Chapter Text
Buck sighed as he sunk down on the bed.
He had been spending a lot of time at Tommy’s recently. Lots of nights staying over. Actually, he was barely at his loft. He was either at Tommy’s place or Eddie’s place. That was just the way it was since Chris left for Texas.
Tommy walked into the room. “I was thinking…” he started, getting into the bed beside Buck. “We could go out tomorrow night? Dinner and a movie.”
“You know, that sounds like my kind of night.” Buck threw an arm around Tommy’s stomach. “But… I promised Eddie we’d have our movie night tomorrow. We haven’t had one in a few weeks, and he’s missing Christopher, and— why are you looking at me like that?”
Tommy was looking at him with his brow furrowed. His mouth was slightly agape.
“I’m looking at you like this because what the fuck?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re blowing off our movie night to have a movie night with him?”
“Yeah, so what? He’s my best friend.”
“So what? I’m your boyfriend. I’m meant to be your first priority always! Unless Bobby, or Howard, or Hen, or Eddie, or Chris, or whoever is dying I shouldn’t be a second thought. But right now… I am, aren’t I? And I don’t see why that would be, unless you were harbouring some secret feelings for him.”
“Um, what?” Buck finally sat up. He looked down at Tommy in disbelief.
“I mean, I don’t want to believe it either. I love you, Evan, but… do you love someone else?”
Buck shook his head. This whole thing is so stupid. Him? Having feelings for Eddie? Ha! No!
When there was no other reply, Tommy huffed out a laugh and rolled over. He was on his side, facing away from Buck.
And then Buck got up, put on his slippers, and stormed out of the house. He didn’t hear Tommy call after him, so he kept going. Not that he wouldn’t of anyway.
Buck found himself at Eddie’s place. Naturally.
It really wasn’t helping the allegations Tommy put against him. But he didn’t really want to go to his place by himself and be left alone with his thoughts for too long. He didn't know whether he should tell Eddie what happened or not.
“Buck?”
Eddie asked, walking into the living room.
Oh right. He used his spare key to get in.
Buck looked up from his place on the couch. He was so used to letting himself in he forgot he might scare Eddie still.
”What are you doing here?”
”Me and Tommy had a fight.” Buck responded.
”Oh.”
”Yeah.”
There was silence, then Eddie sat next to him, and then the silence was there again.
“What happened?”
Buck stiffened up. Then he sighed.
”He accused me of being in love with somebody else. And cheating on him.”
”What the hell?” Eddie turned to him.
”Yeah, I don’t know. But it made me mad and I didn’t know what to say so I got in the Jeep and drove here.”
Eddie looked down. “Well what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t know, Eddie. It’s not true. You’re straight so there’s no way I could get with you. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, his gaydar is way off.”
“What?”
Oh shit.
”Um. Yeah. He thought I’m in love with you or that I was cheating on him with you or something. But I don’t, and I wouldn’t. I mean, I do love you but in like a best bros type of way.”
Eddie’s gaze landed on his hands in his lap. “You told him that.”
“Of course I did!”
Eddie nodded, pursing his lips. “Are you gonna get him back?”
“Well, I want to. I love him, and he loves me. I just don’t know how.”
”You go back to his place or your place or whatever and you tell him that.” Eddie looked at him.
Buck breathed in deeply, trying to keep his breathing even. He didn’t want to lose Tommy. He loved him for who he truly was, didn't he? He loved him. And he accepted who he truly was.
So he did what he thought he should do.
“You could marry me.”
Tommy’s head whipped around, landing on his door.
“I could… what?”
Buck took a few steps forward, getting closer to the bed. “Marry me. I could prove I only love you by spending forever with you. I know we haven’t been dating for long but… I've basically moved in already.”
The fact he is also half living at Eddie’s house is left unsaid.
Tommy looked at him silently. He didn’t know what to say.
And then he did.
“Okay.”
And that was the best response he could have given. Well, it could’ve been nicer. A yes. But okay is good too.
He walked the rest of the steps forward to make it over to the bed. He was smiling slightly. He got into his side of the bed and cupped Tommy's cheeks, leaning in to seal it with a kiss.
And that’s how Buck ended up back on Eddie’s couch the next day. Eddie returned from the kitchen with two beers and a grin.
“What’s got you so excited?” Buck teased, taking a beer from Eddie.
“No, you came over because you had news. So tell me your news.”
Buck wanted to tell Eddie to say whatever was in his mind. But he knew if he deflected he might just not say anything. So he didn’t.
“Okay. Well. There’s no easy way to say this, but I need to say it. So I’m saying it.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows, waiting for something. “I don’t hear anything.”
Buck rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”
“I know, it’s just—“
“No. I’m doing it.” Buck closed his eyes for a moment, trying to get strength. Then, he looked at Eddie. “I asked Tommy to marry me.”
“You what?!” Eddie barked.
“I… proposed to Tommy. And all I got back was a lousy okay. Okay, for God’s sake!”
“Is this that you want?” Eddie asked. Because yesterday, he was telling him they were fighting over him. And this is a weird step back form that. He told him to get him back, not marry him!
