Work Text:
If it wasn't for the ray of sunshine that filters through the curtains of the small windows of his bedroom he would have slept like a baby until his alarm at 9 which he only has because he has a brunch planned with Maddie at 10.
He grunts turning to the other side. He can feel his head starting to hurt so the chances of getting back to sleep are very low. He didn't even drink that much but he never handled alcohol well so he stopped before getting sick.
He surely drank less than Eddie.
Eddie, who's currently laying next to him on his stomach facing him and snoring lightly – in only his boxers, but Buck's trying very hard not to think of that detail.
Buck can't help but imagine how it would feel to wake up like this everyday.
You see, Buck has been very much in love with the man next to him for a few years now, always keeping those feelings buried deep down fully knowing that he would never get his chance with him.
But things changed the moment Eddie sat him down and confessed him he is gay – Buck felt very honored to be the first person he told and hugged him tightly -, now Buck can dream, hope he has a chance to be openly in love and happy with Eddie.
But until he has a clear sign that Eddie feels something for him, he will keep his feelings a secret to keep their friendship safe.
He shakes his head and gets up taking his phone to make his way downstairs to take an aspirin before the headache gets worse.
He tries not make too much noise as he collects his uniform from the basket of the laundry and then notices Eddie's on the floor.
Eddie looked so good in his uniform, Buck had trouble looking away since the moment he arrived at the Diaz house.
(He arrives at 6 sharp, and their uber should be there at 6:20 and the event starts around 7, Buck had planned everything by the second to be there on time. He turns the key and lets himself inside the house.
“Eddie the uber will be here in twenty minutes, please tell me you are at good point getting ready.” he calls out falling dramatically on the couch and lifting his feet on the coffee table, the hat thrown next to him. "And Bobby said we can't be late." he adds checking his phone.
“Actually he said that we are allowed to arrive five minutes late since we are the ones that are arriving from further away.” Eddie's voice corrects from behind him.
When Buck turns his head to look towards the sound Eddie is walking to the kitchen fixing his watch on his wrist.
Buck's eyes fall right to Eddie's ass. Sue him, Eddie has a very good looking ass.
He has very little time to compose himself that Eddie is coming out of the kitchen and stopping next to the couch.
Damn, Buck is really gonna have a hard evening resisting the urge to jump on him and kiss him right in the middle of a bunch of firefighters.
He clears his throat, “Well, you know I don't like arriving late.” he says nodding and Eddie rolls his eyes.
“I only need my hat and then I'm ready." Eddie announce walking towards his room.
If Buck allows himself to look at him - well, at a part of him - that's his business.
The Uber arrives just in time and Buck is proud when they arrive a few minutes before the event start.)
He picks it up and puts it in the wash downstairs with his. Eddie won't mind.
He starts the delicate wash and goes to the kitchen, he drinks two glasses of water and swallow the pills.
He decides to take a shower before waking Eddie up so the man can rest more before having to deal with the headache he will have for sure.
He fills a new glass with water and brings it upstairs to place it on the nightstand for Eddie to find when he wakes up and the aspirin next to it.
Eddie sighs in his sleep and Buck has to stop himself for reaching out and smooth his hair.
The shower definitely helps him keep his headache and sure muscles – like every morning – at bay, but he make sure not to take too long not to leave Eddie on his own when he wakes up.
When Buck walks out of the bathroom, he looks over to Eddie and the man is already looking at him. “Oh, you are awake,” he comments and just for a second he has the instinct to cover himself, Eddie doesn't comment on it so probably he didn't notice the awkwardness and the fact that he's blushing from his chest to his cheeks either. “Did I wake you up?” he asks moving towards his dresser to get dressed.
Even with his back turned on Eddie he can feel his eyes on him, he doesn't mind of course his best friend can look at him, he just makes him slightly self conscious and shy.
He tries to ignore it and keeps getting dressed.
“Huh,” Eddie says clearing his throat “No, the headache did.” he answers and form the noises he got up.
