Work Text:
Buck’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel with impatience. How long did it take for the traffic lights to change from red to green? There weren’t even that many cars on the road. Surely they could switch over so Buck could continue his journey to one of his favourite places on earth. Every second that ticked by as he watched the traffic lights with anticipation, a Top 40 radio station playing softly in the background, Buck was closer to just running a red light.
Thankfully, the universe shifted on its axis to be on his side, the light turning green when Buck almost felt his sanity snap like a thin thread being pulled too tight. He hit the accelerator a bit too hard, definitely driving too fast for comfort, but now getting closer and closer to a street he could find even with a case of memory loss.
Within seconds, Buck found himself turning onto South Bedford Street – a place he almost called his home. It felt like home for so long, and he always spent so much time there that it practically was home. The walls of the Diaz house were so comforting, holding so many memories. How could he not call it home?
As his truck rolled down the street and began to slow down at the house in question, a small smile played on Buck’s face as he noticed Eddie’s truck already in the driveway. They’d both rushed out of the firehouse at the conclusion of their shift, but Buck was baffled at how quickly Eddie managed to get home much faster than he did. Stupid traffic lights, Buck thought bitterly to himself.
To Buck’s surprise, as he parked the truck, he noticed the door of Eddie’s truck swing open, revealing the man of the hour hopping out onto the driveway with his work bag. Did he wait for Buck before he went inside? Something sweet blossomed inside of him as he watched Eddie lock the vehicle and meet his gaze through his front windshield, smiling at him fondly. Eagerness dancing at his fingertips, Buck practically dived out of his truck, following Eddie up the path to his front door with a spring in his step. He managed to catch up to Eddie as he was unlocking the front door with clumsy hands.
When it finally clicked open, Eddie subtly glanced over his shoulder at Buck before pushing the door open and stepping inside, Buck hot on his heels. They both dropped their bags on the ground, Eddie shutting the door behind them both.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he said with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
Unable to hold back any longer, Buck kicked Eddie’s bag out of the way, lightly pushed him against the door, and kissed him like a man who was starving. Deprived of his basic needs, unable to live a single breath longer without the feeling of Eddie’s lips against his own.
Yeah, that was one of the best reasons Buck loved visiting 4995 South Bedford Street.
To spend time with Eddie.
His best friend. His boyfriend.
His secret lover.
A lover that not a single soul knew about.
Eddie pulled back from the kiss in surprise, grinning against Buck’s lips. “Somebody’s eager.”
“You know how I get when we have these twenty-four-hour shifts,” Buck said, pressing another kiss to Eddie’s mouth. “Too long without kissing you.” His hands snaked their way to Eddie’s waist, pulling him closer as he whispered, “Or touching you.”
Humming to himself, Eddie wrapped his arms around Buck’s neck, leaning into his touch. “Was my hug in the bunk room not enough for you?”
“Ravi walked in. Didn’t get the chance to do this.” Buck began to trail kisses down Eddie’s neck. From the curve of his jaw to where the collar of his t-shirt began, letting his lips trail along skin and leave gentle brushes of lips that would send Eddie into shivers.
“Good point,” Eddie moaned breathlessly, tilting his head back until it hit the front door to give Buck more access.
Falling helplessly in love with Eddie and not being able to act on it in a single way at work was suffocating for Buck. And Eddie, too. Buck could feel it when Eddie was just vibrating with a desire to kiss him in front of everyone. Only a few times did they sneak off to the roof, the bunk rooms, or even the storage closet to trade stolen kisses and embraces. But Buck and Eddie slightly feared the wrath of Chimney as captain of the 118 if they ever got caught, so they tried to behave when on shift unless absolutely desperate, relishing every moment in between their shifts that they shared in their homes.
Navigating the beginning of their relationship in secrecy was important to both of them. They didn’t want any interference or judgement from the outside world. Just moments shared between the two of them that they could hold onto forever before making their love for one another public.
Like right now. Where Buck finally got to kiss his boyfriend while Chris was still at school, and no one could catch them or interrupt them.
They stumbled to the couch, kissing like lovesick teenagers in a mess of tangled limbs. God knew how long they remained like that, but when it was time to pick Chris up from the bus stop, they were a heap of wrinkled clothes, unkempt hair, and swollen, bruised lips.
The sense of sneaking around at home did have a thrill to it. Even though Chris knew about their relationship, it was exciting to try to pull themselves together after a giddy makeout session against the front door and on the couch before facing the very sceptical teenager. The sneaking around at work had a sense of fear, but tiptoeing around Chris felt like a little prank, knowing their antics made him roll his eyes and regret several choices in life that got him into the situation in the first place.
Aside from the moments with Eddie that made him feel like he was in a high school relationship all over again, the moments as a family with Chris warmed Buck’s heart. Eating dinner together, playing video games, watching films or even playing board games. Every moment was filled with laughter, tears, and love.
Cooking for the Diaz boys and talking about Chris’ day at school were Buck’s perfect kinds of nights, which is exactly what they did together that night. A dinner of spaghetti, a discussion over Chris’ project for his History class, and wishing him well as he went off to his room to play video games with his friends.
Eventually leading to Buck and Eddie camping on the couch for the rest of the night, a movie playing softly on the living room television as they held each other tenderly and drifted their attention between the film and each other. Temples pressed together, Buck’s arm slung around Eddie’s shoulder, and Eddie’s hand against Buck’s thigh tracing little circles against his sweatpants, it felt utterly perfect to be in a moment like this together. In utter comfort, in love, and hidden away from prying eyes.
That was until Buck swallowed and felt an uncomfortable sensation in the back of his throat.
