Work Text:
March
12.11, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
Charlie
Fuck
Are you free?
Need to talk to you
12.17, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
i’m in a lecture
are you okay???
i can leave
No, no, it’s fine
Sorry I did know that
I’ll be fine
that isn’t even remotely reassuring, nick
give me five, i’ll dip out and find somewhere quiet to call you
Charlie it’s fine I promise
I just had a shock but it’s okay
Don’t miss class for this
can you tell me what’s happened so i can judge if i need to leave or not?
because no offense babe but you’re not exactly always a reliable narrator xx
Alright, fucker
there he is <3
tell me what happened?
Mum is selling the house
wait, what?!?
Yeah
And I know I’m probably being crazy. I don’t even live there anymore
But like
That’s my house?
I know, I know, it’s my mum’s house not mine
But I grew up there
It’s the only home I’ve ever known
And yes, I know home is more the people than the bricks blah blah
i don’t think that’s a phrase, love
But it’s the only physical home I’ve ever known
What am I meant to do when I go back to mum’s now? What if there’s no space for me to visit???
Will the dogs still have a garden?
Fucking hell Char
My *house*
ohhh, my sweet boy
okay, i’ll stay in this class but i’m skipping the next and i’ll facetime you
we’ll talk it all out, promise
but you know that your mum will always have space for you, no matter what
and stop trying to un-justify your own emotions, you twat
you’re allowed to be sad and stressed about this. it’s actually a huge deal
love you so much xxxxxxxxxx
Love you
Don’t skip lectures x
you’re not the boss of me
*You’re* not the boss of *me*
…………
nick.
honey sweetie baby.
Fine
Fuck off.
Talk soon <3
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
14.44, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
Thank you for calling
You always make everything easier
I love you so much
14.44, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
love you too, you big boob xx
April
11.33, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
so, um
big day today char
11.37, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
oh yeah?
let me guess, you actually did leg day for once x
Actually fuck right off
No
teehee aren’t i funny
no i jest
i know you’re home so i’m guessing this is house related
serious charlie engaged
Omg we’re engaged???
Fucking finally
now you fuck off
Rude
Marry me xxx
nicholas. tell me why today is a big day.
Nah I prefer this conversation
niiiiiick
acknowledge your feelings pls x
One - Gross
Two - Gay
Three - Fucking fine
good boy
😏😏😏
Sorry
Okay, don’t laugh at me
But the for sale sign went up today and mum is at nana and gramps house tonight so I’m here alone and I just
It feels really fucking weird
I had to close the blinds because it’s making me too sad to look at it
god you really are an emotional wreck aren’t you x
CHARLES I AM IN NEED OF COMFORT NOT JUDGEMENT
*Incoming facetime from Charlie ❤️🐱🖕*
12.43, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
You’re a hypocritical bastard, I hope you know that x
12.43, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
wow charlie, love of my life, apple of my eye, thanks for facetiming me and watching me cry for an hour and making me feel better, that’s so kind of you xxxxxxxx
Did you or did you not cry when I showed you the sign, Spring
…
i can neither confirm nor deny these allegations
you can talk to my lawyer if you need any further information x
Isaac? Last time I went to him about your matters, he was very rude to me x
that’s because you’re his favourite
Cold hard facts
(Thanks for crying with me. It helps knowing that you get it)
((I love you))
i facetimed for nellie and nellie only
(it fucking sucks. i’m sorry. always here)
((love you so much xxxxx))
Poor Henry xx
(Marry me xxxxx)
🙄🙄🙄
May
17.01, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
Holy shit
Someone made an offer on the house
17.03, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
oh fuck
!!!!!!
what’s sarah gonna do?
She wants to accept
Mum really liked her when she came to see it, they chatted for ages
But fucking hell, that’s a bit soon
that was so quick!!
sorry i’m a bit speechless
are you okay?
Idk
Have to go into a lecture rn but can we phone later?
of course baby <3
i’ll be done with lectures by 4 and then i’m free until gay club at 8, so i’m all yours
you have got to stop calling your very important lgbt+ society “gay club”
no i don’t x
Still May
15.48, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
Well. It's official. Mum’s offer on that cottage has been accepted.
