Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Live: “Accidentally Speedrunning Elden Ring Death Percent”

“Okay, okay,” Buck said, squinting at the screen. “Was that my tenth death or twelfth?”

Chat exploded.

ToiletBrush: 14TH
SaltyChickn: bro you DIED to the same crab three times
Sn1p3rQueen: this is why you have the best chaos streams
LoreLad: death counter is now just ✨vibes✨
omgItsLiv: PUT A SHIRT ON FOR GOD'S SAKE

Buck leaned back in his chair, letting out a loud sigh and ruffling his messy curls with both hands. His tank top had long since been abandoned—because of “heat,” though Chat strongly suspected vibes had more to do with it.

“You know what,” he grinned. “Pause. I’m cold now. I’m gonna go get my hoodie. Hold up.”

He stood, revealing way too much skin for a mid-tier boss fight, and padded out of frame.

“Gonna grab it from my boyfriend’s room,” he added casually over his shoulder.

And then he was gone.

A full beat of silence.
Then:

MilkMaid: wait what
BeemoFan: boyfriend???
NeonGamer69: he’s trolling again 🙄
TrashWizard: he says that every time he goes to do laundry
Sn1p3rQueen: no wait this felt real??
KaleChips4U: guys c’mon he’s being BUCK. he's like this

Meanwhile...
Twitch.tv/ReconX
Live: “Ranked Calmly & Carrying Randoms”

Eddie sat back in his chair, completely still, only his voice moving.

“Okay. Rotate mid. Watch flank,” he said into the mic, low and measured.

He never used a cam. His layout was clean: gameplay in focus, muted purple theme, chat tucked politely to the side. His voice was the star—velvety, deep, calm under pressure. The kind of voice that made people stop mid-scroll and listen.

SpicyDuck: this man could read a Denny’s menu and I’d donate
NeonGamer69: ReconX is my comfort noise tbh
Sn1p3rQueen: never seen his face. don’t need to. voice is enough
MilkMaid: okay but imagine he’s, like, really average
TrashWizard: or hot as hell and just hiding it to hurt us

Eddie didn’t react. He never read chat mid-match. He was a professional.

He one-tapped a Sage trying to rotate through tunnels.

“Last one’s long A,” he said. “I hear them.”

Click. Boom. Victory.

Then: the door to his room opened.

Off-camera, Buck’s voice floated in, unmistakable.

“Hey baby, have you seen my gray hoodie?”

Eddie didn’t miss a beat. “Hi babe. Chair by the bed.”

There was a pause—just long enough.

Then:

“Oh, found it. Thanks!”

The door closed.

And chat imploded.

SaltyChickn: HI—HELLO???
ToiletBrush: BABE????????
MilkMaid: WHO WAS THAT
NeonGamer69: chat did he say baby?? like BABY??
Sn1p3rQueen: okay wait. WAIT. who sounds like that…
TrashWizard: chat. CHAT. did that voice sound familiar to anyone
LoreLad: was that… was that BuckWild??

Eddie, still calm, still a statue, cleared his throat and said:
“We’re queuing again. I’ll re-invite.”

BeemoFan: you’re just gonna IGNORE THAT???
KaleChips4U: he said hi baby. we HEARD it recon. we’re not hallucinating.
Sn1p3rQueen: are we sure it wasn’t like, a roommate??
MilkMaid: yeah maybe he calls his cat ‘baby’
TrashWizard: that was a full-grown shirtless man voice

Back in Buck’s stream

Buck returned, now in a hoodie that was very obviously not his size—gray, soft, sleeves pushed up just slightly.

He flopped into his chair like nothing happened.

“Alright, what’d I miss? Did the crab respawn out of spite?”

NeonGamer69: WE NEED TO TALK
ToiletBrush: WHERE DID YOU GET THE HOODIE
KaleChips4U: who’s your boyfriend???
Sn1p3rQueen: did you say HI BABY in someone’s stream just now
BeemoFan: someone clip that reconX moment pls we need voice comparison

Buck blinked. “Huh?”

Chat scrolled at lightning speed. He sipped water.

Then grinned. “I didn’t say where I went, did I?”

He knew exactly what he was doing.

Eddie’s POV

Queue popped.

“Split,” Eddie said smoothly. “Let’s go.”

TrashWizard: bro you are TOO calm for what just happened
MilkMaid: if that was BuckWild i will physically combust
LoreLad: still not confirmed tho. recon hasn’t said anything
Sn1p3rQueen: okay but voice match is suspicious
BeemoFan: listen i ran them through an audio tool and it’s 97% similar
ToiletBrush: you WHAT

Eddie muted his mic between rounds and leaned back.

From the other room, he heard Buck yell, “WHY IS THE CRAB STILL ALIVE—DIE!!”

Eddie smiled softly.

Back on mic, he said, “One enemy mid. Let’s focus.”

Chat: still spiraling.

That night

Buck tweeted a picture.

A blurry mirror selfie. Hoodie on. Arms wrapped around someone shorter, smaller, whose face was hidden in Buck’s shoulder. Only a sliver of jaw and a familiar gray hoodie was visible.

Caption:

"Found my hoodie ❤️"

@TrashWizard: IS THAT RECONX
@MilkMaid: stop this i’m too fragile
@Sn1p3rQueen: you can literally hear the hi baby in this photo
@ToiletBrush: ARM. SIZE. CONFIRMED.
@NeonGamer69: wait. wait. recon wears that hoodie on stream.
@KaleChips4U: chat i think… i think we’re the last to know

---

Later... in their Discord

ReconX fans and BuckWild fans had formed a temporary truce to compare timelines, hoodie sightings, mic background noises, and muted snickers.

A clip from three months ago resurfaced of Buck randomly humming the Valorant login screen music.
Another clip showed Eddie saying, “Don’t be weird, Buck,” under his breath before muting.

And then—finally—a Reddit post appeared, titled:

“The BuckX Timeline: A Conspiracy Theory (w/ timestamps)”

---

The next day

They did a joint stream.

Both on camera. Both smiling.

Buck in Eddie’s lap. Eddie looking 30% embarrassed, 70% in love.

“Hi,” Buck said to both chats.

Eddie, dry as ever, added, “Surprise.”

Sn1p3rQueen: I KNEW IT
TrashWizard: I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE VALIDATED
MilkMaid: i’m crying. they’re so soft.
BeemoFan: love wins.
ToiletBrush: okay but who tops tho

 BushFire99: @ToiletBrush Thank you for asking important questions

Chapter Text

Stream Title: “Just Chatting + Enemies to Lovers gameplay with BuckWild 😅”

Eddie sat in front of the camera for the first time this stream.

It was quiet in the room now, the light soft and golden from the early evening sun. He wore the familiar gray hoodie, sleeves pushed up just enough to show forearms that Chat had absolutely thirsted over for months without knowing they were real.

He hadn’t said much yet. Just soft chuckles, some awkward throat clears, a few mumbled, “Yeah, so…”s.

Sn1p3rQueen: i can’t breathe
KaleChips4U: HE’S REAL
ToiletBrush: ARM HAIR. WE HAVE ARM HAIR CONFIRMATION.
MilkMaid: why is his voice hotter with a face this is unfair
LoreLad: okay but he looks like he could kill me respectfully

He was about to read a donation when the door creaked open.

Buck peeked his head in.

“Hey,” Buck said, a little softer than usual.

Eddie looked over and instantly softened. He smiled, eyes gentle.

“Hi baby,” he said. “Come here.”

Buck padded over, still in sweats and a T-shirt with little crinkles from being hunched over in a gaming chair all day, hair a soft disaster. Eddie reached out and wrapped his arms around Buck’s waist, pulling him in until Buck was standing between his knees.

Buck leaned in, arms loosely resting on Eddie’s shoulders. He didn’t look at the camera. He just looked at Eddie.

“That was six hours of being mean to you,” Buck murmured. “I didn’t like it.”

Eddie held him a little tighter. His voice dropped to something only Buck, and maybe a few thousand chat members with good headphones—could hear.

“I know, my love,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Buck shook his head gently. “It wasn’t your fault. I just missed you. Like, us. Being us.”

“You’ve got me now.”

“Yeah,” Buck whispered, eyes closing for a second. “Good.”

For a full beat, neither of them moved. Eddie’s chin rested lightly against Buck’s chest. One of his hands rubbed soothing circles against Buck’s back. It wasn’t performative—it wasn’t meant for Chat at all. It was private, even in public. It was them.

Sn1p3rQueen: crying in the club rn
BeemoFan: what do you MEAN this isn’t scripted
ToiletBrush: that was real. that was real and I’m not okay.
KaleChips4U: my parasocial heart is ACTUALLY happy for once
MilkMaid: "i didn't like it" 😭 this man is pure

Eventually, Buck gave a small smile and pulled back slightly.

“I’ll let you finish your stream,” he said, brushing a thumb gently against Eddie’s cheekbone like he couldn’t help it.

“You could stay,” Eddie offered. “If you want.”

Buck considered it. Then nodded, grabbing the other chair and wheeling it next to Eddie’s.

They sat together, a little leaned into each other, and Chat settled into a kind of stunned, warm awe.

Eddie clicked back into the dashboard and finally, finally looked at the camera.

“Okay,” he said, smiling for real this time. “Where were we?”

Stream Title (Updated): “Just Chatting – Boyfriend Acquired 🫡”

Chapter Text

The camera was slightly tilted—classic Buck energy. In the background, a half-built white desk lay in pieces on the floor, next to a manual that neither of them had opened.

Buck sat cross-legged on the floor, holding up a wooden peg with intense scrutiny.

“Are these even real? Like—where do they grow IKEA trees?” he muttered. “Sweden? Narnia?”

From behind the camera, Eddie laughed. “Just follow the instructions, cariño.”

Buck blinked at the word but didn’t comment. He was used to Eddie’s little slips now—pet names in Spanish when he was distracted or fond. And right now, Eddie was both.

Chat was a happy mess of reactions:

Sn1p3rQueen: HE SAID CARIÑO AGAIN IM UNWELL
MilkMaid: ikea trees i’m crying
LoreLad: buck is in his golden retriever era
BeemoFan: when’s the wedding honestly

Just then, there was a loud thunk off-screen.

Eddie: “¡Ay, cabrón! ¡Puta madre!”

Buck’s head snapped up like he’d just heard a love song.

“Wait,” he said, already grinning. “What was that?”

Eddie limped into view, holding his foot and looking extremely unimpressed.

“I hit my toe on the stupid table leg.”

“Okay, but…” Buck stood slowly, eyes locked on him. “Why was that the hottest thing I’ve ever heard?”

Eddie groaned. “Buck.”

“I’m serious!” Buck threw an arm around his shoulder dramatically. “Say it again.”

“No.”

“Please? Just insult me. Like—call me a dumbass in Spanish. Just once.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love it.”

“I do,” Eddie admitted, biting back a smile. “But I’m not feeding your bilingual masochist agenda live on Twitch.”

ToiletBrush: bilingual masochist oh my GOD
KaleChips4U: PUT THAT ON A SHIRT
Sn1p3rQueen: buck’s love language is being insulted in spanish confirmed
TrashWizard: i stubbed MY toe and nobody called me cariño smh

Buck leaned in closer, still clutching Eddie’s shoulder. “Just one insult. I’m begging.”

Eddie turned his head, leaned down a little, and whispered something in Spanish that didn’t quite make it to the mic—but Buck melted.

He blushed. Actually blushed.

“...okay,” Buck mumbled. “That was illegal. I’m gonna have to mute the stream and go cry.”

BeemoFan: THIS IS BETTER THAN REALITY TV
MilkMaid: the way he just folded????
Sn1p3rQueen: i’m not fluent but i felt that insult
LoreLad: if buck proposes in spanish i’m DONE

Eddie looked at the camera and deadpanned: “For the record, I just told him he was built like a confused baby deer.”

Buck: “And somehow it was still romantic.”

Eddie: “You’re hopeless.”

Buck: “Hopelessly in love, yeah.”

And just like that, Eddie broke. He hid his face behind his hand, trying to fight the grin—and failed. Completely.

TrashWizard: eddie.exe has crashed
ToiletBrush: they’re flirting like we’re not here
Sn1p3rQueen: KEEP FLIRTING I’M LIVING
MilkMaid: this stream cured my skin

Chapter Text

It was just past midnight, and Buck was live again, hair damp from a shower, hoodie zipped halfway up. He’d been trying to start a game, but kept clicking back and forth between tabs, squinting like Discord would suddenly start working if he just stared hard enough.

“Okay,” Buck muttered, fiddling with settings, “this is not working and I don’t know why.”

He sighed, pulled out his phone, and tapped Eddie’s contact.

Sn1p3rQueen: what is he DOING
ToiletBrush: stream of consciousness but make it boyfriendly
GayPanic118: did he just open his PHONE???
LoreLad: buck doesn’t understand how technology works unless eddie is nearby confirmed

Buck tapped the speaker icon and held the phone up to his mic like it was a walkie-talkie.

Buck: “Hi baby—”

Eddie (on phone): “Hello?”

Buck: “Hi, um—Discord isn’t working on my en—”

Eddie: “Hello?”

Buck (laughing): “Hi, my love. You’re live, by the way.”

Eddie: “I am?”

Buck: “No—I’m live. But people can hear you.”

Eddie (pause): “Ohhh. Okay.”

KaleChips4U: OH MY GOD
BeemoFan: “hi my love you’re live btw” 😭😭😭
Sn1p3rQueen: THAT WAS SO CASUAL
ToiletBrush: eddie sounds half asleep he’s so real for that

Buck flipped back to his browser, still poking at Discord.

