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Buck had an obsession, it was facts, of course. But for some reason, ever since he got struck by lightning, his previous fears especially since the tsunami almost faded into the background. In fact, the manipulated themselves into interests and now.. now he won’t stop fucking talking about sharks..
“They’re not facts buck!” Chim groans as buck shakes his head, biting a carrot viciously as Bobby continues chopping away at the onions. “You obviously looked these up!”
“Dude, you know that’s how facts are found out right? You don’t just know strange things, unless you’re a genius which-“
“You are not a genius.” Hen and Eddie both spoke at the same time, tossing each other a look as buck grumbles under his breathe and slumps in his seat.
“I could be..” he grumbled louder as Eddie snorted, looking down at his coffee as bucks head shoots up with a playful look in his eyes. “Shut up.”
“Didn’t say anything.”
“Didn’t have to.”
***
“But I mean come on! Isn’t it funny?” Buck whines as the team looks at him like he’s grown a second head. “Shark fun fact!” He exclaims, it’s still for a second.
Hens the first one to crack, doubling over in laughter as buck frowns, Chim folding his lips together to stop the laughter rising in his chest as Bobby shakes his head and walks away. Eddie’s silent though, he’s listening. So buck turns to him, eyes wide with excitement as Eddie’s smile grows fonder.
“Wanna hear it?”
“Always.” Eddie replies matter of factly as he leans against the fire truck, buck smiles bright and his eyes go into crescent moons, dimples wide on display and Eddie’s heart does a flip.
“Sharks don’t follow politics because they don’t have a government to follow.”
Eddie really wants to laugh, like he’s itching to laugh but the look in bucks eyes as he waits for his reaction makes the laughter die a little. His stormy blue eyes are soft around the edges, they’re sparkling in the dark light as he chews on his bottom lip, he’s.. anxious?
“Wow.” His voice comes out raspy, clearing it, buck nods and rubs the back of his neck. “I mean I thought they’d have like at least one form of government, you know like, fish-ment or something.”
Bucks eyes widen as his smile grows, yet his stormy blue eyes flick between something unreadable and something he didn’t want to read into incase he was fooling himself.
“Boys! Let’s go!” Bobby shouts from somewhere behind them as buck visibly jumps, face flushing red as he skimmers off, Eddie watches him with curious eyes as the giant rounds the front of the truck and disappears.
***
Closing the door behind him gently, the lights are on low inside, the only thing he agreed to install since the Hildy thing was voice activated light levels. Buck loves it, he can walk into Eddies home and just say a command and the lights do what he wants. When he installed it for eddie, he spent two hours going through different cycles, colours and actions.
“Dad?” Christopher’s voice calls from down the hall as buck pops his head out, small smile appearing on his face as Eddie drops his bag and walks towards them.
“Hey buddy!” Leaning down to hug his son, he looks between them both and then at the book their reading. “Oh lord.” He whispers, running a hand across his forehead. Buck just bursts out laughing as Chris sits there smiling innocently.
“Wanna hear something funny Ed’s?”
To be honest, he would listen to anything buck had to say, no matter how dumb, how stupid, how intelligent or remarkably vulnerable. He’d listen to him even as the world goes caving in, he would always look at buck even when everybody else doesn’t.
“Please tell me you didn’t teach Chris any-“
“Sharks can’t die the way Elvis did, it’s impossible.” Chris suddenly blurts out, buck slaps a hand over his mouth as Chris beams at the man. “Get it, because they can’t sit on a toilet.”
“Damn it Buck.” He laughs quietly as the strange fact kept replaying in his head and his laughter grew, he doubled over as Chris started giggling. Buck was bellowing, hand over heart, cheeks red and dimples wide. “They can’t sit on a toilet, why is that so funny?”
Buck shrugs while crying out as his hand reaches for his side, tears falling down his eyes as Chris giggles louder. “Cramp!”
That sets them off louder.
***
Eddie spends the next day looking up shark facts, granted, he really didn’t know what he was expecting. How did Buck find these facts? Why the hell couldn’t he find the same ones?
All he got is the largest shark in history, sharks diets and nastiest encounters with humans. Closing the laptop, he rested his chin on his fist as he leant back against the couch.
“Hey man, you good?” Bucks body appeared beside him, a coffee outstretched for him to take. Mumbling a thanks, he took a sip and placed it on the table.
“How did you find those facts?” Looking over at him, bucks eyes flicked across his face for a moment before he sighed and pulled out his phone. Tapping on google, Eddie watched as he went to bookmarks.
As it flicked across to the tabs, there were three folders but only one caught his eye.
Things Christopher would love
His breathe shook as he watched buck focus intently on scrolling through hundreds of tabs, eyebrows furrowed as he searched. Eddie’s mouth hung open as his eyes flicked back to bucks face. His heart thrashed against his ribs as he waited patiently, his head spun with the love pouring out of every crevice he had. Searching and reaching for buck, seeping into his skin and staying there.
