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"I know, bud. But listen to Tia Pepa, okay?" Eddie tells Chris over the phone. "You may have to stay there for a few more days."
The day after Eddie drops Chris at Tia Pepa's for a sleepover, the weather goes to shit.
It's the middle of the winter, so it's not something Eddie wasn't really expecting; but it's LA; so Eddie kinda wasn't expecting.
But the day after Eddie drops Chris off, a continuous downpour with hail showers and a mean hurricane swathe the whole city.
"I got it handled, Eddie." Eddie hears Pepa's lively voice coming from the distance. He can hear the smile on her face even though he can't see it.
Eddie gets on his feet from the couch and slowly ambles around the living room. "Okay, okay." He checks his watch, it's getting late. "It's your bedtime, Chris."
Chris sighs. "Good night, dad. I love you."
"Love you too, buddy." He hangs up the phone and stares at the screen with a smile on his face.
Eddie leans his shoulder against the wall and stares at the weather outside. The hails and the raindrops hit against the wall loudly with so much force that it's almost like they are trying to break the glass. The branches of the trees are swirling around violently— trying to hold themselves up against the wind that wants to uproot and toss them around the air. It's probably one of the harshest weather Eddie has ever witnessed since he moved here. It looks disquieting. Weather like these makes him appreciate what he has.
He watches the chaotic beauty of nature for some moment and then remembers the text he sent Buck; it was a few hours ago, and he still hasn't gotten a reply from him.
Eddie unlocks his phone and clicks on his recent chat with Buck.
✓✓ Are you okay?
The bubble of his unanswered text stares at him, looking almost sad— if that would be possible.
The one sided conversation plants a pinch of worry in Eddie's stomach. Not only because Buck usually answers in a short span of time; but also, he had a front row ticket to Buck's and Bobby's shouting match in the station after their call. The argument was probably one of their most heated ones in a long time— maybe one of the few that Eddie has witnessed, and it was probably the first time Eddie has seen Bobby almost go off the rails that much because of Buck's recklessness. It was a bad one.
And he still hasn't heard from Buck ever since their shift ended and they parted their ways on the parking lot.
So instinctively, he is worried. Because it's Buck.
Eddie takes his phone between his hands and wiggles his thumbs in the air before typing on the keyboard.
✓?
Not delivered. How nice.
He blows out a sigh and tosses his phone on the couch as he goes to the kitchen to make himself a tea and try to not think about Buck— knowing that he's gonna fail, anyway.
Eddie is sprawled on the couch, trying to watch the newest episode of his telenovela with his half open eyes— slowly losing the fight against sleep, when he hears the knock— knocks, loud knocks coming from the door.
He startles awake and snaps his head towards the door with his scowled face because whoever the hell is behind that door, they're hitting that wood like a maniac.
"Coming!" Eddie springs to his feet. "The hell?" He mumbles under his breath and opens the door. He can't help the way his mouth hangs open to the sight.
Behind the door, Buck is standing— trembling on his feet, drenched to the skin like a drowned rat with raindrops dripping on the ground from his wet hair. His grey sweatpants and shirt are looking completely black and sticking to his skin because they are completely wet. Buck is soaked from top to toe, and violent shakes are wrecking his whole body.
"Buck?"
"H-h-hi." Buck says, but Eddie barely hears it because of the way Buck's teeth are chattering.
What the hell happened?
Eddie knits his brows. "What happe— come inside, you're soaked."
Only, Buck doesn't move; he just stands and continues to stare at Eddie and shakes uncontrollably. Eddie wonders if Buck is even aware that he is standing at Eddie's door.
"Come on." Eddie wraps his fingers around Buck's sleeve— it shocks him how heavy the material is due to wetness, and tugs at him inside.
After Buck stumbles his way in— water dripping from his hair and his clothes all over the ground as he walks, Eddie's eyes wander outside to try to locate Buck's car, but it's not there. He sighs and closes the door to not let the room get any colder.
