#and yet... can we go back there? i wanna see marjan kick some more ass! lol

[guardian-angle22]

911 lone star fashion -> every paul outfit

↳ 2.04

[tngrace]

hello! For the 4 words prompts list, can I request “This was never right.” thanks 💛

Thank you @sixringss for the prompt. Sorry it took me a minute to get something out. Just had to wait for the right inspiration. Hope you like it. Coda/slight canon divergence for 2.04- big brother Judd is really taking over everything these days. 🤷🏻‍♀️ and this really got away from me 🙈

4 word prompt Masterlist

I have one left to write. I promise I haven't forgotten you @immortalstrand just trying to find the right inspiration for the prompt. Hopefully will be out soon 🙏🏻

As always thanks @moviegeek03 for helping nail down the idea. 😘

TK had been so excited when he realized he was finally gonna get to meet Carlos's parents. That is until Carlos had introduced him as a friend. He'd done his best not to let it show, but he know Carlos had picked up on his silence on the way home. The fight they'd just had wasn't his finer moment either. He knew he shouldn't have walked out; he knew Carlos was hiding something just from the pain in his eyes, but he'd been too hurt to care.

He grimaces as he recalls his words about making more space in Carlos's closet. That hadn't been fair. Carlos had put up with so much of his crap in the beginning, and here he was leaving again. Oh well. It was done and now he had to find somewhere to go to lick his wounds.

He didn't really wanna go home; his parents on his nerves between the lovey dovey and their new weirdness he'd picked up on at the station the other day. Marjan was out with her fiancé, and he didn't want to call Paul, knowing he'd get a lecture. Mateo's energy would be too much for him right now, so that just left Judd.

He let out a sigh at the realization. Judd would let him crash no questions asked. But TK wasn't sure he wanted Judd's big brother routine. He let out another sigh knowing he didn't have a choice unless he wanted to deal with his parents. He sent Judd a text asking if he could come over before ordering an Uber.

Upon arrival, TK let out another sigh as he stood on the Ryder's front porch. He wasn't sure if Grace was home or if he'd be interrupting anything, so he stood there for the longest biting at his lip even though Judd had replied an affirmative to his text. By the time he'd worked up the nerve to go knock, the door swung up with Judd propped in the doorway. "You just gonna stand there all night pretty boy or you gonna get your ass in here?" Judd asked not picking up TK's nervous energy yet.

"Juddson Ryder, that is no way to talk to a guest," Grace said lightly slapping him with a towel as she joined him at the door.

"Ah it's just TK Gracie," he laughed before looking at TK's face now that he was closer.

"Ah hell," he sighed noticing the bitten lip and the bag. "Get in here little bother," he said pulling TK inside.

"I didn't... I hope I'm not interrupting," he says this to Grace, the bottom lip still between his teeth. "I just.... I didn't know where else to go," he says quietly looking down.

Judd takes his bag wondering what in the hell had caused this as Grace reassured TK with a hug he wasn't interrupting anything and was always welcome. "Thanks, Grace," TK tells her quietly as Grace leads him to the couch with Judd following. Judd sits down across from TK in a chair as TK wrings his hands. Grace sends Judd a worried look before he gives her a reassuring smile.

"I'm gonna get us some tea," she annouces giving TK's shoulder a squeeze as she walks by.

"Thanks darling," Judd smiles. Once Grace is in the kitchen getting the tea, Judd debates waiting TK out or point blanking asking him what's up. The longer he watches TK sit in anxiety, he decides he can't stand watching it so he's just gonna ask.

"Something happen with your parents?" Judd asks him. At TK's shake of the head no, Judd let's out a soft sigh. "Alright. Carlos then?" He asks as Grace returns with the tea. She takes up a spot by TK on the couch ready to offer him the comfort he so apparently needs. Judd can't stand the kicked puppy look TK pulls at his question about it being about Carlos.

