#bobby sheen

[sullfurtv]

A list (in no particular order) of all the men that give me EXTREME gender envy.

Brandon Rogers is on here twice because Bobby and Brandon give two different gender envy experiences

[thealogie]

Sometimes I wish I could live in the alternate universe where Michael Sheen plays Stevens in a version of The Remains of the Day but also based on his past playings of repressed heterosexuals (e.g. Bill Masters) that performance might actually not be survivable

We are honestly not in the clear yet. Anthony Hopkins did it when he was 55 but you could see Stevens being played by someone older. This could happen, which both thrills and horrifies me.

[michael-sheens]

👀 i haven't live-blogged watching something in a while...and since i've found gallowglass i think it's only fair that i talk to myself about one of michael sheen's first roles. as a treat.

[constanzel]

Devil

Or

Angel

Dear whichever you are;

I love you. *

[f-rodfans]

Freddy Rodriguez as José Rojas

Bobby (2006)

[aziraphalalala]

We were all starving

michael sheen fed us

He didn't know he was starving

[samuelsdean]

Next To You

pairing: sam winchester x reader

summary: waking up next to sam was your favorite thing in the world.

genre: fluff

word count: 1.4k

author's notes: i would very much love to wake up next to sam don't y'all think so? i literally wrote this because i think t'd feel so good to be hugged by him the entire night and wake up to him first thing in the morning.

WAKING UP NEXT TO SAM WAS PROBABLY YOUR FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD. IT WAS YOUR REFUGE, A SANCTUARY FROM THE WORLD'S HARSH EDGES. It was a reminder that each day is another day you get to spend the rest of your life with the love of your life.

You loved waking up next to Sam because his warmth radiated like your favorite hoodie, chasing away the remnants of a cool summer night. Tucked into the space between his jaw and chest, you could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath, his arms encasing you.

Slowly, you untangled yourself from his embrace, careful not to disturb his sleep. The light of dawn peeked through the window, painting a golden sheen across Sam's face. His brow furrowed slightly, a crease etched between his eyes, usually reserved for facing down monsters, but right now, it softened with sleep, replaced by the slight ajar of his lips.  

Watching Sam sleep had you going through your memories in a flash—the way he surprised you with your favorite flowers, after being gone from a hunt, a shy smile gracing his features as he laid a gentle kiss on your reddened cheeks. You smiled wistfully when you recalled how Sam confessed to you his feelings the night he had gotten home from a hunt that went on too long and could've gone sideways.

The motel room door creaked open, revealing a battered Sam Winchester. Dried blood stained the sleeve of his jacket and he was sporting a nasty gash on his right cheek, a grim souvenir from the hunt gone south.

Exhaustion hung heavy around him, a storm cloud threatening to unleash the floodgates of aches and pains. He wanted to go to sleep as soon as he stepped inside the dank motel room, but the tiny flicker of light beneath the door held him captive.

There you were, bathed in the warm glow of a lamp, hands wringing together and brows crimped in worry. Sam seemed to forget all about sleep when he saw you. He has never yearned for anything the way he has right now with the sight of you, his relic of normalcy in his chaotic world. He pushed the door open further, the sound jarring in the silence.

You looked up, surprise giving way to relief. "Sam! Thank goodness you're alright. I was worried sick after you've been gone for so long."

A weak smile formed on his lips. "We got them. Nasty ghouls took longer than expected." He shuffled closer, the weight of the hunt pulling at him. He could feel the warmth radiating from the room, a stark contrast to the bone-chilling night he'd endured.

You stood up and reached out, your hand brushing against his cheek. The touch, even through the grime, sent a jolt through him. It was a simple gesture, yet it held the power to ground him, to remind him of what he was fighting for—what he was going home to.

"You look like hell," you said, your voice laced with concern. "Go wash up, then I'll get you something to eat. There's a diner near here, open 24/7 apparently, Bobby told me on the phone earlier, bless his gruff soul."

He allowed himself to be ushered towards the bathroom, crumpling onto the tub with a groan. As the hot water washed away the grime and fatigue, something else started to wash over him. It was the weight of his unspoken feelings, a truth he could no longer keep buried.

He emerged from the bathroom, a fresh towel wrapped around his hair. You were already by the table, a steaming cup of coffee and grub waiting for him. He caught your gaze, the way your eyes held a warmth that chased away the chills of the hunt.

"Listen," Sam began, his voice thick with emotion. You tilted your head in confusion as to what he was trying to say. "This life… it's not easy. It's dangerous, messy, and frankly, it terrifies me sometimes."

He took a deep breath, his eyes locking with yours. "But then I come back here, see you… and suddenly, facing it all over again, well, it doesn't seem so bad. It feels… bearable."

A blush crept up your neck, mirroring the heat rising in his own. You opened your mouth to speak, but he pressed on.

"I know this is crazy," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But, I can't keep it in anymore. I… I care about you. A lot more than a friend."

The silence stretched, heavy with anticipation. He braced himself for a rejection, the fear of a cold fist squeezing his heart. Then, you reached out, your hand gently cupping his cheek.

"Sam," you said, your voice soft, "you're not the only one who feels that way."

Relief flooded him, warm and exhilarating. A hesitant smile spread across his face. "Really?"

You nodded, your eyes sparkling. "For a long time, actually."

He leaned in, the space between them collapsing in a rush. The kiss was soft, a tentative exploration of your unspoken feelings toward each other. But within it, there was a spark, a promise of something deeper. He pulled back, his forehead resting against yours, a newfound warmth radiating from within.

"So," he whispered, a grin tugging at his lips, "does this mean I get to keep bothering you for a while longer?"

You chuckled, a sound that filled the room with a melody of hope. "Looks like you're stuck with me, Winchester. Now, about that coffee…"

He pulled you close, the scent of coffee and the lingering warmth from the confession clinging to the air.  

Yes, in the face of whatever darkness awaited, this peaceful moment with Sam was a treasure. You leaned in, brushing a kiss against his cheek, a silent promise whispered against his lips, "I'll wake you soon, pretty boy."

The sunlight, bolder now, sliced through the gap in the curtains, landing right on Sam's eyelids. He let out a soft groan, sleep fading as he blinked the light away. Unlike you, mornings weren't exactly his best friend. For a moment, his eyes fluttered closed again, then snapped open, a glimmer of surprise crossing his face when he realized you weren't there.

"Morning, baby," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. He reached out instinctively, his hand brushing against the empty space where you'd been. A frown tugged at his lips for a brief moment before it softened into a smile as he spotted you by the window.

You were turned away from him, busy reading a paperback. The rising sun cast an ethereal glow around you, highlighting the way your hair seemed to catch fire with golden light. A shiver danced down Sam's spine, a mix of the cool morning air and the unexpected sight before him.

