Lou’s Lips Sink Ships

But in the aftermath of pain is always peace.

And even if the pain carries on for hours, days – years, even – it always finds its way to peace eventually.

Today was a lucky one, one where his prayers were answered not just for his safety but for everyone he cares about. Chim survived, relatively unscathed, and found his words enough to promise forever with Maddie.

So, today, the peace soothes quickly, brings a barrage of beauty and, with it, Eddie finally feels like he can exhale.

When his eyes scan the narrow hallway, they eventually land on Buck, tucked in a corner on a bench at the end of it, Tommy slumped on his shoulder in sleep. He offers a little wave to Eddie with his free hand, the other holding a plate with cake of his own.

Eddie smiles, warmth filling the last little bits of his chest, love from Chim and Maddie blooming beside moments shared with Chris and Abula already settled there. But it’s not lost on Eddie how big this day was for Buck, too.

How hard it was for him to admit he was on a date with Tommy that night at the loft. The way he’d been so quiet, worry pinched between his eyes until Eddie finally realized he was focused on the wrong thing. Eddie hadn’t experienced something like that, himself, but he knew his job was easy.

Buck let go, and Eddie just had to catch.

When Buck disappeared after the ‘I Do’s and came back with Tommy, dragged along by his hand through the sea of people at the door, Eddie was already grinning. When he looked up and saw the soot lining Buck’s mouth, the giddy smile across his cheeks, he knew Buck made a choice that was so completely him, Eddie couldn’t be prouder.

“Hey,” he murmurs now, sinking onto the bench beside Buck. He leans over to make sure he hasn’t disrupted Tommy, but when he does Buck tosses a dismissive wave at him.

“He’s dead to the world,” Buck laughs. “Was at that wildfire the last day and a half. I don’t think you’d wake him up i-if you slapped him.”

Eddie raises his brows and teases “Or sprained his ankle?”

Buck shakes his head, rolls his eyes, and takes another bite of vanilla and buttercream. He looks happy in a way Eddie doesn’t quite remember seeing him before. Like he finally feels calm.

Peaceful.

“How’s the hangover?” Eddie asks, digging into his own slice.

Buck closes his eyes and takes a breath. “I’m gonna sleep for a day…or five.”

Eddie takes out a bottle of water he’d shoved into his pocket and cracks the seal, handing it over to Buck.

“Thank you,” Buck says before inhaling half the bottle. He offers it back to Eddie with a grimace, “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie shrugs. “There’s more. You keep it.”

They eat a few more bites in quiet company, the occasional door swinging shut nearby, Maddie’s laughter drifting from across the hall. Bobby and Athena duck out and wave goodbye to the pair before heading out themselves.

When they finish, Eddie takes Buck’s plate and stacks it with his own, tossing it in a garbage nearby before settling back beside Buck.

“I’m glad he could come,” Eddie says, gesturing to Tommy.

Buck looks up at him, eyes shimmering with surprise and that alone makes Eddie’s chest ache.

Proving people care in a way Buck doesn’t think anyone does is like fighting the devil himself sometimes, thoughts so ingrained they’re burned into Buck’s bones.

“R-Really?” Buck asks. “I-I mean–”

“Well, I had a question for him about the Cheville,” Eddie says, crossing his arms over his chest.

He cares, but he is still Buck’s best friend, after all – he can’t resist the teasing.

It works and Buck chuckles, the tension in his shoulders dropping slightly, his elbow playfully jabbing into Eddie’s ribs.

Eddie turns toward him, catching his eyes so he knows Buck hears him.

“Really,” Eddie says. “I’m proud of you, man. You didn’t let all this,” he gestures to the hospital halls, rooms lined with crash carts and nurses in scrubs, “trip you up.”

“Yeah,” Buck says, the weight of everything slipping away as he sinks against the wall, Tommy going with him. “Easier to do it a-all at once.”

“I’m sure it’s not easy, but…” Eddie says, leaning against the wall beside Buck. “You seem really happy.”

Buck turns and his smile widens, tears shining in his eyes, the brightness in them dimming the last of the worry. The ache in Eddie’s chest softens at the sight.

“I am,” he says.

Eddie glances between Buck and Tommy and it’s hard to stop the smile spreading up his own cheeks. Buck’s hand is laced lightly with Tommy’s, thumb brushing absentmindedly over his knuckles.

Tommy’s a good guy – and Buck’s the best guy Eddie knows – seeing them together like this makes so much sense, Eddie’s shocked he didn’t realize it sooner himself.

“And,” he nudges Buck, “Now everyone knows. You can bitch about him leaving towels on the ground at work like you always do.”

Buck elbows him a little harder this time. “I don’t always bitch at work.”

Eddie smirks and puts his hands up, “Then how do I know everything about the way your exes left their towels around?”

“It’s not…that’s–”

“Taylor uses three towels for one shower, Eddie. And then she gets another one to wash her face!” Eddie says in his best impersonation of Buck. “I got this fancy new apartment and there’s three places to hang towels in my bathroom, Eddie. Three! And Ali just–”

“Okay,” Buck concedes, laughing himself now. “Okay, yes. Fine. I like towels to be dry, sue me.”

“It’s a thing, Buck,” Eddie says.

“It’s not a thing, it’s normal!” Buck replies without pause.

“It’s definitely a thing,” Tommy mumbles from beside Buck, pinching Buck’s ribs and sinking deeper into his shoulder. “You already yelled at me for using the wrong hook the other–”

“It was the one farthest one from the shower, Tommy!” Buck scoffs, looking to Eddie for support.

Eddie offers none, just laughs and leans over Buck to tell Tommy. “It’s his weirdest thing. That and the other thing – with gum.”

Tommy cracks one eye open and furrows his brow. “What about gum?”

Before Eddie has a chance to explain, pain spikes up his shin and he hisses, glancing to see Buck’s foot collide with it again. “Ow, jeez Buck.”

“Shut up,” Buck grits out. “I have no things.”

“Well,” Tommy smirks, “You have one thing.”

Eddie can’t let it pass by, seizing the moment and saying, “Yeah, the towel thing.”

“I’m leaving,” Buck says and starts to shove Tommy off him and slip from between them. Tommy wraps his arms around him and holds him in place with a playful whine.

“No, no, no,” he says, “We were kidding. Come back, Evan. Please, you’re so warm.”

“You were just surrounded by fire for twenty-four hours, how could you possibly want to be warm?”

Eddie inhales and takes the opportunity, standing and turning toward the couple. “I’m gonna take off. I gotta relieve Abuela so she can sleep in her own bed.”