#tk's neck is carlos' favorite place to be

[guardian-angle22]

TK/Carlos + Touch

↳ 1.10 Austin, We Have a Problem

[theghostofashton]

seven sentence sunday

thank you @heartstringsduet @strandnreyes @carlos-in-glasses @corsage for the tags!! i've barely been on here this weekend because i've had family visiting, excited to catch up on all your snippets and all the news we've had <3

Based on the weather, he settled for a pair of jeans and a semi nice-looking button up, not too fancy that he’ll be overdressed if Carlos’s favorite place happens to be a McDonald’s, but not looking like he just rolled out of bed and threw on some sweats. He hopes it was the right move. He’s already pushed his luck tonight, the possibility of dressing up in the first place could turn out embarrassing.  As he’s overanalyzing his hair in the bathroom mirror, reaching for his cologne, Carlos rings his fucking doorbell.  Carlos is early. He was supposed to wait downstairs, in his car, preferably, and text TK that he was here, not show up all suave and sexy at TK’s fucking doorstep– “Shit,” he mutters, and rushes to spritz cologne mostly on the hand towel instead of his neck. He slides his phone into his pocket and makes his way over to the door.  When TK pulls it open, he breathes. And then his breath catches in his fucking throat.

tagging @paperstorm @sanjuwrites @bonheur-cafe @alrightbuckaroo

@reyesstrand @lightningboltreader and anyone else who wants to share!

[endlessfighter]

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 ❤️

oooh, thanks for thinking of me, Nonnie 💜

I my most popular fic is definitely Regain your Power:

Regain Your Power

One Shot, Words: 7446, Rating: Explicit, Warning: BDSM, pure filth!

Set in 3x11, right after the Raging Bull scene.... Carlos needs to regain some of his power, so he slowly takes TK apart in the best way he knows.

my personal favorite is definitely Satisfy You:

Satisfy you

One Shot, Words: 6076, Rating: E

Inspired by this prompt on tumblr:

"Give me a fic where TK tells Carlos (or Carlos finds out somehow) that Alex wouldn’t let him cum almost all the time. Not in a bdsm way, but in a fucked up controlling way. So, naturally, Carlos (after a quick “this ok with you” convo) ties TK up and pulls as many from him as possible, leaving TK a whimpering, over stimulated in the best way, mess"

Or how I imagine TK and Carlos start that part of their relationship in my series (can be read alone though)



and then the last two of my favorite would definitely be: 

This Thing Called Love

One Shot, Words: 2418, Rating: Explicit

“You’re not just saying yes so you can go back to sleep, right?” he quips, in an attempt to break them out of their serious moment and let their happiness take over.

“I mean maybe… maybe… but…” Carlos mumbles as he kisses him again and drags him back into bed, covering TK’s body with his own. This is where TK feels safest, the weight of Carlos’ body pressing him into the mattress, cocooning them in warmth, and protecting him from the world

- or the soft sex I imagined they had right after

and

To Make You Feel My Love

One Shot, Words: 2411, Rating: E

“You thought I wanted to fix you, but there’s nothing to fix because I already love everything about you”. TK looked at him a little skeptical. “I doubt you love everything.”

Carlos just placed a kiss on the tip of his nose and responded seriously “everything!”

He trailed little kisses from TK’s nose to his cheekbones and across his forehead.

“I love your mind!” he said, pressing a kiss to TK’s temple. “Even when it decides it’s a good idea to bring a flesh-eating lizard into our house.” As TK giggled over Carlos’s continued displeasure with their previous pet, Carlos continued his trail of kisses down TK’s neck and across his sternum.

or what if Carlos' phone had rung an hour later and he got to show TK just exactly how much he loves him

[thisbuildinghasfeelings]

Ranking Carlos' Season 4 Dad Shirts

In lieu of doing anything actually productive, I've spent some time this afternoon ranking Carlos' season 4 dad shirts. I know some people really don't like the dad shirt look, but I'm not vehemently against it, and some of them I like a lot.

There are 16 Carlos shirts from season 4 that I would place in this category. It's actually rather difficult because Rafa would look good if he dressed in a garbage bag, but I did the best I could. From best to worst:

1. The dark denim from 4x12 is my favorite. He just looks really good here. Also, his hair looks so nice. I'm trying not to let his natural beauty influence the shirt rankings, but it's hard to stay objective.

2. This is such a good color on him. It reminds me a little of the sweater he's wearing when he brings TK home in Push. It goes so nicely with his emerald green aura.

3. I honestly think it might just be the association with the soulmates scene, but I really love this shirt. When I see it, I just think SOULMATES.

4. This one is nice, especially right next to TK's pink shirt. They look very good together.

5. This is a nice shirt to wear to go visit your wife.

6. This one feels like something he should be wearing to go chop firewood or something, but he looks great.

7. This one is kind of basic, but it's another nice color on him. And it's the shirt he wears both when he finds out his fiancé doesn't have Huntington's and when he asks his dad to be his best man 😭

8. I think I would like this one a lot better if he wasn't wearing a whole other shirt with buttons under it. Considering the lavish flower arrangement plans from their parents, I feel like Carlos should be trying to wear one shirt at a time to save money. It's another really good color on him, though.

9. This one is like the less-good version of the soulmates scene denim shirt.

10. I don't really like the plaid here, but I do have a fondness for this shirt due to its association with this scene. It's the shirt he wears when he tells TK he realized he wasn't broken the day they met! So it's hard to really dislike it. Also, I think it looks better later paired with his jacket/the badge around his neck.

11. I'm not a huge fan of this one. The color is ok, but I think I generally like the short sleeve dad shirt look less than the long sleeve dad shirt look. HOWEVER, short sleeves mean that we get to see more ARMS. If we would have seen more of this shirt...maybe a scene of Carlos carrying something and flexing his arms...I might have ranked it higher.

12. I don't like this pattern much. He still looks so good, though. It's really hard to criticize shirts while he's wearing them!

13. Just like the way I particularly like the soulmates scene shirt because of the association with the scene, this shirt makes me too sad to rank it higher. It's a good color on him, but it hurts me.

14. We didn't see much of this one, so it's difficult to properly judge it. That said, I don't really like the color. I think maybe it's partly how much the buttons stand out? I don't know, but I'm not a fan. He still looks very beautiful, though.

15. I don't like the pattern of this one. But I do like the fact that he dressed nice and cooked and set the table to have date night in with his fiancé!

16. It was easy to rank this one last. I don't love the color or the stripes. And it's again a problem of association...when I see this shirt, all I see is Carlos' grief-stricken spiraling!

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Maybe I should make another poll 😂

[strandnreyes]

thanks for the tag @heartstringsduet @catanisspicy! finally made a header for this fic, we’re really in it now.

SPOILERS AHEAD! (when will I be free from saying that?)

