Chapter Text
The next morning, Ramon had gone to go talk with Buck, while he was sitting in the kitchen.
“So, Evan, your dad came by the other day..” Ramon said, sighing before continuing,
“He said you'd have to go home today, or he would call the police.” Ramon finished, and Buck took a minute to reply.
“I have to go back there?” Buck said, looking at Ramon.
“Either unfortunately or fortunately, whichever one it would be for you.” Ramon said, remembering the argument that happened about a day or two before Christmas day.
“Unfortunately..” Buck said, before getting up and going up to Eddie's room.
Buck closed the door to Eddie’s room, Eddie sitting on his bed reading a book, something about the subject they were learning, but he looked up and closed his book at the solemn look in Buck’s eyes.
“What is it?” Eddie asked and Buck looked confused for a moment before talking,
“I have to go back to my house today or my dad's gonna call the cops on you guys and um.. I don't wanna go back but.. You know..” Buck said, while sitting beside Eddie, leg now bouncing up and down.
“Well, remember, you can come here anytime, I don't think my parents mind.. Also was it okay that I talked to my mom about what was happening with you at your home?” Eddie questioned, looking at him.
“Yeah, kinda figured you did. It's fine. Just another person to know I guess..” Buck said, staring at his feet.
“Anyway, I should probably get going.. Um, I’ll see you soon Eddie. Thanks and.. Bye.” Buck said, before grabbing his backpack that was packed already in case he had to leave, and leaving.
“Wait, Buck!” Eddie said, getting up, going after him, and stopping in front of Buck after he’d stopped.
“What?” Buck said, and Eddie kissed him. It only lasted about 2 seconds before he pulled back, but Eddie smiled when Buck smiled at him, and said,
“Stay safe. Please. I love you.” Eddie said, and he might have had tears in his eyes, but Buck nodded, before hugging him tightly.
“I’ll try. I love you too.” Buck said, before pulling away, smiling at Eddie slightly.
“By the way, it's fine if you also tell your dad.. I don't really mind. Just as long as it's not a huge thing.” Buck said, before heading for the door.
After about 3 minutes, Buck knocked on the door to his house, and his father opened the door, practically shoving him inside the house by dragging him in with his arm.
So much of a welcome, and also he walked into the house, it smelling like whiskey, and his mom nowhere in sight.
“Where’s mom?” Buck asked, worried.
“She's on a business trip, lucky for her ass.” Phillip said, though it was slurred.
“How much did you drink?” Buck asked, but he didn't need an answer, seeing the used to be half full bottle of whiskey empty now.
“Nevermind.. I'm gonna go up to my room..” Buck said, but before he could, he was yanked backwards, and then turned around to face his father.
“What?” Buck asked, though it was evident he was scared.
The fist to the side of his face came out of nowhere, though it was uncoordinated it still hit him, and Phillip fisted his shirt in his hand.
“You don't get to go anywhere until you get a fucking punishment for leaving for that long. And not being here all day on Christmas too.” Phillip said, looking angry.
“So what? You guys would've gotten me absolutely nothing!” Buck yelled at him, before he was practically pushed to the ground, and Buck stood back up, before he was pushed against one of the many walls in the house, before his shirt was tugged at.. Upwards.
“Dad, what are you doing?” Buck said, arms still free but his shoulders pinned, so his shirt had at least remained on..
Checking you for fucking hickeys, I don't give a shit about yes or no’s.” Phillip said, pretty determined at what he was trying to do.
“Dad- Look I can just tell you, you know you don't need too-” Buck had instantly shut up, seeing the pocket knife his father had grabbed from his pocket and the blade was out and now against his throat.
“You better shut your fucking mouth up or else I am slitting your throat right. Here.” Phillip said, and Buck nodded slightly, still feeling the cold metal of the knife pressed up against his throat.
Buck might've been slightly panicking too, but he just let his dad check for hickeys.. On his chest.. There were none.
“You bet your ass the time I find a hickey on you, you are done for.” Phillip said, coldly.
“O-Okay.” Buck said, stuttering a little bit.
“I could do so many things with this knife if I wanted to just be glad that I’m only doing..” Phillip then stopped, and Buck immediately tensed, possibly knowing what was coming.
The knife dragging across the small bit of his chest is exactly what he expected, and he dug his teeth into his bottom lip, trying not to yell.
He whimpered though, and in front of his father. The cut fucking hurt. It doesn't really hurt when you do it to yourself, but when someone else does..
