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Ever since Tommy had helped the 118, things had changed for the worse. Tommy is at every corner, in every conversation, and Buck, honest to god, is sick of it. He swears the next time someone brings up Tommy; he’s going to throw himself out of the moving fire truck.
It’s not that Buck hates Tommy… well, he does, but that’s not the only reason he wants to punch Tommy in the face every second. It’s because Eddie, Buck’s best friend, has been spending every goddamn moment with Tommy. Buck swears he’s only seen Eddie twice this week, and that was only because they had the same shift at work.
Chim and Hen think he’s being over dramatic, but no. Buck has been replaced and shifted to second best, and it’s not the best feeling in the world. Who does Tommy even think he is? Who does Eddie think he is replacing Buck like this? Buck had been trying to hang out with Eddie all week, but he was told he had plans every time he asked the guy out for drinks. And guess who the plans involved with? Tommy fucking Kinard.
Things changed, though. Chim, god bless him, had the idea of getting together and playing a game of basketball with some other guys from the 118. Buck had thought this was brilliant. Finally, he could hang out with Eddie… and Chim, of course. But it would be the first time, in a while, that it would just be BuckandEddie … or so he thought. Not even five minutes after Buck and Chim arrive at the court, here comes Eddie, with… guess who? Tommy fucking Kinard.
Oh. Oh no. Buck immediately sees red.
How did the guy even know about this? Buck had made sure that Tommy wasn’t around when Chim brought up the idea. Unless… Eddie had invited him? Oh no. Whatever. Buck wasn’t going to let this get to him. They would play a fun little game, and then he would ask Eddie if he wanted to get some food, and all would be well in the world again.
Except, that didn’t happen.
Buck was playing a good game. He followed all the rules and took the necessary breaks whenever his leg cramped up. But for one single second, Buck had decided he had had enough. He didn’t mean to do it, seriously, but for one second. That one second of them stopping the game and Chim getting him water, he had turned around to see none other than Tommy fucking Kinard talking to Eddie. And Eddie? Guess what Eddie had the audacity to do? He laughed. He was laughing at some stupid nonsense Tommy had probably said. So, for just that one second, Buck had really wanted to smack Eddie with the basketball in his hand. It was really for just one second, and instantly, the thought had vanished, but again, it took one second, and before Buck knew the ball was out of his hands and hitting Eddie in the face.
It was like time had stopped.
Buck saw Eddie yelp and clutch his face, Tommy quickly leaning over asking Eddie if he was okay, and to top it off, he also heard Chim let out a startled ‘Buck!’
Oh my god.
After that, the game officially ended, and Chim quickly took Eddie and Buck to the hospital.
—
Buck felt like shit. He had hit Eddie in the face with a basketball, and of course, it didn’t help that Chim was muttering to himself, ‘Buck, you’re an idiot.’ Well fuck Chim and fuck Tommy Kinard too. This was all his fault. If he hadn’t shown up practically hanging off Eddie’s arm, none of this would’ve happened in the first place. But, god, Buck really felt so shitty. There was a 50/50 chance he had probably broken Eddie’s nose, and how the hell was he going to tell Christopher about this?
“Hey buddy, don’t mind me. Just putting your dad to rest. What’s wrong with his nose? Oh… I just, uh.. broke it. Why? Because your dumb dad invited some knockoff version of me to our basketball game. No biggie.”
Yeah, no. That wasn’t going to work, and Christopher was going to hate him. Oh god, Eddie probably hated him. Buck was spiraling. How stupid could he have been? The whole time, he had wanted to hit Tommy with the ball or maybe trip him. He hadn’t figured out the mechanics of his plan, but nowhere did that include Buck hurting Eddie.
Buck was startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked over and saw Maddie. Damn. Here comes his sister to berate him over his shitty choices.
“Maddie? What are you doing here?” He frowned, noticing she hadn’t brought Jee-Yun with her. “Wait, who’s taking care of Jee?”
“Chim has her,” Maddie said.
Buck lifted his head and looked around. When had Chim left? Was he spiraling so badly that he hadn’t noticed Chim leaving and his sister showing up?
“So… Chim told me what happened, and Evan? What’s going on? You hit Eddie with a basketball? That doesn’t sound like you.” She furrowed her brows looking at Buck with concern.
Buck groaned and covered his face with his hands. “I didn’t mean to hit him, I swear. I got… I don’t actually know. I just– I felt something wrong when I saw him and Tommy laughing. I hated it. But I didn’t mean to hit Eddie. Believe it or not, I was actually aiming for Tommy.”
“Tommy? The firefighter that helped you guys a few days ago save Athena and Bobby? That Tommy?” Maddie looked confused and even more concerned. “Evan… why would you– I’m going to ask you something, and I don’t want you to freak out on me, okay?”
“Uh… okay.”
He looked at Maddie as she stayed quiet for a few seconds. She was probably trying to figure out the nicest way to ask if he was an idiot.
“Are you jealous of Eddie hanging out with Tommy?”