"Hey there, Sleepyhead," you said over your shoulder, your voice laced with amusement as you turned back to face him. "You look like you could use some more shut-eye."

He stretched languidly, the movement sending a groan escaping his lips. "Nah, I'm good. Just gotta get the lead out before Bobby gets impatient." He winced slightly, a reminder of the recent hunt probably still clinging to his muscles.

A playful glint lit up your eyes. "Lead out, huh? Sounds fancy. Did you polish your shoes too, Mr. Winchester?"

He chuckled, a low rumble that sent a warmth radiating through you. "Only the finest demon-blood repellent for this hunter, sweetheart." He reached for you, his hand warm and strong as he pulled you close, grinning at how easily he could make you laugh with his comebacks.

As you snuggled into his embrace, a comfortable silence settled between you. However, a shadow lingered in the back of your mind. The thought of Bobby calling usually meant trouble brewing. You decided to break the comfortable silence.

"Any whispers about what Bobby wants this time?" you asked, your voice soft.

Sam shook his head, his expression turning serious. "Not a peep. Knowing Bobby, it'll involve something nasty, a whole lot of rotgut, and probably a cryptic message scribbled on some random book." He paused, his gaze softening on you.

"But whatever it is," he continued, his voice low and reassuring, "we'll face it together. Like always."

You leaned in, your lips brushing against his cheek. "Always," you whispered the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air—together, no matter what the coming day brought.

[fandom]

Celebrities

Taika Waititi went up +69 this year. Nice.

Queen Elizabeth II

Joseph Quinn

Andrew Garfield

Tom Holland +3

Chris Evans -3

Taika Waititi +69

Oscar Isaac +32

Robert Pattinson +44

Misha Collins -5

Tobey Maguire

Joe Keery

Zendaya +7

Sebastian Stan -10

Jensen Ackles -9

Elon Musk +22

Pedro Pascal -15

Chris Pine

Rhys Darby

Neil Gaiman

Henry Cavill -12

Florence Pugh +20

Maya Hawke

Chris Pratt +12

Will Smith

Alex Hirsch +55

Johnny Depp +24

Kit Connor

Mads Mikkelsen -10

Ewan McGregor +28

Tom Hiddleston -24

Sadie Sink

Hayden Christensen

Dana Terrace

Hailee Steinfeld +29

Timothee Chalamet -11

Joey Batey +59

Matt Smith

Tom Sturridge

Dylan O’Brien +8

Katie McGrath -25

Joe Locke

Finn Wolfhard

Alfred Molina

Keanu Reeves -8

Noah Schnapp

Benedict Cumberbatch -4

Zoë Kravitz

Hugh Dancy -22

David Tennant -21

Elizabeth Olsen -33

Hayao Miyazaki +10

Natalia Dyer

Apo Nattawin

Charlie Cox

Tom Hardy -24

Paul Dano

Jamie Campbell Bower

Mile Phakphum

Jodie Whittaker

Sydney Sweeney

Chris Rock

Chris Hemsworth -22

Alexa Demie

Ryan Reynolds

Nichelle Nichols

Marilyn Monroe -17

Amber Heard

Barry Keoghan

Natalie Portman

Harvey Guillén

Selena Gomez

David Jenkins

Con O’Neill

Christopher Eccleston

Tessa Thompson +15

Simone Ashley

Jonathan Bailey

Jodie Comer +7

Walker Scobell

Bella Hadid -22

Wang Yibo -54

Betty White

Scarlett Johansson -58

Anne Hathaway

Emma Watson -9

Millie Bobby Brown

Jared Padalecki -76

Ana De Armas +3

Xiao Zhan -60

Oliver Stark -23

Bible Wichapas

Prince William

Angelina Jolie

Toby Fox

Jack Black

John Mulaney -84

Michael Sheen -42

Blake Lively

Ryan Guzman

Anya Taylor-Joy -68

The number in italics indicates how many spots a name moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded names weren’t on the list last year.

[glorious-spoon]

What about 14, 19 and/or 27 for the blossoming romance prompts? If it strikes your fancy 😘

thank you! :D and i did get your other message specifying buddie. i went with 14: looking at their lips as they talk

-

"You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?" Buck asks, and Eddie blinks and looks up to see him looking back with amusement sparkling in his eyes.

"What? Yeah. Of course I did."

"Okay, so summarize it."

"What is this, English class?" Buck's beaming at him, though, and Eddie's helpless against that smile; always has been. "You were talking about…lasagna? And how Bobby should write a cookbook?"

"Mmhm. And after that?"

"Come on," Eddie groans. The truth is, after that, Buck dipped his finger in the sauce simmering on the stove and sucked it clean, and Eddie has been staring at his mouth ever since and registering pretty much nothing other than the faint sheen of spit on his plush lower lip.

Buck doesn't need to hear that. His ego is big enough. But he's grinning like he already knows.

"Um. Something about…" He really has no idea. But he can take a stab at it, and maybe if he gets it right Buck will stop grinning at him in that way that makes Eddie feel overheated and stupid. Not that he actually minds that. But still. "Uh. Spice blends?"

"Not even close," Buck says smugly. He slides the sauce off the burner and turns it off.

"What are you doing?"

"Practicing basic fire safety," Buck says, and takes two steps across the kitchen to pin Eddie against the counter. "Wouldn't want anything to catch fire while we're… distracted."

"Oh, you think you're so smooth, huh," Eddie grumbles, but he's blushing, and he can't really keep the corners of his smile under control. Buck is big and warm and looks stupidly domestic in that blue apron of his, and—Eddie keeps getting blindsided by this, still. How much he wants it. How he's allowed to want it.

"You were staring at my mouth," Buck says, and it's smug, it is, but there's wonder in it too. Like maybe he's also still a little bit blindsided by it all. "You weren't listening to me talk—about wine pairings, by the way, you liar—because you were busy staring at my mouth."

"Yeah, I was." Eddie tilts his chin up. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Oh, I can think of a lot of things," Buck says, and he's beaming as he pulls Eddie in.

-

(blossoming romance writing prompts)

[jellyfishfem]

My biggest flex is that I never ever fell for or partipicipated in misogynystic hate campaigns. Not with Taylor Swift, not with Billie Eilish, not with Megan Thee Stallion, not with Ariana Grande, not with Amber Heard, not with Millie Bobby Brown, not with Meghan Markle, not with Hannah Kae Kim, not with Brie Larson, not with the Kardashian family, not with Daisy Ridley, not with Mia Khalifa, not with Doja Cat, not with JKR, not with Amanda Bynes, not with Azealia Banks, not with Selena Gomez and not with Hailey Bieber. Did I forget someone? Women are never held to the same standards as men. Chris Brown, Johnny Depp, Charlie Sheen, Woody Allen, Kanye West, Mel Gibson, ETC, they never even got half the portion of hate that the women did for *checks notes* dating many people…uhh, believing in biology, uhhh… not smiling enough in the movies… uhhh…being visibly mentally ill… yall get the point.