"Sweetie, you don't have to tell us anything you don't want to," Grace says before Judd can disagree. "We're here for you no matter what. You wanna talk, we'll listen," she says sending Judd a pointed look. "You just wanna sleep, we'll get you in bed. Whatever you need TK no conditions," Grace says before relaxing into the couch and sipping her tea.

TK sends her a grateful look before the kicked puppy look returns. "Carlos and I had a fight," he says softly. "And I didn't want to deal with my parents yet. They're just.... yea," he says trailing off.

Grace hums having heard from Judd how insufferable Owen and Gwyn have been for TK.

"We ran into Carlos's parents at the farmers market. I've been dying to meet them, and he's been avoiding it. He introduced me as his friend," TK says trying not to break down on his friends.

"Like hell he did," Judd growls before Grace sends him another pointed look with a quiet "Juddson."

TK is still ringing his hands and Grace lays a comforting hand on his back. "Did he explain why?" Grace asks him when the silences stretches on for a minute too long. "Because anyone with eyes can see how in love you two are. So it doesn't make sense, he'd back track without some reason."

"Is he not out to them," Judd asks leaning closer to TK's space to try and calm him down as well. He's seen first hand what happens when TK works himself up with his anxiety.

"He said he is," TK says finally meeting Judd's eyes.

"Grace is right," Judd declares. "Anyone with eyes can see how in love you two are. It's sickening," he teases making TK chuckle finally.

"Yea well.... this was never right..." he sighs. "He's met my parents but any time I brought up meeting his, he avoided it."

Judd and Grace share a look before deciding with their eyes that Judd would take the lead. "TK, I know you're hurt. Hell I'm pissed for you. But you gotta remember too that Carlos grew up here. It might not have always been as easy for him as it was for you," Judd says treading as carefully as he can.

"Yea... he said something about my parents similar to that," TK sighs softly.

Judd and Grace both hum with nods. "That boy is crazy for you. God only knows why," Judd teases making TK roll his eyes. "Maybe his parents are traditionalist," Judd hedges. "Maybe you only meet them when you know you're in it for life. Carlos could be protecting you, not wanting to make you run," Judd says watching as his words sink in even though he's trying to be gentle with TK. TK looks even more down knowing all the crap he put Carlos through in the beginning.

"Or maybe it's something totally different," Judd amends hating TK's perfected kicked puppy look. "Look you're more than welcome to stay here, you know that," Judd says. "But you're gonna be restless. You need to talk to him TK. Yea it hurt when he called you a friend, and you got mad, and you both probably said things you regret now. He made you feel insecure by calling you a friend, and you paid him back by leaving and probably making him feel just as insecure."

TK is looking at Judd with tearfilled eyes and it kills him to see his little brother hurting, but there's nothing he can do to fix it and he needs TK to hear truths and not just platitudes. "You're right," TK murmurs after a minute. "Could you," TK doesn't even finish before Judd is up and getting his keys.

TK thanks Grace once again giving her a hug as she reassures him everything is gonna work out. Judd has his bag, and then they're getting in his truck heading back towards Carlos.

"Thanks Judd," TK says in between chewing on his hoodie string.

"No thanks needed T. That's what brothers do," Judd says shooting him a half smile. "Besides you know who will give it to ya straight when you're being an idiot," he laughs as TK grunts and rolls his eyes once more.

They're at Carlos's before TK even knows it. "Just talk to him. It'll be fine. And if it's not call me and I'll kill him," Judd promises.

"That won't be necessary," TK says with a laugh before grabbing his bag and getting out. "Thanks again Judd. I appreciate it."

"I know. Now get on in there," Judd says. He makes sure TK gets to the door and then he's off.

TK stares at the front door for the longest just like he did at Judd's. His poor lip is bitten raw at this point. He debates using his key, but decides against it since he's not sure how Carlos is feeling at this point. He knocks on the door still biting his lip as he sees Carlos looking thru the window before the door opens with a quiet hey.

