#Tarlos Fanfiction One-shots

The Weight of Trust

These are all one-shots, so the timeline in each chapter is not correlated or in sequence. And did any of you see the sneak peek of Season 5, Episode 5? If you haven't, please head to X and watch the almost 3-minute sneak peek! This was me while watching it: 🤯🥵🤣😢😭🥺

TK: Our 1st anniversary is coming up, and I don't know... I I feel like we're already starting to drift apart.

Carlos: It hurts. I don't want that.

        *****

Carlos and TK lay tangled in the sheets, their breaths slowing as the warmth of their shared intimacy still lingered in the room. The quiet hum of the city filtered through the open window, a stark contrast to the peaceful silence between them. TK rested his head on Carlos' chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns along his boyfriend's skin.

Carlos, with his arm wrapped securely around TK, sighed contentedly, pressing a soft kiss to the top of TK's head. "I love moments like this," he whispered, his voice full of warmth. "Just the two of us, no distractions."

TK smiled softly but didn't respond right away. His fingers continued to trace the same spot on Carlos' chest, almost as if he was lost in thought. The silence stretched a little longer than usual, and Carlos, sensitive to the shifts in TK's energy, tilted his head slightly to glance down at him.

"Hey," Carlos murmured, gently running his fingers through TK's hair. "What's going on in that head of yours? You've gone quiet."

TK hesitated, his heart starting to beat a little faster. He had been thinking about this for a while now—whether to open up, to let Carlos in on a part of him he wasn't proud of, a part of him that still haunted him sometimes. They had been together for six months now, and things were good. Really good. But that didn't stop the nagging fear that if Carlos knew the darker parts of his past, it might change things between them.

"I've been wanting to talk to you about something," TK started slowly, his voice softer than usual, almost unsure. He shifted slightly, resting his chin on Carlos' chest so he could look up at him.

Carlos' brows furrowed with concern, but he remained calm. "Okay," he said gently, his hand still moving through TK's hair in soothing strokes. "You can tell me anything, TK. You know that."

TK bit his lip, his gaze faltering as he tried to find the right words. "It's about... my addiction," he said quietly, his voice tinged with the weight of the subject.

Carlos didn't say anything, but the hand in TK's hair paused for just a second before resuming its comforting motion. He knew this wasn't easy for TK, and he didn't want to push. Instead, he waited, giving him the space he needed to speak at his own pace.

"I don't talk about it much," TK admitted, his voice cracking slightly. "It's—it's not something I'm proud of. In fact, I try not to think about it at all most days. But it's always there, in the back of my mind. The mistakes I made. The hurt I caused my family. And the fact that I almost... didn't make it out."

Carlos felt his chest tighten at TK's vulnerability, but he kept quiet, letting TK continue.

"There were times when I didn't think I'd survive," TK said, his voice breaking a little as memories he usually kept locked away started flooding back. "I hit rock bottom so many times that I wasn't even sure which way was up anymore. And I was ashamed. So ashamed of what I'd become. I didn't care about anything or anyone, least of all myself."

TK's voice was thick with emotion now, and he looked down, unable to meet Carlos' gaze as he continued. "I pushed everyone away. I didn't think I deserved to be loved, and honestly, I still struggle with that sometimes."

Carlos' heart ached for him. He wanted nothing more than to wrap TK in his arms and shield him from the pain of his past, but he knew this was something TK needed to get out. So he stayed still, his touch soft, offering silent reassurance.

"I know I've made progress," TK went on, his voice a little stronger now, though still trembling. "But sometimes, I'm terrified that I'll slip back. That one bad day will send me spiraling again. And I—I didn't want to burden you with all this, but... I don't want there to be secrets between us. You deserve to know the whole of me, even the messy parts."

Carlos finally spoke, his voice gentle but firm. "TK, look at me."

TK hesitated but eventually lifted his gaze to meet Carlos'. His eyes were glassy with unshed tears, his vulnerability laid bare.

"I'm so proud of you," Carlos said, his words thick with emotion. "Not just for overcoming something so incredibly difficult, but for being brave enough to share it with me. That's not easy, and I know it. But I need you to hear me when I say this: none of what you went through makes me think any less of you. In fact, it makes me love you even more. You fought your way out of that darkness, TK, and you came out stronger. You didn't give up."

TK swallowed hard, his eyes searching Carlos' face for any sign of pity or judgment, but all he found was love. Pure, unwavering love.

"I don't know if I'll ever be fully okay with it," TK admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm trying."

"And that's all that matters," Carlos said softly, his hand cupping TK's cheek, thumb brushing away the tear that had finally fallen. "You don't have to be perfect, babe. You don't have to be anything other than who you are. I love you for all of it—the good, the bad, and everything in between."

TK let out a shaky breath, leaning into Carlos' touch as a sense of relief washed over him. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "For listening. For loving me."

Carlos smiled, his own eyes misting over as he pressed his forehead against TK's. "Thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me. I'm honored that you let me in."

They stayed like that for a long moment, the weight of TK's confession settling between them, not as a barrier, but as something that brought them closer. Carlos pulled TK into his arms, holding him tightly, as if he could shield him from the ghosts of his past.

"I've got you," Carlos whispered, his voice steady and sure. "No matter what. I've got you."

And in that moment, TK believed him. Wrapped in the safety of Carlos' embrace, he felt lighter, freer. The past might always be a part of him, but with Carlos by his side, he knew he could face whatever came next. Together.

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