Work Text:
“You are cold.”
Eddie laid in his cold and lonely bed, it was late in the night. Probably closer to the morning than anything else. Buck had stayed behind for a few more hours when B shift asked for a replacement for one of their team, since the guy was arriving late due to his plane getting delayed and obvious Buck had offered to stay behind.
“Am not.”
Buck’s reply came a bit grumpy. Eddie could imagine him holding his phone close and could even hear him walking away, probably from the people from B shift. They already thought that the A shift was weird.
“Buck.” Eddie couldn’t help his smile and by the way the other man huffed, it had been perceptible in his tone.
He was sure that Buck was cold, Eddie could hear it in his voice. He knew Buck long enough to know that sleepiness and cold made him grumpy, just as he was right now.
“Eds.” The way Buck spoke the name was shaky, like a shiver had crawled up his body. Maybe it was the cold, perhaps it was the way that they had become even closer if that was possible.
Eddie moved on the bed to sit up, his back against the headboard as the sheets pooled on his lap. Buck probably would have his arms wrapped around himself if he wasn’t on the phone.
“If you are on the rooftop of the station just go back to the bunkers.”
“I’m actually on a call. Broke down the door and now they are checking the vitals. Nothing too big, just a panic attack I think.”
“And you didn’t bring your work jacket?” Eddie knew that he probably sounded like a worried parent but the tiny chuckle that came out of Buck made it worth it.
“You weren’t there to remind me of it. Or give me yours.” The last part came out lower, like it was a secret between them.
“Come home. After your shift. I will make you hot chocolate.” It was a promise.
It was more than that. They had been calling the Diaz’ house home for a while now and not once had Buck said anything against it, he would usually give him that shy smile while lowering his head. Like he couldn’t believe that he was part of their family.
Maybe it was time for Eddie to remind him of it.
“It will be late, I still have like two hours left, and that is if nothing happens and hold us for longer.”
“It won’t be late.” Eddie had been late so many times in his life, but right now everything felt like it was meant to happen at this pace. “Maybe it will be early.”
“I don’t want to wake up my favorite boys.” It wasn’t the first time either that Buck called them like that, but every time there was a heat surrounding Eddie’s heart, almost as if his body couldn’t contain all the feelings that were locked in his chest.
“You know you are more than welcome here.”
Eddie tried to assure his best friend. Buck was probably fighting the want to say yes right away, biting his lower lip at the corner. A place that Eddie had thought more than once to put his own lips on.
“Don’t make me wait here alone with two hot chocolates.”
It was the last thing Eddie said before hanging up. They both wanted this even if they had been fighting against it for a while.
As promised Eddie was in the kitchen when he heard his front door being unlocked by Buck’s keys. He sat on the counter next to the sink, a steaming mug curled in his hands and another one beside him.
There was a small thump as Buck took his sneakers off, closing his eyes, Eddie could see him walking through the house so easily. Like it was his home every day. He safe space.
“Hey…”
Eddie smiled and opened his eyes when he heard the soft tone of Buck’s voice as the other man came closer to him, a few more inches, and Buck would be standing in between his legs.
A “welcome home” caught in his throat never left his mouth, instead, he placed the other mug in Buck’s hands.
“Thank you.” Buck’s words were coming out drawn like the sleep was making it impossible for the other to speak.
“You know I have your back.”
As soon as Eddie’s words left his mouth, he was thrown back to their first day together and how much they had clashed and formed an alliance for the rest of their lives only after a few hours.
Maybe they were too sleepy for this, maybe it was too early to be thinking about their feelings, or for Eddie to be thinking about Buck’s place in his life.
Buck moved slowly, not looking at Eddie at all, maybe afraid of what he might see as he placed himself between Eddie’s legs. Big hands settled on Eddie’s waist before moving towards his back as Buck rested his forehead against Eddie’s shoulder.
His breathing was slower or maybe that was what it felt like to Eddie, the moment seemed to slow down before his eyes, like they had all the time in the world. Eddie set both of their mugs aside before wrapping one of his arms around Buck’s broad shoulders and his other hand massaging the dark blond’s scalp.
Buck seemed to relax under his touch.
That had changed at some point during their relationship, they needed a touch to make sure the other was okay before relaxing. Sometimes just a brush of shoulders or even a hand to a shoulder. Other times while giving a mug and their fingers would brush.
Eddie couldn’t pinpoint when that changed, all that he knew was how it was the same for the both of them.
“I love you.” Eddie felt relief at the same time that he felt fear.
Buck had been there for all his fears.
Those strong arms become even tighter around Eddie and his fear dissipates right away. Buck pulled his face away only slightly so that he could temptingly kiss Eddie’s cheek. Almost afraid that Eddie would run away at the touch even if had just said those three words in the mostly dark kitchen. In a quiet home. Their home.
Eddie parted his lips to get some air in his lungs. His grip on the back of Buck’s head was still strong.
“Say it again.” Buck was nearly begging him, blue eyes filled with hope.
So, Eddie moved his hand to cup Buck’s face which the other man leaned into the touch while closing his eyes. Like that, it was less scary to say those words.
“I love you.” It was the only sound inside the house, it would muffle all the other usual noises.
“Again.” This time Buck rested their foreheads together, keeping his eyes wide open.
“I love you, Evan Buckley.” Eddie said a bit more confident than before.
A smile grew on Buck’s lips and then he leaned forwards closing any distance between their lips, giving Eddie the taste of something that he had only dreamed of.
They kept kissing for a while, soft and unhurried, like they had all the time in the world to get used to kissing each other, to figure out what the other liked.
For now, Eddie just enjoyed their lazy making out on the cold counter of their home. There they were safe and warm.
“Let’s go to bed.” Eddie could feel his lips tingling as he spoke.
“I love you too, in case that wasn’t clear.” Buck looked almost scared, like he was afraid that Eddie wouldn’t know it. Like this wasn’t important to them both.
“I know.” It was true. Eddie had learned to notice it in everything that Buck ever did for him and Christopher. For them. “I know, baby.”
He placed one more kiss on Buck’s lips before getting off the counter and leading them towards the bedroom where he would make sure that Buck wouldn’t feel cold anymore.