Archive of Our Own ^beta

1

The first time it happens, Eddie thinks Buck must be suffering from a severe concussion.

He's hit his head during their last call and now his short-term memory's on strike, with no plans of coming back to work anytime soon. That's the only plausible explanation for what's happened in the last fifteen minutes that could have changed Eddie's life but… didn't?

It goes like this.

They’ve just gotten home from a 24-hour shift, taken turns in the shower and changed into their pajamas. They're almost ready for a well-deserved nap.
But first, breakfast.

Chris has already left for school - thank you Maddie - and they have the whole house for themselves. 
It's quiet. The only noises come from Buck's attempt at making something resembling the recipe Eddie’s seen on TikTok a few days ago. 

“Some Cinnamon roll French toast roll-up coming right up, good Sir.”

God he's so unbearable. With those dimples on display and the wet hair and the bare feet, all smiley and cute and so Buck.

Now that he’s clocked Eddie’s preference for a sweet treat - something Eddie himself’s still coming to terms with - he's always on the hunt for new ideas to test on his favorite subject. So, Eddie did not stand a chance: Buck had seen him watching the video and had decided then and there this would be their next experiment.

And now he's at the counter, back turned, plating up those monstrosities; the smell of cinnamon is soaking up the air, the morning light’s giving Buck’s hair some sort of glow and Eddie’s in love.

Eddie is so stupidly in love he can’t contain it anymore. There’s simply no more space inside of him, at the rate it’s been growing. It’s taken over all his entrails, painting the darkness with a warm shade of gold.

Someone says the words out loud.
Someone steals all of Eddie's most secret thoughts and frees them from the restrains of his subconscious.

“I love you.” 

Oh.
That was his own voice. 
Eddie’s.

He is the one who's taken it upon himself to shift their world on its axes forever.

His hands are shaking, his breaths are coming out stilted and unsure. 
For the first time in his life he's going after what he wants. What makes him happy. 

“I mean, I'm in love with you.”

There.
No possible misconception about what he meant. No available misinterpretation or denial, he can't go back now. 
And he doesn't want to. 
He's done with fighting it. There's no more walls for Buck to break down.
Eddie's bare and his in every single way a human being can belong to another.

All the parts that were there before him, now, they’re Buck’s. And the rest - all the pieces he’s helped to mould in all these years of friendship - they’ve always belonged to him. 
Buck's motionless; pan in one hand and wooden spoon in the other. Eddie had been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed the unnatural stillness in the air.

Something’s wrong.

“Buck.” 

Still no answer.

And, honestly, he gets it, but it stings a little. This silent rejection Eddie has to admit he wasn’t ready for. He wasn’t expecting it. He was so sure about his own feelings that he could not imagine Buck not reciprocating them. 
And yet.

He takes a deep breath and, with two long strides, he's next to Buck. He needs to stay focused: they've survived earthquakes and tsunamis and a sniper together, even the wrath of Zeus and Eddie's own stupid choices and their inability to simply talk. They will survive this. Even if it's a no, even if Buck needs time. If Eddie won't be able to bathe in his joy, he will learn to savor it in small sips. He'll take whatever Buck's ready to give and he won't leave any crumbs. 

Buck's eyes are unfocused. His gaze, lost somewhere Eddie can't reach. His stance is stiff, his muscles rigid. He doesn't seem to be completely there. He doesn't seem to be there at all.

“Buck? Are you okay?” 

Nothing.
No movement, not even a blink.
Nobody's home, it seems.

Now that Bucks needs help, Eddie's training takes over. He's no longer a soon-to-be rejected man; he's a professional who needs to be good at his job for his best friend.

He takes the pan from Buck's hands and his arms fall down, heavy and uncontrolled. He's so focused on the blond's gaze that he forgets about the wooden spoon in his other hand. When he remembers, it's already too late. He can’t reach it in time and, two seconds later, it touches the ground with a dull thud.

It's the noise that does it.

Before he knows it, Buck is blinking fast and his gaze is quickly refocusing, brain rebooting and coming back to life.

“Eddie?”

“Yeah Buck, I'm here.”

And-
Eddie's ready for what's coming, now that the shock wore off and Buck's mental facilities seem to be coming back online. Rejection or disbelief or maybe even- delight? Can he hope?

What he doesn't expect, is Buck's furrowed and confused brows.

“What are you doing, man? I was plating the roll-ups, why did you snatch the pan right out of my hands?”

What?
“What?”

He can't stop staring because- what's happening right now?
Has he decided to completely ignore what Eddie's said? Does he not even want to acknowledge the fact that his best friend's just laid himself bare in front of him?

“Eddie, you're scaring me. Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?”
Yes, he probably needs to sit, right now.

Once he's at the table, Buck finishes plating their rolls, before sitting down in front of him; Eddie's juice and Buck's coffee waiting for them on the table.

“I think you're tired and you need to sleep, Eds. Let's eat these things and then we can go to bed.”
Yes, he probably needs to sleep this off.

They eat, Buck talking his ear off with tales about Chris' new school project and a new TV show they absolutely have to watch and something about the couch needing to be deep-cleaned.

All the while, Eddie's still trying to make up his mind on what the fuck has just happened.
He knows that he did not imagine confessing to Buck. He’s tired but not that tired. He doesn’t think he would be able to forget it even if he tried.

Buck on the other hand…

Can it be?
How is it possible?

“Buck?”

“Yeah?”

“Anything to say about… what I just told you?”

Buck looks at him, fork frozen in mid-air, gaze losing his focus for just a moment.
Then he shakes it off - whatever just came over him - and keeps eating happily.

“If you're talking about Chris and I going to that concert, please, stop right now. It was my idea and I'm going with him so it's on me. Let me do this.”

“Mhm okay, Buck. Yeah. No problem. Thank you.”

Buck looks at him with a pleased spark in his eyes.
“Finally. I'm glad we've reached a compromise.”

Eddie stuffs his mouth with the rolls.
What? They're good.

All the while an idea takes root in his mind.
A crazy, fucked-up, impossible idea.
But it's true.
Buck just- forgot Eddie's confession.

…

2

The second time it happens it’s almost one month later. They’re outside the grocery store, loading up Eddie’s Prius with ten days worth of groceries, and Buck’s still reeling from bumping with one (almost two, technically) of his exes.

And thank God, none of the two was Tommy Kinard or Eddie would have ended up playing a game of darts with that big head of his as a target, throwing at him all the ten cans of beans they’ve just bought to make chilly for Bobby and Athena’s sunday brunch. 

But- no. There had been no need for violence.
It was Taylor and Lucy.
Together.
Like, together together.

And if Eddie hadn’t spent the last month checking on Buck’s mental faculties, reaching the conclusion that he is fine - no concussion in sight - and whatever happened that day at breakfast was some sort of a fluke, he’d be concerned, right now. Because Buck hasn’t stop snickering since they bid farewell to the happy couple, and he’s thrumming with an inexplicable positive energy Eddie can’t quite decipher.

“Can you tell me why you’ve been giggling nonstop for the last- ten minutes, now? That poor cashier saw your manic smile and delighted expression and didn’t know how to react. She had to do the math like, three times, before giving us the right change.”

And Eddie understands. Really. He’d be in a similar condition if he were at her place. But he’s come to terms with his own feelings for Buck, now, and he’s almost able to keep them in check.
Almost being the key word.
There’s no more room in the boot, they’d better start loading up the backseat with the rest of the groceries.

“Eddie.” Silence.

“Buck.”

“Eddie.”

"What Buck? Use your words, bud.”

“How come my exes like to pair up when they’re not with me?” And, God, he’s right. “First Abby and Tommy and now Taylor and Lucy. What the fuck!” He’s still snickering.

“Technically those first two - he refuses to pronounce their names - were together before you. And Lucy’s not even your ex. Just one nonsensical kiss that came out of nowhere.”

“It was not nonsensical. I was missing you, Eddie. It makes perfect sense to me.”

And- isn’t it the heart of the problem?
It’s been one month since Eddie confessed his love for his best friend who immediately proceeded to forget all about it and, despite all this, Eddie’s never been more sure of Buck’s feelings for him.

It’s like his body remembers, even if his mind can’t. Buck’s always been an affectionate guy but now he’s transformed into some sort of giant clingy squid and Eddie doesn’t mind at all. Whenever they’re in the same room, Buck finds a way to be by his side and touch him in some way or another. Their hips when they’re both leaning on the kitchen counter at the station; their thighs when they’re sitting on the fire truck; their temples bumping while giggling over some Instagram Reel or TikTok conspiracy video. 

But also, Buck’s head on his lap when they’re napping on the couch - be it at home or at the station; his hand firmly gripping Eddie’s knee, while they’re eating with the rest of the 118; Buck’s fingers playing with his hair while they’re watching some trash TV at the end of the day and Eddie’s finally washed off the gel, as Chris shoots them knowing looks while not-so-secretly taking pictures to send his best friend, asking to be saved from his gross and oblivious parents.

Joke’s on him. Eddie’s never been less oblivious than this.
He’s so not oblivious that he’s going to try again. Today is a good day to try.

Right now, Buck’s sitting with his ass on the edge of the open trunk, still muttering about his matchmaking superpowers, and Eddie can’t take it anymore. He’s going for it, this time with a twist.

“Evan?”

“Yes, Edmundo?” And, okay, weird. Unexpected. Buck can call him Edmundo every time he wants, if this is the effect it has on him.
But now it’s not the time for psychoanalysis, Eddie is a man on a mission.

“I’m stupidly in love with you and I think you should be made aware of it.”

There. Done. It’s been easy, in comparison with last time. Eddie doesn’t know if it’s because there is a strong possibility that Buck forgets again or because he’s even more sure about their feelings for each other, this time around. It doesn’t matter.