[davidtennantgenderenvy]

ROLES I WANT DAVID TENNANT TO PLAY IN MUSICALS: THE MASTERLIST

Okay so I've divided this into three categories, which you shall see below!

Roles I Think David Could/Should Play NOW:

Charlie Guiteau in Assassins

someone in Brigadoon bc it would be funny

The Emcee in Cabaret

Ryuk in Death Note

The Man In The Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone

The Dysquith Family in A Gentleman's Guide to Love And Murder

Herbie in Gypsy

Hades in Hadestown

Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame (okay give him like five years)

The Baker in Into The Woods

Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe

Albin or Georges in La Cage Aux Folles (either one as long as the other is played by Michael Sheen)

Trunchbull in Matilda OKAY HEAR ME OUT (he could also do Mr Wormwood)

Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady

Fagin in Oliver

Tateh in Ragtime

Riff Raff OR Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror

Shakespeare in Something Rotten

Squidward in SpongeBob (im so serious)

Sweeney Todd (utterly delusional but I need it to happen)

The Wizard in Wicked

Roles I Think David Would Have Nailed When He Was Younger

The Balladeer in Assassins

anyone in Cats please it would be so funny (especially Munkustrap)

Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen (like Campbell era come ON)

Motel in Fiddler on the Roof

Marvin in Falsettos (he MIGHT get away with that now not sure)

Monty in Gentleman's Guide

J.P. Finch in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman

Emmet in Legally Blonde

Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors

Edgar Allan Poe in Nevermore

Leo Frank in Parade

Narrator/Cat in the Hat in Seussical

Georg in She Loves Me

any character Christian Borle played in Spamalot

Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd

Roles David Quite Doesn't Have The Instrument For But I Would Watch Him Do Them Anyway Bc He Would Act The Hell Out Of Them:

Any Elder in The Book of Mormon (Younger)

Robert in Bridges of Madison County

Bobby in Company (Younger)

Jervis in Daddy Long Legs (Younger)

Lucheni in Elisabeth (Younger)

or death. Rudolph too tbh

Bruce Bechdel in Fun Home

Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre

Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde (younger)

Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (younger)

Javert in Les Miserables

Christian in Moulin Rouge (Younger)

Pierre in Great Comet (this one actually kills me bc he and Phileas are so similar)

OR ANATOLE HOLY CRAP

Gabe in Next to Normal (Younger)

Erik in Phantom of the Opera

Mark Cohen in Rent (younger)

Noel Gruber or Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone (younger)

Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden

Joe/Josephine in Some Like It Hot

BURRS IN THE WILD PARTY OH I WISH THIS WERE REALISTIC IT WOULD BE SO GOOD

GOD this is long please spill the opinions so this was worth it

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #4

xxx alternate prompt: venom

The call is a surprisingly straightforward one, considering dispatch had told them that the caller, a hiker named Aimee, had reportedly fallen off a cliff. It turns out to be less of a cliff and more of a hill. A steep hill, Eddie will give Aimee that, but still. A hill. They're able to get down to her just fine without any equipment, and though getting her back up the hill is a little more complicated due to an ankle fracture that Hen splinted, it isn't nearly as complicated a rescue as they'd been prepared for. All in all, things go pretty smoothly, right up until the paramedics start wheeling the patient to the ambulance.

"Oh, no," she says suddenly. "No no no!"

"You okay?" Chimney asks, and she shakes her head.

"What's happening?" Hen says, immediately on alert. "Are you experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath?"

"No, I'm not – it's not that," Aimee says, and her cheeks flushing. "My phone. I think I dropped it back there. Can't I just go get it real quick?"

"Aimee, we need to get you to the hospital. And we're definitely not going to let you walk on a broken ankle. Definitely not down that hill."

She lets out a choked sob. "Oh god, my whole life is on that phone! What am I gonna do?" Her breathing starts to quicken, coming in little gasps, and she seems a second away from going into a full-blown panic attack.

"I can go take a quick look," Buck offers, which doesn't surprise Eddie even a little. It has the intended effect, too, and Aimee's breathing starts to even out as she looks over at Buck with wide eyes.

"Really?" she says, and beside her Hen mouths thank you.

"Yeah!" Buck says with that wide, goofy grin he gets. "Yeah, you just. You get that ankle taken care of. If I find it, I'll drop it off at the hospital for you."

"Oh my god, thank you! You're literally my hero!"

It takes everything Eddie has not to roll his eyes. He's surprised when Buck doesn't say anything flirtatious in response. Instead, he just says, "No problem!" and starts carefully picking his way down the steep hill to the spot where Aimee had fallen.

"Make it quick, Buck," Bobby calls down.

"Yeah, Cap, I'll just be a minute!"

"Hen, will you come with me?" Aimee asks, and Hen looks at the other paramedic, who raises her shoulders indifferently.

"If they don't need you that's fine by me."

Hen turns to Bobby. "Cap?"

"Go ahead," Bobby says. "Shift's almost over. I'll let dispatch know."

Eddie watches as Hen climbs into the back of the ambulance. It's pulling away when Chimney nudges Eddie with his elbow. Eddie looks at him, and Chim nods down toward Buck.

"You think he'll actually find it?"

The area is grassy and overgrown, and there are dozens of shrubs where a phone could disappear and never be found again. That's if it didn't take a tumble down the next part of the hill, in which case the screen probably will have shattered into a million pieces. Eddie snorts.

"I guess we'll see."

Not even two seconds have passed before there's a cry from below them. It sounds more startled than pained, but Eddie still moves forward, ready to go down the hill if he needs to.

"You good?" he yells down.

"Uh – yeah. I found the phone!"

Chim makes a sound. "Of course he did."

"Good job," Bobby says. "Now let's get going!"

"Coming!"

Buck scrambles up the incline, and he could be imagining it but Eddie thinks he looks a little clumsy, more uncoordinated than usual. When he makes it up the hill, he's breathing hard, harder than he should be, and there's a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. His left hand is held tightly against his middle.

"Buck, you okay?" Bobby says with a frown, taking a step toward him. Buck looks up at him with wide eyes and a slightly guilty expression.

"Yeah. Er – no, actually. Um. I got bit by a rattlesnake."

Eddie's stomach drops. Beside him, Chimney starts to laugh but it dies off quickly.

"You're serious?"

Buck pulls his left arm away from his body and holds it out for them to see. There are two puncture wounds on the inside of his forearm, leaking blood. His arm is already starting to visibly swell.

