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Buck and Eddie have been dating for exactly nine days.
Nine days, and they still haven’t kissed.
Buck’s beginning to suspect that they might be the world's most ridiculous couple. Not that he minds the dating part. He likes the dating part. He likes it so much that sometimes he catches himself grinning for absolutely no reason, only to realise Eddie is looking at him and immediately tries to school his expression into something less embarrassingly lovesick.
It never works; Eddie always notices. Always smiles at him knowingly.
It’s the lack of kissing that is starting to annoy him. Starting to become… not a problem per se, because he gets it, but maybe a bit of a personal issue.
Because Buck is impatient. He’s waited close to a decade to finally be able to call Eddie his, but now that he can he hasn’t even been able to kiss him yet?
Unfair doesn’t even begin to describe it.
But, above all of that, he doesn’t want to make Eddie uncomfortable.
This is Eddie’s first relationship with a man, Buck is more than aware of this and plans to make it his last relationship with a man, too. But he knows how much courage it took for Eddie to get here. Knows there are still moments when Eddie seems to be figuring out what this means for him, how this fits into the rest of his life, how much of the old rules he thought he understood no longer apply.
So Buck has made a very difficult decision. He’s going to leave the first move to Eddie.
It seems like the most honest thing he can do. The most fair. Eddie should get to decide when he’s ready. Eddie should get to choose the pace they set for this relationship, because Buck’s known for rushing into the physical side of things and blowing everything else up along the way. That’s the last thing he wants to do to Eddie.
The only issue with this plan, you ask?
Eddie seems to have made the exact same decision about Buck. Because Eddie is apparently waiting for Buck to make the first move. He’s waiting for Buck to kiss him.
Buck has noticed, in all the ways Eddie thinks he’s been subtle for the past week. Of course he’s noticed, because Eddie’s about as subtle as a fucking freight train.
There have been seventeen moments over the last nine days where Eddie has looked at Buck’s mouth.
Seventeen.
Buck has counted. And they’re just the ones he’s seen– he’s well aware that his boyfriend also looks when he isn’t paying direct attention to him.
He's also noticed the way Eddie sometimes gets just a little closer when they're sitting together. The way his gaze flickers down whenever Buck licks his lips. The way Eddie seems to hover for half a second whenever they're saying goodbye.
But Buck doesn’t make a move. Refuses to, actually. Because he’s being respectful. Responsible– considerate even. A very mature boyfriend.
Eddie, meanwhile, thinks Buck is an idiot that needs to hurry up and lay one on him. Which, honestly, might be a fair thing to think.
Because Eddie has never kissed a man before. He knows that Buck knows this, they’d talked about it in explicit detail when Eddie had listed all the things that scared him about going into this relationship.
Eddie has dated women. He’d had relationships, some more meaningful than others, but he knows how to kiss. He knows what he likes. He just doesn’t know this. Doesn’t know guys. Doesn’t know Buck, at least, not like this.
This is all new.
But Buck has experience with men. With he-who-shall-not-be-named. With that one guy from that married couple.
So, Eddie has silently decided that Buck knows what he’s doing and therefore should be the one to initiate things between them.
And Buck has silently decided that Eddie has never done anything like this before, and should therefore be the one to initiate.
They are spectacularly bad at this.
Which is why, nine days into their relationship, they're spending their day off at Eddie's house, sitting on opposite ends of the couch like they're afraid touching might cause an international incident.
Chris is at a friend's house, Theo is with aunt Maddie for the weekend.
The television is playing some documentary that neither of them have paid attention to all night. Their coffees are going cold on the table, and a bowl of popcorn sits on the couch between them. The curtains are drawn, the only light in the room coming from the lamp in the corner, and the ever so slight glow of the forgotten tv.
It’s comfortable. Cozy and peaceful in a way they never seem to get anymore. Not with two kids running around and a seemingly endless string of emergencies.
It’s perfect.
And then Eddie does something that nearly kills buck. Nearly stops his heart then and there.
It isn’t even anything particularly remarkable, but it’s enough to have Buck’s carefully crafted control fraying.
