Chapter Text
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- Buck
——
For once, Buck’s life, normally loud, messy, and permanently one bad decision away from disaster…was actually going well.
He was happy, Genuinely, unexpectedly happy.
There were a few things that sucked, sure. Eddie had been acting weird lately, distant in a way Buck couldn’t quite put his finger on, but Buck told himself it was probably because of Marisol.
Eddie always got a little strange when he started seeing someone new, like he was trying to recalibrate his entire life around them. Buck didn’t take it personally. He tried not to, anyway.
Maybe Eddie just needed space.
Tommy, Buck’s technical ex and his first real boyfriend, had settled into something easier with him after the disaster of Maddie’s wedding. Not because of the couple, obviously, but because everything else had gone to hell.
They’d decided to stay friends. Friends who occasionally went on dates. Friends who still crossed lines sometimes and talked about it afterward.
It worked.
Tommy helped Buck feel steady in this new, open version of himself, helped him learn what it meant to like men without shame or panic, and Buck gave him companionship in return. Simple. Honest. No pressure.
When Buck had told Maddie, she’d been worried at first. Worried about blurred lines, about Buck getting hurt. But she’d watched Tommy closely, the way Maddie always did, and eventually decided he wasn’t a threat. After that, she’d just been happy that her brother was finally letting himself be who he was.
Right now, the entire 118 was gathered in Athena and Bobby’s backyard for a barbecue. Music drifted softly from a speaker. Someone was laughing too loud near the grill. The air smelled like smoke and summer and comfort.
Buck sat on the grass near the tree strung with warm lights, shoulder brushing Maddie’s. Jee slept heavily in Maddie’s lap, her tiny chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Buck smiled at the sight without even thinking about it.
They were talking about everyone else’s drama, because that was safer than talking about their own.
“Josh went on a date,” Maddie said.
Buck’s face lit up immediately. “Finally.”
“I may have followed them,” Maddie admitted.
Buck laughed, shaking his head. “Of course you did.”
She shrugged, unapologetic. “As long as I know he’s comfortable and safe, I don’t care if it’s weird.”
Buck hummed in agreement, closing his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, You’re right.”
A tap on his shoulder pulled him out of the warmth.
Buck looked up and stilled.
Marisol stood there, brown eyes fixed on him. She wore a soft blue puffy sweater and white jeans, casual and comfortable, her hair pulled back into a claw clip. She looked like she belonged here.
“Hey, Buck,” she said.
Her smile was polite…Tight, Off, somehow.
“Oh—hey,” Buck replied, rubbing his hands together without realizing it.
“Uh… everything okay?”
Buck didn’t really talk to Marisol. Not like this. He exchanged hellos, the occasional comment, but only when Eddie was right there with them. Being alone with her felt…strange. Like he’d stepped into a conversation he hadn’t been invited to.
“No, Nothing’s wrong…” she said quickly, smiling wider.
She didn’t say anything else.
Buck waited, And waited.
Then her gaze flicked past him, toward Maddie, and something sharp crossed her expression.
“Can we talk in private?” she asked.
Buck blinked. He glanced at Maddie, who lifted her eyebrows slightly but nodded.
“Yeah” Buck said. “Of course…I’ll be right back.”
Maddie cleared her throat, watching them carefully as Buck stood. Marisol turned without another word, and Buck followed her around the side of the house, the laughter from the yard fading as they stopped by the fence.
Buck’s stomach tightened.
Buck and Marisol stood there for a moment, the space between them stretching thin and awkward.
Marisol sighed, loud and deliberate, then looked up at him with an expression that felt practiced, like she’d been rehearsing this conversation in her head and still hadn’t found the right place to start.
“I just had a question for you,” she said.
Buck’s stomach tightened. “Yeah,” he said, too quickly. “What’s u-up?”
His voice cracked. He hated that it did.
She hesitated again, eyes flicking away before settling back on him. “Is it true that you’re… you know. Bisexual?”
Buck blinked, then let out a small, startled laugh. “Oh—wow. I thought you were going to say something way different.” He met her eyes, relief softening his shoulders. “Yeah. I am.”
He smiled, It felt good to say it out loud. It still did.
Something in Marisol’s expression twisted,just for a second, before she smoothed it back into that polite, careful smile.
“Oh…” she said. Then, slowly, “And you don’t think, with that realization…that maybe you should… back off from Eddie?”
The words hit like ice water.
Buck’s smile dropped instantly. “What?” He stared at her. “Why would I back off from Eddie?”
She frowned, like he was missing something obvious. “Because he’s clearly not comfortable with it?” she said. “He just doesn’t know how to say it.”
Buck’s pulse started to roar in his ears.
