Down Bad (Buck x Eddie)

Chapter Fourteen: How Did It End?

Song: How Did It End? - Taylor Swift
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Evan "Buck" Buckley
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Seventy-two hours after finally agreeing to get together, Eddie and I return to work, and shamelessly, it's hand in hand.

As we enter, hands held tightly together, both of our palms sweating nervously, everyone's eyes meet ours and. Hen mutters something and Chimney turns to her, surprised.

Well then, I guess not everyone knew. And judging by the look on Hannah's face, she didn't either.

As we stop at our lockers, Hannah's eyes are locked on us, so I do the only thing I know how to do to make her stop.

I lean in and kiss him quickly.

He reciprocates it, quickly kissing back, the taste of our pre-work breakfast lingering on his lips. We didn't hesitate to talk to Christopher about it the next morning, and Maddie heard about it the minute I got up to shower after our certain endeavors.

Too bad my plan doesn't work as Hannah now is quickly approaching, she stops at our side, "So you two are fucking now?"

Eddie looks at her, "Not that it's any of your business, but we're together."

"Like dating?" She asks sassily. We both nod and she eyes us both quizzingly.

"Wait until Captain Nash hears about this." She storms off quickly, as if we're in high school and she has a monopoly over me

Eddie goes to stop her, but I grab his shoulder, "Bobby already knows that something's going on between us, Ed. Don't worry about it."

"Speaking of, when do we think he's gonna talk to us about it? What do you think will happen?" Eddie asks as he takes off his shirt and pulls on his station shirt. I do the same.

"Well, according to the handbook, as long as our captain knows and it doesn't pose as a conflict of interest, then we're allowed to do whatever we want. I don't care." I reply and change into my slacks, then boots.

He finishes first and leans against the lockers, his dog tag hanging from his neck. He's never worn it to work before. I wondered what's changed.

He must notice my eyes lingering on it, because he tucks it in.

I feel partially bad since he's opened up to me about his traumatic time in the service, but he knows nothing about the life-altering accident I went through before he arrived.

Part of me doesn't want to talk about it because I don't remember, but the other part is because I still can feel parts of it. The smell of the smoke and kerosene, the heat of the flames. My vision going in and out in the darkness of the building. The coppery taste of blood in my mouth.

But to the extent, that's all I remember.

One of the many things I like about Eddie Diaz, is that he's open and honest about his experiences. Sure, he's a couple years older, but he's not shy about everything he's experienced. I take his hand and kiss his knuckles, then play with his fingers as I linger in my thoughts for a moment, however, we're interrupted by Bobby entering the locker room.

"Diaz, Buckley. We need to have that talk now." He tells us in a calm, but stern tone. I'm guessing he saw Hannah puffing about like a child.

With every possible idea of how this could go, running through my mind, I rise and we follow Bobby to his office.
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Eddie Diaz
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"So, we're finally having this conversation?" Buck asks as we sit across from Bobby.

Bobby nods, "Now that you two are officially dating, congratulations by the way, but yes, now is the time to have this discussion."

My mouth goes dry, and I know this won't be good.