15.49, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
AHHHHH
omg nick
that’s amazing for her
brb
You’re texting her aren’t you
Charlie
Charles
CFS
CHAAAARLIIIIEEEE
Pay attention to me
…..
*picture attached*
oh hello.
that’s nice. what did i do to deserve that piece of art?
I knew thighs would get your attention x
Where did you go?
soz i had to phone sarah quickly
your turn if you’re up for hearing my voice?
Wow
WOOOOOWWWWWW
Second best, I see how it is
fourth best actually
i spoke to nellie and henry too
DIVORCE
INSTANT DIVORCE
June
22.53, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
So I just had a weird thought
22.57, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
wow i am so shocked and surprised
usually your brain produces such normal things
said no one ever about you x
You know what
what
YOU KNOW WHAT
clearly not x
Ignoring you
My weird thought isn’t very funny this time though, sorry
okay
i’m listening, bug
Marry me x
talk, nelson
Okay yeah
So
I know I have so many issues with David and dad and such complicated feelings around them both
But like. This is the only house we ever lived in as a family
The four of us
The only place we were happy and together, even if it was just for a short time
oh, sweetheart
yeah. that’s a lot
Hmm
Like
It’s silly because it was never perfect
But it’s the only home I’ve ever known, and we were a family here once
When this house is gone, so is that
nick
that will never be gone
i know there are photos and videos, sarah keeps threatening to show me them
Never gonna happen!!!!
and you’ll always have the memories of it
the house is so special, you know i know that
it’s been a safe space for you, and sarah, and me, and so many others too
but nothing dies with it being sold
you can still look back on all the lovely years you’ve had there
Yeah
Crying again x
i’m shocked.
just about to get off the bus, i’ll call you in 5 okay?
love you x
I love you <3
Still June
10.31, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
What time does your train get in on Thursday?
10.50, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
15.30!!!!!!!!
going to cling onto you like a limpet all summer
you better have been lifting during all that gym time because you’re going to have a charlie sized weight around your neck for three months x
Can’t wait x
I’ll pick you up from the station ❤️
thanks babe
you have to drop me at home after we’ve made out in your car for half an hour though
mum wants me to spend the first night with them, but i can come over on friday and then i’m yours all summer for packing and clearing and cuddling purposes
And fucking
Charlie
Don’t forget the fucking please?
and fucking xx
can’t wait to see you ❤️
Same ❤️❤️❤️
July
10.59, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
leaving soon <3
still pissed i can’t stay over AGAIN
blame jane x
11.02, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
I always do x
Wait though! I’ll come pick you up, silly boy
nicholas, it’s a ten minute walk
i think i’ll manage
But I like being your taxi :(((((
weirdo
anyway, i know sarah wants you to get shit down from the attic today. stop putting it off.
But but but
Spiders :(
i promise you they are more scared of your gigantic self than you are of them
I promise you they are not.
nick? shut up and climb that ladder x
I used to think you loved me, you know
i’ll see you in ten, twat xxx
🙄🙄🙄
As expected, it’s Sarah who answers the door to Charlie not too much later. She looks a little harried, her hair frizzing around her ears and the shirt over her t-shirt is buttoned wonky. She has never looked more like Nick, and Charlie can’t help but grin. It’s weird not having the dogs circle him, desperate for pats, but they’ve very sensibly been shipped off out of the way to their grandparents for the day while the humans start the packing process.
“Hello, lovely,” she greets, ushering him into the house. “I assume you have something to do with the fact that Nick actually pulled the ladder down from the attic, hm? He was muttering something about someone being lucky he loves them as he marched past me.”
Charlie snorts. “Not dramatic at all, is he?”
Sarah rolls her eyes fondly and gestures towards the kitchen. “Cup of tea, Charlie?”
He’s about to respond in the affirmative when a very high-pitched shriek comes from up the stairs. Charlie turns wide eyes on Sarah, who lets out a long-suffering sigh.
