basilsunrise

[basilsunrise]

seven sentence sunday

thanks @henrygrass @carlossreaders @ladyknight1512 !!

“I’m just surprised, is all. You spent a whole day shopping with Marjan and didn’t come home with a single thing.”

TK frowns. “We were shopping for party decorations. What was I supposed to buy?”

“Nothing,” Carlos murmurs when it’s clear they’re not on the same page about it, like he just wants to move on and get to the part of the night where TK is actually sitting by him. “Come over here.”

But TK’s not there yet because Carlos is unintentionally poking at the sore spot, the exact reason why he didn’t buy anything today. Sure, he saw things he liked. Maybe if things were different, he would’ve gotten them, but he doesn’t want to be shopping with his friends, blowing all of Carlos' money while he’s at work earning it. That doesn’t feel fair. “I’m not like… a shopaholic,” he defends, and Carlos looks at him funnily.

“I didn’t say you were.”

“Okay,” TK states firmly, standing his ground.

“Okay,” Carlos repeats. “Now get over here.”

tagging @paperstorm @reyesstrand @welcometololaland @emsprovisions @rmd-writes @theghostofashton @ironheartwriter @lightningboltreader @neversleepuntilfive @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses @freneticfloetry @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Good morning! ☀️ Thank you for the tags @henrygrass @ladyknight1512 @carlossreaders 💕 Please enjoy the below wherein, yes, Asha is that friend 🎒

“Babe, can you get me the charger? I forgot to charge the iPad last night,” TK says, elbowing Carlos once the group has rendezvoused at their boarding gate.

“I thought you packed it,” Carlos responds blankly, barely looking up from the copy of the Austin Chronicle that he picked up at the Hudson News. The cover is purple, featuring an illustration of a cowboy lassoing a giant banana under the headline: Why Does Texas Hate Sex?

“I thought you packed it, you always pack like three.”

Carlos shrugs.

“You need a charger?” Asha asks, already swinging her backpack around from her back and beginning to dig through the contents. “What kind? I have iPhone, a mini USB, micro-USB. Oh! Look at this. I have this cool solar charger power bank… You have to put it out in the sun for like seven hours though.”

Paul raises an eyebrow and leans over to peek into her bag. “Is that a Zune charger?”

“Yeah, I think I have an iPod charger in here somewhere too, do you need it?”

“Why do you have all these?” Paul scoffs.

“In case someone needs one,” she answers with a shrug of one shoulder, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

He reaches over and pulls a cord out of the bag. “In case someone needs to charge their Nintendo SD on the plane? Or, oh my god, or an ethernet-to-USB adapter?”

Tagging @carlos-in-glasses @whatsintheboxmh @alrightbuckaroo @thisbuildinghasfeelings @everlastingday @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @shipperofsapphics @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie @emsprovisions @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

wip wednesday

thanks @paperstorm @henrygrass @carlossreaders @everlastingday <3

“I’m home!” Carlos calls out from the entryway.

TK can’t see him from the kitchen of their ranch style home, but he smiles as he continues to chop peppers. “Hey, baby!”

There’s a flash of Jonah running through the living room, and TK can’t even tell him to be careful before he’s reached Carlos. TK hears Carlos groan goofily, no doubt picking up Jonah, before he says, “Did you grow today?”

Jonah laughs. “No.”

“Are you sure? I think you grew five inches since I saw you this morning.”

TK smiles to himself, deciding to join his family sooner rather than later, but as he’s wiping his hands on his apron, Jonah and Carlos round the corner. Carlos is still in uniform, but his hat is gone and instead of a belt around his hips, Jonah is perched on one.

“I do think you’re growing, bud,” TK tells Jonah as he walks over. He looks at Jonah’s pants, but it’s hard to see how much they rise above the ankle. “We might have to go shopping soon.”

Carlos hums and cranes his neck forward for a hello kiss. TK gives it to him happily, keeping it very PG with Jonah two inches away. “Hi, babe,” TK murmurs before he pulls back to see Jonah’s wrinkled nose.

“What?” TK gasps, offended. “We don’t like kisses now?”

Jonah shakes his head. “Yuck!”

