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It was a chilly fall day, the air cooler than most for this time of year in L.A.
They’d been called out to a hostage situation, one that didn’t seem like it’d be ending anytime soon.
Hot cocoa, coffees, and warm cups of tea had been passed around to the 118, each of them taking one if even only to hold in their hands. The wind whipped around them as they huddled around the firetruck, Eddie leaned closely next to Buck near the back, the others surrounding them. They hadn’t really prepared for the weather, most of them only in their turnout coats, Eddie wearing his long-sleeved uniform, wishing he had a Henley on underneath.
The probie was shivering just across from him, trying his hardest to hide it. Poor kid; he was probably afraid of getting another ‘note’ from one Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley. Eddie chuckled to himself just for the thought; something about his best friend and that damn clipboard really got him going.
Eddie watched from the corner of his eye as Buck raised up, rubbing his hands together as he stood tall.
“Hey Ravi!”
They all turned to look between them, Hen’s brows raised while Chimney clicked his gum, Bobby pretending not to see any of it; Albert feigned indifference.
Ravi’s teeth chattered in answer, his words stumbling out.
“Ye-yes sir, uh Buckley, um B-Buck?”
Buck only gave his award-winning smile as he moved forward, completely enveloping Ravi in a tight bearhug. Ravi stiffened in his hold, the others watching in awe. After a moment, Ravi completely melted into Bucks’ embrace, letting himself be warmed by the human furnace that Buck was; Eddie was not jealous. Especially not with the way they held onto each other tightly, looking oh so adorable.
It wasn’t like Eddie hadn’t been on the receiving end of countless hugs from his best friend, melting into him all the same, maybe even lingering a little too long on occasion. Eddie should’ve thought to pretend shiver; maybe then Buck would be wrapped tightly around him instead of the new kid. Ravi…. what was so great about him anyway?
Hen smiled brightly, looking over to Bobby. “Hey Cap, I think it’s safe to say they’re finally getting along!”
Chimney nodded in agreement. “Yea, it is kind of adorable.”
Albert got a slight pout, pushing out his lower lip as he muttered down to the ground. “I’ve never gotten a hug like that.”
Eddie all but scoffed aloud, covering it up with a fake cough when all eyes turned on him.
He mumbled his agreement under his breath, grateful when the situation around them finally resolved enough for them to move in, the 118 gearing to take action; Ravi wouldn’t be so cold now.
~
Eddie had all but forgotten about the hug by the time they made it back on the rig, Ravi working in tune right by their side; he was a damn good probie.
It wasn’t until Ravi plopped down on the other side of Buck that Eddie took note, watching as Buck playfully wrapped an arm around Ravi to pull the kid in tight.
“All warm now probie?”
Ravi smiled bashfully, nodding his head.
“Yep, all uh, all better now.”
Hen smiled over to them fondly.
“Well now who’s gonna keep you warm Buckaroo?”
Without thinking, Eddie muttered aloud.
“I’ll keep him warm alright.”
All eyes were suddenly on him, Buck’s blues lingering over him questioningly.
“Uh, what was that Eds?”
Eddie cleared his throat, not meeting anyone’s stare as he answered.
“I just said that um, you’ll keep him warm and tight.”
Warm and tight? Eddie groaned internally.
Thankfully they arrived back at the station then, all of them hitting the showers, changing into fresh clothes after.
Eddie went with his LAFD hoodie, pairing it with the matching sweats, Buck wearing much the same, except he opted for the gym shorts instead; it really should be a crime, those long legs of his on display and all. Not that Eddie noticed or anything.
The lot of them were gathered around upstairs, Bobby cooking in the kitchen, Eddie in one of the recliners while Chim sat at the table with Albert. Hen was closest to Eddie, Buck and Ravi on the couch in a heated game of Mario-Kart. He watched as Ravi shivered, all but glaring daggers into the kid.
