Something to do with Eddie massaging Buck’s sore leg? 👀
combined with eddie pressing his forehead against buck’s forehead to check if he has a fever
too hot (hot damn) [buck/eddie, T, 1.3k]
The last thing Buck meant to do was fall asleep beforeChristopher during their bimonthly movie night. Still, he wakes up to Eddie gentlyshaking him awake.
“Hey,” hewhispers, his hand halfway between Buck’s neck and shoulder. His fingertipsdrift over Buck’s neck as he shifts closer. “Are you alright?”
“Hm?” Buckmanages. He has to pause, yawning hard enough that it stretches his jaw. “Yeah,‘m fine.”
But Eddie’s fingers only creep higher on Buck’s neck.
“You’re warm,”he says.
The next second he’s leaning perilously close and Buck canfeel his eyes cross as he tries to watch his best friend.
What the hell?
Logically, he knows Eddie isn’t going in for a kiss.
For one thing, there’s never been any indication their relationshipis going to shift that way. Not to mention, Christopher is still on the otherend of the couch.
But still, Eddie is closer than Buck has any logicalexplanation for. He wills himself not to panic or say anything idiotic, lettingit play out instead.
Their heads knock together with a gentle ‘thunk’ and thenEddie rearranges slightly. He doesn’t move any further back though. He justrests his forehead against Buck for a moment that seems unending.
“Yup,” Eddie declares, “you’ve got a fever.”
It’s only then that he sits back.
Buck doesn’t doubt him – he certainly feels overheated.
“You knowthat because of your psychic forehead, Dr. Eddie?”
Eddie only laughs at him, taking a sip of his beer.
“Pro tipfor when you become a dad, checking a fever with your palm will give you afalse positive half the time.”
At that, Buck only feels even more flushed.
“Don’t youhave a thermometer?”
“Why wouldI get all the way up to go get it when I can get an answer right now?”
Buck scoffs but still doesn’t argue the diagnosis.
“Well,thank you. I’ll make sure I stay hydrated.”
“You shouldcrash here,” Eddie says. “That way I can keep an eye on you.”
“Eds-”
“Humor me.”
There’s no point arguing with Eddie when he gets that lookon his face so Buck acquiesces.
In the back of his mind, he acknowledges it will be nice notto wake up alone in his loft.
…
Buck has no concept of time when he wakes up. He’s kickedthe sheet and blanket off of him and his throat is dry.
He reaches out to click on the light beside the bed, sighingin relief when he sees at some point Eddie had left him a glass of water andwhat looks like acetaminophen.
He pulls himself into a half seated position before reachingout to pick up the glass.
Half of it is gone before he even considers the pills. Buckuses his leg to push himself up higher unthinkingly.
His left calf immediately cramps in a powerful charley horsethat steals his breath. His back bows as his free hand reaches down toward thepain.
Water sloshes out of the glass and Buck can’t help a lowgroan of pain.
He can’t reach his calf in his current position and the painis so bad tears are forming in his eyes.
The door opens just as he manages to get the glass back onthe nightstand and Buck’s chest and face heat with embarrassment.
“Buck? What’swrong?”
“C-Calf,”Buck manages.
Eddie doesn’t hesitate, he crawls into the empty side of thebed and lifts Buck’s leg onto his knees.
“I’ve gotyou,” he promises.
Later, Buck thinks he’ll be embarrassed at Eddie seeing himlike this.
Sure, they see each other in the locker room and once in awhile in the showers too – but this is different.
Buck’s leg is ugly and Eddie gets to see it up closeand personal now.
He knows he shouldn’t feel that way about it. The injurycould have ended his career or even his life. He’s damn lucky to be able towalk, run, and work.
Still, he can’t help but lament the shiny, scrunched, pinkskin.
The whole crew had been on that truck and he was the onlyone to get stuck under it.
Eddie’s fingers dig into the meat of Buck’s calf and thefirst press only hurts more.
He hisses to alleviate some of the pain, gritting his teethand forcing himself not to shy away.
Thankfully, Eddie lightens his touch.
The relief is dull but Buck still sighs.
More and more pain leeches away as Eddie silently massagesBuck’s leg. He has the sweetest concentrated frown as he works.
By the time the charley horse is gone Buck’s chest is flutteringwarmly.
“Thanks,”he manages.
“Alright?”
“I’m good.”
Eddie gently lowers Buck’s leg back to the mattress. Hisfingers run down his scar so softly it makes Buck shiver.
His hands move up without warning, rubbing a small circlearound Buck’s kneecap.
Buck almost shivers again.
If Eddie moves onto his thigh…
“Uh, can…can you grab the Tylenol? I was trying to reach it.”
“Yeah,”Eddie agrees.
His hands pause before dropping away from Buck’s leg totally.
He climbs back out of the bed before rounding it.
It’s embarrassingly easy for Eddie to hand off the pills andthen the glass of water when Buck’s ready for it.
“You sureyou’re okay?”
“Yeah.Sorry I woke you.”
“I’m not.”
Eddie grabs the sheet from the foot of the bed and pulls itup, effectively tucking Buck in.
“Too hotfor the cover?”
“Yeah.”
Damn, Buck’s throat is already dry again.
“Morewater?”
“Yeah…”
“You know,it would be easier for me to take care of you if you were in my bed.”
Eddie picks up the empty glass and is out of the room beforeBuck’s managed to come up with any sort of response.
He still hasn’t managed anything when Eddie returns, noteven a fake laugh.
Eddie doesn’t say anything else though, he just hands theglass to him and waits for him to drink as much as he wants before setting iton the nightstand again.
He helps Buck lie down again, even fluffing up his pillowbefore standing back again.
“Feeling any better?”
“Yeah, justtired.”
Eddie leans perilously close again but instead of pressinghis forehead to Buck’s his lips press a kiss there.
“Psychic lips now?” Buck manages to joke.
He can feel the goosebumps on his arms and legs, wonderingif he really is getting any better.
“Justwanted to.”
“Oh.”
The light clicks off.
“Get somerest.”
Buck listens to Eddie walking back around the bed, gettingcloser and closer to the door.
“Um, Eds?”
“Yeah?”
Does he sound hopeful? Is Buck imagining it?
“I knowthis is the guest room but…would you want to sleep in here? Just for tonight?”
The door closes partially, leaving just a sliver of lightfrom the hallway.
“Just for tonight.”
Buck can’t help but smile as the bed dips under Eddie’sweight.
“Just know, if you’re using me for my massage skills – we mayneed to renegotiate in the morning.”
Directly in contradiction to the words, he rests a hand onBuck’s knee under the sheets. His thumb rubs half a circle into Buck’s skin.
Buck huffs a laugh, shivering again at the warmth pulsing offEddie’s skin.
“Magichands, psychic lips, and the most adorable kid I have ever seen in my life? Don’tworry Eds…I’m here for the package deal.”
“You forgota rocking body.”
At that, Buck nearly giggles.
“I couldnever date someone with a better body than me, Eddie. It’s a good thing youhave nothing to worry about.”
I’m getting kicked out bc I’m being a pest but let me just say: I’m a huge loser and having feelings makes me all soft and sappy I can’t believe it. ok bye