He can tell Carlos is being guarded and TK doesn't blame him. He said some awful things and just left earlier. "Hi. Can I come in?" TK hedges and he knows he's still radiating just as much nervous energy as he was at Judd's.

"You got a key," Carlos says the indifference and confusion rolling off him in waves.

"Yea I thought maybe you might want that back," TK says biting his bottom lip once more.

"Why are we breaking up? Or did that already happen because it kinda felt like it did." There's not any venom in Carlos's voice, more like he's resigned to the fact he just lost one of the best things he's ever had.

"No," TK quickly reassures before he remembers Carlos might have a different opinion after today. "I mean I hope not."

Carlos let's out a breath and steps aside opening the door wider. "Come in," he says.

TK goes in dropping his bag at the door and he knows Carlos catches it but doesn't say anything. He's ringing his hands and pacing a little before turning to look at Carlos who is still by the door. "Ok, look. I know I was a little bitch.."

"No you weren't," Carlos says pained that TK could still think so little of himself.

"Yes I was," TK insists because he knows he was out of line earlier and Carlos is gonna listen. "And I just wanted to say I'm not sorry." He let's out a breath but barrels on despite Carlos's are you serious look. "I'm not sorry Carlos. I know I made it seem like your relationship with your parents was about me, but really it's about us." Carlos still isn't saying anything and TK is worried. "Do you know what I mean?" He asks.

"Not really," Carlos says confused. TK hums before turning and walking to sit because he knows if he keeps standing he's going to pace and he wants Carlos to have his full attention for this conversation.

He remembers Judd's words of advice and tries to better explain himself. "When you didn't tell your parents that I was your boyfriend, it made me feel insecure about our relationship and what I mean to you."

He can see Carlos's heart breaking once more and he hates he's the cause of his pain, but TK knows he has to be truthful.

"That kills me," Carlos says and TK knows it's true just from looking at him as Carlos finally moves closer. He sits down across from TK, and TK can feel and see Carlos's nerves, his hands ringing just like TK's had done earlier. "Which is exactly why I was avoiding introducing you because I didn't want that to happen and I knew it would."

"Yea but didn't it have to? I mean they knew you were gay," TK says trying to understand his boyfriend.

"They know, yes," Carlos says his eyes filled with tears which just makes TK hurt all the more. Carlos can't stop ringing his hands, and now TK understands how everyone feels around him when he's worked up. He just wants to comfort Carlos but first he needs to understand.

"I came out to them when I was seventeen, and they were shocked," Carlos can't meet his eyes and TK doesn't try to make him. "I... I... I... knew it rocked their world, but they hugged me, told me they loved me, and that was that." Carlos took a deep breath as TK laid his hands over Carlos's to still them.

TK knew Carlos wasn't done so he kept quiet to let him finish. "It got brought up a few times over the years, but there's also an understanding in our family that you only bring someone home to meet the parents once you're sure someone is going to be your life partner. They didn't meet my brother in law until Gabriella wanted him to propose. I just.... I didn't want to freak you out. Because I know we love each other, TK I love you more than anything, but I couldn't.... I wasn't ready to take that chance and have you freak out on me," Carlos finishes his eyes down cast and the unsaid "I didn't want you to leave me" hanging between them.

TK slowly tilts Carlos's chin up so they can see each other. "You could've told me that instead of avoiding the entire conversation. It makes perfect sense Carlos."

Carlos nods knowing he should've just told TK. "I was too afraid of losing you, and I almost did anyways."

TK squeezes Carlos's hands catching his eyes once more. He can't let Carlos drown in self hate any longer. "You haven't lost me. I'm not giving up on us that easily. As Judd said anyone can see how much we love each other to the point it's sickening, as if he's one to talk," TK chuckles.

"Judd huh?" Carlos finally laughs a little.

"Yea," TK nods with a bashful smile. "He uh.... he's the reason I'm here. He told me I was being an idiot and that I never considered how insecure you might feel in all of this. And for that I am sorry," TK says softly.

