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There she is; the bachelorette Eddie had been promising Buck ever since they landed. Dixie Bennings is all Southern drawl and girlish charm and the natural thing for Buck to do is flash her a sly grin and slide over to her part of the bar. Before he knows it, Eddie has made a quick exit and Buck is chatting up their new friend's mom.
He buys her a drink, which she stirs with her finger before popping it into her mouth for a taste.
"So," Dixie sighs after they've made sufficient small talk, not shy about looking Buck up and down now that it's just them. "Are you going to invite me back for a nightcap or am I going to have to go home all alone?"
It's too forward and a little desperate, and it takes effort for Buck not to scrunch up his nose at the comment. Instead, he laughs awkwardly, and only thinks of Eddie going back to their hotel alone.
"I, uh- I'm not sure that's a good idea," Buck settles on saying, giving her an apologetic look before he ducks his head and checks his phone. "Eddie and I, we- We have to get on the road early tomorrow morning, you know?"
And it would make things weird if he wants to stay friends with Dixie's son and his half-brother, with the whole Modern Family thing the 113 have going on in Nashville. And, well, Buck can't quite place the hesitance he's feeling, because he should want to jump into bed with her. She's his type, she's gorgeous, and he's usually into women making the first move. But somehow, everything feels like a convenient excuse for something he isn't ready to admit.
She must sense the panic rising in Buck, because she only scowls a little bit before sliding off the bar stool and throwing back the last of her drink. She doesn't argue or beg, and Buck thinks maybe she's figured out something he hasn't yet. Just like that, Dixie Bennings gives Buck one last, lingering, look-over and turns around to stride out of the bar, not looking back once.
He ends up in front of Eddie's hotel room door. The impulsive final shot of tequila sits hot in his stomach, and the buzzing feeling of panic hasn't quite fizzled out yet. Buck doesn't know what to do other than knock - barging into Eddie's space and carving out a spot for himself where he can just exist is his go-to, after all.
"Huh," Eddie utters when he cracks the door and sees Buck. When he opens the door fully, Buck is welcomed to the fact that Eddie is only wearing an old LAFD tee and white briefs. He looks tired, squints, like he's trying his best to process the Buck in front of him. "You okay?"
Buck nods as he pushes past Eddie and sits down on the foot of the bed. "Yeah," he breathes. I am now, is on the tip of his tongue, but something in the back of his fuzzy mind tells him that would be a weird thing to say. "Um." Maybe this whole thing is weird, and he shouldn't be here, should have gone to his own room. Should have gone to the hot MILF's house, should be anywhere but here, hyper aware of the curve of Eddie's thigh's-
Buck's eyes shoot up to Eddie's face. He's just watching Buck, a little sleepy-eyed, but with all the patience in the world. Why does it feel like everyone knows what's going on before Buck? He breathes in deeply; and then out, slowly, carefully.
"I couldn't do it," Buck says quietly.
One of Eddie's eyebrows shoots up. "Couldn't do... What?" A flash of recognition. "Were you too drunk? I'm sure she didn't mind-"
"No! No, I didn't even- I couldn't go home with her." Buck sighs. "I didn't want to."
He's still holding Eddie's gaze. Eddie, who's here in Nashville because Bobby knew they'd want to do this together, no matter their circumstances or location. Eddie, who listens and waits and saves a seat for him, saves a space for him no matter where or at what time. Eddie, who he's seen in very little clothing, sweaty and pumped up and showing off, who he knows is very attractive, and yet looks impossibly more lovable in the soft pyjama tee and bare legs.
And, oh. It clicks, then.
"I just wanted to be here," Buck admits. To Eddie, and to himself. They break eye contact as Buck stares wide-eyed at the carpet. "Fuck," he breathes, and then the panic flares back up. Alarm bells are going off in his head as he pushes himself off the bed, wobbling slightly before he finds his footing and turns to the door again. Why did he come here, in this state, with these thoughts? Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea.
"Buck." Eddie's voice is tight.
"No, it's- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have- I should just go to bed. Sleep it off," Buck stammers, rubbing a hand over his face as he takes a step towards the door.
When he opens his eyes, Eddie is right in front of him, and then his hands are on Buck's shoulders, pushing him backwards. "What does that mean? What did you mean by that?" Eddie asks, wide-eyed. He looks less tired and more frantic now.
"I- Nothing. Forget about it," Buck says, weakly. He can't decide if it would be easier to be the best liar in the world or for Eddie to be able to actually read his mind right now.
"What if I don't want to forget about it?"
Buck's gaze drops to Eddie's lips. They're parted slightly. He's breathing fast. Is he mad? ...Nervous?
"Then I... I'd ask you if you're sure you wanna know," Buck tries one last time. "Because I'm not gonna be able to take it back."
Eddie just nods. He's looking up at Buck, eyes wide, cheeks pink. His fingertips are digging into Buck's shoulders. Buck feels dizzy with it. All of this, and maybe a little bit the alcohol. Liquid courage - what a thing.
"I think I want- I wanted to be here." He swallows. "I wanted to go home with you."
He can see Eddie swallow. Can hear it in the quiet of the room. The silence stretches between them, both of them breathing like they're mid work-out when they've just been standing there. Eddie isn't letting go of him, and Buck feels heavy with it. Eddie is still just looking at him. Maybe he wasn't clear enough.
"I think I'm in love-"
Right as he starts speaking, Eddie lifts both of his hands to Buck's face, cupping his jaw and dragging him forward. Their lips crash before Buck can finish his sentence, and all the tension leaves his body. Eddie is kissing him.
Eddie is kissing him, and all Buck can do is grab onto his shirt and stumble forwards into him, until they walk into the TV cabinet and have to break the kiss to steady themselves.
"I wanted that too," Eddie says breathlessly. "Buck-" They kiss again, softer. Buck feels fuzzy at the edges and Eddie is melting against him, and they're kissing.