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“How did this happen?” Hen asked, covering her mouth in a poor attempt to cover her amusement. Eddie really didn’t see the humor in this situation, probably because he was the one currently sitting in the back of the ambulance bleeding.
“Yeah Evan, how did this happen?” Eddie hissed, cutting his eyes over at his partner who at least had the decency to look slightly sheepish.
“Ooo, busting out the first name. This must be serious,” Chimney snickered, snapping on a pair of gloves.
“It was an accident! I didn’t mean to,” Buck whined, wringing his hands. Eddie didn’t usually like seeing Buck so upset, but he was willing to let him suffer for a little while. When Eddie wasn’t bleeding anymore, Buck could stop feeling guilty.
“How about you start from the beginning?” Bobby directed, setting a comforting hand on Buck’s shoulder. Eddie knew that Buck was Bobby’s favorite, but this was ridiculous. He was the wronged party and should be receiving the comfort. Or at least the offer of it, since he’d most likely refuse and say he was fine.
“So, Eddie and I were working out in the gym like usual,” Buck explained, keeping his eyes firmly pointed away from everyone. He hadn’t even gotten to the bad part yet and he was already trying to escape the scrutiny. “It can get kind of boring after a while.”
“Ah yes, the struggles of maintaining a low body fat percentage. Calendar season is right around the corner,” Hen sighed, exchanging Eddie’s saturated gauze for a fresh wad.
“Some guys have to work extra hard just to stand a chance,” Chimney boasted, flexing his arms.
“Cool it, Mr. April,” Hen scoffed.
“So I’ve been looking online for different ideas on how to make things interesting. Like targeting specific muscles that don’t usually get much attention. Did you know that the calves are some of the hardest muscles to grow?”
“Wow, thanks Professor Buckley, that fact makes this all better,” Eddie said mockingly, checking under the gauze. “Oh wait, I’m still bleeding.”
“Are you sure you didn’t accidentally take one of Buck’s blood thinners?” Hen asked, oozing fake innocence.
“Too soon,” Buck grumbled.
“Nah, we’re all friends here. At least, we were,” Hen said solemnly.
“I think you’re having too much fun with this,” Bobby pointed out.
“And she’s the only one,” Eddie grunted.
“It looks like someone gets a little grumpy when they’re bloody. You know, I had rebar through my skull and never lost my cool,” Chimney bragged.
“And we all strive to be like you,” Hen said seriously.
“How about we let Buck continue on with his story?” Bobby suggested, nudging Buck to get him going again.
“Well, you know what happens when you start looking up things on the internet. It suggests something similar, then something similar off of that. And before you know it you’re not looking at exercise videos and you’re watching-”
“Porn?” Chimney interrupted, causing all eyes to snap to him. “I mean, I wouldn’t know from personal experience. I think I saw something about that on the news. A respectable news channel too.”
“I’m telling Maddie,” Hen teased.
“There’s nothing to tell, but don’t you dare. I’ll tell Karen it was you who ate the cupcake she was saving when you blamed it on your dog.”
“You wouldn’t dare. I told you that in confidence.”
“Try me.”
“Snitches get stitches.”
“I can handle it, I’m a paramedic.”
“I wasn’t looking at porn!” Buck shouted, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Bobby waved them off, telling them to get back to work.
“So then, what were you watching?” Hen asked. Buck mumbled something inaudible under his breath, causing everyone to lean in closer. “What was that?”
“I was watching TikTok,” Buck sighed, rolling his eyes.
“I was watching TikTok,” Eddie repeated mockingly.
“I forget how young you are sometimes,” Chimney laughed.
“It’s fun!” Buck said defensively.
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain what happened to Eddie,” Bobby reminded him.
“Well, you know how certain things get more popular on those apps, right? Like a certain song or dance?” Buck asked, receiving blank looks from everyone in response. “I keep forgetting who I work with. It’s like an old folks home.”
“It’s called maturity,” Chimney huffed.
“So there was this one that kept popping up. There’s a couple- well, two people, and one of them pretends to see a mouse or something and jumps into the other’s arms. Kind of like in a cartoon. I thought Eddie would catch me.”
“I was lifting weights!” Eddie said incredulously. “One second I’m minding my own business and the next I’ve got 200 pounds of Buck flying at my face.”
“I thought you would catch me!” Buck pouted.
“I know you’re basically an overgrown golden retriever, but even they realize they aren’t lap dogs,” Hen cackled.
“I thought you would catch me,” Buck repeated again sadly.
“And I did, there was just no one there to catch me,” Eddie groaned, pulling his gauze away again. The bleeding had finally slowed so Hen and Chimney were able to get a better look at the damage.
“Well, it doesn’t look like you’re going to need any stitches. Damn head wounds just love to bleed a lot,” Chimney said, securing some bandages to the wound in Eddie’s scalp.
“No concussion either. Good thing you have a hard head,” Hen smirked.
“Lucky me,” Eddie muttered.
“Eds, you know I’m sorry, right? I never would’ve done it if I thought you’d get hurt,” Buck said somberly, staring at him with those damn blue eyes that could get away with anything. Eddie wasn’t really upset, just annoyed at all of this attention. It was the last thing they needed at the moment, since they’d agreed to keep things low-key for a while.