“You’re a tease.”

TK flashes him an innocent look over his shoulder. “You didn’t expect me to actually play hooky with you today, did you?”

Carlos pushes off of the counter he was leaning against to press up against TK’s back, his arms encircling his waist. “It’s not playing hooky when we don’t have anywhere to be.”

“Wrong,” TK counters. “You have a date with centuries worth of vampire history.”

“No.”

“Carlos—”

“Babe, that hardly feels relevant.”

“It’s important,” he stresses and Carlos shakes his head, kissing the side of TK’s head and the shell of his ear.

“You didn’t know any of that when you turned and you ended up just fine.”

“‘Just fine’,” TK quotes. “My husband, the sweet talker.”

Carlos smiles. “You know what I mean.”

TK lets Carlos kiss along his neck for a moment, going as far as to drop his head back onto his shoulder, but then he turns so forehead brushes against Carlos’ jaw. “Baby, you don’t want my experience,” he says quietly.

Carlos holds him tighter, thinking of what TK told him about those first few weeks that he spent confused, scared, grief-stricken, and alone. This is worlds away from that. “I won’t have it. But that’s because of you, not whatever lore you want me to read up on.”

TK sighs, relaxing more of his body against Carlos. “Okay,” he agrees. “I might’ve gone a little overboard.”

“It’s sweet,” Carlos assures him, placing his hands firmly on TK’s hips to nudge him to turn around. When Carlos is looking at his favorite shade of green, he says, “So I guess we do have some extra free time now.”

tagging @reyesstrand @theghostofashton @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @wandering-night19 if you’d like!

[wandering-night19]

wip wednesday

Thanks for the tag @heartstringsduet

“Baby, what are you doing home?” TK’s smile is bright as he slides the door to the loft closed behind him. Carlos is at the dining room table placing a serving dish down. TK can’t see what it is, but it smells delicious.

“I got off early,” he answers. TK takes his shoes off and lines them up before letting his bag fall to the floor next to them. He’ll grab it later. Carlos meets him halfway to greet him with a kiss.

“Early enough to make dinner?”

Carlos doesn’t answer. Just offers a smile and cups his hand around his neck, thumb rubbing along his jawline. 

“Come eat,” he says, grabbing TK’s hand to lead him towards the table. 

“Tamales, wow babe.  What’s the occasion?”

“Do I need an occasion to make my favorite person his favorite meal?”

TK knows a trap when he sees one, but he’s willing to go along in this case since it means Abuela Reyes’s tamale recipe, which is hands down the best thing TK has ever put in his mouth. 

“Let me just wash my hands.”

TK does so at the kitchen sink before returning to Carlos at the dining table and taking his usual seat. He hooks his ankle around Carlos’s as he digs into the food on his plate. They eat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Carlos clears his throat and sets his fork down.

TK grins. “I knew it!” he crows. “I’m being bribed.”

Tagging @whenshereads @ramblingdisaster73 @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @jesuisici33 @lightningboltreader @thebumblecee

[chicgeekgirl89]

I Get it From You

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Characters: Carlos Reyes, T.K. Strand, Andrea Reyes, Gabriel Reyes, Lexi Mitchell, OC Cousin Adriana

Rating: K

For @tarlosweeklyprompts Prompt #2: 5+1 of habits that Carlos picked up from TK and 1 that TK got from Carlos. 

A/N: I may have played a little fast and loose with it, but 🤷‍♀️.

Read on AO3

Charm

“I noticed you started wearing this recently,” Andrea says, reaching out to finger the tiny cross hanging around his neck. “It’s pretty.”

“Thanks,” Carlos says a little numbly, eyes trained on T.K.’s nearly frozen, lifeless form. 

“You’ve never been much of a jewelry person,” Andrea says, her unasked question hanging in the air between them. 

“T.K. wears a medallion around his neck,” he tells her.

“I’ve seen it,” Andrea says. “With his number from New York on it.”

Carlos nods. “He says it reminds him that he’s part of something bigger. That he’s got people to watch his back. That being on that crew probably saved his life, because even when he was…” Carlos hesitates, remembering that his mom doesn’t fully know how deep T.K.’s struggles with addiction have gone. “Even when he was struggling, he knew he had a responsibility to be there and help people. He never takes it off.”

“A good reminder of the support he has, then and now,” she says softly.

Carlos reaches up and brushes his fingers over the cross. “After the fire…everything was just so hard. I felt lost, I was kind of spiraling and one day we were out trying to replace stuff and I saw this and I felt like it kind of called to me. It reminds me where I come from. That I have roots, and a purpose.” He looks up and gives her a wan smile. “That’s probably a less religious answer than you were hoping for.”

She shakes her head, leaning forward to cup his cheek. “It’s a perfect answer.”

Pizza

“Oh my god. What the actual fuck are you doing to that pizza?”

Carlos freezes, pizza halfway to his mouth. “Eating it?” he says in confusion.

Adriana looks at him like he’s crazy. “Eating it? You’re murdering it!”

He looks down to see that he’s mindlessly folded the slice in half. “Mind your own business.”

“Um, you turning a delicious slice of Texas’ finest into that hot mess is my business.”

“How about I eat the pizza I bought and paid for and planned to eat by myself tonight however I want and you shut up?”

“Where did you even learn to do that?” she persists. “I’ve never seen you do that before.”

“It’s how T.K. eats his. It’s a New York thing. I must have picked it up from him.”

“Well can you send it back where it belongs? You look ridiculous.”

He starts to pull the pizza box away from her but she grabs on. “No! Okay! I’m sorry! You can commit pizza homicide all you want!”

He rolls his eyes and lets the box go. “It was so nice and quiet before you showed up here unannounced.”

“You’re welcome, by the way, for saving you from that sad loneliness. Where’s T.K.?”” Adriana asks around a mouthful of cheese and peppers. 

“He has a shift.”

She nods in understanding. “Down at Hunk-O-Mania. Gotta get his last dances in before you two get hitched. Nobody wants a lap dance from a guy with a ring on his finger.”

“It is unbelievable that you think that joke is still funny after like three years,” Carlos tells her with a glare.

“God he and Magic Mike both hanging up their tear away pants in the same year,” she says with fake wistfulness. “The stripping world is losing two of its greats.”

“Don’t ever show up here uninvited again.”

Schmutz

“God I love this place,” Lexi says as she bites into a donut. “I will admit I thought gourmet donuts were a stupid idea, but I have seen the light.”

Carlos breaks off a piece of his matcha donut and nods in agreement. “Have you had their mocha one? That’s T.K.’s favorite. They had that lavender one too, a couple weeks ago and it blew my mind.”

“I would usually say flowers and donuts do not go together, but after this?” she holds up the orange cream donut that’s half gone already. “I’m willing to try it.”