Buck laughs, “I bet. I don't think I ever saw you drink as much as last night”
(The event is going smoothly, various captains and chief taking the stage to give speeches.
“Buck!” Eddies says cheerfully when he sits back on his seat next to him, “Where were you?” he asks pouting.
“I was in the bathroom, like I told you.” Buck replies rolling his eyes playfully at his best friend drunk behavior.
“Oh, okay.” Eddie smiles satisfied before taking another long sip of the drink he has in his hand.
“Don't you think you should slow down a little with the drinks?” Buck tries when he sees Eddie raising his hand to ask for another drink to the waiter that nods walking to the open bar to obligate. “That is like your third drink of the night not counting the wine you got with eating.”
“Buck, come on. I have no responsibilities tonight and for the rest of the next two weeks, let me drink up to that.” he says accepting the drink the waiter hands him and lifting it up for a toast.
Buck sighs and brinks up his own drink - non-alcoholic fruit drink, he gave up alcohol after a few beers, at least one of them has to be able to get them home safe - and letting their glasses touch and Eddie smile happily.
Eddie might regret his decision of drinking this much and Buck will be there to tell him I told you so, but for now he will let him have fun and get loose as much as he wanted. He loves seeing him like this.)
“I don't remember much from last night.” Eddie says to nobody's surprise.
“I do not expect you to, to be honest.” Buck laughs again, shaking his head.
He sounds annoyed or disappointed even at his own ears, but he's not really annoyed and he hopes Eddie doesn't read his tone as such. At the end of the day he wasn't expecting nothing to happen the night before, he has nothing to be annoyed or disappointed about.
“Buck,” Eddie calls him and he turns on his heels, his eyes immediately finding Eddie's “Did we, uh, did we do anything last night?” he asks him looking away. Buck sees his cheeks turning bright red from bushing.
“Wh-what?” he asks confused.
And then his minds connect the dots and his eyes go wide and it's his turn to blush, his cheek a shade of light pink.
“Oh you are asking me if we had sex.” he states to make sure he got it right and his friends nods slowing at him. “No, we didn't have sex” he answers with a small smile.
Not that I don't want to have sex with you, just I don't want to while we are drunk he keeps to himself.
Eddie sighs in front of him and Buck can't help but feel a little betrayed by it. His heart loosing a small piece of hope it had of having his happily ever after with his best friend.
“Okay.” Eddie says.
“Okay.” he parrots.
A few bits go by when neither of them say anything, Buck is already dressed in a bottom up and jeans while Eddie is still only in his boxer. Buck can hear is own heartbeat in his ears and hopes Eddie doesn't.
“Did I say anything wrong?” Eddie asks shyly.
“No, Eds, you didn't do anything wrong. You simply whined about missing Christopher the entire ride from the event, that's why I made the guy drive us here, it was closer than your house and then you passed as soon as you touched the bed.” Buck explains to him with a smirk.
(“Eddie can you try to walk straight, please?” Buck's begs while straggling of getting them out of the door of the hotel of the event. The other man leaning heavily on him for balance.
“I can't do anything straight.” Eddie jokes giggling and Buck just can't help but giggle too.
The Uber driver spots them and gets out of the car to help Buck settle Eddie inside.
“There are plastic bags in there in case your friend needs one.” the man - Lucas - informs once he's back on the driver seats.
“Thanks.” Buck before giving him the address of Eddie's place.
“Buck, look!” Eddie says excitedly shoving his phone on Buck's face “Christopher set a goodnight photo.”
On the screen there's a photo of the view from Christopher's room with the text goodnight dad as caption.
“That's a very thoughtful of him.” Buck jokes.
“Right? I can't believe he is there having fun but still thought of sending me a text” Eddie says and oh no, he is about to get whine and soppy.
“Excuse me, Lucas,” he calls and the driver looks at him from the rear view mirror. “Is it okay if we change address?” He asks and he doesn't care he may have to pay extra, he wants to get Eddie in a bed to sleep as soon as possible.
