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Eddie Diaz was not jealous. Nope. Definitely not.
(News flash: He definitely was.)
He should’ve been happy. He liked Marisol. She was pretty, nice, and overall a good girlfriend. He thought she was it. Sure, he wasn’t planning a wedding or bonding or mating, and sometimes being with her tired him out, but it was better than when he was going out with Ana.
Then things came to a head when they saw Buck and Tommy hanging out.
His wolf had immediately tried to make itself known, and only years of experience at suppressing it saved him from doing something he might regret later.
That didn’t make it any easier when Marisol suggested they sit next to them. It didn’t make it easier when he saw that Buck and Tommy weren’t just hanging out but going out. Like…dating. It didn’t make it easier when he saw Marisol giving him a pitying look when he drove her back home.
His chest still felt tight even after he showered and laid in bed.
It was a new thing, he was sure of it. Buck wasn’t quite his confident self, but he was definitely interested in the other alpha. He was pleased when Tommy had praised him, flirted back…
He was also so…shy and nervous around Tommy. It was such a new look on him, but Eddie just thought it looked adorable and…
Why couldn’t it have been him?
Insecurities that he thought he had gotten over claws at him. Of course, Buck wouldn’t pick him. Why would he? He had baggage and flaws, tons of it. He had been bonded before. He already has a pup. He had overbearing parents who probably wouldn’t even approve of a male omega. He’s not great with words. His PTSD will still rear its ugly head from time to time.
And, recently, he hadn’t given Buck that much attention, too caught up in having a new alpha friend who shares his interests.
Tommy…well, Eddie could see why Buck would pick Tommy. Charismatic, charming Tommy who planned more time for Buck considering the less marked-up calendar on Eddie’s fridge. Tommy who can fly Buck to so many places to woo him. Tommy who has never had a mate, much less a dead one. Tommy who doesn’t have a kid. Tommy who he knows has been out to his supportive parents since his teens.
Hell, Eddie would probably pick Tommy over himself.
He wasn’t oblivious to his feelings. His wolf was immediately interested in the sunshine of an omega as soon as Buck and Chris had hit it off. He found himself falling the moment Buck introduced him to Carla.
But every attempt at courting the man wasn’t received. Granted, it wasn’t much. He had only managed a handful of (attempted) homecooked meals and some small presents before Shannon had come back into his life. Then everything was a whirlwind between her death, the truck bombing, the tsunami, the lawsuit…
He had tried a few more times after that before Buck’s amused face at his homecooked attempts at meals and never displaying his gifts as a sign of acceptance let Eddie realize that Buck wasn’t interested.
Then, later, when Buck was with Taylor and he was with Ana, Eddie thought it was because Buck just wasn’t interested in male alphas. It was all but cemented as a fact in Eddie’s head with Natalia.
Then Tommy happened. Buck chose Tommy.
Tears unwillingly slipped down his face. He hated it. Hated that he couldn’t get over his best friend. Hated that he didn't want Buck and Tommy together even though Buck was happy. Hated Tommy for taking away any possibility Eddie had with Buck. Hated that he's not enough (or too much) for Buck.
……………..
Marisol and him only lasted another three weeks. He knew that she knew he was in love with his best friend, but they both tried to make it work. Those three weeks, though, saw Eddie and how he was not handling the situation well.
Hen and Bobby both saw through him the moment he started distancing himself from Buck. “Tell him,” they had both said.
But Eddie couldn't. Not when Buck lit up when he talked about Tommy.
Like now.
The words mock him even as he makes himself sit through Buck talking about Tommy. He knows he's not the ideal alpha but he doesn't want to hear his ideal mate gush about another alpha.
All his frustrations burst out when Buck starts talking about Tommy for the nth time in as many hours on shift.
“He found this really nice, niche cafe and it is so good, Hen,” Buck is explaining to the paramedic. “He has actually been looking at other places that we can fly to. I think Washington might be the next one?”
“That sounds amazing, Buck,” Hen says, glancing at Eddie in apology. He just avoids eye contact with her.
“Or we might just have a night in. He cooked last time, you know?”
Eddie barely managed to not scowl. He knows he's a bad cook even with Linda's help. Was it such a big deal breaker?
“Did you spend the night?” Chim teases automatically, Hen catching him a little too late.
Buck opens his mouth to say something when Eddie just really had enough. He doesn't want to hear about how Buck spent the night at Tommy's.
Thinking about them spending a night together only makes him think of them spending a heat together. Buck had taken heat leave last week and, because Eddie was trying to accept them, he had tried to make plans with Tommy. Maybe without Buck there, it’d be easier to be in Tommy's presence. Baby steps right?
Only Tommy Kinard wasn't available.
