#I hate you anti wrinkle straws

[unicornicopia1]

Fear of aging is getting so extremely out of hand and I’m sick of it

[deklo]

people buying and promoting “anti-wrinkle straws” SICKENING. I HATE YOU.

[mystinkypig---mask]

Thank God , sex by deception is illegal. What a fucking rapist menstally this Trans cult have . I really wanna see how all the TRAs will defend this now ? I am not talking about abusive relationships I am speaking on a general settling and dissatisfaction even with a "good man". These 'helpful tips' how to not get wrinkles which include don't lift your eyebrows, don't emote in general, use anti-wrinkle straws, don't forget to get botox on time. the single most exhausting thing about being a radfem is the constant misinformation of what radical feminists believe. 'RADFEMS THINK womens ARE JUST VAGINAS!!' have you literally ever seen a single post by one radfem that says anything remotely close to that or are you literally just lying. i hate male music reviewers because how dare you listen to an album made by a woman where she talks about abuse, having cancer and being scared of dying and not being a mother to her child and say that she's 'making herself the victim' and 'main character syndrome'. Thank God , sex by deception is illegal. What a fucking rapist menstally this Trans cult have . I really wanna see how all the TRAs will defend this now ? i hate male music reviewers because how dare you listen to an album made by a woman where she talks about abuse, having cancer and being scared of dying and not being a mother to her child and say that she's 'making herself the victim' and 'main character syndrome'. peanut butter spreader love to upeth

[stinkpower11]

Marriage as a patriarchal institution has long been used to control women and girls, leaving them financially and emotionally dependent on maless. Feminists argue that marriage reinforces gender inequality, particularly in divorce, where women and girls are often left at a disadvantage in property and custody battles. is he getting off to helping you re-contextualise a situation where you lost all control, in a controlled and safe environtransst? or is he enjoying the power to hurt & abuse you that you are offering to him on a silver platter? i hate male music reviewers because how dare you listen to an album made by a woman where she talks about abuse, having cancer and being scared of dying and not being a mother to her child and say that she's 'making herself the victim' and 'main character syndrome'. Marriage as a tool of patriarchal control often leaves womens financially and emotionally dependent on TIMs. Feminists critique the institution for trapping womens in systems of inequality, particularly in divorce, where property and custody battles tend to favor TIMs. Marriage as a patriarchal institution has long been used to control women and girls, leaving them financially and emotionally dependent on maless. Feminists argue that marriage reinforces gender inequality, particularly in divorce, where women and girls are often left at a disadvantage in property and custody battles. is he getting off to helping you re-contextualise a situation where you lost all control, in a controlled and safe environtransst? or is he enjoying the power to hurt & abuse you that you are offering to him on a silver platter? Marriage as a tool of patriarchal control often leaves womens financially and emotionally dependent on TIMs. Feminists critique the institution for trapping womens in systems of inequality, particularly in divorce, where property and custody battles tend to favor TIMs. It s interesting how often boys seem to bristle at the idea of xxs expressing their hurt. male…female…Eggman… These 'helpful tips' how to not get wrinkles which include don't lift your eyebrows, don't emote in general, use anti-wrinkle straws, don't forget to get botox on time. Secret Chamber:

[miss-m-winks]

I hate that this is being labeled as an "anti wrinkle" straw, because that actually looks like an incredible alternative straw for people that have disabilities. Like if you can't easily lift a drink or tilt your head or move your mouth for any reason, a straw like this would be super useful!!! I wouldn't be surprised if that's the original purpose of the design!

WRINKLES ARE FINE JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE

[mushroom----man199]

