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Buck has always been a clingy person. It's who he is. He clings to things. He clings to thoughts. He clings to people. Especially people he likes.
So when he started dating Tommy, he didn't shy away from showing how clingy he gets—holding Tommy's hands in private and in public, leaning on his shoulder when they watch movies together, using every opportunity to get Tommy's attention, initiate physical touch wherever and whenever just because he can't keep his hands off his boyfriend's muscular body—and Tommy didn't seem to mind.
What Buck didn’t realize when they first got together was that Tommy is also clingy. Maybe not as obvious as Buck, but he's had his moments. Subtle. Quiet. Nestled beneath layers of casual coolness and an “I’m not needy” facade.
Unlike Buck, Tommy likes to keep his clingy side with his partner private, and Buck honestly finds that adorable, endearing even. Tommy loves touching Buck in a lot of ways that grounds him. The way his fingers would absently play with Buck’s curls when they were lying in bed. How he’d gently caress his cheek like he was memorizing every detail of his face. He loves showering him with kisses when no one else is around to see, on the top of his head, his jaw, the tip of his nose, and his personal favourite—his birthmark.
Buck loves cuddles, but Tommy loves cuddles. When they first started dating, he tried to not be so obvious about his clingy side, but it doesn't help that Buck is just as clingy—if not more—that Tommy also can't keep his hands off him.
Like that one time they were on their first movie date at Buck's loft when Buck started leaning on Tommy's shoulder and draping his arm across his torso. Naturally, Tommy followed suit, wrapping his arm around the other. At first, it was awkward. This was their first real, intimate moment beyond chaste kisses and hand-holding. But the tension melted away as they slowly got comfortable and by the end of the movie, Tommy had a hard time letting Buck go.
"Can we just stay like this for a little bit longer, I like holding you." Tommy had whispered, his voice barely above a breath. Buck didn't mind though, he likes being held too. It was his first time being held by another man his size in such an intimate moment and it was the most comfortable he ever felt. They ended up falling asleep like that and Tommy didn't let go once until they had to get ready for work the next day.
Other moments when Tommy showed his clingy side was when they're in bed. He loves holding Buck. The weight of him, the warmth, the way his boyfriend fits perfectly against his chest like he was made to be there, it’s everything he could ever wish for. But when Buck insists on being the big spoon one night, he couldn't refuse.
Tommy didn't expect it, but he loved every second of it. He melted into the role reversal almost immediately, sighing softly as Buck’s arms wrapped around his waist, his chest pressed against Tommy’s back, the warm air coming from their skin-to-skin contact circulating under the blankets.
Buck could feel every slow, steady breath Tommy took and could hear the faint hitch whenever he adjusted their position just slightly. It was like holding onto something precious, and Buck didn’t want to let go.
But here’s the thing. Neither did Tommy.
Unlike on the couch where he had control on when to let Buck go, this time the younger had full control over him. And knowing Buck, he's not letting go until they have to wake up the next day.
But if there was an instance when Buck wanted to move his arm away for a bit in an attempt to get more comfortable, Tommy’s hand would shoot out, grabbing the younger’s arm with surprising strength, pulling him right back where he belonged. No words. No explanations. Just an instinctive, silent stay.
Okay, Tommy may be more clingier than he admits.
Though there were times when Tommy was clingy in public.
It wasn’t often. Tommy liked to pretend he was cool and composed, the picture of self-restraint. But Buck knew better. Especially after that time at Bobby and Athena's housewarming party.
The couple had just finished rebuilding their new home and the whole 118, plus friends and family, had gathered at the new house for a small celebration. The backyard was buzzing with laughter, music, and the smell of Bobby’s grilling. People mingled with plates of food, kids running between adults, and Buck was right in the thick of it, bouncing between conversations with Maddie and Athena.
Tommy wasn’t far—never far, actually—but he was trying to play it cool. He stood with Hen and Chimney, catching up and reminiscing about the old times, his arms crossed like he wasn’t secretly watching Buck’s every move. Every time Buck glanced over, his boyfriend would quickly look away, pretending to be engrossed in whatever Chimney was saying.
Buck found it funny. Adorable, even. It's even funnier when the facade didn't last as long as Tommy hoped.
At one point, while Buck was engrossed in a conversation with Karen, that's when Hen, Chim, and Eddie decided they needed Buck’s help with something. “Hey, Buck,” Hen called from across the room, waving him over. “Come help us move the cooler from the truck.”
Buck didn't even hesitate and was quick on his feet but before he could take another step, he heard Tommy’s voice cut through the party noise.
“Where are you taking him?”
Everyone turned, sharing a knowing look. There was Tommy, standing a few feet away with a plate of food in one hand, fork paused mid-bite, his expression showing a mix of curiosity and nonchalance, which Buck finds amusing.
Hen raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting a grin. “Uh… to the truck? For like, five minutes?”
Tommy blinked, cleared his throat, set his plate down on a nearby table and took one last bite before making his way towards Buck. He casually slipped his arms around the younger's waist, pulling him close. “I’ll come with,” he added.
It was the way he said it—like it was no big deal, like he just happened to be heading in that exact direction at the exact same time, definitely not because he couldn’t bear the thought of Buck being more than ten feet away.
Buck blinked, both flattered and fighting a laugh. “Babe, it’s a cooler, not a rescue mission.”
Chimney, of course, wasn’t about to let that slide and chimed in. “Okay... clingy much?” he snorted, elbowing Eddie with a laugh. The other chuckled, shaking his head. “Man can’t let Buck out of his sight.”
Tommy’s face stayed perfectly neutral, like he was completely unfazed, but his ears went slightly pink, which wasn’t obvious, but Buck noticed them with their close proximity. “I’m just... supervising,” he replied coolly, wiping his mouth with a napkin he grabbed when he set his plate down like this was strictly business. “Evan’s easily distracted.”
Buck nearly choked on his laughter, turning just enough to catch the slight smirk on Tommy's face, a dead giveaway that betrayed his I’m totally chill and not at all clingy act.
So they grabbed the cooler together, because God forbid Buck carries something without his “supervisor”. And by the time they got home that night, Buck was still grinning from ear to ear.
He flopped onto the couch and turned back, eyes narrowed as he looked at Tommy who was taking his shoes off by the door. “So,” he said casually, “Just to confirm, you followed me around today because you think I’m easily distracted?” he asked, his voice teasing.
Tommy didn't even look up as he kicked off his shoes, knowing exactly where the conversation was going. “Yep.”
Buck knew Tommy was shameless, but he didn't think he'd be that shameless. “You're such a liar,” he snorted out a laugh, snatching a pillow from the couch and tossing it at Tommy.
Tommy caught the pillow effortlessly, tossed it right back, and shrugged. “At least I was discreet about it,” he muttered, slightly hesitant at his own response, but then he shrugged, wearing that same smug, unbothered expression that somehow made everything sound convincing.
Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that.