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“I win again!” Buck whooped.
Eddie tossed his controller aside. “Want another beer? Maybe if you’re tipsy, you’ll stop kicking my ass.”
He stood with a groan. Buck watched Eddie limp into the kitchen. His face scrunched. “Maybe you’re just getting old.”
Eddie returned, his hand rested on his ribs, arm crossing over his stomach. He handed Buck the beer and Buck watched as he held his ribs as he sat.
“So. Uh, what’s going on with you? Was that car fire yesterday more than you could handle?” Buck asked, his eyes looking concerned.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Eddie grimaced as he picked up the controller. “Are we playing or what?”
“No, we aren’t. Not until you tell me what’s really happening,” Buck said, turning his body to face Eddie on the couch.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eddie muttered, avoiding Buck’s gaze.
“You are wearing make-up.”
Eddie sputtered. “I am not.”
Buck reached up and swiped a thumb under Eddie’s left eye, uncovering the bruised skin underneath. Buck showed his thumb to Eddie. Eddie looked away.
“Why do you have a black-eye? And why are you trying so hard to hide it?” Buck pressed.
Eddie stayed silent, but Buck didn’t break. Finally, Eddie caved. “Fighting. I picked up a few fights again. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? You are barely holding yourself together!” Buck scoffed and pointed at Eddie’s hand, that still clung to his side.
Eddie dropped his hand away from his body and picked up his own beer from the coffee table. He looked down at the bottle as if it will tell him what to say.
Buck reached out a hand and placed it on Eddie’s shoulder. “Please talk to me.”
“I think I bruised a rib. And, yeah, my eye too,” Eddie muttered, wincing as he gestured vaguely at his face.
“Well, I guess that means I’m staying.”
“I said it’s nothing.”
“And I said I’m staying.” Buck said.
“You are so stubborn, you know that?”
“Says the guy who is hobbling around his house like an old man.”
“Shut up.”
“Let me get you some ice for your ribs, Grandpa.” Buck stood and hobbled across the room, miming using a cane with a playful grimace.
Eddie chuckled hoarsely, clutching his side. “No, please. Don’t make me laugh. You’re lucky I don’t have the energy to kick your ass.”
“That would be something to see, Old Man,” Buck laughed, from the kitchen.
Eddie rolled his eyes, rubbing his ribs again. “Keep calling me old, I dare you.”
Buck stuck his head around the corner of the kitchen door. “Alright, alright, I’ll lay off. But only because I’m trying to be a good friend.”
Eddie glanced at Buck as he returned with the icepack, a flicker of something more serious crossing his face. He paused, as if considering whether to say more. Then he sighed, looking away, his voice quieter. “You know... it’s been a rough couple of months.”
Buck sank to the couch beside him, handing Eddie the ice, and waited for him to continue
Eddie swallowed, his gaze flicking to Buck’s face before quickly darting away. “It’s... it’s not about the fights. I don’t even care about that anymore.” He let out a breath, eyes heavy with the weight of something unspoken. “I miss him, Buck.”
Buck’s expression softened as he put down his beer and leaned forward. “Eddie, you can’t just keep hurting yourself like this.”
“I know,” Eddie sighed, leaning back into the couch with a slight wince. “But it’s hard. I don’t know what to do about it.”
Buck didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he placed a hand on Eddie’s shoulder again, a little firmer this time. “You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. I’m here. You know that, right?”
Eddie gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “I know. But I just... I don’t want to keep dragging you into my mess.”
“Eddie, haven’t you realized by now? You are my mess,” Buck said with a smirk, nudging him before handing him the game controller.