Touches

Processing Nightmares

It'd been almost 4 weeks since Buck had woken up, and Eddie had yet to say anything about their conversation. Not for lack of trying, but it was mostly as if he couldn't get Buck alone.

He didn't blame anyone though, everyone had been shaken after Buck's- accident. Buck had been trying to take it all in, letting everyone hover and check in on him at all hours. But Eddie knew it was bothering him, so it wouldn't be long before Buck just showed up.

He did go see Buck often, anyway. Even if Christopher, or Maddie, Bobby, Hen or Chim were there, he still showed up. He didn't hover, just sitting back while everyone else hovered, Buck tossing him looks as if to say Jesus fucking Christ help.

Eddie would clap a hand on his shoulder, talk about literally anything but what everyone else kept talking about, nudge his knee against Buck's while they sat on the (really fucking terrible) couch Buck's parents had bought him just before returning to Pennsylvania.

Each touch had odd emotions Eddie knew weren't his filling his chest. But why were they only happening when he touched Buck? He'd hugged Christopher, gave Chimney fist bumps, playfully pushed Hen's shoulder, and he never got any weird emotions filling him then.

He didn't know what was going on, so he was just ignoring it. Best thing to do, it's what he's done for basically his whole life with his emotions. Hooray repression!

Eddie was in his kitchen, doing some dishes while Christopher got ready for bed. A knock came at the door, making him frown.

He opened the door and Buck's exhausted and irritated form took up the space. "Hey!" He said cheerfully, Buck holding a hand up. "Please don't ask me how I am," he said bluntly, Eddie raising an eyebrow as he moved inside.

"Okay, you want a beer?" Eddie asked instead and Buck sighed, shrugging and nodding as he collapsed on the couch and kicked his feet up on the table. Eddie didn't comment on it this time, though he knew if he didn't Buck would just keep doing it.

"Probably more than one," Buck sighed, getting comfortable. Eddie smiled amused to himself as he grabbed the beers from his fridge. "Guess all that company wore you out," he commented, cracking the lid on a beer to hand to Buck.

He walked around the corner and found Buck fast asleep, head tilted sideways. His face looked completely relaxed for the first time in ages, Eddie raising an eyebrow with an amused sigh.

He clicked the beers together and shrugged, saying, "Cheers," before taking a drink. He'd get some things done while Buck napped, he looked like he needed it.

A few hours later, he started making a sandwich to snack on. He heard some rustling, glancing up to see Buck getting up slowly, confusion on his face.

"How did I pass out so fast?" He asked confused, Eddie shrugging. "You fell asleep before I even got the beers out of the refrigerator," he said and Buck frowned, looking around a bit.

"Sorry," he mumbled and Eddie waved him off. "Nah, don't worry about it. You still want that beer?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Uh, no, waters fine," he said, still looking disoriented as he sat down at the table. Eddie chuckled, setting his knife down and brushing his hands off.

"Aqua on the way," he said amused, getting a glass and filling it with the pitcher from the fridge. He set it down in front of Buck, getting a soft, "Thanks," and went back to making his sandwich.

"Uh, it's fine if you wanna have a beer," Buck said awkwardly, picking up the glass. Eddie shrugged, picking up the knife. "I already did, both of them," he said and Buck let out a small laugh.