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Chapter Text

"Evan!"

The young man turned to smile brightly at his old professor, the man who had been an inspiration to him since he was a teenager.

Ramon walked up and engulfed him in a tight hug. "God, it feels like we haven't seen each other in a lifetime," he said, chuckling.

"Well, it has been almost ten years," Evan answered.

Ramon and Evan met in 2001, when Bunker Hill, Boston’s community college, asked Ramon to go give a lecture to the students.

Evan was amongst them.

Ramon's words, his work, and his dedication struck a chord deep inside Evan, and after the lecture, he asked for the chance of being his assistant in the project he was working on. Anything to get out of his house, really.

Ramon told him that he would have loved that, but unfortunately, he lived and worked in México.

Evan didn't let that discourage him and obtained a scholarship for academic merits that allowed him to move to México for almost two years.

Once he was done with his studies, he didn't have the chance to meet Ramon again, but they kept in touch.

Evan sent him flowers and condolences when his wife died, and rejoiced when his only son obtained a gig as an acrobatic dancer.

It was because of Ramon’s son that they had been given the chance of meeting up again.

Eddie was going to get married to his childhood friend, Shannon, the daughter of the American Ambassador in México, and they decided to celebrate the wedding in El Paso, Texas, where Shannon’s family lived, and Evan had flown in from Los Angeles.

Ramon touched Evan's arm to attract his attention. "That's my Eddie. I can't believe he's getting married tomorrow."

Evan followed the man's loving gaze and was struck on the spot.

He had only seen Eddie in pictures, as he had been abroad, in the army. The boy in those photos was a gangly 15-year-old, with arms and legs too long and uncoordinated to be used properly and a mouth too big for his face.

The big mouth had stayed in place, but everything else had grown to accommodate it.

Eddie was now a tall guy, with a wide back and strong appearance.

His eyes were sparkling and warm, as he moved swiftly to show a couple of kids in the street a few dance moves.

"Eddie! Come here for a second," Ramon called.

The guy bounced up to where they were, looking at his father expectantly. "Eddie, this is Evan Buckley, my favorite student. I used to tell you about him on our video calls, remember?" Ramon said by way of introduction.

Eddie's eyes widened in recognition, as did his smile, and he held Evan in a close replica of his father's hug. "Evan!" He exclaimed. "God, in the last picture I saw of you, you were a pimply teenager...and look at you now!" Evan blushed, shifting on his feet uncomfortably. "You have no idea of all the trouble you gave me," Eddie added, wriggling his eyebrows jokingly. "For the last ten years, I've only heard one thing: why aren’t you focused like Evan? Why don't you respect your teachers as Evan used to? Evan this, Evan that...you've been my nightmare. I even think that the reason why he took my confession about being bi so well was that he hoped I'd end up marrying you."

Ramon chuckled, while Evan blushed more. “Dad, don't laugh at me! Isn't it true?" Eddie protested. "How many times did you tell me how lucky Evan's boyfriend was going to be? He loves you more than he loves me, that's the truth."

Ramon hugged his kid, while Eddie kept babbling and rambling, and Evan felt an unknown pang of something in his stomach. He wasn't able to identify it, though, so he ignored it: plane food , he said to himself.

Later on, as he was laying in his bed, he recalled the events of the day, and fell asleep with Eddie's beaming smile on his mind.

***

The morning of the wedding, Evan got up uncharacteristically early, even for him. He was already in the hall for breakfast when it all happened: a woman came running in the room, screaming for the receptionist to call an ambulance immediately.

Evan grabbed the arm of one of the waiters and asked what was going on.

"The car carrying the bride and her family has met with an accident," the man told him, "seems like no one has escaped without injury. Mr. Diaz had a heart attack."
Evan had to lean on the table because all the air had left his lungs.

Not Ramon.

Not the man he has always considered a father.

And Eddie, what happened to Eddie? He had gone to fetch them! He was in the car too!

Evan took a deep breath and then started moving.

***

Once Evan got to the hospital, he found out that Eddie had been badly hurt in the accident but his life wasn't in danger, apparently.

While he was sitting in a plastic chair in the waiting lounge, Evan couldn't help but pray as fervently as he could for things to be somehow alright, for Eddie to find happiness, for Ramon to recover, for himself-he couldn't wish anything for himself, he knew he was quite lucky as it was.

A doctor came out of Ramon's room and Evan stood up immediately. "Is there an Evan, here?" He asked. Evan got closer. "We did our best, but the attack has been massive and I honestly don't think he'll make it through the night," the doctor explained with a grave expression. "He wants to see you now."

Evan nodded and entered.

His teacher's skin was so pale it was almost impossible to see where the white sheets of his bed ended and his face began.

"Eddie seems so strong, but he's actually quite fragile, Evan," he started, his voice as low as a whisper. "I gave him all my love, and I know he loves me dearly, too. He's so young!" Ramon's eyes filled up with tears. "He will break under such circumstances: not only has he lost Shannon, but he won't be able to dance again."

Evan's heart clenched at those words.

He knew how much dancing meant to Eddie; Ramon had told him time and time again about how it was the only thing Eddie knew how to do, his dream, his life. He never even thought about doing something different, even since when he had been a kid. At first, Ramon had opposed him, and that was why Eddie had joined the army. After he had been sent home with an injury he got on the field, where he lost all his team, Ramon had decided that a whole, safe son was more important than anything else.

Evan couldn't even start to understand what news like this, after discovering the woman he wanted to share his life with was gone, could do to him.

"I want to ask you a favor,” Ramon said, and Evan grabbed his hand.

"Anything, Ramon, anything."

The man smiled sadly. "Marry him."

Evan's mouth dropped open. "What?!"

"Evan, he doesn't have anyone else but me, in the world. If he goes back to México, the weight of what he has lost will crush him. He needs to start anew somewhere else, with someone he can trust. He needs to find a new meaning for his life. He needs to stay here in America." Ramon stared at his trembling hands. "You're the only person I'd ever ask for such a thing. Knowing that Eddie is with you, I'll be able to die in peace." Evan tried to object, but Ramon just shook his head. "I don't have time for other options, Evan. Please. If you accept, I'll talk to Eddie."

Evan felt the tears pooling in his eyes and turned away from Ramon's pleading face, not wanting the man to see them. "If he accepts, I will," he answered.

***

Eddie was pushed into Ramon's room in a wheelchair, both of his legs cast from thigh to foot. His eyes were empty and unresponsive but a sparkle of worrying ignited when he saw the condition his father was in.

Ramon extended a hand towards him and Eddie took it in his, holding onto his father for dear life. "I know this is not the right time to talk about this," he said, "but what can we do? Seems like God has called for me now."

Eddie whimpered. "No, please, no," he stuttered, hiding his face against his dad's shoulder.

Ramon caressed his son's hair. "Eddie, I have never forced you to do anything, and I'm not going to start today, but before leaving I have to be sure you won't be alone." Eddie lifted his head, looking interrogatively at his father's face.
“There's nothing left for you in México, you know that. You have to stay here."

Ramon coughed and had to drink a little water before he was able to continue.
"Listen to me. In life, we make some decisions, while some others are made by God and Fate. And that's why I hope you'll listen to my first and last selfish request."

Eddie got closer to him and his eyes got wider, as Ramon whispered in his ear, but once he was done talking Eddie slowly nodded.

Ramon rang the nurse and asked her to let Evan in.

The two guys' eyes met and for a second they searched for strength in the love they both felt for the extraordinary man who was dying in that hospital bed.

Evan sat on the other side of the bed, doing his best to smile at Ramon. The man grabbed both their hands and linked them together. He stared at their intertwined fingers before nodding serenely and closing his eyes for the last time.

Chapter Text

Evan got out the cab and retrieved the luggage from the trunk.

The door on the other side of the cab opened and muscular legs, not casted anymore, appeared.

Eddie accepted the crutches Evan offered him and slowly stood up, limping around the cab towards the entrance of Evan's building.

Evan tried to grab his arm to help him with the few steps leading to the main door but Eddie stepped back. "I can do it," he stated, dryly, starting to climb.

Evan sighed, paid the driver and picked up their bags.

Their time together in the elevator was long and awkward, filled with an uncomforable silence.

Only once they were in front of the door, Evan remembered. "Wait!" He exclaimed, running in front of Eddie, and opened the door slightly. "Be right back."

He entered the apartment and closed the door behind him again.

Immediately his dog came at the door, yapping and trying to hop in his lap. "Hoover, please, be good. We have a guest, and he's already jumpy enough: try not to make things worse, ok?"

The dog seemed to understand and sat back, his tail waggling expectantly.

Evan nodded appreciatively at him, then started running around the apartment to pick up magazines, clothes and anything that was out of place, which appalled him to realize was a lot of stuff, especially in his bedroom.

He grabbed everything and simply threw it all in the spare room, the one he had for guests and where no one had entered since he had been living in the apartment.

When he opened the door once more, he was panting. "I'm sorry,” he said, "didn't expect to come back with-you know."

Eddie looked over his shoulder but didn't say a word as he entered, his back stiff and tense.

Evan followed him to his bedroom with an empty cardboard box he used to put all his clothes as he took them out of the closet.

Finally he grabbed one of the pillows on his bed and walked away; just before leaving the room, he turned towards Eddie.

"I've always preferred sleeping in the spare room," he told him, "has better-wifi reception. So, this room and the closet are all yours. Well," he quickly added, after a split second, "the whole house is yours, of course, what I meant was-yeah, ok." He shifted the box on his arms. "If you need anything, just holler: I'm a light sleeper, anyway."

Eddie slowly sat on the mattress and didn't answer, so Evan just offered him a small smile and left.

The room he was going to be sleeping in from that day onwards would need a lot of hard work if he wanted it to be liveable.

Evan left the box next to the door and took a look around: cobwebs on the ceiling, stuff he’d accumulated during the last two years and didn't even remember he had, dust everywhere.

He put a mask on his face and grabbed a mop.

***

Fire.
Loud noises.
Intermittent blue lights.
Voices asking him questions.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Usually styled hair now crusty and tangled.
Empty green eyes.

"Shannon!"

Eddie startled himself awake and for a second the terror of not knowing where he was got his heart in a chokehold.

Then he remembered everything, the accident, the wedding, the three weeks of rehabilitation in hospital, the arrival at Evan's house.

He got his legs off the bed, staring at his battered knees, which were maybe never going to support his weight again, when he heard the light scratching at the door.

He slowly reached for it and pulled it open: the smallest dog he had ever seen bounced inside the room, whining a little, as he had been able to feel his discomfort.

"I'm alone," Eddie whispered in the dark, and the dog jumped on the bed and licked his palm.

Eddie took him in his arms and, hiding his face in his soft white fur, he cried all his tears.

***

As usual, Evan woke up early.

While he quickly showered, he strained to hear any noise proving that Eddie was already awake coming from the bedroom but with no luck.

He wore his usual pale blue shirt and his old jeans, put on his glasses and took his bag with laptop and files; once he was ready, he walked up to Eddie's room and softly knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

He was about to knock again, then decided against it, understanding how Eddie was probably feeling distraught and needed some more time.

He went straight to the kitchen and arranged some breakfast.

Evan wasn’t a good cook, but his coffee wasn't half bad, so he toasted some bread, prepared a couple of cups and then tried knocking again, hoping the smell of freshly brewed coffee was going to be inviting enough for Eddie to come out.

The guy hadn't eat anything since the previous morning, after all, and that couldn't be good.

Still, no answer from him.

Evan checked his watch: it was getting late, he had to get going.

He gulped down coffee and toast, washed his dish and left something ready for Eddie to eat if he became hungry later on, together with a note where his phone number was written down, in case Eddie needed to contact him for anything.

He even put a single rose he had taken from the vase in the living room next to the note but then mentally kicked himself and went to remove it, before rushing out, bringing along the pang in his stomach he had gotten used to during the last few weeks.

***

"I'm sorry, ma'am. There was a delay in the meter delivery. It's alright now: I've checked the inventory myself. Within 48 hours the electricity will be installed without fail. Definitely. Thank you, ma'am, and remember that here at LA Power we're at your service, lighting up your life."

Evan hung up the phone and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

He had never really liked his job and with everything that was going on in his life he couldn't properly concentrate on trivial tasks like calming down angry customers.

Eddie's cold gaze popped into his mind and he groaned, hiding his face in his arms.

"Hey, Evan!" His colleague, Chimney, called him from the cubicle next to his.

Evan acknowledged him with a small nod.

"So? Don't you have anything to tell me?" Chimney prodded.

Evan blinked. "No, nothing."

"Come on, Evan, you haven't come to the office for more than three weeks !" His other colleague, Hen, pointed out. "Do you really expect us to believe there's nothing going on? You’ve never called in sick once , since you've started working here."

"I mean it, guys, everything's fine."

"Is it? Because when I dropped by at your house to see if you were ok, your neighbour told me you were attending a wedding, " a petite blonde added.

Chimney and Hen turned abruptly towards him. "A wedding ?!" They asked at the same time.

"Yeah, but-it's not-I mean-" Evan stuttered, and his colleagues’ smiles turned feral.

"Evan, you sly dog! You got married without telling us ?!" Chimney squealed, excited.

Evan turned a horrified gaze around the office, where everyone was standing up and walking towards him to congratulate him.

He was screwed.

While people he never even spoke to gathered and shook his hand, Evan knew it was just a matter of time before someone said-
"Hey, Evan, when can we meet your better half?"
- that .

***

Eddie was dozing off in his room, distractly petting the dog in his lap, when someone started to furiously punch the apartment's door.

Punch and kick apparently.

"Evan Buckley, you disgusting son of a bitch! Why are you hiding inside?! Come out and face me!" The guy kept abusing the door, his purple face distorted in fury and his piercing blue eyes eyes hidden behind huge sunglasses. "Are you too ashamed to be face to face with TK Strand?!" He shouted. "Open this goddamn door! Is not like I want to see you, but I have to tell you that I won't give a flying fuck about you anymore, you hear me?! We're not friends, maybe we never were, and I want you out of my life starting now !" He tore at his dark hair, while growling a few more insults. "I don't need a friend like you! Who's the person who did everything for you? With you?! And I have to hear about your marriage from that snoopy old hag of your neighbour!" The guy sniffled. "Is this the value you give me in your life?! Huh?!"

When no answer came from inside the apartment (Eddie was paralyzed by fear and even locked his bedroom door) the man lost it. "I know you're inside! You left your office an hour ago! I know everything, Evan! You are a-"

"TK?"

The guy turned around abruptly and was faced with Evan, who was carrying a lot of plastic bags, his eyebrow arched in question.

Without missing a beat, the guy covered the distance between them in a couple of long strides and as soon as he was in front of Evan he narrowed his eyes and glared at him.

Evan blinked and stepped back. "Hey, TK, what-"

"TK is dead to you, man." The guy spit.

Evan offered him a small smile. " You can't die while I'm alive . Wasn't that our promise?" TK huffed and turned his back on Evan. Evan nudged him. "Come in, I'll explain everything to you."

The guy didn't looked appeased, but he still followed Evan inside.

***

TK’s mouth fell open and he slowly took off his sunglasses, while his eyes grew suspiciously shiny. "So...where is he?"

Evan sighed. "In my bedroom, I guess. The bedroom that’s now his. He still hasn't come out. I mean, he doesn't want to be around me and I get it. I was forced on him by his dying father, it's understandable if he can't bear to see me, right?"

TK shook his head. "And you're sleeping here instead of in your own bed? Shouldn't he be the one who sleeps in the guest room?! This is your house, man!"

Evan stood up. "Don't you ever say that again. This house is his as much as mine. He needs time, and I'm not going to pressure him. He's strong, I know he will overcome it. Eventually."

TK looked at his childhood friend and grasped his shoulder, trying to comfort him a little. "Now what?" he asked.

Evan shrugged. "Whatever God decides."

Just then, the doorbell rang. "Here they are, the LA Power caretakers: always late to work, but always on time for free alcohol and free food," Evan said, trying to lighten up the mood. "Can you let them in and show them to the terrace? I'll go check on Eddie first."

TK didn't move, so Evan moved closer and hugged him. "Don't worry, it'll all be ok. You'll see."

TK nodded, trying to put on a game face.

It wasn’t the right moment to be emo.

Evan waited for the guests to be diverted away from the bedroom before he went once again to knock on Eddie's door. "Eddie? It's me, Evan." He cleared his throat before going on. "Listen, some friends from the office have come to visit: they found out about the wedding and invited themselves over. I-I tried my best to dissuade them, but you know how these people are..." Evan blushed a little. "I have a small request: if you could come and meet everyone for just two minutes, they would-" He stopped talking.

It was obvious that Eddie had no intention whatsoever of acknowledging him in any way. He felt embarrassed at himself for standing there, talking to the door, so he stepped back. "I get it, Eddie, it's ok. You don't like-tension. I'll tell them that you're not feeling well, you just rest. Sorry for bothering you with stupid demands, it won't happen again."

Evan swallowed noisily and walked away, his shoulder sagging like the weight of the whole world rested on them. Inside the room, Eddie had his knees pushed against his chest, while his cheek rested on them and a few tears ran down his cheeks. He listened to Evan steps as he left and Hoover yelped.

