Chapter Text
Eddie hobbled back to the mansion on his crutches, feeling a little dazed that he and Sal were still in the game. Each rose ceremony was daunting to him since he hated being in the spotlight, not to mention how long and exhausting it was. Waiting for the camera crew to change positions between each rose handout always made Eddie antsy. He left each rose ceremony exhausted and hungry. Now that he thought about it, it was ridiculous that they were getting away with their not-so-secret affair on national television. Surely the producers and Janelle must at least have suspicions about his relationship with Sal, and if they did, Eddie assumed they had some reason to keep them on the show.
He found a secluded corner to sit as soon as they were inside, choosing to leave the other contestants to mingle with Janelle. Sal brought him a plate of food from the buffet, and handed him a glass of water before sitting down next to him.
“You okay?” Sal asked, draping his arm along the back of Eddie’s chair.
“Yeah,” Eddie replied, popping a mini quiche in his mouth. He turned to look at Sal, studying his profile. He was as sharp and handsome as always, but the fitted suit accentuated his rugged good looks, Eddie found. “Thank you, Sal, for…for being you.”
“Happy to serve,” Sal said, leaning in until their noses brushed, only to pull back at the last second when a burst of laughter resonated from across the room. “Fuck, I wish I could kiss you right now.”
“Sal, our mics are still on!” Eddie hissed as he put his hand over Sal’s neck to cover the recording device. Most of the time—especially when he was alone with Sal—Eddie forgot they were on. Now that he thought about it, the production must have enough evidence on their relationship to out them. He wondered how much of it had been shown to the public—none, Eddie hoped. The thought sent chills down his spine, which was why had avoided thinking about it too much.
“I don’t care,” Sal replied, taking Eddie’s hand in his as he grinned. “If we did kiss right now, perhaps they’d finally kick us out and we could be free.”
The idea was tempting, but Eddie wasn’t big on PDA, even less so when the whole wide world could see it.
“Don’t tempt me,” Eddie chuckled, leaning back on his chair and taking a sip of champagne. They spent the rest of the evening enjoying each other’s company, happy to be left alone by the others. After a couple of plates of finger foods, they were full and ready to retire for the night.
“Sal, Eddie, before you go, don’t forget your confessional,” an assistant said, catching them right before they could walk up the stairs to their room. Eddie swallowed a groan, nodding tensely as he let Sal guide him to the confessional booth.
-----
“I’m surprised I’m still here,” Eddie admitted to the camera. He scratched the back of his neck, looking down at his lap. “I don’t know how I’m going to participate in any challenge with my ankle, to be honest.”
“Right, I have yet to go on a date with Janelle,” Eddie answered the next question, wiping the bead of sweat trickling down his temple. He could barely lie convincingly on a good day, and right now? He was the furthest from 100%. “Wish me luck for the next challenge!”
He let out a chuckle as he lifted his leg and pointed at his ankle, hoping the touch of humour would be enough to satisfy the producers. They were relentless, unfortunately, and had an agenda tonight.
“Sal? He…he’s uh,” Eddie stammered, flustered by the question. What did he think of Sal helping him and accompanying to the clinic? He felt his face turn red; there was no way he could hide it. “He’s been great. He’s a good friend.”
Friend. Right. Who was he fooling?
“I…I tried talking to Janelle, but as you’ve probably noticed, some of the guys are more persistent than me,” Eddie said, flustered by the last question. He had no valid excuse as to why he hadn’t been more assertive over Janelle in group situations. The simple truth was that he wasn’t interested in Janelle, and they had seen right through him.
-----
“My biggest concern right now is Eddie, yeah,” Sal said, his voice calm and steady as he faced the camera in his own confessional booth. He leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped between his knees. “The way Chad and Kevin reacted, and then his injury—it was…rough. So yeah, of course I had to be there for him.”
He paused, a flicker of a smile on his face as the P.A. continued with the second question. “No, I didn’t mind leaving the beach at all, Janelle deserved to enjoy the day. I was happy to go with Eddie.”
He was waiting for them to expose his relationship with Eddie, but the outright question never came. What game were they playing? Sal wondered.
“I think I have a good chance, yeah,” Sal answered vaguely. He was playing along at this point, and they didn’t need to know the only person on his mind was Eddie.
---
After his confessional, Sal quickly tossed his mic to the sound crew before he went through his evening routine and changed into light pyjamas before going into Eddie’s room through their shared bathroom. He found Eddie lying face down on his bed, still in his ceremony suit, and leaned against the doorframe to admire the other man, to commit each contour of his body to memory. Eddie was impossibly gorgeous, and Sal still had a hard time believing he had him.