Eddie had never been paying attention to the documentary on the tv, because he’s been reading.
Hen had given him the book, claiming he’d love it if he ever managed to get around to it. And with the boys he hasn’t exactly had a lot of free time to sit and immerse himself in it. But now that he and Buck have the house to themselves he’s finally allowed himself to pick it up again.
He’s swamped in one of Buck’s hoodies; one he thought he’s stolen sneakily. One he thought he’d swiped on the sly when Buck wasn’t looking.
Only, Buck is always looking at him, so he’d seen the second Eddie had honed in on it with a plan formulating behind his eyes.
At some point, he shifts beneath the blanket they've been sharing and tucks his socked feet underneath Buck's thigh for warmth.
Buck glances over at him, but Eddie doesn't notice. He's completely absorbed in his book.
His glasses have slipped slightly down his nose. (The first time Buck had seen those he’d nearly climbed Eddie then and there.) His hair is messy from where he's been running his fingers through it. He's curled into the corner of the couch, one hand holding his book while the other reaches blindly into the popcorn bowl.
Except he misses, because he refuses to pull his eyes from the page he’s on. His fingers pat around a little aimlessly for a few seconds, never quite hitting his target. He frowns, though it looks more like an adorable little pout to Buck.
He has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from giggling.
He watches as Eddie tries again, misses again, and juts his bottom lip out in an annoyed pout. Finally, he tears his eyes away from the page to glare at the bowl, like it’s personally offended him. Then he all but throws himself at it, and simply moves the entire bowl closer to himself with a triumphant huff.
Then he settles back into his corner, apparently satisfied with himself as he shovels a handful into his mouth. Buck watches as he goes back to his book, and something inside his chest does a strange, violent little flip.
Oh
Oh no.
Eddie is… adorable. Painfully, devastatingly adorable. And Buck suddenly has an almost overwhelming urge to grab him.
He wants to squeeze him. He wants to bury his face in Eddie's messy hair. He wants to wrap both arms around him and hold him so tightly Eddie complains. He wants to kiss his cheeks until Eddie gets embarrassed. He wants to bite him.
He wants to—
Buck flexes his hands against his thighs to stop himself from reaching out and acting on his wants.
Jesus Christ, this is cuteness aggression, isn’t it?
He’s heard of it, joked about it, even. But he’s never experienced it, not like this.
Then, because Eddie has apparently decided to kill his boyfriend of nine days, he turns a page, then, apparently without thinking, he makes the tiniest little pleased hum at whatever he ready. And a small smile graces his face.
It makes him look impossibly softer.
Buck's brain short-circuits.
That's it. He's done.
He’s not sure how he manages to find his voice, but he just about manages, "Eddie."
Eddie looks up, sends him a gentle smile that has his heart flipping. "Hm?"
Buck doesn't answer, he can't possibly form intelligible words right now.
Instead, suddenly he's moving, reaching across the space between them. He takes Eddie’s book, bookmarks it so he doesn’t lose his place, then closes it and tosses it beside their coffees on the table.
Eddie makes a noise of protest, that same adorable pout from before returning, which is quickly displaced as Buck turns, his fingers settling gently against Eddie's jaw.
Eddie freezes.
As he’s been reading he’s slumped so far down on the couch that he’s practically laid on his back now, with a pillow between his head and the armrest.
Buck moves to crawl over him, completely blanketing Eddie’s body with his own. Eddie’s legs bracket his hips, his knees pressing into Buck’s waist as surprise- and something suspiciously like excitement- fills his eyes.
Buck gives him enough time to pull away, but he doesn't. So Buck leans closer, slowly. So very slowly. He gives Eddie every opportunity to change his mind.
Eddie's eyes widen, his breath catches in his chest as his eyes lock on Buck’s mouth. His mouth parts, frantic little breaths escaping as his eyes dart between Buck’s lips and his eyes.
And then Buck kisses him.
It's nothing like the frantic, nervous first kiss Buck has imagined a hundred times.
It's slow. Gentle. Careful.