"It happened really fast," Buck says, weirdly calm. Eddie doesn't know how he isn't freaking the hell out. "I was reaching for the phone and I – I didn't see it. They don't always rattle first, you know, if you. If you catch them by surprise."

Bobby's eyes are still on Buck's arm when he says, "What are our steps here, Chim?"

"Get him to the hospital ASAP so they can administer the antivenom. I can bandage him up, monitor his vitals and the swelling--"

"Can you do that on the move?"

Chimney nods.

"Right," Bobby says, finally tearing his gaze away from the bite He looks shaken, but his voice is steady. "Okay, then, let's move. Eddie, you help Chimney with Buck. I'll drive."

"You need to take your watch off," Chimney says as they start toward the engine, Eddie walking close to Buck, ready to catch him if he stumbles. "Before the swelling gets too bad."

Buck does as he's told, shoving his watch into a pocket. "You know, something like ten to twenty percent of rattlesnake bites are dry. No venom."

"Maybe you got lucky," Eddie says, and Buck lets out a breathy laugh.

"Yeah, maybe."

He's pale by the time they get him into the cab, his face drawn in pain. Bobby is already behind the wheel, explaining the situation to dispatch. He looks back at them as they climb in, Eddie and Buck side by side and Chimney across from them, the trauma kit on the floor between them.

"You guys ready?"

Eddie nods. "Let's go."

Buck makes a small noise as the engine lurches into motion, wincing.

"You okay?" Eddie says.

"I'm okay," he responds, a little breathlessly.

"Really?"

Buck eyes him for a second, then sighs. "Pain's getting worse. Sort of feels like I'm being...stabbed with a hot poker or something."

"Let me see," Chim says, and Buck holds his arm out. "I'm gonna bandage it up."

"Do you need to clean it?" Eddie says.

"No. If there's any venom on my skin, the doctors might be able to use it to figure out the right antivenom," Buck responds. Eddie's eyes narrow, and he's about to say That sounds made up when, to his surprise, Chim nods.

"He's right," he says.

Buck is quiet as Chim wraps the bandage around the bite, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the tightness of his mouth speak volumes. Eddie wishes there were something he could do, some way to take the pain away. He can't, though, so instead he sets a hand on Buck's knee.

"There we go," Chim says, finishing up the bandage. He pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to Eddie. A Sharpie. "I'm gonna take his vitals. Eddie, I need you to mark around the edge of the swelling and write down the time."

"Got it," Eddie says, pulling the cap off of the marker and tracing around the edge of the swelling.

"It wasn't the snake's fault," Buck says suddenly, and Eddie and Chim both look up at him.

"Stop talking for a minute while I take your blood pressure, k, Buck?" Chimney says before Buck can continue.

"How's he doing?" Bobby asks.

"His pulse is high but his blood pressure seems okay for now. I'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on it, though. Now what were you saying, Buck?"

"The snake. It wasn't its fault. Snakes get a bad rap, but they're really important for the ecosystem. And really they very rarely hurt people, as long as you leave them alone." He's speaking quickly, his voice pitched slightly up, and Eddie knows nervous chatter when he sees it. If talking will help, he doesn't mind keeping Buck talking.

"Didn't you cut of a boa constrictor's head once?" Eddie says, and a little color goes into Buck's pale cheeks.

"It was a python. And I feel really bad about that. I did some reading on snakes after and...anyway. I should've been more careful." He looks up at Chimney. "My hands're starting to feel tingly."

"I'm not surprised. Rattlesnake venom can do that."

"My mouth, too."

Chimney and Eddie lock eyes for a brief second before Chim looks at Buck and forces a small smile.

"You're gonna be fine, Buckaroo. Just try and relax if you can, the calmer you are the better."

Chimney checks his vitals again a few minutes later, and Eddie marks the swelling. He's surprised at how far it's spread in such a short time.

"Pulse is still high, but holding steady," Chim says. "How are you feeling, Buck?"

"Thirsty," Buck responds. He blinks heavily, letting his head fall back against the headrest. "'n tired."

It makes Eddie's gut twist with worry. He does his best not to show it – Chimney literally just said the calmer Buck is the better, and Eddie freaking out isn't going to help anything.

"I loved snakes as a kid," he says, to distract himself, and to try and keep Buck alert. Eddie rarely talks about his childhood if he can help it, even when Buck pesters him about it. He hopes maybe the novelty of him willingly opening up will be enough to keep Buck's attention. "My sisters hated them, though. Adriana especially. There was this one time we were playing in the backyard, and – Buck, you okay?"

All of the color has drained from Buck's face, and his breathing has noticeably quickened.

"Buck?" Chimney says, leaning forward.

"'m really dizzy," Buck murmurs, the words running together. And then his lashes flutter and his head lolls forward.

"Buck!" Eddie cries.

"What's going on?" Bobby, his voice tight with anxiety.

"He just passed out!"

"Hey, c'mon Buck!" Chimney is saying, and he's inflating the blood pressure cuff again, a frantic look on his face. "Shit. His blood pressure just dropped. Cap, I think he's going into shock. How far out are we?"

"About seven minutes. The hospital knows we're coming, they'll be ready for him."

"Okay. Eddie, we need to get him laying down, help me move him."

"Yeah," Eddie breathes. He barely gets the word out; his heart is pounding so hard it's making his chest ache.

It's tricky in the confined space, but they manage to get Buck onto his back, his legs propped up on the trauma kit. Chim grabs an emergency blanket and drapes it over him. And Eddie...Eddie feels useless. He reaches under the blanket, grabbing Buck's good hand and gripping it tight.

"Hang on, Buck," he says. "You got this, man. Hang on."

xxx

A/N: Shout-out to Emergency! episode 3x06 for the inspo on this one. Legendary show, which you can watch on archive.org

[delopsia]

Yeah, lemme just stop thinking about pouncing on Bobby and Rhett as soon as they walk through the front door. Like, they happen to come home at the same time and you are just a horny feral little forest hamster and you almost know them over with the force of your pounce and your mouth and hands are ON them and they're just like 🥵🥵🥵

"Horny feral little forest hamster" has had me laughing every time I've read it 😭

These two truly have no idea what is about to happen when they walk through the front door, hot and sweaty from an afternoon of rebuilding the shed that got demolished during last week's storm.

Rhett's long since lost his shirt, a thin sheen of sweat illuminating the dips and curves of his muscles. Bobby's only recently taken his off, the sun's already cooked him to a pale shade of red that reveals a mottling of freckles, and it's just so hard to ignore those two when they look like that.

Rhett's the kind of guy who turns into a bit of a slut after he's been breaking his back in the heat already got a good idea of what's racing through your mind as you walk over to them. There's a certain look that you get when you're wanting them, and it's got him kicking his boots off before he can give it any further thought.