They end up cramming their remaining donuts down as fast as they can when a call comes in and they have to go break up some fighting parents at a high school basketball game. It’s nasty and several people have to get seen by EMT’s for bloody noses and black eyes, but no one ends up pressing charges, so they head back to the station to do paperwork before their shift ends.

“You’ve got some donut schmutz on your collar,” Carlos tells her when they get inside and the harsh florescent lighting of the station illuminates them both.

She raises an eyebrow. “Some what?”

“Schmutz,” Carlos says. “It’s like…dirt. Mess.” 

“Somebody’s been hanging out with their fiancé too much,” she tells him with a laugh as she reaches for a tissue to wipe off her uniform. “Are you headed home to cook up a brisket tonight too? Going to hail a cab to get you there?”

“Shut up,” Carlos says, feeling his face redden. 

“Are you going to stop smiling at people in the store too? And start cutting people off in traffic?”

“Oh my god stop.”

“T.K.’s east coast ways have rubbed right off on you. I would have thought the Texas blood ran deeper than that. Oh god,” she puts on a fake horrified look, “do you think Chipotle is real Tex-Mex now?”

He shoots her a glare. “Don’t you have paperwork to do?”

“I’m teasing Reyes,” she tells him. “I think it’s nice actually. Being with the right person should change you a little. And you and T.K. have changed each other in all the right ways.”

She sends him a smile and starts on the pile on her desk, leaving Carlos to contemplate the warm glow her words have put into his chest.

Team

“Carlitos, thank you for coming on such short notice,” Andrea says when Carlos steps through the front door of his parents’ house.

“No problem,” Carlos says. “Sorry to hear Frankie is sick.”

One of their ranch hands had called out unexpectedly and Carlos was a quick and easy replacement. It wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind for his day off, but family duty wasn’t something he ignored if he could help it. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s out back,” Andrea tells him. “I texted him and told him to come up to the house. He’ll be here any minute.”

Carlos shrugs out of his jacket and hangs it on a peg by the door before turning around to give his mom a hug. Andrea’s face immediately drops and she sighs. “Oh Carlitos.”

“What?” he asks, confused by her bizarre response.

She shakes her head. “You’re wearing a Mets shirt.”

“Yeah, I think T.K. brought it back from New York the last time he went out to see Jonah,” Carlos says, glancing down at the offending blue t-shirt.

“Carlos, you know how your father feels.”

“It’s a shirt Mom. It’s what I had on when you called.”

“You couldn’t have taken a few minutes to change?”

“You made it sound kind of urgent,” Carlos says in annoyance.

The back door opens and Gabriel walks in, a smile on his face. As soon as he catches sight of Carlos he sours immediately. “What are you wearing?”

“A t-shirt that my fiancé gave me,” Carlos says.

Gabriel’s voice goes low, dark like thunder. “In this house we root for the Astros. And only the Astros.”

“It’s a shirt dad. It’s not a big deal,” Carlos says. “T.K. likes when I rep his team.”

“Don’t tell me he’s got you cheering for them too?” Gabriel says, looking outraged. “Oh my god, where did we go wrong?”

“They have some really good pitchers dad. You respect a good team, they’re a good team.”

Gabriel scoffs. “I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.”

“I can’t either,” Carlos tells him.

“Enough Gabriel,” Andrea calls from where she’s returned to the kitchen. “He came to help. Leave him alone.”

“What you do in your own home is your business,” Gabriel says tightly, ignoring her. “But I will not allow those colors to be worn in my house.”

Carlos claps him on the shoulder. “Good thing we’re going to be outside then.”

Friends

“Hey babe!” T.K. calls as he walks through their door.

The TV immediately turns off and Carlos whirls around to look at him over the back of the couch, eyes wide and innocent. “Hey,” he says back.

T.K. pauses, eying him closely. Carlos is trying for nonchalant, but T.K. can smell guilt in the air. He sets down his bag and puts his hands on his hips. “What were you just watching Carlos?”

“A documentary,” Carlos says quickly.

“A documentary.”

“Yep.” Carlos pops the “p” in an effort to seem casual.

T.K. dives over the back of the couch and snatches the remote out of his fiancé’s hand, flicking the TV back on. “A documentary about six friends living in New York in the mid-nineties?!” he yells.

“Okay, hear me out,” Carlos says, holding up his hands placatingly.

“You watched without me!”

“I didn’t mean to!” Carlos cries. “I was watching a documentary and then it rolled into the episode when it ended and—“

“You could have turned it off!” T.K. tells him sternly.

“I was going to!” Carlos says. “But T.K., Chandler and Monica?! What the hell?!”

“You said you didn’t even like it,” T.K. points the remote at his chest. “You said it was ‘fine.’ And then you went and betrayed my trust.”

“Well…I got a little invested,” Carlos says sheepishly.

“I’m glad my good taste in television is finally rubbing off on you,” T.K. grumbles. “But next time you decide to watch a pivotal episode of one of America’s greatest sit-coms, you’d better wait for me.”

Dinner

Carlos is so tired he’s not sure he’s going to make it down the hallway. Every part of his body aches to be in bed though, so he trudges onward, one foot in front of the other until he finally fumbles his way through the door. 

He can’t remember the last time a shift was this bad. They hadn’t had a single second to slow down, one call after another, nearly all of them resulting in a physical altercation or take down, and the final call of the day had been a shootout at a bank with multiple casualties. He’s bruised and sore and completely wiped out.

His bag hits the floor and he’s tempted to drop down next to it, but the next thing he knows arms are wrapping around him and T.K. is pulling him tightly into his chest. “Hey,” he breathes into Carlos’ hair. “I was so worried.”

The 126 hadn’t been called into the bank situation, but T.K. must have found out about it from someone because he’d sent multiple concerned texts. Carlos had answered as soon as he could, but there was a big difference between being reassured in a text and being reassured in person.

“I’m okay,” Carlos mumbles into T.K.’s shoulder.

T.K. pulls back and gives him a critical look, fingers brushing over a bruise on Carlos’ forehead and then a minor gash on his arm. “I’m glad you’re home,” he says, a silent acknowledgement that Carlos isn’t actually okay, but he will be now that he’s here.

“Me too,” Carlos sighs. His eyes feel like sandpaper and he desperately wants a shower, but he’s not sure he’ll stay awake long enough.

“Are you hungry?” T.K. asks. “I made dinner.”

“I think I’ll just—“ Carlos stops his response abruptly as he looks at the kitchen. “T.K. what—?”

Every flat surface is covered in pots and pans, cooking utensils, or food. The sink is piled high with dirty dishes and something is still bubbling on the stove.

“I um, I might have been a little anxious waiting for you to get home,” T.K. says sheepishly.

“So you cooked enough for an army?” Carlos asks.