Buck: “You have WhatsApp on your computer, right?”

Eddie: “Right. Yes.”

Buck: “Okay, so we’ll call there, okay?”

Eddie: “Okay.”

Buck (soft): “Alright. I love you.”

Eddie (sleepy but sure): “I love you.”

The phone clicked off. Buck glanced at chat, like he’d just remembered he wasn’t alone.

“…Y’all heard nothing.”

Sn1p3rQueen: WE HEARD EVERYTHING
MilkMaid: sir we are in LOVE with YOUR LOVE
LoreLad: i feel like i just walked in on something sacred
ToiletBrush: do it again
BeemoFan: this is the healthiest relationship on twitch and I stand by that

Buck grinned, cheeks a little pink, and pulled up WhatsApp like nothing happened.

“Okay,” he said, slipping on his headset again, “give me two seconds to call my boyfriend so he can carry me through this match like the emotionally stable man he is.”

He paused.

“…He also makes really good coffee. Just saying.”

KaleChips4U: imagine being loved like that
TrashWizard: i’m gonna go walk into the sea
Sn1p3rQueen: anyway I ship them more than anything I’ve ever shipped before in my life

Chapter Text

They sat side by side in Eddie’s stream room — plates in front of them, light chatter and soft music in the background. Eddie was leaning toward the camera, reading questions, laughing as he scrolled.

Buck was still.

He hadn’t touched his food in several minutes. His fingers twisted in the sleeves of his oversized hoodie, eyes cast down. Blank.

Chat noticed before Eddie did.

Sn1p3rQueen: buck's rlly quiet 😟
LoreLad: is he okay? he hasn't smiled once
RepressedGay32: my emotional support streamer is broken someone fix him
ToiletBrush: he’s dissociating i can feel it 😬
KaleChips4U: this ain’t goofy buck energy. something’s off fr

Eddie looked up from his monitor. His smile faltered when he turned toward Buck.

“Baby?”

Buck didn’t respond.

He takes his headphones off, “Buck, are you okay?”

Still nothing.

 “Evan.”

Buck flinched. His eyes blinked slowly like he was waking up from underwater.

Buck, barely above a whisper “Hm?”

Eddie was up in seconds, crouching next to Buck’s chair. His hand reached out and rested on Buck’s knee, warm and grounding.

That’s when the tear fell.

One. Then another.

And then the floodgates opened.

Buck’s breath hitched, his lip trembling, and suddenly he was sobbing — loud, cracked, gasping sobs that shook his entire body.

Sn1p3rQueen: oh my god
MilkMaid: BUCK NO
InfectedScienceLab: this is full breakdown oh no
ToiletBrush: i am actually crying real tears
LoreLad: get off stream get off stream get off stream 😭😭😭

Eddie didn’t hesitate. He muted the mic. Chat went wild in silence.

He knelt in front of Buck, hands on his thighs, and said softly:

 “Can you talk to me, baby? What happened?”

Buck tried to speak, but all that came out were more gasping sobs. His hands covered his face as he shook his head, unable to form words.

Eddie stood, wrapped his arms tightly around Buck, hugging him as firmly as he dared — one arm across Buck’s chest, the other around his shoulders. Buck clung to him, breathing stuttered and shallow.

And then the words started tumbling out. Broken. Halting. Gut-wrenching.

Buck choked “I—My parents called earlier—”

He could barely speak between sobs, voice cracked and wet.

“They… they said—said I’m wasting my life… said this—us—isn’t real… that I’m embarrassing them…”

He gasped again, air catching in his throat. Eddie didn’t say anything — just tightened his arms.

 “And then—some guy at the coffee shop—he… he called me a slur—because I said ‘my boyfriend’—and I just stood there. I didn’t even say anything. I just stood there.”

Eddie quietly said “Oh, baby…”

Buck’s chest heaved as the next wave hit.

 “And it’s freezing out and my knee hurts so bad I could scream—I couldn’t even run to cross the street, I—I had to wait and—”

He sobbed hard — a sound pulled from the deepest part of him.

“Everything hurts. Everything. And I didn’t wanna ruin your stream, I didn’t wanna ruin tonight—”

His voice broke entirely. He buried his face in Eddie’s chest, gasping like he couldn’t breathe.

 “Buck. You are not ruining anything. Breathe with me, baby. Just breathe.”

Eddie rocked them gently in place. One hand carding through Buck’s curls, the other pressed between his shoulder blades.

Buck clung to his hoodie with both fists, fingers trembling.

MilkMaid: this hurts in my soul
Sn1p3rQueen: the fact that he held that in for HOURS
LoreLad: the sobbing… the LOOK OF LOVE… I’m shattered
KaleChips4U: EDDIE WRAP HIM IN A BLANKET AND NEVER LET GO
ToiletBrush: i want whoever did this to step on a lego barefoot

After a few minutes, Eddie kissed the side of Buck’s head and gently pulled back just enough to meet his eyes.

Eddie whispered “Okay. C’mere. I’m taking you to bed. We’ll get your knee up, warm compress, maybe some tea, and I’ll sit with you. I’ll end the stream after, alright?”

Buck nodded. He looked destroyed — face red and blotchy, eyes swollen, lips trembling.

But he was held.

He was loved.

And right now, that was enough.

Eddie helped him up, arm firm around his waist. Buck leaned into him fully, barely able to stay upright. They left frame together, Eddie whispering soft reassurances the entire way.

Mic unmuted — 1 minute later

Eddie sat down, visibly shaken, but composed. Voice calm.

 “Hey, everyone. I’m going to end stream here. Something personal came up and I need to take care of it.”

He looked directly into the lens.

 “Please take care of the people you love. Check on them, especially when they’re quiet. And thank you for showing up with kindness. We’ll see you soon.”

Sn1p3rQueen: please tell him we love him
MilkMaid: buck’s pain is real. i hope he feels how held he is
ToiletBrush: take all the time you need. we’ll be here
LoreLad: we saw the most human moment tonight and it was sacred
KaleChips4U: thank you for showing us it’s okay to fall apart and still be loved

Stream Ended

Chapter Text

The apartment was quiet.

There was a golden spill of light coming through the kitchen window, catching on the faint curls of steam from the mug on the counter.

Buck sat on one of the stools, legs pulled up, hoodie sleeves draped over his hands. He looked… better. Still tired. Still a little puffy-eyed. But safe.

There was a plate in front of him — toast, scrambled eggs, avocado. All carefully arranged, like someone who loved him had tried really hard to say I care through breakfast.

Eddie was at the stove in sweatpants and a ratty old shirt with a band logo half-faded off it. He was humming quietly to himself.

Eddie looks at Buck with an eyebrow cocked.  “You sure you don’t want coffee?”

 “No, tea’s good. Thanks.”

Eddie turned and leaned against the counter, watching him for a second.

 “How’s your knee?”

 “Sore, but better.”

Eddie nodded. He crossed the room, gently cupped Buck’s cheek, and leaned down to kiss his forehead.

Buck closed his eyes, leaned into the touch like he was magnetized to it.

“Thanks for last night.”

 “Always.”

There was a pause. Then Buck looked up, hesitating

 “I think I wanna talk about it. A little.”

Eddie, softly “Yeah? Okay. I’m here.”

Buck looked down at his tea. Swirled the string around his finger.

 “I didn’t realize how much I’d… been holding. That stuff with my parents—it’s not new. I just—I keep thinking I should be over it. That it shouldn’t bother me anymore.”

 “Buck.”

Eddie stepped closer and pulled him into a hug from behind, arms around his chest, chin resting on his shoulder.

Eddie takes a breath before saying, “If someone keeps reopening a wound, you’re allowed to still hurt from it. You don’t have to be over anything just because time passed.”

Buck closed his eyes. Nodded slowly.

They stood there like that for a while — the only sound the soft hum of the fridge and the clink of a spoon in Buck’s mug.

After a minute, Buck chuckled faintly.

 “I think I made the internet cry last night.”

Eddie smiled into his shoulder.

 “Pretty sure you broke their collective hearts.”

Buck huffs a laugh “Do we need to… like… say something?”

 “We could do a stream. Low-key. Cozy vibes. Just show people we’re okay.”

Buck smirks “Matching sweaters?”

 “Obviously.”

Title: “I’m okay. He made me pancakes. (Cozy stream w/ my favorite human)”

Buck was on screen, wrapped in a knit sweater that looked suspiciously like it belonged to Eddie. His hair was still damp from a shower. A blanket draped around his shoulders.

Eddie sat next to him, legs curled up on the couch, one hand idly resting on Buck’s knee.

 “Hey guys. Thanks for all the love yesterday. Just wanted you to know I’m okay. It was… a hard day. But I’ve got the best partner in the universe, so.”

Sn1p3rQueen: WE LOVE UUUUUUUUU
MilkMaid: look at them in matching sweaters I’m crying again
LoreLad: healing arc unlocked
KaleChips4U: he’s safe. he’s safe 😭
ToiletBrush: someone knit them little sweaters for their trauma pls

Eddie into the mic: “He’s got tea, we’ve got cookies, and we’re only answering questions that make us laugh or go ‘aww’ today.”

Buck nodded seriously.

 “Sad questions get bonked. Happy vibes only.”

And just like that, it was warm again. The kind of warmth that sticks to your ribs. The kind that feels like coming home.

Chapter Text

The stream starts with Buck, cozy as ever in a familiar oversized hoodie. He’s in the game room, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a cup of tea. The lighting is soft. There's ambient piano music playing in the background.

And just off-camera, barely within the edge of frame: a second mug, and a pair of socked feet.

Buck, smiling softly “Hey friends. So… this is gonna be a quiet stream. Cozy vibes. Low energy. Just… hanging out.”

MilkMaid: HE’S BACK OMG
ToiletBrush: wait are those EDDIE’S SOCKS
Sn1p3rQueen: the second mug is killing me softly
LoreLad: WHO’S THE SHADOW IN THE CORNER 👁️👁️👁️

Buck leans back, takes a sip of his tea, and glances slightly to the side.

 “He’s here. Just… off cam today. Which is totally okay.”

There’s a rustle. The faintest glimpse of movement — Eddie pulling his knees in, hoodie sleeves tugged over his hands. His voice is soft and low, just barely picked up by Buck’s mic.

 “I look dumb.”

Buck almost immediately “You look perfect.”

 “You haven’t even seen it styled yet.”

“I saw it this morning. Messy bedhead counts. It’s a 12 out of 10.”

Buck grins at the camera.

 “He got a haircut. And it’s hot. But he’s convinced he looks like a middle school gym teacher.”

MilkMaid: STOP THAT’S SO REAL
KaleChips4U: LET HIM BE A SHY LIL GUY
LoreLad: gym teacher eddie reveal WHEN
Sn1p3rQueen: i would sign up for P.E. every semester

There’s a small, quiet laugh from off-camera — the kind of laugh that only comes out when someone feels seen but isn’t quite ready to admit it.

Buck sets his mug down and shifts slightly, turning his body toward the space where Eddie is.

Buck, gently “You don’t have to come on stream. But also, if it’s about how you look... I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”

There’s a pause.

 “Like, I get it. Change is weird. Being perceived is weird. But… you look safe. And warm. And like home.”

Eddie doesn’t say anything, but there’s a small noise — something soft and caught in the throat.

Buck smiles, a little crooked now, and turns back to the camera.

“Okay. So. Cozy Q&A. Only comfy questions. Let’s go.”

About ten minutes later…

Buck is answering a question about their favorite meal to cook together when a familiar voice mumbles something off-screen.

Eddie, quietly “Is it okay if I sit behind you?”

Buck, without hesitation “Yeah. Of course.”

A moment later, there’s movement in the background — a blur of soft hoodie fabric and dark hair. Eddie settles in behind Buck on the couch, out of full frame but undeniably present. One arm wraps around Buck’s waist from behind. A chin briefly rests on his shoulder.

MilkMaid: MY HEART
Sn1p3rQueen: THEY’RE PILED LIKE CATS
LoreLad: HE’S HERE. HE’S HEREEEE
ToiletBrush: this is like sunlight through a window on a bad day

 “Better?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Chapter Text

Eddie’s been streaming low-key for a while — just chilling, gaming, talking to chat, a little distracted but in a warm, comfortable way. There’s a faint smile on his face, and every so often, he glances toward the door like he’s waiting for something.

He’s halfway through a match when it opens behind him.

“Babe,” Buck calls, already halfway in the room, “I’m heading to the store, do you want—?”

Eddie immediately pauses the game — mid-fight, doesn’t even blink — and turns his chair toward Buck like the sun just entered the room.

Chat notices instantly.

PixxlPop: oh he’s in LOVE love

ghostwaffle: help the way he turned SO FAST

sn1p3rQueen: boy dropped a whole kill for his man

ctrlALTDeez: BUCK IS HERE EVERYONE SIT UP STRAIGHT

Buck’s standing there in his worn green jacket, hoodie underneath, beanie just slightly askew, and he’s smiling like he doesn’t realize how stupid hot he looks.

Eddie waves him over. “Come here. Come here for a second.”

Buck laughs. “I was literally just gonna ask what kind of pasta you want—”

Eddie grabs his sleeve and tugs him into frame.

“Chat, look at him,” Eddie says, voice gone so soft it’s ridiculous. “Isn’t he gorgeous?”

Buck’s already blushing. “Babe.”

“No, seriously. Look at you. Look at your stupid perfect face. What the hell.”

