Work Text:
Nick 🐶 : Char, are you around?
Charlie 🐱: for you, always
Nick 🐶 : 💛
Charlie 🐱: what’s up?
Nick 🐶 : I need cheering up
Ugh, I wish I were with you right now
My brother is home from uni and he’s being a dick
Charlie 🐱: yeah, i’d love that too
sorry you have to deal with that
what did he do?
Nick 🐶 : Apart from being a twat and treat mum like his maid?
He’s always trying to rile me about the smallest things and mocking me for being just me
I hate it when he is here
Like, home is my safe space when it’s just me, mum and Nellie, you know?
Charlie 🐱: that must be hard, nick
like, i can’t relate to home being my safe space, sometimes is really hard with my controlling mum around
but my siblings are the best, they help a lot to cope with everything and we always support each other
Nick 🐶 : Tori still scares me a bit, tbh
But I agree Olly is the best
Charlie 🐱: that’s just her façade, but she’s the best too
and i swear she likes you
what can i do to cheer you up?
maybe i can borrow you olly, you could come to play with him
Nick 🐶 : Just talking to you helps
But I wouldn’t mind a playdate with Olly, even if he crushes me at Mario Kart every time
Charlie 🐱: i would be there too, you know?
Nick 🐶 : That’s definitely a bonus
Charlie 🐱: to crush you, i meant
Nick 🐶 : Don’t be mean, not when I’m sensitive
Charlie 🐱: hey, don’t guilt trip me, i won’t let you win
Nick 🐶 : Sometimes I forget you’re ruthless when it comes to MK
I’m feeling better already
I knew talking to you would help
Charlie 🐱: i feel like i didn’t do much
i’ll think of something else to lift your mood up
Nick 🐶 : Really? 👀
Charlie 🐱: hey, what you’re implying with those eyes?
Nick 🐶 : You can use your imagination 😉
Charlie 🐱: shut up!
Nick 🐶 : Well, i think that’s my cue to go
Charlie 🐱: no, wait, don’t go!
Nick 🐶 : I have to go and help mum with dinner
Ttl xxxx
Charlie 🐱: go be the good son you are
xxxxxxxx
After his talk with Nick, Charlie considered if there was something he could do to make his boyfriend feel better. Music helped him cope with some emotions, sometimes just to connect with those emotions on a deeper level. Maybe that could help Nick too. A while later, Charlie added a song to the playlist he had made for Nick on Spotify.
Shut your eyes and think of somewhere
Somewhere cold and caked in snow
By the fire we break the quiet
Learn to wear each other well
And when the worrying starts to hurt
and the world feels like graves of dirt
Just close your eyes until
you can imagine this place, you're our secret space at will
Shut your eyes, I spin the big chair
And you'll feel dizzy, light, and free
And falling gently on the cushion
You can come and sing to me
And when the worrying starts to hurt
and the world feels like graves of dirt
Just close your eyes until
you can imagine this place, you're our secret space at will
(Shut your eyes)
Shut your eyes and sing to me (Shut your eyes and sing to me)
“Shut Your Eyes” by Snow Patrol
Charlie 🐱: hey boyfriend!
i left you a song on the playlist, hope it helps
maybe you can use it as an exercise, listen to it and picture a happy place
goodnight xxxxx
The next morning, Charlie was in a rush to get to his form room, he wanted to give his boyfriend a big hug, even though he knew it was not possible in front of their classmates. He got in and scanned the room, only to find Nick’s seat was empty; it was odd, Nick was always there first. Charlie sat alone waiting for his boyfriend to arrive.
A few minutes later, Charlie saw Nick coming through the door with his head down, the tiredness was evident in his face. Charlie’s heart ached seeing him like that, Nick was usually cheerful in the mornings.
Nick slumped in his chair and immediately let his head fall on Charlie’s shoulder. “Late night”, he uttered without another greeting. Charlie decided that comforting his boyfriend was more important than whatever they classmates could think. He was going to hug Nick anyway.
With his head close to Nick’s ear, Charlie asked him in a whisper if he had heard the song. “Yeah, sorry I didn’t reply. I didn’t see it until past midnight. Thank you, it really helped”, Nick whispered back.
“Do you want to tell me what did you think of?” Charlie asked.
“The first time I listened to the song, the lyrics reminded me of our day in the snow. I know I told you that day was my favourite day ever. But then I thought about our beach date. That made me realise there would be a lot of places that could be my happy place as long as you are there. You are my happy place, Char”. Nick lifted his head and looked Charlie directly in the eyes, he could get lost in that blue for hours.
“You can’t say that, Nick”, Charlie replied, a blush evident on his cheeks, dimples on full display.
“Yes, I can! And you better believe it”, Nick said intently.
“That’s not what I meant. You are definitely my happy place too”, there was no hint of doubt in Charlie’s statement. “You can’t say that here, where I can’t kiss you senseless”, he added blushing furiously.
“You can kiss me later”, Nick whispered in Charlie’s ear.
“You bet I will”, Charlie said with a sassy tone that made Nick weak on the knees.
Their moment was interrupted by Mr. Langhe loudly calling, “OKAY Hamlet 5, settle down”.
Fortunately, now Nick and Charlie had the promise of senseless kissing to help them both get through the day.