Frowning, he swallowed again, clearing his throat slightly. A scratchy sensation began to creep in, and dread began to wash over Buck as it continued to linger with every forceful swallow he did. Suddenly, his eyes began to feel quite heavy, but not in a ‘tired-from-work’ way. In a potential ‘I’m sick’ kind of way.
Eddie instantly sensed his discomfort, lifting his head to look at his weary expression.
“You okay, baby?” he asked, lightly squeezing his thigh.
Buck swallowed again, sighing mournfully when that dreaded sore throat remained. His eyes drifted to Eddie’s, meeting his concerned gaze. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Jus’ a little tired.”
“You don’t look ‘just tired’, Buck,” Eddie said as he sat up straighter, examining his boyfriend subtly with his eyes. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Eds.”
Lips pressed into a thin line, Eddie lifted the back of his hand to Buck’s forehead, checking his temperature. As his hand came in contact with Buck’s skin, his eyes widened in panic. “Liar. Stay there.”
He tried to protest, but Eddie silenced him with a kiss to the top of his head before rushing into the kitchen, almost slipping on the floorboards in his socks. Buck sighed and let his head fall back against the couch, folding his arms. There was no way he could be sick. How on earth did he even get sick? None of their recent calls had any patients or victims with a cold, so where on earth did it come from?
After a few minutes of almost dozing off and simultaneously listening to constant clatter in the kitchen, Eddie finally returned with a steaming mug in his hand – specifically Buck’s mug with a little capybara on it.
“Drink,” Eddie ordered, holding the mug towards Buck once he resumed his spot on the couch.
Buck glanced at him tiredly. “I’m not sick.”
“You are. Just listen to me.” Eddie’s eyes went soft and doe-eyed. Eyes Buck could never resist. “Please?”
Buck caved, seizing the mug from Eddie’s hands and taking a sip of what he then recognised as some kind of lemon and honey tea. As soothing as it was, the death-defying feeling of razor blades in his throat began to take over. Officially, his cold had kicked in. The razor blade throat was always the telltale sign, and here it was.
Grimacing, Buck lowered the mug from his lips and said sheepishly, “Okay, maybe I am sick.”
“Mhm,” Eddie hummed knowingly. His hand reached up to brush some hair away from Buck’s forehead. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Buck looked at him affectionately, taking another sip of the tea as Eddie continued to lightly stroke his hair. Every time he swallowed forcefully, trying to work against the sore throat, he could feel Eddie watching him like a hawk. The longer time passed, their movie now abandoned in the background and Buck succumbing to his illness, Eddie grew more touchy and protective over Buck’s suffering state.
He shuffled closer to Buck so their bodies touched. His arm wrapped around Buck’s shoulder to rub small circles against the sleeve of his hoodie. Whenever Buck held the mug loosely in his lap, Eddie would leave gentle little kisses against his jaw and temple, like a ghost’s whisper.
Naturally, it made Buck paranoid for Eddie’s wellbeing.
“Eddie, you’re gonna get sick too if you keep doing that,” he whined as Eddie nuzzled against the side of Buck’s face.
“Don’t care,” Eddie mumbled. Buck knew he was leaving kisses against his birthmark now.
Sighing, Buck turned his face to look into his eyes. “I don’t wanna get you sick. You’re gonna make me feel bad.”
“Hey,” Eddie cooed, reaching up to cup his jaw. “I want you to feel better. Don’t worry about me.”
“But I do.” Buck leaned into his touch, eyes fluttering with exhaustion but affection.
A soft chuckle left Eddie’s lips. “I know. But just let me take care of you for once. Please.”
God, Buck loved Eddie so much. Willing to risk his health to put him back together. To take care of him. In his ill state, Buck could’ve cried, his eyes already feeling a bit sensitive and glassy. Before he could break down, he just nodded and tilted his head to kiss Eddie’s palm, still lightly touching the apple of his cheek.
And Eddie stuck to his word.
He found Buck some medicine to help with his sore throat and hopefully catch the bug, so a future congested nose wouldn’t be too bad. He made him another cup of tea, which only ended up getting half-drunk when Buck’s eyes grew heavy, and he almost dropped the mug on the blanket Eddie had draped over his lap. Eddie grabbed the cup and discarded it on the coffee table, cradling Buck’s face as he mumbled soft apologies and burrowed closer into Eddie’s body.
That’s how they ended up both under the blanket, lying down on the couch, Buck’s head on Eddie’s chest and clinging onto him like a koala bear. Eddie had traced his spine against Buck’s hoodie until he fell into a deep sleep, Eddie following not long after, both only waking to the sun peeking through the living room curtains and sporting very sore muscles from sleeping on the couch.
Oh, and Buck’s cold spiralling into a much worse condition. All while they still had a shift to get to later that day.
***
It was safe to say Buck wasn’t feeling fantastic when driving to work.
His sore throat had evolved into a full-blown cold, and he really did contemplate taking the day off. Something about his self-pride didn’t let him, though. If he stayed home, he’d be letting this stupid sickness, as well as Eddie’s perceptiveness, win. Besides, he could still stand and run on two legs – he tested it in Eddie’s backyard after breakfast – and he could still possess coherent thoughts, so he’d still be able to get through a shift.
Something terrible still twisted inside Buck’s chest as he pattered around the house that morning and as he strolled into work with Eddie at his side. His suspicions and fears from the night before seemed like they were coming to light as the pair of them discarded their civilian clothes for their uniforms in the changerooms.
Symptoms similar to Buck’s the night before. An uneasiness in the eyes. Constant clearing of the throat. Not the usual persona of Eddie Diaz.
It only meant one thing.
