Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One of the big things on Carlos's to-do list today is to bring their new farm puppy, Lexi, to the vet to be fixed. Now that she's almost a year old, it's time. Carlos did his best to make this the most fun and calm experience he could, having laid out her favourite blanket in the backseat of his truck and let her jump in on her own. She doesn't quite have that negative association with trucks and cars yet like their other dog Jamie has, understandably so, the only time he leaves the ranch is to go to the vet, which he hates. It's always a battle with him and thankfully it doesn't have to happen much.

Lexi is doing pretty good right now, looking out the window, coming up at the console to say hi to Carlos, trying to sing along to the radio with him, so far so good. Carlos pulls into the little parking lot at the vet clinic in the small town near the farm, there's maybe 15 parking spots, and half of them are full with staff vehicles he's pretty sure.

Now comes the hard part, getting Lexi in the building. Being that she is a farm dog Lexi doesn't really know how to walk on a leash. She's good at staying with people and coming back when she's called if she's straying too far away, but leashes? foreign concept to her. At least the vets are used to that, being that they do small and large animal, so farm dogs (and sometimes cats) come in every now and then, very unfamiliar with the territory.

"You ready Lexi?" Carlos asks, looking at her through the rear view mirror before hopping out, she smiles at him and wags her tail.

Carlos opens her door and keeps his body in her way to block her from jumping out. He finds the leash on the floor of the truck and after a few tries, manages to get it attached to Lexi's collar.

"Alright come on you," Carlos says, giving her plenty of space and as much slack as the leash allows for her to get out of the truck. She sniffs at and looks at the leash attached to her neck curiously before getting herself out of the truck.

Carlos shuts the door behind her and starts walking towards the front door of the clinic. Smiling and fondly shaking his head at Lexi, who is clearly very confused by the leash and is trying to play tug of war in favour of walking.

"Come on Lexi, lets go," Carlos encourages, continuing to try and walk.

Eventually they make it to the door. When they step in the clinic they are greeted by the sight of a smaller dog, some sort of terrier Carlos figures, and two people sitting with cat-carriers in the waiting area. Carlos looks across from the door at the reception desk. Obviously Carlos has been to the vet before but usually he's dealing with the large animal side of things out back and has never really seen this part of the building before.

Lexi is still pawing and chewing at and trying to get Carlos to play tug of war with her leash when Carlos makes eye contact with the man behind the counter, talking to the man with the terrier about the meds he has to feed his dog.

And oh shit.

He is perhaps the hottest man Carlos as ever had the privilege of laying eyes on, perhaps even the hottest man alive. He only looks for a brief moment, feeling the sudden need to look down at the inadequacy of his own outfit. Barn clothes. He silently thanks his mother for reminding him to put on clean ones before going, but worn out jeans and an old t-shirt isn't the best look. Not when the guy behind the counter is in scrubs that fit his body nicely and bring out the colour in his beautiful eyes. The man smiles as he hands over the terrier's prescription and wishes the owner luck while also waving and saying goodbye to the dog.

Carlos finds his legs and makes them walk him and Lexi —who may never give up her battle against the leash, to the counter.

"Hi, Lexi," Carlos says, nodding at the floor "is here to be spayed today. Her appointment is at 10:30," he manages.

The man with endless eyes —TK, as his name tag now reveals as Carlos is close enough to read it— checks the computer system.

"Ah, here you are, Gabriel Reyes?" he asks.

"I'm Carlos actually," mentally facepalming that he had introduced the dog but not himself, TK doesn't seem to mind though. "Gabriel is my dad."

TK nods, "alright you guys are almost all set, we just need to get a weight," TK says as he walks his way out from behind the counter to join Carlos on the client side of it.

Lexi momentarily ignores her leash in favour of sniffing TK, Carlos can't blame her, he'd want to do the same thing if they weren't in a public place, pull him close and find out what his hair smells like. God what is he even thinking? He's here for the dog, not to pick up the hot vet he's never seen before.

TK gets himself closer to Lexi's level and lets her check him out, assess if he's allowed to have her attention, and then letting him pet her when she's decided he's trustworthy.

"If you wanna just bring her around here so we can weigh her," TK instructs to Carlos as he gets up again.

Lexi quickly returns to fussing over the leash but Carlos manages to get her attention to bring her to the scale close to the corner of the room.

"She's a farm dog isn't she?" TK asks, trying to coax her onto the unfamiliar surface of the weigh scale.

"Yeah, this is her second time on a leash, she listens good though," Carlos says.

"Yeah she seems alright. Honestly the older ones are a lot tougher to work with, the young ones tend to just go along with whatever," TK says, managing to get Lexi on the scale. He notes her weight before bringing them back to the counter. Carlos assumes he enters her weight into some sort of file or chart before telling them they can sit down while they wait for everything to be ready, they are early after all. Carlos sits and does his best to not constantly watch TK. At least Lexi has made it her life's mission to be a distraction today. 

Carlos not knowing TK is truly a testament to how little time he's spent in the small animal part of the vet clinic. TK has to be a small animal vet or tech, Carlos would've seen him on the ranch before if he dealt in large animal, or at the very least heard about him. And Carlos would know if he's seen him before. There's no way he's going to be able to get him out of his mind anytime soon.

Lexi gets called into surgery not long after they sat down. Carlos hands her off to another staff member before petting her and telling her to be good for the nice people working here. He says his 'see you later's and leaves the clinic sans-dog.

TK is all he can think about his entire way home and for the rest of the day after that. He can't face it anymore and talks to his mom while they're working side-by-side in the kitchen.

"Ma do you know a TK that works at the vets?" Carlos asks, confused as to how he's gone his whole life not knowing this man. He hopes his mom has answers, she seemingly knows everyone.

"No, why?" Andrea responds.

"He was the tech who checked Lexi in this morning and I didn't recognize him," Carlos says.

"Can't say I can help you there mijo. What does he look like?" she asks.

Where does Carlos even start? He doesn't know, so he just goes with no plan. "About my height, brown hair, classic strong build, green eyes," he rattles off features.

Andrea frowns, "not ringing any bells, maybe your father would know, he brought Lexi to get her first shots a little while back."

Carlos simply nods next to her, attention back on the food being prepared.

"You like him," she says it like a statement and Carlos doesn't like how easily his mom can read him sometimes.

Carlos relents, knowing he doesn't really have anything to hide from his mom and she's just doing her best to be supportive. "Yeah," he admits in a small voice. 

"Carlitos you saw him for maybe fifteen minutes," she doesn't quite scold him, it's more of a cautionary, concerned mother tone.

"I know, but mamá you didn't see his eyes, or his smile, and I'll see him another few minutes when I pick Lexi up again," Carlos complains. Deep down he knows his mother is right, but he doesn't like it. 

Andrea wipes her hands off before rubbing Carlos's back then giving him a hug. "I know it's hard mijo, and your heart is so big, but you can't walk into every new person you meet hoping that time he'll be the love of your life," she speaks.

They are wise words, Carlos knows this, but he's over being perpetually single, he wants to share his life with someone he loves, and who loves him back, and at this rate it feels impossible. But TK is a glimmer of hope for him. Carlos is going to hold out hope that he might be able to talk to TK more. 

They let go of the hug and return to cooking. 

When supper is on the table, Carlos asks his question to his dad. "Do you know a TK at the vet clinic?"

"I might have met him once or twice? Dark hair, light eyes?" Gabriel asks as clarifying questions.

"Yeah, do you know much about him?" Carlos asks, his father is notorious for making small talk with just about every person he runs into so Carlos is hoping that doesn't fail him today and his dad has some intel on TK.

"Not really, he's been working there for a number of years now, small animal vet tech. His dad is one of the members of the large animal vet team," Gabriel says. When he sees Carlos's confused face he continues, "Owen Strand, I think we had him out once with that really difficult calving five, ten years ago now, all sorts of complications but Owen took them on like a pro and the calf made it. He isn't our regular vet but is everyone's go-to with very tricky or touchy jobs. I don't think he's been back since though," Gabriel tries to recall.

That had certainly been a while ago, early breech calf in the middle of the pasture, they found the mom in the morning, after she'd made almost no progress and had clearly been struggling for too long. And to put icing on the cake, she's the cow that seems to have a vengeance for humans so she didn't make it easier on herself, when she kept trying to get away instead of letting them help.

Carlos has to think back to that day in an attempt to find similarities in Owen's features and TK's, but he doesn't remember anything other than feeling so useless standing on the sidelines while his dad and the vet worked together to get the calf out. 

"I remember that, yeah," Carlos agrees.

The conversation about TK ends there. Gabriel doesn't tell anything else other than TK had documented Lexi's shots, having seemingly forgotten until after the story about Owen. Which leads Carlos to explain how TK had called him Gabriel that morning.

Being out to his mom and not his dad was a secret Andrea said she'd be willing to guard with her life. Carlos feels a bit bad about making her keep a secret from him, but he just couldn't stand lying to her about girls in places when she'd ask. Now at least she asks about boys and sympathizes when Carlos has to tell her nothing's changed. He isn't ready to be out to his dad yet, the prospect has always scared him slightly.

He thinks of TK that night, of holding his lovely frame in his arms while they sleep, of learning how to make him laugh, of how his lips would taste, how his hands would feel on Carlos's body.

He wakes up hating himself for having sexy dreams about the hot vet tech he has met exactly once.

Andrea gets the call that Lexi is all ready to go home whenever they'd like to pick her up. She finds Carlos in the barn and tells him as much, almost as if she's hoping against her own advice that Carlos would see TK again and get to talking some more. She could've so easily driven off and gone to get Lexi when she got the call, but she came and told Carlos instead. 

He gets in his truck, blanket still on the backseat and makes his way to town.

TK comes in to work hoping Lexi is ready to be taken home, and that the same hot man with messy curls and an old t-shirt that was too small and showed off his physique would walk through the doors to pick her up.

Carlos, his name had been.

TK loves being a vet tech and helping the animals, the problem with cases like Carlos is he wants to see him more often, but that would mean wishing ill on his dog and TK doesn't have the heart to do that. Instead he goes to the wall of kennels where they keep animals overnight when needed.

Lexi is awake and mildly confused, maybe a bit scared of the cone she woke up with and the strange environment, but she perks up when she sees TK approaching.

TK greets her through the door and tells her she should be good to go home today. They check over her vitals and stitches before concluding that the rest of her healing can happen at home. TK dials the phone number they have on file for they Reyeses and a kind woman answers.

"Hello, Andrea Reyes speaking," she says.

"Hi Andrea, I'm TK from the vet clinic. I'm just calling to let you know Lexi is ready to be discharged. The surgery went well and her vitals are strong."

"That's great news," she says.

TK smiles "it is. You're welcome to pick her up today at your earliest convenience," he says.

"Thank you, we'll see you soon."

"See you."

They hang up and TK goes about his business trying to not check who comes in the door every time it opens. At the clinic they sort of all rotate who runs the front desk at the moment, their reception desk lady, Grace, recently went out on maternity leave and the vets and techs know the computer stuff well enough to have her covered for the time being. Honestly it's not too different to before, they have to go out and explain meds and recovery to owners either way, now they also have to do computer stuff.

It's a pretty standard morning, all things considered.

And just like yesterday, TK is talking to an owner at the counter about their pet when Carlos walks in.

And though time continues to pass for the world, it feels like it stops for TK when he's mid-sentence to this nice kid about her cat's flea and tick medication.

He looks just as breathtaking as yesterday, probably the same well-loved jeans, a different old t-shirt that still clings to his muscular frame, and those deep brown eyes. TK doesn't work with cows often, but Carlos certainly has those same massive soft eyes that Jersey calves have. His dad talks about how adorable they are almost every time he works with them.

TK forces himself to break the eye contact and refocus on this girl who can't be older than 16, she's listening intently to TK explain how to administer the medication for her indoor/outdoor cat that they found abandoned by its mother under their deck this spring and took in.

She had explained to the vets that she understood indoor/outdoor cats tend to not live as long but her family had decided it would be inhumane to adopt him and then never let him back outside where they found him, the least they do is give it the appropriate shots and flea and tick medication to improve its survival chances.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees Carlos sort of just hang around the door, not sitting or coming up to the counter, letting TK finish with this client first.

