netslu - Tumblr blog

netslu · 1 year ago

Photo

9-1-1 evan “buck” buckley x eddie diaz fic recs

As promised, after a week straight of doing basically nothing but reading buck/eddie fanfics, I am here with my fan fic recommendation post.

Here are the housekeeping notes:

Fics are ordered by length because I’m not an animal.

All authors have been tagged where I can reasonably find their tumblr url.

Some authors will appear multiple times, so will be tagged multiple times.

I’m super picky with fics so this is really my buck/eddie masterpiece fic list - I have read a lot of fics and I’ve enjoyed a lot of fics, but these are the mona lisas imo.

all of them have super great writing and excellent characterisation because that’s what i care about

I have created a handy dandy key to give quick opinions on fics, but some will have bonus comments:

🤍 = excellently, incredibly well written absolutely top tier craft

🖤 = gives me the Emotions

❤️ = oh that’s fucking cute

SHORT 0-5K

What’s mine is yours… by ReallySmartLadyMarieCurie

1K | ❤️

summary: In which Buck and Eddie share a locker and Chimney is confused.

His name is Buck, actually by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

1K | 🖤

summary: Missing scene from the end of Buck Begins, because someone needed to tell the Buckleys off on Buck’s behalf.

this life that we’ve created (or: how silvia rodriguez learned to believe in fairytales again) by evcndiaz @evcndiaz

2K | 🤍 ❤️

summary: “So, just to be clear: You want to make a—” she glances down at her papers, “—Mr. Evan Buckley your son Christopher Diaz’s guardian in the event of your untimely death.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“And you… don’t want to tell him about it?”

“Eh,” he says. Eh, like he’s not breaking Silvia’s brain. “I’m sure I’ll tell him eventually.”

or; eddie makes buck christopher’s legal guardian told from his lawyer’s perspective. because why not

if you want it baby i can show you by wafflesofdoom

4K | ❤️ | the lover of the backwards baseball cap/frat boy aesthetic (particularly on buck) in me read this fic twice

summary: so here’s the thing – eddie diaz is very aware that his boyfriend is a ridiculously attractive human being. even before buck was his boyfriend, eddie was aware of this – evan buckley was 6’2, nothing but muscle and pure strength, with a heart of goddamn gold. buck could rock just about any outfit and eddie would find it sexy - but he never expected his downfall to be a backwards baseball cap.

A Locker Knows by mansikka @mansikka

4K | 🤍 ❤️ | top tier content and top tier writing. the wildest outsider perspective you could ask for

summary: A firehouse locker watches Buck and Eddie fall in love.

In which, a polite though mildly pervy locker in the 118 firehouse takes a deep, personal interest in all things Evan Buckley. In a far less lecherous way than 911’s official social media accounts.

MEDIUM 5-20K

standing on the edge (of great) by evcndiaz @evcndiaz

5K | 🤍 🖤 | oh bro oh bro oh bro THIS ONE

summary: Ana cuts him off. “What were you thinking about?”

“I—What?”

“What were you thinking about? You know, when you moaned your best friend’s name right before you came inside me. What was even going through your head? I know it certainly couldn’t have been me.”

or; eddie says buck’s name during sex with ana. it goes about as well as you would expect. and then somehow, it gets a little better

it’s funny how they say when you find someone (heart speeds up, time slows down) by wafflesofdoom

5.5K | 🤍 🖤

summary: eddie diaz was not an oblivious man - regardless of what the 118 thought, what maddie thought, what his abuela thought, what every single person who came into their lives thought, he was not an oblivious man. eddie knew he was in love with buck - he’d know what for a long time, actually.

the thing was - eddie needed to be ready to say it out-loud.

or, alternatively, the one where eddie finds a no-nonsense therapist, confronts his feelings, and jumps off several metaphorical cliffs.

The Perks Of Being Set Up By A Ten Year Old by on_mars @on-maars

6K | ❤️

summary: “If you’re in love with him then you need to tell him, Eddie.”

Chris opens his eyes wide and a small smile stretches his lips. His dad is in love with Buck.

That’s not news, though. Christopher already knew that. That’s why he got so mad at his dad when he told him he was dating Ms. Flores. She was nice but she wasn’t the right person for his dad. Bucky was. He still is.

[OR Eddie and Buck are dumb so Chris decides to take things into his own hands]

Hold Me Like A Keepsake by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

6K | 🖤 ❤️

summary: While merging households and establishing new Buckley-Diaz family traditions, Chris and Eddie learn the bad history of the baby box and decide something must be done.

What’s Died Will Never Stay Dead by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

6.5K | 🤍 🖤

summary: Bobby’s family died in an apartment fire in St Paul, he was honest about that much.

But it was in 1904, not 2014.

The immortal firefam AU no one asked for.

a warmth i’ve never known by ofloveandlonging

7K | 🖤

summary: It’s quiet on the other end of the line for a long moment. Buck counts his heartbeats. They’re quick with worry while he waits for Eddie to speak.

“Buck, I think you need to take him to the ER.”

one of the few things by thatnerdemryn @thatnerdemryn

7K | 🤍 🖤

summary: “I want someone who’s going to take care of him, love him just as I would without babying him or making him feel like he can’t do things, you know? I want someone who is going to fight for him, not against him, who would literally go through hell for him because he deserves it–” Eddie cut himself off, but Hen didn’t need him to continue.

“You want it to be Buck.” Maybe she should’ve been more surprised or she should’ve asked the question instead of saying it so surely and causing the bit of panic that erupted in Eddie’s eyes, but it was obvious in everything Eddie was expressing.

Or five times that Eddie tells someone else that Buck is Christopher’s legal guardian plus one time he finally tells Buck.

I Didn’t Know I Was Lonely ‘Til I Saw Your Face by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

10K | 🤍 🖤 | oh my god oh my god this is one of my absolute FAVOURITES

summary: After the ladder truck and the blood clot and the tsunami, Bobby makes Buck go to therapy before he does something stupid (like sue the city). Buck’s not totally comfortable being alone with a therapist, but fortunately he makes a friend and ally who’s willing to help him out - Eddie Diaz from the 136 who’s just been caught in an illegal fight club.

Total strangers Buck and Eddie go to couple’s therapy together to get out of the therapy requirements their captains have placed on them.

take my hand (take my everything) by cnomad @cinematicnomad

10K | 🤍 🖤

summary: When Buck has another near death experience, he decides the smartest thing to do is update his will. It’s not a big deal, really—he just wants to take care of the people who matter most to him: Eddie and Chris.

But to Eddie? To Eddie that’s a pretty huge deal.

home is wherever i’m with you by woodchoc_magnum @woodchoc-magnum

10K | ❤️ | crop top buck RIGHTS

summary: In which Christopher picks out a kitty cat best friend, and Buck drives Eddie wild in a crop top for Halloween.

end of the affair by eaudnes

10.6K | 🖤

summary: Just some wholesome content of two dads and their son (oh yeah and Eddie’s house almost blows up).

a leaf falls on loneliness by iimpossible_things

11K | 🤍 🖤

summary: Buck doesn’t think that if he were to say, “I’m in a bad place”, that anyone would turn him away. Really, he doesn’t. The 118 has too many good, kind people for that.

But every time he wants to open his mouth, to say something, to reach out to Eddie or Bobby or Hen or Chim, he hears Eddie yelling, “you’re exhausting.”

—you’re exhausting, you’re exhausting, you’re exhausting—

So each day he does his job and he laughs and he jokes and he pretends he’s the care-free goofball he’s always been. And each day he packs away his bruises and his worries, takes them home to his empty loft with its quiet rooms, and licks his wounds in silence.

Time-Bomb SERIES by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

13K | 🖤 ❤️

summary: A week in the life of members of the 118 as they watch Buck and Eddie’s completely platonic friendship catch fire. Good thing, then, that they’re all firefighters.

Buck and Eddie are the last to know they’re in love, and it’s gonna take some not so gentle nudging.