“Grow up. And stop being a fucking baby. You shouldn't be whimpering over a knife cut.” Phillip said, before making another cut. This time, Buck stayed silent.
The cuts weren't bleeding too badly, probably needing to be bandaged, but he was fine.
With the fear that he might be threatened with his throat being slit again, he just stayed silent.
“You. Are an ungrateful. Little. Bitch.” Phillip said, punching him, again. Maybe a couple times.
“Can I go now?” Buck said, shakily, and Phillip finally let go of him, and Buck walked to his room, and into the bathroom, locking the door, before grabbing the first aid kit out from under the sink.
He bandaged the cuts without too much thought, but when he was done, he stared at himself. His hands were an absolute bloody mess from trying to get his cuts to stop bleeding, he had tears in his eyes, his hair was all messed up.
His father had just threatened to kill him. And he almost did it.
His mind was screaming at him to say “Do it then.” But he didn't say it.
My own father just threatened to kill me.. He.. Oh. Oh. Buck thought before,
“Oh my god..” Buck whispered, thinking it over again and again.
If he was going to have a fucking panic attack, where better would it be than in his own bathroom.
Maybe he should sneak out and go to Eddie’s house. But he couldn't, his dad had screwed the windows shut.
“Fuck. Fuck, fuck.” Buck said, out loud, sliding down against the wall.
He heard his dad knocking at the bathroom door. He had keys, he could unlock the door and come in at any moment.
He should calm down. Really calm down.
“Evan, if you don't open the door, I’m going to fucking open it for you.” Phillip yelled through the door.
It was 6pm. Buck had only been here for 2 hours.
The door opened, and Phillip, upon seeing the sight of Buck curled up on himself on the floor made him slightly mad.
“Evan, get up. Now.” Phillip said, coldly, and Buck stood up, attempting to take at least steadying breaths.
“If you aren't downstairs in the next minute, I’m locking you in here and fuck-” Phillip got cut off by Buck walking out of the bathroom, downstairs.
Buck had gone downstairs to sit on the couch, not speaking to his father. At all.
“Evan.” His father said, again, coldly.
Buck looked at him, with a glare, daggers essentially in his eyes.
“This. Is what happens when you don't listen.” Phillip said, before grabbing out his pocket knife, walking up next to him, holding it in a way that a person would to stab someone..
“Dad.. Dad, don't.” Buck saw the other bottle of whiskey, out on the table. A quarter of it was gone already, and then he felt the knife against his wrist. Whereas it would cut upwards..
“Dad, don’t do this. Please.” Buck said, in a pleading tone, trying to get his father to think otherwise.
Instead, the knife went up his arm, creating a shallow cut. The grip on his wrist was tight, ensuring his arm wouldn't move.
Buck was shaking, looking up and down from his father's eyes to the knife.
“Now go the fuck back upstairs. Or you’re being put in the fucking attic for the rest of the day.”
It was now 6:30pm. Buck went upstairs shaking, and breathing heavily.
He was almost hyperventilating.
He couldn't have a fucking panic attack infront of his father. The thought only made him panic more and more. And before he knew it, he was unscrewing the screws holding the window shut, kicking out the screen and sneaking out. At 6:40pm. Nearly hyperventilating, still shaking. The cut on his arm hadn't been treated yet.
He didn't know when he got in front of Eddie's house at the front door, but then Eddie opened the door.
Buck was hugging his arm to his chest, as it was still minorly bleeding.
Eddie paused, looking at him up and down, clearly in shock.
“Mom, it’s Buck.” Buck froze, the thought of having to see anyone else but Eddie right now or being touched wasn't it for him right now.
Buck was still shaking, his breathing a little better now, but he was still slightly panicking.
Helena opened the door some more, sort of as an invite to let Buck in, on his own.
“I- I don't wanna talk about it.. I just needed to get away- I don't remember even walking here um..” Buck said, uncertain about what to say, and trying his best not to cry. Not in front of everybody.
“Buck, do we need to call the police?” Helena asked, quietly but softly.
Buck nodded slightly, still hugging his arm to his chest.
“He- He threatened to.. Um..” Buck said, looking around. He was uncertain if he should say it, let alone thinking about it made him panic.
“It’s fine I can take care of him. C’mon.” Eddie said, looking at him, keeping his hands to himself, and walking to his bedroom, Buck following. The door was closed, bad Buck stood there, not knowing what to do.
