#i want Buck to woo Eddie

[warpedpuppeteer]

Oliver's interview really makes it sound like he's going to figure out he likes Eddie in a more than friendship way. He's not jealous because of the friendship between Eddie and Tommy but he's going to figure out WHY he's jealous and realize it's because of some other feelings (as in he's in love with Eddie). And he is going to struggle with this realization and work through it probably throughout s7. Judging by what he said about Buck always getting into relationships easily prior to this and him wanting to see Buck actually put in the work and struggle a bit, once he realizes he's in love with Eddie, he's going to try to put the moves on Eddie! But, considering Eddie is still with Marisol it's highly unlikely Buddie is going to happen this season but looks like Buck is going to be the catalyst for it!

[ell-begins]

I’ve said this in tags but wanna say it again. Wanting Bucktommy to be endgame wasn’t just because I liked tommy, or lou or whatever. It was about finally wanting Buck to have a partner that understood him, and to finally have a partner that worked. Tommy knew the 118, he was already integrated into the storyline and into Buck’s life - He worked well and made sense. I am sick and tired of seeing Buck have failed relationships, or having people leave him. I just wanted him to finally be happy in a relationship, and be able to finally have someone who would stay, and who made him happy. I just wanted someone he could see a future with and Tommy was that person

[buckleyanddiaz]

just remembered Buck wanting to bring flowers and take his date on a hot air balloon date and make reservations at a fancy restaurant to woo when he was feeling giddy in his first relationship. And when he dials that up even more with the love of his life? then I remembered that Eddie is a romantic at his core who will gladly dress up in a couple's costume and hold eye contact as he says life-changing lines and loves romances like in the telenovelas he watches. And when he dials it all up too? sorry I feel feverish immediately

[bidisasterevankinard]

I can't imagine a world with you gone

bucktommy / T / 3981

Buck was happy with Tommy and he wanted him to know it. He wanted to tell Tommy in words how he felt about him. But of course the moment Buck said the words “I’m happy”, universe said “Fuck you”. In the worst way possible. Or Buck has to see how universe tries to take Tommy from him.

(text under cut)

Buck never was so happy as the months he was dating Tommy. He never felt so settled in his skin and relationships, even in way longer relationships with Taylor he was missing part of himself. And it wasn't connected so much with the thing that he dated the man now. It was because for the first time Buck stopped feeling like he was trying too hard to play his part. Like somewhere his girlfriends left him the script he should have followed, but he never read it and always felt lost with them.

With Tommy he felt in his place. Like he finally belongs. Like he can finally do something right, because Tommy likes him despite his flaws, that the man had seen more and more with time passing, choosing to stay anyway. Tommy stayed even after Buck told him, or more like stuttered over every word, why he didn’t like the idea of seeing his parents again, how he wanted them to somehow not to be at the wedding, how he wanted just some more time before he would come out to them telling them about his bisexuality. 

The older man just hugged him, kissed his forehead and told him he shouldn’t feel bad about his parents' mistakes. But he also shouldn’t come out to them if he’s not ready. Tommy said that they could be “just friends” at the wedding. Buck looked at him like he was something else, something absolutely surreal. Not only Tommy wasn’t running from him because of his family drama, he gave him the way to hold the old mask in front of them longer.

Yet, Buck didn’t want it. When he saw the support and something so tender in Tommy’s clean sky eyes, he knew he would come out to them before the wedding. And he did. During the dinner on their first night in LA he looked at them and introduced them to his boyfriend, holding his big hand for support.

Since then their relationships have only gotten stronger. Buck met Tommy’s friends and family, found some stories about Tommy’s past in the 118, army and 217. Heard about some exes Tommy had. But most importantly he began to find out more and more details about what kind of person Tommy is now, falling in love with him every day. 

At their anniversary of the kiss tomorrow, Buck decided to get Tommy to the restaurant the man wanted to try for so long, but couldn’t find the time. So Buck went “all Buck” and found the way to book a table to woo his man on such an important day for them.

Buck was happy with Tommy and he wanted him to know it. He wanted to tell Tommy in words how he felt about him. But of course the moment Buck said the words “I’m happy”, universe said “Fuck you”. 

In the worst way possible.

It started as a big fire at the warehouse where some people were lost. It was just Buck’s call then. But they needed the help of more people, so Tommy’s station came to help, not just with air support, but with leaving some firefighters behind. 

Buck finds out Tommy is one of them already inside the warehouse, where he and Eddie found their victims and is ready to get them out. Tommy’s voice over the radio confirms the order to check the delta zone, and Buck can’t help but feel a strange weight on his heart. As if he should be shouting at Tommy to stay outside. He puts it down to the fact that he is not used to his boyfriend running into the fire like him, and not staying in helicopters skillfully piloting them.

Oh, how he is wrong.

He and Eddie are outside, passing their people to Hen and Chim, and fist bump each other, walking to Bobby, who listens to something said to him and pales. Buck already doesn't like it and he is ready to ask what is wrong when Bobby’s voice over the radio orders everyone to get out.

Everyone inside confirms it, and Buck is happy to hear Tommy too. He turns to the warehouse trying to see his boyfriend getting out when the worst happens.

Something explodes inside. And it explodes in the delta zone. In the zone where Tommy was. Buck for a few seconds can't even move, trying to make his eyes stop showing him a nightmare that can't be real. It can't be true. Tommy can't be in danger in a burning building. It's not true. Buck's just asleep and having a nightmare. He has to wake up. 

He. Has. To. Wake. Up.

But it’s real, he knows, when everyone around him goes loud, but he still can’t move. He hears Bobby order everyone who was inside to give him updates. One by one they confirm that they are going out. Everyone except Tommy.

“Firefighter Kinard, your status?” Bobby asks again, and Buck is pretty sure if he doesn’t not hear the answer this time, he will pass out because he is not breathing, scared to miss Tommy’s answer. He just listens, not breathing, not moving, only silently begging Tommy to answer. “Firefighter Kinard, what is your status?”

Nothing. Tommy still says nothing. 

The radio is silent. Someone starts saying something to Bobby, but Buck only listens when he hears Tommy’s name.

“Firefighter Kinard is still near the delta zone, but,” Buck’s heart misses a beat and he can see that Eddie near him doesn’t like where it goes too, “ he is not moving.” 

And that’s it. Buck fight or flight instinct kicks in, and the body and brain of first responder goes into action. He runs to the warehouse, but not even makes it half a way when strong hands behind him stop him, making him hit the person who dares to stop him from saving his boyfriend. 

“Buck stop,” the person screams at him.

It's Eddie. The traitor who doesn’t let him go and save his boyfriend is Eddie. 

“Stop it. You can’t help Tommy, when you don’t think straight,” Eddie pins him to his body, using all his power to hold Buck. “You don’t even have your mask and air tanks on you, how the hell are you going to go and save him? By killing yourself? Well, I will not let you. And Tommy wouldn’t let you too,” Eddie screams and Buck’s body goes weak. 

