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You know, it was supposed to be a bit of a joke at first, getting Bobby to show off some of his old moves on the ice. But right now Eddie, Hen and Chim are staring at him open-mouthed as he makes some moves that a man in his fifties shouldn't really be able to do. Eddie has to sit down when Bobby starts spinning.
Next to him on the bench Buck is tieing the laces on his skates. He is taking far longer than necessary, so Eddie pokes him in the ribs. "What's up?"
Buck looks up where he's bent over his legs. "I suck at skating, Eds. I'll make a fool of myself."
"That's nothing new." Eddie takes a quick look around, Hen and Chim are making their way onto the ice, not paying them any attention. "None of us care, sweetheart. You know that, right?"
Buck presses his knee against Eddie's, but still looking at his skates. "I know, babe." He pauses and Eddie lets his hand rest on Buck's lower back, rubbing his thumb up and down. "I really don't want to look like an idiot."
When the idea pops into Eddie's head he can't help but smile, and internally groan because Buck will never stop calling him a hopeless romantic now. But he gets up anyway and holds out a hand to Buck. Buck just looks at him sceptically, not moving an inch. "C'mon baby, trust me." Eddie makes sure that his voice drips honey and lets just a hint of his accent bleed into his words.
Buck melts and gives in, taking Eddie's hand. He's a little unsteady when he gets to his feet, his fingers tightening around Eddie's. "Okay," his voice is as shaky as his steps, when they make their way to the ice.
Eddie keeps them close to the barricade as he skates backwards, holding on to both of Buck's hands. It's a slow progress, but they are moving, even if Buck is insanely tense and wobbly. His eyes are also firmly planted on the ice, Eddie's though... they are only seeing Buck. Even as Buck slips on the ice, even as he curses at his own feet, Eddie is the one falling. Every second Eddie looks at Buck, he falls more and more in love with him. But it's never felt like falling, not really. With Buck it's always felt more like settling, settling into a life Eddie has always dreamed of, but never truly believed he'd get to have. When Eddie falls more and more in love with Buck, it's more like the well gets bigger rather than it overflowing and drowning Eddie. There's just more space, so no matter how much he loves Buck, Eddie knows he can always love him more.
Buck looks up at him and the promptly falls on his ass, pulling Eddie with him. Eddie just manages to catch himself before he flattens Buck. "You good, Buck?"
"Don't ever look at me like that again." Buck's face is so red that Eddie can't see his birthmark anymore.
Laughter bursts out of Eddie. "Like what?"
Buck's hands squeeze Eddie's hips, where they are hovering an inch above Buck's own. As Buck bites his lower lip, Eddie's arms begin to tremble a little from holding himself up. He could straighten them, but that would mean putting more distance between him and Buck, and that is not a thing Eddie likes doing ever. "Like what, sweetheart?"
"Like you're hopelessly in love with me."
Eddie sighs and leans in just a little more. "Well, that'll be hard, because I am." Eddie finally sits up, getting ready to pull Buck to his feet. Holding on tightly to Buck's hands, so that he doesn't immediatly fall back down. "I am hopelessly in love with you, mi vida. Now c'mon, let's skate."
Buck gives a tiny nod of his head and lets Eddie pull him over the ice again. Bobby glides up next to them, "If you two still want to keep it a secret, maybe you should tone down the heart eyes, boys." And then he's gone.
Eddie turns back to Buck, who is still looking at after Bobby. "It's up to you, mi vida. It's your choice."
Buck's eyes snap back to Eddie, wide and blinking rapidly. "What? But Eddie you said, you weren't ready, that-"
"I know what I said, sweetheart, but that was months ago. I am ready, have been, but I just didn't know how to tell you." Eddie pulls himself closer to Buck, so close that Buck's arms wrap around Eddie, who is still holding his hands. "I love you, mi vida, and if you want, I'd like for everyone to know just how much."
Buck's eyes are still wide, but they drop to Eddie's lips and stay there, which Eddie takes as permission. Buck sighs against Eddie's lips, pulling him closer. Kissing Buck just might be Eddie's favorite thing, even if he does hear Hen and Chim jeering close by. Eddie smiles softly into the kiss.
The smile disappears fast though, because Buck is an idiot. Truly. But so is Eddie, because he had forgotten that when he smiles into kisses Buck leans in closer. And they are standing on ice, in skates, and Eddie had not thought this through. Because when Buck leans in, Eddie does what he always does, which is arch his back just a little, so that he can stay as close to Buck as possible.
So, Buck leans forward, Eddie leans back and then- smack. Now it's Eddie's turn to land on the ice, but Buck wasn't able to catch himself, so he actually flattens Eddie. The laugh comes so naturally to Eddie that he doesn't even think to stop it, even if his back hurts a little. "So much for not looking like idiots, huh." Then because Eddie is a little shit, "Bambi."
"Oh fuck you, Eddie." Buck says into Eddie's neck, where he's hidden his face. Eddie knows just how red the man must be, because he can actually feel the heat of his face against the skin of his neck.
"You can do that when we get home." Buck groans, the vibrations of it make Eddie's skin tingle.
Skates come into Eddie's field of vision and then Hen's slightly worried, definately amused voice, "Are you idiots okay?"
"Mhm." Buck says, still hidden in the crook of Eddie's neck, as Eddie says, "Yeah, but we should probably get of the ice. We'll get drinks."
Hen and Chim help them to their feet and then Eddie wraps his arms around Buck from behind and slowly glides them to the opening in the barrier. Once they are settle at a small table with a hot chocolate each, Eddie just sits and smiles at his boyfriend, who is talking a mile a minute about ice skating, because of course he'd done a deep dive, when they'd found out about Cap's past. Eddie lets his head rest in one hand and plays with Buck's fingers with the other.
"What?" Buck smiles that crooked smile, the one that's just a little shy.
Eddie intertwines their fingers, still smiling. "Nothing, sweetheart. I just love you." Buck flushes and ducks his head, his smile going even more shy.
"I love you too," Buck mumbles, staring at their hands. Hands, which Eddie pulls up and towards his mouth so he can kiss the inside of Buck's wrist. He can feel his pulse hammering beneath the skin. With his lips still pressed to Buck's skin he looks up and lets all the love he feels show on his face. "Eddie," Buck whines lowly.
"Sí, mi vida."
The flush deepens. "I told you not to look at me like that."
"And I told you that I can't stop it or at least I won't." Eddie kisses his boyfriend's wrist again. God, even kissing his wrist makes Eddie tingle, kissing any part of Buck makes Eddie happier than he's ever been.
Buck leans in closer and says in a voice that makes Eddie flush, "How pissed do you think the others will be, if we leave now, because I would much rather be in bed right now."
Eddie stands so fast he actually gets a little dizzy, but he could not care less as he pulls Buck up and close, kissing him in a way that promises a great time and says, "I could not care less what anyone else thinks right now." And with that he all but drags Buck out and to their car, the man giggling the entire time.