Ever since the truth had come to light and Buck finally put a reason behind the missing piece that had been lingering within him since the day he was born, it was almost like he and Eddie grew closer too. Some of the walls had been lifted, which opened the door for more feelings to flood in.

He wishes it felt that easy with his sister.

It had been around a week now and Buck had still avoided all ports of contact with Maddie. He knows that he's delaying the confrontation but for some reason, he's still not ready. Maybe there's an underlying tension that Buck's inflicting on his sister, which he really should be imposing on his parents - but they're not here and she is.

It's always easier to blame the ones who have been there and loved you all this time compared to the ones who never even gave you a chance.

Buck loves Maddie, he loves her with all his heart. She saved him from a hateful household that could've completely destroyed him, she kept him shining - didn't let him dim. He thinks that's why it hurts even more, he loves her so much but he can't fully comprehend why she hid this from him the whole time.

It's doesn't help when she ambushes him one day at the firehouse.

Buck halts to a stop when he sees a figure decked in a bright pink coat loitering around the firetrucks, he almost wants to duck out of the way to hide.

But, that's wishful thinking because his sister turns around and spots him - her eyes immediately lighting up.

"Buck!" She walks towards him.

Buck looks to see if anyone else is around before moving to stand behind one of the firetrucks pulling her with him, hoping he can get some semblance of privacy - especially away from Chimney's prying ears.

Buck sighs. "Maddie, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she fiddles with her fingers, a nervous tick that she's always had - he can also see that some of her nails have been bitten away. "You're not answering my calls."

"Yeah, well," he shrugs and looks away when she begins to speak again.

"Please just give me a chance to-"

"Twenty-five years," he cuts her off, exasperated. "Why is it now such an emergency?"

"Because you won't talk to me," she begs and hesitates before adding. "And you probably shouldn't be working."

"Nope," he scoffs. "You're not taking that away from me, it's been a few days and I am obviously fine," he gestures down at himself to indicate how totally fine he really is.

"Buck, please I wasn't trying…"

"Us versus the world that's what you always said," his voice cracks. "But it turns out it was the three of you against me the whole time."

"That's not how it was," she shakes her head, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's always going to you and me."

"Really?" He sniffs and tries to hold back the water filling his eyes. "Because from where I'm standing you're not here for me, you're here to make yourself feel better."

She flinches back and he squeezes his eyes as the onslaught of emotion hits him, he never wanted to make his sister feel bad or to say any of this stuff to her face - but it's all bubbling over and she's the only one here right now. He can't pull his punches on his parents and so he goes for the one who's still here, who can take it out on.

An apology is poised on the tip of his tongue, but he can't force it out.

"Evan please, can you just talk to me?"

He laughs bitterly. "Like you should've done years ago?"

Her face drops and he realises he's being unfair right now. If he wants to salvage anything with his sister they all need space to cool down, he needs to be the one to come to her.

Buck runs a hand over his face. "Look Maddie, I love you and I'm always going to love you. But right now, I need some space. This is all a lot for me right now," he pleads.

She seems a little unsure and it annoys him that she won't give him this at least.

"Please," he rubs his face, the exhaustion of the last couple of days catching up to him. "I'll… I'll come to you."

The bell rings not allowing Maddie to say anymore and giving Buck the space to back away from all of this. He leaves his sister standing there alone and wishes it didn't make him feel like crap.

He knows that he loves her and they'll get through this, he reminds himself of that as the ladder truck pulls out of the station.

"Did you know female lions do all the hunting?" Buck states one morning they're all sat around the table at the station, even Athena decided to join them.

Athena raises an eyebrow, it's obvious to everyone by the bags under Buck's eyes that he went on an anxiety-ridden research binge last night (a result of Maddie's impromptu visit.) Other than that he seems to be dealing with everything surprisingly well for having his whole life upturned in the span of a day.

It's probably just because he finally understands his place in the world and why, for his whole life, he felt left out. Like the whole time there was some joke hanging over his head that he was failing to understand.

"And how do you know that, baby?" Athena asks him, gesturing for Bobby to pass the potatoes. It still weirds Buck out that they're able to silently communicate things to one another, it started when he was nineteen and he hadn't told both of them where he was. The next day they had a fierce fight of silent wills until they both turned on him with the same reprimand on their lips.

It scares him how in sync his parents are.

