Work Text:
“That doesn't make sense.”
Buck frowns as the call continues, unable to voice his confusion to the other side of the line since he's sharing earphones with Eddie and the mic is not on his side.
“What doesn't, kid?”
He startles, blinking a couple of times as his brain tries catching up to his current task, and the moment it snaps into place, he freezes, looking at Bobby in a panic, the knife he's holding hovering in midair.
Shit.
He probably shouldn’t have said that. He didn't even want anyone to know that he is listening to Eddie talking to the CPA over their shared earphone. Now he’s going to have to explain and-
Maybe he can just not explain?
“Nothing.”
“Kid.”
“I’m just listening to something.”
The look Bobby levels at him makes Buck grimace, and he gingerly places the knife down. “Just uh- Give me a moment.”
Making up his mind - because there's no way Bobby is letting this go - Buck rushes over to the railing, peering over until he spots his partner. “Eddie! Just skip the math and let me file the form myself!”
”No!” comes the reply before he hears the CPA explain their situation in more detail in his earphones.
He sighs, mentally asking whatever higher powers there are why he has such a stubborn partner. It’s not a bad thing. Eddie’s amazing, stubbornness included. But Buck’s usually the one whose stubbornness comes out to play, and being on the other end of it sucks.
Knowing there’s no way of stopping Eddie in this conversation and there’s lunch to be cooked, he heads back to the kitchen, grinning sheepishly at his captain.
“Uh…Eddie and I are on the phone with a CPA,” he explains, picking up the knife again to continue dicing the tomatoes and have an excuse to avoid Bobby’s surprised, skeptical expression. “Well, he’s doing the talking. But we might have opened a high-yield savings account. Jointly. And the tax form came in under my name, so he’s being stubborn about doing something about it.”
”You two what now?”
Buck groans.
Just his luck.
“None of your business, Chimney.”
“Look man, it's a public space.”
“Boys,” Bobby says before they could escalate. “Let's calm down. Chimney has the right to wander around here, and if he just so happens to hear something, there's nothing we can do about it. But Buck also has his rights to remain silent on the matter.”
He mentally cheers even as Chimney groans, dragging his hands across his face before protesting, “But Bobby! What don't they share? They-”
“Chim.”
The tone shuts the paramedic up effectively, who then sulks into one of the chairs surrounding the kitchen island, snatching up a carrot to munch on from the bowl Bobby had put out earlier. “I'm just saying-”
“Chimney Han.”
“Fine.”
Buck is hard-pressed not to laugh at Chim's expense because he knows exactly what's on his brother-in-law's mind.
His and Eddie's relationship.
Or, more specifically, how he and Eddie are not in a relationship.
Or, even more specifically than that, Chimney's bemoaning their supposed lack of a romantic relationship.
Just thinking about it makes him want to snicker, but, fortunately, before he can, his phone rings, snapping him to attention faster than a lightning strike. And, after a look at Bobby for permission - their captain is very strict about phones while working in the kitchen since they have so many germs on them hence why Buck is using Eddie's earphones instead of using his phone to be on the call after realizing he left his earphones at home - to abandon his sous chef duties lest he gets banned from it entirely and getting a nod, he fishes his phone out of his pocket, wondering who is calling-
Eddie?
“Hey,” he says as he picks up. “What's-”
“Marry me?”
Buck chokes on nothing, freezing in his steps. “Wh-Eddie?”
“The CPA just said it would be easier to file jointly. It wouldn't apply this time, but if we start planning now, we can get married by the end of the year for next time.”
He finds himself conflicted at the change of events. On one hand, one part of him that has always wanted to marry Eddie since they got together is over the moon regardless of the reason for Eddie's asking. On the other hand, the other part of him is disappointed that this isn't something Eddie wants other than for tax purposes.
Of course, Buck has figured out almost from the beginning that Eddie might never want to be married again. With how his last one went, why would he? And he'd never fault his boyfriend for not wanting to do something that had given him so much heartache.
And surprisingly, even to himself, Buck is fine with that. Sure, he’d love to get married to Eddie, but, between them, is that necessary? Their lives are already so intertwined, the same as any married couple. Eddie asked him to move in with him last month, they have a joint bank account, they pay bills together, they go everywhere together, and-
Well, they’re basically married already, and Buck has never had the feeling he has being with Eddie with anyone else. He’s never felt safe and secure. He’s never felt like he could be free to be himself and not be judged. He’s never felt like he can lash out, be upset, be clingy, or any of those extreme emotions without compromising a relationship.
Except with Eddie, who accepts and loves him truly and fully, even before they figured themselves out.
Maybe that’s why it had been so easy to hide the change in their relationship when it had first just started, too worried about everything going wrong and the repercussions of having a workplace relationship in their line of work. They were already exchanging casual touches and knowing looks. They were already always whispering between each other in their own little world.
“I mean, if you really want the ring now, it might be a bit difficult since I left it at home, but-”
“Wait, hold on,” he urges, running up to the railing to find his boyfriend standing there, looking up like he already expected Buck to look for him. “You have a- What?”
Eddie gives him a fond, understanding look. “I never would have asked if I didn’t mean it. Even if it would make taxes easier. And, well, the timing feels right. Better than my plan, actually.”
Oh.
“Eddie,” he breathes. “You even had a plan?”
“Yeah. For a zoo proposal.”
“W-we went to the zoo last week.”
“We did. I, uh, might have gotten distracted. You are really cute when you’re excited about the meerkats.”
Buck laughs, unbelieving and excited at the same time.
Eddie wants to propose. He even has a ring and everything.
Thinking about it makes him giddy, and he has to restrain himself from jumping over the railing to meet his partner and best friend.
The piercing stares from behind him remind him of an issue, though. “The team…”
“Eh, we can tell them after you say yes.”
He lets out a full-belly laugh, so overcome wth joy and happiness he can barely contain it. “How are you so sure I will?”
“I’m pretty confident I know you well enough.”
He beams, elated and knowing that’s true on the highest degree that two people can. “I’m sure you do. Because, yes. Absolutely yes. So you better get up here before I jump over this railing.”
Eddie doesn’t need to be told twice, running to the stairs and taking them two at a time, and, before Buck knew it, he was being kissed within an inch of his life.
It's like and unlike any other kiss they've shared, passionate and full of love, but with the promise of the future embedded into the gesture, and Buck loves it.
Who knew a tax conversation would make this happen?
“Woah, okay, okay. We are totally missing something here.”
The voice snaps them to the present, and Buck looks over to see the team giving them the most flabbergasted looks he's ever seen from them.
“We're getting married!” he announces, the giddiness from earlier finally bursting.
They’re getting married!
“Married?!?!?!”
Buck laughs at the way the others start losing their heads at the sudden news. He knows they have to explain everything after they calm down, but he can't help the bright, silly grin that refuses to leave his face.
Until-
“Wait. Eddie, that means we can skip the math and I can file the form myself, right?”
“No.”
“But Eddie!”