Chapter Text
“Carlos Reyes?” Hearing his name being called, Carlos looked up over towards a lady with a polite smile on her face. The lady that most likely was going to become his new therapist.
She was younger he noted, but still experienced in her field. Long brown hair and a demeanour that was confident but not closed-off. Like she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but you could also feel comfortable talking to her.
When Carlos had first approached the idea of starting to see a therapist, he’d done a lot of research. There was a lot of nerves attached to what he was doing and so he needed to feel confident in his choice. The office he was at, had some of the best reviews in Austin.
“Strand-Reyes actually.” He clarified, standing up from where he’d been sitting, and giving the lady a polite smile back.
TK and him had been married for a little over a year and yet pride still burned through him at the feeling. It hadn’t been the easiest road in the slightest for either of them to get there, but even throughout the challenges and hardships, the love between them never dwindled.
And now they were happy. They had the chance to wake up every day and spend it with the person who meant the most to them.
He followed the therapist into her office, glancing around as she shut the door.
“My name is Elizabeth, but you can go ahead and call me Liz.” She told him, holding out a hand for him to shake.
He reached out and shook her hand, “It’s nice to meet you.” He said before taking a seat on the couch opposite her own chair. The office he noticed, was simple but welcoming.
“You as well.” Liz said, taking a seat and leaning back in her chair.
“So, tell me a little about what brought you here today.” She asked, giving him the floor.
Carlos paused for a moment, trying to figure out exactly why he was here today. His marriage was strong, he loved where he was heading in his career.
But after watching TK in therapy throughout the years they’d been together, Carlos eventually decided he wanted to give it a try too.
He knew there were boxes hidden in his past that he’d barely started unpacking within himself, let alone his own husband and he didn’t want to keep them inside anymore.
After years of feeling like he didn’t belong, Carlos now had a stable foundation and he wanted to keep growing upon that. To make the life they were building stronger.
Making the choice to attend therapy hadn’t been the easiest decision. He’d always been taught growing up that the Reyes men didn’t do therapy, he didn’t grow up talking about his feelings.
They didn’t talk about it when he came out at 17, when he married Iris at 19, or when he’d been 27 and started dating the love of his life.
Learning that it was okay to talk about his feelings was something that slowly started happening after he met TK. While he’d been there for TK, giving him space and allowing him to open up, TK had been doing the same thing just in a different manner.
TK had been teaching him that it was okay to ask for things, that he could put himself first every so often and it didn’t make him selfish or a bad person.
That guilt was something Carlos struggled with, and still did. But throughout the years it was slowly becoming easier. That the feeling of asking for help didn’t eat him up as much inside anymore.
That hadn’t been an easy thing to come to terms with either. But he had the most patient husband, one who even on the worst days was always there to support and love him.
“I guess.. I thought it would be good to have someone to talk to. Well.. uh my husband actually, he’s been in therapy for a while and I’ve really seen him grow because of it. And I guess I want to experience that myself.” He tried to explain.
Liz nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. “Of course. There are so many reasons people decided to start therapy. Some know exactly what they need and others figure it out throughout the process.”
“We’ll keep it light today. And then if you decide to come back, we can slowly start getting into more details, at your comfort speed.” She explained, giving a reassuring look.
Even though Carlos had only been in her office for a few minutes, he was starting to like her. He liked that she wasn’t pushing him right away, that he didn’t have to immediately tell her everything he was feeling or the things he’d gone through in his life up till that point.
“Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself, let’s start there.” Liz suggested, purely wanting to get to know more about who he was as a person.
Carlos nodded, leaning back against the couch he’d been sitting on, instead of straight up. Making himself just a bit more comfortable.
“Well.. I’ve lived in Austin all of my life. Most of my family live here and I never really had the desire to move far away. I.. I was a police officer for quite a few years but recently was promoted to Detective. Haven’t been one long but I enjoyed it.” He told her, figuring that was a good place to start.
“Congratulations on detective then, I’m sure that was a big deal. Did you always want to work in law enforcement?” Liz asked, curious about how he ended up in that specific profession.
“Uh well, my father.. he’s in law enforcement. A lot of the men in my family are. ” Carlos said. He bit his tongue, not mentioning how it had been a no-brainer what career path he’d be going into. Or how his father hadn’t felt he was cut out to a police officer for a long time. That he was too “soft” for a career like that.
“And do you enjoy it? Being a first responder.” She asked, pushing him just a small bit further.
This was surface-level stuff, basic details Carlos could answer any day of the week. And that was where she wanted him. She need to understand the basics before they could go any further.
Carlos nodded, “I do, I love getting to help people. TK.. he’s also a first responder and sometimes we get to see each other on calls. That always helps as well.” He said casually, not even realizing just how many times he’d already mentioned his husband in just a few minutes.