Carlos tries to cut him off, but TK doesn't let him. "No Judd was right. I felt insecure so I tried to hurt you the same way. I left just like you thought I would; I said things I shouldn't have. It wasn't my best moment."

"Wasn't mine either," Carlos murmurs.

TK nods. "But Carlos, I'm all in," TK murmurs leaning in close as he squeezes Carlos's hands once more. "However much time you need. I'm not gonna run, I'm not gonna leave. Whenever you want me to meet them as your other half, I'll be ready," TK says with the softest of smiles. "Because I love you and I'm sure about you."

TK reaches up and wipes the tear from Carlos's cheeks. "I love you too TK," Carlos whispers as their lips meet for a soft kiss. Things might not always be perfect or right, but they would overcome them together because their love never fails.

[harvestleaves]

Role Reversal

Prompt: Hi, i'm in love with your out of breath series and i have a prompt If you can write It please. Carlos, for some reason has problems breathing in a scene with the 126, so it’s time for TK to help him. Thank you ❤️

A/N: Happy one year to the Out of Breath ‘verse!!  This time it’s Carlos’ turn!  He has an allergy induced asthma attack.  It was fun writing Carlos, I love his character and I feel that there definitely needs to be more on his background.  This is also posted on Ao3 here.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,399

Carlos always had seasonal allergies, and there were times he couldn’t go on his elementary school field trips to local farms due to his allergy to hay and horses.  Needless to say, springtime was usually the one season that he was out of commission due to his sinuses.  But since he’d met TK in the middle of the summer, his boyfriend had yet to see him get more than just a cold.

But now, it was late March and all the flowers and trees were starting to bloom again in Austin, and Carlos’ eyes itched. It had started out early on patrol with his partner, Derek McCoy, and the other officer handed Carlos a Benadryl and a water silently before focusing back on the road when he saw the younger male rubbing furiously at his eyes.

Carlos was thankful for the allergy pill. It had calmed his itchy eyes, but his head now felt like it was stuffed full of cotton and his sinuses ached from the amount of congestion he was experiencing.

And to top it off, he was now wheezing.

Carlos couldn’t remember the last time his allergies had given him respiratory symptoms, and because of that, he knew for a fact that the inhaler in his desk back at the precinct with his name on the label was at least two years expired, and thus no good. His mama would kick his ass for not keeping his medications filled if she knew of his stupidity.

Shaking his head with a wheezy laugh at the thought, he raised an eyebrow when they got a call over the radio for them to head to a car crash on the highway.

“You good to go? You sound like shit,” Derek frowned as he looked at his partner in concern before he flicked the lights and siren on.

“Does TK know about your allergies?  Or the fact that you have allergy induced asthma?”

“It hasn’t acted up in a few years, and plus, it’s only a problem during allergy season.  It’s not the same,” Carlos grumbled with a pointed look over at McCoy.

“Hypocrite.  You want your boyfriend to be open to you about his asthma and you won’t tell him that you have allergy induced asthma?  How exactly is that fair to him?” Derek asked the younger man curiously as he pulled their cruiser up to the scene of the crash, raising an eyebrow at the trails of smoke rising from each of the vehicles before he spared Carlos a second glance.

Hopping out to help his partner with traffic and crowd control, Carlos stifled a cough into his elbow, wincing at the high pitched wheeze and rattle that his lungs produced.  He sounded like TK the few times he’d had to take his boyfriend to the ER for his own asthma, and he knew he probably needed a breathing treatment to open up his lungs, but his pride was keeping him from admitting his weakness.

Maybe he was a hypocrite.  How could he expect TK to be open and honest with him when he never even explained to his boyfriend how he already knew how to operate an inhaler, or how he could put a nebulizer together in his sleep?  He hadn’t had a relationship before this one with TK that had lasted longer than a few weeks, so it never really crossed his mind to explain his personal heath history with his boyfriend.

