Work Text:
“Hey Buck, why do you have so many books?”
Buck looked up from the pot he was watching on the stove to look at Denny Wilson. He and his moms had been invited to Buck’s loft for dinner, something that they’d been planning for months before things finally worked out the timing. Hen and Karen were both perusing the double parked bookcases in his living room. Denny however had climbed up onto one of the stools that lined the island. In his hand was one of Buck’s favorite books, a very well-loved copy of The Phantom Tollbooth that had made the journey from Pennsylvania to now in Buck’s bag.
“I like reading,” Buck said, before turning back and poking at something in the sauce.
Denny huffed in that way that pre-teens always did when they thought they were being blown off. “I do too, but I don’t have this many books!”
Buck checked his sauce and put it on low. “I collect them. I enjoy rereading my favorites, like the one you have there,” he said, gesturing to the book in front of Denny. “Every once in a while, I like to go back and experience my favorite stories again. Or, I might need to remember something so I open up one of the reference books on the bottom shelves.”
“But don’t you have a kindle?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I like real books too. It’s nice to have a physical book sometimes, when I want to read on the couch sometimes with a cup of coffee.”
Satisfied with the answer, Denny looked down at the book. “Can I read this?”
Buck grinned. “Absolutely. Maybe it’ll become one of your favorites, too.”
Denny slid off of the stool and made his way over to the couch, curling up and opening the book to the first page. Karen moved over to her son and looked over his shoulder, before giving Buck a thumbs up.
Hen joined him in the kitchen once her family was settled. “You’re a good man, Evan Buckley.”
Buck blushed. “I just like books,” he said, turning fully back to the stove.
She paused, before continuing. “I recognized some of the topics. You’ve talked about them on different rescues.”
With a shrug, Buck said, “Trivia books and nonfiction were what kept my grades up in high school, which kept my parents off of my back. The only reason I didn’t start talking about it when I was a probie was because I didn’t want to ruin my shot.” He paused. “Again.”
“Well, I for one enjoy your little info dumps. Keep it up. It keeps everyone from arguing about stupid things.”
She hugged Buck from behind before heading to join Karen and Denny. Over her shoulder, she added, “By the way, The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my favorites too.”
Buck grinned back. “You have good taste!”