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The room was blanketed in complete darkness when Carlos woke up. Just for a moment, he was disoriented; it didn’t last long, of course, his instincts always on high alert. He knew he was in his condo, on his couch, and the gray flicker from his TV told him it had gone on standby due to inactivity.
The difference that had him surprised was the weight pressed into his side. It was such an unusual feeling, he needed a second to comprehend it.
TK.
Cuddled up to him.
Fast asleep.
Carlos had to swallow hard, trying to not let his heart beat too fast at the sight and the feeling. Trying to keep his breathing even and not move too suddenly.
This had never happened before.
Hell, it had taken a while for TK to not immediately run out after their hookups and it had taken even longer for him to sometimes come over for simple ‘friend activities’ like watching a movie.
So far though, they had never fallen asleep together and, God forbid, they had never cuddled before. Carlos wanted to savor every single second of this.
That was, until his brain fully caught up to the situation, reminding him that TK had just come out of a stressful shift and Carlos’ hadn’t been a walk in the park either. They both needed real sleep, not just some rest on the couch.
With an aching heart, knowing full well that he might not get this again, Carlos brushed a hand over TK’s shoulder and back. “Hey, TK,” he whispered. “Wake up.”
TK grumbled and, honest to God, buried deeper into Carlos’ chest, making his heart race and almost leap out of his chest. God, who gave this man the right to be so sweet?
“TK, come on. This couch will be the death of our backs if we stay here any longer.”
With a sudden start, TK jerked up and looked around, bewildered.
“Wha–?”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Carlos assured him. “We just fell asleep during the movie.”
After one last look around, TK finally groaned, letting himself fall back against the couch – with some space between the two of them, sadly – and brushed both hands over his face.
“Urgh, sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
“No worries, really,” Carlos assured him again as he got up and began to clean their snacks from the coffee table. “We both had a hard day. We should’ve expected this to happen.”
“Yeah, true,” TK replied and Carlos heard him yawn loudly as he got up as well, carrying their glasses to the kitchen. “Okay, lemme just… lemme get an Uber and I’ll be out of your hair.”
“TK, it’s four in the morning.”
“Yeah? So? Wait, you think there won’t be an Uber around this time?”
“What I’m saying,” Carlos explained as he covered TK’s hand and the phone he’d already pulled out with his own, “is that you can stay if you want to. We’re both dead on our feet. Let’s just go upstairs and crash in my bed.”
TK’s eyes went wide for a second and Carlos could practically see the gears turning – even though it might be a slower-than-normal process since he could tell just how tired TK was.
He was quick to clarify. “I have a big bed, tiger. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
With that, he turned around and moved towards the stairs, not sure just how much he was able to keep up his poker face while dead on his feet himself. He couldn’t risk TK seeing just how much he wished for more; how this invitation, while hopefully sounding nonchalant, actually had his heart racing and his throat go dry.
When he reached the first step and was about to turn back around, he heard TK catching up to him. Letting a small smile flicker over his lips, he moved upstairs, TK right behind him.
“Wanna change?” he asked, cutting the last word short because of a deep, deep yawn. Even his speech began to slur, sleep already working hard to pull him under again. “You can have some of my stuff.”
“Yeah, would probs be more comfy,” TK replied, equally slurry and clearly just as unable to continue to form complete words.
Carlos dug out a shirt and some sweatpants, turning around to hand them to TK just as the man yawned, rubbing his neck with one hand. He looked so adorable and Carlos wished he would be allowed to see more of this side of the man. Pushing that thought aside, he pointed to the other door in his bedroom. “Bathroom is there. You go first.”
TK nodded, took the proffered clothes, and shuffled over, bumping into the doorframe. Carlos winced in sympathy and chuckled when he heard TK absentmindedly mumble an, “Ouch.” He was pretty sure it hadn’t really hurt, but it was funny to see that TK was one of those people that reacted to the expected pain as much as the actual one.
Yep, sleepy TK really was adorable.
Shaking those thoughts away, Carlos quickly changed while he was in the room alone and once TK came shuffling back, he switched places with him.