Carlos figured he’d talk to TK about it later, he had a job to do in the meantime.

Spotting the 126 rolling up to the scene, Carlos couldn’t hide the dopey smile that fell across his face when he spotted TK hop out of the firetruck to help Judd get the victims out of the cars before he quickly turned back to his work with a blush.

___________

The call went pretty quickly, with no serious injuries for either of the drivers involved, which TK was always thankful for.  Once he helped Marjan and Mateo load the gear back onto the rig, he made his way over to Carlos to talk to his boyfriend.  He was glad the two of them only had about an hour left in their shifts, one of the few days that their shifts lined up perfectly.

However, the closer he got to his boyfriend, the more he realized there was something wrong with the other male.  Carlos’ usually tanned face looked pale, and his eyes were slightly bloodshot.  But the most concerning thing to TK was the awful wheezing coming from his boyfriend, and the way his shoulders seemed to heave with every breath made TK wince internally.

“Hey babe, you feeling okay?” TK asked softly as he reached out a hand to Carlos’ bicep to squeeze it in concern.

“H-hey Ty.  Yeah, ‘m fine.  J-just allergies, y’know?” Carlos explained, trying to stifle a round of coughs that were making their way up his throat, but he couldn’t keep them down.

The next bought of coughs had Carlos doubled over, hands resting on his knees as he wheezed for breath that didn’t seem to want to enter his lungs and his heart started racing in panic.  He hadn’t had an attack this bad since he was a kid, his allergies typically only ever made him sneezy with the occasional wheeze, not full-blown respiratory distress like he was currently experiencing.  And it terrified him.

The only comfort Carlos found in that moment was TK’s soothing voice and the firm hand over his back as his boyfriend kept him upright, calling over Carlos’ partner.

Derek made his way over to them with a frown and crouched down in front of Carlos.

“He’s got allergy induced asthma.  Seasonal allergies started kicking in today.  He took some Benadryl this morning and I thought it helped.  Check his pockets, I know he carries your spare inhaler around.”

TK nodded and quickly patted down Carlos’ pants, a sigh of relief leaving his lips when he pulled out the inhaler and quickly shook it up before pressing it to his boyfriend’s lips.

“C’mon ‘Los.  Take a deep breath for me babe,” TK whispered softly into Carlos’ ear, as the other man took a shaky breath of the medication, letting it out in a harsh wheeze before another round of coughs shook his body.

“That’s it, let it all out.  Can you try another puff for me?”

Carlos nodded slightly at TK’s question and inhaled another breath of the medication, letting it settle into his lungs for an extra few seconds before he shakily let it out, leaning his bodyweight into TK.

“There we go, catch your breath.  I think you’re still gonna need a breathing treatment.  I think you should go to the hospital for it though,” TK said softly as he ran his fingers through Carlos’ curls gently, looking up as Captain Vega made her way over to them with Tim and Nancy.

“Hey guys.  Carlos needs to get taken in, allergy induced asthma attack.  He took two puffs of albuterol but he’s still wheezing and could use a treatment,” TK explained as they loaded Carlos onto a gurney and Tim slid an oxygen mask onto his face along with a pulse-ox meter onto his left hand.

“Sats are in the mid 80′s, and I’ve got him on 100% O2.  I’ll get him on a neb in the rig.  Do you want to ride with him?” Tim asked TK, noticing how he still looked shaken up over seeing his boyfriend unable to breathe.

“Yes.  Because once he’s better, he needs to tell me why he didn’t tell me he also has asthma.” TK nodded firmly with a pointed look at his boyfriend.

“It slipped my mind.  H-haven’t had an attack this bad since I was little.  And none of my relationships lasted long enough for them to find out about allergies, let alone asthma.  I didn’t wanna get judged,” Carlos explained tiredly, a wheeze trailing his words as he looked groggily up at TK.