Those Two Firefighters by DarkFairytale

14.5K | WIP | 🤍 ❤️

summary: #thosetwofirefighters starts to gather a following on social media, as everyone tries to figure out if those two cute firefighters from the 118 in LA are a thing or not.

love is not designed for the cynical SERIES by wafflesofdoom

18K | 🤍 ❤️

summary: eddie diaz was not a betting man - but two bets he, buck, and the 118 made have come to define his life.

Buy Back the Secrets by allyasavedtheday @littlespooneven

18K | 🤍 🖤 | I lost my mind over this one and I am nOT OKAY

summary: He casts his gaze to the right, to the voice he’d heard a minute ago and the hand still on his shoulder.

And, well. Okay. So Buck may have just been unconscious for an indeterminable length of time but he doesn’t think he’s exaggerating when he says the guy leaning over his bedside is one of the most attractive people he’s seen in a long time. Especially when his face splits into a smile that rivals the brightness of the hospital lights that almost just fucking blinded Buck a second ago.

“Welcome back, hotshot,” the guy says and it sounds fond – familiar – and Buck honestly has no idea who this guy is.

His brown hair is dishevelled on top of his head and his eyes look tired but then Buck notices the LAFD t-shirt so- alright. Someone from the firehouse, maybe? But he’s pretty sure he’d remember a face like that.

After getting hurt on a call, Buck wakes up thinking it’s 2018. AKA Buck can’t remember who Eddie is but he’s pretty sure everyone’s lying when they say they’re “just friends.”

LONG 20K+

Don’t Take the Money by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania

21K | 🤍 🖤 | time loop fics are my favourite fics and this is no exception this is PURE GOLD

summary: “You know, being stuck here isn’t actually the end of the world,” Chimney says, coming up to the table and picking up one of the smoke detectors. “It just feels like it, Buck. Trust me, I know.”

“I’m pretty sure it might actually be the end of the world,” Buck says. “Considering this is the sixth time I’ve lived this day.”

Chimney stares at him for a beat and then his eyebrows lift. “Wait, are you like – dude, are you in Groundhog Day?”

The post-lawsuit time-loop AU literally no one asked for.

Everything At Once by Clockwork_Mockingbird @clockwork-mockingbird

26K | 🤍 🖤

summary: Buck comes into a lot of money.

Nothing changes so of course everything does.

everything, everywhere matters to everything SERIES by SevenSoulmates @sevensoulmates

32.5K | 🤍 🖤 | some absolutely extraordinary writing

summary: A series of individual but connected one-shots exploring Buck as a person living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). This series will explore Buck’s life, his disorder, his relationships with family and friends, his relationships with Eddie and Chris and his relationship with his System and Alters.

Revelations SERIES by OreoLuvr13

33K | 🖤

summary: Turns out Eddie is not the only one with family ties in Texas.

Left Unsaid by Clockwork_Mockingbird @clockwork-mockingbird

33K | 🤍 🖤 | this is it. this is the dream fic. this is everything i could’ve asked for and more.

summary: A woman shows up at the station with a picture of Buck on her phone.

It goes better than last time.

The discovery of a small facebook group full of tsunami survivors rocks station 118.

No Man is an Island by Onelonely_tortillachip

46K | 🤍 🖤 | i cried. this is the ONLY fic on this list i cried while reading.

summary: After the lawsuit fiasco, Buck is still on the outs with his father figure and his best friend. But when an unexpected hostage situation occurs after a routine call, Buck is in bad shape. Can the fire family save him and make amends?

Leading with the Left by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

84K | 🤍 🖤 | yes y esy esy esye syesyesyesyes yesyesyeyyessesssssss

summary: When Buck said he was a “bartender” in “South America” what he actually meant was “stripper” in “Mexico.”

And when Eddie said, “What’s your problem?” what he actually meant was, “Is this about the time you gave me a lap dance?”

In other words, there’s a few things the 118 doesn’t know about Buck. Or Eddie. Or Buck and Eddie’s relationship.

469 notes · View notes

netslu · 1 year ago

Text

buddie fic rec!

The taste of your praise

by @reallysmartladymariecurie

ao3 link

3.9k

The five times that Eddie’s praise makes Buck grin like a fool, and the one time that he’s actually there to witness it in person.

this is genuinely one of my favorite fics i’ve read so far! i come back and reread it all the time. the story was inspired by a prompt written by @starlingbite, and @reallysmartladymariecurie made it truly come to life. it shows the developing connection that buck has with an unknown secret admirer. after buck bakes delicious treats for b shift, an unknown person leaves cute comments and notes on the empty containers. I literally grinned like an idiot reading this, and it made me binge all of the author’s works. DEFINITELY worth a read (or reread!)

also… another super cool cover art made by the wonderful @ronordmann! (your skill continues to amaze me every time)

picture creddit: @ronordmann

32 notes · View notes

netslu · 1 year ago

Text

Another Round of Buddie Recs

This Fic Rec list is for @piratefalls and anyone else looking for completed Buddie fics. They all vary in length, but I like long fics that I can really get invested in, so most of these are pretty long, though a few good short ones have been thrown in. So without further ado...

Those Two Firefighters by DarkFairytale

#thosetwofirefighters starts to gather a following on social media, as everyone tries to figure out if those two cute firefighters from the 118 in LA are a thing or not.

So this one is stupidly cute and hilarious. I loved every second of it and really wish it was longer. Just the idea of Buck and Eddie having a hashtag and fans who track their relationship (in a respectful way) for YEARS is funny to me.

of men and of angels by extasiswings

For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Eddie Diaz learns a lot as a kid.

Boys aren’t soft.

Boys don’t cry.

Boys don’t kiss boys.

As he gets older, he realizes that everything has exceptions. Boys can be soft sometimes. Boys can cry sometimes. And some boys kiss other boys.

But Eddie likes kissing girls. And since he likes kissing girls, that’s the end of the story.

Isn’t it?

[Or: the one with all the repression]

This one is just such a good Eddie study. Like I could read this one over and over and never get tired of it. I love it dearly.

Letters to my you, my home by Hpdm20

When Eddie told Buck that he would become Chris’s legal guardian if something happened to him, they’d both assumed that it was just as a precaution.

Eddie is called in to a short military mission, Buck steps into his role as Chris's guardian. It was only supposed to be two weeks and Eddie's assignment was only to identify a person on sight. It shouldn't have been dangerous. Eddie should have been okay.

So why did a uniformed officer show up with a box and a flag on Eddie's doorstep?

This one is like a punch to the gut, okay. I want to say straight out that Eddie is NOT dead in this (not a spoiler it says so in the tags), but he's missing for a bit and it's absolutely heartbreaking, especially for Buck and Chris. But I love this one a lot too.

Heart of Flowers / Heart of Gold by ElvenSorceress

In the aftermath of the sniper attack, Buck has to keep going without his partner while sorting through the layers of everything they are to each other, while Eddie fights for his life and through all his internalized trauma and regret for everything they never managed to say.

aka after nearly losing each other, both Buck and Eddie follow their hearts to choose the family they've made

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS FIC! I could not stop reading this, it is so good. Like I can't even pick a favorite part because I love everything about it, but one that stands out is that Eddie's first love is a trans boy and it is so beautiful. Like I could gush about this fic for hours, okay. I really could.

Waves (it comes and goes) by SunSpell80

Evan Buckley left his past behind when he left home for good at age 19. But an unexpected phone call on a quiet shift disrupts the life he's built for himself: forcing him to confront his past in order to build a new future.

Burned on the pyre by SunSpell80

It was fall at the 118. That was supposed to mean pumpkin spice lattes, Athena’s world-famous pumpkin pie, and the yearly tradition of getting bullied by children at the annual firehouse trick-or-treating.

Instead, it was a disastrous cornucopia of Maddie’s pregnancy, the Buckley parents visiting, and a sexuality crisis for good measure.

Oh, and?

It was wildfire season.

Okay so these two have to be read one right after the other, and you have to be cautious of the tags. This is a good series, but it deals with past child sexual assault against Buck by a trusted family member. The subject is written with care and no part of it is romanticized. It also needs to be mentioned that Buck's parents and Maddie's baby have different names than they do in the show and it can be jarring at times. But I do enjoy this fic for how it tackled such a heavy subject and allowed the characters so much growth and love.

