Work Text:
It started out just like any other Saturday, Eddie woke up to the sound of muffled giggles and the smell of pancakes. He sat up and stretched with a yawn, listening to the sounds of Buck and Christopher messing about in the kitchen. He smiled and groggily made his way to the kitchen, forgoing a shirt in favor of pancakes as soon as possible.
The sight of Buck and his son together was also a part of his reason for rushing, but that was a secret he tried to keep from even himself. What a sight it was, Buck flipping pancakes while spouting random facts about Christopher’s latest interest, marine life, while Christopher looked at him like he hung the moon. He wondered for a moment if that's how he looks at Buck too. Eddie allowed himself the small pleasure of fully taking in and appreciating the beauty and domesticity of the view before either noticed his presence, smiled, then pushed it out of his brain.
At that moment Buck chose to turn his attention to Eddie, “Morning, Chris and I were wondering when you’d wake up.”
Eddie just grunted in response, words failing him, the lack of caffeine in his system combined with Buck’s smile directed at him was too much for his brain first thing in the morning.
“Yeah, sleepyhead, you were gonna miss pancakes!” Chris exclaimed with too much enthusiasm for him to have just woken up. But, looking at him while he grabbed a cup of coffee, it appears Chris is dressed and must have been up for a minute. He looked over at Buck and sees he also looks ready to go out somewhere.
“I was thinking we could all go to the aquarium today, you know, if you don’t have any plans,” Buck said, noticing Eddie looking at him, “but I mean if you do we can go another time.”
The way Buck said we like they’re a family made Eddie lose his train of thought for half a moment, pushing in domestic images of the three of them doing things together. Buck tilted his head at Eddie, waiting on a response.
“Oh yeah- sorry, that sounds good,” Eddie gives his head a slight shake as if it’s going to magically make all those thoughts disappear, “We can head out as soon as we eat and I get ready.” The answer seems to satisfy Buck, who nods his head and starts plating the pancakes.
If it wasn’t for every other little reason he loves Buck, the pancakes alone would make Eddie ask for his hand in marriage, he practically moaned as he took a bite. For some reason that made Buck stiffen up for a moment so quickly Eddie swore he imagined it because it passed and Buck was right back to talking with Christopher about all the cool things they were going to see at the aquarium.
Just as Eddie said they made their way out the door as soon as Eddie was done getting ready.
The aquarium was everything Christopher wanted it to be, Eddie could tell by the look of pure joy on his face, which matched the look on Buck’s. They looked around at all the sea creatures in awe, Buck of course with many facts to impress Chris at every chance.
Eddie smiled to himself, he loved how Buck looked just as excited as Chris to be there. He knows how much Buck loves Chris and his heart ached at the thought.
“Dad! Come look at this sea dragon, it's so cool!” Eddie’s head snapped up at the sound of Chris’s voice, only he wasn’t looking back at Eddie.
He was looking at Buck.
Eddie panicked for half a second, he knows Buck loves Chris but still doesn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. Except the thing is, when he looked at Buck for his reaction, there wasn’t one except him running to see what Chris was talking about.
Huh. That… was unexpected. Eddie felt a wave of relief wash over him, glad he won’t have to deal with any awkwardness. Then he thought for a second about the reasons why Buck wouldn’t react. One, it has happened before without Eddie around and Buck didn’t have the heart to correct Chris. Two, this was the first time it happened and Buck didn’t want to make a big deal about it considering it happened in public. Three, Eddie completely misheard his son and is overthinking for absolutely no reason. And finally, four, Buck actually doesn’t mind and agrees with the idea of him being Chris’s other dad. Eddie quickly decided on reason three and made his way over to them before he had the chance to think about it anymore.
The rest of the day goes by fine, until they’re out eating a late lunch and somehow both Eddie and his son end up getting half their food on their faces.
“Come on man, Chris I can understand because he’s a kid, but you?” Buck laughed, “How did you manage to get sauce on your ear?”
“I don’t know, I was hungry,” Eddie shrugged and took a napkin to Chris’s face, before wiping down his own.
“Uh- you still got a little,” Buck gestured to a portion of Eddie’s face. Eddie tried again. “No, here let me,” Buck reached across the picnic table and wiped the napkin against Eddie’s cheek, the other hand coming up to rest on the other side of Eddie's face, almost too gentle for him to feel.
The moment lasted for maybe 5 seconds but it was enough to make Eddie lose his breath looking up into Buck’s piercing blue eyes. Then it was over.