“I’m going to clean it up,” T.K. says quickly. “I know the dirty dishes stress you out, and I planned to have it all done but then the fish took longer than I thought it would and the sauce wouldn’t thicken so…”

Carlos’ brain is still trying to catch up with what he’s seeing. “You don’t usually cook when you’re stressed.”

T.K. shrugs. “I couldn’t sit still so I asked myself, ‘what would Carlos do’? And then I did it. It’s surprisingly effective.” His face softens and he runs a gentle hand over Carlos’ curls. “I can’t fix your day, but I can at least make sure you’re fed. That’s the Reyes Family Motto, right?”

Carlos’ face relaxes into tender smile. “Yeah. Something like that.”

[rosedavid]

9 and 24 for the lonestar asks please

Thank you!! :)

9. Who is more likely to take longer to get ready in the morning?

My first instinct is TK. I imagine he inherited a similar skin care routine as his father, so he has to do that and then get his hair just right. And of course he doesn't want to leave bed in the first place, especially the mornings when his husband is right next to him. TK always makes excuses not to get up, then, but Carlos is (usually) responsible and makes him get up, anyway, despite his pouting.

Andddd this also feeds into the other question, too:

24. Who most likely distracts the other with their wiles after they broke something?

TK 100%. Don't get me wrong, Carlos does his fair share of distracting TK. All it takes is one glimpse at his curls or the sight of his arms and TK is fully done for.

But TK is the master of using his wiles for distraction, so he'd definitely accidentally break something like Carlos' favorite mug (because as we know, our boy is accident prone) and then try to distract him with kisses before Carlos can ask where it went.

(and if you need more evidence: the lizard incident)

Carlos usually falls victim to him, but he snaps out of it quickly and uses his detective skills to realize that TK is definitely hiding something. This happens all the time with injuries, too. It's just a common thing in their household, at this point.

(TK's hand sneaks up Carlos's shoulder to the base of his neck, turning his head so he can press kisses up his jaw and toward his mouth. Carlos exhales when their lips meet, deepening the kiss with a flick of his tongue.

Wait. He was asking something before this.

Carlos pulls away with a frown.

"TK, what did you do to my mug?!")

Tarlos ask game

[reyesstrand]

Hi Maddie!! ❤️

I debated for so long on what to ask you because we’ve talked about the show so extensively that I don’t even know what to ask, but I love hearing your thoughts and always want to know more!!! so i thought I’d ask a little bit of everything!

1 thing you wish we saw on the show, 2 wishes for season 5, 3 headcanons, 4 favorite episodes, and 5 favorite tarlos physical touches!! go!!

jen!!!!! ily <333 i hope you know i’m equally facing the same debate with what to send you ajfnskdn but here we go!! believe it or not this is me attempting to be concise. this is a warning.

one thing i wish we saw on the show: so many things that i simply cannot choose one. owen’s reaction to tk and carlos’ engagement. carlos meeting gwyn for the first time. selfishly…..more honeymoon. just….more conversations? i’ve never had a problem interpolating when things happened off-screen, but things like carlos and tk talking more about iris or their first i love you would be so lovely to see. also the 1x05 dinner that inspired me to start writing tarlos fic in the first place would be great to finally see

two wishes for season five: would love for nancy to get a big rescue moment to tie in with her backstory somehow. tarlos babysitting charlie/and gracejudd/tarlos double date. it’s been four seasons, how hasn’t this happened yet.

three headcanons: tk could cook well enough before meeting carlos, but carlos showed him how one could show love through food and how to make time in the kitchen something sacred. the 126 have seasonal non-denominational holiday get-togethers. tk and carlos can sleep fine apart but they get the best rest when they can just…wind down at night together and smother each other with cuddles and hold each other close.

four favourite episodes: truly killing me here jen…okay so i’d have to go with 2x08, 3x04, 3x13 and 4x16. this list changes constantly though, and could very well include 4x09, 4x12, 3x18, 1x10 etc etc.

five favourite tarlos touches: KILLING ME……okay every instance of emotional support bicep and emotional support face-in-neck. i truly cannot pick just one of those. carlos tilting tk’s chin up to look at him in the hot mess scene. carlos kissing tk’s bicep and then his neck during the 2x12 scene moments before disaster. TK REACHING OUT TO GRAB CARLOS’ HAND UNDER THE AURORA. and any time tk’s used both of his hands to hold onto one of carlos’ hands 🥹 (hon. mention to the background hugs……background hugs my beloved)

[remorsefulkittens]

Arrested

TK Strand/Carlos Reyes (Tarlos)

Owen Strand/Original Female Character

Ratting: Teen

Status: Complete (2,001 words)

@911bingo Square: Saved From a Bad Date

Summary: TK sends Carlos to save Owen from a bad date, and Carlos does, the only way he knows how…

Read on Ao3

Owen’s current companion had been talking for an hour straight, giving Owen plenty of time to regret saying yes to the date in the first place…sure, she was attractive, blonde, busty, and well-dressed, but Owen shouldn’t have let himself be fooled, because she was also self-centered, entitled, and downright boring; things he wished he'd known before she asked him out, and long before they made it to dinner.

“Like, what would she have done if she had been promoted instead of me? Lord it over me you can bet! She claims she has more schooling than me, but what does that even mean? I know how to do the job, so why take a course? I have better things to do with my time.”

Owen nodded along, waving to the waiter to bring another drink. A strong one.

“You’re lucky to be Captain,” she continued on, while Owen scanned the restaurant hoping for an out. A small fire in the kitchen maybe, or someone to heimlich. “No one to boss you around. Like, I feel like I’m still not in charge, even though I am in charge, you know?”

“Well, being a leader is more than a title,” Owen pointed out, the first words he'd spoken since ‘hello’. “You’ve got to earn it.”

Rearing back in her seat, Owen's date was clearly offended. “What is that supposed to mean? I did earn it!”

Owen apologized, and she went back to her original monologue, oblivious to Owen's discomfort, while Owen resumed his survey of the restaurant. Tuning the chatter out, Owen started running practice drills in his mind, nodding at his date every so often, without registering what she was saying. Until…

“Hello?! Did you hear me?” she asked, snapping her fingers near his face.

“Huh? What? Oh, sorry, what was that?” He gave his best smile to placate her.

She rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was charmed. “You’re not paying attention. I asked if we should go to my place or yours after?” She winked at him, and he pretended he wasn’t horrified.

“Oh, wow…” he fumbled for something to turn her off the idea of going home together. “This is only our first date.”

She scoffed, tossing her hair, impossibly long with such body and shine, falling over her shoulders, strands brushing her neck, her cleavage…and damn it! That hair had distracted him before. He couldn’t let it happen again.

“Holy, Owen, this is the 20th century! And we are grown up's, we can do as we please.”

Another hair toss, and then she was drumming manicured fingernails on the table, waiting for his answer.

