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Halloween.
The holiday that is quite literally Buck’s arch nemesis. From accidentally showcasing a decomposing body to children for a firehouse fright night, to dislocating his shoulder on scene for an emergency, to getting boils on his face, to being squished by an inflatable runaway pumpkin,and being cursed by a literal witch—whom he didn’t know was a witch at the time in his defense. Yeah, his luck on this holiday is not the best.
Buck stares up at the night sky and wonders why everything feels bigger? And where did Eddie go? Buck raises his hand and stops—it’s as if everything is in slow motion.
He stares at his hand—well, hand is a bit…a paw? What is this!? Buck stares at the fluffy, almost fur like material. Is he dreaming? Had he passed out on the job and gone into some sort of dreamlike state where he’s hallucinating that his hand is fluffy and tiny and everything around him is huge?
“Buck?” Eddie! That’s Eddie’s voice!
“Eddie!” Buck’s voice sounds quiet? Okay…now he’s getting a little anxious. He stands up and…sure enough his feet are also fluffy and tiny and so is his body, and his teeth feel sharper than normal. Is Buck, is Buck one of those dolls? The doll he got Jee for her birthday...? Oh...What was it?
Lafufu?
Boo-boo?
Labubu!
Buck touches his ears and sure enough, he’s a fucking Labubu. His little eye twitches.
How. The. Fuck. Is. This. Real?
And then it hits him, Buck and Eddie were investigating some complaints from neighbors. They were at…oh no. Buck had gone along with Eddie and his skepticism, and now, Buck wasn’t Buck. He was like a...like a Buckbubu or a Labubuck? Sure, why the hell not. He should’ve known better that witches were real. Eddie is always getting under his skin about magic and superstitions and the one time he goes along with him in his doubt, the one freaking time! He gets cursed.
Buck kinda wants to bite Eddie for this one. Wait, bite?
“Buck? Where the hell did he go?” And then Buck sees him. He’s standing on the sidewalk where Buck had been standing just moments ago, as a person, a person taller than Eddie and not some tiny doll on the sidewalk looking up at Eddie with large, beady blue eyes. Eddie’s hands are on his hips and he’s tapping his finger in confusion. Eddie looks around and radios Buck. He won’t get an answer because Buck’s clothes are gone, well lost in a heap in the grass with his phone, Bucks everything is gone, except for his consciousness.
“Buck, where are you?” Eddie asks over the comm but he only gets static in return. “Really? Kinda pointless to have these if you don’t respond Buck.” He mumbles, setting the device against his chest.
Buck just kind of stares for a moment. He can’t believe this is real. Like, real real. He's a doll and he’s smaller than Eddie. That’s his biggest issue with this whole mess, that Eddie can finally pull the height card.
Buck uses his little doll legs and starts walking? Waddling? He doesn’t really know at this point. All he knows is that he’s walking up to Eddie's boot. Eddie is pulling out his phone and probably texting him right now. Again, he won’t get a response.
Buck taps his boot, and there is no reaction, of course because Bucks hands—paws—whatever the fuck they are—are soft and small and not making any noise besides a quiet pat pat. So, he reaches for the fabric around his boot and clasps both hands around it, his tiny fingers gripping the fabric of the slacks, and tugs. Now, this? This gets a reaction. Eddie looks down, his phone still in his hand and his face goes blank.
But then…his face looks terrified, as if he’s seen a ghost.
“Eddie!” Buck’s little voice carries up and by the look on Eddie’s face, he knows he hears him.
Now, Buck expects Eddie to step back or stumble back, maybe rub his eyes and check his pulse to make sure he’s not hallucinating or falling ill. What Buck did not expect was for Eddie to raise his boot and kick him. Buck lets out a soft squeak, literally, as he flies back onto the concrete. He’s suddenly very grateful that he’s covered in fluffy cotton like fur, because otherwise that probably would have hurt.
Buck groans softly. He blinks and stares up at Eddie with narrowed eyes. Eddie is staring too. His jaw is dropped in disbelief and his eyes, even in the dark, are wide and shiny.
“B-Buck?” Eddie asks hesitantly.
“Yeah, you dumbass. Who else would it be?” Eddie kneels cautiously as Buck stands up. “And you just punted me like a damn soccer ball.”
“I’m sorry.” Eddie stares more, looking intently at Buck whose voice is much higher than before. “You’re so…tiny.” Buck frowns and flashes his sharp teeth.
“Don’t call me that.” Eddie laughs softly.
“Oh my god, this is the best thing ever.”
“Best!? I’m a damn doll Eddie! Help me!” Buck looks at Eddie so sadly and desperately with his small arms stretched out in disbelief.
“I don’t know how.” Eddie laughs again.
“It’s all your fault.” He crosses his small arms.
“Me? How?”
“You were saying witches weren’t real, that they can’t curse people and blah blah blah,” Buck huffs. “Does this look real!?” Buck’s stretches out his tiny arms again and gestures to himself. Eddie stifles another laugh.
“Don’t laugh!” Eddie covers his mouth as he stares at the small, distressed Buck plush in front of him. Buck steps closer. “You have to figure it out.” He points at Eddie cutely, because in this state, he can’t be anything but cute, even when he’s mad.
“How?”
“Ask her!” Buck whines. “I can’t be like this forever!”
“I don’t know, Buck. Jee would love you in this form too. Plus, you’re kinda cute—like a little gremlin in a way.” Buck frowns again. Eddie reaches out and touches Buck’s head, patting the soft fur and curls that are peeking out around his face. Buck feels his irritation build.
“Don’t touch!” Eddie smiles. He brings his finger down to Bucks small face.
“Or what?” Eddie teases. “Are you going to pat me to death with those?” Eddie looks at Bucks hands. Buck stares up at him annoyed and he doesn’t hesitate. He opens his mouth, his sharp teeth on full display, and chomps down on Eddie’s finger.
“Ow! What the fuck, Buck!” Buck grins evilly, triumphantly.
“I said don’t touch.”