TK sends her on her way and Carlos makes his way to the counter next.

"I'm here for Lexi, the one who argued with her leash the whole time yesterday?" Carlos says, as if TK would need his memory jogged.

TK smiles, "she's doing great, still doesn't understand how leashes work, but I think she's excited to go home."

TK lets himself out from behind the counter to go get Lexi for Carlos. "Alright Lexi, its time to go home," he tells her as he greets her at the door of her cage, leash in hand. "Can you walk nice for us?" he asks, opening the door to put her leash on first. She is very excited and wags her tail, wriggling in TK's arms as he scoops her up to put on the floor. TK smiles in amusement at the excited little pup on the other end of the leash and brings her out to the waiting area of the clinic, where she speeds up to greet Carlos.

Carlos goes down to pet her, "hey Lexi! How's it going? Fed up with the cone already?" he gives her plenty of attention before standing back up and offering to take the leash off TK.

Their hands brush as they do so, sending butterflies to TK's stomach in an instant. Heat comes to his face but he does his best to ignore it and continue on with Lexi's discharge from behind the counter in an attempt to keep himself from accidentally drifting too close to Carlos.

"I know how you guys are with farm dogs, but do your best to limit her physical activity while the incision heals. I don't know what your situation is like, but if you can, try to get her to sleep in a crate or comfy area she's familiar with in the garage," TK says. He loves farmers and their dogs' lifestyles, free and able to go wherever they please, but that means most of them aren't allowed in the house. This changes the post-op instructions a little bit, but most of the time the dogs do just fine, assuming the owners follow the medical advice.

TK runs through everything else just like he would with any patient, not knowing how recently they've had an animal fixed, if at all before.

"She might not have much of an appetite for a little bit. If you take the cone off, keep an eye on her. Don't let her lick the surgery site. Give her these for pain, as described on the bottle. She should be mostly healed in ten to fourteen days and can return to her regular life. As always, if there's complications bring her in and we'll have a look. Some bleeding or discharge around the incision is normal, but if it continues, that's cause for concern and we'll need to assess her," TK says.

As he's been listing stuff, he's been looking between Carlos, the dog on the floor, the computer, and the medication in his hand. Carlos looks like one of the most attentive audiences TK's ever had while giving post-op care instructions, then again he may be biased because those gorgeous brown eyes are watching him so closely, open and soft.

"Oh and don't let her get it wet," TK adds.

Carlos nods, "when do we have to come back to get her stitches taken out?" 

Conveniently Lexi is sitting on the ground looking at said stitches.

"We used self-absolving stitches so they'll get dissolved and should be gone on their own in two weeks. Though its not unheard of them taking more or less time, it varies by individual," TK explains.

They get the money sorted and TK hands Carlos the medication, hands brushing by each other again. TK takes a deep breath, noting the abnormally empty waiting room in front of him. TK can't in good conscious wish this dog ill so he can see Carlos again, so he has to do this himself if he ever wants a chance at seeing him again.

It helps that Lexi doesn't walk on a leash nice so Carlos is lingering by the counter trying to get her to cooperate at all. TK chances a glance around the corner to the back where they treat animals, nobody's snooping on their conversation. And why would they? TK is just discharging a patient and giving post-op instructions to their owner, but he has decided he's also asking that owner out.

"Do you wanna go for coffee on Saturday?" TK asks in a slightly quieter than full conversation tone.

Carlos takes a second as he moves his attention from Lexi to TK, giving TK a flash of one of the best smiles before answering. "Yes, love to, meet you there at two?" 

TK nods, "see you Saturday. And I hope for her sake that I never see Lexi here again," he jokes.

Carlos laughs and starts making his way to the door, Lexi agreeing to walk now. "See you later," he says, giving a bit of a wave with the hand holding the medication.

TK smiles to himself in Carlos's wake before shaking himself and getting back to work.

Saturday could not come fast enough.

Chapter Text

It's Saturday.

And Carlos is doing his best to keep his shaking with nerves and excitement at bay. He and his parents are having lunch after a particularly tough morning. Everything seemed against them and Carlos knows that's just how it goes in agriculture but that doesn't make it easier to deal with. 

Not having Lexi around was both a blessing and a curse, Carlos is thankful she was in the garage and out of the way as they hastily had to sort out a bunch of uncooperative stuff, but he missed her presence, the fun excitable puppy to watch and pet for emotional support. Jamie was there and he's fantastic, so at least there was a dog there with them.

Carlos could use a nap. And for sure needs a shower. But all that's on his mind right now is food. He didn't get to eat breakfast before going out to help his parents, with the urgency of their issue this morning he was glad he snagged an apple from the bowl on his way out regardless of how impractical it is to eat when he actively needs both hands. 

So here he sits, in the same spot as he has his whole life, in his more dirty than normal and more sweat soaked than they should be for it barely being noon, barn clothes. At least he doesn't have to worry about staining the kitchen table chairs seeing as they're made of wood and could simply be wiped off if need be.

The three of them eat in relative silence, all feeling much too exhausted for conversation, especially when they've already spent five hours together this morning, talking and yelling and coordinating with each other as things just kept falling apart on them.

And it's supposed to rain today. Just when they thought they could maybe get hay off, its supposed to rain. 

Gabriel has been grumbling about it all morning, and as if Andrea could sense he was about to start again, or list off more stuff that has to get done, she tells him to hold his tongue.

His parents don't fight. It's not uncommon for things to get a little tense, especially in the spring and fall when they're busy with harvest and calving season, but they don't really fight. Carlos braces for one anyway, avoiding eye contact by staring down his plate as he eats.

There is a moment of thick silence at the table, Carlos isn't sure either of his parents are even daring to take bites of food at this point, but he hears them both speak at once.

"You're right, I'm just frustrated," his dad says.

"I shouldn't have snapped," his mom says.

And just like that everyone in the room deflates. They're all beyond tired. 

Lunch ends and Carlos takes his turn in the shower, needing to wash off the morning, he looks in the mirror before getting in, seeing how worn down he already looks despite getting a full night's rest. His hair is a curly mess and his face is covered in streaks of sweat mixed with dirt, there's a bruise beginning to form on his right shoulder from where he had shoved it against a cow's hind-end to try and get her to move, which was futile and he knew it would be before he even tried, but they were desperate and just needed to get shit done. He makes eye contact with his reflection, his eyes are hopeful, they look as excited as the rest of his body can't express right now. Like a child unable to sleep on the night before a field trip, wide and hopeful. And so excited.

Carlos hasn't been on a date in a long time, and though that might not be what TK had intended by asking Carlos for coffee, it has also been a long time since Carlos made a new friend, so it's exciting either way, though he's hoping its a date. 

He gets in the shower without further thought.

In his room after the shower is where he runs into a small problem, what does he wear? Being that most of his time is spent on the ranch or at least ranch-related activities, barn clothes are what he wears most of the time. But he is going into town, to go to a café, with the hot —no, cute —no, hot, Carlos can't decide– vet tech. 

He settles on a nice pair of jeans and a presentable t-shirt that fits nicely. Carlos looks at himself, his outfit is incredibly plain, but it's not like he owns much else. Unless he wants to go around with a massive tractor brand logo on his t-shirt, plain is going to have to do. God when was the last time Carlos cared about his outfit choice? He almost wishes his mom would come upstairs and help him, like she would when he was little and couldn't reach some of the shelves in his closet anyway.

But he doesn't. Because his mom doesn't know. Carlos knows it's pointless to try and keep this a secret from her, seeing as she'd clock his nice clothes as soon as she saw him, but he's going to try to pretend like he's not going to meet up with someone.

Carlos is still incredibly tired and goes downstairs to try and calm his nerves by napping on the comfiest couch known to man. Unfortunately for him, his mom is occupying it, and his dad is on objectively the best La-Z-boy recliner ever made. He smiles briefly at both his parents taking the rest they deserve and retreats to his room to sleep on his bed, on top of the covers because it is too hot for blankets and nobody actually gets in bed for a nap.

He just hopes he'll wake up before he has to meet TK. The thought occupies his mind as he closes his eyes, he then decides he'd rather not take that risk and sets a timer on his phone so he won't be late, or sleep through their meeting time entirely.

Carlos wakes up two minutes before his timer goes off, somehow. 

He checks over his appearance one more time in the bathroom mirror, noting the imprint of a crease in his bedsheets on his cheek, but knowing he can't do anything about it, he rubs at it briefly anyway. His hair is still a bit all over the place, having dried as he slept, but there is nothing he can do about it now so he shrugs and leaves the bathroom. 

His parents have also woken up by the time Carlos sees them. His mom spots him first.

"Carlitos, you're looking dapper today!" she says, eyebrows up as a suggestion.

Naturally Carlos deflects, "yeah, I wanted to wear something that wasn't stuck to me from the heat."

"Where are you headed?" his dad chimes in, still on the recliner. 

The question he wanted to avoid, but prepared for nonetheless. "Library, and the feed mill, we're running low on dog treats."

"While you're there, could you pick up bird seed?"

Carlos fights to keep from rolling his eyes, now he has to stop at the feed mill on his way back or his cover is blown. "Yeah no problem," he answers instead.

His mom walks with him to the door to the garage, claiming to need to check on Lexi even though Carlos was going to anyway.

"Do you want to tell me where you're actually going?" it's not a question, she has her arms lightly crossed but her voice is soft.

They've never really been overbearing parents like that, and Carlos is very thankful for that, they just want to know out of their own curiosities, much like how Carlos always wants to know where they're going out of interest, or his sisters when he was too young to drive. It's sort of just always been like that.

Carlos sighs, "I'm going to see TK," he admits.

There is confusion on his mother's face for a moment, followed by slight worry. "Mijo," she starts, reaching out for him.

He cuts her off before she can even start this 'you don't know him' stuff up again. "I'm not stalking him at work, he invited me for coffee, so if you don't mind, I have to get going."

A smile grows on her face as Carlos explains and it makes him feel marginally better, "have fun," she says, pulling him into a hug and letting him leave with no further comments. 

Carlos hops in his truck and drives himself to town, somehow managing to get there at 1:57PM even with his mom's interrogation slowing him down slightly. He parks and leans to look at himself in the rear view mirror one last time before taking a deep breath and getting out. 

Part of Carlos is very happy that this is a small town and therefore doesn't have to wonder which café TK would be expecting him at, seeing as there's only one. The other part of Carlos doesn't like that this is a small town and he can see his friend Iris's mom currently ordering through the big glass windows while he's standing outside, unsure if he should go in or stay outside and wait for TK.

TK answers that question for him as Carlos spots him walking up the sidewalk towards him. Carlos fights to keep his breathing even and his expression friendly as he drinks in the wonderful sight of TK. He's wearing a nice but still playfully patterned button-up with the top couple buttons undone —letting some chest hair and a necklace peek out, and tighter jeans than Carlos' own. His hair is perfectly and seemingly effortlessly shaped on his head, and he's flashing Carlos the most beautiful smile he could ever hope to bear witness to.

This is already no good for Carlos's heart.

TK waves as he gets closer, Carlos waves back and they exchange pleasant hi's and hello's before Carlos opens the door, letting TK in first.

Carlos wants to compliment him so bad, but Iris's mom is right there and would very much report this back to her. Not that Carlos has a problem with Iris knowing about his love interests, but he wants this to just be a him thing for now, and it's already become a 'him and his mom' thing against his will.

"You look nice," TK says, saving Carlos from having to start.

He feels himself blush slightly at his words and then returns them, "thanks, so do you."

Maybe it's lame or tacky or awkward, but besides the fact TK took care of Carlos's dog when she was at the vet, Carlos knows almost nothing about him. 

"I mean not that the dirty shirt and jeans was a bad look, I see it a lot, I was just—"

"I get it," Carlos gives a soft laugh at TK's attempt to not make him feel bad for his choice of clothing the first two times they met.

Iris's mom turns around, coffee and pastry bag in hand and spots Carlos waiting in line with TK, behind an older gentleman who is paying for his coffee. "Hey Carlos! How are things?" she asks, walking up to them.

