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Nick was fuming .
Admittedly, he's rarely angry but he had everything planned down to a fucking tee and things were just not going his way. He had packed yesterday, even taking his car to campus for his lecture this morning in order to get out of Leeds as quickly as possible. He had packed lunch so he wouldn't have to stop, and had been careful not to drink too much. Had even calculated with a little traffic, so he'd still be in time to pick Charlie up from school this afternoon.
Charlie . His adorable, wonderful boyfriend who he hadn't seen in months . Charlie, who he missed more than anything. It was one thing to FaceTime almost every other day, to text between classes and send funny memes whenever he saw something that made Nick think of him. That was one thing. But he hadn't seen him since right after Christmas break, almost three months ago - 87 days, if anyone was counting, which he certainly was - and if not for this little escapade he wouldn't see him for another ten days. It was too damn long and Nick had to do something about it.
Easter break was coming up, and both he and Charlie would get off school and get a wonderful whole week together. Nick was supposed to drive to Kent next Saturday morning. What Nick hadn't told Charlie, or anyone else for that matter, was that two days ago - when Charlie had been particularly cute while laughing about something stupid and his dark, wonderful curls had fallen into his blue, sparkling eyes, Nick had physically hurt from not being able to kiss him. He had decided he needed to do something about it. So he had studied a little harder, asked his professors what he'd miss next week, told his coach he had to go home for a while and asked friends to send him notes from class. Nick be damned if rugby and future exams would keep him from his boyfriend any longer.
Most everyone would think it stupid, skipping important lectures to go see your boyfriend. But they didn't know what Nick knew, and that was that Charlie was it for him. Charlie was his present and his future and whenever Nick was around him, everything just made sense. As long as he had Charlie, everything would fall into place. Nick had, in a way, known that since that first day in form years ago, long before he knew Charlie would change his whole world, but after their two week break last summer, he could never see himself risking Charlie ever again. And he knew Charlie felt the same. Those weeks had been the worst of his life, but they were stronger for them. They made sure to take the time to talk, not to hang up angry or overly annoyed, and to always remind each other, in any way they could, they loved each other.
But nothing was going his way today. Careful laid plans were worthless. Traffic had been much worse than anticipated and Nick groaned as he watched the clock in his car go from 15:14 to 15:15. Charlie was getting out of Truham Grammar in fifteen minutes and Nick was still an hour and a half away.
So yes, Nick was fuming right now.
Nick spent the next hour contemplating his evening. It wouldn't be much different, really. He knew Charlie had his weekly appointment with Geoff, and then he had plans for a movie night with the gang. Nick had only really planned to pick him up from school, savor the short moments in his car while driving Charlie to Geoff and then head home to surprise his mom. Tomorrow, he'd steal Charlie away from Tao's and do all the things he couldn’t do over the phone.
However, after taking the exit and getting off the freeway, Nick didn't find himself on the road to the Nelson house. Instead, he soon found himself parking a little ways down the street from Tao's.
"Am I really this pathetic?" he asked himself out loud as he locked the car behind him and yes, for Charlie he was. Always. But he hadn't just missed his boyfriend. He had been missing his friends as well. Tara, Darcy, Elle, Isaac, Imogen and yes, even Tao. They'd all be there tonight. He missed how they all used to hang out, even the stupid, complicated movies Tao always forced them to watch. Nothing had changed really, with him leaving for uni. He knew that. Elle, Darcy, Tara and Imogen were still close enough to keep these nights up. To hang out on a regular basis with those few left at Truham. He knew next year would be different, with the gang spread out in a different way. But for now, it was only Nick who had truly left, the only one more than an hour or two away.
Taking half a step back from the door after knocking, he grimaced and swore to himself under his breath. What was he thinking, crashing their night like this? But it was too late to go back now.
"Charlie," he heard Elle's happy voice from behind the door, "you're here ear-"
Nick waved sheepishly as the door opened and Elle appeared before him. Her thick, curly has was pulled up in a bun and she was wearing a knitted sweater that he guessed was originally Tao’s. "Not Charlie."
The smile that broke out on Elle’s face was big and warm, radiating like the sun, and it squashed his earlier doubts. These were his friends too, of course he was welcome. He would always be. "OH MY GOD, NIIIIICK !"
He barely had time to register Darcy in the hallway behind them before he was swooped into a warm hug from Elle and he heard squeals coming behind them. More arms wrapped around him and as he tried - and failed - to reach whoever had joined in on their group hug he felt at peace. He had made friends at uni, and he liked it there and how he had time to grow outside of his relationships back home. But these were his people, his squad , his chosen family .
What felt like an eternity later he was finally released and he could see that all of them were there, in the cramped, too small hallway. He heard confused questions above his head as he took his time to say hi to everyone, to give them all a hug of their own.
