Work Text:
Buck knows the talk is coming. He's been waiting for it all shift. Ever since he walked in and Eddie glanced his way with an unreadable look on his face.
Buck hates not knowing what Eddie's thinking.
Especially now.
Especially when he's responsible for Christopher getting hurt.
But the hours go by and the shift passes and Eddie never brings it up. In fact, he acts normal. He laughs and jokes with Buck. Acts like nothing even happened. But it had.
So why isn't Eddie saying anything?
Unless he's just easing Buck into a false sense of security and plans to spring it on him.
It's the end of shift and they're the last ones in the locker room when Buck finally breaks.
“You still coming over tonight?” Eddie asks him.
Buck frowns. “What? You still want me there?”
“Yeah, man, why wouldn't I?”
“You should hate me after what happened,” Buck says.
“What? Why would I hate you?” Eddie asks him.
“Christopher got hurt,” Buck says. “Because of me.”
“No, he got hurt playing basketball,” Eddie says. “It was an accident.”
“An accident that never would have happened if I hadn't…”
“If you hadn't what?” Eddie questions. “Encouraged him to do things? Like you always do.”
“Eddie…”
“It was an accident, Buck,” Eddie says. “And he's fine. Has a couple bruised knees, but I'm sure we both got worse than that at his age.”
“I don't understand how you're so calm about this,” Buck says. “When he got hurt at school trying to skateboard you flipped out.”
“I did,” Eddie says. “But then someone helped me realize I can't hold Christopher back from trying things. Especially now that he's older.”
“That doesn't change the fact that he got hurt when he was with me,” Buck says.
“He did,” Eddie says. “But you took care of it and made sure he was okay and called me. You got him what he needed. So, of course, I don't hate you.”
“He might,” Buck mutters. He remembers how upset he'd been at the park when Buck had tried to help him. Sure, it's easy for Eddie to say that Buck had gotten him the help he needed. But Christopher hadn't felt that way at the time.
“He's a teenager,” Eddie reminds him. “He hates me every five minutes and then gets over it.”
“Yeah, well, you're his dad,” Buck says.
“And you're important to him, too,” Eddie says. “Look, just come over, okay? We can have dinner and you can talk to him.”
“And if he doesn't want to talk to me?”
“We'll try again tomorrow,” Eddie says. “That's what we do.”
Eddie leaves Buck standing in the hall outside of Christopher’s room with a pat on the back and what he's sure is supposed to be an encouraging smile. He can hear the dishes clanking in the kitchen and knows Eddie must be getting dinner started.
Buck wishes he could join him. But he knows he needs to talk to Christopher first.
He takes a deep breath and knocks on the door waiting until he hears Christopher give the okay before entering. Christopher’s sitting on his bed with a book in front of him.
He glances up when Buck walks in and then goes back to reading.
“Hey, buddy,” Buck says, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “What are you reading?”
Christopher doesn't look up as he turns the page. “A book.”
Buck winces. Right. A book. Buck remembers a time when Christopher would have gone in-depth about what he was reading, but not so much anymore. Buck tries not to take it personally— knows from Eddie that's just how it is right now— but it still stings a bit. Especially after what happened.
“Hey, look, I'm sorry about what happened at the park,” Buck says. “I never wanted you to get hurt.”
“I know,” Christopher says. “It wasn't your fault.”
“But you're still mad,” Buck guesses.
Christopher sighs and shuts the book. “I'm not mad at you , Buck. I'm mad at me.”
“You? Why?”
“Because it's another thing I can't do,” Christopher says.
“Hey, that's not true,” Buck says. “You can…”
“Do anything,” Christopher mutters. “Except I can't.”
“There are ways, Chris,” Buck says. “Like with the skateboard.”
“Yeah, but I had you for that,” Christopher says. “That won't always be true.”
“I'm not going anywhere,” Buck assures him.
“You don't know that,” Christopher mutters.
“Maybe not. I know I'm going to do everything I can to make it true,” Buck says. “You and your dad are the two most important people in my life. Nothing's going to change that.”
“Until you find someone else,” Christopher says. “I don't know why you can't just date each other.”
Buck stares. He can't help it. Whatever he expected to leave Christopher’s mouth, it wasn't that. And what does he even say to that?
That he feels the same way? That he's wanted to be with Eddie for years but he doesn’t feel the same?
That's not exactly something for him to unload on the kid. Even if he did bring it up.
“I know you two love each other,” Christopher continues before Buck can say anything. “It's obvious. So why can't you just be together?”
“It's not that simple,” Buck says. And he hates it. He hated it every time he was told that as a kid growing up, and he hates having to say it now.
“It could be,” Christopher says. “If you talked to him.”
Buck swallows. “I know that seems easy, but… Chris, sometimes you can love someone and they don't love you back. At least not that way you love them. And that's okay.”
Christopher narrows his eyes. “But you do love my dad.”
And Buck just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper. Because he does. He loves Eddie so damn much. But he can't exactly tell Christopher that Eddie doesn't feel the same way.
But he doesn’t have to say it. It must be written all over his face because Christopher reaches out and pats his hand. “He loves you too, Buck.”
Buck watches him with wide eyes as he opens his book and moves back to how Buck found him, as if they hadn't had this life-altering conversation. Then again, to Christopher, it probably wasn't.
“Talk to him,” Christopher says without looking up from his book.
Buck knows the conversation is over.
He sighs and gets to his feet. His legs feel a little wobbly beneath him as he leaves the room and closes the door behind him. Eddie's in the kitchen, his back to him as he stirs something on the stove.
“How'd it go?” Eddie asks him.
“Got any beer?” Buck asks, already moving to the fridge.