Eddie is right. His tank was empty so he took it off and his mask now possibly lays somewhere on the ground, where he lost it when couldn’t hold anything in his hands after he saw the explosion. 

“It’s Tommy, Eddie,” Buck turns his head to his best friend, not being strong enough to stop the tears from his eyes. “It’s Tommy. I-I should save him. I-I can’t lose him Eddie. Please I-I can’t,” he is crying and Eddie hugs him to his chest.

“I know, Buck. I know. Trust me I’m barely holding myself from running there too,” Buck hears in Eddie’s voice that it's true. Tommy and Eddie become friends quickly and they are close like all other 118 family members. Tommy means a lot to Eddie. 

“But we need to think straight,” Eddie’s voice becomes strict. It's the type of the voice Eddie uses on the worst call, when he tries hard to work with a cold head. “We need to let Bobby make the plan and let others save him.”

“B-but,” Buck tries to say it should be him who should save Tommy, but all the words are lost.

“You can’t help him now, Buck. Right now you should let other people help him,” Buck wants to cry from how right Eddie is. 

He knows deep down he is not even close to the head space where it would be safe for him to get into the burning building and save his boyfriend. He knows it's how it should be. But can’t just sit and wait for someone to save Tommy.

It should be him.

He again tries to fight Eddie, but the man overpowers him.

“Buck, I’ll sedate you if you do it again. Will be forever your number one enemy, but at least will save you.” 

Buck screams from pain hearing it.

“You-you never can be my enemy.” 

Eddie looks at him with so much pain in his eyes.

“If I don’t bring Tommy from there alive, save and sound, I’ll be.”

“Never,” Buck whispers, but Eddie hears it anyway. “You can never be my enemy. But please Eddie, please we need to find a way to get him out. And I need to be with you, please.”

Eddie nods.

“Grab the tanks, find a new mask and let’s hear what Bobby has for us.” 

They quickly do it all before coming back to Bobby. 

The man looks at Buck with so much emotion, Buck can’t look him in the eyes.

“I’m not sure I can let you inside, Buck,” Bobby’s captain's voice, yet with so much care, tells him that. “You and Tommy are in a relationship and we still don’t know what condition he can be in. I don’t want to risk anything.”

Buck begs, “Bobby, please, I…”

“You stay with Hen and Chim and let me and Eddie find him,” it’s said abruptly, without any of the care with which Bobby usually speaks, but Buck knows that the very fact that Bobby is putting him out of danger is an act of caring. He's just so angry at everything. He also is tired. So he just falls on his butt, hugging his knees, takes off his helmet and nods, already looking only at the doors from where he expects to see his boyfriend to get out.

It’s never happened, of course.

When Eddie and Bobby are almost out ready to go, he speaks with so much grief in his voice he doesn’t think he ever heard from himself, “Bring him back to me,” he looks them in the eyes. “Please bring him back to me. Alive.”

Buck knows they can’t promise anything, but Eddie still nods at him and Buck has never been so thankful to have him as best friend. 

Buck doesn’t know for how long he sits in the same position, probably no more than ten minutes, feeling how from time to time Chim and Hen glance at him for several seconds between moving to work on their next patients.

He knows they don’t just check to make sure he is not running in the building, but also because they are worried about him. Buck hates that, actually. It’s not him who is in danger in the burning building in who knows what condition. And Buck just sits there letting other people work to save his Tommy when he is first responder too. When he knows how to do the job, but he sits and waits, the only thing left for him it’s to hope. To hope that Bobby and Eddie will find Tommy soon and take him out so Buck can hug him hard and never let him out of his embrace.

He hopes to have a chance to hug and kiss Tommy again soon. He hopes to see his smile again. He hopes to have his boyfriend with him <i>alive</i>.

Familiar hands hug him and take his face in the crook of their neck and Buck only now understands that he was crying all this time. His tears run over his dirty cheeks. Feeling Athena’s powerful aura makes Buck feel a little bit better. He tries to take part of her strength she holds in all her body for himself.  He is also just simply seeking and thankful to feel all the maternal care she has for him right now.

“H-how are you…”Buck tries to gather his thoughts but they are as foggy as the air around them.

“Dispatch said they need more police for control. I was here for some time, and the moment I was free and wanted to find Bobby I saw you. Hen told me what happened. I’m so sorry Buck,” she hugs him tighter and he cries harder.

“I-I can’t lose him, Athena,”  he raises his gaze to her, seeing her face contorted in pain, surely only partially reflecting all the agonizing pain Buck is feeling right now. “He-he makes me feel alive. Really alive. For the first time in my life. He makes me happy and free. He-he… I just can’t lose him. I w-won’t survive it.”

Athena doesn’t say anything but she puts her hand on his head patting it with so much love, Buck cries more.

His chest hurts and he wants to scream how terrible the pain is, but screams are not coming. Because if he gives up to the pain, it will mean he gave up on Tommy and Buck will never dare to do it.

He will hope to the very end. He will hope till Bobby or the doctor will tell him otherwise. 

Bobby’s voice over the radio makes the pain worse and better at the same time.

“We have a firefighter down. He is pinned down and unconscious. Possible spinal and head injuries. We need another paramedic, jaws, C-collar and backboard in the hall between the delta zone and west exit.” 

He wants to run in the building again, but now it’s Athena, like Eddie before, who doesn't let him. Buck watches how Chim and Ravi run inside.

Next minutes somehow are worse and longer than the time he didn't know Tommy's condition. But then he sees his family running out of the building with his boyfriend on the backboard, still unconscious, but Buck can see how his chest is moving and for now it’s enough for him.

This time he doesn’t let anyone stop him from running to his Tommy, jumping in the ambulance with Chim and Hen. No one really stops him.

He takes as little space as he can, letting Chim and Hen work their magic, just holding Tommy’s hand, counting his pulse and trying to breathe in this rhythm.

He kisses dirty knuckles and sends all his strength and fight to his boyfriend.

“I know you're unconscious, but I don’t care. You will listen to me and you will do how I say,” Buck kisses the pulse point on Tommy’s hand. “You will fight every minute when we’ll pass you to the doctors. You will wake up after they’ll put you into your room and you’ll see me sitting near you and you’ll smile and I’ll kiss you. And then we will book the table in this restaurant I booked for us again and we will have another anniversary there,” Buck holds Tommy’s hand near his lips saying it. “You are not allowed to leave me, you hear me? I don’t allow you to leave me. You stuck with me Kinard. And I won’t let you stop fighting to come back to me,” Buck kisses ring finger. “One day I’ll put the ring here so you have to fight. For me. For yourself. For <i>us</i>. Please, Tommy, please. I can't imagine a world with you gone.”

He cries again, kissing Tommy’s hand till he has to let him go so doctors can save his heart. 

Time in the waiting rooms has been going on for an insanely long time. So long that Eddie has time to bring him a change of clothes and make him change in it and wash his face in the restroom. Bobby brings them food and coffee from the dinner near the hospital and all his family looks at him till he manages to swallow half of his portion. 

