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“Alright, Flannery’s tonight?” Buck turned to face his friends, a huge smile on his face. They had just finished a shift and Buck was feeling energized. He wanted to go out and get drinks with his friends and laugh and just have a good time.
“Can’t Buckaroo,” Chimney said. “Maddie’s got work in an hour and the Lees are out of town. Buck just nodded, because yeah, getting home to Maddie and Jee-Yun made sense. “I’ll see you guys.” Chimney then left the locker room, shooting everyone a slight smile as he did.
Once he was gone, Buck turned towards the others, the grin still on his face.
“Karen and I need to clean-up the house for our next foster,” Hen said. “Rain check?” Buck just nodded, fighting down the urge to slump his shoulders. Hen smiled and patted his arm, before exiting the locker room. He glanced towards Bobby and Eddie, hoping they would still be interested.
“Another time, kid?” Bobby asked and Buck sighed. Bobby just patted his arm and left the locker room. And as Buck turned towards Eddie, he could see the 'no' bubbling up on his tongue.
“Come on Eddie,” Buck said, slightly pleading. “You and me and Flannery’s. It’ll be great for a newly single guy like you.” Eddie had told him a few days okay that he and Ana had broken up, that he hadn’t been feeling it with her. And while Buck had been supportive, a part of him had been hopeful. Because Eddie was single again and maybe, just maybe, Buck could stop pining over his best friend and make a move.
But he also wanted to be respectful and be a good friend.
“Please?” Buck asked. “We haven’t hung out in forever."
“I know, I’m sorry,” Eddie said, avoiding eye contact with Buck. Buck frowned at that as Eddie grabbed his bag. “Maybe...Maybe another time? I just really want to go home, hug my kid, and relax for the evening.” Buck just nodded, trying not to feel crushed.
“Yeah, no, I get that,” Buck said, softly. “That, uh...that sounds like a good plan for your evening.” Eddie glanced up at him and there was an unreadable expression on his face. He went to say something, but Buck kept talking. “Seriously, no worries Eddie. Say hi to Chris for me.”
“Yeah okay.” And then Eddie left the locker. Buck sighed to himself, sitting down on the bench. It wasn’t surprising that everyone bailed, but it still hurt a bit. It made the loneliness creep up on Buck, that nagging reminder that he went home to an empty apartment.
But he shook that feeling off. He was going to go out and have fun tonight, damn it. Even if he had to do so on his own.
Buck smiled as he approached the bar. He had decided to go out to a club. He had had so much energy and he just wanted to drink and have a little fun.
“Hey handsome.” He turned his head, as a gorgeous, leggy blonde coming into view. She smiled flirtatiously. “My drink’s out, in case you want to buy me one.” Buck offered her a polite smile. A few years ago, she would’ve been exactly his type. But now, while he had come out to have fun, she was no longer the kind of fun he wanted to have.
“Hey,” Buck said, getting the bartender’s attention. “Can the lady get a refill of what she had on my tab and then close it.” The blonde furrowed her eyebrows as the bartender passed Buck the drink the girl had been having and his credit card. He signed his bill and passed her the drink. “On me. Have a good night.”
“You don’t want to join me?” She asked, pouting slightly.
“I think my night’s over,” Buck said. “But good luck to you.” The girl sighed before taking her drink and walking off. Buck chuckled to himself as he pocketed his credit card and headed to the exit.
As the cool night air hit Buck’s skin, he let out a sigh. He had needed this, this chance to just get out and drink a little, and dance a lot, and just have fun. It would’ve been nice to have people with him, especially because the idea of dancing with Eddie had his skin tingling ways he couldn’t describe. But he was also not trying to be that guy. It was why he hadn’t picked up what that girl in the bar had been throwing down. He didn’t want hook-ups. He wanted a meaningful relationship. Mostly with Eddie, but also Eddie needed time and Buck didn’t know if Eddie could actually feel that way about him.
He sighed as he walked down the street. He had taken an Uber, since they had responded to enough drunk driving calls and he was not going to be that person. He knew he needed to call an Uber, but he was craving chips and some water. So, he rounded the corner, walking into the small convenience store he had spotted when he had first been dropped off at the club.
