Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ravi doesn’t usually come to Buck’s house on days off.

It’s not a rule exactly but more a matter of personal boundaries. He likes Buck, sure. They're friends. He's been here before, but never without an invitation. Buck’s place exists, in Ravi’s mind, in relation to shifts. Pre-shift coffee, post-shift beers, the occasional late-night check-in that Ravi always pretends not to notice is Buck reaching out because he doesn’t want to be alone, and knows that Ravi will indulge him when others can’t. Outside of that structure though, Buck’s house feels like private territory. It's off limits and domestic almost; intimate in a way Ravi hasn’t earned yet. At least not in a way where he can show up at the crack of dawn on a day neither of them work. 

Which is how he ends up sitting in his car for a few minutes longer than necessary, engine already cut and keys warm in his palm while staring at the familiar little house as if it might just spit him out the moment he crosses the threshold. 

It's a Wednesday, an early morning with no shift for any of the team to rush to. The sun is barely up, the soft, hazy morning light still trying to decide what the day would look like as it unfurled. The neighborhood Buck had chosen was a quiet one, full of young families and staunch professionals just beginning to rise for the start of their day. Ravi checks his phone again even though he already knows what it says. 

Chimney (aka cap): Go to Buck’s. He’s got the gear. Tell him I said it was fine.

Ravi exhales through his nose. Of course Chim said it like that, as if Buck might argue. As if Buck ever says no to anything that might help someone, even on his day off. Especially if it's for a member of the 118 or Eddie. He knows that he's not as important as Eddie is. He doesn't think anyone could take that spot in Buck's life or inner circle. But he knows that Buck cares about the whole team, that he has become a part of that family and has earned that level of care. Yet he still sometimes finds himself feeling like an outsider, not fully understanding it all the way some others do. 

Ravi grabs his backpack, shuts the car door quietly behind him, and starts up the walkway toward the front porch. He likes Buck's house more than the loft he had only visited twice. The house was nice, older architecture with a lot of personality. Ravi wouldn’t pick it but it fits Buck well. 

He takes the front steps two at a time and is almost to the door when he hears it. A bang. Sharp and hollow, unmistakably human. Definitely not an animal. It wasn't a crash exactly, more like someone knocking over something they shouldn't have. He paused, with a hand just about hovering above the door and his head tilted instinctively towards the noise. 

His first thought is Buck, of course,because it’s his house. So who else would it be? But then also it's always Buck. Buck dropping something or tripping over his own two feet. It would make sense then that Buck would enthusiastically misjudge spatial awareness before 9am on a random week day. 

Ravi steps back off the porch and cuts around the side of the house instead, gravel fallen leaves crunching softly under his shoes. The gate to the backyard is already open, swinging slightly in the breeze. Ravi pushes it wider with one hand, already opening his mouth to call out–

And stops dead in his tracks. 

Because Eddie Diaz is standing there. In Buck's backyard. And not just standing there. Standing there in socked feet with his boots clutched in one hand, hair a mess like it's been raked through by fingers that didn’t care about neatness. His T-shirt is wrinkled and half-tucked, collar stretched faintly out of shape, and there’s a red mark blooming just below his jaw that Ravi’s brain categorizes immediately and absolutely does not want to examine further.

Eddie is halfway through the door that leads directly into Buck’s bedroom–the one Ravi has seen exactly once,when Buck had gestured vaguely and said, Bathroom’s that way, don’t judge the mess after Ravi stopped inside to pee before heading home after a night out. 

Eddie freezes when he finally sees Ravi, the door clicking shut behind him in what could only be described as a startled slam. 

They stare at each other.

For a long, strange second, Ravi’s mind refuses to connect all the dots. Eddie at Buck’s house makes sense. Eddie at Buck’s house early, makes sense. Eddie looking like he slept over? Okay. Fine. That also makes sense. They’ve done that before. Even Hen had told the story of them sharing a bed during quarantine, so even though he thinks it isn't totally normal, he knows that even then sleeping in the same room isn't exactly abnormal. 

But Eddie sneaking out the back door, shoes in hand, like a teenager avoiding being caught after curfew by an angry parent? 

That’s new. That's different. That isn't the Eddie that he knows. 

Ravi’s mouth opens before his brain can catch up. It's a reflex born of familiarity and affection. The kind of easy teasing that exists when you trust someone to know you don’t mean harm.

“Well,” he says, eyebrows lifting a bit in surprise, “this feels like a walk of shame situation.”

He expects Eddie to scoff or roll his eyes. They both can have a similar sense of humor sometimes, the one that is all dead pan expressions that break into a laugh after a beat or two. He's expecting the man to say something dry about Ravi needing more caffeine since he's not seeing straight. 

Instead, Eddie goes completely still.

It’s subtle. Eddie’s good at not giving things away, but Ravi sees it anyway. He's worked with the man long enough that he thinks he has a good read on him. He's never going to know Eddie like Buck does but he doesn't really think that's possible for anyone at this point. But he thinks he does a pretty decent job reading Eddie's moods and the subtle non verbal ways he often communicated discomfort. 

He sees the slight way that Eddie’s shoulders lock. The way his grip tightens on his boots for a moment. The way his gaze flicks, quick and sharp, toward the bedroom door behind him, then back to Ravi, as if he’s measuring distances. Planning escape routes. 

Oh.

Ravi’s stomach drops.

He hadn’t actually thought–hadn’t really considered– that there might be something to be right about. The joke lands wrong in the air between them, too loud and exposing. Ravi opens his mouth to backpedal or possibly laugh it off, as if to say I’m kidding, man, relax. 

Eddie beats him to it. Doesn't even give him a chance to explain or get them both out of it. 

“Ravi,” he says, voice low and tight with nervous energy, “I need you to not–” 

He cuts himself off, swallows, and drags a hand through his already wrecked hair. His eyes look dark in the early light, something raw flickering there that Ravi has seen before, but only in pieces. Only in the aftermath of calls gone bad, or when Buck gets hurt on a scene or his parents call in the middle of a shift. 

Ravi raises both hands slowly, palms out. “Hey,” he says, instinctively softening his tone. “It was a joke. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Eddie lets out a shaky breath. He looks down, then up again, jaw working like he’s chewing on something bitter and debating if he wants to spit it out. 

“It’s not–” Eddie starts, then stops. He takes a deep breath. Tries again. “It’s not just–we’re not  just hooking up.” 

Ravi doesn’t speak. He doesn’t nod or smile. doesn’t do anything that might push in anyway. He just waits for the older man to explain himself. 

Eddie exhales again, long and controlled, like he’s bracing himself against some sort of invisible impact. 

“Buck and I,” he says, and his voice cracks just a little, “we’ve been… seeing each other. For a couple months.”

There it is.

The words settle into Ravi’s chest with a strange mix of inevitability and surprise. He feels it click into place. The way Buck has been lately, all bright nerves and anxiety on shifts, a little bit of jealousy peeling through when he doesn't get to do something with Eddie the way they once used to on scene. But it's also in the way Eddie has been softer around him, but guarded, the tension between them something the team had been concerned about. But maybe they shouldn't have been. 

All this to say, Ravi is not surprised.

He is, however, acutely aware of how terrified Eddie looks saying it out loud.

“Oh,” he says carefully, trying to find the right words for the situation but any options die on his tongue. 

Eddie huffs a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah. That’s about right.”

“I–” Ravi pauses, choosing his next words with care. “I’m guessing this isn’t… public knowledge? I mean…” 

Eddie’s shoulders hunch, his defensive reflexes kicking in. “No. God, no. We’re not– Buck knows about me–I mean obviously since we're–we– ya know. But that's it. And now you uh–you know about–”

Something in Eddie’s expression tightens, fear sharpening into something more pointed as he continues to speak. “You can’t tell anyone.”

