Chapter Text
It has been a long and stressful day. Carlos is on his way home after his shift, looking forward to slouch on the couch, watch some trash TV, a cold beer in hand. But then he sees him. TK is walking down the street towards him, wearing the yellow hoodie he had on the night of the latenight dinner fiasco.
The mere sight of the handsome firefighter makes Carlos smile. And now he has other plans in mind than going home alone. He wants TK to ask him to come with him, kiss him sensless as soon as they enter the door, undress him, marvel at that perfect body and fuck him into oblivion.
But he had to make it look casual, because he didn’t want to scare TK of. And if he hoped that casual would turn into something more, something deep and steady, who could blame him. He cared for that man.
Yes, they only had seen each other a few times and did not know each other well. But despite of all the facts his head found for why he should not arelady be in love with TK, his heart found a lot of reasons why he was.
But he knew better than anyone not to press the firefighter. The last time he had tried, it had ended with TK walking out on him and the dinner he had prepared for them. So from now on he was going to tread carefully.
Carlos is about to pull up beside TK, open the car window and ask him, if he can give him a ride, when it hits him that something about TK is off. Instead of standing tall and proud like he usually does, his shoulders are slouched. Like all energy has been drained out of his body. He does not seem to be walking down the street, it looks more like he’s running from something. And as Carlos catches a glimpse of his face, he is shocked by what he finds there.
The wonderful lips, that can produce an awardwinning smile that makes him weak in the knees everytime, are now pressed thight together and not more than a thin line. And his eyes that usually twinkle are void of any emotion. They seem almost doll like, so lacking are they in life or expression. It is no wonder that he doesn’t notice Carlos, as he is passing him by in his car.
Carlos knows that look. It is the same TK had when he was sitting in the police station hunched over his desk holding an ice pack to his eye. Dread takes a hold of him. He is afraid, that the young man is about to do something stupid. Again. Like the night he went to a bar to pick a fight just to feel something.
That’s why Carlos parks his car, gets out and follows TK, staying back in order for the firefighter not to see him. It’s a good thing he is a cop, he has tailed more than his fair share of suspects. And luckily he had changed into his street clothes back at the station. If he would still be wearing his uniform, it would be difficult to blend in.
He still is not quite sure what exactly he is going to do once he figures out what TK is up to. The young man is not one to accept help easily because he does not want to seem weak. But then again, Carlos can’t just look away and let the other man run into his misfortune. That’s not the kind of person he his. He has to try at least to be there for TK. And he wants to be.
When the darkness don't let you sleep
I'm gonna hold you close
And when space is all you need
I can let you go
And if the spark in your eye goes out
I can be your glow