Work Text:
Buck was tired. He had picked up a shift with C shift, so he had already worked a 24 by the time his team got there. The day had started fine but the endless, constant calls were starting to get to him. It was the little calls, the ones that weren't really emergencies that really annoyed him. He knew his team was just trying to help but Buck really just wanted space.
“Buck! Come up to the loft! We're playing Mario kart!” Ravi yelled over the railing, ignoring the look Bill was giving him.
Buck took a breath, knowing Ravi and Jake meant well. But he didn't have that in him right now. “Maybe later guys.”
Ravi shrugged, moving back to where Jake and Chim had set up the console.
Terry sighed softly, glancing at Bill. He knew one of them needed to distract Buck before he started spiraling, it might as well be him.
Buck didn't glance up from his inventory, ignoring Terry for a moment. He hadn't heard him come downstairs but it didn't matter. Buck was busy. He had chores to do. He had to stay busy. If he stopped, he would feel how tired he was.
“Hey bud, I think you need a break.” Terry stated after a moment, studying the younger man. He didn't want to hover but Buck looked asleep on his feet.
“I'm fine.” Buck snapped, still not looking at the older man.
“Why don't you take a nap? Eddie's lying down, you should join him.” Terry suggested, raising an eyebrow at the glare that got him.
“I'm not a fucking little, Terry. I don't need a fucking nap.” Buck answered lowly, not wanting anyone else to overhear them.
Terry took a deep breath, calming himself for a moment. “Neither was Eddie, last I checked. You need either a nap or an attitude adjustment.”
“You should mind your own fucking business.” Buck snapped, grimacing when Terry grabbed his elbow and turn him to the side. The searing swats were not completely unexpected. “Fuck you! Let go!”
Terry landed a few more hard smacks, letting go of Buck when he saw Bobby coming toward them.
Buck swore softly, rubbing his bottom with one hand and quickly stepping out of reach. He hadn't actually expected Terry to let him go. He flinched at the hand on his shoulder, debating for a moment before glancing over his shoulder. “Cap!”
“What is going on here?” Bobby questioned quietly, studying the two men for a moment. He knew there were very few reasons Terry would smack Buck. He kept his hand on Buck's shoulder, not wanting to have to hunt him down.
“Nothing!” Buck snapped, trying to carefully wiggle out of Bobby's grip. He didn't want to accidentally hurt him after all.
Terry sighed softly, turning toward Bobby. He knew if he downplayed it to keep Buck out of trouble, he would be in trouble when Buck spiraled. “I suggest that Buck should take a nap or a break. He said some things that aren't worth repeating. So I smacked him.”
Bobby raised an eyebrow, studying Terry for a long moment. He had been captain long enough to read between the lines. Clearly Buck had said something that upset Terry. “Thank you, Terry. Why don't we go to my office, Buck?” It wasn't an actual question and Buck had known him long enough to know that.
Buck groaned, trying to shake off Bobby's hand. “It was nothing, cap!”
Bobby hummed softly, guiding Buck toward his office. He knew Buck was tired. He thought Tommy had talked to the younger man about the amount of doubles he was working but clearly it was time he stepped in. He shut the door of his office, guiding Buck to the couch before releasing him. “We can either sit down and talk or you can lie down and rest.”
“I'm not a fucking baby! I'm fine!” Buck snapped, glancing toward the door. As much as he wanted to take off, he also wanted to be in the quiet of Bobby's office.
Bobby raised an eyebrow, studying the young man for a moment. “This again? I know you aren't a child, Buck, and I'm not treating you that way. I also know you are exhausted. Taking a nap will help but if you don't want to nap, you can cuddle with me.”
“No!” Buck snapped, trying very hard to not stomp his foot because he wasn't a child. “I can handle it! I don't need anything!”
Bobby sighed softly, shaking his head. It was becoming clearer why Terry had smacked Buck. “I think you need a smacking to help you regulate.” He was also not letting Buck and Ian work together anymore. Liz had told him that the shift had gone smoothly but she would tell him that if the station itself was on fire. He needed to do random shift checks again, just so he knew what was going on.
“Bobby!” Buck didn't need that! He was perfectly regulated. He was just tired. “I'm fine!”
Bobby was well aware that Buck was not fine. He sat down on the couch, patting his knee. “Come here bud.”
Buck took a deep breath to keep from yelling. He didn't need a smacking! He had done nothing wrong! He was allowed to be grumpy! “No. I told you I'm fine, Cap.”