“Oh here!” He said triumphantly, turning the phone to Eddie, stopping at the way Eddie was sat frozen, staring at him, eyes welling up. “Ed’s? You-“
“I love you.” He breathed. Bucks phone dropped out of his hands, a choking sound coming from the back of his throat as he tried to get his brain to come back online as Eddie just sat there.
“W-What?” Eddie just smiled softly and reached for his coffee.
“I’m in love with you.” Shrugging his shoulders, bucks eyes almost bulged out of his sockets as Eddie just sat, calmly, sipping his coffee. “I’ve known for a while, since the sniper. I knew right then and there, I’d do anything for you, like you’d do for me. It wasn’t because were best friends, it’s not because we’re partners, it’s because Ive given you my heart, no doubt about that.”
Bucks eyes go a touch darker as he looks down at his hands, a small chuckle coming from under his breathe. “Ed’s we can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if we messed this up, if we screwed up what we have already. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself anymore, I cant lose you or Christopher or the family we’ve built. I can’t I won’t I-“
“Who says you’d lose us?” Eddie’s eyebrows furrow as he places his cup down, turning to face buck who was stumbling over his own breathe. “Evan-“
“I can’t.” He whispers.
“You can’t or you just don’t want it?” He tried not to let his voice give it away that his heart was quite literally cracking. It was silent for a moment as buck raised his head and locked eye contact. Guilt was swimming around, mixed with regret. “Ah.”
“Eddie I just-“
“You can’t.” Buck nodded as Eddie sighed, running his sweaty palms against his thighs. “Well I’m gonna.. go change a tire or something.”
Standing up, he walked past Buck, who turned and stood up after him.
“Eddie this won’t change-“
“You’re my best friend Evan. Nothings gonna change that, no matter what.” Turning to face him, he looked so small, his shoulders hunched in on themselves as he looked down at his feet. Eddie wanted to slap him stupid.
“How can you say that? It changes everything.” His voice wasn’t disgusted or angry, it was curious and soft, almost tentative as his eyes rose slightly.
“Because I love you. I don’t mean as my best friend or my partner, although it’s mixed in there. I mean it like you’re the air I breathe, the blood in my veins. Like I can’t go to bed without making sure you’re safe first, I can’t watch a telenovela without you being there because I love watching your reactions to the dumbest things.” He broke off laughing as buck smiled slightly.
“You’re a part of me, I know your flaws, your limitations, your intelligence, your stupidity. I know the face you make when someone says something stupid and you want to go off at them but bite your tongue. I love your facts no matter how bizarre and crazy they are, because it’s you, no matter what I do or where I go. Everything reminds me of you, the damn kitchen, my truck, the zoo, the station, my overalls I know you stole because they look better on you.”
He stops and waits as buck just stays there, swaying slightly as he takes all the information in. Like it’s a surprise, like Eddie’s kept it secret.
“I gave you my damn son.” He says pointedly, bucks head shooting up, Eddie just raised his eyebrows and rubbed his lips together. “That should’ve been your first indication that I loved you, surely you know that. I don’t just run around giving people my son.”
“Eddie that’s.. it’s-“
“What? Different, strange, peculiar? Sorry to say Buck but even Hen knew I was in love with you especially after I told her about the will. She slapped me up the back of the head, I still have a bruise.”
“I’m so fucking terrified eddie.” He raises his eyes to Eddie’s level, they shone with honesty as eddie took a step forward and then hesitated taking two steps back. Bucks eyes tracked them, his hand raising slightly before dropping back down.
“You don’t think I am? I spent three years in love with you, it terrified me to my very core and then I realised that no matter what you said or what happened, I’d still want you to be in my life and in Christopher’s. Because you’re family Evan, now and always. Nothings gonna change that.”
Buck gasped quietly as he held his breathe, head spinning with everything all at once and Eddie just smiled and cleared his throat.
“Anyway, I’m gonna actually go find something to do. Friday night remember, don’t be late.”
Then he walked away and buck fell back against the couch, breathing in for the first time in a minute.
Off to the side, Hen and Chim sat mouthes open and eyebrows higher than their hairline.
***
The sound of the key in the lock was the only indication that Buck was even showing up tonight, he never responded to any of his texts and went radio silent afterwards. Eddie wasn’t freaking, he wasn’t. Sure he was nervous and a bit worried but he said what needed to be said and whatever happened two days ago…
It was the past, no matter how much it burned.
Getting up from his spot, Christopher’s crutches barrelled down the hallway as he ran into the open arms of buck, being swooped up in his arms and twirled around. This.. if it was all he could get, was enough.
It would always be enough.
Grabbing the dirty plates, he walked towards the kitchen, surprisingly it didn’t feel awkward, sure he’d have to make sure Buck was still comfortable around him, he could get use to the space. He’s done it before, he can do it again.
Dumping them in the sink, he turned and opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water, he’d have a beer later when Christopher was asleep. Maybe a few.
“Hey.” Snapping his eyes up, he felt bucks presence, closing the door, he turned and smiled warmly at him. Buck looked nervous. Even as he leaned against the opposing counter.