Both TK and Carlos gasp this time, making eye contact for a split second before attacking Jonah’s face with a series of kisses. He laughs and shrieks and bats them away with his small arms until they finally let him go.

tagging @reyesstrand @whatsintheboxmh @welcometololaland @rmd-writes @thisbuildinghasfeelings @theghostofashton @tellmegoodbye @ironheartwriter @lightningboltreader @neversleepuntilfive @heartstringsduet @freneticfloetry @alrightbuckaroo @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes @carlos-in-glasses @chicgeekgirl89 + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Good morning!! ☀️ Thank you for the tags @henrygrass & @carlossreaders 💕 Have one (1) sad boy and one (1) extra sweet papa

Carlos kneels down at the door, wrapping Jonah in a warm, tight hug. He leans back so his eyes meet Jonah’s, soft and full of that magical Papa love.

“Adiós, mi osito. Papa and TK will be back so soon. I love you more than all the stars in the whole galaxy,” Carlos says gently.

TK crouches nearby, watching his boys fondly, his heart cracking open at the softness in Carlos’s voice.

“Papa…” Jonah says, his voice small and trembly, his little bottom lip quivering. “My heart is sad.”

Eyes going impossibly softer, Carlos brushes comforting fingers through Jonah’s messy hair. “Oh, my sweet boy. It’s okay to feel sad. Papa’s heart feels that way too when we have to say goodbye, even just for a little while.”

Jonah sniffles, resting a small hand over Carlos’s chest. Then he nods solemnly. “Will you bring your heart back to me?”

Carlos smiles and squints his eyes playfully, nuzzling his nose against Jonah’s. He places his own hand over the tiny one on his chest and replies with his most tender voice. “Every day, Jonito. My heart is always with you, no matter where I go. And when Papa comes home, it’s full of even more love, just for you and your TK.”

“How many days?” Jonah asks tearfully.

“Just two, baby. Tonight and tomorrow night and then we’ll be back on an airplane and flying right back to you,” Carlos says, sticking his arms out and making an over-exaggerated whooshing plane noise.

“That��s too many, Papa,” Jonah coaxes, holding one tiny finger up. “Just one.”

“I’m sorry, mi amor,” Carlos says, pressing a kiss to the tip of Jonah’s finger. He follows that up with a kiss to the remaining nine, taking each little finger one by one and ever so gently kissing each tip, and then he adds one to each palm for good measure.“But you can call me and TK any time you like. If you’re sad or scared, or you just have something you wanna tell us. I promise I’ll always pick up.”

“Even when you’re pooping?” Jonah giggles.

“Okay, maybe not then,” Carlos laughs. “But I promise I’m just a call away. Okay?”

“Okay Papa,” Jonah says, voice a little more firm.

He wraps his tiny arms around Carlos’s neck one last time before Carlos kisses his sweet little cheek and whispers, “Te amo más que a las estrellas, mi cariño.”

Tagging @carlos-in-glasses @whatsintheboxmh @alrightbuckaroo @thisbuildinghasfeelings @everlastingday @ladyknight1512 @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @shipperofsapphics @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie @emsprovisions @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

seven sentence sunday

for a little something I’ve started while thinking about post canon tarlos

thanks @carlossreaders @afiendishthingynisba !!

“I… having to rely on someone else, financially, is hard for me.”

Carlos leans forward and raises his brows, a teasing look on his face that shouldn’t fit with the conversation they’re having, yet somehow does. “I remember the colossal mistake I made by buying the loft.”

TK exhales a small laugh and raises the corner of his mouth as if to say ‘exactly’. Then, he takes a moment, gathering his thoughts. “There was a time when I blew all my money on drugs and I was borrowing from people and… borrowing without permission from others and when I got better, I was really anxious about what I was making. I didn't want to have to rely on anyone else. I wanted to know what I was making and spend it wisely. I didn’t think it would be so hard for me to give up control of it. That’s normally your thing.”

tagging @paperstorm @reyesstrand @emsprovisions @everlastingday @welcometololaland @theghostofashton @tellmegoodbye @ironheartwriter @lightningboltreader @neversleepuntilfive @heartstringsduet @henrygrass @freneticfloetry @alrightbuckaroo @chicgeekgirl89 @carlos-in-glasses @carlos-tk @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Thanks for the tags @carlossreaders 💕 Happy Father’s Day to the best Papa & TK in the whole galaxy 🌕🦈

Walking around with a toddler strapped to your leg like a koala with the deadweight of a bowling ball is difficult, impossible for most. But TK Strand’s husband does it easily, shooting him a smile from across the room as TK comes out of the bedroom with their toiletry bag and the black boots he wants to wear tomorrow night.