Half Awake in Our Fake Empire by HMSLusitania

In which the past catches up in unexpected ways, the universe finds a new voice to scream with, and an LA rain storm changes everything.

Buck 1.0 fathered a child and Buck 4.0 comes into custody.

I love fics that give Buck a baby who isn't Christopher and allows Chris to be an older brother, and this fic does not disappoint. Buck daughter in this fic is so damn cute and gives Chris a run for his money in the adorable child department. And the way Eddie helps Buck create this little family of four? Perfection!

To Build a Home We Deconstruct Our Rituals by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

After the shooting, Eddie realizes he needs to put some things in place. Like who will get his assets if he dies. Who will speak for him if he ends up in a coma. What might happen if his family contests Buck's guardianship. Luckily, he's got a simple easy-peasy solution that won't result in insanity, catastrophe, or heartbreak:

Marry Buck.

Ok this one is awesome. Eddie and Buck are idiots who marry each other for convenience to insure that Eddie's family cannot take Chris or make medical decisions for Eddie if Eddie can't, and they try so hard to act like it doesn't mean more than that, but everyone knows the truth...except them. Honestly, this one has so many good things about it. It pulls at your heart strings and then makes you laugh and then has you chanting kiss, kiss, kiss. It's just a really great fic.

Come Back To Me by JayJay__884

An accident at the job lands Buck in hospital after falling through a 4-story building. His loved ones are by his bedside when Buck is placed in an induced coma to help his recovery in hopes he will eventually wake up.

Eddie is completely heartbroken after watching the love of his life stay in hospital for weeks. With Buck's condition being unclear, Eddie tries to remain strong while he's terrified that things will never be the same.

How will things change for everybody when Buck wakes up one day, is missing years from his memory, and tries to find his way back to his family?

Okay, so this one is just a great amnesia fic in that Buck loses the entire three years that he and Eddie were together, but his heart refuses to forget and he easily falls right back in love with Eddie while he trying to regain the memories he once held dear as well as grow into person he likes being; and Eddie is there every step of the way and is more than willing to rebuild their love by meeting Buck where's he's at even if he misses the Buck he used to have. I love everything about this fic.

What's love got to do with it? by ColorMeParanoid

"Hear me out," Buck said. "Clearly, both of us are sick of dating other people. And we're a good fit, in pretty much every way that matters. So what if we're not in love? We don't need to be in love to be happy together."

Eddie frowned. "So basically, we'd be boyfriends, without benefits?"

"Yes!" Buck snapped his fingers. "Like platonic boyfriends! We'd get all the benefits of a relationship and none of the heartbreak."

And maybe Eddie had finally lost his mind, or maybe it was from all the alcohol clouding his judgment, but the idea of it didn't sound half as crazy as it should have.

*** After Buck’s and Eddie’s dates both end with disasters – proving once again that maybe dating just wasn’t meant for them – they decide to simply settle for each other. If there was one person in the world they'd ever trust with their hearts, it was each other. And who was a better person to date other than your very own best friend?

Look, okay, Buck and Eddie deciding to forgo dating women to platonically date each other and end up falling in love with each other without realizing that's what's happening is absolutely golden. This fic is magical in all the best ways and I love it dearly.

Welcome to my Valley of Secrets by the_milky_way

He’s not here to get drunk, just to get away for an hour or two. To stop himself from thinking about the papers burning a hole into his kitchen table. To stop himself from feeling so unspeakably guilty for not having been able to provide a stable, happy family for his son.

It's a love story. This is how Eddie and Evan meet. This is how Evan becomes Buck. It's a story about getting together, about building something important before California is a destination even worth thinking about, before the 118 turns into their found family.

How did we end up here, in this valley of secrets? by the_milky_way

They should have told them. Or at least they should have told Bobby. Because if they had Buck wouldn’t be desperately searching for an explanation as to why they need to go by Christopher’s school right now.

or:

Buck and Eddie have a secret. Christopher getting a little sick at school is sort of the catalyst for it no longer remaining a secret.

These two also have to be read one after the other, but man oh man is it worth it. It's an AU in that Eddie and Buck meet way before joining the 118, but the way they meet and fall in love is full of feels and kindness and Buck and Eddie just being Buck and Eddie. I like this one a lot, I just wish there was more of it.

to have and to hold (for better or worse) by buckleyblueyes (sonseulsoleil)

“Family of Eddie Diaz?”

Everyone stood up.

The doctor gave them a sympathetic smile. “That’s sweet, but actual family only right now.”

“I’m his gi—”

“I’m his husband,” Buck cut Ana off, ignoring the slack jawed looks from the rest of the waiting room.

OR: Buck and Eddie got married in secret after the well incident

This is just a really good fic where they marry for convenience and think it's 100% platonic, but surprise it's definitely not and everyone knows it but Buck and Eddie. I like it a lot.

That's it for now! I do have more fic recs, but they're WIPs and I wanted this list to only have completed fics. If you read any of these, please come chat with me about them. I love talking about great fics!

178 notes · View notes

netslu · 1 year ago

Note

Do you have any 911 fic recs? I was sucked into the show by yours and I'm really in it now!

Boy, do I. This fandom moves VERY fast with the fics but here are some of my faves so far. Note: most presume you’ve seen all of the show through season five.

Those Two Firefighters by darkfairytale (dunno if they have a tumblr)- Buck and Eddie go viral after the incident with the botfly larvae with the hashtag #thosetwofirefighters. I love love love a good social media based fic and I think I've read this one eight times by now. Also has a follow-up.

Leave the Light On (I'll Be Coming Home) by @hmslusitania. Eddie is missing and presumed dead after a rescue goes awry and Buck takes custody of Christopher, but must deal with Eddie's parents challenging his parental rights while mourning the man he loved but had never told. This author's other works are also a good place to keep reading.

I Like You So Much (It's Kinda Gross) by @gayhoediaz (best username too) and @dickley-buddie. A story told in tweets wherein Buck is a firefighter who is super thirsty for MMA fighter Eddie.

Everything's Coming Up Milhouse by @henswilsons. Part one of a series. The viral Twitter adventures of Eddie Diaz, aka Mr. LAFD Updates Man. Delightful. Note: if you haven’t gotten this far, this really happened. In the second half of season five, Eddie left the 118 to be a public outreach officer for the LAFD at Dispatch (and got to be friends with Linda which is delightful) and part of his job was manning the LAFD Twitter. He did this because he didn’t want Chris to worry about him getting hurt at work. No worries, he went back to the 118 at the end of the season.

I Know a Place We Can Go by @somaybeamystery. The boys' adventures getting hit on during calls in WeHo. Cute and romantic.

Forest for the Trees by lamardeuse. Just a great getting-together fic.

listen to you breathing (is where i wanna be) by @theladyyavilee. Oh god this one is a gut punch in the best way - Buck is caught in a building collapse during an earthquake and presumed dead for like two days.

Actually, Truly by milenadaniels. I loooooove an outsider POV and this is a great one - Helena and Ramon Diaz come to LA in the aftermath of Eddie's shooting and Helena is confused to find Buck everywhere in her son and grandson's life.

That'll get you started. BTW if anyone knows the tumblrs of the ones I didn't know, let me know and I"ll edit.

282 notes · View notes

netslu · 1 year ago

Note

Siri, wow, can I have Buddie with Royal AU and Soulmate AU? I love your writing!

this made me so happy! i am here for this combo ;)

blink and almost miss eddie/buck, soulmates, royalty au

Trying to escape from his bodyguards is becoming a full time job.

Lucky for Buck, he’s been doing it since he was a toddler. Bobby never learns, always puts bodyguards with too much spine on Buck duty, as if he doesn’t already know Buck hates those types.

“it’s for your protection,” Athena always says with raised eyebrows.

Buck gets crushed one time in a freak accident and suddenly everyone wants him kept in bubble wrap. Under wraps. Heh.

The pier is packed with people—Buck doesn’t pick his battles as well as he evades bodyguards and press—and Buck navigates them easily. Most people don’t pay him any notice, which works for him, and he manages to hover around a couple of stalls without getting his picture splashed onto social media.

