#tarlos holiday au

[everlastingday]

just for one night

E // 12.2k // Tarlos Holiday AU -- It's Christmas Day, and Carlos is alone in New York City. He just needs to get through the day before he can catch his flight home, but when an unexpected turn of events leads him to a little boy and his older brother, he finds himself thinking maybe the big city isn't so bad after all. -- a.k.a the one-night-in-New-York, holiday rom-com AU

it's finally done!! happy holidays fandom, this one is for all of you lovely people 💜 thanks for welcoming me into the fandom with open arms, and i hope you enjoy this one!

Read now on ao3 ���️

[lire-casander]

don't want to set the world on fire

[rating] teen and up audiences [pairing] carlos reyes/tk strand [prompt] tarlos historical au [warnings] angst with a happy ending, canonical character deaths, pearl harbor au, world war ii, grief, mourning, fluff, kissing, alternating pov

[summary] 1941. tk strand and carlos reyes arrive in hawaii ready to recover from their own, personal tragedies. what they are not expecting is to find love among war.

happy holidays, @tailoredshirt! i really hope you enjoy reading this story just as much as i’ve enjoyed writing it! 

it wouldn’t have made sense without the incredibly fast beta-reading help of @morganaspendragonss and the hand-holding offered by @moviegeek03 when i thought i couldn’t do this. 

title from the song by the ink spots, which was released in 1941.

don't want to set the world on fire 15k+ | read on ao3

March 27th, 1941

“What do you mean, you're going to Europe?” TK tries to control his voice as he chooses to ask the first of the myriad of questions that are exploding in his head.

“They need the help,” Alex explains calmly. He doesn't look TK in the eye when he continues, “That's why I enlisted.”

“You volunteered?” TK screeches, earning themselves a few glares from the other people having dinner at this fancy restaurant where he had thought about proposing to his boyfriend.

Maybe proposing isn't exactly the right word, since they can't actually get married, but TK had planned to promise forever to this man who's now telling him that he's volunteered to step into a war that doesn't even have anything to do with them.

This definitely isn't how TK had envisioned his evening going.

“Yeah,” Alex confirms in a low voice. “It's not unheard of, you know. We need to help.”

“We?” TK huffs. “It's not our war, Alex. Your selflessness is amazing, but I highly doubt that you dying for them is going to change the course of the war.”

“You can't know that,” Alex retorts. He sighs as he stretches his hand across the table to rest it on top of TK’s, but TK jerks back. “TK, please,” he tries again. “I know it's difficult to understand and almost impossible to accept, but all I'm asking of you is to respect my decision.”

“How can you ask me to respect that you want to—die for people who will never even know your name?” He tries to keep his voice steady and still low, so as to not attract any more attention upon them, but it breaks around the middle, tears threatening to fall. “Alex—”

“I'm a pilot,” his boyfriend interrupts. “That's what I am. That's the only thing I am. I know I can help. I'm going to, whether you want me to or not, but I'd hoped that you'd at least understand, what with your father being a high-up and—”

“War was what broke my parents.” It's now TK’s turn to cut the conversation off, veering it towards the pain he's feeling. “How could you think that I'd be fine knowing that you'd volunteered to die halfway across the world? When did this happen? How did I miss it?”

Alex doesn't say anything, as if sensing that TK needs to say everything that's crushing his heart.

“When?” TK asks, voice not louder than a whisper. He remembers, a second too late, the dispatch orders his father's signed this very same morning; TK was at Colonel Strand's office when a secretary came in with a stack of papers allowing American soldiers to fly out the very next morning. “Please don't say—”

“Tomorrow,” Alex says, looking down at his plate.

TK holds his breath for a few seconds, counts to five, and exhales slowly. He repeats to himself that he won't panic, that everything will be fine in the end. After seven rounds of controlled breathing, he feels confident enough to speak, even though his soul is shattered.

“Here I thought that tonight would be the first night of our whole future together…and it's actually the last night for us.”

Alex looks stricken as TK’s words seem to register. TK witnesses his boyfriend understand what his plan had been all along, as a lonely tear rolls down his cheek, as Alex wipes it away discreetly because he's a soldier and he needs to be tough, not sensitive. He looks down at his hands, balled in fists over the tablecloth, and exhales.

“Well,” Alex finally says. He reaches out to touch TK, and this time he lets Alex's fingers smooth the skin over his hands. “If this is our last night together, would you save a dance for me?”

That's what both disarms TK and breaks his heart, at the same time.

He has never been able to say no to Alex, not even once in the whole fourteen months, three weeks, five days and seventeen hours since they started dating. And yes, he's been counting—sue him.

“Of course,” TK breathes out slowly. “Wanna go to the pier after dinner?”

continue reading on ao3!

[emsprovisions]

❄️ Welcome to the 24 Days of Tarlos Advent! ❄️

Hello everyone! Happy holidays! I have been hard at work on this top secret project and I am so excited to share it with you all. Every day starting tomorrow through Christmas Eve, I will be sharing a holiday or winter-themed drabble featuring Tarlos or the 126!

Each day, I will also gift a drabble to someone in the fandom just to spread some holiday cheer and hopefully make you all smile, but each one is a gift to you all! 💕

This will be the masterpost pinned to my page, so feel free to come here if you are looking for any of the drabbles from this event!

Happy Holidays!

1. The Wingman Summary: While TK is babysitting Jonah, he meets a really sweet barista!

2. The Passengers Summary: UT college students, TK and Carlos, meet when they are both passengers on a plane bound for New York for the winter break.

3. The Christmas Party Summary: Fiancés Carlos and TK get ready to attend the APD Christmas party.

4. The Christmas Lights Summary: Carlos takes TK out for a drive to see Christmas Lights.

5. Snowed In Summary: TK and Carlos get snowed in at their rented lodge.

6. Snowy Kisses Summary: an AU where Carlos moves to New York and starts dating FDNY TK.

7. The Christmas Village Summary: TK finds a box containing Gwyn's beloved Christmas village.

8. Family Christmas Summary: It's been nearly a year since TK and Carlos adopted Jonah and here is a snapshot at their sweet family Christmas

9. Catan and Christmas Summary: Carlos saves Christmas at the firehouse.

10. Haul out the Holly Summary: TK and Nancy decide to surprise Tommy by decorating the ambulance for the holidays.

11. Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel Summary: TK teaches Jonah how to play dreidel on the first night of Hanukkah.

