Chapter Text
Shifts tend to drain every living cell of energy out of any firefighter in LA; hell, probably the whole world. All Buck and Eddie knew is that this shift wasn’t like that. It was one of those incredibly rare shifts where, sure, it was filled to the brim with horrific calls, but not a single person died. Which, despite being physically taxing, left them feeling almost euphoric.
At the last call of the shift, Eddie was so physically exhausted that he ended up collapsing into a patient's lap while carrying a bucket of water that someone had needed help carrying, and dumped it all over this patient with a minor concussion who was equally exhausted. It did end up inadvertently helping the patient stay awake, and they took it in stride.
Buck isn’t one to let funny incidents like that go unteased. So, he is being relentless to Eddie as they walk into their favourite club.
“Come on Buck, I was tired.” Eddie groans, sliding into his usual seat.
“That just makes it funnier!” Buck laughs, sliding in beside him.
Their thighs inevitably connect under the rim of the bar. Grounding them to the here and now. A silent sound of companionship they subconsciously knew would last a lifetime.
“Did you manage to nap before we got here?” Eddie sighs, trying to change the subject and stop the teasing. They’d be here all night if he didn’t.
“Yeah, I did. Did you?”
“I did. I’ll get the first round, you get the second?”
Buck sighs and smiles. “Fine, but only because I went first last time.”
Eddie smirks, feeling proud of himself for successfully convincing Buck to let him pay. Usually, he has a ton of trouble because Buck loves to give and buy people things - probably a love language thing. Platonically, of course. Eddie only allowed it to happen after a long dispute, so Buck letting him for once was unusual, but he didn’t think that meant anything, really.
He spots their favourite bartender off in the corner of the bar, handing a customer a drink with a friendly and engaging smile. She turns around and spots him. A joyful grin spreads across her lips, and she jogs over.
“Well, if it isn’t my favourite pair of firefighters?”
“April, hey!” Buck beams.
April had been close to the pair for several months since she’d started working there, even joining them after some of her shifts. She’s a short brunette-gone-silver with fierce green eyes and a pixie cut. She has an absolutely incredible talent for makeup looks, and she has done a few of her looks on Buck, all of which Eddie has promptly sent to the 118 group chat on WhatsApp.
“And what brings you both in today?" she asks, placing the heels of her hands against the corner of the bar. “Any special occasions I should know about?" she wiggles her eyebrows enthusiastically.
Buck snorts. “No special occasions, really. Just Eddie dumping an entire bucket of water onto a patient with a concussion.”
Eddie groans and April's eyes widen in shock.
“He did not?!”
“He did!
She turns to look at Eddie. “Oh my God. Did you really?”
“Yep…”
“Oh my God!” She laughs. “Dude, that's hilarious!”
“Not you too,” Eddie groans. Buck starts to laugh alongside April. “Oh, come on! You two are worse than Chimney.”
His shoulder receives a playful thwack from his best friend, who is now decidedly using it for stability. Which he never minds; this is Buck, after all. Buck aggressively wheezes, trying to calm down and April breathes out, her cheeks puffing out.
“Wow. I haven’t laughed that hard since my girlfriend tripped over a snail,” she comments.
Buck snorts, failing to calm down. His hand is still gripping Eddie’s shoulder like a stress ball. Eddie pats him on the back, rubbing circles into it to try and get him to breathe.
“Since Mr. Giggles over here can’t, two of your house beers if possible?" he gestures his thumb towards where Buck is sitting, still laughing…
April smirks and nods. “Sure, not a problem.”
She turns on the spot, grabbing the glasses in one swift and flawless motion. She has many, many talents, and he is completely certain this is just another one of them. She pours two glasses to the top with house beers and slides them over across the bar.
“Anything else?” she chirps.
“Nope, thanks - unless you want something?” he offers.
“I’m all good. I’ve been promised unlimited shots on my date with Chelsea later.”
Buck is still laughing. Eddie just ignores him, besides the hand on his back.
“How is Chelsea doing?” he asks, genuinely curious. Buck intakes some sharp breaths.
“Yeah, she’s good. Ended up getting her art featured on a popular influencer’s account,” she sighs fondly. “I’m so proud of her.”
Buck starts to choke on his own spit, death gripping the counter as he splutters. Eddie turns to him and just looks at him with a ‘really?’ look, receiving a mischievous grin in return.
“That’s awesome!” Buck comments enthusiastically, as if he wasn’t choking half to death moments before.
“Definitely, she’s the best,” April hums happily, before getting called over by some heavily drunk clubgoers. “Duty calls! Speak later boys.”
