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The rain beats down relentlessly onto TK’s windshield as he sits on the side of the road at a complete standstill. His car had died a little over five minutes ago and he’s suddenly regretting his decision to take the small detour. But at the particular moment that he had decided to, he wasn’t really thinking about the impending storm. He was, as usual, thinking about Carlos and he wishes he hadn’t left the station without telling him where he was going first. He can only imagine his fiancé sitting in their home worrying about where he had gone. TK stares at the rain falling onto the window, his mind swirling with the thought of not apologising to Carlos before he hung up from their phone call.
TK tries to restart the car and it turns over a few times before it goes silent again. He sighs and accepts defeat before he grabs his phone from the cupholder and attempts to turn it on, but finds it too is still dead. He isn’t even sure how long it has been off for and it pains him that Carlos is probably trying to get a hold of him. TK leans his head back against the headrest and takes a deep breath before he leans forwards to look in his rearview mirror. There’s lights from a roadside diner that he had just passed while driving. He figures it’s his best bet, instead of simply sitting in his car and waiting. He puts his hood over his head and gets out of the car, slamming the door closed and he all but runs towards the lights.
It doesn’t take him long to make it to the diner, pushing open the door. The inside is nearly empty and when TK looks up at the clock on the wall, he finds it’s close to one in the morning. He walks to the counter where an older woman is standing, cleaning mugs and she gives him a friendly smile as he approaches.
“What can I get you, honey?” She asks, her tone sweet.
“A coffee, please and thank you. Do you also happen to have a phone I could use? My car broke down and I need to phone my fiancé to come and get me.”
“Sure thing.” She says as she passes him a phone. “I’ll get you your coffee.”
“Thank you.”
She turns away from him and he stares at the phone for a moment, he knows he’s going to have to very well explain himself to Carlos and TK hopes that he has just gotten home from shift and hasn’t been sitting worrying for the couple of hours that TK has been gone. He’s not even sure that Carlos would want to hear from him but in the end decides that no disagreement would ever make it so they wouldn’t want to hear from one another. Finally, he begins dialing the number that he knows by heart and puts the phone to his ear as he begins to chew on his lip.
The phone rings three times and TK almost sights in relief when Carlos’ voice comes through to him.
“Hello? Carlos Reyes speaking.”
TK smiles, because he can’t help it and he nearly bursts into tears right there and then. “Hi babe.”
“TK?” Carlos says and there’s relief in his voice but also a hint of concern. “Thank god, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. I was worried. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry. Uh, my phone died and my car broke down.”
“What? Where are you?” Carlos asks, his voice considerably more aware and TK can hear the rustle of footsteps and keys in the background.
“I’m at that little roadside diner about ten minutes from the city.” TK explains, knowing that Carlos will know what he is talking about.
“Okay, stay there. I’m coming to you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” TK whispers. “And Carlos? I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too, but we can talk when I get there.”
TK nods despite Carlos not being able to see him. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
And with that, he’s gone. TK exchanges the phone for a fresh mug of coffee and he gives the waitress his best tired smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Did you get a hold of someone?”
“Yeah, he’s coming.”
“Well, we are open all night, so stay as long as you like.”
TK nods and she walks away to deal with another new customer. TK sighs, wrapping his cold hands around the warm mug, his mind wandering back to the phone call he and Carlos had before the both of them had to go back to shift.
“I just don’t understand how you could be so incredibly reckless. Running into a situation like that with zero protection.”
On the other side of the phone, Carlos snorted and TK had froze in his pacing around the bunk room.
“ I’m sorry, what was that?” TK asked, referring to the noise that had just come from his fiancé.
“Nothing. I just find it hilarious how you of all people are lecturing someone about doing something reckless.” Carlos said after a moment, his voice is hushed and TK really wished they could have had this conversation at home instead of over the phone.
“That’s different.” TK tried.
“Maybe so. Maybe I’m not made to go through fire, TK. But when you became a paramedic and you ran into that burning building one day without so much as a mask or a helmet? That’s the exact same thing.”
“It’s not, you didn’t have to watch that happen.”