"Nick Nelson," Tao said when Nick broke free from Imogen a short moment later. "Is it next week already?" His tone could be mistaken for sour, if it weren't for the small smile at the corner of his mouth. A quick hug followed before Nick was ushered into the living room by hands he wasn't sure who they belonged to.
Spinning to sit down on the couch, Nick laughed and took in the scene before him. Talking to them on the phone one on one sometimes, or the endless group chats they shared, was not the same as being in the same room as his favorite people. He found himself laughing easily despite his lack of rest, his frustration with his failed plans melted away and the time he had missed with the gang felt almost non-existent. This was comfortable . It almost felt like he had never left, like it hadn’t been New Year’s the last time most of them had been in a room together.
It didn't take long before the conversation moved from the surprise to see him, to trying to catch up, to Charlie arriving soon.
"Charlie didn't mention you'd be here, can't believe we haven't heard him go on and on about it for days." Nick smiled adoringly at that and laughed when the look on Darcy's face shifted. "He doesn't know you're here, does he? Oh you sly little dog, you."
Nick spent the next five minutes or so retelling his day and his failed plans, keeping only the most intimate thoughts to himself. Like the moment he decided to go home, or how much he missed the smell of Charlie and those wild, unruly curls of his. Some things were kept to be shared just between the two of them. And maybe his obsession with Charlie’s curls was best kept to himself.
Tao announced a short moment later that Charlie had texted that he'd be there in fifteen minutes or so and that they could go ahead and order pizzas, extra cheese on his thank you very much. Nick smiled at that. The first few months of uni had been hard, worrying about Charlie and his mental health, but he knew their friends would tell him if anything felt awry. Charlie seemed to be doing good every time they saw each other and had not missed a single meal over Christmas. That, more than anything, had qualmed the worries he still had. Nick also knew that Charlie was a far way from where he wanted to be - he still had issues and stresses about eating out, always preferring to eat at home, in a company as small as possible. Environments where he felt safe were important, and Nick was glad his boyfriend had that with his friends.
As Darcy went through the different scenarios that could happen when Charlie arrived - “we should wrap him up as a gift, Tao do you have any wrapping paper?” or “you know what, guys, we should just sit here and be cool and casual as ever and not say a thing ,” - he felt his phone buzz twice in his pocket and tuned out his friends trying to stop Darcy’s plans.
There was a third buzz as unlocked his phone and looked at it.
[Char <3, 17:18]
Nicholas
[Char <3, 17:18]
I just saw THE cutest puppy and it made me think of you
[Char <3, 17:18]
Not as cute as Nellie, ofc, who am I even trying to kid
Nick chuckled low as he started typing out a reply, but Charlie beat him to it.
[Char <3, 17:19]
I miss your face do you think Tao will let me call you tonight?
[Nick, 17:19]
But cuter than Henry?
[Nick, 17:19]
Rude, Charles. How even DARE you
[Nick, 17:19]
Especially when you haven’t sent me pictures of EITHER of them for days. DAYS, CHARLIE.
One of Nick’s favorite things after going to Leeds was how Charlie’s relationship with his mother had developed - he always took the time to walk over to the Nelson home after school at least twice a week to walk Nellie and Henry and often stayed to watch a movie or just chat with Sarah. Nick loved his mum, always had, but a little extra because she had always approved of Charlie and made him feel welcome. He was pretty sure Charlie started coming over for dog walks because he had once mentioned he didn’t want his mum to feel alone in that big house, but it had turned into something they both seemed to genuinely enjoy. Nick had, on several occasions, over the years heard Charlie refer to Sarah as his third parent.
[Nick, 17:20]
And no, knowing Tao he will scold you even thinking about having your phone out
[Char <3, 17:21]
First of all, that’s what you get when you refuse to send pictures of you after rugby, all sweaty and muddy and h o t
[Char <3, 17:21]
Second of all, so unfair of Tao
[Char <3, 17:21]
Honestly though, Nicholas, I haven’t seen your face in three whole days and I’m starting to forget what you look like. But you’re at rugby soon and I’m at Tao’s any minute and I guess I’ll have to try to survive a bit longer.
[Char <3, 17:22]
Even without a sweaty pic of you ;(
“What are you smiling about over there, Nelson?” Nick heard Tara ask as he grinned and shook his head in amusement over the conversation going on in his phone. He had completely blocked out the group when he started texting with Charlie, and despite knowing it was rude he could not care as much as he should.
“We all know there’s only one person who brings out that puppy-dog smile,” Imogen countered at the same time that Tao asked, “Is Charlie here soon?”