Buck honest to god laughs. “Jealous? Me? Jealous of what? Tommy is some average-looking white dude, who– who... wait… don’t look at me like that, Maddie. I am definitely more attractive than Tommy fucking Kinard. I’m not jealous. I just– I hate that Eddie is hanging out with this guy when he should be hanging out with me. I’m his best friend, but he’s replacing me. Next thing you know, his will will say Tommy Kinard instead of Evan Buckley. Maddie, I can’t let that happen.”
“Evan, that is the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.”
Buck got up and started pacing around the hospital waiting room. “No, Maddie. You don’t get it. You should see them, they’re attached at the hip. I’ve been replaced, and it hurts. We should be hanging out together. He should be laughing at my jokes, talking to me, being around me and.. and– it’s like– it’s like… it’s like they’re dating! Eddie shouldn’t– he can’t! He should be– he should be dating me!”
Oh. Oh no.
Buck looked at Maddie with wide eyes, and she looked back at him with the same wide eyes.
“Uh… is this a bad time?” Buck quickly turned around to see Chim standing there awkwardly holding Jee in his arms.
Buck was going to pass out or throw up. Had this been the problem? Buck wasn’t an idiot and knew he was jealous of Eddie and Tommy hanging out. Still, he thought it was only because he felt replaced, not because he had feelings for Eddie. He wasn’t even into men, or was he? He had thought TK was cute, but it wasn’t like, ‘You’re cute, I’m attracted to you,’ no, it had been a simple ‘I have eyes and can tell you’re good looking.’ Right? But then again, TK had thought Buck was asking him out when he mentioned hanging out with the guy, and that had had Buck thinking for weeks.
Shit, maybe he did have feelings for Eddie Diaz.
“I think… I might have feelings for Eddie.”
“Yeah, no shit Buck,” Chim said, which caused Maddie to scold him for saying the word shit in front of Jee.
“I don’t– how is this even possible? I never felt like this when he was with Anna. I haven’t felt like this now that he’s with Marisol either.”
Chim looked at him confused for a brief moment.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Chim, you’re not helping.” Buck whined.
“I’m sorry, but Eddie broke up with Marisol a few days ago?”
Pause. What.
“What? When? And he didn’t tell me? Oh, but I bet he told Tommy fucking Kinard, I swear–“
“Buck, shut up!” Chim rolled his eyes. “He actually told all of us, but you were probably too busy murdering Tommy in your head to even acknowledge what he had said.”
He heard Maddie laugh and then try to hide it with a cough when Buck turned to glare at her.
“I wasn’t doing that... I was in my head a lot this week.” Buck muttered. “Again, this doesn’t make sense. I’ve never been jealous of Eddie dating other people.”
Buck hadn’t truly met Shannon, but that was Christopher’s mom, and he was indifferent to what was going on between her and Eddie. Anna was… pleasant. Buck hadn’t had an opinion on her, and he surely didn’t make an effort to properly meet her even though Eddie had brought it up a couple of times. But that had ended quickly, and Buck had been happy– wait, no, that wasn’t right. But the more Buck thought about it; he had been happy when Eddie said he and Anna had broken up. Buck just thought he was happy to get his best friend back.
Oh.
“Buck, could it possibly be because they were women? And now he’s hanging out with a guy… and you’re a guy?” Maddie said.
“Or maybe you’ve felt this way before and just pushed it in the back of your brain,” Chim added.
Oh, Buck definitely was so fucked. Completely utterly fucked.
“I have feelings for Eddie. Chim, Maddie, I have actual, real feelings for Eddie, and I’m the biggest idiot in the world.” He looked at Chim and his sister, who looked like they had seen a ghost. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you guys… relieved? Chim, I’m pretty sure the 118 have a bet on us and Maddie, I thought you’d be teasing me. You did always say I had some weird boy crush on Eddie. Well, here it is, I have a crush on Eddie.”
Someone cleared their throat, and Buck instantly wanted the world to crumble below his feet and swallow him. He slowly turned around, and lo and behold, Eddie stood there with a bruised nose.
“H– hey Eddie… fancy seeing you here.” He heard Chim, or maybe it was Maddie, muttering ‘Jesus Buck…’ he wasn’t sure anymore.
Maddie cleared her throat. “Well… Eddie, it looks like you have a bruised nose and thankfully, not a broken one. I’m sure you’d like to have a few words here with Evan, so we’re going to go. Evan, if you need anything, don’t call me. Let’s go, Chim.” Maddie got up and smiled at both of them before walking away.
“Maddie!” Buck hissed. “Traitor!”
Great, now he was alone with Eddie, who had definitely just overheard Buck admitting he had feelings for the guy. Eddie wasn’t a mean dude, he’d reject Buck gently, at least Buck hoped so.
“Eddie… listen, I’m so sorry.” Buck felt so guilty as he looked at the bruise that already formed around Eddie’s nose. “You have no idea how sorry I am.”
Eddie stood there with the most blank expression Buck had ever seen on the guy, and honestly, Buck was getting nervous. But before he could speak, Eddie grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and started leading him outside the hospital.
“Let’s go home, Buck. I think we need to talk.”
Shit.
