Explicit | Buddie | chapter 2/4 | 6k | tags: miscommunication, living together, light angst, domesticity, getting together (eventually)

'Hello, welcome to LA zoo, my name is Caleb, how can I help you today?'

'Can we get one family ticket please,' says Buck, Eddie a pace behind him, holding Theo's hand, Chris a pace behind them, looking at his phone.

Buck had let his zoo membership lapse when Chris went to Texas. Despite what Eddie says Chris's enthusiasm has diminished since he became a a teenager, even when he was still in LA, but he promised Theo he'd join them and everyone loves the zoo, just maybe not to a visit-every-weekend degree these days.

Caleb has a rainbow pin on his lanyard and he winks at Buck as he hands over the tickets.

'I gave you a discount,' he says, grinning, 'you have a beautiful family.'

It doesn't feel like cheating because Buck is bisexual and no one from the LA zoo will come barging into Eddie's house to check they're a real family but it's an assumption all the same, a benefit Buck doesn't feel like he's earned. There's rawness there too, abraded and sore. Buck has been trying so hard not to be obvious about it, trying to keep all his messy, unvarnished feelings for Eddie to himself, but being too obvious has always been Buck's problem, his emotions right at the surface for everyone to see, even strangers.

'Thanks,' he says, because he's not about to say all that to Caleb.

'Enjoy your visit!' says Caleb, calling the next people in line forward and Buck heads back over to Eddie, Chris and Theo.

Chapter one here

Read chapter two on Ao3

Tagging a couple people who asked or were interested in this fic below the cut! If you would like to be added to or taken off this list for future chapters let me know ☺️

hmm something something plot device

Forest Glade - Hans Dieter

German , 1881-1968