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When Shannon passed, Eddie thought his life was ending. The heartbreak that echoed through his body as she fell, the car hitting her right in front of him, he doesn't think it'll fully leave him. The sadness that sits within his chest.
But he couldn't be sad forever, not when his family needed him, depended on them everyday.
"Dad!" A voice yelled out and he turned with a smile on his face, Christopher coming towards him on his new crutches. Finally stable enough at six years old to use them.
His son needed him.
Especially now that he was officially in Eddies care full time again. He'd been so broken that Shannon's mother took Chris for a while, just enough to let him grieve.
Eddie could never repay her for that, watching over Chris while she was grieving herself. But she couldn't watch him anymore, she was sick. Sicker than she should be and Eddie knew, the feeling of coming loss in his chest.
Heavy and familiar.
So the boy was home and Eddie didn't know what to do, because he couldn't leave Chris by himself, even with the family around. He knows none of them would mind watching him.
But Eddie needed someone that was capable of protecting Chris while also comforting so Chris wouldn't be scared. And holding his son, picking him up and walking into the estate, listening to the boy talk about his day at school…
He knew who he was going to ask for advice.
Robert Nash was a good man. Even with his cop wife, but Eddie doesn't really want to know how they make it work and he's certainly not going to ask. Because Bobby would never leave the family, even if Eddie tried to get him to come join him.
Stuck in his ways until he avenged his family in some atonement he's set for himself.
Eddie isn't the one to judge about that though, silently feeling the ring dangling from his neck, joining the Christopher's medallion he wears everyday.
He's escorted to the man's office and the moment he's welcomed inside, he can tell Bobby has healed some since they were last face to face. But it's been a long time, since his father was the head of the family still and not rotting in the ground.
"Mr. Nash," Eddie tips his head, "You look like you're doing well."
Bobby shakes his head with a smile and gestures a hand, and Eddie moves it sit, still listening, "None of that Eddie, I told you years ago to call me Bobby."
Eddie flushes a little, "Old habits."
"Don't worry about it," the man laughed and Eddie thinks he should visit more, if happiness like that exists in this place. Not that his own doesn't, but he just lost Hen a few months ago for her to be with her family, but still.
Bobby leaned back against his chair and clasped his fingers together after they sat for a moment in silence.
"So what can I do for you?" Bobby asked and Eddie swallowed, leaning back in his chair himself.
"I'm here to see if you knew anyone that could protect my son." Eddie stated, forward and direct. He doesn't want to waste any time beating around the bush of want he wants. And he has a feeling that Bobby will appreciate it.
Bobby hums, glancing out the window of his office for a moment, "How old is Christopher now?"
Of course he knows his name.
"He's 6 sir, got his new crutches last week, he's doing better." Eddie says, missing his mom, and Eddie isn't brave enough to ask, thinking to himself but he wonders for a moment if Bobby gets it. He must.
"That's good news, now he can get around much easier on his own, good for him." Bobby smiles, one of those quirk of the mouth ones but Eddie can tell he's pleased. "Why do you want my opinion on a babysitter?" The man's expression is curious but also playful.
"Because I can't be around him all of the time and—" Eddie swallows, "My family is strong but…"
"You want your son to be cared for, not just protected." Bobby states and yeah, got it in one.
"Yes," Eddie nods, "He needs the protection, but I'm not asking for just a bodyguard, he needs someone that will put him first not—"
"Linger in the background while he's alone." Bobby finishes and it's so obvious he's a dad, once a dad, always a dad, no matter what.
Eddie nods, "I want him to be a kid but also be safe."
Bobby hums, adjusting in his chair and Eddie can tell he's thinking it, "I think I may have a good fit for you Eddie, if you're alright with bringing our families a bit closer than before."
Eddie raises a curious brow, "How close?"
Bobby laughs at his curiosity, a chuckle coming out of his mouth, "My son."
Eddie blinks a couple of times, and then does it again for extra measure, "Your—"
"Evan Nash." Bobby interrupts and tilts his head a little, "Or as most people know him as.. Buck."
Buck
Buck
Buck as in, "The assassin for hire? That Buck?" Eddie asks, he feels shock run through his body.