Bobby is the one who almost gets knocked over. Living in his own little world, blissfully unaware of the fact that he's lined up in your crosshairs. Damn near falls over when you pounce on him, but then you're moving to kiss up Rhett's sweaty neck, and it's so hard not to jump onto the same page as you.

Rhett's already wrapped around your finger, eagerly following you into the kitchen, and Bobby's right behind, not missing a damn beat.

[the-flaming-nightmare]

Tagged by the wonderful @pimento-playing-hopscotch and @laneybishop89! ❤

I FINALLY started on a Little!Buck and Little!TK crossover fic! A sickfic, to be precise~ 😉😈 So, here's a tiny bit of that:

Buck and TK had talked excessively over the phone for the past several months about finding time for the two of them and their dads to all get together in person so they could spend some little time with each other. And finally, after much planning and schedule conflicts, they had a date set.

When Owen told TK that his uncle wanted them both to come out to California for his cousin Yvonne's birthday party, TK asked if they could also make time to go see Buck. One phone discussion with the Grant-Nashs later, Owen was completely on board for that. His dad and him were going to spend five days with Uncle Robert and his family after the party, then the following weekend they were going to spend it with Buck and his. Bobby and Athena told Owen that him and TK didn't need to worry about paying for a hotel for the remainder of their trip, that they were welcome to stay the weekend at their home. After confirming with TK if that was something he was comfortable with, Owen accepted their offer.

When the Friday of Owen and TK's arrival to the Grant-Nash household finally came, Buck and TK had both gotten up at that morning in headspace and practically vibrating out of their skin with excitement. Bobby and Athena could hardly keep Buck seated at breakfast and lunch time, and Owen had to stop TK multiple times from running out of Robert's front door with his entire suitcase in hand. If anything, their excitement and overall energy only seemed to increase when they eventually did finally see each other that afternoon. All three adults were certainly kept on their toes until bedtime that day.

However, the same couldn't be said for the following day.

When Owen and Bobby went into the nursery to wake the boys up this morning, they quickly realized something wasn't right when they knelt beside their respective child on the floor where they had decided to sleep in a nest of blankets together the night before. An unnatural amount of heat radiated from both Buck and TK's sleeping bodies, their cheeks a rosy red with a sheen of sweat across their foreheads. Bobby and Owen knew right then and there that their day was about to get a lot more hectic than they had originally expected.

Tagging (if you wanna): @angelique-of-the-volturi-guard, @anewkindofme, @snowviolettwhite, @actualalligator, @thegoeticcleric, @phantomhiveroyaltea, @nottapossum, @autisticalastor, @otpcutie, @quintessenceofdust88, @moonlithaze, @pibsboots, and anyone else who wants to join!

[exhuastedpigeon]

WIP Wednesday

No one look at me. I woke up at 5am with an idea that made me not hate my Buddie baseball AU and now I'm 1.5k deep into the new approach.

And yes, y'all are about to learn that I'm a giant baseball nerd. The kind of nerd who, when I lived close enough to my team, had season tickets. There are 81 home games and from 2017-2019 I only missed 10 home games. I missed those games to travel around watching minor league baseball. The kind of nerd who hand tracked stats as a kid because it was fun for me.

This is all just a warning because this fic is might get a little inside baseball about... baseball...

Pitchers were weird, that’s just a fact of life that baseball players learn young. Sometimes they need a little special attention, sometimes they need to be left alone the day of a game, and sometimes they need a very specific Gatorade only made in Korea.  In his two two years with the Dodgers, Eddie had seen his fair share of pitchers doing stuff that anyone else would think is weird before their start days, but because they’re pitchers it’s just accepted. Most of the guys in the clubhouse just ignore it, but Eddie, as the starting catcher, doesn't get that luxury.  Bobby Nash always prays a decade of his rosary before a start. After their first game together, Eddie had started praying with him to get them in the same headspace. So between batting practice and first pitch Eddie and Bobby sit in front of Bobby’s locker, heads bowed together, and pray quietly.  Chimney Han insists that watching a supercut of all of the Wild Thing scenes from Major League got him in the zone. Eddie’s pretty sure he could recite the compilation from memory by now because he’d watched it so many times with Chim. Before every one of Chim’s starts Eddie finds him in the little lounge area with his iPad and they watch a very young Charlie Sheen.  Albert Han, younger half-brother of Chimney, is the one who insisted on the Korean Gatorade. Eddie didn’t drink it with him, instead he had his own pre-game snack and water while they discussed the line up again to keep fresh. Albert is probably the most well adjusted pitcher Eddie’s played with in the big leagues, but the bar is low so it’s not saying much.  Ravi Panikkar got his first call up last year and Eddie quickly learned that Ravi needed a gentle hand. After his first few starts Ravi started to open up and apparently his thing before games was checking the real estate market, something about needing a back-up plan if baseball didn’t work out. Eddie would have made fun of him after the game, but it worked for him so Eddie didn’t say shit. Eddie liked to think he was used to pitchers and their idiosyncrasies after a basically lifetime of playing baseball and six years playing professionally, but he still wasn’t used to Evan Buckley. There wasn’t much Buck could do that would surprise Eddie, which was why Eddie only needed to gesture for Buck to come into his hotel room when he knocked on his door at 6am the first day the full team was set to report to Spring Training. It was still early enough that the air had  a bit of a bite to it, but Eddie knew better than to be fooled by an Arizona morning.   “Morning Buck,” Eddie rubbed a hand over his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of it. Buck hadn’t woken him up, but he had gotten Eddie out of bed, which was just as bad in Eddie’s opinion. They didn’t have to report until noon today to give the position players time to get their shit in order since pitchers and catchers had already been at camp for at least a week - or two weeks in Eddie’s case. 

Tagged by @cal-daisies-and-briars @disasterbuckdiaz @wikiangela @tizniz @wildlife4life @diazsdimples

no pressure tagging @monsterrae1 @rosieposiepuddingnpie @elvensorceress @malewifediaz @spotsandsocks @spagheddiediaz @thewolvesof1998 @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @acountrygirlsfun @actualalligator @jeeyuns @jesuisici33 @puppyboybuckley @thekristen999 @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @eddiebabygirldiaz @buddierights @honestlydarkprincess @epicbuddieficrecs @steadfastsaturnsrings @underwater-ninja-13 @rainbow-nerdss @911-on-abc @devirnis @daffi-990 @loserdiaz and anyone else who wants to share!

[octoberobserver]

Save The Last Dance For Me - Buddie Fic

Read on ao3 here

~*~

“I’m never drinking again.”

“Me neither.”

Buck groaned, cradling his head in the crook of his arm, a wide grin still spread across his face as he watched his sister and a little banged up but elated Chimney, have their first dance.