12. The Gingerbread House Summary: TK and Carlos enjoy a double date night with Mateo and Nancy building gingerbread houses.

13. Under the Mistletoe Summary: TK and Carlos get caught under the mistletoe.

14. A World Made New Summary: TK wants to watch the snow fall.

15. Christmas Abroad Summary: TK and Carlos are visiting a Christmas Market in Berlin!

16. HR's Going to have their Hands Full Summary: an au where TK and Carlos are flirty coworkers at the holidays.

17. Cookie Decorating Contest Summary: TK, Carlos, and Jonah host a cookie decorating contest for the Catan crew and their partners! Who will win?

18. Lazy Morning Summary: TK and Carlos enjoy a lazy morning in bed.

19. The Perfect Gift Summary: Carlos goes Christmas shopping with his mom.

20. Stranded in Holly Grove Summary: The Catan Crew get stranded in a weird little small town overnight.

21. You Can Call Me Babe for the Weekend Summary: Carlos agrees to be TK's date to Enzo's family Christmas gathering in New York.

22. Too Much Holiday Cheer Summary: When Carlos leaves the Reyes Nochebuena festivities quite a bit drunk, his husband happily takes care of him.

23. Yearly Traditions Summary: A teenaged TK enjoys his Hanukkah tradition of making latkes and sufganiyot with his mom.

24. A Very Royal Christmas Summary: A modern-day prince au where TK and Carlos were childhood friends, who have become estranged until now.

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Happy Christmas @strandnreyes !! Here is your very late gift from your secret santa!

I had a plan, it was going well, and then I wrote myself into a corner and couldn't figure out how to fix it... and went with plan B at around 6PM yesterday. But I'm pretty happy with the result and I hope you are too!

written for @tarlos-santa for the prompt: roommate’s best friend AU

---

Strickland holiday special (AO3)

“December 24th, 7pm, dinner at my place. Bring yourself and your holiday spirit.” Paul announced when he sat down at Carlos’ table in the bar they’d agreed to meet for a catch up after work.

Carlos was thrown off guard for a second but then shook his head.

“Can’t. Nochebuena with the family. My mom will kill me if I miss that.”

“And you don’t want to spend the holidays with your best friend?” Paul asked, fake hurt, and took a sip from the beer Carlos had ordered for him.

“You’ve met my mother... and she likes you now… but if you keep me from coming to mass with her and the rest of the family, she’s going to put you on her naughty list for next year.” Carlos replied, only half joking. He wasn’t especially excited to spend the holidays with his entire extended family, but it usually was nice to catch up with cousins he only ever saw at birthdays and family gatherings.

Only this year he also had to avoid his sister and her interest in his love life ever since she set him up with a friend of a friend a few months ago.

“Ah but if I promise to feed her boy, even Andrea Reyes will forgive me.” Paul told him and Carlos had to admit to himself he was probably right. “Come on man, it’s just dinner with some friends. Some people from work, and you’ll get to meet Asha for real.”

“I’ve already met her!”

“Outside McDonald’s in the middle of Saturday afternoon shoppers doesn’t count.” Paul argued. “Come on, you know you want to say yes. I’ll make my famous chilli.”

“Well in that case I’m definitely not coming, you chilli heathen.” Carlos joked and Paul good naturedly rolled his eyes.

“If I allow you to assist me in the kitchen, will you come? I’ll even let you disgrace my chilli with your nachos.”

Carlos laughed.

“Ok, fine, you can be my sous chef. Maybe I’ll even let you stir something.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Reyes.” Paul replied and clinked his beer bottle against Carlos’. “Oh and my roommate can help us out too.”

“Roommate? Since when do you have a roommate?”

Paul shrugged.

“A few weeks. The new guy at work I told you about.”

Carlos frowned, trying to remember any new guy Paul had mentioned.

“Tyler. From New York. He’s not going home for the holidays and he doesn’t really know anyone in Austin yet.” Paul clarified.

“Right. And you take in strays now?”

“He was living in some shitty backpackers hostel! I couldn’t let him stay there. The place is a health hazard. And I have a spare room anyway.” He shrugged. “It’s just until he’s found a place of his own. He’s a nice guy. Cleans up after himself. A lot of wrong opinions about pizza though. Come to think about it, you two would probably get on great. You can be wrong about food together!”

“Are you trying to set me up with your new roomie?”

“No, but you might like the guy. You both could do with some new friends.”

“I have friends!” Carlos protested and pointed his bottle at Paul. “I have you.”

“And if you and Tyler hit it off you could have two friends!”

Carlos shook his head and took a sip of his drink.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Oh no. No, I know what ‘I’ll think about it’ means in Carlos Reyes speak. It means ‘no but I don’t want to say it to your face.’”

“No, it means I’ll think about it. I might have plans… with Marco.”

“Oh the boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Carlos insisted. “We’ve only been out a few times… I barely know him. Luisa set me up with him.”

Paul nodded.

“I remember. And you like him?”

Carlos pulled a face like the thought of admitting anything of the sort to Paul was causing him physical pain.

“I don’t know… He’s alright… He keeps asking about my job.”

“That’s what people do when they’re getting to know each other don’t they?”

“Well… yeah… but it’s all he talks about. I don’t even know what he does for a living.”

“So ask him.” Paul said simply and Carlos gave a huff in reply.

They spent the rest of the night talking about Paul’s party plans, and carefully avoiding the topic of Carlos’ love life. Which he was more than grateful for.

By the time the 24th came around, Carlos had struck a deal with his mother. He’d promised her he’d go to midnight mass with her and the rest of the family, and then spend the entire Christmas at the ranch with them, so he’d be able to go to Paul’s dinner party and help him cook in the afternoon.

