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So Buck has this super cute neighbor. Scratch that - boiling hot, want to lick his face, neighbor, who he cannot stop thinking about. Ever since the universe literally pressed them to meet, Buck hasn’t stopped thinking about him once. It’s seriously a problem. He’s had barely one conversation with the guy. He knows practically nothing about him. (except that he’s got the body of a Greek god) Buck just needs to stop thinking of him. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind and all that.
So, even though they live right next door to one another, they shouldn’t run into each other that much. Right?
1.
He’s just gotten home after helping Maddie move into her own place. She had been crashing on his couch for awhile, but she needed her own space, and to not be living with her little brother. Although her being away from him is making him uneasy, he’s still incredibly proud of her. He was planning on staying there longer, but with the way she was drooling over Chimney, clearly meant he was no longer welcomed.
While it is very weird that his sister is into Chimney. Like rebar through the brain, never shuts up, always popping his gum, Chimney. But he also acknowledges that he’s a great guy, and his sister deserves that. She deserves everything.
Needless to say he’s very preoccupied with these thoughts as he enters his apartment building. He’s nearly to his door when a grunt catches his attention. Glancing up, he sees Hot Guy Eddie (he probably shouldn’t call Eddie this in his brain but, he’s only human, sue him) who is juggling at least eight bags of groceries while attempting to unlock his door. Buck bites back a smile.
“Need help?” Eddie jumps, nearly dropping everything. Buck takes a step closer and extends his hands out.
“Uh- yeah that’d be great.” Eddie answers sheepishly. He hands him a few bags so he can now unlock his door. Brown eyes steps inside and Buck isn’t sure what to do. So he awkwardly hovers waiting for Eddie to invite him in, like he’s a vampire.
“Come in man, I can offer you a beer if you want one.” He smiles and steps inside, taking a moment to admire everything. The apartment is identical in layout to his own, but the decor is much homier. Photos on the wall, plants, warm colored furniture, drawings on the fridge. Buck loves it. He sets the grocery bags he has on the counter next to the rest of them.
“You don’t have to, I can get out of your hair.” He tells him, knowing Eddie was probably just offering to be nice.
“Nah, I’m bored, and I wanna say thank you for saving me out there.” Buck laughs, bright and loud at this, as Eddie finishes putting away his groceries.
“Yes saving you from the certain death of dropping produce.” He teases, just watching Eddie. The brunette smirks without looking up and then turns into the fridge. He gets two beers out passing one to Buck.
“Well, you were a great help, you can have my back any day.” He locks eyes with Buck and Buck feels himself getting lost in it. His face turns a little pink, and he can feel his cheeks heat up.
“Yeah, or you know- you could have mine.” They both smile at each other.
2.
Buck is genuinely proud of all of his tattoos. Yes, he may have gotten some of them (read; most of them) impulsively, but they all still show a different part of his life. They’re like scars he chose to have. Art that will live on his body forever. He loves showing them off, telling each of their stories to whoever will listen.
***
“Woah! Is that Saturn?” A little boy asks. He’s across the hall, quickly making his way towards Buck, his crutches echoing through the building. Buck smiles wide at him, crouching down so he can see the tattoo better. The little boy approaches and immediately inspects it.
He got the tattoo years ago, it’s fairly simple, just Saturn sitting on his tricep. It’s in black and white but the artist who did it added shading to make it more realistic.
“Yeah it is! I love space so much so I got it. Do you like space?” The boy’s eyes light up and he nods enthusiastically, he opens his mouth to say something when someone says,
“Christopher!” It’s Eddie. Of course it is. Eddie is incredibly attractive and he has the cutest kid ever. Chris turns to him, slightly annoyed at his dad’s interruption.
“You can’t just get on the elevator without me.” Eddie says, out of breath.
“But dad! I’m a man now. Men ride the elevator alone.” He tells him. Buck has to bite his cheek to keep from laughing, Eddie just huffs out a puff of air.