There was so much emptiness and coldness in the apartment that Eddie didn't know how much more he was going to be able to take before breaking once and for all.
In fact, he was amazed at how he was still holding together despite everything, and couldn't help asking himself how it was possible.

***

"Well, Buckley, where's this boy wonder of yours?" Chimney asked.

The guests had been there for a few hours now, and they were starting to get impatient.

"We're eager to meet him!" Hen added, and a few other colleagues nodded in agreement.

Evan felt embarrassed as a few times before.

"He must be hiding him somewhere."

"It's not that! Just-he's not feeling well after the journey, and-"

The blond girl from the office tapped his shoulder. "Evan, we're leaving. It's getting late."

Evan tried to smile at her. "I'm sorry, Lucy, you'll get to meet him next time," he said.

"No big deal," the girl said, shrugging, but in her eyes Evan could see that it was a big deal.

"He-he was very keen on meeting you all, but-" the words died in his throat because there, in front of the terrace door, stood Eddie.

He was wearing an orange shirt half open, which left the wifebeater he had on visible underneath it. His jeans were low on his narrowed hips and his hair fell on his eyes.

Eddie smiled at him, a smile which had nothing like the one Evan had seen on his face the night before his wedding but Eddie was making an effort and Evan felt his stomach clenching with renewed strength.

Eddie had a tray in his arms where he had arranged a few beers and a bowl of chips.

He started to slowly walk around, introducing himself politely and offering the drinks to Evan's friends, and the pang Evan had grown used to became a roar in his ears.

Eddie charmed them all, including TK, who seemed unable to look away from him for the rest of the evening.

***

Evan was already wearing his pyjamas (consisting in a pair of old sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt) when a soft knocking came on his door.

"Come in," he answered, and of course there was Eddie on the other side, his head hanging down.

"May I-talk to you for a second?" He asked.

"Sure," Evan answered, sitting on his bed.

Eddie entered and sat too, as far as he could from Evan. "Listen, Evan." Eddie started, his voice small and tense. "I'm sorry for how I’ve behaved lately." Evan started shaking his head but Eddie lifted a hand to stop him from talking. "Marrying you was my choice, I have no right to take my anger against God on you." Eddie sighed, clasping his hands in his lap. "I promise you that from now on I'll be a better husband for you. If I can't go out, I'll start doing things at home. And I'll try to share your days with you. Just-just be a bit patient with me, ok?"

Evan arched an eyebrow in question. Eddie smiled sadly. "I have to kill the old Eddie I've always been and become a new Eddie, and that might take some time."

Evan leaned forward, wanting to hold Eddie's hand to comfort him, to make him feel he was not alone, but Eddie flinched and Evan stopped abruptly. "There's one more thing I need to tell you," Eddie said, and Evan forced his eyes up to meet Eddie's. "I won't be able to love you, Evan. In any way." Evan blinked, surprised, and Eddie shook his head. "I don't have anymore love in me to give to someone," he explained, looking down at his trembling hands.
"I don't know if you can live your life without love, though. If you can't, maybe we should-"

This time Evan didn't stop when Eddie tried to move back, and held his wrist lightly. "I don't know what love is, Eddie. I've never fallen in love with anyone." He pulled gently at Eddie's wrist, and when Eddie looked at him, Evan smiled. "What you did tonight, the way you helped maintain my dignity in front of my colleagues, that’s love for me. I am not used to nor do I require more love than that."

Eddie's eyes filled with tears, but he smiled back. "You're very lucky that you have never been in love, Evan." He answered. "There is nothing more painful in this world than love: it makes your stomach clench and your defenses fall, and by the time you notice it's too late to stop it." Eddie breathed deeply, trying to calm himself, then slowly stood back. When his wrist broke free, Evan could still feel his fingertips tingling. "Good night, then," Eddie whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Evan just nodded, because he didn't trust his voice, and didn't move until the door was closed behind Eddie's back.

Only then he groaned and hid his face in his hands.

Now I know why I've been in pain for the past three weeks he thought.

I fell in love the first moment I laid my eyes on him.

Chapter Text

When Evan's alarm went off he was already awake, with his eyes open wide in the deep darkness of the room.

In fact, he had barely slept at all.

In his mind he’d kept playing the conversation he had with Eddie the previous night, unable to stop thinking about the shocking revelation that came with it together with the crushing of any hope he could have harbored of somehow conquering his accidental husband's heart.

He stood up and, as usual, he listened outside of Eddie's room on his way to the shower: no sound came from the room, so he guessed Eddie was still asleep.

Once he was dressed and ready to go to work, he was tempted to try knocking on Eddie's door again, to see if he wanted to join him for breakfast, but his courage disappeared when his hand was about to connect with the bedroom door.

He sighed, cursing his own cowardice, and stepped into the kitchen where he froze on the spot: Eddie was there, his hair still wet, a little smile on his flushed face. "Good morning," he said, approaching the table with a plate filled with eggs and bacon.

Evan's mouth dropped open and he still hadn't moved from the doorway, when Eddie scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I-yesterday I saw that you only left me toasted bread as breakfast, so I thought that I could maybe prepare you something better?" His smile turned sheepish. "I'm used to cooking for my dad, he-forgot to eat when he was too involved in his project."

Evan snapped out of his reverie and sat down at the kitchen table across from Eddie. The first bite was like waking up after a whole life of sleep.

***

When Evan jumped on his beloved motorbike he was shocked to find a small yellow thermos waiting for him on the back seat.

"Soup for your lunch," Eddie explained, from the door. "Have a nice day."

Evan's eyes widened and he beamed at Eddie, while he rode off towards his office.

If the wetness in his eyes was due to the wind slapping his face or to the warm happiness blooming in his chest, it was not something he was about to dwell on.

  ***

"So, he had an accident, huh?"

Evan turned towards Chimney, surprised by how close he sounded: he had been so occupied staring at the thermos that he hadn’t heard him approaching.

"Yeah, he did. He's better now, though, in a couple of weeks he will be able to start walking without crutches again."

Chimney nodded. "What are you planning to do with your motorcycle?"

Evan blinked. "What do you mean?"

Chimney rolled his eyes. "He can't ride with you, twat! You'll have to buy a car."

Evan feels stupid for not having thought about that. "Of course! You're right," he exclaimed, grabbing the phone.

" Reyes's garage, this is Carlos. "

"Hey, pal, it's Evan. I have to ask you something."

***

A few days had passed by when finally Eddie dared to ask. "Evan, I was thinking."

Evan looked up from his plate, arching an eyebrow.

Eddie swallowed. "We had the party with your colleagues, but...what about your relatives? Your family? Are we going to go visit them? Are they going to come here? I mean, they will want to meet me, I suppose."

Evan's eyes turned sad. "I don't have a family,” he said, slowly. "They disowned me when I told them I was gay. I haven't spoken to my mom and dad since I left home after college. Ramon was the closest thing to a father, for me. I have a sister, but I haven’t seen her or met her in years. It’s-complicated."

Eddie didn't know why he did it, but he extended his hand toward Evan and squeezed his arm.

Evan smiled faintly at him.
A heavy silence fell in the kitchen, and Evan cleared his throat. "Listen, Eddie, would you like to go to the movies?"

Eddie looked surprised and his gaze dropped on his legs, which were in a slightly better condition but still not ready to ride on Evan's motorcycle. Evan followed Eddie's gaze and grinned. "Don't worry about a thing. Do you wanna go?"

Eddie nodded immediately. He clearly couldn't stand being caged anymore.

"Let's go, then," Evan decided, standing up and collecting the dirty plates from the table.

When they got into the underground parking, Eddie was shocked to see Evan stopping in front of a secondhand truck. "Where's your motorcycle?" He asked, confused.

Evan shrugged. "Different lifestyle, different transportation. Hop in."

***

The cinema dates became a ritual for Eddie and Evan: they went at least twice a week, to see action or dance films that appealed to either Evan’s love for explosions and speed or Eddie’s passion for dancing.

As time passed and Eddie's legs got better, he started to miss dancing like a severed limb.

Eddie had accepted the fact that he was never going to be able to breakdance or do any of the acrobatic stuff he knew by heart, but he also didn't know how to deal with it.

Some part of him thought that the best way was to push it away, not dancing ever again, in any way, to avoid getting in the dark headspace of everything he had lost.

There was also another part of him, though, that reminded himself that he could have done anything he wanted but he was never going to be able to completely root out his love for music and dancing.

Evan, when he decided to share it with Eddie through the movies, unknowingly made the choice for him, showing him how keeping in touch with music was possible without hurting, and after a while, Eddie started to genuinely enjoy their nights out, which started including concerts and exhibitions.

They fell into some kind of amicable routine, and everything was good until the Dancing Jodi crew arrived in town.

***

They were finishing dinner when Eddie stood up and brought a flyer to Evan.
"What's this?" Evan asked, turning it to read both sides.

"It's a dance school," Eddie explained, "they're a big company from New York, I checked them out already." He dropped the plates in the sink, before turning towards Evan again. "My physiotherapist said I'm healing well, and the best thing I can do in order to get back on the road faster is to exercise without stressing too much."

Eddie sat back at the table and sighed. "He said that I should consider shifting over to pairs: it's just as demanding, but there's less emphasis on the jumps, and it's a lot less stressful on the legs." He looked straight into Evan's eyes, and for the first time, Evan could see a sparkle of the old Eddie surfacing. "Look, Evan, I won't let my dreams die that easily. I owe it to my father and all the faith he placed in me. Besides," he blushed slightly "I get bored at home the whole day, especially now that I can move better." Eddie stood up. "But if you're not ok with it, I won't do it. After all, I'm depending on you for now, and I still can’t work, so."

Evan nodded and stood up as well, leaving the kitchen without saying a word.
Eddie sighed and shook his head: he should have expected it, the classes were very expensive, and after all Evan had done for him he was still asking for more.
He busied himself cleaning the kitchen, then turned off the light and went to bed: on his pillow, together with the flyer, there was the money to pay for both the enrollment fee and the first class.

Without even thinking about it, he ran to Evan's room and entered without bothering to knock.

Evan was shirtless, about to put on the t-shirt he slept in, and turned around abruptly, only to be trampled by an armful of rejoicing Eddie. "Thank you, man," he muttered against Evan's neck, "thank you."

Maybe Evan couldn't understand how much that meant to Eddie, how big of a step towards a new life that would be, but Eddie wanted him to feel his gratitude.
When Evan chuckled, awkwardly reciprocating the hug, though, Eddie knew Evan did understand.

And for a moment, he hated his life a little less.

***

"TK, my friend, I have something to tell you. But if I do, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone."

TK stared at Evan, standing at the door of his hair salon a little after closing time. "Never till I die, Evan, never," he answered, letting him in.

Evan sat on one of the salon's chairs, in front of the mirror, and as he usually did he closed his eyes in order to avoid looking at his geeky self: the light brown hair all back, held in place by tons of gel, the glasses with very thick lens which made his eyes look small and a little on the squinty side, the thick mustache.

In the beginning, he simply tried to look somewhere else, but his pristine shirts and the elastic suspenders didn't do anything to improve his self-esteem, just as the dress pants or his polished shoes.

Evan sighed. "I’ve fallen in love," he breathed out, so softly that TK wouldn't have heard him if it hadn't been just the two of them standing in the quiet room.

"Oh my God, Evan! Finally! I'm so happy for you!" He exclaimed, walking up to him and clasping his shoulder. "But who with?" He asked after a moment.

Evan fidgeted. "With my-husband." He stuttered.

TK squeed and engulfed him in a bear hug. "That's awesome !" He was thrilled by the revelation, but something on Evan's face killed his joy. "What's wrong, Evan? Isn't it perfect?"

Evan smiled sadly. "He doesn't love me back, TK," he explained, swallowing a few tears.

"What? How can he not? He's your husband ! Two slaps and he'll be loving you crazily," he added, jokingly.

Evan narrowed his eyes. "Don't you dare say something like that!" He hissed. "The day I raise a hand to him, you're allowed to cut it away."

He was almost trembling with fury at the mere thought someone could hurt Eddie.
TK looked at his best friend, his eyes filling with wonder as he realized how deep Evan's feelings were. "You really love him, don't you?" he stated, not really questioning it.

Evan nodded nonetheless. "But he says he won't be able to love me. He wants to change himself, to kill who he used to be, but I love him just the way he is! The happy, fun-spirited Eddie, who lights up every time he smiles. The one I fell in love with from the first instant I got my eyes on him." Evan hid his face in his hands. "I don't want him to change, I just want him to fall in love with me."

TK clapped his hands so hard that Evan jumped in his seat. "Maybe it's not him who has to change, then," he said, sitting next to him. "Maybe it's you."

Evan's confused expression cleared up as realization dawned on him.

If he wanted to conquer Eddie's heart, he had to become the kind of hero he loved to watch in movies: only then would he be able to hold Eddie in his arms.
He turned towards TK, his eyes sparkling with hope and fear. "Do some magic like you know how, TK, and make my love story," he pleaded.

TK stood up, nodding vigorously. "Watch me," he said, "perhaps I opened this salon, especially for this day."

***

Evan looked at himself in the mirror.

A thick green mixture covered all of his face and a few aluminum papers were scattered all over his head. "TK, are you really sure he won't be able to recognize me?" He asked, doubtfully.

TK snorted. "Evan, if he recognizes you I'll close down the salon and go back to Austin. I'll even cover your birthmark, just in case."

Evan chuckled. He knew how much TK hated his hometown: his family didn't react any better to the news that TK was gay than Evan's and he came from a smaller city where things were even more complicated. He patted TK's arm. "I was thinking: Eddie has joined a dance class, and I really want to watch him dance again, so maybe I can go there first, watch him dance, and then go home and surprise him."

TK nudged his shoulder. "Sounds like a plan to me," he answered, turning his razor on.

Evan jumped back. "What are you doing?!" he squeaked. "I don't want you to cut off my mustache!"

He covered it with both of his hands.

"Don't be a sissy," TK huffed, "how can you conquer him with that scrubbing brush under your nose?"

Seeing that Evan was still not convinced, TK decided to go for the kill.
"It makes your nose look bigger."

Evan's eyes widened. "Oh, no! Really?!" He worriedly studied his image in the mirror, divided by the prospects of keeping something that had been a part of him since his puberty and trusting his best friend to know what was best for him.

The trust won, in the end, and he took his hands away, sighing.

"Good boy," TK praised him, before trimming the mustache away.

"But-will Eddie like the new me?" Evan couldn't help himself wondering.

TK smiled slyly. "He'll come dancing into your arms and softly whisper in your ear," he answered.

"Asshole," Evan muttered, with no real edge to it, and the word got lost in TK's boisterous laughter.

***

Grace was fussing with the inscription forms and the new computer which had just been installed, and wouldn't have probably noticed the guy entering the gym if the entrance door hadn't been provided with an annoying little bell that loudly announced every new guest.

Once she started looking, though, she couldn't stop.

Big combat boots, the tightest pair of jeans she had ever seen - she even briefly wondered if they were real jeans or if the guy was one of those freaky artists who paint stuff on their bodies - a belt with a heavy metal buckle - is that a scorpion?! - a checkered shirt, open enough to show the white wifebeater underneath and oh my God a well-worn leather jacket.

A pair of dark sunglasses hid the guy's eyes from view, but his pouty lips and the freckles splattered all over his nose and cheeks made up for it.

Short blond hair and a self-confident smirk completed the picture and Grace actually checked her chin to be sure she wasn't drooling all over her desk.

The guy, who was maybe heaven-sent or something, toyed with the amulet he wore around his neck, swallowing audibly, and Grace lost herself in the movement of his Adam's apple.

Then, in a surprising movement completely out of the cool image he seemed to project, he adjusted the back of his jeans, as if his underwear got stuck in between his ass cheeks and were making him uncomfortable, and stumbled back a couple of steps.

Grace couldn't help snorting at the view, and as she grabbed her folder before walking towards him she thought that maybe the guy was a human being after all, even if he was a whole lot prettier than any other guy she had ever had the chance to meet.

Well, his husband notwithstanding.

  ***

Evan tried to be as stealthy as possible once he got inside the gym.

Eddie didn't have to see him: even if TK assured him his husband was not going to recognize him, Evan still had his doubts.

It wasn't like a haircut and some highlights were going to change his appearance all that much, right?

He tiptoed along the wall at the side of the room until he finally saw Eddie.

Amongst all the other dancers, he stood out, not only because he was one of the tallest and more gorgeous guys in the group, but also because his movements were fluid and his smile was so bright Evan was tempted to shield his eyes before he remembered he was wearing sunglasses and that it was a smile, dammit, not a supernova.

Evan's expression turn soft as he stared at Eddie's steps and at the happiness that seemed to irradiate from his body, the love in his heart burning more fiercely with every passing second.

"Hi!"

Evan squealed and jumped away from the woman smiling at him.

"What are you waiting for? Come on!" She urged him, grabbing his arm.

Evan started shaking his head furiously. "No, you see, I don't-"

"Don't worry, it's ok," she said, waving her hand dismissively while pulling him towards the rest of the group.
Once she found a spot amidst the crowd, she stepped next to him and showed him the simple routine the others were following.

