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“Diaz!”
Eddie’s head snaps up from where he’s making his morning coffee, glancing around the station. He’s not entirely sure what’s warranted the yelling, but at least Chim’s voice sounds vaguely amused.
“What’s—” he attempts, but he’s cut off almost immediately.
“Don’t!” Buck’s voice interrupts, as he half tackles Chim at the top of the staircase. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” Chim continues, shaking Buck off as he makes his way over towards Eddie in the kitchen. “Do you wanna tell me why my kid’s first word was ‘Eddie’?”
Various people around them freeze, looking towards Eddie with varying degrees of curiosity.
“Nash is talking?” Eddie says automatically. “That’s great!”
“It’s not great,” Chim corrects, pointing a finger at Eddie as Buck buries his face in his hands. Eddie frowns in his direction before looking back at Chim. “I mean it is, sure, but it’s not at the same time.”
There’s a pause.
“Right,” Eddie agrees. “I—”
“Jee’s first word was ‘Dada’,” Chim continues. “So I’ve spent months trying to get Nash to say ‘Mama’ to even it out for Maddie’s sake.”
“That’s a really nice thing to—”
“Which was all for nothing,” Chim cuts him off. “Months and months of repeating myself so many times that ‘Mama’ didn’t even sound like a word anymore for a while there. All for my kid to be all ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’.”
“I swear I didn’t—”
“Look, you’re lucky Maddie thinks it’s hilarious,” Chim reassures him when he sees the look in Eddie’s eyes. “She could barely get a word out because she was laughing so hard this morning. Only stopped to call Buck and tell him about everything, but that just seemed to make her laugh more.”
A strangled sound escapes Buck at that.
“I mean, that’s good, right?” Eddie says uncertainly. “That she wasn’t upset?”
Chim sighs, throwing a confused look at Buck before looking back to Eddie once more.
“Look, I just want to know why you did it. Or how you pulled it off at least,” Chim bargains. “Were you sneaking into my house and having secret conversations with my kid, or—”
“What?” Eddie’s voice is incredulous. “No! I haven’t been sneaking into your house to talk to your kid, that’s insane. Who the hell would do something like that?”
“Hey, it’s not that weird!” Buck finally manages to say actual words, though he looks like he regrets it the moment everyone turns to look at him. “I mean, babies are good listeners. Or—or so I hear, you know?”
Eddie’s brow furrows as does Chim’s at first. Eddie’s pretty sure he can see the exact moment a metaphorical lightbulb appears above his Captain’s head as he comes to some sort of realisation. Eddie would love to be clued in, because this entire conversation has been incredibly stressful, if he’s being honest.
“Oh this is too good,” Chim says gleefully, rounding on Buck. “Why didn’t you say something? You let me yell at Eddie like a crazy person.”
“I tried!” Buck says emphatically, gesturing towards the staircase. “I physically attempted to stop you but you’re oddly strong for such a small—“
“Hey, watch it! I’m pretty sure I’ve got the upper hand here,” Chim says, through what seems to be genuine amusement. “You wouldn’t want me to tell Eddie why my kid’s first word was his name now, would you?”
“Please don’t,” Buck begs, and Eddie’s now very much aware that Buck is looking anywhere but in his direction. “Look, I’ll make it up to you, alright? Eddie doesn’t need to know—”
“Eddie is standing right here,” Eddie says, raising his hand as Buck and Chim both turn to look at him. “Eddie is also incredibly confused about what the hell is going on.”
He’s not entirely sure why he’s defaulted to speaking in third person, but he’s going with it.
Meanwhile, Chim’s still grinning despite the fact that Buck looks genuinely horrified. At this point, Eddie hates to admit it but he’s dying to know why Buck’s so eager to keep the mystery of Nash’s first words a secret.
“Look, it’s nothing,” Buck tries. “Babies say dumb stuff all the time!”