Carlos really doesn't want this to go on any longer than it has to, but he can't lie either so he settles on "we had a rough morning, but at least there's a breeze today."

She gives him a sympathetic face, "get yourself a cookie or something, you deserve it. I can't stay, gotta run, it was nice seeing you!" she says as she makes her way towards and then out the front door. 

Carlos can see TK look at him for a moment in his periphery but doesn't have time to acknowledge it before the cashier is ready for them to order. 

They get two coffees, a chocolate chip cookie, and a blueberry muffin, and then argue over who is going to pay. In the end TK wins because "I invited you, I'm paying." and Carlos didn't need to cause even more of a scene in the café. 

Coffees and pastries in hand, Carlos and TK find themselves a nice table all by themselves outside, everyone else opting to sit inside where there's air conditioning. They sit down beside each other at the square table so they can both face the street and watch cars roll by and kids on bikes and birds looking for worms in the front yards across the street. 

"Rough morning?" TK starts the conversation, with Carlos too focused on getting the plastic lid off his paper cup.

Everything about this has Carlos full of nerves. For the past couple days he's been so excited at the prospect of getting coffee with TK and now he's here and he doesn't know what to say or do, having not been on a date in so long and not knowing what specifically to talk about. 

While he doesn't want to talk about his morning, he supposes it gets a topic going. "Yeah, had a bunch of herd problems. Cows got out and mixed up so I had to get up earlier to help sort them out. On top of regular chores, which didn't go smoothly either, but that's work stuff," Carlos shrugs off.

"That sounds rough. I know it's not really a date question, but I have to ask one more work related question. How is my most recent leash hater doing?" TK asks.

It gets Carlos to smile at his cookie, after his heart flipped out a little at TK confirming that he intended this as a date. "She's doing alright, she's healing well I think, she's just mad that she can't come out to the barn with us right now," Carlos says.

TK laughs, possibly the best sound Carlos has ever heard, and says "yeah, that's usually what we hear about farm dogs. Tell her that if she does what she's told, she'll be allowed to run around the yard all she wants a lot sooner."

"I will."

There is a mostly easy silence as each of them take sips from their drinks and Carlos bites into his cookie. He's had lunch, but there is always room for dessert. 

Carlos takes a deep breath, trying to find confidence. He decides that if this goes badly he likely won't have to see TK anymore because clearly he hasn't seen him at all before this past week so their social circles already don't overlap or anything.

"So how long have you lived here and I haven't met you before?" Carlos asks, immediately shoving more cookie in his mouth before he can continue to say anything else he might regret.

"I could ask you the same thing, where have you been hiding all these years?" TK jokes, then answers as Carlos is still chewing. "At least ten years now? Maybe more? We moved right after I finished high school."

"And then you went to university to be a vet tech?" Carlos asks.

He waits as TK sips his coffee and shakes his head, "not quite. I wanted to be a large animal vet like my dad but I learned pretty quickly that I actually liked the small animal and teching aspect of stuff more so I switched."

"Still cool though."

"I like to think so. What about you?"

Part of Carlos doesn't like the introductory questions part of getting to know someone, his heart decides pretty quickly what it likes and then he wishes for this part to be over as soon as possible so they can just know each other already and be. "Went to university for agricultural sciences, and now I work on my parents ranch," more like still, Carlos thinks. He never really stopped working on the ranch, coming home on weekends and working pretty much full time during his Christmas and summer breaks. 

"Guess there's no going back to your place then," TK laughs. He says it like a joke so Carlos laughs too, but he's cautiously excited that TK even thought of that. 

"No, not really. And not to be a downer but I have to be back to do night chores," Carlos says.

"No rest for the wicked." TK quirks an eyebrow, a mischievous look crossing his face, "there's plenty of time between now and then."

Carlos picks up his coffee and nods at TK while miming a cheers before bringing it to his mouth.

Somehow TK has ended up with this incredibly attractive, strong, farmer man pinning him to his own front door. The inside of it, because the entire neighbourhood is not and should not be privy to the way Carlos is holding TK and the sounds it is inflicting. 

TK had had half the mind to calm himself down this morning and tell himself this wouldn't happen, that Carlos was a stranger TK didn't even technically know the sexual preference of until today. Now that it is happening though, he can let his mind run happy and excited about it. Carlos takes his mouth off TK's to instead attach it to his neck, which stops TK's mind from running at all as his blood is focused elsewhere. 

It's hot. God it's so hot. 

TK finds it almost hard to believe that the slightly awkward and adorable man with the Jersey cow eyes could be like this, ravenous and primal.

Carlos is every bit as strong as he looks, with his shirts at the vets' not leaving much to the imagination but not being obscene either. The shirt he's currently wearing fits better, which means TK can't see his muscles as well through it and that needs to change as soon as possible.

TK makes use of his hands and pulls the hem of Carlos's shirt up halfway. Carlos gets the hint and brings his arms over his head only for as long as it takes to get out of the fabric, keeping TK firmly one with the door using his hips and legs, which has got to be the hottest thing anyone has ever done to TK.

Now he gets to use his hands to feel all over this tanned and toned man, years of working hard in the summer heat obvious to TK's fingers, gliding over his upper body.

Carlos bucks into TK as he presses on a knot in his upper back, moaning at the feeling. TK bucks back in response. 

He spares a fleeting thought for poor Carlos who is far too young and handsome to be dealing with the back pain and tightness that seems to come with his career, but then it's back to mapping out his teeth while his tongue explores Carlos's mouth.

They have sex on TK's couch. 

And just like everything else about this man, it is perfect and so hot. 

Sitting on opposite ends of the couch, coming down and regrouping, TK just looks at the specimen of a man before him. He catches him wincing slightly as he leans back into the corner of the couch. 

Where TK gets the boldness from he doesn't know, but either way he says "let me help."

Carlos's eyebrows come together, "I'd love to go for round two, but it has been all of fifteen seconds and I do not have that kind of rebound time."

TK smiles, "that's not what I meant," he waggles his eyebrows, "but maybe before you go." He resets and gestures for Carlos to come closer, "I meant with your back, you look like you could use a massage."

"You don't have to, I'm not that bad I promise," Carlos says, not budging an inch. 

TK has never been this domestic before, but he sort of likes it, even though Carlos is still a relative stranger. Eventually he gets Carlos to give in and turn around, after they both put underwear back on.

He doesn't really know how to give massages, so TK just lets his hands wander and explore the planes of Carlos's back, stopping when he finds a tight spot.

"You're only doing this 'cause you wanna touch me aren't you?" Carlos says, the end becoming a moan as TK locates his first stiff area.

TK smiles to himself, "maybe, but if that were my goal I'd give you a chest massage."

It gets Carlos to laugh, "smooth one. Is that even a thing?"

"I don't know, now shut up, you're making this harder by talking," TK says. It's a complete lie, he actually likes their conversation now. It's as if having sex broke the ice between them, but he wants the silence so he can hear the quiet noises Carlos lets out when TK finds the perfect place to work his fingers into his muscles harder. 

By the time Carlos leaves, TK has given him a thorough back massage, they went for round two, and TK is completely content and happily tired. 

They kiss at TK's front door before they leave the house and walk Carlos back to his truck. "So I'll see you again soon?" Carlos asks through the rolled down passenger window.

"Yeah, assuming you want to," TK's insecure side always comes up to rear its ugly head at inopportune times.

"Duh," Carlos says, leaning over the console to offer TK his phone, open to a new contact. 

TK types in his name and number before handing the phone back and doing the same with his own so they can both keep in touch without having to wait for the other to start it. 

Carlos gives him another wicked smile before driving off, TK smiles as he watches the truck until it turns a corner and he loses sight of it.

He is done for. 

And he couldn't be happier about it.

Chapter Text

Carlos feels so much more relaxed than he has in years. He feels so good and so happy and his body doesn't ache, but as much as he wants to go to sleep or simply lie down and bask in this good feeling, he can't. He has a job to do.

At least he gets the downtime of eating supper beforehand, to adjust back to reality. Thankfully with his dad present, which means he doesn't have to talk about anything that happened this afternoon, except reminding his dad that the feed mill is closed on Saturdays after noon. 

Their night chores go better, and by the time Carlos is ready to collapse into bed its late enough that little Carlos would be proud, and college-goers would be making fun of him.

His mom corners him into talking about his afternoon while his dad is in the shower.

"Ma can we not?" Carlos complains like a small child, knowing what she wants to talk about when all he wants to do is sleep.

"Carlitos you can't expect me to see you so happy and not ask about it later. I want to feel happy with you but I need you to tell me about it before I can do that," she argues, getting him to sit in the living room with her.

"What do you want to know?" Carlos gives in, the sooner this is over with, the sooner he can close his eyes.

"What is he like? What did you do?"

Well there's no way Carlos is telling her everything, but he can tell her the start. "We went for coffee, bumped into Iris's mom actually, she's doing good by the way, and we talked." Somehow Carlos has a feeling his mom is going to drag the fact they at least kissed out of him, but he stops short anyway, hoping the information about Iris's mom and the coffee would satisfy her.

"That sounds nice, and what is he like?" she asks.

"He's nice. He and his dad moved here just after he finished high school and now they work at the vet clinic together, sort of, it doesn't sound like they work together together but there must be overlap, its not a very big building," Carlos rambles slightly.

"Where are they from?"

"New York, apparently his mom still lives there, big lawyer, that kind of thing."

"Wow, and she just let her baby move halfway across the country like that?" his mom sounds mildly surprised.

"I guess," Carlos shrugs. "He didn't really talk about it much, but he smiles when he talks about her so I think they love each other."

"That's good," she pauses, examining Carlos's face, he has no idea what she's looking for but he does his best to keep eye contact with her. "What does he look like?"

Carlos fights the urge to say 'I told you already' because he knows the kind of reaction that's bound to bring, so he tells her what TK looks like instead. "Barely shorter than me, soft brown hair, the nicest green eyes you would have ever seen, and a really good smile," Carlos finishes off.

Andrea smiles at him, causing Carlos to realize he himself had been smiling too, which makes him blush from embarrassment. "His hair is soft?" she asks, smirking and raising one eyebrow at him.

He cringes a little and tries to hide his face from her. Normally he's not that bad at admitting his feelings for someone, or telling someone casually that he had kissed someone. But no matter how well-intended his mom is, she always seems to be able to make Carlos feel shy about his love life. 

"Okay fine, we kissed and I felt his hair," Carlos says, declaring to himself that that is as much detail as his mom is going to get. 

The shower shuts off.

"I'm glad you had fun, and I hope this is the one for you. I want you to be happy, you deserve it," she offers him a hug so Carlos gets up and lets himself be hugged on her end of the couch. "He sounds lovely, I hope I get to meet him one day," she whispers against him.

"You talked to him on the phone for a bit," Carlos tries to help.

"Yes, and he sounded lovely, but I'd like to see his face too sometime, helps put the voice to the person."

"I hope you get to meet him too," Carlos smiles.

They let go of the hug and pretend like it's a normal evening when Gabriel does eventually join them in the living room.

TK has no idea what to do. 

He debates on texting Carlos, now that that's something he can do, but mostly he just wants to lay on the couch reliving the recent memory of Carlos being on that couch with him, not an hour ago.

Somehow in the aftermath of Carlos and everything that 'coffee' date was, TK finds himself incredibly inspired to do some cleanup and general housekeeping. There is an unusual bounce in his step as he does the dishes and actually folds his laundry as opposed to leaving it in the basket on his floor. He vacuums, or at least, vacuums the areas that need it most, Carlos is amazing, but not to the point TK feels motivated to vacuum the whole house along with the other little tasks. He also makes himself supper, all the while thinking about Carlos.

Thinking about him, remembering him as if it had been longer since they were on the couch, hoping it'll happen again, wondering if he should text him, and what he would say if he did. 

As much as TK hates to admit it, it had been a while. Well maybe not a while per se, but a while since it's been that good. This is a small town, everyone knows everyone, it's not like TK can have as much casual sex with strangers or near-acquaintances as he would've been able to in New York. He had to be a little more methodical here, his technique of choice tended to be going several towns over where the town is actually a small city and there's less chance word gets back and everyone starts calling TK the vet tech who sleeps around a lot. 

