#rafaelsliva

[ronensass]

tk strand + text posts (3/?)

tags: @sapphire11 @detectivecarlosreyes @safeashousespdf @marzzinaa @losttttt

[reyescarlos]

it’s been about a month since i've done one of these! here’s some of an exes to lovers au i'm sorting out. please enjoy this scene between tk and andrea 💜

“I love your son more than anything and I let him down. I can never forgive myself for that,” TK says decidedly, finally bringing himself to look her in the eyes.

Andrea raises a brow, her head tilting to the side as she studies him.

“You can’t exactly move forward if you’re still holding on to the past.”

TK frowns. “That’s the thing though. There’s no real way forward. This is all I’ll ever be to him. I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to look at me and not think about the past, about how I ruined us. How could he not?” he asks, more so to himself.

“Did you come back to win his heart?”

TK shakes his head at once. Through all the disorientation of being back in the same space with Carlos again after all this time, that’s never been in question. In moving back to Austin, he’d hoped to at least see his ex again, but not in a romantic sense. He couldn’t possibly dare to dream such a thing.

“I lost that five years ago. I’m still trying to accept that. But, no. I came back to apologize and maybe, if I’m lucky, earn back his trust.”

TK looks out across the yard for a moment, Andrea’s well-tended garden. The fragrance of her flowers wafts through the air on the gentle breeze that passes.

“I know I broke our relationship in ways I can never undo. But if we could be friends again or even acquaintances, that’d be more than enough for me. That’s what I’ve missed most, you know? Just talking to him. Being around him. These last few years have been really hard and it’s all my fault.”

TK scrapes his nail against the side of the mug.

“I don’t really remember much from that night. But I do remember feeling like I had to set him free so I did and said things I’m not proud of to make him go.”

TK’s vision blurs with newly formed tears.

“I know he would have stayed to see me through it. He would have stuck with me, loved me even though I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t want that for him. He deserved better. He deserved more than I could give him at the time.”

He wipes at his eyes before looking at Andrea again and setting his mug down.

“You did an amazing job raising Carlos. I’ve never met anyone like him before and I know that I never will again. I was so lucky to be loved by him. I knew it back then too, but I just…I lost my way and I lost him too.”

Andrea’s gaze is intent as she looks at him. It’s so much like staring into Carlos’ eyes. There’s such warmth and compassion within her gaze. She cups his cheek and TK’s last bit of resolve breaks.

TK lets out a sob and Andrea’s arms encircle him at once, catching him as he breaks down. She soothes him in the same way his own mother would, gentle slow circles across his back as she quietly tells him it’ll all be okay.

TK prays that she’s right, that these words are prophetic. He clings to her, his fingers burrowing against the softness of her cardigan. He closes his eyes and takes a steadying breath. He’s too distracted in the move to notice they aren’t alone until a voice that doesn’t belong to either of them speaks.

“Ma, Dad’s asking when—,” Carlos says, stopping short.

TK sniffs and shifts from Andrea, putting space between them. He looks away, his eyes casting down to try and disguise the fact that he’s been crying.

“Tell him we’ll start in a few, okay? Five minutes or so. Surely his stomach can last that long,” she muses.

Carlos doesn’t laugh or make any sound in response.

TK licks his lips and looks up again. Carlos is still in the doorway, expression grave, but he still doesn’t speak. He looks between his mother and TK, eyes settling on the latter. TK is sure he must look rough. He’s got a headache from crying so much and he feels sick to his stomach.

Carlos searches his face almost as if calculating TK’s hurt. TK does his best to telegraph that he’s okay.

“Carlos. Five minutes,” Andrea repeats softly.

After a beat, Carlos nods and seems to come back to himself. He tears his eyes away from TK and looks to his mother.

“Okay, I’ll let him know.”

TK lets out a breath as Carlos disappears back into the house. Andrea turns to him, arms spread open again.

“Come here,” she says.

TK goes without hesitation. He feels far more relaxed now, but still he doesn’t shy away from the comfort she provides. He knows he’s not in any fit state to go back into the house just yet.

He takes a breath. Andrea’s perfume is delicate and floral, but there’s also the additional spices of the meal she prepared for them all this evening. It’s simply nice.

TK smiles and unfurls himself once he’s had his fill.

“I’m glad you don’t hate me. I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” he jokes, but Andrea looks troubled at his words.

“I can see the way you look at my son. I can tell what’s in your heart. I can see just how deeply your hurt runs. You’re a good person who has been through so much in your young life. It breaks my heart to see you hurting like this. You can’t keep punishing yourself, TK.”

“But what if I deserve it? After everything I’ve put Carlos through and my own family too? I’ve hurt a lot of people,” he argues.

“And you’ve been making amends ever since,” she counters adamantly. “I know Carlos would say the same thing too.”

TK doesn’t have a response to that. He bites back on his lower lip, sitting with her words for a moment. She pats his knee twice and rises. TK numbly gets to his feet too and begins to trail after her.

“Mrs. Reyes?” TK says, stopping in his tracks.

She turns back to look at him, her outline haloed in the light coming from the glass doors. She looks like an angel, bathed in warmth and brightness here in the dark of night.

“Thank you for listening to me,” he finishes softly. “I didn’t even realize how much I needed that.”

The smile she treats him to is so full of kindness, it’s a bit overwhelming but he’s grateful for it.

She comes closer and cups his face again, her skin warm against his cheek. It steadies him, forges his nerves into steel. He borrows her strength.

“Any time, sweetheart. Whatever you need.”

TK falters for a moment.