“Well as a man you need to protect your dad by riding with him.” Buck tells Chris. He seems to think this over then he puffs out his chest looking determined.
“I’ll always protect you dad.” Eddie smiles, then finally looks at Buck who is still kneeled at Chris’s side. He keeps the smile, and Buck has to look away, knowing his face is flushed. Chris looks at Buck’s tattoo.
“So why did you get this? Did you go to space?” Chris asks, making Buck laugh,
“No. That would be super cool, but I used to volunteer at this planetarium, so I got this while I was there.” Chris was slightly disappointed by him not being an astronaut, but hearing the word planetarium makes him just as excited again.
“I love planetariums! We haven’t been to one since we moved here, but I really wanna go to one again.” Buck nods, then looks up to Eddie, who is watching them with a soft smile on his face. He looks back down.
“Well, I happen to be an expert on all things space, so if you wanted any recommendations on cool planetariums here, I’d be happy to give them.” Chris practically squeals in delight and looks up at his dad.
“Can we dad? Please?” Eddie presses a finger to his chin, dramatically pretending to be in thought,
“I suppose we can. Now we’ve got to go inside to make dinner, so say goodbye to Buck.” Chris cheers and turns to face Buck.
“Bye Buck! I can’t wait to go to the planetarium with you!” That gives Buck a pause, but he shakes his head and says goodbye to Chris. He watches the boy go inside Eddie’s apartment.
He gets up off the ground, his knees popping loudly, and comes to be face-to-face with Eddie.
“Thanks for that, he loves space so much, so I’m sorry if he ambushed you.” Buck just grins at him.
“Nah. I love space just as much, he’s a really cool kid. Much cooler than his father.” Buck teases, making Eddie blush.
“He definitely is cooler, and hey if you were serious about the planetarium, that would be really fun.”
“I was serious. Talking about space all day? Literally my dream.” Eddie laughs, and Buck wants to bathe in the sound.
“Alright I have to go feed my kid. Goodbye Buck, I’ll see you soon.” He’s gone before Buck even has the chance to respond. Buck is so screwed
3.
Buck has absolutely fallen for his neighbor. After the first few run-ins, they begin hanging out regularly, which is just making Buck’s crush bigger. But at least Christopher is always there as a buffer. As much as Buck has been falling for his dad he’s also been warming up to this kid (who is honestly his best friend). Buck has always loved kids but this one is special. He’s the greatest thing to ever happen to Buck.
So, Buck is very glad Christopher is there for many reasons. The fact that he loves being with the kid is the main one. The fact that it also makes sure he doesn’t embarrass himself by drooling over Eddie is a bonus. (although he definitely still drools, but can you blame him?)
***
It’s ten o’clock on a Friday night, and if Buck was still Buck 1.0 he would be jumping into bed with someone. But he’s not, he wants to be better, he wants to heal damn it. So instead he’s having a quiet night in, and totally not thinking about his tantalizing neighbor.
He’s just about to watch a movie when he hears a distinct knock on his door. One, two, three, nothing. Getting up, he wonders who it could be. Other than the 118, he doesn’t have that many friends (most of the people he’s met here, have just been a one night connection, which means Buck has no idea who’s at his door this late).
Opening it he’s greeted by… Eddie? Eddie, who is dressed in jeans that make Buck’s mouth water, he also has a sheepish smile and a pack of beer.
“Hey man… what’s up?” Buck asks, still confused. Eddie lifts the pack of beer and shakes it,
“Chris is at a sleepover, and I am in desperate need of a distraction.” He tells him. Buck's face burns at the accidental meaning of his words, but he quickly recovers and invites him in.
“Is that all I am, a distraction? You wound me.” Buck tells him, dramatically placing a hand to his forehead. Eddie scoffs, and places down the beer on the counter.
“Yup. Sorry Buckley, all you’ve got going for you is your pretty face.” The blonde chokes on his own tongue, as Eddie just cackles, bringing two beers to the couch. They sit way too close, but neither of them move.