—
Buck had expected things to be… awkward, but he really underestimated just how awkward things would be. Eddie hadn’t said a single word since they arrived home, which turned out meant Eddie’s home. Christopher was with Abuela, thank god. Buck doesn’t think he could’ve handled answering Chris’s questions on top of whatever Eddie was doing.
So far, Eddie had grabbed a bag of peas and held it up to his nose. He sat on the couch and stared at the TV, which wasn’t even on; Buck was sweating.
“Eddie..” Buck started.
“You hit me… in the face…” Eddie said.
Buck winced. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t mean to do that. Funny story, but I was actually aiming for Tommy.”
At that, Eddie finally looked at him.
“Tommy? Why would you– you wanted to hit Tommy? What has Tommy done to you?” Eddie raised a brow at him looking confused.
Buck’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right? Eddie, you’ve spent every second with Tommy these past few days. Every time I ask if you’re free, you always tell me that you have plans with Tommy fucking Kinard. I mean, seriously? What’s so special about the guy? He’s not even that good looking, and I’m pretty sure he’s not even that funny.” Buck scoffed.
Eddie spluttered. “Buck, what? Hold on. What’s going on here?”
“Oh my god! Eddie, you’re replacing me! Am I even your best friend at this point? We haven’t had one single proper conversation all week since you started hanging out with Tommy. Are you in love with the guy or something? Is he better than me? What do you two even have in common? God, did he already meet Christopher, because if he did, I am—“
Buck! Calm down and breathe.” Eddie looked at him, amused as hell and honestly, Buck was getting a little offended at how clueless Eddie was being.
“You think this is funny? Because I’m not laughing, Edmundo Diaz.”
“Oh, we’re using full names now? Okay. Well, Evan Buckley, I’m not replacing you. Are you crazy? I would never think of replacing you. Not now, not ever. Buck, you’re family. You’re my best friend, and you mean the world to me. Christopher adores you; you’re basically his other parent at this point.” Eddie grabbed the hand on his thigh and laced their fingers. “Hen mentioned that you had been looking a little murderous lately.”
Buck squawked. “I have not been murderous lately!”
Eddie laughs. “Of course not.”
Buck felt flustered. Had he been an idiot this whole time? Hen and Chim had noticed he was basically shooting daggers at Tommy. Who else in the 118 had noticed? God, Buck felt embarrassed. Typical of him to jump to conclusions.
“Buck, what’s going on in that head of yours? Talk to me.” Eddie gave his hand a firm squeeze.
“I’m… embarrassed, I think. Eddie, I seriously thought I was being left behind and replaced. I thought, ‘am I really this replaceable?’ I know I am, but to actually see it happen, it hurt. But it turns out I’m a big idiot.” Buck frowned and looked at his and Eddie’s intertwined hands. “I thought I was losing my best friend.”
“Buck. Listen to me. I would never replace you. You’re not replaceable to me whatsoever. I– I care about you so much. I put you in my will. You’re everywhere in my life. You’re all I think about. I already said this, but you’re basically Christopher’s other parent. You know, he really thinks of you as his other dad.” Eddie looked at Buck fondly remembering his conversation with Christopher a few nights ago.
Buck’s breath hitched. “He does? He hasn’t said anything to me, not that he needs to. You know I love Christopher. He’s… he’s my kid, Eddie.”
“I know that, Buck.” Eddie cupped his cheek. “He hasn’t told you anything because I... I kind of told him not to.”
“Wait, why?” Buck jerked back a little looking at Eddie confused.
“I… uh… told him I needed some time to talk to you about… my feelings… for you. But come to think of it, this works out really well for me. I already overheard you admit your big crush on me.” Eddie laughed.
Buck pushed Eddie away, flustered and feeling too hot. “I didn’t say I had a big crush on you! You weren’t supposed to hear any of that…”
“Buck, it’s okay, seriously. I kind of had a feeling that you might have felt the same way.”
“Oh? Cocky, aren’t we?” Buck grumbled.
Unbelievable. How embarrassing. Buck looked away from Eddie trying to calm down. He knew his face was probably the deepest shade of red.
“Well, yeah. With the way you were jealous about me hanging out with Tommy. I kind of put things together. Hen was a big help, too.” Eddie smiled trying not to laugh at Buck again.
Good god. He was never going to be able to live this down. The 118 we’re going to remind him at every chance what an idiot had been this whole time. Chim was going to eat him alive with his dumb jokes.
“I don’t just like you, Buck. I love you, and I know you just realized your feelings, so you don’t have to say anything back. I can wait. And, if I wasn’t clear before, Tommy doesn’t mean anything to me. You mean everything to me.” Eddie placed his hand on Buck’s thigh and gave a reassuring squeeze.
If Buck didn’t kiss this man in the next two seconds, he was going to die, but of course, maybe jumping Eddie and accidentally smashing their noses wasn’t the best idea, especially after what Buck had done to Eddie’s face.
Eddie yelped and clutched his nose, falling back onto the couch, all while Buck straddled his waist, apologizing profusely. It wasn’t until much later that Buck gave Eddie a soft peck on the lips, careful not to cause more injury to the man he was already falling deeply in love with. And if Christopher and Abuela walked in on them making out in the kitchen, well, that was another story to be told.