They’d decided on a menu together, agreeing to stay away from any controversial dishes and just focusing on putting a nice meal together for their friends.

Carlos had managed to wrangle the guest list out of Paul, and he knew most people that would attend. All but one. The mysterious Tyler.

Paul had mentioned he’d be helping them prep and Carlos was curious about the guy. Apparently he’d moved to Texas after a break up, but Paul either didn’t know the details or didn’t feel like it was his place to share and hadn’t told him anything more.

Not even a last name, which meant Carlos couldn’t even casually run him through the system.

He parked his car outside of Paul’s building and grabbed the supplies he’d picked up from the backseat before making his way to the front door. He tried to shift the bags in his arms so he could ring the doorbell without dropping anything when someone jogged up to him.

“Wait, wait, wait! Let me get that for you.” The person said and reached around him to open the door with a key.

“Thanks…” Carlos mumbled and walked into the building, up to the elevator. The person followed him and pushed the button for him.

“What floor are you headed?” the guy asked when they stepped into the elevator.

“Uh four.”

“Me too. Do you need a hand with those bags? I can carry one for you.” The person offered. “I promise I won’t run off with them.”

Carlos chuckled and shifted one of the bags so the person could take it from him. He hadn’t been able to get a good look at them yet, just a flash of a silver grey jacket and brown hair, but when he moved the bag out of the way, he came face to face with easily the most beautiful man he’d ever seen.

“Thanks.” Carlos managed to say and the beautiful man smiled at him, making him even more beautiful.

“No problem. Do you live in this building too? I only moved in a couple of weeks ago, I don’t really know the neighbours yet.”

“Oh uh no… I’m just… visiting my friend.” Carlos stammered, mentally kicking himself for not being able to keep his cool around a cute guy. “He lives at number 425.”

“No way.”

“Uh…”

“You’re Carlos!” It was a statement, not a question.

“Uh…”

“I’m TK.” The beautiful man said as the elevator doors opened and they walked onto Paul’s floor. “Paul mentioned you would be coming over to help prepare for tonight.”

“I… oh… you… you work with Paul…” Carlos stammered.

“Yeah, and he lets me crash in his spare room until I’ve found my own place. You don’t happen to know of any apartments for rent that don’t cost a small fortune, do you?”

“No… sorry.”

“That’s too bad.” The beautiful man stopped outside of Paul’s door and put his key in the lock. “Hey, look who I ran into downstairs.” He called out to Paul when he walked into the apartment.

“Oh, great, you’ve already met. Saves me the introductions. Now let’s get to work, this meal won’t cook itself.” Paul said, clapping his hands to spur his friends on.

Carlos was put on chopping duties and did his best to focus on the task at hand. The three of them chatted a little while they worked, with mainly Paul and TK swapping work stories.

“Chicago FD could take NYFD.” Paul insisted and Carlos had no clue what they were talking about. “Hell they could take NYFD and AFD.”

TK laughed.

“Sure, sure.” He popped an olive into his mouth and Carlos was absolutely mesmerised by him. The way his eyes sparkled with mischief, the smile that never seemed to leave his face, the curve of his lips… the way they would feel against his own… the –

“Ow! Shit, shit, shit, damn it!” Carlos swore and sucked his finger into his mouth. “The knife slipped.”

TK wiped his hands on a dish towel and carefully pulled Carlos’ hand away from his mouth.

“I’m a paramedic.” He told him. “Let me see.”

“I’ll go get the first aid kit from the bathroom.” Paul announced but neither man even so much as acknowledged him.

“It’s nothing.” Carlos insisted.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” TK told him and guided him over to the sink to run his hand under the tap. “I don’t think it’s very deep.” He said after taking a closer look at the cut.” “I think a simple bandage will do.”

“Right… ok.”

“One first aid kit!” Paul said a little too loudly, dropping the box onto the kitchen table. “It cost me a small fortune so it better have everything you need.”   

TK nodded and grabbed a paper towel, pressing it to the cut in Carlos’ hand.

“Keep pressure on that while I get some gauze to wrap it up.”

“You really don’t have to go through all this trouble for me… it’s just a small cut. It’ll be fine.”

“Reyes will you just let the medic treat that damn hand instead of bleeding all over my kitchen?” Paul sighed. “Your boyfriend won’t be happy if we let you bleed out on the onions.”

Carlos winced and he saw TK freeze up for a few seconds.

Damn it.

“You have a boyfriend?” TK asked, trying to sound casual, not looking at him but digging through the med kit instead.

“No!” Carlos said, a little louder than strictly necessary.

“Oh no, we’re not allowed to use the B word.” Paul said, exasperated. “They’ve just been going on dates for like three months. That’s not boyfriend behaviour at all.”

“We broke up.” Carlos blurted out, almost desperate to see TK’s reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry man.” Paul replied, giving him a sympathetic look.

“It’s fine. He… I… we uhm… it just wasn’t working. We wanted different things.” Carlos told them. He didn’t want to go into detail, but at the same time needed TK to know he did not have a boyfriend.

“Well at least you found out now and not during a romantic dinner with an engagement ring in your pocket.” TK said, removing the paper towel from Carlos’ hand and carefully putting a gauze pad on it.

“Y-yeah.” Carlos agreed, sensing there was a story behind TK’s comment but not wanting to pry.

TK wrapped up Carlos’ hand with the care and precision of someone treating an arterial bleed, when they both knew a simple band aid would have done the trick.

“How’s that?” he asked when he put the last piece of tape on the bandage. “Not too tight?”

“It’s perfect.”

They managed to get through the rest of the afternoon without any more injuries, and Carlos had managed to compose himself and function more or less like a normal person by the time the other guests started to arrive.

He knew most of them through work and in Nancy’s case from high school math and science. He enjoyed catching up with them but still his eyes were constantly drawn to TK.

And maybe he was imagining things, but it looked like TK was looking at him too.