All he can do is look at the clock, counting minutes till some hours later the doctor comes to tell him that Tommy is fine. No spinal injury, just some bruise on his back, but his pinned hand needed surgery to fix it and Tommy would need a lot of PA. The man also has a lot of bruises, smoke inhalation and a gash on his head that's already been stitched up. But it doesn’t look like he has a concussion. He'll be kept overnight for observation, but he should be able to go home pretty soon.

Buck’s knees buckle under him, when the doctor says the last sentence and he lets the big cry escape him. Bobby and Eddie put him back up and move him to the room the doctor said belongs to the man.

He enters it alone, as the doctor said only one person can stay, and he tells Bobby and Eddie to go home. They hesitate.

“I’m going to be ok,” Buck says to them, but all his attention is already on the man in the bed. 

Buck hears the door closing when he is already near the bed, sitting on the uncomfortable chair, taking the hand he was holding in the ambulance in his. 

“Thank you, baby. Thank you for coming back to me,” Buck traces with his hand the wound on the head carefully and then kisses Tommy’s forehead. “Now rest, baby. I’ll be here.”

He gets as comfortable as he can in the chair, holding his thumb near Tommy’s pulse point and letting his body crash from exhaustion.

-

Buck wakes up hearing someone call him by the name. He opens his eyes, hissing from the pain in his neck, and he sees Tommy who is looking at him with a cute smile.

“You awake,” Buck kisses him, finally exhaling the last tension and pain from everything that happened yesterday.

“Yeah, I am,” Tommy looks at him like Buck puts the sun and stars on the skies. 

“What? Why do you look at me like that?”

“You stayed with me all night,” Tommy shrugs and then hisses. Buck rushes to help him to put his bed in the sitting position. 

“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I? You're my boyfriend and I’m your emergency contact.”

“No one did before.”

It makes Buck sad and angry at all the other partners Tommy had. Thay had this perfect man and never could stay the night with him at the hospital? Well, it’s their loss. 

“I’m not like them,” Buck looks at their intertwined hands. “And it’s the least I could do for you,” he says, frustrated with himself. For being so weak his team had to stop him from saving his boyfriend.

“Why do you say that, baby?” Tommy looks at him confused.

“I couldn’t save you. E-Eddie had to stop me from running into the warehouse without the mask and the tanks because I lost any cool I have as a first responder. I couldn’t save you. I was just sitting here looking at how the team saved you. Waiting hours for doctors to save you. I did nothing except waiting and hoping for you to be ok,” Buck admits with tears running his cheeks and he can’t look Tommy in the eyes, not wanting to see disappointment in them.

“You did more than you can imagine, baby. You let people you love save you from doing something stupid like run into the fire without proper equipment,” Tommy raises his head using a weak grip in his chin. His blue eyes are kind and caring. “You let the people who you trust save me. And you stayed near me all this time, thinking about me. Trust me, Evan. It’s enough. I need you to be safe too,” Tommy kisses his knuckles. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if you would be hurt because of me.”

“Stop being the one to comfort me. It’s not me who is in the hospital bed,” Buck kisses him again, saying thank you with the kiss for being so caring and gentle with him. 

“You can comfort me by saying I can go back to work soon,” Tommy nods to his hand in the cast.

“Sorry, baby, but the doctor said a month in the cast and then a month of PA,” Buck kisses the pouting man. “I promise you will be ok really quick. You also have a lot of bruises all around your body and had smoke inhalation, but they took you from the oxygen during the night.”

Tommy nods, “could be way worse.”

“Yeah,” Buck swallows, still feeling the cold of the fear of the possibility to lose Tommy forever, “but let’s not challenge the universe, please.”

Tommy smirks but agrees.

“You know, there’s a thing you can actually do for me,” his boyfriend says with a playful smile and Buck nods to him to continue. He is ready to do anything for his boyfriend. “Kiss it better.” 

Buck chuckles on the way Tommy pouts his lips, but leans to him anyway leaving the most tender kiss he can, translating all his love and fear of losing it to his man in it.

He was thinking about saying “I love you” the moment Tommy will wake up, but decided against it. They deserve better than it. Something sweet and tender, not with the aftertaste of pain and fear. So the kiss is a good alternative for now.

-

Two days after the fire Tommy is discharged and Buck takes him to his house, sending his man to rest on the couch while he cleans and cooks and then goes to have dinner with Tommy at the couch, not forgetting to grab the pain pills for the man and water.

“I cooked different meals and froze them. There's food for at least a week. All the instructions about pre-heating are left on the fringe for the moments when I can't be here. But I’ll come after and before my shifts and I spend time with you here on my days off, ” Buck says, while he cleans the dishes. 

Tommy insisted on sitting with him in the kitchen because he missed him while Buck was doing all the chores.

“Or you could just stay here with me without running between my house, loft and station,” Buck turns to Tommy who looks pretty confident, yet Buck sees in his eyes he is scared about Buck’s answer. “Do you want to move in with me?”

Buck puts the last dish on the shelf, wipes his hands with a towel and comes to his boyfriend, falling on his knees to kiss him. 

When they part, they both smile so much, “Yes, yes, I want to move in with you,” Buck kisses him again and then whispers in his lips. “I love you. So much. Wanted to say it on our anniversary after a big romantic dinner, but I don’t want to spend more days without saying it to you. I love you, Tommy.”

Tommy’s huge smile blindes Buck like the sun on the warm summer day.

“I love you too, Evan. So, so much,” they kiss again and Buck can’t wait to spend all his life doing it. 

“When can you move?” Tommy asks after they end the kiss.

“I can pack my most important things the day after tomorrow as it’s my day off and take it all here. Then I’ll talk to my landlord about ending the lease and just pack all other things.”

“Good,” Tommy kisses his birthmark now. “I want you to feel here like home.”

Buck chuckles, “I will feel like home not because my stuff stays here,” he cups Tommy’s face in his hands, “I feel like home with you. No matter where we are.”

“You’re such a sup,” Tommy laughs, kissing his birthmark again. 

“Said the man who made me a playlist of songs he associates with me.” 

Tommy shuts him the same way he did when he kissed him for the first time. Buck can’t be happier his man uses this tactic to shit him any time he wants.

He just can’t imagine himself happier when he's with Tommy. 

[lesbianrobin]

re: b/t. assuming that tommy's not catastrophically unobservant and/or stupid, he knows that buck and eddie are Like That. canonically tommy went all-out wooing eddie yet he is not even trying with buck. i have assembled viable explanations for his behavior and shared them below:

1. tommy thinks eddie is straight and, believing that buck and eddie could never happen anyway, is fine with being buck's second choice because buck is also his second choice. thinks that he and buck are on the same page about this.

2. tommy knows that BUCK thinks eddie is straight but tommy knows he's gay, and he's not only fine with being buck's second choice he's also fine with like. just sitting on the knowledge that eddie is gay and loves buck too bc it benefits him personally to keep his little boyfriend. which is cold as fuck. i almost respect it.