It was just a force of habit at this point, something he didn’t even notice most of the time. He loved TK and could honestly spend hours talking about him if somebody let him.
“TK?” Liz questioned.
“My husband. He’s an EMT here in Austin. He was originally a firefighter before eventually moving into medical. But a lot of the cases I work with, tend to overlap with his department meaning we sometimes see each other.” Carlos explained.
Liz pauses, taking a few notes down on the notepad in front of her. “And does he make you happy?” She asked, even if she already had a feeling about the answer.
She’d noticed a look on his face when talking about TK that he hadn’t throughout the earlier part of the session. Something a bit more relaxed and natural to him.
Carlos felt his face heat up slightly, before nodding. “He’s.. he’s the best really. We’ve been through a lot together and it isn’t always easy. But we always make it work.” There hadn’t always been a ton of things Carlos was confident about in life but his relationship with TK?
Even during the brief time, they’d been broken up, the worst time. Carlos didn’t doubt that they’d eventually find their way back to each other.
“How long have you two been together?” She asked, making a note on the paper in front of her, about his comment that things haven’t always been easy.
“A little over four years, married over a year now.” He said, a smile forming on his face.
He truly loved being married now, having a real marriage that meant something. He never had even let himself dream that something like this was possible and now it wasn’t just a dream, it was the reality he lived every day.
They talked for a few more minutes before Liz set down the notepad she’d been writing on throughout the session, giving Carlos a warm smile. “Our time is almost up for today, but I enjoyed speaking with you. I think there will be plenty for us to talk about in future sessions.” She said simply, giving him the choice.
Carlos nodded, appreciating that she was giving him the choice. He often hated having his choices taken away from him, not being able to be the one in control of a situation. Something he knew would most likely come up at a future session.
“If you decide you want to plan another session, the receptionist should be able to help you with that. I hope to see you again Carlos.” Liz said, standing up and once again holding her hand out to him.
“You too Liz.. it was better than I expected.” He said simply, giving her hand a firm shake before heading out of her office.
He let the office door shut behind him, taking a deep breath once he was alone and making his way out to the waiting room. Once there, he paused for a moment glancing between the receptionist's desk and the therapist's office front door.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he made his way up to the desk. “Hi.. can I help you?” The lady asked him.
“Liz.. she said to stop up here about booking another session? Do you have anything in like a week or two?” Carlos asked.
He didn’t want to come back too soon but he also didn’t want to wait too long between sessions. TK had a session every week or so, and it seemed to work well for him. Deciding that a week was probably a good starting point for him as well.
The receptionist nodded, “Let me just check the schedule here, give me a moment.”
While the receptionist was looking for appointments, Carlos pulled out his phone, noticing a text from TK, sent right before his session had started.
“Good luck babe, can’t wait till you get home. Chinese tonight?” Reading the text, Carlos couldn’t help but smile.
It was so simple, the most casual of texts. And yet it was domestic, it was a reminder that he always had something to look to going home to.
That TK wasn’t going to judge him for therapy considering he had a therapist himself. Instead, they were going to order Chinese food, and cuddle on the couch before finding themselves fast asleep. It was the easiest of nights and Carlos couldn’t wait.
“Just got done. Chinese food sounds great. Want me to pick it up?” He responded back.
“Okay, so it looks like I have an appointment next week Thursday if that works. 3 pm?” The receptionist asked, snapping him out of his current thoughts.
“That would be great. Thanks.” He said politely, letting the receptionist finish setting up his next appointment.
After the appointment was booked, the receptionist handed Carlos a reminder card before he was good to go. He made his way out to the parking lot when he heard his phone beep.
“Proud of you. Just placed the usual order, should be ready in about 15 minutes.” TK responded.
“Be home soon, love you.” Carlos replied, a small smile on his face.
Getting into his blue Camaro, Carlos headed to their usual Chinese place. Sometimes they ordered in depending on the day, and other times whoever was out picked it up. Luckily it was just long enough of a drive that by the time he arrived, the food was ready.
He quickly paid before making his way back to the loft, excited to see his husband.
“I’m back.” Carlos called once he stepped foot into the loft, the door sliding shut behind him.
It was quiet, most of the lights were off but he knew TK was home. He made his way further into the loft, setting the food bags on the kitchen island before hearing a scuffling noise coming from their bedroom.
“Hey babe, how was work?” TK asked a few moments later, coming out of their room. He was dressed casually, his hair slightly more ruffled than usual and Carlos just thought he looked adorable.
He loved professional TK, the one he saw on the calls they shared. But there was something even more special about “soft” TK. The one, not many others had a chance to see, one that was oftentimes just saved for the moment they were alone.