All he has to do, now, is wait.
And wait.
And wait.

Oh, Come on, not again.

Just like last time, Buck’s frozen on his seat. Blank stare and rigid stance. People are walking all around them, pushing their carts, staring at their phones, unsuspecting of the weird real-life-telenovela plot unfolding under their nose.

“Buck, you with me?” It’s a rhetorical question, Eddie already knows the answer.

Silence.

He glances at the sky because, seriously ? Is God making fun of him, right now? Why do they always have to end up in the middle of some fucked-up tale? Why can’t they be happy for once?
Next to them, another customer closes his trunk with enough strength to break the silent spell. Eddie’s already catched up with the pattern, ready for what’s coming next.

“Eddie, come on, we’re late. We still have to stop at the butcher before picking up Chris. And then we’ll have to cook the chilly and bake come sort of dessert, I mean, I’ll bake and you’ll stand there looking pretty but let’s go, stop messing around we’re on a schedule. And you’re driving. I’m going to text Lucy and arrange a night out with them. They know all these awesome queer-friendly places I can’t wait to go.”

And with that, Buck closes the trunk and takes his place on the passenger seat. Arms full of everything they could not fit in the trunk and the backseat.

“Right” says Eddie to nobody, before sighing loudly and opening the driver’s door.

Right.
Everything’s fine.
Nothing super strange is happening here.
Except it is.

…

3

The third time it happens, Eddie’s not even fazed anymore.

He takes it in stride, as if this was a normal occurrence for them; something he just has to deal with. 

What if his best friend slash love-of-his-life happens to forget every single occurrence where he comes clean about his feelings? This is certainly not the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. In fact, Eddie’s starting to appreciate the chance to find new ways of confessing, without the burden of it being the moment. (At least, that’s what he tells himself at night, when he looks for the will to make peace with it and only Buck’s soft snores are able to lull him to sleep).

Because, at the end of the day, they’re still BuckandEddie. They’re still together (almost together) even without Buck’s knowledge of Eddie’s enormous feelings for him. They’re still them, now more than ever. They’ve never been so in tune before. Actually, Eddie’d never been so in tune with anyone else. They work together and eat together and sleep together and they help each other out, they discuss things with each other and take decisions as a unit. 

Like Eddie’s wish of officially becoming a paramedic, now that Bobby’s retired and Hen’s become the new Captain of the 118. It’s only after Buck’s enthusiastic reaction that Eddie finally finds the courage to fill the forms and start studying.

Or Buck’s own secret desire of becoming Captain, one day, starting by earning a bachelor's degree in fire science through online classes. He’s shitting himself when he tells Eddie about it for the first time, scared he might discourage him somehow, aware of his past collage-related experiences. 
He couldn’t be more wrong. Buck was born to be Captain. Eddie’s sure of it. And in his own time he will be one of the best Captains LAFD has ever seen. 

In the end, it’s Eddie himself who enrolls Buck in his first classes and presents him the timetable for his first semester, once everything’s arranged with Captain Wilson.

So, everything’s good.

They might not be together as a couple, and Buck might not be conscious of Eddie’s romantic interest towards him, but he sure as hell doesn’t seem intent on finding someone else. As a matter of fact, Buck’s literally avoiding all kinds of flirting and/or chances of meeting someone. Everytime someone bats his (or hers) eyelashes at him, he sprints the other way with the same passion he usually has when he runs towards a building on fire. And when they go out - rigorously together because Eddie, don’t even try to ditch me, you lazy ass - there’s always the 118 or his new best friends LucyandTaylor serving as a buffer against potential suitors. Not that Eddie isn’t enough of a buffer already, since Buck drags him everywhere he goes, even on the dancefloor, and keeps his eyes laser-focused on him all the fucking time.

It’s nice.
Eddie can live with this.

And then, everything gets even better, while they’re on the way home from one of these impromptu outings - still both a little drunk and so, so happy - and they hear some clattering coming from the dumpster at the corner of the street.

Buck goes to investigate, curiosity taking hold of him, and lo and behold, there’s a tiny teeny hangry kitten hidden under there, hissing and purring altogether, torn between the need of a kind hand and the fear of being let down once again.

And, Eddie’s a strong man. He’d been taught how to be one when he was still just a child. He’d learned how to conceal his emotions and his internal struggles before he even knew how to drive. So. He’s a strong man. But, lately, he’s decided he doesn’t want to be so strong anymore. Not if it means repressing and ignoring all the emotional parts of himself, not if it means arriving at thirty-something with zero knowledge of himself or understanding of his own needs and wants.

So, sue him, if he wants to gaze at his best friend like he’s the most endearing thing he’s ever seen in his life, he will.

He watches Buck trying to get the kitten’s trust. He sees the cat observing him warily, taking in all his cooing and sweet words. He recognizes the shift in the stance of the pocket sized feline, the moment it decides Buck’s someone who can be trusted. Someone he can rely on. 

Yes, buddy, That’s how he makes you feel. You better get used to it, if you’re going to stick around.

She’s a girl.
That’s what they find out once they’re inside and she’s sprawled on Buck’s chest, purring, lazily blinking, her blue eyes like she belongs there; all the while licking some milk from a plate. And, honestly, Eddie gets it. He really gets it. 

They’re talking and discussing the pros and cons of keeping her and what will Chris say when he comes home from Hen’s house and maybe we should bathe her, Buck, she smells like you after one of your exams.

“I don’t smell like trash, Eddie. I just- sweat when I’m under pressure.”

“You’re literally a firefighter, Buck. You live under pressure. And I’ve never seen you as sweaty as when you answer those damned questions for your exams. It’s weird.”

“Cute weird or creepy weird?” He’s still stroking the cat and Eddie thinks he will gladly take her place if she wants to trade for a while, so that she's free to explore the rest of the room.

“I’m not answering that question, Buckley. Just- know that I didn’t think of you as creepy even when you brought a whole corpse to the station and played with it in front of all those children. Not even with those blisters all over your face. Take it as you want.”

Buck’s looking right at him, now. In his eyes only affection and fondness.
He thinks his own gaze reflects the same emotions.

“That’s because you love me, man.” 

And- Eddie knows. He knows Buck’s saying it to his best friend. Not to the man who’s desperately pining for him. The inflection can’t be misinterpreted.
But; Eddie’s already had this conversation twice. What’s the harm in giving it another try? Worst case scenario: Buck forgets about it and Eddie gets to do it all over again.

“Yes. I love you. I’m so desperately in love with you that I can’t even breathe when you’re not around. Now, do your thing, I’ll wait for you to come back so we can bathe this tiny filthy demon you call cat.”

As expected, Buck does his thing.
He gets that usual thousand-yard stare, mouth slack and muscles locked. He even stops caressing the demon, whose little head immediately bends on one side, as if to ask why did you stop, human? 

“It’s my fault, baby monster. Don’t worry, he’ll be back in an instant.”

But she doesn’t appear all that satisfied with his explanation - she obviously doesn’t trust Eddie as she does Buck, yet - and decides she must do something to get her human back as soon as possible. Cuddles don’t happen on their own.

That’s why she proceeds to open her mouth and gracefully throw up all over Buck’s white t-shirt; the mixture of milk and trash and hairballs adding to the already disgusting smell in the air, unsurprisingly waking him up from his uncanny reverie. 

“What the hell, Bast! Couldn’t you keep it in a little bit more?”
Annnnd, we’re back online.

“Bast?” Eddie asks, even more confused. He doesn’t even try to acknowledge the other thing. Better not think about it. It’ll happen sometime. He just has to keep trying.

“Yeah, from Bastet, the Egyptian Goddess of Cats. I think it fits her. Roar.”

Oh, God. What a nerd.

“So, we’re keeping her, uh?”

Eddie knows he won’t be able to say no. He guesses they’re going to the pet-store in the morning.

Buck sends him a fleeting glance, accompanied by one of his blinding smiles.
Yes, they’re keeping her.

“But, just so you know, she’s not sleeping in our bed!” Eddie hollers, while Buck’s already running to the bathroom to get both the cat and himself to a cleaner state. “And we’re getting her checked for fleas, in the morning. We don’t need any more chaos in this house!”

“Okay, Eds! As you wish!”

Eddie knows that tone. He’s been a victim of that tone many times already. That cat is undoubtedly going to sleep in their bed. And Eddie’s undoubtedly going to find hair in every single corner of their house.

It’s fine.
It’s fine.

At least now he’s got a witness. There's somebody else in this world who’s heard him confess his love to his best friend.
If only she could talk. Maybe Buck would be able to remember, if he heard it from her.

Whatever. No problem.
By now, he’s got the hang of it.
He’s going to try again.
And he will succeed.

…

4

The fourth time it happens, Eddie’s been thinking about it for weeks, and he finally decides to have a witness.
Oh, sorry Bast, a human witness, that is.

It’s not quite a decision, to be fair; more like a willingness to seize the opportunity and add his own personal spin to the chaos that’s become his life. 
He wouldn’t know how to explain it, if someone asked, but he’s sure that someone, somewhere, is actively fighting against this union.

Okay, maybe he’s spent too much time with Buck, because what in the drama queenery is this?

Eddie’s never been one to fall prey to mere superstition; he doesn’t believe in destiny or the Universe or even God, for fuck’s sake. Still, for the first time, in this specific situation, Eddie has a feeling. Some sort of tingle down his spine, a whisper in the back of his mind that gives him certainty. 

Someone’s playing with them. 

He doesn’t know who, specifically, would be so batshit crazy to get involved in the lives of their himbo firefighting duo (May’s words, not his) or what mighty higher power would find entertainment in actively fucking up his own little, coveted happy ending. 

