Work Text:
Life changes in an instant.
It might be years in the making or it might spring from a sudden epiphany, but the actual change is brief, immediate, abrupt. And then, nothing's the same anymore.
That's what happened to Nick. One second he was there, at practice, teaching Charlie, his friend Charlie, about rugby, like other times before. They were running, tackling one another, trying to score, having fun, laughing a lot. Not unlike the other times. Nothing was different from those times. Or maybe it was? Maybe there was something in the air; maybe it was the fallen leaves, dancing in the wind, making the world a bit better in a subtle way.
He had just tackled Charlie, but Charlie had scored anyway. And Nick felt incredibly proud, immensely happy for his friend. But it wasn't a gentle "good for him" in his brain, it was a huge, warm explosion in his chest.
Charlie got up, handing him the ball. Nick looked at him, warmth expanding through his body. He felt wonderful, and also a bit shocked. He couldn't really understand what was going on, but for some reason he was feeling... hopeful? Was that it? Hopeful? About what?
Charlie was smiling broadly. As Nick stood up, he was surprised by the effect that smile was having on him, like a soft electrical current was running through his skin.
"Well done," Nick said, and Charlie laughed, quietly but wholeheartedly, and Nick felt something inside melt. He just couldn't take his eyes off of Charlie, as if the boy was a magnet, pulling him strongly.
Charlie started walking and Nick followed him, trying to process the confusing avalanche of thoughts and feelings flooding his brain and body. He didn't know exactly what had happened, what was happening to him, how a routine rugby practice with a friend had turned into a revelation whose meaning he couldn't quite grasp.
But he was certain that, in that moment, something in him had changed forever.