Work Text:
Eddie gave Buck his pills and a cup of water before he went to bed. He watched as Buck tossed and turned underneath the sheets, trying to get comfortable. It took a little while, but he did end up falling asleep after a long couple of minutes.
Eddie’s sitting in the chair next to the bed. He scooted the chair a little closer as Buck fell asleep. Feeling the urge to be closer to him. He told himself it was so he could make sure Buck was alright.
Eddie’s on his phone, mindlessly scrolling when he hears Buck shuffling. Eddie looks up to see Buck under the covers, shaking.
Eddie stands up from the chair and moves towards the bed. He pulls the covers over Buck’s frame, hoping that it helps him.
After covering him with the comforter, the shaking does calm a bit. He’s still shivering though.
Eddie’s just about to leave the room to go and fetch some more blankets for Buck.
“Eddie?” Buck asks, his eyes still shut.
“Yeah, I'm here.” Eddie turns away from the door to look at him.
“Where are you going?” He says groggily, his eyes squinting.
“Just to get you some more blankets.” Eddie says with his hand on the knob of the door.
“No.”
“Buck, you’re shivering.”
“I know. Can you just—” He does a hand movement that looks like he’s telling Eddie to come here.
Eddie rounds the bed and sits back in the chair at Buck’s bedside. He scoots the chair as close as possible. It’s still not close enough.
“No—” Buck reaches his hand out searching for Eddie, his eyes barely open. “Here. With me.”
“Buck—”
“Please?” Buck pleads, “I don’t need blankets, just you.” Buck mumbles. “I just need you.”
Eddie lets out a breath of air. “Okay…” He gets up out of the chair, slides into the bed next to Buck and lies on his back.
Buck immediately migrates to Eddie, he puts an arm around Eddie’s waist, hikes his legs over Eddie’s, lies his head on Eddie’s chest, and the shivering just stops.
Eddie thinks about placing his hand on Buck’s back. But...wouldn’t that be too much?
Eddie pushes away the overwhelming thoughts and gives in to what he feels is natural.
He slowly raises his hand and puts it on Buck’s back, running his fingers up and down. Buck lets out a hum and relaxes into Eddie more.
“Better?” Eddie whispers, still moving his fingers up and down Buck’s back.
“Mhm.” And just like that, Buck falls back asleep.
The last thing Buck remembers before going to sleep is taking the pills that Eddie gave him.
He does remember being very cold throughout the night, but a while later he felt a warmth that made him feel better, more comfortable and relaxed.
Buck sank into that feeling, that comfort, because it felt good. It felt right.
He wishes he could feel that way every night.
When Buck wakes up, he still feels that same warmth, that same comfort.
There’s not much light in his room so it must be really early. He doesn’t hear any movement from the living room where the others are either.
Buck looks down to see an arm around his waist. He was so focused on trying to figure out who was in his bed with him he barely registered the movement behind him.
Buck freezes. Eddie was the one who was watching him last night. So, it would make sense that Eddie is the person in his bed.
Eddie is the person who is currently spooning him.
Buck tries to leave Eddie’s grasp so he can make this situation a little less awkward for the both of them.
As soon as Buck tries to move, he’s restricted by Eddie pulling him back in place, holding him in place against his chest. “Mmm, No. Stop.”
“Eddie…”
“Couple more minutes, please?” Eddie says groggily, smushing his face into the back of Buck’s neck.
It feels so domestic. Like this is something that they normally do, it’s not, Buck wishes it was.
He knows he shouldn’t think of Eddie that way, he’s straight, but how can he not? They are literally spooning.
“Okay.” Buck whispers, sinking into Eddie’s warmth, because he’s allowed to?
Buck decides not to over think this. Eddie didn’t seem uncomfortable, so he isn’t either, he leans into Eddie’s hold.
About thirty minutes later is when Eddie starts to stir. He moves his head out of Buck’s neck, his chest still pressing against Buck’s back. Eddie’s arm somehow found its way underneath Buck’s shirt but still around his waist.
“Mornin’” Eddie grumbles, his arm tightening around Buck’s waist.
Buck clears his throat, “Good morning, sleep well?” He turns until he’s laid down on his back.
Eddie’s hand rests on Buck’s stomach, still underneath his shirt. He glides his thumb up and down.
