#diaz!reader

You turn towards the voice, and smile, “Apparently, I can’t seem to stay away.” You lean up to kiss Buck, causing Chris to pull a disgusted face. This seemed to amuse Buck, and he kissed you again. Eddie appeared in the kitchen, and made his way over to his son, visibly happy to see him. “Come on guys, get a room.” You rolled your eyes playfully at your brothers comment, and pulled away from Buck. 

You dished up the food for the team and took a seat, eager to hear about the call they had just been on. You listened intently as you ate, your complete focus on Buck as he spoke passionately about the call. Your heart warmed as you watched his face light up, he loved how much you genuinely enjoyed hearing about the calls, and how his day had gone. Chimney was the next to speak up, “It was a good call, except the part where Buck was playing hero and nearly got himself killed.” Bucks eyes widened and he turned to look at Chimney, giving him a look that immediately stopped him talking. Chimney, trying to help, began speaking again, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn’t any more dangerous than a simple call, the risk is always there. Besides, it was probably one of the safer times Buck tried to save the day, you should’ve seen him on the call last week.” 

“Chim, stop talking.” Buck, who was now visibly on the spot, turned to face you. He studied your face, working out how to approach this. He opened his mouth to reassure you, but you beat him to it, “I thought we spoke about this…” Buck knew you understood that no day was guaranteed, and that saving people on calls was something he would always try to do, even if it put him at risk. He also knew that he had a habit of jumping the gun and putting himself in dangerous situations without thinking it through. “I’m sorry…” 

You checked your watch, and stood up. “I just wish you’d be more careful, Buck.” Chris stood up and hugged Eddie goodbye, and you did the same. “Later bro.” You said goodbye to the team and walked back to the car with Chris by your side. The breeze hit you, and you took a deep breath. Maybe you were overreacting, maybe not but you just needed a moment. You helped Chris into the car and got in yourself, turning on the radio. The short ride to Carlas mostly consisted of Chris laughing as you sang along to the music, and the occasional conversation when Chris wasn’t overly engrossed in his phone. Carla was there to greet you when you pulled up on her drive, Chris was extremely excited and practically jumped out of the car to hug her. Carla gave you a hug, “Y/N, it’s so good to see you!” You smiled and hugged back, “It’s been a while, huh? Life has been hectic.” Carla laughs at this, “You’re telling me, your brother told me all about you and Buck. Moving in together? That’s a big step!” 

“We were practically living together anyway, and if I’m being honest, Eddie is probably just relieved to have his couch back. I was starting to get on his nerves.” You explained to Carla, and she chuckled. “Well, I wish you all the best. I’m gonna get Chris inside, and I’ll let you run off to work. It was lovely seeing you.” You hug Chris goodbye and bid farewell to Carla before getting into your car and beginning your journey to your place of work. In front of you, the amber light turned to red and you stopped. You could see that traffic was beginning to build up on the other side of the junction, and you didn’t want to be late. You sighed, and made the decision to take an alternate route, so when the light turned green, you indicated and pulled out to begin taking your turning. You let out a sudden gasp before you could even properly register the car coming towards you. All you could do was attempt to brace for the impact, and so you did. 

A loud crunching sound surrounded you, followed by the feeling of being thrown as your car was barrelled into. You closed your eyes tightly, scared of what was next. You didn’t have the courage to open them again until the car steadied. The first thing you could see was the airbag in front of you, despite not feeling it deploy moments before. You could smell the burning of the tyres, outside of the car, you could hear the panicked voices of bystanders, but all you could focus on was the blood that was now spread across your arms, unsure of where it was actually coming from. You weren’t in pain, at least you couldn’t feel any in that moment. Is that what shock feels like? You couldn’t think, but your eyes got heavy and you fought your hardest not to succumb to the darkness. 

Back at the station, the call was only just coming in. The alarm blared throughout the station, alerting the team to the call. They were quick to jump into action, grabbing their gear and piling themselves into their assigned trucks. Eddie and Buck sat beside each other, speaking casually between themselves about what had happened earlier. “Just give her some time, she’ll come around. For her, two of the people she loves most are at risk everyday, you’ve gotta imagine it can’t be easy. It’s a risky job as it is, and when you put yourself into riskier situations without needing to, it decreases the chance of making it home at the end. She’s scared. Just talk to her.” Eddie attempted to reassure Buck, who was feeling terrible. He couldn’t shake the image of your face from his mind, the face that showed disappointment in his actions. Before Buck could respond, the truck halted and the team jumped out, ready to give help where needed. Buck stopped in his tracks as an all too familiar car was crushed before him. He tried not to panic, hoping that his suspicions were wrong. His eyes flicked to the number plate and his heart stopped. His feet were moving before his mind could catch up. He shouted your name, drawing Eddies attention. It took Eddie a few seconds to process what was happening. You had not long left the station, it couldn’t possibly be you. Right?

Buck arrived to your car first, nausea washed over him as he caught sight of your injured body. “Y/N? Hey, it’s me. I’m here.” You weren’t completely aware of what was happening, your eyes opened with a struggle. Your movements were weak as you turned your head to look at him. “Buck?” You spoke quietly, not completely aware of the situation at hand. “Don’t move, try and keep still.” He tried to remain as calm as he could, he didn’t want to scare you any more, he was terrified himself. Eddie ran right over to the car, his heart racing as he feared what he would find. His first instinct was to check the back seat, relief finally washing over him as he saw no sign of Christopher. Still, he needed to make sure, “Y/N, was Chris in the car?” 

You shook your head, “Carlas.” Eddie felt a weight off his shoulders, knowing his son was safe. The weight soon came back when he saw the condition you were in. Your eyes rolled back, and you fell into unconsciousness. Bobby was running the scene, assigning Hen and Chim to medically assist you, and he grabbed the gear to support Buck and Eddie in freeing you from the car. Buck didn’t want to let go of your hand, but he knew he had to in order to get you out sooner. The team worked tirelessly, ensuring to be as careful as possible. Bobby handed the halligan to Buck, “Buck, you focus on getting the doors open. Diaz, grab the saw and be on standby.” 

Buck groaned as he tried to pry the doors open, with no results, “Roofs too dented Cap, I can’t get it open.” Bobby nodded, and turned to Eddie, “Saws it is. Get in there Diaz, Buck, you too.” The roof was off in no time, Hen and Chim jumped straight in and equipped you with a neck brace, and got the back board in place to move you. Hen checked your vitals quickly, trying to make sure you were steady enough to be moved. “I’ve got a faint pulse, we gotta move.” They moved you out of you car quickly, and transferred you to the ambulance. “Trauma to the abdomen, possible internal bleeding. I’ll let the hospital know we’re en route.” Buck jumps into the back of the ambulance with Chimney, and instantly takes your hand in his. Hen places herself into the drivers seat, putting the ambulance into 911 mode and begins the journey as fast as she can to the nearest hospital. 

Buck hated seeing you like this. He was filled with anxiety, the nausea constantly there as he studied your visible injuries. His heart sank with every second that went by, the more he thought about you laying there almost lifeless, expecting you to flatline any second now. “I’m sorry baby, we can’t leave things like this. I need you to get through this so I can apologise to you. I know I’m not the easiest person to love, and I also know that I’m the biggest pain in the ass, but I love you, and I need you. Please.” Buck sobbed as he held your hand tighter. Time seemed to be going extremely slow for Buck, yet moments later Hen was pulling up at the hospital. You were rushed in, Hen spewed all your information to the nurses as you were wheeled in and handed over. Buck, Hen and Chimney stood there as you were wheeled out of sight. One of the nurses stopped Buck from running after you, and he sat defeated in the waiting room. The rest of the team arrived soon after, Eddies face was similar to Bucks. Eddie spoke first, “Any update?” The lack of response from Buck had him on edge, fearing the worst. Luckily, Chimney filled the silence. “There’s no update, but no news it almost always good news.” 

Eddie placed his hand on Bucks shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before sitting down next to him. “How’re you holding up?” Buck didn’t look up, instead he kept his head in his hands. He couldn’t respond, he couldn’t trust his voice not to give out. His leg bounced anxiously, and despite not talking, his feelings were painfully obvious. Eddie could empathise, he knew exactly what was going through Bucks mind. It was happening to him too, but he concealed it as much as he could, knowing Buck needed him. “You know, each time we’re sat in these chairs, it never gets easier. You don’t have to talk, I get it. I think you should know that I’m right here for you, I understand. Y/N is going to be okay, that I have no doubt about. She’s my sister, and us Diaz’s, we don’t back down. We fight.” Eddie continues talking, and he’s not sure whether he’s trying to convince Buck or himself. 

A few hours go by, and the team are waiting as patiently as they can for an update. Maddie had arrived some time ago, and was sat with Buck. She was not only there to support her brother, but also her brothers girlfriend, who Maddie had claimed as her best friend shortly after meeting her. Bobby hands a coffee to Buck and Eddie, who hadn’t moved from their seats since arriving. This changed moments later as a nurse approached, making them stand. Buck felt as if his legs were going to give way any second. The nurse cleared her throat, “She’s stable. She’s incredibly lucky to have made it out with the injuries she did, it could’ve been a lot worse. She’s awake, if you’d like to go see her.” 

