Work Text:
Space was a crazy concept. It was one of those things that sounded incredible in practice but was impossible in theory. Eddie was a single dad to a kid who was only talking to him again; space wasn't somewhere he could go. He got anxious even going to work for too long. But the idea of space and teasing Buck, Chim and Ravi was fun. So he pretended to love the idea, bickering with Chim about who deserves to go the most. If it weren't for the fact that Buck was scared of flying (a secret Eddie vowed to tell no one else), Eddie would have voted for Buck. He had a hyperfixation on space a few weeks ago after Chris asked for help on a school project. He did not stop talking about it, and if he went, he'd come back to describe it in such vivid detail that Eddie would think he was there too. An added bonus was how fun it was to annoy Chimney.
That's why the knock at the door at 9 pm was surprising. Chimney stood there smiling with a six-pack of beers. They'd bickered earlier in the day about the space trip; however, Eddie welcomed him graciously as they watched the telenovela Eddie had on earlier.
“How's Chris been?” Chimney asked after their first few conversations. His feet kicked up on the table in a relaxed manner as he nursed his first beer. Eddie was on his third.
“Good, his good,” Eddie replied, taking a swig of the beer.
“Good to have him in the same house?” Chimney asked as Eddie glanced at Chris’s closed bedroom door.
“God, I missed him when he was in Texas. A lot better to have him here,” Eddie said quietly.
“I know the feeling, I miss my son and his home right now, probably sleeping.”
“Least you can check in at any time,” Eddie retorted as Chimney pulled his phone out of his back pocket.
Eddie didn't like technology, not one bit. The highest-tech thing he owned was a Hildy coffee machine Buck brought him years ago. Chimney, however, embraced technology. They had a baby monitor which could connect to your phone. After long or difficult calls, Chimney would disappear to his office so he could watch his baby, occasionally talking to him through the features Eddie didn't understand.
Chimney pulled up the app and showed Eddie, who just rolled his eyes behind Chim. The baby was standing up in the cot, peering over at something on the floor. The soundwave at the bottom was spiking suspiciously. Chimney turned up the volume, letting the sound of Buck's voice fill the room.
“I even miss his disappointed faces-” Buck said quietly.
Eddie was searching the baby monitor for Buck, who wasn't even on screen. Eddie watched, waiting for a sign of Buck, listening to the heavy breath Buck took as he got ready to continue.
“We shouldn't-” Chimney said quietly, but not moving the phone.
“I- I want to tell Bobby about everything. The things I love and the things I hate. I mean. I miss him, but I miss talking to him, getting advice from him,” Buck said quietly. The baby cooed at him, “If I'm honest, I realised something recently and I have no one to ask about it. I wish I had Bobby cause he'd be so- I just need him.”
Eddie looked at Chimney quietly, their beers abandoned on the table. They both knew it was wrong to listen in, but the intrigue was impossible to avoid. Buck had been very closed off about his emotions recently, especially after moving out of Eddie's. He wasn't the only one, but he was the one who concerned Eddie the most.
“I got my own place, he's never gonna have a meal there. It doesn't feel real still-” Buck continued, his voice getting quieter, “I had to move ou,t though. I couldn't live with Eddie anymore.”
Eddie's eyebrow raised. He was a great roommate! It was Buck who left his shoes out and flour on the kitchen counters. Eddie loved having Buck as a roommate; in fact, he'd want him as one forever. There were nightly beers on the couch and fresh treats in the cupboard. The morning routine they perfected; Buck cooking whilst Eddie made coffee. It had been perfect, or so Eddie had thought.
“I just couldn't do it anymore- pretend. I know I know baby. His straight-” Buck added, Eddie took the phone off of Chimney, gripping it in his hand.
The thing is, Eddie wasn't so sure how straight he actually was. After a conversation with Chris a few months ago, Eddie had been forced to notice the pattern of destruction that followed when he dated women. It led him to some interesting internet searching and late-night deliberating before he realised that maybe women weren't right for him. He had been ready to tell Buck, about to announce it, when the man announced he had found a new place. So Eddie's announcement was cut off and then forgotten. The timing never seemed right.
“But I love him. Baby I love him. It's so annoying because I know it can't happen and there's nothing I can do. I mean, he was talking to Hen earlier and I got so fuck- no wrong word-” Buck leaned up, the side of his figure visible to the camera as he pointed at the baby, “Don't repeat that word, okay? Anyway, I got so jealous even though I shouldn't, but Eddie- his my best friend. I can't love him, but I can still have him as my friend and I don't want anyone to take that. If I'm not his best friend, then I won't be important to him, I need to be important even if it's not like that-”
Eddie scoffed. Buck was and probably always would be the most important person in his life besides Chris. Buck was one of the reasons he loved going to work and the one he leaned on when times were tougher. Buck was the reason he smiled when he was down and the one who helped him get back up. He loved hearing Bucks' rants about his new topic of interest and enjoyed winding his friend up when possible. Buck was all the best qualities a person could have wrapped up in the form of a golden retriever. When he wasn't around, Eddie wished he was- Holy shit.
