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Eddie knows Buck loves to bake.
And Eddie loves to eat whatever Buck bakes. Whether it’s made for him or for their team, if Eddie sees it, he eats it.
But today, he is the one baking for Buck.
It's not the first time Eddie has thought about baking something for his best friend, of course not. He tried to bake Buck a birthday cake once, but it ended with him almost burning down Bobby and Athena's kitchen, earning himself a permanent ban.
So, he failed back then. But he hasn't lost hope.
Eddie decides on chocolate chip cookies for today's baking project. There’s no birthday to celebrate or milestone to mark; he simply wants to make them. He hopes that when Buck finishes his heavy session with Frank, a fresh batch of something sweet will offer a comforting solace.
"Well…"
He begins by stretching out his arms. Christopher is away at a friend's house today, only returning tomorrow after his robotics activity. But Eddie promises to save some for his son, even if he gets a heavy side-eye and a complete lack of trust from his kid.
Flour, brown sugar, eggs, and butter—all the ingredients are neatly spread across the table and counter.
He went grocery shopping yesterday, and it was a total disaster. He had to call Maddie for help, and honestly, thank God she picked up.
So, he promises himself he'll set aside a portion of the cookies for her as well.
After double-checking that every single item is in place, he rolls up the sleeves of his henley to begin for real this time.
He grabs the apron he got from Hen during a Christmas gift exchange. It's been hiding in a cabinet that Buck rarely pays attention to. Eddie isn't sure why he felt the need to hide it in the first place, especially when Buck has his own apron hanging proudly on the wall right beside the counter.
Since Eddie rarely cooks these days, he has never found a reason to put it on—until this moment. He gently peels away the wrapping.
And… oh my.
It is a soft, pastel pink apron, trimmed with delicate ruffles and decorated with a cute little bow. It’s sweet and utterly adorable.
He can easily picture Buck wearing it, too—that man looks gorgeous in pink, and everyone knows it.
Luckily, it fits Eddie just right. Nice call, Hen.
So, it's time to get to work!
Eddie unlocks his phone, bringing up the recipe stored in his notes app. It is the signature recipe Maddie previously taught Buck, so he knows it’s guaranteed to taste good.
Ideally, he should measure all the ingredients beforehand to make things easier, but he feels too lazy for all that prep work. He decides he’ll just measure everything as he goes.
Eddie begins with flour. And the moment he unseals it, disaster strikes. He completely forgets he has a measuring cup and just pours it by pure instinct instead. A cloud of soft, white flour puffs into the air because Eddie pours it way too forcefully.
'Eddie, you need to use the measuring cup to scoop it,' a woman's voice echoes right in his ear.
Oh, Maddie… it's already too late.
Luckily, he is wearing an apron. When this cookie is finished, sending Hen a fruit basket is a must.
Oh—shit, wait.
He poured the flour in first just because it was at the top of the ingredients list. But what he’s actually supposed to do first is melt the butter to make brown butter.
What on earth is brown butter?
God, you just have to make it, Eddie.
He sets the flour aside for now and steps toward the stove, switching it on. He selects the high-quality non-stick pan Buck had been praising for a week straight to handle this brown butter situation.
"Okay… okay…" Eddie drops the butter into the pan. The recipe says he has to stir slowly until it fully melts into a rich golden brown.
When it reaches the stage he thinks is right and smells delicious, he grabs a clean bowl and pours it in. Suddenly, a heavy splash of hot brown butter splatters onto the back of his hand, searing his skin with a sharp, stinging pain.
"Fuck—"
Eddie recoils, nearly spilling the scorching pan over himself. He hurriedly places the pan back on the stove, verifying the heat is fully turned off before attending to the bowl and wiping the hot butter off his skin.
"You idiot, Eddie," he whispers under his breath.
Now, all that's left is to wait for the butter to cool. So, he turns toward the sink to rinse his hands, carefully drying them until not a drop of moisture remains—just like Buck always tells him to do every single time.
"Shit…" Damn, that burns. His skin is already bright red where the butter splashed.
But it's okay. It's okay. These cookies will be worth it.
