Chapter Text
TK is just finishing up paying for the Chinese food when his phone rings. He smiles when he sees Carlos’ name on the caller ID.
“Hey baby,” he greets him happily. “I just picked up dinner, and don’t worry; I got the potstickers this time. I should be at your place in fifteen.”
“That’s why I’m calling,” Carlos starts, letting out a deep sigh. “I’m running late. I had a last-minute arrest, and I’m stuck doing the paperwork.”
“Oh,” he says, feeling disappointed. “Do you need to cancel? I don’t have another evening off until Monday.”
“No, no, no,” Carlos rushes to say quickly. “I haven’t seen you in over a week. I’m seeing you tonight.”
TK smiles softly at Carlos’ urgency; he feels the same way. They have seen each other in the last few days, but only on calls. It’s not the same when they’re answering to an emergency.
“It should be another hour before I can get home,” he continues. “I was hoping you would wait for me at my place? The key is under the mat.”
TK takes in a breath at the suggestion. He’s never been in Carlos’ apartment alone in the five months they’ve been dating, and it feels like a big step.
“TK? You still there?”
“Yeah, I’m here, sorry,” he says quickly, shaking off his nerves. “Yeah, okay, I’ll see you at your place.”
“Good,” Carlos answers, and TK can hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll try to finish as fast as I can, I promise. I miss you.”
TK feels his heart flutter under his chest at the soft confession. “I miss you too, Carlos.”
Carlos sighs gently in his ear. “I’ll see you soon, baby, save me some potstickers.”
“No promises,” he teases before hanging up.
TK makes it to Carlos’ apartment in fifteen minutes just like he said, and finds the spare key under the mat as Carlos promised. He hesitates for a moment before pocketing it instead of putting it back where he found it. It’s not safe to keep a key under a mat like that; he needs to talk to Carlos about that when he gets home.
He moves around the apartment, it’s a little weird being there without Carlos, but he gets over it quickly enough, Carlos has made his place inviting and comfortable. He places the food in the oven to keep warm and goes about showering and changing into some of Carlos comfiest clothes. He takes his time in the hope that by the time he’s done, Carlos will be home. Coming back into the living room, he puts on some music and lays down on the couch, waiting for his boyfriend.
He must have drifted off because he wakes up to find his boyfriend kneeling next to him, a soft smile on his face as he caresses his cheek.
“Hi,” he whispers with a sleepy grin, feeling himself go warm as Carlos returns the smile.
“Hi baby,” Carlos greets him as he leans in, pressing his forehead against his. “Sorry about being late.”
“That’s okay,” he answers as he starts to sit up.
Carlos stays on his knees, looking at him, his smile growing as he takes in what TK is wearing.
“Sorry,” he murmurs, feeling himself blush. “I made myself comfortable.”
Carlos shakes his head at him softly. “I like it. I like seeing you in my clothes, and I like coming home and finding you here.”
“Yeah?” TK questions, his heart squeezing in his chest at Carlos’ words. They tease at him.
“Yeah,” Carlos answers with another smile. “Feel free to be here whenever you want.”
TK stills for a moment, taking a breath before he speaks. “You know leaving a spare key under your doormat isn’t safe,” he starts, biting down on his lip to keep from smiling when Carlos raises an eyebrow at him. “I think I should keep it for safekeeping.”
Carlos’ mouth twitches, his brown eyes sparkle with amusement. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Carlos looks at him a moment longer before he lets out a soft loving laugh. “Well, I guess if you kept the key, it would solve the safety issue and me wanting you here all the time, right?”
“Two birds, one stone,” TK grins, gasping when Carlos shifts forward until he’s kneeling between his legs. With his hands high on his thighs, Carlos tilts his chin up, and TK lets out a soft sound as he leans in to meet him in the middle.
“Look at us, working together to solve important problems,” Carlos teases, his lips brushing against TK’s.
TK can feel his smile against his mouth, and he’s sure it matches his own. “We make a good team.”