#i hope you like the answer!

[coolcattime]

oooo with the new saw movie coming out, would you be alright with ranking traps? or even characters in the series? the movies in general?

Hi hi hi! I'm super happy to rank off the traps! (See under the read more because it's a long ramble and like descriptions of gore + death because I have an option on death traps).

For characters, I don't think I could do a full ranking but for favourites: I love Amanda and John (so happy to see them getting to be the full main focus of Saw X), I really like Lynn from Saw 3.

So for the traps, I'm ranking each movie's traps individually. I think the list will just turn into a juggle if I tried to do this as an overall ranking.

But also this way I can discuss the traps I have thoughts on (which is less and less the more we great through films, partly from just fatigue)

I took these lists off the wiki, so most of the films are going to have a "this is not a Trap section" because I don't think some of these actually are traps. Also, I'm only ranking the Reserve Bear Trap in the original Saw, if it was in the list for 6 and 3D, it would just win.

Saw:

7: Drill Chair. This feels like an odd trap because like, it feels a lot more like Jigsaw just needed a distraction than he was genuinely testing the guy in the trap.

6: Flammable Jelly. This trap feels like so much. Flammable jelly, broken glass, and poison makes this feel like a bit overkill. I really like the concept, needing to find the combo in a mess of numbers with a time limit, but I do think it could've had maybe one fewer element. Though I do find it honestly hilarious that the guy is in the trap for calling in sick to work when he isn't sick. Like that's just so funny to me.

5: Zep's Test. This gets props for the really awesome end of the film where we get the reveal of John Kramer for the first time and the Hello Zep tape. However it does only work because Zep WANTS to abduct and hold hostage Dr Gordon's family. Like I know that, even by this point, Jigsaw has at least one apprentice and therefore could take Zep out if he didn't, but Zep shouldn't know that and he works in a hospital. Obviously John has been talking with Zep and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt of knowing he was the type of person to go through with the crime, but I still think this "trap" only works because Zep really didn't think of an alternative solution. 

4: Razor Wire Maze. I just think this one is neat. I know people have complaints about the reason for him being in the trap being self-harm, but I think that does work with John's logic (and I also know that in the original script he's there for something else). But this one feels beatable, and if nothing else it was the first.

3: Shotgun Hallway. Is this really a Saw trap? No. Should it be anywhere near this high? No. I just think it's fun. His head exploded.

2: Bathroom Trap. Escape room!!! What's not to love about this? Two guys chained to a wall, a dead body in the middle, and a countdown for one to kill the other. It's fun and that's good because it's the concept for the full movie. I kinda wish the films had stuck more for this formula of the main "trap plot" being mostly a bunch of puzzles with time for the characters to get to know each other (because I think death games are at their best when I care about the people dying).

1: Reverse Bear Trap. Look, it's just awesome okay. I love it. The design is cool. It's very survival but still feels like an actual challenge. There's a reason it got brought back in two other films, and there's a reason it's The Pigs power in Dead by Daylight, it's awesome. 

Saw 2:

Not a Trap: Eric's Test. I don't think sitting and listening for 3 hours is a trap. I do think the whole safe place is in a safe is very funny though. 

7: Electric Staircase. 

6: Magnum Eyehole. No one opens a door with their eye to the peephole. No one should open a door if someone else has their eye to the peephole. I think I can tell what the bullet of a gun looks like when looking into it and stop looking directly into it. 

5: The Furnace. This is where I think the good traps for this film begin. There’s something about this, I just think is interesting. Because you can get an antidote for free, no strings attached, it’s only the second one that even activates the trap. Right at the start of the film, someone could’ve been totally good with the nerve gas, but he just had to go reaching for the second one before passing out the first. Also, it feels beatable, which is always good.

4: Antidote Safe. Now this is how you do a psychological trap. Because this requires 0 murder, they could all get the numbers without anyone dying and then they have an antidote. But after losing 3 already (and a 4th while he's getting everyone's numbers) Xavier just decides to kill rather than, I assume, possibly being forced to fight over it. 

3: Razor Box. I think this is a really interesting idea. It feels simple, it feels beatable. Like even with both hands through, if Alison was taller (or someone else helped) then she probably could’ve got out okay.

