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It was something Buck still wasn't used to. He loved it. Absolutely no doubt about that. But he still wasn't quite used to it.
It had started on that first (bad) date. Tommy had moved past him and casually put a hand on his lower back. It was a gesture of ‘I'm moving behind you, don't be startled’ that Buck had appreciated. The touch had also made his skin tingle in a pleasantly anticipatory way. Which had made Tommy leaving just moments later hurt worse.
The touches continued later as they continued dating. Tommy would take his hand or wrap an arm around his hip to pull him closer or walk with their shoulders pressed together. When they were in the kitchen together, Tommy would put a hand on his shoulder or lower back or a hip to warn Buck when he was moving around his space.
Then there were the kisses. When they spent the night together, Tommy would press a kiss to his forehead or his temple before they fell asleep. If one dropped the other off at work, Tommy would cup Buck's jaw and gently pull him in for a soft kiss. When they were on a hike, holding hands because they liked being connected, Tommy would lift their joined hands to his mouth to press a kiss to the back of Buck's hand.
He loved it.
In relationships, Buck was often the one doing the casual touches. He was often the one showing affection to his partner without thinking about it. He was the one taking care of his partner. It still felt strange to be on the receiving end. Strange and exhilarating. He understood now why his girlfriends in the past had always loved it. Had often blushed. He found himself blushing at times with the way Tommy just touched him without even seeming to think about it.
So Buck decided to return the favor. He let himself touch Tommy when walking past him sitting on the couch. Just skating his fingers over Tommy's shoulders. The first time he did it, the motion brought him a pleased smile mixed with a little surprise. And that was when Buck realized that, much like himself, Tommy was used to being the one initiating casual touch.
So Buck continued. Every time Tommy put a hand on his shoulder or back as he passed by him in the kitchen, Buck would reach out and squeeze his wrist. When they were on a date or just spending time together, Buck would make an effort to reach for Tommy's hand first more often. When they dropped each other off at work, when Tommy leaned in for the kiss, Buck would wrap his fingers around Tommy's wrist and hold his hand against his jaw.
It became something both did unthinkingly. If they were together, they were touching in some way. It was so comfortable and automatic that even the gentle ribbing from their friends and family didn't make them stop. In fact, the warmth and connection they felt outweighed everything.
It was one of the things Buck missed most when they broke up.
It was also one of the first things Buck started doing again when they got back together.