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Buck was tired of being sneered at for saying no to people who were hitting on him. He understands he's attractive, he has plenty of experience in that playing field to prove it. But nowadays he doesn't just want to give them his information.
But people were so persistent and he'll never get over the embarrassment of giving out a fake number to a girl and then when she tried to call him his phone didn't ring. Right there in front of her.
But it's so hard to say no. Especially when they get upset with him, because he doesn't have a boyfriend anymore so he couldn't use that excuse. And somehow they always knew he was lying.
Especially if it was a guy.
Buck knows it's ridiculous, but is it? He's a guy, he should be fine. Saying no should be easy and be the end of it. It's nothing compared to the fear that women must feel. He knows that, but Buck has always had a hard time saying no.
Disappointed people are the worst. The look on their faces when Buck turns them down. It doesn't even matter if it's a man or a woman. They get this downward tilt to their mouths and it becomes so awkward that Buck wants to drown himself and frankly that's kind of his biggest fear.
But the only thing worse than a disappointed person, is a person who gets angry when they're turned down. And frankly it only proves Buck's decision to do so correct, but it still scares him.
And he's a big guy, but he's not a fighter and he's definitely given his number out and blocked when they texted him after they got angry when he turned them down.
He just doesn't want to cause any problems.
But sometimes, sometimes he wishes that people would leave him alone. Not that the attention isn't nice, it's nice to know he's attractive, that they want him in some way.
It's just the reactions that make him feel slimy.
So naturally he goes and complains to Eddie about it.
He just couldn't take it anymore! The last guy, James or something that he gave his number too won't leave him the hell alone. He even got a new number, the dude was insane and Buck doesn't know how to handle it.
But Eddie always knows how to deal with things well— except for the guy's own love life but Buck doesn't really want to touch that with a 10 foot pole ever again.
Especially now that Chris is back and they're going to therapy and doing so much better.
And Buck would feel bad about interrupting their time together but he knows he's not a bother, Eddie genuinely couldn't make that more clear to him these days. But it's late enough that hopefully the teenager is asleep when he walks in the house with his spare key and hears the low sound of the tv in the living room.
Eddie’s standing there before Buck even gets the door shut all of the way.
"Buck?" The man questions, wearing clothes that look like he's about to sleep in them and Buck kind of feels bad because he just starts talking.
"Dude, I'm going crazy," Buck begins as he takes his shoes off, "People have lost their mind, I can't— look, I gave my number to this guy because he looked so angry whenI said no—" and Eddie's eyes are wide and, yeah, he probably looks a little crazy but he has to tell someone, "And now I've blocked him like twice and somehow he still comes back!"
"What?" Eddie exclaims as Buck walks past him and actually into the house but Buck barely hears him.
"I'm tired of it, like why can't I just say no? Why is that so hard? I don't even want their numbers," he states, standing in the living room, itching to pace and so he does. His socked feet hitting the carpet, "But when I do they get so mad or sad and my chest feels tight so I give it to them anyways—"
"Buck." Eddie's standing in front of him and the man grabs his shoulders and Buck’s foot drops in place instead of going to pace again and now he feels a little frozen with it.
"What do I do, Eds?" Buck questions, staring at Eddie's wide eyed gaze.
Now that he's said it all out loud he feels a little ridiculous. He's a grown ass man. And honestly could take care of himself and here he is, at Eddie's house, right before the man went to bed because they need the sleep. Because they're firefighters—
"Evan." Eddie states, his voice sounds stern and it makes Buck blink at him because he definitely just zoned out and fuck that's embarrassing, "Calm down-" he continues and Buck feels himself exhale with his words, hopefully he doesn't start rambling again. "Tell me what's going on."
Buck swallows and nods as Eddie keeps his grip on him as he sits Buck down on the couch. He feels a little childish for liking the comfort that brings. Or maybe Eddie just doesn't want him to pace anymore.
"I've been getting hit on." Buck starts and tries to not flush when Eddie just nods, "And when they ask for my number I just—" he bites his lip, "freeze—" he says on the exhale before continuing because yeah it does sound stupid, "And usually I just say no right?"
Eddie nods once more, "Right, you said you didn't want flings."
And yes he did say that. Said that after Bobby got out of the hospital. Said that after Tommy tried to ask him out again— details that he doesn't want to think about right now. He wants someone to have forever, not someone who just wants to sleep with him. He doesn't want to be that guy anymore.
"Exactly, and so I say no but— sometimes people aren't so nice about it and I end up giving them my number anyway. And then I block them when they text me but I'm so tired of it." Buck sighs, leaning against the back of the couch, "It's annoying, they're so pushy every time and I just want to be left alone."