"One and two and three and four," she explained, moving her arms swiftly, "five six seven and-eight. Just follow them!" She finished, pointing at the dancer around them.

Evan could just nod, defeated, and try to keep the rhythm without stepping on the foot of the guy writhing next to him like a tarantula just bit him.

***

"Wow, that was fantastic! We didn't expect Angelinos to be so amazing!"

The trainers clapped profusely at the dancers, who rejoiced at the praise.

Evan didn't even listen to them, as they went on babbling: he was too busy staring at Eddie with dreamy eyes, which is why he was surprised when one of the trainers gave him a green sticker with the number 21 on it.

He blinked, confused, not really sure about what he was supposed to do with it.
Looking around, he noticed everyone was moving, so he started doing the same, completely lost as to why he was doing it in the first place until a well-known little hand grabbed his arm once more.

"What are you doing?" She huffed. "Go back in there!"

Only then did Evan realize he had been swaying towards the exit.

He blushed, too ashamed to admit he didn't have a clue about what was going on.

The girl rolled her eyes and snatched the number away. "Twenty-one!" she shouted in the crowd, "where's number 21?"

"Listen, this is a misunderstanding," he tried to explain. "I can't dance, I-"

She didn't even listen to him, and kept calling for his number.

Then suddenly Evan saw a big hand sticking out, holding the same number he had but this time it was on a red sticker. As soon as the person in front of him moved, Evan recognized who the hand belonged to: even without knowing what the numbers were for, he sensed it was going to be bad.

Fuck.

***

"Now, we're going to divide you into two groups, Green and Red. Each person from group Red will be paired with the person in group Green who has the same number. Because after all, the real fun lies in dancing in pairs."

Eddie almost bounced, filled with excitement: he couldn't wait to begin.
As soon as the trainer said they were allowed to find their partners, Eddie started wandering around the room, looking for the person with the same number he had.

After a few minutes with no result, he decided to simply stand still, lifting his arms as much as possible, his hands holding his red stickers for everyone to see.

When the feminine voice of Grace called his number out, he smiled, relieved, and walked to her.

***

Evan's first instinct was to run away without turning back, ever , but then he heard TK's voice in his head.

Oh, no, Evan, no escaping now. You're not Evan Buckley the office worker anymore: you are Eddie's hero! Start acting like one. You will sing, you will dance and you will sweep him off his feet.

Evan nodded to himself, straightened up, and started strutting across the room toward Eddie, feigning confidence he most definitely didn't have.

Suddenly, he was standing in front of Eddie, his Eddie, who was offering him a shy smile that had no business being so adorable. "Hi, I'm Eddie," he said, nodding slightly.

Evan passed a hand through his hair and flashed a grin at him. "And I'm your hero," he answered.

Eddie arched an eyebrow.

"I-I mean," Evan stuttered, lifting the number upside down and then turning it, "Twenty-one!" He pointed at it.

Eddie blinked. "Yeah, I know. What's your name?" He asked, slowly, he probably thought that maybe Evan was foreign.

Or stupid.

"Er," Evan's eyes shifted around, desperately looking for an idea, "er..."

Then his old nickname from when he was a kid came to mind.

"Buck," Evan said, suddenly shifting into character. "Buck Reyes," he added, stealing his best friend’s surname just because it sounded cool and throwing the number away, "you must have heard of me."

He smirked slyly at Eddie, who looked at the arch the sticker followed as it fell on the floor before looking back at Evan-no, Buck .

"Actually, I haven't," Eddie said, and Buck snorted.

"Oh, don't worry about it," he retaliated, nudging Eddie's shoulder. "You'll keep hearing it from now on."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye." He stepped back and moved towards the exit, but Buck grabbed his arm, effectively stopping him.

"Oh, no, Eddie," he said, shaking his head, his mouth curved in a disbelieving smile. "I never say goodbye." He snapped his fingers and spun around. "Let's say instead something like... we're traveling the love lane, down the road we'll meet again ."

Buck wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, putting his hands on his hips, and Eddie chuckled nervously. " Sure, " he muttered, shaking his head as he walked away.

"Buck, remember," Buck shouted after him and Eddie waved a hand dismissively.

As soon as he was gone, Evan took his glasses off and breathed deeply. " Down the road, we'll meet again?! God, he must think I'm a retard or a psycho freak," he whined, his shoulders down, as he swaggered away, not without adjusting the back of his pants once more first.

Grace looked at him and shook her head.

The boy had so much to learn.

Chapter Text

TK watched as his best friend put his working clothes back on and scratched at his neck, confused. "I just don't get it, man. You said you were going to watch Eddie dance and then go home and surprise him, but now I'm here making a fake mustache and you're putting on your old clothes. What changed?"

Evan huffed, while he tried to reconstitute his original hairdo. "If I keep this up, I'll have the chance to dance with Eddie every day; I can't waste such an opportunity."
TK shrugged, but Evan walked up to him. "Do you think that he would ever dance with a geek like Evan ? I tell you, he wouldn't." Evan sighed and put a hand on TK's shoulder. "And even if he did, he wouldn't be the same Eddie I saw today. This is my only chance to share his greatest passion with him."

TK shook his head. "I don't understand, Evan, honestly."

Evan threw his hands in the air, exasperatedly. "Listen TK, ok? Evan reminds Eddie of his tragedy, his sadness, everything he lost. He will never be the old Eddie around me. But now," his eyes sparkled, "by being Buck I have the opportunity to spend some time with him without any of our baggage weighing on us." Evan smiled. "Tell me, man. Out of so many people, what was the chances of him becoming my partner?" He pointed at the sky and nodded slowly. "It's because of fate, TK, destiny. If God had wanted it so, Eddie could have easily recognized me in a second, but he didn't." As he pushed his shirt inside his pants, Evan's expression turned resolute. "Fate has started my love story. Now I just have to dance with Eddie, get to know him better, make him laugh, give him heaps of happiness so that he forgets all of his pain and gets back to being his fun-loving self once and for all."

Evan knew that as Buck he was going to be able to tell Eddie whatever there was in his heart: he didn't have anything to lose, while if as his husband he crossed the line Eddie had traced that first night, he was never going to be able to go back.

If he broke Eddie's fragile trust, he was probably not going to get a second go at it.

A sudden loud noise snapped him out of his thoughts: TK was blowing his nose.
"There you go, making me all emotional again, damn you," he muttered, and Evan chuckled, hiding how deeply moved he was because of the recent events.

He took the mustache from TK's hands and pasted it back under his nose.

"And Evan is back," they both said.

***

"One, two, three, four-one, two, three, four..."

Eddie was walking around the kitchen table, going through the routine once more as he waited for Evan to get home, bursting on an energy he almost forgot he was able to feel.

Just then, Evan entered from the door, desperately avoiding his gaze. "Sorry I'm late, I'll change and come to dinner. It smells heavenly."

He retreated in his room so fast that Eddie got up quickly and went to knock on his door, worried.

"Is everything alright?" He asked when Evan didn't open.

"Yeah, peachy!" Evan's voice answered from inside, "be right out!"

Even once he did come back to the kitchen, though, he kept looking away.

In the end he told Eddie he sprained his neck and that was why he couldn't look straight at him.

Eddie shrugged and accepted his explanation without questioning.

He had no right to pry, anyway.

"From now on I'll be late every night," Evan stated, suddenly, and Eddie lifted his gaze from his plate, surprised. "Yeah, I mean, I'm doing overtime at the office," he explained, "since you're busy with your dance classes in the evening, and-I thought it's best I take on extra work, you know, to-save a little."

Eddie's eyes turned sad. "If the classes are too expensive, you don't have to-" he started, but Evan interrupted him immediately.

"No, no, it's not that! I just want to save in order to-travel next year. Your father always told me how much of a globetrotter you used to be."

Eddie sighed. " Used to being the key part," he said.

Evan clenched his fists under the table. I'll get that Eddie back he said to himself you just wait, babe. I won't let him die inside of you.

***

Evan was about to go to bed when some pounding music began to play in Eddie's room.

It was the same song the trainers were using to teach the routine to the class: Eddie was practicing .

While the idea of Eddie sweating and dancing crept into Evan's mind, without even realizing it, his body started following Eddie's voice calling the steps.
"One, two, three, four! Five, six, seven, eight!"

Evan kept moving, remembering the steps the girl showed him at the gym and trying to imitate them, and everything went well until he stumbled and ended up falling sideways against his bedside table, sending the lamp on the floor.
The sound of glass shattering was probably loud enough, because the music stopped abruptly and a soft knock came on the door.

"I'm fine!" Evan exclaimed, incredibly embarrassed and wanting nothing less than to see Eddie while he was all flushed and too much Buck for comfort.
"I just tripped and broke the lamp, nothing to worry about, go to bed!"

He realized he had probably been bossier than he had meant to be when he heard Eddie's steps retreating back to his room without another word.

He bumped his head against the wall until all he could hear was his blood rumbling in his ears, but Eddie didn't come to check on him, this time.

***

Eddie was warming up with a few stretching exercises when he saw Buck entering the gym.

His mouth dropped open and his gaze shifted, looking for somewhere to hide in order for the other man not to see him.

Buck was wearing a hideous pair of yellow jeans and an even more hideous yellow short sleeved shirt.

Even his sunglasses were yellow, and a few yellow highlights shone through his hair under the neon light.

He strutted towards Eddie, his thumbs hooked into his belt loops and the same disturbing smirk he wore the previous day.

"Hey, Edworld," Buck greeted him. "Down the love lane we meet again, don't we?" He added, nudging Eddie with his elbow and winking at him. "Never fear, Buck is here!"

Eddie rolled his eyes then stared at Buck's outfit.

Buck followed his gaze and his smirk widened. "This was the only colour left at the store," he explained, "but even if there had been any other, I would still have chosen this one. You know why?"

Eddie shook his head, stunned into silence.

Buck shrugged. "Because yesterday I saw you for the first time and you were wearing a yellow t-shirt. Hence, since yesterday, yellow's my new favourite colour."

He shifted closer to Eddie, licking his lips, but Eddie straightened up and shoved Buck away. "Listen, you Casanova wannabe, I don't like the way you talk to me and I won't tolerate your flirting crap," he said, as dry as he could manage.

Buck's eyes opened wide. "Flirting?" He repeated, sounding offended. "I would never do such a thing!" He took advantage of Eddie's shock to shift closer again, and then whispered in his ear. "If I was flirting, I would tell you that you're the most stunning man I've ever seen, and that when I see you dance all sweaty, the way your hair swings left and right makes my heart skip a beat."
He stepped back and offered Eddie his most angelic smile. "But I didn't say anything like that, so-no flirting. Honest."

He even lifted his hands in a peace sign.

Eddie glared at him. "I'm sorry, Buck, but I don't think that I'll be able to dance with you," he said, grabbing his bag and walking towards the reception.

Buck took two quick steps and followed him. "No, no, I am the one who's sorry!" He exclaimed. "I am a loud mouth, and I'm unable to converse with decent men...I'm used to hookers and bartenders," he added as an afterthought, taking a relieved breath when Eddie stopped walking. "One chance," he pleaded, "just give me one more chance."

Eddie crosses his arms on his chest and narrowed his eyes.

Just as he was about to answer, the trainers called for the couples to scatter around the room ready to start.

Eddie sighed. "Last chance," he hissed, before walking back towards the dancefloor.

Buck looked up and silently thanked whoever was there to listen.

***

Buck knew that he couldn't dance, but still he supposed those classes were for beginners.

How hard could it be?

Very .

Completely unable to follow the routine been practiced around the room, Buck kept on stumbling on his feet, bumping into the other dancers, going in the wrong direction.

"Buck, what are you doing? Come back here!" Eddie hissed when he ended up in the next line.

Buck went back next to Eddie, who kept moving as fluidly and harmoniously as always, and felt deeply inadequate, out of place.

All his chances of conquering Eddie were strictly connected to his capacity of getting noticed; since doing it through dancing was obviously out of the question, he decided to bet all he had on something else.

Instead of following the routine, he started moving in a way he reputed sensual, following the movements he saw more than once on TV.

Eddie's eyes widened, just to narrow immediately after: Buck lowered his head, feeling his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Of course, he sucked at that, too.

He simply closed his eyes and tried to move as less as possible, hoping the lesson would finish soon.

***

When the lesson was over, outside it was raining heavily.

Everyone ran towards their cars, but not Eddie: he usually walked home, since he and Evan only had one car and Evan needed it to get to work.

He didn't think of asking Evan for cab money, after all the expenses he was already paying because of him.

Eddie was already resigned to waiting until the rain had stopped, when a red motorbike swerved right in front of him, missing him only by a few centimetres.

"What the-" He started roaring, then the driver took off his helmet and there was Buck, with his annoying smirk and the equally annoying sunglasses he kept on even though it was night and dark already.

"Edworld, never fear! Buck is here with his carriage, to take you home before the evil stepmother gets back from the ball." He slapped the motorbike and then pointed at himself. "LA's best biker and bike at your service," he proclaimed, taking his raincoat off his shoulders and offering it to him.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, Buck, I'll manage," he cut him off, and started walking, but Buck grabbed his wrist.

"Don't think too much. It's raining, you'll get wet: come on, I'll drop you home," he replied, his voice a little softer than usual making Eddie's stomach turn in a strange way, as he offered him his raincoat.

"Fine. Thank you," Eddie said, somehow unable to refuse, and as he got on the back of Buck's bike, trying to keep his legs as wide as they would go to avoid them hurt like a bitch later on, Buck returned to his usual, bothersome, cocky self.
"Why are you thanking me! I'm the one who should thank you," he chuckled, turning the engine on and driving away from the school, all the time bitching about how the rain was going to spoil his hairstyle.

***

"You know, Edworld," Buck said, after Eddie gave him the address and they had been riding silently for a while, "it's considered very lucky to get wet in the first summer rain: whatever you wish for comes true."

Eddie snorted, wrapped up in his (obviously yellow) raincoat. "So what did you ask for?"

Buck shrugged. "For the world's most stunning man to be seated on my backseat," he answered, "it was granted as soon as I made it."

Eddie smacked the back of his head. "Buck, you're flirting with me again! Stop this damn bike and I'll go on my own, dammit," he growled, but Buck simply laughed.

"Fine, fine, sorry! Never again!" He exclaimed, accelerating a bit. "So," he asked after a bit, "what did you wish for? I'm sure your heart wants something."

"My heart doesn't want anything," Eddie retaliated.

Buck shook his head. "Nonsense! Every heart does!"

Eddie got mad. "Since you seem to know everything, why don't you tell me what my heart wants? Uh?"

Buck lowered his head, and Eddie was about to tell him to let it go, when suddenly he spoke. "Your heart wants to stop being in pain," he said.

Eddie didn't answer, neither did he hit Buck with one of his witty remarks.
The way Buck had spoken hadn't been flirty like before: he sounded like he genuinely wanted to know.

"Got you, didn't I?" Buck added "You're not saying anything because you know I'm right."

Eddie bit his lower lip and sagged in his seat. "Maybe," he eventually whispered, and saw Buck's back stiffen for a moment.

Then it relaxed again, and the guy laughed once more. "Eddie, try something: close your eyes and let every raindrop reach your heart."

Eddie stared at him surprised, but Buck's expression was totally serious, so he closed his eyes and as he was about to open his arms, the brakes screeched and the bike stopped. "This is your stop," Buck informed him.

Eddie blinked, a little dazed he quickly slide off the bike. "Thank you, Buck. Goodbye," he said, taking off the raincoat and giving it back to him, but Buck glared at him.

"No goodbye, remember?"

Eddie sighed. "Yeah, yeah, we'll meet again," he muttered, and Buck shook his head.

"Full version please," he drawled as he stretched his back, the movement making his awful yellow shirt roll up until his taut stomach was showing.

Eddie looked at the sky. He must have done something really bad in one of his past lives to deserve Buck on top of everything else that had been happening to him.

"Okay, you freak! We are traveling the love lane, down the road we'll meet again. Happy?!" he spat as Buck flashed him a blinding grin.

"Oh, yeah," Buck said to himself, his expression softening up as he watched Eddie hurrying inside the building, "very happy."

***

As soon as Eddie got dried off, he walked into the living room and opened the window.

The downpour had turned into a storm, and he shivered a little.

Then, a drop of rain fell on the tip of his nose and he chuckled, remembering Buck's words.

He stepped on the windowsill, just enough for a little rain to fall on him, and he closed his eyes, deeply breathing in the smell of wet grass and electricity in the air.

He just stayed there, hoping with all his might that Buck wasn't just playing with him and that somehow the rain was going to wash the pain away, at least a part of it.

He wanted to keep on living; Shannon would have never wanted for him to drown in memories.

Eddie was quite sure his childhood friend would have probably rode his ass if she had seen him like that, and not in a pleasant way.

A slow smile started to appear on Eddie's face, but right then a noisy sneeze broke the spell.

