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After dinner, Buck stalks off to have some alone time.
Any other day, Eddie would’ve let him have it. But after the conversation they all had with one another, he knew there’s more to be said to the younger man.
Which is how Eddie ends up on the roof of the firehouse.
Everyone knows about this spot but no one ever comes up there so whenever Buck can, he takes the chance to sneak up there for quiet.
“Hey,” Eddie speaks, soft to not startle his best friend who looks over his shoulder. “You mind?”
Buck shakes his head in response so Eddie moves to sit next to him, their legs dangling off the roof.
“You’re doing good with Ravi.” Eddie says quietly, trying to start conversation. Buck smiles lightly. “Thanks. I’ve been rough on him, haven’t I?” He asks.
Eddie nudges their shoulders together. “Yeah, but we all know you mean well.” He assures him. Buck chuckles. “Yeah,” he murmurs.
Eddie stares out onto the busy part of the city. Los Angeles looks so much better at night, especially being able to share it with someone special.
“Did you mean it?” Eddie asks, breaking the silence.
Buck looks over at him, frowning confusingly. “Mean what?”
Eddie sighs. “Did you mean it? Were you really gonna put in for a transfer?” He asks, disbelief light in his voice but clear enough for Buck to hear it. He looks away, the confusion falling from his frown but it’s still there. “I just thought everything was because of me because I always seem to ruin things.” He mumbles.
Eddie shakes his head. “But you don’t, Buck. Don’t you remember? You’re the guy who likes to fix things but like I told you, you can’t fix everything. You can’t fix this.”
Buck shrugs. “I just want everyone to be happy. Is that so bad?” He asks. Eddie smiles. “It’s not bad. It’s a very good thing that you want that. But you’re not the problem here, Buck. No one is.” He states.
“I just thought—“ Buck starts but Eddie cuts him off by waving his hand around.
“No. No thinking. No one is at fault here. No one.” Eddie says.
Buck exhales deeply and Eddie reaches over to pat his knee. “I’ll be inside if you need me. Don’t forget what I said, okay?”
Buck nods and Eddie moves to stand until Buck decides to stop him by reusing his words, “Did you mean it?”
Eddie turns back to face him. “What?”
Buck shrugs. “When you said I was stuck with you guys, did you mean that?” He asks.
Eddie nods. “Yeah. I meant it. Because you are, Buck. Whether you like it or not, we’re all your family here and we all love you.” He replies.
Buck smiles shyly, ducking his head and Eddie stares at him. Sometimes, he never understood why Buck won’t accept the fact that everyone here loves him, including Eddie who loves him more than a best friend. He’s been in love with this man forever, he doesn’t know when it started and he’s sure he doesn’t care.
“You love me?”
Eddie blinks. “What?”
“You-you said you love me more than a best friend. So you’re like, in love with me?” Buck asks. Eddie clears his throat as he runs his hands down his thighs. “Damn. I said that out loud?” He asks.
Buck nods slowly. “Is it true?” He asks quietly. Eddie meets his eyes and swallows nervously. “Ye-yeah. It is. I’m in love with you, Buck. I—“
Buck leans in to kiss him. It’s just a press of their lips and it catches Eddie off guard. Because of this, Buck starts to pull away but Eddie brings him back in by the back of his neck, returning it and humming when he feels Buck smiling against his lips.
The sound of cars honking down below breaks them apart, Buck resting his forehead against Eddie’s as the older man runs his thumb across his the stubble on his jaw.
“I love you too. So much, Eddie.” Buck whispers. Eddie smiles softly and reaches back with the same hand to card his fingers through his hair. “You’re everything to us, Buck. You’re everything to me. And yeah, you’re stuck with us but guess what?”
“What?” Buck asks.
“You’re stuck with me, too,” Eddie says. “Forever, now.”
Buck chuckles quietly. “That sounds pretty good to me,” he replies then leans in to kiss him once more. They share another smile and Eddie scoots closer, locking his arm with Buck’s as he lays his head on his shoulder.
Buck laces their fingers together and leaves a kiss on top of Eddie’s head, thinking, yeah, he’s stuck with Eddie forever and there’s no where else he’d rather be.