“You’re sick.”
Eddie glanced at Buck from his locker, eyes narrowing as he finished tucking his t-shirt into his pants. “No, you’re sick.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you drinking tea this morning,” Buck shot back.
Eddie had slid a mug of lemon and honey tea across the counter to Buck that morning in the silence. But he failed spectacularly in trying to hide the second mug behind his back whenever Buck spared a glance at him. His own mug of tea to soothe what must have been a sore throat.
The flicker of damn it in Eddie’s eyes wasn’t missed by Buck. He pouted in a thoughtful way and shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe tea is my go-to drink now.”
Buck huffed and closed his locker, knowing that was far from true. “Eds.”
“Buck.” Eddie shut his locker in succession, folding his arms and smiling smugly to try to fool Buck.
But his evident sickness failed him, a sudden cough emerging from his body and a sniffle from his nose that wasn’t your average sniffle. It was a sniffle from a cold.
Buck’s entire body slumped in dread. Breathing suddenly became harder than it already was with a congested nose, and now a string of struggling gasps coming from Buck’s mouth. “I got you sick. I knew this would happen,” he said through those short, panicked breaths.
“Buck, just breathe,” Eddie said softly, striding over to him and placing his hands on Buck’s biceps, squeezing lightly. His touch was comforting, but the suffocating feeling of sickness was not helping Buck’s case in the slightest.
“I can’t. I’m congested,” he replied with a slight upturn of his lips, satisfied he was still able to make stupid remarks in his state of worry.
Eddie just glared at him.
Buck’s breath hitched in his throat as his eyes met Eddie’s. Although his big brown eyes were wide and cuter than ever, a film of glass was plastered over them, making him look like he was about to cry. He knew Eddie wasn’t sad, but his sick eyes filled with beauty broke his heart.
“Oh, baby. Look at you,” he said softly, stepping closer into Eddie’s space after a quick glance to make sure no one was roaming outside the changerooms. “Your eyes are all glassy, and you keep swallowing like I was yesterday when my throat hurt. And you’ve been sniffling since the car ride here.”
“Really making me feel better right now,” Eddie deadpanned, gazing up at Buck through his lashes.
Buck chuckled, dipping his head shyly. Sighing, he reached for one of Eddie’s hands and ran his thumb along Eddie’s skin. “This is all my fault.”
“Buck.”
“No, Eddie. I don’t like seeing you suffer like this.” Buck’s head hung low, staring at the minuscule gap between their feet.
“Look at me,” Eddie ordered softly. With another shaky sigh, Buck met his eyes, frowning slightly as he was met with those glassy panes of sickness again. “It’s just a stupid little head cold. It’s nothing to worry about, okay?”
But that was the thing. Buck always worried about Eddie. Not only was Eddie his boyfriend, but his best friend. He’d cheated death one too many times, and any little thing that was wrong in Eddie’s life had him spiralling and wishing the rest of the world would fall away to keep his boyfriend safe. But sometimes, Buck had to remind himself that Eddie knew what was best for the both of them. Worrying wasn’t going to do Buck any good. They were sick together, and they would have each other’s backs in this. There was no point in dwelling on the guilt when the damage was done, and frankly, Eddie didn’t care, so Buck needed to relax.
Smiling, Buck nodded. “Okay.”
“I wasn’t giving up my couch hugs and kisses because of a cold. I love you, and I’m happy to get a little bit sick if it means I get to still hold you and touch you as much as I want,” Eddie said as he leaned in closer until their noses brushed.
Buck felt his heart skip a beat as Eddie said those three little words. He still wasn’t used to it.
“I love you,” he said back, squeezing Eddie’s hand.
Eddie turned his head and scanned their surroundings again, but everyone else from their shift must’ve been in the loft, as they were still alone. Grinning, Eddie looked back at Buck before kissing his cheek, lingering slightly to nuzzle against his face before stepping away from him.
Buck felt his face going pink, but he rolled his eyes as flashbacks from the night before appeared before his eyes again. “That’s what got you in trouble in the first place.”
“Don’t care!” Eddie called out as he left the changerooms, looking over his shoulder and winking at Buck.
This man was going to be the death of him.
He eventually followed Eddie up to the loft a few minutes afterwards to prevent raised suspicions. Sure enough, the entire team was upstairs, some in the kitchen, some playing pool, while others watched the news on the television. Eddie had occupied the empty couch adjacent to the couch Ravi and Hen were perched on, eyes glued to the TV. That was until Buck appeared, awkwardly sitting on one of the armchairs and hugging himself when a wave of fatigue washed over him. Ravi’s eyes shifted to him instantly, and he leaned forward in his seat, analysing him carefully.
“You good, man?” Ravi asked.
Buck pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. “Just a head cold. It’s nothing”
Ravi shot him a sympathetic look before eyeing Eddie on the couch, who was staring at the ground and not being too subtle with his current state of health. Buck watched as Hen followed Ravi’s line of sight, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Who hurt you, Diaz?” Hen asked.
Eddie’s head snapped up, his eyes wide and glassy. “Huh?”
“You keep sniffling over there.”
Buck’s eyes widened when Eddie’s met his across the room in a subtle glance. Thankfully, Eddie kept it cool – with a stupid little sniffle – and settled on, “Allergies.”
It almost sounded like Ravi mumbled, “If you say so.”
Buck wasn’t entirely sure what would possess him to say that, but he brushed it off when the alarm suddenly went off, the 118 all shooting out of their seats and running down to the engine.