He isn't ashamed of it exactly, it's more that he doesn't want that to be the first or only thing people know about him. 

Carlos was different, something about this afternoon was different. It went by so fast, and even though Carlos clearly hadn't had a good start to his day, he didn't force it on TK or complain about it the entire date. He hopes his night goes better than his morning did. 

They had talked about the fact Carlos has lived here his whole life, and it was only further emphasized by them running into someone he knew in the coffee shop. 

He really hopes he can see Carlos again soon. TK might need to ask his dad if their farm is on his herd health rotation or something, see if TK could tag along, to check on Lexi obviously, nothing else. TK is doubtful of it due to the fact Owen has never brought up a Reyes farm before, but Owen is also known for keeping secrets. Even if he did go there, if nothing notable ever happens when he visits, he wouldn't tell TK about it anyway. 

It is slightly annoying that TK specializes in small animal medicine and Carlos doesn't exactly have small animals to bring to the vet often. Hell the next time he does it could be the next farm dog they get, ten years down the road for all TK knows. TK thanks whatever power it might've been that gave him the courage to ask Carlos out and subsequently asked him for his number because who knows if he would ever see him again. They do live in and near the same town but TK's been here ten years and would remember if he had ever seen this Greek god of a man before, so somehow he doubts they'd just bump into each other at the grocery store. 

TK can't sit on the couch without thinking of Carlos, so he opts to sit in a recliner, un-reclined in the living room instead. He eats while only half paying attention to the show playing on the TV.

By the time TK is cleaning up his dishes, he's forgotten about his and Nancy's plans entirely, until his doorbell rings. 

"Shit," TK whispers, quickly slotting his plate into the dishwasher and patting down his clothes, subconsciously checking to make sure his outfit isn't too casual or covered in pasta stains or something. He had changed out of his clothes from when Carlos was here, but not into pajamas, so at least he's presentable and can hopefully play off his forgetfulness better.

He opens the door to see Nancy holding a bag of chips and a bag of pretzels "hey Nance," TK greets, gesturing for her to come in. 

"Hey TK, what's new?" she says, taking off her shoes.

"Not much, ready to watch some people adventuring and question their choices?" TK asks, already heading for the TV remote.

This has been their tradition pretty much since college, get together on Saturday night to watch The Amazing Race every week it was airing. It was good for bonding, and relaxing after stressful weeks, and gave them a nice routine during the school years. After college, they both got jobs at the same clinic —TK teching small animal, and Nancy mainly doing large animal but having enough knowledge to do small animal when the need arises— allowing their tradition to continue well past college. 

It's not often TK forgets their arrangement. They've had to forego it every so often, birthday parties, group dinners or board game nights, emergencies, but TK and Nancy always come back around to watch and cheer for their favourite teams together on TK's couch.

TK's couch.

TK isn't sure how they landed on TK's place, maybe he had the better couch in college? Neither of them can remember but it's almost always been at TK's.

Now TK has to sit on that couch where he and Carlos had sex together that afternoon and pretend like it's not occupying his every thought. Nancy inadvertently sits on 'Carlos's' end of the couch, leaving TK with the other end. Nancy opens the bags of chips and pretzels, TK gets the TV on the right channel before going to the kitchen for microwave popcorn, and they talk as the commercial break plays before the race. 

TK starts, hoping Nancy would talk instead of asking him stuff. "What'd you get up to today then?" 

He gets the microwave going and the soft hum of it fills the kitchen and travels outward to the living room as the bag of popcorn rotates. Nancy faces him while staying on the couch, "not much, did some plant shopping, I've decided I need something other than hostas in my flowerbeds even though they're easy to manage, a little colour would be nice."

TK nods along as he listens, he himself has some plants, both inside and outside. He tried to turn part of the flowerbed behind his house into a small vegetable garden this year, but some bunnies came along and ate most of it before he even needed to weed it, so that was an unfortunate lost cause. He may try again next year, needing a solution to his rabbit shaped problem. 

Carlos might know how to keep things out of a garden, they must have a garden somewhere on the farm that Carlos knows how to take care of. He could help TK come up with protection for his vegetables next year.

Inwardly TK face palms at himself, he is thinking of Carlos helping him next spring, they have been on one date. TK needs his brain to slow down, Carlos is hot, and can work magic on TK's couch, and is a gentleman, but TK cannot start planning their future vegetable garden after one date, that can't be a good idea. 

What is happening to him? TK has never been like this. Besides Alex, he has barely been on three dates with the same person since he finished college and those were all lacklustre compared to even just the café portion of his and Carlos's date. He likes to think he didn't do the exact same thing when he met Alex, but in his defense, he at least waited on the 'planning the wedding' phase until after several dates. He'd rather not think about his ex though, he wants to think about Carlos, and what he might look like when he helps TK build whatever contraption he comes up with for keeping his garden safe. 

The microwave beeping snaps TK out of his thoughts. He shakes himself a little and catches Nancy's annoyed quirked eyebrow even from this far away. Choosing to ignore her, TK takes the popcorn out and pours it into a bowl before rejoining her on the couch.

The sex couch.

Fuck.

"Alright, wanna tell me what's going on up there?" Nancy asks as the intro montage plays in front of them.

TK tries to play dumb even though he knows it's a useless effort with Nancy. "Up where?"

She rolls her eyes at him, "your brain, where it is thinking so loudly over the sound of the TV."

TK stuffs popcorn in his mouth to stall and avoids eye contact by watching the show. That lasts all of four seconds before Nancy asks again, muting the TV. 

"TK we can't be best friends if you don't tell me all the fun secrets of your life, so what happened?"

TK sighs, really wanting to know where the teams have to go instead of talking to Nancy about Carlos, and the events that occurred on this very couch today. Maybe if he says it quickly she'll be satisfied and they can go back to watching TV.

"I went on a date today, that's all."

Nancy fully turns towards him, outright ignoring everything on the screen, stealing some popcorn like she's anticipating a story. When she doesn't get one, she huffs, "I have to do everything myself don't I? What was he like? What did you do? What's his name? How did you meet?"

"Nice, coffee, Carlos, vet clinic." TK gives short answers and then reaches across Nancy for the remote on the arm of the couch. 

She dives to take it before he can get his hands on it. "Oh uh uh, you are not getting off the hook that easy," she teases.

TK sighs, "fine. I won't fight it, but can it at least wait until the commercials? We're missing out on everything here."

"Oh relax," Nancy says, taking the TV off mute. "They're barely boarding a plane yet."

She complies and stops pestering him for the duration of the first chunk of the show, just eating chips and popcorn and pretzels and not talking until the commercial break lights up the room. Nancy is on muting duty right away, like that in itself was a race. 

"God you're interested this time," TK jokes.

"You haven't had that faraway love look in your eyes for years, and even then it wasn't that intense," Nancy reasons.

That certainly can't be good. TK can't let himself visibly fall in love that quick.

"Alright what were you asking?"

"What was he like? What'd you guys do?–" she cuts herself off and restarts, "hang on, back up," she says as if remembering TK's earlier answers. "What do you mean you met him at the clinic? Are you telling me this man brought his dying animal in and you booty-called him?"

"It wasn't like that. His dog was not dying in the slightest, she was actually quite energetic. He was bringing her in to be spayed," TK explains. 

"Right. And you thought you were just gonna shoot your shot at the reception desk?" she sounds skeptical but TK feels like he did everything as properly as he could've. He asked Carlos for coffee, after bringing his healthy dog back to him and getting all the post-op and paperwork stuff settled, he doesn't know what else he was supposed to do.

"Yeah? Nancy he lives on a farm, I'd probably never see him again if I didn't. I work in small animal, remember? We don't go to farms."

"You could've called him? You have his number on file."

"And how would that conversation go, 'hi it's the vet, no nothings wrong, I just want to ask you out'?" TK breaks off. "Besides, it wouldn't have worked anyway, I'm pretty sure it's their home phone number on the file and I'm not in elementary school anymore, I am not going through parents to ask if someone can hang out. So yes, I asked him for coffee at work and he agreed," he finishes.

"Farm boy huh? Didn't know that was your type, Manhattan," Nancy teases.

"Nance I've been here for ten years, cut me some slack," TK smiles. "Yeah, he's a farm boy, and we got coffee."

"What's his last name?"

"Reyes," TK answers automatically, not having to think about it. His full name is in his phone contacts untouched, and on file at the clinic. He doesn't even question why Nancy's asking until he sees her lips curl up at his reply.

"I don't blame you."

"Blame me for what?" TK is beyond confused now, what does TK knowing Carlos's last name have to do with blaming him for anything?

"For falling for him. Dude's hot," Nancy says, stealing more popcorn.

TK rubs a hand over his face, "don't say I'm falling for him Nancy, I've known him for like a day. Hey wait, wait a second what do you mean 'dude's hot'? You know him?" TK is exasperated that once again someone knows Carlos and didn't bother to tell TK about him and his attractiveness. 

"I've been out to his family's ranch a couple times, and there was this attractive guy there helping me, and his parents called him Carlos so it must be the same Carlos you're talking about in which case I don't blame you for shooting your shot in the waiting room."

TK rolls his eyes, "what do I do now?"

"First of all, how was coffee?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, can't give you advice if I don't know how it went," Nancy says, like its obvious.

"Coffee was good, he ran into someone he knew while we were waiting in line, and he said he had a rough morning, which I found hard to believe because he looked so good, Nance, so good." TK thinks back on the moment he saw Carlos from down the sidewalk, "his hair was a little messy but in a really nice way."

"I do not envy farmers and their rough days, you just know they got trampled and are downplaying it or something like that."

"Yeah anyways, we sat and talked, normal date stuff, he's sweet, and interesting, and it was nice to just hang out together," TK says.

"And then?" Like she knows there's more.

TK tips his head to the side, begging for the commercial break to end so he doesn't have to tell her, though he figures he doesn't need to give details. "I might've invited him over and we did a bit more than kiss," TK feels himself blush ever so slightly.

"Wait, TK. Is he still here? Is he hiding somewhere? Did I interrupt you two?" it's not exactly rapid fire but TK can hear her growing more concerned with each question.

"No, no, he's long gone, he had night chores. We exchanged numbers before he left though," TK adds.

"So text him," Nancy says simply.

"What? No, what would I even say? 'I really liked your dick, we should do that again sometime'?" TK is amazed at his own words. When was the last time he was nervous to text someone?

Nancy laughs good-naturedly at him and shakes her head. "No, just tell him you had a good time and you should hang out again someday."

"That's tacky. That sounds like the kind of thing a guy would text a girl in a movie that he's never planning on seeing again," TK says.

"God you're difficult," she's clearly teasing, but continues more sincerely. "Alright, but before this episode is over you are texting him." For some reason TK agrees. Maybe it's so he has a deadline.

TK pulls his phone out of his pocket to text Carlos near the end of the next commercial break. His thumbs hover over the keyboard on the screen as if he hadn't spent the last ten minutes looking at the TV but not absorbing anything going on, planning his message instead. 

He decides against a nice message and sends one that instead has him leaving his phone halfway across the room face down.

If you ever find yourself needing a back massage, you know where to find me

Nancy watches all of this in silence until TK retakes his place beside her on the couch. "What did you do?" 

"Maybe not the smartest thing, hopefully he'll laugh," TK dismisses, watching the commercial playing in front of him. 

They have easy, normal conversation as they watch the next bit, and commercial break. It's only after the last part of the show is over and all the teams have made it to the finish mat that TK braves the end table beside the recliner for his phone. 

He smiles at the reply Carlos gave him.

I might just have to take you up on that offer

"I take it he responded?" Nancy asks from where she's cleaning up their snacks. 

"Yeah."

"Alright well have fun with your farmer, but don't forget to come into work on Monday."

"Love you too," TK laughs. 

She heads out shortly after, leaving TK in the stillness of his house once again. He settles on trying to go to bed, if he stays up he might start making calls and car trips he'll probably regret in the morning. He had sex with Carlos twice in one day, he should not be so eager for a third time already. 