It’s Chaneques. Or duendes, Tìa Pepa would say.
But he can’t trust his subconscious to be right about this: he doesn’t believe in the supernatural, he never has, in any color or form. And yet, there’s something even a rational man like Eddie can’t deny. 
Every single fragment of instinct that’s still alive and beating inside him is screaming at him to keep trying. Until something shifts. Until someone hears. 

And keep trying, he does. 
He can go the distance.

And if he decides his next attempt will be at the station, where anybody can hear, he’s not the one to blame. It’s just… the whispers are getting stronger. 

Ever since that demon-cat is spending her nights with them and her days at the station - we can’t leave her at home, Eds, she’s little, she’d feel too lonely! - It’s like his instincts have dialled up a notch; he reacts faster, he’s quicker on his feet and he’s been able to prevent Buck’s crazier buckeries even more than he did before. 

And now she’s watching him - as she always does - perched on the table with that all too knowing look that scares and intrigues him at the same time.
Come on, kitty, he can’t just blurt out the thing out of nowhere!

It’s quite a q-word day at the station; Chim and Ravi are taking a nap and Eddie’s been playing videogames with Hen, who’s their Captain but also still one of the paramedics of the team, at least until Eddie finishes his program. Buck’s at the kitchen table, absorbed by some book called “Invisible Women” that Karen recommended for their monthly book club; he’s been devouring it for the last three days, all the while updating Eddie on all the different ways the author explains how this world is built for men. 

And, fuck, she’s right.

Anyway, back on topic.
He can’t just blurt it out, he needs to create a moment, and set the scene and-

“Aw, come on! This is a nightmare! Fuck.” Okay, maybe this isn’t the right time.

“What is, Buck?”
Hen’s still playing but, as soon as she’s heard Buck’s distress, her focus has shifted towards the kitchen part of the loft. She’s a good friend. And a terrific Captain. They’re so lucky.

“I mean, have you read this? How come nobody’s doing anything to improve at least some of this shit?”

“I’ve lived it, Buck.” Hen’s saying. “Every single day of my life. It sucks and it pisses me off and you’re right. This is not how it should be. But I’m curious, what part, specifically, made you curse out loud just now?”

“I’m at the Henry Higgins Effect chapter and- what’s the problem with the world of medical research? How is it possible that we know so much about male-related diseases and almost nothing about so many female health issues? And- ohhh , hear this! The result is that levels of radiation that are safe for Reference Man turn out to be anything but for women. Ditto for a whole range of commonly used chemicals. And yet the male-default one-level-to-rule-them-all approach persists. It’s unbelievable, she also writes about standard rules and work regulations and it’s all based on the male anatomy! How the fuck did I never notice any of it?”

“Yeah, Buck. That’s why the book’s called Invisible Women. No one notices. Ever. And wait ‘til you get to the doctors’ treatment of women part, that will be a journey.”

Yeah, and didn’t Eddie know about that? Shannon had more than once come home angry and frustrated from a doctor appointment. They simply don’t listen.

“No no no, and- hear this !” Bucks takes out his phone, looking for something. “Oh, yeah, here it is. In Scotland in 2016 the average hourly gender wage gap was 15% – but this average hid the substantial disparity between full-time and part-time work. For those in full-time work the hourly gap went down to 11%, but the hourly pay gap between men working full-time and women working part-time was 32%. And here, in the USA? Same damned thing! I checked! And do you know why women take part-time jobs more than men? Because they have to! ”

And he’s right, absolutely, Eddie agrees, one hundred percent, but-

“Did you… take notes on your phone?”

“Yeah. Obviously?” And, what the fuck, Buck? “I selected some parts and wrote down some of my thoughts and looked for the studies and articles she quotes in her book. As soon as I have a minute I’m going to the library to check them out. I’m also looking for other teenage-friendly options for Chris, so we can discuss it together, and, maybe he can come to the book club at yours, Hen, if you want? So he can hear it straight from the source, and-”

“Oh my God, Buck. I love you so fucking much. Please, do me a solid and never shut up a minute in your whole life.”

Buck’s rant stops mid-sentence and silence fills the room.
Eddie can feel Hen’s head shooting towards him.
The game goes on on his own, forgotten, and the little demon starts purring like she’s just been gifted one of her favorite treats.

Yeah, yeah, ladycat, you were right, after all. It is showtime.

Hen’s still watching him, drilling into his head with a steady gaze filled with surprise. She wants him to look at her, she wants to understand what’s just happened. But he can’t. He can’t divert his own gaze from Back, not now. He needs to know what’s going to happen. If his prayers are going to be answered, if having Hen here will lead them to finally unclog the jammed mechanism and break the spell. 

And, for a moment, Eddie really hopes this time will be different. That Buck will lift his eyes from the phone and look at him with recognition and warmth. That Hen will witness the start of their new chapter together. 

Unfortunately, the place stays eerily quiet and Buck… 
Buck is once again freezed, phone in hand and eyes lost in the distance.

Hen’s the first to break the silence. She turns towards Buck only to find him stuck and unresponsive.

“Buck?” She doesn’t know yet that he’s somewhere nobody can reach.

“Try all you want, Hen. He’s not going to reply.” Hen’s gaze jumps from him to the blond and back again. Worry lines preeminent on her puzzled expression. “At least not for the next - he checks the clock on the wall - fortyfive to sixty seconds.” 

She waits a beat.

“What do you mean, Eddie?”

“I mean, this is not the first time it’s happened and it usually goes like this.”

“Not the first time?” Okay, she’s a little more perturbed than he expected her to be. But then, he was probably the same, the first time it happened. Now, it’s just some other freaky feature of his life. “Not the first time you’ve publicly declared your love for your best friend or not the first time Buck’s had an episode like this?”

“Both?”

“Both?” Hen’s jumped off the sofa, striding towards Buck. “Go on, Diaz, don’t be shy. How does it usually go?” She’s waving her hand in front of Buck’s face but Eddie knows it won’t solve anything.

“Well, we’re talking about something, then I tell him I love him - she audibly gasps at that and, what? Can’t he confess his love to his best friend in peace? Do they necessarily have to make it a thing? - and then he gets stuck. Don’t know why it happens. Haven’t been able to figure it out, yet. At some point he comes back and he never remembers what I told him. That’s the usual. ”

“The usual?"

“Yup.”

“The usual.” 

How long will she need to repeat the same word, before she calms down? Buck’s almost back and she’ll have to clock the fuck in if they don’t want him to suss something out.

“Hen, really, don’t worry. It’s normal. Just- don’t let him catch on to this. I swear to you, he’s completely fine. Just wait another ten seconds and you’ll see for yourself. It’s just something that happens. ” He debates telling her about his suspicions, about his weird sensations and the whispers and the higher powers at play but- she's already looking at him as if he were a crazy man and he doesn't want to make it worse.

Right at that moment, the game they were playing comes back to life, filling the air with a loud tone signaling “GAME OVER”.
And, regular as clockwork, so does Buck’s mind.

“Did she already beat your ass, Eds?” 

See? Everything’s fine.

“Oh- yeah. I’m dead dead. She destroyed me. Yup. She did that. Didn’t you, Hen?” Eddie’s sending her a look she obviously can’t miss. Please. Just follow my lead. 

She stays quiet for a while, wheels turning in her brain and eyebrows almost up to her forehead.

“No. You know what?” She bursts out, in the end. “I don’t want to know. I really, really don’t want to know. You say it’s fine, Eddie. Then it’s fine. You’re the expert here. I’m going to my office, I need to call Karen. I know she’s going to love the story I’m going to tell her.” 

And with that, she sighs one last time, lifts his arms and leaves them there, one very relieved and one very confused firefighter.

“What was that?” 
That was his death sentence. Eddie will have some serious explaining to do, at their next wine night.

“Nothing, man. You wanna play?” he asks, with all the poise he can muster.

“Uhm- yes?”

“Come on, let’s see if you finally have a shot at the title.”

It’s only when Buck’s next to him on the sofa, joystick in his hands, that Eddie finally glances at the demon-cat.

She’s looking at him with disappointment in her eyes.
Yeah, bummer, it didn’t work.

Oh, but it will she seems to think. A chill runs down his spine. It will.

…

5

The fifth time it happens, Eddie’s not even actively thinking about it. He’s too furious with Buck and too busy plotting his murder.

Not that he hasn’t tried to find a sensible - or even less sensible - explanation for Buck’s dizzy spells, but Eddie’s never been one to deep dive and lose himself in research like Buck. He’s not one to question reality or push back: he’s a go-with-the-flow kind of guy - nurture’s fault, not nature’s - so, having a best friend who likes to go through life like some Don Quixote attacking windmills, usually comes to hand.

For obvious reasons, this time Buck will not be able to help him. So, Eddie’s tried. Really. He’s even gone to TikTok for answers. Because, yes, he’s not particularly keen on technology - that’s why monstrosities like ChatGPT still haven’t crossed the threshold of his own home, to the happiness of Buck and his trees - but he has to admit, TikTok’s kind of become his guilty pleasure. 

It’s just- during his brief stunt as an Uber driver, he would often find himself in a silent car, the only sounds coming from his client’s phone, and at first he had hated it. The fact that people couldn’t even carry on a simple conversation, preferring their own little bubbly world; but, after a while, he had started to really listen and… get it. 

So many topics, so many inputs, everyone seemed to have a different - what do they call it? - for you something, whatever, and he had been kind of curious.

So, you were scared shitless of Hildy but now TikTok and its freakishly good targeting is suddenly fine? had asked Buck, once, while he was scrolling and scrolling during a q-word shift.
Yes, Buck. He had answered. TikTok gets me. Now, sit down and watch.

The love of his life had bursted out laughing, before doing exactly that. 

