120k, 17 chapters all written, E, updates on Sundays on Ao3.
TK swoons when he discovers a sentimental scrapbook full of notes he and Carlos have left for each other ā but he also unearths a book of poems that closeted teen-Carlos wrote about his struggles, including a few dedicated to his high school crush. An adorably mortified Carlos recalls the stir he caused when he was published anonymously in the high school paper, and everything he went through to write his wedding vows for TK years later. With TK as a hype-man, maybe Carlos can embrace his creative side again.
Chapter 1 - Love Heart: The day after TK and Carlosā first wedding anniversary, TK is sent home from work sick. Back at the loft unexpectedly, he makes a surprising discovery about Carlos.
Chapter 2 - Club Can't Handle Me: In 2011, sixteen-year-old Carlos is both in the closet and in his high schoolās wrestling team ā and itās all a bit too much. Perhaps against his better judgment, he turns to poetry and makes a decision that will change his life.
Chapter 3 - Crossroads: Daydreaming about his wedding vows mid-drive, Carlos gets pulled over for a traffic violation ā and Gabriel isnāt happy. Reunited with TK, Carlos might be lost for words, but he finds another way to express his love and desire.
Chapter 4 - The Wrestler: Carlosā poems are published ā and he quickly learns thereās no putting the genie back into the bottle.
Chapter 5 - A Gay Fantasia: In the aftermath of being abducted by a serial killer, Carlos reflects on recent events and resumes work on his wedding vows.
Chapter 6 - La Tormenta: Carlos is devastated when Scott gets a girlfriend, and he finds himself in another snowballing situation.
Chapter 7 - Soulmates: When TK has a Huntingtonās disease scare, Carlos finds he knows exactly what to say. But will it help him with his writerās block when it comes to his wedding vows?
Chapter 8 - Man of Mystery: Itās the day of the Lake View High School Talent Show ā and will the real Shadow Poet please stand up?
Chapter 9 - Crush: In 2011, itās make or break for sixteen year old Carlos at the talent show. In 2024, TK becomes the hype man Carlos had needed over a decade ago.
Chapter 10 - From Behind: A couple of weeks before the wedding, Carlos is still working on his vows when a deeper rift develops between him and his dad. In 2012, seventeen year-old Carlos is spiraling after coming out to his parents.
Chapter 11 - The Other Wrestler: TK decides to lift Carlosā spirits by learning how to wrestle.
Chapter 12 - Carlos Reyes Will Be Okay: At Gabrielās funeral, Carlos regrets saying no to reading a poem in tribute ā but during the wake, he finds himself under a whole new pressure. Later that night, he realizes the vows heās worked so hard on for TK cannot be spoken yet.
Chapter 13 - The Closet: Despite some good news, Carlos ends up in the doghouse with his mom and with TK.
āI was just rememberingāā Carlos says, āThe first time you stayed for a while after one of our hookups. It was, like, the third time we hooked up, I think. I asked if you wanted tea and cookies and you looked at me like Iād said the weirdest thing ever.ā
TKās exhausted, puffy face breaks into a dazzling grin. āYou were being such a Boy Scout.ā
āBut then you said yes and you ate half the cookie jar.ā
āYou called me the Cookie Monster.ā
āThat was the first time I really made you laugh.ā
āTea came out my nose.ā
āIt was beautiful,ā Carlos says, pausing then to qualify: āYour laugh.ā
TK gazes up at him, his clear green eyes large and shining. āI canāt believe you remember that.ā
āThe first time you made me laugh was when we were dancing at the honky-tonk.ā
āHey!ā TK swats his arm. āI was trying my best!ā
āYou were so goofy,ā Carlos chides. āI just loved it. I loved you.ā
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