Chapter Text
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[06/22/25 - 5:17PM]
Buck: whatcha listening to???
Eddie: I’m right in front of you, why are you texting me?
Buck: you’ve got ur airpods in and i didn’t want u to pause the song
Eddie: Right.
Buck: soooo the song?
Eddie: Don’t make fun of me. You always harp on my music taste 🙄
Buck: trust my expectations are low enough that i won’t say anything…
but I’m curious!
no (outward) judgement!
Eddie: Okay…
Jane Says
By Jane’s Addiction
Buck: well. can’t say i’ve heard it! so nothing to harp on
Eddie: Wait you should listen then!
But it has to be the live version
Trust me…
Buck: why?
Eddie: Just listen
Buck: fine
listening
…
okay very grungey
you definitely had a sirius xm lithium phase
Eddie: Correct
Buck: … are those steel drums???
Eddie: YES
The drums are so much clearer in the live version than the regular one.
Also why are we still texting we could just listen to it together?
Buck: Chris is in his room, and i don’t want to subject him to this
I MEAN
Eddie: HEY YOU SAID NO JUDGEMENT!
Buck: I MEAN I DONT WANT HIM TO UHHHH
get hooked on 80s and 90s grunge music
are u equipped to handle a 14 year old’s nirvana phase?
Eddie: Hey I was a 14 year old with a nirvana phase
Buck: exactly
and as his dad, it’s ur job to break the cycle
do better for ur son than what was done onto u
Eddie: 🤨
Alright, that’s enough now
I’m gonna go do the dishes
Willingly!
You’re reminding me of my high school bullies
Buck: nooooo wait wait
i’m kiddinggg
it’s nice! it’s so nice!
IT IS FANTASTIC
steel drums! and 90s grunge! oooooo
Eddie: Watch it, Buckley
If you’re so high and mighty about music, what were YOU listening to before you texted me? 🫵
I saw you on the couch with your airpods in too
Buck: well maybe i was listening to a podcast
about whales
Eddie: Were you?
Buck: no 😔
Eddie: Exactly.
So spill
Buck: manchild
sabrina carpenter
PLEASE LISTEN ITS SO CATCHY
Eddie: Maybe I should just stick to my divorced dad rock.
Buck: noooo don’t resign urself to this fate! you can grow! you can adapt!
get more modern!
Eddie: Fine
I’ll listen
Just for you though.
Don’t expect me to like it
Buck: YAY YAY OKAY
let me know what u thinkkkkk
Eddie: Very poppy
Buck: shhhhhh focus on the music stop texting
Eddie: Seems like a song you can relate to. Reminds me of an ex of yours, hmm what was his name? 🤔
Buck: SHHHHH
STOP
Eddie: I’m just messing with you lol
The song’s fun! I vibe with it.
Buck: really??? u like???
Eddie: It’s actually catchy!
Now I feel bad that I sent you one you didn’t enjoy
There’s so many really good songs from the 80s and 90s that I bet I could get you to love too
Buck: honestly i rlly didn’t hate it! it’s just so different than what i listen to
Eddie: Maybe we can both help influence each other’s tastes. Like I can put you onto my stuff and you can put me onto what you like
We can both grow our discography
Buck: waittt i’m so down
how should we do this though?
cuz if i send a bunch of shit rn, how would u even get through all that
like i have sooooo many to send you
Eddie: Same
Hmm maybe we should do a song per day!
Like each day, we send each other one song that we like. Maybe it’s something we listened to that day or resonated with.
And with one per day, we can ease into it, until slowly my 80s 90s 00s grunge shit takes over your whole library 😈
Buck: oh ur so on. by the time im done with you, you’re gonna be wishing u went to the eras tour with me when you had the chance
Eddie: Yeah right 🙄
Buck: just you wait…
so are today’s songs the first edition to our one song per day trend
cuz i actually had a different song stuck in my head all day
and this one is indie pop, so less campy fun (horny) pop than sabrina carpenter
Eddie: You can send me whatever you’d like! I actually had a different one in mind too.
It might also be a little more your taste than Jane’s Addiction
Buck: okay hell yeah
song of the day DAY 1
drum roll please…
something has to change – the japanese house
Eddie: I’ll give it a listen and let you know what I think!
Buck: you don’t have to do it rn
actually u don’t have to do it at all
or at least not all the time
that way u can keep track of what u actually like and dislike without feeling like you’ll hurt my feelings if u don’t enjoy one
Eddie: Okay, yeah that sounds good!