Buck didn’t stick around to hear whatever else the nurse had to say, he darted through the corridor until he got to your room. He stopped to take a deep breath, and stepped inside. He was scared to look at you, all he could picture was you covered in blood still. His head shot up as he heard a voice, your voice to be exact, “Buck?” 

He was by your bedside in a blink of an eye, taking your hand in his. His eyes wandered over your body, taking in each of your injuries. His heart broke a little more with each one. He finally looked you in the eyes, and that’s when it hit him. His eyes filled up with tears, “Y/N…”

“Hey, don’t cry. I’m fine, see. I’m right here.” You gave his hand a squeeze, trying to give him the reassurance he needed. Buck took a seat close to your bed, your hand in his and against his lips. You move your hand up to his cheek and wipe his tears, Buck practically melted into your touch. “I really thought I had lost you.” 

“I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere. I need to apologise for my reaction earlier, that could’ve been our last conversation earlier and left without saying goodbye, or telling you how much I love you.” 

Buck shook his head, “You have nothing to apologise for, I’m the one that owes you an apology. I’m sorry that I’m not more careful when I’m out on a call, I shouldn’t be that reckless. I’m sorry that I can’t promise to walk through that door every night, safe and unscathed. I can appreciate how you feel now, and I promise I’ll try my hardest to be more careful. I love you, and I don’t want you ever feeling anything close to what I’ve felt today.” You wince as you sit up, making Buck panic. You push through the pain, and pull Buck to you. “Come here.” He stands from his chair and leans down to kiss you quickly. He carefully moves your hair from your face, ensuring he doesn’t touch any of your cuts or bruises. 

“I love you too, and even though I’m petrified that you won’t make it home one day, I trust that you’ll try everything in your power to make sure you do. I’m proud of you, Evan.” As you spoke, Buck smiled to himself. A sense of relief washed over him. Before he could respond, you continued. “So… does this mean I can finally get a new car now?” 

Buck chuckled, “You’re a pain in the ass, Diaz.” 

“Takes one to know one, Buck.”

─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─

The night air was crisp, carrying the lingering scent of city life and the warm aroma of food drifting from the restaurant.

Laughter and chatter spilled from inside, the soft glow of string lights illuminating the entrance. You stood off to the side, away from the bustling sidewalk, waiting.

The distant hum of cars and footsteps filled the silence as you exhaled, eyes flicking to the doors ahead. The Iron Dragons were already inside, but your dad had yet to arrive.

Just as you shifted your weight, a van pulled up along the curb a yard away from you.

The doors slid open, and the familiar voices of celebration filled the air.

Miguel hopped out first, stretching his arms. "Man, I’m starving."

Behind him, Sam and Tory climbed out, followed by Robby, who slung an arm around Tory’s shoulder as they joked about something.

Carmen then stepped out, baby in her arms as Johnny took the stroller out of the back of the car.

Her smile was warm, lingering as she looked at her family, until her gaze drifted past them.

And landed on you.

She froze mid-step, eyes widening slightly as recognition settled in.

Johnny, catching the way her expression changed, followed her line of sight. He exhaled, rubbing a hand over his chin.

Johnny glanced between the two of you, then leaned in, voice low. "Go talk to her."

Carmen swallowed, fingers tightening around her purse strap. "I don’t know if I should—"

"She’s right there, Carmen," Johnny encouraged. "You’ve been waiting for this moment. Just go say hi."

For a second, she hesitated. But then, gathering her courage, she took a small step forward—

But before Carmen could take another step, a familiar figure approached from the other side of the sidewalk.

Sensei Wolf.

A grin broke across his face the moment he saw you, his presence commanding as always, but there was something unmistakably warm in his eyes.

"You didn’t start celebrating without me, did you?" he teased.

You couldn’t help but smile, shaking your head. "No, I was just waiting for you."

Wolf let out a small chuckle before reaching out, pulling you into a firm hug.

"That’s my girl," he murmured, squeezing your shoulder before stepping back. "Come on. You earned this night."

Without hesitation, he guided you toward the entrance, one hand still resting protectively on your back.

Carmen stood frozen in place.

Her lips parted, as if to call out, but no words came.

Instead, she could only watch as the door shut behind you, locking away the moment before it ever had a chance to begin.

Johnny let out a slow breath beside her.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

Carmen blinked, eyes lingering on the closed door.

"She looked happy," she whispered, more to herself than to Johnny.

Johnny nodded, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yeah. She did."

And as much as it hurt, Carmen couldn’t bring herself to take that happiness away.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─

You sat beside Axel, fidgeting lightly with the hem of your dress as the team chatted excitedly about the tournament.

Your dad sat at the head of the table, a rare, satisfied smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned back in his chair.

And then a small group of people hesitantly approached the table.

"Excuse me," a young girl said shyly, holding her phone in her hands. "I—I just wanted to say congratulations! You guys were amazing out there."

Her friend, equally as excited, chimed in. "Would it be okay if we got a picture with you? We’re huge fans!"

You barely had time to react before Axel, ever composed, gave a small nod. "Sure."

You followed his lead, offering a polite, small smile as the group eagerly handed their phones to a waiter for pictures.

You and Axel posed, standing side by side as flashes went off. They took turn taking pictures with you individually, some individually with Axel.

"Thank you so much!" one of them gushed. "You guys are seriously incredible. You totally deserve those wins!"

"We appreciate it," Axel said smoothly, nodding in acknowledgment.

More fans trickled in after that, some asking for autographs, others just wanting to congratulate the Iron Dragons.

You stayed quiet for the most part, letting Axel and your teammates do most of the talking, but you still accepted the praise with a small nod or a soft "thank you."

Then, of course, there was that guy.

"Hey, champ," a confident voice drawled as a guy about your age stepped forward, hands tucked into his pockets. "You were insane out there. Haven’t seen anyone fight like that before."

You blinked up at him, shifting slightly in your seat. "Um… thank you."

He smirked, leaning in slightly. "Bet you’re enjoying the celebration. Must feel amazing being world champion and all. Maybe we could keep the celebration going? Just you and me."

Your lips parted, unsure of how to respond. It wasn’t that you didn’t know how to turn him down, it was just that unwanted attention like this always made you retreat inward.

You weren’t used to it, and frankly, you didn’t want it. Especially not when Axel was right beside you. But before you could say anything, Axel did.

"She’s not interested."

The guy barely acknowledged him, keeping his eyes on you. "Come on, what do you say? We could grab a drink or something."

You shifted uncomfortably. "No, thanks."

The guy chuckled. "You sure? It’s not every day a guy gets the chance to take out a world champion."

Before you could open your mouth, Axel leaned forward slightly, voice smooth but firm.

"And it’s not every day someone is stupid enough to hit on my girlfriend right in front of me."

The guy’s confidence cracked. "Wait, what?"

Before he could even process it, a girl, clearly overhearing the entire exchange, groaned dramatically from a nearby table.

"You moron!" she exclaimed, smacking his arm. "How do you not know they’re together?!"

The guy’s face dropped, his confidence faltering. "Wait… seriously?"

"They’re literally all over Instagram!" she continued, exasperated. "Look!"

She pulls up a dedicated fan page to you and Axel, posts of the sponsorships you've shared or collaborated on or training videos that have been taken of you two sparring.

The guy opened his mouth, closed it, looking at the posts, then looked at Axel—who was staring at him blankly, unimpressed.

"...Okay, yeah. That’s on me," the guy muttered, taking a step back. "Uh, congrats on the win."

Axel let out a short breath through his nose, something almost amused flashing in his eyes as the guy retreated.

The girl gave you an apologetic smile before dragging her friend away. You sat there for a moment, still processing.

Then, turning to Axel, you mumbled, "Thank you."

"For what?" Axel glanced at you, his expression unreadable.

"For…" You hesitated, feeling a little shy. "For… stepping in." You looked down at your lap. "I don’t really know how to handle stuff like that."

Axel was quiet for a beat, then—

"You shouldn’t have to."

His voice was softer now, low and steady.

You looked up, and for the first time tonight, he wasn’t just your partner, the world champion, or the Iron Dragons’ strongest fighter.

He was just Axel—the boy who knew you better than anyone else. Your heart swelled a little.

"Still," you said, voice quiet. "Thanks."

Axel huffed, shaking his head slightly before reaching under the table, giving your knee a small, reassuring squeeze. "Anytime."

And just like that, the moment passed, the food arriving at your table.

The team dove back into conversation, but Axel’s presence remained steady beside you, grounding you in a way no one else ever could.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─

The night had finally started winding down, and your team started gathering their things, preparing to leave the restaurant.

You stepped outside for a moment, the cool air a welcome relief after the warmth of the crowded space.

Just a few feet away, you spotted your competitors from Cobra Kai, Tory and Robby standing on the sidewalk, engaged in conversation.

You hesitated for a second, then took a quiet breath, mustering the confidence to approach.

