Ficlet: Breathe You In
Author: rivlee
Fandom: The Pacific/HBO War
Title: Breathe You In
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Andy, Eddie. Andy/Eddie.
Summary: Andy isn't where he ought to be. Part of the Nashville verse.
Disclaimer: This is all fiction based off the characters as portrayed in the HBO mini-series. No disrespect or harm is meant or intended.
A/N: Unbeated.
Andy looked up from his stack of bills and invoices to find Eddie standing in the doorway of their office. Allison’s didn’t open for another three hours and the crew wouldn’t arrive for another two. Eddie should’ve been home sleeping in their bed with Bocephus at the end, right where Andy left him.
“Eddie, I respect your rituals before starting a set, but five hours early is a little excessive.”
Eddie rolled his eyes and sauntered into the office with all the cool confidence that came with a man grown comfortable in his own skin. He always seemed so self-assured and Andy knew it was a trait others admired in him. They didn’t see the Eddie that gripped his hair in frustration and cursed God seven different ways because he wasn’t back at the family homestead when something went down. They didn’t see the monster in the morning who didn’t become human until his first cup of coffee. They didn’t see Eddie the way only Andy did or could.
“I could’ve sworn before we went to bed last night you promised to take the morning off,” Eddie said. He raised an eyebrow at the stacks of paper surrounding the desk. “You’re a liar, Mr. Haldane.”
Andy laughed low as he leaned back to accept Eddie onto his lap. He knew the chair would hold them; he’d built it himself. Warm hands palmed the back of his neck and he met those teasing lips in a brief kiss. He could taste a hint of hot chocolate there.
“You stopped by Mae’s and didn’t bring me anything,” he accused.
“Those who sneak out of bed don’t get hot chocolate made by the gods,” Eddie chastised.
“I said I’d work from home this morning,” Andy clarified.
Eddie raised a brow. “Andrew Allison Haldane, I know we’re here for multiple hours a day, but this sure as shit ain’t our home. Not our real one. Not the one where you’re supposed to be since you’re recovering from walking pneumonia because you’re a jackass who doesn’t listen to his husband when he tells you to keep your contagious behind in bed where it belongs.”
Andy Haldane was a grown-ass man who did not pout. He did get petulant though. “I never finished getting the rest of our documents copied so I couldn’t work from home. I can’t work on the business’ taxes without all the invoices.”
Eddie shook his head. “It’s the second week of January, dumbass; you’re not supposed to be working on taxes at all.” He gripped the back of Andy’s neck. “Please let me drive you home, so you can go back to bed and gets some proper rest. It’ll do wonder for my nerves.”
“Your nerves are made of titanium,” Andy said.
“Not when it comes to you,” Eddie said. “My hands were shaking the whole way down here, and not in the good way.”
Andy tried to look anywhere that wasn’t Eddie’s face. He knew he scared the hell out of him when he’d blacked out from fever and dehydration. It was a damn good thing it happened here in the bar and not out at the house where they were at least a solid hour from a hospital. He was feeling much better now, but hell, he knew if the roles were reversed he would be acting twelve times worse. It was a testament to how well they knew each other; Andy wouldn’t give into demands, but pleading was another thing entirely.
He slightly nodded in agreement.
Eddie released a shuddery breath and muttered, “Thank you, Jesus.”
*****************
Bocephus was waiting for them at the door. He nearly knocked Andy over when they were inside before thundering up the stairs to get whatever sock, ball, or frisbee had struck his fancy this week. Andy sat down on the couch and admitted to himself that maybe he wasn’t feeling as well as he thought. A cold glass of water pressed itself against his forehead and he opened his eyes to find Eddie staring down at him.
“I’m good,” he promised.
“Drink,” Eddie insisted.
Andy took the cup and watched as Eddie went about the living room digging out extra blankets, pillows, and stacks of dvds.
“I see my day’s been set for me,” Andy said.
Eddie slid in next to him. “I’m going to personally make sure you get a day of rest, even though you’re feeling better. I know you. The second I leave, you’ll try to do something stupid like rewire the attic.”
“You’ve got to leave for your set,” Andy said.
“I most certainly do not,” Eddie argued. “As my own boss, I can decide when and where I play. Just because I always play Thursday afternoons, doesn’t mean I’m required to do so. Mike’s got the opening of the bar covered for us; Ray agreed to come in early to make sure the soundboard is working; Snafu agreed to take my set. It’ll be a treat for our regulars.”
