Chapter Text
“Tía, we’ve been over this."
Eddie closes his eyes as he taps his phone on his forehead, Tía Pepa’s voice clear through its speaker. His fights have become less frequent, and normally that’d be a sign of his success, bigger payouts for his performances. But it’s like the fighters in his weight class have suddenly dropped him as a competitor. The calls to fight are few and far between and if he doesn’t get picked up for something soon, he’ll have to start looking at retirement. Of course his tía took his free time to mean he could finally go on the dates she’s been trying to set up for months. He’s grateful for the support, he really is, especially after his mom’s initial reaction to his coming out. But, every single person has been… wrong. They don’t want kids, can’t date someone whose job is so physically straining, they just want sex, or they just don’t want to be his first gay experience.
“No señor, we have not. I understood why you needed time, pero Eddie, they are not here. It’s been years. Look, you know I was not the biggest fan of Shannon, vieja gringa dejándolos a los dos, but your parents should have never pressured you two into anything. You told me you knew by then. I just want you to let yourself find happiness.”
“It was our choice. I knew by then yeah, but we had Chris. Shannon knew too, I think both of us hoped, that maybe —”
Pepa’s phone rattles as she moves.
“Maybe you could love each other anyway?”
“I did, I do love her.”
“As your wife or as your best friend?”
“I love her because she gave me Chris. I don’t think I could ever not be thankful to her for every day she gave him while I was on tour. I wanted to blame her for leaving Tía, but I really can’t. I wanted to. I wanted to yell that it wasn’t fair, that I was healing and overworking myself. We weren’t okay. But what good would it do? I did my part, I petitioned for the divorce, I wrote out that I want Chris. I gave her visitation and the option of working out a schedule if she wants it. I can't close that door when I know how much he misses her."
“Bueno, have you thought about what to do for Chris right now? Quién lo va a cuidar?”
“I was hoping to find full-time care soon but it’s a bunch of red tape. Can I have you and Abuela help out just while I figure something out?”
“I can take him some days, I will talk to mamá but it’s temporary, Eddie. She’s getting on in years and her mobility isn’t made to keep up with a seven year old.”
“Thank you.”
“Go on the date Eddie, that’s how you thank me.”
“If I do this —”
“If you do this, you give yourself a chance to be happy niño terco. But sure, it doesn’t work, I stop. No more dates until you’re ready.”
“Fine, who are you setting me up with this time?”
He listens as she rattles off about meeting some fire captain at a farmers market and how they struck up a friendship after sharing recipes. She laughs as she tells Eddie about how this captain, Bobby, started talking about his son, Evan.
“He’s perfect for you, Eddie.”
“Right. Like all the other dates were?”
“I may have been wrong about a few, but this Evan? He’s something special. By the way Bobby talks about him, you would think he was made of sunshine.”
“But that’s his dad right? How much can you trust that?”
“Bobby’s not his biological father as far as he told me, but there is no way that he is not his family. And we’ll call it intuition, si? He did say that Evan’s had a bit of a hard time recently, but his face lit up once I talked about you. He seems to think you’d be good for each other.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Gracias, Eddie. I will call you with the details!”
“Bye Tía.”
Eddie tosses his phone to the side and grabs one of the throw pillows beside him. He pulls at the soft pumpkin design before bringing it up to his face and groaning. The shuffle of his seven year old’s crutches warns him to at least try and sit up.
“What are you doing?”
“Hiding. I said yes to Tía Pepa again.”
“What if you like him this time?”
“That’s what I hope for every time, but you know they gotta be real special for me to be okay with dating them. I have you to think about.”
“What if I go with you? Tell you if he’s cool or not?”
Eddie smiles at him, extending his arms to grab the crutches as Chris moves to sit with him.
“Oh yeah? And what how would you do that mijo?”
“He has to like me a-and be okay with your job. And Tía Pepa says you need someone funny, and smart.”
