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loulou-land · 2 months ago

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'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

So, I have no idea what this is, I just needed to work through some feelings. This was a challenge to write because its 95% dialogue heavy and that's never been my strong suit. But I really needed Tommy and Eddie to argue apparently. Fair warning, this isn't Eddie friendly, though I really tried not to go into character bashing. Please let me know if I need to include a warning for that.

Spoilers for 8x17 | arguing, mentions of grief, mild physical altercation, dialogue heavy, mild hurt/comfort | 1,625 words

“What did you say to him?” Tommy asks when he comes into the kitchen.

“Oh, so now you’re talking to me?” Eddie doesn’t look at him, just keeps stacking dishes in the sink.

Tommy folds his arms, keeping a careful distance. “You’re the one who cut ties, Diaz. And believe me, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t have to.”

He hates that it’s come to this. Eddie had been a good friend—someone Tommy genuinely thought understood him. But then he’d dropped him without a word, like he was yesterday's trash. And yeah, that had hurt more than Tommy wants to admit. He gets it, loyalty is complicated, and Evan was Eddie’s best friend. Still, that doesn’t excuse whatever’s been going on between them lately. Not when it’s left Evan looking so small and acting skittish.

Eddie scoffs. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Tommy says, locking eyes with him, “I’m pretty sure Evan left a lot out when he told me what happened. He downplayed it. I can see it in how careful he is around you. Like he’s afraid to say the wrong thing. So I’ll ask again—what did you say to him?”

“Jesus,” Eddie mutters, shaking his head. “That’s what this is about? We had an argument. We moved past it—or at least I thought we did. But of course, Buck’s making it out to be bigger than it was. Making it all about him again. Has to be the one hurting the most.”

Tommy stills. His voice, when it comes out, is quiet but razor sharp. “Is that what you told him? That he’s making it about himself?”

Eddie finally looks at him, like he’s surprised Tommy’s even making an issue of this.

“Eddie,” Tommy continues, voice tight with restraint, “Bobby died. His father in everything but blood. Evan’s allowed to hurt. However loud, however long he needs to. You don’t tell someone how to grieve.”

Something shifts in Eddie’s expression, turning defensive, bitter. “I lost Bobby too. And you—god, you don’t have any idea what that was like for me. For any of us. You’re not part of the 118. Not our 118.”

The words cut straight through him, but Tommy doesn’t flinch. He takes a breath, rubs a hand through his hair, grounding himself.

“You’re right. I’m not part of your family. But Bobby still meant something to me. And I was there Eddie. I might not have seen what it did to you, I saw what it did to Evan though. You didn’t—”

He pauses, remembering how helpless he felt, watching Evan break through a tiny screen, being unable to get to him. He meets Eddie’s stare, “You didn’t watch him fall apart.”

“I should’ve been there,” Eddie says, sidestepping Tommy’s statement. Tommy wishes he could be surprised, but he’s starting to understand why Evan doesn’t feel like he can talk about his feelings. “I could’ve done something. I—”

Tommy lets out a bitter laugh. “I’m sorry, did I miss the part where you’re a miracle worker? A genius scientist with a cure in your back pocket?”

Eddie squares his shoulders, puffing up with practiced intimidation. Tommy nearly rolls his eyes, but he knows baiting him won’t help.

Still, Eddie stalks closer, jaw clenched. “Fuck you. You—”

“We all did what we could,” Tommy snaps, finally losing some of his own restraint. “I’m sorry you weren’t there. I really am. But don’t take your guilt out on Evan. He’s already drowning in his own and still trying to take care of everyone at the same time.”

Eddie scoffs. “He’s spiraling, that’s what he is. And what the hell do you even know about Buck’s guilt? His pain?” he shoots back. “You dumped him. Left him. And now what? He puts out one time and suddenly you think that gives you the right to waltz back in. He’s hurting, and you’re using that to your advantage.”

Tommy’s whole body tenses. He can’t believe Eddie is insinuating he’s using Evan. That he would be that kind of person. And using the worst mistake he’d ever made, leaving Evan, against him? Something he’s regretted from the moment he left.

He inhales sharply, fist clenched at his sides. Not because he’s thinking of swinging—never that. But the bite of his nails digging into his palms helps ground him.

“Don’t you ever say that to my face again, Diaz. Or to Evan, for that matter,” he says, trembling with anger. “I’m here for him—in whatever way he needs me. I’m not asking for anything. I’m not expecting anything. Which is more that I can say for you.”

Eddie reels back, nostrils flaring. His eyes flash angrily and Tommy braces himself.

“No,” Eddie growls. “You don’t understand. Don’t pretend you know anything about our relationship.”

“I know Evan!” Tommy interrupts. He refuses to let Eddie bait him with that dig.