Evan was back, and he was trembling, his clothes soaking wet. "Sorry I'm late," he muttered, blowing his nose. "I had some trouble with the car. I also had to change a tire in the rain, which is why-" another sneeze got in the way, but Eddie nodded in understanding.

Evan swayed towards his room, not before noticing the open window and the rain falling on the wooden floor. "Can you please shut the window?" He asked just before entering in his room, "the floor will get ruined."

Eddie nodded, his heart still yearning for the rain. A few more sneezes came from Evan's room, so he sighed and went into the kitchen.

A handful of minutes later, he was knocking on the door. No answer came, but he entered nonetheless. Evan was laying on his bed, still dressed in his wet clothes, trembling. "Evan,” he whispered. "I know you're tired, but you have to get changed or you'll catch a cold."

Evan muttered something but didn't move.

Eddie left the glass on the bedside table and proceeded to help him out of his shirt and then his pants. Evan was almost dead weight, but he tried to help him.

Once he was wearing his night clothes, Eddie slowly dried his hair with a towel, and then took the glass over, pushing the glass into Evan's hand. "It's warm milk with turmeric," he explained, "it works miracles. Drink it all up before it gets cold and tomorrow you'll be fine."
Evan turned his heavy lidded eyes on him. "Thanks, Eddie."

Eddie felt the smile surfacing again. "You're welcome."

***

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!" The trainers chanted all in sync, while they showed the couples how to execute the kind of step they expected them to perform.

Some of the dancers were already moving on from it, while others were still trying to figure out whose arm was supposed to go where.

Buck and Eddie belonged to the second group.

Eddie stepped forward just as Buck did the same, and their foreheads met with a loud conk .

"Buck, what on Earth are you doing?!" Eddie hissed, patting his head with his hand and feeling the bump already forming.

Buck -who was wearing an even uglier pink shirt with orange sparkly applications- lifted both his hands in apology.

"Chill, will you? It's ok!"

Eddie huffed, but stepped into position once more.

They took it back from where they stopped, and they were supposed to move their arms on the back of each other's neck before grabbing each other's hand; however, Buck held onto Eddie's ear, while Eddie basically slapped Buck in the face when he flailed his arm in surprise.

"Why are you sticking your finger in my nose?!" Buck sputtered, breaking free from the weird hold they were trying to execute. "Would you like it if I did the same?" he added, wriggling a finger menaciously in front of Eddie's face.

Eddie stepped back.

"Fine, I think I got it now. Five, six, seven, eight" Buck counted, and they tried it once more.

When Eddie tried to shift under Buck's arm, though, his hair got caught in Buck's bracelet and he got stuck.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Eddie moaned, as Buck tried to free his bracelet from Eddie's dark locks. "Stop it, Buck, you're making it worse! Leave it!" Eddie exclaimed, trying to undo the knot blindly with his hands.

"Do you have a thing for my armpits, Eddie?"

Eddie could hear the smirk, and simply couldn't take it anymore.

He yanked his head away, whimpering at the sudden pain, then he stood back, holding his head in his hands and glaring at Buck. "What do you think you're doing?!" Eddie asked, but Buck simply crossed his arms on his chest.

"You're the one who's getting overfamiliar with me, you know. I'm only doing what they're teaching."

Eddie threw his arms in the air, frustrated. "Give me your hand," He demanded, and there it was, the flirty grin.

"You can take my hand, my nose and whatever you want, Edworld," Buck whispered, pulling him closer, but Eddie took his hand away.

"What's your problem, Buck? I can't handle you! I don't understand-"

The music was suddenly cut, and Athena, the head trainer, moved to stand at the front of the dances. "That was fantastic, everyone! Now listen up: from Monday we'll start the dance competition. Every couple will get points each week, and the top ten couples will compete in the finals."

Lou, another trainer, joined Athena on stage and nodded. "Whoever wins, will be proclaimed the best dancing pair and will receive a surprise prize."

The dancers started cheering and clapping.

Buck bounced, whooping and generally making a fool of himself once more, as Eddie looked away.

"Who does she think she is, uh? Tina Turner?" Buck said, chuckling. "She's right about one thing, though: I have a strong feeling from within that we will come first. What do you think?"

He poked Eddie's side until he stepped back and narrowed his eyes. "First?" Eddie hissed, " first ?! Have you seen the way we dance, you moron?! We're not even good enough to come last ." He threw one final glare in Buck’s direction and then stomped away.

Buck slowly took off his sunglasses and watched his partner's hunched back, feeling his heart clench a little more with every step Eddie took away from him.

Chapter Text

Eddie was walking outside the school when a well known red bike almost ran over him. He jumped back, and of course it was Buck on the bike, sneering at him.

"Gotcha!" He exclaimed, but Eddie simply shook his head.

"It isn't raining today, so I can go home on my own. Thanks anyway." He turned his back on Buck, but the guy stepped off the bike and stood in front of Eddie.

"No, that's not why I'm here," he said, lifting a hand. His eyes shifted a couple of times, before he cleared his throat. "Eddie, I think-I think you should get another partner."

Eddie's eyes widened up in surprise.

Buck smiled bitterly. "Listen, I know that my dancing is even worse than my talking, but you are the best." He lowered his head. "The way you move, the way the music seems to follow you instead of the other way around. The smile you wear that shows how much you're enjoying it, the harmony of your movements..." Buck fidgeted. "Anyway, you could come first without any real effort. But if I am your partner, you will certainly lose, and I would never, ever forgive myself if i did that to you." He leaned towards Eddie to take his hand, and this time Eddie didn't flinch. "I told you your heart wants to stop suffering, yesterday," Buck whispered without looking at Eddie, "I could never live with myself if it had to keep suffering because of me and my stupid pride."

Eddie's eyes filled with tears just when Buck dared to look back at him: once he realized he was saddening Eddie, Buck let his hand go and hopped back on the bike. "So then it's agreed," he stated, "from Monday you'll get a new partner. Alright." He turned the engine on. "We are traveling the love lane, down the road we'll meet again!" He shouted, driving away and waving a hand into what looked most definitely like a goodbye.

Eddie stared at him until the bike disappeared, and only then he noticed his fists were clenching.

***

Evan pushed his shirt back into his dress pants, then he handed the boots and the hanger with the clothes to TK. "With tonight, the curtain falls on Buck," he said.

TK sighed, taking the items. "Think about it a little bit more, Evan,” he answered, "I'm sure you can work this out."

Evan shook his head, while buttoning his shirt. "Oh, I have thought about it long enough, TK. I can't bear to see Eddie upset, especially if I know it's my fault. I've been selfish, and now it’s the time for my selfishness to be over." He lowered his head. "You didn't see him. You didn't see how disappointed his expression was when he heard about the competition and looked at me."
Evan shrugged.
"It's not like this was going to last a lot longer, anyway." he added, "it's a time as good as any other to end it. And I'm happy with this much."

TK didn't look at his best friend, because he knew that if he had the lie was going to be blatantly written all over his face. Evan had never been able to lie to him, and maybe this time it was for the best if they both believed he succeeded. "Besides, Buck wears really tight clothes," Evan stated, trying to lighten up the mood, "both my ass and my crotch hurt a lot!" He chuckled and patted TK's shoulder. "Now I’d better go, me and Eddie have a movie to watch tonight."

TK nodded. "I'll be seeing you, man." As soon as the door was closed behind Evan, TK dropped into one of his salon's chairs. "I guess your role ends here, Buck," he said, staring at the lifeless clothes scattered on the counter.

They looked as sad as he felt.

***

Eddie stared at the guy in front of him.

He was quite attractive, with the dark hair, and the dark eyes and the enticing smile...he was just as tall as Eddie, too, which was going to be useful at the moment of dancing.

Still, something was off and Eddie couldn't for the life of him understand what it was.

"Ravi, this is Eddie. Eddie, Ravi." Grace introduced them before going back to work and leaving them alone.

They shook hands, then got into position.

As soon as the music started, Ravi followed, moving swiftly and leaving Eddie plenty of space to do his own thing.

He was good, very, and dancing with him Eddie was going to have a great chance at winning, but-

Eddie stopped.

"What's the matter?" The guy asked, frowning.

Eddie was at a loss for words, and it was a first, for him.

It's not you, it's me.

You dance too good, there's nothing I can teach you.

We'd be so perfect it wouldn't be funny.

He discarded all of these answers and settled on a half truth. "Thank you, Ravi. You're great, really, but I started this with Buck and he's the one I want to enter the competition with."

Eddie didn't know exactly what he was going to say until the words left his mouth, and only once they had he realized they were as true as the ones he kept inside.

Buck was a loud idiot, he was rude, and sly; he couldn't move his feet in accordance with his arms, and he was unable to follow clear instructions. But every time they got it right, everytime their bodies moved in sync, it was like a small miracle had happened; Buck would beam and then he'd look suddenly so much younger and lighter than he usually did.

Buck wore a mask, exactly as he did, and Eddie cursed himself for not noticing earlier.

Hopefully he was still in time to get him back.

Eddie didn't care about winning or losing: he decided to take the class because he needed to find a new reason to go on, a reason he had forgotten he had.
Maybe, dancing with Buck, he was slowly going to remember.

He marched up to Grace's desk, a resolute expression on his face. "Listen, Grace, I know that Buck didn't come today, but maybe I can convince him not to give up. Do you have his address?" He smiled at her. "We're in this together," he added.

Grace arched an eyebrow, but didn't say anything as he searched the database in the computer for the data Eddie asked for. "Here it is, Buck Reyes. No phone number, but we have the address. Reyes's Garage 126 Golden Marble."

Eddie thanked her and took off, just as Ravi approached Grace's desk. "Who's this Buck?" He asked curiously.

Grace shrugged. "Just a douchebag," she answered.

Ravi looked longingly at where Eddie had been standing and sighed.

"A lucky douchebag," he corrected her.

***

Eddie got down the taxi and blinked at the old rundown building.

The rusty gate opened screeching and a car -presumably new- left the yard.

It was a real garage.

"Why has Buck left the address of a garage?" Eddie wondered, stopping right next to the door.

Inside, there was noise and grease and it smelled of gasoline.

Eddie closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.

It had been so long since he last entered a garage, and the homesickness washed over him like a tidal wave, so strong he had to lean against the wall to avoid his legs trying to give up.

He tried to get his breathing in check and when he felt more or less back in control of himself he stepped away from the wall and entered, looking for someone who might help him.

***

TK huffed. "Come on, Carlos, how long can it take?!" He whined.

Carlos came out from under the red bike and glared at him. "I'm almost done, babe. Tell me something: why does Evan keep riding your bike?! Because i know it's him, I recognize his way of driving." He shook his head, scratching his nose. "I sold him a new Hyundai I 10 a few weeks ago! If he really wanted a bike, why didn't he keep his own? Man, was that a sweet ride...I would have kept it myself if I'd had the money to pay for it."

TK shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortably. "Er...that's a long story, we'll talk about it another time, ok? Now just hurry up, papi. Please ."

Carlos stared at him, then slowly and deliberately licked his lips. "You know I have ways to make you talk, TK," he whispered, and TK felt his voice vibrating through all his body. As every time Carlos used that tone with him, his cock twitched in his pants.

He swallowed noisily, and the hungry glance Carlos spared to his Wyatt's apple moving didn't help at all.

"Carlos..." He started, but never got around finishing the sentence: Wyatt, one of the youngest mechanics working at Carlos's, bounced towards them.

"Carlos, there's someone looking for Buck Reyes," He said.

TK's eyes widened as he jumped up from the tire he was sitting on, the flirting game with Carlos already forgotten, because he knew who the only person looking for Buck Reyes would be.

Carlos was about to crack some joke about the name, but TK ignored him and grabbed Wyatt's sleeve. "Ask him to take a seat and tell him that Buck is coming in soon."

"Who the hell is Buck Reyes?" Carlos asked, frowning. "Damn, I thought I knew all my relatives! I have to call my mother so that-"

TK rolled his eyes. "It’s not a relative of yours, papi. Evan is coming, as Buck Reyes."

Carlos blinked. "I'm lost. How did Evan become Buck Reyes? And why is he using my surname?!"

TK grabbed his shoulder. "It's a very long story, I'll tell you all about it later. Now, hide the bike. I have to go call Evan." Just before he left, he suddenly remembered something and turned back towards Carlos. "Evan's happiness depends on you, papi. Be careful what you say to that guy."

***

"LA power, lighting up your life" Evan answered, the boredom clear in his tone.

All of it was blown away by TK's hushed voice.

"Evan? I'm calling from Carlos's garage. Eddie is here, looking for Buck."

"What?!" Evan squeaked, jumping off his chair. "How did he get there?!" Chimney glared at him, and he blushed, lowering his head and quickly walking towards the exit door. "What am I supposed to do now?" He whispered, "I was set on ending the Buck masquerade so that Eddie could win the competition..."

He could hear TK snorting on the other side of the phone. "I know that, you idiot! But you seem to have forgotten that now your story, Eddie's and even Buck's are being written by God, not you."

Evan sighed. "You mean-"

TK huffed. "I mean that how and when Buck's masquerade has to end is up to him too. Get your ass here as fast as you can, Eddie's waiting."

Evan swallowed. "But-how am I supposed to come without my clothes? Buck's clothes? The clothes?" He whined.

"You have the emergency keys to the salon, right? Well, the clothes are still in the closet. I knew you were going to need them again soon."

Evan smiled. His best friend was never going to let him down. He was not alone in this. "Thanks, man, I'll be there in ten minutes tops. I love you," he said.

"Yeah, yeah," he could almost see TK waving his hand dismissively to hide the embarrassment. " Hurry ."

***

Evan got out of the taxi, dressed up in a black t-shirt which proclaimed that he was ready to do it with anyone, anywhere and at anytime , and a pair of even tighter than usual blue jeans.

He had styled his hair, but he was still wearing his glasses.

He stopped just outside the gate to swap them for the black ones he had brought along, and once he had put them on, his whole posture shifted, and he strutted inside the garage like he owned the place.

"Good evening, Edworld! Never fear, Buck is here," he exclaimed as soon as he saw Carlos talking to Eddie.

Cold sweat drenched the back of his t-shirt at seeing one of his oldest friends with his husband, afraid of what Carlos could have let slip.

Eddie smiled at him, while Carlos simply stared, his mouth hanging open and his eyes as wide as fried eggs. "So, did my boys look after you properly?" Buck asked, arching an eyebrow.

Eddie chuckled. "Absolutely. A five star hospitality," he answered.

Evan nodded, pleased, then he noticed Carlos was still staring at him, so he slapped him. "What are you staring at, huh? Enough hanging around, I'm not paying you to idle away your time! Go do some work," he said, hoping that Carlos would play along and not smash his face against the wall for daring to touch him.

Carlos growled lowly, but then he looked up and saw TK, hiding behind a column with his hands lifted in prayer, so he breathed deeply. "Sure thing, boss, " he muttered before stomping away. An instant later his phone vibrated in his pocket and he took him out to check the text he just got.
It was from TK.

You're an angel. Tonight, I'll swallow.

Carlos smirked.

***

"So, Edworld," Buck started, sitting next to Eddie on the bench, "you're here. What, why, how come?"

Eddie sighed. "Why didn't you come to dance school today?" he asked, his hazel eyes filled with a concern so pure it hurt to watch.

Buck scratched the back of his neck and snickered. "Oh, you see, the thing is-I left dancing. Is quite boring, and not something real men like me can do still feeling comfortable with themselves, if you know what I mean," he answered, wriggling his eyebrows.

Eddie glared at him. "You haven't left dancing, Buck. You have left me . So that I can win. Am I right?"

Buck blushed and looked away. "No-no, nothing like that, I'm not-"

Eddie took Buck's hand in his and smiled at him. "Listen, Buck, I'm not going to leave my partner. But I'm not going to lose, either." Buck's eyes slowly lifted again, only to get lost into Eddie's sparkly ones. "At the beginning, I thought you were a really cheap asshole, but now I have realized that underneath all this façade you're hiding a pretty awesome, good hearted guy." Eddie shrugged.
"If you can be so worried about my winning, why can't I be the one worrying about your dancing? We're partners, Buck, we started this together, we'll get to the end together." Buck tried to protest, but Eddie lifted a hand. "If you promise to work hard and do extra practice, I can promise you can get really good. I can see it already: you do have potential. We could win."

Buck stared at Eddie, speechless, unsure of what he could say to the immense trust the guy was showering him with.

In the end, he grinned. "Edworld-I told you that you'd miss me," he stated.
"Looks like Buck's magic has finally worked on you."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "And there you go again! Please, Buck, promise me one more thing. No more cheap flirting crap."

Buck shook his head furiously. "Oh, no! You already asked me to do extra practice and work hard, and I can promise you that, but you can't take flirting away from me! I breathe flirting! You don't want me to stop breathing, right?" He asked, batting his eyelashes coily.

Eddie didn't look amused. "We're going to be friends from today on, so I expect you to start acting like one," he spat. Buck looked taken aback from his attitude, so Eddie sighed and stepped closer. "I'm not going to lie to you, Buck. I'm not the carefree, positive person I pretend to be, not anymore. But I decided I'm gonna stop pretending and I'm going to start trying to turn back into that person. I liked him." He looked at Buck with a steady gaze. "Which is why I want you to promise you'll stop pretending too. Let's start from scratch, what do you say?" Eddie stood up and offered Buck his hand. "Hi, I'm Eddie."