***
It was only a small house fire – some electrical problem in the kitchen that sent the oven up in flames – but the team managed to extinguish it quickly. Although somewhat difficult to breathe in his mask paired with the chimney of smoke spreading in the kitchen, Buck managed to get through with Ravi at his side while Eddie and Hen helped the family outside of their home to check for any injuries.
Once the fire was put out and the house was deemed as safe as it could be, Buck stepped outside into the front garden, where a swarm of firefighters, paramedics, and civilians were waiting for the scene to clear. He scanned the crowd to find Eddie, searching for the neon ‘Diaz’ on the back of his turnouts with everyone’s helmets and masks obstructing their faces. In an instant, he spotted his boyfriend approaching the engine, discarding his mask and coughing as subtly as he could.
And that’s when he began to stumble, almost falling into the fire engine.
“Woah, woah. Eddie. Hey, Eddie!” Buck yelled, bolting through the front garden and holding his arms out to catch Eddie from his small stumble. It wasn’t a fall of any kind, but it was enough to incite panic inside of Buck, seeing his boyfriend stumbling on his feet and squeezing his eyes shut with discomfort.
Eddie leaned into his hold and shook his head. “I’m fine, Buck.”
Buck scoffed. “No, you’re not fine. C’mere.”
He grabbed Eddie’s shoulders and, as gently as he could, manoeuvred him so they were standing behind the fire engine, out of sight from prying eyes. Eddie moaned in discomfort as Buck manhandled him, eventually leaning him up against the engine. Buck stood in front of him, his hands resting gently on Eddie’s hips under his turnouts to keep him upright and to soothe him with his touch.
“Okay, I was fine with a few little sniffles, but you’re getting worse!” Buck hissed, his brows scrunching together in concern.
“I’m not.” Eddie shook his head again, glaring at Buck.
Buck pressed the back of his hand against Eddie’s forehead. He gasped in horror. “You’re burning up!”
“Just a little,” Eddie mumbled.
“And you were swaying and getting dizzy. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
“Still worth it.”
“Not when you’re like this.” Buck cupped Eddie’s jaw and tilted his head until their eyes met. “What if that fire was bigger, huh? What if you passed out in a massive house fire, not just a slightly toasted oven? I couldn’t live with that knowing I was the one who got you into this predicament!”
Eddie covered Buck’s hand with his own, sending him a reassuring look. “But it wasn’t a big house fire. Just a small kitchen fire.”
“It could’ve been a lot worse, Eds,” Buck mumbled. When Eddie raised his brows in a you need to calm down manner, he sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise. You’re okay.” Eddie’s voice was sweeter than honey, which made Buck melt under his spell.
Buck’s eyes grew soft. “Can you just take it easy the rest of shift?”
Eddie nodded, giving him a weak but gentle smile. “I will.”
A protective kind of hold possessed Buck, and he truly didn’t want to let his boyfriend out of his sight or his hold. Sniffling as a result of his sickness and heightened emotions, he pulled Eddie in for a tight hug, inhaling Eddie’s cologne on his neck beneath the scent of smoke.
“You scared me, baby,” he said sadly, closing his eyes.
Eddie rocked them side to side gently, holding Buck so tightly he might break. “‘M sorry.”
“You probably feel like shit, now.”
“Nah. Like I said, it’s worth it. I love you, and I don’t care.”
Buck pulled away to look at Eddie’s smug expression. Both of their cheeks were flushed from the love at their fingertips. And from the burning temperatures under their skin.
“Sap,” Buck grunted, trying to hide his smile.
Eddie smirked, giving Buck one last squeeze before peeling away from his body. “C’mon. Let’s go back before they suspect something.”
Buck was the first to show himself from behind the fire engine, nonchalantly strolling back into the wave of firefighters packing up gear before they head back to the firehouse. Buck shamefully wiped his nose with the back of his glove, cursing himself for not bringing tissues on call. The ghosting touch of Eddie’s hands on his back and his warm, glassy eyes kept him blushing like a schoolgirl. The heat in his face was almost as bad as his temperature from the night before.
“Wow. You’re no longer a white sheet.”
Buck whirled around to find Ravi staring right at him with his arms folded and a peculiar expression on his face.
Clearing his throat, Buck went serious. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve been super pale all day, dude. That’s the first trace of any kind of colour I’ve seen on your face,” Ravi said with an eager kind of perceptiveness.
At first, Buck thought oh, it’s because I’m sick, but when he remembered Eddie behind the fire engine telling him how much he loved him, that he’d catch his sickness so they could still be close together, he realised his blushing from his boyfriend was that noticeable.
“Oh. Huh.” Buck cleared his throat again, suddenly feeling very hot and bothered. “Must’ve been the heat from the, uh… the fire.”
“Everything okay?”
A physical manifestation of his current problem, Eddie appeared at his side with curiosity, Chimney in tow, looking questioningly between Buck and Ravi.
“Just talking about the colour Buck has managed to regain in his face,” Ravi replied.
Eddie looked at Buck and smiled. “Oh. Finally… bud.” He then proceeded to give Buck’s arm an awkward, small punch of encouragement.
Buck raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend at the strange nickname. Eddie hadn’t called him ‘bud’ in years, the name sounding foreign on his tongue. It was obvious Eddie realised that too as he subtly grimaced back at him.
“Still looking like crap, though, Buckley,” Chim suddenly butt in, smacking his gum as he eyed Buck up and down. “Make sure to rest up back at the station.”
“Will do, Cap,” Buck replied through slightly gritted teeth, feeling like an animal in a zoo the way all of his friends were analysing him.
But then the attention shifted to Eddie at his side when he suddenly sneezed twice in a row, followed by him pinching the bridge of his nose. Buck held himself back from physically reacting to Eddie’s symptoms, especially when he could feel everyone’s eyes flicking between the pair.