The bell rang above him as he walked in. There was a teenager, maybe a year or so younger than May, standing behind the counter. She glanced up as he walked in, before looking back to her phone. Buck just chuckled to himself as he made his way down the aisles.
He was kneeling down, looking for a specific type of chips, when he heard a familiar sound.
“Everything in the register. Hand it over.” Buck stood up slowly, peering around the aisle. There was a guy, with a balaclava pulled over his face to hide his features, pointing a gun at the clerk. The teenager looked terrified, her hands clearly shaking as they were raised above the counter. “Now!”
Buck sucked in a breath, knowing he was this kid’s only hope. He could call for help, but they wouldn’t get there in time. And if the robber heard the siren, there was no guessing what he might do to the clerk.
So, it was up to him.
He took a breath before tiptoeing around the aisle. The robber hadn’t noticed yet, still focused on the girl behind the counter, who was shakily removing the money from the register. She looked away from the till, noticing Buck, eyes widening, almost pleading for help.
“Hurry up!” The robber shouted, releasing the safety. The girl let out a terrified scream, the money dropping to the floor.
Without a second thought, Buck sprung into action.
He charged towards the guy, tackling him to the ground. The gun went skittering away as he flattened the guy into the floor. Buck quickly twisted the guy’s arms behind his back and pressed his knee down. Then, blowing out a breath, he looked up at the girl behind the counter.
“Call 9-1-1.” And she just nodded, fear still on her face. “Everything’s going to be okay.” She let out a strained breath and nodded again.
“Thank you,” She whispered, before picking up the phone and starting to dial. And Buck just sighed, making sure the guy wasn’t going anywhere and wondering how this always happened to him.
“Hey, Buckley, right?” Buck looked up as an officer approached him. Once the police had shown up, they had cuffed the robber and carted him off. Buck had waited outside, waiting to give his full statement, and keeping an eye on the girl who was running the register. He recognized the guy, a tall Asian police officer, who he had seen on scenes before.
“Oh yeah, hey,” Buck said. “Officer Williams, right?” He nodded.
“Guess she was lucky an off-duty firefighter was here,” Williams said with a nod to the girl. She was standing a little ways away. “Someone’s going to call you tomorrow to get your full statement, but it’s late if you want to go.”
“Well, I have work tomorrow,” Buck said, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck.
“You’re at the 118, right?” Williams asked and Buck nodded. “Alright, someone will come by there then.” He stuck his hand out and Buck shook it. Once he walked away, Buck let out a sigh.
“You’re a firefighter?” He turned, the girl who had been working standing right in front of him.
“Off-duty, but yeah,” Buck said with a shrug. The girl stared at him for a moment, before launching herself at him, hugging him tightly. Buck made a noise of startled surprise as she pulled away, the girl smiling sheepishly.
“Thank you,” She said. “For saving me.”
“Kind of my job,” Buck said and she nodded, still smiling. “Are you going to be okay?” The girl was about to say something, when someone called for her.
“My mom’s here,” She said, nodding to a woman waiting not too far away. “Thank you again.” And then she scurried off. Buck watched as she ran over to her mother, the woman hugging her tightly. He sighed, glad the girl was safe and that she hadn’t gotten hurt.
Then, knowing he needed to get some rest before work, he turned and walked away.
Buck fought back a yawn, as he poured himself another cup of coffee. He hadn’t meant to be out so late, but by the time he had gotten home, it had been almost three AM. But knowing that he had helped a young girl made the exhaustion worth it. Besides, he could fuel up on enough coffee to power through the shift.
“Hey ‘Thena.” Buck turned, hearing Hen speak up. Athena shot the group a smile before her eyes fell on Buck. Buck raised an eyebrow, confused why she was looking at him for.
“Just stopping in?” Bobby asked, walking over to Athena. He pressed a kiss to her cheek and she smiled.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t a social call,” Athena said. “I need to get a statement from Buckaroo.” Buck felt everyone’s eyes turn to him and he fought back a sigh.
“What did you do?” Chimney asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I didn’t do anything,” Buck said, avoiding everyone’s eyes.
