Work Text:
“You ready?” Eddie asked, lifting a brow and levelling him with a look of genuine concern. Buck was concerned about this drive home too. He hoped that the car could hold together long enough to get them home.
“Ready as I’ll ever be” he turned with a sigh and slightly grimaced when he had to lean on the car for support.
Somehow the matching ‘ts’ from the other side of the car made his lips quirk up.
Buck wondered if Eddie and him would be like this in a few years.
Limping, grumbling under their breaths on how much they hated the way their bodies ache and occasionally groaning.
It filled him with a warm feeling that he hadn’t felt since the competition.
…..
The first few hours were okay, they had about six left and Buck was hopeful that the vehicle would survive.
Or that was what he was trying to trick his mind into thinking anyway.
His limbs felt restless as if they couldn’t comprehend that he wasn’t in danger anymore.
They ached in all the wrong ways, his abdomen was determined to keep him awake no matter how tired he got.
He felt every lump of the road and he could see that Eddie did too. The way they had to zig zag the road to avoid the holes added a nauseous feeling to the mixture.
Buck was starting to get overwhelmed.
The more he let himself off guard by closing his eyes the louder his thoughts got.
He understood too late that he was about to vomit, he managed a hoarse “Eddie– I’m gonna- I..” before Eddie was pulling over and running (more like limping quickly) to Buck’s side, lunging the door open and helping Buck out.
Buck’s legs gave out when he started vomiting, Eddie was right beside him, lightly supporting his body while rubbing circles onto his back.
His eyes stung from unshed tears and his body was trembling with every heave.
“Sh, there, let it out, it’s okay” he murmured softly as if Buck wasn’t just puking his guts out.
Then again, Eddie had Chris, so maybe he was used to it.
Buck hated puking, as a child he’d always get scolded for making a mess. Sometimes he was even forced to clean it up afterwards.
It made him feel weak and think back.
Eddie’s reaction was different though - he wasn’t shouting, angry or disappointed and it just made Buck all the more confused and tense.
He didn’t have the energy to think about it, so he didn’t.
Not even when a desperate tear and then another one rolled down his face, racing each other.
He sniffed quietly, making the hand on his back stiffen slightly.
When he was sure he wouldn’t throw up anymore, he felt the exhaustion getting the better of him.
The hand on his back removed itself, Eddie’s body doing the same not a second later.
He went back over to the car, probably. Buck could hear a door being open, some nagging and then the door being slammed closed.
Buck drew his knees to his chest, his arms circling them and his chin soon prompted on them.
He turned away from the place he was in and waited.
He didn’t know what he was expecting really.
First shoes, then Eddie’s face came into view when he crouched at Buck’s side.
“‘m sorry” Buck whispered with an unrecognisable voice. It was shaky, sharp in all the wrong ways.
A hand came to his face, cupping his cheek. Then, a bottle of water was pressed to his lips, forcing him to take a gulp. “Spit it out.” Eddie nudged gently.
Buck listened.
He tried to move away from Eddie, knowing that he didn’t smell the most appetising at the moment but Eddie pulled him back, turning Buck’s face to his with a gentle grip on his chin “Nothing to be sorry about.” He wiped Buck’s cheeks tear free tenderly. “It’s okay.” His soft voice called out.
Eddie hauled him to his feet when Buck started to look like he’d fall asleep at any moment. “Come on bud, time to take a nap.”
Once Buck was seated, Eddie took his hoodie off, offering it to Buck as a pillow. He fastened Buck’s seatbelt and closed the car door quietly.
Eddie sat back in the drivers seat, buckled his seatbelt, closed the door and glanced back at Buck.
He was leaning against the slightly open window, just enough to keep a breeze fresh air - his head was buried in Eddie’s hoodie.
Buck felt a strong feeling of safety overwhelm him, it embraced him, holding his thoughts away.
Keeping him safe.
His left hand was laying limply at his side, the right one hugging his abdomen. They were still shaking but Eddie could tell it wasn’t from cold.
He still turned on the ac, just in case and hesitantly linked their pinkies, offering a small comfort.
He hoped it would be enough, fairly soon he could hear light snores.
Eddie felt his lips tuck up, relief taking over his whole body.
And if he tried to drive the same speed the rest of the ride, so he wouldn’t have to move his hand from Buck’s to shift gears, nobody talked about it.