Buck and Eddie spend the next thirty minutes discussing penguin diets - well, more like Buck spends thirty minutes yapping about penguin diets while Eddie sits there, asking questions. The perfect dynamic for pre-drunk clubbing.
“No - I mean, they do! Seriously, some eat stones to reduce buoyancy.” He shifts the weight on his arm holding his beer glass. “It’s weird to think that they can even stomach that.”
“Well, at least we don’t have to eat rocks-” Buck glares at him. “Okay, my bad, stones, for any reason.”
He grins. “Well, I mean, we do eat rocks. Sometimes, they’re used for some types of medicine.”
“But you said stones.” Eddie teased, causing Buck to groan.
“I know what I said!”
“Sureee.”
“Oh- Oh my God,” Some drunk person says while resting their hand onto Buck’s shoulder. “You two are so-hic-cute together.”
Buck blinks slowly, kind of amused but mostly confused. This drunk person has their full body weight on his shoulder and it’s surprisingly heavy.
“We’re not-” Another drunk person stumbles by.
“Sef! Who are- who’re these hotties?” The woman is slightly older than the drunk person -Sef, presumably.
“They’re a couple, Sadie.” They roll their eyes.
“Not-”
“Oh! They are? That’s- so cute. Adorable,” Sadie slurs.
“We aren’t a couple!” Buck finally squawks out desperately.
Sef sulks. “No?”
“No.” Eddie confirms.
“But- But, you’re both perfect for each other,” they whine.
“Soulmates,” Sadie agrees, turning around to face the hoard of people currently dancing like maniacs. “Alex!” She hollers. “Get over here!”
A less drunk, but still very clearly not sober individual stumbles over. A drunken smile across their face.
“Ooh, you found some cuties,” Alex giggles.
“They’re soulmates Alex!” Sadie grumbles. “Not- Well, maybe… They haven’t got their shit together yet.”
“Sadiee do-don’t say that!” Sef hisses.
Buck and Eddie share a confused look, not entirely sure how to handle whatever this is. Three drunk people, verbally announcing that they’d be a ‘cute couple’. Whatever that is supposed to mean…
“Shushh!” Sadie huffs. “They should be married by now.”
Sadie is officially pouting, clearly disappointed by their lack of marital status. Buck feels somewhat bad that they’re sad about that. And maybe he understands why? Maybe there is something they can do to stop these drunk people from being sad. Eddie gives him that knowing look, like he already knows exactly what Buck is thinking. What Buck now needs to work out is whether or not Eddie has any suggestions, or is even on board with helping them.
“We could uhm, get married?” Eddie awkwardly suggests, shocking Buck and delighting the drunk trio.
“Yes!!” They squeal in excitement.
“Really?” Buck whispers.
“Just a fake wedding to make them, you know, not sad? That is what you wanted, right?” Eddie chuckles awkwardly.
Of course Eddie had thought of something the second Buck gave him that look. That’s one of the more incredible and admirable traits of his best friend. He smiles fondly.
“Yeah, absolutely.”
“There's a wedding chapel next door!” Sef shouts.
“Genius!” Alex beams.
“They need tuxes!” Sadie panics. “We need to get them tuxedos!”
“I have some party-party tuxedos in my trunk!” Sef dives out the door, and rushes back in about 4 minutes later with two massive party tuxedos in hand.
“What the-” Eddie looks horrified at how quickly this escalated.
“Go! Put it on!” They shove the tuxes into their hands and shove them to the bathroom to change.
They exchange near horrified looks as they are left to get changed. They step into separate stalls and slink down, crouching just above the floor. Silence falling between them, matching looks of bewilderment on their faces.
“Did that-” Buck tries, stopping short out of disbelief.
“Yup.” Eddie confirms.
“We are getting married, a fake marriage, to make sure three drunk people don’t get sad.”
Buck is frankly astonished by how quickly the night has escalated. He had originally planned to get drunk with Eddie to the point of no return and party like he was going to die. Neither seem like an option right now, but they have to have a reception right? Maybe he’d have the opportunity then.
“We are.” Eddie agrees, disbelief entering his body with every overly sharp inhale.
“This is probably the most insane thing we’ve done, and we’ve got a long list of those.”
“Agreed.”
–
Both of them stand opposite the other in this really crappy attempt at a Valentine's day themed wedding chapel. Sef, Alex and Sadie sit giddy in the stands with a glass of champagne each, whooping and cheering occasionally. This is clearly not the weirdest kind of wedding this officiant has seen, because it doesn’t seem to phase him one bit. He just stands there, waiting for the go ahead.
“You ready?” Buck asks breathily, because fuck, Eddie looks good in a suit. Not that he’d ever admit that or anything.
