Hey guys, so I know I haven't updated this is forever...but I'm still around! I can never get these two out of my head so have no fear, I'll never be done writing about Reid and Tyler.

This is just a quick little piece that popped into my head now that it's winter, hope you guys like it.

Please please review! I miss getting them!


It was cold.

That was the first thing that Tyler noticed walking into the apartment.

It was cold and the lights were off.

He closed the door softly behind him and locked the deadbolt and stood there for a moment. Unsure of whether or not to turn the lights on.

He decided not to and set his bag on the floor and kicked his shoes off and walked over to the thermostat.

It was off.

Which explained the cold.

It was winter and Tyler's shoes had snow on the bottom of them that he knew was going to melt into a puddle on the floor in a few minutes but he ignores that for the moment.

It was winter and Tyler tugged off his scarf and unbuttoned his coat and flicked the thermostat on.

The apartment was a one bedroom with a large open floor plan, the kitchen and living room and dining room all rolled into one. It was a decent size for the rent they paid. They had thought they were getting a good deal at first, but after having to live in the shitbox they realized why the rent was so low.

They were low on money anyways so it's not like they could move.

Which was why the thermostat had been turned off.

Probably why the lights were off too.

Tyler caught sight of Reid's cigarettes sitting in their little white box on the counter and dug around in his pockets for a lighter.

He steals one of Reid's little cancer sticks and walks over to the bathroom where he cracks the window and sits on the edge of the tub and lights it, feeling the warmth of the little flickering flame in the palm of his hand.

He's never liked the taste of them, or what they do to him. To Reid.

But he likes the smoke. Thick and gray blue and acrid.

It clings to Reid. The smoke. The smell of cigarettes and coffee grounds and the musk that comes from the old worn books Reid reads all day.

Tyler shivers from the cold winter air seeping in through the window and stubs his cigarette out and closes the window.

It's still dark in the apartment when he leaves the bathroom and he peers at the thermostat in the dim lighting.

It's getting warmer. Slowly but surely.

He stands there, in the middle of the living area for a moment before he pulls the lighter out again and wanders around, lighting the few candles that he'd left lying around. They were meant to be decorative, but he'd failed completely at decorating the apartment so now they were just there.

They don't give out much light, but they do brighten up the room. A soft flickering golden glow.

The bedroom door is open and Tyler examines it.

It takes him a moment, to build up the courage to walk into that room.

He doesn't know why.

Sometimes he just needs a moment.

Reid's asleep. Knocked out on their bed.

Curled into a ball with a nest of blankets surrounding him.

Tyler watches as Reid murmurs something soft and low in his sleep.

He's naked except for his boxers and in the dim light his inky black tattoos glare out at Tyler, contrasted with Reid's pale body.

He's beautiful.

There was a time when Tyler would never have dared to think Reid was beautiful. There was a time when Tyler would never have dared to kiss Reid. To make love to Reid. To love Reid at all.

But that was in the past.

And now he did kiss Reid. He did make love to Reid. He did love Reid.

They had no money and no steady jobs and they were living in a shit apartment freezing their asses off and there was a time when Tyler would have thought living like this wasn't worth anything. Not even Reid.

But that was in the past.

And sure, he didn't like the fact they sometimes they went hungry. Or that they had to turn the heat off to make rent. Or live in the dark with only flickering candles to light the way.

But it was worth it.

Reid was worth it. For all the trouble he brought with him, for all the shit Tyler went through to be with him.

He was worth it. Because he made Tyler happy.

Because he loved Tyler in a way that no one had ever loved him before and that no one would ever love him again.

And he was worth it.

Tyler tugged his shirt off and shimmied out of his jeans and crawled into the blankets next to Reid and felt the blond adjust and curl around his body.

Reid was warm. His pale skin burning despite the temperature of the apartment and Tyler wrapped his arms around Reid, holding him close.

Sucking the warmth off his skin.

He tucked Reid's head under his chin and breathed in his scent.

Reid smelled like cigarette smoke and coffee grounds and old books.

Like he always smelled.

He smelled like home. Like safety. Like love.

Tyler loved that smell.

Loved Reid.

Reid murmured something and Tyler loosened his grip on the man and Reid blinked up at him with his clear blue eyes.

"Hi." He whispered, voice soft and breathy and Tyler smiled and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

"Hi."

Reid closed his eyes again and pulled the blankets over them both, trapping them in the warmth of the little nest Reid had made for himself.

"Have you been smoking my cigarettes?" Reid asked sleepily and Tyler laughed and kissed the top of his head.

"Go back to sleep love."


I hope you guys liked it, please leave a review and let me know! 3