True, but—
“My name is dumb?” Eddie asks, throwing a little hurt into his voice to mess with Buck because he can’t help messing with his best friend. “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“What? No, that’s not—that’s not what I meant!” Buck jumps to reassure him amidst Chim’s laughter. “Your name’s not”—the fire alarm blares through the station and Buck exhales in clear relief—“oh, thank god. Let’s go, everybody!”
Eddie can’t help but snort at Buck’s reaction.
“What the hell is wrong with him?” Eddie hears Hen mutter as she takes a final sip of her coffee.
Followed by a response from Ravi, “So many things.”
Eddie thinks that’s definitely a bit harsh. As odd as Buck is acting, Eddie wouldn’t say there’s anything wrong with him. He can admit Buck’s not perfect, but who is? Buck’s—well Buck’s just kinda great, really. Eddie’s always thought so.
“I think we’ve got time to—” Eddie half hears Chim say, but he never hears the end of his sentence.
“No more talking!” Buck yells as he corrals Chim towards the firetrucks. “It’s time to fight fires!”
Okay, so… maybe Buck’s acting a little weird.
“Firefighters fighting fires? Unlikely.” Eddie can’t help but chuckle at the response from Kevin. “We haven’t had a call out to a fire in months.”
Despite the truth in Kevin’s statement, Eddie grabs his protective gear. While doing so, he attempts to clear his head, knowing he can’t be distracted on a call.
It’s only been a few seconds, but Eddie thinks it’s going well. He’s still mildly curious about the whole ‘Nash’s first word was ‘Eddie’’ drama, of course. But who wouldn’t be? A baby’s first words being his name when he’s barely had much interaction with said kid? Eddie can admit it’s a little strange. He’d love to know how it happened, but—
“Buckley’s probably the reason Cap’s kid said Diaz’s name,” a voice Eddie identifies as belonging to Logan from B-Shift says, unknowingly answering Eddie’s question. There’s a muffled response Eddie doesn’t quite hear before Logan continues, “No, really. Every other word out of Buckley’s mouth is—”
“Diaz!”
A few other firefighters respond with laughs, and Eddie recognises the voice as one belonging to Kevin, who covered a few shifts for Hen last month.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying,” Logan says with an eye roll Eddie catches out of the corner of his eye. “I mean we all know Buckley’s in love with Diaz, but he could do with a little chill, you know?”
Eddie’s very much frozen at this point.
Buck’s in love with him?
His best friend is in love with him and everybody seems to know about it?
Everybody knows his best friend is in love with him and they didn’t think to tell him about it?
“No you idiot. Diaz,” Kevin hisses, dragging Eddie out of his crisis as he nudges Logan hard with his elbow and gestures towards Eddie. “Diaz is still here.”
As they turn in slow motion towards him, Eddie stares back with his mouth slightly agape.
“Oh shit,” Logan mutters. “I’m so fucking dead.”
Eddie forces his mouth closed. He opens it again in an attempt to say something, but nothing comes out so he closes it again.
“I think you broke Diaz,” Steve says, sounding vaguely concerned. “Hey man, are you alright?”
He’s very much not alright, actually, but now’s not the time. They’ve got a call to get to, after all.
“I’m fine,” he manages to get out, as he pulls himself back to reality. “Buck is in love with me?”
He didn’t mean to blurt that out.
Shit.
“Uh—”
He doesn’t get an answer to his question.
“Eddie!” Chim’s voice calls out across the station. “We haven’t got all day, come on!”
Eddie takes a deep breath, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. For once he’s glad for his ability to lock things away into little boxes in his mind, because it means he’ll be able to focus on the job.
He’ll talk to Buck later though, he decides, as he runs for the firetruck.
Yeah, he definitely needs to talk to Buck.
*
Only Buck’s nowhere to be found at the end of their shift. Because of course he’s not.
It’s mildly inconvenient for Eddie—who’s spent the last few hours of their shift speedrunning a gay crisis and a realisation that he’s also in love with his best friend—that he now can’t find the man who’s responsible for said crisis in the first place.
Unfortunately for Buck, Eddie’s not an idiot, and it takes him less than five seconds to conclude where he might be able to find his best friend.
