Chapter Text
Eddie is last to leave the station at the end of the shift because he had to take a phone call with Christopher’s doctor and it was easier to take it at work then in the car while driving home.
“Diaz? What are you still doing here?” Williams asks from where he’s wiping down the firetruck.
“I had a virtual meeting with Chris’s pediatrician.”
“Everything good with your son?”
“Yeah, he’s great, probably better than great. We were just getting him a new muscle relaxant medication.”
“Good to hear.” Eddie continues walking towards the locker room to get his keys when Williams stops him. “Oh, before I forget. When you get to your house can you ask your man…”
“My man?” Eddie interupts.
“Yeah, Buck? I assumed you’d see him at home.”
“Home?” Eddie has never been so confused before.
“Don’t you live together?”
“Why would we live together?”
“Sory, I didn’t mean to assume, I just thought cause you’ve been dating so long that you would-” He trails off.
“Buck and I? Dating? Wait a minute. How many people think this?”
“This whole station… Are you guys not together?”
“No…” Eddie says looking around the station as if it had personally offended him.
“Sorry, man. We didn’t mean to assume, it’s just how you two act around each other, it just seemed like you were… you know, in love.”
“Why didn’t anyone say anything?"
“I don’t know. It didn’t really matter. You guys were happy and we thought it was cool. Anyone would kill for a connection like the two of you have.”
“I-I need to go.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, no, you’re fine. I just- thank you, Williams, for telling me.”
“Yeah.”
When Eddie gets in his car he checks the time and realizes he still has about 2 hours before he needs to pick up Christopher from his friends. Instead of going home and thinking things through alone like he normally would, and probably should, he decides to be impulsive. Which is why he finds himself driving to his best friend's house.
He knocks on the door before he can talk himself out of it. The door opens up quickly as Eddie is already feeling the antsy need to run.
“Eddie? You okay?” Buck smiles at him which causes Eddie to instantly be able to breathe again. Funny how that works.
“Can I come in?” Buck moves to the side letting Eddie in. Eddie moves quickly and sits on the couch feeling at home despite the fact Buck only moved into this house a few months ago.
“You want a beer?”
“It’s 10am.” Eddie teases.
“Right. Sorry. You’re just freaking me out. I’m the one who always comes to you all panicky.”
“Yeah. Guess it’s time to pay it back.”
“Guess so. What’s going on?” Eddie is silent for a while. Buck, feeling awkward, takes a seat on the couch next to Eddie. He miscalculates and ends up a little too close, his thigh bumping against Eddie’s. They sit in silence, Buck respecting whatever process his best friend is going through in his brain.
“I thought it would be a bigger deal.” Eddie finally says.
“What would?” Eddie doesn’t answer, instead he says,
“I thought the world would end or something. I know it sounds stupid but I really didn’t expect everyone to act so normally, let alone have this thought for years and never say anything to me cause it wasn’t a big deal.”
“Eds, what are you talking about? What thought?” Eddie isn’t looking at Buck when he says.
“Everyone at the 118 thinks we’ve been dating for years.”
“Oh. That.” Eddie snaps his head towards Buck.
“You don’t sound surprised. Why don’t you sound surprised?” Buck chuckles uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Um, just that people have said that to me before. It’s not a big deal Eddie. So what if we act like a couple, we’re best friends.”
“Who said this to you?”
“A couple of the guys, Maddie, Tommy. Random elf lady at the mall.” He says Tommy’s name quickly to avoid the hurt but it doesn’t matter, it makes Eddie’s chest squeezes all the same.
“Tommy?”
“Yeah, he, um, he thought you were… competition. I told him he was wrong. You are straight, and a renter, whatever that meant. It’s a big reason we aren’t together anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He wasn’t right for me.”
“Yeah, he wasn’t. You deserve someone better for you.” Eddie pauses again, taking a moment to really think about what Buck had just admitted. All the times people had made comments to him. “I didn’t realize so many people thought this. The first time I heard someone think we were together was when we were in New Mexico.” Eddie worries about bringing that up but he knows Buck is healed and would rather talk about it then ignore what happened. “And that wasn’t really as sweet as a Christmas mall elf. You’ll have to tell me how that happened.”
“The lady thought Chris was both of our kids. I didn't correct her.” Buck shifts, “Wait, what did you mean when you said you thought it was going to be a bigger deal?”
“Oh, I just meant that-” Eddie holds Buck’s eye contact. Staring into those blue eyes makes Eddie feel more confident then he ever has. He’s known what he has wanted for a while but never tried to take it. But if everyone already thought it was true, he might as well get what he wants out of it. “I thought if you and I dated that it would be a big deal. I never imagined it would be so simple.”
“You imagine us dating?” Buck’s face is full of hope and Eddie realizes he’s making the right choice. He isn’t messing his friendship up. He’s only finally admitting what it always has been.
“Every damn day, Buck. Consciously since you rented my house from me, subconsciously maybe the well. Maybe the tsunami. Maybe even when you found Carla for me. I don’t know. But what I do know is when I think of my partner I think of you. In all senses of the word, Buck, you have always been my partner. I didn't want to say anything and ruin what we have but after New Mexico, after everything you went through I just realized I want to be a part of it all. i don't want anyone else to touch you. I don't want to see you marry someone else. Raise kids with anyone else. I only want it to be with me."
“Eddie.” Buck breathes as if all the tension has left his body.
“I’m not pressuring you, Buck. I don’t know how you feel so if I’m reading this wrong and there is nothing here then I’m sorry and we can forget this ever happened and go back to normal but if I’m right-”
“You are right.” Buck assures him, placing his hand on Eddie’s as time stops around them. Buck mindlessly brushes his thumb against Eddie’s hand as Eddie lets himself enjoy the touch.
“I thought this would be more terrifying.”
“Nothing is terrifying for the two of us anymore.”
…
They talked for much longer than they intended to but they had so much to say. It felt good to finally say everything they have been holding in since Bobby’s death. The last year had felt like they were out of synch, but today, it finally felt like it used to, like two puzzle pieces fitting perfectly. They are walking towards Buck’s front entrance when Buck asks.
“What are you doing after our next shift?”
“Nothing, what are you thinking?”
“Just thinking that it’s about time I wine and dine you.” Buck smirks, making Eddie blush.
“I think I can clear my schedule.”
“Good.”
“Thank you, um, for the talk. It cleared a lot up.” Buck just smiles. “I have to go get Chris from his friends though." Eddie says as he reaches Buck’s front door.
“Ask him how his geology test went yesterday. I was helping him come up with acronyms to remember sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.” Eddie’s hand pauses on the door knob, his head turned back watching Buck as he talks. How had he gotten so lucky?
Buck leans against the wall effortlessly, his hands on his belt, looking ungodly attractive. Eddie breathes out before moving. His lips collide with Buck’s before the rest of his body catches up. Buck’s hands find their way into Eddie’s hair as Eddie grabs at Buck’s waist, pulling them closer together. Buck is the one to pull away, but only slightly, as their foreheads touch and their hands stay wandering.
“Stay.”
“You know I can’t.”
“I mean after you pick up Chris. Bring him back here. I’ll make you guys lunch.” Eddie grins from ear to ear.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” Eddie leans back in and kisses Buck until they are both breathless. Buck pushes Eddie away reluctantly.
“Hurry up so I don’t start missing you like a desperate ex.”
“Oh, baby, you’re never gonna be my ex.” And with that life altering comment Eddie leaves, making Buck stand gaping at the door in this front entry.