When Eddie turns around, he sees Buck staying in the exact position Eddie pulled him— not moving an inch, his head ducked.
Buck looks so… unaware. It stings Eddie's heart.
He has a long night waiting for him.
Eddie puts his hand on Buck's back and guides him onto the couch to sit down. "How did you get here?" He sits on the coffee table in front of Buck.
Buck's breathing is shallow and fast. "I-I w-was out f-for a w-walk." He clenches his jaw, curls his shaking arms around his torso and rests them on his knees.
"For how long?"
Buck shakes his head fast. "Dunno."
Eddie takes in a deep breath and bites down his lip to hold back his worry. Buck could be out on the street in that weather for who knows how long, and he doesn't remember.
He places the back of his hand on Buck's cheek— the way Buck closes his eyes and lets out a quiet whimper at the touch twisting his heart. "Jesus." He mumbles and slides his hand under Buck's collar and feels the cold skin under his fingertips. Buck is freezing.
"You're freezing." Eddie says.
"Huh?"
Eddie gets on his feet. "You're freezing."
Buck shakes his head again. "No."
He needs to warm Buck up. "We need to get you warmed up." He holds Buck's bicep and gets him up. "C'mon."
They go to the bathroom and Eddie makes Buck sit on the closed toilet lid.
Eddie holds the hems of Buck's shirt to lift it up and take it off of Buck, but Buck grasps Eddie's wrists and tries to brush his hands away from himself.
"Buck, you need to take them off." Eddie insists with a sulk on his face, trying to keep his voice as gentle as possible. He gets his hands free from Buck and goes for the shirt again, But Buck tries to slide away from him.
"N-no, no, 'm g-good, 's good." His voice wavers and he sways in his place.
"Hey." Eddie puts his hand on Buck's shoulder and gives him a firm squeeze to hold him in place. "I'll cut them if I have to." He tilts his head lower to meet Buck's eyes. Buck stares at him but doesn't answer.
Eddie pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes out through his nose to calm himself. They are wasting time each passing second. He crouches down across Buck and holds him by the hands. "I need you to work with me, okay? We need to get these off of you."
Finally, finally , Buck nods.
An immense feeling of relief runs through Eddie. "Thank you." He smiles.
Painfully slow, Eddie undresses Buck with no help from him whatsoever because his limbs get sluggish and uncoordinated, like a ragdoll; if anything, they get in Eddie's way. But after some struggle, Eddie manages to undress Buck and tosses the soaked clothes on the ground. He gets a jogger, an unworn boxer and a hoodie, and puts them on Buck with the same struggle he had not so long ago.
"Stay here." He tells Buck before rushing into his bedroom to get a clean towel.
He finds Buck sitting only in his boxers— his dry clothes thrown on the ground, when he comes back. He looks absolutely miserable.
"Buck." Eddie groans, twisting his lips down. He really feels for little Maddie right now. He doesn't waste time putting back the clothes on— Buck's hair is still dripping wet, so he unfolds the towel and starts drying Buck's hair with it.
He doesn't keep it going long because Buck is still shivering under him, so Eddie runs his fingers through Buck's hair and feels the roots of the hair under his fingers. "Dry enough." He mumbles and puts the towel next to the sink.
" 'm s-so cold." Buck's teeth chatter and he lets out shuddering breaths.
Eddie rests his palm on the back of Buck's neck and squeezes lightly. Buck's skin is still cold to the touch. "You need to put these on." Eddie bends his knees and picks up the thrown away hoodie and the jogger.
"No." Buck protests.
Great.
But then, another idea crosses Eddie's mind.
"Okay, let's go."
"Get in." Eddie pushes the covers aside and gestures to the bed with his hand to Buck.
"W-why?" Buck hesitates with a frown and rubs his arms for some warmth.
Eddie opens the drawer and gets a few more blankets to spread out on the bed. "Get in. Please?" Eddie smiles lightly.
That seems like it does the trick, because Buck gets under the covers and curls onto himself with a shaky hiss— Eddie figures it must be because of the cool feeling of the sheets in the bed.
