Work Text:
Eddie Diaz was always a light sleeper. Years of taking care of his sisters, then the military, and then Christopher made sure of that.
So, when the front door is unlocked late one night - or early morning, he’s not entirely sure - he’s already semi-conscious, aware enough to jump into action if it’s an intruder coming to him or his son, but not aware enough that he can’t fall back asleep if it’s nothing.
That awareness sharpens when his bedroom door opens, but, when he hears the footsteps, however intentionally soft and muted, he couldn’t help but relax.
Buck.
He gets the confirmation when his covers are pulled back slightly and a warm body slides in beside him, wrapping strong, secure arms around his waist from behind him.
But something’s wrong.
“Buck?” he says, becoming more aware as his brain registers the strange energy his partner is giving off, but not being able to place the reason why it is the way it is. If it’s about the tsunami, the blonde would have gone to look for Christopher first, and it can’t be about work since he’s still not back at the 118. “What’s wrong?”
”Nothing. Go back to sleep.”
Well, there’s no way he’s going back to sleep now, so he turns around with some effort to meet his best friend head-on. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I will always have your back.”
The arms around him tighten, and Eddie feels his heart squeeze. Whatever it is, it’s really bugging Buck, and he hates the reason for his partner’s stress already, despite not knowing what it is.
“I know,” Buck whispers, sounding so heartbroken that Eddie is definitely ready to throw arms at the cause. “That’s why I…”
Eddie lets his best friend manhandle him until blonde curls are tucked underneath his chin and his arms are wrapped around a frame slightly larger than his. He doesn't say anything though, willing to let Buck simmer in his own thoughts, hoping that it’ll make the younger more likely to tell him the issue rather than get stuck in his head.
“Bobby’s not letting me back.”
The admittance is so soft that it takes a moment for it to catch up to him. When it does, though, he starts. “What?”
”That’s why I haven’t been able to come back to work. He’s still giving me the red light because he doesn’t trust me or something, and I just…I was so upset, Eds. I was so upset that I went to see that lawyer, and I-I almost sued the city to get my job back.”
He freezes. Buck almost what? Sued the city?!
“I didn’t, of course,” Buck hurriedly adds, like he can read Eddie’s mind. “He - the lawyer, that is - just before I agreed to anything, he said ‘I’ve got your back, Evan,’ and I- Everything about it was just so wrong. It sounded wrong. It felt wrong. And some part of me realized he didn’t mean it. Not like you.”
Eddie cards a hand through Buck’s hair, feeling the soft curls slip in between his fingers. “I’ll always have your back.”
Buck nods, the movement causing a tickling sensation under his chin. “I know. That’s why I left. But I still don’t know how to get back to work.”
That is a big issue, but, fortunately for them, Eddie is awake enough now to think things through a little more. ”I think Bobby is worried about you. You had too many close calls for him, and I think the embolism gave him an excuse to keep you from danger.”
”But also from you guys.”
He runs a comforting hand down Buck’s back. “He’s thinking like a dad, Buck.”
”More like a tyrant.”
Eddie sighs. “Remind me you said that when Christopher calls one of us that.”
He doesn’t have to see it to know there’s a petulant look on his partner’s face. “Look, he’s worried. But all we have to do is prove you’re not reckless with yourself. Because that’s the only reason I can think of that he can use to keep you from working.”
“How though?”
”We tell him about us.”
The decision is a sudden one, one that when he thinks of it later is is the result from the late hours. But, honestly, what do they have to lose?
“Wait. I thought we said-“
”Only because we thought it would affect you coming back to work. If you’re not anyway…”
“And you’re okay with them knowing?”
Eddie takes a moment to think about the question. Sure, when they had suddenly taken that step amidst Buck's recovery, they had meant to keep it a secret until they got their footing and were sure they wouldn't be separated at work. And personally? Eddie wasn’t sure he was ready to come out; the realization was too new and raw to do anything other than carefully navigate his first and definitely last queer relationship.
Now?
“I’m sure.”
Because being with his best friend romantically is probably the most perfect thing ever, like he finally found the peanut butter to his jelly or his avocado to his toast.
He is irrevocably in love, and he's ready to tell the world that this man is his.
“How will that help convince Bobby, though?”
“I think it'd show that you're responsible. That you won't hide something just because you think it'll keep you from the job.”
Buck hums against his neck, the low rumbling sending a warmth through his body like nothing ever has. “Okay. Let's try it. Together.”
“Always.”
They stay like that for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence without the chaos of the world and life. Before long, though, he feels his partner sag, emotionally exhausted from the day, and can’t help the soft smile that slides onto his face as he presses a kiss onto those beloved blonde curls.
“Sweet dream, mi corazón.”
The next thing he knows, he's waking up past his alarm and walking into a kitchen already filled with laughter.
And he'd have it no other way.