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Eddie really has to learn to not drink when he’s with Buck. Purely because, well, when Eddie drinks it suddenly gets very, very difficult not to kiss Buck. Like, okay, it’s not that Buck’s like irresistible or anything- Eddie has some modicum of self control. But a few rounds in, when Buck’s eyes are sparkling with inebriation and he has the rose blush of being tipsy and his lips are pinker than normal, it’s suddenly extremely difficult for Eddie to look away.
It’s even harder when Eddie’s had about as much to drink as Buck has and his brain is fuzzy with alcohol and his body is loose and his guards are lowered. It’s the kind of buzz that gets him in certain situations that make it extremely hard for Eddie to continue to ignore the fact that he’s absolutely head over heels for his best friend.
Like right now, for example.
They’ve had about four drinks each and Eddie has found himself pressed against Buck’s side in the booth, one strong arm thrown over his shoulders and Buck’s ankle hooked around his under the table. Eddie’s hand is on Buck’s knee and if Eddie was just a little bit drunker maybe he’d have the courage to move it higher up. It’s definitely a good thing he’s not that drunk. He never lets himself get that drunk with Buck. Because if he got that drunk with Buck, he’d make a very stupid mistake. So Eddie lets himself get buzzed, but he never lets himself cross that line.
That doesn’t mean he can’t give in to the temptation to lean against Buck further, to press himself into the side of Buck’s chest and relish in the butterflies that flutter in his stomach when Buck’s hand tightens on his shoulder and he pulls Eddie tighter into him. Eddie might burst. Something warm and fuzzy has coiled tight in his stomach and he listens to Buck, the sound shaking him as it reverberates in Buck’s chest. Eddie isn’t paying enough attention to know what made Buck laugh, but Eddie finds himself chuckling along anyway. There’s something about Buck’s joy that is just so infectious.
“Okay, okay,” Bobby says once the laughter dies down. “I think this is my cue to call it a night. Who am I driving?” Hen raises a hand, slumped against the back of the booth, Karen mirroring the motion right beside her. Bobby looks at Ravi, who’s passed out on the table, and sighs.
“I’m good to drive, Bobby, but thank you for the offer,” Maddie says with a smile, Chim still laughing beside her.
Bobby’s gaze moves to Buck and Eddie. “Eddie, Buck?”
“Nah, don’t think we’re ready to call it a night,” Buck answers for both of them. Eddie’s chest warms inexplicably. Maybe it’s the assumption that he and Buck are a package deal. Maybe it’s Buck knowing him well enough to answer for him. Eddie’s not sure and he’s too tipsy to analyze it right now. “Eddie?” Buck jostles Eddie and he gets the feeling that he’s tried to get his attention once or twice already.
“Hm?”
“You wanna go?”
“No, no, I’m gonna hang around, too,” Eddie answers quickly. He doesn’t want to move at the moment. He’s quite content under Buck’s arm, tucked into his chest. He’s about two drinks away from just curling up in Buck’s lap, tucking his face into his neck, and falling asleep there and then.
Maddie laughs at Bobby’s concerned eyebrow raise. “We’ll make sure they get home in one piece, Bobby.” She spares a glance at her very drunk boyfriend. “Well. I will, at least.”
“Thank God for you, Maddie,” Bobby laughs as he stands up, swinging his hair back to the table he stole it from. Karen nudges Hen and nods towards Ravi. Hen sighs heavily and reaches over to shake Ravi awake.
“C’mon, probie. Time to go.” Ravi grumbles in response but slides out of the booth, followed closely by Hen and Karen. Karen, a giggly drunk, stumbles slightly and gets caught, laughing, by Hen. Eddie grins at their friends and lifts the hand that isn’t on Buck’s leg to wave goodbye as Bobby corrals them towards the exit. Buck’s chest shakes beneath him with another laugh and Eddie somehow manages to sink even further into him. They’re all but cuddling at this point.
“God, you two are sweet,” Maddie sighs. Chim elbows her extremely unsubtly, and Maddie brings a hand to her mouth with a giggle. “Maybe I need to drink a bit more water before I drive. Or coffee.”
“Not anything they’ve never heard before,” Chim points out, his words slightly slurred.
“What’s that supposed t’mean?” Buck asks, his fingers squeezing Eddie’s shoulder slightly. He sounds defensive and Eddie tenses slightly. Of course that’s something that would offend Buck. Because Buck doesn’t like Eddie. So the words that make butterflies squirm in Eddie’s core also make Buck bristle.
“Ah, c’mon kid,” Chim says, “you guys get it all the time. Y’know with all the…” He gestures vaguely at Buck and Eddie and now Eddie feels slightly affronted.
“We’re friends,” Buck tells him. There’s a strange quality to his voice, a tightness that Eddie doesn’t want to think about. “Close friends.”
Chim laughs, not unkindly. “Yeah. So were me and Maddie.”
“Chim!” Maddie scolds, hitting his chest lightly.
“Hey, I’m just saying… we’ve all noticed it.”
“That’s not- we’re not-” Buck takes a deep breath. “It’s not the same.”
“You sure?”
“Buck,” Eddie says softly, “maybe just let it go? He’s drunk.”
“I’ll kiss him,” Buck says suddenly. And… what? “You know, to uh, to prove that I don’t- that we don’t- that we’re friends.”
“You’re going to kiss Eddie… because you’re friends?” Maddie asks, tilting her head.
“Yeah.”
“That seems-”
“I’m down,” Eddie says without thinking. “You know. Just to… prove there’s nothing there. For you guys.”
“Yeah of course. For you guys,” Buck echoes. He turns to look down at Eddie and Eddie’s stomach curls. This might be a huge mistake. “I’ll kiss you right now to prove I don’t feel anything for you. For them. Yeah.”
“Guys, this doesn’t seem very-”
But Eddie doesn’t hear the rest of what Maddie has to say. Buck leans down and presses his lips against Eddie’s and it’s more than Eddie ever thought it would be. He’s always noticed Buck’s lips. They’ve always looked soft. Eddie had no idea how they would feel against his, velvet soft and plush and gentle and demanding and then Buck’s tongue is licking the seam of Eddie’s lips and Eddie’s opening his mouth and they’re kissing .
It’s everything Eddie’s ever wanted and more. Buck’s arm that was around his shoulder pulls him closer and his other hand comes up to cup Eddie’s face and Eddie’s hand is squeezing Buck’s leg, higher up than it was before, and his other rises to the side of Buck’s neck and it’s everything . Eddie feels like a drowned man that’s finally found water and he absolutely never wants to stop. Heat bursts in his chest and curls in his stomach and fuck this was such a mistake because now that Eddie knows what it is to kiss Buck, he’s never going to be able to just be friends again.
All too soon, but after what feels like an eternity, Buck pulls away. They’re both breathing heavily and Buck’s eyes, clearer than Eddie expected, search Eddie’s. He felt it too. Fuck.
“Well,” Chim deadpans, “it certainly looked like you didn’t feel anything.”
“Shut up Chim,” Maddie scolds, her eyes wide and excited. “Guys? Got something to say?”
“Fuck,” Eddie whispers.
Buck lets out a small, breathless laugh, his thumb brushing over Eddie’s cheek. “Yeah. I second that.”