Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 76

Scene: Hotel Restaurant, Evening

Once they had changed, Buck suggested they head to the hotel’s buffet for dinner. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple spread of food, but Buck knew Eddie hadn’t eaten much over the past few days. He wasn’t going to let Eddie skip another meal, even if he had to coax every bite.

The dining area was quiet, with a few other guests scattered at tables, mostly absorbed in their own meals. The warm lighting created a cozy atmosphere, a peaceful reprieve from the emotional weight of the day. Buck led the way to the buffet, taking charge like he always did when Eddie wasn’t quite up to making decisions.

Buck: “Let’s see… I know you like this.”

He grabbed some pasta, then glanced over at Eddie’s plate.

Buck: “A little grilled chicken, and maybe some salad? Can’t let you survive on coffee and nerves.”

Eddie stood beside him, giving Buck a small smile despite himself.

Eddie: “You know me too well. Fine, but just a small portion. I’m not that hungry.”

Buck: “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that one before. But you’re eating. I’ll even bribe you with dessert later if you behave.”

Buck winked, dropping a roll onto Eddie’s plate before piling food onto his own.

They found a table near the window, where Eddie settled down with a soft sigh. The sky outside was darkening, deep shades of indigo settling in as night took over. It matched his mood, but for the first time today, it didn’t feel suffocating—it felt calm.

Buck placed Eddie’s plate in front of him, sitting down across from him with a teasing smile.

Buck: “There. Chef Buck’s finest. Bon appétit.”

Eddie chuckled softly, picking up his fork. He poked at the pasta for a moment before taking a small bite. It wasn’t much, but the warm food was comforting, and he found himself eating more than he thought he would.

Eddie: “Not bad for buffet food.”

Buck: “You wound me! This is gourmet compared to some of the takeout we’ve had.”

Buck smirked, stabbing at his own food.

Buck: “Remember that one time we ordered from that sketchy pizza place, and the crust was basically cardboard?”

Eddie snorted, a real laugh slipping out.

Eddie: “Oh God, yeah. And you kept trying to convince me it wasn’t that bad. ‘It has character, Eddie.’”

Buck grinned, pointing his fork at him.

Buck: “It did have character! And you ate half of it, so you must’ve liked it a little.”

Eddie: “I was hungry and desperate. There’s a difference.”

They both laughed softly, the sound easing some of the lingering tension. Eddie took another bite of his meal, more out of genuine hunger this time. Buck watched him with a pleased expression, clearly happy to see Eddie eating and relaxing, even just a little.

Buck: “See? You’re doing it. Eating like a real human again. Who would’ve thought?”

Eddie: “I guess miracles do happen.”

He rolled his eyes, but there was a lightness in his tone now.

For a while, they settled into a rhythm, chatting quietly between bites of food. It wasn’t the heavy kind of conversation they had earlier—it was light, playful, and easy. They talked about random things—old inside jokes, memories of bad meals they’d shared, even a brief debate over who would win in a fight: a hundred tiny horses or one giant duck.