PixxlPop: omg STOP he’s gonna combust

sn1p3rQueen: this is illegal levels of boyfriending

ghostwaffle: THEY’RE SO GONE FOR EACH OTHER

ctrlALTDeez: i feel like we shouldn’t be here

Buck runs a hand over his face. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“I’m literally—”

Eddie doesn’t let him finish. He grabs Buck’s jacket again — smooth, fluid — and pulls him down into a kiss right in front of the camera.

Buck barely has time to react before his hand goes instinctively to the side of Eddie’s neck, fingers curving with that same possessive softness, like he’s done it a hundred times and will do it a hundred more.

The kiss is long.

Too long.

Unapologetically domestic.

PixxlPop: THE THROAT GRAB. Wet.

ghostwaffle: I AM FERAL. FERAL.

sn1p3rQueen: my lungs have LEFT the chat

ctrlALTDeez: they kiss like the rest of us don’t exist and you know what. fair

Buck finally pulls back just enough to breathe, forehead brushing Eddie’s.

“Okay, angel,” he says, voice soft but a little breathless now. “I’m gonna go to the store. Text me if you want anything.”

“I want you,” Eddie murmurs, dreamy and dazed.

Buck smiles, brushing his thumb along Eddie’s jaw.

“You already have me.”

And then he’s gone, like nothing happened, leaving Eddie blinking into the camera like a man who just saw God.

“…So anyway,” he says eventually, dragging a hand down his face, “I’m never recovering from that.”

PixxlPop: NEITHER ARE WE

Ryliver2025: best stream ever. 10/10. 5 stars.

sn1p3rQueen: I am ordering a wedding cake RIGHT NOW

ctrlALTDeez: i need a lie down

Eddie exhales, flustered and flushed. But he’s smiling. For real.

Chapter Text

Chris is bouncing lightly on his crutches in front of the car, backpack slung over one shoulder and a LEGO instruction manual tucked under his arm. The morning air is warm, buzzing with the sound of birds and distant lawnmowers. Eddie stands by the passenger door, gently closing it after Chris hops in.

Shannon lingers by the driver’s side, keys in hand, smile still soft from their goodbye.

“Thanks again,” she says. “He’s been so excited about showing you that space tower. I think he rebuilt it three times just to get it perfect.”

Eddie chuckles. “Oh, I know. He’s already warned me I’m not allowed to ‘improvise’ the build.”

They share a quiet laugh.

But Eddie doesn’t step back yet. His hand stays loosely at the edge of the door, and something about the way he’s holding his posture — not tense, but definitely careful — catches Shannon’s eye.

“What’s up?” she asks, tilting her head.

Eddie glances toward the back seat, sees Chris digging around in his bag with full concentration, then lowers his voice.

“Hey… I wanted to ask you something real quick before you go.” He scratches the back of his neck, suddenly awkward. “Chris has been asking if he could be on a stream.”

Shannon’s brows lift, but she doesn’t say anything — she’s listening.

“It’d just be, like… a LEGO build,” Eddie adds quickly. “No chat, no donations, no names. Nothing identifying. It wouldn’t even be on my main scene — just a top-down camera on the table and his hands. His voice, maybe. That’s it.”

He looks up, searching her face.

“I wouldn’t do it without your okay. But he really wants to. He keeps asking. Said he wants to show people his building skills. And, well… Buck’s chat loves Legos.”

Shannon softens a little, her hand easing against the open window.

“He’s proud of his builds,” she says. “I get that.”

Eddie nods. “He is. And I think… I think it makes him feel like he’s part of things. He always hears Buck and me talking about it, and I think he wants to share in it too — in his own way.”

Shannon takes a breath. She glances into the back seat again, watching Chris carefully pull out a Ziploc full of translucent bricks.

Then she looks back at Eddie. “You’d turn chat off?”

“Fully. No one would see anything but the build. No names. Just a quiet stream with his hands and mine. He just wants to share the tower.”

She smiles, a little bittersweet, but it reaches her eyes.

“Okay,” she says. “I trust you.”

Relief floods Eddie’s face. “Thank you.”

Shannon taps her fingers lightly against the roof of the car. “Just… text me before you go live, yeah?”

“Of course.”

She reaches for the door. “He’s gonna be so excited.”

Eddie grins. “He already is.”

And when Shannon drives off, Eddie turns back toward the house with a lightness in his step — already planning which camera angle will best show off Chris’s ridiculous LEGO trapdoor.

The stream is quiet except for the gentle hum of ambient music in the background and the click-clack of LEGO bricks being moved around.

The camera is top-down — just like they planned — focused on the baseplate as small, determined hands move methodically across the screen.

A gentle voice narrates the action.

“So this is the first floor,” Chris says, carefully placing a brick. “It’s where the aliens sleep, and this is the special bed because it has a ladder for their toes.”

Off-screen, Eddie muffles a laugh.

Chris glances over. “What?”

“Nothing, baby. It’s a good ladder. Very ergonomic for alien toes.”

Buck’s laugh echoes faintly from the kitchen. Chris ignores them both like a seasoned pro.

“And this,” Chris continues, pulling out a special brick with flair, “is the TRAP DOOR. But don’t tell the aliens.”

He looks up toward Eddie, just barely in frame, and whispers — loudly — “It’s secret.”

Eddie nods solemnly. “Got it. No spoilers.”

Chris places the piece with surgical precision, then adds a translucent orange plate on top. “Now it’s lava.”

There’s a very dramatic pause.

“Did the lava come with the set?” Eddie asks.

“No,” Chris says. “It’s freestyle.”

Buck, now sitting just off-camera with a cup of tea and a half-eaten cookie, chokes laughing.

Eddie nudges him with his foot.

Chris doesn’t even flinch. “Okay. So now we need to add the laser room, because the alien pirates are coming. They have grappling hooks.”

Buck whispers, “This kid is gonna take over the whole genre,” and Eddie reaches out with a hand to pat Chris’s back. “You’re doing awesome, bud.”

Chris beams. “I’m not even doing the escape hatch yet.”

Buck raises both hands like well, I’m clearly not qualified to assist here and quietly slides a few spare bricks toward Chris.

For the next few minutes, the only sounds are gentle building clicks and Chris’s very detailed story about how the alien pirates used to be good guys until someone stole their candy planet.

Eddie occasionally adds little “uh huhs” or “no way”s, completely playing along. Buck is just sipping his tea, watching this small human absolutely own the screen.

And then—unexpectedly—Chris goes off-script.

He looks up toward Eddie, totally unprompted, and says:

“Can I tell them I live here with you and Buck?”

Eddie freezes.

Buck stops mid-sip.

Chris continues, completely unbothered. “Not my name. Just that I like it here.”

Eddie glances at Buck, who gives a tiny, go ahead, if it’s what he wants nod.

Eddie exhales slowly, then leans in, voice warm but steady.

“Sure, bud. You can say that if you want.”

Chris grins, a little shy now.

“I live here with my dads,” he says softly, hands still fiddling with bricks. “And I like it. They make good grilled cheese.”

Eddie swallows hard.

Buck presses a hand over his heart like he’s going to cry right here with crumbs on his shirt.

Chris goes back to narrating his LEGO story like nothing just happened, because to him, it didn’t. He was just telling the truth.

The stream ends with a soft click. The camera fades to black, and the quiet background music stops.

Chris is still gently moving bricks around, humming something under his breath. Eddie reaches out and brushes a curl away from his forehead.

“You did so good, buddy.”

Chris glances up, eyes bright. “They didn’t even see me.”

“Nope,” Eddie smiles. “But they heard you. And they loved what you made.”

Chris puffs his chest out a little. “Do you think they liked the lava?”

“I think the lava was the best part.”

Buck appears in the doorway, arms crossed loosely over his chest. His eyes are glassy, but he’s smiling. “The lava was top-tier design, my man.”

Chris giggles and starts packing up the bricks into little color-coded containers. “Can we build the alien escape shuttle next time?”

Eddie glances at Buck. Buck shrugs and nods.

“Next weekend sound good?” Eddie asks.

“YES.”

Buck disappears into the kitchen again, presumably to cry behind the fridge door. Eddie starts helping with the clean-up, but Chris suddenly crawls into his lap, holding a single LEGO piece in his fist like a treasure.

“Thanks for letting me be on your stream, Daddy.”

Eddie presses his nose into his son’s hair and closes his eyes.

“Always, baby.”

LATER THAT NIGHT — REDDIT THREAD

r/StreamerMoments

u/tomato-kisses

📌 Pinned Post: That Kid on the LEGO Stream Was the Purest Thing Ever

I know chat was turned off, and I respect that completely, but I just needed to say somewhere: whoever that little kid was on tonight’s LEGO stream? He’s a creative genius and I would die for him. That trap door had LORE.

No names were mentioned and I wouldn’t even want them to be — but his tiny voice explaining alien bed ladders was the most serotonin I’ve had in months.

u/caramel-coffee

SAME. I had the VOD running while doing laundry and suddenly I’m emotionally invested in the alien pirates’ redemption arc???

u/brickbrain42

The moment he whispered “It’s secret” about the trap door and the adult went “Got it. No spoilers.” I literally melted. Their dynamic was so respectful and sweet. Like they were co-workers in a top-secret alien mission.

u/bigsoftidiot

The part where he said, “I live here with my dads and I like it. They make good grilled cheese.”

Y’all I am NOT okay.

u/itsjustnaps

There was so much care in that stream. No facecam, no chat, no pushing him to perform. Just a kid being proud of something he made and two quiet, loving adults making space for him. That’s what the internet should be.

u/chaoticneutraldad

I don’t even care who those streamers are. I’m just glad that kid has them. I hope he gets a whole LEGO galaxy and a million grilled cheeses.

Eddie shifts, arm draped over the back of the couch, fingers brushing lightly through Chris’s curls.

“He passed out hard,” he murmurs.

Buck chuckles softly, eyes still on his phone. “Used up all his storytelling energy. That escape hatch lore was dense.”

Eddie smiles tiredly and glances over. “You good?”

Buck hums, then turns the phone screen toward him. “Better than good. Look.”

Eddie leans in.

It’s a Reddit post — the one from earlier. Hundreds of upvotes, hundreds more comments. All of it glowing.

He reads a few lines, lips twitching.

“‘I would die for him.’” He snorts. “That’s dramatic.”

“Yeah,” Buck says, quiet now. “But… also same.”

Eddie keeps reading. His throat gets tight around the one that says, “There was so much care in that stream… Just a kid being proud of something he made and two quiet, loving adults making space for him. That’s what the internet should be.”

His voice goes soft. “They noticed that.”

Buck’s eyes are still on him. “Of course they did.”

Eddie’s hand is resting over Chris’s back, feeling the slow, even rise and fall of his breathing. “I was scared,” he admits. “Letting him on. Even without the chat. I just… I didn’t want anyone to hurt him.”

“They didn’t,” Buck says gently. “You protected him. You both made something beautiful. And now people out there love him for the same reason we do.”

Eddie is quiet for a long moment.

Then: “I think I’m gonna cry.”

Buck laughs softly and leans over to kiss his temple. “Too late. You’re already leaking.”

Eddie sniffs. “Shut up.”

Buck passes him the phone so he can scroll through the rest. Eddie reads each comment, each tiny celebration of the softness they shared — quiet proof that something they were so careful with still managed to reach people.

Chris sighs in his sleep, burrowing deeper into the couch cushion.

Buck wraps an arm around Eddie’s waist and rests his head on his shoulder.

“Next time,” Eddie says, voice low, “he wants to build the candy planet.”

Buck grins against his skin. “I’ll stock up on sprinkles and pink bricks.”

Eddie turns his head just enough to press a kiss to Buck’s hair.

Chapter Text

The stream is running, lo-fi humming softly under the mic. The cam is off. Just his voice and the quiet clatter of the keyboard every few seconds.

He clears his throat. It still sounds tight.

“I thought I was okay today,” he says, voice low, a little unsteady. “I got up, made breakfast, took a walk, answered emails. Normal stuff, right? But it’s like… my brain forgot to tell my body that things were supposed to be okay.”

PixxlPop: you’re doing great
Sn1p3rQueen: we love you recon
GhostWaffle: no pressure, okay? just talk if you want to

He exhales shakily, rubbing his sleeve over his palm.

“It just… it doesn’t take much. Sometimes I’ll look at his crutches in the hallway and it’s like—this electric jolt of panic. Like it’s happening again. Even when he’s fine. Even when he’s safe.”

He pauses, lips pressed tight. He doesn’t say Chris. No one knows his name. No one knows anything, really.

He wants to keep it that way.

He scrolls through a few chat messages and leans back in his chair.

"I’m trying. I really am. It’s just—some days, I feel like I’m hanging on by my fingernails."

ctrlALTDeez: you’re not alone
Candlebyte: maybe take a break from streaming? we’ll be here when you’re ready

He gives a tiny, humorless laugh.

"I don’t want to disappear. Not again. I’m scared if I stop, I won’t start again."

And then it appears.

He barely sees it before it vanishes — the mods are fast — but it’s there.

helicoptercrash1725: maybe if you weren’t dragging deadweight around your life wouldn’t suck

It doesn’t say Chris. But it does.

And it lands like a blade straight through his ribs.

He goes silent. The music keeps playing. Chat stutters, then erupts.

PixxlPop: WHAT
MilkMaid: mods??
GhostWaffle: are you serious rn
Sn1p3rQueen: did he see that?? omg no no no

His breathing starts to hitch.