“Come on, Jo, why don’t you give Papa a break?” TK says. Jonah just shakes his head and buries his face in Carlos’s thigh.

“Jonah and Papa going to the moon,” he mumbles. “TK get my space helmet! We need to find Mr. Shark.”

“Okay my sweet little space explorer,” Carlos says. “Maybe when Abuela gets here she’ll take you on a rocket ride. You can hunt for moon rocks and meet all the space sharks.”

“We need to bring him a blanket,” Jonah says solemnly. Releasing his grip on Carlos’s leg just enough so Carlos can free himself and crouch down to his level.

“A blanket, huh? Why’s that, mijo?” He ruffles a hand through Jonah’s hair, cradling the crown of his head so he can lean forward and nuzzle a kiss to his temple.

“It’s cold on the moon, Papa,” Jonah whispers. He pats his little fingers to Carlos’s cheek and smiles in the mischievous way that’s always sure to melt Carlos’s heart.

“Okay,” Carlos whispers back, pulling Jonah’s little body in close for a hug. Jonah makes a happy little sound and wraps his arms around Carlos’s neck. “We’ll bring him a blanket. How ‘bout an extra snuggly one?”

Tagging @carlos-in-glasses @whatsintheboxmh @alrightbuckaroo @carlos-in-glasses @thisbuildinghasfeelings @everlastingday @ladyknight1512 @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie @emsprovisions @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

thanks @whatsintheboxmh @carlossreaders @butchreyes @heartstringsduet @emsprovisions @alrightbuckaroo !!

Ben: Can you help me (37M) out and describe your perfect date? I’m trying to be more romantic, but I feel like I’m running out of ideas.

Austin Anonymous: My idea of a perfect date will probably be different than your partner’s, but we’ll give it a go anyway. To give you more than one idea, I’ll describe my perfect day.

I’d wake up with my partner; we have a lazy morning in bed followed by a big breakfast. Then we head to the farmers market. I buy flowers. My partner has a sweet tooth, so I buy pastries too. Together, we plan our dinner, buying the ingredients we need to make it. The vendors know us by name; I used to go to this market as a kid and they tell me how grown up I am.

We pick up lunch from somewhere, maybe our favorite deli spot. Something we can eat on the go. We head to Zilker Park—or a lesser known one if we want more privacy, I won’t reveal my secret spots—and find a shady tree to eat lunch under. I bring a book; my partner listens to music before dozing on my shoulder. We take a lap around the park later. I smile as my partner tries to make friends with every animal we cross paths with.

We head back to my place afterwards. I put on a playlist and light candles. My partner helps me make dinner, and by helps, I mean sits on the countertop and steals ingredients. I find it adorable and steal just as many kisses as my partner steals ingredients. We talk during dinner. I mean really talk, finding more things to learn and love about each other.

There’s live music at a bar in our neighborhood. We meet our friends there, laughing and dancing and dominating at pool or darts or whatever our game of choice is that night. My partner is irresistible though, and we leave before the show’s over.

I’d like to point out that I’ve never lived this day, but in a perfect world, I would.

Good luck.

tagging @paperstorm @reyesstrand @tellmegoodbye @thisbuildinghasfeelings @theghostofashton @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @freneticfloetry @henrygrass @lightningboltreader @neversleepuntilfive @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @carlos-in-glasses @carlos-tk + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Good morning ☀️ Thank you for the tags @whatsintheboxmh @alrightbuckaroo & @carlossreaders 💕 Here’s a bit of Mama Andrea thriving in her Abuela Era 💅

“Carlos is feeling a little guilty,” TK tells her a few minutes later, after he’s poured her a cup of coffee and they’re standing at the kitchen island. Jonah is ‘helping’ Carlos close his suitcase by sitting on it and giggling while Carlos pretends to need Jonah’s superhero strength to help zip it up.