“How did you swing that and how much do we owe for it?”
“Snaf’s doing us a favor while also getting a chance to try out his new material without having to deal with all the major label execs crowding him. He gets to be regular old Merriell Shelton performing at a hole-in-the-wall while reliving the simpler times he misses.” Eddie patted Andy’s leg. “Stop worrying about possible loss of profits from his band drinking on our tab and if the crowd will violate the fire code. There is nothing you can do about if from this couch.”
That was his Eddie; always there with a back-up plan when Andy didn’t realize he’d even need one.
He wrapped his fingers in the curls of Eddie’s hair and kissed his forehead. “All my stubbornness aside to get better by will, I appreciate you taking care of and putting up with me.”
“I appreciate you giving me the privilege of growing old with you.” Eddie dragged his thumb over the laugh lines on Andy’s face. “These are some of the most precious things in the world to me.”
“Charmer,” Andy said before he kissed Eddie’s fingers.
Eddie leaned over him, boxing him in with arms on either side of Andy’s head and looked down. It was that deep, focused look that had stolen Andy’s breath ever since he first witnessed this man on the stage.
“You look like you’re thinking,” Andy said.
Eddie nodded. “I am. I think back on what I was like as a young man; my goals and dreams when I was still a snotty-nosed kid trying to figure out chord progressions. I remember those years where playing a song and getting off with a pretty boy were all I claimed to need. Then this son-of-a-bitch from Massachusetts just strolled on into my life and changed it all. You made me want more than the basics I told myself were all I needed. You made me be selfish in a completely different way I never expected to find. So, do me a favor and try not to give me a heart attack the next time you’re sick.”
Andy could’ve played it off with a snide remark or a mock salute, but this was Eddie’s genuine concern and that was something precious never to be trifled. He just lifted his arms up and rested them on the small of Eddie’s back. It was all that needed to be said, the grin over Eddie’s face telling all. He carefully lowered his weight onto Andy’s body, flawlessly fitting into all the spaces and slots between them. More than love was required to get through life, but days like this, Andy liked to believe Eddie was all he needed.
Fandom: The Pacific/HBO War
Title: Breathe You In
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Andy, Eddie. Andy/Eddie.
Summary: Andy isn't where he ought to be. Part of the Nashville verse.
Disclaimer: This is all fiction based off the characters as portrayed in the HBO mini-series. No disrespect or harm is meant or intended.
A/N: Unbeated.
Andy looked up from his stack of bills and invoices to find Eddie standing in the doorway of their office. Allison’s didn’t open for another three hours and the crew wouldn’t arrive for another two. Eddie should’ve been home sleeping in their bed with Bocephus at the end, right where Andy left him.
“Eddie, I respect your rituals before starting a set, but five hours early is a little excessive.”
Eddie rolled his eyes and sauntered into the office with all the cool confidence that came with a man grown comfortable in his own skin. He always seemed so self-assured and Andy knew it was a trait others admired in him. They didn’t see the Eddie that gripped his hair in frustration and cursed God seven different ways because he wasn’t back at the family homestead when something went down. They didn’t see the monster in the morning who didn’t become human until his first cup of coffee. They didn’t see Eddie the way only Andy did or could.
“I could’ve sworn before we went to bed last night you promised to take the morning off,” Eddie said. He raised an eyebrow at the stacks of paper surrounding the desk. “You’re a liar, Mr. Haldane.”
Andy laughed low as he leaned back to accept Eddie onto his lap. He knew the chair would hold them; he’d built it himself. Warm hands palmed the back of his neck and he met those teasing lips in a brief kiss. He could taste a hint of hot chocolate there.
“You stopped by Mae’s and didn’t bring me anything,” he accused.
“Those who sneak out of bed don’t get hot chocolate made by the gods,” Eddie chastised.
“I said I’d work from home this morning,” Andy clarified.
Eddie raised a brow. “Andrew Allison Haldane, I know we’re here for multiple hours a day, but this sure as shit ain’t our home. Not our real one. Not the one where you’re supposed to be since you’re recovering from walking pneumonia because you’re a jackass who doesn’t listen to his husband when he tells you to keep your contagious behind in bed where it belongs.”