Buck stood up as well, never happier to be wearing sunglasses than now that his eyes were suspiciously shiny, and shook the offered hand. "I'm Buck."

Eddie beamed at him. "Ok, I'll see you in class tomorrow, then." He stepped towards the exit, but Buck cleared his throat. "Edworld, aren't you forgetting something?" He asked, snapping his fingers.

Eddie huffed, but was smiling so deeply that for the first time since after the accident his dimples blossomed on his cheeks. "We are traveling the love lane, down the road we will meet again," he muttered.

"I'll die of happiness!" Buck exclaimed as he left, doing a little victory dance.

***

Evan and TK got insanely drunk that night.

Evan was high on euphoria, because Eddie's words gave him hope that the guy was trying to go back to how he used to be instead of killing the old Eddie as he seemed to want at the beginning.

It filled him with a deep thrill and warmth: Eddie's happiness was the most important thing for him, he didn't care if he was going to be the one who would share it with Eddie as long as he was sure Eddie had it.

TK had been wishing for Evan to find someone to love since they were teenagers, and he was ready to give anything in order for his friend to gain that happily ever after he deserved more than anyone else.

So there they were, tequila and whisky bottles in their hands, singing at the top of their lungs in the still of the hair salon.

TK was the first to give up, falling in a heap on one of the chairs and starting to snore loudly as soon as his head touched the counter.
Evan giggled. "Come on, man, we were having fun!" He whined, pulling his arm, but TK muttered a few curses and rolled onto his other side.

Evan huffed, adjusting his pants which were rubbing against his crack and crotch in a not unpleasant way, especially since he was drunk and horny, so he decided he night as well get changed and go home.

He shrugged and wandered away looking for his dress pants and shirt, stopping frozen in front of a mannequin which looked like him, dressed with all his clothes, his glasses and his fake mustache.

He blinked and shook his head, trying to clear the haze, because there, right then, he felt like he, as Buck, was staring at Evan.

For a moment, his personality shifted and he was splitted in two.

He stumbled closer, a playful smirk on his face. "There you are," he drawled "did you see my style, eh, Evan? Eddie couldn't resist coming to me!" He chuckled, nudging the mannequin's shoulder. "Did you hear him? We're friends , now. And you have seen enough movies to know that a girl and a guy can never be friends. After friendship comes love and romance ."

He twirled in the center of the room, almost falling but grabbing the counter just in time. He narrowed his eyes to look closer at his own face, and traced the mannequin's jaw and lips with a finger, before kissing his forehead. "I'm going to hold Eddie's hand, Evan," he whispered hotly in the mannequin's ear, "just as you've never been able to do, and while we dance, I'll conquer his heart." He snorted. "You can be happy holding the thermos instead," he spat in disgust. "I hate you, you son of a bitch" he hissed suddenly, punching the mannequin and almost sending it tumbling on the floor. "You're standing like a villain between us. You married him, Evan, when he didn't want you, just because you wanted him to be yours. You destroyed his life! How can you stand there and watch him burning out day by day?"

He tore at his hair, dropping down on his knees. "Eddie's like a God, and you are nothing more than Evan I work for LA Power . What the fuck were you expecting?!" He hiccupped, hiding his face in his hands, then he slowly stood up once more and stared defiantly into the mannequin's empty eyes.

"Listen, Evan, I'm going to tell you this once, before Eddie runs away with me and you're left alone with your useless and pathetic life: step aside, so that Buck is free to sweep him away and walk into the sunset while everything fades to black, the happy love song starts playing and the glorious the end appears on the screen."

He stood there, his arms wide open and his face transfixed while he imagined everything he just described, before the silence started weighing too much.
"Hey, sucker, why are you so quiet, eh?" He retaliated, slapping the mannequin's cheeks. "A lot to think about, I suppose. Alright, take your time. We'll talk tomorrow."

He moved to leave, but then he changed his mind and walked back to the mannequin, holding its shoulders with his arms. "You know what, Evan? I will tell you what you're thinking." His voice started breaking, but he didn't seem to realize it. "You are thinking that if while loving Buck Eddie would completely forget about Evan, maybe he'll never have the chance of knowing and falling in love with the real you."

He was crying now, endless tears running after the ones that just wetted his cheeks, as he simply dried them with his forearm and went on. "What if in the end Evan is the one left saying we are traveling the love lane, down the road we'll meet again ? What if all you'll have left is the hope of seeing someday Eddie coming through your door to tell you he made a mistake and wanted to be with you all along?"

He stopped talking, then, and simply held the mannequin against his chest, while he cried out all the pain he had been piling up in his chest, and as his tears fell down the mannequin's face it looked like both Buck and Evan were breaking.

Chapter Text

Eddie stepped inside the garage, which was closed for the weekend, but being Buck's and all they were going to practice for as long as they felt like without anyone bothering them.

Buck was already there, wearing some orange overalls, with a silver eagle sewed on the front and tying up his sneakers.

"Ready?" Eddie asked, smiling.

Buck had a tired expression on his face, but as soon as he saw Eddie he beamed and smiled back. "When you are, boss," he answered.

Eddie got into position next to Buck, and breathed deeply. "Alright, this is how this is going down. To have a chance in the competition, we'll have to come up with a routine, something fresh and original but not too difficult for either you to learn or for me to choreograph." Buck blinked behind his purple sunglasses, and Eddie shook his head while he knotted his sweater around his hips. "Ok, let's start with the basics." He turned on his iPod, setting it on a base track with lots of beat to practise with, and started moving. "Put your left leg in, then your right leg out," he explained as Buck complied. "Good! Now turn your head around, sway and swing your legs up and down." He showed him how to do it, and Buck followed, his brows furrowed in concentration. "That's all it takes: you just have to start," Eddie praised.

They kept on singing, dancing and twisting a little, following the music; Eddie didn't remember laughing so much in-well, a long time.

***

"Five, six, seven, eight!" Eddie fixed his wristbands, as Buck warmed up, this time dressed in acid green and yellow with golden brown sunglasses.

Where does he shop? Eddie wondered and how many more of this hideous outfits does he own?!

He snorted at the thought and then proceeded to explain to Buck the new steps he came up with. "Here we could flick our arms to the tune, like the hands of a clock, you know, from 7 to noon: I think it would look cool if we mirrored each other's gestures."

Buck nodded, and when they tried, it did look cool.

"What if we swung our hips? Like a tidal wave or something?" Buck suggested, blushing a little.

Eddie thought about it for a second, then smiled. "I think it would work, you know?" He exclaimed, "like drawing a figure of eight in the air!"

He tried it out, and Buck felt his mouth go dry when his brain helpfully supplied a similarly sweaty Eddie performing the same movement against him in a different context and with a lot less clothes involved.

"Buck! Are you ok?" Eddie asked, waving a hand in front of Buck's face, and he quickly stepped back.

"Uh, sure. Why?"

Eddie shrugged. "Don't know, you look...flustered, all of a sudden."

Buck lowered his head. "Just-not used to this kind of physical effort, I guess," he said.

Eddie nodded. "Don't overdo it. You won't be of any use if you tire yourself too much. As long as we keep practicing constantly, either together or separately, we can make it. I know we can."

Buck smiled, and was assured they would.

***

Evan kept practicing obsessively in every spare moment he had.

In the morning, he started cutting his shower time in order to execute the steps they'd add to the routine the previous day, and when he got back home from work he was doing the same every time Eddie's back was turned.

He even had Carlos and TK helping him to improve his coordination and fluidity, since they used to line dance back in the day and still went every time they could both afford the luxury of leaving the business unattended for a while.

They taught him how to face the stage, how to warm the public up, how to fight performance fright (the first time they had him singing the chorus of a song with them at a karaoke bar, Evan had a panic attack and puked all over the DJ).

Eddie practiced like crazy too: choreographing their performance was surprisingly easy for him. He could almost see Buck and him executing the steps, and with the visual aid, half of the job was already done.

"Let's try throwing a hand up, shaking it like we were ringing a bell," he was saying, as he twirled in the center of the room with a hand in the air, "then we could shake the other hand below, like we'd tug a kite to make it soar, and then repeat."

They tried the whole thing a couple of times more, and only then Eddie allowed them to rest. "That's what I call a workout," he said, panting a little, as he gulped down almost the whole water bottle in a single go.

"That's what I call hep," Buck answered, clapping Eddie's shoulder. "Thanks," he said abruptly after a couple of seconds.

Eddie blinked. "For what?"

Buck nudged him. "For taking a chance on dancing with me."

Eddie stared at him and then smiled. "You're welcome."

***

The room stood silent for a moment before exploding in a roaring applause.
Athena stood up, clapping enthusiastically.

"That was superb! Congratulations, Buck and Eddie, you entered the top 10 of the dancing competition."

The applause resumed, and Eddie without thinking jumped into Buck's arms, hugging him tightly against his chest.

As soon as he realized what he had done, he squeaked and jumped back, his head hanging down and his cheeks burning, and grabbed his hands instead.

Buck was flying so high he didn't really mind any of that: he didn't let Eddie down, and that, right there, felt like a fucking victory to him already.

***

"What will you have?" The waitress asked, winking at Buck, his leather jacket and his white, super tight shirt.

Buck's gaze shifted to Eddie, who simply shook his head at how the guy could change in the blink of an eye, then focused his attention on the waitress.
"Hot dogs," he stated.

Buck looked surprised, especially when the waitress asked how many were they going to order and Eddie's grin got bigger. "You just keep bringing them, sweetheart: tonight there's no limit."

The waitress shrugged. "Whatever," she answered, walking back towards the counter to pass the order to the kitchen.

"What do you mean by no limit ?" Buck asked, sounding a little concerned.

Eddie smirked and then licked his lips. "Buckaroo? Eating contest."

Buck's mouth dropped open and his mind blacked out for a second, before he got back enough brain functions to retaliate "Then tell me, what does the winner get? There's no contest without a prize."

Eddie pondered about it for a moment, before nodding. "The winner can make the loser do one thing. Anything he wishes to, absolutely anything , and the loser can't refuse."

Buck's usual cocky grin came back full force. "In this case, Edworld, you've lost already, because I'd eat every hotdog in LA in order to win."

Eddie narrowed his eyes. "Bring it on, cowboy."

Buck punched the table and stood up. "Hey, dude! Where are the damn hotdogs?"

***

Once the 10th plate came by, with two more hot dogs on it, Eddie took it up, tears running down his cheeks, but he couldn't bring himself to bite the bun and had to put it down, burping loudly.

Buck beamed at him, stuffed his face with his last one and then stood on the table.

"I'm the fucking king!" He shouted, and everyone cheered, while Eddie tried his best not to laugh, in order to avoid moving the contents of his stomach more than what was strictly necessary.

***

Still burping, Evan parked his car outside the apartment building and went up, using the stairs in the desperate attempt of helping the digesting process.
In the hall, waiting for him, was Eddie, smiling so brightly his dimples were showing.

"Congratulate me?" He said, and Evan had to use all of his strength and willpower to prevent himself from running up to him, cradle him in his arms and never let him go. Instead, he just arched an eyebrow in silent question, and Eddie's smiled grew wider. "I've been selected as one of the top 10 dancers in the dance competition," he explained, and finally Evan could smile back.

"That's great, Eddie, I'm so happy for you!" He exclaimed, grabbing his hand.
Eddie chuckled nervously and disentangled it, motioning at the thermos Evan was still holding with his other hand.

Evan scratched the back of his neck and gave it to him, moving towards his room immediately after.

The only thing he wanted right then was to take a hot shower, drink a lot of water and drop dead on his bed, cursing himself as he did every night for not being sharing his former king with Eddie.
Eddie's words, however, stopped him cold in his tracks. "I've made you chicken rice today, I'll heat it up while you change!"

The guy sounded so eager to please him, maybe to share some of his happiness too, that Evan didn't have it in his heart to tell him he wasn't going to eat.

***

Once he had the steamy plate in front of his face, Evan almost puked right then and there.

Only thing to stop him were Eddie's sparkling eyes, waiting for him to taste the food.

He moved the rice around with the spoon for a few seconds, then he looked over at Eddie and saw him drinking from a cup.

"Where's your plate?" He asked.

Eddie shrugged. "I'm full. Buck and I went to celebrate, after class, and had hot dogs at a pub nearby."

Evan choked on his own spit. "B-Buck?"

Eddie slapped his forehead, chuckling. "I totally forgot to tell you! I'm sorry," he started.

"Buck is my dance partner; as I told you, this dance competition is in pairs. Buck has his own garage, he's very funny and always makes me laugh."

Evan smiled, trying for it not to be too bitter.

Evan is the one that makes you cry, instead he couldn't help thinking.
Eddie stared at Evan removing the food on his plate and his expression got a little concerned.

"You don't like it? I could cook you something else..." Eddie said, moving to stand up, but Evan lifted a hand.

"It's fantastic, Eddie, really! Sorry, I was just distracted."

Eddie beamed at him; Evan took a deep breath and started eating.

If that was the only way Evan could make Eddie happy, he was not going to pass on it.

***

"Fuck," Evan groaned, in the darkness of his room, pushing both of his hands on his aching stomach.

"Eddie was right, love is so painful."

Not only the disguising, the dancing practice, the deception; now he was also going to have to face the pain of eating.

He whimpered and closed his eyes.

This love will kill me, someday he thought one way or another.
And still, he knew he wasn't going to change a single thing of it all, even if he had been given the chance.

***

There were only four more couples apart from Eddie and Buck who could actually win the competition and fight each other for the title.

One was formed by Grace and Judd, both a little older than the others but could get quite wicked on the dancefloor.

Then, there were Josh and Jamal (a couple of lawyers who started taking lessons as couple therapy, since their marriage was at stake) and the young Wyatt and Leigh-Anne, fresh out of high school and anxious to see the world.

The last two dancers, aside from Eddie and Buck, were Marjan and Paul.
They were skilled, and in their eyes (especially Marjan's) burned the fire of competition.

They wanted to win the contest no matter what, and that kinda threw Eddie off; he danced for the joy of doing it, and couldn't even start to contemplate doing it just in order to be the best.

He got lost in his thought just as he was practicing a few steps in front of the mirror, and therefore he didn't see Marjan approaching.

Next thing he knew, his foot hit something and he heard a pained growl; when he looked on the side, there was Marjan holding her leg. "God, I'm so sorry!" Eddie exclaimed, moving closer to the girl.

Marjan looked at him narrowing her eyes. "You fucker, " she hissed, and Eddie blinked, stepping back.

"There's no need to get nasty, Marjan, I-I said I'm sorry, alright?" He said, surprised by Marjan's murderous expression.

Marjan snorted. "Save your breath. I know people like you: you hit purposely and then say sorry, so that the best of the competition goes out right at the beginning and you can easily win. Well, though luck, bitch ." Marjan was snarling right in his face, so Eddie pushed her back slightly.

"Listen to me, Beyoncé, call me bitch one more time and you won't know what hit you," he stated, his voice low and dangerous.

They glared at each other, moving in a defensive position and ready for the blows to start flying, when Buck saw what was happening and stepped in between.
"Edworld, what's this? Come on, it's ok, just ignore her! You know how she is..."

When he saw Eddie's fists were still clenched and his expression was still resolute and angry, Buck sighed. "Never fear, Buck is here-I'll talk to her, ok? Stay here ."

But once he turned, instead of facing the lithe, slightly shorter body of Marjan he found hiself staring at Marjan's partner, Paul, who was bulky and looked pissed.
"Talk to me , sport," he said with an ironic smirk on his lips.

Buck swallowed noisily. "Er, well, I just-I wanted to apologize on my partner's behalf, and you can do the same on behalf of yours, how's that? This way, nobody gets hurt..."

"Tiny!" Marjan's whiny voice interrupt him. "Tiny, look what he has done to my leg."

She lifted it to show them a small bruise, almost invisible, her eyes filled with (fake) tears.

Buck blinked and looked at Paul.

"T-Tiny?" he managed to say, trying with all his might not to laugh.

Paul narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, that's my petname. Any problem?" He asked menaciously.

Buck lifted his hands and shook his head vehemently. "Of course not! I mean-size doesn't matter. Or something." He patted Paul's bicep. "Men should all be solid like you," he added.

"Besides, my pet name is... chicken little, " Buck improvised, and Paul's eyes widened as he chuckled.

"I feel your pain, man," he said, his expression softening.

Buck offered him a small nod. "Paul, Marjan, why don't we put all of this behind us? I'll say sorry on everyone's behalf and we carry on. What do you say?"

Marjan still looked pissed, but Paul arched an eyebrow and he sighed. Buck beamed and clapped his hands.

"Great!" He exclaimed, before bouncing back to Eddie, who was looking at him from the corner where he left him.

Eddie crossed his arms against his chest and glared at him. "I could have taken him," he muttered, and Buck rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, sure. Then they would have taken us and kicked us right out of the competition. Is that what you want? After all the efforts we made?"

Eddie looked doubtful.