“The first trip away from your baby is always hard,” Andrea responds, voice soft and layered in understanding. “Probably harder for Carlitos. You know how he always had such anxiety around travel. Never wanted to be away from home.”

TK smiles. “Yeah. He’s gotten better about it though.”

“Well,” Andrea smiles, reaching up to pat his cheek. “It’s hard to miss home when your home is traveling alongside you.”

“Andrea,” TK swoons. “Don’t make me cry too.”

“I call it like I see it,” she shrugs, nodding in the direction of the living room. They watch the scene unfolding before them, Carlos scooping Jonah up and hoisting him high in the air. Catching him easily and laughing at the way it makes the boy squeal and scream.

“He’s a wonderful father,” Andrea comments.

“He is,” TK agrees. “You know, I need to thank you.”

When Andrea looks back at him with curious eyes he continues. “Thank you for raising such a sweet and gentle man.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Andrea says, smile beaming as she squeezes TK’s forearm. She turns back to watch her son playing with his own child. “Gabriel and I, we did our best. But that man right there? He did that all on his own.”

“Well whoever’s responsible,” TK responds, his own smile growing as Carlos looks up at him and winks as they make eye contact from across the room. “I’m eternally grateful, Jonah and I are very lucky to have him.”

“He’s lucky to have you too,” she says firmly. “How’s Jonah feeling about you two going away for the weekend?”

“He’s sad,” TK says. “He’s been hanging off Carlos like a jungle gym for the last two days.”

“Poor niñito,” she tsks. Then she pats the counter excitedly. “But Abuela’s here now.”

“It would be worse if he knew about the concert,” TK says conspiratorially. “He loves Bad Bunny. He’d be upset if he knew we were seeing him without him.”

“I hafta admit I’m a little upset,” Andrea laughs.

“You like Bad Bunny?” TK asks, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. He’s not fluent in Spanish, but he’s got enough of a grasp on it to know most of Bad Bunny’s songs are not exactly mom appropriate.

“Por favor, mijo,” she laughs and shakes a finger at him. “All mamas love Benito. You boys better bring me a t-shirt.”

Tagging @carlos-in-glasses @thisbuildinghasfeelings @everlastingday @ladyknight1512 @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @whatsintheboxmh @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie @emsprovisions @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

thanks @emsprovisions @carlossreaders @heartstringsduet @reyesstrand !!

“This was fun,” TK murmurs. The room has gone dark around them with the setting sun, but the light from the screen illuminates his face. “It’s been so long since just the two of us hung out.”

Carlos clears his throat. He’s noticed the same, and has been desperately hoping that’s not a sign of how the future is going to be. “Yeah,” he agrees.

TK meets his eyes. “We should do it more.”

“We should,” Carlos whispers, and TK gives him a small smile before he’s focused back on the screen.

tagging @paperstorm @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @henrygrass @ironheartwriter @tellmegoodbye @theghostofashton @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @alrightbuckaroo @freneticfloetry @carlos-tk @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes @neversleepuntilfive + open tag!

[basilsunrise]

Good Morning! ☀️ Thanks for the tags @emsprovisions @carlossreaders @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet @ssealie 💕 Sharing from the fic I posted a few days ago, Raspberry Candy Cane, Blue Tongues in Summer Rain, featuring RUBY the chaotic cocker spaniel!

Ruby doesn’t stop until she reaches the edge of the pond. But when the kite dips over the edge of the water she doesn’t hesitate, leaping right into the pond to continue her chase. Carlos, tangled in the leash, goes right in after her with a splash.

When he surfaces he sees Jonah and TK standing at the edge of the water. Jonah has a delighted look on his face, TK, looking slightly panicked and a little too amused for Carlos’s taste, has a firm grip on the back of the boy’s shirt to keep him from jumping in after Carlos.

“Carlos, are you okay?”

Carlos spits out a mouthful of water and brushes the wet curls from his face while Ruby swims in circles around him, tangling him in the leash even more.

“Papa, you go’ed swimming!”