Ravi nods immediately. “I won’t.” It's a promise he intends to keep. He knows that they're team is close, that they tell each other things even when they shouldn't. But this is something different. This isn't just Eddie starting to date again or buying a new house or moving to Texas. This is Eddie finding a piece of himself that he wasn't ready to share and Ravi stepped directly into it without permission. He doesn't want to make that worse. He can't. 

Eddie studies him, like he’s searching for something. “I mean it. Not Chim, not Hen, not–” He stops himself for a moment and sighs. “Not anyone.”

“I hear you. I promise.” 

The relief that flashes across Eddie’s face is brief but unmistakable. It fades just as quickly, replaced by something heavier.

“I just–when I say nobody knows about me. I haven't even– Buck knows but he doesn't know. I haven't even– I don't know what I am. Like…I don't know what words to use so I just–” 

Ravi’s chest tightens as he shrugs, voice trialing off.  There it is. The thing beneath the thing. The reason Eddie had looked like a man caught doing something wrong instead of something joyful, something that he's been hurtling towards probably for years. 

“No one knows I’m–” Eddie breaks off, then presses his lips together. He doesn’t finish the sentence. He doesn’t have to. An understanding passes between them. 

Ravi swallows. He thinks of all the times Eddie has spoken about Christopher, about his parents, about the careful lines he draws around his life. He thinks of Buck and his wide open heart being trusted with something this fragile.

“That’s a lot to be carrying,” Ravi says quietly. There's nothing else he can say. He doesn't understand, not truly at least. He's always known who he was, had been strong in that. He doesn't know what it's like to dig something up about yourself 20 years later than most of the people around you and have it completely change your life overnight. But he can empathize with the feeling of hopelessness and confusion and loss. He's no stranger to that in his own life. 

Eddie’s mouth twists. It's a half-smile, half-grimace. “Yeah.”

They stand there in the early morning light, the weight of the moment stretching thin and fragile between them. Ravi is aware, suddenly, of how close he is to Buck’s bedroom. How Buck might be just on the other side of that door, asleep and unaware that the shape of his private life has shifted in the presence of a witness without his permission. Without either of their permission. He clears his throat lightly. 

“For what it’s worth,” he says, “I’m really happy for you. Both of you.”

Eddie’s eyes flick up to search his face. They're a little startled. “You are?”

Ravi shrugs, a small smile tugging at his own lips. “Yeah. I mean. It makes sense.”

Eddie just rolls his eyes and snorts at that. 

“What? It does!” 

Eddie exhales and Ravi watches as the tension in his shoulders eases just a fraction. Then his gaze sharpens again, like he’s remembering something important.

“Why are you here?” 

Ravi blinks. “Oh. Uh. Chim sent me. I need some equipment for a training thing at the academy later. He said Buck had it.”

Eddie grimaces. “Shit.”

Ravi tilts his head. “What?”

“I didn’t think–” Eddie rubs the back of his neck. “I should go. Before he wakes up. He knows I gotta pick up Chris and I don't–I need to get out of here.” 

The words land oddly and Ravi clocks it immediately. It's the instinct to protect Buck’s privacy, even from something as benign as a teammate borrowing gear. He doesn't want there to be a moment of overlap, even a slight spark to the idea that Ravi had seen him trying to leave. 

Eddie shifts, boots still clutched in his hand, clearly ready to bolt. And Ravi hesitates, just for a second. 

There’s something sitting in his chest, pressing up against his ribs, something he hadn’t planned to say today. Something that suddenly feels relevant in a way that makes his pulse pick up.

“Hey, Eddie?” 

Eddie pauses, halfway turned away. “Yeah?”

Ravi exhales slowly. “I think… I think it’s only fair I tell you something too.”

Eddie turns back completely, eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “You don’t have to–”

“I know. But I think I want to.”

He shifts his weight, suddenly very aware of how exposed this moment is. Of how ridiculous it feels to be confessing things in Buck’s backyard like this, sunlight creeping higher, the world continuing on as if nothing has changed.

“I’m dating someone too,” he finally spits out. 

Eddie’s expression flickers with surprise, then warmth. “Oh. Yeah?”

“Yeah. We’re… keeping it quiet too. For now.”

Eddie’s mouth quirks. “Guess it’s going around.”

 “I guess so.” He hesitates, then adds, “It’s May. May Grant. We uh–we’ve known each other a whole but we got closer when she was driving Harry to the academy and I was doing my CEUs and it just–it happened.” 

Eddie’s eyebrows shoot up. “Athena’s daughter?”

Ravi winces. “Yeah.”

“Oh,” Eddie says, and then, after a beat, “Oh.”

Ravi laughs weakly. “Yeah.”

Eddie lets out a low whistle. “That’s–wow. Good luck?”

“Yeah,” Ravi repeats. “So. You see the problem.”

Eddie studies him for a long moment, something like understanding settling into his gaze. “No one knows? At all?”

“Not yet. We’re not ready.”

“Okay.”

They stand there, two men holding secrets that feel too big for the early hour, the air humming with unspoken agreement.

“So,” Ravi says carefully, “I guess we’re… mutually assured destruction.”

Eddie snorts a laugh, the tension breaking at last. “Something like that.”

Ravi meets his gaze, expression sobering. “I won’t tell anyone. About you and Buck.”

Eddie’s voice is quiet when he replies. “And I won’t tell anyone about you and May.”

A beat.

“Not even Buck,” Ravi adds.

Eddie nods. “Not even Buck.”

They shake on it. Well, not literally, but something solid clicks into place between them all the same. Trust, built fast and a little fragile, but overwhelmingly real. And Ravi knows the two of them are about to get a lot closer whether they want to or not. 

Eddie shifts his boots to his other hand. “I should go.”

Ravi steps aside, giving him a clear path. “Yeah.”

Eddie pauses, then looks back at him. “Thanks,” he says. “For not making it weird.”

Ravi smiles faintly. “Check back in a week.”

Eddie huffs another slight laugh, then slips past him, moving quietly through the yard and out the gate, and disappearing down the street with his shoes still in hand.

Ravi watches him go, heart thudding. And when he's alone again the quiet feels a bit heavier than he expected in the wake of not just the discovery but his own confession.

He takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and turns toward the house. Toward Buck’s front door. Toward the perfectly ordinary task of borrowing some equipment from a friend who has no idea that the morning has already gone off the rails.

Ravi lifts his hand.

Knocks.

And hopes, fervently, that this is the last surprise the day has in store.

—--

Buck notices it the way he notices most things now. Slowly, in pieces, and without even a hint of panic. Which, he knows, is some kind of growth. Because even 6 months ago Buck knows everything going on in his life paired with this might have thrown him into a tailspin. 

It starts in the locker room.

Eddie is already there when Buck comes in, sitting on the bench with his elbows on his knees, tying and untying the same boot like he’s forgotten how knots work. Ravi is standing nearby and pretending very hard to be focused on his phone while absolutely watching Eddie out of the corner of his eye.

Buck clocks it immediately. How could he not?  The way Eddie’s shoulders tense when Ravi shifts closer. The way Ravi abruptly clears his throat like he’s about to speak, but  then very pointedly doesn’t.

“Morning,” Buck says easily as he slides to his own locker, fingers finding the combination easily. 

Eddie looks up too fast. “Hey.”

Ravi looks up a half beat later. “Mornin.”

They both sound fine. Normal. But there’s a carefulness there that Buck hasn’t seen between them before. Almost like they’re both trying to remember a script they haven’t rehearsed enough.

Buck doesn’t feel alarmed. 

He drops his bag, starts pulling on his uniform, watches Eddie finally commit to tying his boot. Ravi pockets his phone and steps back, like he’s just remembered personal space is a thing.

Interesting.

A year ago, okay maybe even a month or two ago, Buck would’ve felt it immediately. That sharp twist of jealousy, the instinctive why him reflex he never liked but couldn’t always stop.

But now?

Now Buck just feels… fond.