“You alright, sweetheart?” Sal asked as he sat beside Eddie, reaching out to massage Eddie’s shin above the brace.
“M’tired,” Eddie mumbled, turning his head to the side to face him. “I’m so glad to have you here.”
“Me too,” Sal answered, smiling softly when Eddie reached for his free hand and threaded their fingers together. For a moment, they remained silent, Eddie’s satisfied hum the only sound in the room while Sal kept massaging his leg.
“I would’ve felt…so alone,” Eddie broke the silence and squeezed his hand. “No contact with the outside world…I didn’t think it would be so hard.”
“Yeah, it is,” Sal agreed.
“Come to bed,” Eddie pleaded, his big brown eyes as mesmerising as ever. Sal was so far gone. He helped Eddie out of his clothes until he was left in his underwear, his glorious tan skin on full display for Sal to ogle. He couldn’t help himself and stroked Eddie’s thighs, hands travelling up to cup his firm ass.
“You perv,” Eddie chuckled, pulling him down on top of him. “Taking advantage of an injured man.”
“You’re not as defenceless as you make it out to be,” Sal returned, cupping Eddie’s face and leaning down to plant a soft kiss on his lips. He settled on the soft mattress, heaving a contented sigh when Eddie wrapped his arm and leg around him like an octopus.
“Mmhh, but I like you as my knight in shining armour,” Eddie said, nuzzling his chest.
“Alright, princess, good night,” Sal conceded as he buried his nose in Eddie’s hair. He loved how Eddie smelled, how soft his skin was and how solid and comforting the weight of his body felt against him. He loved so many things about Eddie it was terrifying, but he felt immense joy overtaking him nonetheless.
“Good night, Sal,” Eddie whispered before he went out like a light, his soft snoring soothing Sal into a deep sleep.
----
In the morning, Eddie woke to the gentle rise and fall of Sal's chest under his cheek, the older man’s arm draped over his back. He was still half-asleep, buried under the covers and Sal’s grounding presence. Eddie enjoyed these quiet moments when it was just the two of them, away from all the noise and chaos of the show.
Eddie shifted slightly up the bed to be at eye level with Sal, careful not to disturb him, and let his eyes trace the curve of Sal's shoulder, the line of his sharp jaw. He still couldn't believe this was real, that he had found this sense of belonging, this intense connection, in a place he had never expected to find it.
“You're staring again, Diaz,” Sal mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He didn't open his eyes, just leaned into Eddie's touch as Eddie’s hand found its way to his chest.
“Just trying to figure out how I got so lucky,” Eddie whispered, a soft smile on his face.
Sal's lips curved into a grin before he shifted, his eyes fluttering open. “Luck had nothing to do with it. It was destiny, and your great ass…ets.”
Eddie burst out laughing, shoving Sal’s shoulder. The two lay there for a long moment, lost in the simple intimacy of their shared morning.
A sharp, professional knock on the door broke the spell. “Eddie, the morning call is in twenty minutes!" a production assistant announced from the hallway.
They both sighed, the tension of the show returning to the room. The bubble had burst, yet again. Eddie reluctantly let Sal go back to his room before an assistant found it empty. Not long after Sal left, Eddie was at the door, letting one of the sound crew put his mic on once he was dressed. Both he and Sal had been reprimanded for not answering their door in the morning to get their mics—since they had been too busy doing other…things—so they had been subtly threatened with wearing their mics 24/7, which was enough to get them back right on track.
Once dressed for the day, Eddie sighed loudly before stepping out of his room to face the new challenge.
--
They were all gathered in the mansion’s main foyer, and Brian Park stood before them holding “Good morning, gentlemen! Today’s activity will be a different kind of challenge. Today is all about intellect, observation, and communication! You will each be competing on your own in a ‘Mansion Mystery’ challenge. You must solve a series of riddles and puzzles hidden throughout the mansion—including the gardens—to find the final prize. The winner will receive a very special reward: an intimate, private dinner with Janelle in Rome!”
Excited murmurs went through the group. Eddie looked at Sal, who gave him a small, reassuring nod. With his limited movements, Eddie was at a disadvantage, which didn’t bother him as much as it should have. While he didn’t want the romantic date with Janelle, he didn’t want to humiliate himself any more than he already had, either.
Brian Park handed each contestant a golden envelope containing their first clue. The moment he gave the signal, the guys scattered in all directions. Eddie watched as the other contestants, including a competitive Chad, sprinted off, leaving him behind.