You’d be working with them soon for the sponsorship deal, it only made sense to introduce yourself properly.

As you stepped closer, they both looked up, their conversation pausing.

"Hi," you said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "I just wanted to introduce myself."

Tory crossed her arms, glancing at you with curiosity.

"We know who you are," she said with a small smirk. "Kind of hard not to after tonight."

You gave a shy smile. "Right. Well, I just meant… since we’ll be working together soon, I figured I’d say hi."

Robby nodded, offering a friendly smile. "That’s cool of you. I’m Robby, and this is Tory—"

"I know," you said quickly, then felt your face heat up. "I mean—yeah, I know."

Tory and Robby chuckled at your words.

You cleared your throat, pulling out your phone.

"Anyway, I wanted to give you my number in case you ever have questions or need anything with the sponsorship stuff. We’ll be spending a lot of time working together, so… yeah."

Robby took out his phone, nodding. "That’s actually really helpful, thanks."

Tory tilted her head, studying you for a second before taking your number as well.

"You’re a lot quieter than I expected," she noted.

You gave a small shrug. "I guess I just don’t talk much unless I have to."

Tory smirked. "That’s fair. Just don’t let the people push you around. They love taking advantage of those who don’t speak up."

"Thanks for the advice," you gave her a small smile with a nod.

Just as the conversation settled, the restaurant doors swung open again.

You glanced up, heart skipping a beat as you spotted Miguel and Sam stepping outside.

Miguel’s gaze immediately landed on you, a flicker of recognition sparking in his expression.

You quickly took a step back.

"Um—anyway, I’ll see you guys soon," you murmured, slipping your phone into your pocket.

Without another word, you turned on your heel and walked away, making a beeline for Axel, who was waiting near the curb with the rest of your team.

Axel caught your retreating form, his brows furrowing slightly before he followed your line of sight—straight to Miguel, who had now stopped in his tracks, watching you go.

"Hey," you smile softly up at your boyfriend. He breaks eye contact with Miguel, and looks down at you lovingly.

As you rejoined Axel and the rest of your teammates near the curb, the weight on your chest loosened ever so slightly.

Being around Axel, around the Iron Dragons, felt safe. Familiar.

Meanwhile, just a few steps away, Carmen and Johnny exited the restaurant, their smiles lingering from the celebration inside.

But as Carmen’s gaze swept across the parking lot, her expression shifted, softening into something almost hesitant.

There you were, standing just a few feet away.

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Miguel, ever the thoughtful one, spoke up.

"I’ll go get the car," he offered, glancing between his mom and Johnny. "That way, no one has to walk."

Johnny clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Good thinking, kid."

As Miguel jogged off, Johnny exhaled, rolling his shoulders. This was it, maybe an opportunity to finally break the ice.

"Hey," he murmured, nudging Carmen lightly. "Maybe now’s your chance."

Carmen hesitated, nerves flickering across her face. But before she could take a step forward, Johnny straightened his posture and made a move himself, deciding that maybe he should ease into it first.

But he didn’t make it far.

Because just as he stepped forward, a firm hand landed on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

The Iron Dragons' leader stood tall, his grip unyielding, his expression unreadable yet sharp.

But when he spoke, his words carried a weight that left no room for argument.

"She’s not interested." His voice was even, controlled, but there was an undeniable edge beneath it.

Johnny frowned, glancing toward you again, but Wolf didn’t move. His hand remained firmly on Johnny’s shoulder, keeping him exactly where he was.

"I don’t know what you think you’re doing," Wolf continued, his voice calm yet carrying a quiet fury beneath the surface. "But you don’t get to just show up now and expect anything from her. I raised her. I was there when she took her first steps, when she spoke her first words. I stayed up when she had nightmares, I trained her, protected her. I was the one who made sure she never felt alone."

Johnny clenched his jaw, but Wolf wasn’t finished.

"You lost the right to call her yours a long time ago," Wolf stated firmly. "She is my daughter. And I will not let you or anyone else make her question where she belongs."

Carmen let out a quiet, shaky breath, her fingers gripping the strap of her purse.

Johnny’s mouth pressed into a thin line, his shoulders tense. He had no comeback, no witty remark, no half-hearted excuse.

What could he even say to that?

Wolf studied him for a second longer before finally letting go of his shoulder. He didn’t say anything else, didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he simply turned and walked back toward you.

Johnny stood there for a moment, his hands curled into balls of fists as he exhaled sharply through his nose.

Carmen swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the strap of her purse.

"Maybe… maybe we should just go," she murmured, barely audible.

Johnny glanced at her, then back at you, laughing softly at something Axel had just murmured in your ear.

It was clear you didn't want to meet your biological family. As your sensei, and father, walked up to you and you looked up at him like he hung the stars in the sky, Johnny and Carmen knew.

They knew you had everything you needed. You looked happy, and at peace. Without them.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─

Bonus:

The car ride back to the hotel was quiet, but in a way that felt peaceful.

You sat in the backseat, Axel next to you, his fingers lazily intertwined with yours.

Your father was at the wheel, his usual stoic expression softened after the long night.

You glanced toward the rearview mirror, catching the reflection of your father’s tired but content face.

And before you could second-guess yourself, you spoke.

"I want to change my last name."

Wolf’s hands remained steady on the wheel, but his eyebrows lifted slightly. "What?"

Axel turned his head toward you, just as surprised.

You swallowed, but there was no hesitation when you said, "I want to take your last name. To make it official."

Silence filled the car for a moment, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence where you knew something big had just happened, something irreversible in the best way possible.

Wolf exhaled deeply, like he was processing your words, but then his grip tightened on the wheel, his jaw clenching as he blinked a few times.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than usual, but full of something unshakable.

"You don’t have to do that for me, xiǎolóng,"

You shook your head. "I want to. You are my dad. You always have been."

Axel squeezed your hand gently, grounding you.

Wolf was quiet again, but you caught the way he swallowed hard, the way his eyes flickered between you in the mirror.

Then, with the smallest shake of his head, like he couldn’t believe this was real, he let out a rough chuckle.

"Alright," he murmured, voice thick with emotion. "Let’s make it official."

You didn’t need to look back. You didn’t need to wonder about what-ifs or unanswered questions.

Because your home was right here.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ─

Masterlist

Taglist: @ggrgcribg

"So," Buck says as he walks up to Christopher, "what do you do for fun?"

And Chris tells him exactly what. He likes pancakes with cinnamon syrup and lots of whipped cream, and he loves going to the movies, but he tells Buck that he and his dad haven't been able to go to a movie lately. Buck looks up the showings on his phone while Chris rambles on, taking notes in his head.

"Buck?" Chris calls for him.

"Yeah, buddy?" he says, not looking up from his phone as he tries to determine which of the movies listed would be appropriate for an eight year old boy.

"Can [y/n] come with us?"

Buck looks up at Chris. [y/n], Eddie's little sister. As far as he knew, she didn't normally work on Saturdays.

"We can call and ask," Buck tells him, his heart softening at Chris' growing smile. Buck finds [y/n]'s contact in his phone and dials her number, putting the phone on speaker before handing it to Chris. They boy practically shrieks when his aunt answers the phone, making Buck wince slightly.

"Hola, Christopher!" [Y/n]'s voice rings out. Buck tries to ignore the way his heart flutters. "You're spending the day with Buck today?"

Buck has a feeling she knew Eddie's plan.

"We're going to go get pancakes and see a movie," the boy tells her. "Right Buck?"

Buck sits down next to him. "That's right, buddy," he tells him. "We were wondering if you'd like to come along, [y/n]. If you're able to."

"Oh, well I supposed I can make some time for you two," she sighs, making Chris giggle. "I'd love to. Want me to meet you there at the loft, Buck?"

"No, no, we can pick you up from your place. If - if that's okay with you."

"Sure, no worries! Whatever is easiest for you. Just let me know when you're on your way, okay?"

"Sure thing," Buck tells her. "We'll see you soon."

"See you soon! Bye, querido sobrino."

"Adios, tia!"

About thirty minutes later, Buck and Chris are waving to [y/n] as she comes up to the car. A small green backpack is slung over her shoulder and she's dressed in blue jeans and a tank top. Her smile is bright as she opens the door and slides in, saying hello to Buck before turning towards Christopher.

"Oh Chris, did you pick that shirt out?" she gasps. Chris nods quickly. "It looks very nice on you, honey."

"Thanks!" he says with a big, toothy grin. "Are you ready for pancakes?"

"I'm always ready for pancakes," she says, winking at Buck, who feels his face flush as Chris laughs.

"Let's go, Buck!" Chris urges.

"I'm going, I'm going," Buck laughs, [y/n] laughing with him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hen asks him about Buck and Chris just as Eddie is about to check his phone. He pulls it out, opening the message from Buck.

"Looks like [y/n] joined them," he says with a smile, showing Hen and Chim the picture of Buck, Chris, and [y/n], a huge stack of pancakes in front of Chris. Buck and [y/n] wear equally bright smiles. [Y/n]'s arm is wrapped around Chris' shoulders and her hand is pressed against Buck's arm. Buck's cheeks are noticeably pink.