2: Death Mask. aka the Venus Flytrap. I have never heard this called anything but the Venus Flytrap and I’m confused why the Saw wiki has given the page title a worse name. I just like this trap. Nothing wrong with a good death mask. (Guy definitely should’ve survived… like dude you’re eye is fucked anyway, get that key).

1: Needle Pit. I think the Needle Pit is so horrifying considering it’s also the only non-lethal trap in the series. Like it’s painful and terrifying (made worse knowing they had to halt filming because they dropped real needles in there by accident). It is truly awesome to watch Amanda just fucking dig through needles and seriously I cannot believe that Xavier drops the damn key.

Saw 3:

Not a Trap: Jeff's Trial & Jeff's Final Test & Amanda's Test

6: Pig Vat. I’ll be honest, I don’t mind the price of saving the judge being psychological rather than a physical toll on Jeff. I just, I don’t care about Jeff. To be fully honest, I’m not a big fan of the trap plots where it’s “here is one person who has to save everyone else” because it kinda takes the will to survive element out of it. A lot of this film’s trap plot kinda boils down to Jeff yells at a person before deciding to help, which I’m not a fan of and beyond that element I find this trap more gross than scary (and note, I fear drowning, I just can’t get my brain past rotting pig juice to find that bit scary).

5: Classroom Trap. Unbeatable and lacks any aesthetic I find cool enough to forgive that factor.

4: Freezer Room. Similar issues to the Pig Vat, but I guess I find the concept of freezing to death actually scary. 

3: Angel Trap. I know this is also unbeatable, but there’s something about this one that I just find pleasing. Even the crew call it elegant. Like if you’re going to make unbeatable traps, make them cool. 

2: The Rack. It’s cool, it’s so extremely painful, it’s Jigsaw’s favourite for a reason!

1: Shotgun Collar. I know logically this shouldn’t be my top trap for the film… but death collar!!! I have my likes for death game tropes, and death collars are high up there. It’s big and bunky which I don’t think I’ve seen any other death collar be and it definitely feels like it could’ve done the damage it eventually does to Lynn. The connection to John’s heartbeat is great, and allows for the twist when Jeff kills him. And, while I think there’s a deleted scene where it’s shown that Amanda’s key doesn’t actually unlock the collar, the idea of the key being in such close reach but completely inaccessible is great.

Saw 4:

Not a trap: Riggs Trial & Hoffman's Test (how is Hoffman’s Test listed under Saw 4 when it takes until Saw 6 for anything to actually come of it??)

8: Perez and Strahms Trial. I counted this as a trap only because a puppet exploded in Perez’s face and that wasn’t listed as an individual trap. I have no real thoughts about the exploding puppet other than why would you put your head closer??

7: Spine Cutters. We do not get to see what this trap does. That’s just kinda lame. I’m also a little unsure why he didn’t go to someone about the death trap when he clearly could walk around outside and had access to the police (sure knock out Rigg rather than tell him about the death trap), but I’ll just guess that he knew Hoffman was in on it?

6: Knife Chair. I honestly think the Knife Chair is meant to be a little bad. Like it’s John’s first trap… I think (the timeline kinda gets messier with Jigsaw). I will say, it literally falling apart, and John dodging his attack after so he just ends up in razor wire is funny, but it’s not a good trap.

5: Spike Trap. I’m not the biggest fan of contest traps. Like I don’t mind this one, I don’t particularly want an abuser to live, but it always feels a bit lame to see a trap set up as only one person having a chance.

4: Scalping Seat. A cool trap, even if I don’t think it would work realistically. I wish that it wasn’t reliant on Rigg saving her, but it also wouldn’t have set off if Rigg hadn’t activated it. So it’s kinda a mix. 

3: Ice Block Trap.

2: Mausoleum Trap. 

1: Bedroom Trap.

Saw 5:

I really like the core concept of the trap point of Saw 5 with the idea that everyone would have survived if they just worked together. That feels right. It is genuinely a really cool idea.

Not a Trap: Fatal Five Trial

8: Ceiling Jars

7: Shotgun Chair. This is genuinely so disappointing as a meeting for John and Hoffman. Like all the cool traps it could’ve been, it’s just a shotgun pointed at Hoffman.

