Work Text:
“Hey”
TK turns from where he was searching for a snack in the cupboard to see his boyfriend locking the door behind him. Carlos' shoulders are drooping slightly, a clear sign of a long work day.
“Hey Babe, long day?” TK asks as he comes around the counter to meet Carlos in the living room for a hug. He feels Carlos sink into the embrace as he hums the affirmative.
“Why don’t you take a shower while I grab us some food. Then we can catch a few episodes of that TV show you mentioned wanting to watch last week.” TK suggests as he pushes Carlos lightly in the direction of their bedroom.
Carlos nods his head, the uncharacteristic shuffling of his feet showing his fatigue even more. TK watches as he goes, mentally compiling a list of comfort foods to grab. Once he’s sure Carlos is going to make it under his own power he goes into the kitchen knowing he has at least twenty minutes before his boyfriend emerges again he decides to make a batch of hot chocolate for them both. It’s become a favorite drink for nights like these when maximum warmth and comfort is needed to chase away the gray.
TK relishes in the ability to take care of his boyfriend this way. So much of their time lately has been spent with Carlos taking care of TK, or worrying about TK, being there for TK, and while he sincerely appreciates it there is something healing and peaceful in being able to show his love in return this way.
He’s just finished pouring the drinks into their favorite mugs when he hears the shower shutting off and he knows Carlos will be out soon. Grabbing a few snacks from the cupboard and bringing them to the coffee table before grabbing the steaming mugs and doing the same. It hits him as he’s queueing up the show that he forgot to grab the marshmallows for Carlos’ hot cocoa.
Chuckling to himself about his boyfriend’s slightly unusual insistence that hot chocolate is not complete without marshmallows he makes his way back to the kitchen. Just as he’s reaching into the cupboard he hears Carlos making his way back into the living room looking refreshed and slightly more energetic than he did upon getting home.
TK reaches in to grab the bag of marshmallows, frowning when he realizes that it’s basically empty, only two small, lonely marshmallows left. “Shit” he curses softly to himself, remembering the day earlier this week that he came home from work really craving something sweet and he couldn’t find anything else so he settled on eating marshmallows. A fact that would have Carlos rolling his eyes hard because according to him marshmallows are only good for two things. One, roasting perfectly golden brown over a campfire and two, drowning in a mug of hot cocoa.
“Aw, babe, you made hot chocolate.” Carlos calls from his place on the couch, quickly followed by the predicted, “you forgot the marshmallows again TK.” The last part is said in fond exasperation but TK bristles a little, because no he did not forget said marshmallows. As soon as that thought hits he’s cringing again though as he shoves the practically empty bag of marshmallows behind his bag of dried fruit.
“I did not in fact forget the marshmallows.” he says back indignantly. “We just happen to be out.” Closing the cupboard door he starts to make his way back to the couch at the same time that Carlos starts to stand up and make his way into kitchen.
“We aren’t out, I know we had some earlier this week. I was saving them specifically for a hot chocolate night.” Carlos argues back.
TK intercepts him halfway to his destination, pulling Carlos into him with his arms around his waist. “Well, we’re out now babe, don’t know what to tell you, maybe one of the crew stole them when they were over for game night.”
Carlos’ eyebrows scrunch adorably like they always do when he’s thinking hard about something. “No, I swear I saw them after game night. I was planning on making hot chocolate this weekend, you just beat me to it.” He insists while trying to pull himself from the embrace.
TK almost rolls his eyes at the strength of Carlos’ conviction that hot chocolate demands marshmallows, but he resists as he decides distraction might be the best method. TK lets one of his hands wander up Carlos’ chest, while the other grips his hip tighter, pulling them closer together. Carlos leans into the move, tilting his head down to capture TK’s lips with his own in a soft kiss. TK’s pride in his distraction abilities takes a blow when after a minute Carlos pulls back and out of the embrace.
