Work Text:
Eddie Diaz is thriving.
He’s back in LA, permanently, with Christopher in tow. He is working at the 118 again. And he’s currently sharing a room (and bed) with his best friend, who will hopefully soon be his boyfriend.
So really, he can't complain. The trip in El Paso hadn't been all sunshine and rainbows, but it was necessary. Eddie had finally been honest. Honest with his parents about how their lack of support over the years had affected him. Honest with Chris about why he thinks the whole situation with Kim had happened. And honest with himself: that he was gay.
(There may have been some rainbows involved.)
Eddie is gay and in love with his best friend, Buck. Life was beautiful and -
"What's that?" Eddie asks Buck one morning at the firehouse loft, where everyone was sitting around waiting for a call.
"What?" Buck questions, furrowing his brow.
“On your neck.” Eddie points to the side of Buck’s neck, a dark spot marked near Buck’s right ear. Buck’s brows furrow even more as he reaches up to touch the spot Eddie’s eyes were boring into. He realizes quickly what the spot is, and Buck’s face flushes a pretty pink to match his birthmark.
“Oh it’s, uh, nothing.” Buck stammers, uncharacteristically shy.
Ravi winces. “I do regret my actions. Sorry again, Buck.”
Hen and Chim gapes at Ravi. “Are you telling me that hickey on Buck’s neck is from you?” Chim asks, shell-shocked.
“God, no! Buck’s like my annoying older brother.” Ravi defends himself.
“Hey!” Buck pouts at the word annoying.
“Let’s get back to the hickey.” Eddie’s voice comes out, rough and slightly harsh.
“It was from Tommy.” Buck says. “But it was a mistake! A classic case of some drunk ex-sex that will never happen again.”
After some snickers and a few pitying looks, the topic is changed. But every word is engrained into Eddie Diaz’s head.
When Buck and Eddie get back to their house after their shift, Eddie is still reeling. He knows that he can’t be jealous of Tommy hooking up with Buck, especially since he hadn’t told Buck about his personal feelings and revelations. It doesn’t stop Eddie from seeing red, though.
Which is probably why the words come out before Eddie can even think about it. “Where did you guys fuck?”
Buck startles, dropping a measuring cup into the sink. “Huh?”
“You and Tommy. Where did you guys hook up?” Eddie says, stalking towards Buck, practically pushing him up against the kitchen counter.
“Here.” The word comes out softly, almost apologetic.
“In this kitchen? In our kitchen?” Eddie questions.
“No. In the bedroom. Are you… are you jealous?” Buck asks, disbelief and what looks like hope marring his features.
“No, Buck. I’m not jealous.” Eddie starts. Buck’s head droops and resignation takes over his demeanour. “I’m livid. I keep picturing that man, a man that doesn’t deserve you, fuck you in our home. I am seething with envy because I want to be the one to do that. The only one to do that."
“Eddie, what are you saying?" Buck breathes out.
“You know what I’m saying, Buck. But I’ll spell it out for you. I’m not straight and I’m stupidly in love with you.”
Buck’s eyes are suspiciously wet as he hoarsely chokes out: “I’m in love with you too. I only slept with him because I didn’t know how to deal with you being gone.”
“I know, baby." Eddie murmurs, outlining Buck's bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. "I’m back, though. I’m back for good.”
With those words, Buck picks Eddie up by the back of his legs, and carries them into his bedroom.
The next shift, when Buck’s neck is littered with fresh, territorial hickeys, no one acknowledges it, save for a soft “finally” from Hen.