And then, he had proceeded to never shut up once, commenting on every single video and adding his own sprinkling of knowledge here and there. 

That’s when Eddie had finally realized: in Texas, there had been no Buck, no relentless commentary, no random facts. And he had missed them so much that he had become addicted to the one thing that could provide something even remotely similar. TikTok had somehow filled that void and now that he had Buck back he still could not shake its power over him. Okay, maybe it was a little scary.

Whatever, back to the point.

He had tried to find some answers on TikTok, but he’d found himself in some very scary places: well, the thing called WitchTok had been interesting enough, actually, and if he had gone to the grocery store to buy different aromatic herbs that could help with memory loss, no one had to know. But then, videos about demons and possessions and curses had started to flood his phone; at that point, he had decided that no, thank you, he still needed to sleep at night.

Full disclosure, the greatest suggestion had unexpectedly come from Jee-Yun. Not that she knew; she had simply been asking all afternoon for Uncle Eddie to put on “ Enchanted”, on the day he and Chris had been on babysitting duty. He had never seen the movie before, so he had checked with Maddie and Chim first, but they’d just answered “ no problem” and “good luck, we’ve watched it four times already this week. She knows all the songs by heart ”. So, he had relented to the begging.

Twenty minutes in, Chris had retreated to his room because It’s obvious, dad, she’s going to stay with the single dad and the little girl. True love and all that. And, okay, maybe it was predictable but that wasn't the important part. What really mattered was how they got there; the way they both overcame their fears in order to accept their love; how Giselle made Patrick Dempsey’s character less cynical and more accepting, all the while growing into a reliable person herself; the way they accepted the other’s flaws but never stopped calling each other out on their bullshit; how Giselle had instantly loved and understood Patrick’s little girl like his own. Her own. 

Her own.
Freudian slip, Karen would say.

So, it had been Jee-Yun's fault if he had started to think of true love’s kiss as a real, actual solution for their inexplicable predicament. It worked in the movie. It worked in another billion fairytales. Why not for them? And if it was just an excuse to fantasize about smooching his best friend, could Eddie be blamed for that?

However, he would have never consciously decided to kiss Buck before knowing what he felt for him, not even to break this - let’s be honest - non-existent curse. And he definitely won’t do it right now, when Buck’s finally out of a building on fire after risking his life for a stupid book.

They'd received the call a few hours ago, while they were having dinner at the station: a fire was spreading through an old building ten minutes north of their location. They’d looked at each other, awareness set deep on their faces: another night of no sleep. The only one apparently excited by the sudden development had been Bast: she’s always happy when she gets to leave the station and go places with them, even if she has to stay inside the fire truck. She usually watches everything from the window and she’s always ready to cuddle with Buck when they get back, tired and filthy.

When they’d gotten to the scene, it had seemed easy enough; only one person was still stuck in the old, almost ancient building; a twenty-something woman who had been restocking her shop when the fire had started. 

It’s Eddie who finds her, inside the inventory of the little shop, behind a door he has to break down with a kick. He stops in his tracks at the sight of her: she’s sitting cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by jars of herbs and all kinds of weird trinkets; wild mahogany hair surrounding her face, eyes closed, lips set in a slight smile. She looks ethereal, older than her age.

Sensing his arrival, she opens her eyes and studies him for a moment.

“You’re late” she says.

“Am I?” he asks. Because what?  

She snickers a little, not engaging in any further conversation. She stands up on her own, dusts off her clothes and gracefully thanks him for coming to save her, before taking his proffered arms and following his guidance out of the shop.

They get out with no hindrance or obstacle and he leaves her with Hen and Chim, before reaching Buck and Ravi, busy extinguishing the fire. Maybe they’ll get back to the station before sunrise.

Not even two minutes later, the woman starts screaming and thrashing against poor Hen, who’s trying to get her to calm down, attracting the attention of the rest of the team.

“There’s a book! I need to get it back! Please, it’s important, I can’t do anything without it! My grandma left it to me. Please, I need it back, let me go inside, it's my life's work!” She sounds on the verge of tears and looks desperate. But there’s something in her voice, some undertone that Eddie can’t really decipher. Is she… acting, right now?

Whatever he may have sensed, Buck’s surely not getting the same vibes, since he’s already gearing up to get back inside. He runs towards the woman and asks for an accurate description of the book, its exact location and any cabinet or locker it could be in. A handful of seconds later, he seems to have collected all the required information and he’s already halfway to what’s left of the shop.

“What the fuck are you doing Buck? It’s a goddamn book, she’ll survive!” 

She shoots Eddie a murderous look but there’s still something weird about it. The hint of a smile; is she playing with them? There’s definitely something sketchy about her. And why would Buck have to risk his life for a book he’s not even sure exists?

As expected, his words fall on deaf ears and Buck gives him a bright smile - a smile, Buckley, what’s your problem, man? - before entering the building, disappearing from sight.
Eddie can’t do anything but wait.

Hen’s asking updates on his status every thirty seconds and every time there’s a positive answer from Buck, Eddie takes another breath. 

Again. 
Again. 
Again.

Then, a loud crash, and the upper part of the entrance collapses right in front of him. Shit.

“Firefighter Buckley, do you copy?”
No answer.

“Firefighter Buckley, do you copy?” Hen’s voice’s lost even the last inch of impartiality. Eddie’s had already evaporated five minutes ago.

“Buck! Can you hear me? Do you copy?” He gets closer to the door - or what’s left of it - and Buck’d better get out of there with both his legs intact, because he’ll have to run real fast if he wants to get away from the wrath of one very furious Eddie Diaz.

“Buck, goddamn it, where are you?” 

Eddie’s ready to go inside. He doesn’t care, Buck can’t die for a stupid book; he can’t abandon him, abandon Chris. Eddie won’t have another life on his conscience, especially Buck’s. God, if you’re there, take everything, I’ll leave my job, I’ll sell the house, I’ll get back to Texas if you want me to but, please-

“What’s happening? That’s not how it was supposed to go!” That’s the sketchy lady, what is she doing so close to the fire?

“Stay away Ma’am! It’s dangerous!” He may not trust the woman, but he doesn’t want her to burn herself. She really must be in shock, after all. 

“No! It shouldn’t go like this! This is wrong! It should have been easy, I just wanted to meet you!” Yup . Definitely delirious. In her despair, she finally looks her age.

She’s getting too close to the entrance and in two strides Eddie’s behind her, gripping her by the waist before she does something really, really stupid. Like, running inside a burning building just to get a fucking book. Who does that?

She’s back to her antics, wiggling and kicking and screaming and she’s really starting to get on his nerves; his Buck’s still inside that fucking place and Eddie’s stuck outside, forced to be this crazy woman’s watchdog.  

“Ma’am. Calm the fuck down and let me go inside, so we can get your book and my friend back, safe and-”

That’s when it happens.
Another crash.
Another breath stuck in his throat.

Buck.

She immediately stops moving and Eddie let’s her go: she could faint and fall to the damned ground for all he cares, he needs to get to Buck, he needs to save him and-

“I’m here, I’m here!” 

Dirty blond hair laden with soot, no helmet in sight; bright blue eyes sparkling with joy; a smile that could light up the whole fucking planet. It’s Buck, in all his glory; stumbling through the entrance, soiled boots stomping on the grass and that blasted enormous book in his hands.

Eddie stops in his tracks.

He wants to fight him.
He wants to hug him.
He wants to kiss him silly and never let him go.

“You. You’re an asshole!” Okay, he’s going with the first option.

Two seconds later, he’s on Buck, pushing with all the energy that’s left in him. He doesn’t move an inch, the jerk. No, he just- pulls up the book, like it’s a trophy or some bullshit prize, all the while smiling at Eddie like a lunatic.

“It’s fine, man. I’m fine. The lady’s book is here, I’m here. Calm down, come on.”

Calm down? The guy’s been forgetting his fucking love declarations for months now and Eddie’s been very fucking calm about it. But he doesn’t get to die and pretend it’s nothing.

“What’s wrong with your fucking headset, Buckley?” Eddie’s back on his stupid face. Forefinger pressed on his chest. “Where’s your helmet?” 

“I don’t know, the face shield got chipped and I couldn’t see, so I had to take it off. I think the headset is damaged too.” He’s got both hands in the air, one full with that stupid book and the other empty, palm facing Eddie in a sign of surrender. 

“Come on, Eddie, it’s not the first time I’ve done something like this. What do you call them? Buckeries? It’s just me!”

Eddie’s torn between the need to lay down and play dead and the desire to stick his fucking finger in Buck’s chest, leaving a permanent mark. 

“No. No! You don’t get to do something reckless and idiotic like this and get away with it only because you’re you! Fuck that woman and fuck the book!”  

His other hand’s gripping Buck’s neck from behind, now. Fingers tight on his nape, nails marking the skin. And Eddie knows he should check him out first and then leave the lecture to Hen, because there could be some internal damage, he could be bleeding but- he’s too mad and Buck needs to understand him first. And not one of his colleagues seems to be around to stop him. They're alone. 

“I can’t lose you. I can’t.”

He doesn’t know how, but their foreheads are practically touching and Buck’s free hand’s gripping his side. 

“And you won’t, Eds. I’m here.” Buck’s voice’s suddenly lost all its previous unaffected poise, turning into something more intimate, more real. Eddie’s shivering. “I’m here. Breathe. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You better fucking not.” Eddie’s so tired. But anger still doesn’t release him from its shackles. “You don’t get to leave until I figure out how to tell you that I’m in love with you without you fucking forgetting about it not even thirty seconds later.” 

And- fuck.
Fuck.
Does it count?
Is it- is he going to do the thing now?