Buck catches sight of a kid with crutches on his own, looking at the people around him. When he was a kid, fresh in the state, Buck remembers getting lost because his bodyguards have always sucked, and he knows how terrifying it can be. He can’t help himself; he jogs up to the kid. “Hey, you alright?”

The kid immediately looks up, face shifting between emotions quickly. “My dad says I shouldn’t talk to strangers.”

“And he is absolutely correct,” Buck says, trying to think of something that will help him get this kid found.

The boy’s eyes widened. “You’re the prince.”

“Ssh,” Buck says, pressing a finger to his lips and crouching down. He doesn’t think anyone around them has heard; nobody’s immediately stopping and demanding his attention. “Let’s keep that a secret for now, okay? Think we can catch up with your school?”

There’s a moment’s hesitation. “I’m not here with my school. Ms. Ingrid takes care of me when my Daddy works. She gets mad I can’t keep up.”

Buck feels a momentary flash of anger but covers it with a grin. “Do you know if Ms. Ingrid has a phone number we can call?”

“No,” the boy says. “She doesn’t give it to me. She says I’m too stupid to remember but my dad says I’m smart.”

Buck’s chest tightens further with anger but he crouches down, gives Chris the brightest smile he can. “I think I believe your dad, buddy. Do you know if he has a number?”

“Yes,” the kid says brightly, then his face falls. “It’s in my coat and Ms. Ingrid left it in the car.”

Ms. Ingrid is definitely Buck’s least favourite person. “Well, I’m gonna call some people myself, alright? Wanna find somewhere to sit until they get here and help us find your dad?”

“Okay,” the kid says. “He’s a firefighter but I don’t know where.”

Filing the knowledge away where he’ll probably never use it, Buck finds a nearby bench and directs the kid to it. He doesn’t know the protocol for this kind of thing, and if anyone sees, they might think he’s kidnapping the kid or something. He’ll cross that bridge when he comes to it. “My name’s Buck.”

“I thought it was Evan,” the kid says, tilting his head back.

“My friends call me Buck,” Buck says carefully.

The boy’s smile is blinding. “My friends call me Chris! My name’s Chris. Except when my dad’s mad or worried.”

Buck laughs gently; yeah, he knows those kinds of problems. “My dad gets like that too.”

Chris nods. “My dad says King Bobby is awesome.”

“That he is,” Buck says. He can’t wait to use that particular adjective on Bobby. “Right, let me just call for help, okay?”

Chris seems content to sit next to him on the bench, watching people go by. Buck pulls out his phone and bypasses his bodyguards, going straight for Hen. She’s managed to dig him out of several scrapes and he kinda needs her advice.

“—Why I even bother!” Hen’s yelling decreases and Buck gives Chris a funny look. Chris giggles and Buck hears Hen’s sigh. “That the kid?”

“Yep,” Buck says. “I don’t know where his chaperone is and I know people are starting to notice me. Any chance we can find this kid’s parents?”

“Just dad,” Chris adds helpfully. “Eddie Diaz, and he’s a firefighter. Mom’s dead.”

Buck’s heart lurches painfully. “I’m sorry to hear that, buddy.”

“It’s okay a lot of the time,” Chris says, though he looks a little sad. “Dad makes it more okay.”

There’s clacking from the other end of the phone and Buck tunes back into the conversation, keeping a hand on Chris’ shoulders. “Found him. I’ll call him and the cops. Please stay where you are.”

That means bodyguards. Buck rolls his eyes, but does as he’s told and waits.

It takes about ten minutes for help to arrive in the form of Buck’s bodyguards. Bobby’s gonna be having people fired at the end of this, but Buck’s glad to have some friendly faces around. Thankfully, they don’t try to hustle him off the pier, and Buck assumes Hen’s contacted them and managed to get things under control.

Not long after, the cops arrive with an unimpressed Chim.

“What the hell?”

“Look,” Buck starts.

“No, I don’t wanna hear it,” Chim says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Cops, Buck, really?”

“It’s fine,” Buck stresses. “Whoever’s chaperoning Chris—”

“That would be me,” an unimpressed voice says.

Chris shifts closer to Buck and whispers, “That’s Ms. Ingrid.”

“Christopher,” Ingrid says, and Buck hates her on sight. “What have I said about wandering off?”

“I didn’t,” Chris starts.

“And lying,” Ms. Ingrid stresses. She looks at Buck—and he sees the flicker that she recognizes him—but immediately turns to the cops. “This man is kidnapping!”

“Hey now,” Buck says.

“No he isn’t!” Chris cries.

“I highly doubt that,” a new voice puts in.

Buck looks up and fuck, that is one handsome man. He’s striding through the crowd, anger clear on his face, and Chris immediately perks up from behind Buck.

“Dad!”

The man sweeps in, hugs Christopher tightly, and Buck’s heart hammers against his chest for reasons he can’t explain. “Christopher.”

“Told you,” Chris says, looking up at Buck, and Buck can’t help laughing. He stops as soon as Chris’ dad stands, eyes narrowing. It takes a beat, two for him to realize who he’s staring at.

“Oh shit,” he says. “Uh, I mean, your Highness.”

“Oh god, don’t,” Buck groans. “Listen, it’s—”

“Dad,” Chris says, smiling widely, “this is Buck! He stopped me getting lost when Ms. Ingrid went ahead and—”

“I did not,” Ingrid stresses.

Chris’ dad—Eddie, apparently—looks thunderous. “This isn’t the first time.”

Ingrid bristles, and Buck ignores Chim’s warning look to interject. “Chris was by himself,” he says, quietly when Eddie turns the full force of his gaze on him. It sends a shiver up Buck’s spine and makes him want to do whatever it’ll take to get Eddie to stay. What. The fuck. Ignoring it, Buck continues. “I didn’t know what else to do but have someone call you.”

“I appreciate it,” Eddie says.

“Bo—your father is going to kill you,” Hen says, coming up behind Chim. Buck groans internally. Now that they’re both here, Buck’s in a world of trouble.

“It wasn’t Buck’s fault,” Chris says immediately. “He was helping me!”

Hen looks amused more than irritated, and Buck grins, knows Chris is winning her over already. Maybe she won’t eviscerate him once this is over. “Is that right?”

Chris nods. “Please don’t be mad, Ma’am. Dad says we should be grateful to people who help us.”

“Should we?” Hen says.

Chris’ dad flushes, hands on Christopher’s shoulders. “Buddy, I think we should—”

“Please don’t go,” Buck says immediately. He knows how it sounds and can feel his own cheeks heat up. “Let me sort things with the cops and then we can talk or something, I just want—”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hen and Christopher’s dad say at the same time.

Buck deflates, crouching down in front of Chris. “I’m glad we met, buddy.”

“Me too,” Chris says, looking sad. “Am I allowed to hug a prince?”

Though his bodyguards might throw a fit, Buck doesn’t give a fuck. “You absolutely are.”

Chris moves forward a step, wrapping his arms around Buck’s shoulders. Buck squeezes him gently, breathing in a scent that’s oddly familiar, though he can’t pinpoint how. When he pulls back, he gives Chris a bright smile.

“I’m glad I met you, Christopher.”

“Me too.” Chris says. “I wish we could be friends for longer.”

Buck feels something settle in his chest, an uncomfortably tight feeling. “Yeah. But you have to do something, alright? Make sure you always keep smiling and definitely make sure to take care of your dad.”

Chris nods and Buck doesn’t know what to make of the indecipherable look on Eddie’s face.

“This is ridiculous,” Ingrid snaps. “He doesn’t get accused of kidnapping because he’s a prince?”

“I didn’t kidnap him,” Buck puts in.

“Hey,” Eddie says, stepping between Buck and Ingrid. “I left Chris in your care and you abused it. I won’t be paying for today’s session and you can guarantee I won’t be sending Chris to you again.”

“We have a contract,” Ingrid starts.

“Voided,” Hen cuts in. “If you like, we can talk about it with the cops.” Placing a hand on Ingrid’s shoulder, Hen steers her away and Buck lets out a slow breath.

Eddie’s still standing in front of him looking angry and Buck wants to wipe the expression off his face.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Eddie asks, genuinely surprised.