Eddie’s been carrying a lot. Buck knows that better than anyone. He knows what it’s like to sit with something new and fragile and terrifying and not know how to say it yet. Knows what it's like to have to go to someone, but know that it can't be your best friend. And even though they're together now, Buck knows that they're still best friends and nothing could change that. He also knows what it's like if Eddie has decided Ravi is someone he can talk to. If he's decided the younger member of their team is someone safe, someone observant enough to listen without pushing, and someone who's enough removed from the situation to make him feel comfortable to confide. 

That’s okay.

More than okay.

It actually feels like a relief. Like maybe Eddie is figuring some things out and maybe the secrets they share won't have to be secret for much longer. 

“Buck?”

He looks up. Ravi’s watching him now, expression carefully neutral as he speaks.

“Yeah?”

“Chim wants to see you when you’re done.”

“On my way!” 

Ravi hesitates, then adds, “He’s… uh. He’s doing the thing.”

Buck snorts. “Alphabetizing?”

Ravi’s mouth twitches like he wants to laugh and stops himself. “Worse.”

Buck shakes his head and heads out, filing the moment away without worry. He passes Eddie in the hallway a minute later and Eddie almost–almost–reaches out like he’s about to say something important, then drops his hand at the last second.

“You okay?” Buck asks gently.

Eddie nods quickly. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

“Well…You know where I am. If you need something.”

Eddie’s expression softens, something grateful flickering behind his eyes. “I know.”

They hold each other’s gaze a moment longer than strictly necessary before Buck moves on. They do that a lot now. He knows that Chim has probably noticed, Hen too. But he hopes that it's not too different from how they were before. But it makes them both feel better, grounds them, when they can't physically wrap themselves around each other and hold each other close and keep themselves together. 

Chim is, predictably, in a mood, just like Ravi said he was. Not a bad one. He was just restless and unfocused. It's the kind of mood that makes him reorganize things that don’t need reorganizing or start talking about policy and procedure the team has never been concerned with previously. Buck listens, nods, helps him redirect the energy toward something useful, and by the time they’re done the day has settled into that quiet, suspended rhythm where everyone’s waiting for the next call.

It’s during the afternoon checks that Buck notices it again.

Ravi and Eddie are paired up, moving through equipment with exaggerated politeness. Every time Ravi reaches for something, Eddie beats him to it. Every time Eddie speaks, Ravi startles like he’s been called on unexpectedly in high school. It's like they're circling each other. And he's not the only one who notices. Hen does too. 

And Buck can tell because Hen always notices things like this. She watches them for a long moment, expression unreadable, then flicks her gaze to Buck. He simply meets her eyes and shrugs. She arches an eyebrow at him. 

Buck mouths, What?

Hen’s lips twitch as she tilts her head toward Ravi and Eddie, before turning back to her own work. 

Chim squints at them from across the bay a few minutes later. Much less quiet about it than Hen was. “You two always work like that?”

Ravi freezes and Eddie straightens automatically. Eddie's face goes bright red as he looks between Ravi and Chim with a face that says he has no idea how to answer his captain and friend. 

“We’re just–” Ravi starts, obviously picking up on Eddie's nerves and trying to think of something. Anything. 

“--checking the straps,” Eddie finishes.

They immediately glance at each other like they’ve just accidentally synchronized and they both look horrified at the concept. 

Buck bites his lip to keep from smiling.

Luckily, a call comes in to distract everyone, the tone causing a breakup in the tension and Buck watches as Eddie and Ravi just shake their heads at each other and head in opposite directions to try to get to the gear rack. 

In the end the call is a standard one, but nothing crazy. Just enough to ground them all in the work. It was a minor collision, no serious injuries, but a shaken driver and the need for them to tow a mangled mini coop out of the middle of an intersection. Buck and Eddie fall into step beside each other like they always do, muscle memory smooth and reassuring as chim decides to pair up the paramedics with heavy rescue to make it all go easier for the team.

Ravi hangs back with Hen, but Buck catches him watching Eddie like he’s waiting for instructions he doesn’t want to ask for. Eddie, in turn, keeps glancing Ravi’s way, like he’s checking something invisible. At one point Eddie even reaches for a tool by the rig at one point, hesitates, and turns toward Ravi.

“Can you–” he gestures. “That.”

Ravi jumps. “Yeah. Sorry.”

Buck hands Eddie the tool from the other side at the exact same moment.

Eddie startles. “Oh. Thanks.”

He looks between them like he’s forgotten how object permanence works.

 “You good?”

“Yeah,” Eddie says a little too fast.

Buck’s smile softens around the edges. “Okay.”

They finish the call without incident, load back into the engine, and Buck thinks maybe that’s the end of it.

It isn’t.

By lunchtime, the weirdness has matured into something new. And Buck is, honestly, finding it hilarious to bear witness to. 

Ravi and Eddie sit on opposite ends of the couch in the loft, angled toward each other like magnets fighting themselves. Ravi’s knee bounces until Eddie shifts slightly on his side, then stops abruptly. Eddie’s arms fold, unfold, fold again like he can’t decide what to do with them in his restlessness. It's obvious that they want to speak, but are refusing to. Like there's a secret on the top of someone's tongue and the inability to say it out loud in front of the rest of the team. 

Buck stands at the kitchen counter with Chim, chopping vegetables for something that started as lunch and has evolved into a…project. And Buck loves Chim, he does. He makes a great captain and a wonderful father but he's an awful cook and even more awful dt time management and the idea of keeping things small. It's moments like this he misses Bobby's leadership the most. And he knows that the man is only a phone call away, but having him at the station on a daily basis, taking the reigns with confidence and quiet control is what he truly misses some days. 

Chim doesn’t say anything at first. He watches the loft over Buck’s shoulder, with a thoughtful expression. He turns back to Buck every few minutes like he's thinking deeply about something, like he's categorizing bucks every move. It's unsettling, actually. 

“You good?” Chim asks eventually, low enough that Ravi and Eddie can’t hear. There's an edge to his voice. Almost like he's expecting Buck to have a breakdown in front of him at any moment. 

“Yeah.” Buck glances up from the cutting board. “Why wouldn't I be?”

Chim tilts his head. “Because I’m just– I'm checking. You know. Since they’re,” he waves a hand towards the couch, “doing whatever that is.”

Buck follows his gaze to the loft. Eddie is saying something quietly, leaning towards Ravi as he whispers. The younger man is nodding a little too hard, engrossed in the conversation but obviously very aware that they're being watched, no matter how subtle Chim thinks he is. 

“It’s fine.”

Chim studies Buck’s face like he’s expecting to find something else there. “You’re sure?”

 “Eddie’s still…” Buck pauses, not sure how to do this without accidentally outing not just their relationship but Eddie's entire sexuality crisis. “Eddie has had a lot of things to figure out since Texas. I'm glad Ravi's been able to help.” He adds a shrug, hoping for nonchalance. 

“Oh,” Chim says slowly. Then, “okay…” but he doesn't look fully convinced. There's a hint of relief in his voice though which Buck finds faintly funny.

Hen wanders past a minute later, eyes flicking between the kitchen and the loft. “Everything okay?”

“Yep,” Buck says easily.

Hen studies him for a beat, eyes flicking back to the couch before she smiles. “Good.”

The rest of the shift unfolds in a series of small, telling moments.

Ravi flinches every time Buck and Eddie brush shoulders.

Eddie answers questions Ravi was asked instead of himself. 

They apologize to each other constantly, voices soft, deferential, like they’re trying to wade through a field with invisible landmines buried in it

At one point Ravi says Eddie’s name too quietly, like there's something private he needs. He seems to realize how strange it is a moment later and clears his throat before repearing it louder. 

Buck notices.

He doesn’t mind.

If anything, it makes him feel steady. Secure. He knows how hard it is to learn a new version of yourself while the world keeps moving at the same speed around you. It's also…a little bit funny to watch. Although he's not sure he'll ever admit it if someone were to ask. 

Late afternoon finds Buck alone in the bay with Hen while Ravi and Eddie are off doing something for Chim.