“Hellooo, earth to Carlos.” Nancy waved a hand in front of his face. “I asked you a question.”

“What? Sorry… I kind of zoned out for a minute there.”

“Uhuh, I noticed. I was talking about the red vs blue baseball game.”

“What about it?”

“Are you playing? Who is on the APD team? I’m trying to scope out the competition.”

“I don’t know. It’s months away.”

“She’s got a whole file with stats on everyone on the FD team on her computer.” Marjan cut in. “And she’s trying to find out who’s playing for PD so she can put together the same kind of file for them.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared! I just want to win next time.” Nancy argued. “TK, do you play baseball?”

“I was in little league. I was pretty good.” TK replied. “Well according to my mom and my step dad anyway.” He laughed a little and took a sip of his drink.

“Good enough for me. We’ll have to get you to the batting cages in the new year so I can see you play.” Nancy decided.

“Who died and made you coach of the FD team?” Paul asked and the two of them got into an argument that snowballed into a debate where somehow Paul’s girlfriend Asha ended up as some kind of referee.

Carlos however could only focus on TK. He was sitting on the other side of the table, leaning back in his chair, drink in hand and an amused look on his face. He’d gotten changed before dinner and he was wearing a dark sweater with stripes across the chest and a diamond stud in his ear.

Carlos’ mouth had gone dry at the sight of him and he’d felt severely under dressed in his simple button down shirt and jeans.

“Who wants dessert?” Asha asked the group, trying to steer the conversations to a safer topic.

“I’ll get it.” Carlos said quickly, happy to be able to escape the madness for a few minutes and get his head together.

“I’ll help.” TK said, getting up from the table too and following him to the kitchen. “How’s your hand?” he asked as Carlos started pulling bowls from the kitchen cupboard.

“Oh, it’s fine.” He flexed a few times. “I barely feel it.” He smiled. “You’re a great doctor.”

“Paramedic.” TK corrected him. “It’s not the same. But thank you.”

Carlos desperately wanted to keep talking to him but didn’t know what to say. He tried to scoop some ice cream into one of the bowls but barely managed to get anything out of the container and only ended up bending the spoon.

“I guess we should have remembered to take it out of the freezer earlier.”

“Yeah… I guess so.” TK agreed. “If you run the hot water and hold the spoon under it, it’ll be easier to scoop with.” He suggested. “Or… we could just wait.”

He stepped closer to Carlos in the tiny kitchen and his eyes flicked between the other man’s eyes and lips.

There was laughter coming from the living room and someone, probably Paul, had put on some music.

“Yeah, we could… do that. I don’t think they’re really desperate for that ice cream.”

TK smiled.

“I don’t think so either…”

The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like hours until they suddenly moved at the same time.

TK grabbed a fistful of Carlos’ shirt, while Carlos’ hands were on TK’s neck, pulling him into a desperate kiss.

He felt TK’s tongue running along his lips and Carlos happily opened his mouth for him.

They kissed, and kissed, and kissed and neither of them wanted to stop.

Carlos’ hands were firmly in TK’s hair, and TK had managed to undo some of the buttons on Carlos’ shirt. They were both breathless by the time they had to come up for air.

“I’ve wanted to do that all day.” TK admitted. “I was gutted when Paul said you had a boyfriend.”

“Don’t have one of those.” Carlos insisted. “I’m very single.”

“Yeah?”

“Absolutely.”

“How would you like to change that?”

[strandnreyes]

because you want it

Late December always feels like a zoo for Carlos as he prepares his classroom for winter break, but when an afterwork errand causes him to bump into a handsome paramedic, Carlos’ holiday season takes a turn. As they begin to get to know one another through shared meals and traditions, Carlos finds a whole new reason to feel joyful this season.

“I will make this for you because I love you, because you need it, because you want it.” - Ella Risbridger, In the Kitchen

for @reyesstrand for @tarlos-santa who asked for TK and Carlos cooking together, developing traditions, working together to help someone, or an au. I wrote all of the above !! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ily friend 🤍 and thank you to @lightningboltreader for beta’ing

M // 12.5k // alternate universe

As far as evenings go, this one is pretty typical.

There’s a drug store only a mile away from Becker Elementary School and with the way the kids in Carlos’ third grade class have been coughing, picking up a pack of cold and flu medicine for just in case feels more like a necessity than and errand he could put off until his weekly shopping trip on Sunday.

While stopping at CVS isn't often in his nightly routine for when he’s done with work, running some sort of errand before he can go home is. It feels like there’s always something to do—a grocery item he forgot to pick up, a stop at the gym, or a visit to his parent’s house. Carlos doesn’t mind too much. After a day filled with rambunctious ten year olds, peace and quiet seem the only things Carlos would want. While that is true, there are times when the silence of his empty townhouse becomes too much, and these routine stops to prolong his time spent there make him feel a little more connected to the world.

continue on ao3

[henrygrass]

WIP Wednesday

Another snippet from the Tarlos-Winter Holiday-College AU that I will start posting next week!

Thank you for the tag @ironheartwriter!

“Want to sing with me?” TK’s voice snaps Carlos back to the table.

Alex turns to TK, who is bouncing in his seat with excitement, and shakes his head, his mouth full of fries that Carlos is pretty sure TK has yet to touch.

“Nah, I’d rather not embarrass myself in public,” he shrugs.

TK lightly shakes Alex’s arm. “Come on! Just one song,” he pleads. “It’ll be fun!”

Alex sighs. “I said no, Tyler.” Three things happen as Alex dismisses TK. First, TK’s shoulders deflate—the disappointment on his face crushing Carlos’ heart. Second, Nancy slowly turns her gaze toward Alex, and Carlos almost expects him to catch fire under that glare. Third, Carlos speaks up.

“I’ll sing with you,” he offers, and Alex scoffs—a sound Carlos easily blocks out when he sees TK’s face light up again.

“Are you serious?” TK asks in disbelief. “You’ll actually sing with me?”

Carlos’ eyes widen as his decision sinks in, but the flicker of joy on TK’s face makes it worth it, as does Alex’s slight annoyance.