“Better than I have in a long time. How’d you sleep?” Eddie asks, his head laid on the pillow beneath him, looking at Buck’s side profile.
“I was a little cold at first but…” Buck looks over at Eddie.
“Yeah, I saw.”
“So you…warmed me up yourself?”
“Yeah, I mean, you asked me to.” Eddie smirks while still moving his thumb around Buck’s stomach.
“I did?” Eddie nods, “Ugh, that’s so embarrassing.” Buck runs his hands down his face. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“Buck, do I look uncomfortable?”
Buck looks down at where Eddie’s arm rests on his stomach, the thumb still swiping back and forth. “I guess not.” Buck says when his gaze meets Eddie’s again.
“Quite the opposite I would say.” Eddie shuffles closer to Buck, pressing his face into the side of Buck’s neck.
“You’re really clingy when you’re tired.”
“Yeah, or maybe it’s just you.” Eddie rubs his nose at Buck’s neck.
Buck is so very confused. This has never happened before. Eddie isn’t this touchy. Usually, it’s a hand on the shoulder or a knee bump, but this is…irregular.
“Just me?” Buck finally replies.
“Mhm.” Eddie takes a deep breath in.
“Did you just…smell me?” Buck moves his head back a little.
“I guess so.” Eddie shrugs.
“You guess so… Eddie, what is happening? I’m so confused.”
“Well, right now we’re laying in bed.” Eddie raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, but like…why are you being so touchy?”
The thumb on Buck’s stomach stops, he can feel Eddie’s whole body tense up at his words. “Uh… Sorry, I just thought… I’ll stop.”
Eddie tries to slowly retract his arm, but Buck stops him and holds it in place.
“I don’t want you to stop, I just want to know why. I don’t want to read this the wrong way. I—I love you and I don’t want to lose you or Chris—”
“Buck what? …I love you too, you’re—”
“Maybe but…you don’t love me the same way I love you.” Buck says, looking up at the ceiling.
“You’re wrong.” Eddie takes Buck’s hand, causing him to face him. “You’re so wrong.”
“Eddie…”
Eddie leans over until their lips make contact. Buck freezes, Eddie moves back. “Sorry—I thought—I’m so sorry—”
“Eddie. You—you’re straight.” Buck blinks at him and sits up.
“Buck, I…I love you. I think I have been in love with you for a long time, and I don’t know when I realized it, but I should’ve known. I should’ve known years ago.”
“But I—you’re straight.”
“Buck, I just confessed my love to you, I kissed you and still think I’m straight?”
“Well, you didn’t exactly tell me anything different.”
“I didn’t know I had to reiterate it but I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am specifically but… I know that I love you, I know that you love my son as if he were your own and I know that I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
“Eddie—”
“I really want to kiss you.”
“Okay.”
“You gonna freeze on me again?” Eddie slightly tilts his head.
“Shut up.” Buck playfully hits Eddie’s chest.
Eddie smiles into the kiss. Buck’s hands find Eddie’s waist. Eddie’s hands are on Bucks neck as they both sink back into the mattress.
Buck craves more, he needs to be closer, and it seems like Eddie wants that as well because he pulls Buck towards him, making Buck lay down on top of him. Neither of them breaks the kiss as they move in synchronization.
“Buck? Eddie? We bought—” Maddie opens Buck’s bedroom door. “Oh!”
Buck snaps out the kiss and looks towards the door. “Maddie—I—we—”
“None of my business, um…breakfast. There’s breakfast in the kitchen whenever you're done…with whatever you’re doing.” Maddie backs out of the door and shuts it as quickly as possible.
“We were just kissing!” Buck yells, not realizing that everyone could’ve heard him. He slaps his hand over his mouth. “Shit, sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Eddie lowers Buck’s hand and gives him a quick kiss. “Now everyone knows your mine.”
“Mmm, possessive much?”
“Is that possessive?” Eddie trails kisses down Buck’s jaw. “You are mine, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know, you haven’t exactly asked me to be your boyfriend.” Buck turns his head to Eddie, stopping his kisses in the process.
Eddie shifts to look into Buck’s eyes. “Evan Buckley, will you be my boyfriend?”
“Yeah, okay.” Buck smiles, leaning in to give Eddie another kiss.