Andy Haldane was a grown-ass man who did not pout. He did get petulant though. “I never finished getting the rest of our documents copied so I couldn’t work from home. I can’t work on the business’ taxes without all the invoices.”
Eddie shook his head. “It’s the second week of January, dumbass; you’re not supposed to be working on taxes at all.” He gripped the back of Andy’s neck. “Please let me drive you home, so you can go back to bed and gets some proper rest. It’ll do wonder for my nerves.”
“Your nerves are made of titanium,” Andy said.
“Not when it comes to you,” Eddie said. “My hands were shaking the whole way down here, and not in the good way.”
Andy tried to look anywhere that wasn’t Eddie’s face. He knew he scared the hell out of him when he’d blacked out from fever and dehydration. It was a damn good thing it happened here in the bar and not out at the house where they were at least a solid hour from a hospital. He was feeling much better now, but hell, he knew if the roles were reversed he would be acting twelve times worse. It was a testament to how well they knew each other; Andy wouldn’t give into demands, but pleading was another thing entirely.
He slightly nodded in agreement.
Eddie released a shuddery breath and muttered, “Thank you, Jesus.”
*****************
Bocephus was waiting for them at the door. He nearly knocked Andy over when they were inside before thundering up the stairs to get whatever sock, ball, or frisbee had struck his fancy this week. Andy sat down on the couch and admitted to himself that maybe he wasn’t feeling as well as he thought. A cold glass of water pressed itself against his forehead and he opened his eyes to find Eddie staring down at him.
“I’m good,” he promised.
“Drink,” Eddie insisted.
Andy took the cup and watched as Eddie went about the living room digging out extra blankets, pillows, and stacks of dvds.
“I see my day’s been set for me,” Andy said.
Eddie slid in next to him. “I’m going to personally make sure you get a day of rest, even though you’re feeling better. I know you. The second I leave, you’ll try to do something stupid like rewire the attic.”
“You’ve got to leave for your set,” Andy said.
“I most certainly do not,” Eddie argued. “As my own boss, I can decide when and where I play. Just because I always play Thursday afternoons, doesn’t mean I’m required to do so. Mike’s got the opening of the bar covered for us; Ray agreed to come in early to make sure the soundboard is working; Snafu agreed to take my set. It’ll be a treat for our regulars.”
“How did you swing that and how much do we owe for it?”
“Snaf’s doing us a favor while also getting a chance to try out his new material without having to deal with all the major label execs crowding him. He gets to be regular old Merriell Shelton performing at a hole-in-the-wall while reliving the simpler times he misses.” Eddie patted Andy’s leg. “Stop worrying about possible loss of profits from his band drinking on our tab and if the crowd will violate the fire code. There is nothing you can do about if from this couch.”
That was his Eddie; always there with a back-up plan when Andy didn’t realize he’d even need one.
He wrapped his fingers in the curls of Eddie’s hair and kissed his forehead. “All my stubbornness aside to get better by will, I appreciate you taking care of and putting up with me.”
“I appreciate you giving me the privilege of growing old with you.” Eddie dragged his thumb over the laugh lines on Andy’s face. “These are some of the most precious things in the world to me.”
“Charmer,” Andy said before he kissed Eddie’s fingers.
Eddie leaned over him, boxing him in with arms on either side of Andy’s head and looked down. It was that deep, focused look that had stolen Andy’s breath ever since he first witnessed this man on the stage.
“You look like you’re thinking,” Andy said.
Eddie nodded. “I am. I think back on what I was like as a young man; my goals and dreams when I was still a snotty-nosed kid trying to figure out chord progressions. I remember those years where playing a song and getting off with a pretty boy were all I claimed to need. Then this son-of-a-bitch from Massachusetts just strolled on into my life and changed it all. You made me want more than the basics I told myself were all I needed. You made me be selfish in a completely different way I never expected to find. So, do me a favor and try not to give me a heart attack the next time you’re sick.”
Andy could’ve played it off with a snide remark or a mock salute, but this was Eddie’s genuine concern and that was something precious never to be trifled. He just lifted his arms up and rested them on the small of Eddie’s back. It was all that needed to be said, the grin over Eddie’s face telling all. He carefully lowered his weight onto Andy’s body, flawlessly fitting into all the spaces and slots between them. More than love was required to get through life, but days like this, Andy liked to believe Eddie was all he needed.