Chapter Text
The quiet of Eddie’s house felt heavy as Buck knocked on the door, his shoulders slumped, and his eyes distant. Eddie had noticed Buck’s silences growing longer over the past few weeks, a stark contrast to his usual chatter, but tonight, it was clear something had finally broken.
Eddie opened the door, taking in Buck’s somber expression. Buck managed a weak smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Eddie didn’t need any words to understand; he just stepped aside, letting Buck in, then closed the door gently behind him.
They made their way to the living room, where Buck sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. Eddie sat down beside him, close but not pressing.
“He left,” Buck whispered, staring at the floor. “I… I tried, you know? I thought maybe this time—” He stopped, his voice breaking. “But he said this was just… going to be another moment in our relationship, just one in a long line of them.”
Eddie placed a steadying hand on Buck’s shoulder. “You know he wasn’t trying to hurt you,” he said softly, looking at his friend with deep understanding.
Buck nodded, his voice barely audible. “I know. And that’s what hurts most, Eddie. I just… I don’t know why I can’t get it right.”
Eddie shifted closer, gently guiding Buck to lean on him, feeling Buck’s tension start to unravel as he did. “It’s not about getting it ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ Some things aren’t about mistakes or successes. Sometimes they just don’t work, even if we give it everything.”
Buck sighed, leaning his head on Eddie’s shoulder. He felt drained, exhausted from trying to live up to an expectation of himself that he could never quite meet. Eddie’s presence was grounding, a reminder that he wasn’t alone. “Why am I always the one left behind, Eddie?” he murmured.
Eddie took a deep breath. “You haven’t lost me,” he said firmly. “Or the team. You still have people who are here, who see you, all of you, and love you just the way you are.”
There was a long pause, the silence between them thick with emotions too complex for words. Slowly, Eddie wrapped an arm around Buck, pulling him in. Buck didn’t resist, leaning into the hug, letting the warmth and comfort surround him. Eddie’s touch was steady, grounding, an anchor Buck hadn’t realized he needed.
“You don’t have to go through this alone,” Eddie whispered. “Whatever you need, I’m here. Even if it’s just sitting in silence. I’m here.”
Buck nodded, closing his eyes as he rested against Eddie. For the first time that night, he felt the ache in his chest ease a little, the weight of his heartbreak a bit lighter. The road ahead was uncertain, but in this moment, in Eddie’s arms, he felt a glimmer of hope that he wasn’t as lost as he feared.