“Sit down, on the bed.” Eddie said, sitting on the bed too.
Buck sat down, trying to keep some distance from Eddie.
“Is your arm okay?” Eddie asked, looking worried.
Buck finally pulled his arm away from his shirt, arm still bleeding slightly, but mostly clotted over and not bleeding.
“Who did that?” Eddie asked, looking at him.
“My father.” Buck said, even though there was a slight hint of worry of Eddie knowing.
Eddie got up grabbing the first aid kit in his room, that he has for some reason, and sat down.
“Do you wanna do it, or do you want me to?”
“You can.” Buck mumbled slightly, laying his arm on his leg.
Eddie quickly bandaged it, before putting the trash back into the first aid kit, saying he’ll clean it later, before asking him something.
“What did your father threaten to do? If you don't mind.”
“To kill me. He threatened to kill me. He- He had a fucking blade up to my throat and he just- I was so fucking scared I um.. Y-Yeah..” Buck finally saying it had him fucking scared maybe that his father would appear out of the blue and actually kill him.
He was hyperventilating this time. Not almost.
“Buck?” Eddie said, softly though worried. Really worried.
Buck looked at him, up and down before practically throwing himself into Eddie, hugging him tightly, hiding his face in Eddie’s shoulder.
Eddie was caught by surprise, but hugged him back just as tightly.
“I can't do this anymore I fucking can't. Just call CPS. I don't care if we get split apart or moved away from each other, I still have your phone number. It's engraved in my mind at this point.” Buck said, silently crying again.
“My parents already called the cops, you can try and tell them everything okay? And we both can hope he will be arrested.” Eddie said, softly, and trying to get Buck to calm down a little bit, as his nails were digging into Eddie’s back.
“You’re gonna be okay. Okay?” Eddie said softly, still holding Buck, before Buck let out a sob, and just full on started crying.
Buck's mind was yelling at him to stop crying, in front of Eddie, but he couldn't.
“Shhh, it’s okay, it’s okay.” Eddie comforted him, while he was crying, while Ramon was talking to the police downstairs about the situation.
Later, after the police had gotten Buck’s statement, they had finally arrested his father. Buck was there watching, before saying,
“See bitch, told you I’d love to see your fine ass be arrested.” Buck practically spat out.
Phillip was put into the car, under a couple charges he was being arrested. Buck had literally told them everything, even if it meant making him reopen terrible wounds.
Phillip was being charged of child abuse, rape, child neglect, and a couple of other things Buck couldn’t remember.
Eddie was standing beside him, his arm on his shoulders.
“So.. Are you happy?” Eddie asked, looking at him.
“Fucking relived.” Buck said, almost in tears, though smiling seeing the police car be driven away.
“So.. How do we start you on therapy, cause you are going to need a ton of it..” Eddie said, and they both burst out into laughter.
********
2 years later, on New Years Eve at 11pm, almost at 12am, Buck and Eddie were lying down in bed, talking to each other.
“You know, at school I used to know you as the quiet kid, you didn't really have any friends and you were kinda weird..” Eddie said.
“Then, I got to know who you were, and look where it ended us up at.” Eddie said, smiling.
“Is this a marriage proposal Eddie?” Buck deadpanned, and Eddie laughed slightly.
“No, it isn't, I'm just saying. You’re a great person, and I just love you.” Eddie said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
In the comfort of their own home, they were just waiting for the new years countdown.
“Happy new years babe.” Buck said, smiling ear-to-ear, before kissing him.
After they pulled away- finally, it felt like the best kiss in the world, Buck was smiling ear to ear again, and he said something.
“Do you wanna know why I trusted you so much when I was still with my father?” Buck stated. It was still a touchy subject for him, but he was working on it.
“Why?” Eddie asked, curious.
“Because I felt as if I could trust you in helping me get out of that mess. And you did. And I met one amazing person on the way. We’ve been together for.” Buck paused, thinking before continuing, “2? Years. I knew you so much longer, like a year before that. I was happy around you so much to a point that I didn’t mind telling you stuff, and I want that forever.”
“And before you say anything, before I chicken out, again, Eddie Diaz, will you marry me? I don’t have a ring right now but-”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.” Eddie said, smiling now too, before hugging him tightly.
“Good. Good.” Buck said, muffled.
Years later, they are still together, with a kid called Christopher from the help of a surrogate, and they both work at the 118 now.
Happily ever after does exist sometimes after all