“Um, it's actually the 21st century, but good point,” he glanced over his shoulder, but the entrance door was too far to bolt. “I just have to hit the men's room, and we'll work out the details.”

Owen was up and moving before she could object, and he shut the bathroom door with a grimace. He needed an out. In New York he might have considered slinking away, having the waiter make an excuse …but Austin was smaller. He would run into Gemma again, she worked at his favorite men's wear store for Pete’s sake! Plus, he was an adult, captain of his own crew! He could tell Gemma the truth…or, he could call someone to rescue him.

He thanked God that he hadn’t left his phone at the table, yanking it from his pocket and dialing TK's number.

TK got his Dad’s call right after he told Tommy he would stay late to help Nancy with the inventory. Poor timing because he couldn’t just leave, but having been on his share of disastrous dates, TK couldn’t just abandon the man either. Obliged to think of something, he told his dad to hang tight, help was coming, at the same time he was texting Carlos to pass the buck. His boyfriend would just be getting off shift, so he could spring Owen on his way home, and maybe pick up take out too.

“Everything ok?” Nancy asked, tearing open boxes, and stacking supplies on the ambulance's bumper.

“All good, my dad just got himself stuck on a bad date,” TK shrugged, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I texted Carlos to go help out.”

Nancy snickered, picking up her clipboard to update her count. “Good that cap is putting himself out there. He's grumpy when he's lonely.”

TK climbed into the ambulance to start packing sterile dressings, gauze, gloves and masks into the cupboards.

“Yep!” TK agreed, “plus he interferes in my life a bit too much. Sounds like THIS one is definitely not THE one though,” he said grimly.

“Got distracted by pretty hair again?” Nancy snorted, and TK laughed out loud.

“Well all he could tell me is that she's blonde, and talks a lot, so sounds about right.”

Nancy picked up another box. “You know, he should just go out with Tommy. Neither of them are good at dating, maybe they'd click.”

Both TK and Nancy paused in their tasks, eyes meeting, before they cracked up.

“That'd be weird,” TK said, catching his breath.

“Yeah sure would,” Nancy agreed.

‘What? Just leaving work…how am I supposed to rescue your dad?’

‘TK? What am I doing?’

‘Are you serious about take out? That place is pricey.”

‘TK? Hello?’

‘TK you know it bugs me when you don’t answer…’

Carlos slid into his car, annoyed with TK's habit of texting, then going radio silent, without waiting for his answer. He had no idea how to extricate someone from a date, and Owen was an adult, couldn’t he just be honest with the woman? All Carlos wanted was to go home, get into sweats, and binge TV until TK joined him…and then he had some other, less PG ideas, about how to finish their evening…but first he needed to focus.

Take-out wasn’t a bad idea because he wouldn’t have to cook…plus if he did this TK would owe him and that was always fun. He thought for a second, tapping his fingers on the wheel, gaze wandering down to the uniform he was still wearing, and it hit him; he was a cop, how hard could it be to force someone out of a restaurant? He was sure his inspiration would work, and if he ordered food on his way over, he could grab it on the way out. Smiling at his own resourcefulness, Carlos put the car in gear, steered his way out of the parking lot and onto the road.

Back at the table, Owen could only pray his son would come through for him. He had stalled as long as he could in the bathroom, and now Gemma was looking pretty irritable…though it hadn’t stopped her from talking.

“My fish is dry,” she complained, glancing around for the waiter. “I’m going to let them know. This place gets such good reviews, but I’m not sure why.”

Owen managed not to groan, instead adopting an upbeat tone.

“Mine's great,” he said, stuffing a bite into his mouth, then talking while he chewed, “You should have gotten the steak.”

Gemma was clearly grossed out, and Owen figured being generally unpleasant would have to be his back-up plan if TK didn’t show soon.

“Yeah, well, red meat is terrible for you,” Gemma informed him, then shrugged. “But I guess it's a man thing. Whatever. Did you decide while you were in the bathroom?” She moved on, leaving Owen behind.

“Huh?” He blurted.

She rolled her eyes for probably the fifth time of the evening, because apparently Owen was slow.

“Your place or mine?” She prompted, giving him the same flirtatious grin that had gotten him here in the first place. Damn whatever hormonal process made him lose his common sense when pretty women looked at him that way.

“Wow, um…” he took another huge bite of his dinner to buy some time, chewing a full twenty times before swallowing. She reached over and put her hand over his, and he suddenly knew exactly how deer felt when the headlights hit them.

“I’d have to say your place,” he finally spit out, defeated. At least she wouldn’t know where he lived this way.

She smiled wide, like an extra creepy Cheshire cat, and he slumped in his chair, wishing for another drink.

“Good choice, Captain,” she drawled, leaning in closer, “At my place we can be as loud as we want.”

TK was going to an earful for this one, Owen swore, after all the things he had done for his son!

“Ha, yeah well that’s me,” he stammered, tipping his drink, hoping for a few more drops of tequila, “always making sound decisions and-"

“Owen Strand?”

Owen was startled by the commanding voice, fumbling his glass, nearly dropping it in his lap. Gemma's eyes went wide, and Owen swiveled in his seat to face Carlos Reyes, in full uniform, stone-faced, feet planted, thumbs tucked into his belt. Owen had seen Carlos in action before, but he didn’t think he'd ever seen him look quite so intimidating.

“Car-" Owen started to greet, only to be cut off by Carlos' raised hand.

“Owen Strand, you are under arrest,” Carlos stated, moving to pull the cuffs from his belt. “Stand up,” he ordered, without a hint of humor.

“Car-officer-I’m sure I have no idea-"

“You are Owen Strand correct?” Carlos questioned, eyebrow raised.

“Yes, I-well-yeah-you know that,” Owen stuttered, eyes darting from Carlos, to Gemma, to all the other faces staring at them.

“I do, and like I said, you're under arrest, so you need to stand up and come with me,” Carlos ordered, and Owen gaped.

“Easy or hard Strand! You decide,” Carlos barked, and Owen jumped to obey.

Catching Owen’s wrists, Carlos yanked them to his back, slapped on the cuffs, and spun Owen toward the door with impressive strength.

“What are the charges?” Owen managed to squeak, and without pausing the frog march, Carlos leaned in to whisper.

“TK texted me. Keep walking and I’ll tell you in the car.”

“Are you freaking serious?” TK couldn’t quite wrap his head around Carlos’ choice to arrest his father in the middle of a crowded restaurant. “You couldn’t have just said his son was sick and needed him? Or, I don’t know, anything but dragging him out in cuffs?!”

Carlos shrugged, dishing food from take out containers onto plates. “Well, I’m pretty sure there’s no chance that woman he wanted to get away from will be calling him now. Do you want salad, or just steamed vegetables?”