"For hire is a strong word when everything he does is for family." Bobby says and there's still a smile on his face and Eddies world feels tilted. But Bobby keeps talking, as if Eddie isn't having a crisis, "He loves kids, he's good with them and really he doesn't look like he could hurt a fly."
Eddie sends the man a deadpan look, he only laughs more, but Eddies seen Bucks work. He's seen what happens when you mess with.. well, Eddie now knows it's his family.
When Doug Kendall's body showed up, hanging from a tree in the middle of the woods. No clean up, no care.
Only revenge.
His other jobs as Eddie would call it, he was precise, organized and left a bullseye behind that it was his work.
The hunter posing as prey.
And as that thought entered his mind, Bobby turned a framed photo around and leaned back again.
Bobby and his wife were there and her two children. Then there was a taller male, blonde curls atop his head. Pretty blue eyes and a wide smile.
Eddie glanced at Bobby, the man's eyebrow was raised in question until Eddie brought his attention back to the photo of Buck in the frame. Leaning on Bobby and another brown haired woman next to him, also in the photo.
A hunter in plain sight indeed.
Eddie grinned , leaning back in his chair, "When can I meet him?"
Bobby's returning smile is all that he needed to know it would be very soon.
It was sooner than Eddie expected as he watched Bobby pick up his phone, speaking into it quickly and he heard the voice on the other end. It sounded masculine and joyful. Words Eddie couldn't understand but just kept coming before Bobby even got two words in, but the man didn't seem upset.
"Evan." Bobby calmly stated in the middle of whatever the man wa saying on the other side and Eddie couldn't help but feel curious as the silence answered immediately. "Can you come to my office, I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Then Bobby hung up with a shake of his head, "Is he coming?" Eddie asked, unable to help himself.
Bobby opened his mouth to answer but then the door burst open, making Eddie turn around, "Pops did you send Michael to the store like I asked, I can't find the cheese for the lasagna anywhere."
Oh.
Bobby sighed and said something Eddie didn't hear but his attention shifted quickly when Buck moved, in a flash, the man had his foot on the arm of Eddies chair and the clip on his suit was gone and headed towards his eye.
Reflex kicked in as he took his knife out and it was headed to Bucks neck when Bobby spoke, "Evan, stop." And the man froze in an instant and only moved to tilt his head away enough to avoid getting cut from the knife in Eddies hand.
"Oh so you meant an actual visiter." Evan states and Eddies eyes meet bright, beautiful blue and the man is smiling happily, "Sorry about that, he never tells me beforehand." And then the foot is leaving the chair and the man is backing away and Eddie feels like his breath has been taken away.
Not that it's shown outside of a shake of his head, "All is forgiven." He smiles back at Buck but the other man was fast, right in Eddies space before he could blink, it's only the training his father put him through that he moved fast enough at all.
But he would've lost an eye either way and Buck hadn't even flinched at the knife.
Eddie wanted to take him home.
He felt insane.
But he barely got to process it as Bobby spoke, he knows he missed something, "—his son." Is the only part of the sentence he's heard and he glances and Bucks looking at him curiously.
"And you want me to do it?" Buck asks, the birthmark on his face srunching with the way his eyebrows crease.
"Bobby recommended you and I know he knows what he's talking about." Eddie nods, a little smile on his face when Bucks eyes brighten with mirth.
"Well that just makes me almost taking out your eye just awkward." Buck huffs a laugh and Eddie shrugs.
"I think it just proves that you're the guy for the job."
Buck hums, "Can I meet him first? I don't want to take it and then him not feel comfortable with me around, maybe I can be a new family friend."
And.. Huh, "Not a bad idea." Eddie nods and looks over at Bobby, "You mind that?"
Bobby shakes his head, "Our families uniting on some level has been a long time coming," the man beckons his son over and Buck goes happily and leans down a little, Bobby pats Bucks face, making him squawk in surprise, batting his hand away, "Who better to make those ties than my heir?" Bobby finishes and sends a glance Eddies way that he knows Buck misses.
It's crystal clear, a warning and a welcome all in one.
We can be a family, but if one hair on Buck head is off—
Eddie can imagine the rest.
Buck comes over a week later. Dressed in casual clothes similar to the ones he was wearing in the office. He's got a two suitcases with him and another man is following behind with a bag and containers that Eddie can smell from here.