3. tommy doesn't rly care too much about this whole relationship thing with buck he's just sorta fucking around and has zero expectations it'll ever go somewhere. possibly doing all of this bc he wants to fuck eddie So bad it makes him look stupid but eddie wasn't taking the bait and he figured buck was the next best thing. possibly doing it because being a guy's bisexual awakening is an ego boost and tommy likes to feel like he's sexy and experienced in comparison.

4. tommy is the most confident man alive and truly believes that he's so irresistible he can just cut into the buck/eddie dynamic and snag himself a boyfriend no problem. deeply funny option.

5. tommy has a kink for getting cheated on. every time buck cancels or reschedules a date to go be with eddie instead he spontaneously ejaculates. this is his ideal relationship.

[nqueso-emergency]

Sorry this is a long one

I had to rewrite this a few times because controversial(?) & I'm not truly NOT trying to bash his character buttt THEY say Tommy is a "copy" of Eddie right, and I'm like sure fightfighter, army vet, same hobbies yadda yadda... and the agreement being why would Buck choose Tommy over Eddie *cough* (besides the lack of attraction and delusion that Eddie isn't queer 👀) Okay sure let's just pretend Eddie likes men for this scenario so we have an "even playing filled"

Why in the world would Buck choose a guy who's constantly on the struggle bus because his refrain to show any emotional depth and regression and inability to respect and commit to a relationship due to his difficulties processing his wife's death, someone who's quite frankly selfish and repeatedly disregards or doesn't think of negative... or well any consequences tbh that heavily impact really really important core relationships...

Over a guy who seemingly has his shit together and is confidently attracted to Buck??? 🤔 Y'all (not us lol) are saying that out of these 2 guys (only one who canonically likes men BTW 🤐) Firefighter, army vet, cool hobbies, attractive blah blah even though BOTH had hardships growing up and adulthood and had major flaws, there's ONE who's able to change for the better, be stable, unconditionally supportive, validates others feelings, thinks about how you'd feel and how consequences would effect your relationship, is fantastic with kids and openly shows his attraction towards Buck... and then you got a guy who disregards and invalidates and disrespects his child and best friend, who constantly uses you to mediate and parent(?) your child because you have troubles connecting with him, who seemingly likes doing everything the most difficult way because they don't think or want to admit they're struggling and yet they still think shit won't blow up even though it always does and you know a lying sneaky little cheater because of his obsession with his dead wife...

Out of those 2 options... Y'all would STILL choose Eddie??! 😭😭😭

Y'all got the rose tinted glasses on baby 🚩🚨🚩🚨 WEE WOO FORREAL 😅 I'm genuinely concerned for some of y'all... I know apples and fucking potatoes of whatever but cmon one of these men chose to deal with trauma in a healthy manner, acknowledge and accept their wrongs also apologizing and righting them, choosing to stop repeatedly creating negativity and discomfort not only for others but also themselves, is openly expressive and who actually likes MEN! Seriously people are saying "carbon copy" but clearly there's a better model 🤦🏾‍♀️

I'm gonna get crucified for this.

You're not wrong

[bibuckaroo]

sooo… BI! BUCK!

i got to THE episode of all the controversial takes and i honestly think it was a well thought out episode. i’ve heard that this episode is from buck’s point of view and i felt like this episode was purposefully misleading and confusing, so i’m attributing that to the fact that buck himself is confused about what’s going on.

we get his scene with tommy in the beginning of the episode, showing that yeah, he might be interested in him, because why else would he go down to where he works to get a tour? (and i do believe he was attracted to him, 100%, but i also think that what may make him attracted to tommy is the similarities he sees with eddie, since he can’t even go an entire conversation without mentioning him) and then eddie arrives there and there’s a shift in the atmosphere immediately. also important to note, that buck talks about how he’s only dated people he’s met on calls and even mentions the whole first meeting with taylor and the helicopter and tommy himself says that never ends well because they’re always grateful at first, and like, correct me if i’m wrong but buck and tommy met on a call, and the gratefulness can come into play too, since tommy helped rescuing bobby and athena (yk, buck’s pseudo parents) and it’s not far off to say this since buck himself at the end of the episode refers to that and tommy helping them and whatever.

at first, watching the episode some scenes could be explained away with getting to be closer to tommy, him asking eddie incessantly about the vegas trip and wanting every last detail and even with chris, but by the scene in the gym is already pretty clear who he’s jealous of. he’s trying to get eddie’s attention so bad it makes him look stupid, he even orders a basketball to believe delivered to the fire station, for the sole purpose of getting a reaction and when he talks to maddie about this whole thing, he admits that he did all of this to get eddie’s attention and maddie scolds him, because this is not healthy for buck, his insecurities made him hurt someone he loves.

also, tommy was definitely interested in eddie, saw that wasn’t going to pay off, switched gears to buck, because saw how desperate he was (an adjective used on the show itself) and saw he was the easier one to score and even so, he expected buck to realize he was trying to get eddie’s attention.

now onto my boy eddie, he did not deserve this at all!! he said so himself he invited buck multiple times and buck always turned him down!! and then he made a new friend and got hurt in the process, honestly, i would be pissed actually!

finally, about tommy… bringing him back was a decision and i’m not saying that it was a good one, i do not like him, he left with a sour taste in my mouth and this episode did not put him in a better light for me. he was probably interested in eddie and probably knew he had a girlfriend and was trying to woo him anyway. then his whole talk with buck? about him wishing he was part of the 118 like that when he was one of the co-conspirators to make it a living hell before? nah, miss me with that! and nobody talks about it! pisses me off!! also, him saying “evan” was getting on my nerves, heard this was a deliberate choice and that the actor was not allowed to say “buck” which makes me think about the fact that only the people who truly know him call him “buck” and eddie and maddie only called him “evan” in moments they needed to get his attention.

i’m glad about bi!buck, don’t get me wrong, but i wish it was with someone who we liked from the start and would be good for him, i mean him and josh had more development than that!! but anyway, i’ll take my wins with my losses ig.

[renecdote]

Idk what this is but I couldn’t sleep until I wrote it so enjoy.

Spoilers for 6x17.

“Prove it.”

Buck steps back automatically as Eddie pushes past him into the apartment. “Uh, what?”

“Prove I’m bad at dating,” Eddie says.

The front door clicks shut. Buck opens his mouth, then closes it, then opens it again.

“I’m pretty sure that’s something you have to prove, Eds,” he says, feeling a little like he has woken up on a rapidly sinking raft in the middle of the ocean with no idea how he got there.

Eddie nods, like Buck has said something smart and rational and thought-provoking. Then he says, “We’re going out.”

“Wait, what?”

“You want me to prove I can date, right?” Eddie asks, eyebrows raised. “So dress for a date.”

“I don’t—it doesn’t count if it’s me,” Buck splutters, scrambling for anything that might keep his head above water while his imaginary raft splinters into a thousand tiny pieces.

Eddie just shrugs. “Why not?”

Because I’m already in love with you.

Buck is halfway through “because I—” when the rest of that knee-jerk thought catches up with him and he freezes. Oh. Oh, fuck.

