Work Text:
It's Our Time Now (When We Want it to Be)
/ / /
One
When Eddie wakes up, he feels sore, heavy and exhausted.
Which means his dream about a house falling on him wasn't a dream at all.
Which sucks.
He must groan or something because then Buck is there, right in front of him, telling him he's fine, not to move, that he's getting a nurse.
Eddie would much rather Buck just stay with him but he can't reach out to stop him.
The nurses and doctors catch him up on his injuries.
Broken ribs
Dislocated shoulder
Multiple contusions
Hen, Chimney, and Bobby relay what happened.
Main support beam collapsed
Basement
6 hours to get to you
They skirt around a few things though.
Things that seem to involve Buck and his apparently totally normal reaction to a house collapsing with Eddie still inside.
Trapped for six hours before rescue finally reached him.
Eddie thinks Buck's reaction must have been worse than when the well collapsed.
Hen and Chim watch him and Buck closely, hoping that this might be the moment they've been waiting for.
Buck and Eddie have been dancing around each other for years arguably.
But things have been different the last few months.
Ever since Eddie came out, shortly followed by Buck and Tommy's breaking up.
The last couple of months that Buck and Tommy were together Eddie dated some.
Trying to get a feel for who he was.
Is.
It involved a few dates with a few kisses and a little bit more on two occasions.
He and Buck never talked about it.
They never talked about Tommy either.
A month or so after Eddie came out Buck announced that he had broken up with Tommy.
They'd made eye contact, a silent conversation happening while their friends and coworkers placed bets.
I don't want to rush
Then we won't
Six months later everyone got their money back since no one won.
Watching Buck move around the house now, fretting over every little thing, Eddie thinks now wouldn't be the worst moment to jump in.
To finally stop dancing around each other and start dancing with each other.
“Okay I need to go to the store cause like–you have no food–”
“Pretty sure that's your fault.”
“Call me if you need anything and I'll be back in less than an hour.”
Not likely
“I'll be here, waiting for you.”
Buck nods, grabbing his keys and flashing Eddie a tired smile.
“I won't keep you waiting too long.”
/ / /
Two
“Oh for God's sake, just kiss already!”
Hen and Chim say it at the exact same time in almost the exact same tone and while Eddie and Buck both laugh quietly, Eddie can't blame them.
They're at their annual end-of-summer BBQ at Bobby and Athena's new house.
The house was finally finished six months ago and Eddie admits, it's a nice house.
But its open floor plan means he and Buck can't hide away and give their friends and family a break from… them.
“Someday,” Buck says.
“Just not today,” Eddie laughs.
Almost a year and a half after coming out Buck and Eddie still aren't dating.
The timing isn't quite right.
Hen looks ready to strangle them. While Chim actually pulls at his hair for a few seconds.
“Guys,” Bobby cuts in, “everything in its own time, yeah?”
Bobby's growing just as impatient as everyone else, but the longer Buck and Eddie put off the inevitable, the longer Bobby gets to go without filling out a mountain of paperwork.
“See, Bobby gets it,” Buck says excitedly.
Eddie's pretty sure Bobby has the paperwork all filled out and ready to go, romantic that he is.
“Doesn't mean I'm not above locking you two in a closet until you get this sorted.”
“I just got out of a closet, please don't put me back in one,” Eddie says, before taking a sip of his beer.
“At this rate, you might as well have stayed in it,” Christopher mumbles.
That gets a laugh out of everyone, and if Christopher gives him and Buck a pointed look they both choose to ignore it.
Christopher doesn't often remark on his and Buck's relationship–or lack thereof–but even he seems to be getting annoyed at the snails pace that they're moving at.
And Eddie looks at Buck, wondering sometimes, what they're waiting for exactly.
Don't worry Eddie, we'll know it when we see it.
All Eddie sees when he looks at Buck is the next 50 years spent exactly as they've always been.
Together.
Everything in it's own time
/ / /
Three
A month later Buck and Eddie find themselves in a closet.
The supply closet.
But they're doing inventory and so far none of their friends have locked them inside.
Hen looked tempted but Ravi stopped her by breaking something in the ambulance.
Bless him.
That didn't stop Eddie from closing the door of his own volition, a few minutes later, however.
Eddie bites his lip, watching Buck bend over to count something on the shelves.
Clipboard Buck is definitely doing it for him today.
“If you wanted to stare at my ass all you had to do was ask nicely Edmundo.”