“Mhmm.” Eddie then wraps his hand around Buck’s small body and picks him up. Buck hits Eddie, but he knows it probably feels like cotton balls patting his skin— still, he tries.
“What are you doing?”
“You wanted to go see the witch, right?”
“Yes.” He pouts cutely.
“Then I’m taking you with me.”
“Fine.”
“Eddie!” Someone calls out, Eddie’s eyes widen. He hides his hands behind his back quickly, squeezing Buck gently. Buck lets out a stressed puff of air.
“Chim?” Eddie smiles. Suddenly, he doesn’t know how to act normal.
“Bobby’s calling us all back, you coming?”
“Yeah, just give me a few minutes, I’m following up with a caller.”
“Okay, but don’t be too long.”
“Right.”
“Where’s Buck?” Chim asks looking around and Eddie pretends to look too.
“Um…I’m sure he’s close by. I’ll get him.” Buck bites gently at Eddie’s hands again, leaving behind little marks each time— seeming as this is the only way for him to inflict any pain or sensation to Eddie other than soft pats, since his fingers are so damn tiny. Eddie squeezes Buck again, making him whine and his eyes widen in a comically large way.
“M’kay.” Chim walks off in the direction of the firetruck. Eddie brings his hands around and holds Buck up.
“Stop biting me!” He pokes Buck’s face. Eddie frowns as he looks at Buck seriously.
“Stop squeezing me and poking me then!” Buck bites back, literally.
“Fine. I can’t believe this.”
“You can’t believe this?” Buck scoffs. “Imagine how I feel!? I can’t even go to work until this is sorted out.”
“I’ll just say you took a spontaneous holiday.”
“Yeah? For how long?”
“Leave of absence?”
“To do what?”
“Jesus, Buck, I’ll say whatever.”
“You could tell the truth.” Eddie quirks an eyebrow.
“Ha ha, real funny, Buck.”
“I’m serious.”
“Tell the team that you got turned into a talking doll with razor sharp teeth? They’d think I was crazy.”
“Bring me with you.”
“Let’s just figure this shit out and get you back to normal.”
“Fine.” Buck pats his little arms against Eddie’s fingers. “Let’s get a move on then.”
Eddie puts Buck in his breast pocket as he walks up to the house they just came from not too long ago. Now suddenly, the air feels thicker— Eddie should’ve never said that witches were fake. He takes it all back. Because why the fuck is he walking through a house that’s eerily dark and smells like herbs? He really hates stereotypes but damn, this is too similar. He can feel Buck moving around anxiously against him.
“Stop moving.” He glares down at him.
“I can’t help it.” He whispers. “You know I hate creepy stuff like this.”
“Oh, do you? Mister ‘I got a dead decomposing body from a warehouse and researched old curses online?’” Buck scrunches his face and bares his teeth again— threateningly.
“Okay mister, ‘I don’t believe in curses or voo-doo because I’m a big strong man who thinks that stuff is childish and fake’ are you saying you’re not scared?”
“You and I both—“
“What are you doing here!?”
“Ahhh!” Eddie screams and Buck follows— a little quieter because of his size and all.
Eddie clutches his chest where Buck is, his little hands wrap around Eddie’s finger for comfort. Eddie stares at the short woman. “Um, uh, sorry ma’am.” He clears his throat and collects himself.
“Why are you here?” Eddie drops his hand from Buck. Buck huffs quietly.
“How do I break the curse?”
“Which one?” She asks, confused. Eddie points to his pocket that Buck is currently stuffed into.
“This one. You turned my friend into a doll.” Buck waves awkwardly.
“Oh, the boy.”
“Yes. The boy.” Buck bites out.
“Pity. You seemed like the better one of you two.” Eddie furrows his brows in disbelief. Buck laughs. “I can sense things, and this one here,” she points to Eddie. “He’s a non-believer, or, was.”
“And?” Eddie asks, confused now.
“It was actually supposed to be you that got cursed.”
“What!?” They ask in unison.
“What happened? Why did it happen to me then?” Buck asks desperately. That makes Eddie feel betrayed by Buck.
“You two are strange ones and some wires got crossed in the making.”
“So, I got cursed to be a doll because of crossed wires!?” Buck cries out. “Change me back!”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Then switch it, make him the doll like you intended!” Buck whines.
“Buck? What the fuck?” Buck pats Eddie’s chest and ignores him.
“Can’t do that either.” She says simply.
“What can you do?” Eddie asks.
“I can only tell you how to break the curse.”
“How!?” They ask in unison again, the woman is honestly thrown off by how in sync they are— no wonder she mixed up the curse.
“True love kiss.” Buck and Eddie’s faces both drop. They go completely stoic.
“Huh?” Eddie hums with a scrunched face.
“You’re kidding.” Buck asks, feeling his face twitch. “That’s so cliche.”
“So if you want to return to that hunky version of yourself, you just have to kiss your true love.” Buck stares at her. This would totally be easy if Buck knew who the fuck his true love was. Eddie looks at Buck. Buck looks at Eddie and shrugs. They look back at the woman— or, where she was standing a second ago. She’s gone.
“Any clue who your true love is?” Eddie asks. Buck looks up at him with wide eyes.
“No.”
So, Eddie goes back to the firetruck and comes up with a lame ass excuse as to why Buck isn’t there. Of course Bobby gets irritated but they leave nonetheless. All while Buck is tucked away inside Eddie’s turnouts, smooshed against the scratchy fabric that is nothing at all like the soft fur he was cursed with.
At the station, Eddie strips off his coat and takes Buck to his locker. He sets him inside where he patiently waits for Eddie to gather his things. His little legs are swinging as he watches Eddie.
“Is it safe to talk?” Buck whispers. Eddie looks around and nods.
“Yeah.”
“So how is this whole thing going to work? I can’t go back to my place.” Buck asks, patting his hands against his short legs— he misses his long legs a lot.
“I’ll just bring you to mine then.”
“Okay, and Chris?”
“Oh, Chris will have a blast with this. He’s always going along with what you say to him about curses and the supernatural phenomenons, so finding out you were cursed and turned into a doll will actually have him reeling.”
