Work Text:
Buck wakes up to two alarms ringing at the same time way too early in the morning, from both sides of the bed. There’s a big, heavy body pressing him into the mattress, hot breath tickling his neck, and a groan of disapproval when he tries to untangle himself from Tommy enough to reach for his phone.
“Baby,” Buck chuckles, running his hand through Tommy’s messy curls, “we gotta get up, we have work.”
“Mm, I know, but you’re so comfortable,” his boyfriend complains, nuzzling his face into Buck’s neck further, arms tightening around him to keep him in place. Buck thinks he would crawl into his skin if he could. He gets it, because the feeling is very much mutual.
“Trust me, I don’t wanna move, either,” he says, wrapping his arms back around Tommy, and letting the alarms ring out until they snooze themselves. “We can cuddle for five minutes, but when the alarm rings again, we really gotta get up.”
“Mhm, fine with me.” He feels Tommy smile against his skin, presses a kiss there.
Buck sighs contentedly, a hand still playing with Tommy’s hair, the other starting to caress his back, and he gets a pleased hum in return. It’s not even half a minute later when he hears a light snore as Tommy dozes off again, and Buck reins in a chuckle that’s trying to escape him.
Usually neither of them has trouble getting up, to be honest – well, Tommy is definitely grumpier about it before his morning coffee and kisses. But sometimes, on mornings like this, spent together, especially after a pretty late night, they want nothing more than to stay in bed and cuddle. Sometimes, if they have time, one of them will turn their morning kisses more heated, initiate something that will keep them in bed a little while longer. Unfortunately, they don’t have that time today, and besides, Tommy is clearly still exhausted after last night activities – before falling asleep he joked that Buck tired him out so much he won't be able to move for a week.
Buck presses a kiss to the top of his head, not able to contain a huge smile. He loves mornings like this. He tries to take it in before he needs to leave the comfort of Tommy’s warm, cozy bed, before he loses the pleasant weight and heat of Tommy’s body on top of himself, before he stops hearing his quiet, soft snores until later tonight.
He’s encompassed by Tommy, all his senses overcome with him, and all of that combined, the pressure, the warmth, the snores, it’s all so familiar and comforting, and it’s enough to make Buck starting to nod off as well – but as soon as his eyes close, the alarms ring out again, perfectly in sync, from both their phones.
“Ugh, too soon.” Tommy complains again.
“I know, baby.” Buck chuckles, his palm moving soothingly over Tommy’s back. “But we do have to get to work.”
Tommy makes a noise of disapproval, but then finally slowly raises his head, blinks his eyes open. Buck’s smile widens when he sees those beautiful blue eyes, still hazed over with sleep. A small smile spreads on Tommy’s face as well when he looks at Buck.
“Hey, good morning, honey.” Buck whispers, one of his hands moving from Tommy’s hair to his cheek, thumb caressing his cheekbone.
“Mm, g’morning.” Tommy says around a yawn, his morning breath hitting Buck square in the face and it’s not pleasant – though Buck knows his own is not better. And still, Buck is dying to kiss him. “What’s that face?” Tommy asks, amused and teasing.
“Your morning breath is nasty.” Buck half-jokes, scrunches his nose. Tommy laughs, leans his face closer to Buck.
“Hm, I guess that means no morning kisses, then?” He whispers, bumping his nose against Buck’s.
“I didn’t say that,” Buck rolls his eyes, wraps his arms around Tommy’s neck to bring him closer before he can pull away. Tommy laughs into Buck’s lips. The kiss starts out chaste and soft, but Buck quickly opens up his lips, deepening it, though it remains slow and lazy. It tastes like sleep and their mixed stale breath, and like home and love and Tommy, and it is absolutely perfect.
Buck loves waking up with Tommy, getting to see him first thing in the morning, witnessing that gorgeous sleepy smile, just feeling him so close they might as well just sleep on one pillow and one side of the bed. Getting to kiss him good morning, hold him, and be the first person he speaks to. And then spending the rest of the morning getting ready for the day together. Buck could really get used to this. He already kind of is, and hopes he gets to keep it forever, keep Tommy forever. He really would love those kinds of mornings for the rest of his life.
“Can we just stay here the whole day?” Tommy groans, burying his face in Buck’s neck again once they part.