“Hm. Well, you and Tía Pepa do like to look out for me don’t you? How about this, I’ll still meet him first,” Chris pouts, about to argue, when Eddie raises his hand gently to tell him to wait, “and you get to help me pick my outfit and one question you want me to ask him. And when I get home, you tell me if he gave a good answer. If he didn’t, he doesn’t get to meet you.”
“And if it’s a good answer?”
“Then maybe we keep him around.”
Chris smiles at him then, big and bright. Eddie leans back and laughs, of course his kid would make him feel better about meeting this guy.
“What’s his name?”
“Evan Buckley.”
“Buck, it’s just one date.” Bobby calls after him as he walks into the locker room. Buck slips off his bag and places it on the bench, grabbing his long sleeve button up. Bobby walks in, as Buck fastens the last of the buttons.
“Cap.”
“Buck. I know you told ‘Thena not to get any ideas, but this one is on me okay. You gotta trust me.”
“I don’t know if I want to get back out there yet.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t vet the kid first.”
Buck sighs.
“Who is it?”
“His name is Eddie.”
“Cap —”
Bobby steps closer and pulls Buck into his arms.
“I never did thank you for telling me. I know you needed to get it out but I’m happy you trusted Athena and me with that part of you.”
Buck nods into Bobby’s shoulder.
“Thanks Cap.”
Bobby pulls back, clearly affected as well.
“Now come on, C-Shift’s getting outta here and we gotta start food for everybody coming in.”
They both walk up toward the loft, C-Shift slowly filtering down and out to their cars. Chim and Hen lay back on the couch gaming controllers in hand.
“So Eddie?”
“He used to be an army medic, got honorably discharged with a silver star after being in Afghanistan for two tours —”
“You sure you’re not recruiting him?” Buck scoffs. He goes to the kitchen island and brings out a cutting board, knives, and a few pans while Bobby grabs eggs, bacon, bell peppers, onions, and avocados. Buck takes each of the vegetables and washes them, placing them at the side of his cutting board.
“How small you want these?”
Bobby looks over to him and thinks.
“We’re doing omelettes, do a brunoise?”
“The tiny dice right?”
“Mhmm. If I was recruiting anyone, it’d be to get you a partner. This cycle of recruits we didn’t really need to host someone but you do need one.”
“A partner?”
“A partner. Eddie is more than qualified for LAFD but that’s not why I think you’d work together. His aunt tells me he’s growing as an MMA fighter and he wants someone who gets that schedules can be complicated, that his priority will be his kid, and that is willing to try and work through the tough moments.”
“And you think that’s me?”
“I do. I think that you and Eddie are exactly what the other needs. You just gotta give it a chance, and if I’m wrong, you can say I told you so.”
“Cap, this is a big jump from me getting fired for stealing the truck.”
“You’re not that person anymore.”
Buck breathes out, sliding the diced onion to the side of the board. He feels the prickle of tears forming in his eyes because of the onion and tries to blink them away as he grabs on of the bell peppers. He holds it up in front of Bobby.
“Same thing?”
Bobby nods as he collects the onion and lays it on the pan. The small sizzle and fragrant aroma fill the space as Buck slowly cuts into the bell peppers.
“How old is his kid?”
“Seven, I think.”
“Hm. And him?”
“Are you worried I’m setting you up with an older man?”
Buck lays the knife down on the cutting board, turning to stare at Bobby.
“I don’t know, maybe?”
“Abby was older.”
“To be fair, I wasn’t exactly trying to be in a relationship. It just kinda happened.”
“And Tommy —”
“Nope. No. We are definitely not talking about him. Cap, please tell me you are not setting me up with another 40 something year old?”
Bobby laughs at him, stirring the now golden onions.
“No, he’s actually a year younger than you. He had his kid pretty young.”
Buck relaxes.
“Oh. Okay.”
“He’s also a very beautiful man?”
“Cap!”
“What?! He could’ve given us a run for our money on the calendar submissions for sure.”
“Oh my god. Fine, what else do I need to know about him?”
“Are you saying you’ll go on the date?”
“Yeah, I’ll go on the date.”