“Any minute,” Nick answered, clicking send on a fairly recent pic taken at the rugby field. A team mate had sent it over to him after practice after Nick asked him to, knowing Charlie would like it, but forgetting to actually send it to him. “Time enough for me to run to the loo and get something to drink. Anyone want anything from the kitchen?”
“No, Nick!” Darcy complained as he got up from the couch, “you can’t go now - you’ll miss Charlie’s expression when he sees you! Tara, don’t look at me like that, I know how stupid that sounded but you all know what I mean - we had a plan .”
“ You had a plan, Darce - I was in a car for forever and really need to take a piss. I’ll be back before he’s here.”
[Char <3, 17:25]
Fuuuuuuuuuuuck Nick I forgot how fucking hot you are how am I even this lucky
[Char <3, 17:25]
Pls send more
[Nick, 17:27]
Not until I get my daily dose of Nells and Henry
Nick typed out and sent the last message as he left the loo, walking into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water. He could still hear the gang in the living room, and figured he’d bring some napkins and plates back with him. Pizza should be here soon. He had been in Tao’s kitchen enough times to feel somewhat comfortable around where everything was and it didn’t take him long at all to dump what he needed on the kitchen counter as he took down a glass from one of the cabinets.
“Oh, he’s here, he’s here, he’s here! And NO ONE is in position,” Darcy called out, her tone going from excitement to disappointment, when Nick turned on the tap. It took a moment for her words to sink in. It wasn’t until after the doorbell had sounded and the door opened half a second later that he truly understood what “he’s here” actually meant.
“Sorry I’m late - it wasn’t really me, it was the bus.” Charlie. Charlie . “Are the pizzas here already?”
Nick swallowed hard, his back pressed against the kitchen sink and his eyes glued on the entryway to the kitchen. That was Charlie’s voice, he was here, not even two rooms away from him. Really here, for him to look at, to touch, to smell, to melt in his embrace. Suddenly, Nick was nervous .
Nick could hear some shuffling in the hallway and living room, could hear hugs and laughs and his head was spinning and his heart beating hard against his rib cage. This was ridiculous. Charlie was his boyfriend, they’d been together for years , why did his voice in the other room have this effect on him? Why was his heart trying so hard to fight it’s way out of his ribcage?
“I would like to apologize in advance,” Charlie started, “if I’m in a sour mood tonight. I would also appreciate it if you're not all so couple-y.”
“You’re only pissy because you haven’t had sex in months,” Darcy responded and Nick could too easily imagine her facial expression, “you’re just jealous of the rest of us.”
“No,” Charlie shot back as the others laughed. “Well, yes. But I haven’t talked to Nick in days and he won’t be here for another week and long distance fucking sucks, you know that right? How the hell did he even have time for me, his last year at Truham? With rugby and exams and university applications and everything else going on? I barely have time to breathe, sometimes, let alone see you all on a bi-weekly basis.”
He heard the doorbell again, heard more shuffling as someone opened the door and accepted the pizzas. “Hey Charlie, could you go to the kitchen and get some scissors? They forgot to slice the pizzas”
Tara . Thank god for her, because Nick wasn’t sure he could actually do this with an audience. These months were the longest he and Charlie had even been apart. They had a good routine set up, with Nick traveling back to Kent one weekend a month, and Charlie coming up to see him one weekend a month. This way, they managed to see each other every two weeks. But things had been crazy after Christmas break and too many things had gotten in the way. More rugby to work up to the pre-season, university applications for Charlie, school and part time work for both of them, Charlie’s mum not letting him travel in order to focus on school. Nick was frustrated at Jane Spring most of the time, but a part of him couldn’t blame her for wanting Charlie to focus on school.
Nick’s knees felt weak and he had to support himself toward the counter behind him, knowing he’d see Charlie soon. The kitchen layout was so that Charlie wouldn’t see him right away, and with his eyes glued on the phone in his hands, Nick knew he wouldn’t see him at all.
His heart quite literally stopped when he saw the Charlie-shaped figure walking into the kitchen, his breath hitching in his lungs. Charlie . He was wearing his favorite pair of ripped jeans and one of Nick’s old Truham rugby hoodies, drowning in the size of it. He was smiling into his phone, a dimple showcasing on his cheek and he could swear those dark, wild curls were longer than the last time they saw each other - just days ago over FaceTime.
He had gained a little bit of weight, not a lot, but enough for his cheeks to be a little fuller and his dimples a little deeper. Nick wondered if he only noticed because he knew each and every part of Charlie like the back of his own hand. Fuck , he was so gorgeous and Nick couldn’t help to think back on Charlie’s earlier text and disagree. No, Nick was the lucky one.
Charlie put his phone back in his pocket at the same time Nick felt his own buzz in his. He stood where he was, just watching his boyfriend for a moment and taking in how he moved, how he held himself. He couldn’t quite find his voice and had to force out his meager little, “Char.”