“He stopped a robbery,” Athena said. “Saved some poor kid from probably getting shot too.” Buck could feel everyone’s eyes on him.
“Always being a hero, huh?” He looked up when Bobby spoke, hearing a kindness in Bobby’s voice. His captain shot him a smile and Buck nodded, feeling that pride that went through him when he got Bobby’s approval.
“How’d you even end up in a situation like that?” Chimney asked. “Was it near your apartment?”
“No,” Buck said. “I went out last night. To a club. Danced a little, had a good time, and then I stopped at a store to get some chips.”
“Wait, this happened when you went out?” Hen asked. “Because you were alone?”
“It didn’t happen because I was alone,” Buck said. “I just went out.”
“You shouldn’t have been alone.” There was an intensity to Eddie’s voice as he spoke. Buck glanced over at Eddie and was a little shocked at the look in Eddie’s eyes. Because he had a remorseful look in his eyes, like it was paining Eddie to know what Buck had gone through when he went out alone. “We shouldn’t have ditched you. We should have made time.”
“It’s fine,” Buck said, looking away. “Athena, can I give you my statement now?”
“Sure Buckaroo,” Athena said with a kind smile. She glanced at Bobby, who was watching both of them. “Mind if we use your office?”
“What’s mine is yours, right?” Bobby asked, earning a playful scoff from his wife. And as she headed down the stairs, Buck following after her, he could feel Eddie’s eyes on him. But he refused to look at him, confused by why Eddie was so upset about all of this and even more confused why that look from Eddie had ignited some hope in him.
“Buck!” Buck attempted a smile as he walked into Eddie’s house, which wasn’t too hard as he was immediately greeted by Christopher, the ten-year-old throwing his arms around Buck as soon as the blonde had knelt down.
“Hey little man,” Buck said, hugging the boy back. “You pick a great movie tonight?”
“Uh huh!” Christopher said as Buck stood up.
“Mijo, why don’t you get the living room set up.” Buck glanced towards the dining room, seeing Eddie standing there. There was an unreadable expression on his face that filled Buck with nerves. Christopher just nodded, heading towards the couch. “Can I talk to you?” Buck just nodded, following Eddie into the kitchen.
“Eddie.”
“You shouldn’t have been alone last night,” Eddie said, repeating his words from earlier. “I should have been there with you. Or invited you over. Or talked to you.”
“Eddie.”
“Ana broke up with me,” Eddie said and Buck tilted his head. “I know I said it was mutual, but she started the conversation. She ended things because she didn’t want to fall for a person who wasn't putting in the same effort into the relationship. She said she couldn’t have my heart when someone else did.” Buck felt his breath catch in his throat and his heart start beating faster. “I didn’t know what she meant at the time, but I think you’ve always known.”
“I..” Buck tried to speak, but found he was at a loss for words as Eddie closed the space between them. Eddie just reached for his face, his thumb caressing Buck’s cheek. Buck just watched him transfixed by the man before him and hoping this was going in the direction he so desperately craved.
“You shouldn’t have been alone,” Eddie whispered. “You should never be alone. Not when we have each other.”
And then Eddie closed the remaining distance between them, his lips sealing over Buck’s in a soft, tender kiss.
Buck’s fingers immediately curled into the front of Eddie’s shirt, melting forward. The euphoria bolting through him was like nothing he could describe. Because Eddie was kissing him. This man that he had fallen so hard for was finally reciprocating his feelings and Buck would never be able to describe that joy. It was like the thrill of being on a roller coaster and Buck was just holding on for dear life.
“Dad! Buck!” They broke apart, a blush crossing Eddie’s cheeks. Buck just watched him awe, still unsure that Eddie had really kissed him.
“We’ll talk later?” Eddie asked and Buck just nodded. “Good. But, uh, we should get in there because he’s really excited to watch this singing animal movie.”
“I don’t think I’ll be focusing on the movie,” Buck said, interlacing his fingers with Eddie’s. And Eddie just chuckled, a soft smile crossing his face.
“Me neither,” Eddie said softly. And then he was tugging Buck towards the living room, Buck following a huge, dopey grin on his face.