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It’s 3:17 in the morning when Eddie wakes up.
It’s late, and Eddie’s groggy, and he scolds his need for bodily functions. He also criticises the way the world spins as he sits up, blood rushing to his head the way it always does.
Eddie sits there for a few minutes, waiting for his mind to catch up with the rest of his body. His house is quiet, save for the steady buzz from the AC and the peaceful sound of breathing coming from inside the room. It’s comforting, a reminder that Eddie is alive and awake.
He gently swings his legs over the side of the bed, letting them dangle there as he prepares to venture out from the warmth and into the cold. Cold isn’t exactly the right word to describe night time in LA, but Eddie still hisses as his feet hit the wooden floor. He rubs a hand over his face, debating giving up and going back to bed.
“Where are you going?” A voice interrupts his train of thought.
Eddie startles, ever so slightly, at the break in the silence. It’s hoarse, and scratchy, but Eddie would recognise it calling out from across the universe.
“Nowhere,” Eddie responds softly, angling his body to view his sleepy boyfriend. Buck’s body is entirely consumed by their comforter, the top of his head being the only part on display. “Did I wake you?”
“‘S okay,” Buck mumbles as Eddie leans back to softly run his fingers through his hair. Buck shuffles, half-heartedly stretching his body out.
Eddie hums, heart melting with each breath Buck takes. He sits there, hands staying tangled in the blond’s unkempt strands, and waits. Eddie doesn’t mind, of course. He would wait a thousand lifetimes for Buck.
Once Buck’s breathing has mostly evened out, Eddie makes an attempt to stand up. He manages to just about stand to his full height, before -
"Please don’t leave." It comes out as a croaky whisper, and Eddie’s heart sinks. He turns to Buck once more, his boyfriend’s eyes wide and glassy.
“I’ll be right down the hall, Buck,” Eddie smiles as he crouches down. He lays his head on the bed, eyes level with Buck’s own. “I’ll only be gone a minute.”
“Mm, you promise?” Buck mutters, eyes fluttering. His hand lazily worms its way out from under the seas of fabric, pinky wrapping itself around Eddie’s.
“Promise,” Eddie smiles in response, adjusting his hand to properly hold Buck’s own. He absentmindedly lets his thumb stroke the warm skin, a calming reassurance for both men.
“Okay…” Buck trails off, sleepy smile still plastered on his face. “I love you.”
Eddie’s heart soars, and he smiles, bringing up a hand to caress Buck’s face.
“I love you too,” he responds as he leans in, placing a kiss on Buck’s forehead. He pauses, lips pressed on skin, as he breathes Buck in. Once he’s satisfied that Buck won’t stop him a third time, Eddie stands.
He makes his way to the bathroom, blindly dragging his feet across the cold tiles. He makes a quick pit stop by Chris’ room, poking his head in to check on his son. Eddie watches him for probably longer than he should, the rise and chest of his sleeping teen pushing away any anxieties infiltrating his early-morning brain.
Eddie steps into the bathroom, the sharp stream of light clearing the sleep from his eyes. He scratches the back of his head as he uses the toilet, mouth stretching with a wide yawn. His late-night haze is still there, lurking in the back of his mind as he washes his hands. The warm water does nothing to wake him up, Eddie lethargically turning the tap off as he reaches for a towel.
The sight of his reflection in the mirror has him pausing.
In the pale bathroom light, the scars on Eddie’s skin seem almost highlighted. Of course, Eddie knows his scars. He knows the ones that live on his body, the ones that are permanent in his mind. And yet, here he is. Analysing the lumps and bumps that etch his skin, a persistent reminder of the damages he’s endured.
The wound Eddie notices the most is the one that brands his right shoulder. He’s spent years gazing at the mark, spent years working through the trauma he’s had to endure. The bullet wound doesn’t bring the overbearing fear that it once held over Eddie, now reduced to one of the many, many stories he has in his book. Eddie’s been pushed to hell and back, and he’s survived. He can’t help but be proud of himself.
There’s a shuffle of something on the floor, bringing him back to reality.
Eddie lifts his head to see the cosy culprit standing behind him in the mirror. In the doorway is Buck, the fluffy blanket from their bed wrapped around his shoulders half-heartedly. His hair is sticking in all directions, tufts of curls wrapping around his forehead.
Buck stands there, eyes seemingly staring straight through Eddie’s back. Eddie watches him, waits for his boyfriend’s brain to catch up as he slowly walks into the room. Buck’s eyes wander from Eddie’s back to finally fall on his face in the mirror, and he pouts.
“It’s been more than a minute,” Buck practically whines, giving Eddie an adorably intimidating look. Eddie raises his eyebrows, a breathy chuckle escaping his lips.
“You keeping a timer on me?” He asks with a smirk. Buck hums in response, pads of his feet shuffling across the floor.
His boyfriend wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist, chin falling onto his shoulder. Eddie brings his hands up, finding their place perfectly on Buck’s own. He gives a tender squeeze, tilting his head slightly to rest on Buck’s temple. Buck hums, turning his head marginally to the left. His lips land a delicate kiss to Eddie’s cheek, before resting their faces together.
“Come back to bed,” Buck sighs, eyes falling closed as he draws in a breath.
Eddie lets his own eyes fall, breathing in the moment; breathing in Buck. The arms around his waist tighten as Eddie leans further into his boyfriend.
“How long did it take for you to drag that from our room?” Eddie giggles, the idea of a sleep-ridden Buck fighting with the large and heavy blanket filling his mind.
“No comment,” Buck huffs, the ghost of a laugh on his lips. Eddie’s still giggling as he opens his eyes, only to find Buck already looking at him, face relaxed and soft.
Eddie turns in his arms, gently wrapping his arms around the back of Buck’s neck. He gazes into Buck’s eyes, searching for each and every constellation he knows to be there.
“You’re ridiculous,” Eddie grins, giddy with love for the man in front of him.
“You’re incredible,” Buck whispers in response, a private moment between lovers.
Eddie’s entire body belongs to Evan Buckley. It has, and it does, and it forever will.
“I love you,” Eddie breathes, hand brushing the hair from Buck’s face. He lets it linger, tracing over Buck’s skin in a well-rehearsed pattern. Eddie brings his lips up to Buck’s birthmark, placing a tender kiss to the familiar spot.
“I love you too,” Buck murmurs. The pair pull back slightly, just enough to have a clear view of each other. Not that Eddie needs a clear view of Buck, he would know the man with his eyes closed.
Eddie smiles, something soft, and intimate, and loving. Buck’s face mirrors his own, and Eddie allows himself to lean in, just because he can.
No matter how many times he’s done so, Eddie doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of kissing Buck.
Their lips move in tandem, nothing hurried or heated. It’s delicate, a tender and cherished moment that neither takes for granted. Buck’s lips are warm, and sweet, and comfortable. Eddie would gladly get lost in his universe.
“Let’s go to bed,” Eddie mutters as they pull back. Buck’s eyes barely reopen as he smiles in response.
Eddie crouches down, careful to pick up the blanket that’s now draped itself around Buck’s feet. His knees creak as he stands, his eyes catching the way Buck subconsciously makes grabby hands as he reaches for Eddie. He chuckles as he moves towards Buck, grabbing his boyfriend’s hand before turning off the light.
Eddie leads the way back to their bedroom, body gravitating towards their safe-haven. He falls asleep securely wrapped in Buck’s arms, safe in the comfort of his love.