That wasn't a safe word and they both knew it. “Okay, then you can be the man behind the rest of the shift. I can't have you dysregulating on calls.” Bobby answered firmly, raising an eyebrow when Buck stomped his foot.
“That's not fair! I'm not a fucking little!” Buck snapped, taking a breath at the look Bobby gave him.
“What on earth? It doesn't matter what your designation is, anyone can dysregulate Evan. What's more, you know this. Did someone say something to you?” Bobby questioned quietly, studying the shifting young man for a long moment.
Buck grimaced, looking away. He had tried to ignore the crap Ian had said to him but he was tired and it kept repeating in his head. It hadn't helped that the dom on C shift had had their hands full. “Too loud.”
“Your head is too loud, bud?” Bobby moved slowly, standing and tugging Buck into his arms. He started squeezing firmly, knowing that helped.
It took a few minutes for Buck to relax, resting his head against Bobby's shoulder. He was tired of the thoughts running rampant through his head. He wanted them to stop. The squeezing was helping him calm down, it was helping him think. Buck knew what he actually needed but he didn't want Ian to be right. He hated that Ian was right.
Bobby loosened his hold when he felt Buck relax. He gently guided the younger man back toward the couch, sitting and pulling Buck down to cuddle with him. “Do you want to talk about it?” The headshake wasn't surprising. “That's alright bud. We can just cuddle for a while.” Bobby was well aware that if the alarm didn't go off, Buck would probably fall asleep. He knew he probably still needed a smacking to regulate but it could wait for now.
-c-
Buck sighed softly, listening carefully before opening Tommy's bedroom door. He had originally planned to go to his own home after work but had ended up at Tommy's instead. He knew Tommy should be home now, but he also didn't know if he was working still. Since Buck couldn't hear anything, he was going to assume it was safe to leave the bedroom.
Tommy looked up from his laptop, smiling softly. “Hey sweetheart.” He knew he needed to have a talk with Evan about all the hours he was working but he wasn't sure how well it would go.
“Hey “ Buck mumbled, still sleepy but not as exhausted. He dropped down beside Tommy on the couch, snuggling close.
“I want to talk to you about how many doubles you've been working.” Tommy stated after a while, an arm wrapped around Evan's shoulder.
“We don't have any rules about that.” Buck shrugged. It didn't mean they couldn't talk about it but he wasn't breaking the rules.
Tommy leaned forward to put his laptop on the coffee table before turning so Evan could see his face. “We actually do have rules about you overworking yourself. Both Sal and I are concerned about you. So are Bobby and Athena.”
Those weren't rules! Just guidelines and it was his business! He could work however much he needed too. He was an adult! Buck took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down for a moment. He wiggled, trying to fidget without interrupting their cuddling. “I'm not overworking myself.”
“I can pull up your time clock, Evan. In the past month you have worked seven double shifts. That's seven extra 24s. So yes, you are overworking yourself and I should have stepped in sooner, that's my fault. The question is, why are you working so much?’ Tommy answered firmly. Evan wasn't going to like the new rule he was going to implement about work but he had talked it over with Sal. They had agreed it was necessary.
“I'm not a baby!” Buck closed his eyes when Tommy squeezed his leg, knowing he needed pressure to calm down.
“I'm well aware of that, Evan. Did something happen?” Tommy questioned quietly, shifting Evan so he was sitting on his lap and Tommy could squeeze him tightly. He thought that they had been making progress on this front.
“Not a little. Shouldn't need this.” Buck answered after a while, rocking slightly in Tommy's hold.
Tommy was definitely making a formal complaint about this, heads were going to roll if that man was bullying Evan again. “You shouldn't need what, love?”
“NO!” Buck pulled away, pushing to his feet so he could pace. He shouldn't need this! He was an adult! He could make his own decisions! He didn't need someone doing it for him! Except he very much did. He felt so much better when Sal or Tommy took control. He didn't want to lose this! He didn't want to be too much!
“Do we need to take a break?” Tommy expected the glare he got but he was being serious. He knew how hard this was for Evan.
‘NO!” Buck shouted, taking a step back when Tommy stood up.
“Yell at me again and see what happens, love.” Tommy answered firmly, raising an eyebrow at the wordless shriek. Those didn't count and they both knew it. That was Evan voicing his frustration. “We are going to take a break. I have your weighted blanket and we can cuddle on the couch.”
As much as he wanted that, Buck knew he shouldn't need it. He should be capable of calming down on his own. “NO! I'M NOT A LITTLE!”
