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It starts with a look.
Not even a dramatic one.
Just Buck leaning against the ambulance while Eddie argues with Christopher over the phone about whether cereal counts as dinner.
“It absolutely counts,” Buck calls helpfully.
Eddie points at him immediately. “You stay out of this.”
Christopher cackles loud enough that Buck can hear it through the speaker.
And for some reason, Eddie smiles at him.
Soft around the edges. Tired but warm.
Buck’s chest tightens so suddenly it almost knocks the breath out of him.
Eleven minutes later, he’s still thinking about it.
Eleven minutes of pretending to inventory medical supplies while secretly watching Eddie move around the station gym.
Eleven minutes of wondering how the hell he missed it before.
Because Eddie looks different suddenly.
Or maybe Buck’s seeing him differently.
Something’s changed by the look in Eddie’s eyes lately. Softer. Closer. Every glance lingering just a second too long.
And Buck’s starting to think they’ve got a serious love situation on their hands.
Which is a problem.
A huge one.
Because Eddie is his best friend.
And Buck is very, very screwed.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
Maddie says it automatically into her headset while Buck drops into the chair beside her during his day off.
The caller immediately blurts, “I think my best friend is in love with me.”
Buck nearly chokes on his coffee.
Maddie quickly transfers the call to someone else. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
“You just inhaled coffee.”
Buck coughs violently. “Still fine.”
Maddie narrows her eyes slowly.
“Oh no,” she says.
Buck freezes. “What ‘oh no’?”
“That face means feelings.”
“I don’t have a face for feelings.”
“You absolutely do.”
Buck groans. “Please don’t start.”
But Maddie’s already grinning now. “Who is it?”
“No one.”
“Buck.”
“Nobody!”
“Is it Eddie?”
Buck goes completely silent.
Maddie slaps a hand over her mouth. “OH MY GOD! FINALLY!”
“Can you be quieter?”
“I physically cannot.”
Buck drops his head onto the desk with a miserable groan.
Because yeah.
Apparently someone stole his heart down at the station and ripped it straight out of his chest.
And now he’s falling.
Hard.
The worst part is that Eddie keeps touching him.
Not intentionally.
That’s just how they are.
Shoulders bumping in the kitchen.
Hands brushing while reaching for equipment.
Eddie’s palm warm against Buck’s back guiding him through crowded scenes.
Every tiny thing feels unbearable now.
Buck wants Eddie’s hands on him constantly.
Which would maybe be less terrifying if he wasn’t also convinced this could ruin everything.
Because losing Eddie?
Losing Christopher?
Buck can’t even think about it.
So he keeps pretending.
Pretending he doesn’t notice how Eddie’s eyes light up every time Buck walks into a room.
Pretending his pulse doesn’t spike every time Eddie says his name softly.
Pretending summer doesn’t suddenly feel endless and golden and dangerous.
Hen notices anyway.
Of course she does.
“You know you stare at him like he hung the moon, right?”
Buck nearly drops a stack of plates.
“I do not.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m subtle.”
Hen laughs so hard she snorts.
Across the room, Eddie looks over immediately. “What’s funny?”
“Buck,” Hen answers instantly.
“Rude,” Buck mutters.
But Eddie’s smiling now.
And there’s that look again.
That soft one.
Buck’s heart trips over itself.
It finally happens during a late call in August.
Small kitchen fire. Easily contained.
The homeowners are hosting some giant family barbecue, and once everything’s safe again, music starts back up almost immediately.
One of the older women grabs Eddie’s arm before he can escape.
“You boys work too hard,” she says firmly. “Dance.”
Eddie looks horrified. “Oh, no—”
Buck laughs. “Please say yes.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Absolutely.”
The woman waves a dismissive hand. “Your boyfriend already agreed.”
Eddie and Buck both freeze.
“She means Buck,” Chimney says unhelpfully from the truck.
The woman blinks between them. “Wait, you’re not together?”
“No,” Eddie and Buck say at the exact same time.
Hen and Chim bursts into laughter while Bobby smiles.
The woman squints suspiciously. “Could’ve fooled me."
Buck can physically feel his heartbeat in his throat now.
Eddie won’t look at him.
And somehow that’s worse.
“Dance anyway,” the woman orders.
Before either of them can argue, she shoves Buck toward Eddie hard enough that Buck stumbles directly into him.
Eddie catches him automatically.
Hands firm on Buck’s waist.
Everything stops.
Music drifts through the warm summer night.
People laugh around them.
But Buck can only focus on Eddie.
On the way Eddie’s staring at him now like he’s trying to solve something impossible.
Buck’s voice comes out quieter than intended. “You can let go.”
Eddie’s hands tighten slightly instead.
“Don’t really want to.”
Buck forgets how breathing works.
Somewhere behind them, Chimney whispers dramatically, “911, what’s your emergency? I think we got a love situation.”
Hen smacks him.
Buck barely hears either of them.
Because Eddie still hasn’t let go.
“Buck,” Eddie says softly.
And there’s something terrified in his voice now.
Something hopeful too.
Buck’s pulse pounds harder. “Yeah?”
Eddie swallows.
“I’ve been falling for you for so long now.”
The words hit Buck so hard he actually laughs once in disbelief.
“Seriously?” he breathes.
Eddie looks panicked immediately. “That’s a bad reaction—”
“No, no.” Buck grabs his shirt quickly. “Eddie, I’ve been falling for you for months, years even.”
Eddie looks at him.
“You have?”
Buck smiles helplessly. “Pretty sure everyone knew except us.”
“Hen definitely knew,” Chimney calls.
“Shut up!” they both yell.
The woman from the barbecue looks deeply vindicated. “Knew it.”
Buck turns back to Eddie, heart still racing.
“You really mean it?”
Eddie’s expression softens completely then.
Like relief.
Like coming home.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “I really do.”
And Buck kisses him right there in the middle of the street while the entire 118 absolutely loses their minds behind them.