6: Electric Bathtub

5: Water Cube

4: Pendulum Trap

3: Neck Tie Trap

2: 10 Pints of Sacrifice

1: Glass Coffin. I really really like the fact that Saw went for the walls closing up, you’re gonna get crushed and then they actually crushed the person. Especially since that was their idea because the first one was too hard to film. Like being crushed is an absolutely horrifying way to die, and I think it's awesome to see in one of these films.

Saw 6:

Not a Trap: Williams Trial

7: Explosion Bracelet

6: Oxygen Crusher

5: Pound of Flesh

4: Steam Maze

3: Shotgun Carousel

2: The Gallows. Maybe I like this one because it reminds me of the Ashley Josh trap from Until Dawn, but I do really like these kind of traps, despite how I still think that contest traps are a little lame (god I need to get back to Mianite Until Dawn at some point [because I planned so much I just like need the energy to watch the game while I write], or like… right a version of a scene where someone needs to pick between two people because I love the concept).

1: Acid Room. …I can’t get over Rodrick killing a dude okay. “You killed my dad, you son of a bitch” will forever be in my head. It is also thematic that the man who chose if other people’s get to live would be saved doesn’t get to save his own, even if it does seem a little against the Jigsaw to not prove your own will to survive.

Saw 3d:

Not a Trap: Pain Train (It was in a dream, it wasn't real and if was was real it would probably go between Lawnmower Trap and Hangman’s Noose), Bobby's Trial

11: Brazen Bull. Fuck this trap. Fuck killing a nice woman that did literally nothing wrong cause her husband is a con artist. This movie would’ve been 100% better if Joyce had been in zero danger and the threat to Bobby was being revealed to her as a con artist.

10: Suspended Cage

9: Cyanide Box & Sentry Gun

7: Wisdom Teeth Combination

6: Lawnmower Trap. This trap is less realistic than the one that literally takes place in a dream. How did they get up there? How did the survivor get down? The movie doesn’t care.

5: Hangman's Noose

4: Impalement Wheel

3: Public Execution. This is the one trap I think would work better than the original if it was set in a modern setting. Like put a couple of influencers in there and you got an actual good excuse for why it’s public.

2: Silence Circle

1: Horsepower Trap

Jigsaw:

Not a Trap: The Murders Trial

8: Edgar Munsen's Test

7: Leg Wires & Grain Silo Trap

5: Laser Collars

4: Chain Hangers. This trap I really think would benefit from the person being affected alone rather than the whole group dying. The idea that you can live super easily if you admit to the petty amount you stole that cost someone their live is so compelling, but it killing the whole group if she doesn’t admit it is just kinda ehh

3: Cycle Trap

2: Bucket Room

1: Shotgun Keys. We got to the pun! “This is your key to freedom” Yes! I love that they both could have survived and I love that John directly told them how. 

Spiral:

I haven’t watched Spiral. My best friend (who was the one that turned me onto the series, really likes it and wants to watch it together, which we just haven’t done yet). So this is done on vibes.

6: Ezekiel Banks Test

5: Glass Grinder

4: Wax Trap

3: Marcus Banks Test

2: Subway Trap

1: Finger Trap

[marsipain]

Norwegian Mikus :)

Left is Miku as a russ and right is Miku in a bunad!

[cherryfennec]

Summer Times

Hi! I'm finally back from my two week abroad trip!

[azarovas]

No Context Deadloch (2023-)

[chloesimaginationthings]

oh,,

cat's...

My addition… scooped Michael cat

[just-null]

Do you ever do requests? If so, do you ever plan on drawing some Yandere with the Hantengu clones? :D hope you have a good day/night!!!

Mentioning an unfamiliar name

yes!! I love yanderes.. and these guys.. these guys are such good material...... nods nods..

I'm not sure about requests..I assume you mean drawing requests? I suppose if it REALLY catches my interest enough, I'd do it, but it'd probably just be line art/sketches.