“Nick?” Charlie calls, straining to hear any response.
“Fine! I’m fine!” the reply comes after a moment, high pitched and squeaky.
Charlie turns back to Sarah and shrugs. “I better skip the tea and make sure he’s okay, huh?”
“I think you better,” she smiles fondly, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “I’ll be clearing out cupboards in the kitchen if you need me, okay?”
Charlie thanks her as she heads towards the back of the house and takes a deep breath before he climbs the stairs.
“Nick?” he calls as he goes. “Have you been abducted by spiders?”
Once he’s established that Nick is, in fact, still alive, the two of them spend the next couple of hours bringing boxes down from the attic. After ten minutes of Nick yelping every two seconds about imaginary spiders crawling over his feet, Charlie has had enough. He tells Nick to get down and goes up the ladder himself instead. Nick is much more useful on the ground anyway, perching on the rungs of the ladder and taking the boxes that Charlie hands down to him, carrying them effortlessly onto the landing. Hot.
Sarah supplies them with cups of tea as they work, smiling and reminiscing over each of the boxes they clear. Her and Nick only have one crying break, too, which Charlie is quite impressed by.
The three of them work away for hours until they need to stop for dinner. They order a Chinese and eat from their laps in front of the telly, discussing how much they still have left to do. They agree they’d achieved enough for one day, and Sarah heads to the kitchen to fetch a bottle of wine for them all.
“I saw you brought your childhood box down from the attic,” Sarah says as the boys follow her to the kitchen to clear the plates. “We should have a look through that while we're all here.”
Charlie is about to respond very enthusiastically, but he’s distracted by the colour of his boyfriend’s face all of a sudden. He doesn’t think he's ever seen Nick go quite so pale before, and he’s torn between laughter and panic.
“Maybe we could do that after Charlie goes home,” Nick suggests, shooting his mum a wide-eyed look.
“Um, excuse me? Rude,” Charlie says, glaring at Nick. “I thought you loved me.”
Sarah snorts in response. Charlie's mouth twitches, now that he knows it’s a light-hearted look of horror on Nick’s face and not a serious one.
Nick glances between the two of them with a look of resignation. He seems equal parts distressed and defeated. “I'm not going to get out of this, am I?”
“No,” Sarah and Charlie both chorus. Nick groans loudly, hanging his head.
“I hate you both so much.”
Sarah gets the box from the upstairs landing while Nick and Charlie finish the dishes. He grumbles under his breath the whole time, moaning about how it's not fair and how Charlie and Sarah were supposed to love him. Charlie steps into his space and kisses him once, quickly, before he tells him to shut up.
He hurries into the living room, excited to start going through the box that Nick so desperately doesn't want him to see. Sarah meets him there, her smile as wide as his. Okay, so maybe they’re both a little bit evil. Nick trudges in after them reluctantly, scowling.
“Alright, let's get this over with then. If I'm going to get dumped for being too embarrassing, I'd rather get it over with before my evening cup of tea.”
“Oh, baby,” Sarah soothes, which luckily covers the sound of Charlie’s snort. “There's nothing embarrassing about being a kid. And you were such a lovely little boy, too. But we don't have to do this if it’s genuinely going to distress you. Neither of us want that.”
Charlie’s not so sure about that, but he sensibly keeps his mouth shut and nods encouragingly instead. Nick considers them both for a moment before breathing out heavily and shaking his head.
“Fine. Let's just get this over with,” he sighs, and Charlie nearly squeaks out of joy. Whoops.
He shuffles closer to Sarah as Nick perches on the edge of the coffee table, his arms crossed. Sarah pulls out the first photo album and lets out a happy, nostalgic little sound as she opens it.
“Oh, your first baby book. You were such a gorgeous baby, Nicky. So round and adorable and podgy.”
“Muuum,” Nick whines, his face already flushed a delightful shade of pink.
“What? All the cutest babies are round! Just look at those cheeks,” she coos as she points to the photo on the first page.
It’s Nick in his hospital cot, as round and adorable as Sarah had promised. Charlie can’t help the ‘aww’ he lets out, looking up at his still rosy boyfriend.