His mouth would water if he was less professional.
Which is why Sofia says something isntead because she isn't professional at all, "Ooo you brought food!" She's smiling and then Bucks smiling and nodding.
"It's all stuff that can be heated up, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to cook here so I thought I'd think in advance."
Sofias nodding like that makes any sense, "If everything you cook smells like that im sure Adriana will let you join her in the kitchen anytime."
"Can't wait to meet her then." Buck grins and then that gaze is meeting Eddies and Eddie sends him a small smile.
"Good to see you again Mr. Diaz, hope it's alright that I've brought a guest," He gestures to the man standing a little behind him. He's darker skinned and his hair is shaved, "This is my brother Harry, he won't be staying long."
"Hello Mr. Diaz." Harry intones and then says nothing else, but he sends a glance Bucks way that looks mildly annoyed and yeah, they're family.
Eddie tilts his head in greeting before waving a hand, "None of that, just call me Eddie." And turns, "Let me show you both to Bucks room so you can get back home."
Both of the men nod and follow Eddie, but Sofia waits and follows behind them all and she's talkative as they go, filling the hallway with chatter until they get to the room Buck will be staying in.
"Adri, can you show Harry the kitchen?" Eddie speaks up as he opens the door to Bucks room, unlocking it, "We don't want that food to go to waste."
She nods and Harry hands Buck the bag he was holding before patting him on the shoulder.
That food will be tested before anyone can eat it. Not that he doesn't trust Bobby with his life, one can just never be too careful, but he turns, watching as Evan Nash puts his bags on the bed and seemingly unbothered with the fact that Eddie is still here.
"So," Buck starts, casually taking his stuff out of the bags while he speaks, "What's Chris like?" Questioning casually and it's the first time Eddies properly smiled all day.
"He's six, loves to read," Eddie quotes his fingers playfully and Buck chuckles, "Being read too more so." And observes as Buck continues putting his things away, "We have a swingset outside he likes, and he's not afraid to tell you what he'd like to do, if anything."
"He sounds adorable." Buck smiles softly and Eddie thinks that maybe Buck is the right choice. "And I imagine he doesn't know what you do?"
Eddie shakes his head as Buck glances at him over his shoulder while he hangs clothes, "No, but he does know everyone here is family and that I can't just leave with him when he wants."
"Must be where I come in." Buck muses and shuts the closet and Eddie nods once more.
"He'll need to be taken to school, picked up and anything else he wants."
Buck hums, "And we can go other places?" He questions and Eddie raises a questioning eyebrow, Bucks face flushes a bit, "The museum, the zoo, the pier, the park, a pool." He lists as easy as breathing and Eddie—
"Did you do research?"
Buck flushes more, and— he.. the assassin did research on possible things his six year old son would enjoy doing?
"Yeah, I figured that it wouldnt be so fun to stay home all of the time when there's so much fun things to do around LA." Buck breaks their eye contact, and goes back to grabbing clothes to put in the dresser, "And most six year olds are so curious, bouncing around here or there."
"You'd have to be mindful." Eddie murmurs, his voice a little sharper, more direct because nothing can happen to Chris, not his blood, his baby.
Buck barely turns around to reply, folding socks into a drawer, "If anyone tries I'll make sure it's their last moment on this earth." Then the drawer shuts and their eyes meet again and Eddie fights getting lost in that blue, "And Chris will be none the wiser."
Eddie doesn't know if he wants to kiss him or fight him to see how good he is in person.
He doesn't get to do either.
Because Sofia comes in the room and requests his presence. And their time comes to an end. So he blinks, swallowing the words in the back of his throat, finally taking his eyes away from Bucks and towards his sister.
"You got a meeting in 10, figured I'd remind you." She states, leaning against the doorframe.
"Thank you Sof." He replies and Buck tilts his head and Eddie takes it for what it is.
They're on the same page about Chris.
—
The next morning he's free to wander the estate after hours of meetings before the sun had even risen. Deals and paperwork taking up enough time that Eddie felt the tension in his temples. Begging him to take a break before the headache formed.
So he did. Walking around to find something that didn't have to do with the logistics of this life he was born into.