"Hey, when is Buck going to admit he's in love with your sister?" Chim asks, a huff leaving his mouth when Hen elbows him.

"Eddie's brows furrow. "What are you talking about?"

Hen and Chim look at each other and then at him.

"You're actually being serious," Hen states. Eddie nods. "You don't see the way he looks at her? They way he lights up when she walks into a room?"

"Like at his welcome back party," Chim adds, Hen nodding vigorously. "He rushed through saying hello to everyone but then spent like ten minutes with her."

"And, if I do say so myself, she definitely feels the same way," Hen says. Eddie still just stares at them. He looks at Bobby as he walks up to them.

"Are we talking about Buck and [y/n?" he asks, making Eddie gape at him. "What?"

"Eddie didn't know that they're in love with each other," Chim tells him. Bobby looks at Eddie like he's crazy.

"Don't worry, Eddie," Bobby says, patting his friend on the shoulder. "You'll see what we're talking about."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Y/n] is sitting next to Buck on the bench as he holds onto Christopher, who is entranced by the water below. He had been talking for an hour about wanting to see a sea lion.

"Thanks for coming with us today [y/n]." Buck looks down at her, his blue eyes meeting her hazel ones. "This was fun."

"Well thank you for inviting me," she tells him with a smile. Buck likes the way her eyes sparkle when she smiles at him. "Are you feeling any better?" she asks tentatively.

"Actually, yeah," he says softly. "A little bit. I - I still don't know what I'm going to do."

"Understandable," she muses. "You've found a job that you love and are passionate about. I know how much you love being a firefighter, Buck. It isn't just a job for you - it's your calling. You don't feel like you can do anything else and you don't want to do anything else. I get it." She takes a deep breath as she rests a hand on his arm, her grip firm and gentle at the same time. Comforting. "You just have to be patient. I know that the chief said, but maybe it'll change. It this is what you are meant to do, the job will find a way to pull you back in, one step at a time."

Buck hates that he's tearing up right now. He's grateful that [y/n] doesn't mention the moisture gathering in his eyes. She just smiles at him.

"Thank you for saying that," he says softly, his voice more like a whisper. Christopher's voice cuts in before she can respond.

"Where did all the water go?"

The two adults share a look before looking out at the water. Buck hears [y/n] gasp.

"Evan, is that -,"

"We need to go right now," he cuts her off, launching himself off of the bench. He picks Chris up in a fireman's carry and goes to reach for [y/n], but her hand finds his first. he takes off running, trying his best to be gentle as he pulls her along.

"We're not going to make it to any buildings!" [y/n] shouts, her voice barely carrying over the volume of the panicked crowd. Buck's eyes lock on the carnival booth that they were at earlier.

"Come on!" he shouts, pulling harder to get them there. He sees the wave getting closer. He pushes Christopher under the booth's counter, ushering [y/n] under as well. He sees her crouch down, shielding Chris, and she calls out his name when Buck hesitates to look at the tsunami racing towards them.

He throws himself over the side of it, barely having time to latch onto [y/n] before the water slams into them. He panics when the water rips him away from her and from Chris. He yells for them but water fills his mouth. He is able to get to the surface, but the current is strong and he can barely stay above the water. He tries to look for Chris and [y/n] but everything is going by too quickly. He yells Chris' name, then [y/n]'s.

His heart nearly stops when he hears Chris shouting his name. He turns his head and spots Chris holding onto a pole.

"I'm coming, Chris!" he yells as loud as he can. "Hold on!"

He swims to the kid, reaching out his hand to try to grab him but the current pushes them apart, and Buck misses him. Buck manages to grasp onto a string of lights and shouts at Christopher, telling him to let go, that he’d catch him, and he does. He pulls Chris to a mostly-submerged fire engine, and Buck is relieved to see that no one is stuck inside the cab. He gets Chris up onto the rig and manages to pull himself up as well, gasping for air. He pushes himself onto his hands and knees and maneuvers Christopher further down the back of the engine where the ladders and hoses are. He holds Chris tight to chest, trying to comfort the boy and himself. 

“Where’s [y/n]?” Christopher asks, and Buck doesn’t know. He’s been looking around, trying to see if he can spot her, but he can’t. 

“We’ll find her, Chris,” he promises. “I’ll find her.”

A few moments later  he hears a woman calling for help, and is mad at himself for being disappointed that she isn’t [y/n]. He gets the woman to the engine and Chris points out a whole group of people who are swimming towards the truck, and Buck is about to help them when he hears someone yell his name. He blinks slowly, thinking he imagined it, but then he hears it again. A woman’s voice. [Y/n]'s voice. He yells out her name, turning his back on the other survivors. He might feel bad about that later, but he needs to get to [Y/n] first. He hears her yell again. 

“Buck!” Christopher yells, pointing at something on the other side of the truck. Buck climbs on top of it again and looks to where Chris is pointing, and he finally spots her. She has her arms wrapped around a tree, and he can see the blood on her face from the truck. 

“I’m coming for you!” Buck shouts before he jumps into the water. He moves as quickly as he can to get to her, panic rising in him when he sees just how much blood covers her face. Soon his arms are around her and the tree, keeping them there for a moment. Thankfully, the current has weakened greatly, and he doesn’t have to hold as tightly onto the tree.

“Buck,” she gasps, drawing in a breath. 

“I’ve got you.”

“Chris?”

“He’s safe. You see that engine over there?” he says, pointing to it. She nods. “He’s on top of it with some other people. He’s okay.”

“How fitting,” she chuckles. Buck laughs with her. 

“Let’s get you over there so I can look you over.” She just nods. Halfway to the engine, she speaks again. 

“I think I hit my head,” she whispers. Buck frowns and tries to mask his worry.

“I think you did too,” he says. “We’re at the engine, I’ll hold you up, okay?”

“Okay,” she says, before reaching up and holding onto one of the railings. A middle-age man grabs onto her arms and helps her up, nodding when Buck thanks him. Buck climbs up himself, and sees that [y/n] is already sitting by Christopher, who has his arms wrapped around her. 

“I’m alright, sweetie,” she assures him. Buck kneels in front of them. 

“[y/n], let me take a look at your head,” he says gently. She turns to face him fully. He doesn’t miss the way her body relaxes when his fingers come in contact with her head. She winces when he dabs at the cut on her forehead. Blood is oozing from the cut and Buck moves to take off the button-down shirt that he is wearing. 

“This will sting because of the salt water, but I need to get all of this blood off your face, okay?”

“Do what you need to.” Her voice is soft.

He’s quiet as he cleans her face, Christopher resting his head against [y/n]'s shoulder. 

“Is Dad going to come find us?” Christopher asks, his gaze shifting between Buck and [y/n]. The two share a look. 

“I’m not sure, buddy,” Buck tells him. Christopher’s face falls.

“He just doesn’t know we came out here,” [y/n] tells him. “He probably thinks we’re back at Buck’s place or at the movies. But we’ll see him soon, okay, carino?” 

“Okay,” Chris sighs. [Y/n] ruffles his hair. At this point Buck has gotten most of the blood off of her face, and can now see the cut clearly. He’s grateful to see that it is superficial, but there is already a bruise forming around it. 

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” he asks her, his hands laying gently on her knees. 

“I think something hit my ribs. They hurt a little bit, but not bad.”

“You sure?” Buck asks. [Y/n] rolls her eyes and nods. 

“What about you?” she asks him. She glances at the cuts on his face and arms. 

“I’m fine. I think I bruised some ribs too.”

She hums in response. She shakes her head as if she’s trying to wake herself up. Buck figures she might have a concussion. She scoots back, bringing Christopher with her, until her back is pressed against the exterior of the cab. 

“Let’s play I Spy, huh?”

“Okay!” Chris laughs, making [y/n] laugh too. “You are gonna play, Buck?”

“Of course I am,” he says, sitting down in front of them. “I spy with my little eye…”

They play that game for a while trying to keep Chris preoccupied. Buck hears hushed gasps coming from the other people on the engine, and looks up at the water. He feels bile rise in his throat at the sight of the bodies floating past them, face down and deathly still. He quickly picks Chris up and places him up on the raised part of the bed by the railings, facing him away from the bodies. [Y/n] sits up straight, her head tilted in confusion. She looks out at the water before he can stop her and he sees the moment she realizes what he was shielding Chris from. The content, patient smile that lit up her face was gone in an instant, and Buck desperately wished he could do something to put it back. [Y/n] stands and sits beside Christopher, her arm around his shoulders in a way that prevents him from turning his head too much. Buck tries to catch her gaze but she won’t look at him. She won’t look up from her lap at all. He wants to take her hand but freezes when someone approaches them. He looks up to see the first woman that he saved from earlier. She crouches in front of Chris and reveals a deck of cards in her hand, miraculously dry. 

“Hi, I’m Alex,” she introduces herself. “My friends and I are going to play a game, do you want to play?” 

