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It was an impulse buy. The second Charlie laid eyes on it, the fluttering joy from earlier that day flooded his system.
A palm-sized sparrow soft toy stared up at him with adorably beady eyes as Charlie queued in the crowded corner shop. He wasn’t the type to pick up souvenirs while on holiday, but by the time he followed Elle, Tao and Issac out into the Parisian sunshine, the cute bird was nestled in his shopping bag next to a packet of almonds and a water bottle. When Nick waved from where he sat with Imogen, Charlie quickly stuffed everything into his rucksack and jogged to meet them.
The toy reminded him of the sweet moment they’d shared that morning—they had been up before sunrise, the streets outside their hotel already warm and bustling. Charlie and Nick had stolen a few quiet minutes on a sunlit bench, sharing croissants and pain au chocolat while their friends queued at the cafe for their complicated coffees.
Groggily chewing their breakfast, they'd watched sparrows flitting around the flagstones, tiny beaks pointed eagerly up towards them. Nick had flashed that dazzling, heart-spurring grin, then—clearly showing off—he’d coaxed a bird into his palm. It shivered, folded its wings, and pecked a few crumbs before darting off. Its friends flocked around Nick, who crumbled more of his croissant for them.
Charlie had teased him for acting like getting a sparrow to land on his hand was some grand achievement. As they chuckled, Nick had reached up to caress Charlie’s neck with aching fondness before quickly withdrawing his touch.
They were being hopelessly lovey-dovey, but if Paris wasn’t the place for it, where was?
When Nick and Charlie got back to the hotel after a full day, they were met with unexpected luck: Isaac was nowhere to be seen, and Tao was still in the loo indulging in one of his marathon showers.
Nick stretched out onto the bed. Charlie knelt by his bag, pulled out the little sparrow, and tossed it in an arc. Weighted with beans, it landed with a soft plunk on Nick’s chest.
Nick gasped an exaggerated ‘oof’, then picked it up, staring into the bird’s glossy eyes.
“Who’s this little chap, then?”
Charlie bit his lower lip, suddenly feeling foolish. What was he doing, buying some cute trinket for his boyfriend? Nick had a childhood teddy, but he’d never been one for collecting toys.
“It’s silly, I just… he caught my eye.”
Nick’s smile distracted Charlie from his unease. “‘He,’ is it?” Twirling the toy around, Nick checked the square of fabric on its underside. “Hmm—no pronouns on the tag. You did ask him, not just assume—right?”
Charlie flopped onto the duvet next to Nick. “Yeah, I did, actually. He/him. His name is… Sparrow.”
Nick didn’t blink at the inane choice of name. “Any relation to one Jack Sparrow?”
“Nope, just Sparrow. Do you always have that film on your mind, or is it only Orlando Bloom living rent-free in there?”
Nick ignored the tease. “Well, he’s a cutie. Do we get joint custody?”
Warmth flooded Charlie’s cheeks. Nick said that as if they were a proper, long-term couple... Well, Charlie thought they were, but... He wrinkled his nose, hoping it masked his daft grin. “If you want. I didn’t really plan it—he’s not even wrapped, so I guess he’s not a proper gift.”
One arm tucked behind his head, Nick raised his other straight into the air, holding Sparrow between two fingers. He began manoeuvring the stubby-winged bird around as if it was flying.
Charlie blinked in surprise at the playful movement, flashing Nick a smile.
Nick’s eyes sparkled with mischievousness. He flew Sparrow over and plopped him onto Charlie’s shoulder.
“Well, hello there,” Charlie said, glancing down at the button eyes.
Nick sat up fully and leaned over. He pitched his voice up into a cutesy tone. “You my new nest, spa spa.” Nick then proceeded to hop Sparrow up onto Charlie’s head and smoosh the toy into his curls.
Charlie barked a laugh of genuine surprise, incredulous at Nick’s adorable characterisation.
