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"Dad," Chris says in a serious tone that has Eddie's eyes shoot up from his plate, where he is currently finishing the pasta Buck has cooked for dinner. First, Eddie glances at Chris himself, then at Buck. Eddie is clearly worried about what's to come, but Buck has a feeling it's nothing severe. Eddie clears his throat, "Uhu?"
Smugly, Chris looks up at him, wrinkling his nose, "You reaaally have to shave. Like, tonight!" Buck immediately breaks out into a laugh, which makes Chris break character as well.
"Hey! It's been a stressful few days... or weeks!" Eddie tries to defend himself, chuckling, while he strokes his chin that's covered in long, thick hair, longer than he's had it in years, maybe ever. He couldn't have a beard in the army, obviously. It is kind of on the verge of getting messy now. Buck likes it. But then again, Buck maybe isn't the most critical judge when it comes to Eddie's looks. For... reasons. But when Eddie is looking at him for an opinion he shrugs, still laughing.
Eddie ducks his head, incredulously. "I can't believe you two. This is just mean."
"Well, why don't you go do that while I clean up the kitchen?", Buck suggests and gets up, already grabbing Chris' empty plate. Recently he's been eating like a young man who has a lot of growing to do. Eddie thanks him again, for cooking and for cleaning up, then he leaves for the bathroom, Chris trailing after him.
So, this is how it happens.
Buck hears Eddie and Chris talk from the other room over the running water and his chattering with pans and plates and leftovers, because as always, the Diazes are being loud and free in their house – something Buck has never felt as a child. He hears Eddie explain that Chris should stay and watch him shave his face. "Aren't you all grown up now? You'll have to do this yourself soon, so you better watch me and take notes." There's some protest from Chris and some shared laughter and then it sounds like Chris does indeed stay.
Buck feels warm inside as he listens to the quiet, serious tone Eddie has when he explains the steps to Chris, and then more laughter, and more high fake screams as shaving cream seems to enter the equation.
Buck's never more content than when he's here and feels like he's part of this family. He's realized that some time ago and he thinks he's finally resigned himself to that feeling, tries to embrace it. This is his family. Even if Eddie can only ever be his best friend. That's more than enough. It should be.
The thing is, Chris has always been a sweet kid and of course he still is, but he's also just a teenager now and so these moments of silliness and laughter are getting rarer and rarer, as more and more moments of Chris rolling his eyes at them are sneaking their way into their routines and there's even been some doors that might've been slammed. Buck knows that that's normal. He also knows how hard it is for Eddie to accept that his little boy is growing up and striving to be independent. So he cherishes these moments even more now where they get along well and Chris allows them to be a bit silly. He loves these two so much, he has to blink away this surge of affection in order not to cry.
He's kind of lost in his thoughts when Chris finally calls for Buck to come and look at the result of their makeover. He puts away the saucepan and hangs up the wet tea towel neatly on its hook before he leaves for the hallway. "Coming!" He warns them.
Chris stops him before he can take a look at Eddie in the bathroom, Chris preparing him for the reveal with a wide grin. "This is ridiculous, Chris," Eddie tries. At first Buck thinks this is about Chris' plan for a dramatic presentation, but it seems to be more about the result in general. Chris insits, "No, dad, you just don't know what's cool right now. Get with the times, okay?"
Eddie is laughing again as he steps out of the bathroom. Buck holds his breath for the first glance. Eddie is right, it is ridiculous. It is ridiculous how how fucking good Eddie looks with a fucking mustache. Absolutely ridiculous. Wow. Buck's stomach honest to god drops when he looks at Eddie. Eddie has removed his shirt, probably in order to not collect his beard hair in it, and is standing in front of him with a black tank top that shows off his big arms and his beard is mostly gone, but he has a fucking mustache. And it should really look silly, but it doesn't. Again, Buck is well aware he's not the most neutral judge here, but. He's genuinely stumped.
Buck still hasn't said anything and Eddie is starting to look self-conscious, even if Buck doesn't think the heart eyes he's been making could've been more obvious if he tried. "So, what do you think?" Eddie asks, stroking his now clean-shaven chin again. "It's, uh, it's actually... it's not that bad! You can totally pull it off," Buck hurries and then, slightly panicky, adds a "dude." Great safe. Very appropriately heterosexual. He can't believe himself.
"I think so too, dad. It makes you look younger," Chris grins, "Actually, I gotta go, Amir and I wanted to play an online game tonight. I'll turn it off at 9. Bye!" And with that, he leaves for his room. Eddie makes a vaguely approving noise and waves after him.