[heartorbit]

bugs when you lift up a rock

[erwinsvow]

shy reader sending rafe nudes for the first time🫢

rafe was so nice to you. his new favorite hobby seemed to be spoiling you—it seemed there was an endless influx of shopping trips and things getting delivered to your house after being mentioned once. you don't know how he always got it right, the exact color you wanted or the perfect size. especially when you weren't even sure which style was the best or were having trouble picking between two. rafe would decide for you, usually picking right or just ending up buying both.

he was very good at this whole thing, and though you had trouble accepting his genoursity at first, you felt you were growing into it quite nicely.

the constant denial that you wanted something turned into a sweet, grateful smile when rafe offered to get it. worrying about how expensive something was long-forgotten, instead you gave rafe a kiss on the cheek instead of mentioning it.

and the best part was that he liked it, liked taking care of you, liked making sure you had the things you wanted. he'd even gotten a shiny silver credit card with his name on it, had insisted that you use it for things.

"what kinda man am i, huh? if my girl has to buy herself nice things. that's no way to treat your best girl, huh?"

mostly he just wanted to hear you call yourself his girl, but it was getting easier and easier to swipe it out and about.

you fell into the trap of the saleswoman at the lingerie store—you'd come once before to buy some nighties when you started sleeping over at tannyhill every single night. you'd handed her the silver card, thinking about what rafe had in store for you if you showed up wearing what you'd just bought, when she snapped you out of it

"is that all for today mrs. cameron?"

she'd transported you into a completely different spiral. so you had returned with a craving to hear yourself be called that again, buying anything and everything that caught your eye, but mostly things that you thought rafe would like.

on your way out, still elated from the sheer headrush of being called mrs. cameron, you don't even notice the missed call and texts from rafe, not until you get home and put on the first of many new outfits.

rafey: what the hell is la perla. the fuck did you buy for $500??

dolled up in your new outfit, you angle yourself to snap a couple of pictures with your phone, the first showing your tits spilling out of the pretty, floral bra and panty set. then you laid down, trying to capture your ass and the best arch you could manage without rafe there to push your back for you. trying on another thing you'd bought, this time a pretty white babydoll, you take a selfie showing just enough of the fabric.

sending the photos without any caption, you wait patiently for the response. but seconds turn into minutes, minutes into ten and twenty, while you wonder if you overstepped, if rafe was displeased at your purchases, at the waste of money.

rafe opens the door so hard it slams, and you flinch.

"get on the bed. now." like always, you comply. you guess he wasn't so mad after all.

[kenjakusbraincum]

Heey, I LOVE your writings on soft sukuna, you write so beautifully🩷 please can you do one where he is jealous (fluff)😭🩷

Thank you sm for the kind words!!! Here's my best attempt at doing your idea justice <3

Sukuna has no real reason to be jealous. He practically owns you, controls every aspect of your life, who or what could he possibly be jealous of? Every servant who dared approach you in an inappropriate way would be dealt with swiftly. And you're a good pet, who has eyes for no one other than your master. You really don't give him a reason.

But there's this one thing... Since you've been so good and obedient, Sukuna has allowed you many liberties. You're permitted to skip around the mansion, watch Uraume cook, even enjoy little hobbies. You've tried many before you found that crocheting particularly piqued your interest. Ever since you've learned the basics, you've been spending hours working on perfecting your skills. At first it was cute, watching you squint in concentration as you move the hook. But then the math became really simple - having this hobby to keep you busy meant you approached Sukuna out of boredom a lot less. And he noticed it. It irked him, but you're not technically doing anything wrong. You were still as happy to serve him as ever, he just had to ask. But why would he have to ask? You should be all over him on your own. He should have to push you away, not beg you to give him attention. He didn't like this disturbance in your master and pet balance that this little hobby of yours caused.

He stands at the door now. You're crocheting again. You and your favorite servant laugh at your failed creation so sweetly, you don't even notice he's waiting. He clicks his tongue to establish his presence, and your servant falls to her knees immediately. You however, are not held to that high of a standard anymore.

"Master!", you call him, and hop up to greet him with a deep bow. Before he can say anything, you've picked up the piece of fabric you've been working on and ran into his arms to show him.

He looks at the ugly form and scoffs. "This is what I'm sponsoring?", he says and pulls a loose piece of yarn, making your little creation fall apart. He always was a bully, but you note his bad mood.

