training wheels. // evan 'buck' buckley

xv. drunk reconciliation

eddie watched with a mix of amusement and concern as i slumped against him, the remnants of a wild night etched into my tear-streaked makeup. with a chuckle, eddie tried to lighten the mood, holding out the cup of water and a couple of aspirin tablets.

“alright, time to drink some water and take some medicine,” he said, the humor in his tone failing to disguise his genuine concern.

i groaned, a low, melodramatic sound that would have been comical under different circumstances. eddie knew i was not at my most graceful when drunk - if i took the cup, water would likely end up all over me, and if i got the aspirin, there was a good chance it would be lost in my chaotic state.

he couldn’t help but chuckle at my reaction. “seriously, you’re acting like a stubborn child right now,” he remarked, his eyebrows raised as he held out the water. “come on, don’t make me argue with you.”

i whimpered in protest but did as i were told, opening my mouth. eddie’s laughter softened into a more affectionate smile as he dropped the aspirin tablets into my mouth and tilted the cup to my lips.

“there you go,” he encouraged. “just take a few sips. it’s not going to solve everything, but it’ll help.”

despite the way i were whining and resisting, eddie was used to this routine. he knew it was a part of caring for me when i'd overindulged, though he’d never seen me quite this far gone before. as i managed to drink a few sips, he placed the cup back on the table and looked down at me, his gaze softening.

he glanced at the rag on the table and the streaks of mascara still marring my face. i looked like i had been crying my eyes out, but eddie had more immediate concerns. the liquor still in my system needed to be dealt with before anything else. gently, he cupped my chin in his hands, tilting my face upwards so he could clean me up properly.

taking the damp rag, eddie started wiping away the traces of my tears. the action was tender, almost fatherly. i looked up at him with a small, grateful smile, my voice muffled and childlike as i said, “thanks, eddie.”

his heart warmed at the way i said his name, like a little kid talking to their parent. it was a stark contrast to my usual demeanor, and he found it endearing despite the situation. “you’re welcome,” he replied, his voice gentle as he continued his task.

as he worked, eddie couldn’t help but notice the shift in my demeanor. the frantic energy of moments ago had given way to a more subdued, almost serene state. when he finished, he leaned back and looked at me with a slight smile. “there you go. much better.”

i blinked up at him and then looked towards buck, who had been sitting at a distance, awkwardly observing the scene. “can i have a hug from buck too?” i asked, my voice tinged with the sort of innocence only drunkenness could bring. “we stopped fighting.”

eddie rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at buck. buck, who had been trying to give me and eddie space, was caught off guard by my request. it was almost amusing how easily i seemed to move past the argument, though buck’s feelings about it were far from resolved.

“yeah, sure,” buck said reluctantly, standing up and moving toward me. his tone was hesitant, but he was willing to give in. “of course.”

as eddie stepped aside, buck approached me with a slight awkwardness. i were still sitting on the couch, and he crouched down in front of me, clearly unsure how to handle the situation. i leaned forward, practically collapsing into his embrace and wrapping my arms around his neck. buck took a deep breath, holding me as i nestled into him.

despite the strange position - buck crouched in front of me while i was half-sitting, half-lying on the couch - there was something oddly comforting about the moment. buck’s arms tightened around me, and he gently patted my back. “you getting tired, huh?”