Once the butter cools down until it’s just warm, the next step is adding the sugar. He already has white sugar at home, so he grabs the jar and scoops the specified amount into the bowl, followed by brown sugar from a freshly opened package. He makes a mental note to buy another glass jar before ants smell it and invade the kitchen, but for now, he seals the bag with a clip Buck bought as a temporary fix.
Eddie whisks everything together. Once the butter and sugar are nicely combined and look like wet sand, it’s time for the eggs.
The recipe calls for one whole egg and one egg yolk… which means he has to… um—separate the yolk, right?
'You can do it, Eddie.' Athena's motherly voice echoes softly in his left ear.
Okay. He can do it.
Eddie cracks the first egg cleanly into the main bowl, then cracks the second into a smaller bowl he prepared nearby. He tries using his bare hand to gently scoop up the yolk and lift it away from the white.
And—pop. It breaks.
It bursts right in his palm, breaking his heart right along with it. Raw egg yolk drips down onto the floor, adding a fresh yellow stain to the light dust of flour already covering the tiles.
"…Okay, Eddie. It's okay." Yet before he can even reach the tap, the eggshell slips and drops onto the floor, too.
Oh, fucking God… what is happening today?
Eddie squats down to pick up the broken shell. When he prepares to stand back up, his sticky hand seeks support on the edge of the table—
CLANK!
…
A white cloud erupts over his entire body. He mistakenly placed his hand right on the edge of the flour bowl he accidentally poured out ten minutes ago. Now, he’s caked in white powder from head to toe, as if the universe is mocking him for his stupidity.
Okay, he is an actual idiot. And he wants to die.
A sudden wave of emotion hits him, making his throat tight and his eyes burn. But looking at all the ingredients spread across the counter, and remembering every single time Buck baked for him over the years, Eddie pulls himself together. He takes a deep breath and forces himself back onto his feet.
It's a complete mess right now, but he isn't going to deal with it just yet. Knowing his luck, he'll probably drop something else on the floor anyway, so he decides to clean everything all at once after the cookies are safely in the oven.
Eddie goes back to the sink, cleans his hands, and dries them once more. A sharp sting from his burn makes him jolt a little, but he shakes it off.
Round two with the egg yolk. His hands are trembling as he gently cradles the egg, the yolk slides away from the white effortlessly. Breathing a massive sigh of relief, he plops it into the mixing bowl.
Next on the list is vanilla. Knowing Buck always stores a bottle for their routine pancake breakfasts, Eddie borrows it, pouring a dash straight into the bowl before returning it to its spot.
He whisks until the texture becomes silky smooth, then moves on to the flour. As he carefully scoops it in, an imaginary chorus of Maddie and Athena whispers a satisfied 'Nice' right in his ears.
In goes the baking soda and a pinch of salt. Now for the delicate part: mixing. The recipe strictly says not to overmix, unless he wants his cookies to double as hockey pucks.
How the fuck is he supposed to know if it's overmixed or not…?
Playing it safe, he replaces his whisk with a flexible spatula, desperately hoping he won't destroy all his hard work.
Eddie begins folding the ingredients together with extreme care, watching as the wet mixture slowly transforms into a soft dough. Next step: add the chopped chocolate and chocolate chips.
Looking at the chocolate bars. Right… he hasn't chopped them yet. Guess he’s doing that right now.
He has two types of chocolate bars on hand. Okay—Eddie knows chocolate disks would yield better results, but he wasn't about to waste top-shelf chocolate on a rookie test run. If these turn out well, he’ll definitely upgrade his ingredients next time.
For now, he has dark and milk chocolate bars. He chops them both into rough chunks, using equal amounts of each, and dumps them into the bowl alongside the chocolate chips.
Eddie gently folds the ingredients until just combined. The instant the dough binds together, he ceases mixing. Even if it remains slightly undermixed, he prefers that risk over ending up with dense, heavy cookies.
Now comes the task of scooping the batter. Lacking an ice cream scoop, Eddie just uses a normal dinner spoon and rolls the portions into balls with his own hands.
Oh, wait—
He forgot to prepare the tray.
Sighing softly, he rests the dough back in the bowl and washes his hands once more. He grabs a piece of parchment paper and lays it onto the tray. It fits like a glove, making him grin widely before he jumps back to his cookie-shaping duty.