“You don’t have plans, do you?” Eddie asks, looking around the empty apartment, uncertain for the first time since he walked in.

Buck swallows. He’s pretty sure he has a crisis he needs to schedule about being in love with his best friend, but. “No. No plans.”

Eddie smiles. God, Buck is so fucked, how did he not notice how gorgeous Eddie’s smile is before? Sure, he may have thought about how kissable his lips look once or twice, and how good his ass looks in those jeans, and the way his muscles flex under his sleeves, but—how did he not notice how warm Eddie’s smile makes him feel?

“Great,” Eddie says, all easy confidence again, his keys jingling in his hand. “We’ve got a reservation for seven.”

He says it like he already knew Buck would say yes and Buck—Buck can’t think of a reason why Eddie wouldn’t know that. He can’t think of any way that Eddie doesn’t know him.

“You better have booked somewhere nice,” he says, and it’s a joke, but he already knows that Eddie would have. “I’m not a cheap date.”

Eddie laughs, like he already knows exactly what kind of date Buck is. It should be one thing that Eddie doesn’t know, but Buck can’t think of a reason why he wouldn’t know that as well.

“Trust me,” Eddie says. “You’ll love it.”

Buck does trust him. Maybe a little too much sometimes. This is either going to be awkward and terrible and he’s going to end up with his heart broken, or it’s going to be the best date of his life and his heart will still end up broken.

“I look forward to being wooed,” he says, smiling at Eddie. And when Eddie smiles back like that, warm and soft and just for Buck, he can almost believe the night won’t hurt.

[chronicowboy]

"Can I tell you something?"

Honestly, Eddie isn't sure where it comes from. One moment he's watching Buck trying and failing to bite through the long line of melted cheese stretching from his mouth to the slice of pizza held at arm's length, the next something scolding tears through his chest like a bullet from a sniper's rifle and Eddie's mouth falls open before he can think of what he's going to say.

"'Course," Buck mumbles through his mouthful of pizza, breathing around it because its still too hot of course. There's a smear of red sauce on his chin and the pizza is still held aloft about a foot away from his mouth, Eddie finds him desperately beautiful.

"In the truck, after I was shot," Eddie slides the plate under the pizza slice just as Buck drops it, "and after you told me you weren't hurt, there was one last moment that I fought to stay awake."

"Eddie—"

"Not for Christopher, not for you, but for myself." Eddie nods, eyes trained on the picture of Buck and Christopher on the fridge. "I just wanted to look at you. Just for one last moment. When I knew that you were okay, that you weren't hurt, that I didn't have to worry about you or Chris. I just wanted to look at you." Ironic, he thinks, that he can't look at Buck now. He sucks in a sharp breath and turns to meet Buck's dazed blue eyes. "I wanted you to be the last thing I saw." Buck swallows, that damn string of cheese still hanging from his lips. "And then I woke up to Ana sat next to me in the hospital, and I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in my life."

The loft hasn't been this silent since the morning after that one fateful night during quarantine when they'd thought it would be a good idea to get hammered and play truth or dare, and nobody could look each other in the eye over the several terrible secrets that had been revealed.

Its that same cloying silence now.

Not their usual silence. Not the comfortable silence Eddie revels in. Not the warm silence that greeted him when Eddie walked into the loft with a pizza after asking Buck to call him with an "emergency" to get out of a date with Pepa's latest "perfect woman".

"W-why are you telling me this?" Buck stutters out. "Why- Why now?"

"Because I've been on four dates since you died and none of them have felt remotely close to the night we scammed ten Porterhouses out of the Chief." Eddie shrugs, looking out to the red umbrella flapping in the wind on the balcony. He swings his gaze around to Buck. "Because you said you had the answers, and I'm hoping with everything in me that you have the answer to this question."

"W-what, um, what question is that? E-exactly?" Buck asks, voice breathy.

"If I told you that I'd been falling since that ambulance exploded," Eddie smiles, its a shaky thing full of fear, "would you catch me?"

"Always," Buck breathes without any hesitation, laying his big hand on Eddie's forearm. "Always, Eddie."

"And if I asked for your heart?" Eddie manages to choke out.

"You've had it the whole time, Eddie." Buck smiles, just as shaky as Eddie's had been, but bright and brilliant. "It only started beating again for you."

"One last question?" Eddie raises an eyebrow, his own smile beginning to ache in his cheeks.

"Anything," Buck promises.

"Will you kiss me?"

"Now, I'm not sure about that," Buck grins, all smug and self-assured despite the fucking cheese still on his fucking chin. "Don't I get a date first, Diaz?"

"What? Pizza and beer isn't good enough for you?" Eddie quirks an eyebrow, plan already forming in his head for a homecooked meal lit by candles in the kitchen at home, undoubtedly a panicked call to Bobby when the lasagne doesn't go to plan.

"I'd like to be wooed," Buck says haughtily. "I died, I won you steaks, I think I deserve a little wooing."

"Oh, you do, do you?"

"I do actually," Buck grins at him.

"How about you finish your pizza first," Eddie reaches up to cup Buck's cheek, uses his thumb to catch the string of cheese and gently pushes it past Buck's lips which open for him willingly, "and then we can circle back round to the wooing?"

Eddie pulls his thumb from Buck's mouth with a pop and watches Buck's pupils dilate until the blue of his irises is entirely eclipsed.

"Nope, wooed enough," Buck blurts out before grabbing Eddie's face and crashing their lips together clumsily.

Its the best first kiss of his life.

[graendoll]

Thoughts about s7 so far:

Eddie has INSANE screen time this season compared to the previous 6. And character development. Which, if you saw my last rant, is definitely interesting.

We can all agree that Tommy was lowkey wooing Eddie, right? With expensive tickets and fixing his car and sweaty sparring? That's wooing. Also it establishes Eddie being an oblivious idiot because he had no idea. Even though he was on the phone giggling like a school girl.

Buck was definitely jealous of both Eddie AND Tommy at various times and to various degrees for various reasons - he was jealous of Tommy because he feared Eddie was replacing him and he was jealous of Eddie for having this shiny new friend who Buck wanted to connect with. Poor overwhelmed puppy.

Bucks kitchen has sex magic in it. The tension between him and Tommy was insane. And also, imo, took Buck by surprise because I honestly don't think he had any idea what had been going on in his head until about 5 seconds before the kiss.

The fact that Tommy was lowkey horrified Buck invited him to his sister's wedding proves Tommy has more than a single braincell. Who invites a crush to a family wedding?! Answer: a dumbass.

I could read ALOT into the fact that Eddie and Marisol backtracked right after Eddie told Buck to evaluate how he felt about being ready to pursue something with Tommy. And something something religious trauma and the virgin/whore complex. We're going to see more of here I bet.

Where TF is Christopher?