Eddie smiles a kind of adoring smile, one that would fill anyone up with so much love you wouldn’t know what to do with the extra. He offers out his hands for Buck to hold, sensing the nervous energy he was emitting, like a lighthouse helping boats navigate in a thick fog. He gratefully accepts, their fingers interlocking perfectly - in the kind of way that only one person ever would.
“I’m ready,” he assures.
Buck beams, his heart stuttering in his chest, beating harder for Eddie - in a totally platonic way, he swears - and his shoulders relax.
“Let’s get married.”
“Yeah. Let’s,” Eddie chuckles.
The officiant looks between the pair, nodding when they give a small affirming nod for him to begin.
“My name is Harold, I have the pleasure of officiating this wedding. Today, we are gathered to witness the marriage of Evan Buckley and Edmundo Diaz,” he begins, and they just look at each other. No one else matters. “If anyone has any objections to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“No objections from us!” Sadie practically sings, raising a chuckle out of her two friends.
The officiant sighs. “Marriage is a union between two souls, coming together to make a whole. That is why I am here to unify these two in wedded bliss.”
Buck can’t help but grin madly. This is exciting, thrilling even. He is marrying Eddie, even if it isn’t legally binding. This is happening. Right here, right now.
“Do you both vow to cherish and support each other for the rest of your lives?”
“We do,” they say together, more of a long breath than actual words.
“And do you promise to protect and love each other for the rest of your lives?”
“We do,” they repeat in sync, identical smiles crossing their faces.
“Do you have any vows for each other written?” Harold asks.
“No, we uh-”
“Actually…” Eddie blushes.
“Eddie-”
“No please, just—just let me okay? This is probably the best time for me to say any of this.” He’s a delightful shade of beet red, and that makes Buck just nod, rendered quiet. “Evan,” he starts, and the name is said with so much love it sends shivers down his spine, “I can only use one word to describe you as no other words can compete. You are the definition of the word perfect. Open up a dictionary and under the word would be a photo of you. And do you know why?” Buck shakes his head, his eyes beginning to water. “Because you are never shy about who you are. And who you are is my best friend, the man who took my son under his wing when he really did not have to. The man who loves those around him with no shame. You are perfect. In my eyes, and in the eyes of my son. Our son.”
Oh, fuck, Buck is sobbing. His eyes are glossed over with tears, silent sobs wracking his entire body. This man, this amazing man, who isn’t even legally marrying or marrying him for real, has just taken out every single insecurity he ever had in one small speech.
“Eddie…” he whines, between sobs.
And the fucker just smiles softly, compassion in his eyes, holding his hands tighter within the grasp of his own.
“No one on this earth, or any other, has what you do. I vowed the first day we met to have your back. And I will continue to uphold that no matter what happens. No matter what, we are always going to be best friends. You are my best friend, and I am not going anywhere.”
The officiant looks moved by the speech, his eyes softened drastically from his annoyed and disinterested look from earlier.
“Your turn,” Harold prompts.
“I-I don’t even know what to say. Eddie, you and Chris are both the best people to exist in my life right now. Besides Bobby, Maddie, and the rest of the 118, I maybe - no, definitely- definitely see you and Chris as my future. You’re the bestest friend a man could ask for, and have you seen how I am around you? I have never, and I do mean never, felt so damn comfortable.” He manages to get it all out with minimal stuttering, meaning every single word with his entire soul. This fake wedding is becoming extremely sappy, extremely quickly. “You are my best friend too. And I also vowed to have your back that first shift. I promise I will uphold that forever.”
Eddie looks like he’s about to cry, looking at him like a rare gemstone that he’s been gifted. Harold smiles, for the first time. (Finally.)
“Awh!!” Alex coos.
“Anything else you’d like to say?” They smile at each other before shaking their heads, tears running down their cheeks. “Well then. Do you have any rings?”
“No…” Buck giggles, not breaking eye contact with Eddie who is smirking, holding back a giggle of his own.
Harold laughs. “Alright then, we’ll skip that part then.” He shifts slightly. “By the power invested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss now.”
They don’t. They pull each other in, impossibly close, sobbing into eachothers shoulders. Ignoring the aggressive cheering and celebratory ‘whoop whoop!’s’ from the drunk trio in the back. This is something they didn’t know would be so damn emotional. Eddie begins rubbing Buck’s back with his palm firmly, holding his head tight with the other. Buck’s arms fling around Eddie’s waist, not letting go like his life depends on it. This is the last thing they’d expected to do tonight.