TK gave his head a shake, but Carlos did have a point. “Just vegetables,” he answered. “Was my dad mad?”

Carlos slid the plates aside. “No, in fact he thought it was petty funny once we got out to my car,” Carlos grinned, stepping into TK's space, kissing his forehead, cheek, and then his lips, long and slow. “I also think he was impressed.”

“Mmmmn…” TK moaned, reaching around to squeeze Carlos' ass.

“He asked me why I was wearing my uniform home,” Carlos murmured into the crook of TK's neck, “I told him it's because it makes you crazy for me.”

TK squirmed, backing up out of Carlos' hold.

“Wait-ew! Don’t tell my dad that Carlos!”

Carlos gave him a devilish grin, pulling TK back to him roughly. “It's true isn’t it?”

TK melted into Carlos' arms, shuddering as Carlos nipped at his shoulder and neck. “It's true,” he moaned, “So true!”

“Good,” Carlos said, “and now you owe me, so let’s eat fast, then take this to the bedroom. You can be the second Strand I cuff tonight.”

TK’s groaned loudly, the growing fire in his belly doused.

“That was gross Carlos! Now you ruined handcuffs for me!”

Carlos tightened his grip on TK, forgetting about dinner, and manhandling his boyfriend toward the bedroom.

“No I didn’t,” Carlos growled, and with an excited a squeal, TK agreed.

[hoosiergal86]

I am not good with words at all. Way more of a visual person but I just have so many thoughts with how they have to keep touching each other every possible second that I just have to type this out. I'll start with 4X04. A little detail I have noticed is after their initial touch, TK or Carlos always find a way to keep touching or holding on to one another until the last possible moment. Every caress/touch flows into the next one.

1. TK runs to Carlos and cups his face with both hands. Instead of just holding him, he adds little soft, caressing circles on his cheeks trying to get him to open his eyes. “Stay with me, baby.” As he picks up the morphine vial, his other hand is still under his head. Once he realizes the severity of the situation, his fingers immediately check for a pulse while his other hand is under his head again. It accelerates into rubbing his hand across his fiancé’s chest to see if he’ll wake up. All the while TK’s right hand is still supporting his head.

2. Now TK works to resuscitate his fiancé’s life. As Carlos’s head turns to the side with TK frightened and thinking the worse, TK’s hand is still laying on Carlos’s chest. The moment he breaks that touch is to grab the Narcan.

3. Once Carlos is revived, TK’s immediate reaction is to grab ahold of him to calm him down. First by his arm. Then to his shoulder with one hand while his other hand rests on his leg. At this point, Carlos realizes his fiancé is beside him. Carlos’s hand relaxes and rests on TK’s arm. TK’s left hand moves from Carlos’s leg to caressing his chest in a circular motion. Then moves to a gentle caress on his cheek, calming him down. “It’s okay.” “It’s okay.” You can see Carlos physically relax as his dad hugs him and TK gently strokes his shoulder with his thumb.

4. Of course TK has to help wheel Carlos to the ambulance. If they cannot touch at this possible moment, they will make sure to be in the closest proximity of each other. As Carlos tries to get out of going to this hospital, he just has to grab ahold of TK’s hand. He didn’t just lay his hand on top but cupped TK’s hand, and Carlos intertwined his thumb around TK’s.

5. “Oh baby, you saved your own life. I was just holding on to it for a little while.”  This right here is my favorite sequence. Both of them touching one another at the same time. Reacting to the other’s touch. All in one fluid motion. First TK places his hand on Carlos’s shoulder while Carlos brings his hand to TK’s face with his thumb resting on his cheek. “It’s yours.” TK’s hand then moves to Carlos’s cheek making small caressing circles. At this moment, notice how they are departing from one another. They don’t just move their hands away. With TK, he caresses his hand from Carlos’s cheek, to his neck, down his shoulder then back up his arm before the contact ends. With Carlos, his hand is caressing down TK’s cheek. Then notice his thumb caressing down by his chin with his fingers following down the same path. It doesn't stop there. His entire hand glides down TK’s chest. Not once but twice. As Carlos is being raised into the ambulance, TK still has his hand resting on Carlos’s arm. The only reason the touch is broken apart is so they can wheel the gurney all the way back. Both just have to keep touching until the last possible second. 

Ronen and Rafa adding all of these tiny details to their scenes makes them so natural and believable. I feel like they have been getting softer and softer as the seasons progress.

[noxsoulmate]

💞 Noxy’s Alternate Reconciliation Fic 💞

Ship: Tarlos | Fandom: 911 Lone Star | Author: noxsoulmate | Read on ao3

Chapter: 5/6 | Word Count: 4636 | Rating: Explicit | Warnings/Tags: alternate universe - canon divergence, drunk Carlos. Concerned TK, TK takes care of Carlos, drunken confessions, post-break up, getting back together, mutual pining, boys using their words, idiots in love, explicit sexual content, makeup sex, domestic fluff, telling their friends, healthy communication | Art made by: @chaotictarlos 💕

Summary:

“Carlos, who are you talking about?” “My boyfriend. He left,” Carlos slurred. TK’s heart was racing now, a silent laugh escaping him. But he needed to be absolutely sure who the sleeping, drunken Carlos was talking about. “What’s his name?” “Tyler Kennedy. But he’ll kill you if you call him that.”

~*~

An alternative rendition of how TK and Carlos may have gotten back together.

This fic is finished, all chapters will be posted before the year ends!

💞 Chapter 1 💞

💞 Chapter 2 💞

💞 Chapter 3 💞

💞 Chapter 4 💞

💞 Read Chapter 5 on ao3 💞

Sneak peek under the cut:

“So, how are we going to tell the others?” TK asked late the next morning, popping a blueberry into his mouth as he kicked his feet back and forth a bit.

It had taken no time at all for him to find his new favorite place in the kitchen to sit and watch his man. He took full advantage of their counter being L-shaped, slouching into the corner it made. That way, he was close enough to the sink to pull Carlos over whenever the man needed to clean a knife or wash his hands, and also sat right next to where Carlos prepared some of the ingredients.

Not that he was stealing them or anything…

Munching on another blueberry, he took in Carlos’ grin, letting it warm him as his man looked right at him.

“Have they been bugging you as well?”

“Only all the time,” TK replied with a laugh, reaching for a cut strawberry next. “Nancy was just about to murder me, she wanted to know the tea so badly.”

“Did you not tell her?”

Carlos’ genuine surprise struck him but TK still tried for a smile. “How could I have told her about making the biggest mistake of my life? It was too painful to think about, let alone talk about…” He had to swallow when his voice gave out, all these emotions bubbling up inside of him again. 

He heard Carlos put the whisk down, leaving the pancake batter behind as he stepped right into the V of TK’s legs, kissing him deep and long and thoroughly. Humming into the kiss, TK let it chase away the dark mood. No matter how much they had kissed and touched and whispered reassurances over the past twenty hours or so, there could never be enough of it, at least not in TK’s opinion.