TK goes about his nighttime routine as normal and falls asleep to the pleasant thoughts of Carlos and his lovely self, his warm smile, and the cute sounds he let out when TK found all the tight spots in his back, and what came before and after that, even the way Carlos ate his cookie and sipped his coffee was endearing. 

Chapter Text

It's Sunday morning and Carlos is very glad TK texted first, he would've had no idea where to even start a conversation after the afternoon they had. 'Thanks for inviting me for coffee, the time on your couch was also nice'. Carlos shakes his head at himself and gets up, making it to the kitchen table for breakfast before any disasters happen, unlike yesterday. 

The whole day goes by as Carlos expected, work, relax, work, that sort of thing, but with the added fun of thinking about TK here and there when his brain was searching for something to occupy it. 

A couple nights later, after passable days, Carlos does something he hasn't done since he was a teenager, he sneaks out. Not only that, he sneaks out to see a boy.

Their text conversation had been very short, something along the lines of 'I'm horny' 'me too' 'let's fix that', but in less vulgar wording. 

His truck is loud, Carlos knows this, and gravel is not a silent driveway material to be sneaking out on, but Carlos figures it out, digging to the back of his brain for that teenage knowledge. And actually, manages to pull off his silent escape better than he ever did before.

The main problem Carlos and TK have discovered is they can only go on weekend dates, because Carlos works mornings and nights, and TK works regular people hours, daytime. So if Carlos wants sleep, and TK wants to keep his job, weekends are their only options. 

Which is fine, Carlos supposes, but it barely touches the insatiable want he has to be close to TK all the time. 

They had gone on a cute little picnic date that afternoon, but Carlos didn't want to leave TK's side. He wanted to go home with him and stay there, but there was work to be done so he went home. Now he parks his truck in TK's driveway and walks himself to the front door, he knocks, because TK doesn't know when to be expecting him, and in any case, Carlos is not one to waltz himself into someone's house like that. 

Moments later the door opens with a pleasantly confused looking TK behind it. In scrubs. TK motions for him to come in before either can get a word out. Carlos does break the silence first though, "what happened?" he asks, gesturing at the clothes that fit him ever so nicely and are technically just his work clothes, but it's not like TK didn't find Carlos attractive in his work clothes too so he feels alright staring a little.

Now that Carlos looks properly, TK looks tired and maybe Carlos shouldn't have come over after all. "It was an emergency work thing" he sighs, Carlos watches him try and fail to elaborate a couple times.

"Sorry, I can go, y–"

"No. stay?" TK asks, grabbing his elbow to keep him from moving too far. Carlos gives in and turns to hug TK, he feels him sink into it a little bit and Carlos just holds him. 

When the hug breaks, TK kisses him, soft and familiar. Too familiar for a guy he hasn't been seeing that long, but Carlos doesn't care, he wants TK to be the one so he doesn't mind that it's this familiar this early. 

They end up together in TK's bed, fully clothed, and with Carlos big spooning TK. Whatever happened in the few hours between their date and now must've really shaken him and Carlos is dedicating himself to holding him steady if that's what he needs. 

Even though Carlos knows he's supposed to be comforting TK, he wakes up having had undoubtedly the best sleep ever. Still holding TK as the sun starts to pierce through the blinds, Carlos takes inventory of his surroundings. While he's looking at the wall colour and style of the blinds, TK presses himself impossibly closer to Carlos. And that is when Carlos pays attention to the fact his morning wood is incredibly present, and presently pressing incredibly up against TK's ass. 

His eyes scan the room for a clock and he finds one on the nightstand, unhelpfully turned away so Carlos doesn't know how much trouble he's going to be in when he gets home. 

TK shifts in his arms again and hums, "morning."

"Morning," Carlos answers, doing his best to not sound panicked with a single word. 

"You want help with that?" TK asks, reaching behind himself to bring his hand up and down along Carlos's thigh. 

"I would love it, but I might be in big trouble, what time is it?" he asks, missing the feeling of TK's hand on him as soon as he uses it to flip the clock with red digital numbers around for Carlos to see. 

Fuck. 

He hopes he can salvage himself from too much scolding if he leaves like right now. Carlos kisses just underneath TK's ear. "I want to stay here all day with you, but I can't," he whispers regretfully.

"It's okay," TK reaches up to hold the back of Carlos's head to keep him right where he is. 

They share a kiss before Carlos is practically throwing himself out of bed. "I am really sorry," Carlos says, having noticed TK followed him out of bed while he's ramming his feet into his boots.

TK steps into his space and puts a hand over Carlos's on the door handle. "And I am telling you it's really okay, I get it. If you get chewed out tell me about it?" TK asks.

Carlos gives him a non-committal nod and a peck on the lips before TK lets him open the door and get himself home.

Lucky for him, his phone only starts ringing when he's already halfway home. And thankfully it's his mom, Carlos had a vague idea of what he would've told his dad but he's hoping his mom will take it better, with less lies.

"Carlitos where are you!?" She begins before Carlos even has the chance to say 'hello'.

"On my way," Carlos is going to give it his best shot at keeping it brief.

"You better be, your father has already prepared an entire lecture, and at this rate is going to tear you a new one before you can even try to explain yourself."

Carlos rubs his face and sighs in defeat, knowing this was a bad idea. His mind supplies him the image of dreary TK answering the door and how happy he felt being able to keep TK safe in his arms while they slept. Their intentions had been sex initially, but it ended up being cuddles and sleep, and Carlos wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Ma I—" Carlos starts.

His mother's angered tone falls way and she cuts him off, talking to him in the very same tone as she had whenever Carlos was sick. "Mijo, I am a mother, I am going to worry. Where did you go?"

Carlos does not want to have this conversation over the phone, then again Carlos does not want to have this conversation at all and figures at least she doesn't have to see his face as it inevitably goes red in admission of where he had been.

In a quiet voice Carlos says, "TK's house."

"Carlos," she answers in a knowing tone, it grates his insides.

"Mamá, I'm twenty-seven, I should be allowed to come and go as I please. I'm not getting myself into trouble like Ana did when she was sixteen, and she learned remember?"

Andrea tuts, "you are allowed to come and go as you please, as long as you don't blow off your work."

Carlos tries to quietly let out a sigh, he doesn't know if it works. "I know, it won't happen again. I'm almost home, alright?"

"Alright, and then you tell me some more about this boy and what was so important you had to see him in the middle of the night like Romeo and Juliet," a hint of teasing returning to his mother's voice.

Now Carlos is very glad he and TK didn't spend all night fucking because then he would really need an excuse for why he went over.

He gathers himself as he pulls into the yard and parks, hopping out and heading straight for the barn. At this rate he'd be lucky to see breakfast before noon. Carlos feels a little bad for his good clothes as he steps beyond the threshold, but at this point getting changed before showing his face is precious time he does not have.

It's as if his father has a homing device on Carlos because he isn't in the barn for more than twenty seconds before his dad is upon him. But Carlos knows better, he would've heard the truck come in and made his way over to intercept Carlos on his way to the house if he were to have gotten changed anyway.

"Carlos I thought we outgrew the sneaking out phase," his dad says.

"Yes sir, it won't happen again," Carlos answers automatically.

"It better not, I don't even know where to begin to tell you how bad it is."

Carlos is hoping that'll be the end of the conversation, but he should know better as Gabriel continues.

"The animals don't care what you were doing, or how important you think it is, they need to be fed and exercised so you need to be here. Would it have killed you to have left a note? Text us?" If Carlos was honest he would tell his father he was expecting to come home before chores so this would've been a non-issue, but he can't quite face up to that right now, so he keeps his mouth shut. "Do you know how much stress you put your mother and I through this morning? You could've been anywhere for all we knew. Now where were you?" Gabriel asks.

"In town," Carlos says, in a voice that he hopes conveys the truth and no need for further questioning. But this is his father, who had been a Texas Ranger for a short while before ranching took the forefront of his life again, Carlos is not getting off the hook that easily.

"What on God's green Earth did you need to be in town for overnight? Nothing's open and nobody's harvesting anything even near town yet."

"I had to check up on a friend who wasn't feeling well," Carlos says.

"Next time your friends come down with something, tell 'em to ask another friend for help, or come home in time for chores." Gabriel makes his demands explicitly clear and Carlos is shocked there isn't more details needed as to who this friend was.

"Yes sir," Carlos says.

"Alright come on, the horses need you and you know Peanut doesn't come inside without a fight unless you're the one letting him in," his dad lightens up and starts leading them towards the horses.

That went better than Carlos had expected, though he will be keeping his guard up for the rest of today, if not a bit longer, just in case Gabriel surprises him with a follow-up lecture or thinks back on their conversation and decides he needs clarification on some parts.

Carlos goes out to bring Peanut in from pasture, he sure is a stubborn old pony. He is older than Carlos by a couple years, and hates it when anyone other than he or his sisters bring him in. Nobody has any idea why, Carlos chalks it up to the children having spent a lot of time with him when they were young. Either way, Carlos is glad Peanut cooperates with him.

It feels like punishment when Gabriel makes him do other extra chores, like re-bedding the pack for the cows and moving a whole bunch of equipment around, but Carlos knows they had all already planned and agreed that it would happen today.

He was right when he figured he wouldn't be seeing breakfast until noon, but he tries not to look upset about it, it is his own fault after all. The three of them eat together, well, for a little bit, Gabriel gets a call from a neighbour down the road that needs help so he finishes eating quickly and runs out the door, leaving Carlos with his mother.

They keep on light topics for the time being, the weather and horses, Ana and Luisa's kids, things of the like. And when they've had their fill of lunch, Andrea takes it upon herself to bring up the topic of TK.

"So this boy," his mother says, raising an eyebrow.

Carlos rolls his eyes and gives a small sigh. "I know, I shouldn't have. But we had a nice walk and a picnic and then he got called into work after and he didn't tell me what it was but it was bad. He needed a hug mamá," Carlos rambles.

Andrea reaches out a hand to cup Carlos's cheek. "I understand, you have so much love to give mijo."

Carlos doesn't respond, he's just glad his mom is seemingly less upset about his actions than his dad was.

"You gave us a scare this morning," she says, letting her hand fall away.

"I know," Carlos answers regretfully. He knows he should've texted, or left a scribbled out note on the kitchen table like his parents used to when he was little and they had places to be before he would be awake for school, but he was so focussed on getting to TK that it slipped his mind.

"It's alright, I think you got enough of an earful from your father already, just try not to let it happen again, and promise me we'll get to meet him one day?"

It feels way too early to make such a big promise, but Carlos does, what other option does he have?

"You will."

Chapter Text

TK gets himself ready for work in Carlos's wake. Yesterday had been a confusing mess of emotions. His pleasant morning, followed by a lovely walk at noon with Carlos, where they had a picnic for lunch. TK doesn't know if he's ever clicked with someone this fast before, and maybe it scares him a little, but it's mostly thrilling. Carlos is very nice, and quite charming, yet he gets adorably blushy whenever TK compliments him, which TK can't help but find it completely endearing. And then his day took a turn, shortly after dinner, which Carlos couldn't stay for, TK got a call from Tommy, that there was a cat in need of emergency surgery. TK left his dirty dishes all over and hurried to put on his scrubs before rushing himself to the vet clinic.

Time is precious for these animals, TK was not wasting a minute.

The surgery had been successful, unfortunately they were simply too late as TK, Nancy, and Tommy watched over the cat. Waiting anxiously for it to wake up post-op, and feeling so defeated when it never did. Tommy had taken the task of breaking the news to the owner and sent TK and Nancy to clean up and go home.

TK knows they can't save them all, but that doesn't make it sting any less. He and Nancy work through it together and are always good supports in these cases. They exchanged a long hug before parting ways to go home. TK also gave Tommy a hug when she came to the back after her conversation with the owners.

Mind numb from all that had happened, TK had almost forgotten about his and Carlos's silly booty-call texts after lunch. They had kissed —okay perhaps made out would be a better description— but they didn't get further than that due to being in the relative public-ness of a secluded corner of the park. TK doesn't know how out Carlos is or isn't, but even TK can be adverse to public sex, especially when he's somewhere that lends itself to families and children, so TK can't say he blames Carlos for not scratching that particular itch right then and there.

