Work Text:
Christopher comes home from school one day in December with a look in his eye that Eddie recognises. It’s the look of a boy on a mission, of one with an idea that he wants to do and he’ll try everything he can to do it. And when Buck sees him, Eddie groans internally because the one thing he’s sure about is that Buck adores Christopher and will stop at nothing to help him do what he wants to do.
He’s still shocked, however, when Christopher’s plan to raise the most money for charity that they possibly can is both the most obvious and simultaneously the worst idea he’s ever heard.
“We should go carol singing!”
“Is that really a good idea?” he starts off saying, but Buck is immediately enthused.
“Yeah,” he crows, and he runs his fingers through Christopher’s curls, ruffling them tenderly. “We’ll get so many donations, you look like an angel and I can be one too.”
“What about Dad?” Christopher tilts his head up to look at Eddie and frowns a little. “He could be a reindeer.”
“What?” Eddie gasps at the choice but Buck is grinning, wide and happy, his eyes crinkling as he reaches over and tweaks Eddie’s nose. “Good idea, Chris,” he says, “your dad does get a red nose when he’s cold, so it will work. Two angels and their reindeer. We’re going to smash your school's target, you know that right?”
“Can we choose some carols to sing?” Christopher looks up at Buck, and when he nods, he makes his way carefully towards his room where he can pick his tablet up. Left alone, and feeling a little overwhelmed, Eddie gapes at his boyfriend.
“Evan,” he warns, keeping his voice low. “I can’t sing! Can you? Or else this is going to be the shortest carol singing set in the entire history of carol singing. We’ll get given money to go away.”
“Nah,” Buck ignores his concerns and instead leans in and kisses the tip of Eddie’s nose. “We’re going to look cute. Christopher will be adorable alone, but you as Rudolph? Irresistible.”
Two days later, and at the weekend when their shifts align luckily (unluckily, Eddie thinks ruefully) they get dressed for carol singing. Christopher has a bucket with the charity name on it that they’re collecting for, and he hands them a sheaf of paper with the carols he wants them to perform written on. He looks adorable, Eddie has to admit, as he settles the hat onto his head so it keeps him warm. He’s dressed in his coat and he’s decorated his crutches with tinsel and his cheeks are already rosy with excitement. And when Eddie looks up and sees Buck, his heart almost stops, because Buck looks beautiful. He’s dressed in one of those soft sweaters Eddie loves so much, his hair left curly and he steps closer and can’t help but curl his hand around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. Buck smiles against his lips, kissing him back slowly and it’s only the gagging sound Christopher gives that makes them pull apart. Christopher is laughing at them, prodding Eddie with his little hand until he turns around and swings him into his arms, trapping him between himself and Buck. Buck’s arms come around them both and he smacks a kiss to Christopher’s cheek, making him squeal and laugh louder.
And god, Eddie loves these two so much, they’re his entire world and suddenly the idea he’s going to make a fool of himself by singing with them doesn’t bother him anymore. Because he’ll be with them, and so who cares what anyone else thinks?
He’s still nervous, though, as they make their way to the house over the road, their first stop. Buck grins at him as Christopher takes charge, handing them the lyrics for the carol he wants them to sing, and Buck bumps his shoulder against Eddie’s as he obviously notices the grimace he gives. “It’ll be fine,” he says, and his pinkie finger brushes against Eddie’s, linking them together. “Trust me.”
“I always trust you,” Eddie says softly in response, and it’s true, because from the very start he and Buck have always had each other’s backs, from friendship to lovers, it’s made no difference at all. Buck’s cheeks flush prettily and he ducks his head a little, tightening the barely there grip on Eddie’s finger, like it’s a lifeline that’s bonding them together. It makes Eddie feel warm from the tips of his toes upwards.
Christopher knocks on the door, and Eddie’s well prepared to mime the words and let Christopher pipe away merrily because honestly, who can resist him? He’s adorable. But he’s stunned into absolute silence when Buck opens his mouth and joins in.
Because Buck has been holding out on him and he has a truly beautiful voice.
Eddie forgets to sing, blinking at his boyfriend as he and Christopher sing the carol, as the family applaud and give them a donation for charity and all Eddie can do is gape, his mouth open as Buck thanks them, gives the little kids a wave and then follows Christopher back up the path.
“Eds, come on,” he calls, “loads more houses to go to, right, Chris?”
It feels like Eddie’s in a daydream, as he gets to listen to Buck singing at every door and he just gets more and more overwhelmed with adoration for the man he now gets to call his. Buck’s never mentioned he can sing, and even when Eddie wracks his brain for memories of karaoke, he can’t recall anything like this. But he’s incredible and Christopher is so cute and between them they manage to get the collection tin filled quickly, with promises of more donations as well.
When they get home, Eddie gets Christopher settled counting his money and then pulls Buck into the kitchen, unable to stay away from him for any longer. There’s a strange look on Buck’s face, that lasts until Eddie boxes him in and kisses him until his lips warm up. Now Buck just looks a little kiss dazed, his blue eyes hazy as he blinks at Eddie pressed against his front. “What was that for?”
“You’re perfect, do you know that?” Eddie says and he leans in and kisses Buck again. “You never told me you could sing like that. You’re amazing, Evan.”
“Nah,” Buck says, rubbing his hand over his head like he’s embarrassed. “It’s just singing, isn’t it? Nothing special.”
“You just sang carols for hours with our kid so he can raise money for charity, it’s not nothing,” Eddie says, but he gets closer, so he can press a soft kiss to Buck’s temple.
“I used to like singing, when I was little,” Buck whispers as he pulls Eddie close, his cold hands sliding under Eddie’s sweater and pressing against his back to warm himself up. “My grandad used to take me to church and I’d sing so loud. And then one day my dad heard me singing and told me it was girly and that I should stop. So I never did again.”
Eddie closes his eyes as he tries to show how much he loves Buck with actions. He hates that his parents made him feel like this, so much, but he and Christopher are trying to fill the gaps left in Buck’s life, showing him they’ll never leave. Now he guesses they’ll have to add being supportive no matter what.
“You know, singing is a special talent. I can’t do it. You should sing, whenever you want to. I love your voice, and I love you. And I think Christopher is going to want to do a duet with you all the time now, anyway,” is all he says, but Buck’s soft kiss and quiet chuckle against his cheek shows that he understands what Eddie’s trying to say.
They stand in the kitchen in each other’s arms, holding on tight, until Christopher calls for them to come back in and see how much money they’ve raised. Buck’s eyes are happier now, and he takes a second to sneak a final kiss from Eddie, smiling against his lips.
“I love you,” he says and Eddie can hear everything else behind his words.