Chapter Text
The silence stretches.
Buck hasn’t moved.
Still standing there, back against the counter, like he doesn’t trust his legs if he does.
“You weren’t supposed to know that”
Eddie hears it.
Feels it.
But this time?
He doesn’t back down.
“I know” Eddie says again.
Quieter.
Then..
“But i do”
Bucks jaw tightens slightly.
Eyes flickering away for half a second before coming back.
“Yeah” he exhales. “Clearly”.
There’s something defensive in it.
Something exposed.
Like he’s already bracing for it to go wrong.
Eddie takes a step forward.
Buck notices immediately.
Doesn’t move.
But his breath catches.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Eddie admits. “I wasn’t even supposed to find them”.
Another step.
“But i did”
Buck swallows.
“And now you know” he says, voice tighter now.
“So what? You’re gonna what? Pretend you didn’t read it? Or?”
“No” Eddie responds
Firm.
Certain.
And buck stills.
Because that tone?
That’s not hesitation.
Eddie closes the distance between them.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he’s giving Buck time to stop him.
He doesn’t.
Eddie nods slightly.
“I know”
He’s closer now.
Close enough that buck has to tilt his head just slightly to keep eye contact.
“And you said nothing”
Eddie exhales.
“Yeah” he admits.
A beat.
“Because i didn’t know how to say it yet”.
Bucks brow furrows slightly.
“Say what?”
Eddie hesitates.
Not because he doesn’t know.
But because now..there’s no hiding from it.
“That i love you too” Eddie murmurs.
Another step.
Now there’s barely any space left between them.
Bucks eyes searches his face.
“Eddie…”
Eddie shakes his head slightly.
“No..just listen”
His voice softens.
“Please”
Buck nods.
“I didn’t know” he admits. “Not before not really”
His voice is quieter now.
More honest.
“But i do now.”
Bucks chest rises a little faster.
“..what?” He whispers.
Eddie lets out a small, almost disbelieving breath.
“Yeah”, he says quietly. “That’s new for me too”
Buck stares at him.
“You..” Buck starts, then stops. “ you just said…”
“I know what I said”
Eddie steps closer.
Until there’s no space left between them.
“And i meant it”. He whispers into Bucks ear.
Bucks back presses harder into the counter.
Not pulling away.
Just…holding still.
“Eddie…” he breathes.
Eddies hand lifts.
Settling on bucks waist.
Carefully.
Like he’s giving Buck time to stop him.
Buck doesn’t stop him.
So Eddie leans in.
Slow.
He takes his other free hand and grabs Bucks face pulling him into a kiss.
It’s soft at first.
Buck doesn’t react right away.
He’s just frozen.
Then he does.
He grabs Eddies shirt pulling him closer and runs his other hand through Eddies hair.
The kiss deepens, not rushes.
Not even messy.
Certain.
Like something that’s been building for years finally has somewhere to go.
Eddies hand tightens at Bucks waist.
Bucks grip in his hard tightens.
As buck grips tighter on his hair Eddie lets a Moan into bucks mouth,
When they finally part to breathe.
Their foreheads rest on each others.
They both start smiling.
“Okay” Buck breathes, a quiet laugh slipping through. “So… I’m not still drunk and asleep right?”
Eddie huffs out a small laugh.
“No you are sober and awake”
Buck studies his face.
Really looks this time.
“This is real?” He asks.
“Yeah” Eddie responds smiling.
Then just a little teasing.
“Unless you want me to stop?”
Buck lets out a breath, shaking his head immediately.
“No” he says, stepping closer again without even thinking. “No, don’t- don’t do that”
Eddie smiles.
And this time..
When they lean in again.. there’s no hesitation.