Work Text:
Eddies nightmares about the army got bad.
So bad whenever he shut his eyes the horrific images of the men he watched died went straight into his head.
There was no way of stopping it.
Eddie went to therapy a couple times and they recommended headphones.
Light music to help him fall asleep to try draw the attention away from the horrifying images and thoughts about the army.
They made him a play list it was soft calming songs.
It helped, but not a lot.
He still got the nightmares it just well settled them.
He hated sleeping with headphones it made him feel like a child.
Like how to you tell someone your dating that you can’t sleep without music.
It’s embarrassing.
He knows Buck won’t mind, they only have been dating for around 5 months and Buck makes him feel safe.
But Buck still doesn’t know about the whole headphone thing even though one day he’ll need to tell him.
But Eddie feels to humiliated to even tell Buck, he thinks it’s unmanly of him.
-present day 11:30pm-(at eddies house)
Buck and Eddie are curled up on the sofa watching some funny romcom movie Buck insisted they had to watch.
Eddie head is resting on Bucks shoulder as Buck arm is wrapped around Eddie waist holding him close.
Eddie felt safe in Bucks arms, safer than he’s ever felt.
The movie ends and Buck looks at Eddie.
Buck: See! I told you it was going to be good
Buck says smiling at Eddie.
As Eddie just laughs.
Eddie: It was good, but it was really cringy Buck
Buck: No no no it was so cute, come on you’re a sucker for romance and you know it!
Eddie shakes his head knowing Bucks right.
Eddie lets out a yawn.
Buck: Tired?
Buck says tilting his head to Eddie.
And Eddie nods.
Buck: Come on let’s get you to bed, is it okay if I stay the night? I can leave if you want it’s okay…
Eddie thinks to himself how is Buck going to react when he finds out he has to wear headphones to listen to music just to fall asleep without any trouble.
But Eddie doesn’t want Buck to leave.
So he won’t wear them tonight.
Eddie: Yeah, yeah of course you can stay
Buck smiles as he kisses Eddies head.
And stands up helping Eddie up.
They make their way to the bedroom.
Eddie: You can take on of my hoodies..thought they uh might not fit you…
Buck laughs, Eddies right his hoodies won’t fit Buck there too small.
Buck: is it okay if I just sleep without a shirt, if it’s not I can’t sleep in this shirt if it makes you uncomfortable
Eddie shakes his head.
Buck and him have been dating for months yet Buck still makes sure Eddies okay with everything.
Eddie: Yeah of course it’s fine
Eddie takes off his own shirt and shoves a hoodie in same with a pair of joggers.
Buck takes his shirt off and gets into bed and opens his arms for Eddie to lay.
Eddie lays down in Bucks arms.
Buck: Night eds
Eddie: Night Buck
Buck falls asleep right away.
Eddie in the other hand shuts his eyes.
The images start to flash throw his brain.
The dead soldiers.
The bombing.
The blood.
The noise.
It won’t go away.
As Eddie slowly falls asleep a small tear down his face.
During the night around 3am.
Buck gets woken by Eddie who’s a twitching mess.
He’s jerking, sweating and crying in his sleep.
Eddie muffles.
“It’s all my fault”
“I’m sorry”
“No, no please”
Buck clocks that Eddies having a nightmare as Buck gentle sits up still holding Eddie in his arms.
He gentle runs his hand through Eddies hair.
Buck: Eddie- baby wake up
Buck: baby it’s just a dream
Eddie wakes up.
Breathing heavy.
His eyes full of tears as he tries to hide them but Buck stops him pulling Eddie into his bare chest.
Buck: Shh shh.. your okay
Eddie brings his face away from Bucks chest as he sits up.
Eddie: mm sorry…I-i didn’t mean to wake you
Buck gentle sits up resting his hand on Eddies leg.
Buck: You have nothing to be sorry for, you were having a nightmare it’s okay
Buck gentle rubs Eddies leg.
Buck: Have you ever..spoken to a therapist about it…the nightmares about the army…?
Eddie looks at Buck.
He has, he knows he has but he doesn’t want to tell Buck.
Cause it’s just so stupid.
But he knows he has to.
Eddie: Ye..they gave me ways to cope..
Buck: Such as baby?
Eddie looks down.
Eddie: Put headphones on to sleep…light music..
Buck: Oh..okay- why didn’t you put them on tonight…
Eddie: Cause it’s embarrassing
Buck: Baby I’m not going to tease you over something that helps you…so please wear them okay, I love you
Eddie: You sure…it won’t uh- bother you?
Buck kisses Eddie.
Buck: Never, go get them please..
Eddie turns his body to his night stand pulling out the black pair of headphones.
Gentle switching them on and grabbing his phone to click the play list.
He gentle puts them on.
Buck nods and smiles as he lays back down.
Letting Eddie lay down next to him.
Eddie lays down, the music playing softly.
As he shuts his eyes and it calms him.
Buck smiles.
They both eventually fall asleep.
Buck happy that Eddie feels safe around Buck to do this.
And Eddie feels safe that he’s with Buck.
-couple weeks later- (eddies house)
Both Buck and Eddie are curled up in bed.
Eddies reading a book and Bucks scrolling in his phone.
Buck looks at Eddie in complete aww.
As he notices and blushes.
Buck notices the time and gentle takes the books from Eddie.
Eddie looks and him.
Buck: Come on it’s 1am we need to sleep
Buck says softly, brushing a bit of hair out of Eddie face.
Buck turns and grabs Eddies headphones offering them to him.
Eddie declines.
Shaking his head.
Eddie: I think..I’ll be okay without them
Buck: You sure??
Eddie: I mean…if you uh- hold me..
Buck smiles putting the headphones down.
Buck: You sure..I can still hold you with them on baby
Eddie: I just want to try without
Buck accepts as he opens his arms.
Eddie lying in them resting his head on Bucks chest.
Buck wrapping his arms around Eddie.
Buck: Night baby, wake me please if you need the headphones okay
Eddie: okay Buck, night
Buck holds Eddie tighter.
As he falls asleep.
Eddie shuts his eyes.
The images of the army starting to flash through his mind but, Bucks gentle rub of his back brings him back to reality.
Bucks soft touches.
Bucks soft hold.
Gently calms Eddie.
As he falls asleep no bother.
Not once did Eddie wake up during the night in a swear and panic from a nightmare.
Cause maybe all he needed was Buck.
Buck to hold him.
Buck to settle him.
And from that point on Buck did.
Buck brought him back to reality.