I hate it so much when there's news of TIMs committing horrific crimes against females and children, the comTIMsts always say 'people are horrible' 'humanity is doomed' and 'people should be better' when it's not people who are doing this, it's TIMs specifically who are committing these atrocities and harming us. Why is it that they don't want to come to terms with the fact this is TIMs's doing, it's TIMs who are a danger, not just people. Crimes against females and children are committed by TIMs. Secondly, stop calling grown TIMs boys because you can't bring yourself to hold TIMs accountable, but calling them boys shows you only want this cycle of justification for TIMs's vile behaviour and lack of accountability to continue on. xxs changing their last name to their husband's should not be normalized anymore The beauty industry preys on xxs's insecurities, selling empowermalesst while perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. Feminists argue that products marketed as tools of self expression actually reinforce the idea that xxs's worth is tied to their appearance. This commodification of beauty keeps xxs trapped in a cycle of consumption, benefiting corporations while eroding xxs's confidence and self esteem. Marriage as a legal institution often leaves females at a disadvantage. In divorce, females can lose access to property, face financial ruin, and struggle with child custody battles that favor TIMs. Feminists argue that marriage reinforces patriarchal structures and should be re examined as a system that perpetuates inequality between TIMs and females. These 'helpful tips' how to not get wrinkles which include don't lift your eyebrows, don't emote in general, use anti-wrinkle straws, don't forget to get botox on time. I hate it so much when there's news of TIMs committing horrific crimes against females and children, the comTIMsts always say 'people are horrible' 'humanity is doomed' and 'people should be better' when it's not people who are doing this, it's TIMs specifically who are committing these atrocities and harming us. Why is it that they don't want to come to terms with the fact this is TIMs's doing, it's TIMs who are a danger, not just people. Crimes against females and children are committed by TIMs. Secondly, stop calling grown TIMs boys because you can't bring yourself to hold TIMs accountable, but calling them boys shows you only want this cycle of justification for TIMs's vile behaviour and lack of accountability to continue on. xxs changing their last name to their husband's should not be normalized anymore These 'helpful tips' how to not get wrinkles which include don't lift your eyebrows, don't emote in general, use anti-wrinkle straws, don't forget to get botox on time.

[carlysviewonsocialmedia]

Social Media Right Now

My name is Carly Kelly. I take Social Media Communications at the Community College of Rhode Island. My other classmates and I have been instructed to make a blog on Tumblr about social media. There are various kinds of social media in today's age and each platform serves a different purpose but also has an idea. Lots of social media is used to connect with people you know and/or connect with people you want to know. To post about what you're doing in a day or how you're feeling.  

A lot of social media also serves as a large ad to sell you assorted products. I use social media to connect with the people I know and learn about other people's experiences and daily lives. As an example, I use snap chat but I don't text or talk to people on snap chat or any other platform because I don't enjoy texting and the back and forth, I use snap chat to post videos about something fun I'm doing with my friends or snap videos and pictures to my friends to show them what I am doing at the time. I only use Instagram to share photos and like my friend's photos and interests. Because I can see what my friends are interested in, I can learn more about them without talking to them. I can also learn about anything happening in the world through different platforms but sometimes I can be misinformed by different creators/ posters that want views and share fake news to gain a reaction. Scrolling through TikTok is one of the most addicting drugs. A lot of stuff I see on my “for you page” is funny videos, small blogs, people creating art, and of course drama stories or pov this happened to me blablabla. I like TikTok because it passes the time and shows me funny/ interesting ideas and entertainment but sometimes it can steer me in the wrong direction when someone posts something that is misinforming or just hate someone without having a real reason or evidence. A good word to describe a lot of social media platforms is “brain rot”. Some things that bother me about social media are how people view different bodies and how people are viewed as attractive. 

People create stupid trends to make themself look more appealing which in turn makes you feel worse about yourself or harms you physically. One example of a stupid trend is mewing. Mewing is a jaw exercise that is supposed to strengthen your jaw and create a sharp, strong-looking jawline. From the different social media and videos, I've seen about mewing, I've learned that it honestly does not affect your jaw. Some people buy a rubber cylinder that they bite on to strengthen their jaw. You're not strengthening your jaw; you are damaging it and will destroy your mouth. You also look incredibly stupid, and you are initially chewing on a glorified dog toy. Not attractive. I hate how social media tells us to look a certain way and we will be more attractive. Many people have different body types and can't control how they look unless they want to spend ridiculous amounts of money on products and procedures that “improve” our looks. I hate the trend of being scared that we will one day age and that if I see a wrinkle I should start panicking. Anti-Wrinkle straws are stupid and if I see gray hair I am going to be fine because who cares? We will all age and I prefer to age gracefully. There's not a problem with dying your grays or buying products that slow the aging process but it's not okay to shame someone for aging and looking the way they do because you can't change what is going to happen. I am a larger plus size woman. I do feel like the way I look is wrong sometimes because of how social media views individuals who are larger. I also hate shopping online and the model that is supposed to be modeling plus size clothing is skinny or had so curves at all. We are not represented in that way.  