And it was nice out, so Eddie decided that he deserved to see the sunshine today.
But he wasn't expecting to walk outside to laughter. Brighter than the sun itself and his head snapped up out of reflex because that was Chris. Chris's laughter, brightening his entire day and he couldn't help but walk towards the sound.
Walked until his feet stopped on the grass at the sight before him.
Buck was there, pushing his son on the swing. Not too high, but higher than most people would go with Chris's condition.
That doesn't look to be stopping Buck though, Buck who's bright and laughing along with his son.
"Higher!" Chris squeals through his excitement and Buck laughs.
"If you go any higher you might fly off like Superman." The man grins, his son giggling, "And then how could I get you if you fly away? I can't fly!"
"You're silly Evan." Chris continues to giggle and Eddie can't help the smile that graces his own face and the information that he stores away for later.
Buck introduced himself to Chris as Evan. Not Buck, not an assassin….
Just Evan.
"Oh!" Eddie hears, and his shakes himself out of his thoughts, "Morning Eddie!" Buck smiles, waving and he raises a hand to greet him back and that's when Chris notices him too.
Yelling out an excited, "Daddy!" And Eddie can't even move before Chris is trying to come to him, and Buck has the swing stopped, grabbing the boy quickly and efficiently before he can even think about falling.
Then the boys feet hit the ground and he's headed towards Eddie. Buck following right behind him.
And looking at Bucks happy expression as his son basically tries to knock him over when they finally get close enough.
He's more sure than ever that this was a good choice.
Soon enough, Buck is all Chris talks about. At breakfast and dinner, with or without the man present at the table. The boy shares what they did that day. Trips they took after school.
Eddie finds out more facts from his son than he's ever heard in his life after every single adventure he and Buck go on. Facts about what's in the museum, or the animals at the zoo. How much a giraffe can eat in a day, what the birds did or said that day.
Then he finds out that Chris can read one of his books by himself now. And that 'Evan helped me, he said reading is important.' And… Chris has been learning to read at school. But he's been falling behind the others, having problems.
And Buck has apparently taken that in complete stride and decided to teach the boy himself on top of being with him a majority of the time. The only time they're not together is when the boy is asleep or when he's at school.
Other than that, Buck is all he hears about, even if he only really sees the other man at meal time.
Which in itself is a shame.
Because apparently Adriana sees him all throughout the day. Prepping Chris's snacks for after school. Or showing her new recipes while she also teaches him some of her own.
'Abuela will eat him up when she returns'
His sister says it with such confidence that he can't help but believe her.
Eddies family adores Buck.
But Eddies so busy that he barely gets to talk to him himself. Well a conversation that doesn't include him making sure it's alright to take Chris somewhere after school or on the weekends.
The man seeks his permission directly every single time.
It does things to his head even though it's exactly what Buck is supposed to do.
But the urge to talk to him more shifts when Chris and Buck come home from the zoo early one day.
Eddies in his office when he learns that the two of them are home already and confusion surrounds his thoughts at the news.
The new baby hippo was let outside today, there's no way that the two of them are done taking pictures and learning every single thing about hippos already.
Sofia is next to him, and she hands her phone to him silently as the sound of crutches gets closer and closer to his office. And he takes the phone, a smile coming to his face as Chris gets closer.
A smile that falls when the article comes up on the screen.
Accident at LA Zoo — Three dead
News reports say that three men have been caught impersonating staff this afternoon. The three men were found in a storage room. Their hands and feet tied together as their clothes were stripped from their bodies.
Authorities say that an officer on site was informed that the zoo was unexpectedly short staffed today— With Daila (baby hippos) debut. Employees that were supposed to help couldn't be found.
Instead of finding the missing staff members, that had actually called out this morning. The officer found the three deceased men.
"It's a guess to anyone why the three of them wished to be at the zoo during the event today." The officer told our station, "But it seems as though they didn't get to do what they came for before someone else dealt with them."
The LAFD is asking for anyone that might have any information to come forward.
More details to follow.
Eddie inhales deeply and locks his sisters phone screen as his office door shoots open, "Daddy! The hippo was so cute!" The boy almost yells as he storms into the room. Buck coming up behind him.