“Hey, which side of the bed is yours?” TK asked right before Carlos could close the door.
He leaned out of the bathroom and smiled at him. “I’m not picky. You choose.”
Well, that was a lie. Carlos usually gravitated to the side closer to the door. Michelle had always told him it was the protector in him. That ingrained part of him that would always take the bullet for anyone; the instinct that wanted him to be the first an intruder would stumble over.
Carlos had no idea if that was true – but he also hadn’t shared his bed with anyone often enough to test the theory and see if it was the same as from when he was alone in his bed.
He made quick work in the bathroom and when he stepped back into the bedroom, a small smile flicked over his face.
TK had chosen the side closer to the window.
“Is this alright?” the blanket bundle mumbled.
Carlos got into bed on his side and moved under the blankets as well. “Sure is. I told you to pick.”
“Good,” TK said, eyes already closed and speech even more slurry. “Hate doors.”
“Huh?” Carlos asked, amusement starting to set in. He was pretty sure TK’s last filters were gone, the man hardly knowing what he was saying.
“Doors. Always sleep far away.”
“Well, that’s good,” Carlos replied, laying down and moving onto his side so he could continue to watch the cuteness next to him. “I happen to like sleeping close to them.”
“Makes sense,” TK mumbled.
And Carlos knew it was mean. He knew he should let him sleep, but he couldn’t help himself. “Oh? Why is that?”
“Cause you’re a hero. … keep me safe.”
Carlos bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. God, was this how sleepy TK always acted? Was he really this cute? “Of course I keep you safe. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
“Mhmm,” TK agreed, drifting closer to Carlos and burying his nose into his chest. “I feel safest with you.”
Carlos had to hold his breath for a second, afraid of moving in case this was just a dream and he would wake up any second. After swallowing three times to be sure he hadn’t lost his voice, he finally whispered into TK’s hair. “You don’t know what you’re saying, TK. You should sleep.”
It was silent for so long, Carlos was sure TK had taken his advice and truly fallen back to sleep. To his great surprise though, he suddenly leaned back and looked up, catching his gaze. TK’s eyes were surprisingly alert, even though the tiredness was clearly still there.
But there was no mistaking that for now, TK was definitely still awake.
“No, I know exactly what I’m saying,” he spoke, the clearest since he’d been woken up on the couch. “And I know you’re almost as far-gone as I am and that we’ll probs fall asleep in about thirty seconds. But that doesn’t change the facts.”
Carlos had to swallow again. “And what are the facts?” he dared to ask.
A soft smile formed on TK’s mouth and, taking Carlos completely by surprise, he leaned in and pressed their lips together. It was a sleepy kiss, more for comfort and reassurance than anything else, but it was still so, so wonderful and maybe one of Carlos’ favorite kisses they’d ever shared.
When TK leaned back again, he had his eyes still closed and a wide grin on his lips.
“As I said,” he began, dragging his eyes open to look at Carlos. “I feel safest when I’m with you. And I never had that with anyone before. Not like this.”
Carlos took a staggering breath, too tired to control himself or talk himself out of reaching for TK and pulling him in. To his great joy, TK came willingly, snuggling up against his chest and letting out a little happy sigh.
“You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that,” Carlos breathed out, wincing when he realized his words. “I don’t mean that you never had this before, but–”
“I know,” TK interrupted, nuzzling his nose into the crook of Carlos’ neck. “I know what you meant.”
They were quiet for a moment, before Carlos spoke one last time. “Sleep well, TK.”
“I will,” the man mumbled, a grin in his voice. “Sweet dreams, Carlos.”
He wanted to reply with something like, ‘oh, I definitely will,’ but his tongue was too heavy and the thought of speaking again was too much of an effort and in the next moment, his eyes fell shut and Carlos could feel sleep pulling him under.
But he truly did sleep well and with very, very sweet dreams that night. And the best part? His dream was still there when he woke up the next morning, snuggled deeply into his embrace and looking more peaceful and rested than Carlos had ever seen him before.