His hand flies to his sleeve again, rubbing too hard, tugging. He curls in slightly, off camera. The air feels too thick. His throat closes around nothing. His chest can’t expand.

“No, no, no,” he whispers, eyes wide. “He’s not—he’s not a burden. He’s my—he’s my whole life—”

The panic takes hold fast. Sharp. Total.

His breath starts coming in shallow gasps. One hand on the desk, the other clawing at his hoodie strings like they’re too tight. The audio picks it up — breathing, ragged, panicked.

His voice is just a scratch now. “I can’t—I can’t—I can’t—”

Photography studio.

Buck has one AirPod in, editing photos. Soft golden lighting. A coffee half-drunk on his desk.

He’s listening. Not totally focused, but enough. Eddie’s stream is always on in the background when he’s working — it makes everything feel lighter, closer.

He hears Eddie talking about panic. About hanging on.

Then there’s silence.

Then breathing.

Then—nothing normal.

Buck freezes. Mouse hovering mid-edit. He pulls the AirPod out, puts the stream on speaker. Leans in.

He knows that sound. That edge of breathlessness. That break.

He snatches his phone and opens the stream chat. Scrolls back, jaw clenched.

He sees the comment.

And suddenly the room is too hot.

His heart jumps into overdrive. He fumbles with his phone, thumb shaking as he opens contacts. Taps My Love 💙 and puts the phone to his ear.

It rings.

Please pick up. Please, baby, pick up.

“Buck,” comes the voice. Cracked and breathless. Barely holding together.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m here. I’m right here.”

“Buck,” Eddie rasps on the other end, voice tight and cracked like something is breaking in his throat.

Buck doesn’t hesitate. He’s already halfway to the car, phone pressed hard to his ear.

“Hey, hey, I’m here. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

He hears the gasping. The soft, panicked whimpers Eddie is trying to swallow.

“You don’t have to do anything right now, okay? Just stay on the phone with me. That’s it. You’re already doing enough.”

He unlocks the car with shaking hands. Throws himself into the driver’s seat.

“You’re not broken, baby. This isn’t forever. It’s just now. And now is going to pass.”

Eddie lets out a hitched sob.

“I can’t—I can’t think—my brain won’t stop—”

“You don’t have to think right now,” Buck says gently. “Let me think for you.”

There’s silence, save for the sound of Eddie trying not to fall apart.

“I want you to listen to my voice, okay? I’m going to talk about something stupid and boring, and you don’t have to say anything. You don’t even have to try to calm down.”

He pulls out of the parking lot. His hands are steady, even if his heart’s racing.

“So. There’s a dog that sits outside the coffee shop on 7th,” Buck starts, voice soft, grounding. “I see him every Thursday. He has a little yellow raincoat. Today, it wasn’t even raining. Still had the coat on. Full confidence.”

A tiny hitch of breath from Eddie — not a laugh, but maybe the space where one might live someday.

“And he’s got this attitude, right? Like, full-on CEO energy. Just lying there, judging everyone. I swear he side-eyed my socks.”

There’s a small inhale from Eddie — deeper than the last.

“I swear, if you met him, you’d say he’s you as a dog. Total ‘don’t mess with me, I’m tired and in charge’ energy.”

Still silence on the other end. But not the terrifying kind. Just… listening.

“You’re not alone in this,” Buck continues. “You’re not failing. You’re overwhelmed. That’s different.”

A shaky breath. Eddie’s voice, quiet: “It feels like I’m drowning.”

“I know, sweetheart. I know. But I’m right here. I’m already halfway home. You don’t have to keep your head above water alone anymore. Let me float with you.”

Eddie exhales. Not calm. Not healed. But something loosens in his chest.

“Just… stay. Talk to me?”

“Always,” Buck says. “How about I tell you about the absolute disaster that was my attempt at lunch today? Spoiler: I set off the smoke alarm. Again.”

The door isn’t locked.

That’s the first thing that hits him, followed by the eerie quiet. Just the faint static hum of the lo-fi music bleeding from the streaming room down the hall.

Buck drops his keys on the entry table, almost misses, and kicks off his shoes without looking. He’s already moving.

“Eds?” he calls gently, not loud, not sharp.

Nothing.

The closer he gets, the worse the air feels—stifled, like grief pressed into drywall.

He turns the corner.

And there he is.

Eddie’s crumpled on the floor next to the desk, knees up to his chest, arms wrapped so tightly around them it looks painful. His hoodie sleeves are pulled over his hands, and they’re still shaking—fine, fast tremors like his body’s trying to outrun itself.

The stream is still running.

Mic on. Camera off. Chat still rolling in a blur.

Sn1p3rQueen: is someone with him??
ghostwaffle: i think he’s off camera
PixxlPop: he needs someone. is he okay??
ctrlALTDeez: i think he’s not alone now. look at the sound—someone’s in the room

“Hey,” Buck says softly, kneeling beside him, all breath and concern. “I’m here. You don’t have to do anything. I’ve got you.”

Eddie’s eyes flick up to him. Red. Glassy. Embarrassed.

“I couldn’t—I couldn’t shut it off—my hands—”

“Shh,” Buck whispers, brushing his knuckles down the side of Eddie’s face. “It’s okay. You don’t have to. I’ll take care of it.”

He leans over to the desk, moves the mouse, and right-clicks the OBS icon. His fingers are precise. Calm. Controlled.

Stop stream.

One click, and it’s over.

The room immediately feels softer. Like the world’s pulled back, and now there’s just them.

“Done,” Buck murmurs, turning back to him.

Eddie exhales — more like deflates — and reaches blindly, fingers clinging to Buck’s hoodie like it’s the only solid thing in the room.

Buck pulls him in without hesitation, lowering them both to the floor so Eddie’s curled into his chest.

“I’m so sorry,” Eddie chokes out. “They saw me like that. I couldn’t— I just—I froze—”

“Baby,” Buck cuts in gently, rubbing circles into his back. “You don’t owe anyone perfect. You just owe yourself care. And this—letting me hold you like this—that’s care.”

Eddie doesn’t respond with words. Just curls in tighter, lets himself be wrapped in warmth and safety.

Buck kisses the top of his head.

“You’re okay now,” he whispers. “You’re not alone.”

They sit there like that for a long time, the computer still warm behind them, chat long gone, the world outside irrelevant.

Just them. In the quiet.

Chapter Text

Buck was sitting forward in his gaming chair, shoulders tense in that way that only came when he was trying really hard not to show he was in a mood. His hair was damp from a quick, frustrated shower, and the familiar black hoodie he usually wore was missing — replaced by a plain gray tee. The usual warmth in his voice felt a little thinner, more performative than real.

“Alright, we’re live,” he said, tapping twice on the desk like it would ground him. “Ravi’s here, no Eddie tonight, so you’re stuck with me.”

Chat lit up immediately.

dotpng: where’s eddie?? 😭

softboifiles: oh no… not the capital NO EDDIE

macncheesefan: did they fight

justacrab: blink twice if ur emotionally compromised

Ravi’s voice came through the headset, easy and teasing. “Don’t be too disappointed, chat. I’m cuter than Eddie anyway.”

Buck gave a short, tense laugh. “Bold claim.”

“Come on, man. Let me have this,” Ravi said with a grin in his voice. “Besides, you’re single tonight, right?”

Buck didn’t reply right away. His jaw ticked slightly, hands tightening on his mouse.

dotpng: wait what did he just say

chaoticneutraldad: oh he’s joking RIGHT??

softboifiles: BUCK SAY SOMETHING

“Ravi,” Buck said eventually, voice clipped. “We’re gaming.”

“Sure, sure,” Ravi said. “Just saying. You’re a catch. Someone should snatch you up.”

Buck gave a tight smile and said nothing.

The match loaded. They played. Ravi joked more — about their “bachelor energy,” about how Buck should dye his hair again, about how quiet the house must be without Eddie around. Every time, Buck either ignored it or gave a brittle laugh.

The third time Ravi said something — something half-joking, half-suggestive about how Buck should “test the waters” again — the stream took a sharp turn.

Because Eddie opened the door.

He didn’t knock. He didn’t say anything.

He just walked in, eyes hard and tired and zeroed in on Buck. He was in a hoodie and sweatpants, barefoot, and his mouth was set in a firm line that Buck knew well.

“Eddie—” Buck started, half-standing.

Eddie crossed the room, said absolutely nothing, and leaned over Buck to click the End Stream button on his keyboard.

Chat barely had time to register it:

chaoticneutraldad: OH

macncheesefan: WHAT

softboifiles: DID HE JUST—

twitchmodrealness: BRO

The screen went black.

The door shut behind them with a soft but definitive click, and Eddie didn’t waste a second.

“Sit,” he said, voice sharp and low.

Buck’s knees hit the mattress behind him, and he dropped down like he didn’t have a choice. Maybe he didn’t. His pulse was thundering in his ears, every nerve lit up with confusion and heat and anticipation.

Eddie stepped in, close enough that Buck had to tilt his head back to look at him. The light in the room was soft, but there was nothing soft about Eddie’s expression. His jaw was tight. His eyes, sharp.

“You’re mine,” Eddie said, voice steady. “But I guess I need to remind you.”

“Eddie, I wasn’t—”

“Don’t explain it.” Eddie’s hands came to Buck’s shoulders, firm and grounding. “Just answer me.”

He leaned in close, close enough for Buck to feel the heat of his breath. “Who do you belong to?”

Buck inhaled sharply. “You.”

Eddie’s thumbs moved, grazing the edges of Buck’s jaw, fingers curling behind his neck. “Whose hoodie is on your chair?”

“Yours.”

“Whose fingers do you beg for almost every damn night?”

“Yours.”

“Whose name do you say when you fall apart for me?”

Buck’s throat worked around the answer. He nodded first, eyes flicking between Eddie’s, then finally whispered, “Yours, Eddie. Always yours.”

Eddie leaned down and kissed under his jaw — slow, claiming. Buck shuddered, shoulders hunching just slightly at the overwhelming wave of heat and tenderness and frustration all tangled into one.

And then — when Eddie’s lips brushed just behind his ear, when he breathed against his skin — Buck let out the smallest, wrecked whimper.

Eddie stilled. “There it is.”

Buck didn’t even realize he was shaking until Eddie’s hand slid around to cradle the back of his head, fingers threading gently into his hair. He leaned into it like he couldn’t help it, like he was chasing warmth and grounding and Eddie.

“You don’t let anyone talk to you like that,” Eddie murmured. “You hear me?”

Buck nodded. “I didn’t— I didn’t want to make things worse.”

Eddie pulled back just far enough to look at him. “You don’t have to protect me, Buck. I’m not mad at you. I just…” His jaw flexed. “I need people to see that you’re mine. Because I don’t want there to be a single second of doubt.”

Buck’s voice cracked. “There’s never doubt. Not for me.”

Eddie kissed him then — deep, slow, possessive in the way that said you’re mine without a single word. Buck melted into it, hands grabbing at Eddie’s hips, holding tight.

Another soft whimper escaped him — not desperate, just relieved — and Eddie groaned into his mouth.

“You make that sound again,” Eddie breathed, “and I swear to god I’m not letting you leave this bed for two days.”

Buck smiled through the next kiss, breathless and grinning. “Good.”

Reddit Thread — r/BuckEddieStreamWatch

Title:

🧍🏻‍♂️🧍🏽‍♂️ [DISCUSSION] What happened at the end of Buck’s stream last night???

u/chaoticneutraldad

Buck was streaming with Ravi and clearly in a mood. Chat asked about Eddie, Buck said “don’t ask,” and then Ravi made three increasingly flirty comments. THEN EDDIE WALKS IN AND JUST—TURNS OFF THE STREAM. No goodbye. No explanation. Just ✨death✨.

u/madforlegos

I have never seen a stream end that fast. Ravi was like “you’re single tonight right?” and Buck didn’t even answer. Eddie walked in like someone just crashed a server mid-rank.

u/softboifiles

ok but the way buck IMMEDIATELY went silent when Eddie showed up??? and then didn’t even argue when the stream was turned off?? they def fought before this. he looked GUILTY

u/streammodrealness

As a mod I will just say: We got no warning either. Stream went down, Buck hasn’t logged into the mod chat since. Something happened.

u/notravifananymore

idk Ravi was being HELLA out of line. The flirting felt like he was testing something. And Buck wasn’t playing into it but he was also… shutting down?

u/tinfoiltheorycorner

Eddie looked calm but that man was on a mission. You don’t walk into a stream and click End unless you’re either mad… or possessive. I’m just saying.

u/legendaryeggroll

can’t believe I missed it live. I went to grab a snack and came back to a BLACK SCREEN

u/dinogod98

no one’s talking about how fast Buck followed him. like… stream off and he just vanished from the chair

Twitter:

@buckeddiefanlife:

ok but the way buck didn’t even flinch when eddie came in… just let him end the stream… that’s a man in love

@ravi-out (protected tweets):

maybe don’t flirt with taken people on stream. just a thought.

@accidentalthirdwheel:

was this the moment Ravi got uninvited from poker night?? 👀

@streamclipsanon:

Here’s the full timestamp from when Eddie walks in to stream cut. It’s only 12 seconds. And Buck’s hand twitched toward the camera like he was gonna explain but then he saw Eddie’s face and just… yeah.

[📹 0:12 clip attached titled “The Cutoff”]

Stream Clip Comment Section (YouTube):

RedBeanQueen:

the way the chat just DIED when the stream cut 😭😭

bigfanofbiceps:

can we also talk about how eddie’s jaw was CLENCHED?? like he was holding back a 15-minute rant

kitchenlighters:

i don’t care if they argued. I just want to know if they’re okay 😭 i’m parasocial but i’m gentle about it

The screen shows Eddie’s usual set-up: cozy lighting, plants shown in the background.