His voice stuck in his throat, and he didn’t quite sound like himself, but Charlie’s head shot in Nick’s direction anyway in an instant, so fast Nick thought it must have hurt. His blue eyes - so beautiful - took Nick in, his face going from confused to deliriously happy in seconds.
“Nick?”
He wasn’t aware that he was moving, but suddenly the distance between them was gone and he swept the younger boy up into his arms, spinning them in a twirl before he stopped. Charlie’s legs wrapped at Nick’s waist, his arms locking around his neck, his face disappeared into Nick’s neck. Charlie laughed with pure giddiness and Nick could feel his heart fill with warmth and joy as he squeezed his boyfriend tighter, never planning to let go ever again.
“Hi Char,” he breathed into Charlie’s curls, adjusting himself a little bit so that Charlie could slip his feet onto the floor again after a moment and rest his face against Nick’s chest. He took in a deep breath of those dark curls, felt himself relax. In Charlie’s embrace, he was home.
“Nick,” Charlie sighed happily, his face moving so that he could look at him. Charlie’s eyes carefully swept over Nick’s face, as if not trusting that he was really here. “You’re here.” His smile was so big, so radiant, he was more than the sun - he was the entire universe. And he was Nick’s.
Charlie’s eyes finally settled on Nick’s lips and Nick would have laughed if he didn’t feel the same hunger that he could see in the younger boy’s eyes. Closing the distance with a smile, Nick could feel himself melt completely into his boyfriend as their lips met in a soft kiss. Charlie tasted like always, like mint and vanilla and safety and home . One of Nick’s hands moved from Charlie’s waist to the nape of his neck, his fingers entangling in the soft curls behind the younger boy’s ear as Charlie let out a soft moan and brushed his tongue against Nick’s lips. Nick could feel the last of the frustration and stress of the day melt away completely, could feel his entire soul relax and settle for the first time in months.
He pushed Charlie up against the kitchen counter, their tongues getting familiar with each other again after so long apart, their hands tracing over the other’s bodies and grabbing where they could reach. Charlie’s fingers dug into Nick’s biceps and his boyfriend let out a soft sound that could unravel Nick in a millisecond. Breathless and already hard, he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Charlie’s.
Charlie licked his lips as their breaths settled down, his thumb tracing over Nick’s lower lip, his eyes glazed and unfocused. And full of wanting. “What are you doing here?”
Fuck, he wished they were somewhere just the two of them.
“I couldn’t let you forget about me.”
Charlie laughed softly before Nick saw panic find its way onto his boyfriend’s face. “You’re here, you should have told me,” he let out, the stress in his voice more tangible with each syllable. “I wouldn’t have-, I would have canceled with the guys and oh god, tomorrow I’m working all afternoon . I have to-”
“Shh,” Nick pressed his lips against Charlie’s mouth again softly, as his thumb ran across Charlie’s cheek in calming motions. “I wanted to surprise you, and we have all the time in the world.”
“No,” Charlie argued, shaking his head aggressively, “you’ll have to leave on Sunday again and we’ll barely have any time together and...”
“Who says I’m leaving on Sunday?”
“Of course you are, you have school and practice and…” Charlie started but fell quiet when he finally looked into Nick’s eyes again. “You’re not leaving on Sunday?”
“I’m here for two weeks, yours to do what you want with,” Nick barely had the words out before Charlie’s mouth crashed against his again, his fingers pulling his hair lightly and his teeth biting softly at Nick’s lower lip. Nick allowed himself to drown in the kiss for a while, to drown in Charlie’s arms and in the feeling of his body pressed tightly against his own. He could feel Charlie’s heart beating in his chest, could hear his own drumming away in his ears, the blood rushing in both bodies and Nick had to fight for control when he pulled away again a moment later.
“Oi, pizzas are getting cold,” he heard someone yell from the living room and again, he was thankful that Tara allowed them to have this moment without an audience.
“RIght, food,” Charlie said underneath his breath and Nick grinned when he noticed his boyfriend adjusting himself and pulling his hoodie down further, to cover up the effect Nick had on him. Nick, wearing a t-shirt that actually fit him, couldn’t hide his erection by just pulling it down and he stepped back several steps to put some distance between them. Silently, he cursed himself for wearing jeans He knew he wouldn’t be able to calm himself quick enough. He stopped a few meters away, still trying to catch his breath. Charlie laughed at the plea in his eyes, but he grabbed the napkins, plates and cutlery and winked as he left the kitchen, leaving Nick a moment alone to settle down.
“Still pissy?” Nick could hear Imogen ask as his breath settled down, his heart finding a normal rhythm in his chest again. He pulled up his phone and looked at the text Charlie had sent him just moments before.