"Come on, let's channel that anger," Buck suggested, moving into their starting position.

***

"What an asshole! I should have really tripped her so she’d fall on her face and break her stupidly perfect nose," Eddie muttered through clenched teeth as they walked out of the gym towards Buck's bike.

Buck snickered. "Eddie, can I say something? Swearing doesn't suit you. Besides, Marjan's not worth all the time you're wasting on her. She's just-"

"Whoa! Losers!"

Marjan, on Paul's bike, passed next to them and pushed Eddie off the bike, before riding away laughing.

Eddie stood back up, his jaw clenched and his eyes throwing daggers. "Hold this and move," he demanded, throwing his bag at Buck.

Buck got off the bike and stared as Eddie jumped on it and turned the engine on.

"What the-"

He didn't have the time of saying anything else, because Eddie made the bike roar and rode after them.

***

"Fuck, Eddie, take it easy!" Buck shouted, as Eddie drove fast through the streets.

"There they are!" Eddie exhulted as they got closer to Paul's bike.
"You're useless," Eddie screamed, as Marjan narrowed her eyes and tried to hit them with her bag before they turned abruptly.

"Oh, it's so on now," Eddie muttered, before turning the bike in the opposite direction.

When Marjan and Paul got back on the main road, they found Eddie and Buck (who was actually shaking on the backseat) waiting for them.

"I'm ready, Edworld, but what's the plan?" Buck murmured in Eddie's ear.
Eddie smirked.

"It's time to see who the loser is," he answered before driving straight towards them.

Buck closed his eyes as tight as he could, praying fervently.

God, if you save us now I'm going to talk to Eddie. I'm going to tell him everything. I swear.

He felt the air wooshing by on their side when Paul and Marjan moved abruptly to avoid the collision, and he opened his eyes just in time to see them ending up in a dumpster.

Eddie drove away, laughing loud and free, and all of Buck's fear dissipated in an instant.

"Tiny?" Eddie shouted as they drove away, "I suggest you mess with people your own size next time."

***

"So, what was all that?" Buck asked as Eddie stopped the bike in front of his house.

Eddie shrugged. "My best friend's father had a bike," he explained, "we used to steal it and ride it every night. At the beginning we just drove until our legs hurt, then we-" He stopped, blushing slightly, and looked away. "I've had three years of practice," he concluded.

Buck's heart clenched at seeing how much pain Eddie was still carrying inside, but he forced himself to act normal. "Any more surprises?" He asked, smirking. "Are you about to fly away like Superman or something like that?"

A small smile appeared on Eddie's face, as he looked back at Buck with a grateful look in his eyes. "You never know, Buck, wait and see," he said.

Like I've been doing anything else lately, Buck thought.

***

"So...Eddie was driving the bike." Evan nodded sheepishly. "At over 200 km/h?" He nodded again. "And what were you doing as he drove?" TK asked.

Evan scratched the back of his neck, blushing. "I was-sitting behind," he stuttered. At TK's incredulos expression, he lifted his hands. "Hey, someone had to hold the bag, right?"

TK rolled his eyes and flailed a little. "Are you listening to yourself?!" He exclaimed. "He drives the bike and you sit behind holding the bag?! You have spoilt the macho !"

Evan looked guilty. "I'm sorry, man. Which part of the bike is it? Is it expensive? I can pay for it if-"

TK kicked him in the shin. "I'm talking about the macho image we've been trying to build for Buck with the clothes and the attitude!"

Evan blinked. "The what image?"

TK sighed. "Why does Buck ride a bike? To look macho . Why does he wear jeans? To look macho ."

Evan didn't look convinced. "TK, still I-who-"

" Macho means manhood , Evan! You've been to the movies with Eddie, right? So you've seen that usually the hero just appears, picks the heroine up and rides away towards the sunset with her. That's macho . The action king Bruce Willis is macho , and so is Sylvester Stallone, and Brad Pitt. But you..." TK shook his head. "If you sit on the backseat holding the gym bag, you destroy the image of manly man you were trying to project all along."

Evan finally understood and looked terrified. "I can rectify this macho thing, right? RIGHT?!" He asked, shaking TK.

TK nodded. "Of course. First of all, you must never sit on the backseat again. The handle must always be in your hands, either on the bike or in your everyday life, otherwise Eddie will never respect you."

Evan nodded fervently, drinking up every word. "Also, when you walk," TK continued, "you must swell your chest like this ."

He showed Evan, who tried and ended up coughing helplessly.

TK sighed. "Try once more, next we'll work on the strut and the attitude again , since you seemed to have forgotten all of it."

Evan nodded again. He was going to become a real macho man and Eddie was finally going to fall for him.

Chapter Text

Buck stormed in the gym, all chest swelled, fists on his hips and confident steps, but stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he entered and took in the view in front of him.

All the finalist couples, the workers and even the trainers were sitting down and talking softly in small groups.

Buck blinked, confused.

Didn't they ask for the special Sunday practice, since the competition was only a week away?

Then he saw them.

Coloured wristbands. Everywhere.

Fuck, today is the first Sunday of August Buck thought, shocked.

And first Sunday of August only meant one thing.

Friendship Day.

Starting to sweat profusely, Buck slowly stepped back, still checking his surroundings.

Sitting in a corner, Marjan was whistling as she put a yellow and orange wristband on Paul’s wrist, and Paul was sobbing.

That was not good.

If Eddie offered him a friendship bracelet and he accepted it, he was going to accept that nothing was ever going to happen between them.

He would have preferred sawing off his arm to getting a friendship bracelet, but if Eddie gave it to him, he wasn't going to be able to refuse.

Which is why he turned and started running towards the bathroom, hoping to succeed in avoiding Eddie.

If he called to ask him why he didn't show up to practice, he could invent an excuse; hell, it was not like he had been this example of honesty, after all, and one more lie was not going to hurt anyone.

Nodding to himself and his brilliant plan, he took out his phone as soon as he was sitting into a stall.

"TK?" he whispered, hoping no one would hear him.

"Whassup, macho?" TK answered.

"No macho here, you moron! Today is Friendship Day, and everyone's tying friendship wristbands around here...if Eddie does that, I'm screwed!"

A prolongued silence came from the other side of the line.

"Evan, there's only one thing left to do: go hide in the bathroom."

Buck rolled his eyes. "Where do you think I am, TK? I might be useless when it comes to love, but I'm not that stupid either, you know."

He could picture TK pacing around the salon, trying to come up with something. "Well, whatever happens, don't come out," TK stated, in the end.

"You can die there, but you cannot let Eddie tie a friendship bracelet on your wrist." Buck nodded fervently. "Ok then. Gotta go, smoke is starting to come out of Mrs. Porter’s hair. Best of luck, buddy!"

And with that, TK hung up.

"What the-best of luck?! Damn TK..."

Buck was so engrossed into cursing his best friend that he didn't hear the voice calling him until someone knocked on the door of his stall.

"Buck, are you in there?" Eddie asked.

Buck froze and tried to even holds his breath, but Eddie knocked once more, his voice a little annoyed when he called out again.

Buck sighed. "Yeah, I'm here," he answered, lowering his head. "I'm not feeling well, my-my stomach hurts, so I won't be able to dance today," he added as a second thought, hoping Eddie would leave him alone.

Eddie, however, wasn't going to have any of it. "Fine, then we'll go shopping for costumes, since no one seems interested in dancing anyway; they're too busy with their stupid friendship wristbands, it's so irritating."

Buck stood up abruptly and jumped out the stall.

Eddie stepped back, surprised.

"So, irritating, huh?" Buck asked.

Eddie shrugged and walked out of the bathroom, shaking his head at his partner's weirdness.

Buck stole a glance to the mirror, where he was reflecting wearing his blue t-shirt and his lilac sunglasses, and smirked at himself.

Not friendly, but macho.

***

"You see, Friendship Day has been turned into a marketing gimmick," Eddie explained, as they took the escalator to the top floor of the commercial centre.

"Wherever you go there's someone tying a wristband, selling a wristband or buying a wristband. This celebration has been commercialized just as Valentine's day, Mother's day and St. Patrick's day, and I can't stand it."

Buck nodded understandingly, but Eddie wasn't done. "It's like people need reminding in order to appreciate their relationships. What, now I need a bracelet to know if you're my friend, professional partner or whatever? Why shouldn't I be able to understand where we stand on my own?"

Buck's eyes flickered and he looked away; Eddie didn't show any signs of noticing. "You're absolutely right, Edworld," he said, thinking about how hard it was sometimes to know where one stood. "But I think the problem stands in the lack of communication," he added. "Look at Paul and Marjan; until yesterday, everyone thought that they were an item, but today Marjan tied a friendship wristband to Paul’s wrist out of the blue. The poor loser was crying his eyes out, I swear."

Eddie snorted, but didn't answer, so Buck took it as his cue to continue.

"I mean, what did Paul do? Probably Marjan wasn't honest with him and didn't tell him what she really wanted from their relationship." Eddie arched an eyebrow.

"Well, one thing's for sure: no one one wants a bodyguard who calls himself boyfriend and does nothing but going around showing how macho he is."

Buck, who's eyes got wider with every word Eddie said, suddenly deflated when he heard the last sentence.

Eddie dropped a few shirts in his arms, demanding he tried them on, and then walked to an empty dressing room.

Buck was confused.

No macho, then? But TK said-

"Buck, come on! Move!"

***

Buck was about to put a yellow shirt on, when something came on his mind.

Or maybe he just found the courage because there was a wall between his dressing room and Eddie's, and he didn't have to look at his husband's face as he spoke.

"Eddie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm-confused."

"Why? The size is not right?"

Buck rolled his eyes. "No, not about the clothes! I have confusion in my mind. And in my heart."

Eddie stood silent for a moment. Just as Buck thought Eddie was going to brush him off, and was about to hit his head against the wall, his voice came up, soft. "Go on."

Buck threw the shirt on the floor, took the tripod and positioned it next to the wall separating their dressing rooms. "Tell me one thing," he started, "what do people want from a relationship?" Before Eddie could answer, he quickly added, "I never worried about it, since usually guys and girls throw themselves at me without me having to do anything, so I've never stopped to think."

Eddie chuckled, then a low thump told Buck he had sat down too. "That's a very difficult question, Buck," he said. "The answer is different for everyone. It may be a really simple one, but usually by the time one understands it, he's already turned old."

Buck blinked. "If you have the answer already, though, please tell me!" He begged. "I don't want to risk losing something special just because I hadn't been able to see it when it was right in front of me." He felt the tears pooling in the corner of his eyes and tried to stop them.

"I don't want to turn old alone," he added, in a low, broken voice.

Eddie sighed. "The only thing everyone needs and desires is to be loved like no one has ever been loved before. There is nothing else you could ask for in your life."

Buck pushed his forehead against the wall; Eddie's voice sounded small and full of regrets, and all Buck wanted was for that wall to disappear in order for him to walk up to Eddie and hold him in his arms until every painful feeling was gone.

For a moment the time stopped as their heart reached out for one another, without consciously knowing they were, then Eddie cleared his throat and stood up.

"You get it now?" He asked, his voice back to the carefree, friendly tone it usually had. "If Marjan had thought Paul loved him like this, she would have never given him a friendship wristband."

With those words, Eddie walked away, telling Buck to hurry up as he went to leave all the clothes they were not going to buy.

As soon as Buck was alone, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"I love you more than you can imagine, Eddie," he murmured, "and you are the one who is not able to see it. Never mind, though: Buck will show my love to you. No macho involved," he added, trying to lighten up his own mood, while he stood up and went after Eddie.

***

As he parked the bike, Buck fidgeted.

He knew that was his chance to ask but still something in his guts was telling him it was too much, too soon.

Buck ignored his instinct and turned towards Eddie as he stepped off the bike.

"Listen, Eddie-tomorrow is my birthday." Eddie smiled. "Hence, I want to spend the whole day with you."

The smile disappeared and Eddie furrowed his brow. "Er...but...a whole day...I don't think..." He stuttered, but Buck lifted a finger.

"You can't refuse, Edworld. I won the eating contest, remember? This is the prize I want, and you said anything ." Eddie still didn't look convinced, so Buck sighed. "Every year I spend this day alone," he said, "but I thought that maybe I could do something different this year, I thought that maybe I wasn't alone anymore." He swallowed noisily.

Please, say yes. Please.

Eddie scratches his neck. "I still don't think-"

"What, do I have to tie a friendship bracelet to your wrist in order for you to come with me?" Buck interrupted him, arching an eyebrow again and again, until Eddie laughed.

"Alright, Buckpartner. Tomorrow I will be all yours."

Buck had never been more grateful for the sunglasses he wore, because he was quite sure all the love he felt for Eddie was shining through and if Eddie had been able to look into his eyes there was no way Buck could have hidden it from him.

"Way to go!" he exclaimed, pumpfisting. "I will pick you up at 9 tomorrow morning, then."

Eddie watched the bike leaving, as Buck repeated his love lane refrain, and shook his head, still laughing.

***

"So, tomorrow is your birthday, Evan."

Evan froze, as TK put Buck's clothes away. "Yeah," he answered, as vague as possible. TK as usual read through him, though, and turned towards him, question plain on his face. Evan sighed. "Fine, fine! I asked Eddie to spend the day with me." TK beamed, but Evan shook his head. "Don't get all excited. As Buck."

TK didn't look any less happy. "I figured, but still, man! That's great! It means you decided to stop dwelling on the past and move on."

The truth was that his parents threw Evan out on his birthday, after telling him things he hadn't been able to forget.

That day, the day which was supposed to celebrate his arrival in this world, turned into the day which, according to them, doomed his parents' lives forever.

And even if TK kept telling him that it wasn't true, they didn't mean it and sooner or later they would have realized they were wrong and ask for forgiveness, even if Evan himself knew that he wasn't a mistake or a glitch of God's Creation, it had always been too painful for him to celebrate.

Until now.

Now he had to keep the promise he made, he had to talk to Eddie, and a different context was maybe going to help; his birthday had just come at the right moment, and Evan was not going to waste a chance as good as that. Besides, Eddie was his family, now.

"If I can do anything to help you, anything, man, just say the word," TK said, clapping his shoulder.

Evan smiled. "Actually, there is one thing: let's call Chimney."

***

Buck had taken Eddie to a country fair.

They had walked through the stalls, talking and laughing, and Buck's eyes had gotten softer and softer as the day went by.

He had looked closely at Eddie, for the first time allowed to do so, and had seen paradise, passion, all of his wishes put together.

His soul had felt lighter, his spirit eased, and for a moment his life hadn't seem so bad if it had Eddie in it.

Day by day, the young man had crept into his heart, without knocking, and set his residence there; slowly, his soul had stopped weeping and started to learn how to smile once more.

He didn't know much about love and people, but as he had seen Eddie entering a small chapel on the side he had been hit by a sudden realization: he saw God in him.

That's what God did, that's what God meant: people like Eddie, bright and shiny and so pure that everyone surrounding them gets purer just because they're close.

That's the God he always believed in, not the evil, mean one his parents had tried to show him.

And maybe it had been blasphemy, and maybe he was going to be hated by God even more because of it, but he hadn't known what else to do.

He had felt like bowing his head before Eddie, just because he had been blessed by his presence, and after all it was God who joined them together, so it couldn't possibly be that bad, right?

Buck had followed Eddie inside the chapel, and had stared at him as he lighted a candle.

Those were the moments when the distance between them was so real he could almost touch it, and it was so frustrating.

He had known Eddie was probably thinking about his father, and Shannon, and he didn't have any right to be jealous of either of them, but still he had been.

Right then, Eddie had turned and had smiled at him, before sitting on a bench and bowing his head in prayer.

He had looked so unhumanly beautiful that Evan had had to close his eyes for a second.

Since the first moment he had seen Eddie he had loved him, and every day something had fueled that love; sometimes it had been his words, his laugh, the light in his eyes.

Sometimes it had been the way he blushed, or the way he danced.

So many different persons all fused in one, like Eddie was a lifetime of treasures.

He was being foolish, there was no way he was going to ever be part of Eddie's world the way he wanted to, but still Eddie was brightening up his life, and he wasn't sure he was ever going to be able to go on without Eddie in it anymore.

Sure, Eddie tormented him, unconsciously, and made him miserable, but still it was like his spirit was moving his first steps: aside from teaching him how to dance, Eddie was teaching him how to be.

Eddie was all the good luck everyone could ever hope to get, and he was worth of all the devotion Buck was able to give, he couldn't help praying it was going to be enough.

***

Buck parked his bike at the side of the road, it was a beautiful spot from where the whole of LA was visible.

The sun had already set, and the city lights were shining brightly as jewels dropped aphazardly in the valley.

Eddie looked at the spectacular landscape with a dreamy smile on his face.

Buck took his phone out and quickly dialled TK's number. "Hey, pal, we're here. Yes. Are you all ready there? Ok, then. Ready-steady-go!"

Suddenly the whole city fell into darkness, as the lights turned off, one after the other.

"Buck!" Eddie called, turning abruptly towards him, "Come see this! Something weird is going on..."

Buck simply shook his head and motioned for him to turn back, and when Eddie did his mouth dropped open.

