wistful sighs (across phone lines)
[6x08 coda / 597 words]
“So how was the school dance?”
“Hello to you too, Buck,” Eddie responds with an amused laugh.
Buck rolls his eyes, something that doesn’t translate well over a phone call so he adds dryly, “Hello Eddie—how was the school dance? What did Christopher say about it?”
“He said he had fun, but I’m sure the details you can ask him yourself when you come over for dinner tomorrow—honestly I think he tired himself out tonight, he went to bed without any of the attempts at bargaining for just a little more time.”
“Oh, actually, I wanted to ask—are you cool with rescheduling? Maddie and Chim want to give house-hunting another try after Maddie’s shift tomorrow and asked if I could watch Jee Yun again.”
“Babysitting again, huh?” Buck can almost hear the smirk and eyebrow raise in Eddie’s voice. “Sure you’re up for that?”
“I just wasn’t properly prepared the first time, I have baby gates now—and I’ve hidden all the toilet paper.”
Eddie laughs, and the sound brings warmth to Buck’s chest even from across the phone, “we can reschedule dinner—or maybe Chris and I can swing by tomorrow night with food, give you a little relief from dealing with the terrible twos alone—if you want?”
The warmth spreads its way up to Buck’s face, no doubt with it bringing a light blush, he ducks his head to hide it even though he’s completely alone in his apartment. “Uh, yeah, that sounds great, but I’ll warn you—she’s big into throwing things right now, including her food.”
“I kinda missed that stage with Christopher, so I’m pretty sure it’ll be like—karma—if I get food thrown at me by your niece.”
Buck snorts, “Just remember that tomorrow when you’re trying to get mashed potato out of your hair.”
“No mashed potatoes, got it. Any guidelines on the choice of vegetable?”
“Pretty sure Maddie and Chim will drop off food for her again but uh—apparently she’s really into brussels sprouts right now?”
“Oh, so she is related to you after all.”
“I’ll have you know I was a very normal kid who didn’t like eating vegetables and it wasn’t until my twenties that I became the vegetable aficionado that stands before you today.”
“We’re not even in the same zip code right now.” Eddie points out, amusement laced in his voice.
“Semantics.”
There’s a pause, and Buck’s pretty sure that Eddie’s rolling his eyes and he can’t find it in him to care.
“So does like six work for you?”
“Six sounds perfect—they’re gonna drop Jee off around three thirty so hopefully she can tire herself out a little bit before you get here.”
“Is that code for you’re gonna be utterly exhausted?” Eddie teases.
“Shut up,” Buck huffs, grateful for once that he’s alone in his apartment so that no one can see the giant dopey smile on his face, “I’m not the one who fell asleep at the table at the station the other day.”
“It was two am—we were on a twenty-four-hour shift! And I only dozed off for a few minutes.”
“Whatever you say, Diaz.”
Eddie huffs softly, and Buck can almost perfectly picture him shaking his head in that slow, fond manner he does.
When the silence stretches on a little too long for a normal casual phone conversation, Buck glances at the clock on his stove and lets out a little wistful sigh. “I should let you go—before you fall asleep on me again. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Eddie replies, his own voice sounding almost wistful in its softness, “see you tomorrow.”
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