Sal, however, didn't move. He stood a few feet away, watching Eddie with concern. “Don't rush, Eddie,” he called out. "Slow and steady wins the race. You got this."
Eddie took a deep breath, opened the envelope, and carefully read the first riddle. He took his time, using his military training and sharp mind to analyse the clue. He didn’t run. Instead, he hobbled methodically from room to room as he solved each riddle, found a key here and there, letting his brain do all the work. Whoever designed this challenge had spent a lot of time on each personalised riddle. Eddie was surprised by the attention to detail as it seemed each of them had their own riddles to solve so they wouldn’t all be crowded in the same room competing at once. He had not expected this from a reality TV show. He had to take little breaks, especially when he was outside searching in the garden for a key buried under a rose bush.
He caught glimpses of Sal from time to time, and each time, Sal would offer a small, encouraging smile or a quick thumbs-up. It was a silent conversation, a constant source of support that grounded Eddie and reminded him he wasn't truly alone.
Chad, meanwhile, was a chaotic mess, sprinting back and forth and yelling at a production assistant when he couldn't find a clue. His frustration was palpable, and Eddie just shook his head.
Finally, after a long day, Eddie’s last clue led him back to the ballroom where everyone was already gathered. He saw Chad, out of breath and looking defeated, already there, but still without the final answer. Eddie hobbled to the last puzzle, an intricate lockbox that was already open. He looked around to find Kyle holding a golden key proudly.
“Congratulations, Kyle!” Brian Park announced behind them, with Janelle by his side. “You've solved the mansion mystery!”
Eddie clapped along with the others, genuinely happy for his fellow contestant. Chad, his face red with frustration, glared at Kyle as he clapped weakly. Sal, however, walked over to Eddie and gave him a quiet pat on the shoulder, a smile that was only for him. Kyle had always been the more outgoing and friendly one of the group, and had come close to winning all the previous challenges. Eddie was happy for him; he looked genuinely surprised and excited to have won this one.
“I’m looking forward to our date, Kyle,” Janelle said as she stepped forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. Every camera was pointed at them, so Eddie took that opportunity to take Sal’s hand and give it a furtive squeeze.
“Smooth, Diaz,” Sal muttered, his lips curving up slightly, failing to fight to a grin.
“I try,” Eddie replied, glancing at the other man quickly before he looked back at Janelle. He was looking forward to their time off while Kyle and Janelle jetted off to Italy.
Unfortunately, they were all expected to go to Italy the next day, not just Kyle and Janelle, so Eddie suspected the production had more planned for them. Brian Park had made a show of announcing their upcoming trip overseas. He should have known when they asked them to bring their passports with them before filming started. The news of their trip to Italy had spread like wildfire, and the contestants were all buzzing with excitement. Eddie felt a nervous flutter in his stomach. He’d never been to Italy, and while the idea of a change of scenery was appealing, he was also keenly aware that a new location meant new challenges and more opportunities for the production crew to create drama.
He sat on the floor in his room, meticulously folding clothes and packing them into his suitcase, when Sal came in through the shared bathroom.
“Need any help?” Sal asked, looking amused with his arms crossed.
“Almost done, thanks,” Eddie replied. “You all packed already?”
“Yup,” Sal said, reaching behind him to lift his light duffel bag.
“You're not bringing much,” Eddie commented, gesturing to the bag.
“I travel light,” Sal said with a shrug, leaning against the doorframe, watching Eddie. “Besides, they said it would be a couple of days.”
“I wish my first trip to Italy wasn’t going to be filmed for reality TV,” Eddie sighed as he zipped up his suitcase.
“If you want, I can take you there after this is all finished, just the two of us,” Sal said as he walked over. The offer caught Eddie off guard, so it took him a second to process it.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve got family in Turin,” Sal shrugged.
“You’re Italian?” Eddie said, surprised, to which Sal nodded. He should have guessed from Sal’s last name, but it had never crossed his mind. “Can you speak Italian?”
“Certo, amore,” Sal answered, his voice dropping to an even lower tone, which made Eddie blush. Sal grabbed his hand and helped him up from the floor. His ankle wasn’t as sore anymore since he had managed to keep his foot up, so Eddie forgot about the sprain and put his foot down, reviving the pain in his ankle and stumbling forward.
“You ok?” Sal asked, safely catching him in his arms.
Eddie took a deep breath as he wrapped his arms around Sal’s waist and rested his head against his. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Come on, let’s go to sleep, we’ve got an early flight tomorrow,” Sal said as he guided him to the bed. Eddie brought Sal down on top of him, hands on his neck as he captured his lips. He was never going to grow tired of having Sal’s strong body crushing him, so he secured Sal’s waist with his arms and pulled him close until their groins touched.