Hen leans against the edge of the ambulance as they restick. “You’ve changed.”

Buck smiles. “I know.” 

He doesn't elaborate and he knows he doesn't have to. Hen’s always been able to read him like an open book, even if he's tried to keep the cover closed tight. And, she doesn't know everything, but there's enough for her to realize that Buck has grown. Matured. Become someone a little bit different and more solid in himself. He appreciates her confidence in him. 

 “Good.”

When Ravi and Eddie come back, they both look both relieved and more stressed than before.

Eddie won’t meet Buck’s eyes.

Ravi keeps checking the clock.

When the shift finally ends, Buck stretches, content in the bone-deep way that comes from a good day and slow shift. He looks for Eddie automatically, already thinking about what to make for dinner. Chris is off at another friends house, and Buck can't pretend that he doesn't miss having the kid around more. But he also can't pretend that he doesn't love the freedom the packed social calendar give him and Eddie. These are the nights they'll usually spend at Buck's house, lounging on the couch with the TV volume down or soaking in the hot tub. Buck often makes dinner, trying out new recipes that Eddie eats with gusto, and the two of them share that easy type of togetherness that they can't have with others around. At least not yet. It's sweet and domestic and so deeply theirs that it makes Buck's head skin sometimes still. 

So that's what he's thinking about when he watches Eddie disappear towards the lockers to change, Ravi hot on his heels. 

Buck watches them go, warmth settling in his chest.

Good, he thinks. Eddie’s not alone.

He doesn’t see Ravi’s shoulders sag with relief when Buck turns away.

He doesn’t see the guilt flicker across Eddie’s face either. 

Buck just grabs his bag, calm and certain and completely unaware that the secrets orbiting him are starting to pull everything just slightly off balance.

—--

May likes what she calls pizza dates. Casual dates at places like food trucks, delis, or more casual restaurants. 

They’re uncomplicated. Easy.  Low stakes. No pressure to dress up or perform or pretend the night is supposed to be anything more than what it is;  food and good conversation. Just…time together. Ravi had suggested the place earlier that week. It was a new spot downtown; a brewery with homemade pizza, unique drinks, outside seating, and good reviews. May had said yes immediately, because a night off with Ravi doing something easy sounded perfect. She just liked spending time with him, getting to know him in a closer way. 

Ravi picks her up just after seven, hair still damp from a shower, his button-down slightly wrinkled like he debated changing and then decided against it. May clocks it fondly. She knows what it means when he does that–when he chooses comfort over polish and honesty over presentation. It's cute and she feels important to him. That's a new feeling and she enjoys it. 

“You look nice,” she says as she slides into the passenger seat of his G-Wagon. It's a nice car, much nicer than what she's used to. She forgets sometimes just how much money he has. It's like a shock to the system when he shows up in a fancy car or is willing to pay a few hundred dollars for a t-shirt. He's humble with it and she likes that. The relationship is new, a little shocking since she didn't think dating a first responder would be up her alley, but she enjoys spending time with him and he makes her feel special. 

Ravi smiles, warm and a little shy as he shifts back into drive. “So do you.”

They drive with the windows down, music low, fingers brushing when Ravi reaches for the gearshift. It’s the kind of night that feels gentle before it even really begins, a night that's meant for casual conversation and getting to know each other just a little bit more. 

The restaurant is busy but not crowded, all exposed brick and warm lighting and the comforting smell of garlic and baked dough. They put their names in, leaning against the host stand as they wait for a time. Ravi’s arm settles easily around May’s shoulders and she says into him, letting to tension of the day melt out of her. 

“So,” she says after a minute, tilting her head up at him. “Tell me about your day.”

Ravi opens his mouth. Closes it. He laughs softly and shakes his head. “Long.”

May smiles. “That bad?”

“No,” he says quickly. “Just… a lot.”

She hums, accepting that. She’s learned when to push and when to let things breathe. Ravi will tell her when he’s ready. He's protective of his life, careful with it. 

They’re quoted a short wait, just enough time for May to pull out her phone and scroll idly while Ravi watches the open kitchen with interest.

That’s when Ravi goes very still.

May feels it immediately–the way his arm tightens just a fraction,and his posture shifts like he’s bracing for impact. She looks up, ready to ask what–

And sees Buck.

Buck, standing near the bar, laughing openly at something Eddie is saying. Because of course he's out with Eddie. His hands and gesturing animatedly, eyes bright. Eddie is leaning close, smiling in that soft, fond way that May has only ever seen him smile when it comes to Christopher. 

They look… happy. She's always wondered if something would happen with that one day. She knows that Bobby talks about it sometimes, when she was a bit younger, less mature, she'd hang back while her mom and Bobby talked in the kitchen at night. So she knows about what everyone thinks of Buck and Eddie. What she doesn't expect is her own boyfriend's sudden and quite frankly, ridiculous reaction to seeing them. They can pretend to be just friends hanging out, they do it all the time. 

“Buck and Eddie!” She says, trying to spur Ravi into another reaction. 

He makes a sound that is not quite a word. And she just glances at him. 

“We should say hi!” 

“Yes,” Ravi says, a little too quickly. “Yeah. I– yes.”

Buck spots them at the same moment and lights up. “Ravi! Hey!”

Eddie turns, smile already in place. It falters for half a second when his eyes land on Ravi but he recovers quickly. Then his eyes slide to May and he freezes.

May notices. She notices everything. Perks of having a police officer as a mom, and a damn good one at that. 

Eddie recovers quickly enough, smile sliding back into place before anyone else notices, but there’s something different about it. It's tight around the edges, like it’s being held up with an incredible amount of effort. 

“Hey,” Eddie says. “May. Hi.”

“Hi,” May says easily. “This is unexpected.”

Buck grins. “Right? We were just saying the same thing.”

Ravi clears his throat. “Uh— this is—” He gestures vaguely between May and the others, like introductions have suddenly become a complicated concept. He gives an awkward laugh and shakes his head. It's cute. “You all know each other.”

“Yes,” May says, amused. “We do.”

Buck just laughs. 

Eddie nods a little too hard, “very small world out here!” 

There’s a pause. It’s not awkward yet, not technically. It’s just… strange. Like everyone is waiting for someone else to say the obvious thing and no one is sure what that obvious thing is.

“So,” Buck says brightly, breaking the silence. “Are you— uh—”

“Eating,” Ravi says quickly, effectively cutting off the older man.

Buck blinks. “Right. Yeah. Us too.”

May smiles. “We just got here.”

“Oh,” Buck says. “We, um. Same. We ”

Eddie shifts closer to Buck without seeming to realize he’s doing it. Ravi steps a little farther away from May, then catches himself and moves back, but his arms stay stuck to his sides. 

Eddie sees it.

Ravi sees Eddie see it.

May sees… something.

She’s not sure what yet, but she files it away.

The host calls their names-+both parties, back to back of course–and suddenly they’re being led to tables that are far too close together for comfort. The universe, apparently, has a sense of humor.

They sit.

Menus open.

Conversation attempts to happen between the two tables. 

It does not go well and May can't imagine this is what it's like at work for the three of them. She'd go insane. 

Buck chats easily, as he always does, filling the space with observations about the place, the smell, how Eddie  almost burned something trying to cook earlier and he had to intervene, much to Eddie's dismay if the heat crawling up his cheeks is any indication. 

Eddie for his part laughs at the right moments, but his eyes keep flicking between Ravi and May, like he’s monitoring something only he can see. It doesn't make her uncomfortable, but she does feel exposed. Like he's sensing something, and she wonders if he even realizes that he can pick up on others love lives but apparently not his own. 

Ravi nods a lot while they sit. Almost too much. He's being weirder than shes used to, his back rammed straight in his chair and reactions far too enthusiastic.  He responds to Buck’s questions with polite efficiency and answers May’s with distracted affection.

“So,” May says gently, leaning closer to him after a few minutes when Buck and Eddie have retreated into their own menus. “What are you thinking of getting?”