“Buck?” Eddie tries to make eye contact, his grip on Buck’s neck getting a little tighter. But all he finds is glassy-eyes and emptiness. “Fuck.” Not again. Not now. Not when they were finally having a moment of truth. Not when he had at least been able to tell Buck how much he cares.

And-

Listen, Eddie’s tired. And confused. And this thing’s been going on for so long he’s actually starting to lose hope. Maybe it’s this realization that does it. The new awareness that this could be their permanent status. An obstacle too tall to overcome. A reality too unshakable to alter. It’s Jee singing that stupid Giselle song. It’s Chris telling him that the Happy Ending is as predictable as it is unavoidable. It’s Buck getting out of the fire alive.

It’s Eddie, shifting his weight on his tiptoes, pulling Buck’s head towards him and crashing their mouths together.

Buck’s stance remains rigid, his muscles tight. Eddie’s tasting his best friend’s mouth for the first - and maybe last - time, but he can’t savour it. He tries to keep it together; convey with patient lips and roaming hands all the love he’s got for Buck, all the certitude he has in his feelings toward this man. 

He doesn’t know how long they stay like this. Eddie on the balls of his feet and Buck, the unresponsive sculpture of a man. 

Five seconds? Fifteen? Half an hour? Nothing. Eddie’s ready to give up. Passion giving way to shame, certainty giving way to doubt. It didn’t work. It didn’t work. He detaches his lips from their so coveted target, rests his hands on Buck’s chest and starts pulling back from his friend’s frame, lost and defeated.

Unexpectedly, he hears the thud of the book, fallen to the ground and-

All of a sudden, Buck is gripping his side with renewed strength, the hollowness in his eyes replaced by surprise and affection and finally lust; his gaze is hazy but present, when he bends his neck and chases Eddie’s lips, catching them with his own in their first real kiss. Eddie feels pretty much the same - confusion and desire taking over him; he’s not entirely understanding what’s happening right now, but he can’t help but welcome his love, his Buck, when he finally surrenders himself to him.

From here, it’s all a dance of mouths and hands and tongues; they intertwine with each other, breaths mingling, skin coming alive under each other’s caresses. Eddie grips Buck’s hair at the nape of his head, pulling a little and then sinking his fingers through sweaty strands; both of Buck’s hands are roaming his torso, feeling up and down along the muscles of his back, as if unable to find peace. 

Eddie would love for this kiss to never end but they have to talk. Now that his nightmare is finally over, he has to explain and finally hear all the words Buck couldn’t say back every time he’d tried before.

Reluctantly, he lets go, leaning back on his heels while opening his eyes to what he thinks will be one of the most memorable visions of his life.

Buck’s eyes are still closed as he stands there, unmoving and winded, with those moist, reddened lips and tousled hair. He looks majestic, the fire slowly dimming behind him while the gentle breeze of the night caressing his face.

“Eddie…” 

“Yes Buck, I’m here. I’m here.” He can’t wait to get home, have a shower and finally talk everything out.

“Eddie… Eddie!” Buck’s voice is suddenly laced with panic and his serene face is replaced by a wretched frown. What’s happening?

“Buck! Buck, open your eyes sweetheart, please!” Eddie’s ecstasy has already left its place to fear and worry. “Tell me what’s wrong! How can I help?” 

Buck whimpers, spasms taking over his body as if he was stuck inside a nightmare he can’t wake up from.

It can’t be happening. What if it’s Eddie’s fault? What if by kissing him he has angered the god that’s been playing with them? 

Please, he thinks, please stop. Don’t make him suffer for my own greed.

As soon as Eddie conjures the thought, Buck’s wince vanishes from his face. In an instant, all the worry, all the hurt are gone, as if they were never there in the first place. 

His face is a mask of emptiness.
In his eyes, Eddie’s greatest fear: a blank, hollow void.

He stays right there, staring at Buck with no words left to say. No attempts left to make.
He feels empty too. Drained of all hope and raided of all energy.

"Shit. You almost did it.”

God, the woman. The woman’s still here. She’s been here all this time. And she’s seen everything .
He doesn’t even register her words, since her voice has given Buck the impulse to finally come back and Eddie has to know he will be fine. 

Buck blinks - as he always does - and shakes his head, clearing up the confusion from his gaze. He looks around and finds the woman standing on his right, eyes on her precious property. 

“Oh. The book.” He bends down and takes it from the ground, frowning at the weird symbols on the cover. “Eddie, I’m going to the ambulance. I feel a little dizzy, it’s better if Chim checks me out.”

“Yes. Of course.” Eddie can’t muster anything else, just a little smile that he’s sure looks more like a grimace. Buck decides not to comment, as he reaches the woman and hands over the book.

“By the way, you could have just said it was a Grimoire. At least I would have known what to look for.”

She’s regained her nonplussed poise and the color is back on her cheeks. There’s a smirk on her face, but to Eddie it looks forced. Fake. “Well, can’t a girl have her secrets?” 

“Of course.” Buck chuckles, back to his normal self. Well, at least Eddie hasn’t worsened the situation. “Just, think about it. Not everyone out there wants to expose you. Some of us just want to help.”

“Yes. I see that.” She looks impressed. “Well, thank you man who just wants to help.”

“No, ma’am. It’s just Buck.” 

“Then, thank you, Buck. I’m Rhiannon. It was a pleasure to meet you.” She finally sounds sincere.

"Pleasure’s all mine! Come on, Eddie, let’s go.” Buck turns to him, with an expectant look.

“You go, Buck. I’ll be there in a minute. I have to check something.” Eddie still feels the feeling of Buck's lips in his mouth. His hands on his body. How will he be able ti live without this?  

It's fine. It's fine. What's important is that Buck's okay. Eddie will be fine. Someday. He just needs to be alone for a while and gather his thoughts. Some time to breathe. He hopes the woman - this wannabe witch, here - will follow his steps, but something tells him she’s not done with him.

Buck nods and starts in the direction of the others; Rhiannon stops him, hand gripping his arm while he tells him something Eddie’s a little too far and still a little too out of his mind to be able to hear. Buck frowns, before nodding again and sending a searching look towards him. He really hopes she hasn’t told him anything about what she’s just witnessed. He really wouldn’t know how to explain.

When they’re alone, he feels Rhiannon’s eyes on him.

“Well. I’m sorry you had to see that. Must have been pretty weird, uh?” Better address the elephant in the room, before it’s too late. 

“Believe me. That’s undoubtedly not the weirdest thing I’ve seen in my life. It’s not even among the top ten, to be honest.” Ouch.

“It seems you're a witch” he says, nodding towards the grimoire in her hands and how is this his life? Eddie really doesn't know, anymore “you must have a really exciting life.” 

“Well, my shop just burned to the ground. You be the judge of that.” Wow, she’s funny, too. Other than secretive and sketchy as fuck.

“You’re right. I’m sorry about the shop. I hope you’ll find some other place soon.”

“Nah. Don’t worry about me. I have my ways.”

Okay. Real fun. It’s been a pleasure. He better go, now. At this point, between her being a witch and this being the weirdest fucking night of his life, he has to believe she will not snitch on him.

“Well. See you never, I hope.”

He starts walking towards the fire truck, just like Buck a few minutes ago but, just like she’s done before, she stops him with a solid grip on his arm. God, can't he just go home, already? Hasn't this night already stolen enough from him?

Her face is uncharacteristically serious. “I'm sorry. For what happened, I mean.” And, fuck, Eddie really doesn’t need the platitudes of a crazy witch. She goes on, ignoring his defeated face. “Sometimes we do something. We- we make a choice. And- and maybe it’s not the right one and not for the right reasons but- but at that point the damage’s already done. We cannot stop what we’ve set in motion. We just have to-” she’s struggling to explain herself but Eddie sure as hell’s struggling more than her; he has no idea what she’s talking about. Was she the one to start the fire? Why is she telling him ? She goes on. “ I must hope that what I did won't result in permanent damage.. And that every piece I have moved out of its right place will finally be back where it belongs. And, after what I've seen tonight. What you have almost done, together. I'm sure everything will be alright.”

She's looking at him expectantly. As if he should know what she's talking about. Yes, he and Buck and all the others helped her but isn't she exaggerating a little?

“Ma'am. Are you telling me you started the fire? By mistake?” Eddie really hopes she'll deny it, or their night is about to get even longer.

She's still staring at him.
The shadow of a smile appearing on her beautiful face.

“She said you were particularly hard to crack. Let’s hope your friend is a little bit more pliable than you.”
She lets go of his arm, turning her body towards what's left of her sshop.And Eddie's officially dumbfounded.

“Hen? Hen said I'm hard to crack?” What? Why was she gossiping about them with a fucking fire to tame?

The woman - this Rhiannon - sends the fire truck one last meaningful glance and a little wave. “Yes, sure. Hen.” She’s definitely smirking now . It's like they're having two very different conversations. “You have a cute cat, by the way. Bast. Great choice for a name. Regardless of what people say, cats are loyal creatures. Take care of her and she’ll do the same. ” 

Again, what the fuck is she talking about? He doesn't get to ask, since she gives him a little salute before heading towards what he thinks it's her car.

Fine. Don't explain anything.
Be it as you wish.
Eddie's too tired and sad to give a fuck, anymore. 
He just wants to go home and cuddle with his son and his b- with Buck. Buck who, at this point, will never know how Eddie feels about him. Not if he wants to prevent something like this to happen ever again.

“True love's kiss, my ass.” he mutters, walking towards the fire truck.

He finds the crew all around the ambulance. Buck is fine - thank you, thank you - just tired and a little sore. Nothing that a night (a day, to be exact) of sleep can't cure. 

