Work Text:
After a long 20 hours at work, Carlos was finally home. The loft smelled like the pot roast his husband had made earlier that morning. Normally, he would find it comforting. Tonight, it made him feel a bit nauseous.
“Hi babe,” TK said from the couch, where he was deeply engrossed in whatever book he had been reading lately.
Carlos approached him from behind the couch and leaned down, resting his head against the juncture of TK’s neck and kissing him there, whispering a hoarse ‘hello’ back.
TK smelled like his shampoo mixed with his very own smell, and Carlos practically melted into him. “You smell nice,” he murmured.
He regained a bit of composure before letting himself fall asleep, bent over the back of the couch.
“I’m gonna take a quick shower,” he then mumbled from the same spot. When he felt TK smile and nod, he broke the hug and walked to their bedroom to get comfy clothes and then jumped into the shower.
♥
Carlos walked out of the bathroom, leaving steam in his path, and dressed in comfortable sweatpants and a hoodie. It was a bit warm for a hoodie, but TK didn’t say anything.
He smiled up at his husband when Carlos appeared before him and huffed when Carlos literally dropped forward into TK’s arms.
He was now basically on TK’s lap, his hands fisting his shirt and his head buried in the crook of his neck, once again.
TK laughed at the sudden movement, not used to it. Normally, TK was the clingy one.
But when he slipped a hand into Carlos’ hair and down the side of his face, he noticed how warm he was.
His hand gravitated towards his forehead, and he frowned.
“Baby, are you feeling okay?” TK whispered, leaning his face into Carlos’ from where it was hidden in his neck.
Carlos hummed against TK’s throat, sending shivers down his spine.
“Feeling a bit nauseous,” Carlos whined, but it was still muffled.
“Let me take your temperature and get you some meds, babe.” TK said gently, moving to get up from underneath Carlos.
But Carlos just whimpered and tightened the hold his fist made on his sleep shirt.
He raised his head a little, though it felt like an ordeal because his head felt like it weighed 100 kilos. He laid it back on his shoulder so he could look up at his husband’s face.
“Don’t move, Tyler. I’m comfy. It’s the first time in 24 hours that I’m finally feeling comfy. Please, baby.”
“Okay,” TK cooed. “Let’s at least lie down a bit, so it’s more comfortable for you and for me.”
At Carlos’ imperceptible nod, TK maneuvered them so they were lying down on the sofa. Carlos was lying half on top of TK, his head finding its familiar spot on TK’s chest and one of his hands slipping underneath his shirt to rest against his stomach.
Meanwhile, TK’s left hand stroked Carlos’ curls, while his right hand traced soft patterns across his back.
“We’ll rest a bit, but then you’re eating a little something and taking some meds, okay?”
When TK used that baby-cooing voice, Carlos could do absolutely nothing but agree.
“Just hold me, baby.” Carlos muttered, trying to wrap himself further around TK, like an octopus.
TK grinned in amusement. “You sure you’re not faking being sick just so you can cuddle with me?” he teased.
Carlos scoffed and smiled dopily, “As if we need an excuse to do that. You’re the clingy one, normally.”
TK grabbed the blanket thrown against the back of the couch when he felt Carlos shiver and covered them both, cocooning them in warmth, safety and love.
“Tell me about the book you’re reading. I wanna hear your voice.” Carlos whispered, angling his head a little so he could see his husband’s face again. But from his spot, he could only make out his nose and his eyelashes as they fluttered.
“It’s called We Solve Murders by Richard Osman.” TK said, picking up the book again. “It’s about a woman who works in private security, her ex-cop father-in-law, and a writer who all start solving murders together. It focuses more on the people solving the crimes than the actual crimes themselves. Kind of like if your mom and my dad teamed up to solve a crime.”
Carlos chuckled against TK’s chest, eyes drooping as he was lulled by TK’s soothing voice.
“Oh, the chaos that would be.” Carlos muttered, the fingers splayed against his husband’s abdomen starting to stroke softly.
“Oh, definitely,” TK laughed, thinking about the utterly chaotic scene of having Andrea and Owen solve anything together.
He craned his neck a little to press a long kiss on Carlos’ head and felt it the minute Carlos succumbed to sleep. His husband’s soft voice and the rhythm of his heartbeat right under his ear were the perfect combination.
But not before he whispered, “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
TK shook his head. “I love you,” he whispered, tucking the blanket tighter around Carlos’ body. He played a little with Carlos’ left hand, his fingers tracing the wedding band snuggly wrapped around his finger.
And when Carlos started snoring a little, TK just laughed softly and closed his eyes, too.
The book could wait.
Meds could wait for a little while.
They both were exactly where they wanted to be.