"I'm only a beginner...", you sulk.

"That much is obvious.", he flicks the yarn away and it falls onto the floor. Before you can bend to pick it up, he seizes your wrist and pulls you back. "Aren't you a little young to waste time with hobbies for the elderly?", he asks. You look at him with your cutest, practiced doe eyes, but it doesn't work.

"Come, pet. I know an activity more suitable for your age.", he says when you don't respond, and steps out of the room. You hop after him, unaffected by his condescending comments. You know that they're just for show. If he really thought you were a hag, you would've been gone a long time ago.

"Sitting at your throne all day?", you tease innocently and join him at his side, sliding your arm underneath one of his. You hope your playfulness will distract him from whatever is bothering him. "Or in a bath?" His lower set of eyes peeks at you and smirks, noticing that you're feeling particularly daring today. He's not sure how he feels about that. "Or in your bed." He rolls his eyes gently and opens the door to his chambers.

"At least then you'd be serving your purpose and actually spending time with your master.", he comments and shuts the door. His comment catches you a bit off guard and you stop in front of his bed. He makes his way towards you, and you look up at him with an insulted expression.

"Master, are you jealous of a ball of yarn?", you ask playfully, and squeal when he suddenly pushes you down to sit on the bed. Now you're at eye level... with his crotch.

"You've got quite a big mouth today. Put it to good use for a change, will you?", he runs his hand from the crown of your head to the back of your neck. You seem to have struck a nerve, so it really is the ball of yarn. Is it possible that Sukuna is this clingy?

"Will you?", he repeats and tugs on your hair and narrows his eyes. You smile obediently and reach behind him to untie his obi.

"Yes Master."

-

You try your best to manage the time you spend crocheting from then on, working on productivity in the hours that you dedicate to developing this skill. And it helps that you have a specific goal in mind now: helping Sukuna realize that this hobby is a friend, not an enemy. He still catches you engaging in it sometimes, and gives you a dirty look, but you're as quick as ever to drop what you're doing and join him. That seems to satisfy him.

When you're finally happy with the result of your creation, you look for Sukuna around the mansion. It's not really that hard to find him, as he frequents three places most of all: the dining room, his bedroom and his throne room. This time, he's sitting on his throne, and a small line of people wait for their turn to be gifted his attention. You on the other hand, don't have to wait in line to get it. His lower set of eyes spots you the moment you enter the chamber. You're allowed to roam the mansion, but barging in unannounced is not standard even for you.

Still, Sukuna has learned that you usually only feel daring enough to cross boundaries when you're sure he'll like what you have in mind. So for now, he will let this slide. He's bored as hell anyways. The people are dismissed and you pass by them on your way to his throne, nestled on a pile of bones. You stop in front of it and greet him with a bow.

"Master, I come to you with a humble offering.", you say with your hands on your thighs and your eyes fixated on the ground.

"Show me.", he says simply, but you recognize entertainment in his voice. You climb up the bones and feel his stare scan you from head to toe, before you sit on his knee.

"May I ask you to close your eyes?", you ask and flutter your lashes. Oh the way you seduce him. Who else could ask Sukuna to do something as dangerous as close his eyes? Give his opponent valuable time to land an attack. Who else could dare? And who else would he ever listen to and really close his eyes? Really do as he's told? Oh how safe he feels with you.

You take one of his large hands into yours, and gently pry his long fingers away to open his palm. He has beautiful hands. The only ones you've ever known, but you're sure they're the most beautiful hands in the world. So dangerous, so elegant. You want to press a kiss to his palm, but you hope your gift will have the same, maybe even more profound effect.

Something soft touches his skin, and then you speak, as politely as before. "You may look.", in your softest voice. And when he opens his eyes, he finds himself looking at you first. You're an offering on your own.

Then he looks at his hand. Two crocheted plush figures resembling him and yourself lay flat on his palm, connected through their holding hands. At first glance, it looks like they're two separate creations. In a sense, they are, but... He tries to part them.

"We're sewn together.", you explain. He hums in amusement and inspects your gift more closely. His plush is bigger, recognizable by the pink hair and four buttons for eyes. It's even wearing his favorite kimono. Yours is smaller and less detailed. You look like any other human when placed next to him, insignificant. But in a sea of pets, entertainers and lovers he's had in the past, he would never fail to recognize it as you.