“Glad someone will be happy about this.”
“Cheer up.” Eddie taps Buck’s little head. “We’ll figure this out, Buck.”
“We better. I can’t ride around in your pocket forever.”
“I don’t know Buck, having you like this might turn out to be pretty fun.”
“For you, maybe.”
“And you, I’m sure there’s some things you’ll enjoy too.”
“Name one.”
“Uh…”
“Exactly.”
“Well, you can finally live out your dreams of being a small, defenseless animal.”
“Ah! Fuck you.” Eddie laughs— because he cannot take Bucks cussing seriously when he looks like this. “Buck, I’m joking.”
“Well stop.”
“I’m sorry, okay.” Buck looks up at Eddie. Eddie stands up straight and leans against the lockers and brings his hand up to Buck, where he places his finger on his little leg. “We’ll figure this all out, you and me.”
“Yeah?” Buck looks so sad with his droopy ears and glistening eyes.
“Yeah, I’ve got your back, remember?”
“And I’ve got yours.” Buck raises his hand and makes a small fist, which Eddie fist bumps with his much larger hand. “And do know, if the roles were reversed, I’d help you in any way possible.”
“I know you would.” Eddie smiles. “Now, shall we?” Eddie holds his hand out. Buck hops down onto it. Eddie shuts his locker and grabs his and Bucks bag.
—
“Oh. My. God.” Buck stares up at Chris and smiles. He can’t not smile at his favorite child–aside from Jee– especially when he looks so delighted.
“Be careful.” Eddie says to a very happy looking Chris.
“What happened?” He looks at his dad.
“Well,” Eddie looks at Buck. Buck is looking between the two of them. “There was a witch.”
“A witch?”
“Yeah, and she cursed Buck but she meant to curse me. She mixed things up and now Buck is this doll, and we have to find his true love, yeah, cringey, I know, and they have to kiss for him to return to his human form. Did I miss anything?” Eddie asks Buck. Buck shakes his head.
“Nope.” Chris pats Buck’s small head.
“This is amazing.” Buck rolls his eyes.
“For you maybe.” Buck says.
“Okay champ, we’ve got some thinking to do, care to help?”
“Oh, I’m definitely helping.”
Buck, Eddie and Chris all go to the kitchen table to brainstorm. It’s mostly Eddie and Buck just spitballing and throwing out names from his past. It’s a long list and Buck is only a little embarrassed by all the names they’ve written down. They vow to start calling and texting people over the course of the next few days.
The next few days are long, grueling, and tiresome. And Buck and Eddie get on each other's nerves more times than not.
—
Buck pouts.
“Stop pouting.” Eddie says as he turns the key, shutting off the truck's engine. Buck pouts harder. “Buck, I can’t skip work so you can kiss your exes.”
“But, Eddie, it’s your fault!” Buck whines. He picks up lint and starts to throw it at Eddie.
“Stop it. Buck!”
“Skip work for me, please! Call in sick or use vacation time. You owe me this.” Buck begs him.
“Buck, I still have a kid to feed, a house to pay for, groceries to buy, my car payment, and–”
“I get it but what about me? Huh? What about my bills?”
“I’m helping you Buck, remember? I’ve already put in your rental payment, checked your electricity bill and water, what else do you need?”
“To be human.” Eddie stares at him unimpressed.
“That’s it.” Eddie picks up Buck and wraps him around the air freshener on his mirror, and leaves Buck dangling. “There, now you can’t go anywhere.”
“Not funny Eddie.” Buck squirms. “Put me down, bring me with you.” Buck gives him puppy dog eyes.
“It’s one shift Buck, I think you’ll manage.” Eddie smiles evilly.
“Eddie.” Eddie grabs his bag and phone, ignoring Buck. “Eddie, Edmundo, Eddie Diaz!” Eddie opens his door. “You’ll pay for this Diaz–” Eddie shuts his door and smiles as the sun beats down onto him. He ignores the muffled “Don’t leave me here, Eddie!” and “Diaz, you’ll pay for this!”
So then as payback, that night Buck makes sure Eddie gets no sleep. After all, he’d just slept when Eddie left him in the car, so he had energy to burn.
Buck jumps on Eddie’s pillow all night. He tugs his blanket down each time Eddie pulls it back up. He crawls under Eddie’s shirt and pats his hands against his back. Eddie slaps him a few times and even tosses him onto the floor. Buck crawls back up onto the bed. He decides it’s time to bite. Literally. Buck bites Eddie’s hand, Eddie groans. Buck bites Eddie's arm, Eddie pushes him onto the floor again. Buck crawls back up again. So, Buck bites Eddie’s stomach, this got a better reaction. Eddie throws the covers off of him and catches Buck just before he could scurry away. He lifts him up to his face.
“Stop fucking biting me.” Eddie says through gritted teeth. Buck smirks. He tries to bite at Eddie’s hand. “Buck! Quit it!” Eddie flicks Bucks ears.
“No.”
“No?” Eddie furrows his brows.
“You left me in that car to die.”
“You weren’t going to die, I left the window cracked.” Buck stares at Eddie– who's smirking. “Now, I need sleep, so stop being a nuisance and let me sleep.”
“No.”
“Buck, I swear to god.” Eddie gets out of bed, still holding Buck in his hand. The only way he can guarantee he gets sleep is to take Buck out of his room. He opens his door and walks down the hallway and to Christopher’s bedroom. He drops Buck in front of the cracked open door. “Leave me alone.”
“Oh, you’re pulling the Chris card huh?”
“Yeah, I’m pulling the Chris card.” Eddie turns around. “Night, Buck.” Buck huffs as he hears Eddie’s door shut. He looks into Chris’s room and shrugs. Better than the rugs.
Their bickering doesn’t stop there.
Eddie struggles to explain his bite marks to his coworkers, so he settles on them buying a cat that doesn't like him very much. Hen and Chim, even Ravi, all know he’s lying. They think he’s got a secret kinky partner he’s hiding from them. Bobby couldn’t care less about Eddie’s romantic endeavors, as long as he’s happy.