“You’re sick, aren’t you, Diaz?” Chimney asked, narrowing his eyes at his slightly slouched figure.
Eddie’s eyebrows shot up. “Me?” A helpless little sniffle prevented him from even attempting to lie, so he nodded slowly, scrunching his face up in the most adorable way. “Yeah, I, uh… Might be?”
“You might be?” Chimney continued to poke the bear, eyebrows raising into the brim of his helmet.
“Yeah.” Eddie shifted his weight between his feet, eyes darting around everywhere but anyone’s eyes. Until he glanced at Buck and continued with, “Think I caught what Buck’s got.”
For a second, Buck felt his blood run cold. His eyes might have comically popped out of his head like an old cartoon. Because not only was Eddie exposing how he truly did get sick, but it was one step closer to the 118 finding out about their relationship. Something that was meant to be a precious secret for a little bit longer.
Maybe they all wouldn’t think it. Maybe they would just think they were two friendly bros who caught the same sickness.
Something told Buck that Hen was suspicious based on the way she raised a singular eyebrow at Eddie.
“Because… we are friends… in close proximity…” Eddie said slowly. Somehow, he was digging his grave deeper and deeper with every choice of words.
“Uh-huh,” Ravi regarded with high amusement, the most suspicious of smiles plastered on his face.
“Have you seen me and Hen get sick at the same time in our fifteen years of close friendship working at the 118?” Chimney asked, looking between Buck and Eddie seriously.
Buck’s mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish, his mind blanking on when an event like that occurred in their several years working together. Eddie stared at him helplessly, throwing Buck into the deep end to answer for them, making him grimace.
Scrunching his face together in deep thought, Buck replied more like a question with, “Yes?”
“No!” Chimney barked. Everyone in the circle jumped with fright.
“Weak immune systems?” Eddie tried again, wincing slightly.
“Just get in the truck,” Chimney ordered with immense defeat, walking away from the circle of absolute despair before the conversation spiralled out of the universe into something unsafe for work.
Ravi’s eyes analysed the pair of them harshly for a few seconds more before he followed Chimney’s path, hopping into the back of the engine and leaving the door open for them all. Eddie looked like he wanted a dinosaur to materialise out of nowhere and step on him, turning him into a mush of human remains and ending him for good. Buck wasn’t as on edge as his boyfriend – he was convinced his sickness was altering his perception of the situation at hand – but he did wish time travel existed so he could write better excuses for their illnesses.
“You two are odd.”
Buck snapped out of his train of deep thoughts to find Harry staring between him and Eddie, brows furrowed.
Hen clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Odd is an understatement, Harry.”
And right she was.
***
The ride back to the station was dead quiet.
An awkward quiet.
Well, bar the occasional cough, sneeze, or sniffle from Buck or Eddie that echoed through the entire communications system in the engine. Buck gritted his teeth every time he met someone’s eye after some kind of sick symptom they unfortunately had to listen to. Ravi’s grimaces, Hen’s glare, Harry’s dead-in-the-eyes expression, and Chimney’s wince of ‘how did I end up in these shoes’ from the front seat.
Eddie, however, just smiled softly at Buck, legs pressed up against each other as they sat face to face in their own little sick bubble.
The engine pulled into the station, and everyone climbed out with urgency, eager to get out of their gear and sit down for some dinner – it was pizza night every Friday under Chimney’s rules. But Buck and Eddie sluggishly trailed behind everyone, shoulders brushing as they dragged their feet to their bays to discard their turnouts, and up to the loft to fall onto the unoccupied couch.
While everyone was busy hovering around the kitchen, engrossed in conversation about what sounded like raccoons in someone’s roof, Buck devoted all of his attention to Eddie at his side. His boyfriend whimpered slightly to himself as his head fell to the back of the couch, his eyes fluttering open and closed in a slow succession. Buck’s heart broke all while his own eyes began to feel drowsy, and the pressure inside his head from his congestion started to get the better of him.
“You okay?” Buck whispered, shuffling closer to Eddie until their thighs were pressed together.
Eddie lifted his head and blinked lazily at him, eyes droopy, a small smile on his lips. “Yeah.” His smile dropped into a guilty kind of frown. “Sorry about earlier.”
“It’s okay,” Buck said reassuringly. His hand settled next to Eddie’s, his pinky lightly brushing against his as a small interaction of love that wouldn’t be noticed by others. As their pinkies linked, he smiled. “We’re okay.”
Instantly, Eddie’s entire body relaxed. Relaxed in comfort, but also exhaustion. Something Buck was all too familiar with when Eddie would be falling asleep on the couch at home and deny his tiredness, but would be snoring softly and dreaming peacefully within five minutes. Buck always melted when he saw Eddie so content in his sleep. The softness of his features and the lack of tension in his body as he lay with his head on a pillow or against Buck’s chest. He knew Eddie felt safe falling asleep in his presence, and a secret at work wasn’t going to stop Buck from bathing in that comfort on the couch in the loft, their friends only a few steps away from them.
Besides, they always fell asleep at work on the couches together. They’d been left there one too many times with photographic evidence waiting in their work group chat by the time they woke up.
“Tired?” Buck asked, waiting for Eddie’s usual dismissal of his exhaustion.
But Eddie just nodded, his head falling onto Buck’s shoulder on instinct as he mumbled back, “Tired.”
Buck chuckled sleepily, his arm slinging over the back of the couch to subtly put his arm around Eddie without actually cuddling up with him. His head fell against Eddie’s, and his eyes fluttered closed. “Sleep, baby. I got you,” he whispered.