[Char <3, 17:32]
*2 files attached*
So greedy, Nicholas.
“Oh, shup up-, oh my god, you all knew he was back there and didn’t say anything!” The house filled with laughter at Charlie’s response, and Nick shook his head in amusement as he walked toward the sound. Rounding the corner, he leaned against the frame in the entryway to the living room and scanned the picture before him.
Tao was on his laptop, no doubt setting up the movie, while Elle and Isaac were handing out plates as Imogen, Tara and Darcy laughed at something as they tried to figure out what pizza belonged to who. Meanwhile, Charlie stood in the middle of the room, turning in Nick’s direction, beaming at his boyfriend and waving for him to join them.
Yes, Nick was definitely the lucky one.
Half an hour later, Charlie pushed his pizza box away from him and crawled backward, toward Nick. Him and Charlie were seated on the floor, Nick’s back leaning against the couch and his legs spread wide before him. Charlie had been seated between his feet while they were eating. The others were mostly squeezed together on the couch, with the exception of Isaac sitting in a chair, a book in his hands as per usual for him. Sometimes Nick envied him - he was the only one who Tao allowed not to have laser sharp focus on the movie on nights such as these.
Nick hadn’t kept much attention to the movie thus far, however. They started it after everyone but Charlie had finished eating, the chatter of friends having died out with their stomachs full, and Nick had kept most of his attention on his boyfriend, to make sure he was comfortable. He seemed to be, which had eased a worry Nick didn’t really know he had. He was so grateful for these people, for them creating a safe space for Charlie to eat, to take his time, to be distracted when he needed it. Charlie had managed almost half his pizza, and since Nick was the only one who had really finished his own, he was really proud. His eyes flicked to Charlie as he came closer, but he simply looked full , instead of uncomfortable.
“You okay?” Nick whispered anyway, opening his arms so that his boyfriend could crawl into them. Charlie hummed in approval as he leaned his back against Nick’s torso, his head resting on Nick’s shoulder. As he wound his arms tightly around Charlie’s waist, Nick burrowed his face in his hair, taking a relaxing breath.
“Hmm,” Charlie whispered quietly after settling himself, “just really full.”
“Want to save it for later?”
“Are you asking if you can have it?”
“No,” he whispered back, even though he could probably eat a bit more. “But extra cheese was a brilliant idea, Char, and we can’t let that go to waste.”
“I am known to have those sometimes, you know.” Nick smiled into Charlie's hair and loosened his arms just a little bit as he re-arranged himself slightly, to be more comfortable. “Maybe we can split it later? Can’t let a growing boy like you go without food.”
This time, it was Nick’s turn to hum in soft approval after he chuckled low. Without really deciding to, one of his hands traveled to Charlie’s head, fingers tangling in soft curls and brushing them softly. Nick recognized that feeling again, the one he’d had in the kitchen, of just melting into his boyfriend. He huffed out a sigh of complete content and let his mind wander wherever it wanted to go. This was the most comfortable and relaxed he’d been in forever, since Christmas break, since the last time he was home for more than two days. Part of it was being surrounded by friends, knowing he wouldn’t have to leave in two days, it was knowing he wouldn’t have to stress these two weeks to catch up properly with his mum and cuddle with Nells and Henry. Most of it was because of Charlie, of having him close enough to reach out whenever he wanted to.
They had almost survived their first year of long distance, just a few months left until summer break and moving back home for a while. Settling into uni had been a lot - adjusting to the course work, finding his place in the rugby team (he was still better than most of his team mates, even at Leeds), meeting new people and figuring out which of them he wanted as his friends. Next year, he was looking into housing with a couple of the lads from rugby, and he knew the load of course work would be higher. The second year was known for that, apparently. Charlie however would start his first year as a university student, wherever he was accepted. Nick was only a little worried - Charlie was the smartest person he’d ever known, but he knew from experience it could be stressful and overwhelming and sometimes he wondered how that would affect Charlie’s mental health.
Nick squeezed Charlie a little tighter and forced himself to push that thought away, there was really no need to think about that now, much less worry about it. Instead he found himself thinking what he’d do when he’d graduate in a little over two years. Move in with Charlie, he thought, and smiled again. They hadn’t really talked about what to do after university yet, Charlie was still only in grammar school, but Nick often found himself daydreaming of a little house somewhere, filled with warmth and laughter and friends and puppies. And Charlie. He knew a house was a long way down the road, knew realistically he’d find a cheap apartment wherever Charlie went to university - he wasn’t stupid enough to think Charlie would actually come to Leeds for him, he was too bright for that and honestly, Nick probably wouldn’t let him. He found himself fantasizing about bragging about his smart, wonderful Oxford-gradutate-husband.
