Archive of Our Own ^beta

“You can’t be so reckless with your life Buck!” 

“Why the fuck do you even care Eddie, you left! You left and went to Texas and you didn’t even ask me to go with you! So why would you care what I do now” 

Eddie recoils like Buck just slapped him. If Buck was in a better state of mind he would’ve noticed. But right now, he’s scared. And he’s mad. That abandoned young kid inside him is in control. That’s why when he sees Eddie open his mouth, he cuts him off again. 

“Look Eddie I get it, you’re back now, and that’s great. But don’t act like you care about me and what I do ok? Maybe you should just -”

“I love you ok? I love you so much and it pains me that you think you’re expendable! I know I left and I’m sorry it hurt you. But I love you so much Buck, how can you not see that?” 

Eddie’s words reverberate through Buck’s loft. Buck’s brain does a record scratch, the only thing going through his mind is Eddie saying those three little words. I love you I love you I love you- 

“Maybe I should just go,” 

the sight of Eddie’s back turning away from him pulls Buck out of his stupor. But all words have abandoned him, his tongue feels heavy in his mouth. Panic overwhelms him. Eddie can’t leave, he loves Eddie, Eddie loves him. 

Call out Buckley, goddamnit. Do something, ANYTHING. He’s leaving!

The thing is, Buck has never been good with words. Buck has always been a man of action. So that’s exactly what he does. He takes action. 

He grabs Eddie’s forearm, and he sees surprise flicker across Eddie’s face before Buck brings their lips together and kisses Eddie with as much force as he can muster. Eddie melts into Buck almost immediately, the fight leaving his body, like sin after confession. 

They stand there, the world at a stand still, as they inhale as much as each other as they can. Eddie’s hands end up in Buck’s hair as Buck lifts Eddie up onto the countertop, peppering kisses along his neck. 

“Buck, Buck, we should talk about this” Eddie gasps between breaths. 

Buck pulls away for a moment, taking everything in. Eddie looks like a vision, eyes black, hair mussed, lips kiss-red and shiny. He’s the most beautiful thing Buck has ever seen. 

“I love you Eddie. I’ve always loved you and I’m sorry for what I said. I didn't mean that, I know you had to go to Texas. But I will do anything to make this work.” 

Eddie looks at him, and smiles, saying “that works for me” before he drags Buck back into him for a searing kiss. 

(They spend that night in a tangle of limbs, kisses and holy prayers. When Buck wakes up the next morning, Eddie curled into him, sleep-warm and glowing, his heart feels settled in a way it never has. Whole.)