“It was good. Not many calls so a lot of desk work today.” Carlos knew TK liked when he had desk work even if Carlos didn’t like it himself, oftentimes finding himself bored throughout his shift. However, there were very few risks about sitting at a desk and the thrill of paperwork, meaning less TK had to potentially worry about.
TK came over with a grin on his face before placing a kiss on his cheek. “Missed you today, even if we saw each other earlier.”
“Missed you too, always really.” Carlos said. It was cheesy, and he knew it. But he just couldn’t help it.
He pulled TK closer to him, letting his arms go around his waist and they just stood in their kitchen for a moment relishing after the day.
Despite what about of them actually wanted, they eventually broke away from each other, grabbing their dinner from the Chinese bags Carlos had brought before finding their respective places on the couch. It wasn’t often they ate dinner on the couch compared to the table but today just felt like one of those days.
Carlos took a seat first, TK immediately finding his place at his side. They had a whole couch and yet both of them took up one cushion, neither of them far away from each other.
They ate in comfortable silence, the only noise coming from some random show that was playing on the living room tv.
“You’re not going to ask?” Carlos eventually asked curiously as they ate, taking a bite of the spring roll he’d ordered.
TK shook his head, moving from where he’d been cuddled into Carlos’s side, sitting up on the couch.
“It’s up to you, whatever you want or don’t want to tell me. If you want to tell me everything, that’s perfectly fine. If you want to tell me nothing, that’s okay as well. It’s your decision babe.” TK said gently, smiling at him.
Carlos swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat, willing himself that he wasn’t going to get emotional especially while eating Chinese food.
It’s just.. he married the most thoughtful thy, the one who was never going to push him further than he was comfortable with. Even though he could have asked, he wasn’t going to. Because he trusted Carlos and trusted that Carlos would go to him if he needed him.
him him“It.. it was pretty basic stuff today honestly. A little about me, work, you came up probably too many times.” Carlos teased lightly.
Letting out a quiet snort, TK felt his face heat up slightly. “We can call it payback. I’m convinced Cooper hears more about you during our meetings than he does me.”
“Are you planning to go back?” TK asked curiously. He knew Carlos had been hesitant about the whole thing beforehand and he wasn’t going to judge him either way. He was just curious.
Carlos took another bite before slowly nodding. “Yeah, I booked a second session for next week. I.. I think it’s going to be good.” He said.
TK smiled, pulling Carlos close to him and in for a kiss. He tasted like garlic and spices and TK couldn’t get enough of it. “I think it’s going to be great.”
As the conversation around his therapy session dwindled they moved on to their shifts and how both of them had the day off tomorrow. Both of them deciding they weren’t in much of a rush to go anywhere.
Carlos figured they’d get out at some point but he also just enjoyed spending time with his husband. Their lives were hectic enough as it was.
From their inconstant work schedules, to Catan game night. with the group, to Sunday dinners with his family. They didn’t always get a ton of time to just each other and tried to make the best of whatever time they could get.
Once they were both done with dinner, Carlos moved slightly to be laying back against the couch, pulling TK with him. They sat there for awhile just watching the show playing before TK let out a quiet yawn.
Carlos chuckled gently at his husband's attempt to try and hide it.
“Why don’t we head to bed? I can read that book we started?” Carlos offered.
It was something new they’d started doing recently but it seemed to be working for the both of them. Neither of them were ever going to pass on the chance to cuddle with each other and reading before bed gave them plenty of time to do it.
They were currently working their way through “Little Women” and Carlos found it interesting. TK? He was usually out like a light before he managed to finish a full chapter.
TK nodded, standing up from the couch and holding a hand out to Carlos.
“Should we do the dishes first?” He mumbled, rubbing his eyes slightly as he knew the plates from dinner still weren’t washed.
Carlos paused for a moment before shaking his head. “I’ll wash them in the morning. It’s time for bed babe.”
TK didn’t argue, instead following Carlos into the bedroom. Both of them getting into their respective sides of the bed before meeting in the middle. Carlo’s arms immediately going around TK.
Carlos grabbed the book off the nightstand, opening it to the chapter they left off on before starting to read.
Like clockwork, about halfway through the chapter, TK let out another yawn.
“Goodnight babe, thanks for reading.” TK mumbled quietly, his eyes drifting off.
Carlos smiled, setting the book back down on their nightstand, before moving his arms fully around his husband. “Goodnight TK.”
Less than a few minutes later, he heard the quiet snores coming from his husband. He looked down with a smile, placing a kiss on the top of his head before letting his own eyes close as well.
Carlos knew not every therapy session was going to be like today, that eventually, they’d get into the challenging stuff. The stuff that made him uncomfortable.
But he also knew no matter, he’d always have someone to come to. Someone who would listen and hold him. That’s all he could really ask for.