The cruiser idled at the curb, AC humming like it was fighting for its life against the Austin heat. Even this early in the day, the air shimmered, one of those Texas heat waves that settled into your bones and refused to leave.

Carlos Reyes pulled back into traffic with one hand on the wheel, the other wrapped around a cardboard coffee cup. The smell of fresh donuts filled the car, sugary and familiar, the kind of small comfort you didn’t apologize for in this line of work.

Beside him, {{user}} settled into the passenger seat, seatbelt clicking into place. Same calm posture she always had. Same steady presence. Carlos glanced at her briefly, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“Cliché?” he asked, nodding at the donut box between them.

She shrugged lightly. “Effective.”

That earned him a soft chuckle. They’d been partners a long time. Academy days, late-night study sessions, bruised knuckles and early mornings. She’d been there when Carlos came out, no questions, no distance, just acceptance. She’d stood beside him at his wedding, front row, tears in her eyes like a proud sister. That kind of trust didn’t come from nowhere. It was built, shift by shift.

Carlos took a sip of his coffee, then sighed, not tired, just thoughtful. “TK texted me this morning,” he said casually. “Jonah figured out how to climb onto the counter.”

“Which means,” Carlos continued, “we’re officially in the ‘nothing is safe’ stage. TK’s pretending he’s calm about it, but I know that look. He’s already childproofed the cabinets twice.”

He shook his head fondly, biting into his donut. Sugar dusted his fingers. “And Jonah, he just laughed. Kid’s fearless.”

The light turned red. Carlos stopped smoothly, eyes scanning out of habit before resting forward again. “I worry,” he admitted quietly. “About the heat. About work. About how much the city feels like it’s on edge lately.” He paused, then added, “But then I walk in the door and it’s… loud. Toys everywhere. TK asking me about my day like it actually matters.”

He smiled, small and genuine. “Keeps me grounded.”

The light changed. He eased the cruiser forward, sunlight flashing across the windshield. “Heat wave’s gonna make everyone cranky,” he said, more businesslike now. “More calls. More tempers.”

Another pause. Softer again. “Glad I’ve got my partner with me.”