He’s playing Stardew Valley, calmly watering his crops, occasionally humming along with the background music.

Chat is already buzzing.

ghostmod: HE’S ALIVE

apexslut_85: okay but WHERE’S BUCK

dinogod98: did they break up??

frenchtoastfan: say sike right now

modLeo: hey friends let’s keep it chill 🧃

Eddie chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair. “Okay. I knew someone was gonna say it. I was hoping we’d make it like… five minutes before someone dropped the breakup bomb.”

He keeps watering crops. Silent. Letting the tension build. Chat goes wild.

delusionalforbuck: i KNEW it

sadpixels: noooo they were so domestic 😭😭

lightningcam: stopkkfkg did Ravi RUIN IT??

modSam: Everyone chill. He’s literally playing Stardew. No one plays Stardew post-breakup.

Eddie sighs dramatically, then pauses the game. “Hey, baby?” he calls over his shoulder. “Can you come here for a sec?”

A distant voice from another room: “Yeah, babe?”

Footsteps. Then the door opens, and Buck appears — already visible because Eddie forgot to crop the top of the frame just slightly too high. Buck’s in sweats and a hoodie, hair messy, holding a smoothie.

“What’s up?” he asks, stepping into view.

Eddie tilts his camera juuust enough to catch Buck’s torso and his hand resting on Eddie’s shoulder.

Eddie asks, deadpan: “Did we break up?”

He leans in. Presses a soft kiss to Eddie’s temple, then one on his mouth, slow and sure. Chat loses its absolute mind.

Buck blinks. Then smiles. “Not to my knowledge.”

“Love you,” Buck murmurs, and walks out sipping his smoothie.

“Love you more, ”Eddie unmutes, clears his throat, and clicks the game back on like nothing happened.

“Cool,” he says. “So anyway, my chickens need feeding.”

ghostmod: IM SCREAMING

snacksandsoftboys: THE KISS? THE SMOOTHIE??

eggslutcore: eddie you ARE the drama

chaoticneutraldad: i need to go lie down in a field

softboifiles: well ravi can go back to the simulation now

Chapter Text

Buck wasn’t even three minutes into the stream when the idea hit him.

He glanced over at Eddie, who was curled up in the corner of the couch just outside of frame, wrapped in a grey hoodie with his bare feet tucked under a throw blanket and his phone balanced on his stomach. He looked cozy. Content. Soft in a way that made Buck’s chest ache.

Which was exactly why Buck decided to be annoying.

He turned back to his chat, grin already creeping across his face. “Okay,” he whispered, leaning in close to the mic like it was a secret. “Hear me out. Eddie’s on the couch right now, totally ignoring me, right? What if I prank him just a little?”

softboifiles: oh no

kitchenlighters: why. just why?

modLeo: this man has a death wish

ghostmod: someone queue up the funeral playlist

“I’m not talking, like, actual chaos,” Buck said, still grinning. “Just some light boyfriend trolling. He can’t stay mad at me, I’m cute.”

He popped into his first solo match and dramatically stretched back in his chair.

“Man, it’s so hard being the only one doing anything around here,” he announced. “Cooking. Cleaning. Streaming. Carrying the entire relationship.”

Eddie didn’t respond, but Buck saw the slight flicker of movement — his thumb pausing mid-scroll.

Encouraged, Buck kept going.

“I mean, if I waited for him to queue with me, I’d be collecting retirement. Guy hasn’t logged on in days. Starting to think he’s allergic to gaming with me.”

A faint snort came from the couch, but Eddie still didn’t look over.

eggslutcore: he heard that

bruhmoment777: eddie is buffering. wait for it.

ghostmod: this is how you get your headset yeeted mid-match

Buck leaned forward, pretending to read chat. “Right? RIGHT? Like, at this point, he’s just my emotionally distant roommate.”

Still nothing.

Buck bit back a laugh, pushed just a little more. “But it’s cool. I’m used to being the responsible one. The emotional support. The brain and the brawn. Right, bro?”

The moment he said it — bro — the air in the room changed.

Eddie didn’t speak. Didn’t even move. But Buck could feel it.

He turned his head.

Eddie had lowered his phone. Was now staring directly at him. Blanket still on. Expression unreadable.

“…Bro?” Eddie asked softly, one eyebrow raised.

Buck cleared his throat. “You know. Like—stream talk. Casual. Bro energy.”

Eddie stood.

He didn’t rush. Just folded the blanket over the armrest, slipped his phone into the hoodie pocket, and walked across the room with the slow confidence of a man who already knew he’d won.

softboifiles: he STOOD UP

eggslutcore: rip buckley

modmaddie: moment of silence for our fallen streamer

ghostmod: IT’S HAPPENING

Eddie came to stand behind Buck’s chair, arms crossed. He was shorter — Buck had a good three inches on him — but somehow that didn’t matter. He filled the space.

“You calling me bro now?” he asked, voice low, calm.

Buck smiled nervously. “It was just—y’know. For chat.”

“Oh, so now we perform for chat?” Eddie leaned down, bracing one hand on Buck’s chair. “You wanna perform do you babe?”

Buck’s breath caught. “Uh.”

Eddie reached down, curled his fingers into the back of Buck’s curls, and tugged his head back just slightly — enough to force eye contact. He was close now. So close Buck could see the tension in his jaw. The sharp focus in his eyes.

“Say it again,” Eddie said. Quiet. Dangerous.

Buck swallowed hard. “Baby.”

“Mm.” Eddie smirked. “Better.”

He leaned in and kissed him, hard — rough, possessive, all biting lips and dominance. Buck made a soft, broken noise in the back of his throat, fingers curling around the edge of his desk.

When Eddie pulled back, Buck looked wrecked. Pink-cheeked, wide-eyed, mouth slightly open like his brain had short-circuited.

Eddie tapped his cheek. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”

Then he turned and walked out of frame.

ghostmod: WELP

bruhmoment777: BUCK IS GONE

softboifiles: did he WHIMPER??

modhen: WHIMPER COUNT: 1

eggslutcore: someone go check if he’s breathing

Buck blinked at the screen. Cleared his throat. Tried to fix his hair and completely failed.

“So anyway,” he said hoarsely. “Next round?”

Chapter Text

The kitchen smelled amazing — garlic, chili, lime, toasted spices blooming in oil. Buck was grinning, sleeves rolled up, golden skin dusted with flour and the heat of a job well done. He was plating now, making it beautiful, already teasing Eddie about his weak spice tolerance.

And then someone in chat said it.

chat

eggshellrun: wait are those scars on his arm?

softboifiles: like… sh??

ghostmod: STOP. everyone STOP. mods on it.

Buck went still.

It was one second. Maybe two. He didn’t even react at first. His smile just… slipped.

Then his eyes flicked to the chat. Saw it.

His sleeves. His arms.

He dropped the spoon and stepped back like the pan had burned him.

“Shit.”

Eddie was already rising from the stool, stepping around the island. “Buck?”

Buck pulled his sleeves down roughly, yanking them to his wrists with shaking fingers. “No, no, no. Shit, Eddie, please—please, I haven’t—it’s been months, I swear to god, I wasn’t thinking—”

“Hey,” Eddie said softly, hands up but close, grounding. “I know. I know, baby.”

“They saw,” Buck whispered, chest already heaving. “They saw it and now they’re—they’re talking about it and I just—I didn’t mean to, I didn’t—”

“You don’t have to explain anything.” Eddie’s voice didn’t waver. “You don’t owe anyone anything, Buck. Not a single person in that chat.”

Buck’s shoulders trembled.

Eddie glanced toward the camera, then back to Buck. “Do you want me to take over?”

“I can’t—” Buck’s voice cracked. “I can’t be on camera right now.”

“You don’t have to be.”

Without another word, Eddie turned and moved toward the stove. Smooth and easy, like this had always been the plan. Like nothing had changed.

He slipped into Buck’s space, picked up the spatula, and gave the sauce a gentle stir.

“Alright, folks,” he said calmly, not looking at the camera. “We’re gonna let this reduce for about three more minutes, then we’ll plate.”

chat

ghostmod: keep it kind or get banned.

softboifiles: eddie just sliding in like it’s nothing 🥺

kitchenlighters: he didn’t even hesitate. my heart.

eggslutcore: buck can take a minute. eddie’s got this.

Off-camera, behind the frame, Buck was curled against the far counter, head in his hands, sleeves still yanked down tight. His breathing was rough but getting slower. Every so often, Eddie would brush past, soft touches — a hand on Buck’s shoulder, a murmur of “You’re okay, I’m right here.”

He didn’t ask Buck to come back. Didn’t rush him. Just filled the space until Buck was ready.

Fifteen minutes later, when the meal was done and chat had settled into a quiet hum of comfort and support, Buck finally stepped back into frame.

He didn’t say much. Just pressed a kiss to the side of Eddie’s head and whispered, “Thanks.”

Eddie smiled and slid him a plate. “Eat first. Talk later.”

And Buck did.

Chapter Text

Buck was leaning back in his chair, hoodie half-zipped, smile easy as he watched the sub count tick up. Eddie sat beside him, a little slouched, legs stretched under the desk, their knees bumping every so often like it was muscle memory. Eddie wasn’t technically on camera — at least not in a streamer way — but he was definitely there, and the chat was thriving off it.

chat:

noodles4life: EDDIE SAID TWO WORDS DROP THE MERCH

sunnysidebuck: their legs are TOUCHING

gogobutter: this is a man in love with his bf and his community i’m crying

spookykid123: eddie blink twice if you need help

“I was thinking,” Eddie said casually, looking over at Buck, “Should I grow my hair longer?”

Buck blinked, still catching up from reading subs. “Yeah, sure. I mean… you’d look hot either way.”

Eddie tilted his head. “You’ll still like me?”

Buck turned toward him, voice going soft in that way he only ever used for Eddie. “I’ll still love you, angel.”

chat:

honestlyobsessed: THE WAY HE SAID LOVE

frecklefiend: angel. angel. he said angel.

revengemouse: this is free serotonin and i’m overdosing

They kept answering questions — stream setups, Buck’s favorite photo location that month, Eddie’s favorite color (which he answered was “gray, like Buck’s hoodie, specifically the one he’s wearing”), and Buck’s go-to meal to cook. It was all light and sweet and filled with the kind of energy you only get when you’re safe, loved, and home.

Then Eddie leaned in a little, voice barely above a whisper.

“Can I have a kiss?”

Buck didn’t hear. He was laughing at a question about their first vacation together. “Oh my god, okay— yeah, the one where I forgot the charger and we shared a toothbrush? Never again.”

Eddie huffed, fondly. Then said louder, “Can I have a kiss?”

Buck blinked, turned, and smiled without hesitation. “Of course, baby.” He leaned in and kissed him softly, quickly — the kind of kiss that didn’t need to prove anything.

When Buck turned back to the chat, Eddie just… stared. Heart in his eyes, soft as velvet, unmoving.

Buck chuckled. “I can feel you staring at me.”

Eddie didn’t deny it. Just leaned in and rested his head gently on Buck’s shoulder.

Buck kissed the top of his head, still reading subs aloud.

But Eddie sat up again and tapped gently at Buck’s hand, then pointed toward it. “No, this.”

Buck looked at him, confused. “What?”

Without a word, Eddie reached over, took Buck’s hand, and guided it into his curls. Buck’s fingers instinctively threaded through his hair, and the moment he started gently playing with it — the scratching, the tug-and-release rhythm — Eddie visibly relaxed.

Eddie closed his eyes, voice barely above a hum. “Yes. Thank you.”

chat:

riceandrevenge: what’s it like to be god’s favorite

doughnutpriest: i feel like i’m intruding on something sacred

coffeepour94: he wanted the hair scritches and got them 🥹

battledove: this is what peace looks like

Buck had one hand resting low around Eddie’s waist, the other steadily threading through his curls, the rhythm slow and practiced. Eddie’s cheek was pressed against Buck’s thigh, eyes fluttering open every few seconds as he blinked at the screen like it took too much energy to stay focused.

“…hm?” Eddie mumbled, gaze a little foggy.

Buck glanced down, chuckling softly. “Someone asked if you ever steal my hoodies.”

Eddie hummed, voice gravel-soft. “They’re not stealing if you give them to me.”

chat:

sunnysidebuck: OH

coffeecloud: SOFT BOYFRIEND HOURS

goodvibesandgames: this man is horizontal. he’s horizontal and cozy

sockgremlin: i would simply never recover if i were buck right now

Buck kept playing with his hair. Fingers slow, deliberate. A little tug at the root, a gentle twist, then smoothing it back again. Over and over.

“Someone else asked if you ever play games without me,” Buck said, voice quiet, lips tugging up.

Eddie made a small face. “Boring without you.”

“You’re such a liar,” Buck teased, grinning.

Eddie cracked one eye open. “I’m cold. You’re warm. And you’re touching my hair. I’m not lying about anything.”

chat:

tinytoedterror: 😭😭😭

peachskinpixie: i wanna be THAT level of in love

spaghettiwrangler: ok but the HAIR PLAYING CONTINUES

bisousbuck: i think eddie’s asleep with his eyes open lmao

Eddie let out a tiny breath through his nose, lashes lowering again. “Is the stream off?”

Buck checked the screen and made a face. “Uhhh. No.”

Eddie didn’t even react. “Hm. I’m comfy.”

