One of my favorite things about Eddia Diaz as a character, is how he loves people quietly.
What I mean by that is that it's not this bold, outward exclamation of "I LOVE YOU". It's subtle. It's action more than words. Especially, with Buck.
Sometimes, only with Buck.
When Buck quit the firehouse because Bobby struggled letting him back to work, Eddie heard Bobby say that they were all Buck really had, and he went right over there with his kid and showed Buck that despite not being a firefighter, he was still needed, he was still wanted, that he was still a part of his life/family.
When Buck was upset about his parents being in town and feeling like he had to apologize for his behavior and Eddie told him that his feelings matter. That he has a right to be angry and upset about the way he grew up, and that he has a right to verbalize how they make him feel. He supported him instead of telling him to just deal with it.
When Buck felt guilty for not being able to protect Eddie from the snipper and wished it was him instead of Eddie, Eddie realized that what Buck was really saying was that he wasn't needed, that life would be better without him instead of Eddie because of Christopher. So Eddie showed him that he was just as important by giving him Christopher in his will. By giving him something to live for.
When Buck was recovering from the lightning strike, his death, and a coma, everyone was hovering, except Eddie. Because Eddie knew but would come when he was ready. And when he did, Eddie let him come in, find comfort, and get the rest he needed. Let him talk about how he was feeling, and just let him feel it.
When Buck finally got back to work, but wasn't quite feeling like himself, felt too different, like the old Buck was gone, Eddie took him on a date to play poker, to show him that different can be good. That even if he were different, it's ok. Cause Eddie will love that part of him too.
When Buck got tangled up with the Tommy of it all, and told him he was bisexual, Eddie told him that it doesn't change anything between them. Eddie basically said "it doesn't matter. You're still Buck to me, I still love you like I always did before."
When Eddie left to be with his son in Texas and called Buck almost every day, making sure that he was maintaining that contact, that he was making it obvious that he would always be available for Buck even if they weren't in the same state. That he hadn't abandoned him.
When Eddie got on a plane and came home for Bobby's funeral and stayed with Buck for a few weeks after just to make sure he was ok and that he wasn't going to spiral.
When they fought in the kitchen and he felt guilty and needed to remind Buck that this doesn't mean he doesn't still love him and brought Christopher home so they could all grieve together.
When he skipped going to the airport, to go help them at the building collapse to be sure Buck made it out even though he didn't work for the 118 anymore.
When he let Buck drag him out to the club, even though women are the last thing on his mind that moment because he knew Buck was only trying to be a good friend and help.
When he agreed to do the firefighter games with Buck because it was the last thing Bobby did for them and he missed Bobby and knew Buck missed him too, and would want to do this one thing for him and hopefully make him proud.
When he decided to joy ride back to LA from Tennessee, because he knew it would give them more time to just be Buck and Eddie.
When he woke up in the hospital, after the crash, and dragged his broken body across a random New Mexico town to find Buck. And held a gun to a woman's head until they gave Buck back.
When everyone dropped everything to be with Buck during his addiction and withdrawal battle, he hovered the most, not because he didn't trust Buck, but because he felt like he let him down and he wanted him to know that he was always going to have his back.
Everyone talks about how Buck and Eddie never say "I love you" and how weird it is, because best friends would have said it by now, and said it often.
But Eddie has been telling Buck he loves him constantly from the very beginning.
And this is the part of Eddie Diaz's character that I feel like the writer's never really miss on. It's one of the most consistent themes they have for him and its possibly my favorite thing about him as a character as a whole.
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