He's spent so long looking at it with that face of his that you just can't read. You're starting to grow restless in his lap, and he feels your eyes dwell into his soul. When he looks back at you with one pair of eyes, your brows are furrowed in worry and you're fiddling your hands in your lap. He pats you on the head and pulls you closer, so you have no choice but to lean on his frame.

"It's beautiful, darling.", his fingers run through your hair, scraping your scalp softly. "No loose threads either.", he looks at you with all four eyes now, and you feel so small in his arms. You're not used to receiving this many compliments from Sukuna at once. Not ones that weren't directed at your body or performance. Especially not when he's looking at you so tenderly, when every word sounds so loving and genuine. "You've improved so much.", his hand is on your face now, and you catch him glancing at your lips. You part them to start thanking him, but you already know how much he hates listening to that.

You stay quiet instead, and lean closer, letting him take you. And he kisses you so softly, fingertips light against your heated skin. You feel like you're floating, like a lily pad in a warm pond. The littlest gesture of his affection has you melting in his embrace. The power he has over you... and how wonderful it is to surrender yourself to it.

None of the liberties and privileges you've been awarded with compare to this. You know that many pets have walked these halls before you. Many warmed his bed and claimed the title of his favorite. But how many loved him like this? Enough to dedicate time of their day to making intricate gifts. How many could say Sukuna kissed them lovingly, for no other reason than to show gratitude and affection?

You're flushed completely red by the time his lips leave yours. You can't hold the intensity of his gaze, as he stares at you in adoration. "I'm happ.. I'm glad you l-like it...", you stumble through the words and win a giggle out of him. You are just so cute. Like a pet should be. He rubs your head again and pushes you away lightly.

"Go now, the people await me.", he says with a benevolent smile gracing his face. "I'll see you tonight."

You bow to him and leave.

And when you visit him that night, he is as gentle as he was when he kissed you earlier, still in a good mood after your gift. Caressing your hair, shoulders and back, as you lay comfortably with your head on his chest. Keeping you warm in his embrace. You're trying your best to follow the conversation, but sleep is slowly taking over you. Sukuna notices and plants a kiss to your forehead, wishing you goodnight. The last thing you see before your eyes close, is your handcrafted plushies sitting on his nightstand.

[xxplastic-cubexx]

Hi!! Your Cherik is so good and gorgeous 🤩🤩 If you don't mind wanna try to draw some Fall of X Cherik please?

thank you so much !!

i have a couple of ideas relating to the fall of x period specifically since theres. A Lot i wanna play with, so i hope this lil thing may be a satisfactory start :]]

and the obligatory bonus:

[fetlockflowers]

[arttsuka]

Request: Jed and octavius dancing on/playing the piano like in that scene from the movie Big.

(Your art is amazing)

Like this? 🎹🎵🎶

Maybe they can have an iPad too

[heilos]

I keep getting multiple messages in a row about "When's the next Mystery Skulls video coming out" Can you please not? I've already answered this before and we have an open and unlocked patreon with monthly updates that get posted here as well.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Hi! Sorry to bother, but could you please tell me why you refer to Little Apple as her? When I looked up the wiki page, they used the it pronoun, and novel translations into my native tongue all use male pronoun. Is it audio-drama exclusive or something? P.S. I really love your art and appreciate you sharing it here! <3

Never ask a donkey her pronouns.

[luna-loveboop]

'I've never been in a dungeon before' and 'Who's Ganon?' have literally made some of the BEST reaction panels in Lu I just-

They are very similar conversations- where a Link is pointing out/asking about something that the others have experienced and they haven't. Which is really cool to compare and contrast but they all just freak out about it

Genuinely some of the best conversations in Lu

The lesson here is that apparently the Links will always be freaked out when one of them has missed out on one of the Zelda Fundamentals™

.