[fantasylover145]

I NEED pining Eddie!!!! We have seen Buck pine for people, we have seen him yearn for people and talk about wanting to be with them and how to make them happy, he has done some insane things for the people he is with (hot air balloon, romantic dates, flying to Taylor etc). We have never really gotten that with Eddie like ever, maybe with Shannon but not really. I wanna see Eddie pining for Buck, I wanna see him be a lovestruck fool over him, blush and giggle. I want him to be talking to everyone about what grand gestures he should do and Eddie wooing Buck. I want Eddie excited to be romancing someone and ecstatic with having their attention on him. I want Eddie craving being near Buck and being around him. And I want Buck going along with all of it because he is 100% already whipped.

[blazinghotfoggynights]

Crazy things you'd like to see happen in season 8 or (if ABC is so kind enough to greenlight it) season 9.

I'll start:

1- Eddie stops being straight and the priest stops being celibate. Together.

2- Buck has to watch Eddie slowly venture out of the glass closet he's been in forever.

3- Buck spirals and bounces between whore and hermit.

4- Eddie spirals and gets stuck on whore for a while. A loooooong while. And he is a proficient, popular, busy one.

5- I want to see Eddie start number four with women, get a therapist who helps him dig through the beliefs vs truth and religious guilt, and he realizes he isn't as straight as he thinks.

6- I want Eddie to add men in after number five.

7- I love messy drama, so I want a Tommy return, but not for a second chance. I want Buck to feel like he has to cling to Tommy to have a chance at a partner, so he seeks him out for closure only for Tommy to ask if it is true Eddie is dating men now and then ask why Eddie didn't go for his wooing attempts.

8-I want a Buck breakdown. (I have times that I love whump.) Abby left. Ali left. Taylor couldn't be trusted. Tommy was with him only because Eddie didn't want him. Eddie is never around because he's putting in lots of hours making up for all those dry spells. Cue self-loathing, self-doubt, self-esteem issues, his abandonment issues eating him alive, and the guy having no clue he is jealous af. I want crying. Lots of crying.

9- I want Tommy to run into Eddie and hit on him. I want Tommy to tell Eddie he did everything to try to date him, but thought he was straight. I want it to end with a fight. (I told you, I like messy drama.)

10- I want Buck to come close to leaving because he feels he can't stay, but he doesn't know why. Every member of the 118 family should ask him why he thinks leaving is a good idea. He can't articulate anything other than he can't take it anymore, but can't tell anyone what "it" is. They should all remind him of what he has in LA and what he would be losing. Just before he goes too far to turn back, Eddie begs him not to go and Buck goes off, asking him why he cares, since he isn't even around anymore. Buck tells him to go find some rando for the night like he's been doing for months and get lost. I will give the writers cookies if Buck is shoving Eddie out of his door and yelling at him to just go.

Then, Eddie breaks because he sees boxes being packed, Buck's loft being emptied, and realizes Buck is slipping through his fingers. Buck stops because he realizes why he is losing it.

The have realizations at the same time.

Buddie canon begins.

Add your own headcanons or wishes in the replies.

As always, this may or may not become a fic. If anyone else wants to try it, remember to hit me up with the link to read your work!

[buddieism]

okay so one thing i like to do for fun is speculate about potential 9-1-1 scenes that i'd really like to see play out next season and naturally one of the obvious ones to do that with is buddie's first date.... so walk with me for a second while i elaborate on my vision.

now first and foremost i am a #believer that the buddie first kiss will be a very heat of the moment type thing like ideally right after some crazy near-death experience and it's all dramatic and passionate etc etc. like i just think that would be so much fun and also a good way to set up their relationship because it's like they're so caught up in the adrenaline and then they're like oh my god what did we just do. also because i see this being like a major mid-season finale cliffhanger like it just makes perfect sense that we get the classic mid-season crisis of sorts -> buck and eddie bruised bloodied battered just falling into each other's arms and then making out sloppy style -> hiatus where we all inevitably go insane

so alright they've kissed... what now? i feel like the logical next step is that they’ll have some sort of Tricky Conversation where they’re like well what about chris/is this worth risking our friendship over/are we in a relationship now because stuff can't ever go smoothly in the 9-1-1verse but obviously they work it out and decide fuck it let’s give it a shot... which brings us to the actual date!

naturally, buck is going to be the one planning it because he wants to woo eddie #right so he makes reservations at a restaurant and i think it could be cute if pre-date we have buck sort of anxiously ranting to maddie because he's super nervous and she's like please be calm it's literally eddie. and he's like yeah you're right what could possibly go wrong 😊 <- famous last words. so they're at the restaurant and in typical 9-1-1 fashion it either a) it goes horribly wrong à la madney date where someone starts dying at another table or b) it’s very awkward and silly at first becayse they’re freaking out about the pressure they’ve put on themselves but ultimately by the end of it everything's good 👍

and then buck drops eddie home in his jeep (duh) and he walks eddie to his door and eddie's like aww what a gentleman all flirtatiously and buck's like to be honest i've been thinking about doing that all night...well actually there’s also one more thing i've been thinking about and eddie’s like *doe eyes* yeah? and buck leans in and kisses him and it’s super cute and chaste and they’re both grinning like idiots and then buck's like okay i guess i’ll let you get some rest and there’s a heavy pause and then eddie’s like well... it’s not like you haven’t slept over at my place before and then BOOM they’re crashing through the doorway making out hands all over each other stumbling onto the couch et cetera and we get a tasteful fade to black… and the next scene is them waking up in eddie's bed together and buck's like i gotta say this is a lot comfier than sleeping on the couch and eddie's just horribly fond and then we hear christopher yelling eddie's names and Shenanigans ensue and maybe there's a parallel to eddie kicking out shannon except this time he's like you know what actually we should just tell him (because i really do not want them keeping their relationship a secret from chris... that poor kid has been through enough)

[biasbuck]

BiAsBuck’s ficrec Fridays

Happy Friday everyone! Hope everyone is keeping safe and looking after themselves and each other in this here creative sandbox we're all playing in. I'm back again with another round of the fic I've been reading so far this month! You can find previous rec lists here.

16 August 2024

like i like my honey by @buick118 is a lovely one shot for some super sweet, romantic and caring domestic henren looking out for each other through the years! Hen's healing touch coming out in force to keep Karen looked after. This just made me feel so warm and happy, I love them and their love for each other so much! Plus the title is a Kehlani reference. YES.

when i see stars, that's all they are by @ithilien-writes was a gorgeous fill for the mixed media prompt of @summerofbuddie in which Eddie finds himself at a loose end and unwilling to go back to an empty home, so impulsively signs up to a community poetry class at the local library, makes some friends, and finds a way to channel his feelings. I really loved the slight fish out of water but giving it a go anyway vibe here, and how Eddie found putting his thoughts into words in poetic forms helped him to actualise his feelings.

an inch away from more than just friends by @littlespoonevan I absolutely adored and previously recommended part one which gave me all the romantic Eddie feels, and was eagerly anticipated part two and it did NOT disappoint!! In which Buck puts two and two together after Eddie shares a little of what he's been working through in therapy, and is determined to give Eddie the romancing he wants and deserves! The only problem is all the things Buck's doing to woo him it turns out he's kind of been doing all along. So so sweet, considerate and romantic. Beautifully written. I could just live here.