And so Buck and Eddie are standing in the hallway alone, just looking at each other. And the thing is, not kissing Eddie has always been difficult for Buck. But right now... Buck quickly shakes the thought and against his better knowledge makes a step towards Eddie. "Uh," he starts and gestures towards Eddies chin and then towards his own chin and then the bathroom, gently moving Eddie back inside, "you have, there's a bit...," and he trails off again. But Eddie seems to have understood that there's some hair left, because he looks closely at himself in the mirror, trying to identify the issue.
Buck takes the razor from the edge of the sink. "Can I, you know, I can just. Get it." He laughs nervously. His stomach is churning right now. What is he doing. Why is he getting closer to Eddie than he needs to be? Eddie nods, "Sure," and carefully turns into the light, lifts his chin towards Buck. Buck gently puts his free hand to Eddies jaw to stabilize him and then carefully, very carefully, pushes the razor to the few stray hairs right next to Eddie's lips. His beautiful, beautiful lips.
It takes about one second and it's done. Eddie's beard is fixed, it's as perfect as it can be and Buck really has no reason to linger in his space any longer. But he does just that. He sets away the razor blindly, because he cannot take his eyes off of Eddie, not yet, and he lingers. Drops his hand from Eddie's chin to his upper arm and lingers. "Perfect," he concludes. Eddie is looking at him too. "Thanks," he says lamely.
If it was incredibly difficult not to kiss Eddie then, in the hallway, joking with his kid, laughing freely, it's simply impossible now. They're alone and they're close and Eddie looks gorgeous and smells fresh like shaving cream and familiar like Eddie and his lips look so inviting and Eddie is not pulling away and so... Buck is kissing him. Buck is really kissing Eddie. On the lips.
The kiss is soft and gentle, but it is not chaste. His mustache slightly tickles Buck in the best way possible, and he can't stop himself from imagining his perfect mouth, this beard, in other places. Buck's brain completely short circuits and his knees go weak at the feeling of absolute love and affection that this gives him, that Eddie gives him. Because Eddie, straight catholic best friend and colleague Eddie Diaz, is kissing him back.
When his brain turns back on, Buck still pulls away. This can't be real. It can't, it doesn't make sense. "I–," he looks at Eddie, whose lips are still slightly parted, who still looks indescribably beautiful, who he has loved for years, who is his family, his whole world. Fuck.
"I'm so–," he starts again, but he doesn't get far. "Buck...", Eddie grumbles quietly. It's lower than Buck has ever heard Eddie say his name and it goes right to his stomach. Eddie is looking at his lips. "Uhu," Buck responds incredulously and next thing he knows, Eddie (straight catholic best friend and colleague Eddie Diaz) is carefully pushing him backwards against the door, which closes with a loud click as their weight presses against it.
Eddie's whole body is now so close and his hands are on Buck's neck and his arms and somewhere Eddie's phone is vibrating in his jeans, but it doesn't matter and Buck is heavily breathing into the kiss and losing track of time again. This is everything he ever wanted and he can't believe he gets to have this.
Buck is slinging his arms around Eddies back and pressing Eddie into himself as he kisses his neck and his jaw, needs to hold him close, keep him close. He's kissed a lot of people in his life, and some of them he has been in love with, some of them he thought he even loved, and yet he has never felt the way he feels right now, sharing air with Eddie. "Fuuck," he breathes out, turning his face to the ceiling.
"So, uh," Eddie starts, still so close, "I guess you really like that mustache, huh?" He's chuckling again. Buck fucking loves it.
"I, uh, I mean, not to come on too strong or anything, but I guess I just really like you", Buck chuckles too, still breathless. "No, actually, I know. I have known. For a while. That I like you. Really like you." Buck dares to look Eddie in the eyes again. "Romantically," he adds.
Eddie looks back at him, smiling. Those big beautiful eyes and those stupidly long lashes are the best fucking thing Buck has ever seen. Eddie swallows. And blinks. "I'm– so, I'm gay," Eddie says slowly and Buck can tell that this must be the first time Eddie has said this out loud, at least with someone present. Big, beautiful, brave Eddie. Buck presses Eddie even closer, holds on to him as hard as he can. "Thank you for telling me," he says and he means it and he doesn't want to laugh because this is serious but it needs to be acknowledged that this is a little bit ridiculous.
"I mean, I hope this was obvious, then, but, I thought– it needed to be said," Eddie explains. Buck nods. "It took me long enough," Eddie adds again. There's shame in his voice. Buck recognizes it. But there's something else, too. "I'm so proud of you, I mean it," he says and holds Eddies head in his hands, "I mean, we got there, right?" Eddie nods as far as that is possible with someone's large hands cupping your cheeks. "We got there. Can I keep kissing you?" Buck wastes no time to fulfill this wish. "Just for the record though," he interrupts the kiss again after a second, "I do really like the mustache."
When Eddie looks at his phone much later, he just has a single message from Chris that just says "Thank me later".