And when it escalates, Eddie locks Buck in his locker and leaves him behind bars for their shift. Every time he walks by, Buck flips him off cutely.
And as payback, Buck once again nibbles on Eddie’s body the whole night until he’s kicked out. Painting his skin in pink bitemarks that he knows Eddie will struggle to explain. He gets some joy out of that.
Sometimes Eddie leaves Buck in the cup holder of supermarket shopping carts, that’s really by accident, and when he goes back for him Buck is teary eyed and quiet. Or, he’ll accidentally step on him when they are home and Buck will cry out and hold his leg or arm when it happens. Eddie doesn’t even argue when Buck bites him for that, because it’s deserved. Eddie always apologizes and tucks him safely into his pocket. Buck forgives him and then they are back to their bickering.
In the middle of it all, Buck has Eddie calling his exes and telling them what's happened. A lot of them don’t believe him until Eddie sends them photos. And it’s the cutest photos really, Buck looks like a beige cotton ball with expressive ears, tiny arms and legs, and big blue eyes and curls peeking around and framing his face. Even his curls seem cuter this way.
And well, some freak out, some block his number and don’t want anything to do with witches and bad ju ju. But some agree to test their hypothesis, and over the course of the week Buck and Eddie meet up with people and ultimately. they fail. Buck kisses them and still remains a doll. He’s rather defeated.
Buck is sitting on the counter, kicking lightly at the package of chips ahoy cookies that Eddie is indulging on. Chris is at school and it’s Eddie’s day off. Somehow, Eddie convinced the 118 that Buck was away on a backpacking trip, a much needed solo vacation and he’d be off grid for the most part. Except, he’s with Eddie, and Eddie is using his phone to communicate with their friends and his family. For the most part, it’s working.
“What about Tommy?” Eddie asks suddenly. Buck makes a face and gags— Eddie thinks he looks a little like Remi, the rat from Ratatouille when he smelled the bad soup.
Eddie is taking that as a hard no without even trying.
“That is definitely a no.” Buck thinks back to the conversation they’d had in Eddie’s kitchen, and how Tommy always thought Eddie was the competition in their relationship— AS IF? Eddie would always be first, like duh, he’s his best friend. Friends before lovers, bros before hoes… or whatever, right?
Eddie laughs and raises his hand and brushes off the crumbs from Buck’s face and plush fur. Don’t ask him about the eating situation because he doesn’t quite know. And he’s not asking questions.
He has Eddie contact Taylor, who has been very hard to track down ever since their split. But alas, Eddie manages and succeeds.
Taylor only agrees if they FaceTime so she can see this mess for herself, her journalism heart needs the confirmation.
“And why would I do this?” She asks, sitting with her hands folded over and her head resting on them.
“Because Taylor!” Buck enters the frame— taking up almost all the space. “I need to become human again and if you’re the one that got away, well…”
“And if I’m not?”
“Then I’ll know, but pleaseeee.” Buck begs in his tiny voice. Taylor smiles but quickly collects herself.
“Fine, okay. But only because you do look really cute right now.”
“Doesn’t he?” Eddie chimes in. Buck hits Eddie—again it does not hurt.
“Where should we meet?”
“Here is fine, if that works for you.”
“What if your kid sees me?”
“He’s at school.”
“Okay, if you insist.”
“I do!” Buck cries. “Please hurry.” He almost shakes the phone out of pure desperation.
It takes Taylor thirty six minutes to get to Eddie’s house. Eddie welcomes her and lets her inside. She laughs the minute she sees Buck on the table, making him pout.
“Oh my god Buck, look at you.” She walks up to him and scoops him up in her hands. “You’re so cute.”
“Yeah, yeah, tell me something I don’t know.” He smiles.
“Still the same Buckley I know, huh?”
“Uh huh.” She looks at Eddie.
“It must be nice being the taller one for once, huh?”
“I’ll never live it down, Taylor, he’s been such a brat about it.”
“Um, hello,” Buck waves his hand. “Still here guys.” Taylor looks at Buck again.
“Oh, we know Buck. So,” She holds him up. “How do we do this?”
“Um, we kiss, like…normal?”
“Seems easy enough.” Taylor leans forward and presses a soft kiss to Buck’s doll mouth. Buck can feel heat rising in him; little sparks fill his body. It feels different, he feels…Taylor pulls away. Buck opens his eyes and hiccups. Hiccups? Not the pivotal moment where he changes back into a six foot two, human being. But he has hiccups instead? Taylor looks at him with pity. Buck frowns. “Sorry, Buck.”
“It’s okay. Thanks, Taylor.”
“As cute as you are in this form, I do hope you figure it all out. It would be a shame for the world to miss out on your good looks, Buck.” Buck laughs. She looks at Eddie. “Sorry I wasn’t much help.” She slants her lips.
“No, thank you for coming by, it means a lot.” Eddie says with a small smile.
Buck says bye to Taylor before Eddie sees her out.
When Eddie returns to the kitchen, he finds Buck wiping his eyes.
“Buck? Hey,” Eddie walks up to the counter and leans down to be level with Buck. “It’s okay, we’ll figure this out.”
“I know,” He wipes his eyes. “I just, I don’t know who else there could be? I loved Abby, but I knew she wasn’t it for me, so now I’m just... I’m stuck.”
“We’ll keep brainstorming.” Eddie brings his finger to Buck’s cheek and gently caresses him. “We’ve got this.” He says. Buck looks up at Eddie with his sad, teary blue eyes. He nods.
“Okay.”
Eddie anticipated that work would be difficult with Buck. He didn’t want to leave him alone in the house, he knew he’d get stuck in his head, so he brought him to work. And, with the luck he’s had recently, and Buck too, of all days where something could go wrong, it just had to be a day where Buck looked like a dog toy.
A runaway dog wandered into the station, running around and managing to escape the team with every turn. It ran into the bunk rooms where Buck was so conveniently sitting on Eddie’s designated bed, and upon seeing the dog charging directly at him, Buck freaked out. So, it was a game of cat and mouse.
