Chapter Text
The rooftop is quiet in that rare LA way, the city stretched out below them in a wash of gold and blue. Buck’s leaning against the railing, camera strap still around his neck from a sunset shoot, scrolling through photos on the display with the easy focus he gets when he’s working.
“Hold on,” Buck says absently. “That one might actually be good.”
Eddie watches him for a second longer than necessary. The wind tugs at Buck’s hair. The sky is unreal. Eddie’s heart is trying to punch its way out of his ribs. Buck doesn’t hear Eddie move. He doesn’t notice the way Eddie’s hands shake when he reaches into his jacket pocket. He doesn’t see the phone propped carefully on the ledge behind them, camera already rolling.
“Buck,” Eddie says.
Buck hums. “Yeah, babe—”
Eddie drops to one knee.
Buck turns. The sound he makes isn’t words. It’s a sharp inhale, stunned, like the air just left the world all at once. His camera slips, bumps against his hip.
“Eddie—” Buck breathes. “What are you—”
Eddie laughs, a little wet, a little broken. “I know, I know. I didn’t mean to do it like this, I just—” He swallows. “I don’t want to do my life without you. I never have. I don't really have anything new to say that hasn't already been said. But I do know that I want to marry you.”
Buck’s hands come up to his mouth, eyes already shining. “You’re serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything.” Eddie opens the box. “Evan Buck Buckley, will you marry me?”
Buck doesn’t even let him finish before he’s nodding, laughing, crying all at once. “Yes. Yeah. Eddie—yes.”
Eddie’s on his feet in a second, hands cradling Buck’s face, forehead pressed to his. He slides the ring on with shaking fingers. Buck kisses him like the world is ending and starting over at the same time.
Neither of them notices the phone still recording.
Two days later, Eddie goes live.
The stream opens to Eddie sitting at his desk, hair still damp, hoodie half-zipped. He looks… suspiciously pleased.
“Hey,” he says. “What’s up.”
Chat immediately floods.
DiazDefenseSquad: HEY
buddiecrumbs: eddie you look SMUG
softservebuck: why do you look like that
Eddie smiles and shakes his head. “Nothing. Just missed you guys.”
Chat scrolls faster.
ToiletBrush: LIAR
LoreLad: where’s buck
“He’s home,” Eddie says easily. “Just doing his thing.”
More messages. Faster now.
KaleChips4U: CHECK YOUR IG
sirens4buck: EDDIE???
buddiecrumbs: WHAT WAS THAT VIDEO
Eddie blinks. “What video?”
The chat explodes.
GhostWaffle: YOU KNOW WHAT VIDEO
pastelguts: ROOFTOP????
warmthprotocol: EDDIE DIAZ EXPLAIN YOURSELF
Eddie laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Okay, okay—wow. You guys are dramatic.”
He leans closer to the camera, eyes bright. “I didn’t say anything. I just posted a video.”
Chat: A VIDEO OF YOU PROPOSING???
Eddie’s ears go red. “I did not—” He pauses. “…okay, yeah. I guess I did.”
The screaming in chat is instant.
buddiecrumbs: CONGRATS OH MY GOD
Sn1perQu33n: ARE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THIS
MilkMaid: IS BUCK OKAY WITH THIS
Eddie laughs again, softer. “He’s fine. He just didn’t know I was filming.”
He glances toward the hallway. “Hey, Buck?”
Footsteps. Buck’s voice, distant. “Yeah?”
“Can you come here for a second?”
“Why?”
Eddie grins. “Just come here.”
Buck appears in frame moments later, hair damp, cheeks flushed, shirtless in workout shorts like he didn’t consider the internet at all. There’s fresh ink along his ribs, still a little red.
Chat loses its mind.
sirens4buck: HELLO????
ilovebuddie: TATTOO
buddiecrumbs: PUT A SHIRT ON OR DONT ACTUALLY DONT
Buck squints at the screen. “Why is everyone yelling?”
Eddie gestures vaguely. “They’re excited.”
Buck looks at him, suspicious. “About what?”
Eddie opens his mouth. Closes it. Tries again. “My—” He laughs, flustered. “My boyfriend.”
Buck’s eyebrows shoot up. “Boyfriend, huh?”
He steps closer, deliberately slow, crowding Eddie’s space just enough to make him short-circuit. “That’s what we’re calling it now?”
Eddie’s face goes fully red. “I mean—fiancé. Sorry. I—” He gestures helplessly at the chat. “Chat, look at him. He got a new tattoo.”
Buck glances down at himself, then back up at Eddie, amused. “You’re deflecting.”
Eddie smiles at him like he hung the sun. “Isn’t he handsome?”
Buck’s expression softens immediately. He leans down, presses a quick kiss to Eddie’s temple. “You’re ridiculous.”
Chat is unreadable now—just hearts, caps lock, crying emojis, and congratulations.
Buck finally looks back at the screen. “Oh. Oh—wait. You posted it.”
Eddie winces. “Yeah.”
Buck studies him for a second, then laughs, warm and real. “Okay. Yeah. That tracks.”
He holds up his left hand, ring catching the light. “Guess we’re telling people, huh?”
Eddie reaches for him, fingers lacing together. “Guess so.”
And for once, the internet is loud in exactly the right way.