Hen snorted from beside him. “I see someone doesn’t enjoy sharing their Buck.”
Eddie turned to her, scrunching up his nose.
“He’s not-not mine, and besides, I was just—Buck should’ve totally won that round, ok?”
Hen nodded, pulling her lips together. “Mmhmm, whatever you say Edmundo.”
Eddie continued to sit there—neutrally, not with jealously, thank you very much— praying for the shift to be over. He almost cheered with delight when Ravi moved to take a bathroom break, though he stayed where he was, ignoring the others sideways glances his way.
Buck looked over to him, waggling his eyebrows. “Play a round Eds?”
Who was Eddie to deny him?
As Buck sprawled out the length of the couch, Eddie took the other end, needing at least some distance from the man. Their game quickly became heated, the two of them fighting for first place; Bobby had to reprimand them for language a few times—he could be such a dad sometimes.
It wasn’t until the round ended, in Eddie’s victory of course, that he felt Bucks toes shift behind him. Eddie glanced over to his best friend, then back to where Bucks toes had been squished behind him, looking over to Buck once more. Buck smiled sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders.
“I was cold.”
Ravi chose that moment to come back in, moving to sit on the arm of the couch next to Buck, knocking their shoulders together.
“Thanks for earlier. If um, well just if you ever need the favor returned, I’ve been known to give pretty good hugs myself.”
Eddie couldn’t believe his ears. He stood up in a huff, his face scrunching up at odd angles as he looked over to Buck.
“If you’re so cold, I’m sure Ravi could warm you up!”
He ignored the other snickers as he exited the room, heading down the stairs without looking back; he was grateful when his watch beeped, their shift finally coming to an end. Eddie had his duffel in hand in no time, jumping into his truck and taking off before anyone could stop him; he was never going to live this day down.
~
With Chris still at school for several hours, Eddie puttered around the house, trying to think of anything but the hug, or what had ensued after.
He was about to flop on the couch to sulk when the click of a key in his door made him stop, Eddie turning to see the door swing open, Buck just beyond it.
Eddie’s first instinct was to greet his best friend in their typical way with a smile and a wave, though he quickly rearranged his face when he remembered the way they’d left things.
Buck smiled brightly even so, moving just inside the door as he fiddled with the keyring in his hands.
“You uh, you took off pretty fast after shift.”
Eddie shrugged, gesturing to the space around him.
“I needed to uh, get some housework done before Chris gets home.”
Buck looked around them, not quite buying it, Eddie having just cleaned the day before.
“Uh-huh. Well, um, do you want-want some help?”
Eddie felt like he’d dug himself into a hole, not sure how to get himself out of it.
“Um let’s just—how about if we play another round? See if you can beat me this time?”
Buck raised his brows in challenge, plopping down onto his spot on the couch, Eddie taking the seat next to him.
The tension was slightly cleared from the air as they got lost in the game, their knees knocking together whenever one of them surged forward to get a better angle.
After a few rounds, the two of them tied now, Eddie got up to grab them a couple of beers, shaking his head when he came back to see Buck had sprawled out along his couch. Buck pulled his feet back a tinge to make room for Eddie, taking the beer he handed out with a ‘thanks.’
They sat in silence for a minute while sipping their beers, Eddie looking over to Buck when the man’s foot rubbed at his side. Buck looked to him with a smug smile, inching his toes up Eddie’s arm.
“You’re uh, you’re pretty cute when you’re jealous.”
Eddie folded his arms over his chest, turning his head up. “I do not get jealous, thank you very much.”
Buck chuckled, digging his feet underneath Eddie as he did so.
“So, you wouldn’t care if I started warming Ravi up on a daily basis then?”
Eddie turned to him with furrowed brows, his voice no nonsense.
“We’ll get him a coat. A really big and fluffy one.”
Buck laughed giddily, leaning forward to grasp at his chest.