She’s only asking Christopher. The boy looks up at his aunt, who nods.

“If you want to, sweetie, go ahead,” she says encouragingly. Christopher smiles and nods to Alex, who takes his hand, continuing to block his view of that part of the water as she guides him to sit with the others. She looks at the couple over her shoulder, giving them a knowing look. 

Once they’ve sat down, Buck turns to [y/n]. She has angled herself away from the group of people so that they can’t see her face. Buck sees her chest rising and falling, but it’s doing so much too rapidly for his liking. Then he catches her voice hitching, and he sees a tear falling down her face, and he curses himself for not doing more to comfort her. 

“Hey, hey,” he whispers, quickly sitting beside her. He doesn’t want to do too much so he just holds her hands, but then she leans against him and tucks her face into the crook of his neck. He lets go of her hands to wrap his arms around her, holding her as close to him as he can. 

“It’s okay,” he tells her. “You’re okay, I’ve got you.”

She whispers an apology but he quickly silences her. 

“Don’t apologize, it’s okay,” he mumbles. He presses his lips to her hair and leans his head against hers. “We’re going to be okay, [y/n]. I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Chris.”

“I know.” Her voice is muffled as she speaks against his skin. A shiver runs down his spine. She pushes herself off of him, but her hands remain on his arms. “I’m scared, Buck, but not because I don’t feel safe. I do feel safe. You make me feel safe. You -,” she falters, trying to think of how to phrase it. “I’ve always felt safe with you around me.” she finally meets his gaze, although hesitantly, as if she’s afraid of how he’s going to react. Buck can’t believe what he’s hearing. 

“You feel safe with me?” he asks, his voice quiet. Unsure. [Y/n] nods. 

“I can’t explain why,” she tells him. “I’ve just always felt that if something ever happens, you’d try your hardest to keep me safe. When you’re in the same room as me, it’s relaxing. Even if you’re on the other side of the room or haven’t seen me yet, your presence makes me feel safe.”

Buck sits there and takes her in. she’s probably panicking while he figures out what to say. No one has ever said anything like that to him before, ever. And he feels so strongly for her. He’s never cared for anyone as much as he cares for her. And she’s right - he would go to the ends of the earth for her. 

“I love you.” The words come out of his mouth before he can stop them. Her eyes widen and she gapes at him, and he gets scared but he blubbers along anyway. “Now is the worst time to tell you this, I know, but I am so in love with you. I’ve loved you for a while now. At first it was weird because every time you talked to me or even looked at me I felt like I was having a medical emergency, because I would get lightheaded and my heart would start pounding and I wouldn’t be able to breathe. I thought I knew how it felt to be in love with someone but with you - either I was wrong about how I felt about her or this is the strongest form of love possible, because I literally cannot stop thinking about you.” His breathing is labored, his chest heaving as he observes her. He feels like he’s floating when her lips break into a smile, her cheeks turning a bright pink. 

“You love me?” She sounds hopeful. Buck smiles too. 

“So much,” he assures her. “More than I thought was possible.”

“Buck,” she gasps, laughing quietly. “I -,”

Her voice cuts off when the fire engine lurches to the side. Buck latches onto the railing and tightens his hold on her. 

“What was that?” she asks. She lets out a yelp when it happens again, and the water around them begins to surge and push its way through the debris again. 

“Chris!” [Y/n] shouts over the noise of the water. Her nephew looked at her, panicked. Alex is beside him, holding him tightly. “Hold on to something, do not let it go, okay? Hold on tight.”

Buck is about to pull [y/n] into him when he hears, and sees, someone fall into the water. He looks at [y/n] once before rushing to the side, reaching his hand out to try to grab the man. Their hands lock and he tries to pull him up, but he loses his grip when the engine lurches and shudders again, and he hears a splash behind him. Then he hears Christopher yelling and screaming [y/n]'s name. Buck turns around in a panic, barely stopping himself from jumping into the water. [y/n] fell and the tide is going back out. He needs to get to her, needs to save her, but he needs to stay with Christopher. She would tell him to stay with Christopher.

Christopher stumbles over to him, managing to step over the ropes and hoses that litter the flat surface, and Buck latches onto him, keeping him away from the edge. 

“Buck, Buck, [y/n] fell,” he whines. 

“I know, buddy,” Buck tells him. “We’re going to find her again, okay? We just need to wait until the water settles down again. I promise buddy, we’re going to look for her.”

“Is she going to be okay?” the boy asks. “Maybe dad will find her.”

“Maybe,” Buck says quietly. “I hope so.”

When the water resides, Buck climbs down from the engine and helps Christopher down. He scans the area, unable to decide where to go from here. He needs to look for [y/n]. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eddie is standing outside with Hen, Chim, and Bobby discussing what and where they should go next when all of the sudden, Hen gasps and goes completely silent for a moment. He, Bobby, and Chim all turn to look at her. 

“Eddie, is that [y/n]?”

“What?” Eddie gasps, whirling around to face the direction Hen was looking in. He sees her immediately. “Oh my - [y/n]?” he shouts her name and rushes toward her. She looks straight at him and he hates the look on her face. Her eyes are dazed, void of emotion even when he gets to her and he grabs her by her shoulders. 

“[Y/n], what -,”

“Eddie?” she whispers. He reassures her that he is there, that he’s real. “Eddie,” she sobs. 

“What happened - what are you doing here?” He hears the others approaching them. Eddie tilts her head to get a better look at the cut on her forehead, which is oozing blood, the skin around it turning an ugly shade of red. 

“We went to the pier,” she cries out. 

“Chris?” he asks his sister. “Buck?”

“Buck kept us safe.” Her voice is hoarse. “We were waiting on a fire engine when the tide went out. I - I tried to reach for someone in the water, I thought I could help her, I couldn’t let her die Eddie I -,”

“Shhh, shhh,” he says, pulling her into him. 

“I don’t feel good.”

Eddie looks at Hen and Chim, who slowly start to step towards them. Hen reaches out and rests her hand on [y/n]'s back. 

“[Y/n], why don’t we get you to a bed? Chim and I will look you over.”

“I need to find them.” Her voice is muffled by Eddie’s shirt. 

“There are dozens of first responders out there right now,” Bobby says, making the young woman pull out of Eddie’s embrace. He looks at the siblings. “We will find them. Let them check over you, [Y/n].”

She is silent for a moment before she nods. She lets Hen guide her over to a cot, Chim following close behind. 

“Go with them, Eddie,” Bobby commands him. Eddie looks at him like he’s crazy. “Be with your sister. We’ll find them.”

Eddie nods hesitantly, watching Bobby walk over to another fire captain. He turns and follows his sister. 

--------------------------–-- an hour later –--------------------------------

“Bobby!” 

He would know that voice anywhere. He turns around and sees a bloodied, bruised Buck, who is carrying Christopher on his back. 

“Buck!” Bobby rushes over to him.

“Cap!” Chris shouts, making Buck flinch. 

“Let’s get you two inside,” Bobby says. “Chris, what do you say we give Buck a break? I can carry you.”

“I want my dad,” Chris whines, though Bobby knows he’s trying to be patient.

“I know, buddy, he’s right inside,” the captain says. “Your dad is here.”

Buck gently places Christopher on the ground, keeping a hand on his shoulder to keep the kid steady. 

“Bobby, Bobby I need to go back out there,” he says, keeping his voice low. Bobby ushers them along, moving them as quickly as they can handle. “I - I lost [y/n]. We got separated and I couldn’t find her.”

“Buck -,”

“I need to find her, Bobby.”

“Dad!”

Eddie whirls around, not wasting a moment to rush to Christopher. 

“Christopher, oh my -,” he falls to his knees in front of him, scooping his son up into his arms. He looks up at Buck, who has a haunted look on his face. “Buck -”

“I’m so sorry, Eddie,” he says, his voice choked up. “I - I lost her. I couldn’t find her, I’m so sorry.”

“Buck -,”

“I need to keep looking for her.”

“Buck!” Eddie nearly has to shout to get his attention. It takes a lot of effort for Buck to meet his gaze. “She’s okay.”

The shock is clear on his face. “Wha-”

“[Y/n] is here,” Bobby steps in. Buck turns to him. “She stumbled in about an hour ago, pretty banged up.” Buck almost looks like he doesn’t believe him. He looks to Eddie, who nods. 

“Where?” he asks. “I need to see.”

Eddie carries Christopher, who immediately falls asleep, through the tented area. They don’t walk very far before they see Hen and Chim, standing next to a cot. They see Buck before [y/n] does. Buck sees Chim tap [y/n]'s shoulder and point in his direction, and sees him mumble something. [Y/n] tries to sit up straighter and turns to look in his direction. His heart had been pounding before, but as soon as he saw her face his heart nearly stopped. He is frozen more a moment, not sure what to do or if she wants him there, but then she says his name. And then she’s trying to move, trying to swing her legs over the side of the bed. 

He rushes past Eddie, moving as fast as his feet will carry him. He needs to get to her, needs to have his hands on her. Hen and Chim aren’t there anymore, they moved to stand with Bobby and Eddie. 