“Why not?” Carlos shrugs, forcing a casual tone despite the sweat gathering on his palms.

TK leans closer to him, shifting away from Alex. “What are we going to sing?”

“I… don’t know,” Carlos stammers, the blaring alarm in his brain drowning out any potential song suggestions.

“Can you even sing?” Alex interjects.

“Singing is ninety percent about confidence,” Carlos replies, shooting a smirk Alex’s way as he takes a sip of his drink.

Marjan snaps her fingers together. “What about [redacted]?”

Carlos almost chokes, but TK turns to Marjan, nodding excitedly.

“I love that song! What do you say?”

“Sure,” Carlos squeaks.

“Just don’t embarrass yourself too much, alright, Carlos?” Alex quips, the challenge in his tone igniting a fire within him.

Open tag &

@heartstringsduet @emsprovisions @alrightbuckaroo @nisbanisba @welcometololaland

@thisbuildinghasfeelings @lemonlyman-dotcom @decafdino @reyesstrand

@bonheur-cafe @carlos-in-glasses @theghostofashton @tellmegoodbye @eclectic-sassycoweyes

@herefortarlos @strandnreyes @carlos-tk @lightningboltreader @sapphic--kiwi

@ladytessa74 @paperstorm @chicgeekgirl89

@carlossreaders @pimento-playing-hopscotch @rmd-writes

[decafdino]

DecafDino's 2024 Fic Roundup!

i've been so happy to see everybody's fic roundups this year. This will be my first year doing one. thank you to @heartstringsduet @whatsintheboxmh @henrygrass @alrightbuckaroo @lemonlyman-dotcom and @emsprovisions for the tags! I think you'll notice a distinct genre that I like to write lol.

Not the Picture That Comes with the Frame || M || 38k Summary: A few months into their marriage, life throws TK and Carlos a curveball in the form of a stalker. Carlos decides to do the only thing he knows how to: he's going to protect his husband, no matter what it takes. This was written for the Tarlos Haven fic exchange! Read if you like whump, hurt!TK and protective Carlos.

Partners || T || 5.8k Carlos and Sam get ambushed. Carlos shares some things he probably doesn't mean to, but he'll blame the bullet wound to his thigh. Sam & Carlos team up! Also some whump and angst.

The Last Time || G || 1.9k Carlos and TK have a late-night talk after the events of 5x03. Coda. Angst and comfort. Tarlos working on their issues!

you can breathe now || T || 1.7K "This is Officer Garcia with Texas Border Patrol. Ranger Reyes asked me to call and let you know he's been shot—" and TK's knees nearly crumble right then and there— "and to tell you he's being airlifted to St. David's." aka the hospital scene we should have gotten in 5x09. Lots of angst!

and my magnum opus that is in the middle of being published:

Kindred Spirit || E || 61k and rising Sir Carlos Reyes is at a rocky point in his life—engaged to be married to a woman he can't love, living in a house with a family that has never felt more distant. A several-months-long quest from the king is exactly what he needs to sort out his head and get used to the fact that his life isn't turning out how he wants. If it means babysitting a spoiled prince, than Carlos will just have to deal with that.

Prince TK is at a loss. After suffering an accident at his own hands that has severely weakened his magic, the only thing he desires is to be left alone. Unfortunately, his father is dragging him across the kingdom on a goodwill tour. To top it all off, he's been assigned a personal guard who is insanely hot and infuriatingly annoying.

Maybe what they both need is right in front of them.

^^this last one is being published every friday. if you like knights and magical fantasy aus, then I'd love it if you could check it out!

Happy holidays everyone!

[rmd-writes]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love 💞

Thanks for the tag Sara! 💖 this forced me to venture into my ao3 page for the first time in weeks (sorry if I haven’t replied to your comments, promise I will 😅). I don’t know if these fics are my definitive fave five that I’ve written, but I do love them:

The Grindr Toolbox: A Guide to Getting Nailed - yes, I know this is a series so it’s cheating, but they belong together. Three different fics, three different fandoms, one slightly ridiculous prompt. Who knew Grindr meet cutes could end up so wholesome? (These are all E-rated, never fear)

Call Me (By My Name) - a Tarlos accidental phone sex AU co-written with my beloved @welcometololaland

who am i if i can’t carry it all - my ode to big sisters everywhere, aka five times June looks after Alex and one time she realises she doesn’t need to

this year i will fall - a holiday season Firstprince meetcute, it’s like reading a Hallmark movie

Soon - the Tarlos drabble smut fic; 3,700 words of pwp delivered in 37 drabbles

[pelorsdyke]

making a new pinned post to neaten up my fic links! my name is k, i love writing wlw ships, and ill be so real with you rn a lot of them are rarepairs. find me here on ao3. my tumblr fic tag is here, and I often post wip peeks for tag games.

some ships I’ve written once or twice include: spemily (pll), buffy x tara (btvs), jackienat (yellowjackets), mariakilah (yellowjackets), donnajoey (the west wing), maggie x sophie (leverage), and wayhaught (wynonna earp). I also wrote a lot of ronance (stranger things) during the s4 era.

marjan marwani & nancy gillian (911 lone star):

who will come into my kitchen and be hungry for me (test kitchen au)

and love isn’t a fact, it’s a hunch at first. (paul helps marjan come to terms with her feelings for nancy)

and your keys, your ring of keys (marjan starts to realize some things about herself, with the help of an oc. lesbian marjan)

underneath your hands I become poetry (some celebratory sex after tommy announces nancy will take over as interim captain while she’s away. inspired by the bts pic where nancy appears to be wearing a name tag that says captain gillian)

your essence is the ink in the word forever (nancy has tattoos. marjan notices.)

so swing your hips and do a little dip (nancy, marjan, and tarlos go to a gay bar)

I will do my best to get it right (nancy and marjan’s first anniversary plans go awry)

I’m gonna love you for a long time (marjan’s lesbian flag hijab, but also just like. 1k words of established fluff)