“Baby.  You know I am the last person who will ever judge you for having asthma.  I love you, and nothing about you will ever change that.” TK whispered softly as he pressed a kiss to Carlos’ forehead before hopping into the ambulance with him, squeezing his hand gently.  Both a signal and a promise that he would always be there.

[aewriting]

This story idea for 9-1-1 Lone Star hit me last night, and made me realize that I haven't written anything from Carlos's perspective yet.  I feel like there's a lot we still don't know about Carlos, but here's my attempt to fill in a few blanks.

Warning for sexual references.

Here it is on AO3, if you prefer.

***

It’s been... a while, since Carlos felt this way. Longer than he really cares to think about. Giddy, almost. Distracted. He’d been surprised when T.K. had texted him about going to a club, taking a friend out with them. “Friend,” huh? Playing third wheel to T.K. and some new guy was not his idea of a fun time. In fact, it made him question T.K.’s motives, even more than he had been already. Because T.K. had been quite the cypher. Here’s what he knew. Real name was Tyler Kennedy. Hot as fuck. Good with his mouth. Good with his whole damn body, actually. And Carlos’s, fuck. Liked it a little rough... maybe even a lot rough, depending. Firefighter. Captain’s son. Moved here from New York City about three months ago. Has been up really high, forty-plus stories on the, the Chrysler building, was it? Going, going through some shit. Obviously. He instigated that fist fight at that shady bar, so some adrenaline-seeking behavior, maybe? Apparently had a bad break up in New York, relapsed, is in recovery now (prefers mineral water), has some mood stuff going on... Is not looking for anything serious right now. So, yeah, he didn’t have the best reaction to the whole text about the club. Until T.K. clarified. Paul just got shot down. Think he needs some fun. Carlos had frowned. Paul. Paul Strickland? He was another firefighter with the 126. Where you thinking? Thought maybe you could guide us. Then, I want to dance. Carlos exhaled. Yeah, he wanted T.K. to dance, too. Preferably with him. There’s Rain on 4th. Sounds good. We get off at 10. Carlos had looked at the phone, debated what he was about to type, wondered if it was too transparent. Paul ok with going to a gay club? Yeah, had come T.K.’s quick reply. He’s straight but he’ll be cool with it. And Carlos had finally relaxed, at that. I’ll drive, he’d typed out, allowing himself a small smile. He’d showered carefully, brushed and flossed his teeth, styled his hair. Put on a little cologne. Spent too much time debating what to wear, because... because he wanted to impress T.K., dammit, but didn’t want it to be obvious. He’d finally settled on a t-shirt and jeans - casual but still nice. Flattering. And, yeah, he’d even gone to one of those drive-through car washes. And when T.K. bounded down the steps of the 126, flashing him a conspiratorial smile and leaning easily against his car, hip to hip with Carlos, he knew that all his preparations had been worth it.