“Love you,” Eddie said in a sleepy murmur.
The last thing Buck remembered before drifting away into his own dreamland was whispering back, “Love you, too.”
Buck and Eddie may have been sleeping peacefully on the couch, resting their sickness away in the comfort of each other’s space, but it did make them blissfully unaware of all eyes shifting to their position, staring them down with wide but unsurprising eyes.
***
Chim, Hen, Ravi, and Harry all spotted them dozing away. It was hard to miss if they were being completely honest.
Slowly, the quartet tiptoed their way closer to the snoozing pair on the couch, never shifting their gazes away from the sleeping mass before them. All of them stared… and stared… and stared at the sight.
Eddie’s head on Buck’s shoulder, face practically buried in his neck. Buck’s head resting atop Eddie’s, his nose almost submerged in Eddie’s now messy hair. Buck’s arm slung over the couch, his fingers brushing against Eddie’s back. Thighs pressed together. Sides pressed together. Not a single sliver of space between the two best friends.
Something familiar.
But also something unfamiliar.
Something had certainly shifted, but what?
“They’re both sick,” Hen observed.
“Correct,” Chimney said under his breath.
“At the same time.”
“Also correct.”
“And Chimney had a good point earlier,” Harry butted in when Hen and Chim went silent in deep thought.
Chimney gave him a pointed look. “I always have good points, probie.”
“Noted, Cap,” Harry replied with unease.
“I think they’re dating,” Ravi said nonchalantly.
Three pairs of eyes whipped around to stare at him in horror. Well, Chim and Hen were sporting the horror. Harry was just confused.
“No chance,” Hen hissed.
Chimney placed his hands on his hips and gave Ravi a bewildered look. “They’re too stupid to realise that they’ve pretty much been dating for years. Did you not hear them earlier?”
Harry gave that deep thought and muttered softly, “Another good point.”
Chimney looked like he’d found out a god above had finally sent someone who had common sense and put them in the 118 under his captaincy. “Thank you, Harry!”
Buck began to stir at Chimney’s exclamation, making the group wince and freeze in place. But he settled again, tucking even closer into Eddie’s side – if that was even possible at this point.
“They have always been weirdly close,” Chimney said after several beats of silence. “Like weirder than any of our friendships. Weirdly close while remaining ‘just friends’. We’ve always teased them for it. I just accused them of being the same level of weird earlier to make them squirm, not even thinking about them… y’know, finally doing… it.”
“What does ‘it’ imply here?” Harry asked, eyeing Chim questioningly.
Chimney’s eyes widened. “That’s my brother-in-law. Don’t even think about continuing that train of thought,” he hissed.
Harry stared in fright, making Hen snort with amusement.
“No, but guys, I’m serious,” Ravi hissed urgently, stepping in front of the other firefighters to get their attention. He looked between Hen and Chim. “I’m sure you’ve gotten sick from Karen before. Same with Maddie.”
Hen pursed her lips. “Once or twice.”
“Guilty.” Chim held his hands up in protest.
Ravi pulled his I told you so expression before sparing a glance at Buck and Eddie. “I think they took the leap.”
Years of observation of the antics of Buck and Eddie as a duo, something had certainly shifted. All of them could feel it. Sure, they’d always been weirdly codependent, Buck was almost like a second dad to Chris, and they were oddly physical for a pair of friends. And their emotional baggage that made them act like a couple going through multiple divorces? That was a whole different story.
But now? It felt like more than that – at least in Ravi’s eyes. He’s been a witness to countless moments of stupid shit between the pair, and he began to think it all finally paid off. There was nothing wrong with them keeping it quiet, but he did find the humour in them potentially exposing their secret relationship by getting sick at the same time and still being weirdly close and touchy.
Hen almost barked out a laugh, but she managed to suppress it before she accidentally woke up the elephant in the room. “Do you seriously think after how many years of beating around the bush, they finally realised?”
“I’d believe they’re dating from the shared sickness alone if they both didn’t have their heads stuck up their asses for the past how many years,” Chim said through gritted teeth.
“I mean, they never told us what they got up to in Nashville apart from the games,” Ravi countered.
Which was true. Aside from the recount of the games in Nashville, the explanation of their little trip to Nashville was a bit… plain. Aside from the whole getting kidnapped arc when coming home in time for Hen’s birthday, but that was besides the point. The details of their adventures in Nashville and post-kidnapping were extremely vague.
“Nothing much happened. Sightseeing.”
“Yeah… Sightseeing.”
Sightseeing my ass, Ravi remembered thinking to himself.
Hen and Chim hummed thoughtfully to themselves, soaking in Ravi’s valid point. He knew he’d won the battle. He just prayed to God that he was truly correct in his months of observations.
“I really don’t wanna have to deal with more paperwork,” Chimney groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Hen gave his shoulder a nudge, a wide smirk on her face. “Well, let’s hope for your sake that they’re still playing chicken.”
The group dispersed with fears that Buck and Eddie would wake up and catch all of them watching them sleep. After a hearty round of pizza, like the captain promised, with Buck and Eddie still fast asleep, they decided to spread out to lower suspicion. Chimney whistled down to his office, Ravi and Harry decided to go clean the trucks, and Hen perched herself at the dining table with a nice cup of coffee, opting to call Karen and the kids while she waited for them to wake up.
After she bid her family farewell and promised to see them the next day, that’s when Hen noticed Buck beginning to wake from his slumber.
***
When Buck began to return to the world of the living, he simultaneously felt like he’d been hit across the head with a frying pan and like he’d slept on a pillow of clouds with Eddie in his arms. Some of his sickness had dwindled, but the snuffiness in his nose and the warmth in his cheeks still remained. His arm ached slightly from where it had been twisted on the back of the couch, but it was worth it when he felt a warm body beneath his fingertips and pressed into his side.