“You horny, baby?” Sal murmured, his low voice making him shiver.
“Yeah,” Eddie replied, breathing hard as Sal started to roll his hips slowly, their growing erections rubbing together.
“Ti piace quando parlo Italiano?”
“Oh my God,” Eddie breathed out, bucking his hips up. It shouldn’t have been possible, but he was discovering new kinks every day with Sal. Their bodies moved frantically, lips locked, and tongues tied together as Sal kept talking in his mother tongue. Even if he couldn’t understand half the words, the way Sal uttered them sounded dirty enough to make Eddie climax.
“That was…so hot,” Eddie said, trying to catch his breath as he watched Sal lick his belly clean. Eddie pulled Sal up to claim his lips again in a slower kiss, tasting himself on Sal’s tongue.
“Mmhh, good night, Eddie,” Sal said against his lips before he rested his head on Eddie’s shoulder.
“Good night, Sal.”
---
The flight to Italy was long but uneventful. Eddie was seated next to Nathan, who was the best travel companion after Sal. Sal was sitting a few rows behind them, and he would periodically walk back and forth, not so subtly winking at him. It was a small act of rebellion, a private message between them, and it made Eddie smile.
Rome was a breathtaking blur of ancient history and bustling modern life. The villa they were staying in was even more luxurious than the last, with stunning views of the city. The contestants were given an hour to settle in before being called down to the main courtyard, where a new group date was waiting.
Brian Park stood before them, a wide, enthusiastic smile on his face, while Janelle looked gorgeous in a sundress. "Welcome to Rome, gentlemen! Today is your lucky day, because you are free to roam the city with Janelle! There's no challenge, no prize for winning. Simply go explore this city rich in history. Janelle will be moving around the city, visiting a number of iconic locations she has selected.”
They were each handed a card listing several points of interest throughout the city. The host’s loud voice brought his attention again.
“Your goal is to find her and get some one-on-one time. It's an opportunity for some genuine conversation and romance.”
Excited chatter went through the group at the prospect of sightseeing. Some of the men immediately went to Janelle, trying to get her attention. It was an ambitious list, Eddie thought as he studied the card, most likely to give them as many opportunities as possible to see Janelle. Others, like Chad, took off on their own, determined to cover as much ground as possible to find her. The crowd thinned out quickly, leaving Eddie and Sal standing on their own. Eddie, still on his crutches, watched them go, feeling a familiar pang of frustration. He couldn't keep up with any of them.
“Guess that means we're on our own,” Sal said, turning to Eddie with a smile. “Good thing they gave us a list of places to see, huh?”
The pointed look Sal gave him made it clear he meant to avoid. “Let’s make it a date, you and I. We’ll find some good food, a quiet cafe, and we’ll enjoy this amazing city without all the…this.”
He gestured vaguely at the rest of the contestants who were long gone. A camera crew was following Janelle, but another one was already setting up to film Eddie and Sal.
“We’re never really alone, though, are we?” Eddie sighed, eyeing the camera crew that was on them.
Sal didn't seem to care. He simply placed his hand on Eddie’s lower back and led him away from the villa and into the beautiful city of Rome.
The streets were crowded, but Sal expertly guided them through the labyrinthine cobblestone alleys, pointing out hidden historical gems and charming little cafes under the harsh sun. AS they actively avoided crossing Janelle’s path, they didn’t come across any contestant. They stopped for gelato, sharing a single cup and laughing in a secluded corner. Sal expertly found hidden gems, making Eddie sample exquisite street food from different vendours.
Without Sal’s help, Eddie would have had a hard time navigating his way through a busy street—not to mention how lonely and bored he would have been. The cameras captured every moment: the shared gelato, the gentle touches, the way Sal kept a steadying hand on Eddie's back, but he didn’t care.
They found a free bench in a secluded courtyard, away from the tourists and the camera crew they had managed to lose at some point. Sal sat down and pulled Eddie close, arm resting on the back of the bench. He reached out and gently patted Eddie's thigh, his eyes full of tenderness. “How’s the ankle?” Sal asked, his voice a low rumble.
“Just a little sore, but it’s fine,” Eddie said, throwing his head back to enjoy a fresh breeze. “This is incredible. I just wish we were here without the cameras, though.”
“Yeah, me too.” Sal’s smile was sad as he looked around, his gaze landing on the winded camera guy who found them. Sal leaned in and rested his head against Eddie’s temple, and for a second, Eddie almost thought they were going to kiss. The intimacy was so intense that Eddie felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest.