“Look at you.”
Nick makes a huffing noise and stares resolutely at the floor.
“Hey,” Charlie says conspiratorially. Damage control time. “I bet David wasn’t as big and cute as you.”
“Charlie,” Sarah chastises, nudging him gently. She pauses thoughtfully though and then bites back a smile. “Well, you're not wrong I suppose. He was a very interesting looking baby.”
Nick wiggles happily and Charlie sends a quick wink in his direction. Let it be known that he always knows exactly how to cheer Nick up. It’s his special skill, actually.
They continue to flick through the pages of the album and Charlie melts more and more the further they go. Nick only gets progressively cuter as he turns into a little ball of a toddler, his hair much blonder then than it is now. The more adoring sounds he and Sarah let out, the more Nick softens. By the time they’re halfway through the book, Nick comes to sit next to Charlie on the sofa, joining in with Sarah’s stories.
“This might be my favourite,” Charlie comments on one of Sarah’s mum sitting on the sofa with David and Nick. Nick has clearly been placed carefully on a scowling David’s lap, and he has his whole face screwed up in a crying scream.
Nick looks at it and snorts. “Some things never change.”
“Boys,” Sarah says, but she looks amused too.
They go through a couple more albums. Nick seems to have had all the stereotypical “boy” phases – there’s photos of him with action figures, on bikes, in a full Liverpool football kit with matching bedding, before eventually he’s holding a rugby ball. All Stéphane’s influence, Charlie imagines. If only he’d actually been around for any of it. Bastard. So far though, other than Nick’s dad’s noticeable absence in any pictures, there’s nothing embarrassing in the box. Disappointing, frankly.
Sarah pulls out a stack of old cards after that – mother’s days, birthdays, Christmas’s. They’re all from Nick, starting in his tiny childhood messy scrawl and going all the way to this year, signed in his neat, loopy handwriting that Charlie knows so well. Sarah flicks through them and then gasps, delighted.
“Oh my goodness! This one you made me is my favourite. I think you must have been 10, maybe 11?”
“How do you remember his age from just a card?” Charlie asks in awe. That would never happen in his house.
“Well, Charlie,” Sarah says, and her voice is very promisingly full of mirth. “This card was very special.”
Nick lets out a noise from beside him, a weird half-yelp, half-choke. He lunges across Charlie to reach for the card, but Sarah is too quick and holds it out of reach while Charlie stops Nick pressing any closer.
“Ooh, is this where the humiliation begins?” Charlie asks gleefully.
“Mum, don’t you dare.”
“Nicky, don’t be silly. We went through all those photos, and you loved it! This is just as cute.”
“No no no,” Nick argues quickly. “I remember what this is and it’s not fucking cute.”
“Language!” Charlie gasps, pretending to be scandalised. Nick gives him a death glare.
Sarah clears her throat as she holds the card in front of her face. “A Mother’s Day Poem,” she reads, very seriously. “By Nicholas Luke Nelson, aged 10.”
“Mum!”
To Charlie’s delight, Sarah keeps reading. Nick whimpers, covering his ears with his hands as Charlie listens with rapt attention. His eyes are wide, and his mouth remains in a delighted grin the whole time, until she’s finished and hands the card to Charlie so he can read it again. He tries to keep his cackle in, but it bursts out of him as he re-reads each new line.
Mum
You are the best
Better than all of the rest
You look after me well
Yes, I can tell
For Mother’s Day I have made you this card
From the bottom of my heart
The heart that I give to you but
Not literally because that would hurt
I love you more than the whole North Sea
And I know that you also do love me!
So mum, this is for you
I hope you don’t get the flu
This year like you did last year, ew!
We love you forever
Me and Nellie together
The End
Love Nick xxxxxxxxxxx
“Oh my God,” Charlie wheezes. “Only the North Sea? What about all the others?”
“Oh, no, he couldn’t possibly love me that much. Even though he knows I look after him well, even when I have the flu.”
“Ew!” they add together, before bursting into fresh hysterics.
