#Tarlos Fanfiction One-shots

Everyday Hero

Gentle morning sunlight poured through the loft windows, softly brightening Jonah's cozy little corner in the living room. The colorful dividers, covered in his favorite drawings and family snapshots, stood proudly, marking his special space. TK glanced over from the kitchen island, smiling softly as Jonah hurriedly packed his crayons into his dinosaur backpack, narrating another grand adventure aloud.

"I'm gonna catch the bad guys, just like Papa Carlos," Jonah declared seriously, tugging Carlos's old Texas Ranger hat down over his eyes. He turned toward his stuffed animals, hands on his hips in determination. "You're all under arrest for stealing cookies and making messes!"

TK chuckled softly, finishing up Jonah's lunch—peanut butter and jelly sandwiches neatly sliced into small triangles. "Jojo, you need to hurry up or we'll be late."

Jonah pouted briefly but quickly grabbed his backpack, running toward TK. "Ready, Papa-bro! I gotta go to school and tell my friends about being a hero like Papa Carlos."

TK's chest tightened just a bit, but he forced another gentle smile, tousling Jonah's hair. "I'm sure they'll love hearing about it. Let's go, little Ranger."

After dropping Jonah off at preschool, TK returned home, the loft feeling quieter and emptier without Jonah's joyful chatter. By midday, his phone rang, breaking the silence. Seeing Carlos's name, he answered quickly, warmth spreading instantly.

"Hey, babe," Carlos greeted warmly. "How's your day?"

"Quiet," TK said softly, trying to keep his voice light. "Just doing laundry and some cleaning. How about you?"

Carlos sighed softly but chuckled. "Busy. But good news—I'll be near Jonah's school following up on a case this afternoon. I can make pick-up today. Wanna meet there?"

"Oh," TK paused, swallowing a small lump that formed unexpectedly in his throat. "Yeah, that's—that's great. Jonah will be thrilled."

"Hey," Carlos's voice softened immediately, sensing something in TK's hesitation. "You okay?"

"Yeah," TK answered quickly, hoping he sounded convincing. "Just a bit tired, I guess."

Carlos was quiet for a beat, clearly unconvinced. "Alright, Ty. I'll see you there. I love you."

"Love you too," TK whispered, hanging up with a heavy sigh. He returned to folding Jonah's clothes, but his heart felt strangely heavy.

Later that afternoon, TK stood outside the preschool, watching Jonah rush excitedly toward Carlos, who had arrived moments earlier, his Ranger badge still clipped to his belt. Jonah practically jumped into Carlos's arms, laughing joyfully.

"Papa!" Jonah squealed excitedly. "Today at school I wrote about you being my hero and Miss Abby said it was the bestest paper she ever saw!"

Carlos's cheeks reddened slightly, glancing proudly at TK as they approached Jonah's teacher, who stepped forward smiling brightly.

"Mr. Reyes, Jonah really impressed us today," she praised warmly. "His paper about your job and bravery was absolutely wonderful. You must be very proud."

Carlos smiled softly, squeezing Jonah affectionately. "Thank you. I definitely am."

Beside them, TK forced a polite smile, nodding quietly, his throat suddenly tight as the teacher turned away. Carlos reached for his hand, gently squeezing it, oblivious to the small ache blooming in TK's chest.