I’ve been under scrutiny (you handle it beautifully) (marjan and nancy are actors on the firefighter show austin 126. nancy may have a tiny baby crush)

everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it (post-canon, nancy thinks about moving on. it’s kind of terrifying.)

speed queen marj versus the big tortoise (a coda to 5x01 wherein nancy & marjan continue their banter and kiss a little bit. a secret relationship fic)

when we’re cheek to cheek, I feel it in my teeth (nancy & marjan go to the carnival together. tooth-rotting fluff.)

lucy tara & kate whistler (ncis: hawai’i):

the room is empty, and the window is open (a spiderwoman lucy au, the tumblr tag for the series is here)

february, the thirteenth (kacy celebrates valentines day early, as per lucy’s way of handling holidays)

blue scooby-doo fruit snacks and unrequited love, probably (high school au kacy flirting)

sit down, breathe, and just listen (post-3.04, kacy talks about marriage and promises)

in response, your glorious laughter (a snapshot of a sweet married kacy early morning)

hear the desert wind roll by (kacy first meeting cowboy au, pwp)

one single thread of gold tied me to you (kai buys lucy a virtual meet-and-greet with her celebrity crush, kate whistler. it turns out they may be a little more familiar with each other than lucy’s remembering.)

hen wilson & karen wilson (911 abc):

I did think, let’s go about this slowly (karen and her instinct to let insecurity drive her decision-making.)

I wanna get stuck in your head (some soft henren fluff about parenting, flirting, and finding the time to talk to your wife.)

[everlastingday]

slowly chipping away at the holiday au but i'm hoping i'll be able to hunker down and finish the first draft on friday when i'm finally off work! thank you @carlossreaders, @henrygrass, @nisbanisba, and @thisbuildinghasfeelings for the tags! 💜

--

TK makes a beeline for the structure next to the rink marked “Rentals”. When they arrive, the lone employee is clearly already starting to close up shop for the night. 

“Hey guys,” the teenager comes up to the counter to greet them. “The rink’s only open for another 15 minutes, and we’re not doing any more new rentals for the night, sorry.”

“Oh, okay, no problem,” Carlos says as he begins to back up out of the rentals hut.

“Listen,” TK says, resting his elbow on the counter and leaning in. His eyes flick down to the man’s name tag. “Joey, I totally get it. But Carlos here,” he points his thumb over his shoulder, “has never skated in his life, and it’s his last night in New York, and I was hoping you could make an exception?” He bats his eyelashes for good measure, and Carlos could see on Joey’s face that he was utterly helpless to TK’s charms.

The poor boy sighs heavily, and Carlos feels a little bad, but TK is on a mission and it doesn’t look like anyone can stop him. “What sizes?”

Carlos and TK both give him their sizes, and thank him profusely on their way out, promising to return before midnight so that he can still lock up on time. 

TK makes light work of his skates, and kneels down in front of Carlos to help him with his. Looking down at TK in front of him puts a picture of TK getting down on his knees for a very different kind of activity in his mind, and Carlos feels the blood rush to his head and groin at the thought of it. TK chooses this moment to look up, and when their eyes meet, he hopes that TK just thinks that the flush on his cheeks is from the cold.

--

open tag & no-pressure tagging a few people under the cut!

@heartstringsduet @whatsintheboxmh @nancys-braids @welcometololaland

@reyesstrand @captain-gillian @lemonlyman-dotcom @bonheur-cafe

@lightningboltreader @eclectic-sassycoweyes @firstprince-history-huh

@camthesleepyghost @carlos-in-glasses @emsprovisions @paperstorm

let me know if you want to be added/removed, and please feel free to tag me as well, i love seeing what everyone else is working on! 💜

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

Hi 🍋

I know you're busy with your rewatch but I was wondering cause I miss your rec lists: do you have a rec list for fics that heavily feature the 126's different religions? Them celebrating different holidays or discussing stuff or such?

Would love to see such a list, I feel like the fandom should have a general list where these fics are featured 💙

Hi anon!! Thank you so much for this lovely ask! Perfect timing, actually, because the fic I’m writing now, which I’ve affectionately been calling Eid Fic, centers around Marjan’s relationship with her faith and her family. It will heavily feature Marjan & TK discussing their own faiths, and sharing memories of holidays, fasting and family. And also how they grow together over the years and form their own found family.

I’m sorry my rec lists have fallen to the side lately! You are not the only person who’s asked me about them, and I promise they’re coming back! I’ve just been feeling a little overwhelmed lately (can you just be whelmed?). But I love any excuse to rec some of the amazing fics in this fandom. And this theme in particular is really exciting to me because we don’t have nearly enough of it! I have scoured by memory and my bookmarks for you, and here’s what I’ve found. Unsurprisingly, it mostly focuses on Carlos and TK’s faiths.

Disclaimer: this is by no means a comprehensive list, it is just what I remembered and what I found. If you know of other fics that feature religion, especially other characters, please reply/reblog with the links!

Carlos - Catholicism

The Line I'd Walk (For You) by TearsThisSideofHeaven Carlos lights a candle and says a prayer to St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters when TK returns to work after being shot. TK asks him where he goes, so Carlos brings him to church one morning.

What is Sown, What is Grown by @never-blooms Carlos character study, beautiful glimpse into Carlos’s experience growing up Tejano and how his family shaped him.

I Swear I Love You (Te Juro Que Te Amo) by @never-blooms Nochebuena fic!! Beth gives us a really beautiful look at Nochebuena, which is the Christmas Eve holiday in Latinx cultures! This fic is full of everything you would expect from a good Nochebuena party: family, nosy siblings and aunties, chisme, delicious food and so much music.

to build a home by @freneticfloetry Carlos Begins, this fic follows Carlos from childhood through present day. Courtney gives us a lot of beautiful insight into Carlos’s background and culture, and there is some exploration of religious aspects especially in the last chapter.