“And you’ve always been very… clingy,” she continued, voice soft but firm. “You’re around him constantly, And now you add liking men on top of that—”
She shrugged slightly. “It’s a lot.”
Buck’s hands curled into fists.
“I don’t think you know what you’re talking about” he said, sharp despite the way his chest tightened. “Eddie and I talked, He said he was fine…That nothing would change.”
The words came out fast, like if he didn’t say them immediately they might disappear.
Marisol didn’t look convinced.
And that’s when the doubt crept in.
Eddie had been weird all week.
Flinching when Buck brushed his shoulder, Stepping back when Buck leaned in too close…Laughing late, like he was bracing himself before letting it happen.
Was he uncomfortable?
Had he just been too afraid to say it?
Eddie would do anything for Christopher, Anything…Even swallow his own discomfort if he thought it was best for his son.
Buck’s chest ached.
He knew Buck mattered to Chris, Eddie had told him that, had trusted him with it. But maybe Buck had taken up too much space. Maybe he’d crossed a line without realizing it.
He always did.
‘You’re exhausting. ’
The memory slammed into him, uninvited and cruel.
Maybe Eddie had just been waiting for an excuse. Maybe Marisol was right. Maybe Buck was too loud, too close, too much.
Buck’s stomach rolled.
“I—” he tried, but the words wouldn’t come.
He turned abruptly and walked away, heart pounding, the sound of the barbecue rushing back in too loud, too bright.
He needed to leave.
Now.
To leave.
To leave.
He was too much.
He was always too much.
‘You’re exhausting. ’
Buck’s vision blurred.
His stomach rolled, heat crawling up his throat, and for a distant second he wondered if he was actually going to throw up or if this was just what it felt like when your chest hollowed out all at once.
Was he crying?
Did it even matter?
He moved without thinking, weaving through the yard toward the table near the grill. His fingers closed around his Jeep keys, metal biting into his palm hard enough to ground him for half a second.
Then he turned and collided with someone smaller, lighter.
“Oh—” Buck reached out automatically, steadying them before they could stumble.
“Buck!?”
The voice snapped him back into himself.
May stood in front of him, eyes wide, hands still half-raised where she’d grabbed him. Her expression shifted fast, from surprise to concern—and something in Buck’s chest cracked wider.
“I—” His throat closed around the word.
May frowned, stepping closer. “Buck… why are you crying?”
“What happened?”
The world went quiet.
“Crying?” Bobby’s voice cut in, sharp with concern.
Buck froze.
He scrubbed at his eyes roughly, staring down at the keys clenched in his fist like they might anchor him in place. They didn’t.
“I’m fine.” he said, too quickly, too sharply.
He didn’t wait for anyone to respond. He turned and pushed through the back door into the house.
Eddie was on the couch, relaxed, laughing at something on his phone. He looked up when Buck entered, smiling instinctively
and Buck’s gut twisted painfully.
“I’m going home.” Buck said. “I don’t, it doesn’t matter.”
Eddie was on his feet instantly. “Hey? Buck, if you don’t feel good, I can get Hen to watch Chris and I can take you home, I’m–”
“No,” Buck cut in. “No thanks, Eddie. Just—no.”
There was no room left in his voice for questions.
He turned and walked straight back out, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Sorry, Athena…” Buck murmured as he passed through the yard, not looking at anything as he reached his Jeep.
He got inside, shut the door, and finally, finally, let his breath break
——
- Eddie
——
Eddie was still standing in the living room when the yelling started.
“What the fuck did you say to—”
That was Maddie.
“Maddie, don’t!” Bobby barked, slipping instantly into his captain voice.
Eddie’s head snapped up. His chest tightened, dread pooling low and heavy as he moved fast toward the open back door Buck had left behind.
“What’s going on?” Eddie asked as he stepped outside.
The scene stopped him cold.
Maddie was straining forward, fury written across her face, Athena and May holding her back. Bobby stood solidly between her and Marisol, whose expression had gone pale and defensive.
Eddie had never seen Maddie like this.
His pulse kicked up.
Was this why Buck had left like that? Cold, sharp, nothing like himself?
Eddie moved closer, positioning himself instinctively between Maddie and Marisol. “Maddie…?” he said carefully. “Calm down. Tell me what happened.”
A sharp gasp came from behind him.
“Eddie, you should ask me fi—”
“Shut up!” Maddie snapped.
Marisol flinched, shrinking back slightly toward Bobby.
“Why is my brother crying after talking to you?” Maddie demanded. “Why did he just leave? What the fuck did you say to him?”
Eddie froze.
Buck was crying.
That explained everything and somehow made it worse.
