Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 64

Scene: Rental Car, Outside the House

The moment Eddie slid into the driver’s seat, he slammed the car door shut with more force than necessary, the sound reverberating through the small space. His chest heaved with frustration, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white. Buck, ever the calm in Eddie’s storm, settled into the passenger seat, his blue eyes watching Eddie with a mixture of concern and patience. He didn’t say anything right away—he knew Eddie needed a moment to let it out.

Eddie: “I can’t believe them.”

His voice was tight, edged with simmering anger as he stared straight ahead at the dashboard. His breath came in short bursts, and Buck could see the tension in the way Eddie’s shoulders remained stiff, his jaw clenched.

Eddie: “They’re acting like I’m still some kid they can control.”

Buck reached over, placing a hand gently on Eddie’s knee, grounding him. He could feel the anger vibrating through Eddie’s muscles, the frustration of a man who had spent his entire life trying to live up to expectations that were never meant to fit who he really was. Buck’s voice was soft but firm, a calm reassurance that always seemed to pull Eddie back from the edge.

Buck: “Hey, it’s okay.”

He squeezed Eddie’s knee gently, the touch meant to remind Eddie that he wasn’t alone, that Buck was there with him through all of it.

Buck: “You don’t have to prove anything to them. We know who we are.”

Eddie’s grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly as he turned to glance at Buck. For a moment, the tension in his body seemed to release, his hardened expression softening under the weight of Buck’s calm, steady presence. His gaze lingered on Buck, finding solace in the fact that, no matter how chaotic things got with his family, Buck would always be his constant.

Eddie: “I just… I hate that it has to be like this.”

His voice was quieter now, the initial burst of anger fading into something more vulnerable. His shoulders slumped slightly as he let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the day settling over him.

Eddie: “I thought they’d at least try to understand. After everything, you know?”

Buck nodded, understanding the depth of Eddie’s disappointment. It wasn’t just about the fight—it was the years of trying to bridge the gap between who his parents wanted him to be and who he really was.

Buck: “They will.”

Buck’s voice was filled with quiet confidence, like he truly believed that one day, Eddie’s parents would come around.

Buck: “But even if they don’t, we’re not doing this for them. We’re doing this for us.”

That simple truth hung in the air between them, settling into the silence. Buck wasn’t just talking about Eddie’s parents or the confrontation that had just unfolded. He was talking about their entire relationship—how they had fought for it, nurtured it, and built it into something that felt like home, no matter what anyone else thought.

Eddie nodded slowly, his anger fading into something more resolute. He reached over and took Buck’s hand in his own, squeezing it tightly. There was comfort in that touch, a wordless reminder that, even in moments like these, Buck had his back.

Eddie: “You’re right.”

His voice was steadier now, the fire from earlier replaced with quiet determination. He exhaled slowly, the tension draining from his body little by little.