Explicit | Buddie | chapter 4/5 | 7k | tags: miscommunication, living together, light angst, domesticity, getting together (eventually)
'We made a cake!' says Theo.
'Really? What kind?' asks Maddie.
'Chocolate raspberry with ganache,' says Theo, except he pronounces it gah-natch.
'Ooh my favorite,' says Maddie, 'are you going to have the first slice?'
'No,' Theo shakes his head traitorously, 'we're giving Eddie the first one because it's his party.'
Maddie's eyes flick to Buck, her eyebrows raised, and Buck is so glad Eddie is facing away from them but he can still see that the tips of his ears have gone pink.
'Lucky Eddie,' says Maddie as Eddie bends at the knees to set Theo on his feet, 'shall we wait outside so him and Buck can get it ready?'
'Yeah,' says Theo and Maddie lets of Buck so he can take her hand, stepping out into the yard, 'I'm going to have the second slice. Then Chris can have the next one and Buck can—.'
Eddie sidles over to Buck, fully in the kitchen now, as Buck gets the raspberries out of the fridge and fetches the cake from where he'd stored it out of reach of tiny hands. Buck turns on the tap, the water running cold so he can wash the fruit and Eddie leans back against the cabinets so he can watch him.
'It's my party is it?' he says.
'Yeah, I mean, it was your idea,' Buck shrugs, fresh raspberries rinsed and sitting in the colander, the cake set on the countertop next to the sink.
'Thank you,' says Eddie.
Buck is carefully placing the raspberries in concentric rings on top of the cake now. It's delicate work, he can't look away from it.
'You're welcome.'
Eddie takes hold of Buck's wrist, the last raspberry pinched between his thumb and index finger, bringing Buck's hand to his mouth. His tongue is wet, hot against Buck's fingertips as he snags the fruit, lingering a second too long before he leans back, chewing, his lips staining red and grinning. Buck swallows, his mouth full of spit and he can almost taste the tart, dusty softness of the raspberry himself, the juice bursting across his own tongue.
'Do you need help?' says Eddie and he's still got his fingers circled warm and strong around Buck's wrist.
'No, I've got it,' says Buck and he risks a glance but it's just Eddie looking at Buck like he always does.