Eddie chasing after the dog who was chasing after tiny Buck. And of course, drawing the attention of the other members of the team. Eddie freaked out once the dog captured Buck in its mouth.
“No, dog, hey, put him down!” Eddie begged. Buck screamed softly as the dog shook him around in its mouth. Eddie finally managed to catch the pooch and pick him up. Buck was a crying, whining mess now as he desperately reached for Eddie. The dog shook his head again as Eddie tried to pry a soggy Buck from its mouth. And, to make matters worse, he released Buck but sent him flying across the room. The dog squirmed in Eddie’s arms trying to get to Buck again.
And then Chim enters the room. He looks down at his feet, at the Buck doll and he picks him up without any thought.
“Where did this toy come from?” Eddie stares with wide, frightened eyes. “I swear Jee has one just like it, she got it from Buck.” Eddie stares at him and then down to Buck. Chim looks down. Buck tries very hard to, well, act like a doll, but fails when he hears the dog bark. Buck blinks, his eyes moving. He sees Chim's eyes widen too.
“Hi Chim.” Chim screams and throws Buck onto the bunk room beds— thankfully it wasn’t the floor. Why is everyone’s first instinct to either kick him or throw him?
Eddie hurries over and gives Chim the dog, then he goes to pick Buck up, Buck wraps his hands around Eddie’s finger.
“Are you okay Buck?” Buck nods, blinking his teary eyes. Eddie looks at Chim. “Why did you throw him?” His eyes are like daggers as he brushes over Bucks wet plush.
“Umm…” Chim stares confused. “Wait, I thought you said Buck went on some midlife crisis, cross country, backpacking road trip.” Buck looks up at Eddie.
“Midlife crisis trip? That’s the best you could do?” Buck asks Eddie.
“We’ll talk later.” Eddie says to Buck and then looks at Chim. “It’s complicated.”
“Please Eddie, do tell.”
Which is how Eddie found himself telling the ridiculous story with Buck on his thigh, chiming in here and there to fill in details that Eddie missed.
“So, he needs a true love kiss to break the curse?” They both nod. “And you haven’t had any luck yet?” They nod again. “This is insane!” Chim freaks out. “Why am I always the one put into these strange and freaky situations? Me? Why?”
“Sorry, but, can you please not tell anyone?” Eddie asks.
“I don’t want anyone to freak out.” Buck adds. Chim looks at the two of them like they are crazy.
“Freak out? I’m freaking out? And...And I can’t keep secrets! I hate that responsibility.”
“Please, Chim, please.” Buck begs with wide, beady eyes. “For me, just a little longer.” Chim sighs.
“Fine, but if you don’t figure it out by the end of the week, I’m coming clean to Maddie.”
“Thank you.” The fire alarm blares. Chim looks at Buck and Eddie.
“He is not coming on this call.”
“Nope.” Eddie puts Buck back on his bed and leaves him his tablet, well, Christopher’s tablet that he graciously lent Buck for the time being. Eddie leaves just as he hears Buck turning on an ocean documentary.
It’s a long shift. The emergencies keep coming in and by time the day is over, Eddie wants to just sleep. He doesn’t even care about food or showering, he just wants a warm bed and soft pillows.
Eddie flops down into bed after saying goodnight to Christopher. Buck crawls up next to Eddie’s head, sitting on his pillow.
“Tough day?” He asks.
“Mhmm.” Eddie hums, his face smooshed into the pillow.
“Welcome to my world.” Eddie turns over to face Buck.
“Buck…”
“I know, ‘Stop bringing it up Buck, I’m working on it Buck,’ yeah, yeah…” Buck sighs. Eddie frowns.
“Not that, just…” He turns onto his back and looks up at the ceiling. Buck crawls over on top of Eddie and sits on his chest.
“Come on, talk to me Eddie, talk to your emotional support Buck doll.” Buck smiles, drawing one out of Eddie.
“Work was tough today, I really could have used you out there.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Eddie's finger brushes over Buck’s leg. “There were these terrified kids, and no matter what I said, they weren’t able to calm down. I tried comforting them, reassuring them, but nothing worked. I know that if you had been there, you could’ve gotten through to them, as you always do. You have a magic touch when it comes to crying children.”
“Even more so now with my looks.” Buck jokes.
“I’m serious.” Eddie looks down briefly. “It made me feel a little bit like a failure.”
“Hey!” Buck pats Eddie’s chest. “You are not a failure, Eddie.”
“But–”
“No, you are an amazing dad! You essentially raised a kid all on your own. You’ve given up so much to make sure he's happy. That is no easy job! You care, that’s what matters. You put him before yourself, you always put everyone before yourself. So don’t come to me being all ‘it made me feel like a failure’ when I know for a fact that in that moment you probably thought only of those kids. Because that’s who you are as a person. You care so much for others that you forget to give yourself some grace. Riddle me that Eddie.” Eddie laughs softly.
“Someone’s passionate about me.”
“Well, I have to be when you are always putting yourself down. I’m your best friend, I can praise you and bully you, package deal.”
“Package deal?”
“Yup.” Eddie smiles.
“Thanks, Buck, I mean it. You always know how to make me feel better.”
“My pleasure, now, uh... small favor?” Buck winces.
“What is it?” Eddie chuckles.
“Can you never wear this shirt again? It makes me all static-like and it feels like electricity is shooting through my body all over again."
“Ooh, too soon Buck.” Buck smiles.
“Yeah?” He laughs. Buck’s lightning strike had been one of the worst days Eddie had ever lived through, the worst three minutes and seventeen seconds of his life, knowing his best friend was dead. Buck lifts his arm and touches Eddie, shocking him.
“Ouch, yeah, let me get this off, sorry.” Eddie grabs Buck carefully and sets him on the pillow next to him as he sits up. He strips off the scratchy shirt and lays back down. “Better?’ Buck retakes his spot on Eddie’s chest.
“Better.” He smiles as he sits on Eddie’s warm chest, electricity free. Well, at least physically.