“Cold hot chocolate is a waste and hot chocolate without marshmallows is a travesty.” Carlos says playfully slipping past a stunned TK into the kitchen. TK barely pays attention to Carlos as he rethinks his entire distraction strategy, if Carlos is already becoming this immune to him he’s going to have to start trying harder.
His thoughts are interrupted by a shuffling from the kitchen and the noise of triumph followed immediately by a disgruntled sound that TK knows means that Carlos found the marshmallows. Attempting to slink away to the couch is less successful than he hoped as he feels Carlos’ arms wrap around him from behind. The empty bag of marshmallows held in one of his hands.
“ TK. ” TK’s not really sure why the sound of his name, said like that coming from Carlos’ mouth makes him instantly melt instead of wanting to run, but he tries for nonchalance as he answers.
“Yeah babe.” he says as innocently as he can, obviously ignoring the bag.
Carlos moves to hold the bag in front of his face. “What’s this?”
“Ummm, it looks like marshmallows?” TK tries not to cringe or let the slight flush of guilt crawl up his face as he lets Carlos slowly spin him around in his arms.
“ TK. Why is there an empty bag of marshmallows in our cupboard?” Carlos asks and TK hears his voice change, a little exasperated and a little stern.
“I don’t think it’s actually empty, babe.” he argues back instead.
Carlos rolls his eyes for real now. “Two mini marshmallows does not count as not empty , TK.” then his voice changes to a whine, “this is the third time this month TK!”
Now TK’s just confused, he’s pretty sure he would remember if he ate the last of the marshmallows for the third time in a month. “Umm babe, I think the lack of marshmallows is going to your head, we haven’t even had hot chocolate three times this month.”
Huffing a little Carlos gestures widely back at the cupboard. “No, this is the third time this month I’ve taken something out of the cupboard only for it to be empty.”
“Still not empty.” TK quips back, not able to help the smile that curves on his lips as he shakes the not empty bag in front of them.
“Two tiny marshmallows does not count as not empty TK. Hot chocolate demands marshmallows.” Carlos complains as he moves from where they’re standing in the middle of the loft to collapse back onto the couch in a heap and okay TK admits he does feel a little guilty for eating the last of the marshmallows, but he honestly kind of forgot, and well they’re not empty.
He follows Carlos to sit on the couch, dumping the two lonely marshmallows into Carlos’ mug, feeling a little sad that he knows it’s likely gone cold now. He knows Carlos isn’t really mad or anything, but he was right, cold hot chocolate is a waste.
That’s why he’s surprised when Carlos leans forward, reaching past him to pick up the lukewarm mug.
“Wait, you're still going to drink that.”
“Well yeah, I’m not just going to let your sweet effort go to waste. Even if there’s ONLY two marshmallows.” Carlos says with a small smile and then he leans closer placing a soft kiss to TK’s cheek. “Thanks babe, this was really sweet of you and I appreciate it.”
TK melts with the compliment, and it soothes the guilt he was starting to feel, even as Carlos continues in a more lighthearted voice. “Although for the love of all things can you please stop putting things back in the cupboard empty.”
“Not empty.” TK argues, causing Carlos to groan lightly.
“Fine, any less than 5 pieces is considered empty now in this house.”
“Oh, is it now?” TK argues back.
“Yes.” Carlos answers definitively while grabbing the remote and starting the tv show TK queued up earlier. Carlos' arm not holding the mug comes to wrap around TK’s shoulders, pulling him into his side and TK shifts a little, getting comfortable with his head resting on Carlos’ shoulder, feet tucked up underneath him. He can’t stop the smile that spreads across his face as Carlos takes a sip from the mug and hums appreciatively.
“At least you’ve learned how to make a decent mug of hot chocolate,” he says fondly.
TK basks in the warmth he feels from the compliment, “Even cold?” he asks, getting a chuckle from Carlos.
“Even cold and without marshmallows.” Carlos confirms earning a disgruntled sound from TK as they snuggle closer together.
They get their warmth and comfort from each other that night. The love they feel and the home they are building.