“Do you think– Could we…could we maybe keep all of this between us? The last thing I want to do is complicate things even more for him. If he knew how I felt, it might…he’s in a good place. I don’t want to mess with that.”

She eyes him for a moment thoughtfully, her lips twitching for a second as if holding herself back from saying something she ought not to.

In the end, she simply nods, draping her arm over his shoulders as she takes a leading step to the door.

[beautifulhigh]

Curious about…5 things you want to see in season 4 of 9-1-1 Lone Star?? 💗

1) the boys in wedding planning mode. I want arguments over things that don't matter and them creating a ceremony that is theirs and kills us all. Then a honeymoon in Hawai'i

2) Nateo going the distance. We love a bi queen and her supportive shorter king

3) Marjan getting a story arc that shows her as more than the bad ass we've always known her to be. Like what did her parents think about the ending of her engagement?

4) Judd taking on more with the 126. I'm still of a mind to think that Rob Lowe could leave in S4 so give me Captain Ryder honouring his brothers by leading the house

5) More Carlos/Grace please. There needs to be a First Responder Spouse club set up

I've still got 20 minutes on the last train with the drunks. Save me and ask me anything

[pragmatic-optimist]

Your tags on this are so relatable. Like, once I saw that I was completely derailed from my thinking. Like how dare he…I mean, it definitely made my day but also ruined it too. 😂 No thoughts, just him. The scruff and glasses and cap are a dangerous combo. I just….need to lie down…

Anyway, hope you’re having a wonderful day!! 🥰

Jamie! I appreciate you for taking me back to earlier this week and the epicness that was that Rafa selfie. Truly one of his best. I love hiatus!Rafa, he is a sight to behold™️. 🔥

He has a habit of posting these things right in the middle of my work day and too many times I've had to rally to get things done instead of spending the rest of my day losing my chill in DMs with my friends. I have not always succeeded to be honest, there have been days where some work emails did not get answered. 😂

I appreciate your note so much, I hope you've had a wonderful day too! It's almost the weekend which is nice, I think we can all use a small break. Sending you all the good vibes to close out the week! ✨💕

[avacoleman]

“have i just turned into a psych blog?” <- nothing wrong with that! 💜🥰

Haha I never watched it before, but I’ve been binge watching the hell out of it these last few weeks. Literally watching it right now, actually. I cannot believe I slept on this show this whole time! It’s so brilliant! Legit, you’re one of the reasons I decided to watch it. I’ve seen you and a few other folks reblogging it often and I’m like, okay, this seems like something I could get into… and now look at me 😂

[reyescarlos]

Hi! 🥰 5 favorite Carlos scenes & top 5 favorite fics? 💜

Hi!! Oh my lord, these questions are HARD! JUST 5 CARLOS SCENES!?! I could go episode by episode and give an analysis of each of his scenes and why they should be revered. I'll go with the first ones that come to mind, but I know I'll wind up missing some gems and kick myself later 😅 Also, I rarely use the bookmark function on ao3 because I'm a goblin and have suddenly forgotten every fic I have ever read in my life, so I'll list writers instead 🤷🏾‍♀️

Tempted to say all of Bad Call because so many moments from that episode hit me at once. Between him standing down in the alley to the interrogation room scene with his dad to his talk at the firehouse with Owen to “trust my gut”, to that glorious reunion with TK in the end, he had me GRIPPED the entire time. That will forever remain in my top 3 favorite episodes. He completely owned it

The como dream sequence in Push. Literally him in that entire episode tbh, but there was just something so compelling about watching him essentially acting against himself. We got to see such a range from the anger flaring up to the emptiness after he got his thoughts off his chest. 2b (yes, I’m being sneaky with this) would also be from Push. I could cry just thinking about him being there as TK woke up and when he was finally able to hold his hand, run his fingers through his hair with TK’s knowledge and consent after being months apart??? Poetic and stunning! No notes! Give Rafa an Emmy!

I really loved his final scene in 3x05 after Det. Washington suggested he take the detective’s exam. That look of determination and pride on his face was 10/10. Seeing him get that validation of a good job done and stepping into himself...I’m beyond ready for Detective Reyes to be in full effect. I need it like oxygen

His breakdown in 2x12 post fire. Seeing him be so vulnerable really felt like such a window into him. That’s the first time we got to see him fully give in and let himself be comforted and literally held. He keeps so much bottled in, he needed that release

“And I’m packing a piece” Arguably the most iconic line in recent memory for me, hands. We are more than halfway done with s3 and I’m still shaking over that delivery oooof! See also: “Are you gonna make me twist your arm?” Truly, how does TK get anything done when this Man™️ says such things to him?

Fic Writers:

@reyesstrand @sunshinestrand @bellakitse @marjansmarwani @iboatedhere @strandnreyes @doublel27 @howtosingit yes, this is more than 5 but oh well~ 😌✌🏾 I have stories for all these folks open on my phone as we speak and/or have been reading their stuff since I first joined this fandom!

[beautifulhigh]

19 & 21? 💚

19. imagine we’re at a sleepover, would you paint my nails?

I mean, if you want me to do but my dyspraxia messes with my fine motor skills so it won’t look pretty!

21. something you’ve kept since childhood?

I still have my childhood teddy bear

Send me a number - weirder asks list

[beautifulhigh]

Freeze 🛑 You’re under arrest for being so lovely. Copy this message to 10 other blogs that you think are beautiful and deserve it. Keep the game going and make others feel beautiful. 💜

Not sure about living in a society where this is a law on the statute books but I will go if he's my arresting officer: