it. Don't you worry."
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For 30 minutes, Buck just sat there with Bobby and his family. He let himself be held. Then, when he grew tired of everything, Eddie was right there, with both their bags in his hands, ready to take them home. Together. Bobby gave a short nod to him when he came over and gave another quick hug to Buck before he left. As they hugged, Bobby exchanged a grateful look with Eddie. A silent 'thank you for taking care of my son'.
They walked out and as the passed through the lobby, Buck noticed Luke was no longer there. Bobby must have called Athena. He was forever grateful to Bobby; he always seemed to know what to do. Buck didn't know if he could've taken another round of Luke hurling insults at him, especially in front of Eddie. Eddie put both of their bags in the trunk of his car before opening the passenger door for him.
"I have two functioning hands, y'know?" Buck rasped. He felt like he'd cried himself out.
"I know."
"Also what about my jeep? Is it just gonna sit here for the next six days."
"Don't worry. Everything's taken care of. Bobby'll know what to do or who to call." Buck climbed into the passenger seat.
"You wanna get some Mexican food?"
"Is that even a question, Buck?" Buck barked out a laugh at the look on his face.
"God, I've missed this." Eddie's face grew sad.
"Me too. Soon you won't though, cause I'm never letting you go now."
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After they had eaten their food and Eddie had put Chris to bed, Buck knew the lull of silence meant it was time for a conversation. Again. Eddie was getting all fidgety and nervous; he kept pushing back his hair and tugging on his bottom lip between his teeth. Finally, he took. a breath.
"When I said that I can't live without you, I meant that I love you. I think I've been in love with you for a while and that's why I was so hurt. It felt like you were breaking up with me. Except so much worse. We're so much more than a casual relationship. Than best friends. I don't expect you to say anything back, especially after that asshole of a boyfriend you just had, but I just wanted you to know I'm here for you, no matter what." During his monologue, Eddie avoided eye contact with Buck and wrung his hands a few times.
"Eddie, look at me." His voice was rough. Slowly, but surely, Eddie tilted his head up and making eye contact, showing those pretty brown eyes of his. What could Buck do but grab his cheek, pull him towards Buck, and kiss him? The noise Eddie made alone was worth it, a mix between a choked off sound and a sharp inhale. Buck kissed him for three, maybe four seconds before Eddie pulled away and look at him with wide eyes and red, spit-slick lips. He looked so beautiful. The uncertainty in his eyes was apparent.
"Are- are you sure, Buck? I don't want to rush you or for this to be a way you cope with what Luke did to you. And by the way we will be getting you into therapy for that-" Eddie's eyebrows creased as he got increasingly worked up.
Buck smiled. He was so in love with this man. He cut off his rambling with another soft and insistent press of his lips. "Eddie, I can't even remember a time when I knew you and didn't love you." Eddie's eyes got swallowed up by the black of his irises and he flushed a pretty red.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
This time, when Eddie and Buck clumsy walked through Eddie's house while trying to find the bedroom and continue kissing, he felt none of the pressure he did with Luke. He felt none of the inadequacy or fear he did with Luke. Just pure happiness. Once they found the bedroom and Eddie took off his shirt, Buck's mind was clear of thoughts of Luke for a long time.
Two days after that, they would go to Chimney's barbecue and Buck would be fussed over. Athena would be there with papers for him to press charges and a time for him to come into the station to give a statement. Bobby would pull him into a tight hug before tugging Buck into the kitchen to show him a new recipe Bobby had learned. Over dinner, Eddie would pull him into a quick kiss and everyone would cheer that they finally got their act together. Money would be exchanged and paperwork was given to them.
But that was all later. Now, Buck could just bask in the afterglow and gaze at his beautiful boyfriend. The sunlight peaked through the curtains, but Buck and Eddie just stayed there like that. Laying in each others arms without a care in the world.