His lips settle against Eddie's and simply stay there for a moment. Eddie goes completely still beneath him. Buck feels the tiny hitch of his breath, and it makes him feel powerful.
Then Buck tilts his head, deepening the kiss to taste the popcorn on Eddie’s tongue. He doesn’t make it hurried, or demanding. It’s just enough that Eddie can feel the warmth of it, the intention behind it, as Buck's thumb brushes lightly along his cheek.
Eddie's fingers curl into the front of Buck's shirt as he kisses back, using his grip to pull him in closer.
And something inside both of them seems to click into place. Because this is what they've been missing.
Buck feels Eddie relax beneath his hand, and it has him smiling minisculey against him. He doesn’t smile fully- he’s not ready for this to end yet and a wide smile would surely separate them, but he can’t contain his joy.
Eddie leans into him, growing more and more confident as their mouths move against each other. His hands start to wander, no longer fisting a handful of his shirt. Instead, they lay flat against his chest, feeling the way Buck’s heart hammers against his ribs.
Then they go their separate ways.
Eddie kisses back just as eagerly as Buck kisses him, but one of his hands slowly starts to migrate down his chest, feeling down the length of his torso slowly. Buck feels his abs flex, his stomach clenching as Eddie’s fingertips drag over it.
His other hand comes up, cups the side of Buck’s neck for a second, then slides over his shoulder to hang over his back.
His legs tighten of their own accord, his knees gripping Buck’s hips as he sighs into him.
His head tilts to the other side as Buck’s does, and Buck really wishes he didn’t need a hand to hold himself up so he could touch Eddie back in kind.
The kiss lasts another few seconds before Buck finally pulls away. Neither one of them pulls farther away than is necessary for them to breathe, so their noses stay pressed together, and each breath they take is shared.
Eddie stares at him, his eyes wide with unbridled wonder. Buck stares back, waiting for something, though he’s not sure what.
Eddie's lips are slightly parted, his breath slipping past them raggedly. His cheeks are pink, and Buck thinks it might be his new favourite colour. Especially as he watches it reach the tips of his ears and start to slip under his hoodie. Buck’s hoodie.
Buck's heart is pounding so hard he can practically hear it.
"Wow," Eddie whispers.
Buck smiles. "Yeah."
Eddie blinks, then his entire face breaks into the most ridiculously happy smile Buck has ever seen. It’s bright, unrestrained. Almost boyish. And Buck is hit with another wave of that unbearable need to squeeze him. Especially when his breathless little voice practically whispers, “fuck, do it again.”
He’s helpless but to comply, so he leans in and kisses Eddie again. It’s just a little peck, but it’s right on the mouth, and it still manages to steal Eddie’s breath away.
Eddie blinks, words seeming to evade him when Buck pulls back. He just manages to find some, but is cut off as he starts to let them out. "That was—"
Another kiss. Short, and soft, but it’s enough that Eddie's lips twitch. "W-wait, I—"
Another. This one lands at the corner of Eddie's mouth, and Eddie starts laughing. "Buck."
Buck kisses him again, and Eddie giggles. Actually giggles, with a delighted little hum. Buck’s going to lose his fucking mind.
He pulls back just enough to look at him. "What?" he asks, though he 100% knows what he’s being gently reprimanded for.
Eddie raises a brow, but his voice is laced with fond humour as he says, "You keep interrupting me."
Buck blinks innocently, tilts his head to the side, "Do I?"
Eddie nods, speaks slowly like he’s trying to explain things to an idiot. "Yes."
"Oh." A pause, with a bashful smile, then he shakes his head, “No, that doesn’t sound like me."
Eddie's eyes narrow, and he goes to give what is surely to be a bitchy rebuttal, but Buck smiles, then leans down and kisses him again.
Eddie laughs against his mouth, "You're impossible."
It’s Buck’s turn to pout now as he says, "But you're cute."
Eddie's cheeks turn even pinker, and he looks away to try and hide his face. Buck's smile widens, "Very cute."
Eddie shakes his head with an annoyed whine, "Do not start."