“You know,” Sal said as he pulled back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I was thinking. What if we just… what if we just left?”
Eddie’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I'm serious,” Sal said as he took off his mic and covered it in his fist. “We could just… leave. Enjoy the rest of our time here, then fly back to LA, get out of here. We can just be… us. The two of us, no cameras, no crew, no Janelle.”
Eddie looked at Sal like he’d just grown a second head, his heart pounding in his chest. It was a tempting idea, a dream come true, but also terrifying. As wonderful as this had been, part of Eddie knew it couldn’t last, not the way it had been. He had responsibilities, a son to go back to.
“You’re crazy,” Eddie said, a small, relieved laugh escaping his lips.
“Maybe,” Sal said, his eyes twinkling. “But what if I’m not? What if this is exactly what we need to do?”
Sal was serious. He was offering him a way out. Eddie’s mind raced with the possibilities, with the consequences, with the pure, unadulterated joy of the thought. The cameras were still on them, and they were still in Rome, and a reality TV show was still going on.
“I’m scared,” Eddie admitted after a beat, looking up and into those baby blues he loved so much. “You’re amazing, Sal, but…what if this,” Eddie gestured between them. “What if this is only temporary? What if this only works because we’re not in the real world?”
“You’re not serious,” Sal said, hurt flashing in his wide eyes for a second, making Eddie regret letting out every doubt that had crept into his heart and that he hadn’t dared voice out loud before.
“I’m sorry,” Eddie said, voice breaking. “I just…I’ve had a lot of bad luck with relationships in the past, and you…you have changed everything, Sal. It feels too good to be true.”
“You better believe it,” Sal almost growled, his voice and gaze fierce as he took Eddie’s hand and placed his palm over his heart “We might be trapped in fake settings all the time, but what I feel for you is real. Can you honestly tell me this doesn’t feel real to you?”
“No…No, you’re right,” Eddie conceded, feeling the steady beat of Sal’s heart under his palm. “You…us, it’s real.”
Sal beamed at him, and in the blink of an eye, Eddie felt Sal’s hand on his cheek and Sal’s lips touching his in a feather-light kiss. In that one blissful and perfect moment, all of Eddie’s senses blacked out, all but his sense of touch. He forgot about the cameras, about the world around them. There was only Sal.
----
Tommy could hardly believe his eyes and wished Evan was there with him, but unfortunately, he was working. After the first few episodes, the show was now amping things up and starting with more grandiose outings. The trip to Italy was only the beginning, Tommy suspected.
He kept in touch with his boyfriend through the group chat, which was erupting with texts every second. It seemed like fate was on the 118’s side since they all seemed to be in between calls while the episode was on.
Karen: Holy shit! They’re on a date! A real date! In Rome!
Maddie: This is the best thing I’ve ever seen. This is like a romcom.
Hen: They’re so cute, I can’t handle it. Look at Sal, he’s in full boyfriend mode.
Chim: Come on, this is getting ridiculous. The producers are totally doing this on purpose.
Evan: It’s so good to see Eddie happy. Sal really gets him
Tommy: This is it, guys. This is the moment they're going to make it official that this isn't just friendship anymore.
Maddie: I know! The camera crew is following them! This is going to be amazing.
Athena: I’m with you, Maddie. This is the sweetest thing I’ve seen on this show.
While the show focused on Janelle’s time with the other contestants, they made sure to show a few shots of Sal and Eddie. At one point, they showed the audience a shot of Janelle looking at the renegade couple. She and Nathan were having a conversation near a gelateria when she saw Eddie and Sal disappearing into a small alley. A small, genuine smile appeared on her face. “Looks like some people are having a good time,” she said, her voice full of understanding.
Karen: Our girl knows
Athena: Of course, she’s a smart one
Bobby: At this point, you’d have to be blind not to see it
Tommy’s mouth dropped open when the screen showed Eddie and Sal sitting on a bench facing a small water fountain, surrounded by old buildings and shaded by tall trees. It was a shot straight out of a movie, indeed, Tommy thought, and the romcom nerd in him was eating it up.
Tommy: Oh my God.
Karen: WHAT IS GOING ON
Evan: TOMMY!!
Hen: THEY KISSED FOR REAL
It couldn’t be real, Tommy thought. They were not showing a close-up of Sal and Eddie kissing. It was too beautiful.
Maddie: They are so perfect for each other
Athena: I did not think they were going to show us that
Chim: I think they’re going to break the internet
Karen: YOU THINK?! THEY DID FOR SURE
Tommy: What now??