Work Text:
When Hen had invited Eddie and Buck to go out with her and Karen, he couldn't get over the fact that… it kind of seemed like a double date.
Maybe she was meddling, Eddie doesn't know. But the night has been going great so far.
Eddie takes a sip of his beer and glances over to his side, where Buck is vehemently discussing the cocktails he's trying with Karen. When Eddie turns to face forward again, he sees a love drunk expression on Hen's face, her beer leaving foam on her upper lip.
He hopes he isn't that obvious.
"Right?" Buck and Karen look between Hen and Eddie expectantly, like they thought the whole table was in on the conversation.
"Hm?" "What?" Hen and Eddie both inquire at the same time. Buck and Karen share a laugh before Buck explains.
"We were saying," Buck teases, "Christopher and Denny would love to go to the convention at the California Science Center."
Karen looks between Eddie and Hen, awaiting an answer. "Riiiiight?"
"Oh! Yeah, yeah, right," Eddie agrees while Hen fumbles over a response herself.
"Yeah! Yeah, of course!"
When Eddie first opened up to Hen about his feelings, he was worried he'd be stuck with constant teasing, but he knew she was his best shot for a confidant.
Instead, she'd understood him. She continues to stand by him, give him advice, let him cry on her shoulder with a pint of Ben and Jerry's… anyway.
It's moments like this, he's grateful that he told her. They share a look over the table that silently communicates how in love they are with the people next to them.
Eddie's glad he's paying attention, because he watches as a guy – a fucking god, to be honest – walks up to their table. He has brown hair, hazel eyes, and legs that could rival Buck's. The man is… damn.
Then the guy is talking to Buck.
"Wanna go dance?" Eddie's fists clench as the man trails his fingers through Buck's hair. Buck loves his hair being played with. Who the fuck is this guy, to just waltz up here, and figure out how to have Buck preening under his hand in an instant?
Eddie flashes a look of panic to Hen, who kicks him lightly under the table. When he shoots a glare her way, she looks apologetic before glancing at Buck.
Buck jumps slightly, breaking his trance, and he shies away from the guy. "Uh…" Buck sucks in a breath and his face twists up.
"Oh," the guy looks horrified and takes a step back. "Oh god; you're straight. I'm so sorry."
Buck looks down bashfully, blushing and unintentionally batting his eyes. "I'm- uh, I'm not straight." Buck looks back up with a smile.
The guy relaxes for a moment before stiffening again. "Oh god, that's even worse!"
Before the guy can continue beating himself up about the rejection, Buck pipes in (as he always does, always the one to care about other people. Even the ones he's just met). "No! No, you- you seem great! It's just… I have a boyfriend…"
Buck is presenting a beaming smile, one that would fool most strangers. Anyone who spends a lot of time with Buck can tell that it's fake, though.
"Oh," the guy smiles softly, giving Buck an obvious once-over. Twice-over? Three– Okay stop looking at him motherfucker. "He's a lucky guy."
Eddie's not sure what possesses him to do it, he knows it's not necessary, Buck can take care of himself. Maybe it was the fifth beer, or the fact that this guy is ruthlessly undressing Buck with his eyes, but it doesn't matter. He slings his arm around Buck's shoulders and gives him a loving look.
"Yeah," Eddie says. "He is." Before eyeing the man with a barely concealed threat in his eyes.
The man backs away with placating hands, but he keeps watching them.
So what else is Eddie supposed to do?
Eddie places a hand on Buck's face before pulling him in and landing a possessive kiss on his lips.
When they part, the guy has left, but Buck is staring into Eddie's eyes and leaning forward again, grabbing Eddie's lips in a more passionate kiss.
Eddie gives in (he's far too weak not to) and lets Buck part his lips with his tongue. He lets out a gasp that Buck swallows before threading his fingers up and through Buck's hair. The younger man releases a small whine, and Eddie can't resist nipping his lower lip.
"Shit…" Buck whispers when they part.
"We, uh. We got him to go away," Eddie says, but there's barely any meaning behind it. A flat whisper with no inflection, meant to fill the silence more than to convince.
"Yeah…" Buck leans in again, slightly brushing their noses before kissing Eddie again.
Buck pulls back suddenly, only a few inches, with an indecipherable look on his face. "What… what is this? What's happening?" Buck's eyes are darting back and forth between Eddie's.
"I… whatever you want."
Buck stiffens and begins blinking rapidly. Right when he looks like he's about to flee, they're reminded of their company.
"Buck," Hen says sternly.
Buck's head snaps over to her.
"You did not force us to watch you make out for five minutes just to get all panicky." Buck looks almost as shocked as Eddie feels and…
On second thought… Eddie doesn't actually feel very shocked. He didn't expect this to happen, but he's not very surprised that it did…
"Use your words, guys," Karen instructs them with her mom voice.
Buck looks back at Eddie with a shakey… everything… and Eddie knows this is right.
"I love you, Buck."
"I…" Buck starts before muttering "jesus, fuck," and rubbing his hands down his face. He looks back up to Eddie, like he's surprised he's still there, and Eddie sees Buck's eyes flick to the clock a few times.
Eddie recalls something Buck told him a few months ago.
To lucid dream, you have to figure out that you're dreaming.
One of the methods for that is looking at the clock. If you're dreaming, the time will look different every time you look.
Buck keeps looking between the clock and Eddie, and Eddie lets him have his moment to process.
When Buck's eyes land on Eddie's with a sureness to them that they didn't have before, Eddie knows what comes next.
"I love you, too."