His hand slid lightly over Buck’s knee, fingers fidgeting, before going still again. Buck watched him — how his breath evened out, how the line of his shoulders relaxed. The delay in his answers stretched longer.

“You falling asleep on me, angel?” Buck asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“…no,” Eddie said into his leg, immediately followed by a little snore as he dozed.

Buck laughed softly. He didn’t move him, didn’t shift. Just adjusted his grip around Eddie’s waist and leaned a little further back so Eddie could be more comfortable.

His other hand never stopped moving through Eddie’s curls.

chat:

itscrabseason: this is more healing than therapy

404breadnotfound: are they like. this soft all the time.

bunnysoupz: if buck ever stops playing with his hair we riot

ghostqueue: he said ‘no’ and IMMEDIATELY fell asleep i’m SOBBING

Eddie had been asleep for maybe ten minutes now, curled warm and quiet in Buck’s lap. Buck had adjusted the camera slightly — not to hide him, but to angle the frame so that only Eddie’s shoulder and hair were visible. Like keeping something sacred while still letting people see the edges of the softness.

Buck’s hand was still in his hair, slow and steady. The other was on the mouse, occasionally clicking through questions from chat, a quiet smile on his lips.

“Do I think Eddie’s always been this affectionate?” Buck read aloud, voice hushed. “Yeah. He just… needed time to feel safe being like this. And I’m lucky that I get to be that person for him.”

He paused, brushing a thumb along the curve of Eddie’s neck.

“I think we both needed that. You know, someone to just… be soft with. No masks.”

chat:

warmtoastmode: this stream is like a lullaby 😭

buttonmashxoxo: buck talking soft while playing with his boyfriend’s hair is changing my brain chemistry

trextrauma: is this heaven??

midnightbuttermilk: i wish they knew how healing this is to watch

Buck smiled a little at that one. But his eyes flickered when another question popped up.

He read it quietly, lips pressing together for a moment before he answered.

“Someone just asked about the cooking stream.”

He paused.

The hand in Eddie’s hair kept moving.

Buck glanced at the monitor and exhaled slowly.

“I didn’t think I was gonna talk about this,” he murmured, voice low. “But I guess… it kind of feels like the right time.”

He looked back down at Eddie. Watched him sleep for a second.

And then: “It’s been… a year. Since the last time I—” He swallowed. “Since the last time I hurt myself.”

His hand paused in Eddie’s hair. Just for a second.

He breathed through it and kept going.

“I’ve never really talked about it on stream. Not directly. But when I was younger, things were… hard. My parents weren’t exactly the warmest people. And they expected me to be perfect. All the time. No mistakes, no weakness. I didn’t know how to cope with that, so I started doing whatever I could to feel something that felt like control.”

His voice cracked on the word control, but he cleared his throat and kept going.

“I was still a teenager the first time. And then… again in college. It wasn’t constant. It wasn’t every day. But it was always there. In the back of my head.”

The chat didn’t rush him. There were a few soft comments, a few hearts, but mostly, it stayed quiet. Respectful.

“I think the worst part was how ashamed I felt after. Like I was broken for even needing that outlet. I kept it to myself for so long. Carried it like this… ugly secret. Even after I stopped, I was scared someone would see the scars and just… see me differently.”

His eyes dropped to his sleeves, now pulled tightly down past his wrists.

“I’ve been clean for a year. Today, actually. I didn’t even plan to say anything, but… maybe it matters that I do. Maybe someone needs to hear that it gets better. That you can learn new ways to cope. That love helps.”

He smiled, slow and tired and achingly full of something real.

“Eddie helped. Not by fixing it — he never tried to. But by listening. By holding me. By making me feel like I was worth staying for.”

His hand settled in Eddie’s curls again, his voice softer.

“And I am. I think I’m finally starting to believe that.”

chat:

goodbeansonly: we’re so proud of you buck

softboyarchives: thank you for sharing this. you matter so much

goblincookies: one whole year. that’s huge. you’re amazing

gentlestcloud: you’re not broken. you never were.

mossandmaple: thank you for staying.

Buck sniffed, smiling to himself as he rubbed a hand over his face. “Thanks. I mean that. For not making me feel like a freak. For staying with me through the messy parts.”

He looked down at Eddie again, who shifted slightly, his lips parting like he might stir.

“And thank you,” Buck whispered, brushing a kiss to Eddie’s temple. “For being my safe place.”

He gave the chat one last look, eyes glassy but warm.

“I’ll see you guys next time. Be good to each other, yeah?”

And with a soft click, the stream ended.

Chapter Text

Buck’s camera was angled just right: his gaming chair slightly off-center, lit by purple LEDs, headset loose around his neck. He was grinning, cocky, eyes flicking between the game stats on screen and the chat scrolling wildly beside them.

Eddie was on voice, not visible, but his gameplay was. They’d just finished a round of something chaotic — something with weapons and maps and betrayal — and Buck had absolutely cleaned house.

“Let’s gooo,” Buck said, practically bouncing. “Chat, did you see that snipe?”

chat:

sunnysidebuck: BUCK STOP

revengemouse: eddie is gonna punch a wall lmao

yourespawned: he hasn’t said anything… oh no.

flamekween: 😭😭 eddie silent treatment incoming

Buck glanced at the screen and blinked. “Wait… you got all quiet, baby. Why?”

There was a short pause before Eddie replied over voice. Calm. Even. “I’m always quiet.”

Buck’s smile tugged at the edge, the way it did when he knew he was pushing his luck.

“You’re not this quiet,” he teased. “You’re quiet in a hot way. This is quiet in a ‘you’re mad I beat you’ way.”

Eddie still didn’t answer.

That’s when Buck stood up. The camera caught just the side of him as he crossed the room — the slight sound of movement as he walked out of frame, then the mic picking up the faint shuffle of jeans and the creak of the floor.

And then — Eddie’s camera angle lit up. The second setup they’d joked was just for “emergencies” (or when Buck got handsy mid-stream).

Buck stepped into view behind Eddie, who was standing in a relaxed stance in front of his own desk. Buck wrapped one hand around Eddie’s waist and slid the other into the front pocket of his jeans, tugging just enough to pull him back slightly.

“I think you’re mad because I won,” Buck murmured low against his neck, grin audible.

Eddie barely tilted his head toward him. “Mm… no.”

His accent slipped — thicker than usual, soft in a way that made Buck grin wider.

“Not even a little?” Buck asked, rocking him back gently with that possessive little pocket hold.

“No,” Eddie replied, then added under his breath, “No estoy enojado, nomás me caes mal cuando presumes.”

The chat exploded.

chat:

battledove: OMG WHAT DID HE SAY

riceandrevenge: HES SPEAKING SPANISH IM GONNA CRY

cosmiccider: someone translate!!!

noodles4life: i don’t speak spanish but i felt that

deepfriedbandaid: was that 👏🏽 shade 👏🏽 in spanish???

spookykid123: did he say he doesn’t like buck??? 😭

Buck laughed, letting go, walking back toward his seat.

“You sound it,” he said with that smug little smirk, putting his headset back on.

Eddie grumbled but didn’t correct him.

Buck sat back down and glanced toward the camera, still grinning. “Translation, by the way?” He leaned forward. “He said, ‘I’m not mad, I just don’t like you when you show off.’”

“Which is fake,” Eddie called off-screen. “I always like you.”

Buck’s ears turned pink. “Even when I win?”

A pause. Then a low, soft: “Especially then.”

chat:

frecklefiend: STOPPPPPP

buckgetmygun: i want a love like that

nachomama88: okay well now I need to lie down.

Chapter Text

Eddie was live, hoodie on, curls damp from a post-shower rinse, and a mischievous smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. The lighting was warm and low, the game calm, and the chat buzzing.

“Okay,” he said, leaning forward like he was telling the chat a secret. “So. Buck got me a couple weeks ago right? Called me ‘bro’ on his stream in front of like, twenty thousand people? Made me think he forgot I was his boyfriend.”

chat:

sunnysidebuck: yeah we REMEMBER

frecklefiend: you looked so betrayed lmao

coffeepour94: it’s ur villain origin story 😭

“I’ve decided,” Eddie said, grin widening, “it’s my turn. We’re going dramatic. Oscar-level. I’m gonna fake pass out. Maybe slur a little first. Make it believable. He’s got my stream on while he edits — he always does — so he’ll hear it.”

He took a breath, rolled his neck like a boxer getting ready for a fight, and then nodded to himself.

“Alright… here we go.”

He leaned back, let his eyes droop slightly. His speech slowed.

“Mm… guys, I think I need to—need to get some water. Feel kinda… off.”

He pushed up out of the chair slowly, hands grazing the desk for balance. And then, perfectly timed—

He stumbled out of frame, and let his body go limp.

A sickening thud echoed on the mic.

chat:

ghostsalt: wait.

goblincookies: oh no

pastelguts: HE’S PRANKING BUCK RIGHT??

trextrauma: wait that sounded real wtf

softserveghosts: BUCK IS GONNA LOSE IT

Thirty seconds.

Then the slam of a door opening hard.

Then:

“EDDIE?!”

Buck’s voice wasn’t confused — it was panicked. Ripped and raw.

“Eddie?! Angel—baby—can you hear me?”

He ran into frame, breath coming too fast, full-on kneeling beside the camera.

“You were slurring—oh my god, oh my god—Eddie, please— talk to me—hey—look at me.”

His voice cracked so badly he had to swallow before continuing.

His hands were shaking as he reached for Eddie — offscreen — and the mic picked up the jostling, the creak of the floor, the frantic whisper of, “Come on, come on, please—”

Then Eddie’s quiet voice, a little breathless from holding in laughter:

“Gotcha.”

Buck froze.

Everything went still.

“…What?”

Eddie sat up just enough to be visible again, eyes still twinkling. “It was a prank. For the ‘bro’ thing. You should’ve seen your face—”

Buck stood, stumbling back two steps like he’d been punched.

“No,” he said, voice hoarse. “No, Eddie. You don’t—” He wiped his face. “You don’t do that. You don’t- no.”

Eddie blinked, the grin starting to falter. “Buck—”

“I thought you hit your head. I thought—” Buck looked like he couldn’t breathe. “You went down so hard—I thought you were having a seizure or—or your heart stopped, or—”

He covered his mouth with one hand, turning away from the camera, shoulders trembling.

Eddie’s face dropped instantly. “Oh—babe, no. No, hey—Buck. Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t—I didn’t think it would hit you like that.”

Buck sat back down in Eddie’s chair, head in his hands. “That’s not funny, Eddie. That’s—you scared the shit out of me. I thought I was gonna walk in here and—” He broke off.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie said again, soft now, crawling into frame. “I really am. I swear. I thought it would be light.”

“You slurred your words,” Buck whispered. “And then there was the thud—God, I thought you hit your head on the desk.”

“I didn’t. I faked the fall. I landed on the rug.”

“I didn’t know that.”

There was a beat of silence before Eddie crouched next to him, sliding a hand onto Buck’s knee. “I won’t ever do anything like that again, okay? I promise. Never.”

Buck didn’t answer right away, but he reached for Eddie’s hand and squeezed it tight.

chat:

ghostqueue: i feel like i’m intruding

bunnysoupz: buck legit looked sick

slaystation4: 😭😭😭

softboyarchives: he loves him SO much it hurts

sockgremlin: no more prank wars PLEASE

Eddie turned to the camera, flushed and guilty. “Alright. That’s the last time I try to prank this man. Lesson learned. I’m gonna end the stream and go love on my boyfriend now.”

Buck didn’t even lift his head, but he squeezed Eddie’s hand again.

“Tell them bye for me,” he said softly.

Eddie kissed the top of his head and clicked to end the stream.

Chapter Text

The stream is cozy from the start. All three of them — Shannon in the middle with her mug, Buck in a hoodie on her left, and Eddie tucked up close on her right — sit like this has been the plan all along.

They’re laughing before the first question even comes in.

“Okay,” Buck says, wiping his eye, “we haven’t even started and someone already asked if Shannon could be a guest host every week.”

Shannon lifts her mug and smiles. “I’m flattered. And deeply unavailable.”

Q: “What was your first impression of each other?”

Shannon glances at Buck first. “Golden retriever. Flustered. Hot.”

Buck chokes. “You both keep saying I’m a dog," he pauses  You thought I was hot?”

"Oh absolutely you're lucky I'm a lesbian."

Eddie smirks. “You’re a very loyal, very pretty dog.”

Shannon looks at Eddie. “Stoic. Tired. Hot.”

Eddie nods. “Fair.”

Shannon shrugs. “We were both miserable. But we were trying.”

chat:
ghostqueue: not buck being a golden retriever AGAIN
frecklefiend: She is me.
bunnysoupz: can they all just adopt me
sockgremlin: shannon is so perceptive it’s scary

Q: “What’s something you admire about each other?”

Shannon answers first. “Buck’s heart. Eddie’s loyalty.”

Eddie: “Shannon’s clarity. She sees things for what they are and doesn’t flinch.”

Buck: “Shannon’s strength. Eddie’s patience.”

Shannon mock-sniffs. “Who gave you permission to be this nice to me?”

Q: “Funniest parenting moment?”

Buck grins. “The volcano incident.”

Eddie groans. “The entire kitchen. Baking soda. Red food dye. A rubber dinosaur inside.”

Shannon laughs. “He said, ‘It had to be realistic!’”

Q: “Do you ever get annoyed with each other?”

“Yes,” they all say in unison.

Buck points. “She shows up to pickup without a text we never know how much time we have.”