Working with a small batch, he ends up with twelve perfectly shaped cookie balls lined up on the sheet.
Next comes the resting phase. Eddie pulls out a sheet of plastic wrap, neatly sealing the tray before setting it to chill in the fridge. The recipe advises waiting an hour or longer, so he checks the clock on the wall. An hour works out perfectly since Buck is scheduled to return right about then.
That man deserves to be greeted by the scent of freshly baked cookies.
Rinsing his hands for what feels like the millionth time, Eddie looks at the warzone around him. The floor, the dining table, the countertops—and his entire outfit—are covered in white dust.
He sighs in total defeat.
Maybe taking a quick nap before tackling this disaster sounds like a brilliant idea.
Without overthinking it, he collapses straight onto the couch. A puffs of flour billows off his hair into the air, but he couldn't care less right now. Future Eddie can handle the cleanup.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
The moment Buck steps through the front door, his internal alarm immediately goes off. Something isn't right.
It's four in the afternoon. Usually, Eddie would have the TV blaring in the background while tidying up, or he'd be stretched out on the couch. Today, the house is dead silent.
Is Eddie out? Did Buck miss a text?
Worse thoughts begin to race through his mind—did Eddie faint? Did he suffer an injury and lie helpless, unable to reach his phone?
Heart pounding, Buck rapidly unlocks the door and shoves it open. Storming inside with a heavy huff, he sees every light in the house turned on. A slight hint of vanilla and a warm, sweet aroma wafts through the air, making him frown in confusion.
The smell is incredibly familiar. But right before he charges into the kitchen, a gentle, soft sigh catches his ears, drawing his gaze to the couch.
And in that exact moment, Buck stumbles upon the absolute cutest sight in the entire universe—Eddie, fast asleep on the couch, hugging a cushion tightly against his chest.
He is completely dusted in white flour, it's tangled in his dark hair, smeared across his nose, and practically everywhere else.
God, he's so cute.
He's so damn adorable that Buck’s chest tightens. Stepping softly toward the couch, Buck drops his duffel bag and crouches down beside him.
Okay—Eddie was clearly trying his hand at baking. Was he craving something sweet? Are his cookies all gone?
Why didn't he just ask Buck to bake for him? Buck would bake him a mountain of his favorite treats in a heartbeat, as many as he wanted.
But the thought of Eddie messing around in the kitchen makes Buck adore this man even more. He carefully lifts his hand to gently brush back Eddie's soft, flour-dusted hair.
Then, his eyes catch something—
Is he wearing an apron?
A muted gasp escapes Buck’s lips as he registers the pink fabric resting on Eddie’s shoulder. At first, he was far too focused on Eddie's sleeping face and the flour covering his body, but now that he really looks at it—there are big ruffles and a cute little bow, too.
God. Has Eddie kept this adorable secret from him all this time? Has he been quietly wearing it when no one was watching?
The thought alone makes Buck want to pepper Eddie's entire face with a thousand smooches.
Before he lets himself commit a crime right then and there, Buck slowly stands up, making sure his movements don't disturb Eddie’s peaceful sleep. His face feels on fire. He needs to see Eddie fully awake in this apron. It's a non-negotiable.
Buck quietly walks over to the kitchen, but the moment he steps into the room, he freezes in shock. Flour is scattered across every surface—coating the table and dusting the entire floor. Luckily, the sugar bag is clipped tightly shut with the plastic clips Buck bought last week, keeping any ants from attacking it.
Traces of runny egg yolk lie streaked across the dusting of flour. Buck easily envisions the moment Eddie attempted—and failed—to separate the eggs.
Taking in the spread of ingredients on the counter, he easily deduces the plan: Eddie was attempting chocolate chip cookies.
Buck smiles. He doesn't feel a single drop of anger about the messy kitchen. This might be Eddie's very first time baking on his own, so how could he be angry? It’s thoroughly adorable. Next time, Buck will be right beside him. They'll bake together, and he'll guide him through every step. If they make a mess, at least they'll do it together. He’ll make sure Eddie never feels frustrated or intimidated by baking ever again.
