Chapter Text
“We should go out tonight,” Eddie said, glancing across at Buck as he put his game controller down. “If you want to.”
“Sounds great,” Buck said, leaning back against his corner of the couch. “Got anywhere in mind? There’s that new family restaurant that Hen’s been talking about, might be nice for Chris.”
Eddie shook his head. “Christopher got a late invite to a sleepover, so we’ll drop him off on the way.”
“Oh.” Buck’s blue eyes lightened with surprise. “Just us then.”
“Just us,” Eddie confirmed. His heart did a little dance inside his chest, spinning a happy pirouette. Just him and Buck. One of his favourite combinations of people. “I feel like Italian, if that works for you.”
“Excellent choice,” Buck grinned. He crossed his legs lightly, looping his arm along the top edge of the couch as he watched Eddie with a smiling expression. “I might need to borrow a shirt, though. Depends on how fancy you want to go.”
“You can borrow a shirt,” Eddie said, his eyes flitting across Buck’s simple t- beneath his zip-up hoodie. He looked somehow both extremely soft and exceedingly strong and definitely very inviting. Eddie longed to hug him, but instead he shuffled a little deeper into his side of the couch and dropped his eyes shut for a brief stabilising moment. “Let me ring around a couple of places and see who can fit us in.”
Getting a table at a decent restaurant late in the afternoon on a Saturday should have been a much more difficult task than it ended up being. Eddie found a place on his second call, booked a table, and let his mind wander for a moment. Perhaps tonight would be the night. The chance he had been looking for, to take things further with Buck. He wanted it to happen organically, smoothly and without contrivance. The fluttering in his chest told him that he was ready. He was confident Buck felt the same.
Eddie smiled to himself and rejoined Buck on the couch after sliding his phone into the pocket of his jeans. “Alright, another round?” he asked, snatching his controller off the coffee table.
Beaming, Buck grabbed his as well and they both turned back to the tv.
<*-*>
The restaurant was busy when they arrived. A server wound through the tables and showed them to a surprisingly good place beside a window overlooking the terrace. Outside, a twinkle of fairy-lights decorated the fence, strobing as people walked past.
“This is nice,” Buck said as he slid into his seat. He was wearing a navy shirt that he had picked out of Eddie’s wardrobe, and it moved beautifully around his frame as he sank into the chair. Eddie loved it when Buck borrowed his things, loved the sense of familiarity and intimacy it spiked within him. He wanted to reach out and smooth his hand along Buck’s arm, to feel the softness of the linen hiding the firmness of Buck’s strength.
Instead, he closed his fingers around his menu and shucked it open, keeping his eyes determinedly on the pages until the sudden rush of heat circling his body subsided again.
“We should have wine,” Buck announced, flipping to the back of his menu in search of a drinks list.
“I’ll let you pick,” Eddie said.
Buck nodded slowly but said nothing, and ran one finger down the list of bottles on the page before tapping his fingertip in triumph against something. “Let’s get the pinot noir.”
“Fantastic,” Eddie replied distantly, pretending to be reading through the options for pasta dishes instead of what he was really doing, which was surreptitiously eyeing the happy glitter of Buck’s eyes. It was more intoxicating than any overpriced bottle of grape juice could ever be.
Placing their orders when the server returned, they chattered easily while waiting for their meals to arrive. Eddie planted both elbows on the table, resting his chin in one palm as he listened to Buck recounting stories of a call out that Eddie had missed earlier that week when he had taken a shift off to nurse Christopher through a 24-hour fever. He loved listening to Buck tell a story. He gave the account such wonderful embellishment.
The server brought their wine, and Eddie didn’t pay much attention until he felt something wet seep through his sleeve. Blinking, he glanced around and discovered a small puddle of deep red liquid splashed across the table beside him, ruining the tablecloth and probably his shirt as well.
Jumping up, Buck grabbed the bottle from the server’s hands, and with a reassuring smile said, “Just let me.”
Flushing and apologetic, the server backed away with a mumbled promise to bring something to clean up the spill as Buck cheerfully rolled his eyes at Eddie and carefully tipped the wine bottle up again. Eddie watched his arms, wishing he could see through cloth to enjoy the flex of Buck’s muscles. “You’re good at that,” he said before thinking to stop himself.
A bemused line crumpled Buck’s brow, but he smiled as he murmured, “I was a bartender, I know how to pour wine without drenching a customer in it.”
“Wish we could say the same for our server,” Eddie muttered ruefully, dabbing idly at his shirt sleeve with his napkin.
Moving a little nearer, Buck reached out and his hand circled Eddie’s arm. Gently, he pulled and inspected the damage. Head shaking, he murmured, “Yeah, sorry. I think that’s ruined.”
Sighing, Eddie crumpled his napkin and tossed it to the corner of the table as Buck sank back into his seat.
“It’s a shame,” Buck said lightly. “That shirt looks so good on you.”
Eddie’s heart jolted inside his chest, hoping the comment meant something . He smiled softly, shaking out his damp arm, and said quietly, “I could say the same about the shirt you’re wearing.”
“Oh yeah?” Buck grinned. He smoothed one palm down his chest, fingers dancing across the row of buttons. “I kinda thought so myself, actually. I might have to steal this shirt off you.”