“Are you okay?” TK asks again once Carlos has dragged himself out of the pond. He puts a hand up to Carlos’s chest, running it along his body like he’s checking him for wounds. He backs off a little when Carlos starts to shake himself off. Ruby emerges from the pond and does the same.

“I’m fine,” Carlos grumbles, shoving the leash into TK’s hand. “I should’ve known Sam’s da–darn dog would be as chaotic as him.”

Tagging @carlos-in-glasses @thisbuildinghasfeelings @everlastingday @ladyknight1512 @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @whatsintheboxmh @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @neversleepuntilfive and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

thanks @carlos-in-glasses @carlossreaders @thisbuildinghasfeelings @paperstorm @everlastingday !!

“Dude, I know you’ve got a sports car, but holy shit. I thought I was the Manhattan driver here.”

Carlos shrugs. “I hit green lights,” he explains. It’s true, but he also did some dodging and weaving in traffic.

“Yeah, okay,” TK placates. “I always thought you were Mr. Boy Scout and go exactly the speed limit. I was wrong.”

Carlos raises his brows. “Mr. Boy Scout?”

TK shrugs. “You know, like… always prepared, a law abiding citizen. The kind of a boy that gets his cheeks pinched by grannies for being such a ‘wonderful young man’.”

He changes the pitch of his voice as he says it and Carlos laughs, but he’s not sure what TK means by that. Or, he’s not sure how TK feels about that. If TK thinks that’s a good or a bad thing. It makes him feel like he’s not adventurous enough for TK, who runs into burning buildings for a living. “Well, I guess there are some things you don’t know about me,” he offers, and TK smirks at him.

“Okay, hot shot,” he humors, and Carlos feels a pang in his chest. TK thinks he’s boring.

open tag + @reyesstrand @welcometololaland @tellmegoodbye @theghostofashton @emsprovisions @rmd-writes @ironheartwriter @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @alrightbuckaroo @freneticfloetry @heartstringsduet @henrygrass @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes @chicgeekgirl89 @carlos-tk + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Good Morning!!! ☀️😎🐕‍🦺 Thanks for the tags @carlos-in-glasses @carlossreaders @thisbuildinghasfeelings @annoyingcloudearthquake & @everlastingday 💕

Sharing a bit from the second and final chapter of Raspberry Candy Cane, Blue Tongues in Summer Rain, which was posted this morning!

“That was fun,” Nancy says, sipping from a cup of the agua de piña Carlos made this morning in anticipation of their friends coming over later, waking up early to peel and chop pineapples while Jonah served as taste tester and official blender button pusher. The agua fresca has been chilling in an oversized dispenser in the fridge all afternoon, and now, poured over ice, it’s the perfect way to end a day spent playing out in the hot Austin sun.

They’ve paired their chilled drinks with a spread of fresh summer fruits; the bright colors of the sliced watermelon, peaches, plums and strawberries bringing Carlos back to the summer evenings of his own childhood spent in the backyard with his abuela, snacking on light refreshing fruits while they waited for the sun to set and the heat to let up even just a bit.

“MMHMM!” Jonah agrees, biting into a slice of watermelon. Pink juice drips down his forearm, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Ruby lays beneath his dangling feet, panting from the heat and the exertion of her afternoon.

“Bro, I think we just invented dog CrossFit,” Mateo beams.

“Baby,” Nancy replies, a dangerous smile on her face. “I thought we talked about you not calling me bro.”

Mateo shrinks a bit in his seat. “Sorry, Nance.” But he bounces back quickly. “But should we go pro with it?”

“We need a name first,” Marjan chimes in. “Canine Calisthenics?”

“How about, ‘This Is Why I Don’t Own A Dog,’” Paul quips, popping a strawberry in his mouth around a self-satisfied smirk.

The group erupts in laughter while TK grabs a slice of watermelon, taking a large bite and humming in pleasure. Juice slides down his wrist the same way it did Jonah’s. TK turns his arm to look at the trail watermelon juice, making eye contact with Carlos across the table before shrugging and darting his tongue out to lick it off.