“We text her EVERY time.”

Eddie raises an eyebrow. “You ignore your texts.”

“I’m bad at notifications.”

chat:
ghostqueue: i feel like this is couple’s therapy for three
softboyarchives: this is the most honest stream they’ve done
goblincookies: i want to be their child so bad
pastelguts: ignoring texts is valid

Q: “What’s your group chat called?”

“Jurassic Fam,” Buck and Eddie say at once.

Shannon adds, “Volcano emoji. T-Rex. Little heart.”

Q: “What’s something the kid’s done recently that made you cry?”

Buck smiles. “He made us all bracelets. Said the green beads were for safety.”

“I wore mine to work,” Eddie says. “Still do.”

Shannon: “Alisa cried for like twenty minutes when he gave her hers.”

chat:
sunflowerload: i’m sobbing
frecklefiend: green beads for SAFETY
ghostqueue: what is this family doing to my HEART
bunnysoupz: this is the realest love i’ve ever seen

Q: “Have you ever all gone on vacation together?”

“Twice,” Shannon says. “San Diego and Yosemite.”

“Yosemite was chaos,” Eddie mutters.

“There were raccoons,” Buck adds.

“We accidentally left granola bars in the rental car,” Shannon says solemnly. “That car was ravaged.”

Q: “If you could give your past self advice, what would it be?”

Shannon: “You can love someone and still walk away.”

Eddie: “You’re not broken just because you’re struggling.”

Buck: “You’re not too much. You’re not too soft. There’s space for you.”

chat:
ghostqueue: i needed to hear that. right now.
sockgremlin: “you can love someone and still walk away” OOF
frecklefiend: this stream is healing me fr
pastelguts: shannon just cured my abandonment issues

Q: “What’s something silly that still makes you laugh?”

“Chris calling Buck ‘Captain Cereal’ for like three weeks when he first met him.” Shannon says.

“He made me a paper badge,” Buck says proudly.

Eddie’s smiling. “He takes role-playing very seriously.”

Q: “Do you ever argue about parenting styles?”

“Sure,” Shannon says. “We’re not carbon copies. But we listen.”

Buck nods. “We’ve gotten better at asking, not assuming.”

Eddie adds, “And apologizing.”

Q: “Has Alisa met Buck’s family?”

Shannon laughs. “No, but she wants to. Just to see if they combust.”

Buck: “I’m not bringing that chaos into her life.”

Eddie: “You barely bring them into your life.”

Buck shrugs. “Therapy’s working.”

chat:
ghostqueue: omg buck is SO real
sunflowerload: can alisa guest star next please
softboyarchives: i love how self-aware they all are
goblincookies: BUCK THERAPY ARC 💪

Q: “What’s your favorite thing to do all together?”

“Lego builds,” Eddie says immediately.

“Picnics,” Shannon adds. “And movie marathons. Mostly Jurassic Park or Spider-Man.”

Buck: “Also, joint grocery runs where we forget milk every time.”

Q: “What do you hope the kid learns from you?”

Shannon: “That love is gentle. That family can look like anything.”

Eddie: “That it’s okay to need people. That softness isn’t weakness.”

Buck: “That his heart is something to protect and share. Not something to be ashamed of.”

Q: “Have you ever thought about living in one big house together?”

Shannon chokes on her tea.

Eddie stares at the screen. “What—like, all of us?”

Buck: “Honestly… I don’t hate it.”

Shannon: “We’d kill each other.”

Buck: “But imagine the brunches.”

chat:
frecklefiend: BRUNCH HOUSE
bunnysoupz: i would pay to see them live together
ghostqueue: i would die in that house and haunt it out of joy
sunflowerload: just imagine Alisa reading a book while Buck makes pancakes omg

Q: “What’s your comfort meal as a family?”

“Mac and cheese,” Buck says.

Eddie nods. “With roasted broccoli.”

Shannon: “Buck makes the best mac. No notes.”

Q: “What’s something people misunderstand about co-parenting?”

“That it’s not about being friends or enemies,” Shannon says. “It’s about the kid. Always.”

Eddie nods. “We’re a team. Even when it’s hard.”

Buck: “Especially when it’s hard.”

Q: “What does your perfect day look like?”

Shannon: “Sunlight. Coffee. Lego bricks on the floor. A blanket over my lap. Alisa reading beside me. Quiet joy.”

Eddie: “Morning pancakes. Music in the kitchen. Buck humming. Chris laughing. That’s it.”

Buck just looks at them both and smiles. “That.”

chat:
ghostqueue: no stream has ever made me feel like this
frecklefiend: i love them SO MUCH
softboyarchives: i want a family like this
bunnysoupz: i’m gonna go cry into a pillow

As the questions start slowing down, Shannon stretches and leans back into the couch. “That was surprisingly tender for a Twitch Q&A.”

Eddie laughs softly. “You’re welcome to come back.”

Buck reaches across her lap and squeezes Eddie’s hand. “Yeah. This was… good.”

Shannon looks between them and smiles. “We did good.”

Chapter Text

The stream started with Buck fidgeting with the camera, adjusting the focus with one hand while Eddie muttered something off to the side. Maddie, already seated on the couch behind them, raised an eyebrow and sipped her coffee like she was deeply unimpressed.

Buck flopped back into frame. “Okay. We’re live. Everyone be cool.”

Maddie raised her hand with a calm smile. “Hi, internet. I’m Maddie. Buck’s older sister. This was a mistake.”

Eddie grinned from the other side of the couch. “Too late.”

Buck turned to the camera and gestured dramatically. “You asked for her. Constantly. I mean I can’t even scroll without someone going ‘bring Maddie on!’ So here she is. You better behave.”

frecklefiend: MADDIE HI OMG
pastelguts: SHE’S SO PRETTY
ghostqueue: immediately obsessed
sockgremlin: the ✨ energy ✨ already

Maddie leaned in, voice dry. “I read your Reddit theories, by the way. I do not secretly live in their guest room. I have my own house. I have a life.”

Buck laughed. “She does. A whole family, in fact.”

Q: Wait, so Maddie has a family??

“I do,” she said easily. “I’m married to Chim—he’s amazing—and we have two kids. Jee-Yun is eight, and Kevin is five.”

Eddie smiled. “Kevin is tiny and full of rage.”

“Jee-Yun has declared herself my boss,” Buck added proudly. “She sends me bullet-point lists.”

“She writes them in marker,” Maddie confirmed. “Very dramatic ones.”

bunnysoupz: THEIR NAMES 😭😭😭
frecklefiend: not the bullet points I LOVE HER
pastelguts: kevin being tiny and full of rage feels right
ghostqueue: jee-yun girlboss behavior from the jump

Q: Does Jee-Yun like Buck and Eddie?

“She’s obsessed with them,” Maddie said. “She told me yesterday that Buck is the reason she believes in magic.”

Buck immediately melted. “I’m gonna cry.”

“And she calls Eddie ‘El Silencioso’ because she says he’s quiet but powerful.”

Eddie blinked. “That sounds like a Marvel villain.”

Q: Maddie, how did you and Chim meet?

“Oh wow, throwing it back.” She smiled. “We met through work, actually. Chim's a paramedic. We were friends first, coworkers second, in denial for a long time.”

Buck laughed. “They were so in denial.”

“I once asked Chim if he liked Maddie,” Eddie added. “He spilled his coffee.”

Q: What are the kids like?

“Jee’s the creative one,” Maddie said. “She’s a planner. She choreographs dances and builds dollhouses out of cardboard.”

Buck nodded. “She made me a calendar for Christmas. Each day just said things like ‘hug someone’ or ‘tell yourself you’re cute.’”

Maddie smiled. “Kevin is more chaotic. He’s loud, dramatic, deeply suspicious of vegetables.”

Eddie chuckled. “He once asked me if broccoli was a trap.”

Q: Buck, are you the fun uncle?

“I am the fun uncle,” Buck declared. “I bring them too much candy, let them stay up late, and teach them important life skills.”

“Like how to leap off the couch safely,” Maddie said flatly.

Eddie added, “Or how to steal cookies silently.”

ghostqueue: fun uncle energy OFF THE CHARTS
pastelguts: i want him to teach me life skills tbh
sockgremlin: kevin and buck are the same person confirmed

Q: Maddie, do you get along with Eddie?

“I love Eddie,” Maddie said, tilting her head toward him. “He’s calm, kind, and somehow tolerates my brother.”

Eddie smiled. “She roasts him more than I do.”

Buck scoffed. “Traitors.”

Q: What’s your favorite memory of each other?

Maddie grinned. “Okay. Buck once tried to impress a girl by jumping his bike off the front curb. He wiped out so hard his arm broke in three different places.”

Buck groaned. “Why is it always the bike story?”

“It’s legendary,” Eddie said.

“For Eddie,” Maddie continued, “I think it’s when he danced with Jee-Yun in the middle of the grocery store. No music. Just vibes.”

Eddie laughed. “She said she was sad. Dancing fixed it.”

frecklefiend: EDDIE 😭😭😭
bunnysoupz: i’m gonna sob
pastelguts: why are they all soft like this
ghostqueue: this family is ruining me in the best way

They answered questions for over an hour—Buck somehow balancing a stuffed raccoon on his head halfway through, Maddie calmly sharing parenting stories, Eddie leaning in to read chat when Buck’s voice got too loud. The energy shifted between goofy and gentle and back again like breathing.

Eventually, Maddie glanced at her phone and stood. “Alright, I’ve got two small people to tuck in and one grown man who still doesn’t know how to use our dishwasher.”

Buck hugged her tightly. “Tell the gremlins I love them.”

“Tell Jee I saw her dance video and I’m practicing,” Eddie added with a little wave.

Maddie smiled at the chat. “Thanks for being so lovely. And weird. But mostly lovely.”

ghostqueue: she’s perfect
bunnysoupz: come back soon!!!
pastelguts: tell chim we said hi
frecklefiend: JEE AND KEVIN FOREVER 💖

Once she was gone, Buck sighed happily and leaned into Eddie. “She’s gonna tease me about this forever.”

“She already does,” Eddie said, smiling. “But yeah. She’ll love you forever, too.”

Chapter Text

The stream opens with Buck sitting sideways on the couch, one foot tucked under his leg, hoodie sleeves bunched up to his elbows. Eddie is behind the camera, adjusting it slightly with a practiced hand before walking into frame and dropping next to him, holding two mugs. One he hands off to Buck without a word.

Buck grinned. “Alright, alright, calm down. We see you in the chat already. We haven’t even sat down and you’re already threatening to riot.”

Eddie looked at the screen. “They’re scary sometimes.”

Buck laughed. “They’re passionate. Which is why we decided to deliver today. Y’all asked for more guests. You loved Maddie, you loved Shannon, and today…”

Eddie leaned in, smirking. “You get the upgrade.”

From off-camera, a voice called, “I’m not sure I like being called an upgrade. Sounds like pressure.”

Buck’s grin stretched. “Come on in, old man.”

Bobby walked into frame, wearing a soft button-down tucked into dark jeans. He had reading glasses hanging from his collar and a face that looked at ease, but his eyes flicked toward the chat like he was still a little unsure of the internet crowd.

ghostqueue: NO WAY IS THAT ACTUALLY HIM
pastelguts: HE’S REAL. HE’S HOT. HE’S DAD??
frecklefiend: BOBBY DADSON IN THE FLESH
bunnysoupz: he looks like he gives the best hugs
smallsundae: his voice is so calm what the heck 😭

Bobby sat down on Buck’s other side, and Buck immediately nudged his shoulder against Bobby’s like it was second nature.

“This,” Buck said, gesturing with a little flourish, “is Bobby Nash. My dad. My real one. And he agreed to do this stream even though he still writes emails in all caps.”

“I like emphasis,” Bobby said simply.

Q: Wait so like—real dad??

Buck smiled. “He adopted me when I was eight.”

Bobby added gently, “He’d already been through too much by then. He needed someone who could show up and stay.”

Eddie reached over to touch Buck’s knee under the camera view. Buck leaned back into him like he needed the grounding.

“It’s not always been easy,” Buck said. “But it’s real. He showed up for me. And kept showing up.”

frecklefiend: i’m crying already what the hell
pastelguts: EIGHT. HE WAS EIGHT 😭😭😭
ghostqueue: i want someone to show up for me like that
smallsundae: ok i’m sobbing into my cereal

Q: What was Buck like when you adopted him?

Bobby let out a quiet chuckle. “Wild. He’d climb everything. Talked constantly. Asked more questions than I had answers for. One time he tried to microwave a spoon.”

Buck groaned. “Okay, I was eight!”

Eddie deadpanned, “You tried to microwave foil last year.”

“That was science.”

sockgremlin: NOT THE SPOON
bunnysoupz: someone protect 8 y/o buck at all costs
pastelguts: bobby deserves a medal and a hug

Q: Was it hard? Becoming a dad like that?

Bobby nodded slowly. “Yes. And no. I mean, parenting is always hard. But loving him? That part was easy.”

Buck bit his lip.

“He didn’t trust me at first. Not really. He thought I’d leave too. But he also desperately wanted to believe I wouldn’t. So he’d test me. He’d say stuff like, ‘I bet you’ll forget to pick me up.’ Or he’d leave things broken on purpose, just to see if I’d care.”

Buck rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand, quiet.

“I never left,” Bobby said, looking over at him. “And I never will.”

frecklefiend: well i wasn’t gonna cry today but okay
pastelguts: bobby is the dad buck deserved all along
smallsundae: the I never left line broke me
bunnysoupz: this is such a safe space 😭😭😭

Q: How did Bobby and Eddie meet?