And if you will allow a couple from me 🤭

I'm Not A Fortress, But I Will Try To Protect You TK & Marjan get together for pie after Marj breaks up with Salim and before TK goes back to Carlos. Marjan voices her fear of disappointing her parents with the news of the breakup, and TK offers to be there for her when she makes the phone call. Marjan also gives TK some perspective on what it was probably like for Carlos growing up in a conservative religious home.

The Greatest Gift I’ve Found, The Sweetest Thing I’ve Known My Nochebuena fic!! It’s got some holiday traditions and a lot of family love.

TK - Judaism

knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door by rakketyrivertam Five prayers TK sang for other people, and one he sang for himself

a case of cruel to be kind by @maxbegone This is a really lovely AU based on the movie About Time. The plot is that TK discovers he can travel back in time to events in his past, and that he inherited the gift from Gwyn. But at the heart of the story is a really beautiful examination of Gwyn and TK’s relationship. This includes a look at some traditional Jewish funeral and grieving practices, through the eyes of TK after Gwyn’s passing.

The last day of Hanukkah by @ladytessa74 A very sweet little Hanukkah fic set in Tessa’s Elijah verse, in the future where Tarlos has a four-year-old named Elijah. This story gives us a glimpse of Hanukkah in the Strand-Reyes house, the little traditions and the food.

Looking at it now, it all seems so simple by @liminalmemories21 Enzo and Jonah come to town, set between seasons 3 & 4 (though S4 kinda makes it an AU now 😖). Explores TK’s relationship with his faith through Carlos’s eyes, they celebrate Hanukkah and have a Shabbos dinner, and there are a few conversations about what parts of their own cultures and religions they want to bring into the family they’re forming, and how they want to raise any future kids.

Rosa Mundi by fiddlersgreen TK, Carlos and Owen go to New York for Gwyneth's funeral. I must admit it’s been a minute since I read this, but this author gives a really lovely perspective of what Gwyn’s funeral might have been like with the Jewish traditions and customs.

[emsprovisions]

I'm actually so proud of what I've achieved as a writer this year! I was looking at my writing stats on ao3 the other day and I pretty much doubled my word count from any other previous year. I also started off the year in a completely different fandom from Lone Star, and only started writing fics for LS in June. So posting nine fics in six months actually seems crazy to me. I have some ambitious (for me) plans for 2025 that I am so excited about! But for now...

I'm the life you chose, and all this terrible danger 2x08 coda // T // 2.6K // Summary: TK has head trauma, but checking on Carlos is still his top priority Read if you're in the mood for soft Tarlos communication after Bad Call, and enjoy fluff and hurt/comfort

sometimes I'd rather be dead, at least then I'm with you 3x08 coda // T // 2.6K // Summary: He feels like a coward for being scared of seeing Carlos’s face when he tells him what will surely break his heart. But he won’t keep this from him. “Carlos?” He whispers. Carlos presses a kiss to the nape of his neck and the dip of his shoulder, and TK’s eyelids drop at the contact. “I have to tell you something.” Read if you're in the mood for a bit of hurt/comfort, and TK dealing with his grief while also opening up to Carlos

Hold onto me T // 6.4K // Summary: Carlos was still on the call when TK got shot, and he's been worried and wondering about their relationship status ever since. Read if you're in the mood for missing moments spanning 1x08-1x10

your back beneath the sun, wishing I could write my name on it E // 11K // Summary: During their vacation in Galveston, TK gets a sunburn and Carlos, being the amazing husband that he is, takes care of him and shows him they can still have fun during their trip. Read if you like fluffy, smutty beach vacations for married Tarlos

Guilty Pleasures E // 6.8K // Summary: Carlos Reyes has a guilty pleasure...he enjoys reading romance novels. Part of the thrill is getting to find the trashiest books he can find just so he can read the bad euphemisms out loud to his husband. But he’s currently reading this series in particular that is causing him issues in the bedroom….. Read if you enjoy silly Tarlos shenanigans, things going wrong in the bedroom, and spicy smut

hang your head low in the glow of the vending machine T // 4.8K // Summary: An exploration of how food has guided TK and Carlos's relationship through the years and how they care for each other through food Read if you enjoy seeing how Tarlos's relationship has evolved around food throughout the years. Technically inspired by 5x01

the brink of a wrinkle in time 5x05 Coda // E // 2.8K // Summary: A 5x05 Coda where TK and Carlos celebrate the morning of their anniversary and continue a much-needed conversation Read if you were not satisfied by the resolution in 5x05 and wanted more communication between the boys

I wish I had a river (It's coming on Christmas) G // 3.8K // Summary: When TK needs to be rushed to the hospital on Christmas Eve for appendicitis, he's worried he's ruined Christmas. Carlos is there to reassure him. Read if you like mild TK whump with Carlos taking care of him, as well as Reyes family fun, and Christmassy vibes

24 Days of Tarlos G // 19.4K // Summary: Enjoy 24 drabbles featuring TK, Carlos, and other members of their family or the 126 in various different holiday or wintry scenarios! There are many aus and also canon-compliant stories in this collection, please check them out, there's a bit of everything!

Tags under the cut!

Thank you so much for the tags @heartstringsduet @bonheur-cafe @whatsintheboxmh @everlastingday @thisbuildinghasfeelings @henrygrass @alrightbuckaroo @lemonlyman-dotcom @carlos-in-glasses @nisbanisba @chicgeekgirl89 💕

No pressure tag for art, gifs, fics, photography, other achievements etc! @ironheartwriter @sapphic--kiwi @eclectic-sassycoweyes @carlossreaders @strandnreyes @reyesstrand @decafdino @lutavero @guardian-angle22 @butchreyes @captain-gillian @nancys-braids @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @lightningboltreader @paperstorm @welcometololaland @herefortarlos @firstprince-history-huh @tellmegoodbye and an open tag ofc

[sugdenlovesdingle]

2024 fic round up!

Thanks for the tags @carlos-in-glasses, @nisbanisba @nancys-braids

I wrote 20 fics this year, which (for me) isn't all that much - despite starting and partially writing at least twice that. I've had the year from hell in more ways than one (especially the last 6 months) but fandom has and always will be a nice escapism!