Carlos feels heat pooling in his stomach as he traces the path of TK’s tongue, sputtering on his agua fresca. After he clears his throat he narrows his eyes at his husband. “Dude.”

“What?” TK asks, the innocent tone of his voice conflicting the glint in his eye that tells Carlos he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Tagging @ladyknight1512 @heartstringsduet @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @whatsintheboxmh @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @emsprovisions @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @thisbuildinghasfeelings @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

Good morning!! ☀️ Thank you for the tags @annoyingcloudearthquake @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses & @carlossreaders 💕

Sharing a bit from something coming 🔜

Carlos groans, wrinkling his nose at the sensation of fingers running through his hair. He flops over onto his back, barely registering the faint voice.

“Carlos? Baby, wake up.”

“What is it!” he shouts, shooting up in bed. “Did the [redacted] get in the pantry again? Please tell me she escaped!”

“Baby, it’s fine,” TK giggles. “There’s been no more vandalism.”

“Then why did you wake me up?” he whines, moving to scoot back down in bed.

“Because,” TK says, a mischievous grin on his face. “I wanted to show you something.”

“It couldn’t wait until morning?” He cranes his head to check the time on the bedside clock. “TK, it’s 4 am.”

“Trust me, babe, you’re gonna be glad I woke you,” TK says sweetly, grabbing Carlos’s hand and standing up. “Come on.”

“This better be good,” Carlos grumbles as he untangles himself from the sheets.

Tagging @ladyknight1512 @everlastingday @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba @whatsintheboxmh @annoyingcloudearthquake @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @emsprovisions @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @thisbuildinghasfeelings @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

thanks @henrygrass !!

“You ready, TK?” Alex asks as Carlos approaches the table.

TK doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he looks at their friends and then catches Carlos’ eye before focusing his attention on Alex again. “Actually, I’m going to hang out for a bit,” he decides, and Carlos has to fight back his smile.

Alex looks surprised by this, but not against it. “You are?”

“Yeah, Carlos will take me home.” It comes out a little like a question, and Carlos gives a nod when TK looks his way. At this moment, he’s very glad he always keeps his car clean.

Alex considers this and then nods. “Okay. Night, everyone.”

“I’ll walk you out,” TK offers as everyone says their half-hearted goodbyes.

Once TK and Alex have exited the bar, Carlos takes an empty seat. There’s another empty stool next to him that he knows will be occupied by TK in a few short minutes.

“That’s weird,” Paul murmurs and Nancy nods in agreement.

Carlos looks between them. “What?”

Nancy looks over her shoulder and then leans her elbows on the table. “How nonchalant Alex is. Like he doesn’t even care that TK isn’t going home with him and is instead going to get a ride home from a hot guy.”

Carlos frowns. TK is not going to cheat on his boyfriend with him. Sure, Carlos is head over heels in love with him, but nothing is going to happen. There’s no reason Alex shouldn’t be okay with Carlos taking him home. “I’m not some random dude. I’m his friend.”

“His very hot friend,” Nancy adds and when Carlos gives her a look, she shrugs.

“If that was my girl or something I’d be at least a little upset,” Mateo adds, prompting a ‘thanks, babe’ from Nancy at the support.

“Maybe Alex isn’t the jealous type. He trusts TK,” Carlos offers, and Paul gives a sad smile.

“Or he’s just not as into the relationship as TK is,” he considers, and Carlos’ lips slide into a frown too.

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[basilsunrise]

thanks @heartstringsduet @ladyknight1512 @carlos-in-glasses @carlossreaders @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba !!

“I thought you like the new house.”

“I do, I really do,“ Carlos insists. It’s perfect; he can see their future there plain as day. “But I’ve never done it like this. Moved into a place under happy circumstances.”

TK’s face falls slightly, likely from guilt, but it’s more than that. “Oh.”

“My first apartment was lonely and then I moved into the townhouse when Iris went missing. We moved into your dad’s because we didn’t have a home anymore and then this place…”

TK nods, massaging the nape of his neck. “I understand.”

“I can never sleep in a new house,” Carlos adds, and TK takes a breath, giving him a hopeful smile.