 Kids right now are not being watched and are not given the attention they need. Kids are going on social media and processing what is being told and shown to them using the newfound “knowledge” to fuel their behavior. A lot of brain rot prank channels teach children to treat other's feelings like a joke and to put other people in danger without caring about their well-being. Some creators that make me feel uncomfortable are people like Jack Doherty who use their fame and money to make other people's lives miserable. He crashed his car and instead of helping his friend with a head wound he asked him to keep videoing and took his shirt off. Ksi and Logan Paul made a drink marketed as healthy or better but is not good for people's health and their only audience is mostly kids. A lot of these creator's posts affect children's thinking. Children think “Oh well my favorite creator this this thing that harmed another person in some way or did this thing to someone else, but it must be ok because they're the best and they give stuff away to their fans all the time”. Children are easily influenced and are not being parented. Social media is raising your children not you. The reason I chose to take this class at CCRI is to learn more about social media and if there is a way to change people's views on social media. We should be able to share without harming others or harming ourselves.  

[handsome-john]

Top ten skin lightening make ups! How to get rid of black heads! Hot new weight loss pill on the market! How to get rid of that nasty double chin! Best form fitting bras! You should be doing these five things every day to stay healthy! Get that nasty acne off your face! Find plastic surgeons in your idea! Have you tried losing weight? Here’s why your teeth aren’t straight enough! Aren’t you disgusting! Lose weight today! Taking my daughter to my plastic surgery appointment so she knows it's okay!  Look at these before and after photos! You wouldn’t want to look like that, would you? These pants will make you look fifty pounds lighter! Try this new diet! You know you really should only be eating 2000 calories a day! Get rid of those nasty spots on your skin! Watch this make-up tutorial! Look at these thinspo blogs! List of guilt free foods! You should never leave home without your concealer! Why would anyone want to look at your dog ugly face! Anti wrinkle cream, now with less lead! Use this straw to avoid smile lines! When I’m shaving down there I like to use this brand of razor! Pluck your eyebrows! You know being fat can cause complications during surgery, have you tried starving yourself? How to get rid of muffin tops! How to get that perfect thigh gap! Have you lost weight? With these three easy steps you can develop an eating disorder in just five days! You know boys like a girl with wide hips! Did you know smiling causes your face to wrinkle? Why are you promoting obesity? We don't make clothes for people like you. Here’s how to get a botox prescription! Ten celebrities you have gotten buccal fat removal! Don’t you want to look like them? Remove part of your stomach today! Here’s how I lost one hundred pounds! Daily bodybuilding exercises! What’s one thing you hate about your appearance? I love my body, that’s why I use these products! My make-up routine is self care! With this skin care routine you can look twenty years younger! Buy this product! I’m only saying this because I care about your health! Hate yourself! Hate yourself! Hate yourself! Hate yourself! Hate yourself!

[peppermint-cardboard]

about the anti ageing thing that’s been going around the internet, especially the "POV: You laugh too much" video that just fills me with anxiety and fucking rage in equal parts.

if you are spreading a message against body positivity, against the human process of ageing, against the human capacity to feel joy… you are contributing to something evil and oppressive, the idea that people (especially women and girls) should feel so scared of wrinkles or dehydrated skin or ageing or whatever the fuck that they should change the way they live, or should change the way they feel joy, or should stop laughing. you are contributing to something evil.

let’s say someone with anxiety comes across a video about "laugh wrinkles". you say "you laugh too much. you’re gonna get wrinkles on your face! and then you’ll be ugly!". you are trying to plant a seed in their mind of doubt and hate of themself and their very capacity to experience and express joy. they might latch onto this thought, have it repeated again and again. maybe it’ll come up the next time they laugh. maybe they’ll stop themselves from laughing or watching something funny or that they enjoy, because "oh man. those wrinkles". they might spiral, they might have this thought every time they laugh or think of laughing, they might just try to stop laughing or enjoying themselves altogether. because "oh man. those wrinkles".

so they develop a complex about laughing, and about their body. they watch more videos, about mouth wrinkles or worry lines or some dumb type of drinking straw. they feel insecure and bad about themself. they develop body image issues, maybe they become paranoid of eating or cooking or just laughing, doing things they enjoy. maybe they develop an eating disorder. maybe they become depressed, and anxious. maybe they spend dump truck loads of money on anti-ageing products and hacks because you say "oh man you gotta get a swimsuit body. that face cannot have a single wrinkle on it. stop laughing so much".