Truthfully, Buck adores having Eddie sit on the counter watching him cook, but baking side-by-side sounds like a dream.
He starts cleaning everything up—washing the mixing bowl, wiping down the counters and table, and sweeping the floor. And when he picks up the small pan, it lined with a rich, brown-oily coating, understanding dawns on him instantly.
Brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
Buck grins, already imagine Eddie adorably munching on them. But right before he can scrub the pan, an alarm suddenly goes off—so sharp and loud that it makes Buck jump out of his skin.
It's coming from Eddie's phone.
A cute, muffled yawn reaches Buck’s ears from the couch. Leaving the pan in the sink, Buck hurries over, greeting the adorable sight of Eddie pouting sleepily.
"Eds,"
Eddie instantly freezes, all the color draining from his face in a split second.
"B—Buck! When did you get home?! Wait… did you go into the kitchen?!" Eddie leaps to his feet, his drowsy expression vanishing without a trace, overtaken by sheer panic.
Why is he freaking out so much…?
"Yes?" Buck answers innocently.
"Oh, God…" Eddie groans, burying his face in his flour-dusted hands.
"Were you craving sweets? You could’ve just asked me to bake for you, Eddie—"
"I'm so sorry for the mess, Buck," Eddie interrupts frantically, his words tumbling over each other. "I—I really didn't mean to sleep this long! I was only going to nap for ten minutes, clean everything up, and then bake for you."
"For—for me?" Buck repeats, blinking in surprise.
The rosy flush blooming across Eddie's cheeks make Buck’s heart throb so hard it almost hurts. Good God, this man is unbelievable—so profoundly cute and captivating.
Eddie just admitted it out loud: he was baking for Buck. The chocolate chip cookies were a surprise for him. The thought makes Buck want to crush Eddie in a tight hug and kiss him silly right then and there.
"Eddie—"
"You’ve been baking for me for years, Buck. And… lately, with your therapy sessions, I know you come home exhausted and needing something sweet. But you never eat the cookies you bake because you think they’re all for me… so I wanted to bake for you. I just—"
Buck completely loses the battle against his own self-control. He lunges forward, pulling Eddie flush against his chest, hugging him fiercely and burying his face in Eddie's messy, flour-covered hair. Eddie lets out a muffled gasp, but within seconds, his arms encircle Buck's waist just as tightly.
"Thank you, baby," Buck murmurs.
Baby.
Oh God—
Holy shit.
He definitely didn't mean to say that out loud.
It’s no secret—at least to himself—that he is completely, head-over-heels in love with Eddie Diaz. He's been falling for years, but the reality of it only crystallized back in New Mexico.
Returning to Eddie's house to heal his mental condition slowly allowed the space to redefine itself—it is no longer just Eddie's house, but their home.
Buck just finds himself falling harder and harder every single day.
And he knows for a fact that Eddie feels the exact same way.
Eddie is an open book. The soft blush blooming on his cheeks whenever Buck comes too close says it all. And in bed? The second their skin brushes, Eddie turns bright red from head to toe, rolling all the way to the edge of the mattress while pretending to be sound asleep. But the moment he assumes Buck is out cold, he quietly scoots back over and nuzzles against him like a clingy cat.
So, Buck is a hundred percent sure: his best friend is madly in love with him, too.
Then, Buck feels Eddie freeze for a brief second before snuggling in closer, burying his face deeper against Buck's skin.
"Eddie—"
"I love you, Buck," Eddie muffles into his shoulder, the three small words echoing louder than anything else in the entire universe. Buck hears every single bit of it—clear, real, and undeniably intended for him.
Good, thank God.
Overflowing with happiness, Buck wraps his arms even tighter around Eddie, pulling him so close that not a speck of air remains between them. He buries his face in Eddie's hair, breathing in the scent of home, flour, and the man he adores above all else.
"I love you, too."
"No—not in a bro way. Not like that," the man in his arms insists, pulling back slightly. His face is completely flushed rosy-red, his big brown doe eyes filled with a fragile mix of fear and bravery. Buck understands the weight of this moment completely, feeling his heart swell at Eddie's raw confession.