“You already know I do,” Eddie says. He puts the lid on the pot and turns the burner down before facing Buck with his back against the counter. “That bad?”
Buck takes a long pull from his beer and shakes his head. “No. He said he wasn't mad at me.”
“I told you,” Eddie says.
“But he said he was mad at himself, Eddie,” Buck says. “For thinking he could do something like that. And I tried to tell him he could— like with the skateboard we could find ways. But then— then he said he had me for that and that won't always be true.”
“Ah.”
“But I told him I wasn't going anywhere. And even when he said I didn't know that, I said I would do everything I could to make it true, because you are the two most important people in my life and nothing will change that.”
“He knows that,” Eddie says. “We both do.”
“Well, he's not as sure as you,” Buck says.
“What do you mean?”
“Because he said that was only true until I found someone else,” Buck says. He sighs and rubs a hand down his face. Telling Eddie about the talk had been easy. Until now. Until it got to Christopher’s observations about them. Eddie stays silent though, waiting him out like he always does. He turns back to the pot to stir it, and Buck's grateful. At least he doesn't have to say this next part to Eddie's face. “He said he doesn’t know why we can't just date each other.”
Eddie fumbles with the lid and sauce splashes across the counter. Eddie curses and jumps back. He replaces the lid, turns off the burner, and faces Buck again.
“What the fuck?”
“I know,” Buck says. “He threw me off too.”
“Is that all he said?” Eddie asks him.
Buck shakes his head. “No. He— he said it's obvious that we love each other so why can't we just be together.”
“And what did you say?” Eddie asks, stepping closer.
“I didn't know what to say,” Buck says. “But I— I told him that it wasn't that simple, and he said it could be if I talked to you. And then I started rambling a bit about how sometimes you can love someone and they might not love you back like you love them and that's…” Buck's words fumble a bit when Eddie reaches up, his fingers tracing across his birthmark and then down his cheek. “That's okay.”
“Is this the part where you tell me you don't love me?” Eddie asks him.
Buck swallows. “No. I was thinking you were gonna tell me that.”
“I could,” Eddie says. “But it wouldn't be true.”
His eyes lift and meet Buck's, and Buck gasps. “Eddie?”
“Maybe it can be that simple,” Eddie says. “If you want.”
Buck nods quickly. “I do. I just never thought you'd—”
“I do,” Eddie says. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Buck says. “So damn much, Eds. You have no idea.”
Eddie smiles and leans in closer, brushing his nose against Buck's. “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.”
Buck's not sure who moves first. All he knows is the next moment they're kissing. It starts slow, but somewhere along the way, Buck finds himself spun and backed against the counter, with his hands fisted in Eddie's shirt as he tries to get him closer.
His head falls back as Eddie's mouth moves from his lips to his jaw and then down his throat. Buck's gasp turns into a moan when sucks on a particularly sensitive spot above his collarbone. Eddie chuckles and squeezes his hip, but doesn't stop. It's driving Buck crazy.
He hears a thud from somewhere and opens his eyes startled when he sees Christopher standing in the doorway.
“Christopher,” Buck mutters, tapping Eddie's back. “Eddie!”
“What?” Eddie asks, looking up at him with a frown.
Buck nods his head towards the doorway and Eddie looks over his shoulder. He tenses for a moment before relaxing back into Buck's arms.
“Finally,” Christopher says. “Now when's dinner?”
Eddie tucks his face against Buck's neck to hide his smile. He presses one last kiss there and Buck's hands tighten against his shoulders before he loosens his grip so Eddie can pull back.
“Dinner's ready,” Eddie says.
“I'll get the plates,” Buck says, trying to follow Eddie's lead and act natural.
He sets the plates on the table along with the silverware and then takes his spot between Eddie and Christopher.
“I told you,” Christopher says between bites of his food.
“You told him what?” Eddie asks him.
“That you love him as much as he loves you,” Christopher says. “And I was right.”
“Yes, you were,” Eddie says.
“Yes, yes, you were both right,” Buck says.
“Maybe next time you'll listen,” Eddie says. “We Diaz's know what we're talking about.”
He leans in close with a smirk and Buck points his fork at him. “Behave.”
“I'm done!” Christopher says. He gets to his feet, grabs his plate, and walks it over to the sink. He starts to turn the water on, but Eddie stops him.
“We got the dishes tonight, buddy.”
Christopher looks between Eddie and Buck before leveling Eddie with a long look. Buck waits it out, knowing not to interrupt whatever silent conversation they're having. He's just taken a sip of his water when Christopher finally speaks again and immediately regrets the decision when he hears the words that come out.
“You two just want to make out some more.”
Buck coughs, feeling some of the water go down the wrong way, and looks at Christopher with wide eyes. “What?!”
Christopher shrugs. “Am I wrong?”
Buck looks at Eddie, who has his head in his hands. “Christopher.”
“You two were kissing,” Christopher says.
“Yes, we were,” Eddie says. “Because, as you pointed out, Buck and I love each other very much, and when you love someone…”
“Dad!” Christopher groans. “I know. Can I just go please?”
Eddie sighs. “Yes. Fine. You can go.”
The two watch as Christopher walks down the hall to his room, closing the door behind him. Buck turns back to Eddie. “You sure you're ready for the teenage years?”
“Not at all,” Eddie says. “But they're here whether we're ready or not.”
“We?”
“Oh yeah,” Eddie says, scooting his chair closer. “ We. You're in this too, Buck. Which begs the question, are you ready?”
Buck looks down the hall towards Christopher’s room and then back at Eddie. He sighs and wraps his arms around Eddie's neck. “No. But we'll figure it out. Together, right?”
Eddie smiles and pecks his lips. “Yeah, Buck. Together.”
And maybe it is that simple.