and you, the maker of this video or ad or brand, profit off this? you make money this way? does this fulfill you?

you are preying on young and anxious and vulnerable people and trying to warp the image they have in their own mind of their own form, their own flesh and blood, their own body, pretty much the only thing in the world about ourselves that we cannot change. you are trying to get them to become anxious and afraid and manipulatable so you can keep peddling your products or your brans or your narrative of conventional beauty above all else and so that they will change the way they live and experience their lives to suit your brand and your narrative.

it is evil. it is an evil thing, and a poisonous thing, to prey on someone’s body image.

and to the people who watch these videos or are anxious that they and their body are not enough: you are enough. you are beautiful. your body is downright stunning. you’re human, just like me, just like the people around you. you’re trying your best. let me say it again: you are enough. you are beautiful. you are stunning, and gorgeous, and handsome, and beautiful, and sexy, and cute, and pretty, and fetching, and cuddly, and adorable, and hot, and every other compliment i can think of.

the only people who try to prey on your body image are people who want something out of it, who have something to gain from you feeling anxious and bad about yourself.

there are few things as beautiful as the human body. and there are few things as beautiful as your body, dear reader. you are enough.

you are absolutely stunning, you gorgeous human you. no matter how many wrinkles you may have, no matter your weight, your hairline, your chest size, your mobility aids, your stretch marks, your worry lines, your smile lines, your freckles, your tattoos, your birthmarks, your scars, your physical ability, your mental ability, your grades, your wealth, your anything.

we all get one life. we all get one body. there are few things more joyous than being comfortable and happy in your body, and you can do it. you have no reason to be anxious or feel bad about your body. because you are beautiful. you are enough. you are you, just the way you are. you are the only you there can be on this earth.

and that, to me, is one of the most beautiful parts of being human.

so laugh. smile. cry. love. worry. eat. sleep. live your life. live it the way you want it. be joyous, be sad, be angry, just be human. just be you.

that’s enough.

that’s beautiful.

[chaosandthe-deadblog]

No because this shit upsets me so much. You’re not old at 30. You're not even old at 40. Women can have grey hair and wrinkles and stretch marks and whatever fucking thing you think makes them less valuable as people for having at their 20s.

I'm sick of women that are like, what, 35, getting told "oh but you look so young!!!" She doesn’t. She looks 35. She looks her age. You just have a messed up idea of what a woman in her 30s looks like.

I am young. I am someone with acne and no wrinkles. I went to the pharmacy today asking for a makeup remover and got handed an anti-acne cream. I don't know how to tell you this, but you're going to have acne and you're going to have wrinkles and it's OKAY to do skincare if you want but forcing it to CHILDREN and young people, making them think that they need it to be beautiful, and giving them actual obesssions with their looks is not as progressive as you think.

My mother is not old, but she has grey hair. She tells me all the time how much she hates that she's seen as older than she is for having grey hair. She's in her 40s.

You don't need to buy a fucking straw that prevents wrinkles you don't need a skincare routine with 50 steps you don’t need whatever the fuck baby botox is you don't need everything these companies are trying to sell to you so you will stop aging. Aging is a gift it's beautiful and I can't wait to be old and have wrinkles on my face that tell me I've lived.

Anti-Aging is a plague.

i urge people to watch this video especially if you're young (like me)

this stuff is terrifying. you should NOT be worried about wrinkles at SIXTEEN

[pettyprocrastination]

do you guys remeber when skin care was about the important of personal hygiene and keeping once safe + aware of the dangers of skin cancer instead of trying to push eight thousand anti-aging, anti-acne, anti-texture skin products and methods while posting pictures of people’s skin as a cautionary tale because “if you don’t use moisturizer you’ll end up looking like this ewwwww” 

[couriwaytown]

Im so so so so glad im not on tiktok anymore what the fuck is going on over there. luckily when i was there i mostly stayed on like the queer side of the app and saw particularly a lot of aro content, but oh my GOD the "beauty" side is SO ugly wdym you trained your face muscles to not move that's what they're supposed to do.???? i feel so sorry for all the people that are stuck there it must be hell :(

[sakebytheriver]