Ravi startles. “Pizza.”

“I figured.”

Across the way, Buck is asking Eddie something, voice soft and  intimate in a way that makes May’s chest warm. She’s always loved their friendship, the way they orbit each other so naturally.

Eddie answers, then glances at Ravi again.

Ravi drops his gaze.

May’s curiosity sharpens yet again. 

The pizzas arrive quickly, mercifully giving them something to focus on. They eat, conversation stuttering along in fits and starts. Every attempt at small talk better four seems to land slightly off, like they’re all tuned to different frequencies.

At one point Buck reaches across the table to brush something off Eddie’s sleeve without thinking. She watches as Eddie freezes and pulls back like he's been burned while Ravi chokes on his water. 

May watches Buck pull his hand back, confusion flickering across his face for just a second before he seems to settle again and  laughs it off.

“You had Parmesan,” he gestures

“Oh,” Eddie says, his eyes turning back to his pizza. “Right. Thanks.”

May takes another bite of her own pie as she looks at Ravi. He looks…uncomfortable. The way he's staring at his plate is almost like it'll reveal some type of answers about life if he concentrates hard enough. 

“Hey,” she says quietly.

Ravi looks up. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

He smiles at her, immediate and genuine. “Yeah. Just– just tired.”

She nods. She doesn’t quite believe him, but she doesn’t push. She lets the tension around them settle for a few minutes before setting her napkin down decisively. 

“I think,” she says lightly, “we should get ours to go.”

Ravi blinks. “Oh.”

Buck looks up. “You sure?”

May smiles at him. “Yeah. It’s been a long day for both of us I think. ”

Eddie looks relieved. Ravi looks apologetic.

“Sorry,” Ravi says softly, already reaching for his wallet.

May touches his wrist. “Hey. It’s okay.”

They stand, exchange goodbyes that feel slightly too formal, and step out into the cool night air with their boxes tucked under their arms.

The silence stretches as they walk to Ravi’s car, but May doesn’t mind it. Silences are easy between them. 

When they reach the passenger side, she turns to him, sets the pizza down carefully on the hood, and cups his face with both hands.

Ravi’s breath catches.

She kisses him. It's slow and sweet, unhurried in a way that says everything she couldn't under the watchful eyes of two men she basically looks at like older brothers. It's the kind of kiss that says I’m here without needing words.

When she pulls back, she rests her forehead against his. “I’m sorry that tonight didn't really go the way we hoped. .”

Ravi shakes his head immediately. “No. May–”

“I know.”

He laughs quietly, relief and affection spilling out together. “Every night is perfect,” he says honestly, “as long as it’s with you.”

May’s smile deepens, something tender and sure settling into place. “Good,” she says. “Because I was thinking the same thing.”

They load the pizza into the back, hands brushing, and drive off together. They're two people perfectly content in their own little world, and May is blissfully unaware of the secret storm she had walked into the middle of. 

—--

Chimney wasn’t the kind of guy to panic. Not usually. He thrived on structure, on organization, on being the one who noticed things before anyone else even realized there was something to notice. It's why the chief determined he was the best fit to take Bobby's place upon his retirement. 

But this morning?

This morning was testing him.

He had noticed it immediately during roll call. Ravi and Eddie had been fidgety, over-earnest, and doing that subtle mimicry thing that happens when two people are way too aware of each other’s presence. Ravi had answered a question directed at Eddie. Eddie had leaned forward mid-conversation when Ravi wasn’t even speaking, like he had to be closer to their youngest member. He’d observed it all with his usual eagle-eye, filing mental notes. He'd noticed it on previous shifts, but it's gotten worse over the last few weeks and he's about done with it. 

By the time they loaded up for the first call, an older lady who set her microwave on fire with tinfoil, Chim was already convinced. This wasn’t casual. This wasn’t friendship. This wasn’t “bonding for professional reasons.” This wasn't even some sort of strategy mentorship between the two of them. 

No. This was dating. Or at least heading there in a fast, completely reckless, and utterly disastrous way. 

And Buck didn’t know. Because Chim could tell by his constant heart eyes aimed at Eddie and his casual, easy demeanor with Ravi, that he was completely oblivious to what was happening right in front of him. 

Which meant that at some point, someone was going to have to explain to Buck that Eddie and Ravi weren’t just awkward colleagues. Someone was going to have to break it gently, because Buck–Buck would go nuclear if he thought Eddie was falling for someone else, especially someone he’s worked with this closely and not for nearly the amount of time he and Buck have worked together. 

Chim’s mind, as he drove the engine through city streets to the scene, ran in circles. He imagined Buck’s reaction. His jaw going right and shoulders tense, that almost imperceptible tremor that happened when he felt protective and betrayed all at once. Chim could practically hear the internal monologue radiating from him. Eddie, what the hell? Ravi, how could you?

They arrived on scene. Chim watched from the driver’s seat as Ravi and Eddie moved around each other with that odd combination of precision and distraction. The way they handed tools to one another, the quick glances, the stifled half-laughs. It all screamed something is happening in neon letters.

Chim groaned softly, resting his forehead against the steering wheel for just a second. These were truly the moments he hates the captaincy 

The call itself was uneventful. A minor burn, everyone safe, paperwork completed. But he caught them in the corner of his eye constantly. Now that he noticed he couldn't stop noticing. Ravi gesturing, Eddie responding, neither of them quite keeping their movements small or casual. Chim felt the panic coil tighter in his gut. 

It’s happening, he thought. It’s happening on my watch.

Back at the station, he parked the engine and watched them as they went through post-call routines. Eddie leaned on the counter, talking quietly. Ravi nodded, then laughed too loudly at something that, Chim could see, wasn’t that funny. Both of them were radiating this… tension. This energy that said, we know, and we know you know, but we have to pretend.

Chim exhaled, trying to center himself. Focus. Rational thinking. He was trained for this. He had handled worse.

And yet.

By the time he made it into his office for paperwork, closed the door, and leaned against the edge of his desk…Chim was mid-internal meltdown.

Ravi. Eddie. Dating.

On my watch.

He could see it now, Ravi’s awkward energy, Eddie’s careful adjustments, both of them trying desperately not to be noticed by Buck, who, for now, was blissfully unaware of what was unfolding right in front of him. Because they both knew Buck and how he would act, what this would be like for him. Chim clenched his jaw. He had been counting on a  particular timeline; the one where Buck and Eddie had been inching toward clarity, where their friendship and whatever tenuous feelings were there had a chance to settle without interference. They were so close or so he had thought. 

And now… now he was staring down the future with a  jealous Buck, confused team, and the possibility of Eddie and Ravi tangling themselves in ways that could destroy everything their team has so carefully constructed for years now. 

He closed his eyes and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. Stay calm, he told himself. Just observe.

But observation wasn’t helping. In fact it might have just been making it worse. He was a masochist, allowing himself to be trapped in a saw trap of his own design. 

Chim could already see the dominoes lining up. Buck was handling it well for now. He had been nothing but steady and supportive, not once letting suspicion creep into his interactions. But Chim knew Buck. He knew the exact moment when curiosity would tip into panic, when realization would hit, when protective instincts would spike into full-blown reaction mode. And when that happened…

He shivered.

He needed help.

He needed a buffer. Someone who could soften the edges before the inevitable conversation.

Someone who could gently, carefully, get Buck talking without setting off the chain reaction of alarms Chim was pretty sure were pre-installed and ready to go.

His thumb hovered over his phone, then made the decision.

Maddie.

Yes. Maddie could handle this. Maddie always had the right instincts. She could get Buck talking without setting anyone off. And she could subtly influence the situation before it spiraled out of control.

He typed quickly, thumb flying across the screen. 

Hey, Maddie. Quick thing. Can you do me a favor? Could you invite Buck over? just casual, nothing weird? I need to get a sense of what’s going on with… Ravi and Eddie. Yes, I know, it sounds crazy, but trust me, it’s necessary. Can you smooth this out before anyone blows up? Thanks.

