Work Text:
Eddie wasn't sure why he decided to do it.
This was probably the stupidest way to come out. If anyone even noticed. But he had sat on the floor with Christopher (the only person in the world who knew he was gay) painting this little pin with the gay-pride flag colors and… well he couldn't bring himself to take it off his turnout. Plus, it was pride month. He deserved to be proud.
Buck is going to kill me if he finds out like this… Eddie thought, laughing a little to himself.
He adjusted the pin to be right over his heart. It wasn't exactly obvious but it sure wasn't hidden either. The alarm went off, signifying a call, and they all rushed to the trucks. Eddie pulled his turnout on, the pin forgetten in the rush of adrenaline he always got when racing to calls.
On the ride there, he was paying attention to the radio, listening closely. He was not paying attention to Buck, who was certainly paying attention to him.
Specifically to the pin on his chest.
They hopped out of the truck to the scene, a house fire, and Buck shook it off, making a mental note to ask Eddie about it later.
Eddie, who was wearing a gay pride pin. Not rainbow. Not ally. The pretty green and blue colors of the gay pride flag.
Focus, Buckley.
After they had out out the fire and tended to everyone who was inside, they were headed back to the firehouse.
Buck couldn't take his eyes off the pin. He planned to casually and calmly pull Eddie aside and ask him about. Make sure he knew he could always talk to Buck.
He probably would have followed the plan if Eddie didn't go straight to the showers and come out shirtless and looking like a god. Buck almost fell over. Non-sensical words were coming out of his mouth before he really could think.
"Um, so I um… do you uh… um… want to, uh can we talk?" He cursed himself as soon as his mouth was shut. Eddie looked amused.
"Sure Buck. We can talk." He patted him on the shoulder and walked off to get a shirt. Buck wished he hadn't.
Later, when they were back home and Chris was in bed, they had a chance to talk.
Eddie was leaning against the counter, eyebrow raised slightly as Buck fumbled through his words.
"Are you gay?" He finally asked.
Eddie took a deep breath. He knew this question was coming. He'd done his best to mentally prepare to answer.
All that was thrown out the window when he met Buck's blue eyes. He leaned forward and brushed their lips together, so lightly that it could have been mistaken for an accident. But it wasn't. Not in the deliberate way they're shoulders brushed, not in the way their eyes met after.
Buck looked almost disbelieving.
"Eddie?" He said quietly.
"Mhm?"
"Are you sure you're gay?"
Eddie laughed. "Buck, I just kissed you. I think that makes me at least a little bit gay."
"But… are you sure?" Buck asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Buck, I'm sure." He laughed.
"Okay. Good. Wanted to make sure before I-" He leaned in and pressed their mouths again, firmer this time. And Buck, wonderful, beautiful, beautiful Buck was kissing him.
Eddie wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed back.
They were both smiling hard by the time the kiss broke apart.
Eddie never felt more alive. He hoped this kissing thing wasn't just a one-time thing.