Eddie blinks, looking up from Buck's ass only to flush bright red upon realizing he's been caught.
Eddie flips Buck off, fighting back a laugh as he says, “Fuck off.”
Buck laughs, cocking one hip out and pressing the clipboard down into the clothed muscle of his thigh.
“Maybe we should switch things up. I'd like something nice to look at too.”
Eddie somehow turns even redder.
He knows Buck finds him attractive.
But it still sets his skin on fire to hear him admit it.
It takes a couple of tries, but finally, Eddie gets the words out,
“What kind of view would you like?”
Front?
Back?
Laying down?
Kneeling down?
Clothes?
Mouth open or–
The bell rings then and they're both moving on instinct.
The clipboard lays forgotten on the floor, Eddie's not safe for work questions hanging in the air, unasked and unanswered.
Once they're in the truck, headed to a car crash about a mile away, Hen breaks the silence first.
“Hey Chim, did you know that in order to do an inventory of the supply closet, the door actually needs to be shut?”
Chim fakes surprise, sarcasm dropping from his voice.
“I had no idea.”
Buck laughs.
Eddie shakes his head.
Not yet.
The rest of them groan in dismay.
“I seriously don't understand you two,” Chimney says, sounding almost like he's in awe of their stupidity.
“I'm starting to think they're just messing with us and have no intention of ever getting together,” Hen stage whispers to Bobby.
“Oh it's going to happen,” Eddie promises.
“Just not right now,” Buck finishes.
There's a beat of silence before Ravi opens his mouth.
“Just to be clear. You guys didn't have sex in the supply closet just now?”
/ / /
Four
It's Friday night.
They're off for the next 48 and Christopher is staying with his friend Jason, marathoning some game Eddie doesn't understand.
The only reason he and Jason's parents agreed to this is because it's the start of summer.
That and Eddie promised to play chaperone/host next time.
So he and Buck find themselves at a bar.
It's one Buck's been to several times but tonight is Eddie's first.
He can see why Buck likes it.
It's a Gay bar, definitely.
But the music isn't too loud and the lights aren't too dim or flashing rainbow colors.
Eddie's eyes do not care for flashing lights, rainbow, or otherwise these days.
The food’s good and the drinks are reasonably priced.
They sit in a small booth towards the back.
It almost feels like a date.
“I can see why you like this place,” Eddie says, reaching for some of the loaded fries Buck ordered.
“One of the few things I have Tommy to thank for,” Buck laughs.
Eddie figured Tommy must have taken Buck here, but he didn't know how to ask without–
“Buck?"
Speak of the devil
“H–Hey Tommy! What are you doing here.”
Tommy looks between the two of them and then points towards the bar.
A tall, redhead waves back at him.
“Same as you two–on a date.”
Eddie laughs, eating more fries while Buck hurries to correct Tommy.
“Nope. Not a–still just friends.”
Tommy quirks an eyebrow at them.
“Seriously?”
Buck's phone rings then, and he jumps out of his seat, mumbling something about Christopher and heading towards the exit.
Eddie and Tommy both watch him go before Eddie turns to look at the older man.
“Timings not right yet,” he says simply.
Tommy raises both eyebrows at that.
“He broke up with me, to be with you, and you're still…just friends?”
Huh.
“I didn't ask him to do that.”
“Oh, I know,” Tommy rushes to say.
“I just–Buck was pretty honest about his reason so I'm just, surprised, that's all.”
Tommy's date joins them, handing Tommy a beet.
“So you're the guy Tommy's ex left him for.”
Eddie quirks an eyebrow, eyeing the two of them.
“We're just friends, actually.”
The redhead stares at Eddie, trying to think of something to say.
“Okay, Chris and Jason finally beat the–what's going on?”
Eddie looks to his right, Buck's thigh now pressed against his shoulder.
“I was just telling Tommy and…”
“Kyle.”
“And Kyle here that we're just friends.”
Buck scratches the back of his neck.
“Ah.”
They descend into silence then.
It's not awkward.
Just
Silent.
“Well,” Tommy says after a moment. “This has been fun but I think Kyle and I will leave you two to…whatever it is that you do. As friends.”
Eddie nods and watches them quickly move to the other end of the bar.
“That was awkward,” Buck says after a minute.
“You told Tommy you were breaking up with him specifically to be with me?”
Buck shrugs, sitting and grabbing a few fries.
“Yeah. I mean I think I threw something in there about you being my soulmate and that I didn't want to keep you waiting but I honestly can't remember.”
