Hen and Chimney
“Buck!” Eddie calls, waving the other man over to where he’s sitting on the couch.
Buck walking towards him even before Eddie’s even called out to him, he doesn’t react to Eddie’s voice, the first sign something is wrong. Hen looks over at Chim who’s already turned to her, concern drawn between his brows. They turn back just in time to watch as Buck unceremoniously throws himself across Eddie’s lap, burying his head between the arm of the couch and Eddie’s thigh as he lets out an annoyed huff.
“It went bad then?” Eddie asks, Hen and Chim both sharing a confused look before moving to sit in one of the armchairs near the couch.
Eddie offers them a half smile as they drop into the armchairs, Hen slouching into the chair while Chimney balances himself on the side of it. Eddie turns back down to Buck, seeming to hear something neither of them picked up on.
‘I thought it’d be better, I mean, we were close! We were getting along fine! And then I brought up being a firefighter and finally feeling like I’d put down roots and they just-’ Buck cuts off his rambling with a very loud groan, rolling over so he can look up at Eddie as he continues, “They were surprised! Like it was such an insane idea!” He shouts, and Eddie is faintly aware of Hen and Chim struggling to keep up with what’s going on. ‘Is it that strange of a thought that I’d have a family?’ The uncertainty of it makes Eddie’s heart break, and he shakes his head quickly, reaching out to run his fingers through Buck’s hair the way he knows he likes.
Buck hadn’t meant to share the information, the thoughts slipping from his head and into Eddie’s before he could really think about it. Eddie used the information to its fullest.
“It’s not an insane idea, Buck.” Eddie reassures, sighing as he realises he’s going to have to be the one to share enough information for Hen and Chim to stop staring at them like they’ve both grown a second head. “They knew you before you came here. Yeah, they were your friends when you lived in Florida, but it’s been years since that.” He continues, and he sees the exact moment Hen and Chim seem to catch up with what’s happening.
“You met up with some old friends?” It’s Hen who asks, and Buck turns over in Eddie’s lap, laying on his back and tilting his head over so he can see her.
“Yeah,” He mumbles, turning his gaze back to Eddie when he can’t figure out the look on Hen’s face.
‘She’s worried for you, not upset or judging.’ Eddie reassures, and Buck feels a little lighter at that, all the weight disappearing as Hen speaks up again.
“Whatever they said doesn’t matter, Buckaroo. You’ve grown up, yeah, Buck 1.0 was a little wild, but you were always going to settle down eventually. We’re your family Buck, 1.0 or 2.0 or whatever you end up being, we’re always going to love you. If they don’t see that, if they can’t see you and love you as you, then they’re some pretty shitty friends.” Hen says, Chimney quickly nodding his agreement. She’s using her patented Buck tone, and Eddie can feel the way it relaxes Buck.
“Listen, I know we give you some shit about it. We crack jokes and tease you a bit, but we love you, we’re here for you. You’re our family as much as we are yours. If some assholes can’t see how amazing you are, then clearly they don’t know you.” Chim’s voice is steady, he’s using that tone reserved for Buck, and Buck smiles, dropping his head off the side of the couch and smirking at Chim.
“You think I’m amazing,” Buck repeats, and Chim quickly shakes his head, standing up and fleeing towards where Bobby is standing in the kitchen as Buck calls after him, “You think I’m amazing!”
‘You are,’ Eddie agrees, and Buck’s head whips to look at him so fast Eddie is sure he’s going to get whiplash.
‘You can’t say mushy things in my head. That’s unfair. Cheating. I can’t argue with you when you use that tone where you’re trying to mimic my voice so I don’t realise it’s you. That’s unfair. It’s rude, really. Asshole.’ Buck rambles, and Eddie smiles down at him fondly as he continues, waving his arms around a little with his rant.
Hen watches them for a minute with furrowed brows before standing up and following after Chimney, Eddie doesn’t bother to look up as she goes.
‘You should listen to them. You know I’m right.’ Eddie argues, and Buck sticks his tongue out at him, rolling back over on Eddie’s lap. He buries his head between Eddie’s hip and the couch this time, curling around Eddie and letting out a quiet breath when Eddie pushes his fingers into Buck’s hair again.
“That smells amazing, Cap.” Chimney cheers, smiling happily as he steals a cinnamon roll from the pan.
“When did you have time to make those?” Hen wonders, stealing the cinnamon roll from Chimney’s plate as he groans and grabs another from the pan.
“Buck made them,” Bobby corrects, stealing one from the pan for himself, “Left them in the oven for me to heat up.”
“Buck made these?” Chimney asks, mouth full of cinnamon roll and eyes wide as he takes another bite. “They’re so good.”
“He’s gotten a lot better.” Hen agrees, giving Chimney a pointed look when he goes to make a teasing comment about it. Chimney shuts his mouth quickly.
‘You gonna let me get up so I can grab one before Chimney eats all of them?’ Eddie wonders, glancing down at where Buck is still laid out across his lap.
‘If you take me with you,’ Buck offers, turning his head to look up at Eddie, gauging his expression and deciding whether or not he’ll move.
‘Let me stand up,’ Eddie argues. They both know he can pick Buck up from here, he’s done it enough times, and so Buck just shakes his head and smiles, lifting his arms slightly.
“You’re incorrigible,” Eddie says with a sigh, ducking his head and tucking an arm between Buck’s legs, using the other to pull Buck’s arms up.
He swings Buck up as he stands, easily settling him over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Buck lays limply across his shoulders, only moving when they get close enough to the table that he can snatch up a cinnamon roll for himself. Eddie rolls his eyes at him, squeezing Buck’s wrist before leaning forward to grab a cinnamon roll for himself.
“We’re training through breakfast now?” Hen asks, raising a brow at them.
Beside her Chimney sputters around his second cinnamon roll, blinking between Buck and Eddie. Bobby, who’s seen this happen before, doesn’t bother to look up from his coffee. Eddie rolls his eyes when Buck’s free hand reaches out from behind him to snag another cinnamon roll. He must give Chimney a smug look, because the other man sticks his tongue out at Buck as Hen laughs.
‘Tell Chimney he’s being mature,’ Buck says, mouth full of cinnamon roll, and Eddie laughs, shaking his head.
“Buck would like you to know he thinks you’re being childish,” Eddie announces after Chimney’s stuck his tongue out at something else Buck has done.
Buck elbows him, and Eddie laughs again as he loosens his grip on Buck’s arm a little before tightening it again. Buck latches onto Eddie when his grip loosens, glaring when Eddie resettles him across his shoulders as Chimney and Hen both burst into laughter at their antics.
‘Ass,’ Buck complains and Eddie squeezes his wrist again.
‘I know you think I’m hot,’ Buck is shoving Eddie within seconds, and Eddie laughs as he bends down enough for Buck to get off his shoulders before Buck smacks his arm, shoving him as Eddie laughs and moves to the other side of the counter to avoid Buck’s swatting hands.
The bell rings before Buck manages to round the counter to his side, and Eddie cheers victoriously as he runs down the stairs, Buck right behind him.
“I said it once!” Buck is complaining as they climb into the truck, and Eddie smiles at him, tilting his head thoughtfully.
“Twice, actually.” He corrects, and Buck glares, smacking his arm again before settling down in his seat, pressed up against Eddie’s side from knee to arm.