Work Text:
20 June 1984
Children play on the Heath, their screams punctuating the background music of LWR on the small portable radio Charlie's brought. The tiny, tinny speaker cuts through the humid summer air. Dark clouds are forming overhead.
Nick opens the bottle of fizzy white wine he's pulled out of his rucksack, a cigarette between his lips (a disgusting habit, Charlie thinks, but one he's willing to overlook for how handsome Nick is).
St Michael's Asti Spumante is on the label. Nick went shopping at Marks and Spencer. Goodness. They're going posh.
Nick must genuinely like him.
"Drink?" He also pulls out a couple of stylophone cups from his rucksack.
Why not? Charlie can enjoy himself a bit this Wednesday afternoon.
This man, whom Charlie can't quite believe has agreed to spend time with him, picks up one of the cups, fills it three-quarters full, and passes it over to Charlie. He takes a sip, letting the bubbly, sweet, and fruity liquid coat his tongue as Charlie and Nick lie back on the scratchy picnic blanket Charlie brought to this, which they agreed upon over the phone last night as their first date.
First date. Charlie feels those butterflies again, just like he did when he put down the phone, curly cord wrapped around his fingers, while Tori commented that she hoped the other person had called Charlie, because their phone bill was going through the roof.
"Sandwich? I have prawn and mayonnaise or chicken and ham," Nick pauses, a look of horror on his face. "God… you're not, like, one of those vegetarians, are you?"
Charlie giggles. "No. My brother is, though. Drives my mum up the wall, so he does all his own cooking, but he still sets her off by leaving pans in the sink to soak after he overcooks and burns whatever he tries to do. And no, I'm fine… I had a big breakfast… Sorry, I'm…"
"What did we say about sorry?" Nick looks around and leans into the shell of Charlie's ear. "If it weren't so inappropriate, so scandalous, I'd kiss you right now."
He giggles again and says in a tone of mock outrage, "Oh, really, Mr Nelson. Won't someone think of the children? But I can say for certain, not with that cigarette in your mouth."
Nick takes the cigarette and stubs it out on the almost-yellow grass. "That better?"
Charlie nods.
"Are you sure you don't want a sandwich? Sorry, I didn't think to bring anything else."
"I'm sure, Nick. You're good. The most important thing so far, as I am concerned, is here."
"Suit yourself." He picks up the packet containing the chicken and ham, tears it open, and starts wolfing it down.
Charlie sips at his own wine, digging what's left of his fingernails into the smooth white surface. "Yeah, the heat… I don't tend to eat…" Charlie realises what Nick has just said. "Hey, why's it okay for you to say sorry when it isn't for me?" Charlie says the last part in mock outrage. He calculates the risk; the children and, more importantly, their parents are far enough away, then pokes at Nick.
Nick puts down the other sandwich and swallows what's in his mouth, then takes a mouthful of wine from his own cup, looking out over London from this grassy hill. "I don't like it when you say things like that about yourself, because... I really like you, Char."
Charlie blushes and says, "Really? And Char? You've never called me that before. And… and… I really like you too."
Nick takes a moment to make his own calculation, glances around, and, all too briefly, brushes a dimple on Charlie's cheek with his thumb. It's not something he's ever truly known before, but it feels like white heat on his skin. Dangerous and addictive, like those cigarettes Nick insists on smoking.
He looks down, then lifts his gaze to meet Charlie's and says softly, "Because, I want you to know, I can see myself falling in love with you, Char…"
God. He can’t bear to share this with anyone else. It’s too new, too precious. How is this man even real?
Above, the dark skies begin to rumble, and he feels a drop of rain against his cheek where Nick's thumb had just been.
But Charlie Spring knows this is the beginning of something wonderful.