"I know, baby," Buck lets out a soft chuckle, reaching down to gently press Eddie's hands between his own. "That's why I'm telling you I love you too. Because I mean it. Not in a bro way, not platonic at all. I am deeply in love with you, Eddie."
"Oh—okay, I... I'm in love with you, too," Eddie whispers, his breath catching.
Dear Lord, this man is truly going to be the death of him.
Buck leans in without a second thought. Watching Eddie’s dark eyelashes flutter closed sends a wave of affection through his entire body. He captures Eddie’s soft lips in a gentle kiss, applying a sweet pressure before lightly nipping at the plump bottom lip with utmost care.
The kiss deepens naturally, slow and intoxicating. Buck tilts his head, molding their lips together in a seamless rhythm, savoring the sweet, warm taste of Eddie’s breath.
He firmly clasps Eddie’s hands in his own, yet the second he presses down against his skin, Eddie winces and recoils—forcing their lips apart.
"Eddie?" Buck murmurs, confusion clouding his gaze.
"I… uh—nothing," Eddie stammers. But his immediate reaction, snatching his hands back and tucking them behind his spine like a toddler hiding stolen candy, instantly sets off alarm bells in Buck's head.
Did he hurt himself? Did something happen to his hands while baking?
"Give me your hands," Buck insists, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"Buck—"
"Eddie."
At the strict tone, Eddie finally gives in. He stretches his hands out, revealing the angry red mark inflamed against his skin. A fresh burn mark.
"Fuck—Eddie! Is it from the oven? No, the oven isn't even warm yet… Is—Is this from the butter?"
Eddie gives a small nod, looking totally guilty. "I poured it too quickly and a bit splashed on my hand. It wasn't boiling, but… it was hot." His gorgeous brown eyes downcast immediately, desperately avoiding Buck’s gaze.
"And first aid? Did you put anything on it?" Buck asks, examining the burn.
"Ah… no, I wanted to finish the cookies first, so I just rinsed it with water," Eddie admits sheepishly.
"You're so stubborn," Buck sighs, but a noticeable tension instantly creeps into Eddie's shoulders, prompting Buck to quickly soften his tone before the man can retreat back into his shell, "I—I just worried about you, Eds. I'm not scolding you, my love."
Buck knows Eddie feels out of his depth when it comes to the kitchen. His cooking has definitely gotten better over the years, but baking is a whole other level. Buck is determined to create a safe space for him, making sure Eddie feels supported rather than discouraged.
As Eddie still looks away, Buck gently lifts the handsome man's hand and presses a soft kiss directly onto the burn. The gesture causes Eddie to snap his head back toward him, his cheeks flushing a bright, adorable pink.
Jesus, he is so gorgeous like this.
Buck glides his gaze down to inspect Eddie's full figure. Flour clings to almost every inch of him, turning strands of his dark brown hair a soft, silvery white. Then his eyes land on—holy shit, that apron. Buck gets a full, uninterrupted view of it now.
The sheer sight of the pink fabric, cute ruffles, and tiny bow makes Buck’s head spin. He didn't even know this was sitting in their house, but it fits Eddie like a dream. Eddie always insists that Buck is the one who looks great in pink, but looking at him right now? Eddie completely wins.
Besides, the apron ties cinch around Eddie’s waist, highlighting just how slender he is. Jesus Christ—Buck absolutely loves this. He needs Eddie in this apron every single day.
Without a second thought, Buck snakes his arm around Eddie's waist, tugging him in close and planting a warm, lingering kiss on his soft cheek.
"Got it? I'm not mad at all, Eds. I just want to make sure you treat yourself with care."
Buck grins softly, watching the gorgeous man in front of him turn an even deeper shade of red. He pulls back slightly, grabs the first aid kit from the cabinet, and retrieves the burn cream to apply to Eddie's hand.
"I know," Eddie mumbles.
"So, did you taste the dough yet?" Buck teases playfully.
"Are you crazy? It has raw eggs, Buck! Hello, Salmonella!"
Buck bursts out laughing and nodding along. Of course, Salmonella. He plants another sweet smooch on Eddie's cheek again before nuzzling his nose into his skin like a affectionate puppy.
With the first aid taken care of, Eddie pulls Buck into a slow, grounding hug. "So, how did it go with Frank?"
