Work Text:
Nick’s brain was going haywire, early morning light filtering through the windows as he stood outside of Charlie’s room. (It was really the guest room, but ever since Charlie put their bags in there it was his.) He could barely string a thought together as his knuckles quietly rapped on the door, hearing a soft invitation come from inside.
He opened the door, closing it behind him on autopilot as his tearful gaze locked with Charlie’s. They had dark circles under their eyes, sitting up in bed with the blanket still wrapped around their body. Nick couldn’t breathe. He loved him. He loved him. Charlie stared at Nick’s face, tears building up in their eyes the longer the silence lasted.
“I—I’m so sorry, Nick,” they started, voice trembling, “I lied to you, and I’m so sorry—“ Nick crossed the room in three steps, shutting Charlie up by throwing his arms around him and squeezing.
“No!” Nick nearly yelled, “You aren’t allowed to say that word. You don’t get to apologize for making my life better. You don’t get to apologize for being the reason I know who I am, and love who I am.” He continued, tone so full of conviction that it knocked the air out of Charlie’s lungs.
Nick broke the hug to sit down next to them, pulling them back into his arms almost immediately. Charlie turned in his grip, burying his face in the crook of Nick’s neck.
“You’re not… mad?” Charlie whispered, the feeling of his lips moving causing goosebumps to rise on Nick’s skin. Nick pulled them closer until they were half sitting on his lap, burying his face in Charlie’s curls.
“I could never be mad at you for this.” He replied, throat burning with unshed tears. When Charlie felt the first drop hit their head, they pulled back, concerned gaze finding Nick’s. They hesitated only a moment before tackling him to the bed, shuffling so that Nick was resting on top, head over Charlie’s heart. He softly played with Nick’s hair, brushing it out with their fingers and lightly scratching his scalp.
Nick clung to Charlie’s shirt, giving up on pretending like he was fine. How could they have thought he would be mad? How could they see this revelation as anything other than a good thing?
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he mumbled, in between trembling breaths and sobs. Charlie squeezed him tighter, intertwining their legs so he could hold every inch of him. They ran a hand up and down Nick’s back, trying to breathe as steadily as possible for him to follow.
Charlie could feel tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes, but now wasn’t the time. Nick needed them to be the rock right now, just as Nick was his rock only moments before. He didn’t hate them. He knew all of Charlie, and yet he didn’t hate them.
“It’s okay, Nick, you don’t have to thank me. Always. I will always be here for you, always,” Charlie whispered, the promise of always joining the prayer of thank you’s until both of them were unable to speak any longer. Nick’s breathing evened out, tears drying on his face as he finally fell asleep.
Charlie stared at him, the birds chirping as the sun rose above the horizon. Nick looked beautiful like this, he decided, bathed peacefully in the morning light. They carefully grabbed the blanket from the end of the bed and pulled it over them both, creating a cocoon of warmth. Charlie waited a moment with bated breath, making sure he was still sleeping.
“It will always be for you, Nick. I will always be yours.” They murmured, relieved to be able to say it now that his words fell on deaf ears. He closed his eyes, gently wrapping their arms around Nick again, before finally giving in to the tug of exhaustion.