“There we go, now you could never tell you somehow managed to miss that big mouth of yours,” Buck chuckled a little as he sat back down.
Eddie’s eyes shot up at that, “ My big mouth? I don’t think you want me to get started on which one of us has a mouth on them-” and just like that Eddie caught himself letting his filter turn off. He hoped Buck didn't catch on to any underlying meaning there might’ve been there.
Buck looked a little surprised then quickly opened his mouth to retort back but before he gets the chance they’re interrupted by someone running up to their table.
They both looked over, Chris seemingly distracted by a video on Buck’s phone. The someone is a young woman that looked to be in the middle of a jog. Eddie tensed up for a second because usually when attractive women come up to them it's to hit on Buck and Eddie just can’t take that right this second. But that is not what she does, instead what she does shocks Eddie to his core in the most terrifyingly delightful way.
“I just wanted to let you guys know you are the cutest family ever, not to be weird or anything,” She said it so genuinely Eddie almost believes it’s real for a second and then he is grasping at straws trying to think of what to say.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Buck about to say something when Christopher spoke up, apparently no longer watching YouTube on Buck’s phone, “Thanks! My dads are awesome.”
She laughed at Chris’s response before waving goodbye. Before Eddie or Buck even get to fully process what Chris has just said he turned to them and asked, “Can we go to the park? Jenny said they might be there today and we could hang out.”
“Of course buddy, let’s just pick up our trash and go,” Eddie responded, not giving any chance for Buck to say anything before he started gathering their trash. Buck just tilted his head at him and followed suit.
The ride to the park wasn’t super awkward or anything, it’s not the first time this mistake has happened according to what Buck told him before. When Buck told him about that time with the elf he almost short circuited but Buck just laughed it off like it was a funny joke so Eddie followed suit and squashed any feelings of misguided hope rising in his stomach.
However there was still some sort of feeling in the air, leftover from Christopher’s response to the woman. Eddie couldn’t quite name the feeling, it was like a tension but not one he’s ever experienced, and it wasn’t a bad feeling necessarily so they were able to work around it.
They pulled into the parking lot, Chris claimed he already saw Jenny’s mom’s car and was practically buzzing with excitement. Then Eddie realized what he said- Jenny’s mom.
Now Eddie really had nothing against her, she was a really sweet and caring single mom. There laid the problem though, she was single, and she was not afraid to flirt. Eddie couldn’t even blame her for flirting with Buck either, I mean come on, it’s obvious Buck is a catch. He’s amazing with Chris, he’s funny, he’s smart, he’s caring, and he is absolutely gorgeous. Have you seen that man’s arms? His smile? Eddie could never count the reasons for someone to want Buck, there’s way too many.
But, Eddie is selfish and doesn’t want to share any of those qualities with anyone. He wants to keep Buck all to himself, trapped with him and Christopher forever. For some reason he feels like if he were to ask Buck though, he would do it voluntarily. Even if it was just because of Chris, that thought made Eddie stand up a little taller when they near Jenny and her mom, where she is already eyeing Buck up.
Christopher and Jenny immediately ran off with Eddie’s phone in hand, so he could show her all the cool pictures from the aquarium. This gives Jenny’s mom, April, the chance to greet them both, but Eddie can’t help but notice she saves most of her enthusiasm for Buck.
“I’m so glad you guys could make it, I wasn’t sure if you got my text today, it was kind of last minute,” She directed the second part at Buck. Since when does she have his number? When did she text him? Why did she feel comfortable enough to text Buck about this?
Eddie turned to Buck, ready to ask some form of all these questions, when he realized Buck looks just as confused as him.
“Uh, I’m not sure what you mean, or exactly how you got my number,” Buck’s eyebrows are scrunched up in confusion in the cutest way possible, another feature of Buck that Eddie can add to the list of things he doesn’t want to share.
“Oh, well I got it from the PTA contact list, but you never responded so I guess this is just a happy coincidence, or fate, if that’s your kind of thing,” Jesus, Eddie had to physically stop himself from rolling his eyes at her. She could do with some subtlety, but it still seems like it flies right over Buck’s head.
“Yeah I guess so,” Buck chuckled, “Well I guess we should all sit while they do their thing,” He starts to lead them to the picnic tables.