They probably spent Buck’s heat together, he thinks acidly, jealousy running through his veins. It blinds him even as he takes a familiar route to the bunks, trying to control his wolf from growling at everyone he passes on the way. It's been as agitated as he's been these last few weeks.
It's only until he's sure he's alone in the bunks that he let's out a growl. He paves, hoping to work some of the steam off before going back out. Going back and probably listening to Buck talk about Tommy fucking Kinard again.
He shouldn't even be this possessive. Buck was never his, but he can't help his feelings. Buck is his partner. His best friend. They're the ones who've been through thick and thin together.
He's the one that's loved Buck for years.
“Eddie?”
Of course. “Go away, Buck.”
“I don't think I will.” Buck steps right in front of him, stopping his pacing. “Eddie, talk to me. You’ve been acting off these last few weeks. Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“I-is it because of Tommy?”
“Yes, it’s because of Kinard,” he snaps, immediately reigning it in when Buck flinched from him. But maybe this way, maybe if he tells Buck why he’s upset, he can stop hearing about Tommy almost on a daily basis. Maybe he can try to move on “Happy now?”
“But why Eddie? I thought you two are friends.”
“Because I fucking love you!” Eddie did not mean for that to slip out, but now that it is out, he can’t seem to stop himself from talking. “All this time, I thought you weren’t interested in male alphas. You weren’t receptive to my courting, you only went out with female alphas…Then Tommy fucking Kinard shows up and you pick him?”
“I’m happy for you,” he clarifies because if there’s one thing he really wants is for Buck to be happy. “And I’ll get over it, but, right now, I can’t stand seeing you two together. I can’t stand listening to you go on and on about how great he is. I can’t stand knowing that it’s not me standing by your side because I wish it was. I wish you picked me.”
Eddie takes a chance to collect himself as Buck gapes at him. It’s selfish, he knows, putting that on Buck. He shouldn’t put Buck in a hard position. Tommy…Tommy treats Buck like something precious, unlike all of his other dates in the past. If he had to choose between Abby, Ali, Taylor, Natalia, or Tommy, he’d choose Tommy for Buck. It was a no-brainer. It was an easy choice.
It just doesn’t make it sting any less that he isn’t on that list.
“When…when did you court me?” Buck asks just barely above a whisper despite it being just them in the bunks.
“After you introduced me to Carla and before Shannon got back. Then a few times after the lawsuit before I thought you just weren't interested.”
Buck ducks his head. “I uh…didn't know?”
“I got you gifts, Buck. Cooked for you.”
“I thought…I thought that was your idea of asking me to cook more. That’s it. And what did you get me?”
“A water bottle, shoes, a jacket.”
Buck stares at him, wide-eyed. “Eddie…I didn’t realize those were courting gifts.”
“Doesn’t matter anyway,” he grumbles, stepping away.
Or at least he tries to but Buck grabs both of his wrists, making his body light up involuntarily. He tries hard not to shudder. “I didn’t know what courting was back then, Eds. It's not something school teaches you know? And my parents didn't teach me. Maddie didn't. But I kept those things. I didn’t know how I felt then, but…If I did, if I knew what those meant, I would have used them.”
Eddie stares at Buck, mind coming to a halt. Does…does that mean-
“Back then I just knew I didn’t want to get them dirty or worn out. They were from you. I didn’t want to have to throw them out one day after I wore them out.”
“Well, you do practical more than decorative,” Eddie blurts.
Buck lets out an agreeing hum as he fidgets a little. “And I…only realized how much I love you after you got shot and you were still with Ana which seemed to be going well so I stayed with Taylor but then you broke up and then I did so I learned and tried to court you but you didn't seem receptive so I thought you were only into women…”
Eddie watches as Buck takes a deep breath after that string of thoughts. He feels a little short of breath himself as his heart threatens to jump out of his chest. Buck had tried courting him? Does that mean Buck loves him back? Or are those feelings of the past now?
How'd he miss Buck courting him though? He parses through his memories to figure out when Buck tried courting him. He comes out short.
“When?” He parrots Buck's earlier question. Did he have a chance and he entirely missed it? Does he still have a chance?
“I cooked some of your favorite meals, cleaned your house, left some gifts, prepped some meals for Chris…”
That’s…what they've always done actually. Not to mention Buck’s drawer at his house. And the extra toothbrush. And the kitchen gadgets that Eddie, as improved as he is in the kitchen, does not know how to use.
He must have stayed silent for too long because Buck adjusts his grip for his holding Eddie's hand and says, “I love you Eds. I have for years whether I knew it or not.”
This isn't a dream right? “So Tommy…”
“Has been trying to court me but I haven't accepted yet. You can say he was trying to win me over but he knew from the start that I only had eyes for you.”
Because he doesn't know when to just shut up and accept the fact that Buck loves him, he says, “But you've been going out with him a lot. And talking about him a lot. You're happy with him. And you spent your heat with him last week?”