Buck flushes at Athena's question quickly looking down at his plate and trying to come up with an answer that won't make them worry or get him in trouble. He'd never hear the end of it.

Over the years Buck has come to love and hate being surrounded by first responders. For starters, it's really useful if he's ever unsure about an injury or illness (when he actually mentions it) or for being the first port of call there to catch you as you're about to fall. But they're also way too observant for their own good, not to mention overprotective. Especially Athena. The woman scared him when he first met her with her critical eyes and imposing presence squashed into a petite body. Now, he's come to love and be grateful that she's on his side, he's never been able to get away with much from her - she always been able to figure him out. There's a reason she's an awesome Sergeant.

In the end, he's never really been able to hide anything from his family very well.

Buck thinks about what he's about to say, slowly chewing his meal. "Uh-" he fiddles with the fork in his hand. "I read it somewhere."

She raises an eyebrow and he's nervous that she's going to call him out then and there in front of the whole table like he's some chastised child. I mean he may be her kid, but he's twenty-five years old and really can't handle that embarrassment right now.

"Maybe let's save the research for in the day," she says, kindly.

Buck nods sheepishly, he'll take what he can get.

The table goes back to the conversations they were having, Bobby, speaking quietly with Athena, Hen, and Chimney gesturing wildly and looking one second away from throwing food if it wasn't for Bobby's watchful eye. Eddie wasn't speaking to anyone just staring at Buck with a critical eye.

Usually having constant chatter around the table brought comfort to Buck, it gave him a sense of home - something he hadn't been used to whilst at the Buckley household. The only family dinners they had were done as a way to keep up appearances when work friends would come over. Their parents would dress them up and show them off like trophies they kept on a shelf, dusting away, and only brought out for special occasions.

The 118 family dinners were different - full of life and laughter, good food and people who want you to be there because they love you, not because they need you for something.

Today for some reason he couldn't keep still or keep his mouth shut.

"And crows are actually seen as good omens," he interjects causing everyone to look over at him again. "They signify a great change or transformation, so…" He trails off and flushes when he realises everyone has gone silent, reaching for his glass to quickly take a drink and avoid their eye contact.

Hen leans forward, concern across her face. "Is everything alright, Buckeroo?"

Finally, the question had been asked out loud, Buck had been waiting for this and yet he still wanted to avoid it as much as possible. He's glad none of their 'supernatural powers' allow them to detect a lie, he probably would've been screwed this whole time.

Buck nods at them all knowing they're probably not buying it for a second. "I'm good, just want to know more I guess."

Everyone seems to soften in favour of letting it go, everyone except Eddie who narrows his eyes - clearly not wanting to. Eddie never did seem that bothered by the etiquette of a family dinner.

"Well, if you ever want to know anything," Bobby says. "Just ask."

"Will do," Buck smiles lightly, before shovelling in some more potatoes.

Yummy potatoes, please Eddie don't call me out - please.

It's as if Eddie can hear his internal begging, wait what if Eddie can actually read minds, no that's silly… he'll ask him later because he's pretty sure he's gonna have to fess up to Eddie when they get off shift by the expression he's sending him.

Luckily, Buck never finds out whether or not Eddie's going to try and pull him away sooner than that because the bell goes. (Much to everyone's dismay who start hoovering up their food, not knowing whether or not this call could drag on and when they would get to eat again.)

Buck tries not to let Eddie see the smug grin across his face or the skip in his step but he's pretty sure he fails.

After the first few callouts, Buck finally allows himself to rest, both he and Eddie are sitting on the couch barely an inch of space between them despite a large amount of room on either side of them.

It seems like no matter where they go; they can't help but gravitate towards each another.

They're trying to hold a conversation, but halfway through Eddie feels a drop on his shoulder and realises Buck has fallen asleep - his midnight research finally catching up to him. His blonde eyelashes fanning sleepily as they brush against Eddie's dark shirt making them contrast beautifully.

Eddie stutters in shock but doesn't move, except to move a finger to wrap around Buck's curls that are falling out so prettily right now.

He's never really had to deal with this kind of caring before and doesn't know how to react, but he'll be damned if he lets Buck move any time soon or if anyone tries to wake him up.