“Buck,” she gasps right as gets to her. He collapses onto his knees in front of her. 

“[Y/n], oh God, [Y/n],” he rambles, resting his arms over her thighs. “Are - are you okay? I’m so sorry -,”

“I’m okay, nothing serious,” she assures him, one of her hands moving to his hand, running her fingers through his hair. “I’m okay, it’s not your fault. I’m okay.”

A sob tears through him and he presses his face into her legs. He feels her lean over him, her arms placed gently around his shoulders and neck. He listens to her breathing and doesn’t realize until he feels water trickling down his neck that she is crying too. 

“I love you too, Buck,” she whimpers. “So much. I love you.”

“I couldn’t keep you safe.” 

“You did, Buck. You kept me as safe as possible.”

“Y/n -,” Buck opposes, lifting his head from her lap. She shushes him. Buck rambles on. “I didn’t jump in after you. If I had you wouldn’t have been alone out there. You…,” he brushes a finger against the fresh bruise on her collarbone.

“You stayed with Christopher. That’s what you had to do - that’s what I wanted you to do. You kept Christopher safe. You saved me, got me to the engine. You saved all those other people.” [Y/n] runs her fingers through his hair again. “You did your best, Evan, and I’m so proud of you.” 

Before Buck can respond, they hear Chris calling out to [Y/n]. They look over at the rest of the 118, having forgotten that they were there, and see Chris wiggling trying to get out of his father’s arms. Eddie places him on the ground and Chris has enough energy to walk to his aunt. Eddie stares after him. [Y/n] is too busy coddling Christopher, checking him over and giving him reassurances, to notice the misty gleam in Eddie’s eyes. Buck does notice, and meets his best friend’s gaze. 

“I need to talk to Eddie for a second,” Buck mumbles. [Y/n] nods, although hesitantly. “I’ll be right back, I promise.” 

He leaves her with Chris, going to stand with Eddie. 

“Eddie -,”

Buck barely gets his name out before his friend is crushing him in a hug. Buck is still for a moment before returning the embrace.

“Thank you for keeping them safe.” Eddie’s voice is shaky. He pulls away from Buck, but keeps a grip on his shoulders. Buck knows Eddie well enough to be able to decipher the look in his eyes. The intense relief and gratitude that he sees there nearly makes Buck crumble. “They’re the two most important people in my life, Buck. You’re the third.” Buck’s eyes widen. “You kept them safe. And I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I would do anything for them,” Buck tells him. 

“I know you would. It took you long enough, by the way.” The soft grin on his face confuses Buck for a second. 

“Wha -,”

“You and [y/n]. I’m happy for you.”

“Oh - I - I love her, Eds,” he tells him. Eddie just nods with a smile. Buck looks over to [y/n], who is now curled up on the cot with Chris curled up on her lap. Relief washes over him, and he smiles back at Eddie, who puts a hand on his shoulder and starts to guide him toward them. 

Ever since our relationship got serious, in the summer after our Sophomore year, Mario and I had planned on going to college together. And when we both received our acceptance letters, it seemed that this plan was becoming a reality.

However, despite how meticulously I mapped out my plans for after high school, I had forgotten to take into account the trouble my brother’s involvement with the Santos would entail. When he was arrested, everything I had planned seemed impossible. There was no way I could leave Cesar.

Then, much to my surprise, Oscar got out the same time I received my acceptance letter. Shortly after, I also received the news that my scholarship application was successful, and suddenly everything I had planned stood a good chance of happening.

“Y/n,” Mario called out to me, from where he parked his car. HIs family, my brothers, Monse, Jamal and I were standing on the Martinez’s front porch. Mario walked up to where I stood, and kissed my forehead, before turning to everyone. “We’re good to go now.”

I said goodbye to Cesar’s friends first, starting off with Monse. The four of them had gotten into so much trouble together for as long as they had been friends. However, they also stuck by each other more loyally that any other group of friends I knew. 

“Good luck at Cal, Y/n,” she said, as we hugged. 

“Thank you,” I replied, as I pulled away and smiled at her. “By the way, I know... About you and my brother.”

“Wha-” she sputtered, taken aback that I knew about the one thing she and Cesar had been hiding for over a few months.

“Relax, I won’t tell anyone,” I assured her. After nodding, she looked up at me, as if waiting for my verdict- whether or not I was okay with her and my brother. “But, I hope you two sort out whatever it is you got going on.”

I moved on to saying goodbye to Jamal and Ruby.

“And you two,” I began, as I stretched my arms out and wrapped them around each of their shoulders. “Please... por favor, try and stay out of trouble while I’m gone... Especially since you can’t count on me anymore to forge your parents’ signatures... or pick you up from the cemetery at 3 in the morning, Jamal.”

Ruby’s eyes widened as he stared at Jamal for an explanation.

“Oh don’t look at me like that,” he scoffed, taking offence at Ruby’s reaction. In his defence, I spent an equal amount of time picking them both up from bizarre places at bizarre hours. “At least I’ve never given Y/n food poisoning.”

Ruby remained sheepishly silent, and I moved on.

“Goodbye, Mrs Martinez,” I said, as I hugged Geny tightly. Even when Mario and I were just friends, she had always made it a point to make me feel loved and welcomed. She was more of a mother to me than my real one.

“Ay mija,” she cried, rubbing my back gently, before pulling away. “If you need anything, just call me, okay? Anything.”

I nodded, smiling warmly at her.

Saying goodbye to the rest of Mario’s family was unexpectedly hard. It dawned on me how much time I had spent in their house, and subsequently how close we had gotten. However, after saying goodbye to Abuelita, I realised the most painful was yet to over.

“I’m gonna miss you, ‘mana,” Cesar said softly. I pulled him into a hug, cherishing the moment for as long as I could, before pulling away.

“I’m gonna miss you too,” I replied honestly. I glanced over at Oscar, who laughing at something Mario had said to him, and sigh softly. “You ever get sick of Oscar, just gimme a call okay?... Don’t do anything stupid.”

Cesar chuckled, but nodded nonetheless, understanding how much I meant what I said. Whenever him and Oscar butted heads, they both always ended taking things too far. I wanted Cesar to know that I would always be there for him, no matter the distance.

“Hey,” I whispered, before placing my hands on Cesar’s shoulder. He looked up, tears brimming in his eyes, and I knew he could sense what I was gonna say next. “If I can get out, you can too... I’ll make sure of it, okay? Just focus on being a kid for now.”

He lifted his hand to wipe his eyes, which I took as an opportunity to pull him in for another hug. Ever since Oscar was forced to give up his culinary dreams to support Cesar and I, I did everything I could to find a way out. When I was awarded my scholarship, I could tell what this meant for Cesar, much less Oscar. It meant that he had a shot of getting out too, and that Oscar’s sacrifice was not in vain.

After pulling away from Cesar, I made my way to my other brother.

All of a sudden, I felt my eyes begin to sting. Facing Oscar made me feel confronted by the reality of what I was doing. I had spent a majority of my life dreaming of the day I could leave Freeridge and pave my own path, away from my family’s affiliation and involvement with the Santos. It only just hit me how much this could impact my brothers. 

“Hey,” Oscar said, taking a step towards me, and placing his hands on my shoulders, ironically just as I had done to Cesar. “Why you crying for? This is a good thing.”

“I know, but...” I cried, sniffling as I lifted my head to face my big brother. “It just kinda feels like I’m abandoning you and Cesar.”

“‘Mana...” Oscar pulled me into his chest, scuffing my hair teasingly, before pulling away again. “Me and Cesar? We’ll be okay... You just focus on chasing your dream. You deserve that... more than anyone.”

I nodded, shoving my hand in my pockets. I glanced over at Cesar, who was busy staring indiscreetly at Monse. I wondered how that would turn out by the time I came back for Christmas break. I wondered how much things would change by the time I came back home. 

I huffed, slumping my shoulders as I focused back on Oscar. I knew change would be inevitable. It felt like just yesterday Cesar and his friends started middle school. Now they were about to start high school. And who knows what would happen then. What kind of trouble they would find themselves in.

“Promise me...” I had to inhale for a moment, before finishing my sentence. Oscar watched me intently. “Promise me you’ll go easy on him. You can’t just walk out when he starts acting up... Not while I’m gone, okay? You’re all he’s got.”

“Since when have I ever walked out?” Oscar responded, a heavy undertone of aggression layered in his voice.

“You know I don’t mean it like that,” I replied softly, trying not to diffuse the argument before it became one. “I just... I need to know that you’re gonna be here when Cesar needs you to- that you’re not gonna let your anger or let being Santo get in the way of that.”

He had just gotten out of prison, after being locked up for over a year. The only reason I accepted my scholarship and even applied for college was because he told me he was getting out early. I was counting on him to stay out of trouble while I was away, for Cesar’s sake.

“I’m not gonna get locked up again, Y/n,” he stated, softening as he realised where my concern was coming from. 

“You don’t know that,” I said quietly. Oscar sighed, knowing I was right about that. He hadn’t planned on getting locked up at all, but that still happened. 