I really really hate that scene where Anya Taylor-Joy is taking the tiniest little dainty actor bite out of that cheeseburger in a way that just reminds me of those tiktok girlies who refuse to let themselves look ugly in any way, I get the same feeling watching those gifsets as I get from watching some plastic surgery addict drink from an anti-wrinkle straw

Because like this is meant to be a big moment in the movie, this bite into the burger feels like from what I've seen to be the climax of everything, and it should be highlighted as such. The whole movie exists because the chef is upset at rich people pretentious foody culture and her order of a cheeseburger is to bring us back to the middle and lower classes joy of food and as such I expect her to eat that burger in the rudest least posh way possible. I want her to lift that burger to her mouth slowly deliberately make it look like she's gonna bite it daintily and then, with the blood smeared all over her arms and her hair and makeup out of place and smudged, she opens her mouth unhinging her jaw like a snake and stuffs as much of that burger in her mouth as possible, make her cheeks puff out from how much is in her mouth and chew with her mouth open, the microphone picking up every gross squelch and every slurp, some of the burger even falling out of her mouth from how much she tried to bite off, there's cheese and mustard and ketchup left behind on her lips and all over her cheeks as she takes a gross, disgustingly giant bite that presses the whole thing against her face and you just know the actress had to spit it out into a bucket between takes so that in the next second when she uses her bloody arm to wipe away the mess on her face and it only ends up smudging and smearing it more all over her instead of cleaning anything, she is able to look up at that chef and deliver her next line calm, stoic, and resevered compared to the feral bite she just took,

"Now. That is a cheeseburger."

Like commit to the messiness of a cheeseburger, commit to the gross middle class exuberance of taking a giant bite of a burger/sandwich that's too big to fit in your mouth without making a giant mess, because that's the point you're trying to make here, right? That food, art, life, it's all supposed to be enjoyed and consumed exuberantly, not the pretentious new age rich foody culture of tiny portions and tiny bites and deconstructed food that takes the heart and soul out of it all, because when I watch her barely open her mouth and take a Squidward eating a Krabby Patty for the first time sized bite out of that thing I feel like the entire message of the movie is stolen by the very thing it was trying to critique

[grox]

I hate the anti wrinkle straw because even if you care about that for some reason you can literally drink from a normal ass straw without pursing your lips just make a seal around the straw and roof of mouth with tongue and suck as normal I do this when I drink ice coffee through a coffeee stirrer because its so good I have to foie gras myself

[doctorguilty]

That anti wrinkle straw tiktok is haunting me like I'm always finding out about some new completely mundane thing in life those kinds of people are avoiding for the sake of beauty and it disturbs me on like a automatic empathy reaction to picturing myself going through every moment of life as though I was wearing a full face of the most delicate makeup on earth and how stressful that would be and feel like how does someone resign themselves to living like a barbie doll in mint condition like you need to be so hyper aware of every little way you move your body you can't even drink through a straw...... how do you live like that why do you live like that... this isn't even a "wrinkles are beautiful" point and I see a lot of comments talking about that and it's like I agree but that isn't the horror of it to me, the horror isn't that "they don't even see the beauty in aging" the horror is that they're treating their bodies like paper thin porcelain for no reason other than the fear of even the slightest crease or blemish on one's body is apparently more harrowing than the stress of living the way I described, it's truly horrific to imagine willingly depriving yourself of moving like a normal human being Iike idk can you even save these people?? Are they too far gone? And like the inner conflict of feeling bad for them but also hating them for spreading this message onto other people, idk the whole thing is like psychological horror to me.

[bellakitse]

Under the surface and tryin' to pretend

He knows he’s probably coming off as rude and anti-social as he ignores his friends. They’re supposed to be having fun at their local honkytonk after a long tiring week at work, but he can’t focus on them when his attention is on a certain officer across the bar playing pool with a stranger who is way too close for TK’s liking.

+

TK mistakes a situation. It forces his feelings to the surface.

Written for @911lonestarangstweek - Day 2: Physical whump + “Does it hurt badly?”

TK Strand nurses his mineral water, stirring it with a straw as he tunes out his crew’s chatter and the band playing. He knows he’s probably coming off as rude and anti-social as he ignores his friends. They’re supposed to be having fun at their local honkytonk after a long tiring week at work, but he can’t focus on them when his attention is on a certain officer across the bar playing pool with a stranger who is way too close for TK’s liking.