Buck Definitely remembers but Eddie doesn't push him.
Buck grabs some more fries, and they slip back into easy conversation as if nothing had changed.
As if all this time that had passed didn't count as waiting.
/ / /
Five
Buck had insisted they take the day off for his birthday and spend the day doing things Eddie had always wanted to do as a kid or teen, but never got too.
Frank was very big on Eddie opening up to his friends and family and being vulnerable .
Therapy sticks for a variety of reasons, this one being close to the top.
It took almost a year for Eddie to make much progress on that front, but one night at Buck's loft he ripped the bandaid off.
I used to have a CD collection I kept hidden in a loose floorboard next to my bed.
There's a comic book shop a few blocks south of the station and sometimes after a shift, I go sit in the parking lot but I can never work up the nerve to go in.
When I was 15 my parents found out I was going to take a bus to Austin to see a band and they grounded me for six months.
Buck had listened and held him when he talked about his parents finding his CDs after they found his bus ticket.
Held him while Eddie dumped a childhood filled with trauma in his lap.
What band were you going to see?
Eddie figured the only thing that would come of that conversation would be the figurative gold star he got from Frank at his next session.
But Buck had other plans apparently.
Buck let Eddie sleep in till noon before he dragged Eddie out of bed with the promise of burgers from his favorite place across town.
But by 1:30 Buck was chomping at the bit for them to get going.
Eddie had been going for a relaxing day at home with Buck and a nice dinner with him and Christopher, but Buck had other plans.
Plans that didn't include Christopher.
“What do you mean Chris is staying at Jason's tonight?”
Buck scrambles to explain, like Eddie will actually say No if he takes too long.
“My plan doesn't allow for Chris because it's a school night. But it's cool! He and I talked about it and he totally agreed and we're going to have a second birthday with him tomorrow after we pick him up from school!”
Eddie stares at his friend, skeptical at best.
But he finishes getting dressed and lets Buck shove him into his Jeep before speeding off.
They're a block from the comic book shop when Eddie realizes where they're going.
“Buck…”
“Okay so we don't actually have to go in but I thought if we went in together maybe that would be easier than going in alone.”
They're parked directly in front of the shop now.
Infinite Frontiers
“Okay,” Eddie says with a quiet nod.
“Okay?” Buck echos.
Eddie nods, opening up his door, and jumping outside.
“Let's go before I change my mind.”
Buck scrambles out of the Jeep, barely remembering to lock it as he follows Eddie inside.
They're in the shop for almost 2 hours.
Buck leaves with a couple of Spider-Punk comics, while Eddie leaves with… more.
A lot more.
It's your birthday, of course, I'm paying.
Eddie ended up with several Batman comics, including Batman: Under the Red Hood which the girl behind the counter (Kiki) insisted on, the first three volumes of Saga, the new Green Arrow run and well, honestly at that point, Buck bought him anything Eddie seemed remotely interested in.
I wish my girlfriend bought me all the comics I wanted.
Kiki had given them the most confused look as Buck paid.
Not my boyfriend.
Yet.
Timing isn't right.
Eddie's pretty sure he heard her mutter What the actual Fuck as they walked out the front door.
They'd be back next week for more, Kiki having created a pull list for Eddie at Buck's insistence.
Setting everything on the backseat Eddie turns to Buck, to thank him, only for Buck to say:
“We have reservations at 7 but that’s still plenty of time for our next stop.”
What?
“What?”
Buck chuckles, putting the jeep into reverse.
“It's a surprise, Edmundo.”
* * *
The surprise turns out to be a record shop.
Not Just a Phase
Eddie laughs at the name and tries to not think about being 15 and wanting something too much.
The shop is nice.
Cluttered, but organized.
They have records from just about every music genre, plus CDs and apparel.
Eddie wanders, poking through a bin here and there before finding what he didn't know he was looking for.
From Under the Cork Tree
“Find something?”
Buck leans over Eddie's shoulder to look at the record.
“This is the band I wanted to see,” Eddie whispers.
“We better see what else they have by them then.”
Eddie nods, a little dazed.
Remembering watching his father through the bus ticket, concert ticket, and CDs in the fire.
No son under my roof is going to listen to this–
“Eddie! What about this one?”
Buck brings Eddie back to the shop, the smell of smoke disappearing.
“Do you even know who My Chemical Romance is, Buck?”
Buck thinks for a moment.