My song of the day is I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2
Buck: sweet
i’ll listen later tn
gotta go make us dinner first
pesto pasta w chicken?
Eddie: Yum
Lmk if you need help with anything
Buck: perfect, u can help by GETTING OUT OF THE KITCHEN :)
Eddie: Okay attitude
But fair
Dishes are done anyways, the kitchen is all yours
Buck: don’t know why u did the dishes before dinner cuz this pasta is gonna add to that sink but 👍
Eddie: Because you bullied me and Jane’s Addiction out of the living room, remember?
Buck: oh yeah
that
Groupchat: Bedford Fam (Buck, Eddie, & Chris)
[6/22/25 – 6:26PM]
Buck: hey guys dinner is ready!
Chris: what u make
Buck: Pesto pasta!
Chris: yum
did Dad help?
Buck: no
Chris: ok good
Eddie: HEY NOW
Chris: oops forgot this was the gc
Private message: Buck & Chris
[6/22/25 – 6:29PM]
Chris: ok good
Buck: lol get off the game and come eat
Chris: 🫡
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[06/22/25 - 9:40PM]
Eddie: Dishes are done (again)! Thanks (again) for dinner!
Buck: ofc any time
even after i move out
Eddie: Oh yeah
Right
Awesome!
Buck: it’s soooo stressful trying to find the right place
especially with this credit score lmao
but i promise i’ll be out of ur extremely gelled hair soon enough
Eddie: Okay despite your rudeness today, PLEASE don’t feel like you have to rush out of here
I like having you here.
Even if I have to sleep on the couch every other day.
Buck: i know i know
but still
it’s ur space
Eddie: With most of your furniture
Buck: still ur space tho
Eddie: Yeah but I like my space better when I share it with my best friend
And my son
Crazy how much better things are compared to a year ago
Buck: a lot has changed!
no more dead wife dopplegangers!
Eddie: You’re ruthless today.
But yes. No more dead wife dopplegangers.
And no more Tommy.
Buck: WOAH
Eddie: Don’t dish if you can’t take
Buck: hey i can take!
but i thought u liked him
Eddie: Meh, don’t like anyone that hurts you.
Buck: oh yea i guess he did say u stopped talking to him after we broke up
Eddie: Exactly.
Wait
How do you know that?
Buck: uh
Eddie: Buck how do you know that
Buck: he told me…
Eddie: Dude
Did you just lock the bedroom door…
Buck: I HEARD U COMING TO YELL AT ME
Eddie: I CAN STILL YELL THROUGH THIS DOOR.
Buck: but u won’t cuz ur son is trying to sleep in the next room
Eddie: That boy is not asleep
He’ll be up gaming all night
Buck: better not disturb him then
don’t want his friends to hear u yelling through the headset and call the cops for a domestic
Eddie: A DOMESTIC???
Buck: :)
goodnight eddie
Eddie: Yelling postponed until tomorrow
I don’t care if the entire 118 hears it on our shift.
SHAME!
Buck: yeah yeah
GOOD NIGHT
say it back
Eddie: Goodnight.
[06/23/25 - 12:12AM]
Eddie: Something Has to Change by the Japanese House gets two thumbs up
[06/23/25 - 5:43AM]
Buck: HURRYYYYY WE’RE GONNA BE LATE
also why were u up so late
oh can u grab my water bottle btw i forgor
Eddie: Got it 👍
Groupchat: 118 A-Shift (Buck, Eddie, Chim, Hen, Ravi)
[6/23/25 – 6:06AM]
Hen: Buck and Eddie wya?
Eddie: Sorry everyone, we’re a bit late!
Buck is driving but he is making me clarify that it’s my fault.
I was late to wake up.
Hen: All good, see you soon
Ravi: oh but when im late yall put me on extra chores
i see how it is
next time im gonna kms in front of u all to change the trajectory of ur lives
Chim: HELLO?
Eddie: Glad you wouldn’t overreact.
Hen: Reminder that we’re all mandated reporters…
Tread carefully
Ravi: aye aye captain
let me edit that to “next time im gonna kill buck in front of u all to change the trajectory of ur lives”
Eddie: Buck says “HEY!” (He’s driving)
Hen: Not any better, Ravi.