It’s a short drive from the station over to the Han residence, at which upon his arrival he knocks thrice before taking a step back and waiting patiently until he hears the lock click. The door opens to reveal a very relieved looking Maddie.
“Thank god you’re here,” she mutters, dragging him inside by his forearm. She immediately turns toward the living room. “Buck! Eddie’s here!”
There’s a loud crashing sound, and Buck’s frantic voice whispering, “I told you not to tell him where I was!”
Eddie raises an eyebrow at Maddie.
Maddie shrugs. “You know what he’s like.”
The words are affectionate, and Eddie finds a soft smile forming on his face.
Yeah, he does know what Buck’s like.
Eddie makes his way to the living room—Maddie trailing behind him—and he pauses at the sight in front of him.
“What are you—” Eddie tilts his head curiously. “What are you doing?”
“Buck, seriously?” Maddie asks as she rounds the corner, before turning to Chim. “You didn’t even try to stop him?”
Chim shrugs. “He’s faster than he looks.”
Eddie barely manages to hold back laughter as he watches Buck attempt to escape the situation by climbing out the living room window.
Buck’s got one leg already fully out, with the other slowly inching its way up the wall in its wake. His torso, however, is still very much in the living room along with the panicked look on his face.
“Uncle Buck?” Jee asks from her position on the floor, pausing in the process of turning a page in her book. “What are you doing?”
“Uh, checking the window works,” Buck says to Jee before looking over at the adults in the room. “This isn’t what it looks like,” Buck says meekly as he begins slowly lowering the leg still inside the house. “I was just…”
Buck trails off, clearly blanking on any explanation that would be even slightly viable.
“You were just…?” Eddie trails off, crossing his arms.
“Get back in the house,” Maddie says to Buck, reaching down to take Nash from Chim. “And then you can take a seat on this couch and talk to Eddie while Chim and I put the baby to bed. How does that sound?”
Buck opens his mouth to respond but the opportunity is swiftly taken away from him.
“Eddie!” Nash announces, bouncing in Maddie’s arms excitedly. “Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!”
Buck flushes.
“I’m kind of stuck,” Buck says, in what Eddie assumes is in an effort to distract from the overexcited nine month old baby yelling his name. “Can one of you give me a hand?”
It’s clear to Eddie that Buck would prefer it to be anyone but him to assist, but he’s the one who’s closest. He sighs, walking over towards Buck.
“Here, let me—” Eddie offers an arm to help Buck stabilise himself as he drags himself back inside. “There we go, you good?”
Buck lets go of Eddie’s arm as soon as he’s stable, brushing his jeans off.
“I’ve been better,” Buck mutters.
Eddie opens his mouth to respond but he’s cut off.
“Eddie!” Nash yells repeatedly. “Eddie! Eddie!”
Eddie feels himself turning bright red.
“Wow,” he says after his name is repeated a good half a dozen more times in a row. “You weren’t kidding, huh?”
“He’s been like this all day,” Maddie says with a grin on her face. She shifts Nash in her arms, pointing over at Eddie as she says, “Look who it is, sweetie. It’s Eddie!”
Nash frowns. “Eddie?”
Maddie nods. “Yeah, that’s Eddie!”
“Eddie!” Nash yells, reaching for Buck. “Eddie!”
Buck’s face rivals Eddie’s own with how red it is now.
“Jesus fucking—” Buck starts, but Maddie smacks his arm.
“Don’t swear in front of the baby!” she says, sounding amused still.
Buck looks embarrassed.
“Yeah, Buck,” Chim teases. “I think maybe you’ve taught him enough words, don’t you?”
“What does fuck mean?” Jee asks, looking up towards her parents innocently. “Is it a bad word?”
“Wow,” Maddie says. “This just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?”
“I’m so sorry,” Buck says frantically. “Seriously, I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to say fu—I mean, that. And I didn’t teach Nash Eddie’s name on purpose. I was just—”
“Buck, we know,” Maddie reassures him, her voice a little more serious this time when it becomes obvious to all of them just how upset Buck is over the situation. “And I promise you we’re not mad. We’re just teasing you. These things happen, trust me. Kids are always repeating things, it could happen to anyone.”