Eddie starts mentally battling with himself over whether or not to tell Buck why they really ended up meeting. He knows it's history by now, but after the big reveal that threw and upset Buck so much - he knows that Buck hates being lied to, and the longer he hides this, the more chance that he may find out elsewhere. How he may find out, Eddie doesn't know - but his paranoia is spiralling knowing that if Buck weren't to find out from him, he could lose him forever. Buck's brain likes to go off on tangents and spin everything negatively, he knows that Buck could interpret that Eddie never cared for him - which is far from the truth.

Eddie doesn't think he's ever cared for someone more.

Eddie has never known affection, only through those brief interactions with Shannon. But that was all passion. At the time, Shannon was all-consuming arising feelings in him that he'd never felt before, especially for someone other than a demon.

Now, he sees her as a blip, a stepping-stone for the real thing.

This thing with Buck was different, Eddie could feel that - he knows it.

Buck came out of nowhere and shifted his stance on everything. Now, his eyes are wide-open to a world of feelings he never knew existed, and he doesn't ever want to go back to what it was before.

It's as though he can hear Lena cackling away, delighted at the turn of events. In some ways, Eddie feels as if she knew this was going to happen - from the teasing remarks and knowing looks after he got back from that club when he first met Buck. Maybe she even knew before that from her smirks at the picture she had held in her hand the whole time Eddie was too stubborn to ask.

She always did want him to 'get out' more.

After hearing basically the director's cut version of Buck's childhood, Eddie is just amazed Buck isn't jaded. It's a blessing and a curse that Buck goes into everything always seeing the good in people, in some ways, Eddie admits selfishly, that perhaps he may have extorted Buck on that.

The bitterness of his parents could've latched itself onto Buck if it weren't for Maddie, Buck's own shield. Eddie knows that Buck is going to forgive Maddie, it's the only reason he hasn't brought her up to Buck himself.

After everything they had been through together, he knew they were only going to come out stronger by the end of it.

Still, he'll be there for Buck until they do and for as long as Buck wants him.

It doesn't change the fact that there's this big secret between them hanging like a looming storm cloud over their heads - waiting just to unleash itself and soak them through with regrets and heartbreak.

The shrill of the alarm jerks Buck off his shoulder knocking Buck's head on the base of Eddie's chin.

Buck flails, eyes still bleary from sleep but mouth open in horror as his fingers pet Eddie's chin frantically. It's a weird motion, but so incredibly Buck it fills Eddie with fondness.

"I'm so sorry," Buck rushes out.

Eddie just chuckles, the pain just a mild ache. "It's fine, Buck." He pats his knee with both his hands and moves to stand up, reluctantly pulling away from Buck's hands.

"Come on, people await," Eddie says holding a hand out to Buck who immediately takes it, if their hands linger a moment longer they don't mention it - it seems as if they both want to chase that feeling for a few more seconds.

Eddie notices when they're in the back of the truck that the bags under Buck's eyes are a little more defined even after the little nap on Eddie's shoulder and he hopes that this call isn't a major one - a little worried about how Buck will manage with it all.

The sleep deprivation and the overwhelming emotions from Maddie's ambush are not a good combination.

The team has told Eddie stories of the Buck before he met Eddie, from before he even met (and he shudders to say the name) Abby. None of them line up with the Buck he sees before him today, maybe the little glimpse he got of the Buck who went out to clubs and danced with strangers until the night fades away. But, even then Eddie was able to see the real Buck, the Buck who's just craving for affection and vying for something to soothe away that self-doubt rearing inside of him.

Eddie feels that he's always seen the true Buck hidden behind the layered scars and bricked-up walls.

Never before has he gotten to see that Buck, the one he hides behind when he feels most scared and doubtful - named, by him, Buck 1.0.

At this call though, Eddie finally gets to see the character come out to play.

The call looks simple from the outside, it's a house fire - nothing they haven't seen before. A mother and her two children are trapped inside, something that always tugs on your heartstrings - but you push it to the side because you have a job to do.

For some reason, Buck couldn't push that away today and Eddie has a slight suspicion it's because of the children: an older sister and younger brother.

Exactly like Buck and Maddie.

They're able to get both the girl and the mother out, but no one can find the little boy. They already needed to evacuate - the house a second away from going up like a matchbox.

Sometimes, Buck really scares, not to mention frustrates Eddie too - just like today at this supposedly normal, routine call.

It's minutes when Eddie realises that Buck isn't behind him like he's supposed to be, it's seconds when he realises that he won't be able to make it back in time to save Buck with the little girl thrown over his back.