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[06/23/25 - 6:51AM]
Eddie: Don’t think I forgot about the yelling we postponed…
Buck: gulp
Eddie: We’re talking after you’re done cleaning the rig
Private message: Eddie & Ravi
[6/23/25 – 9:25AM]
Eddie: YOU
Ravi:
Eddie: WHERE ARE YOU
Ravi: nope nope nope not getting involved
i heard u and Buck arguing and i’m hiding
Eddie: YOU KNEW
YOU DID THIS
Ravi: i’ve done a lot, you’ll have to get more specific
Eddie: You brought TOMMY to BUCK at the bar!
Ravi: erm
maybe
back in like march why do u care now
Eddie: They slept together
Ravi: again why do u care
Eddie: IN MY HOUSE
Ravi: not ur house at the time babygirl
Eddie: Don’t babygirl me
Ravi: ok adultman BUT AGAIN
WHY
DO
U
CARE
(he asks meddlingly)
Eddie: Because Tommy hurt Buck, so why would you want to risk Tommy hurting him again?
Ravi: cuz buck was hurting MY EARS
rambling on and on and on
Eddie: About?
Ravi: ummm his special interests?
Eddie: Sounds like Buck
But you should’ve known that already
What did you expect?
Ravi: idk i never know what to expect w u two
Eddie: Meaning?
Ravi: just a couple of freak4freaks
Eddie: Ugh you are no help, I never know what you’re saying.
Ravi: u just found out ur chopped and also unc
Eddie: Not even going to ask what that means
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[06/23/25 – 12:33PM]
Eddie: Hey I’m sorry for getting so upset earlier.
Buck: i’m sorry for not telling u sooner
Eddie: It’s fine, Buck. I just worry about you. Didn’t want you to get hurt again.
Buck: well thank u
but like
i can take care of myself believe it or not
(except for that time i did die)
Eddie: I know you can. Doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you.
Buck: well nothing to worry about here! like i said earlier, it was just a one night stand
he left right after
Eddie: He didn’t say anything?
Buck: at least not anything important
Eddie: Buck
Buck: stop worrying! i didn’t get hurt again!
we’re all good
Eddie: Okay
I believe you
Sorry again for freaking out.
Buck: it’s okay!
where are u?
Eddie: Gym
Punching bag
Buck: i’ll come join ya
also
day 2
entropy – grimes x bleachers
Eddie: See you soon
Punching bag song in my airpods currently: Even Now by Pearl Jam
Buck: pearl jam
of course
this modernize-Eddie-Diaz’s-music-taste thing is gonna take a lot of tlc
Eddie: Ooh I actually love TLC. No Scrubs is such an iconic 90s song.
Buck: that wasn’t the tlc i was talking about but for once i agree with u
hooray for common ground!
Eddie: You coming or not?
Need you to step in for the punching bag 😁
Groupchat: 118 A-Shift (Buck, Eddie, Chim, Hen, Ravi)
[6/24/25 – 6:11AM]
Hen: Tough shift, but good job everyone! Really proud of how you all handled that last call
Chim: Thank you Captain Hen! 🫡
Your leadership helped us through it
Hen: *interim
Eddie: Well we’re all glad to have you as our guiding light until Bobby gets back
Buck: yes hen we love u and you make a great captain!!!!
Ravi: retweet
when DOES bobby get back tho
Hen: A couple more weeks, I think
PT is taking some time
Plus all the other bs
Chim: You mean declaring himself legally NOT dead
Hen: Yeah, I think it’s a lot of paperwork…
Buck: sounds about right
Ravi: did jesus have to do paperwork?
Chim: Did Jesus know how to write?
Buck: that’s actually up for debate!
many ppl think he could read and write, though some scholars say he couldn’t
but most of his teaching methods were oral
Ravi: oral you say?
Hen: This feels insanely sacreligious
Eddie: Buck, how do you even know this stuff, I thought you weren’t religious?
Buck: i’m not BUT i love doing deep dives
so like last month
when bobby was found in that lab
i did deep dives on secret government stuff with conspiracies and what not
but it started getting like redpilled n shit
Ravi: buck infiltrated q-anon, confirmed!
Buck: NO!
I RAN
it got too crazy
so then i started reading up on jesus
cool guy!
Ravi: do u think he was orally teaching mary magdalene
do u think they explored each other’s bodies
Hen: Thank god we haven’t added Bobby back to this chat yet
This conversation might have actually killed him
Chim: I think we’ve learned by now that nothing can kill Bobby Nash
Eddie: Is that same trait gonna be passed on to your son? All Bobby Nashes are immortal!