After he says that, the room goes quiet for a moment and he doesn't know when he closed his eyes but it feels like a relief, even if Eddie hasn't spoken, because saying it makes him feel lighter.
But after a minute and the only thing he can hear is the sound of a woman speaking in Spanish on the tv, he opens his eyes.
Opens his eyes to see Eddie staring right at him with a look he doesn't understand on his face as they stare at one another. Buck fights the urge to look away, Eddie's looks are always so intense.
"Give them my number."
Buck blinks at him in confusion, "What? Edd—"
"You don't want to deal with it, and I'll get them to leave you alone. Just do it, it's not a big deal."
It sure feels like one but Buck does it anyway.
—
Eddie thinks the people who hit on Buck are insane. They have to be because since that night— when Buck came to him sounding so over it that he couldn't take it anymore and so Eddie let him use his number— his phone has been blowing up with messages since the day after. Anytime he and Buck weren't together; and Eddie was trying to keep his cool.
He was.
Ever since he realized his feelings for his best friend he's been keeping his cool. Keeping himself so cool in fact that he wasn't about to meet someone at a bar so he could cave their face in.
He wasn't doing that, so he was totally fine.
Instead he was texting them back, not bothering with being nice, not when he knows that these are the texts that Buck would've received and really he gets more satisfaction everytime he types out a reply because they just make rage flow through his body.
Hi gorgeous is one of his least favorites. Because they tend to think that Buck would just know who this is. What happened to giving someone your name first?
Looks like my boyfriend gave me your number. How sad.
That one made his stomach flop but he didn't get a reply so it must've worked. Even if using the word boyfriend makes him flush. Wondering what Buck would say if he knew.
Other texts are just downright disrespectful, he doesn't even want to repeat them and honestly kind of wishes he could bleach his eyes and he usually replies with a,
Do you think your mother would think this is a good opening message?
Or playing stupid, that one's also fun. Especially to those same messages.
Kiss me everywhere? Like in different states?
Those types of messages really show Eddie that they're the ones that Buck probably felt the most uncomfortable with, ones that he probably felt like he couldn't say no. And then they messaged him these offensive things— things Eddie is certain he wouldn't say to Buck.
Because Buck deserves better than whatever the fuck these people are saying— thinking they’re saying it to Buck, and it is Eddie instead.
So no one can blame him for how he replies when he gets a dick pic for the first time.
For one, it's eight o'clock in the morning. He just dropped off Chris at school and it's only the second time his phone has gone off.
The first was from Buck, telling him that he got him a coffee so he doesn't have to stop for one before coming into the station.
The second was the dick pic.
He had such a reaction that he actually felt nauseous on Buck’s behalf and anyone else that's ever come in contact with this man. He didn't even say goodmorning, it's genuinely just a picture of his dick and nothing else.
Eddie feels his mouth curl once he's gotten over the shock and does something he thought he'd never do in his life and he pulls a Buck, knowing he's going to have to delete his search history after this.
But he replies with an article.
Top 10 ways to deal with erectile disfunction
Then he types out,
Awe that's so sad, here this might help :(
It actually brings him joy for the entire drive to the firehouse that his phone is dinging so much that he fights the urge to put it on silent. He won't because of Chris, but the thought is there.
Someone must be real upset about his advice.
But it keeps the little grin on his face the entire time he's walking into the station. He can't help it, since he pulls out his phone and the guy is pissed, offended, and bothered all at once.
This'll keep him on some type of high all day.
Though when he sees Buck, Buck who's sitting on the couch and scrolling on his phone with a coffee in his free hand, the feral feeling in his chest softens.
He just looks content, less bothered than he did before. And it makes Eddie feel accomplished that he's helping the man's mood. He doesn't want Buck to be worried about strange ass people in this world.
And on the more insane side, everytime Eddie gets a text it means that it's another person that Buck won't potentially go on a date with.
It's a win-win.
Eddie gets to be petty and Buck is single.
So he walks over to Buck, who looks up when he gets closer and grins, the expression makes it impossible for him to not smile back at him.
"Morning, Eds." Buck states as he sits his phone down on the arm of the couch and leans forward to grab the coffee on the table in front of him and he holds it out to Eddie the moment he's close enough and yeah, Eddie could kiss him.
"Lifesaver." Eddie replies, settling down on the couch next to him, close enough to where their thighs are touching like always.
Buck huffs a laugh, "Like you need much cheering up this morning, you look all chipper." He teases and Eddie can't help it when he says,
"I got a dick pic this morning from one of your creeps."
Buck coughs in surprise, enough to where Eddie moves on reflex to pat him on the pack so Buck doesn’t pass out from choking on his coffee.
"You what?" Buck exclaims after he's done coughing and Eddie is still rubbing his back, why stop now really, when Buck isn't telling him too.