Buck ignores him in favour of pressing a round of soft kisses to his ever, pinkening cheeks, "Adorable."
Eddie grits his teeth as he complains, though it’s half-hearted, "Buck."
He kisses him again, and when he pulls back Eddie makes a tiny, helpless sound of laughter and pulls him down so that he can hide his face against Buck's shoulder.
He pulls him down until Buck settles his whole weight on him, instead of hovering over him. Buck internally groans. This is worse. Much worse. Because now Eddie is tucked against his chest, warm and embarrassed and laughing. Buck never wants him to leave.
Buck presses a kiss into his hair, which makes Eddie peek up at him. "You've been wanting to do that for a while, huh?"
Buck considers lying, then decides why not, "No."
Eddie raises an eyebrow. "Really?"
Buck squints, "...Yes."
Eddie laughs, shaking his head in amusement, "You are terrible at lying."
Buck shrugs, "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
Eddie's expression softens, his smile small as he says, "You wouldn't have."
"Well I know that now,” Buck sasses.
Eddie looks down, his thumb tracing the edge of Buck's shirt, before he finally says, “bout time.”
Buck's eyebrows lift, and he scoffs as he says, "I thought I was supposed to be waiting for you!"
They stare at each other, then Eddie laughs under his breath. "Of course you did."
Buck rolls his eyes, "What?"
"I thought..." Eddie shakes his head, averting his gaze as he admits, "You have experience with this. I figured you'd know when to make the first move."
Buck lets out a disbelieving laugh. "And I thought you should make the first move because you've never done this before."
Eddie looks at him, sends him a deadpan glare, "I’ve never done this before. And you thought I, me, Eddie Diaz, king of repression, would just jump in headfirst with no regard for consequences or how it might go wrong?"
They stare at each other for another second, then Buck laughs again. "A fair point."
"Ya think? Dumbass," Eddie smiles, letting his head settle back into the pillow so he can comfortably stare up at Buck.
Buck, who stares back, and realises with alarming excitement that he’s staring down at his boyfriend who he just kissed.
The word suddenly feels enormous, warm, real. Something physical that he wants to cradle to his chest and keep safe forever.
Buck's smile turns soft, and he means to murmur his words just for himself, but the way Eddie flushes lets him know he was perhaps a little loud. "You’re my boyfriend."
Eddie freezes, and Buck notices immediately. Feels the way Eddie’s entire body locks up against his.
Oh.
Oh, that's interesting.
Eddie's cheeks flush, and his eyes drop. He suddenly becomes very interested in the popcorn bowl that has tipped and spilt popcorn all over the couch between them.
Buck's mouth twitches. "You like that,” he teases.
Eddie shakes his head, "I didn't say that."
Buck snorts a laugh, burying his nose in Eddie’s hair. "You didn't have to." Eddie pulls away to glare at him, only to have Buck grin smugly at him, "my pretty boyfriend."
Eddie's ears go red, and Buck practically beams triumphant. "Wow."
Eddie smacks him upside the back of the head, "Don't."
Buck’s excited when he giggles, "You really like it."
Eddie sighs, groaning at the ceiling when he realises, "Christopher is going to make fun of me when he finds out how smug you've become."
Buck presses his nose to Eddie’s, gets as close as he can so he can ‘menacingly’ whisper, "You’re gonna have to deal with it, you’re stuck with me. Because I’m your boyfriend."
Eddie covers his face. Buck laughs, then he gently pulls Eddie's hands away. "Hey, come back."
Eddie concedes, letting him pull his hands down, and looks at him despite the way the eye contact makes his face feel like it’s on fire.
Buck's expression softens, then he purses his lips and admits, "I'm really happy you're my boyfriend."
The embarrassment fades from Eddie's face, something warmer working hard to replace it. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Eddie smiles. Small this time. Shy.
Buck's chest aches, and he somehow leans impossibly closer. Eddie seems to realise what he's about to do. His eyes flutter shut as Buck kisses him.
Soft. Brief. When he pulls away, Eddie opens his eyes.
"I—" Buck kisses him again.
