Chapter Text
Aliens.
Okay.
Buck wasn’t expecting aliens but go figure.
Except they were more like massive flying bees swarming the city with speed and clumsy but devastating precision, taking out buildings indiscriminately as they wreaked havoc everywhere they went.
Buck dropped to his knees as the building shuddered beneath him.
Shit. Okay.
Buck notched an arrow and drew it back to his anchor point while he waited to feel the wind on his face. It was there. Simple as a caress against his cheek but poisoned with the smell of ash.
Buck released his string and his arrow whistled into its target, taking down a massive flying ship…thing.
“Nice one, Buckaroo!” Chimney crowed as he whizzed past Buck with a swarm of his own chasing him. Buck notched two more arrows and took out two at once that were gaining on Chimney.
Something roared up a shriek into the sky that made even Buck’s blood tremble as he crouched to cover his ears.
“Oh… my God!” Hen gasped into their comms and Buck couldn’t see a lot of what it was from his vantage point but all he saw was the tail. Judging by the size of that, whatever it was, it was huge.
“You good, Hen?” Chimney asked as he circled back around to help Hen.
“Uhhh… Define good.”
Buck let his trick arrow that exploded multiple tiny smoke bombs fly into the herd following Chim before he spun around and shot an arrow at the lone alien trying to sneak up on him. The building beneath his feet wobbled again and Buck jumped back onto the roof before he fell over.
Buck heard the clicking sound of the wings behind him and found half the swarm that had been chasing Chim barreling towards Buck with a vengeance.
Buck took a step back and just barely managed to duck in time before a giant pincher swept over him in what was surely going to be a fatal bite to his throat. Buck swung his bow and rolled back out of the way as more and more aliens landed on the roof looking like they wanted to rip Buck apart.
They probably did.
Aliens, ya know?
Okay. New plan.
“I’m going to have to jump,” Buck said into the comms as he dodged another lunge for his chest.
“Buck! Do not jump!”
Something sharp dragged down Buck’s arm and sliced through his skin but Buck bit his lip to keep from crying out. He turned on his heel and kicked out.
“Don’t have much of a choice, Cap!” Buck gritted his teeth as he drew back an arrow with a low grade explosive. The blast rocked the building but cleared the path and Buck took off in a sprint before he could talk himself out of it.
“I repeat do not jump!”
Buck jumped.
“I jumped!”
Buck turned as the air whistled past him and shot up a high grade exploding arrow to clear off any little pests flying after him.
“Buck!” Hen snapped as Chimney raced to try and catch him.
Buck rolled onto his stomach and felt the pressure of his height and speed crashing against his chest as the ground got closer and closer until…
Webbing snatched Buck’s back and flew him up into the air before Eddie swung around and caught him.
“You just don’t know how to listen to orders, do you?” Eddie said as Buck clung to his shoulders.
“That’s not what you said last night,” Buck quipped before a chorus of groans filled the comms.
“No being gross on the comms!” Chimney sniped.
Buck smiled as he felt Eddie’s chuckle rumble from his chest and he squeezed him tighter as they swung away from the middle of the fighting. Buck ducked his head to press into the hollow of Eddie’s throat and inhaled, taking a beat to bask in his scent. They weren’t likely to get another break anytime soon.
“Hi baby,” Eddie said quietly so only Buck could hear.
“Hi,” Buck breathed as they neared another perch for Eddie to drop Buck off at.
The battle noises were present with the aliens— seriously Buck still couldn’t quite wrap his head around that— screeching up into the air until the wind shook but everything was quieter as Eddie dropped onto a roof with Buck wrapped up in his arms.
Buck reluctantly let go to check out his vantage point and leaned into the weight of Eddie’s hand at the small of his back as he got his legs steady under him.
“Good?” Eddie asked and Buck nodded. “You hurt?”
Buck was hurt all over but nothing he couldn’t push through. He gave Eddie a quick glance to make sure he was whole too.
He was right about the black. Eddie’s new suit was even better than the last even with the highlights of red including the spider on his chest.
It was hot too but Chimney said he wasn’t allowed to say that anymore.
Buck grabbed the front of his suit and yanked Eddie towards him. “I’ll be better when you kiss me.”
Eddie laughed— and Buck could die happy listening to that laugh— as he lifted his mask up to reveal his lips. They met in the middle with Eddie’s hand curling around the nape of Buck’s neck to hold him still. Their mouths crashed against one another and Buck opened before Eddie could even think of asking. He squeezed an arm around Eddie’s waist, holding him close and basking in his heat, so they could kiss a kiss that could end all kisses.
Well except that first one that rainy night. Nothing could top that one.
But Eddie’s kiss still left Buck soaring and Eddie kissed like he was trying to spark a fuse in Buck that would never burn out. He licked into Buck’s mouth with a hope and bit down on his lip with a promise until Buck’s mouth tingled with it. A first kiss worth repeating and a possible last one they refused to acknowledge.
“I need a little help here!” Chimney cried out into the comms and Buck and Eddie broke apart too soon.
“Hey,” Buck said as he knocked Eddie’s chest with his knuckles. Eddie dipped to press his forehead against Buck’s. “Stay safe out there.”
“You too,” Eddie said as he slanted his mouth over Buck’s to steal one more kiss. “And stop jumping before you have confirmation someone can catch you.”
Buck rolled his eyes as he drew an arrow from his quiver.
“You always catch me.”
“I mean it, Buck!” Eddie pulled down his mask and jumped onto the ledge of the roof. “Oh and Buck?”
Buck swiveled his head as he looked up at Eddie, letting his arrow fly so that it could take out one of the aliens racing up towards them.
“I love you,” Eddie said and Buck rocked back on his heels. He still couldn’t believe he got to hear that every day.
“I love you too,” Buck said before he was climbing up onto an HVAC unit locked up for a higher view. “Go get ‘im, tiger.”
Eddie shot out a web at a speeding alien and flew away into the air, the dork saluting as he was pulled away.
“Buck!” Chimney called into the comms. “Coming to you.”
Buck notched an arrow and waited. The air turned to a whistle, practically vibrating with a hum as more of the alien bees chased after Chim, and Buck settled into his anchor point. The tension lit up Buck’s spine like a lightning rod and Buck smirked as he got his shot.
His bow barely made a sound as his arrow whistled through the air.
“Nice shot, Buck!” Bobby said and the praise warmed up Buck’s muscles and soothed away the ache.
If you had told Buck less than a year ago when he was forced into exile— paid leave, Buck! — that he’d be fighting aliens to protect a city full of bad traffic and weirdos that tried to rip his wall climbing, web slinging boyfriend apart on a daily basis, Buck would’ve laughed in your face.
But then again, less than a year ago, Buck didn’t have a home to defend.
He did now and he had plenty of arrows in his quiver to go all day.