“They look happy,” Eddie murmured next to him, their shoulders brushing together as he took a large gulp of what must have been his fifth glass of water in the last hour.

It had been a…chaotic day, to say the least. From disastrous bachelor parties to losing the groom, to the same groom being in jeopardy all when he was supposed to marry the love of his life and the mother of his child, things seemed to keep going from bad to worse.

But with the help of their family and friends, they got there in the end. Maddie and Chim made their way back to one another and professed their love officially, all beautiful and legally binding.

Eddie got a lump in his throat as he watched his friend twirl his new bride, nudging Buck’s knee as he saw the tell-tale sheen in his gaze.

“You holdin’ up, okay?”

Buck nodded, turning those bright blue eyes to him.

A familiar warmth spread in Eddie’s chest at the sight. Buck had seemed…lighter these last couple of weeks. Ever since he came out to Eddie, and then the rest of the 118, it was as if a weight he hadn’t realized he’d had around him suddenly lifted, and Eddie, honestly, couldn’t be happier for his best friend.

“Yeah, I’m good. Happy it all worked out. They deserve it. Especially after everything they’ve been through.”

Eddie hummed in agreement, and the two of them went back to watching the couple, a companionable silence falling between them.

“You think you’ll ever do it again?”

He whirled around to find Buck’s stare tracing the side of his face, looking pensive.

“Dance?” he asked, being deliberately obtuse to try and avoid answering.

Buck rolled his eyes, knocking their shoulders together.

“Get married.”

Something sharp twisted in Eddie’s gut at that. His heart began to pick up speed.

“U-Uh…”

Fuck.

Ever since his talk with Bobby, he had asked himself that exact question. And a couple of more terrifying questions that he still didn’t have the answers to.

Their eyes locked.

“I’m not sure. Maybe? If…if I was with the right person.”

Buck held his gaze, looking as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.

“Evan?”

They turned towards the sudden voice behind them.

“Tommy!” Buck exclaimed excitedly, leaping out of his seat and enveloping him in a hug.

Eddie regarded the two of them, realizing that this was the first time he was seeing them together now that they were together. He watched Tommy’s hand land on Buck’s hip, the other coming up to grip his shoulder, squeezing it gently, his thumb sweeping over his collarbone.

Something painful suddenly jolted again in Eddie’s stomach, making him frown in confusion. He hurried to clear his expression as Tommy began to speak.

“You look…” he trailed off, taking in Buck’s dishevelled ‘Crockett’ outfit (Eddie still insisted that he was Tubbs, but whatever), “like you had an interesting night.”

Interesting sure was one way to describe it.

As if Buck was reflecting on just how interesting the night had been, he gave a half-shrug and sheepish grin.

“Not as interesting as you saving the day by rescuing Chimney in your chopper,” he quipped, nudging his shoulder as Tommy lowered his head almost bashfully.

“I don’t know, Buckley. Seein’ you in a pastel suit, even if it is a little dirty, is pretty high up there.”

Oh, God. They’re flirting.

Not that Eddie cared, of course. He was a good friend, an ally. He wasn’t uncomfortable or anything, of course not. He just couldn’t exactly explain the almost nauseated feeling in his gut at the moment. It was probably just something he ate or, you know, the gallons of alcohol he had consumed last night.

“Hey, Eddie.”

His head shot up to meet Tommy’s eye, and he quickly schooled his face into something more pleasant.

“Hey, man,” he raised from his seat to shake his hand, smacking him on the back in a half hug.

Tommy quirked an eyebrow at him, gaze trailing up and down.

“Tubbs?” he asked with a glint in his eye.

Eddie shook his head.

“I’m Crockett, he’s Tubbs, people just refuse to acknowledge it.”

Tommy laughed as Buck let out a groan.

“I’m more like Don Johnson, Eds. Accept it.”

“You didn’t even know who Don Johnson was until I told you,” he shot back. “Just because you insisted on binge-watching Miami Vice all week, does not mean you get to—”

“I wanted to stay on theme,” Buck interjected. “Chimney wanted the '80s, so he got the ‘80s. I wanted to be authentic to the character. Like, what’s it called…method acting?”

“Uh-huh. Okay, Daniel Day-Lewis.”

He was hyperaware of Tommy staring between them, watching their exchange with something unreadable on his face, and quickly cleared his throat.

“You want a beer, Tommy? I don’t think you’ll need your wallet tonight after getting the groom back to where he belongs.”

The three of them watched Chim dip Maddie, her peels of laughter audible over the music.

“Hey, you guys found him. I just drove. Or…flew,” Tommy chuckled as they all walked along the edge of the dancefloor, towards the bar.

“So, do I get to ask what happened to you?” he gestured to Eddie’s bare chest under his suit jacket.

Buck failed to stifle a snort.

“Little…karaoke mishap,” Eddie hurried to say as if that explained anything.

Tommy merely grinned, accepting the beer handed to him with an appreciative nod.

Eddie took that opportunity to glance back onto the dancefloor, noticing that Maddie was now waving frantically at them.

“Think you’re being summoned, Buck.”

Like an overexcited puppy, Buck bounced on the balls of his feet.

“Oh, yeah! Time for the brother-sister dance!”

Eddie and Tommy levelled him with twin looks of confusion as he flushed, babbling.

“Maddie insisted on a brother-sister dance instead of a father-daughter dance. Says it’ll bring her better luck this time around.”

With that, Buck smacked a quick kiss on Tommy’s cheek that had Eddie’s mouth twisting for some reason. He then clapped him on the shoulder and bounded across the room in a flash, taking Maddie’s hand as Chim took Hen’s.

Eddie watched the siblings and pseudo-siblings dance for a moment, feeling a gentle smile replace whatever was on his face at how happy they all looked.

“So. Evan told you we were dating.”

He was spat out of his reverie by Tommy’s words and tried not to let himself visibly react.

“Uh, yeah. He did. I’m happy for him. You too.”

He watched from the corner of his eye as Tommy shifted from one foot to the other, and suddenly worried that he had somehow said the wrong thing.

“Good. I’m glad. You’re his best friend, Eddie. He needs you.”

He could hear a slight tone colouring those words, but he couldn’t figure out what it was, so instead, he commented on something that had been plaguing him for a while now.

“You call him Evan.”

There was a beat where Tommy sipped his beer, gaze tailing Buck from across the room before he replied.

“You don’t.”

It was a non-answer to a non-question.

Eddie wanted to tell him that Buck didn’t really like being called Evan. That the only people who called him that were Maddie occasionally and his parents, with whom he had a complicated relationship. He wanted to tell him that Buck preferred ‘Buck’ because it was who he was now. Who he had become over the last seven years, away from his childhood home, his parents, and the ghosts that haunted him.