It had felt good, walking into the club next to T.K. - even better when T.K. reached for him, brought him in close. Carlos doesn’t think he’s a particularly possessive guy, not one to show off, either, but there was something about being in that club with T.K., seeing people’s eyes on him, on them, together... it gave him a boost, a direct shot to his ego, having this gorgeous guy on his arm, dancing up against him for anyone to see. Fuck, he’s got it bad. Which is probably why he’s still thinking about it days later. At work. When he should be finishing up a report. He sighs deeply and redirects his attention to his computer. “Hola, Carlos,” comes a familiar, and rather unwelcome voice. “Hello, Roger,” Carlos says, purposefully. Roger was one of only a handful of out cops in the department, and of that small group, he was Carlos’s least favorite. By far. He’d always found him to be overly familiar. Unprofessional. Vain as hell. He’d been relentless when he’d found out Carlos was gay, making pointed comments about how much he wanted to get to know Carlos better, how helpful it would be to let off some steam together... Roger was attractive, and Carlos would be lying if he said he’d never thought about it, but after one particularly lewd comment, Carlos had made it very clear that their... preferences were simply incompatible. While that had at least stopped Roger from directly propositioning him, it didn’t stop the conversation entirely, just shifted it. When Roger approached him now, it was often to brag - about his prowess, his partners. The company dancer with Ballet Austin, the hot barista, the musician... Carlos tried to shut it down, when he could, but with a guy like Roger it was hard sometimes. “How was your weekend?” Roger asks. “Fine,” Carlos says, nonchalant. “Picked up a shift late Friday.” “And after that? You go out?” Roger smiles. “Do anyone fun?” Carlos looks at him sharply, and he’s still grinning. It clearly wasn’t a slip. Roger just tilts his head to the side. “I saw you. At Rain.” Shit. “Yeah?” Carlos says, casually. “Yeah. Waved to you.” “I must have missed you.” Roger shrugs. “Yeah, well, I was up on the second level, and you looked a little, ah, preoccupied.” He gives Carlos a lascivious grin, pulls up a chair, and sits down. Carlos rolls his eyes. “I’m on the clock, here,” he says. “Um, not anymore, Reyes. It’s noon. Lunch break.” Damn him. He must have planned the timing of this. Carlos rubs a hand tiredly over his face. “Eat in the break room with me?” And unfortunately, he can’t think up a good excuse not to, at the moment. “Fine,” Carlos says, tightly. He takes his time getting his lunch out of the shared fridge and heating it up - anything to delay the inevitable conversation with Roger. He knows that look, on Roger, that tone, and he suspects that he hasn’t heard the end of his night out. As expected, Carlos barely sits down before Roger’s talking again. “Quite the little piece of ass you were with. Hope you got some of that. Way he was dancing, kid’s a fucking tease if you didn’t.” He didn’t. Get some. Not in the way Roger means, not that night. What he had gotten, though, was a smile, a genuine one when they’d dropped Paul off at his house, loose and laughing. A firm squeeze of his hand when they’d finally said goodbye at the end of the night. A soft but earnest, “I had a really good time tonight.” Carlos exhales, looks at Roger. “The guys I was out with are colleagues, actually. From the 126. New in town.” He sees the recognition, then, on Roger’s face. The realization. “Oh shit, wait, for real? Was that the new Captain’s son? T.J.? T.R.?” “T.K.,” Carlos says tightly. “That’s it, yeah.” Roger laughs a little. “They came down from New York City, right?” “Yeah,” Carlos replies. Roger grins, all teeth. “Well, shit. Kid knows what he’s doing then, huh?” Carlos frowns. “He and his father have been good additions to the team. Definitely experienced.” Roger barks out a laugh. “I wasn’t talking about that kind of experience.” He shakes his head. “I swear, Carlos, you could be cleaning the fuck up if you would just use a goddamn app. You know how many guys the whole cop thing works for?” He smiles again. “I’ve never fucked a firefighter, though. You think he’s into cops? Or better yet,” Roger leans in closer, winks, “you think he likes it when they’re into him?” And that’s about enough. “Think you’d have to ask him that,” Carlos says, voice cold. He makes a show of snapping his lunch case shut, getting up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a report to finish.” He’s up and leaving before Roger can say anything else. Moves quickly back to his desk and sits down heavily. Damn. Roger’s comments have left him off-balance, out of sorts. Because he knows, knows he has no claims over T.K. - T.K.’s made that very clear. But the idea of T.K. with someone like Roger... He shakes his head. Nope. Don’t think about it. T.K.’s a grown man who can do whatever the hell he wants. And Carlos is a grown man, too, with a very real report that needs completed before end of shift today. But he can’t stop thinking about it. He knows, more than he wants to, about what Roger’s into… and knows it’s not a bad fit, necessarily, for T.K.  And the fact that T.K.’s on Roger’s radar now, well... Carlos can’t help but picture them together - T.K. on his knees for Roger, Roger’s hands on T.K.’s skin, Roger using his body to pull all those wrecked sounds out of him... Shit. This has to stop. He’s not, not usually like this. What the hell is it about T.K. that’s gotten to him like this? He decides to take a lap, goes to the water cooler to refill his bottle. By the time he gets back to his desk, he’s feeling clearer - or at least a little more determined not to think about things he can’t control.