Charlie tries to calm himself down, struggling to catch his breath. Nick is bright red now, partly with embarrassment and partly with the force of the fucking toddler tantrum he’d had while Sarah read his poem. Charlie grips onto Nick’s knee, trying to tell him silently that he’s sorry for laughing but that there is no way in hell he’s stopping anytime soon.
“I hate you both,” Nick tells them yet again, but he doesn’t push Charlie’s hand away so he can’t be too mad.
“Oh, my darling boy,” Sarah giggles. “You are now and always have been the sweetest boy. And I love you more than the North Sea too, you know.”
She’s teasing still, but there’s a genuine tone in her voice that softens Nick a little. He grumbles in response, but he doesn’t storm out like Charlie thought he might a few minutes ago. Charlie leans across to press a smacking kiss to his boyfriend’s very warm cheek.
“And so do I,” he assures. Nick huffs again, but he covers Charlie’s hand with his own.
August
Two days before the move, Sarah and Nick have pretty much finished packing up the majority of the house. They’d had a lot of help from Charlie, from Sarah’s parents where they could, even Darcy had helped move some boxes when they’d been bored and free. Sarah had managed to convince David to come back to pack up his room for one whole day, though he left pretty sharpish and didn’t seem to have any emotional response to being in his childhood home for the last time. Standard David behaviour.
Sarah heads to her parents that night to buy them a thank you takeaway, and Nick and Charlie are too tired to do much else than crawl into bed together in Nick’s room for the last time. Sadness pangs in Charlie’s chest at the thought, but he tries to ignore it. He has other plans for their night alone. And, no, unfortunately not those kinds of plans.
The thing is, Nick hasn’t really talked about moving while they’ve been packing up. Charlie has seen the sad looks he’s wiped off his face when someone looks at him, the way he’s thrown himself into helping to avoid thinking about leaving. It’s been a weird few weeks, and Charlie wants to check in.
Curling into Nick’s side as they lie on the bed is a good start. He rests his head on Nick’s chest and smiles happily as Nick’s arms wrap around him and hold him close, as a soft kiss is pressed into his curls.
“Hm, I’ve missed you these last few weeks,” Nick says quietly.
“We’ve been together nearly every day, silly.”
“Yeah, but barely alone. I love my mum very much but sometimes I just want to hang out with you, you know.”
“How dare you! Poor Sarah.”
“Char, I’m serious.”
“I know,” Charlie allows. “I’ve missed you too. But what exactly did you want me to do that we can’t do with your mum around, Nicholas?”
He turns his head just in time to catch Nick’s eye roll. Okay, so his plans weren’t sexy originally, but… well. Nick isn’t wrong. They’ve barely had any time alone all summer, and Nick looks so good carrying heavy boxes up and down stairs. Charlie swears his arms have got bigger from all the lifting. And now he’s looking at Charlie like he wants to eat him, and Charlie just might let him.
They can talk after, right? They have all night alone.
He climbs on top of Nick and smirks down at him. Nick grins back, his hands sliding up Charlie’s back underneath his t-shirt, pulling him flush against Nick’s body. And yeah, okay, maybe Nick is a genius. Charlie dives down to kiss him and Nick responds with as much enthusiasm as ever. Charlie really has missed this, as his body reminds him very quickly. He can’t remember the last time he got so riled up so quickly, and seriously, has it really been that long?
He manages to wedge a hand between them and is reaching for Nick’s waistband when he notices the change. Nick is still kissing him, but there’s nothing behind it anymore. His body has gone limp against the bed and Charlie moves off him without a second thought. Once again, he’s reminded of how grateful he is to know his boy well enough that he doesn’t even need to say a word to tell Charlie what he’s thinking.
Charlie takes a few deep breaths and flops onto his back, turning his head on the pillow to look at Nick. Nick has his eyes closed and he’s moving his hand towards his face. Charlie knows he’s trying to hide so he catches Nick’s hand before he can cover himself up, bringing it to his lips and kissing Nick’s knuckles instead.
“Alright, Nelson. Talk to me.”