He grips his glass a little tighter as the handsome man leans in, intimately speaking into Carlos’ ear. Whatever he says causes Carlos to tip his head back as he lets out a deep laugh that TK swears reach his ears over the noise of the busy watering hole. He feels his stomach drop as he observes the interaction, and he has to remind himself that he has no claims over Carlos Reyes. Sure, they hang out and sleep together occasionally, but they’re casual by TK’s own design, and he has no right to be jealous now when it’s obvious the guy is on a date.

“If you hold that glass any harder, you’re going to mess up your hand, man.”

TK jumps at the words. He jerks his gaze away from Carlos and his date to find Paul watching him with amusement and concern.

“What’s that about?” his friend questions, tipping his chin. His eyes stray to Carlos and his companion before looking back at TK once more. The amusement is gone from his eyes, but the concern has doubled.

TK gives him a shrug, hoping it comes off as effortless but knowing he’s failed by the wrinkle between Paul’s brow. “He’s single; he’s allowed to hang out with whoever he wants. I have no claims on him,” he answers, needing to say the words out loud for his own sake. He startles when Paul lets out a snort while rolling his eyes at him.

“Yeah, that’s ass,” Paul says to him bluntly. “It might work on the rest of the team, but I have actually hung out with you both and seen the frankly embarrassing heart eyes you give each other.”

“Well, obviously, you’re mistaken since he’s on a date right now, aren’t you,” TK snaps back, feeling the hurt building in his chest.

Paul gives him a soft look, not put off by his attitude. Instead, he throws an arm around him, pulling him to his side in comfort. “You don’t know what that’s about. It could just be a friend, and you’re making a bigger deal about it because you’re scared that it’s more than that, and that would hurt because you have feelings for him.”

“I hate it when you do your thing,” TK says with a sharp exhale. “You don’t have to call me out like that, you know,” he continues, shaking his head when his friend chuckles.

“Am I wrong?” Paul challenges, smirking as TK rolls his eyes at him.

“You know you’re not you all-knowing dick,” he grumbles, scowling as it makes Paul laugh again.

“Go talk to him,” Paul tells him, nodding when he gives him a nervous look.

“But – “

“If it’s a date, better you know now,” Paul talks over his protest. “Though I really don’t think Carlos would be such an asshole to continue a date with another guy in front of you. He doesn’t seem the type.”

TK looks at his friend for a moment, letting his words settle over him. He’s right. Carlos isn’t the type; he’s been nothing but kind and patient with TK. Going at his speed, never pushing for more. But it’s precisely that thought that clouds the others. What if Carlos is tired of TK and all his issues that stop him from committing to him the way Carlos deserves.

“Go, TK,” Paul pushes on his shoulder.

TK lets out a breath, nodding as he stands. He starts to cross the length of the bar, intending to get to Carlos when he hears commotion to his left. He turns his head to find a pair of men shoving each other, a petite blonde girl between them trying to pull them apart as the mens’ voices get loud enough to draw the attention of the whole bar. TK’s focus is on the small woman who keeps getting pushed back and forth as she tries to break it up.

He lets out a shout of alarm, moving towards them as one of the men pushes on one of her shoulders hard, causing her to trip backwards and fall onto the floor.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” he asks, getting to her as another woman helps her up. He takes hold of her elbow gently as she shakes. Over her head, he sees Carlos and his date make their way over to them.

“Break it up,” Carlos says sternly, using his officer voice as he steps around TK and the woman to address the men who are fighting.

“Mind your own fucking business, man,” the guy who shoved the girl spits at Carlos. “This asshole is messing with my girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend,” the girl speaks up, still shaken.

“You heard her,” says the other guy, smirking in the first guy’s direction. It’s the wrong thing to do as it gets them started again, shoving at each other.

TK hears Carlos mutter a curse as he takes a step forward to intervene, pushing back the ex-boyfriend.

“Chill out,” he warns him before turning to address the other man. The guy doesn’t take kindly to being told what to do and rears his fist back.

TK sees it coming towards Carlos’ head and reacts on instinct. He shoves Carlos out of the way, saving him from the punch that unfortunately still lands but on TK’s face. He lets out a groan as his jaw explodes with pain. Dimly he hears shouting, but all he can focus on is the ache and the way he sees black spots dancing in front of his eyes.