“Did they write that Shut the Goddammed –”
“Oh my god stop talking now or I'll break up with you before we ever start dating.”
The shop clerk snorts at them but keeps folding shirts at the checkout counter.
“We’ll get this one too then so you can educate me.”
Like Infinite Frontiers they spend almost two hours at Not Just a Phase and Buck spends nearly $300 on records, a turntable, and a shirt for Eddie.
i’m just a little ray of pitch black
“Seriously, Buck. You're not allowed to buy me anything for at least a decade.”
Buck laughs, stowing everything in the back seat with care.
“Like you could stop me.”
He has a point.
“At least let me pay for dinner.”
All he gets is a snort in return and Eddie climbs into the seat resigned.
* * *
Their reservations turn out to be an open table at Eddie's favorite Thai place.
Which is suspicious.
But Eddie lets Buck distract him with conversation about comics and music and Eddie's so caught up in explaining the early 2000s emo music scene at El Paso High School and how he envied all of his classmates who got to be part of that that when he gets peanut sauce all over his shirt.
Which is fine. They're headed home after this except when they get back to the jeep Buck grabs the shirt he bought for Eddie and throws it at him.
“Change your shirt, we have one more stop to make.”
Eddie groans loudly.
“Seriously? Buck this has already been too much. Can't we just call it a night and–”
“I will kidnap you if I have to.”
A couple walking by gives them an odd look and Eddie tries to give them a reassuring smile and wave.
He then gives Buck a look.
“I promise this is the last thing. And after this, I won't ever spend money on things that make you happy again.”
“You have your fingers crossed behind your back, don't you?”
Buck nods, “Get in the jeep Edmundo, and change your shirt.”
* * *
They're practically there before Eddie realizes what's happening.
“Buck?”
“Yeah, Eds?”
“Are you taking me to a Fall Out Boy concert?”
Buck nods, shrugging a bit.
“I looked into them after–after our talk and I saw they were going to be here–on your birthday–and I couldn't Not buy tickets so–”
Eddie tugs Buck into a fierce hug.
“Thank you.”
I love you
* * *
They come stumbling into the house at a little past midnight.
And Eddie can't remember being happier.
Besides the day Christopher was born of course.
Buck places the records and turntable on the coffee table while Eddie places the comics and graphic novels on the kitchen counter.
“I can't remember the last time I was this happy.”
Buck smiles at him and Eddie can feel the words on the tips of their tongues.
I love you
“I felt like me today for the first time… since I don't know when,” Eddie says instead.
Buck smiles, stepping around the couch and into the kitchen.
“I hope you get to stick around then. I like this Eddie much more than that old stick in the mud.”
Eddie huffs, shoving Buck's chest.
“Asshole.”
Buck steps back to Eddie, pulling him to his chest.
“You know you love me.”
Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
Eddie nods his head but doesn't say anything.
Buck seems to remember then, that this isn't the moment.
“I'll make up the couch while you get ready for bed. Then we'll switch.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I think I'm ready, actually.
Me too.
/ / /
Saturday
About a week later Christopher is hanging out with Denny over at Hen and Karen's.
They've just finished another 24-hour shift, with the next 48 hours off and with no kid to stop them, Eddie plays one of the albums Buck bought him.
He's been cycling through everything they got that day, driving Christopher crazy with Eddie's out-of-date music taste.
Eddie's caught Chris listening to Taking Back Sunday on his phone though so he's pretty sure Chris doesn't actually mind.
Tonight it's a Fall Out Boy Greatest Hits album, playing songs from the band's first four studio albums.
It's late, and while Eddie dances around the living room with a beer held carefully in his hand, Buck sits on the couch, watching him, a tired but happy smile on his face.
Arguably none of these songs are really ones you can dance to but Eddie doesn't care.
It's nice to be able to finally listen to this music and dance around like an idiot, without the fear of getting caught.
It also helps that Buck is perfectly content to watch Eddie like this.
Ever since his birthday things have been different between them.
Everyone's noticed.
And Eddie knows he's not content to dance around with Buck anymore.
That the timing is finally right.
And from the look on Buck's face right now, he's ready for them to start dancing together.
The A-side finishes and Eddie sets his beer down before flipping it over to the B-side.
“Dance with me?” Eddie asks, the music starting as he holds a hand out for Buck to take.
Ready?
Buck doesn't hesitate, taking Eddie's hand, letting him pull him to his feet.
Ready.
“I thought you'd never ask.”