His jaw tightened as realization hit him all at once. He should have ended this today. He’d meant to. He’d known for weeks that he was done, ever since he’d caught himself feeling sick with jealousy over Buck and Tommy, ever since he’d admitted the truth he’d been avoiding.
He was in love with Buck.
Marisol hadn’t done anything wrong, not really… She was fine. Nice, even. But Eddie had never loved her, never would. Dragging it out had been cruel.
He looked at her now, something dark settling in his gaze.
“Marisol…” he said flatly. “Can we talk.”
She blinked, confused, then nodded.
They went inside. The house felt too quiet, the noise of the backyard muffled behind closed doors.
Eddie turned to face her, anger buzzing just under his skin.
“What happened…” he asked, voice low. “What did you say to him.”
She scoffed. “It’s not my fault he started crying. I didn’t—”
“Marisol.” Eddie scrubbed a hand down his face. “What did you say to Buck.”
Her mouth tightened. “I told him the truth.”
Eddie looked at her. “What truth.”
“That it’s weird how close he is to you,” she snapped. “That you’re clearly uncomfortable and too polite to say it. I told him to back off.” The words landed like a slap.
“You told him he was too much” Eddie said quietly.
“I told him I’m your girlfriend,” she shot back. “And he’s with you more than me. And on top of that he likes men—”
Eddie stared at her, disbelief and fury tangling together.
She knew, She knew Buck felt like he took up too much space. Buck had said it out loud, had trusted them with it.
As if Buck could ever make Eddie uncomfortable.
As if Buck could ever be too much.
“You…” Eddie shook his head slowly. “You told him that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t pretend you haven’t seen it, Edmundo. The way he looks at you, like you hung the stars and the moon. This is a good thing. He needed to back off so you could be happy.”
Eddie let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Happy?” he repeated.
She frowned. “What?”
“You don’t know him.” Eddie said. “And you don’t know me.”
He stepped back, dragging a hand over his face. “Buck is the most important person in my life, other than Christopher. And you told him to walk away from me.”
She laughed, sharp and disbelieving. “Are you serious?”
“Are you?” Eddie shot back. “I’m in love with him, and you thought hurting him was going to fix something?”
She went still.
“You’re… in love with Buck?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Eddie said. “And we’re done.”
Her face hardened. “Wow. I’m so dumb,” she muttered. “Maldito imbécil.”
“I’m calling an Uber,” she said coldly. “We’re over.”
She stormed outside, grabbing her bag and pushing past him without another look.
Eddie followed her back into the yard.
“She told Buck some very hurtful things,” Eddie said flatly to the group. “We’re done.”
“Thank God…” Bobby muttered.
“No offense, Dad,” Chris said, rolling his eyes, “but she was a bitch.”
“Christopher,” Eddie warned automatically.
Hen stepped forward, holding out Eddie’s truck keys. “I’ve got Chris tonight” she said gently. “Go get your boy.”
Eddie swallowed hard and nodded.
He kissed Chris’s head, said quick goodbyes, then turned toward his truck, heart pounding, one thought louder than all the rest.
Buck is hurting. And I did this.
And Eddie wasn’t wasting another second getting to him.
When Eddie reaches Buck’s front door, he stops with his hand hovering inches from the wood and drags in a breath.
What the hell are you supposed to say here?
Sorry my ex is kind of a homophobic asshole and told you to back off and that you’re too much—oh, also, I’m in love with—
The thought shatters apart with a sharp crash from inside the loft.
Glass.
Then a yell—raw, broken.
Eddie doesn’t think. He pulls Buck’s spare key from his pocket, unlocks the door, and rushes inside.
The smell of sugar and heat hits him first. Then he sees Buck on the kitchen floor, shoulders shaking, tears spilling freely. A glass pan lies shattered near his knees, dessert ruined, crumbs and filling smeared across the tile.
“Evan,” Eddie says softly, forcing calm into his voice as he shuts the door behind him and moves closer.
“No—wait!” Buck snaps, looking up too fast. Their eyes meet for half a second before Buck drops his gaze again and reaches toward the broken glass.
“Buck, stop!” Eddie lunges forward, grabbing his wrists just in time.
Buck jerks his hands free.
The rejection stings more than Eddie expects.
“Buck,” Eddie says quietly, barely a whisper now. “Don’t… don’t back off from me.”
Buck finally looks up. His eyes are red, swollen, wrecked. “But isn’t that what you want?”
Eddie’s chest tightens. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
Buck’s face crumples. The sobs he’s been holding back tear free. “Because Marisol said I was too clingy,” he chokes out. “That I was too much for you. That you were uncomfortable with me liking men—”
His voice breaks completely.