Art by Jojo @linkeduniverse au :)

[hotshotsxyz]

Hiii Abbie 💕💕💕

Buddie + “ i didn’t know where else to go. “

-❤️🪐

(buddie) (1.5k) eddie's pov before and after the events of this fic written for the same prompt! (technically i only used the line in the first one but oh well lol)

cw: vague description of a very bad car accident

Eddie doesn’t make a habit of watching the news. It’s depressing as hell, he runs the risk of seeing Taylor fucking Kelly on his TV, and if something he actually needs to know about is going on, he’ll hear it from Buck some time in the next few days anyway. All that to say, Eddie isn’t watching the news; he’s just flipping through the channels.

“Pick me, choose me!” Meredith Grey is saying in a rerun of Grey’s Anatomy.

click

“—low pressure system moving in from the north,” a meteorologist says on The Weather Channel.

click

“Alright boys, saddle up!” says the captain on that crappy network firefighter show.

click

“—multi-car pile-up on the 405. It’s unclear if—”

click

“—raw dough. It’s such a shame—”

click

“—urging drivers to avoid—”

click

“—looking for a loft in the city, while Jennifer would prefer—”

click

“—unclear if there are any survivors of the initial crash.”

Eddie puts the remote down. He doesn’t make a habit of watching the news, but every once in a while, something catches his attention.

The image on the screen is an aerial shot of a massive, burning multicar pile-up. The 136 is on scene, but they can’t have been there long if the size and ferocity of the fire is anything to go by.

“—compounded by the explosion of a tanker carrying gasoline—”

Eddie winces. They’re going to be there all night if they don’t get more companies on scene. He reaches for the remote at the same time as the shot switches from the aerial to a reporter on the ground. She’s not what stops him from changing the channel. The crushed and smoldering Jeep behind her is.

And it’s—there’ve got to be a thousand silver Jeeps in Los Angeles. And Buck wouldn’t—why would he even be on the 405? So obviously it’s not Buck’s Jeep, even if it is the same color and probably year. It’s just a shitty little coincidence.

An unpleasant pressure begins to build in Eddie’s chest.

He’ll just—it’s not late. He doesn’t even have to tell Buck why he’s calling. Eddie scoops his phone off the table, navigates to his favorites, and taps Buck’s name. The call goes straight to voicemail. Eddie frowns and taps his name again. He gets the same result.

“—and rescue is under way, but I’m being told that until the fire is contained—”

Buck’s phone is dead, probably. Or—or he took Jee to that movie he was talking about so he had to turn it off. That’s—he’s sure that’s it. Eddie rubs at his sternum and stands. He’s just… feeling a little paranoid.

He calls Maddie. She answers on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Maddie,” Eddie says, brushing a hand across the back of his neck. “It’s Eddie.”

“Uh, hey,” Maddie says. “Is everything okay?”

Eddie winces. “Yeah, I think so. I was just wondering if you’ve talked to Buck tonight.” He’s being ridiculous. Buck’s fine.

“No,” Maddie says, obvious confusion in her tone. “Why, did something happen?”

“No, no,” Eddie says. “I just haven’t been able to get ahold of him.”

Maddie hums thoughtfully. “He might’ve had a dental appointment earlier,” she says.

“Okay, thanks,” Eddie says. “I’ll probably just swing by the loft then.” There’s a pit in his stomach. Buck’s fine. At worst he has a cavity or two. He’s fine.

“Oh!” Maddie exclaims. “Hold on, let me check his location; I’ll save you the trip if he’s not there.”

Eddie pinches the bridge of his nose. Duh. He has Buck’s location too. He didn’t even need to bother Maddie with—

“Nope, sorry,” she says.

Eddie takes a breath. He’s fine. Buck’s fine. “Maddie,” he says slowly, “where is he?”

“Um, as of twenty-eight minutes ago, looks like he was driving through Culver City, on the 405, I think,” she replies. “Eddie, what’s going on?”

“Oh god,” he breathes. He can feel the blood draining from his face.

“Eddie?” Maddie asks. She’s starting to sound worried.

On the TV, the camera zooms in and pans across the wreckage. It reaches the Jeep. Hanging from the rearview mirror is a bigfoot air freshener that looks exactly like the one Chimney gave him as a joke a few months ago. It’s—

It’s Buck’s Jeep. He’s fine. He has to be fine.

“—understand that search and rescue efforts are underway, but as of right now, no additional survivors have been located.”

He could be dead.