“That's fine to me.” Lucas says and change lanes to go to the new address Buck gives him with no problem.
“God, I miss him.” Eddie whines starring at his phone lock screen, a photo of Christopher smiling.
“I know, man. I miss him too.” Buck provides easily.
“Two weeks is a long time you said it yourself once, why did we let him go again?” Eddie asks twisting in his seat to look at him better.
“Because he loves science and having fun with his friends.” Buck shrugs.
“But I miss him. We miss him.” Eddie repeats like it wasn't obvious.
Buck chuckles, Eddie can be so sappy when he is drunk, “We do, but time will fly and he will be back.”
“Okay.” Eddie says not that convinced.
Silence falls and Buck relaxes.
“What if I drive there so I can stay with him?” Eddie breaks the silence and Buck is sure Lucas sighs in the front seat.
“You are absolutely not driving to Christopher's science camp.” Buck replies to him firmly, but there's a laugh hidden behind it.
“Oh come on, you should be on my side on this.” Eddie says outraged.
Lucas laughs at loud at that and Buck can't blame him, he's having trouble contain his own laugh.
“I'm always on Christopher's side and you know that.” Buck says and Eddie gives him a sloppy punch on the arm.
“Traitor.” Eddie mumbles sitting straight and going back to look at his phone.
“You reached your destination.” the GPS voices announces interrupting them.
The make their way out of the uber and inside Buck's loft building on unsteady feet, but they miraculously arrive safely to the loft.
“Okay, let's get you to bed.” Buck says guiding Eddie up the stairs carefully.
“I should call Christopher to wish him goodnight.” Eddie says taking his phone out.
Buck snatches it before he can. “Nope you are not, he must be already in bed.” he says, but still types a text and sends it so Christopher will read it in the morning.
Eddie simply grunts and takes his phone back to put in on the nightstand and starts taking off his uniform jacket and throwing in on the floor. Buck snorts and throws his on the laundry basket.
By the time he changed in his pyjama, Eddie stripped down to his boxers and he's spread out on the right side of the bed. The same one he used during quarantine.
“Good night, Eds.” Buck laughs opening the covers and getting in on his side. Being carefully not to be too close to Eddie.
The only answer he gets is light snoring.)
“Of course I did that.” Eddie laughs.
“Do you want to take a shower?” Buck asks pointing towards the bathroom behind Eddie.
“I think I need one, yeah.” he answers nodding.
Buck nods at him and that makes Eddie move.
As soon as the bathroom door closes, Buck sighs and shakes his head to send away the image of Eddie's body out of his mind.
He opens his drawers and fishes out a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie and lays it out on the bed for Eddie to wear once he's done, and goes downstairs to keep himself busy as he waits. He doesn't want to be there when Eddie come's out of the shower, he does 't know how long he can keep his hands to himself is he sees him post-shower.
He also make sure to call a uber so they can go to Eddie's place and he can take his Jeep and go to Maddie.
After a few minutes Eddie arrives downstairs, dressed with the things Buck got ready for him and it does something to Eddie's heart seeing him like this. He looks soft and makes him want to hug him and never let go. Maybe it's because they look big on him.
“I called us a Uber to get back at your place, it will be here in a few moments” Buck announces passing Eddie another glass of water when he arrives in front of the counter.
“Perfect,” the man says drinking all in one go. “I'll go make the bed.” he says starting to go back upstairs.
What? Why the hell does he want to go and make the bed?
“Eddie-” he tries to stop him, there's no reason to make the bed right now, it's not important.
“You let me drunk crash in you bed, I'm making it again for you.” he says interrupting Buck.
“Okay.” Buck says defeated.
“Okay.”
While Eddie is upstairs clearly stalling away from him while they wait for the uber doing the bed Buck stays downstairs scrolling on his phone trying not to think too hard on why his best friend is suddenly acting weird and making the bed so he doesn't have to be close to him.
He tries to sound has normal as possible when he calls him out when he gets he gets the notification that the car is outside.
The ride to the Diaz house is silent. But luckily is a comfortable one.