He hit send before overthinking it. He knows she'll probably call him in a few minutes demanding more of an explanation, but at least for now, he's happy with the plan. 

Leaning back in his chair, Chim stared at the ceiling for a long moment, exhaling a long, slow breath.

The day had only just started.

And already, he had no idea how it would end.

—--

Maddie had decided, after much deliberation and a few long texts from Chim, that the best way to handle the situation that was becoming increasingly dire, apparently, was to remove Buck from his usual orbit. A wine night. Something relaxed and friendly where she knew what would be usual chaos. Herself, Linda, Josh, and May. Normally Eddie would be invited, but Chim had convinced her that Buck’s patience, or his emotional equilibrium, was likely to crack if Eddie was present, given the apparent situation brewing with Ravi.

So Eddie stayed home, and Maddie felt a small, victorious twinge of relief at the fact he didn't question the cancellation that she was sure had been an awful lie. 

Buck arrived about ten minutes early with a bottle of far too expensive wine clutched in his hands and a brightness in his eyes that as an older sister, Maddie couldn't help but be excited about. She smiled and let him into the house, giving a quick hug as she did. 

“I’m glad you could make it.” 

Buck grinned, shrugging off his coat as he shoved the bottle into her waiting hands. “Wouldn’t miss it. For the wine. Or you!” He threw his head back with a loud, frankly ridiculous, laugh. 

Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Flattery, huh?”

“Just the truth.”

It was easy and comfortable the way her brother managed to slide into the existing dynamics so effortlessly. Maddie poured the first glasses and settled Buck into a spot where he could watch everyone as they filtered in without feeling too cornered. 

He was exactly as she expected;  present and attentive, laughing at all the right times. But there was something that she couldn't quite make out. There was something lighter than usual about him. Almost too calm. It didn't concern her exactly. But it was as if there had been a change in his life, something that he wasn't ready to be quite honest about. It seemed like some sort of weight had been completely lifted from his shoulders. And Maddie immediately felt the same level of fear that her husband had. Because if he was right? She knew what that would mean. And she didn't want everything for her younger brother to come tumbling down. 

The night unfolded predictably after that. Linda launched immediately into a story about a new volunteer project she had been spearheading at the local shelter once there was a glass in her hands.

“And then,” Linda said, hands waving for emphasis, “I swear, this one raccoon actually followed me into the supply closet. I felt like I had to negotiate for twenty minutes before he would leave.”

Josh groaned dramatically from across the room, body draped over the couch. “I feel like this is the plot of a bad sitcom episode. Why does every volunteer story have to involve some type of animal that's out to get you?” 

May laughed, bright and light as she sipped from her own glass. “Because animals are honest, Josh. Unlike humans. They don’t sugarcoat things!”

Maddie smiled, watching Buck chuckle at May’s remark. He had that easy, open laugh that always made her chest feel warm.

Josh waved his hands in mock defeat. “Fine. Animals win. Next volunteer story better have a lion or something. Then I’ll be impressed.”

Linda shook her head, grinning. “I’ll try to arrange that.”

Buck tilted his head at Maddie. “So… you trained them in lion-handling too, did you?”

Maddie laughed. “Not today. Don’t want to start the night with lawsuits.”

May elbowed Buck, but missed by a mile, a little bit wine drunk with rosy cheeks and a wide smile. She tipped over slightly on the couch, making Buck smile and shake his head, clearly amused by her tipsy personality. 

Maddie felt the familiar tug of affection and pride as she watched him. He was steady and calm. Completely present in the moment. That was the Buck she knew and loved, the one who could be himself with a group and yet still not lose himself in it. 

Josh leaned forward dramatically, breaking her from her internal thoughts. “So, Maddie, tell me honestly, who’s keeping Buck in line these days? Because from what I can tell, he’s a model of perfect behavior tonight. Is this normal?”

Maddie laughed lightly, shaking her head. “I think tonight he’s just… well-rested. Safe environment. Maybe a little wine influence.”

Buck raised his glass in mock agreement. “You wound me, Josh. I've never been anything other than the model of perfection.”

Linda chuckled. “I mean, tonight is pretty good. In the past you've only really been,” she paused to think for a moment. “Tolerable,” she settled on. 

Buck feigned offense. “Tolerable? That’s it?”

May laughed loudly. “I think that’s high praise for someone who’s charming.”

Buck smiled at her, something soft in his expression. Brotherly  almost. Maddie caught it and filed it away. He was happy. He was fine. He was building a family and a network of friends just beyond her reach. That was good.

The conversation turned to their latest cooking adventures. Maddie had made a batch of homemade flatbreads to accompany the wine, and Buck was quietly praising the rosemary-scented crust while offering small, detailed commentary about the flavor profile. Linda and Josh were debating toppings, and May was teasing Buck about how seriously he analyzed bread.

“Oh, come on,” she said. “It’s just bread! You don’t need a whiteboard and chart for it.”

Buck shook his head, laughing softly. “I do. You need to understand proportions. And temperature. And how it affects flavor. Science, May. It’s science.”

Josh held his hands up. “And here I thought chemistry was done with beakers and explosions, not dough.”

Linda leaned forward. “Josh, you just need to accept that Buck has a very… precise brain. He notices details.”

Buck grinned. “Thank you, Linda, at least someone appreciates me.”

May rolled her eyes fondly. “You’re insufferable.”

Buck laughed, and Maddie’s chest warmed at how easily he could be himself here, completely relaxed, joking with people who loved him.

As the evening moved on, the conversation inevitably drifted to work, and Maddie cautiously asked, “So, how’s uh– how's it been going with Ravi and Eddie? I know you guys have been hanging out more. Chim said the two of them seem to be getting along well?” 

That was the moment Maddie noticed it.

May froze, just slightly. A tiny pause and a confused little look that passed in less than a heartbeat. Then it was gone, as if she had remembered nothing unusual at all and forced herself back into the conversation.

Buck didn’t flinch. Not even a twitch. He just smiled easily, as though the topic hadn’t even touched him, and gave a vague, comfortable answer about everyone keeping busy.

Maddie felt the knot tighten in her stomach. That wasn’t typical Buck. Normally, a question like that, about Eddie and someone else, someone who might be taking a larger role in Eddie’s life than usual, would have sparked curiosity; maybe a hint of protective irritation, or at least a noticeable reaction.

But Buck in this moment? He looked… fine. Perfectly fine.

Too fine.

The remainder of the night passed with the usual banter and laughter. They discussed who had the worst winter commute, the merits of different wines, and Josh’s misadventures attempting a Pinterest recipe for dessert. Maddie watched carefully, noting every glance Buck gave May, every small chuckle at Linda’s stories, every quiet acknowledgment he gave her and the others. Everything looked normal. Everything looked perfect.

Which, of course, made Maddie even more suspicious.

When the night began winding down, Maddie stood, stretched, and said, “Well, I think that’s enough wine for one night.”

Buck chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

As the group filed out, she caught Buck’s jacket from the back of a chair. “I’ll walk you out.”

They moved through the cool night air to his truck, quiet except for the crunch of gravel underfoot. Maddie placed a hand on his arm. “You know, no matter what’s going on,  I’ll always be here for you. Always.”

Buck blinked, slightly confused. “Of course,” he said softly. “I know that. I love you, Maddie.”

Maddie felt the warmth of his hug, the familiar security of his trust, but her unease didn’t dissipate. She let him go, watched him pull open the truck door, and tucked her hands into her coat pockets.

Then, just as he was climbing in, she pulled out her phone and typed quickly, thumb hovering over the screen.

Chim, she texted. Buck seems completely fine. Like… unnervingly fine. Keep an eye on him please. 

She hit send before he could start the engine, staring at the screen with a tight smile and grateful that at least someone else was also on high alert. She hoped it would make a difference. 