Christ, Nick, he thought to himself. Stop it, you’re not even twenty yet.
Charlie’s soft sigh pulled his thoughts away from the future, into the present. “Thank you, Nick.”
“For what?” he asked, slightly confused and wondering where his boyfriend’s thoughts had been.
“I don’t know… Just- being you. Surprising me. Coming home.”
Charlie’s whispered words made him sound so small, Nick wondered what was behind the words and put it in a box for later. They were good at talking, much better than last year, but this was not the time nor place. Instead he hugged him tighter and placed a kiss in his soft curls, “Always, Char.”
“Ugh,” he heard Tao groan from somewhere above them and knew they had been overheard. “You two are being ridiculously gross right now, please stop before I have to go saw off my ears with a dull kitchen knife.”
“Tao, piss off, won’t you?” Charlie retorted, but the laughter was back in his voice and that was enough for Nick for now. There was soft laughter around them for a short moment before the room fell silent again, the occasional whispered comments about the movie surfacing.
Nick could feel Charlie shiver a little in his arms, grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around the boy in his arms. He tried to watch the rest of the movie, he really did, but found it impossible with Charlie in his arms, his fingers absent-mindedly drawing intricate patterns on Nick’s arms, his thighs, the back of his hands. He felt shivers run through his entire body, goosebumps rising on his arms and nape of his neck. He burrowed his face against Charlie’s warm skin and swallowed hard.
Since the kiss in the kitchen, he had been hard on and off and not for the first time that night, he wished they were alone. The way Charlie touched him right now, completely unaware of the effects it had on Nick, were too much and it felt like his entire body was burning up. He wanted to turn Charlie around, kiss him until his lips were red and swollen, trace his hands over his body, rediscover the spots that made him gasp for air, suck the skin on his neck, wanted to run his fingers over naked skin, feel him pressed against him, watch him come undone underneath him, wanted to wrap his mouth- fuck , his hips thrusted involuntarily and he hoped no one but Charlie noticed. Because Charlie definitely did. His fingers stopped the same second Nick pressed his hips against his boyfriend and Nick was fairly sure he could feel his erection against his back.
He wanted to do so much right there and then, couldn’t do anything, but had to do something so he pushed one of his feet against the ground, his left leg now folded at the knee, pointing toward the ceiling. Hoping it would hide any visible movements under the blanket he gently moved one of his hands from Charlie’s waist to the hem of his hoodie. It pushed the fabric up, his fingers finding the skin underneath and now he was the one tracing patterns. As his fingers moved gently, slowly, carefully lower, he nudged Charlie’s curls with his nose, pressing his lips against his ear.
“Can you feel that?” he whispered so low he was sure no one could hear. Charlie swallowed hard as Nick’s hands dug into Charlie’s hips, pushing them closer to himself. His dick was now harder than it had been in ages, throbbing as blood kept rushing down, down, down. He could almost feel it leave his brain, his lust and want and need taking more and more control. “Fuck Char, this is what you do to me.”
He heard a quiet whimper escape from Charlie, so low he could have imagined it, and his cock twitched in his jeans. He was on dangerous ground, doing this around people, but he didn’t care right now, just wanted more, more, more, as his hand grabbed at the fabric of Charlie’s jeans, searching and finding its destination without hesitation. He groped at Charlie’s erection, felt his hard length underneath his palm for a second before Charlie choked and froze completely. Nick had satisfied some of his hunger with that and leaned back as Charlie shot up, pulling at the hem of his hoodie.
“Charlie, you okay?” Elle asked, slightly worried and thankfully, completely unaware of what had just transpired.
“Yeah,” he answered hoarsely, moving fast toward the entryway. “Just really need something to drink. You guys want anything?”
He disappeared around the corner before anyone could respond and Nick swallowed his laughter behind a cough, hiding his wide grin as best as he could as he adjusted himself under the blanket to remove any evidence.
Charlie was gone suspiciously long, but Nick had the time to calm down and actually try to focus on the movie. He had missed to much to really have any idea of what was going on, but he was thankful for the distraction by the time Charlie sneaked back into the room. He leaned down on his knees, facing Nick and stared intently into his eyes.
“Behave, Nelson,” he mouthed and Nick nodded as Charlie flopped back down into his lap. Nick could behave himself, it was just that he necessarily didn’t want to. Three months had been too long and he had tried - and failed - to convince himself that jerking off to a picture of Charlie was enough, that jerking off while watching Charlie jerk off over FaceTime was enough. Nothing could ever really soothe his hunger besides actually being with Charlie, but he could behave. He wasn’t some horny teenager. Okay, he was , but he held his hands to himself for the rest of the movie and settled in knowing they had two whole weeks to catch up on lost time.