Buck nodded. “I think so. I mean, I want a forever with someone. And Tommy gets me, you know?”
As Buck took a swig of his beer, Eddie nodded. But he bit his cheek. Because he said this about Natalia, too. He said that Natalia gets him. But Eddie gets him, too. Maybe not in the way he wants. But he does.
He doesn’t say any of that, of course.
He just kept nodding.
“I know.”
Then he sighed.
“Well, if he makes you happy, and you want this… then I’m happy for you.”
Buck smiled. “Thanks, man. Now what’s your news?”
Eddie didn’t miss a beat before his reply. “Chris is coming home next week.”
Buck’s smile spread into a grin very quickly. “Finally!”
Eddie nodded with a smile. “Yeah, it’s about time.”
“Damn right it is.”
And they both took swigs of beer.
A few days later Buck found himself at Maddie’s kitchen table. He was going to tell both of the Buckley-Han’s at the same time, but he wanted to tell the rest of the 118 together. Chimney would blab, too.
So when Maddie walked over with two steaming cups of coffee, Buck sighed and braced himself.
“So what’s got you coming over at 7.a.m. in the morning?” Maddie asked as she sat down.
“To be honest, I’m scared to tell you.” Buck admitted.
“Don’t be scared, I’m your sister!” Maddie said it in the tone of voice that’s meant to sound sweet, and a bit in disbelief.
That made Buck more nervous.
Whilst Buck further tried to prepare himself, he took a sip of coffee. It burnt his tongue but he just swallowed and acted like nothing happened. It gave him something to do, and some time.
“Okay…” he started. “I proposed to Tommy.”
He said it all in one breath, so Maddie thought she might’ve misunderstood.
“You what?!” Maddie barked, in the exact same way Eddie had.
“I asked Tommy to marry me!”
“Why the Hell would you do that?” Maddie hurriedly asked.
“Well, I love him, I want a forever with someone, and he gets me. And loves me. There. Four reasons.”
Maddie rolled her eyes.
“What was that for?”
“Evan, I love you, but you’re so stupid sometimes.” Maddie smiled slightly. Then she took a sip of coffee.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“This is you first relationship with a man, you know, and you’ve barely being dating very long. You don’t even live together yet!”
“Well I spend a lot of time at his or Eddie’s house. I may as well live with Tommy.”
Maddie raised her eyebrows slightly.
“What is that meant to mean?”
“I’m just saying… it took me and Howie five years to get engaged.”
“Yeah, but we know why, you know?”
“Cause I have trauma?” Maddie questioned.
Buck looked down at his mug.
“Well, you have abandonment issues.”
Buck looked back up at her sister. “I thought you’d be happy for me.”
“I am! Well, I will be. I just… need to get over the shock, okay?”
Buck nodded. “Okay. I won’t do this without you.”
“I know.”
It was at dinner a few nights later that Buck told the rest of the 118. It was at the firehouse, of course, and Bobby was just dealing out the plates.
Buck looked to his side where Eddie was. Eddie raised his eyebrows at him, telling him to just do it, without actually saying a word.
And that gave him strength to do it.
Once everyone was sat down, Bobby spoke up.
“So, Buck, what is this news you’re so excited about?”
Is Buck excited? Good question.
“Um. Well. Guess I better rip the Band-Aid off, huh?”
He looked to Eddie once more, another encouraging look being sent his way. Buck nodded to himself.
“Me and Tommy are engaged…”
“What?!”
Buck had no idea who said it. Probably everyone. Everyone except Eddie, that is.
“I mean, to be honest, I thought you were going to announce something else.” Hen admitted.
“What else could I possibly announce?” Buck furrowed his brow.
“Um…” Hen turned to Chimney.
Buck shook his head, dismissing whatever that is.
“Is this what you want, Buck?”
Buck looked up at Bobby, who was sitting at the head of the table.
Buck nodded. “Yes. Yes it is. Because Tommy makes me happy. And I love him, and he loves me, and he makes me feel seen. He understands me, and sees me for who I really am. And he loves me anyway.”
He saw Bobby nod at the end of the table. “Well, then. We’re happy for you.”
He heard collective agreements, and he saw nods.
So Buck smiled to himself.
His family was happy for him. They supported him in this decision to marry Tommy.
Especially Bobby. Hell, he didn’t know how he’d do it with him. It’ll either be him or Maddie walking him down the aisle. The dad he always wanted, or his sister/mother-figure.
And, yeah, he may have forgotten to mention a detail. That detail being that he proposed because Tommy thought Buck was inlove with Eddie, but it didn’t really matter, did it? Because that wasn’t why he did it. He did it because he loved Tommy, and Tommy loved him. And he wasn’t too much for Tommy.
That’s what he told himself, anyway. And everyone else. Many times. He's had the same conversation three times in a single week.
“I’m never getting over how weird A-shift is.” Ravi said, grabbing some food with his spoon.
“But you love us!” Chimney joked.
“Mmm…” Ravi hummed. “You guys are okay.”