instructions on not giving up by @wildehacked this one's a hard hitter. Eddie's not coping and Buck is too worried to leave him alone, so invites him to join he and Tommy on their romantic hike getaway when disaster strikes. When the helicopter goes down after Tommy has a serious seizure, Buck and Eddie are grievously hurt and left to depend on each other to survive. Is rescue on the way? This packs an emotional punch but is well worth it for angst fans. Heed the trigger warnings! (Tommy is treated with respect but there is MCD, and suicidal ideation from Eddie.) Ow! My heart. It hurted so good?!

can't tell where you end (and i begin) by @absolutelybifurious Ravi invites the 118 out to a club, things escalate. Inspired by Ryan Guzman in Step Up (which I admit I've never seen but I HAVE seen behind the scenes rehearsal footage...hello), in which Eddie's got moves and Buck's got a problem about it. With a Lucy Donato cameo (yes thank you) and some very sultry dirty dancing. What more could you want?

the parts we play by @calinaannehart I have been absolutely loving following along with this actor!Buck au as a wip, and with just one more chapter to go now is the perfect time to start reading it! 'Buck isn’t a firefighter, he just plays one on TV, or at least that’s what he’s about to do. He’s offered the chance to shadow the 118 to learn what it’s like to be a firefighter. Eddie is fed up with these Hollywood types turning up and feigning interest in the job that he loves. Buck, however, is nothing like that and everyone can see the connection they have.' This feels really beautifully in character for an au and is expertly weaving in canon and reinterpreting it through the film star lens. So much fun to read.

PS - that's it for this week but as always, I'm on the lookout for henren centric fic, and early days Buck and Tommy (I like it best when it fits neatly into where we've left off in canon).

Feel free to self rec!

[lemotmo]

You know...

@monroemary just left a comment on this post I just made and it made me think. 🤔

I basically answered an ask about the BT break up as a Nonny speculated that it could be that Tommy has a secret child he doesn't see anymore. I replied with my dream scenario for the break up, but I kinda forgot about the whole 'Buck learning something from Tommy's past'.

First of all, this is the comment:

So I was just thinking. They talk about Tommy's past. I wonder if it might be the very recent past? What if Tommy casually mentions that he was into Eddie first, before Buck became an option?

I know that there's fanfics about that scenario and there's really sound theories that Tommy was into Eddie first and when he realised he wasn't available, but Buck was, he figured 'Why the hell not?' and went for it?

So if Tommy just mentions one day, maybe in a joking way or something, that he was wooing Eddie with those tickets and the helicopter ride. I can see how that would cause Buck to start spiralling.

Because, once again he would have been the second choice. Just like he was a second choice to his parents and many of his previous girlfriends.

He then has that talk with Maddie and Josh, who might drop some truth-bombs, before deciding to end things with Tommy. Because he doesn't want to come in second place anymore.

And who knows? This might also make him think about whose attention he was really after in 7x04. Maybe Maddie drops something in their conversation, like 'To be honest. I thought you were jealous of Tommy there for a while, for taking Eddie's attention away from you.'

It might not click immediately, but it might be the beginning of the realisation he might actually be in love with Eddie.

What do you think? Too far-fetched?

[ladykailitha]

The Subtleties of Steve Harrington Part 2

This is one is bit longer than the rest because there wasn’t a clear spot to break it up without splitting up one of the parts.

Part 1

*

One Month Before

The Corroded Coffin boys were on a mission. And that was to tell the Buckley girl to call off her dog. Because they sure as hell weren’t going to let Steve Harrington break Eddie Munson’s heart.

They walked into Family Video on a day they knew Steve would be off. How did they know he wouldn’t be there? Because it’s all Eddie was talking about all that week, that him and Steve were going up to Indy to Eddie’s favorite gaming store and get him a new fig to replace the one that been warped to hell in Eddie’s bag because he forgot about it.

“Welcome to Family Video!” Robin greeted cheerily.

“Buckley,” Jeff said, “we’d like a word.”

Her face turned calculating. “You know, all three of you ganging up on a girl at her work place where she can’t escape is preeeeetttty pervy behavior, yes?”

They all looked at each other in shock. They hadn’t thought what it would look like to her. To any outsider really. They whispered for a few moments before Jeff and Gareth turned to leave.

She watched them go with a raised eyebrow. “So how did you get picked as representative of the Corroded Coffin boys?” she asked him.

Brian shrugged. “Gareth is too hot headed and Jeff stammers when he gets nervous.”

“And I make him nervous?” Robin asked with a smile.

“You did just scare the two of them off, so...yeah?”

She grinned. “So what can I do for you Corroded Coffin boys today?”

Brian sighed. “Look, Steve is great guy and all. Saved Eddie’s ass when everyone thought he was dead. And we’re grateful. We are it’s just...” He ran his fingers over his face. “We don’t want Eddie to get hurt. He’s fallen for straight boys before and it’s hurt him bad.”

Robin’s eyes got wider and wider the more Brian went on until they were practically bulging out of her head. “Okay, okay. Slow down. Are you saying that you want me to tell Steve to what exactly? Stop seeing Eddie all together? Not be alone with Eddie? Not be friendly with Eddie? Because that’s pretty fucked up.”

Brian huffed out a sigh of annoyance. “It’s not like that. He’s flirting with Eddie. We’ve all seen the Harrington charm in action. And Steve’s turned it up to eleven around Eddie. Like take today. Would you go to Indy which is a two hour drive to go to a store for one item that cost two bucks max? The gas alone is gonna cost more than that.”

Robin licked her lips. “For Steve absolutely. But you’re right, that’s not a normal friendship thing. It’s best friend or boyfriend move.”

Brian nodded. “You have to see why we’re concerned. Steve is going to make Eddie fall in love with him and then get his heart broken when the next Nancy Wheeler walks by.”

She took a deep breath. “Okay. I know you are going to go running to the other two the second you walk out of this store. But if anyone else finds out and this includes Eddie I will hunt all three of you for sport. Do you understand?”

Brian gulped but nodded.

“Steve isn’t straight.”

He frowned. “He isn’t?”

She shook her head. “It’s a bit of a shock to the system, no lie. But Steve likes both.”

Brian cocked his head to the side. “So he’s actively flirting with Eddie? As in to try and woo him and shit?”

“Yup!” Robin said popping the P.

“Does Eddie know Steve isn’t straight?”

She raised her eyebrows. “I know I said not to tell him, but Steve is actively flirting with him, so he should.”

Brian shook his head. “I mean we wouldn’t have guessed Steve wasn’t straight, so...”

“So, does the former super super senior know that the boy who’s flirting with him isn’t straight?” Robin asked.

He huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, that.”

“I don’t know,” she groused. “Hell, you guys know him better than I do.”

Brian nodded. “I think he suspects but doesn’t want to be wrong.”

Robin nodded. “That’s fair.”