“...I’ll go easy on him,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets, his expression sheepish. When I still looked uneasy, he knew the exact phrase he needed to use to put my mind at ease. “... Promise.”

I smiled, a wave of relief washing over me. That was enough. Knowing that he would go easy on Cesar while I was gone was enough for me to be content. He and I had to share the responsibility of looking after Cesar, but out approaches were always different.

Oscar was always the first to get angry, whilst I let Cesar get away with almost anything, which is good. We balanced each other out. When Oscar went to prison, I had to change my approach. I had to hold Cesar accountable for a lot of the things I used to let him off the hook for. I had to ensure that balance. I needed Oscar to do the same while I was gone.

After exchanging a tearful goodbye with his mom, Mario made his way to where I stood. Without saying anything, he took the bag hanging on my shoulder and slung it over his. Oscar inhaled sharply, before resuming his signature glare as he took a step towards my boyfriend. 

“Take care of my sister,” he said, phrasing it as more of a threat than a request. I knew he liked Mario and respected him, but that never seemed to stop him from threatening him as often as he could. 

“Of course,” Mario answered, trying to conceal the fear that was ridiculously evident through his expression. He wasn’t exactly good at suppressing his emotions, but I loved him for that exact reason.

After a prolonged moment of silence, Oscar held his hand up, and Mario grabbed it, initiating a bro hug. In the language of my brother, that was physical confirmation of respect. 

As Mario and I entered his car, and began pulling out of the driveway, and heading towards the outskirts of our neighbourhood, I stared out my window and tried to enjoy as much of the view as I could. Tried to bask in the familiarity of our block and all the people that resided in it. 

For all I knew, everything could be wildly different the next time I came these streets. Somehow, I knew in my bones that they would. Nothing ever stayed the same around here.

Without realising, I placed my hand on Mario’s hand that rested on my thigh, and gripped it. He was the one person I could always count on staying, despite all the people that left me. Now he was the only one coming with me on the new adventure we were about to embark on. 

“Y/n?” His voice was soft, yet concerned. He kept his eyes focused on the road, but his expression was uneasy. “You okay, baby?”

“Yeah,” I answered, without having to think about it for longer than a second. I loosened my grip, but kept my fingers intertwined with his. “I have you.”

He finally digs out his phone once the fifth wave of vibrating starts, and he feels his stomach drop when he sees who is calling him. He stares at his phone for a moment before swiping his thumb across the screen and holding it to his ear. The movement catches Bobby's attention, so Buck turns away.

"[Y/n] -,"

"I've been watching the news." Her voice is shaky and quiet. It only makes him feel worse. "I know you're on the call with the kid stuck in the well. I've seen every one of you except for Eddie. Is - is he -,"

"[Y/n]," he mumbles into the speaker, trying to keep his voice level. Buck has known her long enough to know that she's on the verge of panicking. "[Y/n], listen to me-,"

"The woman on the news said the well collapsed and that a firefighter is still down there."

Buck is silent for a moment, unsure of what to say, but his silence is enough of an answer. A horrible sob tears through the speaker.

"Baby -,"

"Are you telling my my big brother is - he's under there? He's - dios, no, Buck -,"

"[Y/n], listen to me. Listen to me, sweetheart, listen to me. I am not going to stop until I get him out of there, okay? None of us are stopping until we get to him."

"What am I going to tell Christopher?" she chokes out, and the words are like a blow to his chest. "He - he's gone through so much, Buck, this - losing Eddie will -,"

"He hasn't lost him, [Y/n]. We haven't lost him. You know better than anyone else how stubborn and tough Eddie is."

"He was buried, Buck," she mumbles.

"Trust me, [Y/n]," he says slowly. "I will get him."

She is quiet for a moment.

"Okay."

Buck listens to her breathing for a few seconds.

"Please stay safe."

"I will, sweetheart," he promises.

"Let me know...,"

"I will."

"Okay. Um - I'll talk to you later."

He hears a soft 'I love you' before the call disconnects.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once Eddie is settled in at the hospital, Buck calls [Y/n]. She picks up immediately, and just like before their last call ended, they take a moment to just listen to each other breathing.

"Is he...,"

"He's cold and bruised, but nothing is broken. They're keeping him for observation to make sure there aren't any secondary problems. They think he was underwater for a few minutes, so they want to keep an eye on his lungs."

"Can I come? Or did you intimidate the nurses into letting you stay?"

The snort that escapes Buck is louder than it should have been.

"You can come if you want to. If they try to make you leave I'll wave my shield around."

"You say that as if you're a police officer."

"Well, technically -,"

"Peace officer is not the same thing."

Buck grins. "Still, I'll vouch for you."

A content sound tickles his ear. "I'll be there in fifteen. Love you."

"Okay, love you."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A light tapping rouses Buck. He rubs the sleep from his eyes and stretches, trying to get rid of the stiffness in his neck. He turns his head toward the door and smiles at the sight of his girlfriend leaning against the door frame with a coffee cup in each hand.

"Hi," she says softly, her hazel eyes dancing between him and her brother. She tries to hide her worry but Buck can see right through her.

"Hey," he echoes, picking himself up from the chair. [Y/n] holds out one of the drinks as he approaches her. "Thanks."

"It's hot chocolate, not coffee," she tells him, a soft smile making his heart flutter. "You look exhausted."

He lifts a hand to her face, running his thumb along her cheekbone. "So do you."

"Even in my own hospital room, I'm the third wheel."

The low, breathy voice startles both of them so badly that [Y/n] almost drops her drink, and Buck nearly topples over from spinning around so fast.

"Eddie," [Y/n] gasps, bypassing Buck to get to her brother. She settles down on the bed next to his knees. "How are you feeling?"

Eddie makes a noise of discomfort as he shifts his weight on the bed. "Tired. Sore. Cold."

"The doctor said you'll feel that way for a few days," Buck tells him, standing on the other side of the bed. "Do you remember what happened?"

Eddie doesn't answer.

"You do, but you kind of wish you didn't," [Y/n] mumbles. Eddie looks at her in surprise. She scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Please, Edmundo. I'm no stranger, I'm your sister. I know you."

Eddie chuckles, making [Y/n] smile, which makes Buck smile. After a moment, Eddie gets serious again.

"Christopher?" he asks.

"With Aunt Pepe," [Y/n] tells him. "She knows what happened. We knew you wouldn't want Christopher to see you looking so worn down. You'll be here under observation for at least another twenty-four hours, so if you want we can bring him by tomorrow."

Eddie nods, closes his eyes, and takes a deep, shaky breath. [Y/n] and Buck share a look, each wearing matching frowns. [Y/n] swallows, trying to break up the lump in her throat.

"I'll text Pepe and ask her to bring him. You're going to be okay, Eddie. You didn't leave him."

Eddie's eyes fly open and he looks at her as if she's crazy. She raises an eyebrow.

"Are you telepathic and I just didn't know?" he asks. [Y/n] lets out a laugh. "or is it the sister thing?"

"It's the sister thing, don't worry."

"I don't know about that," Buck says, a teasing lilt in his tone. "It's kind of scary sometimes."

[Y/n] sticks her tongue out at him and glances at Eddie, whose eyelids are starting to flutter closed.

"You can rest, Eddie. Christopher will be here in the morning."

Eddie doesn't say anything before he dozes off, his chest rising and falling slowly.

[Y/n] moves to the chair that Buck had been in earlier. She looks up at him, a lazy smile making his heart skip a beat. "Why don't you go home? Take a shower, get some rest."

"I'd rather stay here with you," he says quietly. "You were so worried earlier."

"I was terrified," she admits, though they both know that Buck knew that. "But Eddie's okay now, and so am I. So please, go home and take care of yourself."

Buck holds her gaze for a moment before nodding. He moves to stand beside her and leans down, pressing his lips to her cheek, then to her lips.

"I love you." Her breath tickles his skin. He mumbles the same words against her lips, hesitating a moment before standing back up.

"I'll be back later, okay? Call me if you need anything."

"I will. Drive safe."

“Hey, you finally made it.”

Mario pulls me into his arm, and holds me tightly for almost a minute, before quickly letting me go. After greeting Ruby and some of his friends, I return to Mario, who was sat beside his mom and dad at the kitchen table.

“Hi, Mr and Mrs Martinez,” I say, before placing a platter of chips and salsa on the kitchen table. I knew better than to go to the Martinez household empty handed. “Feliz año nuevo.”

Before I finish speaking, Mrs Martinez stands up abruptly and walks into the kitchen, her shoulder roughly brushing against mine as she left the table. Mr Martinez gulped, before forcing a smile, as though his wife hadn’t just given me the coldest of all cold shoulders.

“Happy New Years, Y/n... Excuse me.”

I turn to Mario, who holds the back of his neck nervously.

“What was that about?” I asked, but he shrugs.

“No idea... Don’t worry too much about it, though. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Are you sure?” I asked worriedly. Mrs Martinez and I were never the best of friends, but she had never treated me so coldly before, and I knew there was a deeper meaning behind it.