Eddie swore she was trying to sit next to Buck but he swooped in too quickly for her, thanks to his longer legs, and sat maybe just a little closer than strictly necessary. His eyes drift down as he takes his seat. Not as long as Buck’s… And nope, none of that. Eddie snapped his eyes back up just as April took her seat, a little off put but Eddie knows if she sees Buck in any way that he does, she won’t go down without a fight. With this thought he decided to push the boundaries a little bit and slide as close to Buck as possible, every inch pressed up together that could be. Buck had no reaction that Eddie could see so he counted as a win for now. Eddie: 1, April: 0.
But of course since Buck is just incredible and polite he started asking April about herself and she all but jumped at the chance to talk about her divorce and how she’s ready to move on. Buck just listened like it was the most interesting thing because he’s so sweet and Eddie loves him for it but right now he want him to tell her to fuck off.
“So yeah it was an amicable divorce but now I just would like a stronger, more confident man, who can take care of me and Jenny,” She leaned across the table a little when she said this, “It’s just so hard sometimes, with it being just me and her,” Then she did the unthinkable and placed her hand on Buck’s forearm that’s sitting on the table with pleading eyes Eddie is sure she thinks are super inviting.
And fuck everything Eddie said before about her being nice or whatever, he is pissed. He unfortunately allowed his jealousy to get the best of him and before he knew it he had wrapped his arm around Buck’s waist, holding him tightly.
“Yeah I know exactly what you mean, it was hard at first with Chris, especially when Shannon passed, but luckily we have Buck,” Eddie emphasized this with a squeeze where he has his arm possessively snaked around Buck’s middle. Her hand is pulled back before Eddie even finishes the sentence.
Her eyes widened a little but then she continued on with her talking about being a single parent, but with less enthusiasm and no more flirtation. Eddie still has his arm around Buck, and normally he wouldn’t think about it, but normally he would have it around Buck’s shoulders, not his waist. Also, normally, he wouldn’t have just done it in a way that practically staked a claim on Buck.
He wanted to move his arm but he also didn't. Eddie is scared that if he moves it Buck will get up and run, far away from Eddie and his weird possessive outburst. He is also scared to look at Buck, he can tell Buck is slightly tense under his hold. He is less tense than before when April was touching him though, Eddie noted. Just as Eddie is about to withdraw and give up, Buck snuck his hand down from the table and linked it with Eddie’s.
Also unexpected.
Eddie decided to soak up this moment while he could, reasoning that Buck was trying to avoid April’s advances for his own reasons, because why else would he be holding Eddie’s hand and stroking it with his thumb.
Oddly, April decided now was the time for her to gather Jenny and leave the park, and she does it in such a rush Eddie and Buck barely have time to separate before Chris is coming over.
Chris looked at them weirdly and Eddie thought for a second he was caught red-handed, but then Chris goes on to talk about some new game that Jenny was telling him about. They made their way back to the parking lot to head home.
During the drive Eddie thought about what he did, and how embarrassed he was. He hoped it didn’t scare Buck into leaving because he’s sure Christopher wants him to stay for dinner and a movie. He doesn’t ever want to mess up with Buck and leave Chris without him.
Which made him think about earlier at the aquarium when Chris called Buck dad. Eddie does not disagree in the slightest with Chris. Buck is just as much a parent as Eddie is, he might even be better. Eddie could never forgive himself if he was the cause of Buck leaving Christopher, but even then he thinks Buck would find a way.
These thoughts are still running through his head when they pull into the driveway, and when they walk through the front door, Buck still right behind him.
Eddie was right in his assumption that Chris wants dinner and a movie with Buck, so of course that is what they do. Buck took the lead on dinner while Eddie helped Chris pick a movie.
They ate their dinner on the couch so they could start the movie, Christopher sitting between them. When they finished eating Eddie brought everyone’s plates to the kitchen, Buck cooked so the least he could do is clean.
Luckily the movie is good so Eddie focused on that instead of trying to sort through his emotions from today’s events. It’s peaceful for a bit. Then the credits roll.
Eddie knew some force was out for him when Christopher was already asleep and he had to put him to bed. He lingered for a moment, scared of what was to come without his son around as a buffer.
Then Buck is at the doorway.
“Eddie, I think we should talk,” Eddie looked up at him, he looked nervous for some reason. This made Eddie freeze in fear, he fucked up and Buck was going to leave him. Eddie chose to just get it over with and walked out to the living room, gesturing for Buck to follow.