–
Buck and Eddie cling to each other for the rest of the night as they get wasted from Sef and Sadie buying them shots and celebrating. Alex stands on a table and yells about how they got married. Buck clings to Eddie like a koala, resting his head on his shoulder for the last half an hour and rattling off random facts about marriage and divorce. Eddie lovingly kisses Buck’s forehead every time he gives another fact, egging him on to share more. Strangers continuously look over at them, but they don’t care one bit. They were married! Sue them for wanting to have a bit of fun. They more than earned it.
By the end of the night, they have Sef, Alex and Sadie’s number and they are off to home. Eddie’s -no no, just home. They share an Uber, giggling the whole drive, tipping nicely as they get out, and thanking the driver. They can’t take their hands off each other, always having to connect at some point, not even separating for the five second walk up the path to the front door.
They almost trip over their feet, and giggle like children about it. It takes Eddie nearly 15 minutes to get the key in the door, because they just can’t stop laughing and clinging to each other. The second they get inside, they both crash down onto the couch, clinging even harder. It really doesn’t take them long to crash out, limbs wrapped around the others in a confusing way, drifting into the sweet, content sleep they deserve after a day like that.
–
They don’t even think about it again, really. A week and a half goes by, and they’re completely normal. No awkward talks, sure they know it happened but it was fake right? Why would they think about it again? It’s not like it was going to cause any issues legally. So what would be the point in resurfacing it?
They go to work, they hang out, they do all the usual things. Nothing is even slightly awkward, just normal.
“So, you know, I was on a research binge the other night,” Buck mentions, shoving a fork full of instant noodles into his mouth.
“Oh? What did you research this time?” Hen asks from the couch across the loft.
“Ovis.”
“That really explains it, thanks Buckaroo,” Chimney groans sarcastically.
He rolls his eyes. “Ovis is the genus name for 7 species. Including domestic sheep!”
Eddie hums thoughtfully around a sip of his coffee. Hen smiles, and Chimney looks perplexed.
“Sheep? Why sheep?”
“Why not,” Buck shrugs, plonking down onto the seat beside Eddie. “Sheep are very interesting.”
“Tell us about them,” Hen encourages, somewhat genuine in her curiosity.
“Well, for starters, they are one of the first domesticated animals we have besides wolves, which were domesticated a couple thousand years prior. They were domesticated in Mesopotamia, around 11,000 to 9,000 BC,” he beams. “And you know what is really weird? It wasn’t until a couple thousand years after 6000 BC that the first recorded wooly garments were made.”
“So sheep have been around for a long time?" she asks.
“Super long time, yeah.” Buck grins, resting his head on Eddie’s shoulder, slurping up another mouthful of his noodles.
There's a brief pause before Chimney snorts, causing everyone to look at him confused. And yet, he keeps laughing, and not explaining.
“Care to share?” Hen nudges her best friend's arm with her elbow.
He looks at her briefly then back at his phone. “The wedding chapel near the bar has made a Facebook post urging people to not go there while drunk. There is a bar next door, and apparently people keep getting legally married there,” he chuckles.
Hen smirks. “Oh I would hate to be one of those people.”
Buck looks to Eddie, and Eddie looks to Buck. Alarm in their eyes. Please tell them it was NOT the one next to the bar they went to a few weeks ago…
“Which bar was it next to?” Eddie asks, in a semi-panicked breath.
Chimney scrolls down and looks for it, humming obnoxiously. The time it takes him makes every nerve stand up and anxiety flow through them. Are they legally married?
“Uhhh… Oh here it is! Southbridge.”
“Southbridge?” Buck sucks in a breath, looking directly at Eddie who is frozen in shock.
Hen looks up from Chim’s phone, and notices their uncomfortable demeanor. Glancing between the two incredulously, her eyebrows furrow, eyes scanning for the hidden truth.
“What did you boys do?" she finally asks, minutes later. “I sure hope this post isn’t about you two,” she tries to joke, but it falls flat, Chim being the only one who bothers to laugh. They stay silent, not daring to speak; in fact, too stunned to speak. And it then clicks for Hen. “Oh shit, you didn’t?”
Eddie exhales shakily, his eyes bulging from their sockets out of sheer horror. “Yeah…”
“Wait what?”
“We got married…”
“Holy shit?!” Chimney launches up, pointing a finger at each of them. “Why? What? When? Where? HOW?”
“A week and a half ago…” Buck responds. “We did it to stop some drunk people from being sad.”
He recognises how truly stupid that sounds but, honestly it’s a bit late to do anything about that. They were married, and that’s something they’re going to have to talk about, especially now…
“Dear lord, you both have no sense,” Hen groans.
“Well aware…” Eddie sighs, placing his face into his hands.
This was far from the intended outcome….