“You didn’t have to step in. For all you know, I could have kidnapped your kid.”

“You didn’t,” Eddie says immediately.

Buck doesn’t want to argue, he doesn’t, but his mouth is already saying, “how do you know,” before he can stop it.

There’s a strange expression on Eddie’s face, like he’s not sure himself, but he’s shaking it off. “Chris says you didn’t. I trust my son.”

“Then I’m glad I met Chris,” Buck says, smiling down at Chris, who grins. “You have a pretty awesome kid, Mr. Diaz.”

“Eddie.” Making a face, Eddie’s lips quirk up into a soft smile. “I’m only Mr. Diaz when I have to be.”

Buck laughs at that, though he doesn’t know why; it’s not particularly funny. Something about Eddie puts him instantly at ease. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Eddie.”

“You too,” Eddie says, holding his hand.

It’s easy enough for Buck to place his hand in Eddie’s with every intent to shake it. As soon as their palms touch, Buck feels hot, his body burning from head to foot. He can’t stop staring at Eddie, who’s watching him back, mouth open, eyes wide. Buck wants to get lost in them, can’t help but move forward. Eddie meets him halfway, free hand coming up to touch Buck’s cheek. Every place they touch has Buck tingling and he breathes out a soft noise.

Eddie moves forward, crashing his lips to Buck’s. It’s instantaneous, the build up of emotion and it rushes in, fills every part of Buck’s head until he’s dizzy with it. He’s accepting the bond, he knows, letting Eddie consume him, and Eddie’s doing the same otherwise it wouldn’t work and he—

“Uh,” he says when he wakes up.

“Idiot,” a familiar voice replies. Chim, Buck thinks, cracking open one eye. “Wake up, Princess.”

“Prince, actually,” Buck says, and his head is pounding. “What happened?”

There’s enough of a silence that Buck opens his eyes. He’s laying on the ground. Wood. Sounds of the pier rush in at the same time the memories do and he jerks up, frantically looking for Eddie.

“I’m right here,” Eddie assures him, and there’s a hand on the back of his head. “You passed out.”

“Oops,” Buck says, and closes his eyes again. “I think I’m gonna throw up.”

There’s a soft press of lips to his head. Buck tingles. Eddie breathes. “Is that normal?”

“I don’t know,” Chim says, sounding put-out. “Hen’s the soulbond expert.”

“Oh,” Buck says. “We bonded.”

Another silence.

“I don’t mind,” Buck says, groping around, satisfied when Eddie’s fingers tangle with his.

“I’m a widower,” Eddie says gently, his voice low. When Buck opens his eyes again, trying to ignore the swirl of anxiety deep in his chest that he knows doesn’t belong to him, he can see the fear on Eddie’s face. Eddie swallows, looks over to Chris, who’s being looked after by an attentive Hen. “I have a kid and a shit ton of baggage.”

Buck knows what this is and he doesn’t like it. He leans in, forehead against Eddie’s shoulder and thankfully, Chim leaves them to it. “I don’t care.”

“Evan—”

“Buck,” Buck says helplessly.

Eddie sounds worried, but Buck can feel his heart pounding beneath his cheek, an emotion strong in Eddie’s mind that Buck doesn’t dare name. “Buck.”

“I get it’s a lot,” Buck says quietly. “I’m a prince and I’m—well I’m sure you know.”

“I read things,” Eddie admits, hand resting on the back of Buck’s head. He starts stroking, gently, and Buck wants it forever. “I don’t know you.”

“We can learn.” Buck doesn’t want to pull back, but he needs to look Eddie in the eye. “If you want.”

Eddie’s smile could light a thousand dark days. “Alright.”

“Good,” Buck says and leans in, kisses Eddie again. It’ll never get old, he thinks, and then looks up as the clatter of crutches on wood drags his attention away from what Eddie tastes like.

“Buck!” Chris pauses. “Are you okay?”

“I am now, Chris,” Buck assures him.

Chris looks at Eddie, then Buck, then back to Eddie. “Is Buck your friend, Dad?”

“I think it’s a little more complicated than that,” Hen says, looking at Buck pointedly.

“Bobby’s going to kill me,” Buck groans.

“As in King Bobby?” Eddie says, going instantly pale.

Buck nods.

“Oh, shit, you’re a prince,” Eddie says.

“Yeah.” Buck speaks slowly. “You know this.”

“Does this make Dad a prince too?”

Oh. Oh shit, Buck’s going to die.

Chim raises his eyebrows. “Oh no, neither of you are going anywhere. We’re going back to the palace to explain this.”

“Yay,” Chris cheers.

“Awesome,” Buck says, heavy with sarcasm.

“I think I’m gonna throw up,” Eddie replies.

Buck stares at him, feels the thrum of fear from Eddie. Beneath it is a rush of warmth, pride, and adoration. Love, Buck thinks. It’s love. “We’re gonna be fine,” he blurts, hopeful.

It takes a moment, but Eddie nods, touching Buck’s face again. “Yeah. Yeah, we are.”

214 notes · View notes

netslu · 1 year ago

Note

Prompt: Dragon shifter AU Omega Buck is a lone dragon. One night he's walking through the woods when he sees woman being attacked by a pack of animals or bad people while trying to shield a little boy. Without thinking Buck shifts into his massive black dragon form and scares the attackers off. He tries desperately to save the woman but with her dying breath she binds him to her son Chris. Buck get Chris back to Eddie and all hell breaks loose. Eddie wants Buck gone but Chris imprinted.

Running Connections

Claimed by Red💋 - This one got away from me...it’s REALLY long...hope you like it!

Shannon is a witch, that’s how she binds Christopher with Buck before she dies. Eddie is a dragon who gave up shifting in order to take care of Shannon and Chris after getting Shannon pregnant but he is an Alpha dragon and doesn’t take much liking to another dragon around his kid. Also, I use a Draconic translator I found online later on...just to let you know.

Times had changed. Once, long ago, dragons and other supernatural creatures lived in harmony. As they evolved and a few bad supernaturals had made their marks, there was now an urge to kill anything supernatural. In fact, if you were found harboring a supernatural, not only was that supernatural killed, but the person harboring them as well. They served as an example to others who would think to harbor those they deemed evil.

The even more fucked up thing about it is that your parents didn’t have to be supernatural to give birth to a supernatural. That was more unheard of, but in Buck’s case, it was a very important distinction. His own father had tried to kill him for fuck’s sake...the first time he turned. He was ten years old and he’d gotten so angry, he doesn’t remember why. But he was so angry and his skin was prickling and suddenly he was taller and bigger than he had previously been. His mother had screamed and his father had called him all kinds of names before getting the gun and shooting at him. After hitting a particularly tender spot for the dragon, Buck had changed back, clutching at the spot and crying out.

Most would have stopped once their son turned back, but Evan Spencer Sr. did not. If Maddie hadn’t come home when she did, Buck probably would have been dead. She’d stopped their father and stayed protectively in front of her little brother before helping him out of the house. She had been coming over to give him a birthday present, planning on spending some time with her little brother before going back to her apartment deep in the city.

That night, Maddie Spencer packed up what she needed and what her brother would need before she and Buck left Pennsylvania. They traveled all over the world, trying to stay under the radar. They would have to move while Buck was learning to control his powers. Sometimes Buck wouldn’t be able to control himself and people would find out...and every time they found out, Maddie and Buck moved. They changed names every couple of years to make sure that the SCF (Supernatural Cleansing Force) wouldn’t be able to find them.

Three years prior, Evan and Maddie Buckley decided to stay in Los Angeles. Buck could control his powers and they’d grown enough and changed enough that even if the SCF were still looking for them, they wouldn’t be easily recognizable. That, and Buck could control his powers...he could protect Maddie if the SCF showed up. Not to mention, the people in LA were more forgiving than most cities across the world. As long as you didn’t hurt anyone, they didn’t turn you in and they didn’t hunt you down. Also important to note, there were plenty of wooded areas around LA that he could go when he needed to let the dragon out. It was a win-win situation.