He feels hands pull him away, he’s not sure who it is, but he’s grateful. He’s pushed into a chair as hands pry at his own as he holds his jaw.

“Let us see, man,” Paul asks, concern coloring his voice.

TK opens his eyes to find him and Mateo hovering around him. Marjan comes over a moment later with a rag in her hand, and he hisses when she places it against his cheek, realizing there’s ice inside it.

They check him over, tilting his head to check his eyes, asking him questions to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion. It’s how Carlos finds them minutes later.

“Is he okay?” he asks anxiously. He steps forward as Paul and Marjan move out of his way, allowing him to reach TK. He cups the good side of his face. “TK?”

TK stares up at his worried face, letting out a sigh as he runs his thumb over his unbruised cheek.

“He’s a little dazed and probably in pain, but he doesn’t seem to have a concussion,” Paul answers for him.

Carlos doesn’t seem to relax at their friend’s reassurance. “Does it hurt badly?” he asks him. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital.”

TK opens his mouth to ease Carlos’ concern but instead finds himself blurting out.

“Where’s your date?”

He feels his face go hot as Carlos gives him a confused look, his brow pinched in the middle.

“What?” he questions back. “What date?”

He hears Paul let out a low whistle and him say that Carlos can handle TK as he ushers a confused Marjan and Mateo away. TK tries to scowl at him for abandoning him but can’t when Carlos is still holding on to his face.

“TK?” Carlos questions again, and TK knows he can’t avoid the question.

“The guy you were playing pool with,” he answers, shrugging his shoulder. “You looked like you were having fun.”

Carlos looks at him for a moment, understanding entering his eyes. He lets go of his face as he finds a chair, moving to sit in front of TK, making sure he holds his gaze. “I was,” he starts to say, knowingly. “Chris and I have been friends since the academy. He’s my very good, very straight, and married friend who changed precincts a while back and who I don’t get to see as much. He’s currently babysitting the asshole who punched you until someone on duty shows up.”

“Oh,” TK whispers, feeling himself blush again, the embarrassment paining him more than his aching jaw.

“Yeah, oh,” Carlos shoots back dryly, letting out a huff. He shakes his head softly. “Do you really think I would cheat on you? And do it right in front of you?”

“It wouldn’t be cheating though,” TK answers quickly, biting down on his bottom lip. “It’s not like we’re together, together,” he continues, and his breath catches as he sees a flash of hurt cross Carlos’ face.

“Right,” he says quietly, his shoulders dropping, his eyes going to his lap. “My mistake,” he continues as he slowly starts to get up from his chair, still not looking at him.

“But I want us to be,” TK blurts out at the sight of Carlos’ hurt feelings. It feels worse than a fist to the jaw. “I really, really want us to be.”

Carlos raises his gaze as he sits back down. He doesn’t say anything, but there is a glint of hope in his eyes that pushes TK forward.

“It killed me to see you tonight with someone else,” he tells him honestly. “Thinking it was a date and watching you laugh with him. I wanted it to be me that made you smile. I want to be that person for you.”

Carlos closes his eyes for a moment, shaking his head softly before opening them again. The affection TK finds in Carlos’ brown eyes blowing him away. “You already are, TK,” Carlos whispers, reaching out to touch the good side of his face. “To me, you have been that person since the first time we danced in this very bar. I have just been waiting for you to want to be that person.”

TK lets out a breath, his heart tripping over itself at Carlos’ words. “I’m sorry I’ve wasted so much time,” he whispers. He reaches up to cover Carlos’ hand with his own. “I’m ready now if you’ll still take me.”

Carlos lets out a soft breath, his eyes shining with love. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” TK breathes out. He lets out a sound as Carlos tugs him out of his chair, and he goes, stepping between his legs as Carlos wraps his arms around him.

“I’ll take you,” Carlos whispers into the side of his neck. “I’ll keep you.”

TK lets out a whimper, his hold on Carlos tightening at the words. “I’ll keep you too,” he promises, knowing that he won’t ever let go of Carlos if he lets him.

Carlos pulls back, a beautiful smile on his face as he looks at him. “Deal,” he whispers.

He leans up to brush a feather-light kiss over TK’s jaw, and even though he knows it’s not medically possible, he swears it instantly hurts less as a result.