When Eddie made to get off the couch, a strong hand came to rest over his arm, Buck pulling him back down. Eddie looked down, refusing to meet Buck, the man only moving closer into his space.
“C’mon Eds, talk to me. Please.”
Eddie scrubbed his hands through his hair, pulling on the ends as he huffed out a sigh.
“I just—did you hug him on purpose?”
When Buck gave him a quizzical look, Eddie continued on.
“I mean, did you hug him to make me je—to make me…you know what I mean.”
Buck tried to hide his smile as he leaned into Eddie, pushing his face into Eddie’s shoulder, resting his head there after.
“Eds, it was just a hug, honest. But uh, but maybe I enjoyed it a little after seeing the look on your face.”
Eddie pulled away from Buck so that the man had to sit up, brown holding blue.
“What face?”
Buck ducked his head, snickering to himself.
“Well, uh, you kind of—we call it your turtle face.”
Eddie scoffed. “My what? And we?”
Buck made this absolutely ridiculous face then clearly mocking Eddie, bursting into laughter when he couldn’t contain himself anymore. Within seconds, Eddie had Buck pinned down to the couch, hovering over him.
“Fine. I was jealous, ok? Happy now?”
Bucks’ blues radiated beneath him, the man offering up the most mischievous smile as he looked at how Eddie was pressed over him.
“I am now.”
Eddie sighed with exasperation.
“You’re relentless.”
Buck shrugged, not denying it.
“You’re the only one I want to warm me up Eds.”
Eddie took that as an invitation, sliding his hands down Bucks’ sides, snaking them under his sweatshirt. He rubbed them up Bucks bare skin, fingers brushing over the taught muscles. Buck sighed beneath him, shivering when Eddie attached his lips to Bucks neck, burying his head there.
Sliding his hands up, Buck moved so Eddie could remove his sweatshirt completely. Eddie pressed his lips all over Bucks’ skin, watching as Buck pricked with goosebumps. Eddie sat up then, straddling Bucks hips as he looked down to him with furrowed brows.
“You wanted me to warm you up,” he said tapping the bumps over Bucks’ skin, “but it seems to be having the opposite effect.”
Buck was quick to pull him back down, wrapping his legs around Eddie so that they were flush, both of them basking in the warmth they shared. It wasn’t long before they were shedding all their clothes, their bare bodies coming to rest together, Eddie brushing his lips tentatively against Bucks’ before fully pushing in, Buck eagerly kissing him back.
They moved against each other, warming their bodies as they went, the cool air around them no match for the heat they shared.
They laid there after in a panting mess, still tightly wrapped around the other, Buck hugging Eddie impossibly closer.
“You do give the best hugs.”
Buck rubbed over Eddie’s shoulders, squeezing him firmly.
“I can uh, I can strictly reserve all my hugs for you?”
Eddie shook his head, beaming down to the man he loved.
“Never; they deserve to be shared. Plus, you did look pretty adorable hugging the probie you used to terrorize.”
Buck put a hand to his chest, feigning offence.
“I’ll have you know I was a very good teacher, and Ravi learned all his best tricks from me, thank you very much!”
Eddie chuckled. “Yea, you and that clipboard really told him.”
Buck stuck his tongue out then, Eddie swiftly pulling it into his mouth to tangle them together once more. They quickly fell back into the other, hands roaming all about. Eddie pulled away once Buck began smiling into him, letting a little laugh fall out.
“What?”
“Nothing, just uh-I might have to give Ravi hugs more often if it gets you this riled up.”
Eddie narrowed his eyes down to Buck, frowning slightly.
“You’re such a brat.”
Buck only smiled in that infectious way, Eddie failing not to match him.
“Yea, but you love me.”
Eddie leaned down to press their bodies closer, using his heated breath to whisper into Bucks’ ear.
“Yea I do.”
No matter what kind of chill fell in the air, there was nothing that warmed them more than each other, the fire that ignited between them one that would never fade or burn out; it was an infinite kind of spark.