“I love him-” Eddie whispered, his voice barely audible as he dropped Chimney’s phone to the floor.
Chimney grabbed the beer off the table and handed it to Eddie, waiting for more words from the man. Chimney looked around awkwardly, like he was half-expecting to catch someone else's gaze in the empty room. The shrill laughter of the TV audience rang out as Eddie looked up, his eyes clouding over like he was going to cry. His lip trembled slightly, and his hand rubbed his face, forcing the emotion away.
“I love him!” Eddie said louder, his knees hitting the coffee table as he stood up.
How had Eddie been so stupid? How had he not noticed this sooner? Buck was everything to him and more. He helped raise Chris and saved both their lives on numerous occasions. Eddie had had girlfriends, but never longed for their presence the way he wished for Bucks. The whole bed felt cold since Buck moved, and the house felt darker. Buck was the one whom Eddie loved!
Eddie walked to the door, grabbing his keys off the hook, Chimney tailing behind him. His eyes were frantic as he stopped Eddie. Eddie looked determined; he'd just put the last piece of the world's easiest puzzle together, and he had to do something.
“Eddie, what's the plan?” Chimney asked quietly, taking the keys from Eddie's hand.
“I don't, I need to see- Buck, we go to Buck-” Eddie replied, as Chimney nodded, leading them both to the car.
Eddie was anxious the whole drive; his stomach felt like it had butterflies in it, and by the time they pulled into Chimney's driveway, his stomach was doing flips. His hands shook slightly as he got out of the car, but his mission was clear.
He had to tell Buck he loved him.
Eddie practically ran to the door, hammering on it repeatedly until an angry-looking Maddie opened the door. Eddie barely acknowledged her as he walked in, looking around for Buck.
“Hello to you too,” She said, looking at Eddie, who was searching the living room as though the 6ft man would be hiding in a couch cushion.
“Sorry-” Chimney said, panting on the doorstep as he entered, Maddie shut the door behind him. “Looooong story-”
“Buck!” Eddie yelled.
“If you wake my children, you are putting them back to sleep-” Maddie snapped as Eddie apologised quietly.
“Eddie?” Buck asked, his face riddled with confusion as he entered.
Eddie did have a plan; he was going to ask Buck to come home with him so he could talk to him properly. Tell him everything from the start and confess his love with words, but... Seeing Buck, the plan changed.
Bucks as a sight to behold. Tall, handsome, with a smile that cures millions. He had this eyebrow quirk that appeared when he was confused or flirty. Eddie had memorised the shape of that birthmark on his eyebrow, and the color of his eyes was his favourite of them all. Eddie’s plan was out the window the second his gaze caught that man.
He stepped forward, towards Buck. One hand grabbed his jacket as the other slid behind Bucks' head, diving into the curls as his lips smashed against Bucks.
Eddie kissed Buck. He kissed him?
It took Buck a second before Eddie felt him smile against his lips. Working his way into the kiss as well. Their lips were working around each other in a perfected way. It was when Eddie’s tongue poked through to Bucks' mouth, ready to taste every part of him and devour the man whole, that Maddie made a sound behind him. Clearing her throat loudly as they broke apart.
Eddie's eyes didn't leave Buck. Staring at the salvia on his bottom lip and the smile forming in the corners of his mouth. That sparkle in his eyes that was always there when he was happy, Eddie had memorised it from the countless times spent together. His curls were messy from Eddie's small grip, but god… he looked beautiful.
“So-” Maddie said, her eyes wide and face riddled with confusion.
“Come home with me-” Eddie whispered, his eyes glued on Bucks.
“What- Eddie your-” Buck stammered, the realisation of what happened finally hitting him. His eyes darted around the room.
“Gay, and in love with you. Would you like to continue this here in front of your sister and captain or come home with me… to a bed-”
“Home. Home. Definitely home,” Buck said in a rushed, garbled sound that barely resembled words. Nodding his head frantically as though the message wasn't already clear. Eddie couldn't help but smile, holding out his hand for Bucks to slot into. They both made their way to the door, Eddie barely even glanced at the couple who owned the house.
“Hang on, What?” Maddie said, her fingers pointing around like she was trying to connect imaginary dots. She turned to look at Chimney, who looked equally as bewildered, his mouth hanging open, staring at the pair.
“I don't-” Buck said quietly. Eddie was already marching to Buck's jeep. He just shrugged, then turned to follow Eddie.
“Use protection!” Chimney yelled as the car doors slammed,
“I need details,” Maddie said, still standing by the door.
“I'll get wine, this has been seven years in the making-” Chimney said, shutting the front door.