Thanks to everyone that's commented on my fics in some way, I promise I'm going to try be less awkward and actually reply to your comments instead of just keeping the notification emails in my inbox like a dragon hoarding gold.

I mostly wrote bucktommy/911 this year (what can I say, that fingers under the chin kiss really did it for me) and if TPTB @ abc have any sense they'll bring Lou/Tommy back in the second half of the season!

Though the tarlos secret santa did sort of reawaken my love for Tarlos, so let's see if I can actually finish some of the fics I started for them in the new year.

I'll put the actual fic links under the cut so it doesn't clog up everyone's dash

Bucktommy: (all rated G unless stated otherwise)

Date night Bathena spot Buck and Tommy out on a date together

Buck's Bisexual Speedrun Buck going from 0 to 1000 in 0.03 seconds with coming out, accepting his sexuality, and his relationship with Tommy. Taking it slow? We don't know her.

Cake Time Buck and Jee baking to cheer Tommy up after a rough shift. Written back when we thought Oliver talking about Buck and Jee baking together would be a good thing.

It's not over Break up? What break up? Episode 8x06 fix it

Uncle Buck Post break up Buck and Jee baking, with Tommy accidentally crashing their time together. Bucktommy getting back together.

118 group chat Evan♥ has added you to 118 Fam. Tommy gets added to the group chat.

Wake up Another break up? What break up?? 8x06 fix it.

Being a good friend is hard Eddie is going Through It, but unfortunately he's going through it on Buck and Tommy's sofa when they want some alone time.

Family dinner the first 118 family dinner at Bobby and Athena's new house - featuring a sleepy Tommy.

Nobody knows Nobody knows we're back together - But Chim is about to find out when he needs a babysitter.

Transfer a What if? for 8x04. What if everything hadn't been fixed in 42 minutes and the 118 had been closed and Buck ended up at the 217 with Tommy? (I promised to write a part two for this... and it's partially written in my drafts. I'll finish it eventually!)

But first, coffee A coffee shop AU that's technically a 911/lone star crossover that started in this little tarlos centric ficlet but you need to read that to understand the bucktommy centric one.

He's good for you Maddie and Tommy spend some time together while Buck is in surgery.

Moving in A little quiet moment before Buck and Tommy move in together.

The boy at the rock show A different first meeting AU where Buck meets a cute bass player in a bar - loosely based on Blink 182 - The Rock Show "Fell in love with the girl boy at the rock show"

Tarlos (rated G unless stated otherwise)

For Lire with love and lots of whump This was an epic collaboration project that was a lot of fun to work on! Lots of hurt/comfort goodness with Carlos being a Bad Patient - until he isn't. My part was chapter 6 but definitely give the whole thing a read!

Love online A different first meeting AU with a side of meddling sisters. Luisa gets her hands on Carlos' phone and decides to take matters into her own hands to fix her brother's love life.

View from the taco truck TK and Carlos' relationship through the eyes of their favourite food truck vendor.

Austin Pride Tarlos go to pride with their dads, Owen is ~completely normal~ about it obviously.

Strickland Holiday Special A different first meeting AU where TK is Paul's roommate - who just happens to be Carlos' best friend.

As usual I'm late to the party, and I think most of my Lone Star fam has done this by now... so I'm shifting it to my bucktommy fam.

@weewookinard @cjlouwho @loulou-land @jamieroyjamieroy @leashybebes

@mrhappyjavaman @blitzynatural @sad-girl-hours23 @mmso-notlikethat

+ open tag for anyone who wants to do it

[everythingisgayandnothinghurts]

I’m new to Tarlos! And I’m obsessed with them 🥺 I was wondering if there was any fics the you can recommend to read? 😊

Hi!! Welcome to the fandom!! Tarlos is wonderful. Here are some fics that are pretty great

Daddy, can you die of a broken heart? This one is father son between TK and Owen but I love it so much

You saved me (in every way a person can be saved) This is tooting my own horn a bit but I honestly am so proud of this fic of mine. I hope you like it too.

You make me fall apart (in a good way) howtosingit has a bunch of fica and all of them are flawless

Remind me to forget. This one is an adorable AU that I loved. It gets you in the mood for the holidays.

Start with those and feel free to come back anytime for more! Thank you for the ask!!

[carlos-in-glasses]

nice ask week 💖

what is something you're looking forward to this year?

Hello! ❤️ Thank you for asking! My partner and I have booked a holiday in which we shall be fossil hunting, so looking forward to that! I think it'll be good nerdy fun and I may or may not be inspired to write a Tarlos fossil hunter/geologist AU 😂 We'll see! Otherwise I don't have any particular plans for this year yet, so I'm just generally low-grade excited and curious to see what good things come up.

[iboatedhere]

Hey Rae... Hope you are good.

I love ur writing so much!!!

I just wanted to know if you have stopped writing for tarlos?

And if' I would cross the line 'would be completed.

Its okay if it doesn't.. i don't mean to pressurize.. its totally your take what you want to write or not anymore. Thank You

LOVING THE FIRSTPRINCE AUS SO MUCH AAHHHHH.

Hi.

I've stopped writing for them because I can't find a single good thing to say about that ship, the characters, the show, or 99% of the fandom. Everything I've written for them means nothing to me and the only reasons I'm not deleting everything is because I don't want my total word count on ao3 to take such a huge hit (I'm trying to hit 2 million) and because keeping them up for spite is funny.

Unfortunately Fortunately the last chapter of the secret service au is finished---or at least as finished as it's ever going to be. There was supposed to be more to it but I can't stomach writing a single additional sentence (unless I was going to end it in the cathartic way I truly want to end it instead of the neutral way that it is.) Again, I wouldn't post it at all but thirty thousand words I want included in my word count so it's going to go up eventually. I just don't care when.

Good news if you like the FirstPrince AUs because the Roman Holiday AU is over halfway done AND I'm going to work on the doctor au and an F1 Au next plus a prompt a day in February which is starting with an AU.