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For the past eighteen hours, Buck has had to deal with a feverish and... oddly clingy Eddie.
Eddie awoke to shivers, and just feeling off. The blankets felt like lava, his body, a hunk of ice. He gazed over to the right side of the bed to see Buck awake, scrolling on his phone. Buck fixes everything. He thought. Eddie turned over, tangling their legs together, resting his head on Buck's chest. "Good morning to you too," Buck chuckled, he ruffled Eddie's hair. He leaned into Buck's gentle action.
As Eddie got more comfy, Buck noticed that there was a lot of heat radiating from him. He looked down at his boyfriend's face, noticing the sheen of his forehead and flushness of his cheeks. Eddie never clung to him like this. Ever. Buck was the one to do something like this. Buck leaned down and spoke, "You feeling okay?" He questioned, pressing a soft kiss on his lover's temple. Eddie nodded in return.
"Just cold, is all."
"Cold? You feel rather warm, Eds."
Eddie shook his head a little. "I'm freezing..." A small shiver went up his spine, goosebumps forming on his forearm. Buck tried covering Eddie with the duvet, but he shooed it away.
"You sure you're okay?" Buck asked once more, using his index finger to move some hairs away from Eddie's tacky forehead.
He tried his darndest to convince Buck he was okay. Buck wasn't having it, it was clear as day. The beads of sweat that continued their journey down Eddie's forehead, and his cheeks that got increasingly more blushed were clear signs of illness. A simple hand to Eddie's forehead confirmed a fever. Eddie attempted to shrug it off again, but Buck persisted until he had his lover cuddled up on the couch in an LAFD hoodie with 'Buckley' plastered on the back.
Buck tugged at the thermometer that hung out of Eddie's mouth, turning it around so he could see the temperature. 38.4°C (101.2°F). Buck sighed, then laid the thermometer on the coffee table behind him. "Think you could stomach a little bit of soup? I'd like you to have something." He cupped Eddie's cheek, rubbing his thumb back and forth on his partner's warm skin. Eddie's dazed brown eyes met Buck's bright blues. Eddie's were dull, and didn't have that comforting expression they usually did, so tired looking.
Eddie's lack of response was enough of a reply for Buck. "Lay down and rest, okay? Turn on a movie." Buck pressed a sweet gentle kiss on Eddie's head then began walking away. He was stopped when a clammy hand grasped his wrist.
"Stay." Eddie's glassy and tired eyes were hard to say no to. They were warm and longing, almost desperate. Buck smiled softly, walking back to where his feet rested before. He squatted down this time. "Love, I've got to get some chores done. The laundry can't do itself." He chuckled a little then held one of Eddie's hands, nice and securely. "Just for a bit?..." Eddie's eyebrows furrowed, a small pout forming. Buck chuckled again, sitting next to his ill partner. "Fine. Just for a bit."
Buck opened his arms, inviting Eddie into his embrace. He obliged, and put most. No, all of his weight on Buck. That caused the two to fall back, with Eddie right atop of Buck. They both sighed contently, Buck's was more of a laugh. Eddie's was from getting his way. "Just for an hour. Okay?" Buck told him, attempting to sound authorative. Eddie nodded then nuzzled his face into the crook of Buck's neck, kissing it lazily before he let his eyes close. Buck ran his thumb up and down Eddie's nose, a comforting gesture that he knew Eddie enjoyed.
Buck kept a hand intertwined with Eddie's, holding it securely as his lover's grip slowly loosened as the dreamworld took over. Buck's other hand moved to the mess of brown hair in front of him. Eddie's muscles relaxed from the actions, his body somehow growing heavier. He was putting so much trust into Buck, his feverish body not able to run over overdrive like usual. Buck looked down at him every now and then, seeing how he was. Only minutes later, Eddie was passed out, in the embrace of his boyfriend.
An hour passed by. Buck had been mindlessly carding through Eddie's hair, admiring the both peaceful and ill face he displayed. Buck didn't need his phone, or TV, or any other form of entertainment when who he loved most was asleep on top of him. Buck gazed at the time, a clock located across from his field of view. Just over an hour went by. Eddie had barely moved an inch, content where he was.