TK was about to pull his phone out of his pocket to tell Carlos not to come over. Or perhaps apologize for not being home if Carlos had tried dropping by while TK was assisting a surgery. But that's when Carlos had knocked on his door, and all fight to tell him to go away and that he wants to be alone left his body. He didn't want sex anymore either, he was too tired, but if Carlos was willing to stay and cuddle him, he would love to have his company.

And now he is gone again. Called upon by the ranch gods, or more likely his parents.

He is possibly the hottest cowboy TK's ever seen, and yet so impossibly sweet and thoughtful. Always making sure everyone and everything is okay. TK makes a mental note to check in and make sure someone is taking care of him. He thinks back to the day they had sex on TK's couch and how he had given Carlos a back massage and is willing to bet the answer to that is nobody is taking care of him the way he takes care of others. TK wants to change that.

What is he thinking?

It's been what? Two weeks? Three weeks? And TK is already trying to change both his and Carlos's entire lives?

He puts that thought aside in favour of thinking about what to make himself for breakfast before work.

TK does his best to subtly keep an eye on his phone all morning, checking for a message from Carlos, any update on what happened when he got home, but there is only radio silence.

"Texting Prince Charming?" Nancy asks, refilling her coffee as TK slips his phone away for the umpteenth time that day.

TK gives her a slight eye roll, "not really."

Owen must have bat sonar and asks "ooh who's Prince Charming?" as he enters the break room even though TK swore he wouldn't be able to hear them from the hallway.

"Nobody," TK says, trying to sound final about it, but he hears the unfortunate way his voice betrays the fact he does care about this 'nobody'.

"Doesn't sound like nobody to me," Owen comments with a smile, opening the fridge in search of his own lunch.

Nancy joins in on the teasing, "it certainly isn't 'nobody' with the way you got swept off your feet in the waiting room. I've never heard you talk that sweetly about post-op before."

Owen gives TK a confused look. "You? Were excited about giving post-op instructions?"

TK sighs and rolls his eyes, "yeah. And you would be too. Dad he's got those Jersey cow eyes, alright?"

A knowing smile befalls Owen's face. "Nobody can resist Jersey cow eyes," and after a moment's pause, "so, do I get to know who this Jersey eyed man is?"

Because TK can't see his dad giving up the topic anytime soon he shrugs, "might as well. Carlos Reyes."

Owen's face breaks out into a huge grin, "oh the Reyeses are lovely, I'm not surprised."

TK isn't sure if he should be happy or annoyed he and his dad seemingly have the same taste in people. Though he supposes that reaction is better than any TK's gotten for any of his past boyfriends, so he'll take it. "Do you know them?" TK asks, at this point he might as well.

"Not really, I've gone out on emergency calls to their ranch a handful of times. What was Carlos in for?" Owen asks with a hint of concern.

"New farm dog needed spaying," TK answers.

"Ah, well then I guess you would cross paths with him. How is Carlos doing anyway? I haven't seen him in a couple years."

TK doesn't know how to answer that. From what TK's gathered Carlos is doing about as well as anyone TK knows, busy with work but otherwise enjoying his time on Earth. "Good, ranching all the time, but good."

Nancy jumps back in, "so why are you waiting for a text from him? Did you fight last time you saw him?"

"Nance, we barely know each other, we have nothing to fight over yet," TK says, though he supposes people argue over all sorts of things at all sorts of relationship status so that sentence holds very little strength. "He might be in trouble with his parents, that's all."

Owen sits down with his now-warm leftovers, silently beckoning TK and Nancy to join him for their conversation and to free up space in the kitchen for others when they start taking their lunch breaks.

"What kind of trouble?" Owen asks.

TK shrugs, "dunno, he just said he'd probably be in trouble if he didn't leave as soon as we woke up and he ran out the door."

Nancy raises her eyebrows at him, "you let him sleep over last night? TK you never do that this early, he's got to be something special."

TK disregards the comment for now in favour of listening to what his dad is saying. "And you haven't heard anything yet?"

"Nope." As much as TK wants to say something like 'you know how busy farmers are' or 'sometimes shit hits the fan, he's probably fine', he just can't bring himself to voice it, because he doesn't believe any of it himself, not right now, not with the way Carlos left.

Owen continues his questioning, "so what, you invited him over last night and this morning he ran away?"

"Not quite, we went on a date, then he went home for dinner and work, and we talked about him coming back afterwards, so he did. We slept—" TK takes his dad's raised eyebrows into account. "We did."

Owen raises his hands in surrender, "just making sure."

"Anyways, we slept and then I guess we woke up and he realized he had to work or something and bolted."

"I'm sure he'll get back to you," Owen says in a way TK knows is supposed to be reassuring, but TK can't take it like that, not when his mind has already gone to the worst case scenario.

TK and Nancy continue to eat with Owen and move on from talking about Carlos and how Nancy thought it was adorable that he still came over and they just slept after TK had to help do emergency cat surgery.

TK's phone has a new notification on it the next time he checks, close to when he's due to go back to work.

Carlos: finally got in for breakfast. didn't get chewed out as much as expected. sorry for running out on you like that, we still on for this weekend?

He can't hide his smile as he reads the message, though very annoyed that it is lunchtime and Carlos is just now getting breakfast. TK types back 'you bet' and follows Nancy back to the work part of their job.

Chapter Text

The whole week goes by with thoughts of Carlos, and how excited TK is to see him again. There's so many things he wants to talk about and do with Carlos, but he doesn't voice any of them just yet, preferring to have those conversations in person.

They meet up and just wander around for a while that Saturday afternoon. It's nice weather which TK appreciates more in a town like this than he ever did in New York.

There's not a whole lot to be doing in towns like these, there's one café and a couple stores, but its not like people go to the grocery or hardware store on a date. That was one of the things TK missed most about his big city roots, the lack of activities around. Back where they used to live, you couldn't walk a block without running into bowling alleys and arcades and movie theatres and restaurants. Here? You'd be lucky if the town even had a movie theatre.

TK supposes it's not so bad, he's just exaggerating, they could drive fifteen minutes and end up in a big town with a quaint downtown area and loads of fun date places. They're just in this town, because at least there's plausible deniability here if you see two guys walking around, they could possibly just be friends, as opposed to say browsing an antique store. It certainly doesn't seem like Carlos minds as TK observes him talking with his hands while walking beside TK.

It comes a little out of nowhere but the thought strikes TK at once, "Carlos have you ever gone to Austin, or Dallas, or something?"

Carlos looks at him adorably caught off guard for a moment, then he smiles. "Are you asking if I've ever left this town?"

Once again, Carlos is either fantastic at reading people, or TK is more obvious than he thought. Somehow it doesn't unnerve him in the way he feels it should. He returns the smile, "yeah maybe."

"I did, when I went to school for agricultural science," Carlos starts. Now that he mentions it, TK does remember that fragment of conversation from the café part of their first date. "It wasn't really for me, which I kind of figured, but the confirmation and learning was a good experience."

TK nods along, "I guess that makes sense. Can take the kid out of the farm but can't take the farm out of the kid."

Thankfully, Carlos laughs, because TK wasn't sure that was going to work at all. "Yeah something like that. I don't know, I like how my life is here and I don't need everything in there, it's also way more claustrophobic than I was expecting, and loud."

"There's more to do though," TK gently argues.

"It's not so bad out here."

"Carlos we are on a date and just walking up and down the main streets in town," TK says.

"Do you want ice cream?" Carlos asks, like that's an entire activity on its own, and part of TK supposes it is, when it's been just walking and coffee and picnics with the two of them so far.

"Sure."

And soon, the two of them are ducking into an ice cream shop being run by a couple of teenagers on their summer break. TK can tell these two kids are good friends, whether or not they were friends before being coworkers. They had clearly been having some kind of hilarious conversation while maintaining the cleanliness of the counter before TK and Carlos walked in and they had to go back to just working.

They place their orders and argue over who is going to pay, but eventually, TK and Carlos are back on the sidewalk, moose tracks and vanilla cones in hand.

Getting to watch Carlos lick at his ice cream is both the best and worst part of this date. Because it's way hotter than it should be and TK can't do anything about it presently as Carlos licks halfway around the white ice cream that is already starting to melt under the Texas sun. Instead of staring Carlos down like a creep, TK gives himself the task of eating his own ice cream before it becomes a puddle dripping down his hand.

Their feet take them to the park and they end up at a random picnic bench in the middle of nowhere. The park is a lovely massive flat green space, with a playground structure for kids off to one side, a couple smaller soccer fields on the other, and trees and open grass covering the rest of the area. The picnic tables sometimes move, they aren't attached to anything and sometimes when boredom strikes, teens like to arrange them into strange shapes, or people like to have bigger groups out to share a meal so they bring the tables together. But today TK steers them towards this one lonesome table among trees near the corner of a soccer field where nobody will be until later.

Sitting at the table across from each other in comfortable silence while finishing their ice creams is nice, even if it's occasionally broken up by the screaming and yelling of children having fun running around and playing.

TK didn't want to come into this date with a 'what are we?' conversation, being that they haven't been going out for all that long. But TK has also never felt this strongly about a relationship this soon before, and that's saying something.

Carlos gestures vaguely at TK and then wipes the tip of his own nose with the brush of a finger, "you got a little moose tracks there."

TK feels himself flush before trying to wipe at it with just his hand, but by the texture and stubbornness of the ice cream, it has clearly already dried and is now sticky on his face. He unfolds his napkin and wipes at his nose with it. "You didn't think to tell me that earlier?" He teases.

Carlos smiles as a little pink comes to his cheeks, "you were busy eating the rest of it."

"Not so busy I couldn't wipe chocolate off my nose, now I just walked around town looking like I'm six years old." He's not actually all that mad, TK just likes to see Carlos blush. "Did I get it all?"

"Not quite, here, let me," Carlos says, reaching out for the napkin. TK hands it off and holds his breath as Carlos gets the rest of the ice cream off his nose. It's intensely intimate and TK watches Carlos's determined eyes working on the task at hand.

"Thanks."

It goes quiet between them after that and TK really doesn't want to ruin the moment by broaching the topic of what they may be. Thankfully, he doesn't have to. TK spots Grace walking her way over to them, with her husband Judd.

"Hey TK, I didn't expect to see you here," she says as TK stands to give her a hug.

"Hi Grace, how have you been?" He asks before nodding his greeting to Judd.

Grace puts a hand on her belly for a moment, "oh you know, not the best, not the worst, but I can't complain."

"Taking it on like a champ though," Judd says, giving her a side hug and kissing the top of her head.

"Thanks hun. And who's this TK?" Grace asks, holding her hand out for Carlos to shake.

TK panics as he turns to look between Carlos, and Grace and Judd. How does he introduce Carlos? They haven't talked about it yet. Are they official? He was just working up the courage to ask when they got interrupted. Carlos, ever the polite man he is, smiles and shakes Grace's hand followed by Judd's.

"Grace, Judd, this is Carlos, my…" god what does TK call him? Are they too new to be boyfriends? Would Carlos be offended if he called them friends? Client is definitely the wrong word, but is true to how they met, though TK hasn't seen Lexi in weeks. Why is this all so complicated?

Before TK can think of a good descriptor for his and Carlos's relationship, Carlos fills the silence on his own. "Boyfriend." TK blinks rapidly a few times as if that would make him process the word better.

Boyfriend. Carlos had just called TK his boyfriend.

He does his best to school his expression as Judd gives him a bit of a smile over Grace's head while Grace talks to Carlos enthusiastically. "Well it is so lovely to meet you! Mind if we sit down? Long walks in the park aren't as easy as they used to be."

TK has a feeling that might be an excuse to talk more, but Grace is also considerably further along than he last time TK saw her. Besides, he is going to do nearly anything she requests, especially considering Grace is not one to normally give in, she endures regardless.

Grace and Judd sit down, with Grace on Carlos's side of the table, and Judd sharing TK's wooden plank on the other.

"How have things been at the clinic?" Grace asks, immediately taking the heat off of the situation Carlos has just put himself and TK into.

"Pretty normal, we've all gotten the hang of the front desk, but it's not always the easiest thing. I don't know how you do it so effortlessly all the time," TK says.