“I wish.” Buck sighs. He hasn’t even let go of Tommy yet, and they still have time before leaving, but truth be told, he’s already starting to miss him. He wishes he could spend every second of his life, awake and asleep, by Tommy’s side. That’s why he’s planning to ask him to move in together very soon. He doesn’t want to be apart more than necessary, and besides, they spend most time at Tommy’s place, anyway. Seems pointless to keep paying rent at his loft if he’s there maybe once or twice a week.
It takes a few more minutes, filled with kisses and cuddling, which turns into wrestling to switch their positions so Buck is on top of Tommy, because he’s not sure he would’ve ever gotten up otherwise. They both laugh and exchange a couple more kisses before finally Buck stumbles out of bed, pressing one more kiss to Tommy’s forehead and escaping his strong arms before he manages to pull Buck back in bed. In the morning Tommy can be the perfect combination of grumpy and playfully teasing. Buck adores him.
He’s already brushing his teeth when Tommy finally joins him in the bathroom. Almost on instinct Buck moves a little to the side, giving Tommy space in front of the sink. Tommy splashes his face with cold water, then grabs his own toothbrush, and they stand there, brushing their teeth, looking at each other in the mirror. Tommy playfully bumps his hip against Buck’s, and he can’t help the biggest grin around his toothbrush. He just looks at Tommy’s sleepy face, standing next to him in just his underwear, leaning into Buck’s side, with his free arm around Buck’s waist, as if just wanting to feel him close, as they do something as mundane as brushing their teeth together. It just feels so… domestic, intimate. It’s part of their morning routine now, and it hits Buck again that they have a morning routine together at all. It’s almost like they already live together and Buck once again wonders why it’s not official yet. He needs to bring it up soon. Maybe tonight after work.
When he’s done, before he rinses his mouth, he can’t resist pressing a small, foamy peck to the corner of Tommy’s lips. Tommy scrunches his nose adorably, and his smile widens. He’s so cute, every little smile of his makes Buck’s heart thump just a little bit louder.
“I’m gonna get started on breakfast.” Buck says, pressing another, now suds-free kiss to Tommy’s shoulder.
Tommy hums and then yelps a little as Buck lightheartedly slaps at his ass as he moves past him to leave the bathroom. Buck just chuckles, shooting him a smile over his shoulder. What can he say, he can’t really keep his hands to himself around this hunk of a man who he gets to call his – and that thought alone still makes butterflies erupt in his stomach. He has to gather all his self-restraint and then some to be able to walk away and be productive.
By the time Tommy enters the kitchen, Buck has two steaming mugs of coffee on the counter, and he’s cracking eggs into a hot pan. He hears Tommy’s steps as he walks in, and Buck’s not even surprised, expects it by now, when Tommy’s arm sneaks around his waist, Tommy’s front plastered to Buck’s back, and he kisses his cheek, then leans his chin on Buck’s shoulder and just stays there. Buck chuckles. At this point he’s used to cooking like this, and he wouldn’t change it for the world.
“There’s fresh coffee over there. Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes,” he says, stirring in the pan, then feels another featherlight kiss to his neck.
“Have I told you today you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me?” Tommy sighs contentedly. Buck’s heart flutters, the words so familiar, and yet always making him feel lighter than air. They sound almost like a confession every time Tommy says them.
“Hm, today not yet, no.” Buck grins. One of Tommy’s hands starts moving along his chest, tracing light patterns, and then there’s another kiss, this time to Buck’s jaw. Tommy can get so tactile and physically affectionate, especially in the mornings. It’s one of Buck’s favorite things about him, because so can he, and Tommy welcomes his affection and clinginess with a smile and open arms. He’s made for Buck.
“Well, you are.” Another soft kiss. “Thank you, Evan, you’re the best.”
“It’s nothing, baby.” Buck waves him off. “You know I like to do stuff for you.”
“I know. But tomorrow is my turn to make breakfast so don’t even try to get out of bed before me.” Tommy’s teeth sink into Buck’s shoulder lightly, a teasing warning in his tone. Buck laughs, but promises he won’t. He just likes doing anything and everything for Tommy, he loves taking care of him. But he knows Tommy loves to take care of Buck as well, and it’s been surprisingly easy to let him.