—
Buck has kind of given up trying to figure out his curse. He has no idea who could have been the one that got away, if anyone. He thought maybe Taylor, but he was clearly wrong when he didn’t transform back after their kiss. So now he just sits with Eddie and pouts. He can’t work, he can’t exercise, he can’t cook, he can’t bake, all he can still do is watch his documentaries and dramas. And even those aren’t making him as happy anymore.
“Hey Buck, are you doing okay?” Eddie asks as he enters his room. He spots little Buck in the middle of the bed with Chris’s tablet on. “Buck?” Eddie looks over at him as he pulls on a hoodie. He only now notices Buck’s face pressed into the mattress. Eddie walks over and sits down.
“Buck, come on.” Eddie picks him up. Buck’s ears are drooped and his eyes are glassy. He looks up at Eddie sadly. “Oh Buck.” Buck lets out the loudest yet quietest, cry. His little tears remind Eddie of bubbles as they roll down his round face.
Eddie feels bad, of course he does. It was supposed to be him who was cursed, not that it would have been much easier. Eddie’s love life has been pretty dry. But for Buck, he’s had his rounds in the past. Eddie lets Buck cry in his hands as he holds him. He’s not sure what else he can do besides stroke his soft plush.
“It’s okay Buck.” Eddie strokes his cheek.
“I-it’s not.” Buck cries. He looks at Eddie with shaky eyes. “Nobody loves me.” He wails as he face plants into Eddie’s palm. Eddie can feel the tears pooling in his hand as Buck cries.
“That’s not true, Buck. Plenty of people love you.” Buck cries harder. Eddie sighs. There really isn’t anything or anyone he can think of to make this unfortunate situation any better. Buck squirms around in his palm and crawls defeated out of his hold. Eddie watches as Buck crawls into his hoodie pocket. The sight kind of breaks Eddie’s heart. He pats his pocket gently. “You’re safe with me Buck, okay? I’ll figure this out. I will.”
Eddie tries to find the witch.
Buck had fallen asleep in his pocket, tired from all of his crying. Eddie had no luck, he knew this would happen. He should have listened to Pepa when she told him about the witches and wizards and all that magic talk when he was a boy. Wait! Pepa!
Eddie pulls up his contacts and searches for her name and presses call.
“Eddie, qué pasa, cariño? It’s late?” (Eddie, what is it dear?)
“Sorry, Tía. I have a question for you.” Eddie checks to make sure Buck is still asleep, peeking into his pocket. Sure enough, he is. “Um, it’s magic related.”
“Edmundo? What have you done?” Pepa’s voice is low.
“It’s not me, it’s Buck. He got cursed and now he’s turned into a doll and I don’t know what to do. She meant to curse me but she mixed it all up and now I feel horrible because he’s really struggling, Tía. And it’s my fault because I didn’t believe in the first place.”
“Oh, mi amor (my love)” Eddie hears Pepa sigh. “Do you know how to break the curse?”
“Yes, she said a true love's kiss, but we haven’t had any luck with any of his exes. And he’s hit a wall and he’s so sad and I just, I want to fix it. Do you know anything that could help?”
“Eddie, I can’t break another witch’s curse. I myself am not even proficient in it. I only know what my mother taught me. Adriana and Sophia may know, they studied magic more after I taught them the basics.” Eddie wishes he had listened to her when he was younger instead of brushing it all off as some poor joke.
“So, there’s nothing you can do? We have to actually find his true love?”
“I’m afraid so dear. Buck is strong, he’ll pull through, no matter how long it takes. That boy has been through so much, a curse is nothing compared to what he’s endured.” Eddie absentmindedly brushes over Buck’s plush with his fingers.
“He is, huh?” Eddie hums. “Thank you for trying.”
“Of course Eddie. Take care of our Buck.”
“I will.” Eddie didn’t understand it right away, but Pepa was implying more than just platonic feelings between Buck and Eddie.
Eddie set his phone down and sighed. And as if on cue, Buck sneezes. It's a cute, muffled sneeze, almost like a quiet little squeak. His pocket moves around until Buck’s little head pops out, his ears sagging as he crawls out of the pocket.
“Hi sleepyhead.” Buck yawns softly.
“Figure out how to break my curse yet?” Buck asks, crawling up Eddie’s chest.
“No, but I’m working on it.” Buck looks up at him with drooped ears. “Don’t look at me like that Buck, you’ll make me sad too.”
“Can you get me some ice cream?”
“But you’re lactose intolerant.” Buck pouts even more.
“That doesn’t apply to doll rules.”
“Buck, I don’t even know what the doll rules are.”
“And that's fine because I don't either.” Eddie laughs and Buck does too.
“Okay, come on.” Eddie plops Buck down on his shoulder as he stands up. “Do you want vanilla or peanut butter cup?”
“Both.” Buck chirps in Edie’s ear.
“Alright, if you insist.”
So Buck eats his ice cream from Eddie’s spoon as they watch a whale documentary. Buck is very tuned in. At some point Chris enters the room too and sits down with them to watch as well. Buck moves to sit on his leg and chat his ear off about what he’s learned in the documentary so far. Eddie wipes off the chocolate stain from Bucks plush as he animatedly talks to Chris. He smiles. Even though he's stressed out of his mind and approximately six inches tall, he’s still Buck.
“Can you keep an eye on Buck for me, Chris?” Buck looks at Eddie with ears pointed down and a frown.
“I’m not an animal Eddie, I don’t need to be looked after.”
“I’ll watch him, dad.” Chris smiles.
“Thank you.”
“Uh! Eddie! Where are you going?” Buck asks with wide eyes.
“I’ve got to make a phone call.”
“Without me!?” Buck tries to follow Eddie, Chris grabs him.
“Tell me more about the whales, Buck.”
“You are so lucky I love you.” Buck sits back down and resumes his chatter about whales.
Eddie makes his way back to his room. He grabs his phone and decides he should call Sophia and Adriana. Sophia picks up after three rings.
“As I live and breathe, my own brother is calling me?” Sophia jokes.
“Hello to you too Soph.”
“What’s the occasion? Did someone die? No! Did you finally realize that Buck is–”
“I need your help with magic.”