Buck still prefered to keep to himself. The less he was around others, the less there was a chance of someone turning him and his sister in to the SCF. So while Maddie had her job at the 9-1-1 Operation Center, Buck spent his time around their apartment or watching from the shadows, making sure no one needed saving. Because of his abilities from being a dragon, he was able to do things that normals couldn’t. Sometimes he could save people that normals couldn’t.

That’s why when Buck heard a shout from the wooded area he frequented, he didn’t hesitate to investigate. If there was a wild animal attacking a human, he wanted to stop it and make sure the person got help. As he approached the clearing, he didn’t give a second thought into shifting.

There was a woman and a crying child facing off against a group of shifters. He could tell that most of the shifters had gone rabid by the way they were acting towards the woman and the child. He let out a roar as he entered the clearing, putting himself between the injured woman and her child. The wolves in front of him barely flinched at his entrance, attacking him as he got between them and their meal.

Buck exhaled, breathing a blue fire around the wolves. He allowed the temperature of his breath to drop as he aimed inside the circle, freezing the wolves. He put the fire out quickly as the wolves laid motionless. He shifted back, turning to see the woman not at all scared at his abilities. “Should have known a dragon would save my son,” she muttered as she fought to keep her eyes open.

“I’m going to call 9-1-1 and you’re going to be fine, just...just hold on,” he muttered as he went in search of his phone that would have been left where his clothes had shredded when he shifted.

He found it quickly and hurried back to the clearing. He knew that the rabid wolves wouldn’t stay frozen long. He never killed others, he just slowed them down. He made it back seeing the little boy crawling trying to make his way to his mother. “I-I’ve got it. I have a signal so I’m going to call 9-1-1 and they’ll send the SCF to take care of the wolves and you’ll be just fine. I just need to-”

“What’s your name, Dragon,” the woman asked.

Buck stuttered a second, “Evan Buckley, but everyone calls me Buck.”

“No. Not you. The dragon,” she whispered.

“I don’t-we’ve never had a conversation with each other. I guess he’s Buck too,” Buck was very confused.

A light built in the woman’s eyes as she looked directly at him and something in those eyes triggered something. “What is your name, Dragon,” she asked more forcefully.

“Atryzion,” it was something guttural, from within. Buck wasn’t sure where it came from but it was out in the air, floating between them.

“Atryzion, my kid is yours to look after. You protect him. You are bound to him. You will die before you let him be hurt. This is a sacred bond,” she stated.

“I can’t-I can’t be bound to you kid. You’ll be fine I just need to-”

“If you call 9-1-1 and they send the SCF, they will kill my son and my husband. They will kill you. You protect my son not just as Atryzion but as Evan Buckley. I trust you because you didn’t have to step in. I’m not going to make it, Buckley so I need to know my son will be taken care of.”

“He will...I-I promise. But I need to get you help. You’ll be fine,” he stated as he knelt down next to the woman.

She grabbed his hand, a light encompassing it as she took the kid’s hand and brought them together. It was like the world shifted for Buck. All that mattered was the kid. He would protect the kid as if he was his own. Buck presses on the deepest gash on the woman’s chest. “I see what you did there you clever witch, but you’re going to be fine. I’m going to get you help,” he stated as he dialed 9-1-1 and held the phone between his ear and his shoulder.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

“Maddie? Thank God.”

“Evan, are you alright?”

“I was just out walking, trying to clear my head and I heard a woman scream. Maddie, six shifters in wolf form. They were rabid and she was protecting her kid...it’s bad. I’m trying to keep her stable but I don’t know what to do.”

There were a couple of clicks on the other side of the phone. “Okay, I turned off the recording of this call. Did you shift,” she asked quietly.

“Yes and there’s scorch marks in the grass and the wolves are thawing as we speak. I’ve got a scared kid here that the mother bound me to. Mads, I don’t know what to do,” he spoke quickly.

“She bound you to her kid? A witch?”

“Yes. I need-I need EMS and-and the SCF.”

“If I send them...you know what will happen.”

“I know! But-this kid-he’s going to watch his mom die if you-”

“Don’t send them,” the woman called quietly. “They’ll take my son.”

The woman stopped breathing. Buck held his breath. “Fuck, no...no no no. Come on, breathe,” he started chest compressions, tears falling down his face.

“Buck-Buck...Evan! She’s gone and she’s right. The second they do the autopsy they’ll find out she’s a witch and they’ll think her son is the same. You need to get the son out of there. I can help you track down any living family that the little boy has. Do you have a name?”

“No-No she,” he broke off, taking a deep breath to control the tears. “She just bound me to him.” Buck approached the boy slowly, not wanting to scare him even more. The kid couldn’t be more than eight years old. He leaned down and slowly put his hand out. “I’ll...I’ll take him back to the apartment so we can both clean up and then I’ll see if he can take me to his dad.”

“Okay, my shift is ending. I’ll meet you at home.”

Buck hung up as the boy launched into his arms. “It’s alright...I’m going to help you get back to your dad.”

________________

It was only about forty-five minutes after Buck had hung up with Maddie that he saw his older sister walk through the door of their apartment. He had successfully washed all of the blood and grime off of the kid and was in the process of doing the same to himself while the kid was sitting at the kitchen table drawing.

Buck was still shaking from the clearing, but the kid seemed fine, only a little withdrawn. He’d learned the kid’s name was Christopher but that was all the kid had said. Maddie held up kids clothes as she got closer. “Hey Chris, Bud. How about you get changed into some clean clothes and we’ll go about finding your dad.”

Chris looked up, chewing on his bottom lip. “I can-can’t do my pants by-by myself. I have-have CP,” he stated.

Buck nodded. Makes sense, he had seen the way the kid wobbled. He had assumed that was a result of everything he’d seen in the clearing, but CP made more sense. “Alright Kid, then let's get you to the bathroom and I’ll help you change your pants, okay?”

It wasn’t long before Buck and Chris exited the bathroom and Buck resumed cleaning the blood and grime off of himself. He used the kitchen sink in order to keep an eye on Chris. “Has he told you anything about his father?”

“No...I didn’t know how to ask. I don’t want him to think about what he saw tonight.”

“How about I give it a try? Want to make an introduction? He’ll be more comfortable with me if he sees that you know who I am and trust me.”

Buck nodded as they walked over to Chris. “Hey bud,” Buck called to get his attention. Chris looked up, a small smile on his face. “This is my sister Maddie,” he pointed to Maddie, “she’d like to spend some time with you, is that okay?”

Chris nodded, getting back to his drawing. Buck let them be, watching from the kitchen as he scrubbed at his hands to make sure all of the night was off of him. He knew the kid’s father had to be worried about Chris and his wife. He needed to get the kid back to his dad, even if he knew it would hurt when he had to walk away.

________________

By the time the sun rose, Buck and Maddie had a plan. Christopher didn’t remember his address, but he remembered his dad’s cell phone number. Maddie was going to call Josh in the operating center and have him track down the dad’s information on the downlow so that they could get the kid home safely.

The couple of hours they had to wait were probably the longest of both of their lives. Christopher was asleep in his bed, content to know that they were going to get him to his dad soon enough.

Maddie’s phone rang, breaking the silence in the room. Maddie hurried to answer it, putting it on speaker. “So here’s what I have. The cell phone is in the name of Edmundo Diaz. He’s a firefighter at the 118 and is currently on shift which is why he hasn’t reported his son and wife missing. Given the circumstances, I would think it best to go to the fire station and drop Christopher off, let him tell his dad what happened.”

“I can’t just let a kid lose in a fire station. What if they’re not there? Plus, what’s to say Edmundo wouldn’t send SCF after me if Chris happens to mention what I did in the clearing,” he asked, standing up to pace.

“He may still call SCF after you talk to him.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take...this kid is my responsibility. I’m bound to him...I have to make sure that he’s going to be safe.”

________________

Maddie placed a hand on his shoulder before he got out. “No matter what, I’m proud of you, okay? You took on a huge responsibility and you’re doing everything you can even if it means putting yourself in danger...if we have to run again, I’m okay with that.”

Buck nods, biting at his lower lip. “I’m going to try to keep that from happening.”

Buck got out of the car, helping Chris to do the same. “Alright, Superman. Remember what we talked about?”