Nick kept his eyes fixed on Sparrow as he ruffled him into Charlie’s hair, smiling as he made the creature coo excitedly: “Spa spa spa!”
Charlie darted a look at the door to the en-suite. When he heard the shower still running, he couldn’t help himself—Charlie pressed a lingering kiss to Nick’s mouth. Nick responded with a pleased hum.
Seconds later—with his lips still locked to Nick’s—Charlie felt the soft beanbag of Sparrow tapping repeatedly into his cheekbone. Charlie pulled back, giving the bird a mock glare. “What are you all huffy about?”
“Spa spa spa!” Nick chirped in Sparrow’s voice. Then he gave a solemn nod. “He’s the jealous type, apparently.”
“Jealous of me?” Charlie barely suppressed a fit of laughter which threatened to bubble up.
Nick nodded again. “It was love at first sight, apparently. Sparrow’s head over heels for me.”
“That, I understand.”
Nick flopped back onto the bed, cupping the tiny bean-filled bird to his chest. “I think I’m smitten, too.”
“Oh, so we’ve suddenly been thrust into a love triangle?”
“Kind of,” Nick agreed.
Charlie nudged Nick’s thigh to get him to move. When he shuffled over, Charlie lay down next to him, turning onto his side to look at Nick and Sparrow.
“Kind of a love triangle?”
“Well, it probably won’t last long, is all.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, because you see... I’ve basically only been dating you to get to Sparrow. And now that he’s finally returned my feelings, I’m pretty sure we don’t need you anymore.”
Charlie gave a dramatic gasp. With a swift burst of movement, he twisted round, snatched the pillow from the headboard, and thwacked it over Nick’s head. “Nicholas Nelson, you were using me!”
Nick easily batted the pillow away. “Sparrow is so cute… I only have eyes for him. Frankly, I’d do anything for him.” Nick proceeded to nuzzle-kiss the plush bird’s face as Charlie made a frustrated noise of indignation and
attempted to snatch Sparrow away.
Nick rolled to the side. “Nooo, he’s my Sparrow!”
Their tussle escalated.
“Give him here! I’ll murder the little bird!” Charlie cried between giggles.
“Nooo, you’ll never take him from me! He’s my destiny!” Nick thrashed, holding his long arm out, Sparrow clutched tightly in his fist.
As they horsed around, Charlie felt awash in joyful wonder. Who knew that macho rugby lad Nick Nelson would be squeaking out silly voices for a soft toy and declaring his undying love for it? This utter silliness was such a lovely
surprise.
Charlie ended up sprawled over Nick as he stretched, trying to grab Sparrow. When Charlie lunged too enthusiastically, they abruptly slid off the bed and landed in a heap on the carpet.
“Speeee!” Nick screeched in a ludicrously high-pitched voice for Sparrow, then laughed normally as he righted himself after the awkward landing. “Oi, that hurt, you know.”
“You were the one mucking about.” Charlie heaved himself onto his hands and knees so that his crotch wasn’t making such wonderful, warm contact with Nick’s thigh.
Nick finally slackened his arm, letting Sparrow drop loosely to his side. He looked at Charlie with such a dashing, love-struck expression that Charlie couldn’t help but dart in again to capture his lips in a warm, intimate kiss. Nick
kissed back, this time with more heat.
Aware that Tao could finish his shower at any moment, they reluctantly simmered their snogging session after a minute, tapering off into gentle pecks.
Charlie plucked the soft toy from Nick’s hand. “If you introduce Sparrow to everyone like that, they’ll assume you’ve ended up with sunstroke.”
Nick sat up straighter, his back to the edge of the bed. “I told you, I’d do anything for him—even make a total fool of myself.” His brown eyes were gentle and earnest as he added, “I’d go much further—and make an even bigger fool of myself—for you, Char.”
Charlie held up Sparrow in front of his mouth so Nick couldn’t see the full force of his embarrassingly wide, dorky smile.
Clearing his throat, Charlie attempted the same voice Nick had used.
“You complete sop. Spa.”