Eddie shrugs, he didn't really mean to tell Buck about it but now that he has he can't really take it back so he might as well be honest.
Eddie pulls out his phone, "Sure did." And hands it over when he gets to the message and he knows the moment Buck sees what he sent because the man bursts out laughing. The sound is loud this early in the morning but Eddie wouldn't have it any other way.
"Oh my god, Eddie." Buck is still chuckling and it's the best sight, besides seeing his son laugh, "You're actually enjoying doing this for me." He finishes as if he can't believe it.
Buck leans against him and he can see him leave the chat and go to other messages. Eddie hasn't bothered to delete some of them, just in case they try to message him again and so they spend most of the morning laughing at the way Eddie replies to the texts.
Seeing Buck happy is an easy way to know he made the right choice.
Even as he feels Buck’s back muscles shift when he goes to a text thread. The man stiffens a little and Eddie makes a soft sound in question,
"You told him—" Buck starts, turning to Eddie with wide surprised eyes, so wide that Eddie thinks he would drown in the blue and he waits.
The alarm goes off.
Buck shuts his mouth and gives Eddie his phone back before getting up, there's a shy but unsure look on his face as he walks away. And right as he turns around to head to get his turnout he sees it. Buck’s face is blistering red.
Flushed like he just ran a marathon.
So before Eddie pockets his phone as he stands himself he looks at the message that must have Buck reacting this way.
The word boyfriend stares back at him.
It makes him feel jittery for the entire call and the three more that come in succession after that. But it keeps his mind busy, unable to overthink it as he fights metal from a car accident, and flames from a house coming down.
So really, it's no surprise when he's cornered the moment they're both alone in the lockers. Buck’s never really been shy and he certainly likes to tease when the moment’s right. They all do, it's fun for them.
But Buck walks right over to him once he's showered and dressed and the man is grinning. Even if there's a hint of nervousness under that playfulness.
Eddie feels he could read Buck like his favorite book.
"So," Buck starts, leaning against the lockers next to Eddie. The way he's chosen to be so close makes Eddie's jaw tick.
He turns to the man, "So?" He asks playfully, leaning into Buck’s space because he feels like he can. He feels like that this might be going the way he wants it to, wants the closeness and wants Buck.
Wants him all to himself in the most sane way. He swears. He just thinks that Buck is the sun itself, the air that keeps his breathing steady.
Eddie wants to touch Buck so much that the man will never feel touch starved again. Will never question how much he means to Eddie.
"You told someone I was your boyfriend." Buck stares, eyes so focused on Eddie like he knows something, like he's hoping for something and Eddie nods.
He thought it would be more nerve wracking to share his feelings with his best friend. That this would be a leap they could never come back from and their friendship would be broken forever.
But this just feels like coming home. Even if they're at work.
"I did, he didn't text me back after that."
Buck hums, "Seems like it worked then."
Eddie's gaze flits over Buck's face, "Shame though," watches the man's expressions, "Can't believe I'm lying to people."
Buck’s eyes widen, just a little, enough to see more of that blue within and he swallows, "I never told you to lie to them."
Eddie leans closer, enough to where his fingers brush against Buck's arm. He can see the goosebumps that rise, always such an easy reaction when he's touched.
Eddie wants to eat him.
"It wouldn't be a lie if I took you on a date right?" Eddie asks, not wasting time. Not caring that they're at work and likely way too close to be considered appropriate but he can't bring himself to care right now.
Buck exhales in surprise, and he lets Buck look at him. To try and find whatever he's looking for, giving him that time and space. They've waited seven years, he can wait a few more seconds.
"You want to take me on a date?" Buck asks, and Eddie nods, trailing his fingers down the man's arm so he doesn't do anything crazy right now.
"Yeah baby, I wanna take you on a date."
Buck blinks at him before a smile takes over his gorgeous face and then he's got an arm full of Buck right there in the locker room, and there's lips on his and he makes a shocked sound but then he's got a taste.
A taste that he doesn't think he could live without now that it's happening. Buck’s lips against his feel right, and the man's hands are trying to bring him closer somehow and Eddie lets him.
Their chests are touching and Eddie pulls back moments later so he doesn't try and shove his tongue down Buck’s throat while they're at work. Even if he wants to.
And oh he wants to, he just doesn't want Buck to get in trouble. Even if Buck lets out a soft noise when Eddie does pull his mouth away.
Yeah, it's going to be hard to control himself.
"So is that a yes?" Eddie asks, his voice raspy from the kiss, the lack of air and just feeling breathless all together.
Buck grins, wide and his lips are a little swollen, his cheeks are flushed, "It's a yes."
He can't wait to tell someone the truth when they try to text his boyfriend.
It'll be glorious.