“Hey,” Mario whispered, gently lifting my chin with his thumb and index finger. When I look him in the eye, he smiles. But that’s when I know he’s hiding something. “Everything’s okay... She’s just a bit preoccupied with everything. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay,” I sighed, kissing Mario softly as he leaned in close to me and pushing my thoughts away so I could enjoy the night with him and his family.

As we pulled away from one another, and headed towards the couch where Ruby and Jamal sat, eating from a bag of potato chips, the doorbell rang, and Monse came bursting in.

“Happy New Years, fam!” As she spoke, she took four sizeable steps directly towards me. After grabbing hold of my wrist, she smiled at Mario and pulled me up from the couch. “Can I speak to Y/n for just one sec?” After I landed on my feet, she quickly pulled back out the door and closed the door behind her. Once she was sure that no one inside could hear us, Monse walked me off the front porch and her smile faded to a concerned frown.

“Cesar’s missing.”

“... What?” I muttered incredulously. I knew he had been staying at her place and I was happy he had a safe place to stay, especially since Oscar wasn’t speaking to him anymore. “What do you mean, Monse?”

“He didn’t crash in my dad’s car like he normally does,” she explains, her voice growing louder with panic. “And I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning, which is not like him... like at all. And I know you aren’t on speaking terms with him after what happened, but I... I don’t know what to do.”

“Okay,” I sighed, placing my hands on her shoulder and taking deep breaths so that she could do the same. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay... I know his hiding spots, so I’ll help you look for him... It’s gonna be okay, Monse, just breathe.”

She nodded, and began to breath deeply. As she calmed herself down on the front porch of the Martinez household, I went back inside to tell Mario where I was going, in case he started worrying like he normally did.

“Hey, babe,” I whispered, pulling him aside. His mother was drying a plate behind him as I spoke to her son, but her eyes were glued on the two of us. “I’m so sorry but I have to go.”

“What?” He whined, taking hold of my hand and pouting. “But it’s not even 9:30 yet. We haven’t even had dinner.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I apologised, running my hand down his cheek. “But it’s kind of an emergency.”

“Typical,” Mrs Martinez whispered, only just loudly enough for me to hear. Then when she realised she had my attention, she raised her voice slightly. “How typical it is of a Diaz to just do what they please... No matter how it hurts other people.”

At that point, I was passed being hurt, and was instead annoyed. My baby brother was missing, and Mrs Martinez had the audacity to give me a hard time about leaving to go find him. The nerve.

“I’m sorry, do you have a problem with me, Mrs Martinez?”

“No,” she muttered, putting the plate down on the table and shaking her head profusely. “I have a problem with your entire family.”

“Ma,” Ruby was the first to come to my defence. Even though I wished more than anything for it to be Mario. “C’mon don’t do this.”

“No, Ruby,” she began, shaking her head and looking at me with pure anger in her eyes. “I will not sit around and wait for another one of you Diaz siblings to hurt another one of my boys. Y/n, you need to leave... and don’t ever step foot inside my house again.”

“Ma,” Ruby pleaded, after noticing the tears that were beginning to stream down my cheeks. “Please, don’t...”

I turned to Mario, who remained silent.

“Mario?”

It didn’t feel like I was asking for much. His mother had basically blamed me for wrongdoings that weren’t even mine to own up to. All I wanted was for him to stand up for me. Because no way in hell was I about to speak back to his mother. That wasn’t how this worked.

However, he remained exactly how he was; silent. And so I nod bitterly, and turn towards the door.

“Y/n,” he calls out as I reached for the doorknob

“No, I get it,” I say, turning around and realising he was right behind me. So now he knew how to have my back. “... I get it. Diazes aren’t welcome here anymore. Message received... Don’t ever speak to me again.”

As I walked onto their porch, and headed towards the sidewalk, Mario followed after me. Monse sensed the tension between us, and headed towards my parked car and waited for me there. Before I could take a step further, Mario grabbed my wrist and spun me around.

“Y/n, c’mon,” he cried, his eyebrows knitting together even more when he realised how upset I was. “It’s my mom, I... I can’t go against family. You know that better than anyone.”

“Yeah, I do,” I yelled. “But Mario, you’re my family too... And I have defended you all the time! Like when my mom thought said you were too much of a momma’s boy and when Spooky said you were too much of a pushover. I fucking defended you because that’s what you do for the people you love.”

“C’mon that’s not fair, Y/n... I didn’t know what to say. She caught me offguard.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’m leaving.”

As I got off their porch and headed towards my car, Mario followed me.

“You have to understand where she’s coming from,” he said, causing me to stop instantly, and turn around to face him in less than a second.

“Look, I get that she’s a mom, and she nearly lost her son,” I began, poking Mario in the chest the way I normally did on the rare occasions where we would argue. “But she had no right to say what she did to me, and you knew I couldn’t be the one to tell her that.”

This was an unspoken rule. 

“And Cesar’s just a kid. Yeah, he made a really bad decision... but he’s still a kid. He’s still my little brother. And you know damn well that Ruby is his best friend, yet you just stood there and let her say all the things she did.”

“Baby-”

“You know I haven’t spoken to Cesar since any of this happened? Because I know that you were angry at him and, for a while, I was too.”

“I didn’t know that,” he murmured.

“Yeah, well there’s a lot of things I do for you that go unnoticed.”

And with that, I walked to my car and drove away.

*********

“We’ve looked everywhere,” Monse sighed. “It’s hopeless.”

I couldn’t understand where Cesar could be. We went to all the food places and corner stores he always went to. Even checked out all the park benches and alleyways he’d go to when he needed to clear his head. Nothing.

“Go get some rest,” I murmured, before waving goodbye as she walked into her house.

I began driving towards my home. I called it my home, but really it’s a house that Oscar and his friends paid off when they got a lot of cash rolling in. Having been Spooky’s only sister, it was only a matter of time before they gave me the keys to it once I got a stable job working as a teacher aide.

As I pulled up towards my driveway, I noticed a familiar figure standing at my doorstep. On any other given day, I would have been skeptical, and approached the person with my brother’s emergency shotgun in my right hand, but somehow on this day I knew.

I just knew who it was.

“What the hell are you doing here, Mario?” I asked angrily, before he stepped aside so my little brother could come out from his shadow.

“Hey, mana,” Cesar whispered, smiling nervously at me.

I, much like Oscar, had a death glare that could holes through skulls. After glaring at him for almost a minute, I punch his gut, hard enough for him to feel it but lightly enough so that he wasn’t seriously hurt.

“Oof-” Cesar groaned as he held his stomach. Before giving him a minute to breathe, I quickly engulfed him as big of a bear hug as I could offer.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, you dumbass,” I whispered, trying not to make it too obvious how relived I was to hear him speak to me again. “I thought something serious happened to you... You can’t just leave Monse’s place and then not show up for a few days. That’s not how this works.”

“Wait, you knew?... You knew I’ve been crashing at her place this whole time?”

“Of course I knew, pendejo,” I yelled. “I would never just let you go without keeping an eye on where you’re at.”

“I don’t know, I mean... Oscar’s pretty good at abandoning me. He hates me, Y/n.”

“Hey,” I whispered, gently punching his shoulder to get him to look up at me. “He doesn’t hate you... Neither one of us could ever hate you Cesar, you’re our baby brother... He just... It’s a little more complicated for him, you know that.”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “So... are you gonna drop me off at Monse’s.”

“You are so fucking stupid,” I droned. “You’re crashing here. With me. I’m not letting you out of my sight after the stunt you just pulled.”

“But Oscar-”

“But Oscar can’t do anything about it, because they signed this house over to me... And I’m not letting you go ever again.”

I pulled him into my arms and squeezed him as tightly as I could. He groaned as I just about crushed his shoulders, and laughed when I slowly loosed my grip. For a moment, there was silence.

“Thank you, mana,” he sighed in relief. I smiled and pulled away, before realising that Mario was still standing with us. Only, he had shifted as far off my porch as he could and turned the other way. I cough awkwardly before handing Cesar my house key.

“Go inside and make yourself something to eat,” I ordered him. He did so without waiting another beat. Once he closed the door behind him, I took a step towards Mario, and offered a small smile. “Thank you... for finding him and bringing him here.”

“Of course.”

“How’d you know where to find him?”

“You two are more alike than you think,” he smiled, fiddling with the keys to his car as he spoke. “He was at that pizza place next to the train station... the one you always dragged me to back when we were in High School.”

I smiled and then chuckled as I realised what he was talking about. Before I dragged him there with me, I used to always drag Cesar and Oscar there. They sold the best pizza our spare change could buy, and when money was tight, which was almost always, we could always count on leaving that place with a full stomach.

“And uh... I spoke to my mom, right after you left. She wants to apologise to you when you feel ready to talk to her again,” he explained, reaching for my hand. That time, I didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry, Y/n... you were right, I should have defended you. ‘Cause you mean everything to me... everything.”

As I leaned closer to him, the sound of fireworks erupted throughout our block. Before he could say another word, I kissed him softly before gently pulling away.