Eddie voice is quieter and sweeter than ever. He always uses this soft tone after Buck gets back from therapy, trying to ease his heavy mind. But right now, with the knowledge of Eddie’s love blooming in his chest, all of Buck’s fatigue simply melts away.
"Good, as usual. But honestly, coming home to you like this makes everything way better."
"Mmm… should I make a habit of baking for you every time you have a session?" Eddie asks softly.
"Only if you want to, Eds."
"Of course I want to, Buck. I mean, it's not the first time I've tried to—"
Eddie stops dead in his tracks. Buck freezes, too.
"Not your first time? Wait, who were you baking for?"
Okay, fine—Buck is a jealous freak. And when it comes to Eddie? That jealousy goes completely off the charts. Recognizing that his tone sounded a bit too sharp, Buck quickly tries to tone it down, switching to a lighthearted, playful tease before Eddie can get scared of his reaction.
Still, genuinely—who was Eddie baking for before this? Did the batch turn out good? Did they fail? He has roughly a thousand questions right now.
Eddie’s entire face flushes a deep crimson, his ears turning bright red, too. Seeing him so completely flustered forces Buck to calm himself down even further, softening his gaze.
"Eds—"
"I was trying to bake your birthday cake, Buck."
"M—my cake? But—"
"Remember when you asked why Athena barred me from her kitchen?" Eddie mutters, hiding his face in his hands.
The memory flashes in Buck's mind. During last month's barbecue at Athena's, Eddie got a firm 'no' the moment he even attempted to step into her kitchen.
"I almost burned her house down,"
"Eddie…"
"I tried! But… but it was my very first time, and I really wanted to make it all by myself. And… it failed, like completely failed." Eddie mutters defeat, slowly lowering his hands.
Fuck. Okay—he knows it's bad. But how is Eddie even allowed to be this ridiculously cute? Does Buck really get to keep this precious man all for himself?
Buck watches Eddie get all flustered over his own baking disaster, feeling his heart completely melt. He adores this man so much. He knows Athena adores him, too—how could she not? This man was simply made to be loved. And Buck is so deeply grateful that Eddie is finally sharing all of this with him.
"Baby, it's okay," Buck says softly, stroking his thumb over Eddie's cheek. "Next time, we can bake together. We can make whatever you want."
Those gorgeous brown eyes gaze up into Buck's, holding a flicker of hesitation before Eddie releases a long, soft sigh. All the tension leaves his shoulders at once, replaced by a gentle, relieved nod.
"Please teach me more, Buck."
"Always, baby," Buck promises, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind Eddie's ear, his fingers lightly brushing against it softly.
"Though… let's see how today's batch turns out first," Eddie mutters, chewing his lower lip. "I—I actually felt super confident this time. But if it fails again—"
"It will be wonderful, Eddie," Buck interrupts gently, easing his worries. "Is the dough chilling in the fridge? Did you use my recipe?"
"Yeah," Eddie nods, a slight blush returning to his cheeks. "I texted Maddie for it."
"Allow me to finish baking them for you, alright?" Buck suggests warmly. "You can go rinse off in the shower."
"No, Buck. You are the one who truly deserves a hot shower," Eddie mutters, looking up at him. "You returned home exhausted, and immediately started cleaning up my mess…"
Seeing Eddie care so deeply like this, Buck can't help but bury his face into Eddie's rumpled hair again, gently nuzzling against the warmth and softness.
"How about we shower together then?" Buck whispers playfully. "We can leave those little guys in the oven while we help each other clean up?"
A soft flush creeps up Eddie's neck as he nods against the crook of Buck's shoulder. "…That sounds perfect."
── ⋆⋅ ☽︎ ⋅⋆ ──
Their very first shower together is an absolute disaster in the best way possible. Buck's hands refuse to behave, taking advantage of every chance he gets to drive Eddie completely crazy.
And honestly? Eddie loves it.
By some stroke of luck, they don't end up burning the house down, nor do they end up with overbaked cookies. Actually, they come out looking so golden and perfect that Eddie can’t stop the massive, beaming smile from spreading across his face.