Tommy only lets him go when breakfast is done, so they can sit at the table, to eat and drink their coffee – their legs are tangled under the table, any form of physical contact always maintained. As Buck looks at his boyfriend sitting opposite him, he can’t get a silly, goofy grin off of his face. Tommy gives him a questioning look, but he just shakes his head, still smiling. He’s just so happy that he gets to have this.
He gets to have regular, mundane mornings with his gorgeous boyfriend, he gets to kiss him hello and cook for him, gets to see his crinkling smile and witness his grumpiness first thing in the morning. He gets to come home to him, fall into his arms after a tough shift, feel the safest he’s ever felt in his embrace. He gets to fall asleep to his wonderful snoring, which is not something he’d ever thought he’d love – but lately he has trouble falling asleep without it.
He has everything he’s ever dreamed of. He has Tommy. And he doesn’t think he’s ever been happier.
After breakfast they both get dressed in Tommy’s bedroom – Buck has two drawers with his own stuff now, and he’s sure Tommy would wordlessly give up more space if he noticed Buck needed it. The thing is, Buck doesn’t want to seem too pushy, like he’s trying to move in without talking about it first. He’s trying to do this right, because this… this feels like a thing that happens once in a lifetime, if not once every few lifetimes. So he’s going to bring up the subject later, when they have time for an actual conversation.
Buck needs to leave a couple of minutes before Tommy, the 118 being just slightly further away than Harbor. As he’s putting on his shoes and jacket, Tommy’s standing in the hallway, leaning against the door, sipping his second coffee. When Buck’s ready, Tommy presses his duffel bag into his hand, then grabs the collar of Buck’s jacket to bring him in for a kiss. Which turns into two, three, four kisses before he reluctantly lets him go. Buck’s smiling from ear to ear, looking into Tommy’s eyes, so full of fondness and adoration.
“Be safe, I love you.” Tommy whispers, with one more quick peck to Buck’s lips.
“Mm, love you, too, baby. I’ll see you tonight.” Buck grins, then opens the door and walks to his car, turning to wave at Tommy when he nears it. His heart flutters at seeing his adorable, nose-scrunching smile in response.
He gets in the car just while Tommy closes the front door.
And just as he turns on the engine, it suddenly hits him, their interaction from just a minute ago replaying in his head.
Tommy just said he loved him. For the first time ever. And Buck said it back.
Because, well, it is true. He’s fallen so hard and so fast, but also so easily and effortlessly, he barely even noticed he’s already there. Of course he loves him, it’s the most obvious, inescapable thing in the world. He’s in love with Tommy. And Tommy is in love with him, and they just said it for the first time in the most casual, offhanded way, without even registering it was happening, and without acknowledging it, and-
Buck jumps out of the car and flies through the front door within seconds. Tommy is already in the kitchen, washing dishes after breakfast, which he said he’d do before leaving – argued, really, because Buck wanted to do it but Tommy insisted that since he cooked, Tommy will do the dishes. He looks up at Buck when he enters, surprise on his face.
“Did you forget somet-” Tommy starts but gets interrupted by Buck grabbing his chin and kissing him hard and fiercely and passionately. “Evan?” He chuckles, a little nervously, once Buck pulls away and just looks at his man. Those blue eyes that seem to look into his soul, so full of love, that gorgeous smile he wants to kiss forever, the confused crease in his forehead, the cleft chin that was made for Buck’s thumb.
“You love me.” Buck whispers, and Tommy’s frown deepens before realization spreads on his face. “You said you love me.” He can’t keep the excitement out of his voice. He has a vague thought, deep in the back of his mind, that at some point in his life, he might’ve questioned it, thought that Tommy didn’t really mean it, that he’d take it back if Buck points it out, that he couldn’t have meant it, because- well, because why would he love Buck? But somehow, he doesn’t doubt that Tommy was truthful and genuine. He doesn’t doubt Tommy’s feelings – he welcomes that love, that Tommy’s showing him every day through all the gestures and affection, through always being there, through listening to his ramblings, through the way he looks at him – it’s just that now he said it, out loud and explicitly, and Buck believes it.