“Magic?” Sophia laughs. “You never believed in magic Eddie.”
“Well, now I do Soph, and I need your help, if you’re able.”
“Have you called mom and dad?”
“No. They wouldn’t want me involved with magic at all.”
“So, what is it? What is so important you’re calling at ten o’clock at night?”
“You remember Buck?”
“Yes, who wouldn’t, he’s a cutie.” Eddie blushes.
“Right, so, he kind of got cursed and now he's a doll.”
“I-I’m sorry, did you say Buck is a doll?”
“Yes, a witch cursed him and said to break the curse he needs to kiss his true love, and well, we haven’t had much luck and he’s freaking out.”
“So you called to see if I know anything?”
“Yes.”
“Eddie, you know we can’t break other witches' curses, that’s why they have solutions. I can’t do anything, and neither can Adri. I’m sorry.”
“You really can’t?”
“No.” Eddie sighs and falls back against his pillows.
“What do I do?” There is shifting on the other end.
“Keep looking. The mirror might help.” She mutters.
“What?” Eddie asks, sitting up.
“Huh?”
“What did you say just now?”
“Oh, Eddie, I’m sorry, I have to go.”
“Sophia, I swear if you–”
“Love you, bye, kisses–” Sophia ends the call. Eddie stares at the screen and sighs. He falls against his bed again.
Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkk.
Work remains the same. It’s nearing the end of the week and Chimney has stated multiple times that he will tell Maddie about the whole Buck Labubu situation, so to say he's stressed is an understatement.
Buck peeks his head out of Eddie’s work bag.
“Are we alone?” He whispers.
“Just Chim, so, we’re fine.”
“Hey Buck.” Chim announces from behind the lockers.
“Eddie, we should go to the zoo with Chris this weekend!”
“No way Buckley,” Chim appears suddenly. “You are supposed to be solving this issue.” He gestures to Bucks being. “I am not keeping this secret any longer, so no zoo visit. The employees would probably think you escaped an enclosure anyway.” Chim laughs. Eddie fights back a smile.
“Chim, I swear to god!” Buck starts to climb out of the bag, Eddie scoops him up.
“Easy there, Buck.” Buck bares his teeth at Chimney. Eddie pets his head to calm him down. “Shift is over, so let's go before Chim tells the whole firehouse about you.”
“You know I will, Buckley.” Buck shuts his eyes and turns his head, ignoring Chimney. “Is he giving me the cold shoulder?”
“Buck.” Buck huffs. “Buck, come on now.” Buck’s ears twitch and droop downward, ignoring his friends.
“He’s like a child.” Chimney sighs.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Chim.” Eddie tucks Buck into his hoodie pocket, his head just barely peeking out as he leaves the station.
—
“Has Maddie said anything about my absence?”
“Nothing too concerning, she keeps asking for photos and your location though.”
“Shit.” Buck bites at his fingers. “We need to solve this problem tonight.”
“But we don’t know how, Buck.” Buck buries himself back into Eddie’s pocket and whines. Eddie sighs to himself. “There might be something…” Buck’s head pops out again.
“What!”
“You’ll see.” Buck’s eyes light up and he crawls out of Eddie’s pocket and into his hand.
“You have to tell me Eddie!” Buck exclaims.
“Patience Buck, let us get home first.” Buck pouts.
Eddie does some more research. He gets into contact with Adriana and Sophia again. They aren’t much help. But, Eddie is desperate, not just for Buck, but for himself too. He misses his best friend, well- his human best friend.
Eddie is looking at his laptop when a text comes through. Eddie smiles, his eyes widening. Next to him, Buck looks up eagerly too, curious what has Eddie so excited.
“Oh my god, Buck!” He yells out excitedly.
“What!? Eddie, what!?” Buck tugs at Eddie’s sleeve desperately. Eddie picks Buck up and without even thinking about it, he kisses him.
On the mouth.
It’s a mindless kiss, one born out of excitement and the fact that Eddie had to do something to express his emotions. And, well, Buck was just there.
And just like that.
Suddenly Buck is hyper aware of everything. He brings his hand up and kisses back, cupping Eddie’s cheek with his hand.
Wait. His hand…is holding…Eddie’s cheek?
Buck pulls away and so does Eddie. They both scream. Buck scoots back. He looks at his hands, down at his body, touches his face and chest. Is this real? Is he really back to normal? Back to his glorious, 6’2 hunky self that weighs over 200 pounds instead of 2 feathers?
“Buck?” Eddie clutches his chest. He was just kissing… Buck?
“Eddie, is this… is this real?” Eddie reaches out again and touches Buck. He feels real. “Like, I’m not dreaming, am I? I won't wake up and still be a doll?” Eddie raises his hand and pokes Buck’s cheek, then proceeds to squish them together with his hands. Buck laughs softly.
“I think so.” Eddie says with a smile.
“Wreally?” His words are muffled.
“But, how? I thought she said only true lo—“ Eddie’s words die on his tongue as he stares at Buck—who’s cheeks are still being squished by Eddie’s hand. His brain short circuits. He remembers what Sophia had said, though he thought he had misheard. “Keep looking, in the mirror might help.” Eddie was so going to call her back and yell at her... Aactually, she’s probably owed a thank you. He’ll thank her and then yell at her.
Eddie realizes what that kiss meant and it takes Buck exactly five seconds to realize too. Eddie pulls his hand back, almost scared-like.
“Oh.” Buck touches his face. “Oh.” He stares at Eddie.
“Buck…”
“You kissed me…” Buck says as he traces his fingers over his lips. “Why did you kiss me?”
“I was excited.” Eddie says scrunching his face.
“About what? Was it about the curse?” Eddie shakes his head.
“It’s silly.”
“Tell me!” Buck perks up, suddenly interested. He moves closer to Eddie, pressing their shoulders together. Their human shoulders. Because Buck is human again.
“Well, a few months ago I signed up for some dance classes.”
“Dance classes?” Buck turns his head, his face is close to Eddie. Eddie nods.
“Yeah, I used to do ballroom dancing when I was younger, and well, I thought I’d give it a go again.”