Eddie’s knees give out beneath him. He lands heavily on the couch.

“Don’t turn on the news,” he says.

“What? Why?” Maddie asks.

“There was an accident on the 405,” Eddie replies mechanically. “I think it might be bad.”

On the other end of the line, Maddie sucks in a sharp breath. “Eddie—”

“It’s his Jeep,” Eddie says.

He’s okay.

He has to be okay.

He’s not okay.

He could be dead.

“I have to call Bobby,” Eddie realizes aloud. “He can—he can get in touch with IC.”

“Okay,” Maddie says shakily. “Okay. I’m going to call Sue. Maybe she—” Maddie cuts herself off with something like a gasp.

“I’ll call you when—” if “—I get ahold of him,” Eddie promises.

“Same,” Maddie replies.

They end the call without a goodbye.

Eddie tries Buck again, just in case. He doesn’t answer.

He can’t—

Buck has to be okay.

He has to.

Eddie takes a steeling breath and calls Bobby.

…

Eddie’s crawling out of his skin. The captain of the 136 has him on hold, and that’s already more than he’s obligated to do but—

But it’s Buck and Eddie’s fucking terrified.

The longer he waits, the farther afield his imagination goes.

He’s got a broken leg and a concussion; they’re taking him to Cedars-Sinai.

He wasn’t conscious when we found him. They’re airlifting him to UCLA.

I’m sorry, Diaz. He was DOA.

Eddie paces back and forth and tugs at his hair. He needs to do something, anything! He needs—

Flashing blue and red lights filter in through the window.

He’s dead.

He’s dead, and this time Eddie wasn’t there to coax him back.

He’s dead and they sent an officer to tell him in person and Eddie’s never going to catch his breath because Buck’s the one that taught him how to breathe after—

There’s a knock at the door.

He can’t do this. Eddie can’t do this. He can’t—

How is he supposed to go to work without Buck? How’s he supposed to tell Christopher? How is he ever going to get up in the morning again? How is his heart supposed to keep beating in a world devoid of Evan Buckley?

He opens the door.

His phone clatters to the floor.

“Buck,” he sobs.

…

Eddie watches the slow rise and fall of Buck’s bruised chest as he sleeps.

He’s alive.

He’s okay.

He’s got tangible proof right in front of him, but—

Eddie reaches out and brushes an errant curl from his forehead.

Buck is alive and breathing and sleeping in Eddie’s bed and he’s okay. But Eddie—

He rests his palm on Buck’s sternum and counts each inhale.

Buck’s here. He’s fine. Maddie knows and Bobby knows and Eddie’s got the living proof right in front of him, but—

Eddie shuffles a little closer until the heat of Buck’s skin is overwhelming against his own. He hooks his chin onto Buck’s shoulder and tries to memorize the strange shadows and highlights that are painted on his skin by the light of the moon.

He’s alive.

He’s alive.

He could’ve—

Eddie squeezes his eyes shut and shudders.

Buck’s alive and he’s right here, but Eddie can’t quite escape the moment when he was certain neither of those things would ever be true again. His breathing goes a little ragged, and his hands curl into fists.

“Eds?” Buck mumbles, eyes still closed.

Eddie lets out a shaky breath. “M’sorry, go back to sleep,” he whispers. The words are sticky and thick in his throat.

A small furrow etches itself between Buck’s brows. Eddie smooths it with his thumb. He drags his gaze back down Buck’s face and finds his eyes open and fixed on him.

“Eddie,” he whispers in the dark.

He takes a deep breath. “I’m fine,” he lies.

Buck frowns. He watches Eddie for a long moment, then something in his expression shifts. “Switch sides with me,” he says.

Eddie blinks. “What?”

Buck huffs a soft breath. “Just—trust me?”

And oh, Eddie does. He carefully climbs over Buck, who shuffles to his right to give Eddie more room.

“Okay?” he asks quietly.

“Almost,” Buck replies.

He pulls Eddie flush against him and guides his head down onto his chest. Beneath him, Buck’s heart beats strong and steady.

“Oh,” Eddie exhales.

Buck runs his hand through Eddie’s hair and down his back.

Eddie closes his eyes and finally, he sleeps.