"That so?" Eddie smiles, sitting the phone down, "Did you take any pictures?"
Chris nods, "Evan has so many on his phone to show up."
The mention of the man makes Eddies gaze drift to him, Buck stands there behind Chris, looking softly at the boy. And he sees the man pull his phone out.
His shirts not even out of place.
"We may have went a little overboard with the pictures." Buck grins, "But the hippo was adorable."
"Yeah daddy! Daila was so cute, I want a hippo." He adds, as if it was an afterthought and Eddie hears Buck laugh.
Buck is handing Eddie his phone and there are photos of the hippo there. Some just look random, some with Chris smiling while standing as close as he's allowed to go.
Then the pictures start to shift a little. An angle here, a person in the background there.
"I think a hippo would be a bit big to fit in the house Chris." Buck says with a laugh and the boy pouts, "But we can go see her whenever you like."
"You think she won't be too tired next time?" Chris asks and Eddie continues to scroll and then he sees it, just as Buck is replying to his son.
"Of course she won't be, I think today was just so busy for her she got sleepy."
Sleepy.
A baby hippo got sleepy so they had to leave the zoo.
A lie told to his son that doesn't hurt him at all as Eddies gaze flickers over the photos with the same three men in the background.
"I get sleepy too." Chris muses and Buck pats the boy on the head ruffling his hair.
"Me too, we'll have to make sure we get plenty of sleep before we go again. We want to be as rested as she is." Bucks still smiling but Eddie catches his eyes.
They're sharper than normal, on edge still.
Eddie immediately knows what he's done.
It's smart.
And Eddie tears his gaze away from those ocean eyes and looks at his son. Babbling about sleeping and what snack he wants since they're home early before easily moving to continue to tell Sofia about the zoo.
"I heard they were short staffed today." Eddie states as he hands Bucks phone back to him, watching the man pocket it easily.
"Mhmm." Buck states, "Guess some people called in, but I'm sure it won't be an issue in the future."
Eddie meets the man's eyes again, his own mouth lifting in approval, "I'm sure it won't be."
He wants to know how Buck did it. Wants to know how he pulled it off without anyone noticing. Without Chris noticing. He wants every detail of it, including before and after. How quickly the man noticed.
The time stamps on the pictures showed that it was hours before the actual moment took place. Buck knew they were there.
The entire time he knew.
And all Chris came home talking about was how cute the hippo was.
His infacutation with his sons babysitter is becoming a problem.
It becomes a bigger problem when the pier is hit by a tsunami while Chris and Buck are on it. Eddie feels like his heart is going to beat out of his chest as he stands on his front porch. Fighting the urge to pace as he stares at Bucks location on his phone.
The location that went dark the moment the tsunami siren screamed through LA. It still echoes in his ears hours later. Still watching, pleading silently for the dot that tells him where Bucks phone is to come back to life.
But no matter how hard he grips his own phone in his hand, the dot stubbornly remains offline.
Eddie had sent men out hours ago to go and find them.
Even some of Bobby's people were sent. A few that aren't even technically in the family anymore went. A firefighter has been at the damaged area all day.
Hen Wilson used to be Bobby's number 1. The person at his side for years until she started a family of her own and left the family to be with hers.
And now she's a firefighter that's been on the look out with everyone else for Buck and Chris. Searching the area and calling Eddie with updates every hour on the hour.
It's been hours.
The suns setting now, the day coming to an end and ne still hasn't heard anything from anyone about finding them.
Even if his heart had been crushed in his chest when Hen called to tell him that Chris's glasses had been found.
The boy not with them.
He wants— Eddie wants to go down there himself. He wants to trudge through murky flood waters and go until he finds them. Wants to bring them home himself. Not resting until he has them safe, and here and home.
It's maddening that he can't go.
It sits in his heart, settling heavy in his stomach.
It's the first time in years he hates his position in the world.
And the sun disappears in the sky when his phone rings again, and he answers it. Standing in the same spot he has been in for hours.
"Eddie." Buck exhales on the other side of the phone. Hens name looking at him but he finally sits on the steps, body falling down in the relief he feels to just hear his voice.