The lights were still out, but not all of them.

A few started appearing here and there, in an apparently random way, until everything stopped and Eddie finally saw it.

I LOVE YOU.

Eddie gaped, unable to speak, as he kept staring at it without blinking.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the writing was engulfed by the million lights which were turned back on.

Eddie's heart was thumping crazily, and his stomach hurt as he tried hopelessly to process it all. "What-what was that, Buck?" He asked, his voice sounding a little shaken.

Buck opened his arms and shrugged. "Just love, Edworld," he answered, softly, "true love, I swear to God." Eddie's eyes widened as Buck kept talking.

"You look at me and see a rough, tough guy; you would be right. If I had tried to express my feelings for you through words, something stupid would surely have come out." Eddie couldn't be sure, because of the dim light, but it looked like Buck was blushing slightly. "So I thought that I was better off letting LA express it for me." He stepped a little closer to Eddie. "Did you not like it?" He asked, sounding uncertain.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Like it?! Everyone dreams that someday they’ll be loved this madly. Actually, I don't think anyone can even start to dream about this kind of madness." Eddie sighed and looked back at the city lights.

"I really liked it, Buck, but-at the same time I'm feeling sad." He crossed his arms on his chest, as if trying to shield himself. "I have made a huge mistake," he murmured, and probably Buck wouldn't have heard him if the night hadn't been still and silent as it was. "I should have told you that I-I'm married."

Now was the time for Buck to roll his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know everything about it. His name is Evan Buckley, he works for LA Power and you share the house."

Eddie narrowed his eyes. "Have you been spying on me?" He growled, and Buck lifted his hands.

"No way! I just-looks like one of my guys at the garage knows a friend of his. Anyway, Eddie, I didn't do all of this with any expectations. Absolutely not."

Tighting his grip around his own chest, Eddie arched an eyebrow. "Why did you, then?"

Buck offered him a small smile, so vulnerable and honest that it caught Eddie completely off guard. "I just wanted you to know how special you are to me. Don't worry," he added immediately after, seeing as Eddie opened his mouth to speak, "nothing has changed between us. We were friends and we will remain friends, so-"

Eddie slowly shook his head as he faced him. "No, Buck. Everything has changed," he said. "When someone starts to dream with open eyes, the whole world around changes. Nothing can possibly remain the same after that."

Buck stepped back, in shock. He didn't expect this to happen. "Please, leave, Buck. I'll catch a cab, or-whatever. I need to be alone for a while. Please?" Eddie begged, turning his back on him once more.

His shoulders were shaking and Buck didn't need to be a mind reader to know he was crying.

One tear after another fell down his cheeks, following the trail all the previous ones left as Eddie simply stood there, barely holding himself together, until he heard Buck's bike drive away.

Only then he allowed himself to crumble down.

***

As Evan put his hair back in place, TK paced restlessly around. "Evan, I think it's enough now," he stated eventually.

"It's time for you to put an end to this double role and tell Eddie the truth."

Evan fixed his tie. "Not now, man."

"But why not?!"

TK sounded frustrated and Evan sighed. "Because I want, no, I need to know whether he loves Evan or Buck."

TK blinked. "What?! Come on, buddy, they are both the same person! Whoever Eddie fell in love with, he'll only be loving you."

Evan shook his head, putting his glasses back on, then slowly turned towards his best friend. His eyes were sad but resolute. "He doesn't know they are the same, though, does he? There are a lot of differences between them: Evan is his husband, while Buck is nobody."

TK opened and closed his mouth, but couldn't for the life of him come up with any answer.

Evan was right.

In a weird, insane, retorted way, but he was right.

"If we pretend for a moment that your twisted logic works," he said after a while, "the biggest difference is that Buck expressed his love for Eddie loud and clear, but what has Evan done? He keeps his love shut in a tiffin box."

Evan looked at him, slightly taken aback by his words, and TK went on.

"Evan, nobody here is God. All of us are simply human, and humans need love, especially a guy like Eddie, who's so young and has already lost so much: he will get pulled towards wherever he'll find love, and you can't blame him."

Evan lowered his head, as TK got closer and grabbed his arm.

"You are being unfair to your husband, man. On one hand, as Buck, you show him heaven; on the other, as Evan, you don't show him anything but your grandfather's cottage. If you'd show Eddie how much you love him, as Evan, he'd never look at another Buck. Ever."

Evan's expression was torn and regretful. "Listen, TK. To make Eddie laugh and keep him happy, I'm ready to do comedy, dance and even humiliate myself, if that's what it takes. I can change myself completely and become Buck. But to win his love..." He smiled sadly. "To win his love, I won't change. Eddie will have to love this Evan, the one who's boring and shy and works in a cubicle, for just what he is. He will have to understand my way of loving, accept it and reciprocate it." Evan stepped back and shrugged. "Otherwise, we are traveling the love lane and down the road we will meet again. Maybe."

And with those words, he left, his eyes suspiciously shiny and his steps a little lopsided.

TK tried to stop him, to talk it over a little more, but with no result.

As soon as he was alone, he hid his face in his hands. "God, why are you adding spice to a love story that could have been sugary sweet?" He asked, not actually expecting an answer.

***

The sound of their knives and forks against the plates was the only noise in the house.

Neither Evan or Eddie had the courage to look at each other. Eventually, Evan cleared his throat, searching for some topic of conversation, and Eddie's head snapped up, a guilty look on his face.

"So, how's the dance practice going?" Evan asked, out of the blue.

Eddie's eyes shifted from side to side, before he muttered, "good".

Evan's next question took them both by surprise. "And how is your partner-what was his name?"

Evan wanted to kick himself, and Eddie suddenly looked as he had just swallowed a lemon. "Buck” he said, hoarsely, but didn't give an answer to Evan's question.

Evan's gaze dropped on his plate as he kept on eating. "So, is this Buck straight?"

Eddie paled instantly. "N-no, he isn't."

Evan looked at him, and for an instance they stared at each other, both desperately trying to find the truth in each other's eyes, until Evan shifted his gaze once more.

After the silence had fallen on them again, Evan talked. "Listen, why don't we go out and get a beer? Just-just to see some life, I mean, it's Saturday night after all."

Eddie offered him a small, tired smile. "Sure."

Chapter Text

The bar was just verging on the side of sleazy, but Eddie didn't mind.

After a couple of beers and a few more shots, he started to actually like the place.

He knew he was not supposed to drink too much, since he couldn't risk his tongue to become loose but fuck it, he was going to do his damn best to have fun.
He deserved it.

Evan simply sat at the table, close but not enough to touch him, drinking his beer in little sips.

He looked completely out of place with his pristine white shirt and his perfectly ironed pants, surrounded by bikers and leather lovers.

Suddenly Eddie's mind played tricks on him and Evan started to shift until it was Buck sitting next to him. Buck would have had the loudest laughter, he would have played pool and probably hustled some money, even though he most definitely didn't need it.

He would have done so just in order for Eddie to notice him and Eddie would have just chuckled and shook his head at him, thinking he was just an overgrown kid.

A hand brushed his and he snapped out of his daydream turning to look at his husband's concerned face.

"Eddie, are you ok? Did you have too much to drink? Maybe we should go..."

Eddie swallowed noisily and felt his eyes hitch, so he stood abruptly up. "No, I'm fine, I just-need some air. I'll be right back."

With just a few long steps he was out and as soon as he was surrounded by the darkness of the night, he pushed his forehead against the cold wall of the bar, trying to calm down his racing heart.

"Hey, handsome."

The voice was dripping lust and froze him on the spot.

He slowly turned around and was faced with a bulky man, taller than him and with at least twice his muscles.

The twinkle in his eyes was not good.

"I saw you inside with that uptight loser, and you didn't seem to have fun, so I thought Hey, Biggs, you could show handsome a good time, couldn't you? Well, here I am. What do you have to say?"

Eddie stepped back, but collided with the wall. He knew he had too much alcohol in his system to be able to face the man, his reflexes would be sloppy; he couldn't even run, his knees were not going to hold him for long.

His eyes shifted, trying to meet someone else's who could help, but they were alone in the back alley.

The man, who self appointed himself as Biggs , moved closer with a predatory and hungry look on his face.

"Leave me alone," Eddie said, trying to make his voice not show how scared he was.

"Come on, baby, don't play hard to get now," Biggs whispered against his cheek, and Eddie had to will his sickness away.

Biggs's breath reeked, but Eddie was quite sure that puking on him wouldn't have won him any favours.

Then, from nowhere a voice came up.

"I think he asked you to leave him alone."

Biggs's head snapped on the side, and Eddie's eyes widened when he saw Evan standing there, fists clenched and a resolute expression on his face.
"Oh, a hero?" Biggs cooed. "Are you trying to impress your girlfriend?"

He stepped back from Eddie, narrowing his eyes. "Come on then, loser, smash me down. here's your chance."

Evan stood there for a long moment, and Biggs's smile turned into a smirk.
"So you're all talk, uh? No lion heart?"

Eddie tried to motion for Evan to leave: the guy was a monster, and he had the power to blow them both to little bits.

Somehow it was his fault for catching Biggs's attention, and he was going to get himself out of his own mess.

His mind ran to Buck, and he felt even more guilty because of it.

There was Evan, risking his life to protect him, and the only thing Eddie could do was thinking about another man.

He probably deserved whatever Biggs was about to do to him.

I love you, Eddie. I love you.

"Ow, you little fucker!"

Biggs's growl forced him to focus on the present once more, and what he saw shocked him: Evan was shaking, and on Biggs's face a bruise was starting to appear.

"Do you have a death wish?!" Eddie shouted, "Stop it!"

But Evan didn't seem to listen to him.

He charged Biggs again, and the man's fist collided with his stomach. Evan dropped on the floor, his breathing ragged but he hit one of Biggss legs, throwing him on the floor as well.

Eddie was sweating profusely as he looked at that unfair fight; he knew he should have tried to help, but still he couldn't move.

If it was because of fear or guilt, he didn't know.

It wasn't because of the alcohol anymore, though, that much was for sure: as soon as Evan came into the picture, Eddie got instantly stonecold sober.
Biggs kicked Evan, and Evan rolled on himself.

They both stood back up, slowly and Evan held his chest with a hand.
Another couple of punches had his legs trembling, but still he didn't give up: as soon as Biggs got closer enough, he hit his nose with his head, as hard as he could.

Biggs stumbled back, holding his nose in his hands and cursing loudly as blood started flowing.

That only seemed to make him madder and he elbowed Evan in the ribs, causing him to moan in pain and forcing him to fall on his knees.

Evan's eyes behind his glasses were getting a little unfocused and Eddie started to anxiously look around, hoping to find something that could allow him to help Evan; finally he saw a forgotten beer bottle, half full, abandoned against the wall.

He took it and slowly approached Biggs from behind, while the man kicked Evan's stomach repeatedly as he laid on the floor.

One hit to the head was all it took for the gigantic man to fall, unconscious.
Eddie was next to Evan in the blink of an eye, grabbing his arm.

"Come on, we have to get out of here, fast .”

Evan's head was in a haze and he probably had a concussion, but he still got up on wobbly legs and followed Eddie to his car, which Eddie drove home as fast as he could, without minding the traffic laws he was breaking in the process.

***

"Did you lose your fucking mind?! What were you thinking?!" Eddie screamed, and Evan tried to cover his ears: his head hurt. Eddie didn't seem to pity him at all, as he flung Evan's head back to take care of the bruises and cuts on his face. "Why did you have to do this, huh, Evan? Answer me ."

When Evan simply looked away, Eddie got mad and grabbed his chin, forcing him to turn. "Don't you realize you're just an average working class man, who puts on his glasses, sits in a 4 by 4 cubicle and works in front of a computer every day?! You are not a hero and you have no experience in fighting whatsoever, that motherfucker could have killed you, Evan! He was four times your size." Eddie dropped the wads of gauze and the antiseptic cream and sat down in front of Evan. "What were you trying to prove?!"

Evan kept silent, and Eddie started feeling frustrated and guilty, because this man just saved his life and still he was shouting at him.

He didn't know what else to do, though.

Stinging tears pooled in his eyes, as he grabbed Evan's shoulders and shook him. "Tell me what the need was that made you do all this!" He demanded, and finally Evan sighed and looked at him.

There was so much resolution and strength in his eyes that Eddie stepped back.
"You have been very quiet lately," Evan said. "Only when we went to the theatre to see action movies you showed some interest. I knew that with the kind of life I lead, you'd never be able to experience anything you see on the screen, and that's why I wanted to take you out tonight." Evan fidgeted and looked down at his hands. "Then I saw you in danger and I couldn't stand back to watch, Eddie. I might only be an average working class man , but I care about you. I would never be able to live with myself knowing I didn't protect you when you needed me. Besides," he offered Eddie a small smile, "your father asked me to look after you, and that's exactly what I intend to do. I just want you to be happy, you know?"

As soon as he heard those words, Eddie stood up, so abruptly the chair dropped on the floor with a loud clatter. "Stop worrying about my happiness, dammit!" He exclaimed, tearing at his hair. "I am happy, but you can't expect me to keep jumping up and down all the time! If I am quiet, it doesn't mean I'm not happy, and if I want something, like going out, for example, I will ask you for it!" Eddie's face crumbled as tears started to flow. "You have already done enough for me, Evan. Please, don't do so much that I am never going to be able to pay you back in my lifetime. I'm begging you."

Eddie angrily dried his tears with the back of his hand and ran to his room, where he locked himself in.

Evan was left staring at the emptiness of his living room, a cold dreading feeling taking hold of his heart and Eddie's sobs echoing in the night. "I was not doing you a favour, Eddie," he whispered to himself. "I was just trying to love you. And love can never be paid back."

***

Eddie didn't sleep at all, that night.

He hadn't cried so much since when his perfect life had been shattered, and only when he started to calm down did he realize he could have lost Evan, too.

If there hadn't been a bottle in the alley, if he had been a little more drunk and Biggs a little less sloppy-he would have been left alone.

Again .

The thought only fueled his misery further.

***

As Eddie prepared Evan's lunch in the kitchen, he heard quick steps and then the entrance door slamming.

He ran after Evan, but once he got to the parking lot Evan was already gone.
Eddie sighed and walked back, stopping in front of the door: a note was taped on it.

I'M SORRY, EDDIE.

***

Evan was trying to concentrate on his work, really, but there seemed to be nothing else he could focus on aside from Eddie.

He didn't hear Chimney calling him until his friend slapped the back of his head.
"What the-" he started to protest, but then he followed Chimney's gaze and saw Eddie standing at the entrance of his cubicle, a little flushed, with his yellow thermos in his hands.

"You forgot your lunch" Eddie said, giving him the thermos.

"Thanks" Evan muttered, taking it.

The atmosphere was tense and awkward, and both of them looked like they wanted to be everywhere but there having this conversation.

Eventually, Eddie cleared his throat and turned the thermos, so that Evan could read the note taped to it.

I'M SORRY TOO.

Evan stared at him, his mouth open, and Eddie just couldn't take it anymore.
He nodded at him and quickly walked away.

"Eddie, wait!" Eddie turned towards Evan. "I-er-there's a new movie playing at the theatre, would you maybe like to see it?" He asked.

Eddie smiled briefly. "I'll be ready when you get home."

As soon as Eddie was gone, Evan started swaying across his cubicle, whistling some love song.

Chimney and Hen looked at each other, grinned and shook their heads.

***

Eddie stomped inside the house, trembling with nervousness, bother, guilt and anger, and went straight to the kitchen.

He took all the dishes, glasses and cutlery out, and instead of using the dishwasher, he dropped everything in the sink, starting to obsessively clean each and every piece like it was carrying the dirt of a thousand years.

The strength he put into the task resulted in at least 2 plates and 4 glasses ending up broken.

Once he was done with the kitchen, he started with the floor.

***

Even if he did everything he could think of (including washing the curtains and cleaning the carpets) Eddie was still ready way before the time Evan was supposed to come pick him up.

As he sat on the floor against his bed, absent-mindedly petting Hoover, the sound of thunder broke the quiet and rain started pouring.

Eddie slowly stood up and went towards the balcony.

In the noise of the drops hitting the walls and the grates, he could almost hear Buck's voice.

Hey, Edworld. I told you you'd miss me, didn't I? Looks like Buck's magic really has worked on you.

Closing his eyes, Eddie stepped out, letting the rain wash over him, not caring about the clothes he was wearing or the fact that Evan was going to be home soon.

Remember what I told you when we first met: let every raindrop reach your heart, Eddie.

For the first time, Eddie just wanted to listen.

***

When Evan got home, Eddie was nowhere to be found.

He was going crazy; he looked everywhere, but still no trace of Eddie, not even a clue to his whereabouts.

He was standing in the parking lot, under the pouring rain, and his cellphone rang just as he was resolving to call the police and report Eddie missing.

It was Carlos.

"Evan, listen, your husband is here. He's asking for Buck."

Evan felt his heart break at those words, but simply swallowed and nodded.
"I'm coming."

***

Buck found Eddie sitting on a tire, soaking wet, with an intensely pained expression twisting his features.

He immediately forgot about himself being soaking wet too.