The cookies are freshly out of the oven, smelling so delicious that Eddie's stomach growls on instinct. Just as he is about to reach out and grab one straight off the tray, Buck immediately catches his wrist, his brows furrowing with deep concern.
"It's hot, Eds."
"Oh, right."
So they have no choice but to let their cookies cool off first. In the meantime, Buck grabs Eddie's waist and casually lifts him right onto the counter. A startled gasp slips past Eddie's lips—holy shit, this man is ridiculously strong.
Silence settles comfortably between them. As Buck closes the distance, Eddie immediately wraps his legs around the beefy man's hips. Cradling him close, Eddie rests his face against the crook of Buck's neck, drawing in the soothing, coconut-scented body wash. It harmonizes wonderfully with the lingering sweetness of the cookies.
Buck returns the gesture, pressing a soft nose against Eddie's skin and taking a long inhale. Since they just shared a shower, they share the exact same body wash and shampoo. They probably smell completely identical now.
And that simple thought makes Eddie ridiculously happy.
Their relationship has been a slow-burn longing for years. Deep inside, Eddie knew they belonged together, but fear always kept his lips sealed.
But today, the words just slip out effortlessly. And he couldn't be more relieved that it all turns out so beautifully.
Buck loves him. Eddie always felt it, but hearing Buck say those exact words with his own voice makes his whole world light up.
"After these cookies," Buck muffles against his skin, "what do you want to make next?"
"A birthday cake?"
"While wearing your birthday suit?" Buck grins.
"Buck!" This man is absolutely unbelievable.
Eddie leans in to kiss Buck’s handsome nose, nipping it twice and playfully biting his cheek. Buck just giggles happily, letting Eddie do whatever he pleases to his face.
"I'm serious. I want to bake you a cake, Buck," Eddie murmurs earnestly.
"Okay, baby," Buck smiles warmly, leaning into his touch. "We'll make a cake next. Maybe on our next day off?"
"Deal," Eddie agrees, sealing the promise with a soft peck to Buck's lips. "So... can we finally eat those cookies?"
The cookies turn out amazingly—crispy on the outside, soft and gooey in the center. Rich, melted chocolate stretches beautifully as Eddie breaks one in half.
"You did so great, honey." Buck whispers, placing a tender kiss against his temple, making Eddie's heart flutter with warmth.
"We haven't even tasted them yet," Eddie says, staring at the half in his hand. "You… you first?"
He extends the other half toward Buck. Accepting it with a bright, devoted smile, Buck takes a big, satisfying bite without a single moment of doubt.
Eddie's chest squeezes tight. He's beyond nervous about these cookies. Sure, he wrecked the entire kitchen in the process, but he poured his soul into every single step. If they taste terrible—
“Eddie!”
Please—
"It's absolutely delicious!" Buck gasps in genuine delight.
Oh.
The bright, shimmering light in Buck's blue eyes makes Eddie's heart skip a beat. Buck's cheeks bloom into that soft, adorable pink Eddie loves so much.
Cute.
Heart full, he finally takes a bite of his own half. And he doesn't regret the mess at all.
God.
It's fucking delicious—the rich aroma of brown butter hits first, spreading beautifully across his tongue with just the right amount of sweetness. The dark chocolate does its job flawlessly, balancing out the richness into pure perfection.
"It's… so good," Eddie breathes in amazement.
"Congratulations, Eddie Diaz. You have successfully created the world's most delicious brown butter chocolate chip cookies," Buck announces with a beaming smile, a stray mark of melted chocolate marking the corner of his lips.
Eddie lets out a sweet giggle, leaning against Buck's chest to delicately lick away the sweet residue. "Thank you, baby."
"Fuck—Eddie! You… you can't just do that!" Buck gasps, his breath catching in his throat. A deep, burning flush spreads all over his body, and the sight pulls a wide, triumphant smile from Eddie.
"And why is that?" He asks innocently.
"Because you're making me want to devour my cookie right now."
"Then eat—" Eddie's breath hitches as his feet leave the floor, lifted effortlessly into Buck's strong arms. "Wait! Buck!"
"I am going to savor every single bit of my cookie," Buck whispers with a dangerously handsome smirk, carrying Eddie toward their bedroom.
"That's not what I meant! You horny monster!"