Buck climbed in, waved lightly, and drove off into the night, blissfully unaware that Maddie’s motherly radar had already marked him as the calm before the storm.

—--

Eddie wasn’t sure how he ended up in Buck’s kitchen at 8pm on a Wednesday night, sipping lukewarm tea and trying not to overthink everything. Normally he’d be home, probably parked on the couch scrolling through his phone, and pretending the world was quiet and simple. But here he was, standing next to Buck, who looked completely calm and unbothered. 

The kitchen smelled faintly of herbs and coffee, familiar and homey in the way only Buck’s space could be. Eddie had grown used to it now. Has spent enough time here for it to be equally as much his space as it is Buck's himself. But tonight, the scent seemed amplified, grounding him in a way he wasn’t sure he was ready for. His hands curled around the mug like it could anchor him, keep him from floating away into the anxiety he’d carried all day. Eddie had never been good at lying, but especially to his boyfriend. And keeping the secrets between him and Ravi had been more difficult than he'd originally anticipated. But, he and Buck weren't ready to come out and he knew Ravi wasn't ready to deal with what his relationship with May would mean for their whole family. So, he suffered. 

“Hey,” Buck said softly, leaning casually against the counter, one hand resting near Eddie’s on the granite. His eyes held that steady warmth, the kind that could disarm someone and make them feel safe without saying a word. “You’ve been… really good lately.”

Eddie frowned, a bit confused. “Good?”

Buck nodded, tilting his head slightly. He wore that familiar, gentle smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. Handling stuff. Seeking out comfort when you need it. Not bottling it all up. Talking to people. Ya know,” his gaze flicked subtly toward the side of the kitchen, almost imperceptibly, “with Ravi.”

Eddie blinked. His stomach twisted in a combination of guilt and relief. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. “Oh.”

Buck leaned closer, voice lowering to that intimate register that always made Eddie’s chest tighten. “Yeah. I see it. I notice it. And I–I’m proud of you.”

Eddie felt heat rise in his face. “You’re proud of me?” he asked, voice soft and uncertain. The words felt alien on his tongue. He wasn’t used to being seen like this. Not just noticed, but noticed and approved of. 

Buck’s smile softened even more, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Of course. I know there’s stuff going on with you–things you’re figuring out. And I just– I want you to know I trust you, Eddie. I love you. And I want you to be okay. That’s the main thing. I just want you to be okay.”

Eddie swallowed, throat dry and heart beating fast. He wanted to laugh nervously, to brush it off, but he couldn’t. “Okay,” he murmured, letting the word hang in the air, almost a surrender.

Buck’s fingers brushed against his, light and grounding, the way all their touches were these days. “And when you’re ready…we should start telling people. Letting people know about–about us. I'm ready and if you are then,” he paused with a shrug. “I want everyone to know.” 

Eddie’s chest tightened. The weight of the past months, the anxiety he had carried alone, the endless planning and worrying all pressed into that moment, and Buck’s words were a lifeline in a world he would have otherwise been lost. He nodded slowly, voice barely above a whisper. “I love you.”

It was the only thing he could say. The only thing that made sense really. Just the proclamation of the one thing he knew to be true beyond all else. The sky is blue. The sun rises in the east. 80% of the ocean remains unexplored. And Eddie loves Buck. 

Buck’s expression softened even more, full of that quiet, unwavering certainty Eddie had always leaned on. “I love you too. Always.”

For a long, charged moment, neither of them moved. Eddie felt his pulse racing, awareness of every detail, from the warmth of Buck’s hand near his, the faint scent of herbs lingering in the air, the soft hum of the refrigerator. It was grounding, almost too grounding. He felt exposed, but in the best way. The way that he’d become so accustomed to over the last few months. 

He leaned closer without thinking. Buck didn’t move away, not like he used to. They used to leave space, to linger, but never fully toe over the line. Now, there’s no barriers. Now, they live in the moment and take what they want, what they need. Buck lets Eddie close the small distance between them, feeling the teasing tug of their lips slowly meeting each other in the middle of the rapidly disappearing space. It becomes insistent fast,  soft and hungry all at once. Heated in the way that Eddie presses into him, hands sliding up Buck’s shoulder and tangling in his hair. Buck deepens it on what Eddie knows is instinct. He walks them backwards, forces Eddie against the fridge. He’s gentle with it, not a single magnet out of place as he lets his body blanket Eddie, lets their chests fall together and then their hips. It’s juvenile. They both know it, and yet they can’t seem to stop. 

“Buck,” Eddie breathed against his lips, and Buck hummed softly, the vibration moving through both of them like a warm and steady life line.

They pulled apart briefly, only to reconnect almost immediately, each kiss slower and more deliberate than the last. Buck’s hands traced Eddie’s sides, steady and confident, anchoring him. Eddie’s hands moved over Buck’s chest, memorizing the subtle rise and fall, the taut strength beneath the thin fabric of his shirt.

“I’ve missed you,” Eddie whispered. And it’s the truth. Every moment without Buck around is torturous now, more so than it’s been in a long time. There’s something that’s addictive about him. Once Eddie got a taste, a real one, he hasn’t been able to let go. He doesn’t understand why someone wouldn't want Buck. How someone could walk out of his life and not regret it in an instant. He doesn’t know how he got so lucky, but he isn’t going to question it. Not now. Not when he’s starting to piece together the life he’s always wanted. 

Buck smiled against his mouth, pulling back just to lay a soft kiss on Eddie’s forehead.  “I know,” he murmured. “Me too. But you’re here now.”

Eddie felt relief wash over him in waves, a strange and wonderful calm settling into his chest. But there was still that tiny undercurrent of awkwardness–of being vulnerable in front of someone who already  saw everything yet who you wanted to be strong for. He laughed softly, nervous. “I’m–I’m trying. Really. To be–to be better for us.”

Buck chuckled, lips brushing his again. “I know. And I see it. You don’t have to try for me. You just–just be. Just be Eddie. That’s all I need.”

Eddie leaned into him, resting his forehead against Buck’s shoulder. “I want to be okay,” he admitted, voice trembling slightly. “I want–I want to make sure that we can be okay.”

Buck’s arms tightened slightly, an unyielding type of protection, attempting to shield them from the outside world of expectations and judgements. “We are. And we will be. Always. But we’ll take it at your pace. I’m not going anywhere, Eddie.”

Eddie smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that lit up his whole face. “I love you,” he said again. It was quieter and more reverent, but equally as powerful as every other time he’d expressed it. 

Buck pressed another kiss to his lips, lingering and deep. Eddie melted into him, letting the tension he carried dissolve, the rest of the world disappearing. Everything from the traffic outside to the hum of the fridge faded into background noise. 

They moved slowly backward, knees bumping into counters, and laughing softly between kisses as their teeth clinked. Every step felt like a negotiation with gravity and desire, but neither cared. Buck kept one hand on Eddie’s hip, steadying both of them, while Eddie clung to his shoulder, letting himself be guided.

“Bedroom?” Buck murmured, voice teasing and playful, yet somehow serious all at the same time.

“Yeah.” 

They stumbled forward together, uncoordinated but also perfectly in sync. Eddie’s heart raced, adrenaline and joy mixing in a heady, dizzying combination. He pressed another lingering kiss to Buck’s lips as they navigated the narrow space, savoring the feel of him, the warmth, the safety. It wasn’t new, not even close. But every time they got to this point Eddie felt the way it shot up his spine, the way his body responded instinctively, as if being with Buck like this was as easy as breathing. 

Buck’s hands slid down Eddie’s back, keeping him close as they stumbled. Eddie leaned into every touch, every brush of skin, every whispered promise in the quiet kitchen. They moved like dancers, imperfectly but naturally drawn together by the gravity of their connection.

By the time they reached Buck’s bedroom, every wall and blank surface,  every quiet corner seemed to hold nothing but them and the imprint of every way they’d christened the intimate space. Eddie pressed a final, lingering kiss to Buck’s lips before resting his forehead against his shoulder, chest rising and falling against the steady beat of Buck’s heart as they leaned against the door, Eddie breathing, deep and shaky.