Buck is an angel, he's not fireproof like Eddie who literally walks through the fires of Hell. So, Eddie has no idea why Buck would risk his own life like this when he has so much support and better options behind him.

Why didn't Buck say anything?

Why didn't he ask for help?

Eddie was supposed to have Buck's back and the great tidal wave of fear consumes Eddie that he may have just failed him completely - before they could ever really cement that they were anything.

They needed more time.

It's a tense few seconds, some of the tensest that's ever been felt and for such a short amount of time; it doesn't feel like it. Bobby is gripping his radio so tightly his knuckles have gone bright white and it's shaking in his hand, his lip trembles not able to move to speak into the radio again. Both Hen and Chim are standing beside both of them, tense expressions on their face as they stare out at the house.

"Buckley, report," Bobby commands with a slight wobble.

Eddie's fists tighten and he moves towards the house. Bobby stops him with a finger up signifying to give him a minute.

He pulls the radio closer to him and repeats, "Buckley come in."

Eddie knows why Bobby is reluctant to let Eddie into the house, it's currently an inferno ready to ignite and come down at any second. The fire won't bother Eddie, it probably won't bother Bobby much - but they also have a responsibility to not allow any suspicion to arise from the humans.

Eddie finds himself not caring about that right now. Buck's in there and if he wasn't Bobby's son, Eddie would be spitting and punching in anger at how long Bobby is taking.

This is just as hard for him right now, his fingers crackling under the pressure and emotion - so much so, that he has to shove them into the pockets of his turnout pants.

"Come on, Buck," Bobby whispers now. He seems to be prepared to throw caution to the wind and allow Eddie to go inside when something catches everyone's eye.

It's as though everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief when Buck finally emerges from the house. A lack of an oxygen mask that has Eddie immediately on alert until he sees it on the child he has in his arms.

Damn him for being so sacrificial.

Buck walks straight past them hurrying towards where one of the ambulances is stationed and passing the little boy off. Immediately, the little girl that had been carried out earlier comes rushing over to him placing one of her small hands into his and squeezing tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Buck watches on with a thousand emotions flittering across his face.

"What the hell was that?" Eddie growls ripping away his helmet and storming towards him.

Buck tries not to let his gaze draw towards Eddie's hair because holy damn; hot helmet hair.

"Uh-" Buck begins trying to stutter out an explanation, rubbing at his soot-covered face and grimacing when his fingers come away black and makes streaks on his cheek.

"Do you realise how dangerous that was?" Eddie fumes, his eyes lighting up like the flames that hide behind his irises. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I needed to save that kid's life," Buck says, defensively, puffing his chest like he's seconds away from spitting feathers.

"At the expense of your own life?"

Buck steps forward meeting Eddie toe to toe, nose to nose. "If that's what it takes, then yes."

Eddie looks as if he wants to shake some sense into Buck.

"You're an angel, you're not fireproof and you don't have any sort of power that could save you in that situation," Eddie spits. "I wouldn't have been able to help you in time."

And that's what it all boils down to, Buck can see it peeking through, hiding underneath Eddie's anger is the overwhelming fear on Buck's behalf and how Eddie was basically helpless throughout the whole thing.

Buck meets Eddie's gaze, his eyes are completely serious. "I wasn't asking you to."

Eddie lets out a huff in frustration, clearly reigning in his emotions. "You don't need to," Eddie stares at him intently, "you know that right?"

Buck looks away.

Eddie seems to fight with himself a little bit before he crosses his arms and says quietly, "How are your lungs?"

Buck sighs and breathes in deeply not feeling anything rattle or stop him from letting out a puff of air. "They feel good," he says patting his chest for good measure.

"Just get Hen to check it over, okay?" Eddie mutters. "Better safe than sorry, especially after that stunt you just pulled."

Buck scowls. "Fine," then a sad look overcomes him, "the little boy was hiding in his closet, crying for his sister," he murmurs.

Eddie doesn't know what to say, Buck doesn't seem to be waiting for a reply. "He said that she always told him to hide if something bad happened," he swallows. "And she'll always come and find him."

"Sounds like he has a great big sister."

"Yeah," Buck whispered with a faraway look.

It makes something in Eddie ache, wanting to wipe that expression off Buck's face and hope to never see it again. But, some part of him was still overwhelmed by annoyance and fear that Buck believed himself so expendable.