“Maddie, I—”
Maddie cuts him off again. “Look, how about you make it up to us? Would that make you feel better?”
“So much better,” Buck says quickly. “Whatever you want, I’ll—”
“Great!” Maddie tugs Chim to his feet. “What I want is for you to talk to Eddie while we get the kids ready for bed. Come on, Jee!”
And with that, Maddie doesn’t give Buck or Jee a chance to respond. Instead, she makes quick work of removing herself and her family from their own living room, leaving a horrified looking Buck and a vaguely amused looking Eddie in their wake.
Eddie turns to Buck.
“So you taught your nephew to say my name,” he says, aiming for a casual tone.
Buck buries his face in his hands anyway.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Buck says into his hands as he takes a seat on the couch. “I suppose I owe you an apology too?”
Eddie doesn’t want an apology.
“No,” he eventually responds. “But I wouldn’t mind an explanation.”
Buck looks up at him.
“Yeah, I suppose that’s fair,” Buck says as Eddie takes a seat beside him on the couch. They both proceed to avoid eye contact with one another. “It really was an accident, you know?”
“No, of course,” Eddie agrees without thinking about it. He actually has no idea how something like this accidentally happens.
“I’ve been talking to him. Nash, I mean,” Buck explains luckily. “Just about life and stuff, I dunno. Been doing it since he was born. Only I kinda forgot he might eventually start picking up on the things I’m saying as he got older, and now… here we are, I guess.”
Eddie knows he should say something understanding.
He does.
“You talk about me a lot?” is what comes out of his mouth instead.
“I—I don’t talk about you a lot,” Buck chokes out. “I talk about you a normal amount.”
Eddie raises an eyebrow.
Buck flushes.
“Your nephew’s first word was my name, man,” Eddie points out the obvious. “Chim said he’s been saying ‘Mama’ to the kid for months on repeat. I may be bad at math, but even I can put two and two together here, and—”
“Okay, fine,” Buck groans. “I might talk about you a lot to Nash. Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Yeah,” Buck insists. “Maybe.”
Uh huh.
“Is it just Nash?” Eddie asks curiously. “Or do you talk to other people about me too?”
He’s fishing and he knows it.
“What?” Buck asks frantically, eyes snapping to Eddie. “Why would you ask me that? Did Ravi say something to you? Because Ravi’s a liar, man. He’s got all these crazy ideas in his head and if he said something to you he’s—”
“I haven’t spoken to Ravi all day,” Eddie says, cutting Buck off before he can manage to dig himself into an even bigger hole. Buck looks relieved until Eddie adds, “But I did overhear something interesting while I was getting my turnouts earlier.”
The look on Buck’s face is unreadable to Eddie.
“Oh yeah?” Buck’s voice cracks on the second word. “What did you—”
“We tell each other everything, right?” Eddie asks, staring at Buck even as his best friend avoids eye contact like it’s an Olympic sport. “I mean, we don’t keep secrets from one another, do we?”
It’s almost imperceptible, but Eddie catches Buck’s slight flinch at his words.
“Of course we don’t,” Buck says. “I tell you everything.”
And Eddie’s gotta give Buck credit; it’s almost believable. He could absolutely choose to take Buck at face value—forget about everything, and nothing in their lives would have to change—but something stops him.
“I know you’re in love with me,” Eddie confesses.
“What do you—” Buck’s gaze snaps toward him once more. “Did someone tell you I’m in love with you?”
Eddie notes the lack of denial.
“‘We all know Buckley’s in love with Diaz,’” Eddie quotes, voice intentionally soft. There’s a pause. “So, is it true?”
He’s about ninety-nine percent sure it is, but he still needs to hear it.