When they're done, they get to the truck, where a worried Bast welcomes them with barely concealed enthusiasm. Bast. He'd completely forgotten about her. She must be angry. 
As usual, he expects her to plant herself on Buck - like she always does, after a particularly daunting shift. To everyone's complete surprise, Eddie's the Chosen One for tonight.

Hen looks at him, and then at Buck's head resting on his shoulder. Tomorrow, she's going to tear him a new one. Right now, she just seems happy they're all going back in one piece.

Bast's resting on his lap, her purrs an expression of love she had never shown towards him before.

“She must have sensed you needed her more, tonight.” Those are Hen's only words, before going back to her paperwork.

Chim and Ravi are playing some version of paper, rock, scissors.
Buck's already snoring on his shoulder.

“Yes. She must have.”

...

+1

When it happens, Eddie’s sitting on the couch, still sore after last night’s shift and currently bored to death. Chris is at a friend's house, doing whatever fifteen-year-old boys do these days - homework, he said; playing videogames, Eddie heard - and Buck’s the poor unfortunate soul who lost their game of rock-paper-scissors and won a side quest to the grocery store. 

It’s been one week since Eddie’s last attempt at confessing his feelings and … the other thing. Don’t think about the kiss, don’t think about the kiss- 
Nope. He just did.

He snorts, takes a pillow and presses it to his face, to conceal the frustrated groan he isn’t able to suppress; now that the wicked feline is napping, he doesn’t want to wake her up and experience another of her tantrums. They’ve started to get along, lately; still standoffish and a little wary of one another, but they’re learning to coexist, for Buck’s sake, since he’s set on encouraging a peaceful and positive environment. His words, not Eddie’s. 

And Eddie’s not sure if this policy’s actually working; all he knows is that this last week he’s more than once found himself waking up overheated and sweaty, with a trembling sleepy furball seated on his face, full-on-smothering him, and an equally clingy (but less hairy) giant plastered to his back.

Whatever their relationship status is, he’s envious of her right now: she’s out like a light and Eddie would love to follow her lead, if only his mind would stop spinning. 

These last few days, he’s gone over every single weird and unexplainable thing that’s happened to them and, after Buck’s near-collapse, he’s almost convinced himself that he can survive like this. He can go through life with this love stuck in his throat and learn how to breathe at half capacity. He can store it deep in his guts, let it flow through his blood vessels so that it’s never parted from him; hide it at the core of his Psyche, use it as foundation for all the memories he’s already built and the ones he’ll get to make; keep it in the recess of his mind, safe but never dormant, like his most precious possession. He’ll keep feeding it, in silence, with stolen touches and nights in front of the TV and rushed breakfasts in the morning. And when Buck will inevitably find someone else, someone who’s love won’t be so easily forgotten, he’ll keep loving him from afar, because he will never be able to stop, now he’s allowed himself to feel it.

Yes.
He could do all this.
But that doesn’t mean he wants to.

Hence, this fucking migraine that hasn’t left him alone all week. 

So, he’s trying to distract himself: at first, he starts repeating by heart some of the hardest clinical procedures of his paramedic certification. Too easy. Then, he decides to free up some space on his phone but, ten minutes in, he finds himself staring at pictures of Buck and Chris. Okay, Nope. Finally, he thinks of straightening up the pantry, so that it will be ready to accommodate the new groceries. 

That’s when he notices that the stash of Buck’s awful and disgusting marmalade jars is finally gone. And, let’s make it clear, he would gladly make do without that sour, bitter slop in their home: he and Chris are normal people , after all, with normal taste buds, and they eat Jam like the rest of the civilized world. Eddie hadn’t even known about the existence of this grotesque miscreation before Buck had decided he wanted to refine his palate and started buying weird shit for his culinary experiments. They’d tried it, all three at the same time and, while Eddie and Chris had looked at each other with the same mixture of disgust and disbelief in their eyes, Buck had started moaning as if he’d just tasted the most delicious food in the world. That’s when he’d gotten addicted to the thing and now, tragically, he couldn’t start his day without it. 

So, logically, he shoots Buck some short texts. 

Eddie: It pains me to say but
Eddie: we’re out of your disgusting, bitter fake jam
Eddie: don’t forget to buy it
Eddie: Chris and I don’t want to endure your whining in the morning
Eddie: see you later
Eddie: hurry up

Yes, he’s a serial texter. Sue him, since he’s on the path of self-acceptance, he’s going to fully embrace this side of himself. 

Buck doesn’t get back to him; he must be busy deciding which kind of flour to buy, or some other shit, but he knows he usually checks his phone before getting to the checkout so he’s not worried. 

He’s back on the couch, phone in his hand, lost in some odd corner of TikTok, when the front door opens and closes with a slam.

“-the only place where I can close my eyes and sleep? Here, obviously! And then I wake up and he’s all you still want that beer? Oh, I’ll tell you what I want!” He’s in the kitchen now, slamming cabinets and throwing things around. Is he angry? Eddie’s stuck on the couch, trying to decipher what’s going on. Is he on the phone? “-ot to mention when he shows up at my place and goes all Buck. Here’s my son. I know you just lost him yesterday but I don’t care. I trust you with him.” Is he talking about them? What’s going on? “Oh, and then I’m minding my own business, having my best life and then he goes, let's go as Crockett and Tubbs. Sure, Eddie. It’s not like I have a fucking boyfr- Oh, you’re here. Good. We need to talk.”

Buck’s sweaty and flushed, no phone in sight. Okay, so he was talking to himself. That doesn’t explain why he’s looking at Eddie like he wants to eat him alive. What has he done, now? Even Bast seems weirded out, being woken up in such an ill mannered way.

“Talk about what?”

“Are you an idiot, Eddie?” He looks massive, in front of the couch. He’s got his hands on his hips and his good leg’s tapping some hysterical rhythm on the ground. Eddie can’t stop staring at him.

“What?”

“It’s a simple question, Diaz. Are. You. An. Idiot?” Eddie doesn’t understand if he’s being serious; his face starts to break in a tiny smile because Buck might be a big strong man, but he looks adorable like this, all panting and flushed. Buck shoots him a glare and Eddie decides it’s better not to cross him until he grasps the meaning of all this.

“No. I don’t think I’m an idiot. Not a genius but- maybe, moderately smart? Why?”

There’s a tiny nod, the shadow of a relieved smile and then Buck starts pacing the floor, all wild gestures and jumbled sentences. 

“That’s what I thought. So, I’m going to list some situations and then you tell me why you think they happened. Like a game. Okay?”

“Okay?”

“You tell me, Eddie. Is it okay?” He’s not stopping this back and forth anytime soon, is he?

“Yeah. Okay.” Better play along when he gets like this. “I don’t really think I have a choice here, Buck but- Before you start with your game , I’ve got one question.”

“What question?”

“Did you get your stinky jam?” 

That makes him freeze. “Oh my God, Eddie. How are you real?”

“What do you mean ?”

“I mean- no. We’re doing this my way.” Aaaand we’re back to the pacing. “Do you remember when your Abuela broke her hip and I introduced you to Carla?”

“...Yes?”

“Why did I do that?” What kind of question is this? 

“Because… you’re a good person?” 

“EEEEEE wrong! Because I knew you were special, I knew I wanted you in my life and I wanted to help.” Buck’s watching him smugly. Eddie’s officially too old for this.

“You didn't just do that. What's wrong with you? I don’t think my answer was wrong, we just have different opinions.”

“That’s not how it works, Eddie! I know the answers, you have to guess!”

“Oh, okay, then. Go on.”

“Why did you have me spend the day with Christopher, the first time, the day of the Tsunami?”

“Because-” Eddie doesn’t have to ponder. “Because you were having a hard time and I wanted to cheer you up?” 

Buck stops on his tracks and looks at him. “Yes. You’re right. That’s what you always do. Buck's sad? Here’s Christopher. And it works. Every time. Why?”

That’s easy. “Because you love him?”

“Yes.” Buck’s still staring at him, a tender smile on his face. “I do.” Eddie’s face must sport the same look, he feels his own eyes softening. He’s already trembling and he doesn’t even know why.

He sighs out loud. “Are we done, Buck?” If Buck keeps looking at him like this, he won’t be able to contain some other stupid declaration of love. And he’s run out of hope, for those.

“Nope!” Oh, okay then. “Why did you leave him with me, again , the next day?” 

Eddie knows this has been one of the hardest truths to swallow for Buck. He was not used to someone believing in him. “Because I trusted you. Because I trust you with him. You’re the person I trust the most, when it comes to Chris.” 

“Yes. That’s why you put me in your will. Right?” 

“Right. You’re the one who gets him. You’re the only one who deserves him.” This game’s getting emotional. Wow.

“Why did you get that furious when I sued the department?”

Another easy one. “Because you were a jerk and you gave all our personal information to that dick of a lawyer.”

“EEEEEE wrong. Try again.” Buck’s laughing, though Eddie can spy some unshed tears in his eyes. What’s happening here?

“Okay. Fine. Because I could not talk to you and I missed you like a limb.” Asshole.

“Yes. That’s better. Why did you tell me about the will?” Ouch.

“Because whenever you say shit that sounds like my life’s not as important as yours I want to punch you in the face.”

“Eh. Half right. It’s because you knew I needed to hear that you cared for me that deeply. Right? And that was all you could say, at the time.”

“What do you mean?”

“What did you mean when you said that this thing between us was messy and hard, when you left for El Paso?”

“I thought this was the game of whys.”

“I changed my mind. What was that it’s not nothing in your car? Why did you call me two, three times a day, while you were in Texas? Why aren’t you out there looking for someone, now that you’re back?” Buck’s in front of him, all fiery eyes and knowing looks. Is he really doing what he thinks he’s doing?

“Well, I mean…” Eddie’s breaking into a cold sweat.