It'll be a while yet until he truly gets over it.

Back at the firehouse, things were awkward to say the least.

The whole journey back in the firetruck had been unusually silent, from the corner of his eye Buck could see Chimney now and again go to open his mouth but be elbowed by Hen. It made him smirk every time Chim would wince from it.

Bobby was watching them both with wary eyes flicking back and forth between Buck and Eddie.

Buck didn't want to say anything anyway looking out the window the whole ride and seeing the streets of LA go by. He also couldn't bring himself to look at Eddie afraid of what expression he was going to find when he did.

As soon as the truck was stationary he leaps out of it hoping to get to the locker room to shower and leave before anyone else can call him back. The call had run over exponentially, especially with all the clean-up after and Bobby having to run point on the reason the house had been reduced to ash. There was also all the fussing over Buck and his potential injuries - including arguments about whether or not he would need to go to the hospital right in front of him.

Thankfully, Hen's affinity for healing could sense he was truly as alright as he was saying (at least physically.) Buck's lucky he didn't have to go to a hospital.

It still didn't stop Bobby from running frantic fingers over every crevice to reassure, for himself, that Buck was truly okay. It sends a rush of gratitude and affection for his found father which pushes past the obvious annoyance he displays on his face for their fretting.

Buck really should've known he wasn't getting out of it that easily when he emerges from the shower after washing away the lingering traces of soot.

"Buck, my office now," Bobby calls out, halting him, he sighs as he drops his duffel bag down and follows after Bobby - his head down.

"Look," Buck says as he closes the door. "I know what you're going to say, but I just had to okay? You don't understan-" He's cut off when Bobby leaps towards him pulling him into a tight hug.

"Uh-" Buck pats Bobby awkwardly on the back, completely thrown off. "Okay," he says putting his head on Bobby's shoulder.

Bobby finally pulls away with a sniff and a look on his face like he's trying to hold back his emotions, rubbing hard at his face. "Don't ever scare me like that again."

Buck blinks, "I'm sorry."

Sometimes Buck forgets that he has a family waiting for him back home, he's got so used to being alone for years that it never crosses his mind that now he has something to come back to.

"I know you're struggling right now, especially with everything that's happening with Maddie," he holds up his hand when Buck goes to say something. "But," he grabs Buck by his shoulders, "you need to know that we all love you and we're always going to be there for me."

Buck squeezes his eyes and scrunches his nose to try and keep the tears from falling. "I know, I forget sometimes - but I do know that."

"So, no more stunts like that?" Bobby asks, "It's not good on my heart."

Buck laughs lightly. "I promise to be more careful next time," he croaks, it's the best Bobby's going to get and he knows it.

Bobby squeezes both his shoulders, before patting him on his back. "Okay, now get out of here," Buck looks at him gratefully, that wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to go. He's just glad he didn't get written up. "And good luck with Eddie," Bobby calls after him, a little humour in his voice.

Buck stutters, damn he forgot about that part, before sighing heavily and walking out.

When he comes out of Bobby's office he's still not expecting anyone to be waiting, but then again it's Eddie - he's way too determined and stubborn for his own good.

Eddie stands up from where he was sitting in the locker room and comes over to him, giving him a once over to check he was okay before saying anything.

It makes something within Buck soften that Eddie is still concerned over, despite his obvious frustration and anger.

"I'm coming back to your apartment with you," Eddie growls. "We need to talk."

Buck taken aback can only agree. He doesn't think he's seen Eddie like this before, despite finding out that he was the King of Hell - Buck thought that Eddie didn't live up to the usual stereotypes. Now though, he can see it. Eddie can be scary if he wants to be and Buck could definitely feel the power thrumming off Eddie.

Buck nods wordlessly moving to frantically pick up his bag and follow after Eddie, who somehow still makes walking look angry and very intimidating.

Maddie is still very much on his mind (especially after that call) and he, almost, forgets why Eddie decided to come back with him when he opens his mouth.

"I still can't believe Maddie kept it from me the whole time," Buck murmurs as he and Eddie are sat stiffly on Buck's couch, hands gripping ice-cold beers dripping with condensation.

He's struggling to find that sense of normalcy with Maddie again. In a way, he understands that she was just trying to protect him, but he wasn't slowly eased into the world with whispered words of reassurances. It had all been forced on him wrapped in a bundle of lies, deceit and revelations.