Eddie laughs exasperated. "Buck!"
Buck forces false innocence on his face, looking somewhat believable actually. But Eddie can see the mirth in his eyes, "What?"
He squints his eyes into slits to glare at him, "You did it again."
"Did what?"
"You interrupted me."
Buck's expression is still entirely innocent, "I thought you liked it."
Eddie stares at him, then he smiles, completely against his will. "Maybe I do."
Buck's grin is immediate, and if he was a puppy his tail would surely be wagging above them, "Good."
Eddie takes a breath. "I was going to say—"
Buck presses their lips back together again, and Eddie giggles. "You are such a menace!"
Buck shrugs, "Sorry."
Eddie scoffs, "You are not sorry."
"Nope," Buck admits, popping the ‘p’ with a smug smirk.
Eddie shakes his head, smiling. Buck watches him for another moment. Then, just as Eddie starts to speak again, Buck leans in.
Eddie laughs before their lips even meet. And this time, when they kiss, Eddie is the one smiling into it.
When they finally separate, Eddie stays close. Their foreheads touch. Neither says anything, because they don't need to.
Until Buck murmurs, almost to himself, "Still can't believe you're my boyfriend."
Eddie's smile grows. "Still can't believe I put up with you,"
Buck's heart does something ridiculous in his chest. He’s helpless but to lean in and kiss him again.
Eddie laughs softly, humming happily.
When Buck pulls away, it’s with a satisfied smile. Then, he settles down onto Eddie’s chest, hugging his arms around Eddie’s torso as he gets comfortable. Eddie fights and somehow manages to adjust the blankets so that both of them are under them comfortably, instead of having them trapped between their bodies. Buck hums, sighing contentedly as warmth covers him. His eyes shut blissfully, and for approximately thirty seconds, everything is peaceful.
Then Buck pulls back. There's a lazy, ridiculously happy smile on his face.
He looks at Eddie like he's just discovered something wonderful and is still trying to believe it's real. "Eddie?"
"Hm?"
"I think—" Eddie wraps his hand around the back of Buck’s neck, reels him in and kisses him.
Buck stops, completely dumbfounded, and his eyes widen. Just as he starts to kiss back Eddie pulls away. His cheeks are pink, but there is something distinctly mischievous hiding underneath the embarrassment. Buck blinks at him.
Eddie tries very hard not to smile as he asks, "You were saying?"
Buck stares, then his mouth twitches. "I think you're—"
Another kiss. This one short and soft, capturing Buck’s lips and pulling a startled noise from him.
Eddie pulls away with a pop, smiling like the cat who got the creme. "Sorry."
Buck's eyes narrow. "Did you just—"
Kiss.
Eddie giggles, "Oops."
Buck looks genuinely offended for all of a second. "You can't just—"
Kiss.
This one is even quicker, and Eddie is openly laughing now. Buck stares at him. Eddie's shoulders shake with amusement.
"You're getting revenge," he realises.
Eddie shakes his head, pursing his lips, “I’m doing no such thing.”
Buck looks far too pleased for someone who’s been cut off as many times as he has, "You absolutely are."
Eddie gives him his most innocent expression. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Buck snorts, and his smile slowly spreads. "You like it."
Eddie's expression immediately turns bashful, but he doesn't deny it. Doesn’t even attempt to. Instead, he looks down at their hands, which have somehow tangled together without either of them realising.
.
Then he looks back up and admits, "I like kissing you."
Buck's heart nearly stops. Before he can answer, Eddie leans in and gives him another little kiss.
Buck laughs softly when he pulls away, then groans as says, “you can’t just say shit like that to me.”
Eddie smiles. “Can too. I’m your boyfriend, remember?”
Buck's eyes sparkle, and he nods to himself as his own face flushes darker, "I suppose I deserve that."
Eddie smiles, then pats him on the chest, "Yes you do."
Buck continues with, "Because I kept interrupting you."
Eddie hums in confirmation. Buck considers this. Then his expression turns wicked. "You're going to have to get faster."
Eddie's eyebrows lift. "Why?"