“I’m not finished. Why did you stop talking to Tommy when we broke up? How do you feel about the fact that we work together, live together, sleep together? You just texted me to remind me about the fucking marmelade, Eddie! And you hate it!” Oh, he’s angry.

“But you don’t! I just, noticed we were out and… that’s what you do when you- that’s-”

“Say it, Eddie! Say it!” No. He can’t say what he wants, or he’ll lose him all over again. Buck’s relentless, though. “Why haven’t you asked me to move out? Why am I still here? The house is yours!”

“The house is ours!” Now it’s Eddie’s time to get up from the couch and walk around the coffee table, to face his friends on equal footing. “And how come you have all these questions today? Let me return the favour, yeah?”

“Come on, let’s hear it.” Buck doesn’t seem too put out by the thought.

“Well- I don’t know!” Eddie opens his arms in a what do you want me to say gesture. “Let’s start from the house. Why did you decide to let go of your loft and sublet the house of a friend who you didn’t even know would come back?”

“For you. And Chris.”

“Yeah, yeah, you said. But- sorry. EEEEEEEE wrong. You did it because, deep down, under all your insecurities, you were sure we would come back. You were just waiting. You knew I would never leave you.” There. That’s the most he can say without triggering something he will regret. He hopes Buck’s satisfied, now.

“That’s all you got?” He folds his arms with a smirk, the jerk. “Because I have more.”

“I got another one, asshole.” Eddie mirrors his stance, crossing his arms. “Why aren’t you out there, looking for someone? Hell, why aren’t you back with Tommy, since he’s been texting and calling like a fucking lapdog? Mhm?” 

“Because I don’t want Tommy. I don’t want anyone else!” Buck’s finally losing what was left of his composed attitude.

“Well, last time he dumped you, you folded after like five minutes!”

“First, technically, we weren’t even together at that point. And I folded because you told me to. Don’t you recall? Call Tommy. With that fucking pointing thing you always do, it drives me crazy. You’re doing it right now .” Eddie catches himself with his finger already in the air. Oops. “And, what did you say? Oh, yes. This doesn’t chance a thing between us. Well, guess what? It changed everything!”

“You called Tommy because I told you to? What? Who does that?”

“Me! You! Us! We’ve been doing this kind of shit for years now. That’s what I’ve been thinking about for the last hour, since you sent that damned text!” 

“What, we do shit for each other? Wow, unbelievable, it’s like we’re friends!” And why are they both screaming right now? Buck must have had the same realization, because he takes a deep breath before continuing his assault in a quieter tone. 

“Eddie.” Eddie’s desperate. He’s torn between the need of hearing Buck saying this and the fear of what will happen when he does. He hopes he’s wrong. “Why did you break up with Ana? Why did you come clean with Kim?” 

He sighs. Loud. “Because you told me to.”

“Yeah.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Do you know why Tommy broke up with me ? This time?”

“Not because I told him to, of that I’m sure.” Tommy. That jackass. He had all that and he fumbled it. Pathetic.

“Nah.” Buck’s preparing to reveal something important. He can see it in his stance. “I didn’t realize at the time but he was jealous. Of You. He thought of you as the competition. Can you imagine?” The tone and the words don’t match. Buck can imagine. Buck can see.

“Oh.” Eddie’s heart is beating right out of his chest.

“Yeah. Oh. Do you remember the other thing you said, the night I came out to you?”

“I do.”

“Please, tell me.” He knows where this is going. The prospect is terrifying. He can’t tell Buck he loves him, again, and see the recognition evaporate from his eyes, again. He doesn’t have any strength left. Tears fill his eyes, while Buck takes a step towards him. A step full of patience and care. As if he were a wounded animal.

“I said that if Tommy could not love you, he was an idiot.” Buck takes a second step. He’s in his space now. A few centimeters and their foreheads would be touching.

“Then, let’s circle back to the beginning. Are you an idiot, Eddie?”

“No. I’m not.” This is the best he can do, without triggering the thing. Can it be enough?

“You’re not. And I couldn’t see it before. I was blinded by our friendship and my insecurities. This, this thing between us. It felt- untouchable. Too fragile. Too risky. This was a fire I would have never walked into. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. And I couldn’t think of a Universe where you felt for me what I feel for you. But the other night- 

“What?” Eddie’s mouth is dry, he can’t think of anything right now. They still haven’t touched, but their breaths are mingling. The room is filled with light but Eddie’s never felt something more intimate than this.

“Rhiannon. The witch. She told me that sometimes we have to get ourselves engulfed by the fire, if we want to find the treasure it conceals. She's crazy, I know but- it seemed she wanted me, specifically, to hear that. So- I started thinking. About us. About these last months and the fact that I’ve never felt so understood. Never so treasured, before. And- it’s you. It was you when I first saw your smug face all these years years ago-”

“Hey! I was not smug, you were-”

“Dumb. I was dumb. Because I thought I was envious of you and the truth is… I was attracted to you. You made me stupid. You have made me stupid since day one, Eddie.”

Buck’s hand is on his face now, so light he wouldn’t even feel it, if he wasn’t so attuned to him. It’s skimming his cheekbone, brushing the one strand of hair that always makes itself known on his forehead; it’s shifting to his jawline and, finally, the hair at the nape of his neck. He’s gripping him the same way Eddie had gripped him last week, fingernails cutting through his skin and- Eddie can’t speak. He can’t even think.

“So, I don’t know if you’re ready to say it. But I am. I can be, for the both of us, Eddie. I love you, and I know you love me too.” His words don’t register at first. Because this is not true.

“Hey, it's not that I'm not ready! If you knew what's been happening in the last-”

“Eddie.”

“What?”

“I’m in love with you and you’re in love with me.”

Oh.

“Yeah. Yeah. There's that. You’re right. I am.”

Buck’s looking at him with so much passion, so much tenderness. He’s leaning towards Eddie, confident and unblinking, both of his hands cradling his face; it’s all that Eddie’s been dreaming about for months. Years, even. He’s never felt so safe, so complete, before.

It’s happiness. It’s delight. It’s-
Oh, God. It’s panic.

It’s going to happen again, isn’t it? Buck’s going to forget and Eddie’s going to be alone in this, starting this nightmare all over again. But it’s going to be even worse, now that he knows for a fact that Buck feels the same. They love each other. They’re in love with each other. Officially.

Eddie’s heart is pounding, his vision’s blurring. He can’t stop his body from shaking and Buck’s hands are the only thing keeping him upright. If it wasn’t for him and his strong touch he would be falling to the ground. 

“Why are you crying?” Who’s crying? “Eddie. Please, you’re going to get sick. Try to calm down. It’s okay.”

It’s not okay. Nothing’s okay. He can’t breathe. He can’t focus. Hot flashes are invading his body. “You- You’re going to forget. And- And I don’t-” Breathe in. Out. Please, Eddie- “How can I- I can’t take it anymore, please.” He’s falling apart and Buck’s the only one who can keep him together. But he won’t be Buck - this Buck - in a few seconds. “Please, Buck. Stay. Don’t leave me.”

“Hey. Hey. I’m not going anywhere. Look at me, Eds. I’m here. Open your eyes, baby. It’s okay. We’re okay.”

That’s when he realizes: his eyes are shut and his muscles are stiff. His hands are so tight on Buck’s shirt he’s probably already ripped it. 

How long has it been?
How long must he stay in this state of waiting, drawing out his suffering?

“Eddie. You have to breathe. Look at me. Now. Breathe.” 

Why can’t he focus? What’s happening to him? Is he losing time? What if-
What-

What if he ’s the one who’s going to forget, this time?
What if this curse goes both ways and Eddie’s finally going through whatever Buck’s been experiencing on his own skin all this time? What if karma finally got to him? The love of his life just confessed and he’s going to leave him alone, confused, unable to explain what the fuck has happened. He can’t- He can’t-

A sharp sting on his calf brings him back to the present.
Suddenly, all his focus is on the pain; he opens his eyes to a scene that he'd find ridiculous under any other circumstances. Buck’s crouching, forcibly - to read very, very gently - removing a really panicked Bast from his leg. 

Did she just scratch him? To bring him back?

She’s thrashing and mewing, trying to get back to him, as if she was able to understand what was going on. It’s only when he takes her in his arms and starts petting her fur that she calm down.

“Are you back with us?” Buck’s back in his space, burning him with his gaze.

Eddie’s still blinking, still counting to make sure all the parts of his body - and his memory - are still here. “I- I think so.” He pauses for a minute, still catching his breath. “Are you?”

“I never left, Eds.” 

And-
And-
Oh, God. He’s right. He’s right. 

“We’re both still here. We’re here-” It’s over. It’s finally over. “ You- you know-” He can’t believe it, elation’s taking hold of him, it’s like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, he’s- he’s-  

He bursts out laughing, unable to rein it in. Bast jumps out of his arms, upset by the sudden noise; she looks back at them with some sort of contempt, before curling up on the couch, head tucked under her paws.

Eddie can’t stop laughing, his body shaking for a completely different reason, now. At first, Buck just stares, surprise written all over his lovely face. Eddie watches him through tears, as his blue eyes start to crinkle, mouth trying in vain to stifle a chuckle. 

When he laughs, Buck does it with his whole body. Head tilted backwards, hands on his belly, those massive shoulders moving up and down, following a rhythm of their own. It's endearing.

They must make a crazy picture. Two grown men, standing in the middle of the room, facing each other, roaring with laughter and tears in their eyes. 
They keep stealing glances at each other through crinkling eyes, both red in the face (as always, Eddie more than Buck).
They keep going for a while, until their laughter dials down to a chuckle and their glances become full on staring. 

He doesn’t know how long they just look , catching their breath and basking in the presence of the other.