“This isn’t like those times. It’ll still be our bed and I’ll be right there beside you.”

tagging @paperstorm @reyesstrand @welcometololaland @tellmegoodbye @theghostofashton @henrygrass @lightningboltreader @neversleepuntilfive @basilsunrise @bonheur-cafe @butchreyes @carlos-tk + open tag!!

[basilsunrise]

Hello! Good MORNING ☀️! Thanks for the tags @heartstringsduet @ladyknight1512 @carlos-in-glasses @carlossreaders @everlastingday @freneticfloetry @afiendishthingynisba 💕 Something from my new TK & Marj fic! 👯‍♀️

Paul's phone buzzes on the table, flashing with a new text. He heaves a sigh when he looks down to read the message.

"Your husband and Marjan are apparently two minutes away from a full-blown World War Three."

Carlos arches an eyebrow. "Now what?"

“Man, who knows,” Paul shrugs. "Something about property damage. And betrayal. Joe says we should stay out of it."

Carlos drains the rest of his beer as the bartender approaches with two new ones. "We’re definitely not staying out of it."

Tagging @whatsintheboxmh @annoyingcloudearthquake @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @henrygrass @emsprovisions @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @thisbuildinghasfeelings @ladyknight1512 @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[basilsunrise]

Good morning!! Thank you for the tags @whatsintheboxmh @carlossreaders @annoyingcloudearthquake @henrygrass @heartstringsduet 💕 🩲💕🩲

“Bro, are these your undies?” Mateo cackles. Carlos feels his cheeks heating up.

“Dude, you know those are TK’s,” Paul says pointedly as Carlos bends to snatch the blue and red briefs up off the living room floor. With no other option right now, he quickly shoves them in his pocket.

“Why do you know they’re TK’s?” Carlos challenges, arching an eyebrow at Paul.

“Man, we shared a locker room with your husband for five years. We know.”

“And you used that time to check out his underwear?”

“Well, I wasn’t looking but it’s kinda hard not to notice when a grown man wears Mickey Mouse drawers.”

Mateo peels over, practically busting a gut with his signature machine gun laughter before Paul jabs a finger into his bicep. “Don’t act like you weren’t right next to him in your Green Arrow briefs.”

“Excuse you,” Mateo sputters, smile dropping as his face morphs into full offense. “Green Arrow is DC, I don’t fu—I don’t eff with DC.”

“Okay, fine, Captain America. Or Spider Man or whatever.”

“What’s a locker room?” Jonah asks, doing that little kid thing he does sometimes where he sneaks up on them without a sound.

“Well, little man,” Paul says, sticking out a hand for a low-five from Jonah. “That’s a special kind of room. Imagine like a superhero’s lair, but it smells like old dirty socks and farts.”

“Farts!”

“Yep. It’s where all the guys keep their gear and get changed after calls, when they’re all sweaty.”

“Do they live there?”

“Kind of. We live at the firehouse for our full shift, sometimes that’s like three days. And we hafta change clothes real fast. We’ll be halfway through a sandwich and the alarm will go off and bam! In we go, pure chaos. Pants flying, guys screaming ‘where’s my other boot?!’”

“Can I go there?”

“Yeah, buddy,” Mateo chimes in. “Next time TK brings you by the firehouse for lunch we’ll do the whole tour.”

“Can I see TK’s locker?” Jonah asks hopefully.

“TK doesn’t have a locker anymore, mijo” Carlos says gently, sitting on the edge of the couch and pulling Jonah into his lap. He nuzzles a kiss to Jonah’s cheek, making him giggle and squeal about Papa’s tickly beard. “But I bet if you ask real nicely you can see Tío Teo’s and Uncle Paul’s lockers.”

Tagging @afiendishthingynisba @everlastingday @firstprince-history-huh @my-beloved-lakes @welcometololaland @carlos-in-glasses @emsprovisions @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @hereghostslive @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @alrightbuckaroo @literateowl @the-126-family @eclectic-sassycoweyes @captain-gillian @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @freneticfloetry @sapphic--kiwi @herefortarlos @aoubooming @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @rangersoup @futures-tense @tellmegoodbye @orchidscript @thisbuildinghasfeelings @ladyknight1512 @neversleepuntilfive @ssealie and OPEN TAG 🏷️