“I know, Buck, it’s-”
“Trending,” Chimney interrupted, holding up Buck’s phone for everyone to see. They watched on a loop as Buck fake screamed and jumped at Eddie’s chest, before they both fell in a heap with the back of Eddie’s head cracking against the edge of a bench on the way down.
“You posted it!” Eddie hissed, turning furious eyes back toward Buck.
“Uh, I mean, maybe?”
“I’m going to kill you. Someone get their camera out because that will surely go viral,” Eddie growled, slowly rising from his seat now that his examination was done.
“Eddie, see reason!” Buck pleaded, backing up to hide behind Bobby.
“Yeah, if someone films it, that’s evidence. You gotta do something when no one is around to witness it,” Chimney advised.
“You’re not helping,” Hen chuckled.
“No one is touching anyone,” Bobby said firmly, staring pointedly at Eddie. “Why don’t you go to the bunks and try to get some rest? If we get a call, I want to know you’ll be good to go.”
“Yes Cap,” Eddie muttered, glaring at Buck one last time before stomping over to the bunk room. Now there were thousands of people out there watching him fall on his ass. He didn’t really care about people’s opinions, but he didn’t want to gain a reputation for being a clumsy firefighter. He caught a woman falling out of a building for heaven’s sake.
Eddie slumped down on one of the bunks, trying to get comfortable. His head wasn’t hurting nearly as much as his pride. And at least the cut was small and he didn’t have to shave any of his hair. He’d been growing it out again recently and wasn’t too keen on having a giant bald patch.
He was just starting to doze when he heard the door open. Eddie knew who it was immediately, but pretended to be asleep. Maybe it was childish, but he wanted to see what he was going to do. He felt the air displace next to his spot as Buck knelt down beside him and his blond companion sighed.
“I know you’re awake.”
“Am not,” Eddie grumbled.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. You know that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do,” Buck murmured. Eddie stifled a groan, feeling all of his annoyance wash away at the tone of Buck’s voice. It was the one he only used with him when they were alone. Either while opening up about private issues or doing other private things. Tricky bastard.
“Did you really have to post it though?” Eddie sighed, finally peeling his eyes open to look at Buck.
“It just happened?” Buck shrugged, inching closer. “And besides, all the comments are talking about how strong you are and how dumb I am.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh huh. About how you protected me without even thinking of yourself. That you’re chivalrous and a hero.”
“I am?” Eddie asked, letting his voice go a little husky in that way he knew Buck liked.
“And that they were jealous that I got to be in your arms and not them.”
“That is your spot.”
“I didn’t lose it, did I?” Buck whispered, moving completely into Eddie’s space. Their faces were barely an inch apart. “It’s my favorite place in the world.”
“Never,” Eddie breathed out, closing the distance and pressing their lips together. He had a strict no PDA rule at work, but they were alone, so it was fine. And this was better than any painkiller he could buy. Buck wrapped his hand around the back of Eddie’s neck, being careful to avoid the wound as he deepened the kiss.
“Oh my God.”
Buck and Eddie jerked apart, staring up with wide eyes at the surprise visitor in the room.
“This isn’t what it looks like?” Buck said unbelievably. There wasn’t really anything that could explain away what they were doing. Giving each other mouth to mouth while they were both sitting up?
“Chimney, check the food! I think I’m hallucinating!” Hen called out dramatically, gripping her chest in mock horror.
“Now, I know I checked that cake and it was fine. I don’t know what you’re- oh,” Chimney said, pausing when he got a look at what was going on. Buck was still holding him in a way that screamed more than friends. No use hiding it now.
“I thought Eddie was supposed to be resting?” Bobby said, coming up behind the two person audience. Well, now everyone knew.
“Who had this week in the pool?” Hen asked suddenly, whipping out her phone.
“Pool?” Eddie groaned. This group was way too comfortable with each other, and this was coming from the guy who’d just been making out with his work partner.
“When you two would finally get together,” Chimney explained.
“That wasn’t exactly our first kiss,” Buck huffed, catching an elbow to his side for his troubles. Eddie didn’t need everyone to know that.
“But the pool was for when we would actually see irrefutable evidence,” Hen smirked, flicking through her cell. “And the winner is… Bobby?”
“I thought you said you were too mature for this stuff?” Chimney grumbled, pulling out his wallet.
“Couldn’t avoid the temptation of a sure thing,” Bobby grinned, holding his hand out to collect his winnings. “Now, let’s let Eddie get some actual rest. I need time to prepare my speech on firehouse etiquette and relationships between coworkers.”
“I can’t wait to hear that,” Chimney chuckled, following Bobby out of the room.
“Sounds like fun,” Hen agreed, waving as she walked away. Buck was staring at him sheepishly, but Eddie just sighed and laid back down. This was a mess, but it was worth it to be with Buck. It didn’t mean he had to enjoy it though.
“This is all your fault,” Eddie reminded him. Buck laughed, nudging Eddie over so he could climb onto the bunk as well. He rested his head on Eddie’s shoulder, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw.
“I blame TikTok.”