Buck sputters. “I-I did not spend my heat with him! I've never spent a heat with anyone! I've never even let anyone take me!”
Oh, that should not turn Eddie on so much.
His reaction must show on his face because Buck looked pleased with a little smile and embarrassed at the same time which is frankly adorable.
“And I've been trying so hard to give him a chance because I thought, even if I couldn't have you, maybe I could fall for someone similar to you? You two do have some similarities. So I talked about him a lot to try and make myself interested more. And he's nice to hang out with. He can also fly a chopper. It's just-”
Buck lets his head fall so their foreheads are pressed together just as Eddie starts feeling irritation about the idea of Buck falling in love with someone else. “He's nothing like you. I'm not as happy with him as I am with you. I couldn't click with him. Not when I knew who my ideal alpha is.”
He can't help it then. Eddie closes the last bit of distance between them, slotting his lips with Buck's. Buck startles at first before easing into it, adjusting his hold on Eddie so there's no space between them.
The kiss starts off soft and chaste, but the lack of space makes it very easy to tell how turned on they both are.
“We should bond and mate,” Eddie blurts out, as he reluctantly pulls away when air becomes an issue.
He also did not mean for that to slip out. He feels heat rise to his face, but at least Buck is in the same state.
Buck looks so hopeful yet hesitant. “Are you sure? Are you sure you want me? We just figured this out, Eddie. I don't… I think it would kill me if I had a broken bond with you.”
Years of experience soothing Buck’s insecurities immediately jumps into action, his scent drifting outward as he pulls Buck in. Now though, he thinks, he's allowed to bring him in even closer, tucking Buck’s face into his neck. It's a rather intimate gesture considering it's on the side with his scent gland, but it feels so right. Like coming home.
Breathing in Buck’s scent that he's long come to associate with home, comfort, safety, and love, he tells the omega, “You're it for me, Evan Buckley. You have been for years and will continue to be for as long as I live.”
Buck sniffs. “You're it for me too. This life and beyond.”
Buck pulls away enough to look at him. “If I don't go on suppressants, it'll still be another three weeks or so before my heat hits again but…” the look he gives Eddie is absolutely heated. “I don't mind mating first then bonding later.”
“Yes,” Eddie breathes, barely able to contain himself from claiming Buck right then and there. “I'll make you mine tonight.”
Buck laughs. “Eager aren't you?”
“Like you aren't,” he observes, grinding their hips together, eliciting a moan from the omega. “Just want you to be mine. Want everyone to know you're mine.”
“Possessive too.”
“Is that a dealbreaker?”
“No.” Buck smirks the little minx. “I think it's quite hot.”
Yep. Buck is teasing him. “Don't tell me you don't know Bobby and them are just outside that door.”
“What if they are?”
Buck is going to be the death of him. “Well, I don't think it's the best idea to do anything I want to do to you here.” He presses against Buck again. “So how about I go arrange a sleepover for Chris and I'll show you tonight?”
He doesn't know if it's the action or the words but the moan that it draws from Buck is downright filthy.
That's the line apparently.
“Alright, boys!” Bobby shouts from beyond the door. “It's a shared bunk space! How about you two come up to fill out the necessary forms and I'll let you go a few hours early!?”
Oh yes.
……………..
Later that night at Bobby and Athena's
“So, how do you think they're doing” Athena asks, never one to pass by teasing her husband and smug that she won the bet concerning Buck and Eddie. “Should we place bets about when another child is on the way?”
Bobby groans, stirring the pot he's watching quicker than necessary. “No one’s taking that bet. Seeing how they couldn't keep their hands off each other, it's going to be nine months after Buck's next heat. I don't think they're waiting another three months for his mandatory heat leave either.”
Athena laughs at Bobby's expense. For all that both of them treat Buck like a son, Bobby is definitely the more concerned, overprotective, overbearing one. Thinking about Buck and Eddie having sex probably not fun for him.
“Oh, who is that?” he asks, quick to change the subject as soon as his cell beeps with a text notification.
“Speaking of the devil,” she tells him but frowns as she reads the message. “Buck needs heat leave.”
Bobby turns to look at her, incredulous. “He just took-”
The look of understanding he gets when it dawns on him makes her laugh.
She snorts as another text come through. “Yep. There's the text for Eddie's leave.”
Bobby drops his ladle.
“Well,” she says. “At least you won’t have to worry about Buck's heat leave for nine months. Might want to look into a replacement for heavy rescue though.”
She waves the phone at him like he needs another kind of confirmation that this was happening. “They triggered each other's cycle.”
“...fated mates?” he says like he cant believe it.
Athena shrugs, “Is it really that surprising? Buck and Eddie?”
Bobby sighs, picking up his ladle again to resume working on their dinner. “No.”
“It’s Buck and Eddie,” he concludes.