They had followed his plan the previous night, eating a light midnight snack right at this very counter he was sitting on now. After, they had snuggled up on the couch but for the life of him, TK wouldn’t be able to say what they had watched. Because the moment he had been back in Carlos’ arms, they had been kissing until they had fallen asleep.

The morning had started as planned as well, their couch proven to be an excellent place for some mind-blowing sex. And now, it was pancake time…

“You taste fruity,” Carlos murmured against his lips, leaving one, two, three more pecks before leaning back just far enough to grin at TK. “Do I need to start putting out fake ingredients again for you to ‘steal’? So there’s enough left for our actual food?”

TK couldn’t help the silly wide grin that spread over his face as he slung his arms over Carlos’ shoulders, holding him close. “Yes, please do,” he begged. “I’ve missed that.” Pulling him in, he pressed kisses along Carlos’ jaw and down his neck as he whispered. “I’ve missed you cooking for me, I’ve missed your food and how well you know me, how you always know just what to put out to distract me. I’ve missed all these little moments we create, with just us…” Pulling back, he looked Carlos deep in his eyes. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us.”

Carlos’ hands were beneath his shirt before their lips even connected again.

“I’ve missed you, too,” Carlos whispered in between kisses – and TK was eternally grateful that Carlos hadn’t gotten yet to start the stove.

The counter was christened next…

💞 Continue on ao3 💞

Noxy's Tagging List: @chaotictarlos, @detective-giggles, @sgirl18, @sapphire11, @bubblesandroses8, @firstprince-history-huh, @beautifulhigh, @rangergurlgleek1211, @shadesofdeviant, @otter-love-asl, @tarlos-spain, @ramblingdisaster73, @first-kanaphan, @xtltokio, @lightningboltreader, @buckybarnesalways, @tarlossource

[librathefangirl]

Tarlos Week 2022 Day 1: Tarlos + Favorite Season

ID: 8 gifs from 9-1-1: Lone Star season 3 of TK Strand and Carlos Reyes. Gif 1: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 8. Carlos runs across the airport and wraps TK, who meets him with open arms, in a tight hug. Gif 2: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 4. Carlos and TK stand in their loft. TK holds Carlos' face with his hands as he pulls him into a slow kiss. Gif 3: Black-and-white gif from season 3 episode 4. TK lies in a hospital bed as Carlos leans over him. TK grabs at the back of Carlos shoulder and pulls him down into a hug as Carlos wraps his arm around TK's head. "Every moment we're not married is a wasted moment" is written across the top of the gif, while "And baby we only get so many" is written across the bottom. Both in capital red letters. Gif 4: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 8. TK sits on their bed. Carlos is crouching before him, one hand at the back of TK's neck. Carlos reaches up and kisses TK's forehead. Gif 5: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 13. Carlos sits by their dinner table as TK, standing beside him, leans down and places a kiss on top of his head, one hand on his shoulder. Gif 6: Black-and-white gif from season 3 episode 18. Carlos and TK sit together on their bed. Carlos smiles widely as he grabs TK's face with his hands. TK smiles back at him, equally wide. "Tyler can I say yes now?" is written across the top of the gif, while "A thousand times yes" is written across the bottom. Both in capital dark blue letters. Gif 7: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 13. Carlos stands behind TK inside their loft, one arm wrapped around him. He smiles at him. TK looks up and over his shoulder at Carlos, smiling back at him. Gif 8: Fully colored gif from season 3 episode 15. TK and Carlos stand in front of each other inside their loft, both nodding their heads. Carlos looks exhausted as he slumps forward and falls against TK's shoulder. End ID.

[tarlos-spain]

Flufftober Day 6

Prompt: Candles, lights, fairy lights

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Pairing: Carlos Reyes/TK Strand

Title: Día de los muertos

TK was used to spending the afternoon and evening of October 31st celebrating Halloween with the children's costumes, making popcorn with candy and watching the "scary" movies that their ages allowed them and then before going to bed, they all prepared the family altar with the photos of the dead loved ones, placed the flower petals perfectly placed under the orders of Carlos and finally the candles, after being sure they had at least three perfectly prepared fire extinguishers at home.

It was a special night for everyone.

The kids had a great time going around the neighborhood to get candy, passing by the barracks where Grandpa and the rest of his big family of friends used to be working; even the kids knew that Halloween night was one of the busiest nights of the year.

At night, when they had managed to put the three of them to bed, Carlos and TK would cuddle up on the sofa and before watching a horror movie, an excuse Carlos always used to hug his husband and grope him... but only a little.

But first they would talk about the family that had fallen by the wayside.

Gwyn was the person TK missed the most. As much as it had been more than ten years since his mother's death, a part of him was still there. Carlos knew that a part of her husband's heart had been left behind, on the day Gwyn had died.

TK regretted every year, and cried about it, that the children had never had the chance to meet their grandmother.

"Whenever the kids do something fantastic or when they get hurt and cry, I wonder what my mother would do, how proud she would be, how protective she would be and how they would be cared for." Carlos stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "I wonder if my mother would be proud of what I'm doing as a father."

"Do you really doubt what she'll think?" TK turned to her husband. "TK, you have the same doubt every year and every year I tell you she couldn't be prouder looking at the children we have."

"But..."

"TK, remember the night we are in."

"Carlos, I know we are entering the day of the dead as soon as we cross midnight and as a very cute story for the kids it always works, but we both know the dead don't..."

"Shhh." Carlos put a finger on TK's mouth. "We don't know who's listening from the other side."

TK burst out laughing and turned around to face Carlos. "Every year you tell me the same thing, but I need to know...do you really believe in this whole Day of the Dead thing?"

"Why shouldn't I? This day opens the doors with the other side and the spirits of my grandparents and my Uncle Fernando, I was his favorite nephew. They've all come sometime since his death." TK stared at him, smiled and looked for the moment when his husband would burst out laughing and tell him he was telling him a ghost story for the night it was, but that didn't happen. "I'm sure if you call him, your mother will come at some point. It's strange that she hasn't come in these many years. I'm sure she's really looking forward to talking to you and having you tell her so many things."

They watched a movie, ate popcorn at one in the morning and finally went to bed.

When Hawolleen's joy and fun was over or when the time of tradition came to an end, TK lamented and felt the sadness return because of how much he missed his mother.

As he went to bed, especially that night more than ever, Carlos tucked him into his arms, gave him a kiss on the neck and crooned something in Spanish that TK didn't understand because he was falling asleep, but it made him smile all the same.

When it seemed like he had been sleeping for an eternity, he opened his eyes and found himself on the couch, sitting up, perfectly awake, with his pajamas on and a smell of freshly made pancakes and a sense of feeling good.