“Hey yourself, didn’t know you were coming.” Putting the bottle down on the counter, buck sighed and looked towards the kitchen window, the city lights a faint glow.
“Yeah sorry, had to think.” He pushed off the counter and walked towards the window, standing beside him but not touching, never touching. “I’m good now though.”
“Mmhmm.” He hummed. Buck turned and leant against the counter, Eddie took a step away, taking his previous spot.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you’re comfortable.” He simply stated, heart aching as buck stood up straighter. “Come on we have a movie to watch, you got him obsessed with finding nemo so be-“
“What do you mean so I’m comfortable?” His voice was thick with emotion that Eddie wasn’t going to unpack, it wasn’t his right. “Eddi-“
“Look, after what I said, I didn’t realise that it might’ve made you uncomfortable, so if it did I’m sorry. That’s why I moved, so you feel comfortable around me.”
Buck strode towards him, stopping right infront of him. Eddie made a move to the left and buck copied.
“Come on man.” He breathed out humourlessly as buck just shook his head. Eddie groaned and finally looked up into his eyes, rearing back at the all too familiar gaze.
“Why are you doing this to me Eddie.” He whispered, leaning his forehead against Eddie’s and Eddie.. well, Eddie jumped head first into crushing their lips together.
Dropping all his guards and kissing him how he’d wanted to all those years ago, how he always wants to. Bucks mouth opened and the sigh he let out made goosebumps rise on his skin.
“Fuck I’m sorry.” He choked out as his voice tried to catch back up to him as he tore his lips off bucks. Not missing the way buck chased him, even subconsciously. “Shit.”
“I noticed you the first second you walked through the station, I hated you for how you made me felt, how it made me melt anytime you even tossed a look in my direction.” Buck whispered, eyes locked on Eddie’s lips. “But you deserve so much more than charity work.”
Eddies head jolted backwards, raising his hands to bucks cheeks and running his thumb across the faint struggle lying there.
“You are not charity work Evan. You have never ever been something to do for fun or someone to love just because it would make me look like a good person.”
Bucks head dropped down as his chest heaved with heavy emotion, his lip trembling as eddie pushed his head back up, forcing him to look at him.
“I’m so tired of pretending to be interested in all those girls, especially the ones tia set me up with because they were all distractions. I’m tired of spending a third of my life being completely and utterly in love with you and pretending I’m not.”
Bucks breathe stuck as a tear fell from his eye, Eddie immediately brushing it away.
“Pasta doesn’t taste the same when you’re not here.”
Buck smiles slightly at that. Eddie’s heart smiles.
“Home doesn’t feel like home unless you’re here, with us, always. It’s too quiet or it’s too loud and you’re not here and I can’t breathe.” Eddie reaches his thumb up and runs it softly across the birthmark, hearing the hitch in his breathe.
“I couldn’t think properly ever since you told me.” Buck starts. “I knew deep down that I felt something for you but feeling it is completely different to saying it. It just scared me, so much.”
Eddie shakes his head and smiles softly.
“It’s okay Evan, I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do or say or feel. I’ll take you just as you are, friend, partner, best friend I don’t care as long as I still have you-“
Buck surges forward, wrapping his arms completely around Eddie, pulling them flush together. Eddie’s left hand lowers to his neck, running it around to the nape of his neck, parting his soft hair like waves and gently pulling. Earning a quiet moan as Eddie kissed him harder, with more conviction and love.
Stepping off the counter, he walked Buck back into the fridge with a thud as buck gasped and Eddie’s tongue licked across the back of his teeth, a shudder running down his spine. It was intoxicating, the way bucks entire body fit against Eddie’s with not so much a second try. They melded together like metal, like the final puzzle piece, like the way the water meets the shore.
Pulling away for air, both panting heavily as bucks eyes stayed closed even as Eddie’s opened.
“I love you.” Buck whispered, opening his eyes then, met with Eddie grinning widely.
“And to think all it took for me to finally snap was seeing the bookmark tab full of things Christopher would love.” Eddie snorted at the surprise on bucks face. “You love facts and you love our son and I can’t even… I can’t even look at another person because you are my person, you just consume me completely.”
Buck kisses him softly once more before leaning back.
“You know the shark facts were only the tip of the ice berg.” Eddie rolls his eyes and tries to pull away, buck just tightened his grip. “Unlike the titanic, sharks don’t like the idea of hitting one.”
Christopher’s laughter rings out through the house as buck just smiled.
“You’re lucky I love you.” Eddie points a finger at him.
“Yeah..” he nods.
“Maybe it’s time we actually go watch finding nemo before you look up facts about fish or-“
His eyes light up at Eddie’s suggestion and he smiles evilly.
“No.” Eddie firmly states as buck wriggles his way out of his hold, laughing loudly as he pulls his phone out. “Evan no! Please for the love of god.”
Buck just sprints towards the living room, Eddie’s smile is wide and bright as he watches Christopher lean into him, head resting on his bicep, eyes wide with interest as buck scrolls through fish facts.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.