training wheels. // evan 'buck' buckley

x. between the lines

eddie's apartment had become a second home to me over the past year. being bobby's niece had its perks - like getting to know the 118 firehouse crew. i had grown close to everyone, but eddie stood out. from day one, we had an easy rapport, a friendship that felt like it had always been there, waiting to be rediscovered. he was someone i could talk to about anything, a sounding board and, in many ways, a protector.

but there was another dynamic at play, one that i wasn't quite sure how to navigate. that dynamic was buck. he was the kind of guy who was impossible to ignore - charming, a little goofy, and genuinely good-hearted. i'd be lying if i said i hadn't developed a bit of a crush on him. the problem was, buck was still with taylor, and i respected their relationship. i had grown adept at hiding my feelings, burying them beneath layers of friendly banter and casual interactions. buck, in his obliviousness, seemed to have no clue about my feelings, but eddie? eddie was starting to catch on.

today was just another day spent with eddie and buck, helping eddie patch up the holes in his wall - a remnant from his recent breakdown. eddie had come a long way since then, but i still worried about how it had affected christopher. the two of us had grown closer in the wake of that incident, sharing moments that felt heavier with unspoken concerns. buck had been there, too, of course. he was always there, hovering around the edges of my life like a satellite, pulling me in with his gravitational charm.

as i worked on my section of the wall, i could feel eddie's eyes on me. he had finished his part and was now leaning against the wall, watching me struggle with my own task. "i'm finished," he announced, a playful glint in his eyes. "you gonna finish any time this week?"

i rolled my eyes, glancing between his perfectly patched section and my own mess. "okay, your wall had way less to fix," i shot back, making up an excuse that was only half-true.

buck's light laugh filled the room, drawing my attention. i turned to find him putting away the last of the tools, his work done. "what? you're done too? seriously?" i asked, incredulous.

buck looked up at me with that smug smile of his, the one that made my stomach flip in a way i wished it wouldn't. he stood, dusting his hands off on his jeans before chuckling. "of course. i'm quick with my hands," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at me playfully.

i made a face, half-disgusted and half-amused. "that's disgusting," i muttered, turning back to my wall. "okay, just hold on. i'm almost done, i swear." but even as i said it, i knew it was a lost cause. i was terrible at this kind of thing, and it showed.

buck chuckled again, his smirk growing as he watched my futile attempts. eddie, too, seemed amused as he watched over my shoulder. i could feel their eyes on me, their silent judgment - or was it something else? buck took a few steps forward, coming to stand behind me, his eyes trained on my work. "here, let me," he offered, gently taking the tool from my hands.

i let out a quiet breath, almost a huff of annoyance, as i stepped aside. but the truth was, i wasn't really frustrated with the task at hand. no, what bothered me was the way buck's proximity made my heart race, the way his touch lingered on my hand just a moment too long. eddie, ever observant, didn't miss a beat. he was definitely going to ask me about it later, once buck was out of earshot.

buck made quick work of the remaining holes, his chest brushing against my back as he leaned in to get the job done. it only took him a few minutes before he stepped back, admiring his handiwork. eddie smirked, his eyes flicking between the wall and the two of us. something about the way buck stood so close to me felt off, but i couldn't quite put my finger on it.

i immediately moved out of the way, trying to keep my composure. i was determined not to let myself get flustered, at least not in front of buck. eddie was a different story - he knew me too well. i sighed, relieved that the job was finally done. "alright."