“I don’t want to talk,” Nick whines. “I want to fuck you.”
“Hm. Weirdly enough, for possibly the first time ever, I don’t actually believe you.”
“It’s true. I want you.”
Charlie rolls onto his side, resting his hand on Nick’s stomach and rubbing softly at the skin there. “Oh, you silly boy. I know you want me. But I don’t think sex is what you need right now.”
Nick swallows thickly and then lets out a shuddering breath. Tears pool in his eyes at record speed and Charlie’s heart aches.
“There it is. Come here, come and talk to me,” he says gently, gathering Nick in his arms and manoeuvring them both until Charlie is flat on his back and can hold Nick properly half on top of him.
“God, Char, I don't know. I just feel sick to my stomach. And I know I sound crazy. Like, I don't even live here anymore. I guess I didn't ever consider not having this house to come back to. I thought it would always be ours, you know? Pathetic, I know. I’m a grown fucking man.”
“Well, ish,” Charlie interjects cheekily. “But no, it’s not pathetic. I can't imagine how I would feel if it was my house and that wasn't a safe space like this is. Not in the same way, at least. You're allowed to grieve this, Nick.”
“I don't know. I feel so stupid for caring so much. This is mum’s house and it's the right thing for her, and I just need to pull myself the fuck together.”
Charlie hums as strokes his fingers through Nick’s hair, scratching lightly at his scalp in the way he knows always calms Nick down. “And how do you think she'd feel if she knew how you felt and knew you were dismissing that for her benefit?”
“Alright, smarty pants,” Nick grunts. “Not great. I get it.”
“Nick, cut yourself some slack. This is the only place you've ever known as home, of course it's going to be hard to leave it. I feel sad enough and I've only known it for a few years. This house has seen everything you've ever been through. You’re allowed to feel that.”
That does the trick. Nick scrunches his face up, closing his eyes as if he can pretend that he's not about to cry. Idiot. As if he could get away with that around Charlie.
Charlie holds him through it, rubbing Nick’s back as he lets it all out. They both know he'll feel much better for it, he always does after a good cry.
“Fucking hell, I'm so embarrassing,” Nick sniffs eventually. He seems much lighter already, to Charlie’s relief. He knows it’ll be safe to joke now.
“You're literally always embarrassing, Nick. There's nothing special about this.”
“Oh my God, shut up. I can't believe you're bullying me when I'm sad.”
“I always bully you when you're sad, babe. How else would you know that I love you?”
“You are so annoying.”
“Yeah, yeah. You love me,” Charlie sasses, before taking a moment of quiet to test the mood. “Is there anything we can do to try and make this easier for you? Any special way you want to say goodbye to the house?”
“I don't know. I think it's just going to suck for a while. I have to say goodbye to something I don't want to say goodbye to, and there's nothing I can do but let it happen.”
“Yeah, you’re right. That is really shitty.”
Nick huffs out a laugh, nuzzling into Charlie’s neck. He presses a soft kiss there and Charlie tries not to let his body react. You’re being comforting, he reminds himself. Put your dick away.
Though, to be honest, he thinks that he'd rather Nick think that he's a horny bastard than let him see that this whole move was hurting Charlie's heart too. He’s tried not to let it show, but it’s true. This house has done so much for Charlie in the years he's spent time here. It's always been a place for him to escape to, even after Nick had moved up to Leeds. Sarah had continued to welcome him even long after Nick had left, letting him stay in Nick’s room and curl up with the dogs and watch Bake Off with her. Charlie had hidden here countless times, being held and comforted by the four walls and the four Nelsons.
That was hard enough, but the worst part for Charlie was that this would create another form of distance. It was silly really, considering neither he nor Nick technically lived in Kent anymore, but he couldn't help the thought. Ever since he had known Nick, their childhood homes had been a mere ten-minute walk from each other. They could go back and forth as they pleased without much thought, easily and effortlessly. Now, Charlie would no longer be able to run down the road anytime he needed to. There would be no more arguing with Nick about not needing to pick him up, because he'd have to pick him up. Sarah’s new cottage wasn't far, but it was a good 15-minute drive, and that took away Charlie's quick escape route should he ever need it.