“You want to come inside?”
“You want to join Maddie and I for brunch?”
They say at the same time which makes them giggle.
“I have some some chores to do, but I appreciate the invite.” Eddie answers with a sincere smile.
Buck is breaking the rule of the Buckley's brunches inviting him, he knows Maddie will act happy if Eddie were to go and would scold him once they are alone because they don't even invite Chimney, her husband, so they can have those moments just the two of them and he's suddenly inviting Eddie. Thing is he would deal with his sister's rage if it meant he was gonna spend another few hours with Eddie.
“Oh, so you only invited me inside so I could help you with you chores.” Buck jokes pretending to be offended.
“You got me.” Eddie shrugs while laughing. “Again, thank you.”
“No mention it.” Buck replies with a shy smile as he unlocks his Jeep and gets in.
He stays there, waiting for Eddie to turn around and wave at him and waves back immediately. He makes sure Eddie's door is closed before driving away.
Buck focuses on the road and arrives at the little coffee without any accident.
Maddie notices something his up the moment he sits in front of her but she doesn't push him to talk, instead she starts chatting his ears off about something and Buck is half paying attention. If she notice that she doesn't seems bothered.
His mind his too busy thinking of the what ifs.
What if they hadn't drunk, what if he made the first step and kissed Eddie, what if Eddie had kissed him back. What if this morning he had walked back upstairs, stopped Eddie from making the bed and told him just how much he loves him.
Buck sighs and gives attention to Maddie that is now talking about a pet lizard?
“I'm sorry can you go back a little? I spaced out.” he asks and she smiles at him knowingly, doesn't say anything and starts her story again.
---
Two days go by and neither Eddie or Buck talk about the night of the event or the morning after.
It doesn't bother Buck, it's not anything important happened and there isn't anything to talk about.
Eddie on the other hand seems weird.
Buck catches him looking at him a few times and the weird part is how quickly he looks away. He also feels Eddie's eyes on him for longer while they are getting changed in the lock room. It makes him blush a little and he does not - he does - slow down his movements so Eddie can look.
The emergencies keep them busy that Buck forgets that things are on the side of weird between them.
Buck really wishes he didn't have to bring up the other night, but he has Eddie's washed and dried high uniform in a protective bag on the back seat of his jeep and he has to give it back to his owner.
“Hey, Eds,” Buck calls him over when he arrives at his car, that's parked next to his Jeep, at their usual spots. “Here.” he says handing him a protective bag. Eddie gives him a confused look.
“It's your uniform,” Buck explains him “You left it at my place the other day, I washed it after you stripped off of it with mine but it was still drying when we left the loft.” he says with a shy smile.
Eddie's looking at him with so much affection Buck has to fight the instinct to lean in and kiss his cheek. Or his mouth.
“Thank you, Buck, you are the best.” Eddie says and Buck smile bashfully back, his heart beating really fast in his chest. “About that night,” he starts talking again taking Buck by surprise by mentioning that night again. “I'm kind of sad I was too drunk to do anything. Maybe it could have been fun.” he finishes.
Buck feels the words end up straight down there. He freezes on the spot, his brain chanting It could have been fun over and over. Eddie thinks that two of them having sex could be fun. Eddie is sad that they didn't have sex.
Buck is about to have an aneurysm waiting to see if Eddie will add that he is joking but Eddie's face is blank.
“So,” Eddie says bringing him back to the conversation. “See you tomorrow, Buck.” he says and walks away to his car before Buck can say anything. Not that he would know what to say exactly.
Does Eddie really wants to have sex with him? Does he want just sex? Because sure Buck could do just sex. But not with Eddie.
He wants to be by Eddie's side forever, he wants to marry him and have kids with him and a pet and a big house and grow old with Eddie. He can't do just sex with him.
But maybe, just maybe there's a possibility that if Eddie wants to have sex with he would also want everything else with him to.
He then realize that he never answered Eddie and hopes he didn't read anything wrong in his silence. He gets in his jeep and drives to the loft. He need a very cold shower and to think.