“I love us,” he whispered with his voice soft and thick with emotion.

Buck’s fingers brushed through Eddie’s hair in a barely there yet comforting touch. “I love us too,” he murmured back. “Always.”

And Eddie believed him. How could he not?  Believed that whatever secrets, whatever chaos, whatever waiting and fear…they’d face it together. And somehow, that made him feel braver, stronger, and more in love than he ever had before.

—--

The summer sun hung lazily over Bobby and Athena’s backyard, casting a golden glow across the large, perfectly tiled patio. The smell of charcoal and grilled meat mingled with the faint aroma of fresh-cut grass and Athena’s rose bushes, creating that perfect “backyard barbecue” scent that felt like home. Plates of sizzling skewers, colorful salads, and bowls of condiments were spread across the long table, the clinking of glasses and utensils mixing with laughter in a way that made Ravi feel simultaneously relaxed and keyed up.

He had volunteered to help with drinks and plates so he could stay slightly busy, slightly distracted, and avoid sitting too close to anyone who might notice how weird he was acting. May had cornered him earlier with a sly, “Just… breathe. It’s fine,” which had done very little. Every time he glanced at her, his stomach did a little flip. She looked radiant today, the sun catching her hair in waves, laughing easily with Harry over some absurd update from her final semester. And he felt transparent, like one miss-timed look would topple the house of cards he had so carefully constructed. 

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Athena and Bobby were leaning over Chris’s shoulder, watching him attempt to teach Denny how to toss a frisbee without sending it into the neighbor’s yard. Hen was laughing with Karen, trying to demonstrate proper juice-spill containment with Mara. Chim was hovering near the grill with the baby perched on his hip, his free hand gesturing as he instructed the new b-shift probie on flipping burgers without ruining the perfectly seared crust.

Buck had arrived with a tray of meticulously put together skewers, presenting them with a proud smile that made Ravi want to simultaneously groan and swoon over the fact that his meals never turned out nearly as good. Eddie, for his part, had Jee-Yun perched at his side, playing some impromptu game that involved alternating silly noises and wrestling for tickles. And he seemed genuinely happy and relaxed. Completely in his element. 

Ravi tried to calm himself. Relax. No one knows. Everything is fine. You’re just here for good food and to hang out with your friends. Just breathe. 

He took a deep breath and tried to focus on stacking plates instead of staring at the two people who made his stomach flip. Buck and Eddie. He noticed the subtle, unconscious ways they interacted. It was the tiny glances, the casual touches, the ease with which they moved around each other. He told himself to stop analyzing, that nobody else seemed to notice, that this was how they always had been, even before they’d crossed teh line into romance. And yet, the pit of anxiety in his stomach refused to ease. 

Then it happened.

Eddie shifted in his chair and caught Ravi’s eye. Just for a second. A fleeting glance that seemed entirely innocent, but  for Ravi, it carried the weight of months of secrets, half-truths, and silent confessions that came with keeping not only his own relationship under wraps, but Eddie’s too.

Ravi’s stomach did a flip, and he looked down at the plate in his hands, hoping his sudden heat and sweat wouldn’t be obvious. Don’t look. Don’t think. Just breathe.

Chim, of course, noticed. He always noticed.And he’d been weirdly observant with him and Eddie for weeks now. And apparently, today was the day he wanted to face that reasoning head on.  Without missing a beat, he stood, towering over the patio chairs, hand waving dramatically toward the two of them.

“Okay, this is weird,” Chim announced, voice booming across the yard and full of theatrical exasperation. “If you two want to date, just say something! Like normal people! I’m tired of pretending it’s not happening right in front of everyone!”

The patio went completely silent. The chatter halted mid-sentence. Forks hovered over plates. Denny squeaked in confusion. Chris looked over at his dad, unsure if it was a joke. May’s eyebrows shot up, a flash of surprise passing across her face.

Ravi’s jaw dropped, absolutely horrified by the idea that was just shouted in front of his family and friends. “What?” he blurted without thinking, heat flooding his face.

Chim pointed at them again, voice rising slightly. “You! Two! Right now! I don’t get it. What’s happening?!”

Eddie blinked, completely flabbergasted, the food he was pushing around on his plate forgotten. Ravi felt the panic coil tighter in his chest. Oh God. Everyone’s looking. May’s right there. Athena. Bobby. All the kids. Everyone. I–

“I am not dating Eddie!” Ravi practically yelled, voice cracking around the quite frankly, ridiculous words. “Are you crazy? I’m dating May!”

The words hit the patio and ricochet around the immediate silence. May’s mouth opened, then closed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she tried, and dialed, to say something. Anything. Athena froze mid-chew, the salad fork suspended in the air. Bobby’s eyes went wide, tongs dropping from his hand. Hen’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief, then slowly her mouth curved into a far too knowing smile.

Ravi froze, realizing that he had just announced his relationship in front of May’s mother and stepfather–people he had been nervous about impressing for months. May, mortified, buried her face in her hands but then peeked out, shooting Ravi a soft, affectionate smile that made his chest unclench just enough. Okay. We’re going to be okay. We’ve been talking about going public. This isn’t the end of the world.

Chim blinked for a moment, clearly processing, then his gaze darted around like he was searching for the next clue. “But… if you’re not dating Eddie, then… who–”

He trailed off, eyes landing between Buck and Eddie. A beat. Then, “Oh my God!”

And like a slow-motion explosion, all the pieces fell into place. Everyone saw it now; the subtle looks, the small touches, the quiet familiarity between Buck and Eddie that had been impossible to fake. The small little things they all took for granted as Buck and Eddie were so familiar no one seemed to have noticed the quiet shift into buckandeddie. 

Hen’s laugh cut through the palpable tension after a few moments, sharp and amused. “Yeah, we knew. About both of these couples the entire time.”

Athena nodded. It was serene almost. Unbothered. “Subtle as a brick to the face,” she added.

Ravi groaned, burying his face in his hands. May peeked out again, cheeks pink, hiding laughter behind her fingers, and shaking her head at him. Eddie’s mouth hung open, caught somewhere between embarrassment and disbelief, while Buck grinned sideways at Ravi like he had just won some small, glorious victory.

Hen leaned over, still chuckling. “You four are sneaky. And obvious. Somehow at the same time. Watching you all has been like a rom-com where everyone else has X-ray vision.”

Ravi peeked up, blinking rapidly. May gave him a small, gentle squeeze of his hand from where she'd gravitated to his side. “It’s okay. We’re okay,” she whispered. 

Eddie stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Buck, pulling him close. “Yeah,” he said softly but firmly. “We’re okay.”

Buck leaned his forehead against Eddie’s, smiling amidst the chaos, and Ravi let out a long breath, finally able to relax a little. Despite the shouting, the gasps, and the mild chaos, the warmth around him, of his family and friends, made everything feel right.

Conversations slowly resumed. Athena teased Bobby about nearly dropping the tongs, Hen joked with Karen about the spilled juice incident, and the kids ran around squealing, oblivious to the adult drama they had just witnessed. Ravi laughed quietly with May, squeezing her hand, grateful for the grounding presence she provided.

Eddie kissed the top of Buck’s head gently, and Buck whispered something soft that made Eddie’s smile and blush in the best way possible. Ravi watched, feeling his own heart full, realizing that the long months of secrecy, the awkward glances, the careful navigation of friendships and feelings, had all led to this. To warmth and chaos. Laughter, and love in equal measure.

Even Chim, eventually settled back in with a plate of food, shook his head, muttering, “I can’t believe it took this long.”

Ravi glanced around at the backyard and his found family sprawled on patio chairs, children running, adults laughing, the sun dipping closer to the horizon. He realized that this moment, messy and awkward and loud, was perfect. Subtle as a brick to the face, yea. But soft. And full of love.

And that was more than enough for all of them.