Work Text:
Buck hates it when he and Eddie are working alternating shifts, but he’s been stuck on B shift the last three days while Thompson’s out with a badly sprained ankle.
On the one hand, it’s easier than ever to hide their relationship when they’re not working together, but on the other, work just isn’t the same without Eddie with him.
In the last few days, they’ve barely seen each other. Despite the one hour overlap between the end of his shift and the start of Eddie’s, all of LA seems determined to ensure that Buck and Eddie miss each other every. single. day.
Buck even arrives for work early, determined to see his boyfriend in more than just passing, but the trucks are gone when he arrives. He dresses quickly in his uniform and heads up to the kitchen for coffee before settling in to wait.
He’s three mugs deep, knee restlessly bouncing by the time the trucks reverse back into the garage.
Buck makes his way downstairs, keeping an eye out for Eddie as firefighters climb down from the vehicles and start peeling off their heavy coats.
“Eddie, hey!” Buck can’t help the grin that splits his face at the sight of his boyfriend, sooty and a little dishevelled as he climbs out of the truck.
Of course, in that moment the bells ring.
Buck tips his head back, sighing in frustration, before quickly turning to race for his turnout gear.
“Sorry Buck,” Eddie claps him on the shoulder. “But at least this is your last shift before you’re back with us.”
“I can’t wait.” Helmet in hand, Buck moves on autopilot, leaning forward to give Eddie a quick kiss on the cheek before he rushes for the truck.
It’s not fair. All he wants is to see his boyfriend for more than a fleeting moment.
Buck pulls his headphones on and buckles himself in as the fire truck pulls out of the garage. He can’t believe how much he misses Eddie after just three days, and—oh. The blood drains from Buck’s face as he realises what he’s done.
He’d kissed Eddie.
At work.
In front of everyone.
Shit.
He doesn’t get a chance to think about it while they’re out on the call, but by the time they get back to the station Buck’s phone has several text messages from Chimney and Hen. There’s nothing from Eddie though and Buck feels guilty for leaving him to deal with the fallout.
They’d talked about making their relationship public but had decided they weren’t ready. Well… Eddie had decided he wasn’t ready—Buck would have happily shouted it from the station rooftop. He understood Eddie’s reluctance though, they’ve only just told Chris and are still figuring out how they all fit together in this new dynamic.
And now Buck has ruined everything, all because he wasn’t thinking.
He goes through the motions of his shift, dreading every second as the clock ticks down towards the end. He tries to keep busy, picking chores that will keep his mind occupied as well as his hands. Still, his thoughts keep drifting back to the start of his shift and Eddie and what he’s going to say when his shift ends.
Because the universe is so completely out to get him, they get a call in the last two hours of the shift. By the time they contain the fire and mop up the scene it’s well and truly past home time. Buck is tired by the time they pull back into the station, but the adrenaline from the callout has him feeling totally wired and restless.
He spots Eddie, waiting near the bottom of the stairs and for a moment completely forgets that he’d made a fool of himself the day before. It comes rushing back though when he catches Chim and Hen standing nearby, twin expressions of glee on their faces.
“Hey.” Eddie meets him by the side of the truck, his hands tucked into his pockets. “Sorry I didn’t message you back, I—”
“No, it’s okay. I—I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—” Buck cuts Eddie off in a rush of words. “I wasn’t thinking, and I messed everything up.”
“Buck—” Eddie stops and shakes his head. His hands come out of his pockets, reaching to snag the collar of Buck’s coat and he pulls him forward to capture his lips.
“Eddie, what—” Buck stumbles back, searching Eddie’s expression for any sign of frustration or anger, but all he sees in the crinkle of Eddie’s eyes is warm affection.
The station bells ring, because neither of them can ever catch a break, and Eddie drops his grip on Buck’s jacket.
“Go home, get some sleep,” Eddie tells him. “And don’t forget it’s your turn to pick Chris up from school this afternoon.” He leans in, pressing another kiss to Buck’s lips, and then he’s climbing into the fire truck and pulling the door shut behind him.