He would never say any of that to Nick or Sarah though, at least not anytime soon. This was all ten times worse for them, and he didn’t need to add salt to the wound.
“Thanks, Char,” Nick murmurs once he’s let it all out. “I didn't realise how much I needed to cry.”
“Well, that's why I'm here, isn't it? To remind you that you need to let out your sappy side every now and then. We can't have you letting that build up and then exploding one day. I quite like you in one piece, thank you.”
Nick snorts and then presses a quick kiss to Charlie's neck. Charlie winces as Nick’s tearful and slightly snotty face presses against his. Gross.
“Hey,” Nick breathes after a few more wet kisses. “Can we fuck now? I promise I actually want to this time.”
Charlie pretends to think about it for a moment. He always knew the night would end up here, but he still wants to check if Nick is properly sure first. He lets out a faux exasperated sigh, pretending to be put out by Nick’s request.
“Let's have a shower and see how we go,” he allows.
Nick has never rolled off the bed so quickly in the whole time he’s known him.
Charlie leaves early the morning of the move. He says his goodbyes and squeezes Nick and Sarah tightly. They've both been watery eyed all morning while the movers loaded the lorry, and Charlie can't blame them.
Nick is right, it is shit. The Nelsons have been through so much in this house and leaving it behind, while the right thing to do, is fucking hard.
He walks around each room to say goodbye, as cheesy as that might be. He lingers the longest in Nick’s room. It's so weird to see it completely empty. All of Nick’s things are packed up in boxes and ready to be loaded into vans, and all that's left are the four walls that have kept Charlie safe over the past few years. He knows realistically that what makes him feel safe are the people downstairs; the boy he's loved practically since the day he met him, the woman who's welcomed him in as if he was her own from day one. Both of them are the reason that this place feels like home, and they'll be why the new cottage will feel like home too. Logically, he knows all of this to be true.
But, well, fuck logic sometimes. Sometimes, things feel shit, and that just is what it is.
Charlie is patient that evening. He knows that Nick and Sarah need time and space and each other right now.
He still just wants to hug Nick, though. His massive softie of a boyfriend feels so deeply, and Charlie hates when he isn’t able to be there to comfort him. He’s kind of got used to it over their years of distance, but it never gets any more enjoyable.
Turns out, though, he doesn’t have to be patient for very long. By 6pm, he has a text from Sarah.
17.57, Queen Sarah ❤️
Charlie, how would you feel about coming over? I can send Nick to pick you up now that it’s not walkable anymore. We’re both sitting around moping and I think it would help us both to have you here, darling!
Charlie has never responded to a text quicker. Within five minutes, he’s packed a small bag and is ready to go.
Nick's eyes are red rimmed when Charlie climbs into the passenger seat, and Charlie all but throws himself across the gear stick to wrap his arms around Nick’s neck. He presses kisses against every part of Nick’s face that he can reach, and Nick lets out a shaky laugh.
“Alright, I only saw you a few hours ago.”
“And?” Charlie asks. “I missed you.”
“I thought I was meant to be the embarrassing one.”
“Yeah, well, consider today an exception,” he says, and then he takes Nick’s face in his hands and kisses him firmly.
Nick makes a small noise of surprise, but he kisses back after only a short beat. “Well, hello.”
Charlie ignores Nick’s suggestive tone and squishes Nick’s cheeks in his palms. “I’m so glad your mum texted me. I’ve been pacing so much, I think Tori was about to kick me.”
“Aw, you love me. Gay.”
“Shut up. Are you okay?”
Nick sighs, letting his head fall against Charlie’s shoulder. “Kind of. It feels really cold and empty in the cottage. The movers put the beds and sofas together and we’ve made them up, but apart from that it’s just… blank. It’s not home.”
His voice cracks on the last word, and Charlie squeezes him tightly.
“That’s understandable. You two must be exhausted. Good job I’m absolutely brimming with restless energy and ready to get my interior design on.”
“Charlie,” Nick breathes out a laugh. “Mum didn’t invite you around to put you to work.”