There was always something missing, a lost puzzle piece that keeps getting moved around and put in a new hiding spot the moment he gets closer, and now he realises he was right all along.

He just didn't expect his sister to be the main one hiding that part of him away.

Buck's been trying to see things from Maddie's perspective knowing that she probably couldn't grieve for Daniel, just like Buck. She, too, was locked away in a cold, unfeeling household and forced to keep this big family secret.

And he sees it that way, he does - but he's still finding it hard to let go of that resentment building for twenty-five years.

But after seeing those kids from the fire today, something in Buck yearns to reach for his phone to call her and he thinks that maybe, once Eddie leaves, he'll do just that.

Eddie's at Buck's place. The new one, his own place, and it still thrills him that he has somewhere to call his own - all thanks to Eddie of course, who can't seem to stay away from his apartment now that he's finally moved in.

Maybe he really couldn't stand Abby's place. A part of Buck hopes that maybe it's actually Buck who Eddie can't stay away from.

Eddie clears his throat and gives him a look as if he could see right through him. "So are you going to tell me about what happened out on that call today?"

Buck looks down an his beer swirling the rim with his finger, "Nothing happened, I was just doing my job."

"Recklessly."

Buck makes a face in annoyance. "I got them out who cares how I did it, huh?"

"Yeah you did," Eddie relents. "But saving someone shouldn't come at the cost of your own life."

Buck shakes his head. "This isn't some deep-rooted problem or wound that was reopened, they were children and I needed to save them. Tell me you wouldn't do the same?"

Eddie ignores his last comment and purses his lips, giving him a knowing look. "And this has nothing to do with those children reminding you of you and Maddie?"

Buck's grip tightens on the beer he's holding, if it were anything other than glass he would be afraid he'd crush it and spill the contents all over the both of them. Perhaps it would've gotten him out of this conversation.

"I had to do something," he whispers.

"Why just you?" Eddie emphasises, gesturing pointedly. "You have a whole team behind you, why is it just you who can risk your life?"

Buck's face twists in anguish at the thought. "I can't stand the thought of anyone I love getting hurt."

"And you think we don't feel the same?" Eddie asks, incredulously, then scoffs.

Buck can't bring himself to look Eddie's way, "Why is this so important to you?"

"Because Evan," Buck's head snaps up to look at Eddie. "You act like you're expendable," Eddie says so soft and earnest, looking away from Buck like it's too hard to say looking into the intense blues of Buck's expressive eyes. "But you're wrong."

Buck lets out a shaky sigh staring intently at the emotion pouring out of Eddie, at all the things left unsaid but clearly yelling at him within the words themselves.

"I care about you," Eddie adds, his eyes flicking down to look at Buck's mouth.

Buck can't take it anymore and pushes forward to meet Eddie's lips with his own, finally giving in to the thing he has been craving for since he was given a taste at the club.

It's just as electrifying as it was then, lips slotting together like puzzle pieces finally finding their way to each other.

That is until Eddie pulls away.

"Buck, we can't," he whispers, pushing Buck away gently with a conflicted look in his eye.

"What?" Buck rears back. "Why?"

For a beautiful second, Eddie had kissed him back, Buck had felt that.

Insecurities that he pushed down just to get the confidence to kiss Eddie again flare up, pinching and prodding at him with 'what have you dones' and 'what did you think would happen.' Buck truly thought that Eddie had felt the same way as he does, how else could you explain the lingering looks and the constant touches.

Obviously now, Buck realises he must have been wrong this whole time and he's just lost the best friend he's ever had. That's if Eddie doesn't light him on fire for laying one on him that he didn't want.

Eddie looks over at Buck, sadly - but with a knowing look in his eye. "Buck, this isn't about you," Eddie says, firmly. "I want to kiss you just as much as you want to kiss me."

"Then why?" Buck whispers, wanting to lean in once again and chase the taste of Eddie he was being forbidden from.

Is Eddie embarrassed to be seen with him? He wonders if it's some angel and demon thing where it's literally a forbidden love. Surely Eddie wouldn't have kissed him in the club if that was so and, according to Eddie, Buck had slept with several demons too - so it can't be that either.

"There's something I've been keeping from you," Eddie admits, leaning away a little more - Buck tries not to take it to heart, already missing his warmth, despite them sitting next to each other.