Eddie was sound asleep now against his chest, his hair tickling Buck’s nose and almost making him sneeze more than he already needed to. Smiling, he began to card his fingers through the dark locks, soft to the touch. The gesture usually woke Eddie up in the mornings when Buck would run his fingers through his hair when tangled in the sheets at the Diaz home. It had the same effect in the firehouse, Eddie instantly beginning to stir, groaning slightly as he opened his eyes and gathered his bearings.
Then he froze.
Buck frowned when Eddie didn’t even spare a glance at him, but across the room, body rigid in place. When he decided to follow Eddie’s eyeline, Buck turned into a wide-eyed statue when he saw what had Eddie rooted into place.
Hen.
Staring smugly at them from behind her coffee cup.
Panicked, they both shuffled apart, jumping to opposite sides of the couch before a single word could be uttered about the position they’d woken up in. It wasn’t their fault that they liked to cuddle when they slept next to each other.
This stupid sickness really had them making dumb decisions. First, the poor excuse to cover up how Eddie got sick. Now them sleeping together on the couch like a married couple wrapped up in each other?
What else could they possibly do to put the 118 on the trail of finding out their secret?
***
Like a blessing sent from above, their shift was finally over. Buck could practically feel the warmth of his bed calling his name. And maybe a diffuser and some VapoRub to help clear his nose. And even better, he and Eddie had the next three days off, so they could truly recover before coming back to work. Part of him wanted to stay with Eddie the entire time to recover with him. To take care of him, while Eddie also tried to take care of him in return. But he also wanted Eddie to savour some peace and quiet to truly recover well. Constant kissing from the inability to fight the urge to stay away from each other would certainly happen if they spent the entire time together.
The pair of them got changed back into their civilian clothes sluggishly, feet dragging on the floor and eyes heavier than sandbags. Buck kept watching Eddie carefully across the changerooms, fingers burning to just reach out and touch him. But he refrained, with Ravi and Harry still not even a few steps away from them. Stolen glances were enough. It always was.
Slowly, everyone from shift began to filter out of the firehouse into the car park. Buck followed Eddie outside to their trucks parked next to each other, relishing in the surroundings where the air was comfortable and refreshing for his sinuses. The occasional beam from the afternoon sun was soothing and felt like an instant remedy for his sickness. But still, it didn’t fully heal, and Buck could see the same effect on Eddie as they began to approach their trucks, his body slumping against the front of his vehicle.
Buck stepped in front of him and sighed softly at his boyfriend’s defeated state. “Rest up when you get home.”
“Could say the same to you,” Eddie tried weakly, eyes fluttering tiredly.
A scoff left Buck’s lips. “I’m not the one who almost passed out on call today.”
Eddie pressed his lips into a thin line, knowing there was no winning that argument. “Fair.” Smiling, he reached out to touch Buck’s wrist, fingers toying with the cuff of his jacket sleeve. “I’ll call you later, m’kay?”
“I’ll be waiting. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Buck dropped his bag to his feet to reel Eddie into a hug. The thump of Eddie’s bag next to his own was unmistakable, making Buck smile as Eddie’s arms wrapped around his neck, face buried in his shoulder. Buck’s hands splayed out against the small of Eddie’s back to keep him pressed close to his body, feeling the body heat through the thin fabric of his Henley and the scent of Eddie’s cologne perfuming his skin.
As they pulled back, still in a loose embrace with a yearning to stay close, something flickered in Eddie’s eyes as he gazed into Buck’s – aside from his illness, of course. Buck knew exactly what that look was. It was the same expression Eddie always sported when he desperately wanted to kiss Buck, even if there was a little risk.
“Once kiss wouldn’t hurt, right?” To no surprise, Eddie asked. His eyes went all big and brown, like a little deer, and Buck’s heart fluttered at the sight.
“Can’t do any more damage, I guess. As long as everyone’s still inside, too,” he said, pulling Eddie closer and bumping their noses together.
Eddie hummed softly, eyes flicking behind Buck quickly to the exit of the station. He shook his head. “I think we’re clear.”
Grinning, they closed the gap with equal fervour, lips pressing together softly in a tender kiss. Buck sighed into Eddie’s mouth, guiding Eddie backwards so he was leaning against the hood of his truck. Eddie gasped in surprise, but chuckled against Buck’s lips before ravishing his mouth again with his own.
That was until a chorus of gasps broke the blissful bubble Buck and Eddie had submerged themselves in.
“I told you guys!”
The sound of Ravi’s voice cutting through the car park was like a vicious, sharp knife. Buck stilled against Eddie’s lips, frozen in place and unable to even jump away from him to try and deny why they were making out in the firehouse’s car park after shift.
“I thought you said we’re clear,” Buck murmured against Eddie’s parted lips of shock.
“Looks like we had a crowd spying on us,” Eddie murmured back.
So much for keeping it a secret, huh?
Sighing, they let go of each other, but still stood side by side with their shoulders pressed together as Chim, Hen, Ravi, and Harry all sauntered through the car park towards them. A mixture of smugness, shock, pride, and confusion was read on their faces, and Buck bit his lip to try and hide his smile. Because of course they’d get caught at work.
“It was Nashville, wasn’t it?” Ravi asked, slightly bouncing on the balls of his feet with anticipation.
Buck looked at Eddie, trying to communicate with his eyes. Were they going to lie through their teeth? Or come clean? Even though the answer seemed pretty obvious given the circumstances, Buck didn’t want to blurt it out without Eddie’s permission.