Buck paused his hand in Eddie's hair, and placed a kiss on Eddie's temple. "Eds," Buck said carefully, trying not to startle him. "Eddie." He gently tapped Eddie's cheek, hoping to rouse him a bit more. "Hey, I've gotta get up." Buck attempted to sit up a little. Eddie let out a quiet groan. "Mmm... What're you doing?" Eddie nuzzled into Buck's neck more. "Eddie, can I do the laundry?" Eddie shook his head, then cuddling more on top of Buck than before. " 'M still tired." Their legs were a tangled mess. Buck sighed, flinging his head back. So stubborn... he thought. Buck kissed Eddie's temple once more. "Fineee. Only one more hour."
Another hour... turned into two... then three...
Buck was so done. He felt bad that he kept waking Eddie up each hour that went by. So, he blatantly decided to let him sleep. He deeply regretted that. He was warm, he could barely breathe with Eddie literally on top of him, he was hungry, and boy did he have to pee. But, the way Eddie was so peaceful and content on him... He didn't have the heart to keep disturbing that.
He liked that Eddie was sleeping off his fever, getting the rest he needed, albeit on top of his boyfriend, who's unable to move any part of his body other than his arms. Buck reached over and picked up his phone, which had been laid on the coffee table. He opened the camera app and snapped a photo, a quiet click of his phone confirmed it was taken. Buck looked at the photo, as he didn't have a great angle of Eddie's face. His partner's face was pretty much smooshed into his neck, his messy hair. He looked so youthful. Happy.
Buck wondered what a fever was like for Eddie when he was a kid. Did his mom care? Surely she didn't snuggle him on the couch. He probably had to deal with it on his own, barely knowing why he felt that way. Then deal with his sisters when they were sick, too. Buck blinked a couple times to get back to reality. He gazed at his feverish lover; Buck loved that Eddie was comfortable doing this with him. Usually he wasn't big on snuggling, or napping really. Eddie was almost always the last one to bed, long after Buck was asleep, so seeing him so vulnerable and kid-like was a refreshing change from his usual stoic persona.
Buck got an idea, a smirk plastered his face. He opened the 118 group chat with everyone; Hen, Chimney, Ravi, Harry, (May for drama), and obviously him and Eddie. He sent the photo onto the group chat, most saw it immediately. Buck chuckled, he knew Eddie would be pissed at him. It was worth it to him.
Hen: So cuteeee <3
Chimney: THE Eddie Diaz relaxing?! A moment in history
Ravi: Please tell me Eddie knows you sent this :')
Buck: I neither confirm or deny.
Ravi: Buck, seriously?! 😭
Another two hours later. Hour...five. Buck was even more done than before. "Eddie..." Buck spoke just over a whisper. He tapped his shoulder, trying to rouse him. "Eddieee..." Eddie took a deep breath, readjusting a little, still fast asleep. "Edmundo." Eddie's head raised rather quickly at his full name being said. He inhaled sharply, looking around groggily. Buck chuckled, gently moving strands of hair away from the sweaty forehead in front of him. "Mmm... What time is it?" Eddie mumbled laying back down. "Almost four in the afternoon, love." Eddie sighed. " 'm sorry..." He pushed himself up to a sitting position.
"Hey, no, no. Don't be sorry. You needed that." Buck reassured. Eddie looked down at the floor, feeling both ashamed, and his feverish mind wasn't computing much. Buck reached out and grabbed Eddie's hand.
"Never be sorry for being sick, or needing comfort. You deserve it, and I love giving it to you, Eddie."
Eddie nodded in return. "Does that mean I can lay back down?" Eddie said half joking, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. Buck smiled back. "Sure. As long as I can do my chores while you do so." Eddie looked at him and rolled his eyes.
"Very funny Buckley."
Eddie leans down and kisses Buck's forehead. "I'll go lay down in bed. Do what you need to." Eddie smiled as he got to his feet, stretching out his muscles and listening to his bones pop in all the right places. He looked a little better, more refreshed. He shuffled down the hallway, closing the bedroom door. Buck's smile was from ear to ear now. He loved that man. More than he'd ever admit.
Since that day, Eddie began clinging to Buck more. It was subtle, but he even started doing it at the firehouse. A hand on Buck's thigh, quick pecks on the cheek, laying his head on his partner's shoulder after a hard call. He really took what Buck said to heart. He adored Buck, more than he'd ever admit.