“Well, I do love you.” Tommy smiles, tilts his head. He keeps his hands away, still wet and soapy from the dishes, and he reaches for a rag next to the sink to wipe them, before finally putting them on Buck’s hips. “Maybe it wasn’t how I wanted to say it for the first time,” he chuckles, “but it doesn’t make it any less true. I guess I just couldn’t keep those words in anymore.”
“It was perfect.” Buck shakes his head. His heart is beating steadily, a wave of calm washing over him. He’s excited, he’s so happy, and he’s so in love. He also feels like this is exactly where he belongs, and he’s never felt more grounded and like he’s floating all at once. “Say it again,” he asks, and Tommy’s smile widens, soft and warm and a little amused, and so bright and happy. He brings his hands up to frame Buck’s face.
“I love you, Evan,” he says, quiet but firm, confident. “Falling for you has been the best and easiest thing that’s ever happened to me, and it was- it was inevitable, really. Since the moment we met, I knew you’re something special,” his smile is gentle, happy, loving, lighting up his whole face. “You’re impossible not to fall head over heels with, baby. I might’ve said it by accident, but I love you on purpose,” he adds firmly, lovingly, as if to fully reassure Buck that he meant it. As if Buck would have doubted him. He's such a sap. Buck wants to marry him.
“Tommy.” Buck breathes out, his heart hammering against his ribcage now. He wasn’t prepared for anything like this, for words like this. Because in his experience, he wasn’t the easiest to love and be with. But Tommy’s making it sound, makes him feel like he is, or like he’s worth loving anyway, and Buck wants to kiss him about it. “I love you so much. You just- you showed up in my life in the coolest way possible, and turned my whole life upside down,” he shakes his head lightly, movement hindered by Tommy’s hands. “And I’ve been falling for you every second of every day since. The last few months were some of the best of my life, and I- I love you,” he beams. He wants to say so much, he wants to say that he’ll continue falling for Tommy for the rest of his life, and he can’t wait for that, can’t wait for a future with Tommy – but he doesn’t want to rush it too much. They just confessed their feelings for the first time, he doesn’t want to do too much too fast.
“You have no idea how happy you make me.” Tommy whispers, pressing another smiley kiss to Buck’s lips.
“If it’s even half as happy as you make me, I have some idea.” Buck grins as Tommy kisses him once more.
“This is all very sweet and surprisingly sappy,” Tommy says and Buck huffs out a surprised laugh.
“I’d think you’d appreciate it, rom-com guy,” he teases.
“But,” Tommy pulls away and levels him with a loving but slightly exasperated look, “you’re the one who was pulling me out of bed because you didn’t want to be late for work. And now we’re both definitely going to be late.”
“Oh, right, work.” Buck sighs. He loves his job, and he loves going to work with his friends, but right now he’d love nothing more than to stay right here in Tommy’s arms and press the words ‘I love you’ over and over into his lips, and every inch of his skin. Those will have to be plans for after work. “I’ll miss you,” he pouts, his arms around Tommy’s neck tightening and bringing him closer again.
“I know, I’ll miss you, too, honey.” Tommy smiles. “But I’ll see you tonight. Be safe and come back to me in one piece,” he whispers into Buck’s lips.
“I always will. I love you,” he adds, not able and not wanting to resist saying it again, the biggest smile spreading on his face. “And that goes for you, too. Come home to me, yeah?” He asks, and hopes the implication of home, his home, their home being Tommy’s place is clear. They don’t have time for this conversation right now, but later tonight he’ll definitely bring it up.
“Of course.” Tommy’s smile softens.
They make their way back to the front door, where Tommy puts on his shoes and grabs his bag. Buck waits for him, he’s going to be late already, anyway.
Tommy walks him to his car door, kisses him one more time, then they exchange ‘I-love-you’s one more time before they each get into their cars and drive to their respective stations. Buck misses him as soon as he gets out of his sight.
He can’t wipe a huge grin off of his face the whole day. He can’t wait to go back home to Tommy, kiss him hello and have dinner together and talk about their days. He can’t wait to tell him how much he loves him again and see that gorgeous smile in response. And then to celebrate this new milestone in their relationship by taking Tommy to bed and taking him apart over and over again, and then to fall asleep wrapped in his arms, listening to his quiet snores as he nods off way before Buck, like he usually does. Buck is so excited about this life they’re creating together.
Tommy is his everything, his forever, his home. He’s never been more sure of anything in his life.