Chim: HEY CHILL we’re still trying to change his name
Buck: taking any suggestions???
Chim: Absolutely not (from you)
Buck: i died too, why can’t u name one after me
Chim: YOU CAME BACK TOO.
Ravi: as i said earlier, i can solve that problem for everyone
Buck: HEY
Private message: Hen & Bobby
[6/24/25 – 9:02AM]
Bobby: Good morning, Hen! I’m sure you’re sleeping off that shift, but I saw that structure fire from early this morning on the news. You did a great job handling everything. I’m so proud of you. -Bobby Nash
Hen: Hey Bobby, sadly not sleeping yet. Had to get Denny ready for camp today
But thank you!
These are tough shoes to fill
Bobby: I get why it feels like there are shoes to fill, a certain standard to live up to. But those shoes might not be yours. The best leader brings their own shoes, in their own style, and leaves a print that’s uniquely theirs. -Bobby Nash
Hen: Aww, stop, don’t make me cry
Bobby: All done making people cry these days, I promise! -Bobby Nash
Groupchat: Bedford Fam (Buck, Eddie, & Chris)
[6/24/25 – 10:26AM]
Eddie: Chris are you awake?
Chris: yup just woke up
picking me up soon?
Eddie: Yes, I’ll be at Denny’s house in 30 minutes. Grabbing some groceries right now.
Chris: thought you’d be sleeping longer after ur shift
Eddie: Buck passed out on the couch immediately, but we’re low on some groceries so I just went out to get it over with while I still had some energy.
Be there soon!
Chris: kk love u
Eddie: Love you too, kid.
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[6/24/25 – 1:03PM]
Buck: good lord that nap hit so hard
are u napping now?
Eddie: I’m about to. Crawling into bed now. Don’t wanna nap too long though and not be able to sleep tonight.
Buck: i could sleep forever in that bed
it sucks me in
be careful soldier 🫡
Eddie: Yeah, you picked a good mattress.
Good but dangerous.
It’s a trap.
Buck: yes yes it is
get some rest
Eddie: Will do!
Buck: wait
i just saw the groceries
did u buy those cheddar jalepeno cheetos for chris
if so can i have some?
Eddie: I bought them for you!
I saw you staring at them for like 5 minutes at our last grocery trip
Idk why you didn’t buy a bag then, but I got some today because it seemed like you wanted to try them
Maybe they’ll bring you some joy!
And if you don’t like them, Chris can eat the rest lol
Buck: oh
i can’t believe u noticed that haha
i didn’t wanna waste money on junk food that won’t help my protein intake
but they were enticing me
WOW i rlly can’t believe u saw that
i can’t believe u BOUGHT them for me
thank you :)))
eddie are u asleep?
okay enjoy ur nap!
Private message: Buck & Tommy
[6/24/25 – 1:15PM]
Buck: how the fuck did you know before me?
Tommy: Hello Evan, it’s been a while, good to hear from you too?
Buck: WITCH WITCH WITCH
Tommy: Is this the Billy Boils curse again?
Because I really can’t handle all that again
Buck: no
it’s eddie
Tommy: Lol
Of course it is
Buck: don’t start
i’m panicking
fuck fuck fuck
Tommy: What are you freaking out about?
Buck: oh lets see
maybe that you were right to insinuate that eddie was in fact the competition
seeing as i just realized that i do have feelings for him
so i’d love it if u could skip the “i told you so” and go straight to the assisted suicide
Tommy: You want to help me kill myself?
Buck: no MY suicide. assist me. mercy kill.
it’ll be less painful
Tommy: Evan chill
Stop being so dramatic
What’s so bad about having feelings for Eddie?
Buck: he’s straight
and like
what if he thinks im creeping on him
oh god i need to move out
Tommy: Wow okay you’re really spiraling.
What even made you realize after all this time?
If it wasn’t the codependency or the crashout when he moved to Texas or the many near death experiences?
Did he give you his son or something lmao
Buck: no he did that years ago
Tommy: Of course he did
Buck: im in his will
like if he dies, i’m chris’s legal guardian
Tommy: And you thought that was… normal?
Normal platonic friendship behavior?
Buck: YES
no
i don’t know
but today it all hit me
Tommy: What was the straw that broke the camel’s back?
Buck: … a bag of cheetos
Tommy: Cheetos?