The fondness and slight nod of his head told Buck exactly what he needed to say.
“Yes. It was Nashville,” Buck said, the smile he’d been holding back instantly creeping up on his face.
The group sighed with relief, instantly followed by cheers and giddy smiles. Ravi was the most excited, arms raised with delight and screaming, “I knew it!” for the whole world to hear. Harry looked like all the pieces of a puzzle were forming in his head, nodding with approval at the pair. Hen’s face was filled with utter fondness, and Chim just shook his head with an amused grin.
Eddie’s fingers were tangling with Buck’s at his side, and warmth spread through his body from head to toe. Because it was no longer a secret. They could do this whenever they wanted to without fear. Buck felt an immense weight lift from his shoulders, and he could feel a similar reaction from Eddie’s body as he squeezed his hand and pressed further into his side.
“I’m just surprised you two finally realised and acted on it without panicking to any of us,” Hen eventually said after Ravi finished his moment of victory.
Buck scoffed. “Okay, give us some credit.”
“Only a little,” she shot back, winking.
Chim stepped forward slightly, his hands on his hips and a slight sadness in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell us? You know we’re all happy for you guys, right?”
“We know, we know.” Eddie’s voice oozed with reassurance, easing the tension in Chim’s body. “And we’re grateful.”
They didn’t mean to cause hurt by hiding their relationship. Everything had happened so fast that Buck and Eddie didn’t want to dive straight into the deep end after exploring a new side to their bond. After an accidental hookup in a motel, a kidnapping that had them both thinking the other was dead, Buck falling ill from the extremities of the kidnapping, and finally addressing the elephant in the room when Eddie insisted on helping Buck recover.
The peace and quiet they felt as they kissed and acknowledged what they were becoming was nice. And neither wanted to let go of it quite yet. So that’s why they remained a secret. To navigate a relationship that felt so right, but with no prying eyes. To feel a thrill of sneaking around like teenagers, falling in love over and over again. When that time would be to tell their friends, it would be whenever it felt right.
Apparently, it was now, when they got sick together and decided to get too eager before leaving their workplace.
But that was okay. It felt like the right time, anyway.
“We just wanted a few months to ourselves to enjoy what we’ve missed out on for so long,” Buck added to Eddie’s explanation, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand again.
“Including getting sick and thinking we wouldn’t know what’s going on?” Ravi raised a brow, folding his arms. Chim began smacking his gum a bit louder than normal at that remark.
They both chuckled awkwardly. Yeah, it was a given their friends would figure it out from their shared sickness. At least to some extent.
“Unplanned, and slightly stupid for us to think we’d get away with it, but worth it,” Eddie said.
Every time Eddie said any little part of their relationship was worth it, Buck really wanted to bury himself inside Eddie’s ribcage and live there forever. God, he was just so… Buck couldn’t even think of the words to describe how wonderful Eddie was.
Buck wasn’t entirely sure if his sniffles were from the tears of joy welling up in his eyes or from the sickness he had temporarily forgotten about in his daze of just simply loving Eddie and admiring his friends. But he liked the feeling regardless.
“Well, paperwork will be waiting for you on my desk next shift. Do not think you’re getting out of it.” Chim shifted into captain mode, turning very serious and pointing a finger between Buck and Eddie.
Rolling his eyes, Eddie answered with a droning, “Yes, Cap.”
“And both of you get better. No funny business that will prolong your illness.”
“No promises, Chim.” Buck winked.
‘I mean it!”
“Leave them alone, they’re in love,” Hen said in a singsong voice, seizing Chim’s shoulders and beginning to push him away from the lovebirds.
Chim gave in, letting himself be pushed by Hen as he muttered, “Yeah, whatever. Now I have to go home and tell Maddie she won the bet.”
Buck froze, his eyes then widening in horror. “Wait, you two were betting on us!?”
“See you next shift!” Chim called out cheerfully, disappearing to his car before Buck could shout any more questions about a secret bet.
Once everyone had disappeared, cars slowly driving out of the car park until two lone trucks and their owners remained, Buck and Eddie felt like they could truly breathe – well, as best as they could in their current states. Eyes met, and the love pulsating between them felt sweeter than the ice cream they’d get with Chris after school on Tuesdays.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting them to find out like that,” Eddie remarked, eyes scanning all over Buck’s face.
“All because you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself the other night.”
Eddie rolled his eyes, leaning against the truck again, and his eyes closed for a second or two. He suddenly outstretched his hands, wiggling his fingers for Buck to take. As he did, Eddie pulled him in, smiling softly as Buck slotted between his legs and fell against his body, head on his shoulder.
“Wanna come over to mine? Chris is at his friend’s house tonight,” Eddie asked, his words slightly slurred, hands lazily running up and down Buck’s arms.
“Can we sleep after some shitty takeaway and some cuddles?” Buck mumbled into Eddie’s shirt, leaving a feather-light kiss against his shoulder affectionately.
“Absolutely.”
Buck left a kiss to the side of Eddie’s neck, his jaw, his cheek, before one final kiss to his mouth.
As he pulled back to look into those stupidly cute, sick brown eyes, Buck whispered, “Let’s go home.”
Eddie flashed that devastatingly beautiful – but sick – smile his way, and Buck instantly felt grateful for the way things worked out.
When they’d come back to their next shift, hopefully recovered from their shared illness, Eddie would be able to look at him like that all the time. Even hug him a little bit longer or sneak a quick kiss to his cheek when in the loft.
All because of a stupid cold and some dumb decisions.
Worth it, Buck thought to himself.
Absolutely worth it.