“Oh. That’s amazing Eddie.”
“I just found out that I got approved. They have a spot available for me and a partner.”
“Eddie!” Buck cups his hand over Eddie’s. “I’m so happy for you!” His eyes are wide and sparkly.
As much as Eddie thought Buck was cute in his plush form, he thinks Buck’s human form is much cuter. He loves reading every line on Buck’s face, every twitch of his lip, arch of his eyebrow, scrunch of his nose, and every smile that makes his dimples peek out.
Eddie smiles at Buck. He brings his hand up and brushes it against Buck’s flushed cheek, his fingers draw up, pushing back the curls on his forehead to expose his birthmark. He combs his hair back, his soft and fluffy curls slipping through Eddie’s fingers.
Buck smiles at Eddie. He can’t contain it. He’s happy for him, but mostly, he’s happy to be back to normal so he can do this properly.
Buck brings his own hand up to Eddie’s face, he cups his cheek and tilts his jaw up slightly. He’s got the height advantage again, afterall. And he hadn’t realized just how much he missed touching Eddie.
“True love kiss, huh?” Eddie’s cheeks flush. Buck smiles, the transformation wouldn’t have worked unless it was a mutual feeling.
“Buck, I, uh…”
“Can we do it properly this time?” Buck asks softly. Eddie’s eyes flicker between Buck’s and his lips. He nods. Buck pulls Eddie in and kisses him properly. Eddie tangles his fingers into Buck’s hair, he hadn't realized how much he missed seeing the curly locks in their full glory until now.
The kiss is sweet, savoring. Buck can taste the vanilla ice cream on Eddie’s lips that he had been snacking on earlier. Buck pulls away and rests his forehead against Eddie’s. It's quiet for a moment, the only sounds being their heavy, anxious breaths syncing together. “Sorry, if I uh, outed you.” Buck whispers. Eddie shakes his head gently.
“You didn’t.”
“Eddie, I um, we should…”
“I love you.” Eddie blurts out. Buck is a little shocked, it still feels like he has cotton in his ears.
“Sorry, w-what?” Buck’s hand freezes against Eddie’s cheek.
“I love you and will you be my partner for ballroom dancing?” Buck laughs softly. Did Eddie just…?
“Of course. Of course I will!” Buck kisses him again, he smiles into the kiss, but he notices Eddie doesn’t. He pulls back again. “Eddie, is everything okay?” He scratches gently at Eddie’s nape.
“Yeah, it’s just, you didn’t, well, I said that I um…” Eddie looks down, anxious as he fidgets with his sheets. And then Buck realizes Eddie confessed his feelings and Buck didn’t say it back. Fuck.
“Oh, oh my god, Eddie.” Buck scoots closer. He tilts Eddie’s face up and looks into his wide, chocolatey brown doe-like eyes. “I love you too.” Buck can see the exact moment his eyes sparkle.
“You do?” Eddie asks with a small smile.
“Yes, yes of course I do.” Eddie smiles now and lunges forward, wrapping his arms around Buck’s neck and tackling him onto the bed, his laptop jostles around and falls to the side. Buck laughs and wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist. He’s so happy he can do this. Though he didn’t mind crawling into Eddie’s pocket and hands, he grew used to the idea. But now, he can straddle his lap or tackle him onto the bed and win.
“You know,” Eddie mumbles into his neck.
“Hmm?” Buck hums curiously, his fingers combing through Eddie’s hair.
“I kind of got used to having a small, fluffy creature around. I’ll miss it.” Eddie sits up. “But I like you this way a whole lot more.” He smiles down at Buck, loose strands of his hair cascading over his forehead in a way that always has Buck's brain turning into static.
“You know, we could get a cat or get cursed again and this time it's you.” Buck jokes. Eddie hits his chest softly.
“Very funny Buckley."
“You’re right, I’d do it all over again if this is the outcome.” Buck strokes Eddie's cheek, his thumb pressing into the beauty mark below his eye.
“You would?” Eddie brushes his own thumb over Buck’s birthmark.
“I would, it was kinda fun, being small and a little annoying.” Buck smirks.
“A little?” Eddie jokes. Buck smiles, feeling his cheeks heat up.
“My favorite part was biting you.” Now Eddie’s cheeks flush.
“Of course it was, you vampire.” Eddie teases.
“Careful Eddie, a witch might curse you and make that a reality.”
“Well, I’d like to see–” Buck cuts Eddie off with another kiss, silencing his words so they aren't spoken into existence. He sucks on his lip and nibbles gently.
“We’ve got to tell Chris and Chimney.”
“In a minute.” Eddie mumbles as he straddles Buck’s lap. “I just got you back, let's enjoy this moment.” Eddie kisses Buck again. “Chris will be thrilled to learn about your transformation.” Eddie mumbles between kisses.
“Will he?”
“Yeah, he misses his best friend.” Eddie kisses his birthmark, letting his lips linger on the pink splotches of skin.
“Awe, Eddie, that’s so sweet.” Buck squeezes Eddie’s side, his fingers pressing into his skin underneath his hoodie.
“I missed my best friend too.” Eddie says cupping Buck’s cheek and looking down at him with so much love in his eyes.
“Stop, I’ll cry.” Buck laughs as his eyes water.
“You big softy, of course you wi–ha, a-achoo!” Eddie sneezes and suddenly Buck feels Eddie’s weight lift off of him and he looks down and he sees–
Poof
In Buck’s lap, where Eddie had been just a second ago is a heap of clothes. In the heap of clothes, mainly Eddie’s hoodie, is movement. Buck investigates, he lifts up the hoodie and out falls a small black cat. Buck looks down in shock.
“E-Eddie?” Eddie’s brown eyes widen and his claws come out and press into Buck’s stomach. He looks up at Buck with scaredy cat eyes. Buck can’t help his smile as he sits up. He lifts the black cat with his hands and looks into his eyes.
“Buck?” Eddie’s voice is small now. His little eyes look so worried.
Oh My God.
“What the fuck?” They both say in unison.