Tommy hummed softly, taking a few steps to Evan before grabbing his elbow. “Well that's a choice you just made.” They would discuss Evan's choice of words in a bit. He sat in the nearby armchair, pulling Evan down across his knee and tugging his pants and underwear down. Tommy brought his hand down firmly, quickly bringing color to the pale bottom.
Buck groaned softly, feeling his body relax. He had known what he had needed and he had known he could just ask but he hated asking. That was why they had their relationship in the first place. He whined when Tommy stopped smacking and he was shifted to his feet.
Tommy stood, propelling Evan to the nearest corner where his pink bottom would be on display. “I want you to think about what's bothering you because we will be talking about it in a few minutes.” Tommy ordered firmly, stepping back at the nod.
Buck shifted from side to side, Tommy didn't care if he moved, before closing his eyes for a moment. His head was not as loud as before but the thoughts were still there. Tommy was going to be upset with him. It wasn't even that he necessarily believed Ian, but it kept circling around in his head and it was so loud.
Tommy gave him ten minutes to calm down before moving back over to the corner. “Are you ready to discuss this, Evan?”
Buck turned, burying his face in Tommy's shirt for a moment. “I'm sorry.” He mumbled before following Tommy back to the couch.
Tommy sat, pulling Evan down to sit on his lap again. “Tell me what's going on in your head.”
“I shouldn't need this. I'm an adult. I can take care of myself and make my own decisions.” Buck answered after a while, resting his head on Tommy's shoulder. Technically, it had been his decision to pursue TPE with Tommy and Sal.
“You are an adult and you do make your own decisions. We have rules for a reason, Evan. It's your choice whether to follow them or not. We originally thought you might be trying to push by overworking yourself and I do still think that. But I also think something else happened.” Tommy answered firmly, shifting Evan so he could see his face.
“Ian said things.” Buck grimaced, knowing that the anger in Tommy's eyes wasn't directed at him. “It isn't important.”
“It is if it is eating you up inside.” Tommy sighed softly, squeezing the younger man firmly for a moment.
“He said if I was going to do tpe I might as well be a little, since I can't take care of myself. But all the littles I know do care for themselves! And there's nothing wrong with being little! And it was just so loud.” Buck took a deep breath, relaxing against Tommy's chest.
“We have talked about Ian and his opinions, love. He's wrong.” Tommy answered firmly. He was definitely filing a complaint. While he couldn't keep Evan from working with Ian, he knew Bobby would if he knew what was going on.
“I know. I'm sorry. Am I in trouble?” Buck was pretty sure the answer was yes. He was also pretty sure the paddle on the coffee table was going to become friends with his ass.
“For breaking our rules by overworking yourself, yes. There are consequences for that. But you aren't in trouble for getting upset.” Tommy was well aware that Evan might get upset but it was better to just tell him upfront. “I decided, and Sal agrees, that you are not going to be allowed to work doubles without permission for a while. One of us will have to approve it before you sign up for it. You have been working too many extra shifts, Evan. Your body and brain need a break.”
“Tommy!” Buck grumbled, huffing loudly. As much as he hated it, that helped his brain quiet down a little bit. “I don't like it but I'll do it.”
“I know sweetheart. Let's get the rest of your consequences out of the way, alright?” Tommy took the nod as consent, shifting Evan so he was lying over his lap again. He reached over the younger man, picking up the paddle off the coffee table before bringing it down firmly on the pink bottom.
Buck yelped, kicking his foot for a moment before settling back down. But the noise in his brain went silent and he felt so much better.
Tommy set about turning the pink bottom burgundy red before shifting Buck higher and focusing exclusively on his thighs and sit spots. “You can act out as much as you need to Evan, until you feel safe in the changes to our dynamic. But you will end up here every time. You do not get to burn yourself out.” He lectured quietly, using his free hand to rub the younger man's back. The soft sobbing told him that Evan was close to where he needed to be.
He yelped at the hardest swats yet, squirming around on Tommy's lap. Buck knew Tommy wouldn't let him fall. It didn't take very long at all for him to give in and just let Tommy take care of him. “I'm sorry.” Buck sobbed quietly
“I know love.” Tommy set the paddle aside, studying the dark burgundy bottom for a moment before starting to rub it gently. “How's your head?”
“Quiet.” Buck whined softly, pushing himself up and onto Tommy's lap again. He just wanted cuddles right now. He felt a lot more settled than he had in the last 48 hours.
Tommy pulled him close, shifting Evan so his bottom wasn't rubbing against his jeans. “I got you sweetheart. I got you.” He was probably going to try to convince Evan to take a nap but for now he was just going to hold him