But he didn’t.

Because maybe Buck liked it when Tommy called him Evan. Maybe he was the exception. And that was none of Eddie’s business.

“No, I don’t. Not often. And usually only when I really need him to hear me.”

Because, Evan…you act like you’re expendable. But you’re wrong.

Tommy hummed, taking another sip.

“Does it bother you?”

That dragged his eyes off his friend’s cheerful face, meeting Tommy’s gaze, and despite what he had just been thinking, he heard himself reply:

“Why would you calling Buck ‘Evan’ bother me?”

Something weighty passed between them as if Tommy silently asked him something he had no idea how to answer.

“Not that,” he murmured, his focus zeroing back on Buck. “Does it bother you that we’re seeing each other?”

Eddie’s mouth went dry. He took another large gulp of water, forcing down a cough.

“O-Of course it doesn’t bother me. Why would it bother me?”

He almost cringed at the note of hysteria in his voice.

Tommy nudged him.

“Relax, Eddie. I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything. I just meant that I know how close you and Evan are, and how important he is in Chris’ life. I just wanna let you know that I don’t want what me and Buck might have come between that, man. And I’d get it if you were…concerned it would.”

Eddie wasn’t sure exactly how to answer that, so he merely nudged his shoulder back.

“S’all good. Yeah, Buck is my best friend. But you’re my friend too, Tommy. I’m psyched you two are givin’ it a shot.”

He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t meet his eye when he said that. Instead, he found himself staring back out on the dancefloor just in time to see Buck and Maddie do a stumbly double twirl, their identical grins on full display, Buck’s eyes glinting bright against the disco lights.

Eddie’s stomach did another random flip that made him glad he didn’t risk the appetisers earlier.

Seriously never drinking again.

“He is a terrible dancer,” Tommy laughed at Buck’s antics as he tried and failed to rope Chim and Hen into some sort of dancing quartet.

“Oh yeah, the worst,” Eddie agreed with a chuckle. “But he tries. And although he does care what people think, sometimes a little too much, he doesn’t let that stop him. That’s what counts.”

He wasn’t just talking about Buck’s dancing, obviously, and judging by Tommy's completive hum, he understood that.

“Yeah, it does,” his voice was fond in a way that was all too familiar to Eddie when it came to Evan Buckley. “I wish I had been more like him when I first came out.”

He chanced a glance at him, tilting his head.

“What do you mean?”

Something almost sad crossed Tommy’s face.

“I mean, I was kinda an asshole about it at first, to be honest,” he shrugged, wistful. “I was dealing with a lot, the…performance of it all, you know? Locker talk and beers with the boys and Captain Gerard’s idea of what men should be. Convincing myself that what I was feeling wasn’t actually happening and forcing myself to act out what I thought it meant to be a man and all that macho bullshit. Find a girl, get married, have kids, and provide the way a man should. But I couldn't do it. And in the process of resenting myself for that, it…cost me some good friendships. Maybe a couple of potential relationships, too. But Evan? He’s accepted himself with a gentleness that he deserves. That everyone deserves.”

Despite the music, some medley of cheesy pop songs surrounding them, Eddie felt as if his head had been submerged under water, a phantom clogging in his ears that had him shaking his head as they started to ring.

His chest felt tight, his palms starting to sweat.

“Eddie? You okay?” a distant voice asked, worlds away from what he was pretty sure was the beginnings of a panic—

A strong hand landed on his shoulder gently, and he glanced up, meeting a pair of bright blue familiar eyes.

His chest loosened.

His breathing steadied.

“Yeah,” he murmured, slightly shaking fingers grasping Buck’s forearm. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just…think I’m still a bit dehydrated, that’s all.”

He didn’t need to know Buck like the back of his hand to read that he wasn’t buying one word he had just said, but thankfully, Tommy provided a distraction.

“I believe you owe me a dance.”

Buck’s gaze flickered from Eddie to Tommy and back again before he let out a hesitant breath.

“I do.”

“Well, come on, Evan. Show me whatcha got.”

Buck glanced back to Eddie, almost as if seeking permission, which, nope, Eddie couldn’t let himself think of the implications of that.

“Go on,” he urged, plastering a smirk onto his still too stiff face. “Show him those moves, Crockett.”

Buck nodded, something still swimming in his eyes, but allowed himself to be pulled away.

Eddie stared after them as they made their way onto the dancefloor, hand in hand, their fingers linked. That same jolt in his stomach made its appearance for the umpteenth time.

I kinda can’t stop thinking about him…

That was what Buck had said that night, happiness practically radiating from him.

It had struck Eddie because, honestly, he couldn’t remember the last time his own thoughts were consumed by anyone who wasn’t his son or best—

Best friend.

Because, yeah. There were times he couldn’t stop thinking about Buck—many, many times over the years if he was being honest with himself. From grenades in legs and earthquakes to tsunamis and lawsuits to shootings and lightning strikes to everything in between, Evan Buckley had firmly taken up space in his mind—a lot. And it wasn’t just memories from the job, either.

There were drives to Chris and Carla introductions and Santa visits and skateboards and science projects and math homework and video games and movie marathons and breaking down doors and falling asleep on couches and poker nights and homemade meals and beers in kitchens and—

Suddenly, as if she were standing right beside him, he recalled what Maddie had said in her vows to Chimney a few hours earlier.

My brother once asked me what love should be. If it should be when you’re at your worst, and they’re at their worst, you have every reason to give up, and you still decide you wanna try again. I agreed with him then. And I agree with him even more now, because yeah, love is that and more, good and bad. Love is loving each other anyway…

He understood why she had included that, considering everything she and Chim had gone through over the years, but Eddie found, in that moment, a little selfishly, that he hadn’t been thinking about them. Instead, he thought about Buck and their relationship. How much they had gone through together since that first night in the back of the ambulance, and how he also agreed that, yeah, love should be that. Love should be choosing someone over and over again because you want to. Love should be seeing someone at their worst, and them at yours, and loving each other anyway.

But it hadn't occurred to him until just then that maybe not everyone thought about their best friends and their lives together during romantic wedding vows.

And that was before he had glanced up to find Buck already looking at him, from his place as Man of Honor at Maddie’s side, across from where he stood behind Hen at Chim’s. Eddie’s breath had died in his throat, unable to look away as Buck’s bright blue eyes locked on his while his sister talked about what true love meant, and how she had found her perfect partner in it.

You can have my back any day. Yeah, or you know, you could have mine.

He was startled back to the present as Buck let go of Tommy’s hand and whirled back around, clapping Eddie on the shoulder, leaning down, his breath ghosting over his ear in a way that had him suppressing a shiver.

“Go ask Marisol for a dance, Romeo.”

But I wanna dance with you.