Buck gives a one-armed shrug, "Because I have a lot to say."
Eddie's smile becomes positively delighted. "Oh?"
"Yeah." Buck takes a breath. "I was going to tell you that—"
Eddie kisses him. Buck's eyes close automatically this time. When Eddie pulls away, Buck stares at him. Eddie is trying not to laugh. "Sorry."
Buck shakes his head. "No, no. I get it."
"You do?" Eddie asks, still giggling.
"Yeah." Buck leans closer. "You've decided this is a game."
Eddie's smile grows. "Maybe."
"And you think you're going to win." Buck grins. "It’s adorable."
Eddie kisses him when he feels his face starting to flush red.
Buck laughs. "That's cheating."
"You started it."
Buck looks at him for a moment. Then his expression softens. "Can I tell you something?"
Eddie hesitates, then pouts as he asks, "Without interrupting kisses?"
Buck snorts, then nods, "Preferably."
Eddie nods, sighing like the idea is such a hardship. Buck takes his hand, takes a deep breath, then quietly admits, "I really like seeing you happy like this." Eddie's expression melts, so Buck continues, quieter now. "And I really like that you're happy with me."
Eddie squeezes his hand, his eyes welling with tears, "Me too."
Buck smiles. "Good."
A pause. A mischievous look in Eddie’s eye. Then Eddie leans in.
Buck's eyes widen, "Eddie—"
Eddie kisses him. Buck laughs helplessly against his mouth, but lets Eddie kiss him again, and again, and again.
When Eddie pulls away, he's grinning, somewhat bashfully, "Sorry."
Buck shakes his head, laughing. "You're enjoying this way too much." Buck stares at him.
Then Eddie reaches up and cups his cheek."You're going to regret teaching me this."
Buck’s smile turns impossibly soft. "I don't think I will."
Then Buck kisses him. Slowly this time, and Eddie immediately melts into it. His hand finds its way into Buck’s hair, and something funny happens in his chest when one of his fingers gets caught, and he accidentally tugs. Because Buck whines a little against him, then pushes his tongue past Eddie’s lips to get another taste of him.
And when they part, Eddie rests his forehead against Buck's, both of them out of breath once again. Neither of them speak. For once, they don't need to.
Until Buck whispers, "Boyfriend,” just to watch as Eddie's cheeks go pink again.
Buck smiles. There it is. That reaction. He absolutely loves that reaction already, so he chases his high and says it again. "My boyfriend."
Eddie groans softly and hides his face against Buck's shoulder again. Buck laughs, wrapping both arms around him. "You really like that."
Eddie grumbles into his shirt, "Shut up."
"You're blushing,” Buck remarks, giddy. "My boyfriend is blushing."
Eddie lifts his head. His eyes are bright. His smile is helpless. And then, with considerably more confidence than he had when this afternoon started, he grabs Buck by the chin, pulls him in and locks their lips together again.
Just once. Soft. Deliberate. When he pulls back, he nips at his bottom lip and murmurs, "Mine," in a low voice.
Buck goes completely still, and Eddie's smile becomes shy again. Buck stares at him for half a second. Then he breaks into the biggest grin Eddie has seen all day. "Oh, you're going to be dangerous."
Eddie laughs. "Maybe."
Buck kisses him again. And this time, when Eddie starts to speak afterward, Buck waits. He actually waits. Eddie notices, smiles as he says, "Good boy."
Buck's eyebrows shoot up, and his face immediately turns scarlet. Eddie’s grin becomes positively enormous. "Oh?"
"Don't," Buck warns, though there’s no heat behind it
"I didn't say anything," Eddie guffaws, though there’s humour laced in his words.
"You were about to," Buck grumbles.
"Maybe,” Eddie says.
Buck leans closer, and Eddie kisses him before he can say anything else. Buck laughs into the kiss, joyful.
And Eddie realises, with a little burst of giddy happiness, that perhaps this is what dating Buck is going to be like.
A lot of kissing. A lot of laughing. And apparently, an ongoing competition over who gets the last word.
He thinks he can live with that.