Grace smiles, "I wonder the same thing about what you guys do half the time."

"So Carlos, what do you do for a living?" Judd asks.

"I run our family's ranch with my parents," Carlos answers easily.

Judd nods in understanding, "whereabouts?"

Carlos motions with his arm in the general cardinal direction he lives in "it's the one out by those two small bridges a little ways out of town heading north."

"Oh, the Reyes place?"

"That's the one," Carlos nods though his expression is unreadable. Surely he'd be proud of his family's ranch and the fact someone's heard of it.

"Yeah I drive by there all the time, it's a nice piece of land y'all got over there," Judd says.

"Thank you," Carlos accepts the compliment graciously.

Judd shifts slightly to look at TK before asking, "so how'd you two meet?"

TK tries to hide his small sigh, "he brought in their new farm puppy to be spayed and I was the one covering the front desk at the time."

He catches Grace's pleased smile from across the table. "That's sweet," she says and TK sees Carlos flush ever so slightly.

TK takes up the task of changing the conversation himself, "so what are you guys up to, walking through the park?"

Judd shrugs, "figured it was good weather so we should be out enjoying it, guess we weren't the only ones who thought that way."

TK wants to roll his eyes, but refrains for the time being. The four of them continue to have nice conversation about all sorts of things, but namely not about TK and Carlos's relationship, which TK is grateful for. He wants to have the rest of that conversation alone with Carlos if he can.

"Well, it was lovely to see you TK, and to meet you Carlos. Hope to see you guys around soon," Grace says, getting up.

"It was good to see you too. If you ever need anything you know the whole team and I are there, even if its just bringing you a casserole or something," TK says, giving Grace another hug.

"Tell the rest I say hi and that they're doing a great job holding down the fort for me."

They walk off and TK and Carlos watch them go until they are small in the distance, well out of earshot.

TK needs to be the one to speak first. "Boyfriends?" He asks in a tone he hopes doesn't sound accusatory.

Carlos looks at him with the most insecure face TK has ever seen. "If you want to?"

TK reaches a hand across the table to hold Carlos by the forearm. "Carlos I'd love to," he says, getting himself up off the bench enough to lean in for a kiss that Carlos is quick to reciprocate.

Carlos's hand cups TK's cheek as they smile into each other's lips, but Carlos still looks a little upset as they break apart. He lets his hand meet TK's so they can hold hands.

"I have to tell you something though," Carlos starts.

The statement scares TK a little so he mentally braces himself before urging Carlos to continue. "Okay," he says slowly.

"I'm not out to my dad yet."

TK nods in understanding. Not that he can relate, or even imagine what it must be like for Carlos to be in his late twenties and still hiding a piece of himself around his family. He barely even remembers a time when he wasn't out to his parents. After TK discovered he was attracted to guys, it didn't take long for him to come out to both his parents, but Carlos has clearly been sitting on this secret for a while.

"And your mom?" TK asks carefully. He really doesn't want to scare or upset Carlos, he just wants to get a better scope of the situation.

"She knows," Carlos is looking down at their hands but TK still catches the beginnings of a small smile. "She could already tell I liked you from the first time we talked about you."

TK is a little taken aback. "You talked to your mom about me?" He finds something incredibly sweet in it.

Carlos gives a bit of a shrug. "Yeah. I asked her if she had heard of you before, and she figured out I liked you pretty quickly from that conversation."

"Well I guess you can tell her the good news then," TK says, keeping his tone hopeful.

It gets Carlos to fully smile, "yeah, I guess I can…"

TK watches and waits as Carlos's mouth continues to move as if searching for the right words but coming up with nothing. He rubs his thumb on Carlos's hand, "we can deal with your dad when we get there. No big deal. I can still just be Lexi's vet tech for as long as you need," he smiles, trying to lighten up the darker mood Carlos has fallen into.

"What if Lexi dies or you retire before that happens?" Carlos asks as he raises his head to look TK in the eye.

TK can see the worry and fear in those endless brown eyes, tears forming in them in a way that makes TK want to kiss all of Carlos's problems away. But he doesn't, instead he calms him the best way he can think of. "Then we'll think of something else. But Carlos?" TK says, asking for his extra, undivided attention. "Nothing ever stays the same."

Carlos doesn't reply to that, TK just watches as various parts of his face tremble and twitch with emotion he's doing his best to not let show through. TK lets go of his hands only for as long as it takes him to get up and put himself next to Carlos, giving him the biggest, most earnest hug he can.

They break apart when Carlos pulls back and not a moment earlier, there are a few stray tears on his cheeks that TK wipes with his thumbs before just holding his face in his hands.

"Thank you TK," Carlos whispers, letting their foreheads come together, followed by the soft meeting of their lips.

"You're welcome," they let go and sit together for a while before TK thinks to continue talking. "And don't worry about the others at the clinic, or my dad, they all know how to keep a secret when it's important," he assures.

Carlos just nods, like he doesn't have the strength for words anymore, and takes comfort in TK's being so close to him.

Calling TK his boyfriend may just be the boldest thing Carlos has ever done, but it just felt right. He was hoping TK would be okay with it and he was even better than okay, and that's how Carlos knew he had made the right call.

Now home from their date, Carlos changes out of his nice clothes and into work clothes to go out and help for a bit before supper and regular chores. His dad needs him to do a couple random tasks out in the yard.

Gabriel is already somewhere outside, but Andrea just so happens to come in from the garden as Carlos is making his way through the house on his way back outside. It's as good a time as any. He steels himself for a moment before making his presence known.

"Hi mamá," he starts.

She whirls around to say hello, "Carlitos! How was your afternoon?"

Carlos leans in to the hug she offers him and nods thoughtfully, "good… really good.."

His mother raises her eyebrows at him with her head cocked, clearly curious and urging him to continue where he dropped off.

Carlos checks behind himself at the front door one more time, just in case his dad snuck in the house in that time, even though he would've heard that door open, it's old and impossible to open quietly. At the lack of Gabriel in the house, Carlos speaks again. "Ma I have a boyfriend," he breathes, almost like he still can't believe it himself, and part of him can't. Who knows, maybe saying it too loud will undo it and he and TK go back to whatever they were before.

His mom smiles immediately, face lighting up in clear joy for Carlos. "I am happy for you Carlitos, is it the same boy as before? T..J?" she asks, unsure of his name.

Carlos nods anyway, knowing what she meant. "It is. TK Strand from the vets, we had ice cream this afternoon and talked about it." He leaves out exactly how the conversation came about, instead choosing to focus on the fact he has a boyfriend. It's been a long time since Carlos has been on more than one date with a guy, and even then those dates were sparse, so to have an actual boyfriend is incredibly exciting.

Not that Carlos regrets any of those 'dates', if he could even call them that. Half of them were real dates, the other half? more like having sex in the bed of some guy's truck hidden away where they wouldn't be disturbed. Carlos supposes he still sort of has a friends-with-benefits, but they haven't been together or even texted in a couple months. Though neither of them explicitly broke it off, they both just got busy as they always did in the spring. Thinking about it makes Carlos realize he might have to reach out to tell him he's unavailable these days.

"That's very exciting. Your father would be so proud," Andrea gives a sad smile.

The deep shame that washes over Carlos in moments like these is unavoidable. He knows he should've come out to his dad at the same time as his mom, or come out to him at all. His mom has his back, there's no way Andrea would let her baby be kicked out of the house, and Carlos doubts that'll be his dad's reaction. But the thought of looking that man in the eyes and admitting he wants to kiss and hold boys intimately makes Carlos squirm, it rubs him the wrong way, in every possible direction.

He breathes a deep sigh, "I know, I just—"

"I know. It's alright mijo, take your time," Andrea assures and runs her hand up and down his arm in comfort.

With his voice quiet, Carlos admits, "I don't know how to tell him."

"You don't have to worry about that now, it'll happen when you're ready."

"Thanks mamá."

Andrea smiles, "I am expecting a proper introduction to this boy sooner or later though."

He nods along, "I think you're gonna like him."

Chapter Text

A considerable amount of time passes before Carlos can muster up the courage to even consider coming out to his dad. The leaves have fallen off the trees and TK has become one of Carlos and Andrea's favourite people. Carlos has met the adorable little girl Grace gave birth to, and TK has saved so many small lives.

But Carlos hasn't come out yet.

And their relationship is increasingly hard to hide.

Carlos has made several excuses, the one that stuck best was that he has friends to hang out with in town on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, like a book club or dedicated sports team following friend group, but really he's just hanging out with TK.

Hanging out has come to mean lots of different things. At this point they've done just about anything. Walks through town and the park, ice cream, coffee, brunch, they went bowling a couple towns over once, board and card games, sex, watch TV, cuddles, cook, bake, they've even worked out in TK's garage together a couple times, though that has ended in sex each time they did it.

Carlos has been dying to bring TK to the farm, and TK knows that, Carlos laments and complains about the fact he can't almost every time they're together. Part of it is feeling bad that he's making TK host every time, but a bigger part of it is wanting to show TK around his neck of the woods. But Carlos can't run the risk of outing himself when he knows his dad is always around.

By now Carlos is part of game nights with some of TK's other friends and coworkers on nights he's done chores early. They're a fun group together, Carlos feels free and safe around them, which he didn't think would feel all that different or exciting, but that first time TK held his hand in front of all his friends and none of them even looked like they noticed, a massive invisible weight came off of Carlos.

He has to come out. He can't keep living like this.

Admitting he's attracted to men is going to be hard. But his whole life is going to be so much harder if he has to keep tucking this increasingly massive part of it away.

Instead of having their usual night-in type date, Carlos asks if they can spend their time together devising ways of coming out to his dad, which TK is eager to help with, not looking the least bit dejected that they most likely won't be doing anything fun or cutesy today.

Carlos has no idea where to start, so he asks "how did you come out to your dad?" while they get situated on the couch.

TK shrugs, "I just told him while we were out for dinner one night. I knew he would take it well, and he did, but it still took me until dessert came out to work up the courage to actually say it. I was fifteen."

Carlos knows the story but still looks at TK a little bewildered, "you're so brave."

"I'm not, I was just a kid who had strong feelings and a certain 'fuck the world' attitude about everything."

Carlos looks at him in a way that leaves TK no room to wiggle out of the eye contact. "TK, you came out to your dad at fifteen. I'm twenty-seven and the thought alone has me sweating, I'd call that pretty damn brave."

TK smiles, "I like when you're sweaty, it's very hot," he teases before bringing the severity of their conversation back. "My dad is not your dad. We were in New York, you couldn't walk anywhere without bumping into at least one queer friend group. How many gay people did you know in high school?"

Carlos thinks for a moment, high school had been a while ago and truthfully he doesn't exactly remember many queer people in his high school at all. There was one he could remember that had a similar 'fuck what the world might think' attitude that young TK had, but other than that the other gay people were either in the closet or very quiet about their sexualities at the time. "Not many, maybe two?"

"Exactly, so don't compare my life to yours. Your dad isn't my dad, and your upbringing isn't my upbringing, and that's okay. Everybody comes out at their own pace. Now, what do you have in mind?" TK asks.

"Honestly? I have no idea," Carlos admits. It is a lie. Carlos has lots of ideas, but none that he thinks are worth sharing.

"Oh come on, that's bullshit and you know it," TK teases, poking Carlos in the chest. "You always have so many overthought plans up in your head, you must have at least one idea."

Carlos debates not saying anything for a minute, but remembers that this is TK, his boyfriend, who wants to help him come out, and will love him either way. "I wanna bring you out to the farm," he says.

"Alright," Carlos can tell TK is trying to coax him into saying more.

"Maybe if I introduce you as my boyfriend he can gloss over the fact I'm gay and just be happy I'm with someone." It's wishful thinking, sure, but what else does Carlos have besides wishful thinking at the moment?

"Maybe," TK's voice is clearly telling him he doesn't believe that'll work but doesn't want to shut Carlos down. "Let's start with this. Where do you want to tell him?" Carlos furrows his brow at that question, because what kind of question is that? He wants to do it at home, what more was there to it? "In the house? In the barn? Out in the yard? Somewhere else on the property?" TK lists suggestions.

