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The warm air blows gently against TK’s face as he stares out the open window of the Camaro. Carlos is next to him, one hand on the steering wheel and the other between them, holding tightly onto TK’s. The highway stretches out in front of them, nearly deserted with it being a Tuesday and all. TK can’t help but to feel a bit weird not being on shift at this particular moment, having been getting ready that morning but being surprised with a trip away by Carlos instead. He can’t complain though, they deserve this, having been through so much the last few months. TK can’t think of anything better than being alone with Carlos for this time away, it’s truly all he needs.
“This was a really nice surprise.” TK says, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them since they had begun driving. “Thank you.”
Carlos smiles and lifts their connected hands, placing the back of TK’s against his lips for a brief moment before settling them back down again. “I thought this was something we needed, you know? Just the two of us.”
TK nods and lays his head back against the seat rest, a gentle smile pulling at his lips. Carlos continues staring ahead at the road, but TK can see the corner of his lips curl. They fall back into the comfortable silence once again as they continue on the journey before finally they pull into a clearing, where a cabin sits.
The cabin belongs to Carlos’ Tia Lucy and has been in his family for many years. When Carlos had mentioned back to her at one of their Sunday dinners that he would like to get away with TK, Lucy immediately handed over the keys. That’s what put the plan all into motion, Carlos then made sure to get his own time off before he went to Tommy and requested TK’s time. He packed both of their bags and kept them underneath the bed so TK wouldn’t be able to find them. Now they are here.
TK climbs out of the car and looks at the cabin, taking it and the area around it in. It’s a log cabin with a nice big porch and big windows in the front. It seems isolated, the trees around them enclosing it in so it’s a bit more private and when TK looks down the small hill just to the right of the house, he finds that there’s a lake at the bottom.
“Wow,” TK breathes out as Carlos steps up next to him, his arm wrapping around TK’s waist. “This is so amazing, why are we just getting out here now?”
Carlos chuckles. “Because life finally gave us a break long enough to run away.”
“True,” TK agrees. “Let’s never go back.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Carlos whispers as TK steps away, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the front door.
It’s even more amazing on the inside with a large space, a wood fire and a kitchen that TK knows Carlos would love to own for the rest of his life if he could. TK looks around for a moment more before he’s been pulled towards Carlos and he lets out a soft sound as he gently collides with Carlos’ body.
“Do you like it?” Carlos asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
TK nods, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on Carlos’ jaw before mumbling into his skin, “I love it so much.”
“Good.” Carlos says before he moves to capture TK’s lips in a gentle kiss and TK gets completely lost in it all. His mind is swirling by the time that they pull away for air but Carlos keeps his arms around TK’s waist, keeping him close. “What would you like to do first?”
“I mean,” TK says, placing his hands on Carlos’ chest. “I think I could go for a swim.”
“Oh, do you?” Carlos asks, raising an eyebrow. “Well, I think that’s a good place to start.”
TK smiles before going in for another kiss, this one quicker but leaves TK breathless all the same. This is going to be the best time he’s ever had.
After a few moments and a bit of a breakdown on TK’s part for seeing Carlos in his swim trunks, the two finally find themselves down at the lake. Carlos brings a blanket with him and lays it on the sand well away from the water and places a few other things down, towels and water bottles. TK is at the edge of the water, staring out and watching as the sun glistens across the lake’s surface. It’s totally and completely peaceful, an incredible thing that he gets to share with Carlos, just the two of them.
He startles slightly as he feels arms wrap around his waist and he instantly leans back against Carlos’ body. Carlos places a kiss on the side of his neck before resting his chin on TK’s shoulder. TK tilts his head sideways so it can lay on Carlos’ shoulder. He isn’t sure how long they stand there like that before Carlos finally breaks the silence.
“You know, in order to swim, I think we need to go into the water.”
TK nods but he stands for a few more moments, soaking in the warmth and smell and touch of Carlos before he steps away. The both of them walk into the water and a chill runs up TK’s spine at the temperature of it. Beside him, Carlos seems unfazed by it and he sinks lower and lower until the water is up to his shoulders. TK then watches as he disappears under the water and when he resurfaces, TK is sure the breath is knocked from his lungs. Carlos’ curls are broken free and wild, some plastered against his forehead. There’s water dripping from him and TK can’t stop his eyes from wandering.
“You’re staring.” Carlos states as he runs his hands through his hair.
“I know.” TK says, not even trying to hide it. “How can I not? You’re beautiful.”
Carlos rolls his eyes but there’s a shy smile on his face, a pretty blush rising on his cheeks. He splashes water in TK’s direction. “Stop it.”
TK shakes his head as he sinks into the water, not even caring about the temperature of it anymore and he comes face to face with Carlos. “Stop what? I’m not doing anything.”
“You know exactly what you are doing.” Carlos says, shaking his head.
