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19. “I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”
The thing about the 118, is that they’re all really close. And being really close, they tend to know how to get under each other’s skin. The people who seem to be best at it are Chim and Buck, although in Eddie’s opinion they’re also the two who are the worst at knowing when to quit.
It’s never ill intentioned, Eddie’s certain of that much at least. Buck genuinely wants everyone in his life to be happy, so sometimes he pushes just a little too hard trying to figure someone out. Chim just wants to make people laugh, he thrives off of it. So, sometimes he takes the joke too far.
They both apologize, when it comes to that. They both work to make themselves better. It’s just that, well, sometimes they take things too far with each other. And that? That’s a disaster all on it’s own.
They’re in the truck, on the way back to the station after a false alarm call to a primary school. Buck had spent most of the time there talking to the kids. Eddie had spent most of the time there watching Buck while he talked to the kids.
Chim’s got one of his shit eating grins on, the one he wears when he’s about to make fun of Buck. Without really realizing it, Eddie feels himself tense. He can’t really help it, he’s never done particularly well with people making fun of Buck. “So, Buckley. I hear they have a spot open in second grade. You might want to sign up, see if you can learn something.”
It’s not the first time someone’s made a crack at Buck’s intellect. Hell, Buck’s usually the first to do it. When he got his lightning super powers, he was just as confused as the rest of them by his ability to do math in his head. Normally, a joke like this would be well received. At worst, Buck would brush it off. At best he’d be ready with an off the cuff quip to Chim, something witty that would keep the laughter and the jokes coming.
Only, Eddie’s sitting close enough to Buck to hear his little intake of breath. He can feel the tension where their thighs meet. He can see the angry set of Buck’s jaw. He knows this is going to go poorly before Buck even opens his mouth, but there’s nothing he can do to make it better. Not here.
“I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”
He says it quietly into his microphone, but it’s sent directly into everyone’s headphones. The air seems like it’s been sucked out of the truck. Eddie makes eye contact with Bobby in the rear view mirror, sees the worried crinkle of his eyebrows.
Chim, for his part, looks immediately remorseful. “Wait, Buck…”
“I’m not an idiot, okay? I didn’t flunk out of school, I was kicked out for partying. And it wasn’t like I didn’t have options. I chose community college for the programs, but I got into some good schools. I got good grades, I had offers for sports scholarships. I just didn’t want to be an academic. That doesn’t make me an idiot.”
Buck’s jaw is tense, a red flush crawling up his neck. To someone else, maybe to most everyone else, they’d think this is Buck angry. Eddie knows better, he’s seen Buck angry. He watched Buck get angry after Taylor. This is different. This is Buck before he breaks open and sobs until there’s nothing left.
By some small miracle, they get back to the station before Buck shatters. Buck is, predictably, the first one out of the rig. He’s quick getting his equipment put away before begging off to take a nap in the Bunk Room.
All eyes turn to Eddie the second Buck’s left the room. He frowns, but nods. “I’ll go check on him.”
The bunk room is dark, when Eddie walks in. They don’t technically have assigned bunks, but Eddie’s long since learned that people are creatures of habit. Buck always sleeps in the corner bunk, tucked in between two walls. Eddie sleeps in the bunk on Buck’s open side, and he often wakes up to blue eyes already staring at him.
Buck’s eyes aren’t open now, but the guy is clearly awake. He’s a snorer, and this room is perfectly silent. Eddie sits down on the edge of Buck’s bunk, grabbing one of his ankles out of habit. He’s so used to always touching, he forgets sometimes that they’ve had more distance between them since they both got girlfriends.
Or, rather, since Buck started dating Natalia. Eddie had gone on one date with Marisol and never brought her up again. It probably says something about his relationships that everyone assumes he’s been dating her for the past three months.
“You gonna tell me what that was all about?” Eddie tries to speak softly, tries to make his voice gentle. “Because if it’s genuine worry that we think you’re dumb, I need you to know you’re one of the smartest guys I know.”
That gets one of Buck’s eyes open, looking straight at Eddie. “You’re just saying that to get me to stop pouting.”
Sweeping his thumb under Buck’s pant leg, Eddie frowns. “Buck. When was the last time Chris asked me to help him with his homework? Sometime in grade four? He’s 13 now, and he emails you his history papers.”
Both of Buck’s eyes are open now, and he shifts slightly to get a better look at Eddie. “Yeah, well, Chris is different. You both get to see a different side of me than the rest of them do.”
You both. Eddie starts chewing on his lip to keep from grinning. This is meant to be a serious conversation, getting reminded that he and Chris get to see the real Buck shouldn’t be flustering him. “Okay, but you still aren’t answering my question. Do you really think, that we think, that you’re dumb? Where’s this coming from, Buck?”
Sighing, Buck partially raises himself up in his elbows and makes eye contact with Eddie. “Natalia broke up with me two nights ago. She said that we’d run out of things to talk about, and that she didn’t find me ‘intellectually stimulating’.”
It’s out before Eddie can even think to stop it. “That’s an awful excuse. We’ve known each other for years and we’ve never run out of things to say to each other.”
Even though the pain is evident on his face, Buck smiles. “Yeah? You’re not tired of me yet, Diaz?”
It’s probably meant to be a joke, but Eddie finds himself being honest. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of you, Buck. I think we could get literally attached at the hip and it wouldn’t be close enough.”
Buck seems a little taken aback at that, but pleased. “Thanks, Eds. I… I’m really glad I have you and Chris in my life. As much as the whole breakup thing sucks, I really missed spending that time with you two. Not that I, uh. I know you have Marisol.”
A snort escapes before Eddie can do anything about it. Buck frowns. “Sorry! Sorry, it’s just that Marisol and I went on literally one date months ago. I haven’t thought about her since.”
Buck’s face goes a little red at the confession, and he tries to cover the blush with his hands. “I’m a terrible friend, shit. I’m sorry, Eds.”
Gently prying a hand away from Buck’s face, Eddie smiles at him. “Buck, you didn’t tell me when you broke up with your serious girlfriend either. I think we both need to work on our communication.”
A small smile makes it’s way onto Buck’s face. “Okay. I want to communicate to you that I’m single now. And I’m a bit of a mess of a human being. And also that I’ve missed you more than I reasonably should considering we work together.”
Something warm and happy settles in Eddie’s gut. “I want to communicate to you that I’m also single. That the only reason I’m not a huge fucking mess is because of you. And that sometimes I miss you even when you’re right in front of me.”
Tentatively, Buck puts a hand on Eddie’s face. When he doesn’t pull away, Buck leans in a bit. It’s so slow Eddie’s almost in pain, but it’s so worth it for the brief but firm press of Buck’s lips against his own. “Is this okay?”
In response, Eddie kisses him again. It’s still slow, but this one is a bit longer, less chaste. When they pull away Buck’s lips are slightly swollen. “Buck. This is more than okay. This is the best idea you’ve ever had.”