“Eddie, don’t do this,” Buck begs as he looks away again. “You don’t—”
“Hey, stop that,” Eddie says, reaching out to cup Buck’s jaw with the palm of his hand. He gently guides Buck’s face back towards him until they’re looking at one another again. “You don’t know what I want. Not this time, at least. So just tell me. Are you in love with me?”
Buck seems to hold his breath for a few moments before exhaling slowly.
“Yeah,” he says softly, staring right into Eddie’s eyes. “Yeah, I’m in love with you.”
Hearing Buck say it out loud is life changing, that’s for sure. Eddie feels a subtle warmth spread throughout his body, and he finds himself grinning.
“I love you too, you know,” Eddie tells Buck, thumb brushing gently over his birthmark. “I’m sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner.”
Buck blinks at him.
“And I’m gay,” he continues, when Buck doesn’t say anything after a moment. “In case you were wondering.”
Buck blinks again.
Eddie looks at him searchingly.
“Are you—”
Eddie finds himself cut off by the sudden press of lips against his own as Buck kisses him.
Well, then.
He’s certainly not about to complain.
Eddie kisses him back with fervour, giving back as good as he gets. He revels in the feeling of Buck’s hands everywhere on his body, gripping at his arms at first before quickly trailing down to his waist. When Buck’s grip tightens, Eddie very much eagerly allows Buck to pull him onto his lap.
He straddles him, running his hands through Buck’s curls as he deepens the kiss. It’s everything he ever wanted and more, and Eddie can’t help but reach for Buck’s shirt in an effort to get closer, yanking at the collar with such intensity that the top two buttons go flying as he—
“Hey, knock that off!” a voice echoes from the side table, and Eddie and Buck fly apart. “You already ruined my son’s first words, you’re not ruining my couch!”
A strangled sound escapes Eddie and he makes eye contact with a very flushed Buck.
“What—”
“Shut up Howie,” Maddie’s distorted voice hisses, and Eddie’s eyes flash to the baby monitor pointedly facing in their direction. “I’ve waited years for this and now you’re—”
“Thirty more seconds and we’d have to buy a new couch,” Chim hisses right back. “Is that what you want?”
“Oh my god, how is this my life?” Buck mumbles, barely loud enough for Eddie to hear him even from his position still perched on his lap. Louder, Buck asks, “Were you watching us on the baby monitor?”
There’s an awkward pause.
“No?” Maddie tries. It’s not believable in the slightest as is, but Chim’s snort is what gives them away fully.
Eddie finds himself laughing, utterly giddy. Buck cracks a smile, joining him.
“You wanna get out of here?” Buck asks, softly tracing his fingers along Eddie’s sides.
Eddie nods with zero hesitation. “Yes, please.”
“Hey guys, we’re gonna go back to Eddie’s place,” Buck half-shouts, even though Maddie and Chim are absolutely still watching them via the baby monitor. “Is it alright if I leave my car here tonight? We’ll pick it up tomorrow.”
Eddie thinks that’s a great idea.
“That’s totally fine!” Maddie calls out. “I’m so happy for you guys!”
“Yeah, we’re really happy for you,” Chim calls out. “But I don’t want either of you crossing the threshold of this house again until my kid learns to say ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’.”
Buck snorts in response, and Eddie buries his face in Buck’s shoulder to hide his amusement. He removes himself almost immediately, getting to his feet and holding a hand out to Buck.
“Right, yeah, that’s fair!” Eddie calls out as Buck takes his hand, and he starts moving them towards the front door. “Good luck with everything!”
“We’ll see you later!” Buck adds, happily allowing himself to be dragged out of the house. “Goodnight Jee! Goodnight Nash!” There’s a pause. “And thanks for being such a great wingman, Nash!”
There’s a shouted, “Goodnight Uncle Buck! Goodnight Uncle Eddie!” back from Jee, and a vague complaint from Chim again before everything goes quiet for a moment. Only as Eddie unlocks the front door, twisting the doorknob and pulling the door open, there’s the faint sound of the baby monitor coming to life once more.
“Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!” echoes from the baby monitor.
With a shared look between them, Buck and Eddie make a run for it.