“You’ve been acting weird since I told you,” Buck continues, breath hitching. “And I just… I thought she was right. That you only wanted me around because of Chris.”
“No.” Eddie moves without thinking, cupping Buck’s face in both hands, grounding him. “Don’t. I could never just want you because of Chris.”
Buck’s eyes flick up, searching.
“You’re the most important person in my life,” Eddie says firmly. “Other than him. And you are not too much. You could never be too much for me.”
His voice drops, rough around the edges. “I’m in love with you. Way too much for that.”
Eddie exhales sharply, anger flickering across his face. “I’m sorry she said what she did. I swear to you, I didn’t know she was going to. If I had—”
He cuts himself off, one hand dropping, the other staying to gently wipe Buck’s tears away. Buck flushes faintly under the touch.
Then Buck freezes.
The words finally land.
“You’re… in love with me?” he asks, barely audible.
Eddie goes still. His hand drops from Buck’s face, his expression twisting into something uncertain, almost ashamed. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”
“Why not?” Buck asks quietly and then the fear creeps in. “Because you’re with Marisol, right? She makes you happy. You love me, just… not like that.”
“No.” Eddie says it immediately, too fast. Buck blinks. “No?”
Eddie steps back in, hands returning to Buck’s face, thumbs steady. “I’m not in love with her. I’m in love with you. And we’re not together. Not anymore.”
Buck’s brow furrows. “She hurt you and I—”
“Don’t.” Eddie cuts him off gently. “You did nothing wrong.”
He scrubs a hand over his face, voice raw. “I’ve been a coward. I kept letting her push me, letting her avoid the breakup because it was easier. And at first, it didn’t matter, because you were with Tommy, and I was with her, and I told myself I could live with that.”
He swallows.
“Then you weren’t with Tommy anymore, and I still didn’t want to admit I loved you. That I was only with her to get over you.” He lets out a breath. “Tonight… Maddie went after her, and I realized something.”
Buck watches him, rapt.
“I didn’t even hesitate,” Eddie says. “I was on your side. And I knew, no matter what, there’s no one I’d choose to protect over you.”
His voice softens. “You’re the person I want to stand with. Even if you’re wrong. Even if no one else believes you. I will.”
He meets Buck’s eyes fully. “Because I love you. I’m in love with you, Evan.”
“And I’m sorry it took me this long.”
Eddie steps back, giving Buck space.
Buck closes the distance instead, arms wrapping tight around Eddie, fingers gripping the back of his shirt like he’s afraid Eddie might disappear.
“I love you too,” Buck says into his shoulder. “I love you so much.”
He pulls back just enough to look at Eddie, tears slipping free again. Eddie immediately reaches up, brushing them away.
“Hey. Don’t cry,” Eddie murmurs. “I don’t like it when you cry.”
Buck lets out a shaky smile. “They’re happy tears.”
Eddie hums softly, then leans in and kisses him, slow, gentle, sure.
Buck closes his eyes and holds on tighter, kissing him back.
“I don’t want to back off ever again,” Buck murmurs into Eddie’s chest. “I hated it. Even though it wasn’t for that long.”
They’re stretched out on Buck’s bed now, both in comfortable clothes, the kind of quiet closeness that settles deep instead of buzzing loud. Eddie’s arm is firm around Buck’s back, grounding.
“Don’t ever back off from me again,” Eddie whispers. “I don’t think I could take it.”
Buck tilts his head up and presses a kiss to Eddie’s jaw, soft and lingering.
Eddie’s phone starts ringing.
Buck lifts his head, squinting at the screen. “Why is Maddie calling you?”
Eddie groans. “Of course she is.”
He answers the FaceTime—and immediately realizes his mistake.
The screen fills with people. Everyone crammed together on Bobby and Athena’s couch, the call clearly mirrored onto the TV.
“Hello?” Eddie says cautiously.
Buck sighs and settles back against Eddie’s chest, out of view.
Bobby is the first to speak. “Is Buck okay?”
Buck freezes, then pushes himself up, shifting so his head appears in frame. “I’m okay, Bobby.”
Bobby’s expression softens instantly.
Maddie, however, narrows her eyes. Then her mouth curves into something dangerous. “Why are you in Buck’s bed, Eddie?”
There’s a beat.
“Wait, what—” Hen starts.
Eddie glares at the screen. “We are not doing this today.”
He hangs up.
Laughter cuts off mid-sound.
Almost immediately, messages start rolling in—congratulations, heart emojis, poorly disguised called its. A few check-ins asking if Buck’s okay.
Buck and Eddie read them together, shoulders pressed close.
Then Buck tucks himself back into Eddie’s chest, arms wrapping tight around him, and Eddie holds on just as firmly.
Neither of them backs off.