“Don’t mention to Daddy that you are an awe-awesome black dragon.”

“Exactly.”

He took a deep breath, both he and Chris walking side by side. As he entered, he was immediately met with an older man. “Hello, may I help you,” he asked before giving him a confused look. “Chris? What are you doing here?”

Buck didn’t know how to respond. “I-uh-is there-is there an Edmundo Diaz here,” he finally managed to ask.

Before either man could respond, Christopher was quickly making his way through the station, “Daddy!”

Buck hesitantly followed after Christopher. He was getting more nervous the longer he was in the station. There was no telling how this was going to go. “Mijo! What are you doing here?” A Latino man called from the railing. He eyed Buck before looking back at Chris and racing down the stairs. “Where’s your Mom?”

“Mommy’s gone,” Chris stated once Eddie was hugging him.

Before Eddie could respond, Buck opened his mouth. “They were in the woods for some reason. I heard a woman scream and when I got there, she and Chris were surrounded by six wolves. She was protecting Chris but it wasn’t going well-”

“And Mommy said that someone needed to protect me, so she bound me to Bucky!”

The growl that left Eddie’s throat was most definitely not human, not that Buck could focus on that as Christopher had basically outed him to the whole crew standing in front of him. Buck took a step back as Eddie stood. The man may be a couple inches shorter than him, but he had a presence about him that overpowered Buck.

“Look, I didn’t know it was happening in the moment. She just did this thing and our hands glowed and then it was like my whole world view shifted and all that mattered was Christopher,” Buck tried to explain, not expecting the fist that came towards his face.

If he’d wanted to, Buck could have deflected it...but he felt like he deserved it for not saving the man’s wife. “Eddie,” another crew member hissed, coming up to grab his arm and pull him away from Buck.

“Daddy! Don’t hurt Bucky! He protected me,” Chris cried from his spot next to a black firefighter with kind eyes.

“Eddie, I think you should listen to Chris...I think he imprinted after the initial bond,” the woman with kind eyes called, seeing how Christopher was trying desperately to get to Buck’s side.

Eddie growled yet again as he saw his kid trying to get to some stranger. That wasn’t right. Christopher was finally able to get out of Hen’s grip before rushing to the blonde man. He could see how much the blonde man wanted to crouch and hug Christopher, but he was restraining himself, probably knowing that if he moved to touch Christopher, Eddie would rip his head off.

Eddie bit his tongue, taking a deep breath. “Shannon was in the woods with Chris and she ran into trouble. Six rabid wolves you said? How did you get away without a scratch,” his voice was still hostile but he counted it as progress from the alternative of ripping the blonde man to shreds.

He could see how his question made the man tense. He opened his mouth to respond, but closed it again. “He’s a-he’s a dragon like you, Daddy,” Chris spoke for the man.

“Chris,” the blonde man hissed.

“I know you-you said not to tell, but Daddy will understand! He’s a red dragon! You’re both-both protectors. Red and Black.”

“You’re a dragon,” the Asian man asked in wonder. “Meeting one was a rare occurrence, but two?”

“You’re a dragon,” Eddie deadpanned.

Buck shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He’d never admitted it to anyone other than Josh and that was only after Maddie basically gave away all the hints to the man. He looked away from Eddie and took a deep breath. “Look, Mr. Diaz, I just came here today to make sure your son got back to you safely. I didn’t come looking for a fight. And I understand if you decide to call SCF. It wouldn’t be the first time someone tried for only the reason that I am something that most people don’t understand. I’m sorry for your loss and for whatever this is between Christopher and I. I wouldn’t change the bond I have with him for the world because that means I saved at least one person last night...not for lack of trying to keep Shannon awake. I’ll be going now...I know the feeling of not liking another supernatural in your territory.”

Buck tried to leave, he really did. But the second Chris started to cry, he had tensed up, willing himself not to turn around. Then, as the kid called his name, he muttered curses in his head as he turned around, walking back quickly and crouching down next to the kid. “Kid, I promised your mom that I would make sure you got back to your dad safely. I’ve gotta go, you have everything you need here. A family...you’re more lucky than most to have such a caring father and family whether by blood or not. You don’t need me here, Bud.”

Chris shook his head, getting out of his father’s group and throwing his arms around Buck’s neck. “Mom-Mommy said you had to protect me as-as both Atryzion and Evan Buckley. She said you-you had to take care of me,” he sobbed, “don’t leave me too.”

Buck closed his eyes. He didn’t want to leave the kid, he knew that much...but hearing Christopher beg him not to leave, comparing his leaving to Shannon’s...Buck wasn’t strong enough to walk away. His arms wrapped tightly around the kid. “I-” his voice cracked, so he took a breath to calm himself. “I don’t think your dad is a fan of that plan. I don’t want to leave, okay Chris? But-but I’m not part of your family. I’m just an outsider, a loner. I don’t know how to do this whole bond thing and I don’t want to impose on your family. You’ve got all the support you need, Superman.”

Chris just hugged him tighter. Buck didn’t know what to do. Because of the bond, he couldn’t walk away if it was hurting Chris-which it clearly was. Buck laughed quietly, but it slowly got louder. “Your mom was a smart lady,” Buck stated as Chris pulled away from his grip to look at him in confusion. Speaking more to himself, he sat on his feet, “I can’t leave the kid when he’s distressed over it. That’s what she meant.” He looked at Chris, understanding in his eyes. “I think we’re going to need to talk about a few things, Edmundo.”

Eddie was clenching his jaw. He knew exactly what Shannon had done as soon as Buckley had started talking about Shannon. He nodded tightly. “Because she made you bond and imprint on each other. Got that part.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but Buck, we gotta go,” Maddie called from the front of the station. Buck looked up, confusion in his eyes. Maddie walked closer, handing him her phone. On the screen was a video of the clearing where he had tried to save Shannon. He could see the scorch marks on the ground.

“He just came out of nowhere. This big black dragon. All we were trying to do was help the mother and the kid. But the dragon, he just killed the mom and took the kid. He was feral. Breathed flames of blue and was able to cool down enough to freeze us. I don’t know why he didn’t kill us as well...maybe he thought we were dead.”

Buck looked up at Maddie, “Maddie…” the exasperated look she gave him caused him to frown. “I’m not a killer. I couldn’t just freeze them to death.”

“Well that would save us from running again,” she muttered.

“Yeah, we got a look at him. Tall, blonde. Blue eyes and had a pink mark on his right eye.”

Buck stood abruptly. The phone fell from his grip. Maybe they weren’t as rabid as Buck had thought. The first couple had seemed to be far past feral...but then how would this guy be able to talk with the press about him? “Evan, we need to go. SCF already has dogs there. They-”

“Have my scent,” Buck finished.

“You don’t have to run. We know the real story. Christopher can tell them what really happened in that clearing,” the Asian man stated.

“That won’t matter, Chim,” the older man sighed.

“The SCF hates all supernatural creatures, but they hate dragons even more,” Eddie continued.

“So it doesn’t matter if I didn’t do anything,” Buck whispered. Buck could feel that familiar itch under his skin.

“We’ll figure something out. No need to shift now, Buck,” Eddie stated as he felt the energy coming off the other man.

“We? There is no we in this. They’ll track my scent to here, you’ll all say variations of ‘he was here’ and they’ll leave to track me down.”

“You are bound to my son. That I has turned into a we. It doesn’t matter if I like it or not. If they kill you, that hurts my son. So if you’re running, we’re running with you.”

Buck shook his head. He couldn’t process what Eddie was saying. The only things on his mind was to protect Maddie and Christopher but he couldn’t do one without neglecting the other. If he protected Maddie, he left Chris. If he protected Chris, he signed his sister’s death warrant. As Buck took a deep breath, the room cooled rapidly. “Buck-Evan? Now is not the time to freak out on me,” Maddie spoke quietly as she placed her hands on his shoulders.

Opening his eyes, Buck could see Maddie and the fire crew standing behind her. Maddie sucked in a breath. “Your dragon eyes are showing,” she stated quietly.