As the night progressed, he forgot about the part of himself that wanted to surprise his mum tonight. Dinner plans was already out the window and he figured he’d surprise her over breakfast tomorrow instead. So as the hours passed he laughed and talked and made fun of the others, like they always used to. No one made any attempts to kick him out, to move on to the sleepover part of the evening, and Nick had a hard time believing it was just this morning that he had been sitting in a lecture hall taking notes.
But as he checked his phone for missed notifications, and saw that it was already 23:02 he all of a sudden felt exhausted and knew he should be heading home to the Nelson house.
“I should head back home,” he announced and started to stand, his legs stiff after a few hours on the floor. Charlie grabbed his hand tightly and for a second he thought he’d pull him back down. Instead, Charlie stood with him.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, Char, you- you should stay. I can pick you up after breakfast tomorrow.”
“Nick-” Charlie started to protest but Tao beat him to it.
“Oi, rude to just leave us. But please do.” He waved his hand in the air, motioning toward the door. “Otherwise we’ll just hear about it for the rest of the night.”
“You know I love you, Tao, and I love these nights, but-”
“Yes, yes, dear Charlie, we know. But you two were already unbearable to watch tonight, I can’t take anymore of that. I might be sick.”
“Tao!” Elle exclaimed, “they haven’t seen each other in months . I don’t even want to imagine how you’d be if you didn’t see me for that long.”
Tao shuddered vividly and everyone laughed, but both Nick and Charlie knew that there was no reason to argue about this. Charlie was coming home with him and that was that. So he squeezed Charlie’s hand before he released, letting Charlie pick up his bags on the floor in the hallway. They all hugged goodbye, promised to all get together next weekend again and it wasn’t long after that that the young couple walked hand in hand down the street, towards Nick’s car. As they got in, Nick could feel the exhaustion of the day crash down over him and he shook his head quickly, to try to focus and stay awake for the short drive home.
“I really missed you, I don’t know if I said that,” Charlie let out softly about halfway to the Nelson house. He’d had his hand on Nick’s thigh the entire way and he squeezed it when he spoke, his head turned toward the window, watching the street lights as they drove by.
“I missed you too, Char. Why do you think I came home?” He was quiet for a short moment before he added, “I’m really happy I’m home.”
“Me too,” Charlie hummed in response, letting out a breath and turning to look at the older boy. His voice was low as he continued. “I- The last couple of weeks, they’ve- they’ve been hard. There’s been so much at school, and the house is empty without Tori and mum is… I just- it’s been difficult. I’m okay, though, I think. I talked to Geoff about it today, and last week too, about what I can do to try to, I don’t know, re-shift my focus on what’s good, y’know? We talked about you today, about you coming home next week and how I should focus on that but it just made me miss you more and- God Nick, then you were there and I just felt good again. Like everything was going to be okay, like I could breathe. It’s pathetic really, how much I need you. How much I want to need you.”
“Hey, no being mean to the love of my life,” Nick responded, reaching out to take Charlie’s hand while still processing what Charlie had said. “Thank you for telling me, Charlie. I know it’s been crazy the last couple of weeks, and we’ve barely had time for each other, and I’ve hated that. Not being able to talk to you everyday, see you and touch you and be with you every other week, it’s been so hard. Texting and talking on the phone doesn’t always seem enough. And the other day, every single part of me literally hurt from not being able to be close to you so I came home and like you said, it was like I could breathe again. If you’re pathetic, I’m pathetic too. We can be pathetic together.”
As he spoke, Nick turned into the driveway and turned the car off, looking at Charlie as he got the key out of the ignition. Charlie was looking at him, and it was dark but he thought he could make out tears in his blue eyes. Tears that matched the wetness he felt himself in the corner of his eyes. He blinked it away rapidly and leaned his head toward the back of the seat.
They were quiet for a moment but eventually Charlie smiled and looked up at him through his eyelashes. “I’m the love of your life, huh?”
Nick rolled his eyes and laughed. “Oh, shut up.”
Charlie giggled and Nick felt his heart beat a little harder in his chest again. “I love you too, you know. And I think I’ll keep you. Now, let’s head in and sleep, you look exhausted.”
“I am,” Nick agreed, and groaned softly. “I’m so tired, Charlie. But I also want to do thing to you. Naked things.”
Charlie giggled again and patted Nick’s thigh as he opened the car door. “Sleep, Nicholas. And tomorrow you can do whatever you want with me. Consider it your punishment for your little endevours tonight.”