“So, what’s up? Why me?” Buck asks, because he’s too nosy for his own good.
“I uh- I don’t really have any friends. At least any in LA. You’re kinda my best friend man.” Eddie confesses, rubbing his neck clearly embarrassed.
Buck feels lighter than he has in years when he says, “You’re my best friend too. And hey once you join a station you’ll make friends with your coworkers, trust me.” He knows this first hand, the 118 quickly became his family. Eddie smiles and takes a sip of his beer.
“Is your full name Eddie, or is it Edu-“ Eddie promptly cuts him off,
“If you say Eduardo I will throw this at you.” Buck backs up a little, throwing his hands up.
“I wasn’t going to.” He’s fully lying, and Eddie knows it, but Eddie just chuckles.
“My full name is Edmundo. Now how about you, Buck? What’s your real name?” He asks, with shit-eating grin. Buck punches him in the shoulder.
“How do you know my name isn’t Buck?” Eddie just shoots him a disbelieving look, “Okay fine, it’s Evan, but I started going by Buck in the fire academy.”
“Evan, hmmm, Evan. I think I like Buck better.” Buck’s stomach flutters with gooey feelings.
“Thanks Edmundo, I like Buck better too.” Eddie shoves him off the couch.
4.
It was a shift from hell. All day they had non-stop calls, which in of itself would’ve already made it a rougher day, but then they got the last call. A fire at a small elementary school. Everyone was on edge when the principal informed them they were missing a child.
Buck is reckless. He knows it, always has been, but this was beyond that. He wasn’t chasing adrenaline, he just wanted to save this child. So, that’s what he did.
Bobby explicitly told him to get out, the building was unstable, and was about to come down on itself, but Buck ignored him. He heard small cries from a little girl, and following them he found her. She was huddled underneath a desk, shaking. He scooped her into his arms, shielding her the best he could from smoke and debris. The building was croaking, the fire roaring, and from the way things were shifting he just knew he had seconds before everything came down. He ran, as quickly as he could while carrying the girl. He was at the door, he could see everyone, the staff, the students, his team.
He knew what was happening before it happened. He could hear and see the beams cracking under the pressure. So he sped up, and as gently as possible, threw the little girl so she could make it to safety. A beam in the ceiling clips him right in the back, knocking him down. He thanks whatever god out there that he doesn’t lose consciousness.
Commotion surrounds him, then a hand is reaching out to him through the rubble. He grips it incredibly glad to see it. Getting up on his feet, he sees that it’s Chimney who got him up.
“You good man?” He asks, scanning Buck. Buck looks around, seeing the little girl tightly hugging her parents.
“Yeah I’m good.”
***
Limping his way to the elevator he desperately wishes he’d taken up Chim’s offer for pain killers. Hen had wanted to check him over, but he was running on pure adrenaline, and honestly didn’t see the need, so he declined.
Now as he stands here feeling every ache and hurt, he regrets many things. He doesn’t however regret saving the girl. He’d do the same thing over and over again if needed. But he does regret not icing his injuries hours ago.
Needless to say he’s a little out of it, so as he’s stumbling to his front door, he doesn’t see Eddie watching him. He rests his forehead against his own door, willing himself to reach into his pockets and grab his keys.
“You forget how to open doors?” This startles Buck, so he gasps and spins around, causing a hot flash of pain to course through him
“Oh fuck.” He hisses gripping his ribs. Eddie is immediately at his side gently prodding at his sides.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen at work?” Eddie asks, clearly concerned. Buck is mostly just focused on Eddie’s hands, the way they heat his skin, even if they are causing him a bit of discomfort. Pain is a strong aphrodisiac.
“Mmm, it’s fine. I’m just- I’m gonna take some meds and fall asleep.” Buck tells him closing his eyes again. Eddie huffs, as if Buck’s plan offended him.