“At Buck’s first gallery show,” Bobby said. “I came to surprise him. Eddie was already there—hovering.”

“I was making sure he drank water,” Eddie said.

Buck beamed. “He was nervous. It was adorable.”

Bobby looked at Eddie and added, “I knew right then. You don’t hover like that unless you’re in deep.”

Eddie didn’t deny it. “He’s worth hovering over.”

Q: Bobby, do you like Eddie for Buck?

“I do,” Bobby said simply. “Eddie’s steady. He listens. He sees Buck for who he is. And he loves him for all of it—not just the bright stuff.”

Buck blinked rapidly. “Okay, we’re getting deep now.”

Eddie smiled at him. “I like the deep.”

ghostqueue: they’re all in love and i’m just here crying
pastelguts: i need therapy after this
frecklefiend: bobby is the blueprint for safe masculinity

Q: Bobby, what’s your best memory with Buck?

“There are so many,” Bobby said. “But… I think it’s the first time he called me Dad.”

Buck looked down.

“He’d been with me almost a year. It was raining. We were fixing the leaky faucet together. And he said, real casual, like he didn’t even mean to, ‘Can you hand me the wrench, Dad?’”

He paused, eyes glassy.

“I almost dropped it. I didn’t say anything at first. Just handed it to him. Later that night, I hugged him goodnight and he said, ‘I meant it.’ And I knew exactly what he meant.”

pastelguts: HOW DARE YOU
bunnysoupz: i need a tissue and a nap
ghostqueue: the wrench. the rain. the i meant it.
frecklefiend: core memory unlocked

Q: Buck, what’s the first time you knew Bobby was your dad?

Buck was quiet for a moment. “It was when I got suspended for fighting. Some kid said something awful to another foster kid. I punched him. School called Bobby. I thought he’d yell.”

He paused. “He showed up. Sat on the curb with me. Asked if I was okay first. Then said he was proud of me for defending someone—even if the method needed work.”

“I still stand by that,” Bobby said softly.

Q: Wait if Buck is adopted how is Maddie his sister? Like in what way?

"Maddie is my biological sister. My parents gave me up and I didn't get adopted until I was 8 and Maddie begged dad to let her keep in touch." Buck says with a tender look on his face.

"I couldn't say no to her she was crying. It didn't feel right ripping contact between 2 siblings."

The stream went on for almost two hours. They told stories about Buck sneaking cookies, Eddie helping Bobby build a bookshelf wrong twice, and the three of them getting stranded at IKEA for four hours because Buck forgot where he parked.

By the end, Bobby stood, stretched, and placed a soft hand on Buck’s shoulder.

“I’m proud of you, kid. Always.”

Buck leaned into it, barely whispering, “Thanks, Dad.”

ghostqueue: NOT ME SOBBING
pastelguts: this was the most healing thing i’ve seen all week
frecklefiend: love is real and bobby is proof
bunnysoupz: this stream changed me

Chapter Text

Buck’s already laughing when the stream starts.

“I just wanna say in advance,” he tells the camera, “if I start crying, it’s not because I’m hurt — it’s because I’m laughing too hard at the tragic writing level of some of these.”

Eddie, already sitting behind him in a hoodie and sweats, says, “Please remember, we’ve been on the internet too long to have dignity left.”

Buck holds up a printout. “I printed these because I needed to feel them.”

pastelguts: PRINTED THEM 😭
frecklefiend: they’re ready to roast omg
bunnysoupz: i love this energy already
ghostqueue: eddie’s hoodie sleeves are over his hands he’s in cozy roast mode

Buck reads the first one, putting on his best dramatic voice.

“‘Buck is clearly just riding Eddie’s quiet hot guy appeal to stay relevant.’”

Eddie blinks. “What does that even mean?”

“I’m sorry, I’m riding what?”

Eddie shrugs. “Quiet hot guy appeal. I guess I’m the prize.”

Buck turns in his chair and points. “If anyone is the prize in this relationship, it’s me. I’m the main character. I bring the spice. I keep things fresh.”

Eddie looks at the camera. “He cried yesterday because his tortilla broke.”

“IT WAS THE LAST ONE.”

pastelguts: NOT THE TORTILLA
ghostqueue: “i bring the spice” buck stfu 😭
frecklefiend: eddie is so calm it’s terrifying
bunnysoupz: someone please make buck a tortilla blanket

Buck scrolls again. “Here’s another gem. ‘They’re obviously in a performative relationship. No passion. No real connection. Buck deserves better.’”

Eddie just blinks. Then calmly sets his mug down.

“I rail him at least three times a week.”

Buck jumps to his feet. “EDMUNDO DÍAZ. ¡¿Así hablas de mí en vivo, mi amor?!”

Eddie raises a brow. “Sí, bebé.”

pastelguts: NOT AGAIN NOT THE NAME
bunnysoupz: i choked on my drink
ghostqueue: buck’s spanish is TOO GOOD
frecklefiend: you cannot just say “i rail him” with a straight face 😭

Buck dramatically collapses back in his chair. “I am being targeted. I am delicate. I am sensitive.”

“You are loud,” Eddie corrects.

Buck flips the page and gasps again. “OH this one is just mean: ‘Buck’s voice is so annoying. I would pay money for him to shut up.’”

Buck blinks. “Joke’s on you, I have a Cameo. You can pay me to say anything.”

Eddie mutters, “Even if you don’t want him to.”

Buck turns. “You like my voice.”

“I do,” Eddie says. “Especially when it’s saying, ‘baby, come to bed.’”

Buck short-circuits for a second. “Are you flirting right now?!”

Eddie leans into the mic. “Siempre, mi amor.”

pastelguts: please get a room
frecklefiend: THEYRE SO GROSS I LOVE THEM
ghostqueue: i’m sobbing in single
bunnysoupz: eddie’s little voice drops are my kryptonite

Buck finds another one and snorts. “‘They don’t even live together. That’s obvious. There’s no way they’d last.’”

Eddie raises his brows. “We share a mortgage.”

Buck nods. “And a child. And a weird neighbor who keeps giving us zucchini bread.”

“I like the bread.”

“It tastes like sadness and garden disappointment.”

ghostqueue: MORTGAGE
bunnysoupz: the zucchini bread slander 😭
pastelguts: not buck vs vegetables again
frecklefiend: eddie is 100% the reason they have groceries

Buck flips to the final page. “Okay. Last one. And this one’s... wow.”

He clears his throat. “‘If Eddie had better taste, he’d be with someone less clingy and more mature. Someone quiet. Someone stable.’”

Eddie hums. “Hm.”

Buck leans into the mic. “Your honor, he just made me cry in Trader Joe’s by whispering “you’re my favorite place.””

“I said that because you were standing in front of the free samples.”

“Still counts.”

pastelguts: OKAY THAT’S SO CUTE STOP
ghostqueue: “you’re my favorite place” 😭😭😭
frecklefiend: i’m crying over frozen dumplings
bunnysoupz: clingy and mature is the new power couple combo

Buck tosses the printed hate comments in the trash and turns to Eddie. “We survived. What did we learn?”

Eddie smirks. “That people online are weird and you’re very sensitive.”

“And you’re in love with me anyway.”

“I am,” Eddie says. “Tragically.”

pastelguts: ENDING ON “TRAGICALLY” I’M DONE
ghostqueue: BEST STREAM EVER
frecklefiend: this healed my trauma
rooftopsniper: i’m gonna go cry in a capri sun now

Chapter Text

The camera turns on to Buck already laughing at something off-screen.

He leans into frame, cheeks pink from whatever Eddie just said. “Hi! Welcome back. Tonight we’re reading something a little softer, because... we emotionally cannot afford to do hate comments two weeks in a row.”

Eddie appears behind him, setting two mugs down. “Also, he cried at a Subaru commercial earlier.”

“It was really moving, babe.”

Eddie sits and gently pulls Buck closer by the hoodie sleeve. “So yeah. Soft stream tonight.”

pastelguts: hoodie again 🥺
bunnysoupz: the mugs. the sleeves. the energy
ghostqueue: buck blushing already i’m weak
frecklefiend: subaru commercial… mood

Buck pulls out his phone. “Okay, we asked you to send in your favorite things about us—separately or together. And y’all really showed up.”

Eddie leans in to read the first one.
“‘You two are the reason I started therapy. I saw how gentle you are with each other and realized I deserved that too.’”

Buck’s eyes immediately go wide and soft. “Okay we’re starting with tears, cool.”

Eddie leans his head against Buck’s shoulder. “That means a lot. We’re proud of you.”

pastelguts: I’M ALREADY SOBBING
ghostqueue: thank u to that anon you’re doing amazing
frecklefiend: real life healing couple

Buck reads the next one.
“‘I don’t even like gaming but I tune in just to hear Buck giggle when Eddie calls him baby.’”

He claps a hand over his mouth. “WHO SAID THAT.”

Eddie grins. “That’s fair.”

bunnysoupz: guilty
ghostqueue: he DOES have a cute giggle
pastelguts: it’s the lil soft ‘baby’ that gets me every time
frecklefiend: i’m in love with both of them

Buck scrolls. “This one says: ‘You guys helped me come out. Watching Eddie be so confident and soft and loving made me feel safe enough to be honest about who I am. Also, Buck is basically queer joy in human form.’”

Buck hides his face in Eddie’s hoodie. “I’m gonna cry.”

Eddie rubs his hand up and down Buck’s back. “You are joy, cariño.”

Buck peeks up. “You’re really good at this whole ‘making me fall in love with you every ten seconds’ thing.”

ghostqueue: NOT CARIÑO 😭😭
pastelguts: eddie being his safe space AHH
frecklefiend: this is what the internet is for

Eddie picks up the next one.
“‘The way Buck looks at Eddie makes me believe in love again.’”

He looks at Buck. “Do you look at me?”

Buck grins. “Like I’m trying to memorize you, yeah.”

Eddie doesn’t say anything—just grabs Buck’s hand under the table and squeezes.

bunnysoupz: I NEED A MINUTE
ghostqueue: i want this. i want what they have.
pastelguts: these are real tears this time y’all

Buck scrolls. “Here’s a fun one: ‘I love the way you two communicate. You’re so open, even when it’s awkward. It made me start actually talking to my boyfriend instead of bottling everything up.’”

Eddie nods. “Communication is sexy.”

Buck hums. “So is being emotionally available.”

“Hot people go to therapy,” Eddie adds.

frecklefiend: THERAPY SEXY LET’S GO
pastelguts: communication kings 👑
ghostqueue: emotionally available men >>>>>

Buck’s voice is a little quieter as he reads the next one.

“‘Seeing the way you two treat each other—like you’re still in that soft honeymoon stage but deeper—made me realize that love doesn’t have to fade. It just changes and grows.’”

Eddie smiles. “It gets better.”

Buck looks over at him. “You make everything better.”

ghostqueue: soft sobbing noises
pastelguts: stop i’m literally holding my heart rn
frecklefiend: we’re never recovering from this one
bunnysoupz: this is my comfort stream now

Eddie leans into the camera. “We just wanna say thank you. Seriously. It’s really easy to get lost in the noise online, but you guys… you’re the reason we keep showing up.”

Buck kisses the side of Eddie’s head. “The love goes both ways. Always.”

pastelguts: AHHHHHHHH
ghostqueue: someone hug ME
frecklefiend: this is the only relationship i trust
bunnysoupz: okay but when’s the wedding

Chapter Text

Buck was half-curled in his desk chair, hoodie sleeves shoved to his elbows, clicking through Lightroom like his life depended on it. He’d been editing shots from a wedding all afternoon — warm lighting, golden lace, twinkle lights and stolen glances. His chat was vibing with him, mostly teasing him for the sappy playlist in the background.

noodles4life: buck pls your editing face is so serious

sunnysidebuck: he’s in the ZONE ok

goosecam: bro you look like you’re about to marry them yourself

And then the door creaked open behind him.

Buck turned instinctively. “Baby!”

Eddie stepped into frame slowly, eyebrows scrunched, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, and his hair was wind-tousled, damp from an LA drizzle. He blinked at Buck like he hadn’t expected to be seen yet.

Buck’s whole face lit up. “You’re so cold, my love.”

“I am?” Eddie asked, surprised, voice still soft from the outside.

Buck was already pushing back from his chair, standing. “Yes, babe. You’re freezing.” He peeled off his hoodie in one smooth motion, t-shirt rucked up underneath just enough to flash the line of his hip. “Here, c’mere.”

Eddie hesitated, looking at the camera.

But Buck was already tugging him gently closer, pulling the hoodie over his head with practiced ease. His hands lingered on Eddie’s shoulders once the sweatshirt was on, smoothing it down, like he was warming him through touch alone.

“There,” Buck said, brushing a kiss against his temple. “Better?”

Eddie nodded, burying his hands in the sleeves. “Much.”

chat:

honestlyobsessed: NO BECAUSE???

coffeepour94: “you’re so cold my love” im sobbing

littlematchgirI: buck gave him the hoodie and kissed him I can’t do this rn

frecklefiend: why does eddie look like he just came in from a snowstorm in norway

notyouraveragecrayon: he lets him in the stream room AND gives him the hoodie?? oh they’re IN LOVE love

Buck sat back down, cheeks a little pink now. “Okay, where were we… Oh right — fixing the lighting on this ring shot.”

Eddie leaned against the edge of the desk, quiet, warm now, wrapped in Buck’s hoodie like it was armor.