“I know. But why don’t we get some pictures up at least. Your fairy lights in your room, all our photos back above your bed.”
“It’s technically the spare room and not mine, you know. Can you imagine David coming home and sleeping under twenty pictures of us kissing?”
“Even better,” Charlie beams. “Come on, taxi man. Let’s get back. I can’t wait to see the new place.”
The cottage is as lovely as it had looked in the pictures Charlie had seen. It is much smaller than their old house, which was kind of the point, but it's charming and rustic and welcoming, and Charlie knows that Sarah will make a beautiful home of it. For now it does feel a little cold, but it won't forever. By the time they have all their stuff out, and the dogs are back from Sarah’s parents – having been sent there again to be away from all of the chaos of moving – the whole place will feel full and wonderful.
To help get them started, Charlie unpacks a couple of boxes that are easily found. He gets some old family photos out and dots them around, even though he knows that they’ll be moved later, so that Sarah can see all her loved ones when she wakes up tomorrow. Then he goes upstairs to the spare room, the room that he and Nick will stay in when they're staying over, and tackles a couple of his boxes. He finds one of the many folders of pictures of the two of them and gets to work tacking them up above Nick’s bed, along with photos of him with his other friends from school and uni and rugby, and some of the seven billion photos he has of Nellie and Henry. That's all it takes to make the space look much more like Nick, and Charlie won't lie, he's pretty proud of himself. The last thing he does is dig out the fairy lights – he'll get Nick to help him string them up later, but at least they're visible now.
Pleased with himself, Charlie heads back downstairs to Nick and Sarah curled up on the sofa. They’re huddled together, looking equally as pitiful as each other. There's an old episode of QI playing in the background, and Charlie chuckles.
Two pouty faces turn to face him at the sound, and Charlie barely resists ‘awing’ out loud at them. They’re both so silly and adorable and he loves them both endlessly.
They spend the evening eating takeaway and watching bad telly until they all start yawning before 9pm. It’s been a long day both physically and emotionally and they deserve an early night. Nick and Charlie don’t even string the lights up like he’d planned, they just crawl into Nick’s bed and latch onto each other. It’s weird, being in the same bed but a totally different room. One that won’t ever be the safe hiding place that the old room had been for both of them.
Nick’s eyes flutter shut the moment his head hits the pillow, and Charlie lets it happen. He wants to check in and really find out how he’s doing, but there’s no hurry. They’ve got time for that conversation later. Instead, he curls up against his boyfriend’s side and lets himself drift off, too.
September
16.36, Charlie ❤️🐱🖕
i’m grumpy about you being back in the shitty north
16.39, Nick ❤️🐶🖕🏼
Ur always grumpy x
that’s a lie. there’s been at least three times i’ve been cheerful x
hey nick
i have a confession
Christ, what now?
You’re not selling something from my childhood are you?
Nellie? My mum? My old guitar I got for my 12th birthday and never touched??
YOU HAVE A GUITAR???????????
PARDON?????
That’s a story for another time
Tell me what you’ve done
fine. consider it revenge for you never telling me you had a literal guitar
*picture attached*
your words are so beautiful
No
NO
Fuck off
You did not take pictures of that
Omg I hate you so much
you love me, john keats
I really fucking don’t rn
I might murder my mother
if you murder my favourite nelson, i’ll kill you right back
just so you know
Dick
don’t suppose you’ve ever fancied writing me a poem???
would quite enjoy that for my birthday, just sayin’ xx
Charlie I swear to god I will leave you
absolutely laughable coming from the boy who ends half his texts with “marry me”
You know what
I take them all back
Don’t ever marry me
spoilsport
hey nick
would you give me ur literal heart if you didn’t think it’d hurt
Charlie
I was ten
you do know that hurt doesn’t rhyme with but, right?
your structure is all off, too
i bet you’d do better now though x
I really fucking can’t with this
hey nick???
i love you more than the whole north sea!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHARLIE I SWEAR TO FUCK!!!
…
…
…
I love you more than all the seas
Arsehole