“So, did you buy that fucking marmelade?” he asks, finally, breaking the silence.

Buck snorts, mutters something along the line of fuck, you’re unbelievable and, in two long strides, he’s back in his space, hands cradling his face, kissing him.

Eddie will have time, in the next few days, to ponder about what happened today. He’ll speculate and make assumptions, but not for long; after everything that’s happened, he’ll have to accept the easiest of the answers: it simply had to be this way.

Right now, all the thoughts and reasoning are out of the window. Buck’s hands are tangled in his hair, eager to mess it up, while Eddie holds his hips in a possessive grip. Mine. You’re fucking mine. 

Their lips are sampling each other, lost in some pretend struggle that leaves them both breathless. It’s a dance, at first, a fight for dominance, but Buck’s not playing fair: he coaxes Eddie’s lips open, with sweet kisses and sudden flashes of tongue. Then, he starts to explore, finally able to taste, savour, take. 

One of his hands leaves its place on Eddie’s neck, following the outline of his body, until it gets where it wants to be. Buck grips his ass with the anger of a starving man while his kisses get deeper, tongue lapping, teeth biting. 

Someone’s moaning, Eddie can’t even tell who. 

“Fuck. This ass has been haunting me for years.” This time, the groan is all Eddie’s. 

Buck’s other hand reaches the first, still tight on his ass; he makes the most of their new position and pulls Eddie into him. They’re flushed to each other now, Buck’s hips pressed on his, while they feel for the first time each other’s arousal. 

It’s fast and dirty, completely different from the kiss they shared last week. The kiss Buck will never know. For him, this will be their first. That’s why Eddie decides it will be a hell of a kiss. He will give him everything. 

His own hands can’t seem to stay put: Buck’s there to be touched, felt, owned. His fingers stray to Buck’s shoulders and neck and hair, sampling, trembling, tangling. Then, they come back down and under his hoodie: finally, his skin, scorching and new. He’s leaving marks - he knows - on Buck’s neck, with his teeth; on his torso, with his nails. 

It’s a little difficult, there’s some difference in height that doesn’t let them grind on each other fully, not as Eddie would like. So, he takes matters in his own hands and pushes Buck towards the couch. They don’t stop kissing, not even when their legs hit the coffee table and they risk to fall. They start laughing, for a moment, but they’re instantly back on each other. 

“Fuck, Buck, babe , I love you so much. I love you, I love you, I love you.” Now that he can say it, Eddie will never be able to stop.

They finally fall on the couch - Bast’s vanished, good for her - Eddie straddling Buck in a vice grip. Yes. Now they can grind into each other freely, Buck kissing his neck and chest, left uncovered by his oversized T-shirt.

“I love you in my clothes. Wear them whenever you want, please.” So, not over-sized. Just Buck’s. 

“I'm never taking them off, if you don’t want me to.” They're panting in each other's mouth, now, completely lost in their own bubble.

“Well-” Kiss “Maybe-” Another kiss “Not never-” and is he leaving a hickey right now?

They're still grinding and grinning at each other like fools, alternating soft kisses and real making out sessions. Buck's hands are finally under his T-shirt, ready to take it off–

Ping.
Ping.
Ping.

Fuck. It's his phone. Eddie doesn't care, he just wants to kiss Buck, please-

“Eddie, hey.” Buck gives him another kiss, before leaning back on the couch, taking deep breaths. “I think it's Chris. He said he would text.” Chris? 

“Why?” Eddie's confused. “He never texts when he’s staying at his friend's house. Is he okay? Did you talk to him?” Anxiety never leaves him alone, when it’s about Chris.

“Well- yes and no.”

“What?”

“Look at the phone, Eddie.”

The moment’s over, so Eddie takes his phone from the table, unlocking it.

Chris: So?
Chris: how did it go?
Chris: is Buck staying for dinner?
Chris: Axel’s asking if he’s stayig forever?
Chris: got the reference? I hope you did ‘cause this was really cringe to write.
Chris: but. Let me know, okay?
Chris: have fun
Chris: and, dad. It’s okay. We’re good. Buck’s good
Chris: See you tomorrow
Chris: love you
Chris: both of you

Eddie can’t believe his eyes. “He knows?”

He looks at Buck, questioning.

“Well- I called him. In my car. On my way back from the grocery store. He actually told me we'd resisted longer than he thought we would.”

“Yeah. He's a smart kid” He is. “But why did you call him?” Eddie has to know.

“I just-” Buck's flushing again. This time it's not Eddie's fault. “I wanted to know if it was… okay? For him? I mean- Eddie I've never been this sure about anything in my life, before. But- If Chris had any reservation about this. I- I don't know. I would still have told you, I think but- maybe some other way? Some other time? I don't know, I just wanted his blessing, I guess. Is it stupid?”

Eddie can't find the words, not right now. He's too full of love. He does the only thing he can and kisses Buck silly- again.

“No. It's not stupid. You're perfect.” 

This. 
Us. 
It's perfect.

He shoots a text back.

Eddie: Everything’s good. We talked. I guess he’ll stay forever, since it’s fine with you. Love you. Have fun. See you tomorrow.

Buck’s reading his reply and asks him to add his own, after. He does. Then he puts the phone back to the coffee table, ready for make out session nr 2.

“What’s with you and the fairytale quotes, by the way? Since when do you like those kinds of things?”

“They've grown on me. I guess. All those stories about true love.”

“Uuuuh, you're finally become a believer, Diaz?”

“Just shut up and kiss me, Buckley.”

He does.

The end. (Or is it?)

…

One week later

A man walks into a bar. It's still the middle of the afternoon and there's no costumers around, yet. They'll come later, with the twilight, to drink and forget and, maybe, get some help.

The man’s strut is confident, assured. In another life, he must have been military. He recognises her from afar, behind the counter. Her mahogany hair, the dark clothes, the attitude of someone who's not afraid of anything.

He walks up to her figure, sitting down on the nearest stool. None of them speaks up, at first.

“You want something to drink?” She asks, after a while. She's working, after all.

“No. I want my money back.”

Oh.
They're doing this.

“No refunds. That's the policy, bud. Sorry.”

At this, the man loses his barely-there composure. 

“Fuck the policy, witch! Give me back my money or else-”

“Or else what? ” She can't believe the audacity of this man. “I'm stuck here, being a bartender. Last week my shop burned to the ground. Don't threaten me, friend. My patience’s down to zero.”

“Your magic skills, too, apparently. Your little curse didn't work. They're together now. This wasn't our deal.” He's not backing down. She thinks it's finally time someone gives this pathetic man the hard truth.

“My little curse worked just fine. I know that well, since I tried to undo it and it didn't work. It's you who decided you’d pay for just one half of the pair to be cursed. It doesn't matter, you said, Evan would never confess his feelings, let alone believe Diaz reciprocates them all on his own. Guess what? You should really start being less cheap.” At her words, the man pales, finally starting to connect the dots.

“It's impossible! Evan would never- he would never have the guts to-”

“Oh, but he did. And it was beautiful.” The man's scrunching his face, shocked and upset. “He did it all on his own; confessed his feelings and openly told the love of his life that it was impossible he didn't feel the same. He's a force of nature, that man. I see why he's not with you anymore. And just like that, the curse was broken.”

“You're lying. Evan's not-”

“Oh, and he hates to be called that. He prefers Buck.” She's tired of him. He needs to be gone. Now.

“See? You're lying! I know he loved it when-”

“You're right, he likes being called Evan. From the right people. He just hates it when it's coming from you. She was very adamant on this.”

The man's finally removed is ass from the stool. Now he just needs to remember how to walk. 

“Who's she?”

“Oh. She's got many names. It depends on the life we're talking about. I think right now she's going by Bast. Evan's choice, actually.” 

“You're really a crazy bitch.” Oh, now he's done it.

“Am I? It's you who came to me. So desperate to have that man back that you were willing to curse him. And you didn't even pay enough to make sure it would last. Pathetic.”

The man's screaming at this point. She's having so much fun. “This isn't over, witch! You’ll pay!”

“Brrrrr, fine. I’ll be here, waiting. But I have one last gift for you, bud.” At this, his eyes darken and she finally sees fear taking hold of him. “I couldn’t break the curse, even if I tried. But I’ve decided I can be a better person. I want to. And I’m starting right now. I will help you right this wrong, with a little bit of magic. Believe me, it’s better to live with a clean conscience.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” 

“Diaz - or whatever you call him - confessed his love five times before they were able to break the curse. And you know what? It would be a shame if those lovely confessions were to be lost forever. Now that the curse is over I could actually just to that” she snaps her fingers “and… give them all back.”

Thank the Goddess she's been training with her Nan's Grimoire or she wouldn't have been able to do what she just did. 

“What did you do?” He's mad.

“What I should have done a long time ago. Now get out of here, before I decide you would look better as a toad. And, you know, your handsome Prince is a little busy being happy and in love with that big hunk of a man of his, right now. I don't think he would give a damn about you.” 

She raises her arms, as if preparing for a spell, and the man scattles away like the coward he is. 

And, thank goodness for that. She hasn't mastered this particular spell. yet.

…

In the Diaz-Buckley residence, a pan falls to the ground.

“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! EDDIE DIAZ COME HERE RIGHT FUCKING NOW! DID YOU FUCKING KISS ME IN FRONT OF A BURNING BUILDING? DID YOU TELL ME YOU LOVED ME WHILE I WAS COOKING? AND AT THE GROCERY STORE? HOW MANY TIMES DID IT HAPPEN? WHAT THE FUCK!”

Eddie's just woken up from his beauty nap, Bast on his chest.

They look at each other, resigned. This is going to be a LONG day.

The end (for real, this time)