"You," Buck questions, shaking his head. "You're keeping something from me?" He doesn't understand what it could be, ever since he's met Eddie he's been unapologetically honest with him even when Buck knew nothing.

Eddie chews his lip. "Buck I need to tell you what brought me to Earth and I don't think you're going to like it."

Buck sits up with a frown and a wary expression on his face, "What is it?"

Eddie swallows as if it pains him. "I knew about you before I met you in the club."

"What?" Buck asks in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Eddie gets a wild look in his eye. "I came to Earth because I knew there was an angel here," he says, slowly.

"Why would you care about that?"

Eddie pauses and swallows, "Because there aren't supposed to be any angels roaming the Earth, especially one living on it."

Buck wrinkles his brow. "Then how come I'm here?"

Eddie shrugs and gives Buck a look he can't interpret. "I guess there's an exception to every rule."

Buck still isn't seeing any of this clearly, he doesn't understand what big secret Eddie is trying to get out. The one he regrets with every fibre in him that it causes a flash of shame and guilt to fill Eddie's face leaving him before he realises Buck has noticed.

Eddie has always been someone of very few words, it probably goes hand in hand with the whole King of Hell thing - being mysterious and elusive. Buck's always accepted that about him, grown to like it about him. Eddie shows himself through actions and body language, little things that Buck has eventually been able to pick up and interpret.

Never would he have thought that Eddie was keeping some big secret from Buck.

Buck thinks back to the conversation he had with Eddie before, about the relationship between demons and angels and something begins to dawn on him.

"Why did you come down to Earth that night of the club?" He asks, not knowing whether or not he wants to hear the real answer.

Eddie shuffles and looks sheepish, it's something he hasn't seen from Eddie before and he hasn't been able to look Buck in the eye since he pushed him away from the kiss. "Angels aren't supposed to be on Earth, I assumed it was some sort of anomaly," Buck's eyes flash at that. "So I came down to Earth to… kill that angel."

Buck inhales sharply. "You what?" He demands, blinking in shock.

"This was before I even properly met you," Eddie quickly adds, a pleading look in his eye that Buck has no idea how to answer.

"You lied to me about this," Buck accuses. "And when we met it wasn't some happy coincidence, it was intentional. For an awful, selfish reason."

"Back then, it feels like so long ago," Eddie laughs, humourlessly. "Back then I was clouded by my hatred, desires, and the power I possessed. The days were repetitive, the people I was surrounded by…" He shakes his head.

"Eddie, that night in the club, it changed something for me," Buck says, honestly. "I thought it meant something."

"It did mean something-"

"Obviously not, it's all overshadowed now by the fact you wanted to kill me," Buck says with wide eyes. "After everything that happened with the team and Maddie, even Abby, why… why didn't you tell me?"

Buck doesn't know how they went from Eddie telling him how important he was to finding out Eddie was lying to him, that this thing between them may have been a lie the whole time.

He wants to go back to before.

"Because I didn't know how - this is so hard Buck," Eddie emphasises. "The moment I spoke to you when we danced when we kissed; everything else just fell away, nothing else mattered anymore - not to me. Causing you harm was the last thing on my mind."

Buck shakes his head, he's already a little bit bruised from the revelation from Maddie, and Eddie is just poking at it even more making sure the mark stays for longer. "I can't listen to this right now."

"Buck, you changed me," Eddie reaches out to grasp Buck's hand and place it on his heart. "You lit something up in me that I didn't even know existed."

Buck pulls his hand back and moves away. "No… no Eddie… I trusted you. I thought you wouldn't lie to me," he grabs his hair, mumbling, "why does everyone lie to me."

"I didn't want to, after a while I forgot what I was even doing here in the first place and I wanted to…"

Buck ignores the ringing of his phone but glances down with a frown when it chimes with a text alert straight after the call, multiples ones, paired along with a couple of voicemails that had been left minutes before. His whole face drops when he stares at the text from Chimney scrambling towards his phone and nearly dropping it, completely tuning out the rest of Eddie's explanation.

"Buck please I-" Eddie continues noticing him ignoring him.

"I can't do this right now, Eddie!" Buck screams out shoving his phone into Eddie's face to show him a text from Chim with a shaky hand.

"Maddie's been kidnapped," he says, choking on a sob.