Buck: YES FUCK
he said he saw me staring at them in the grocery store
and mentally decide not to get them
even though i wanted them
so he got them for me because he thought it might bring me joy
so now i have to move out
Tommy: Slow down, kid.
Buck: NO I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE NOW
OR IM GONNA DO SOMETHING STUPID
LIKE TELL HIM HOW I FEEL
Tommy: Look, I’m off today. You seem like you’re freaking out. How about we grab some lunch? Just to get you out of the house and talking through this. I could tell you all about my first homoerotic friendship lmao. I know what it’s like.
You’re gonna be okay, Evan.
Buck: this isn’t gonna lead to another hookup, is it? 😐
Tommy: Oh fuck no. The competition is most definitely back in the way.
Just here as a friend. And a fellow gay with a history of falling for straight(?) men.
We may have more in common than you think.
Buck: fine, just cuz i really really need to get tf out of here for a bit
Tommy: I’ll swing by in 10.
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[6/24/25 – 1:35PM]
Buck: hey if u wake up and im missing, don’t worry im out grabbing lunch
be back later
Private message: Eddie & Chris
[6/24/25 – 1:39PM]
Chris: dad why did tommy just pull up
DAD WHY DID BUCK JUST GET IN HIS CAR
DAD IM SCARED
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[6/24/25 – 4:16PM]
Eddie: Just woke up!
Buck: perfect timing, just got back
Eddie: Where were you at? Get anything good?
Buck: oooo yes, went to this diner in culver city
brought u and chris back some grilled cheeses
Eddie: Oh thank you!
Were you there by yourself?
Buck: yeah just wanted to get out of the house for a bit
figured i’d try this diner out, been wanting to for awhile
Eddie: Nice
Glad you enjoyed
Private message: Eddie & Chris
[6/24/25 – 4:23PM]
Eddie: Are you 100% sure you saw Tommy?
Buck said he was by himself today
Chris: oh i saw him
i’m sure of it
although last year i was like 100% sure i saw mom but it was just her doppleganger
Eddie: Chris!
I’m so sorry about that.
Chris: lmaooooo i know i just had to mess w u
but yes
i’m sure i saw tommy
it’s really hard to miss easter island in our driveway
Private message: Buck & Eddie
[6/24/25 – 4:31PM]
Buck: oh btw
day 3
the archer – taylor swift
Eddie: Something In The Way by Nirvana
Groupchat: Buck’s Bday Planning (Eddie, Maddie, Chim, Hen, Karen, Ravi, Bobby, Athena, May)
[6/24/25 – 4:35PM]
Eddie: Hey random and unrelated to Buck’s birthday on Friday, but I had a quick question
Maddie: What’s up!
Eddie: Do you guys still ever make bets on people?
Ravi: uh oh
Hen: Wdym?
Eddie: Like people getting/being together?
I remember right when I started at the 118, some of you guys were betting on Athena and Bobby
Ravi: LMAOOO
Chim: Wow that was so long ago. Who would remember that hahahahahah
Hen: I remember because I won
Athena: Glad Bobby and I made you some money ❤️
Bobby: Glad my team can tell when I’m in love. ❤️ -Bobby Nash
Eddie: Okay yeah so do you guys ever still do that? Bet on people?
Chim: NO
Hen: No, why?
Ravi: fr why do u ask
Eddie: Oh idk I just wanted to see if there was any Buck/Tommy bet going on
Ravi:
Chim: Tommy??
Maddie: Absolutely the last thing I expected
Ravi: HELPPPP
BROOO they hooked up in MARCH
i thought we resolved this yesterday
Eddie: I think they’re going out again
Wanted to see if anyone had any info
For betting purposes
Athena: 🧐
Maddie: Definitely no Buck/Tommy bet going on that I’m aware of.
Bobby: I can verify from my end, unless one started while I was being held captive by the government. -Bobby Nash
Ravi: ok diva!
Hen: There is no Buck/Tommy pot. And I would know, cuz I was always the money handler lmao
Chim: Sorry Eddie, we don’t bet on relationships anymore
Groupchat: Buddie Bet (Maddie, Chim, Hen, Karen, Ravi, Bobby, Athena, May)
[6/24/25 – 4:52PM]
Chim: $20 says they get together at Buck’s bday party
Ravi: $20 says its sooner, eddie is on the brink of it
eddie diaz who will be gay 🏳️🌈
Hen: You’re on