“You don’t know what Buck and I have been through. The bond we have. He’s like a brother to me.”

Tommy stares at him, incredulous. “Brother?” He huffs out a sharp breath. “You barely treat him like a friend.”

Eddie’s face twists. He jabs a finger toward Tommy’s face. “Shut the fuck up. Don’t talk about shit you don’t understand.”

Tommy doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t move. Just meets Eddie’s fury head-on.

“Diaz,” he says, voice tightly controlled. “Back off, before I break that finger.”

“I love Buck. He’s family,” Eddie snaps, using the words like a defense. Like that single word erases all the damage he’s done.

Tommy bites the side of his cheek to hold in his immediate response. He breathes through it. Damn it. He’s not going to throw a punch. Not at someone Evan still loves, still looks up to—even if they don’t deserve it right now.

He won’t be the one to hurt the people Evan holds close. Not even when they’ve done plenty of damage themselves.

Tommy exhales, slow and steady. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

“Excuse me?” Eddie asks, a hitch in his voice now.

Tommy meets his eyes, unflinchingly. “You call it love, Eddie. But love doesn’t make someone feel like a burden. Love doesn’t kick you when you’re down. Love doesn’t twist the knife when they’re already bleeding.”

The words seem to land like a strike.

Eddie flinches, staggering back half a step like the air’s been punched from his lungs.

For a second, Tommy thinks that’s it. That he’s finally gotten through to him.

Maybe now Eddie will actually take a look at himself—really look—apologize to Evan, try to do better.

He gives him too much credit.

Eddie’s face hardens, shutters down—and then he comes swinging. It takes Tommy off guard. He moves, but not fast enough, and the punch clips him on the side of the head. He’s already bracing to restrain Eddie when—

“Stop!”

They both turn toward the entryway, where Evan stands. He’s breathing hard, eyes wide, clearly upset. It’s obvious, he’s been there a while, listening.

Tommy feels a wave of regret crash over him. He never wanted Evan to hear any of this, let alone witness them like this.

“You should leave,” Evan says quietly.

Tommy’s heart sinks—until he realizes Evan isn’t looking at him. He’s staring straight at Eddie.

“Me? Are you serious right now?” Eddie asks, incredulous.

“Yes, Eddie. You.” Evan’s voice is sharp, angry. “You swung at Tommy. What the hell?”

“Oh, of course you’re taking his side,” Eddie mutters, rolling his eyes.

“This isn’t about sides,” Evan snaps. “You need to cool off. Before you dig yourself an even bigger grave.”

His voice shakes with fury, but there’s a note of something else underneath. Hurt, exhaustion. Tommy sees it in the tremble of Evan’s hands, the rigid way he’s holding himself upright.

“Just…leave. Don’t come back unless you’re ready to talk like a civil person, and apologize. To Tommy. And…to me.”

He meets Eddie’s eyes squarely, head held high. Tommy watches, quietly awed. He knows how much it’s costing Evan to say this, but he’s doing it anyway.

Tommy turns to Eddie worriedly. He can see it—the poison gathering behind his teeth, just waiting to spew out.

“Eddie,” Tommy says softly, tiredly. Almost pleading. “Please. Take a walk.”

Eddie glances between them. Something finally sinks in, because the fight drains out of him. He turns without another word and walks out the back door. The door slamming shut behind him.

Tommy exhales in relief. He looks at Evan, who’s still watching the door with a sad, distant expression.

“Hey,” Tommy says gently. “I’m sorry.”

Evan frowns, eyes welling with tears. “Tommy, you don’t have anything to apologize for. You—” he pauses, swallowing hard. “You stood up for me.” His voice cracks on the last word.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Tommy doesn’t hesitate. He moves toward him, and Evan meets him halfway. They fall into each other, hugging tightly, grounding themselves in each other. Tommy runs a soothing hand down Evan’s back, trying to steady the tremors in his body.

After a long moment, Evan whispers, “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. I…I could’ve done it. But th—thank you.”

“Anytime,” Tommy says fiercely. “I’m here for you.”

Evan shudders, then pulls back slightly, offering him a small, smile. “I know.”

He squeezes Tommy’s hand, then glances down at his lips.

Tommy lifts his hands, cradling Evan’s face gently, and kisses him softly.

They stay there, foreheads pressed together, breathing in sync, taking comfort in each other.

They’ll have to deal with Eddie later. Sift through the wreckage and make sense of where they go from here. But for now, it’s enough that they have one another. They’re in this together.

#bucktommy #tommy kinard #evan buckley #eddie diaz #anti eddie diaz #<just in case #not eddie diaz friendly #cw grief #911 spoilers #fix it of sorts

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