"Evan." Eddie replies, sagging against the concrete and he wants— he needs to—
"We're both okay." Buck speaks again, his voice sounds wrecked, wet and exhausted, and Eddie finally feels like he can breathe again, "Chris is asleep," Buck chokes a little, "But he's okay, Hen says we can go soon."
"Neither of you are hurt?" Eddie asks, needing to know— he needs… god he needs to see them.
"Chris isn't, maybe a scratch or two." Buck replies easily.
"And you?" Eddie asks, wanting him to tell him, to share and be honest and—
"Nothing I can't heal from." Buck states, and he can hear Hen in the background. Her voice not close enough for him to hear exactly what she's saying. But he does hear a few things, random words.
Bruises, reckless, going to need stitches.
But never full sentences.
"When will you both be here?" Eddie asks instead of prying right now.
Buck hums, and his voice goes distant this time, before he's back in seconds, "An hour."
Eddie has waited all day.
He can wait an hour.
"Okay, we'll be waiting for you both."
It's the longest hour of Eddies life.
But a car pulls up a few minutes before the hour mark actually hits. And the cars familiar.
Of course it is.
Its Eddies driver, a man he fought a war with, a man he'd trust with his life. And now with his most precious people. One of which has had Eddies thoughts for months.
Even more so now when the door opens and Buck climbs out, Chris already in his arms, asleep, tucked into the crook of Bucks neck.
And Buck—
Buck looks like hell.
His clothes are ripped, there's wrapping around his arm, and blood is slightly soaking a bit through the gauze. There's dirt all over the both of them and they still look damp.
He sees Buck shiver when the night air hits him and Chris snuggles closer into the man's embrace.
There are scratches on Bucks face and he grimaces as he stands straight up.
But he still thanks the driver and it's obvious the moment that Buck sees him.
And he can't help but come forward when the man's exhausted and teary gaze meets his own. Walking until they're so close that he can could count how many eyelashes Buck has. The glisten of them clumping the number down a little bit there's still so many of them.
Eddie does something he hasn't done in years to anyone besides Chris.
He wraps his arms around Buck, bringing a sleeping Chris in between them and he hears the man's breathing hitch. The sound catching in his throat.
Eddies hand comes up to trail until it's hitting the back of Bucks neck and the man lets him. But besides that it's silent as he holds them both close, wanting to take the cold off of them and bring it into his own body.
But he can't, he can't. So instead he has to let go, has to lean back enough to look Buck in the eye as he says,
"Come. Let's get you both warmed up."
All Buck does is swallow and nod before following Eddie inside.
And once they are inside, Chris is given to Adriana and she takes him to go change his clothes and see if he'll wake up long enough to get properly cleaned but Eddie doesn't care if he doesn't. If he just wants to change and sleep.
He's perfectly fine other than being wet and Eddie has the man standing in his room to thank for it.
Buck is standing there still when he returns with clothes. A pair of sweatpants and a shirt from his own closet, as if Buck couldn't just wear his own. But Eddie wants him in his clothes and when he hands the man the clothing, he simply just take them as their hands brush.
"Shower in here." Eddie murmurs and Buck looks at him for a moment, the clothes in a death grip but then when he thinks the man is going to argue. He just nods.
It gives Eddie time to sit down on his head and let the silence wash over him.
The house is quiet.
The only thing Eddie can hear is the water running in his bathroom as Buck showers. The rest is all silence and he can guess that Chris just went to bed instead of taking a bath.
He must be exhausted too.
He can't imagine what his son went through today and if he thinks about it too hard he'll go and stare at the boy all night to just see the rise and fall of his chest.
But he fights it.
Eddie fights the urge to be overbearing. The urge to see him breathe and know he's alright even though he knows that Adriana won't be going far from the boy tonight. She is just as bad as he is.
But she doesn't have Buck in her shower right now.
And the shower that is apparently over as the water shuts off. And the silence returns to take over the entire space. Even as the door opens and Eddie looks over to see Buck standing there.
The skin he can see is flushed pink and there's a new peice of gauze over his bicep and Eddie can't help but purse his mouth a little, "I was going to help with that." He stares and Buck blinks at him.
"It'll heal." The man shrugs and comes in the room, and when he's close enough to Eddie, Eddie can't make himself stop. Can't keep his hands to himself anymore and his hand shoots out to grab Bucks wrist, not letting him walk any farther.