*** It’s almost a week later, and a delegation of first responders is all gathered at city hall for a training about an impending upgrade to the 911 network. Michelle’s there, as are representatives from the 126 - T.K. and Marjan, specifically. Carlos gives a little nod T.K.’s direction, is relieved when T.K. returns the favor. They break for lunch - a catered deal with sandwich fixings, chips, cookies. Carlos is about to rip open a little bag of Lay’s when T.K. approaches him. “Hey.” “Hey,” Carlos replies, looking T.K. over a bit. He looks nervous, almost. “It’s nice out. Wanna sit outside?” Carlos glances to his left, at Michelle, who is just about to start in on her turkey sandwich. She smiles. “It’s pretty bright out, and I don’t have my sunscreen on.” Carlos doesn’t miss her slight smirk, her raised eyebrow. “Why don’t you two go ahead without me?” Carlos gives her a little look, feels the way she kicks him under the table. “Okay. See you in a bit, then.” He grabs his lunch, follows T.K. out to a little picnic table. After some standard pleasantries and a brief discussion about a recent house fire they both worked, T.K. puts his sandwich down. Bites his lip. “You, um, you know a guy named Roger? Roger Sizemore? He’s a cop.” And now Carlos is setting his sandwich down too, responding carefully. “Yeah, I know him. Why?” “Just... I dunno, he was working a call with us - that accident out by the airport yesterday, the bad one.” Carlos nods. “You...” T.K. pauses. “You guys friends, or anything?” He glances down. “Said he knew you, and I wasn’t sure how, if it was just, like, work stuff, or...” He trails off. “Yeah,” Carlos replies quickly. “It’s just work. We’re not, not close or anything.” T.K. seems to relax a bit, at that. “Okay, yeah, I didn’t think so but figured I’d ask.” He looks up at Carlos with those big eyes. “What do you think of him?” He’s an ass, Carlos wants to say. Doesn’t. “He... he can be a bit much, sometimes.” And T.K. blows out a breath, chuckles a little. “Fuck, yeah, glad it wasn’t just me, then.” He shakes his head. “Dude fucking hit on me. Like, hardcore. Right in the middle of a call.” His eyes narrow a bit. “Said... said he heard I liked guys in uniform.” Carlos closes his eyes, briefly. Fucking Roger. “I... god, I’m sorry, T.K. he saw us together out at Rain the other night, with Paul. Asked me about you. Told him that if he was interested, he’d have to ask you, no one else.” T.K. nods, a little tight. “Yeah, well, he asked, alright. Honestly, he’s gonna get himself in trouble with HR if he keeps doing shit like that on the job.” “Don’t I know it,” Carlos mutters. “And I’ve told him that. He used to pull the same thing with me until...” “Until what?” “’Until I turned him down.” T.K. leans back a little in his seat. Looks pleased. “Well, that makes two of us.” Carlos quirks an eyebrow. “Yeah?” “Oh yeah,” T.K. said, a hint of mischief in his voice. “I just told him the truth, though.” “And what’s that?” T.K.’s smile grows. “I just... kindly let him know that I do like a man in uniform. One very specific man.” Carlos’s eyes go almost comically wide. T.K. shrugs. “What can I say, Officer, this whole thing,” he gestures to Carlos’s uniform, “definitely works for me.” He ducks his head, then, looks almost a little shy. “And I know I said I wasn’t looking for anything serious, and then you said you weren’t trying to be my boyfriend, but... truth is I like you and, and I have fun with you, and I hope you don’t mind me saying so.” If they weren’t in the middle of a work function, Carlos would have kissed him right then. Settles for grabbing his hand under the table, squeezing. “Don’t think I’ve ever minded anything less.”