“No. Come inside with me I’ll patch you up.” Buck thinks it over for three seconds before shaking his head. He doesn’t think he can handle Eddie touching him more, without doing something stupid. Plus he doesn’t want to bother him. Eddie must read this as Buck not trusting him because he says,
“I was a medic in the army. I know what I’m doing- so please let me help you.” Eddie is looking at him with such genuine concern that Buck has to oblige. He allows the brown-eyed man to drag him inside.
He has a fleeting thought of ‘Where’s Christopher?” but then realizes it’s noon on a Tuesday, obviously his perception of time is severely warped. Eddie sits Buck down on the couch, the blonde only grimacing slightly at the pressure it puts on his ribs. He leaves to go grab something, a first aid-kit Buck assumes, and then he’s back. He sits on the coffee table in front of Buck perching himself in between his legs. Buck’s stomach flutters.
“Take off your shirt.” Eddie says- no demands. Which totally doesn’t make Buck flush. Eddie clearly realizes what he said and also turns red.
“Woah Diaz, if you wanted me naked you could’ve just said.” He says this as he’s shedding his shirt, so once he takes it off he’s met with Eddie’s gaze. There’s something powerful in it, that he can’t quite read. He gulps and looks down.
With slow strokes, Eddie applies arnica cream to his sides. The touch feels like fire, burning a path all along Buck’s bones. He wants it to melt him. Let it swallow him whole. Eddie’s hands stop, Buck looks up.
Eddie is just staring at him. Buck decides to be brave. He leans in gradually, giving Eddie time to back away, he doesn’t. Buck captures his lips in a velvety kiss. Gripping the back of Eddie’s neck he deepens it, Eddie has zero objections, if the noise he let out is anything to go by.
The need for air wins out over pure desperation for one another, so they both back up. Eddie speaks first,
“What is this?” He asks, seeming… nervous? Which is so endearing, Buck immediately takes his hand.
“This is whatever you want it to be. We don’t have to do anything or go anywhere with it. I’m fine just being your best friend.” Buck squeezes his hand. Yes he would love to be with Eddie, but he also will not pressure him into anything. He was being genuine when he said he would be fine just being his friend.
“And if I wanted more than that?” Eddie asks, with a shy smile. Buck leans in for another kiss.
“Then we can be more than that.” They both smile, and continue making out like horny teens, careful of Buck’s injuries
5.
Buck had never had happiness, like he had with the Diaz’ boys. His whole life he felt as if he was a phantom, no one really seeing him, barely acknowledging his existence, but with Eddie he felt seen. Truly deeply perceived.
Him and Eddie had been dating for a few weeks. Taking things mostly slow (but they had their moments). It was way too soon for Buck to be thinking this, but Eddie and Christopher felt like his forever.
***
Tomorrow is Eddie’s first day as an official firefighter, at station 6. So, in order to celebrate this Buck is coming over to cook for him and Chris. He really wants to go all out, because his boyfriend deserves this! This is a big deal!
He’s making fried chicken and mac n’ cheese. Chris is his sous chef, who takes his job very seriously.
“Chris, can you salt the water?” Buck asks. Chris from where he’s perched on the counter, away from the burner, puts a good amount of salt inside. Buck smiles at him, and Chris looks proud. Buck continues prepping the chicken batter.
Once everything is finished, Buck helps Chris off the counter, then asks him to go wash up. Just as Chris is making his way to the bathroom, the distinct sound of a key in a lock fills the room. Buck smiles and keeps plating the food. He can hear Eddie toe off his shoes, set down his keys, and walk into the room. Eddie wraps his arms around Buck’s torso.
“What are you doing?” He whispers into Buck’s ear. Buck shivers.
“Cooking for you.” He answers simply. Eddie backs up to let Buck set the table. The older man eyes all the food then looks back up to Buck, one eyebrow raised.
“Am I missing something?” He asks, Buck wants to hit him.