Before Buck can say a word, Eddie yanks on him a little and Buck must be tired because he just goes. Goes until Eddie has him standing in between his knees.
Standing there wearing Eddies clothes. Skin pink and warm against the fabric instead of cold to the touch.
Eddie doesn't look at him when he asks, "Where else are you injured?"
"Ed—" Buck starts but Eddies grip on his wrist tightens a little,
"Tell me." Eddie states softly, but still hard enough to be a demand.
He hears Buck sigh a little in defeat and fights the urge to smirk, "I've got a few bruises on my stomach and back."
Eddie grabs the fabric and pulls it up, ignoring Bucks inhale of surprise.
"It's not—"
Eddie ignores him as dark purple bruises enter his vision. Scratches over the rest of him where the bruises don't stain his skin. Big and angry looking, "Turn around."
Buck turns, and the shirt he's wearing doesn't fall form Eddies grip as he sees his back and it looks worse than the front. It looks like he was thrown around, into things — hard and unforgiving looking.
Eddie can't help but touch.
His free hand reaches up and he keeps the touch light as his fingers trace the bruise on the man's back. Feeling the sharp inhale the touch causes.
"You protected my son today." Eddie states, watching as the muscles on Bucks back react to his words along with his touch.
"Of course I did." Buck exhales, his voice almost a whisper.
Eddie leans forward, his breath brushing against the bruise, "He doesn't have a scratch on him."
And before Buck can say another word, Eddie presses his lips against the bruise. And he does smile now, now as he hears a sound of surprise fall from a body that he doesn't want to let out of his sight ever again.
"He's perfectly fine, asleep and safe in bed because of you." Eddie whispers, only loud enough to hear.
"I lost him for a long time." Buck says, his voice sounding broken as fragile. A tone he's never heard from the man. So used to his laughter and happiness.
"You found him?" Eddie asks, already knowing the answer.
"I did." Bucks voice breaks and Eddie moves, pushing the man forward a little so he can stand and when he does, he grabs once more and touches, his hands light enough to not add to the bruises.
But Buck lets him turn him around anyways.
And their eyes meet again and the tears are back. Those blue eyes are wide and uncertain. Scared — scared from what happened today and Eddie wants to pull it out of him. Wants to know everything that happened, wants to take away the look on his face and change it.
He wants—
Bucks watery gaze glances down at his mouth and that's all Eddie needs to take.
Their lips meet under Eddies fire. His need to have Buck as close as possible and swallows the groan that Buck exhales with his tongue. Shoving it into the man's mouth until it's filthy.
Filthy and wet like the water he and his son went through today but it's so much better. It's what Eddie has craved since Buck tried to stab him in the eye with his own pocket clip.
Craved since it's all that Chris had to talk about. All about Buck the moment they met. This man is his sons favorite person.
His sons protector.
But Eddie wants him.
He thinks he's needs him as Buck gets in his space. Bringing them closer and he's just an insistant as Eddie is. His hands keeping Eddies close, not letting him go anywhere.
Not that Eddie wants too.
And they stay close even as their lips leave one another, as he lays them down on his bed and covers them up and brings Buck so close that Eddie thinks that they might fuse together and become one person.
Eddie trails kisses over Bucks face, over the scratches there. Over his nose and his cheeks and then his lips again. Letting the sound of their mouths be the only thing he can hear until the need to speak overcomes him.
And he moves enough to trace his lips against Bucks ear, murmuring softly, "I don't ever want to let you go."
Bucks breathing stutters and he comes closer, Eddies hand is searing into his back, just on the edge of the bruising.
"You can have me forever." Buck replies, breathless and serious.
Eddie will.
Holding him tight as they fall asleep, as the night finally ends and the moon is shining through the window beside the bed.
As Bucks eyes close and he succumbs to the events of the day, getting his body and mind the rest it must need.
Eddie will keep him forever.
He'll love him forever and no one will ever try and hurt him again.
Not if Eddie has a say
And he knows he does as his eyes fall closed, as Bucks even breathing lulls him to sleep.
Buck is family now.
And he'll keep Evan safe.
Just like Buck keeps Chris safe.