Carlos mulls it over for a moment, "maybe the yard? That way I can run if his reaction is bad?" At TK's concerned face Carlos is quick to add, "and it'll be more casual for all of us. He won't be expecting anything too exciting or out of the ordinary out there so it might catch him off guard and it'll go over well."

They spend the entire afternoon discussing it, because Carlos needs to be thorough and this has been causing the single highest amount of anxiety in his adult life so far, especially recently, so it needs to end, and it needs to end amicably.

By the time they're going over it for seemingly the millionth time, it is encroaching on chore time, and Carlos has to go home. This time he makes the drive with TK riding shotgun. TK reaches out to hold his hand over the console, a grounding presence. Carlos tries to give him a smile but he is too full of nerves to do it properly.

When he pulls up to the barn his hand is actually shaking on the steering wheel and his left leg is bouncing so fast his calf is cramping.

Carlos goes to open his door when TK tugs at his right hand, forcing Carlos to look over at him. "Hey," he says, blue-green eyes capturing Carlos like a safety net. With steady words he says, "I'm here with you, whatever happens. And I'll be here with you, whatever happens," he promises.

"Thanks TK," Carlos is shocked to discover his own voice is barely a whisper in the cab of the truck.

They let go of hands and hop out of the truck. Carlos had asked that his mom not interfere with this, that the two of them have to do it together. Carlos watches TK smile at Lexi as she runs over to say hi.

"She looks great! Healed beautifully —hi sweetie, are you happy you don't have to be on a leash anymore?" TK asks her in dog-voice. They pet and play with Lexi for a couple minutes, it strikes Carlos in that moment that TK hasn't seen her since the two of them were walking their way out of the vet clinic all those months ago. This is why Carlos has to do this, he can't keep compartmentalizing his life like this. TK deserves to see this part of his life, and Gabriel deserves to know about the TK part of his life.

Carlos leads TK into the barn, in search of his dad. Lexi walks with them, she is growing, but isn't quite tall enough yet to comfortably rest a hand on her back while walking yet.

They find Gabriel getting a head start on chores, putting hay in net bags to be put in stalls. Upon the sight Carlos feels seven years old with a present behind his back, interrupting his dad's work to show off a frog he caught.

TK is much prettier than a frog, and a lot harder to hide behind his back.

"Hey Carlos I— who's this?" Gabriel cuts himself off as he looks over to see the two of them walk in.

Carlos clears his throat. "Dad, this is TK Strand, from the vets. My boyfriend," he does his best to keep his expression even, despite the fact he wants to shrivel up under his dad's gaze.

Gabriel comes closer and shakes TK's hand before saying, "nice to meet you TK Strand, Gabriel Reyes. Your father's been out here several years ago now."

The interaction catches Carlos off guard. But TK rolls with the punches and smiles, "yeah, I think he's mentioned it before, it was a long time ago, but that's normally a good thing."

"Well, shall we go in for supper? I think your mother would have my head if I kept her waiting too long," Gabriel says, starting to lead the way out of the barn. Carlos is dumbstruck at this turn of events, nowhere in his and TK's brainstorming practice did they consider Gabriel not saying anything about it.

Inside, TK sits down with them for supper, Carlos and Andrea had arranged it so he could if he wanted, or could go home with no pressure either way.

Upon meeting Andrea in the house, Gabriel introduces TK to her. "This is TK Strand, he works at the vet clinic in town. You remember when his father Owen came out to help us with that calf several years ago?"

"Yes, I remember," Andrea answers. She and Carlos are communicating with their eyes without alerting Gabriel, she's trying to assess how it went but Carlos is still a little hung up on the fact his dad didn't react at all.

The four of them eat and it almost feels like Carlos just has an elementary school friend over for a sleepover and not a romantic partner meeting his parents properly for the first time.

After supper they put the plates on the counter and Andrea tells Gabriel to go ahead and go out for chores and the rest will follow soon. They stand in tense silence until they hear that door open and close.

"And?" Andrea starts the second the door clicks shut.

Carlos puts his hands on his head like he has a headache before throwing them up in exasperation. "Nothing!" They give him the space to continue and he does, "he said nothing! I— I mean he didn't even flinch! He just—" Carlos doesn't even know what to say.

Andrea is quick to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder like she's asking permission for a hug. "Mijo, I told you it would be alright." Carlos lets her give him a hug, mainly because he doesn't know what else to do.

TK rests a hand near his, curling his pinky over Carlos's, Carlos folds their hands together.

Carlos deflates, "it would've been nice if he acknowledged it."

He's spent so long worrying and hiding only for there to be no reaction from his dad. Carlos can't even feel relieved about it, he just feels empty, like he lost so many years because of how scared he was, and he'll never get them back.

As if TK can read his mind, he gives Carlos a hug and presses a small kiss to his neck, "it's okay, I can go talk to him," TK offers.

Carlos is quick to shake his head, "no, this is better than being yelled at. I should be happy it went like this." He is determined to not cry about it.

"No babe. You may as well still be in the closet if he barely said anything about it," TK says.

Now Carlos really doesn't know what to do, this has all gone sideways on him and he doesn't know the best way to rectify any of it.

His mom rests a hand on his forearm, "we'll help figure this out, just let us."

Damn his mom for knowing he likes to be stubborn and determined and do things on his own all the time. He gives a weak nod, not knowing how any of them are gonna do anything about this.

They go out to do chores, it's actually sort of fun to have TK around for it, he's enthusiastic and wants to help, and says hello to every animal they come across.

By the time they're done, Carlos still hasn't thought of anything to say to his dad, even though he spent the entire time stewing about it. Andrea gives him a hug and tells him it'll all be alright, Carlos tries to believe her.

TK suggests he goes home, that maybe this is something Gabriel felt uncomfortable acknowledging in front of Carlos's boyfriend.

"Hey, I'm gonna bring TK home, I'll be back in a bit," Carlos announces to the house from the entryway.

Both his parents shout their responses from wherever they are and Carlos and TK head back out to his truck.

The type of silence that fills the cab is dripping with TK's obvious want for chatter, but he's refraining from being the first to say anything, and frankly Carlos's head is full of so much that he can't articulate anything right now.

So they ride in silence.

Parked at the curb of TK's house, TK leans over the console and takes Carlos's jaw in his hand. "I'm there with you. Tell me how it goes. You can always crash here." TK speaks with clear sincerity before capturing Carlos's lips in the delicate promise of a kiss.

TK gives him a smile after they break apart before hopping out of the truck and making his way up to the front door. Carlos stays parked until the lights come on inside and the door closes, then gathers a deep breath before putting his truck in drive and heading home. His ride is in silence, songs come on the radio, songs he'd normally at least hum to if not outright belt, but Carlos can't, not when his entire world has shifted so drastically.

He parks his truck and takes a slow, deep breath before shutting it off and getting out, pocketing his keys as he walks to the door.

Carlos had asked his mom not to say anything while he dropped TK off, and by the sounds of what he can overhear of their conversation from the doorway, she'd stayed true to her word and is instead discussing tomorrow's plans and the weather forecast. He discards his boots and makes his way to the living room, choosing to sit on the same couch as his mom, but over a cushion so they aren't in each other's personal space, not that that really exists with mothers anyway.

"TK is a nice person," Gabriel starts after having smoothly ended their previous conversation upon Carlos' entrance to the living room.

Carlos nods but doesn't bother to muster up the courage to say anything.

"I'm glad we got to meet him," Andrea adds.

Taking a much shorter deep breath, Carlos decides he can't dance around the topic anymore and it'd be better to just get it over with at this point. Comforted by the weight of his keys in his pocket —his quick escape if need be—, accompanied by his phone and wallet, Carlos gets the words out as steady as he can manage while not breaking eye contact with his father. "TK is my boyfriend," he states, repeating his earlier statement, "I'm gay." Part of Carlos is mad at himself for being such a coward, and still being afraid of his own dad's reaction to this information. But another part of him will forever be a nervous seventeen year old just discovering his own identity and eventually sharing it with his mother, being too scared to tell anyone else, but not being able to deal with that knowledge all on his own at the time.

"I could've guessed that this evening when you first introduced your boyfriend to me," Gabriel replies. Carlos does his best to keep his reaction as neutral as possible, and by the smile that grows on Gabriel's face he knows he doesn't succeed. "What?"

Carlos stammers in shock for a moment at how casual his dad is being right now. "You— I, I thought you misheard. You didn't say anything about it."

"What were you expecting?"

In an attempt to not offend his father, Carlos wracks his brain for something other than 'for you to be mad at me'. "I'm not sure. You always quizzed Ana and Luisa's boyfriends for quite a while when you first met them, or maybe a 'so you're the person dating my child' spiel, you did the same when I had a girlfriend in high school, so why not with TK?" Carlos asks.

"You're not in high school anymore, I think you can make that decision yourself. But would you like me to?" In the time it takes Carlos to mull over that offer, Gabriel starts talking again instead. "Do you like him?"

Though caught off-guard, Carlos is quick to answer "yes."

"Does he like you back?"

"I think so."

"Has he been the one making you happy when you're gone on the weekends?"

Carlos nods but is taken aback by the implication that his dad noticed his general attitude enough to notice a change even when Carlos himself was trying to act as normal as ever when he would return from a date with TK.

"Then why would I care if he's a man instead of a woman?"

Logically Carlos knows it doesn't matter, but the devil on his shoulder has taken the reins. He stares at his lap and answers quietly, "because I can't carry on the family name."

It's at that instant that Carlos feels his mother shifting on the couch to give him a hug and rub his back. "Carlitos, is that what you've been worrying about? I'm sorry mijo," she says softly to him.

It's something he's never admitted to anyone really. He knows adoption is a thing, but as a whole Carlos still doesn't feel ready enough to parent. Even if he were straight and theoretically married to a lovely woman and could have children in a way Carlos would never be able to with TK, assuming they get married someday.

Carlos shakes the thoughts of marriage from his mind as his mom continues to comfort him.

"Carlos, carrying on the family name for our sake is never something we wanted to pressure you kids with," Gabriel says.

Carlos chances a look at him, "but you always talk about our heritage with so much pride, like our family is this big important thing we need to continue at all costs."

"It is important to be proud of who came before you, but starting a family you don't want won't be worth it. Ana and Luisa have kids, and though they don't carry our name, our family lives on. But even if they didn't, that would be okay too, it's life, you have to enjoy it now. And if preserving some of the present for the future is something you can do, that's a bonus, not a requirement."

Carlos had never thought of it like that, that he could just enjoy life without needing to continue a legacy he was plopped into upon birth. It takes a lot of pressure away from him, but doesn't stop the nagging question now at the forefront of his brain. "What about the farm?"

"What about it?" His dad has always been annoying with making Carlos and his sisters ask exactly what they mean instead of delicately wording around it hoping their parents would understand what their question is really about.

"What about when I'm too old to work on the farm and there's nobody to pass it down to? What then?" Carlos asks.

"You sell it, or find good young people you trust and teach them the ropes first then sell it to them," Gabriel says, like its so easy.

"It won't be Reyes anymore though," Carlos feels like he's so little and complaining about an argument that happened at recess where both kids had rightful ownership of a cool stick they found in the grass, but couldn't agree on who got to keep it.

"And that's alright. Carlos you cannot keep carrying the entire weight of our family name on your shoulders. One day we will all be dead and won't even be able to sad about the fact this isn't our farm anymore. We've had a good run, and things trading hands outside the family is natural, we can't have everything forever. If that day ever comes and you have to give the farm up, it will be the hardest day of your life, but that's alright."

Carlos stays quiet, absorbing his father's words for a few moments before his mother pipes up beside him. "You're already making us proud by being so involved. I know of parents with more than three kids where none of them have any interest in ranching, and they feel like failed farmers even though it's nobody's fault."

"At the end of the day I'm glad you found your person, and if it happens to be a man? So what? There's far worse things in life," Gabriel says.

Carlos gives a couple quick nods while trying to keep tears at bay. With the serious conversation over, Gabriel suggests he meet TK again sometime soon, properly, to give him the whole questionnaire everyone else who's dated one of his kids has gotten. And as cheesy as that might be for someone at twenty-seven, it makes Carlos feel accepted and included.