Nick caught up with him after grabbing his bags from the car. He was already at the door, having somehow magically produced a key to his house, but Nick didn’t think too long about that as he grabbed at Charlie’s hand and spun him toward him. He kissed him gently, slowly, before placing a soft kiss on Charlie’s forehead. The boys stood there, in silence and in each others space, for a few seconds before Charlie turned around and unlocked the door. They were quiet, knowing Sarah would be asleep, and Nick really did try to not be offended when Nellie and Henry was more excited to see Charlie then they were over him.
“They see you all the time,” he whined quietly as they snuck up the stairs, Nellie between their legs, following Charlie wherever he went. “It’s like they don’t even love me anymore.”
Charlie snorted at Nick’s comment as Nellie pushed Nick’s bedroom door open with her nose. She patted inside on quiet paws, as if knowing they couldn’t wake their mum. Henry was no where to be seen, he had probably taken off to go back to sleep after the initial excitement of Nick and Charlie coming home. He had always been independent, always needing his own space, whereas Nellie… Nellie was already on Nick’s bed, her eyes pleading softly for her boys to join her. Her old tail wagged softly against the mattress as Nick dropped his bags on the floor and sat down beside her, patting her head softly. She let out a little sound that could only be interpreted as happiness. “Maybe you do still love me, huh?”
Charlie pushed Nick’s knees apart, standing between them and brushing Nick’s hair out of his eyes. He held his gaze for a moment before smiling softly. “As if we could ever stop.”
Nick let himself relax into Charlie’s hand on his cheek, could almost fall asleep right there and then, and he tugged gently at his boyfriend’s shirt to pull them both down. Nick scooped up Charlie in his embrace, holding tightly and sighing. This, right here, his boyfriend in his arms in his bed, was all he ever needed.
He fell asleep within seconds.
— — — — — — — —
Sarah Nelson had always been a morning person, even on weekends and even after both her sons moving out of the house. She liked this about herself, she always had the time she needed to do whatever it was she needed or wanted to do.
This saturday morning was no different and she hummed to herself as she put on a bathrobe and shuffled into the kitchen to make her morning coffee. Turning on the kettle, she noticed only Henry had followed her, eagerly looking at her to get his breakfast.
“Soon, pretty boy. Where is your sister, huh?”
Nellie was getting older and slept in more often than not, but the sound of kibbles in her bowl never kept her away for long. This morning, however, Henry had finished eating and there was still no sight of Nellie. Sarah tried to remember where and when she had last seen her. It must have been last night, both dogs had been in the bedroom with her, in their seperate beds on the floor.
“Nells, sweet girl - breakfast,” she called out, starting to look around her. No sign of the dog in her bedroom or the livingroom, still no dog in the kitchen as she started back and turned off the kettle. Slightly worried, she took to the stairs. Nellie had been known to sleep in Nick’s room now and again, he had always been her favorite after all and missed him so. Sarah figured she was probably there, but worried at why the older dog hadn’t come down for her breakfast and morning cuddles. Those were her second favorite things, after all, after Nick.
She pushed away thoughts of Nellie being in pain somewhere, hiding or not being able to get down the bed, down the stairs in her old age. She was fine, she is fine , Sarah shook her head, not allowing the fear to grab hold of her. What would she do if- no. No thinking like that.
That Nellie was in Nick’s room was confirmed almost instantly as she took the last couple of steps on the stairs, seeing his bedroom door nudged open.
“Nells,” she said softly, palm on door to push it open. The room was dark, the morning still early, but she saw movement on the bed. “Nells, what are you-”
The old girl had lifted her head from where she was at the end of the bed, tail wagging softly and eyes darting from the door to the top of the bed.
“ Oh ,” Sarah breathed softly as she took in the scene before her. Several bags were scattered on the floor, along with two pair of shoes. On the bed, two figured were curled tightly together. Both fully clothed, the bigger boy was asleep on his stomach, one arm draped over the waist of a smaller figure next to him, a dark mop of hair. Sarah couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “My boys are home.”
They must have come in late last night, after she went to sleep, and being her favorite humans, of course Nellie was in here with them. She was used to seeing Charlie at her house, he had been such a big part of their lives for the last couple of years - she’d even given him a key a while back - and she was so happy that her Nick had found him. She stood in the door a moment, just looking at them. She couldn’t see either of their faces, but they both looked so relaxed and peaceful and her heart ached a little, knowing how much those boys meant to one another and how much they had missed each other. To be young and in love was one thing, but her boys were more than that. She had seen it from the start, long before she knew what Charlie meant to her youngest son. The younger boy brought out the best in her Nick, and they had been through so much already, and Sarah was so, so happy to have them both in her life. And she knew deep down, looking at their sleeping forms, that they’d both always be there, together.
She dropped her hand from the door, crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Nellie again with a warm smile. The dog had placed her head back on the bed, relaxed and content where she was.
“Something special for breakfast then, right girl?”