Eddie sighed, “Look Buck I know I crossed a line at the park but let me explain-”
“What do you mean you crossed a line? I was talking about me and Chris calling me his dad, I’m the one who crossed a line I should’ve corrected him. I know I’m not his dad but I love him so much I wish I was, it just made me so happy the first time and it caught me off guard so I didn’t know what to say and-” Eddie looked at Buck in shock,
“What do you mean the first time?” Eddie questioned Buck, who looked like he was plotting all his possible escape routes from Eddie.
He looked at Eddie like a deer in headlights, “Uh well, Chris did it a couple weeks ago and I thought it was just a slip up at first but then he kept doing it and I just didn't stop him and I’m so sorry I know you are his dad and I’m not-”
“But you are,” Eddie stared at him, he totally said that without thinking and now Buck looks confused, “I mean, shit, Buck you are his dad and he loves you like you are so I really don’t mind, it’s sweet.”
Now Buck looked less confused, however, he was staring at Eddie like he wanted to say something, but was waiting on Eddie to say something first. Then the look was gone and Buck straightened up, his face turning into something happy with something unreadable.
“Oh well, that means a lot to me. I’m glad I didn’t mess up, but I guess since we cleared that up I’ll head out,” Now it’s Eddie’s turn to be confused. Buck usually stays when the movies stretch out this late, especially when they had such a long day. Did he say something wrong?
Buck seemed to sense his confusion though, “Oh yeah what were you going to apologize for?
Now that really caught Eddie off guard because he was no longer prepared to rant about his jealous display in the park. “Uh well in the park earlier, when I put my arm around you like that, I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable-”
“It didn’t. If anything she was making me uncomfortable. I don’t mind when you touch me,” Obviously Buck does not mean that in the way it sounds but it goes straight to Eddie’s head and he suddenly cannot form words.
“Well, good, good, I’m glad,” Eddie didn’t really think about the way that would sound either.
“You’re glad?” Buck looked at him seemingly searching for something in what Eddie is trying to say.
Eddie doesn’t know what to say really so he just continued on with his absolute mess of word vomit, not caring about how stupid he might be for what he’s doing because Buck is looking at him. Buck has Eddie pinned in place with his gaze and Eddie can’t think straight and therefore cannot be held accountable for what he said next:
“I’m glad you don’t mind me touching you, I like touching you. I couldn’t stand her touching you and it was selfish. I was being selfish but I don’t want to share you with anyone.”
Buck’s breathing hitched and Eddie’s whole world stopped. It felt like everything was on a precipice at this very moment, like the slightest movement and everything would shatter.
Then Buck fucking laughed. He straight up laughed right in Eddie’s face.
“What the fuck?”
Buck tried to catch his breath, “I never took you for the jealous type.”
“I repeat, what the fuck?” Eddie is so confused and a little hurt right now because hello? He just confessed to his best friend and he laughed at him? “Look dude if you want to make fun of me you can, just do it away from me so I can be embarrassed and miserable by myself.”
At this Buck officially stopped laughing, “No look I’m not making fun of you I’m just shocked. I thought it was because you could tell she was making me uncomfortable.”
“Well no, but like I said I’d like to be embarrassed by myself after that,” Eddie almost pleads with him but he does not understand how Buck did not see his reaction was a result of pure selfishness.
Buck frowned, “Seriously, Eddie, I’m sorry. I like jealousy, it’s cute,” He grabbed Eddie's hand, “Come on, look at me.”
Like Eddie has a special switch that makes him follow Buck’s every command, he looked up, then processed what Buck said, “I have a list.”
“A list?” Buck questioned.
“A list of all the things about you I don’t want to share with anyone.”
Buck sucked in a breath, “Oh.”
Eddie thought he was imagining it but Buck was getting closer, invading his space until there was only centimeters between their lips.
Eddie glanced down at Buck’s lips.
“Can I kiss you?” The question came so soft Eddie would have missed it if he couldn’t feel the puffs of air exiting Buck’s lips as he said it. Eddie, at a loss for words, nodded slightly for permission.
Their lips meet and it is so much more than Eddie could have ever imagined. It somehow feels like a first kiss and kissing someone you’ve kissed a million times before. Their lips slotted together perfectly like a key turning a lock. Eddie felt weightless only held down by the weight of Buck’s hands in his hair.
Then just like that it’s over and Buck is pulling away.
“Just so you know you might have to share some of me-” Buck began.
“With who?” Eddie raised his hackles like he was ready to jump into the ring.
“Chris obviously, he might have a problem with you keeping me all to yourself,” Buck smiled at him like he just won the biggest prize at the carnival.
Eddie smiled right back at him because he just won the biggest prize in the universe.