“You can try,” Eddie said. The truth was, if Buck really wanted the shirt he would probably let him keep it. Keep it and wear it and let Eddie be continuously reminded of how good Buck looked wearing his things.
“You wanna fight me for it?” Buck teased.
“I’ll rip it off you with my teeth if I have to,” Eddie said, hiding the truth of his words beneath a joking tone.
“Mm,” Buck murmured. His eyelids lowered slightly, his gaze darkening as it met Eddie’s. “I’m open to that. Think of all the places it could lead.”
“Oh, I’ve already thought about it,” Eddie replied lightly, offering Buck a smile.
Buck’s eyes shone. “Me too.”
Warmth bloomed inside Eddie’s chest. He loved it when Buck flirted with him, and the flirting was getting not only more common but more brazen. He was right. Tonight was their moment.
The banter continued, easy and lively as they waited for their meals. Buck’s face was bright with joy, his laughter flowing. Feeling soft and warm, Eddie watched him and smiled. He wanted to reach across the table and take Buck’s hand, but as he moved their server returned with two plates.
“That’s not what we ordered,” Buck said before Eddie had even looked away from him. As he glanced across, Eddie caught the server’s polite smile collapse into a flush of embarrassment. Muttering an apology, they returned to the kitchen.
“Someone’s having a bad night,” Eddie murmured, turning his gaze back to Buck, who shrugged.
“Seems that way,” he agreed.
When the server finally returned with their correct orders, the talk had turned to family, Buck sharing a story about Jee’s latest antics. Eddie smiled wistfully as he picked olives off his plate and began to transfer them to Buck’s. Spearing them eagerly with his fork, Buck chewed as he talked and, indulgently, Eddie ignored it.
“Was Christopher the same at that age?” Buck asked.
Eddie’s eyelids fluttered. Lowly, he said, “I don’t really know. I wasn’t around much when he was that young.”
Pausing, Buck smiled kindly. “That’s rough,” he sighed. “I bet you missed out on some really great moments.”
“I know I did,” Eddie said, a scrap of guilt swimming across his good mood.
“Hey.” Eddie glanced up as Buck reached across the table and awkwardly patted his knuckles with a hand clutching a knife. “You’re a wonderful father, Eddie.”
Without him planning it, Eddie’s pinky finger looped across Buck’s and held for a moment. “Thanks, Buck.”
A hint of pink crept around Buck’s stubbled jaw and he licked his lips before smiling and turning back to his dinner.
The evening wore on as they ate and chattered, sharing a rich dessert before draining their wine glasses and preparing to leave. But Eddie wasn’t ready for the night to be over.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested. “There’s a nice park near here we can wander through.”
“A walk sounds great,” Buck agreed. He clapped one hand to Eddie’s shoulder. “Lead the way.”
Night had fallen, an inky darkness wrapping around them while they walked. The evening was full of sweet smells as they entered the park, the blush of night-blooming flowers filling Eddie’s senses. Aimlessly, they strolled together along the paths. Talk had faded into a comfortable and companionable silence. Eddie relaxed into his stride, starting slightly when Buck’s hand caught his and stopped him. “Look,” he said, voice hushed.
Glancing at him, Eddie followed Buck’s gaze. He was staring at the sky, a bleached night-time landscape poisoned by the lights of the city … but beyond the glow, the moon was bright and close to full, shining above the stretch of tall buildings decorating the horizon.
“Oh,” Eddie breathed, then grit his jaw, slightly embarrassed. But Buck sighed as well, and moved a little nearer.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “It’s beautiful, right?”
“Mm.” Eddie leaned back against the hedge bordering the path they were on, and a crush of jasmine flowers released a glorious perfume around him.
For long moments they stood together, enjoying the beauty of the night. Buck was close enough that Eddie could feel the warmth of his body. He wanted to draw nearer, to soak in Buck’s presence.
Gaze drifting back to Buck, Eddie was only slightly surprised to discover Buck also watching him, the moon reflected in his eyes. He smiled, and Eddie knew. He could see it in Buck’s stare: love.
Now. It was a perfect moment.
Reaching for him, Eddie slid his palm against Buck’s jaw, cradling his face as he stepped nearer and closed the space between them. Softly, slowly, he pressed his mouth to Buck’s cheek, kissing him with lingering tenderness. When, at length, he drew back, Eddie sought Buck’s gaze again. His eyes were dancing with joy. Pleasure burst throughout Eddie’s body.
At last, it was happening. They were going to be together. Eddie knew it, could see it staring back at him as Buck smiled and blinked slowly before sliding his arm snug around Eddie’s waist, keeping their bodies close. For a long moment they stood watching each other, Buck’s arm warm and steady around Eddie’s body.
“We should do this more often,” Buck whispered, beaming.
“We definitely will,” Eddie promised. Brushing his fingertips along Buck’s cheekbone, he grinned softly. “But for now, how about we go back to my place?”
“Great.” Nodding, Buck tugged Eddie lightly to lead the way. “Beer and Street Fighter round two?”
“Whatever you want, Buck,” Eddie replied, leaning into him slightly. “As long as we do it together.”