The sudden thought had his breath hitching in his throat.

God knew they had danced like idiots only the night before during karaoke, but this was different. This was slow dancing at a formal event, in front of all of Buck’s family and friends.

I don’t care. I wanna dance with him.

Frowning at whatever he saw on Eddie’s face, Buck nodded towards Marisol, who stood off to the side with Christopher, Denny, and Karen. He gave his shoulder one last squeeze, right where it met his neck, his thumb lightly brushing his skin, before following Tommy.

Eddie stilled, watching him go, and felt something heavy and unnameable sink in his chest.

“Can I have this dance?”

He was ashamed to admit that the sudden appearance of Marisol at his side had him startled, but he recovered.

“Sure.”

They weaved their way in and out of the gathering couples. He clocked Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen and, of course, Chim and Maddie as he passed, but he carefully kept his eyes from searching the room for anyone else.

Once they found a free spot, Eddie placed one hand over Marisol’s and clutched her waist with the other, leading slowly. He caught her eye for a brief, half-hearted smile before his gaze wandered aimlessly around the room.

The song was familiar, its melody soft, and its voice recognisable. Springsteen. A cover? It was definitely something he had heard in bars back in Texas, and could see Maddie and Chim singing together at karaoke.

🎵 Now you can dance every dance with the guy who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight. And you can smile every smile for the man who held your hand beneath the pale moonlight…🎵

A pastel blur waved in front of him, almost directly opposite where he and Marisol were.

There he was.

His best friend.

Buck was swaying in Tommy’s arms, his hands resting on his shoulders, lips upturned in a small, private smile.

Eddie’s heart did a somersault in his chest.

🎵 But don’t forget, who’s takin’ you home and in whose arms you’re gonna be. So darlin’, save the last dance for me… 🎵

Blue eyes met brown from across the dancefloor.

The pink and purple lights cast Buck in a soft, warm hue, shadows washing across his face as the lyrics whirled around them.

🎵 Oh, I know that the music’s fine like sparklin’ wine, go and have your fun. Laugh and sing, but while we’re apart, don’t give your heart to anyone… 🎵

Eddie fought not to clench his hands, distantly aware of Marisol, but unable to look away from Buck, who was still staring at him from over Tommy’s shoulder, something he couldn't decipher etched across every inch of him.

🎵 Baby, don’t you know, I love you so, can’t you feel it when we touch, I will never, never let you go… 🎵

He watched as Buck stumbled a little, their eye contact breaking abruptly as he hurried to apologize to Tommy. Eddie wanted to take that moment to look away, focus anywhere else—on his date, ideally—but he couldn’t. His gaze stayed glued to Buck, only half paying attention to his own movements, just enough to have some semblance of dancing, and just when he was going to forcibly drag his eyes away…

Buck looked back up.

Their eyes locked.

🎵 You can dance, go and carry on, ‘til the night is gone and it’s time to go. If he asks if you’re all alone, can he walk you home, you must tell him no… 🎵

Eddie felt his heart hammer in his chest, his throat go dry, a stinging welling behind his eyes.

🎵 ‘Cause don’t forget who’s takin’ you home and in whose arms you’re gonna be. Oh darlin’, save the last dance for me… 🎵

Oh. Well, there's the answer to one terrifying question.

The same question, if he were being truly honest with himself, that had first echoed in the back of his mind as he lay bleeding out on the street. Or maybe even buried underground while running out of air.

The last few bars faded out as all of the air felt like it had been sucked out of the room, suspending them in time. All he could see was Buck. Evan Buckley, his best friend in the whole world, staring back at him as if…as if he…

“—ddie?”

“Hmm?”

His eyes snapped down to Marisol, who was gently tapping the back of his neck.

“You with me?”

He swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding shakily.

“Yeah, yeah, I-I'm with...uh, sorry, I think the hangover is goin’ for round two.”

He almost cringed at the lame excuse, but it was all his addled brain could come up with, distantly aware that the music had changed to something fast and upbeat and altogether young in a way that made him feel very, very old.

“I…uh…I’m gonna go get a drink. Hair of the dog and all that. You want one?”

Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and high-tailed it off the dancefloor.

Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.

Eddie had told that to Chim once. And now, he was dancing at his wedding.

Gonna follow your own advice, Diaz?

Violently shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of his very, very, inconvenient and dangerous thoughts, dodging in and out of people, his chest heaving. He only made it halfway to the bar before he heard a familiar clacking of crutches, and suddenly, a small hand tugged at his.

“Dad!” Christopher yelled over the music. “You gotta see this. Denny’s gonna do The Worm.”

Eddie froze in his tracks, snapping his eyes shut for a beat to calm himself before slowly turning to meet his son, hoping his face seemed normal.

Because the thing was, this didn’t feel like a panic attack. Not really. When he took a second to think about it, he realized it was true. Yes, the racing heart was there, the sweating palms, and the spiralling thoughts, but the actual panic? The godawful, icy fear in his veins that he had felt when Ana had been mistaken for his wife? No. That was conspicuously absent. So he wasn’t panicking. He wasn’t freaking out at the sharp turn his brain had taken when thinking about Buck.

Because it wasn’t sharp at all.

His heart had gotten there long ago. And had paved the way.

Be sure you’re following your heart…

That was what Carla had said to him. Years ago now.

...shit. Has everyone seen it before me?

Because yeah. This was a revelation.

An epiphany.

The final puzzle piece slotting into place and showing him the full picture for the very first time.

The picture that they made. He and Christopher and Buck. Their little family of three. He and Buck, having each other’s backs from almost day one, being partners in nearly every sense of the word, trying and sometimes failing together and loving each other anyway.

Except that last puzzle piece also told him that that love? Yeah. It was more than someone should feel for their best friend.

Shit.

“I didn’t think people still did The Worm,” he forced out a reply, relieved when his voice came out relatively fine.

“It was a very brief trend on TikTok,” Buck appeared beside them. “Brought it to a whole new generation. Chris showed him last week.”

Eddie took a breath, allowing his new, full, completed puzzle to settle into his chest, his heart, before narrowing his eyes at him.

“But Christopher isn’t allowed on TikTok.”

A blush rose to Buck’s cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Eddie’s stomach swooped. By now he'd stopped counting.

“No. But I am. And he may have been scrolling through my For You page. But I promise it’s all puppy videos and silly dances, Eds.”

He hummed at that as Chris let out another groan, impatiently tugging on his arm and nudging Buck forward.

“Come on, I don’t wanna miss it!”

Resigned to their fate, the three of them made their way back out onto the dancefloor where a small crowd was gathering.

As they walked, Buck threw him a gentle, enigmatic smile that seemed to shift the air around them.

And Eddie…

New revelations and all, smiled back and followed him.