---
While Buck drives to the Diaz's house he prepares a speech. He will clears things up with Eddie and make sure everything is okay with them so he can move on from the idea of having sex with him.
He parks in his usual spot and jogs towards the door with his key in hand, excitement and nerves running through his veins.
He stops with the key mid-air and decides to knock instead, it will make is visit somewhat formal.
Obviously is speech and plan is out of the window when he see Eddie. He's wearing a shirt and sweatpants - that look like are his and not Eddie's -, his hair free of products and he looks relaxed and extremely kissable.
“God, I hope I really didn't read that wrong.” he says before taking Eddie's face between his hands and crashing their lips together.
It takes Eddie less than a second to kiss him back and Buck sighs into the kiss while Eddie brings his own hands up on his waist to bring him closer.
He did not read anything wrong. God, he wants to kiss Eddie for the rest of his life.
He moves his hands from Eddie's face to behind his thighs lifting him onto the edge of the sofa and the man quickly adjusts so that he doesn't fall over. Buck hope he know he would never let him fall, and in case he'd fall, Buck would follow him over the edge.
Eddie's hands are exploring his back, his shoulders and lastly the hair at the nape of his head. That last spot makes a moan escape his lips shamelessly.
“Buck,” Eddie says and Buck feels his hand trying to push him away, but the man also kisses him again and he's a bit confused so he just keep kissing him. “Buck, baby.” he calls again.
Oh. He didn't expect the pet name so soon. He loves it.
Buck stops kissing him and stares at Eddie wide eyed.
Eddie is looking at him with soft eyes like he's taking him in and Buck lets himself do the same. His cheeks are flashed with the most adorable shade of pink, his hair are messy from Buck hands, his shirt is wrinkled and his lips, oh his lips, are puffed and bruised from the kissing.
Eddie brings his hand up and caresses Buck's birthmark and he leans into the touch, Eddie's hand ever so gentle and soft on his skin.
“Before we keep going, I want to make sure that you know that I didn't hint we have sex just because. I want everything with you, Evan.” Eddie speaks again, voice calm and steady and Buck's eyes start to get glossy “I want to wake up with you every day even after a hangover, I want to grow old with you and be with you for the rest of my life.”
Buck can't stops himself from declaring his love any longer, "Oh god, Eddie, if I tell you that I love you do you promise not to freak out?” he asks stroking his hair.
“If you promise me the same because I love you too, baby.” Eddie answers hugging Buck from his waist and kissing his cheek.
Buck smiles big and Eddie smiles just as big in return.
In that moment Buck remembers the reason they are in this situation right now.
“About the sex,” he starts and he changes the smile into a smirk and watches carefully has Eddie gets even more flashed,“Would you be okay to wait until I dine and wine you, like you deserve?” he asks caressing Eddie's cheekbones.
“What if I want to dine and wine you?”
Buck is so in love he feels like he could explode with the love he has for Eddie Diaz.
“We can take turns.” Buck shrugs.
“Deal.” Eddie agrees easily.
“Can we go back to making out?” Buck asks innocently as his gaze falls to Eddie's beautiful lips.
There's not time to waste, they have all the time to be sappy, right now he wants to make up for all the time they wasted not kissing.
Eddie doesn't answer instead he kisses him, gets up and Buck lets him lead them to sit on the couch.
A few hours later they're still cuddling on the couch, a movie playing on TV, Buck playing with Eddie's hair absently.
“You know, I never thought that it will take me waking up in only my boxers in your bed for me to actually take courage to make a move.” Eddie laughs softly.
Buck moves them, “You didn't exactly made a move, you dropped the sex bomb out of nowhere, I was the one to actually make a move by kissing you.”
“Okay, okay, you are right. Do you still love me even if I made you make the first move?” he asks pouting.
“Unfortunately, yes, I love you.” Buck answers kissing him softly and he never felt as much as at ease as he feel right holding Eddie in his arms.
“I love you, too” Eddie whispers on his lips.