The thing is, Eddie was a medic in the army. So he knows how to maintain body heat under tough conditions; and Buck isn't exactly an easy one right now.
He takes off his own clothes and climbs under the covers next to Buck. Eddie rests his back against his pillow and turns his face to Buck— who is already looking at him. He holds Buck's hand and pulls his shaking form towards himself. "C'mere." He wraps his arms around Buck's cold torso and buries him into his chest, biting down his lip and taking a deep breath to hide his own hiss when Buck's cold bare skin touches his warm one.
A surprised but relaxed sigh escapes Buck's mouth as he sinks deeper into Eddie and nuzzles his nose into Eddie's neck.
"You're warm." Buck's cold breath tickles Eddie's throat. Buck tries to bury himself deeper, clinging onto Eddie's arm tightly and letting out a shuddering breath when Eddie begins rubbing his arm up and down with his hand.
"Don't go to sleep just yet, yeah?" He knows the exhaustion will creep up on Buck in any given minute, but first he needs to make sure that Buck is warm enough to fall asleep safely.
Buck manages a shaky nod and lets Eddie's warm body share its heat with him— laying completely pliant under Eddie's touch other than his involuntary shakings.
Eddie tries to warm Buck with the help of his hands and a mountain of blankets with Buck resting his hand on Eddie's chest and laying impossibly close to him— they probably look like one big person from afar; but he stops his movements when he notices the breaths tickling his throat slowly even out and the long lashes brushing against the side of his neck stop moving.
He tilts his head to look at Buck and sees the other man's eyelids starting to droop slowly.
Eddie lightly taps Buck's arm. "Hey, wake up."
Buck's eyes open sluggishly. "Why?" He slurs his words, teetering on the edge of sleep.
"You're still a little cold." Eddie says gently.
" 'kay." Buck sighs and squeezes his eyes shut, and opens them again.
Eddie's fingertips trail on Buck's arm while his other hand rests on Buck's back— slowly rubbing up and down; his chin rests on top of Buck's now fairly dry curls as he watches Buck struggle against sleep with half-lidded eyes. It would look cute if only Buck wasn't bone deep exhausted, but his body is back to normal now, so they both can finally get some rest.
"Buck."
"Hm."
"We can sleep after we put some clothes on, you're warm enough." He disentangles himself from Buck after Buck nods as an answer, and gives Buck one of his hoodies and joggers to wear as he puts on clothes himself.
After Eddie climbs under the covers again, Buck slides next to him and Eddie opens his arms to let Buck slump into his chest. It doesn't go unnoticed by him how he and Buck instinctively find each other again in the same position— even when it's not really necessary anymore. He caresses Buck's cheekbone with his thumb back and forth and buries his other hand into Buck's curls.
"How are you feeling?" He asks quietly.
Buck closes his eyes. "Tired."
"Go to sleep, then." Eddie brushes his thumb against Buck's birthmark.
Buck sleeps.
Eddie opens his eyes to find Buck still in his arms, watching him sleep.
"Morning." Buck says and ducks his head. He doesn't get away from Eddie.
"Good morning." Eddie doesn't loosen his hold. "How're you feelin'?"
Buck shrugs. "My muscles feel sore, but I'm fine."
"Why did you do that?" Eddie's voice is kind.
"I wanted to clear my head." Buck closes his eyes and nestles his face into the crook of Eddie's neck. 'Lost track of time."
Eddie takes in a deep breath and lets out in a sigh. His fingers lightly scratch Buck's back. "Okay."
"You're like a furnace." Buck deadpans.
Eddie snorts, then hesitates. "I can pull aw—"
"No." Buck cuts him off. "It's good."
Eddie slides closer to Buck. "There's still some time before the shift. You can sleep if you want."
Eddie waits for an answer, but it doesn't come. He lowers his head and sees Buck already drifted off, breathing softly through his parted lips.
Eddie smiles and closes his eyes, too.