“What? I just think you should know that I think you’re beautiful. That I love your curls, and your smile, the way it never fails to reach your eyes. Speaking of, your eyes are the most gorgeous I’ve ever seen and when the top of your nose creases when you furrow your brows.”
TK emphasizes it by leaning up to press a kiss at the top of his nose which causes Carlos’ to scrunch it up adorably and the crease appears anyway. TK laughs as Carlos then ducks his head, failing to hide the smile on his face.
“Do you want me to go on or?” TK asks, leaning down so he can catch Carlos’ gaze and pull it up towards him. “Because I could go on and on and —”
Carlos shakes his head, moving forwards to press a kiss to the tip of TK’s nose before moving to his lips, cutting off his words. TK smiles into it before he begins to kiss back and he wraps his arms around Carlos’ shoulders, pulling him close so their bodies are flush against one another.
The time comes when they have to pull away for air and TK places a kiss on the corner of his lips and then his jaw before setting his forehead against Carlos’. “We need to do this more often.”
“Make out in a lake?” Carlos asks, a joking tone to his voice.
“Well yes, of course. But I meant to just get away from things. Everything has been piling up so much lately, this is everything I could have asked for. Thank you for bringing us out here.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Carlos whispers. “You deserve it.”
“No,” TK whispers, shaking his head lightly. “ We deserve it.”
✦✦✦
Soon enough, the day is coming to an end and after they take a quick hike and have some dinner, they find themselves on the couch in front of the fire. It’s not particularly cold in Austin at night yet but TK still welcomes the warmth of the flames in front of him. Carlos consistently jokes about him always being cold but he never hesitates to pull TK close when he needs the warmth and he makes sure to never let go.
They are like that now. TK tucked into Carlos’ side with his arm thrown across Carlos’ stomach and Carlos is gently dragging his fingers across TK’s skin.
“Do you remember when we first met?” Carlos asks suddenly and the question startles him out of his thoughts.
TK smiles because he will surely never forget that day for as long as he lives. “Yes, I will always remember it.” He shifts so he can look up at Carlos. “Why do you ask?”
“I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately. How much we’ve been through with one another and all I can think of is back to that night. That I knew the moment I saw you, I would walk through anything with you.”
“Damn, and here I was just thinking about your dancing.” TK jokes and he feels Carlos shake as he laughs. “How shallow of me.”
“You’re a dork.” Carlos whispers when he comes down from his laughter.
“After I got past that though, I really did think the same thing about you. And I feel like we’ve walked through everything together.” TK says as he looks up at Carlos.
“That we have.” Carlos says, leaning down to quickly kiss him.
“I miss dancing. We haven’t gone in a really long time.” TK notes as he looks towards the flames moving in the fireplace. “We should go when we get back.”
“We could do that,” Carlos says before TK feels him move underneath him until he’s up and off the couch, grabbing his phone. TK watches him as he scrolls through his phone before music is coming through speakers that TK can’t see. Carlos sets the phone down and walks over to him, holding out his hand. “Can I have this dance?”
TK bites back a smile as he nods and silently grabs onto Carlos’ hand, allowing him to pull him up from the couch and to his feet. Carlos leads them around the coffee table until they are closer to the fire. TK looks up at him, the flames throwing everything into an orange hue. Carlos wraps his arms around TK’s waist and TK raises his to Carlos’ shoulders.
He pulls himself in close until his face is in the crook of Carlos’ neck. It only takes a moment before he feels tears in his eyes and he tries his hardest to stop them but they just keep coming. Carlos seems to notice immediately and he steps away until TK is forced to raise his head.
Carlos frowns as he looks at him, taking him in. “TK, sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
TK shakes his head, a smile finding his lips. “Don’t worry, I’m okay, just overwhelmed.”
“Do you need to sit down or —” Carlos turns to look for something and TK is not sure what he’s even looking for but he makes sure to grab Carlos’ arm, facing him back towards him.
“I’m okay, Carlos. I don’t need anything but you, I will always need you.”
The worry lines on Carlos’ face soften and he smiles softly. “You will always have me.”
“And that is all that I will ever need to get through whatever life wants to give. Through all the good, the bad, and everything in between. With you, I am pretty sure I could beat anything. If these past few months have taught me anything, it’s that.”
“You’ve made it through a lot without me.” Carlos points out. “I’m just here to help along the way wherever I can.”
“And you’ve never failed in that.” TK whispers. “Trust me.”
“I will always trust you.”
TK smiles and leans forwards to place a quick and gentle kiss against Carlos’ lips. “I feel the same way. We’ll always find our way back to one another.”
It’s such a wild concept to TK. When he and Carlos had first got together, both their trusts had been shot at that point and they were both still trying to learn to regain it. But now they are standing in front of one another, with not just the belief, but the certainty, that they will in fact always be able to trust one another. There will never be any doubt in that.
TK can be at peace with the fact that this along with their strength and their love will always pull them through. No matter what.