Brian shifted from side to side. “Thanks. I guess I should get back to the guys.”

She nodded.

Brian stepped outside and Gareth and Jeff were on him in a hot second.

“You get her to call him off?” Gareth asked.

Brian shook his head. “Nothing to call off.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jeff growled. “Of course there is. Straight boy hitting on gay boy needs to back the fuck off.”

“Bisexual boy is making moves on gay boy he has genuine feelings for,” Brian explained.

Jeff and Gareth looked at each other in confusion.

“Steve’s not straight?” Gareth asked.

Brian shook his head. “Nope.”

Jeff frowned. “I mean, we all know New Steve isn’t the kind to deliberately hurt anyone. Old Steve might have. But not New Steve. Why were we so sure Steve was out to hurt Eddie?”

Gareth shifted uncomfortably. “Because we assumed Eddie was the only gay guy in Hawkins.”

The trio fell silent. They knew that there must be other gay people in Hawkins. The town wasn’t that small.

“What do we tell Eddie?” Jeff asked.

“Nothing,” Brian said firmly. Before it was from threat of violence from Buckley, but now. He absolutely agreed with her.

“Nothing?” Gareth asked. “Doesn’t Eddie deserve to know?”

“From Steve?” Brian asked. “Oh absolutely. From us? Absolutely fucking not.”

Gareth and Jeff grumbled but reluctantly agreed.

Two weeks ago

Dustin was the hardest to convince. Which was annoying. And if Steve was being honest, hurt. A lot.

“For the last time, Dusty,” Steve said, digging his palms into his eyes, “I’m not going to date Robin. She is best friend and I am not her type.”

“Well what is her type?” Dustin asked. “You think she would go for Eddie then? Oh, maybe Argyle.”

Robin came bouncing into the room and skidded to a stop when she saw the looks on both Steve and Dustin’s faces.

“What’s up?” she asked slowly.

“Please explain to this butthead that I am not your type,” Steve said through gritted teeth.

“Hey, man,” Dustin said. “I just want you to be happy.”

Robin grinned. “You know, for such a genius you do have a bit of blind spot regarding matchmaking.”

Dustin frowned. “No I don’t.”

Robin laughed. “Yeah you do. You aren’t taking into consideration the fact that not everyone likes the opposite gender.”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “I know about gay people. I just don’t know any.”

Steve and Robin shared a glance.

“I only like girls,” Robin said, smugly.

Dustin looked back and forth between them. “Is that what you meant by not being her type?”

“Yup!” Steve said. “She likes boobies. Personally, I like boobies and dicks. Though not on the same person.” He paused for a second. “No. I take that back. That does sound hot.”

Dustin scoffed. “I’m willing to believe she’s a lesbian.” He pointed at Robin “But there is no way in hell that you like dudes. You’re the ladies man. The original.”

Steve laughed. “I think Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise might disagree with you there.”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. How many girls have you dated?”

Steve tried counting but the number kept changing. “I guess it depends on what you consider to be dating. Two or more dates? Probably in the range of six or seven. If you include just one offs where either her or I didn’t pursue the relationship past the first date it would be closer to eleven or twelve.” He wasn’t going to bring up one night stands. He didn’t want to break the kid.

Dustin nodded as if he had been proven right. “And how many dates have you gone on with dudes?”

Steve boggled. “You do realize that dating one’s gender is frowned on and there is an epidemic going on where it’s hitting almost exclusively gay men? It was hard to find gay boys before that shit and now the pool has shrunk by a lot.”

Dustin just shrugged. “All I’m hearing is that you’ve never dated a man. So how do you know you like them?”

Steve put his hands on his hips and rolled his eyes skyward. This kid.

“Just because I haven’t dated a boy doesn’t mean I haven’t kissed them, Dustin.”

Both Robin and Dustin turned to him in shock.

“You have?” Robin asked.

“Yes,” Steve hissed. “And no, I’m not telling you who. I don’t kiss and tell.”

Dustin bit his lip. “You really like dudes?”

Steve threw his arms in the air. “Yes!”

Dustin rubbed his hands together. “That just opens up the possibilities for dates!”

Steve just groaned.

*

One Week Before

Steve was doing his least favorite favorite chore. He hated taking the brats to Hellfire because they were little shits. Because he loved it because it meant that he got to see Eddie.

Dustin was sitting behind the driver’s seat kicking Steve in the back. “You know Eddie’s gay, right?”

Steve sighed and glared at him through the rearview mirror. “We don’t out other people without their permission, dude. Not ever.”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying...”

“I know exactly what you’re saying,” Steve growled, “and I’m saying we don’t out people until they’re ready to come out.” He fought really hard not to look at the boy in the front passenger seat, to avoid doing what he just told Dustin not to do.

“I’m gay...” Will whispered.

Steve sighed. Looks like they were going to be a little late to D&D today. He pulled into a parking lot and parked.

“Thanks for saying something,” Steve said softly. “But you didn’t have to.”

“I’ve known for awhile,” Mike said softly.

Lucas nodded. “I might have not have known for sure, but yeah. That makes sense.”

Dustin frowned. “How the hell did I miss that?”

Steve turned around in the seat. “Because you’ve got a blind spot where anyone outside of the norm is concerned. Which let’s be honest, isn’t a good look for a scientist.”

Dustin pouted.

Lucas frowned. “Who else did you miss?”

Steve turned to Will with a grin. “Go ahead, tell them.”  

“Steve,” Will said softly.

Lucas and Mike started shouting protestations and Steve just waited them out.

“How did you know, Will?” Steve asked after they had calmed down enough to be heard over.

Will blushed. “I saw the way you acted around Jonathan and I suspected. But then I saw how you acted around Eddie and I knew.”

“It’s a problem I have to be sure,” Steve said. “Crushing on both sides of a couple. Not...as a...not like that.”

“Not as a threesome?” Lucas clarified.

Steve nodded, deeply embarrassed. “But separately. So yeah. I had a crush on Tommy H and Carol. Nancy and Jonathan. But I wouldn’t want to get in the middle of all that. I don’t have crushes on any of them anymore.”

Mike folded his arms and pouted but Lucas looked thought for a minute.

“Yeah, I think that makes sense,” he said. “I can see it.”

Steve smiled at him and mouthed ‘thank you’. “All right, now that we’ve survived both of those bombshells, let’s get you to your nerd game.”

The kids had almost gotten to the door when Dustin stopped. He said something to the others before he came dashing back to the car.

“Will said Eddie!” he cried gleefully. “You have a crush on Eddie!”

Steve rolled down the window and hissed, “Shut up or he’ll hear you!”

Dustin jumped up and down. “It would be sooo cool if both of my dads start dating each other.”

Steve shook his head. “We’re just good friends, don’t meddle with that. If I think I’ve got a chance, you know I’ll go for it. But until then you stay out of it.”

Dustin nodded, grinning from ear to ear.

Part 3 Part 4

Tag List: @awkwardgravity1 @maya-custodios-dionach @spectrum-spectre