For a split second he wanted to run up to him and just hold him, consequences be damned, but he knew better.

So he simply put on his sunglasses and his cocky attitude as he exclaimed, "Nice night, Edworld!" He winked at Eddie. "I thought you had forgotten about me already; the lights and the I love you must have scared you quite a bit."
Eddie just stared at him. "Forget about it," Buck added, shrugging, "it’s not worth losing sleep over, really." Eddie kept staring, he didn't say a word and after a couple of minutes Buck started to feel uncomfortable. "Is there a problem, Edworld?" He asked then.

Eddie blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "How can you be so happy?" He hissed, "how can you love me without expecting love in return?" Eddie looked at his lap. "Aren't you suffering? Don't you feel pain , being so in love?"

Buck took his sunglasses off and arched an eyebrow. "Pain? How can there be pain in God's gift to men, Eddie?" He asked. Eddie didn't answer. "And about expecting love in return," he went on, "if everyone loved only if the love was reciprocated, it would mean that love itself is quite a hypocritical feeling."
Buck sighed and then sat next to Eddie. "Look, it's as easy as this: I see God in you, so I fell in love with you. You saw God in someone else, and you fell in love with him instead."

Eddie snorted bitterly as he stood up, turning his back on Buck. "My life is not that simple, Buck. I don't see God in anyone. In fact, I'm doubting if I'm ever going to be able to see God again." Buck opened his mouth to speak but Eddie kept talking. "I had shut all my doors to love. I had decided that I didn't want to suffer anymore, I didn't want to hurt anymore. I was sure I was done with it." He turned towards Buck. "And then you came along, with all the laughter, the silliness, the brightness. You came along and declared you loved me. From you I learned what true love is: is a joy, and there's no pain in it." Eddie looked at Buck with wide, lost eyes. "You awakened love in me once again, that capacity of loving I thought I had killed within me long ago. Why?" He hid his face in his hands. "Why did you have to come into my life, Buck? I am married ."
Buck could see Eddie was doing his best to stop from breaking down in front of him, and his chest ached. He looked away. "Now answer a very simple question," Eddie said, walking closer to him, despair plain on his face. "What do I do now?"

Buck clenched his fists. "Run away with me."

Eddie's head snapped up. "If you're not happy with him," Buck added, "if you don't love him, then come along with me." He grabbed Eddie's hands. "God doesn't give equal happiness to all of us, and that's not fair, which is why some of us have to snatch our share of happiness from him. You're entitled to do so too."

Eddie looked like he was about to crumble, and Buck couldn't allow it to happen.
He lifted a trembling hand to Eddie's face, and slowly caressed his cheek, as his other hand went around Eddie's waist to pull him against Buck's body.
Eddie closed his eyes and threw himself at Buck, letting Buck hold him tightly.
"I've seen too much unhappiness in my life, I can't handle the pain anymore," he whispered, his mouth lightly brushing Buck's collarbone as his body shook into sobs. "I want to be happy, I want to laugh, I want to live, I want to love again." Buck held him with all his strength, hiding his face in Eddie's hair, waiting for the final blow. "Take me away, Buck. Please."

Buck swallowed. "I promise that tomorrow, after the competition, everything will change."

Chapter Text

Evan sat in one of the salon's chairs, waiting for TK to say something.
However, his friend seemed to be stunned into silence. "You were right, TK. In the end, I lost."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" TK spat.

Evan shrugged. "I had set out to make Eddie happy and to get my love story, but the bottom line is that it has become the end of me."

TK slapped him. "You idiot, I just don't understand why you're not walking up to him to tell him the truth!"

Evan smiled softly. "Try to follow me, man. He's married to me, but he threw himself into Buck's arms without a doubt. He's ready to run away with him and never turn back and that's not Eddie. If he got to this point-" He had to breathe deeply in order to avoid for his voice to crack. "If he got to this point, how unhappy must he be? Just-think about it for a second." TK looked taken aback. "Let's face it: Eddie doesn't love me, and he's not happy with me. So, isn't it my duty to set him free? To give him a shot at pursuing the life he'd have had if God and fate didn't toy with him this cruelly?" Evan rubbed the back of his neck. "He deserves a chance of finding his Buck somewhere."

"Fuck you, Evan!" TK exclaimed, shaking him. "No other Buck will have your heart and Eddie has fallen in love with that heart, don't you get it?"

Evan shook his head sadly. "No, TK. If he had really fallen in love with my heart, he would have find it even behind a different face. He would have recognized my love despite all my efforts to hide it."

TK clenched his fists, but realized there was nothing he could say or do to make Evan change his mind. "It's so unfair," he hissed, punching the wall.

Evan stood up. "I have decided. Tomorrow, after the competition, I will be gone."

TK turned abruptly. "What?! Have you gone mad?!"

Evan nodded. "Maybe. Anyway, I've already put both the house and my bank account in Eddie's name, and I've filled in the divorce papers."

TK opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, then he narrowed his eyes.
"You know what? Fine. I'm going to tell him everything."

Before he could move a single step, though, Evan grabbed his arm. "You can't do that. Do you remember what you told me? You told me that it was God who was writing this love story. Now it's time to leave the end of it to him."

TK lowered his head, defeated. "What are you going to do, then?" He asked.

Evan's smile grew a little brighter. "I'm going to apply for an intership at the Montreal firefighting academy. I've always wanted to be a firefighter, you know, but something stopped me every single time. Now..."
He opened his arms wide. "Now I've got nothing to lose. It's the perfect moment."

TK just grabbed him and crushed him in a bear hug, hoping with all his heart that his best friend was doing the right thing.

***

Eddie wasn't sure why he was standing in front of the chapel he visited with Buck on his birthday.

After all, he was about to break his wedding vows, so there was no way God was going to grant his blessing to either his escape or his performance at the competition.

Still, he felt like he had to try, at least beg for his forgiveness and hope that it was going to be enough.

He entered, walking slowly along the nave like he did on the day of his wedding with Evan.

He could still remember how heavy each of his steps felt; the closer he got to the minister, the clearer he could see that the person waiting for him was not Shannon.
And yeah, both him and Shannon went into the wedding with their heads clear: they loved each other, but they weren't in love.

Still, they knew each other better than anyone else, and they were sure that the other was always going to be there.

They had each other's backs, and they thought that was ground enough to plan a life together.

Now, though, after all that had happened, Eddie was not so sure about that anymore.

He kneeled down in front of the altar, he closed his eyes and then silently lifted his hands.

He says that he sees God in me, but I'm nothing like you, so I don't really understand how that’s possible he prayed. Please, I want to be able to see you too. Show me. Give me a sign.

After a few minutes of concentration during which he tried to sort out his mind, Eddie turned and stood back up before he slowly opened his eyes.

The light made him dizzy, and everything looked blurry, for a moment, before he realized the door to the chapel was open.

As his eyes got used to the light, some blurry figure started getting closer and closer until Eddie recognized him.

It was Evan, with a surprised and concerned expression on his face.

That's when Eddie finally understood it, as Evan walked towards him. Evan asked no questions, and gave him everything he had and was, right from the start. He never said a word or judged him, while Eddie struggled with trying to find some kind of balance between his old life and the new one he had been thrown into: Evan just kept giving it all with a smile.

He had always been kind and warm, he had sheltered and protected Eddie; his strength and generosity never faded.

He was Eddie's, and Eddie had never fully realized it before.

And even if he might have been confused about a lot of things, including himself, his only certainty, constant as the sun above, had always been Evan.

So this is what seeing God means, he thought. People like Evan, so pure and bright that everything pales in comparison, are God's masterpiece. And being able to share a part of our life with them is a blessing in itself.

Eddie felt like bowing his head in front of Evan, conscious now that he didn't deserve him, but Evan just smiled at him, relieved.

***

As Evan approached the chapel's doors, his mind was already focused on praying.

Please, God, let my Eddie be happy wherever and with whomever he may be. I don't want anything else from you.

The last thing he expected was to see Eddie standing in the middle of the chapel; the surprise subsided as he remembered he took him there on his birthday.

A pang of regret ran through him as he remembered the day which had screwed his life over.

Again.

"What are you doing here?" Eddie asked, snapping him out of his reverie.

Evan blushed slightly.

"This is my favourite place to think," he answered.

"I've been worried about you," Evan added, after a moment.

"Weren't we supposed to go to the movies yesterday?"

Eddie looked remorseful.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I-I got caught up at the gym, you know, last minute details? When I got home, you were already asleep."

Evan nodded.

"No problem, we can go another day," he said, knowing perfectly well that they would never have the chance.

***

The music was pumping as one couple after the other danced on the stage. Once Marjan and Paul got on, the clapping was almost deafening.

Damn, the fuckers were good .

Eddie poked Buck in the side.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked.

Buck blinked.

"Edworld, we're next!" he pointed out, but Eddie didn't waver.

"Please?"

Buck sighed and followed him outside, crossing his arms on his chest and still looking towards the building.

Eddie fidgeted for a moment, then breathed deeply and looked at Buck, resolute. “I can't come with you, Buck," he said.

Buck's head snapped up and he stared at Eddie, his mouth hanging open.

"For some time your love has made me weak and selfish," he explained. "I had forgotten how he held my hand when I was all alone, how he kept getting closer every time I pushed him away; now I'm the one who can't leave his hand."

Buck's eyes got wider with every word Eddie pronounced and he didn't seem able to say anything, so Eddie continued.

"He is a little boring, and he doesn't speak much," he said, chuckling a little.
"He looks very simple in his ways, in his work; maybe to you, to everyone else, he's just a common ordinary man, but-"

Eddie's eyes were soft and warm, and Buck felt like he couldn't breathe as the most tender smile he had ever seen appeared on Eddie's face. "Buck, I see God in him. I finally understood what you meant."

Buck's eyes filled with tears, just as Eddie's.

"It would have been possible for me to leave a man, but how am I supposed to leave God? Wherever I may run to, God will be present, and wherever there is God, he will be there."

Eddie was trembling when he stepped back.

"Being with you would be easier," he admitted "I know how you love, I know what you want and why you do. Evan-I never gave him a chance to tell me. I don't even know if he does love me or if he could learn to, and maybe he won't and I'll be confined into an unrequited love forever...but I have to fight for him, just as he fought for me all along."

Eddie shook his head, as Buck kept staring at him, stunned.

"I'm sorry, Buck," he whispered, "I’m in love with my husband. Please, forgive me."

And with these words, he left him alone, walking back into the building. Buck made a sound that was something in between a laugh and a whimper and hid his face in his hands, letting the tears run freely.

***

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, was couple number nine!" Athena exclaimed, walking on the stage.
"Now, you all must be wanting to know who the couple number ten is: coming in front of you to show off their scintillating performance is the last couple of the competition. Let's hear it for Eddie Diaz and Buck Reyes!"

The audience clapped, but only Eddie came on the stage; he got closer to Athena and whispered something in her ear.

Athena blinked.

"Are you sure?"

Eddie nodded.

Suddenly, the audience laughed loudly.

Eddie turned and found himself looking at his husband, in his usual office suit. Nothing was missing, the pristine shirt, the dress pants, the polished shoes.
Eddie stared at him in shock, unable to process what the hell was Evan doing on the stage with him.

The audience kept laughing, probably finding the presence of an office worker at a dance competition ridiculous.

Evan stepped closer, until he was in front of Eddie, who's furrowed brow showed how confused he was.

Evan just smiled reassuringly at him and then, out of the blue, he assumed Buck's starting position.

Eddie was hit by a sudden thought, but he dismissed it.

Come on, Eddie, that's impossible . Don't fool yourself. Still, the position was perfect, and Evan was arching an eyebrow at him, his arm extended towards Eddie.

As soon as Eddie's palms touched Evan's, the music started and the young man was pulled into the familiar routine, while one after the other, images of Buck and Evan started flashing behind his eyelids.

***

"What if we swung our hips? Like a tidal wave or something?" Buck suggested, blushing a little.

I'll be late every night. I am doing overtime at the office.

Left leg in, right leg out.

"It's raining, you'll get wet: come on, I'll drop you home."

***

"Sorry I'm late" Evan muttered, blowing his nose "I had some trouble with the car. I also had to change a tire under the rain, which is-" another sneeze got in the way, but Eddie nodded, understanding that the tire was the reason why Evan's clothes were wet.

A figure-eight in the air.

Buck beamed at him, stuffed his face with his last one and then stood on the table.

"I'm the fucking king!" he shouted.

***

"You don't like it? I could cook you something else..." "It's fantastic, Eddie, really! Sorry, I was just distracted."

Arms flicking to the tune, like the hands of a clock.

"How's your partner, what's his name?"

***

"His name is Evan Buckley and he works for LA power."

A hand thrown up, shaking it like ringing a bell.

Thanks for taking a chance on dancing with me."

"It's true love, Eddie, I swear to God."

The other hand shook below, like a kite tugged to make it soar.

Evan moving into the guest room. Evan selling his beloved bike so that Eddie didn't have to force his knees to get on it. Evan fighting with Biggs in order to protect Eddie.

Buck knowing about Eddie's pain. Buck understanding him. Buck flirting like someone who has never done it before.

Mirrored gestures.

"Look, it's as easy as this: I see God in you so I fell in love with you. You saw God in someone else and you fell in love with him."

Hips swaying and swinging as the music ends.

***

Eddie was so lost into Evan's eyes (which were Buck's eyes, he could see that now) that none of them realized their performance was over until the whole room exploded in a roaring applause.

The curtain fell on them, and only once they were hidden behind it Evan let Eddie go, breaking the final position.

He coughed nervously, his eyes shifting and focusing on anything but Eddie, who was still staring at him.

"Lies," was the first word Eddie said, and Evan felt his stomach clench.
"No, Eddie, listen, I-"

"All lies ," Eddie added, his eyes narrowed.

"Please, Eddie-"

"You lied to me, when you said that you didn't know what love is."

Eddie's words interrupted Evan's apology, and Evan looked at hm, surprised. On Eddie's face was appearing, slowly, the same tender smile that took Evan's breath away a little before.

"All lies," he repeated.

"How could you so easily turn all my sadness into joy, all my tears into laughter, all my misery into bliss and not knowing what you were doing?" Evan was stunned into silence once more by the intensity of Eddie's gaze. "I didn't give you a single drop of love, and still you kept showering me with yours."

A single tear ran down Eddie's cheek, but none of them dried it away; it was the first tear that wasn't going to hurt either of them.

"How can you love me so much?" Eddie asked in a whisper.

"I told you, I see God in you," Evan answered, his voice hoarse and filled with emotion.
"When I pray my heart feels solace," he explained, "and when I see you happy, I feel the same solace. Maybe even more."

Eddie closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Evan, as Evan held him, repeating his name over and over again in between soft kisses.

When they finally stepped back, breathing heavily, Evan saw Eddie's wet face.
"What's this? Please, don't cry. I don't want to see you cry ever again."

Eddie smiled softly.

"Pot to the kettle," he retorted, and only then Evan realized he was crying as well.

As they held each other once again and Evan carded his fingers through Eddie's hair, a sudden thought came to him.

"Do you think that God will be angry with me for loving you more than Him?" he whispered, and Eddie chuckled.

"No, he won't. I will be the angry one, however, if we don't get home right now. We didn't have our wedding night yet, you know."

Evan blushed furiously.

"But-what about the competition? They're probably about to announce the winner..." he objected.

Eddie shrugged.

"My prize is waiting for me at home," he said, and Evan couldn't really argue with his logic.

As they walked towards the car, holding hands, Evan asked Eddie if he felt like driving.

He had an important text to send.

***

TK was entering the building where the competition was held, deciding not to let his best friend do the stupidest thing ever, when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and stopped cold in the middle of the hall when he had read it.

I told him. He loves ME. We're going home. I know you're at the competition right now, so congratulate the winners and don't you dare calling or dropping by before tomorrow afternoon at least.

TK whooped out loud, and just as he opened the door Athena's voice came through the speakers.

"And so, ladies and gentlemen, LA's dancing couple number one is the one formed by Eddie Diaz and Buck Reyes!"

Everyone started cheering and TK shook his head.

"That dickhead," he muttered, "he gets both the guy AND the trophy."

He started writing an answer, then he thought about it again and just told Evan he was going to drop by the following afternoon and they would have better open the door when he did.

He was going to tell them then.

"That's not all!" Athena added, as the room turned silent to listen. "As I announced a while back, the winning couple is going to get a special prize: they will become the main dancing teachers of this school, and they’ll also get a check of 50,000 dollars! So, where are my winners? Eddie Diaz and Buck Reyes, come on up!"

TK approached the stage and motioned for Athena to get closer.

As she did, he thought about Eddie being able to do what he loved the most forever and Evan with the money he needed to get into firefighting school, and felt the happiest man on the planet.

Ok, maybe the third happiest.

"They had a family emergency, so they had to split," he told Athena as soon as she got next to him, "they'll be back tomorrow to collect the winning and the trophy."

Athena looked puzzled, but nodded nonetheless.

She was about to stand up and go on the stage again when TK grabbed her arm.
"By the way" he added, grinning "their names are Eddie and Evan Buckley-Diaz."