"Finally." Said a voice behind him.

He turned around and there was his mother with two cups of hot chocolate in her hand. She sat down on the couch next to TK and handed him one of the mugs.

"Mom?"

"Sure, who did you think it was going to be?"

"Well, actually, I wasn't expecting anyone."

"It's the Day of the Dead. Twelve years married to Carlos and he hasn't taught you anything?"

TK opened his mouth to say something, but didn't and just stood there, staring at his mother, who had changed absolutely nothing since they had last seen each other.

"I've been all these years waiting for you. I've watched you grow up mature, get married and have children...I never would have thought you'd have three kids and survive." TK burst out laughing. "But I look at you now that you almost have a ten year old, the wonderful twin girls you have and I'm happy."

"But you're not here."

"I'm always here, TK, I'm always by your side, even if I see you from the other side."

"Mom...I miss you so much, can I...can I hold you?"

"Of course you can, my love. Tonight, until it's daylight, I'll be here with you, we can talk, you can tell me anything you want and we can have all the hot chocolate we want."

The night passed sooner than TK would have wished, but at the same time, it seemed that he had made up for all the lost time with his mother.

When he woke up, TK was alone in bed, curled up in the sheets, but a second later the smell of freshly made pancakes and he thought he was still dreaming. But it was already daylight, he got up, put on a T-shirt and pants and went downstairs to the living room.

He wasn't dreaming...although it seemed that way every time he saw his children moving around the kitchen and living room getting breakfast and the table ready with Carlos.

"Daddy." Said the twins at the same time and ran to hug him. "Look Dad, he's making pancakes with Mickey Mouse faces on them and Tomi is making the syrup with Grandma's recipe."

He looked at his two men, Tomi wasn't far from being all man and they both had him completely smitten; just as much as his girls. His entire family was the most wonderful treasure he had.

"See you in a year, TK." He felt the say to his mother's voice and smiled, then walked over to the table.

"How can I help?"

Carlos appeared with the apron "Best dad in the world."

"That's easy sit at the table and tell us how Grandma Gwyn's visit went."

"How do you know?"

"You talk when you sleep."

[strandnreyes]

wip wednesday

thank you @carlos-in-glasses!!

“I’m starving,” TK tells him a moment later. “Let’s order dinner and then I promise we can start putting some of this away tonight.”

Carlos barks a laugh as he stands up and TK frowns. “I will,” he insists.

“Okay, babe,” Carlos tells him as he grabs his phone to place an order. He confirms that TK wants his usual from their favorite Thai restaurant and then says, “In an hour when you’re full and tired I’ll remember that you said that.”

TK squints at him and then relaxes his shoulders and throws on a whole nonchalant act. “You know… I was going to see if you wanted to help me figure out our shower while we wait for the delivery, but I think I’ve got it on my own,” he shrugs, turning to walk to the bathroom. It would probably be a more productive shower if he stopped to grab a towel or soap, but that would ruin his bit.

He gets halfway there before yelping when Carlos’ arm snakes around his waist, the startled noise turning into a laugh as Carlos kisses his neck and then drags him the rest of the way there.

Thanks to Carlos’ organized packing, all of the bathroom stuff is already in the bathroom and Carlos pulls what they need out of the box while TK fights with getting hot water to come out. When he’s finally successful, they wash the various sticky substances off their bodies and then TK comes for the second time down Carlos’ throat.

The delivery driver is knocking at their door for a full two minutes before they answer it. Carlos gives him an extra big tip when he looks thoroughly unimpressed at Carlos’ wet hair and TK walking in the background behind him with just a towel.

tagging @reyesstrand @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @lightningboltreader @paperstorm

[lire-casander]

Congrats on 500 you lovely human!

Can I request 8 or 16 for Tarlos?

I love you and I love your blog. Keep being awesome!

i'm sorry if this doesn't make any sense. i hope you like it!

lingering touches (606 words) | on ao3 prompt: hugging while walking + not wanting to let go hugs

“If you don’t watch out, we’re going to fall down,” TK warns Carlos as they stumble down the street. Carlos has his arm secured around TK’s waist, keeping his boyfriend close to himself — it feels to TK that Carlos wants to fuse them together as they walk. “Carlos,” he almost whines when his boyfriend refuses to let go and they trip over a cobblestone.

“I know, I know, be careful and all that jazz,” Carlos mumbles as he tugs TK even closer to him. “Are you going to blame me for not wanting to let go of you?”

“No,” TK mutters, managing to avoid running into an old lady and her dog. “But maybe we could, you know, walk like normal people?”

Carlos pouts, but he stops when they reach a red light. He still has to let go of TK. It’s not that TK’s complaining — he loves it when Carlos gets all touchy-feely and possessive — but they need to pay attention to where they’re stepping or else they risk getting run over by a truck. And given TK’s own track record with accidents, he’s pretty sure he should be avoiding any possibility of being sent back to the hospital.

“I just—” Carlos starts, finally letting go of TK’s waist. He feels the absence of Carlos’ warmth immediately. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. I—”

“Hey, Carlos, it’s okay,” TK is quick to reassure him. “I love it when you hug me. I love that we’re back to a moment in our relationship that we can flaunt it in front of everyone. I just don’t think risking to have an accident is worth it.”

Carlos doesn’t say a thing, instead kicking at the curb with his shoe. TK worries his bottom lip with his teeth before adding, “I’m not stupid, I know something’s up, Carlos. Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you so much that you don’t want to let go of me?”

Carlos sighs, but the light turns green for them and he starts walking, this time a good foot apart from TK. He sighs and follows Carlos until they’re turning a corner and the newly rebuilt 126 station comes into view. It’s then that TK understands, and he wants to kick himself for being so oblivious.

It’s the first day he’s going to be back at work while Carlos is also on a shift. So far, Carlos has made it work so he could be home when TK was out working, just in case. TK has yet to convince Carlos that he’s not going to fall under the ice anytime soon.

Carlos is nervous.

“Hey,” he says. Apparently, he’s lost his ability to form another word. “Look at me, Carlos.” When his boyfriend does as told, TK opens his arms and Carlos falls into them willingly. “I promise I’ll be careful. Nancy and Tommy will be watching out for me as well.”

“I just want you to be safe,” Carlos mumbles into TK’s neck, which happens to be Carlos’ favorite place in the world. TK sighs into Carlos’ curls.

“Is it weird that I don’t want to let go?” he says. He holds tighter onto Carlos as catcalls and wolf-whistles come from the inside of the building, no doubt from Mateo and Paul. TK could have flipped them off, but he’s too busy committing Carlos’ scent to memory.

“Just a little bit longer,” Carlos pleads.

TK has never been able to deny anything to this man, so he simply does what feels right.

He closes his eyes and holds onto the heartbeat that’s guided him home once again.