“Yes. You’re starting at your station tomorrow!” The blonde exclaims, not angry, just a little irked. Eddie smiles at him fond, then looks… guilty? Maybe not guilty, but definitely like he’s hiding something. Buck throws him a confused look but moves on.
“We have to celebrate!” then he leans in closer, quieting his voice, “Plus Chris made you something, so yes this is a big deal.” Eddie laughs and sits down, Buck joining him. Chris comes down the hall holding the card he made for Eddie.
“Dad! You’re a firefighter now, so I drew you fighting fires.” Chris sits at the table, carefully watching Eddie’s reaction. Eddie has the softest expression Buck has ever seen, then he looks up at Chris.
“Thank you Mijo.” Chris beams and begins getting himself some mac n’ cheese.
“Let's eat, I'm hungry!” Both adults laugh, and oblige the eight-year old.
***
They eat, talk and laugh, but Buck can tell Eddie is hiding something. It doesn’t feel malicious, it just feels sneaky. So as they wash the dishes Buck nudges Eddie and asks,
“Are you hiding something from me?” Instead of responding like a normal human being, Eddie giggles. Honest-to-god, giggles. What?
“Okay… you’re freaking me out.” Buck says, eyeing his boyfriend skeptically. Eddie just keeps washing dishes.
“It’s nothing bad I swear. You’ll find out soon.” Buck nods. He trusts Eddie.
+1
He’s walking into work one day, the firefighter calendar fresh on his mind. He finds his team huddled in the bay, approaching he immediately begins talking about the calendar again (it’s been a big talking point, Eddie is sick of hearing about it) when suddenly Chimney says,
“Wow. That is one attractive man.” Hen hums in agreement.
“Where’s the lie? And I like girls.” Buck tenses and turns to where they’re both looking, the locker room, where he is greeted by a very familiar figure. His boyfriend, Eddie Diaz. He smirks wide, practically hearing ‘Whatta Man’ playing in his own head.
“Who the hell is that?” He asks not needing an answer because he is acutely aware of who that is.
“Eddie Diaz, he likes to be called Eight pack.” Bobby answers, and Buck has to bite back a laugh. After his Eddie puts his shirt on (a real shame) he catches Buck’s eye across the way, smiling. Oh he totally knew he was coming to the 118, and just didn’t tell him! Even if Buck is slightly upset he can’t help but smile back.
Hen and Chimney both throw him mildly confused looks, but he ignores them in favor of his favorite man.
Eddie walks over to them, introducing himself to everyone, pointedly ignoring Buck. Buck however doesn’t let his eyes leave Eddie.
“So, Eight pack, what makes you think you’re good enough to be here?” Buck asks teasing, but to everyone else it definitely comes off as an attack.
“Buckley, play nice, Eddie is your new partner.” Bobby orders, Buck has to try so hard not to laugh, instead choosing to just walk away. He can hear his team apologize to Eddie, and Buck would feel guilty if this wasn’t so funny.
“Jealous of me Buckley?” A voice from behind him suddenly says, he turns to face Eddie.
“Oh yeah. Definitely. Seriously, your boyfriend must be one lucky guy.” Eddie throws his head back in laughter.
“Yeah he sure is.” Buck grins wide at him, stepping closer. In his peripherals he can see Bobby, Hen and Chim huddling around them, but he ignores them.
“You are such a dick. Why didn’t you tell me last night- oh my god is this why you giggled?” Eddie’s cheeks go a little red, and Buck wants to touch them to feel the heat.
“I’m sorry! It was a surprise.” Buck huffs, faking anger, but he can’t hide his smile.
“Well I am most certainly surprised.” Bobby clears his throat,
“I think we all are. Do you know Eddie?” Buck looks at him, then back to Eddie who just nods his head.
“Uh- yeah. Pretty well.” He says the last part with a smirk, which causes both Hen and Chim to let out shocked noises.
“You’re dating him?” Hen asks, at the same time as chimney who says,
“You’re gay?!”