“No, you’re right. I just had to witness the noise of a gunshot or seeing you with a concussion after being hit over the head with a gun.” Carlos said and TK could hear the hint of sadness in his voice when he says it.
“I didn’t ask for those things to happen, I didn’t go running into something that I knew was dangerous.”
“Everything we run into is dangerous, TK. There’s no way of avoiding it.” Carlos said and before TK could reply, he quickly continued speaking. “I have to go back now, we can talk about this when we get home, okay? Be safe and I love you.”
TK sighed, but had accepted the defeat for the moment. “I love you too. Be safe.”
TK had been scared, there was no doubt about it and then he allowed himself to get upset because of it. He had realised long ago that the fear of anything bad happening to Carlos was so deeply rooted within him, that he would shatter into a million pieces. Sometimes that fear took him over and he’s not sure how to handle it. He loves Carlos, like truly and maddeningly loves him. It’s why they had decided to spend the rest of their lives with one another. But he wasn’t mad at Carlos, he was mad at the universe for putting Carlos into a situation that could have potentially harmed him. Or worse.
He’s nearly done his second cup when the door dings from behind him and he instantly turns around to find Carlos. TK stands, giving Carlos a smile and his fiancé doesn’t say anything before walking over and pulling him into a bone crushing hug. TK instantly hugs him back, his arms going around Carlos’ neck.
“I’m sorry,” TK mumbles into Carlos’ neck. “I didn’t say it when I hung up, but I’m sorry. I was just scared about losing you and I took it out on you. You didn’t deserve that.”
Carlos is silent through TK’s ramblings until they pull away, keeping each other as close as possible. “I know you were scared. I’ve felt that way about you more than once, I feel that way every single time you walk out of our front door. But we have to realise that we love each other and that love is more important than any argument we have.”
TK nods. “I really do love you so much.”
Carlos pulls him back into his embrace and kisses his hair. “I love you too, Ty. God, I was so worried about you. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know where you were and then the storm got worse.”
“I’m sorry, babe.”
Carlos shakes his head. “I’m just so glad that you’re okay. Where were you going anyway?”
TK feels his cheeks burn and he looks down. “I was going to that bakery that you love so much, I wanted to get you the double chocolate muffins you like from there. You know, to make up for overreacting.”
“You were?” Carlos whispers. “But the storm.”
“In my defense, the storm came out of nowhere.” TK says, chuckling. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get them.”
Carlos shakes his head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It was so sweet that you thought of it. That’s always what counts. But you’re alright, and that’s all that matters right now.”
TK nods. “Maybe I can buy you a piece of blueberry pie instead? I know that’s like your third favourite.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
***
“How do you feel about having blueberry pie as our wedding cake?”
TK raises an eyebrow as he looks at Carlos who is joyfully eating another forkful of the pie in front of him. TK would make fun of him for the suggestion, but he has to admit, it’s pretty good.
“We can have whatever you want.” TK settles on. “I just want you to be happy. Whatever you need.”
“I just need you.” Carlos whispers before he smirks. “But also the blueberry pie.”
TK laughs, shaking his head. “Then you will get it. Anything you want, that I can promise you.”
Carlos smiles and it’s such a wonderful and warm thing that TK gets to witness. A smile made all for him, full of Carlos’ love and admiration. He’s so happy he gets to be the person that gets to have that smile all to himself.
“You deserve to be happy too, you know that, right?” Carlos asks, nudging at TK’s arm with his elbow.
“I do and knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with you? Makes me the happiest person on this entire planet.”
Carlos doesn’t say anything, just simply leans forwards and gently kisses TK’s lips. When they pull away, Carlos looks behind TK and out the window. “Well, it looks like the storm cleared up. You want to get going?”
“Can we just stay here for a little while longer?” TK asks.
“Of course.”
TK lays his head down onto Carlos’ shoulder as he eats another piece of pie. Soon, the world outside the diner will awaken to find the storm gone and eventually the two of them will follow suit, and will travel back home to enjoy a day off with one another. But for now, they sit with one another in complete and utter peacefulness. In a world that’s just theirs.