“I know that,” he growled, his voice not entirely his own. He could thank the dragon in him for that. “But I can’t just leave and I can’t stay. Either way someone gets hurt and I don’t do hurt,” he was breathing harder at the effort it was taking not to completely shift. “If I leave, I’m breaking my promise to Shannon but if I don’t leave you won’t leave and they’ll kill you.”

Another hand was put on his shoulder and Buck could see Eddie standing next to his sister. “If they found Shannon’s body, they’ll figure out she’s a witch and they’ll come after Christopher and myself anyway. If you want to run to protect your sister, we’re coming with you.”

“We’ll keep you informed. Maybe we can convince the SCF that you don’t exist,” the man in charge stated, looking at both Chim and the kind woman.

“How could you-”

“Why do you think we didn’t freak out the second Chris said you were a dragon? We’re all supernaturals here, Buck,” the kind woman smiled.

Buck could still feel the buzzing under his skin, but he felt more comforted than he did when Maddie had handed him her phone. “We’ll be in touch with you constantly. If you need relocation, I’ll know,” the older man stated, a portal opening beside him.

“Where does that go,” Maddie asked.

“A safe place.”

“Bobby, you’re amazing,” Eddie stated, hugging the man. “Come on, we don’t know how long it’s going to take for the SCF to get here.”

As Eddie and Chris stepped through the portal, Buck’s legs immediately took a few steps forwards. “Why are you doing this,” he asked as he looked at Bobby.

“Supernaturals have to look out for each other, especially those of us who are just trying to do good in the world. You’re a good guy, Buck, we need more supernaturals like you. Until it’s safe for you to return, we’ll keep in touch and let you know if you need to start looking for another place to stay.”

Buck nodded, thanking the man before grabbing Maddie’s arm and walking through the portal.

________________

Four Months Later

Buck smiled as Christopher and Maddie were playing in the backyard. It was some game they’d made up after realizing the full potential of the open space they had. The chair next to him creaked as Eddie sat down, handing a beer to him. “You know, Chris has definitely adopted you both into the family.”

“We’ve adopted both of you into ours,” Buck easily responded, smiling as he looked at Eddie.

It was quiet for a few moments before Eddie spoke again. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Every time you ask that, the answer is the same, Eddie. What would you like to know?”

“When Maddie came in that day. She said that killing those wolves would have kept you from having to run again...how long have you been running?”

Buck let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair as he looked away from Eddie. Where should he start? “That’s a long story, Diaz. You sure you want to hear the whole thing?” At Eddie’s nod, Buck nodded to himself. “I’ve been running for over half my life. The day I turned ten years old, I transformed. I don’t even know why I was so angry, but I felt this itch under my skin and suddenly I was bigger than I was before. My mom...she was screaming and my dad was calling me some pretty colorful names.”

Buck blew out a breath as he looked over to Maddie and Chris. “Neither of my parents are supernaturals. My dad grabbed his gun, I was freaking out by that time and my dad just...he kept shooting at me. He hit my side.” Buck pulled up his shirt to show him the scar on his left side. “I shifted back and he kept coming at me with the gun. If Maddie hadn’t come home when she did…”

Buck gulped as he looked away from his sister and Chris and just stared out at the landscape. “So she took me and we ran. We went all over the world. We tried to stay in one place or another but while I was learning my abilities, sometimes I’d mess up and people would find out so we’d have to move again. Three years ago, we decided to stay in LA. We thought we were done running,” Buck laughed, “guess I just keep messing everything up.”

Eddie was suddenly in front of him. “Don’t do that to yourself. You saved my son that night. If we weren’t dragons, we would have stayed and explained it to the SCF. You’re a good man, Evan. Shannon wouldn’t have bonded you to Chris if she didn’t see how good of a person you were.”

Buck cleared his throat. “So you don’t shift anymore? It took me a while to figure out what the weird energy coming off you was.”

Eddie took the change in topic with stride. “When Shannon became pregnant with Chris, I didn’t want to risk the SCF finding out about me which would lead them to Shannon and Chris. So, to provide and protect them, I had Shannon help me bind the dragon away. I still have some of his abilities, but I can’t shift. Though it has the weird side effect of me hearing the dragon constantly in my head.”

“What’s his name,” Buck asked, mouth forming the words without really thinking about it.

“Torasz,” came the voice that wasn’t Eddie.

The dragon in Buck sat up straighter. He could feel the shift in his eyes, the glow clear in Eddie’s eyes. “Sini,” (mine) the dragon in Buck purred at the thought. “Si mi Atryzion.” (I am Atryzion).

Eddie sat straighter and his eyes began glowing a faint red. “Sini.” The red in his eyes started to glow brighter and before either man could blink, there was a large red dragon in Eddie’s place. Buck’s skin prickled before he, too, was in his dragon form. Before they had time to get to know each other, there was a throat being cleared.

“While it’s nice you boys figured out that you’re mates, we have an innocent child in the vicinity and the SCF are still looking for both of you,” Maddie stated, Chris beside her giggling happily.

As if cold water had been poured over them, both men shifted back to their human forms. Eddie groaned as he hit the floor of the porch. Buck was immediately over to his side. “I thought you said you couldn’t shift.”

“I thought so too. I think the dragon broke free when he realized he was within reach of his mate.”

“You two compliment each other, color wise and all,” Maddie stated as she returned with clothes for the men. “But let’s try not to shift unless absolutely necessary.”

________________

Ten Months Later

“What are you talking about Eddie? If you don’t remember, I didn’t have the best upbringing. I can’t take care of a kid,” he hissed as he followed Eddie around as he packed his duffel.

“You’ve been co-parenting our kid over the past year. You’ll be fine. I’m going to meet with Bobby and talk with the SCF. I’ll get everything settled and then we can go back to LA.”

Buck grabbed Eddie’s arm. He licked his lips as he stared into Eddie’s brown eyes. He loved this man. “What if I don’t want to go back to LA? What if I want to stay here with you and Chris? In this isolated place, we don’t have to worry about anyone but ourselves. We get to love each other and not be interrupted by everyday life. This is the most at peace I’ve ever been Eddie...I don’t want it to end.”

Eddie placed his hands on Buck’s cheeks. He leaned in, giving the man a quick kiss. “We can talk about living arrangements when I get back. At the very least, I’d like for us to be able to go where we please without someone trying to kill us.”

Buck could feel the tears of frustration building up in his eyes. “What if you leave and they kill you anyway?”

“Amor, I’ll have the team with me. Nothing’s going to happen other than the SCF is going to stop looking at us as fugitives.”

A portal opened up and he could see Bobby standing on the other side. Buck shook his head, grabbing Eddie’s arm again. “Please,” he begged, “I...let me go. That way Chris still has you if things go wrong.”

Buck was expecting the red glow of his eyes. He knew no matter what he argued, Eddie was going to go through that portal. “Nothing will go wrong and even if something were to happen, I’d rather it be me than you,” he stated, pulling the duffel over his shoulder. He leaned in one last time and placed a lingering kiss on Buck’s lips. “I’ll be back in no time, mi sol.”

________________

One Week Later

Buck was going crazy. Eddie wasn’t back yet and the dragon inside him was going wild. He couldn’t tell if it was because Eddie was in distress or if it was because Buck was so nervous. Maddie had tried to keep his mind off the meeting with the SCF, but after a couple days, it was no use. He could tell she was nervous too. The only reason he wasn’t going completely mad was because he had Chris to care for. As a week was passing though, Buck could almost constantly feel that itch under his skin.

That’s why when the portal opened, he was immediately through it and plowing into Eddie. Eddie easily wrapped his arms around Buck, chuckling slightly as Buck buried his head in Eddie’s neck. “It’s alright, Querido. Everything is alright. We’re fine,” he muttered into Buck’s curls.

Eddie had been able to feel Buck’s distress all week. He was definitely thankful to be able to have his arms around his mate. He’d been wanting to shift all week especially over the last few days as the distress from his mate became stronger and stronger. Thankfully, he’d gotten everything sorted out with the SCF. “Come home,” Buck whispered against Eddie’s throat.

Eddie nodded. “I’m coming home, Amor. We can figure out everything else tomorrow.”

110 notes · View notes