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Language:
English
Series:
Part 3 of Riptides and Undercurrents
Stats:
Published:
2026-08-03
Updated:
2026-08-17
Words:
300
Chapters:
3/?
Comments:
32
Kudos:
42
Bookmarks:
1
Hits:
489

Pier Snippets

Summary:

A series of drabbles showing all the important (as well as the rather mundane) times Nick and Charlie spent at their pier.

Notes:

In chapter three of Somewhere only we know, the pier and beach of Herne Bay are described as the go-to place for Nick and Charlie whenever something important is happening in either of their lives or when they simply want to enjoy each other’s company, as the place feels so very them.

While writing the first chapters of them being broken up, I realised that as much as I enjoy accompanying them separately on their respective journeys navigating things and finding ways to get back on track, I had a really hard time writing them not interacting at all. And I can imagine that reading it might feel odd, too.

That’s why I came up with these little ‘Pier Snippets’ that will drop between the main fic’s regular chapters as long as our boys are apart; they won’t be posted in any chronological order. I hope they might be able to soothe the hurt I caused by separating them. And that they assure you that I really meant it when I put the Happy Ending tag on SOWK. How on Earth could I deny those two their HEA - in every universe, remember?

Chapter 1: Backpack Dinner

Summary:

When Charlie gets back from getting them ice cream, he finds Nick in a rather unusual position.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

“Here you go, Nick. One Twister for you and a Cornetto for me. Um… babe?”

His boyfriend’s answer is muffled by the fabric.

”Nicholas, why’s your head in your backpack?”

Nick’s face appears. He’s… chewing?

“Seagulls.”

”Huh?”

”They’re evil. One just stole a battered sausage. Mid-flight! Look at the little boy over there crying!”

“Oh, come on!”

”It’s true, Char!” Nick glances around. “They’re watching us.” 

“You’re eating your sandwich straight from the bag because of a seagull? That’s insane! What are the odds of that happening ag-“

*Screeeech!*

”What… how…? I…”

”Don’t worry, love. Share my Twister with me?”

Notes:

I seriously freaked out when I saw the trailer for HSF for the first time, because it looked like the pier and beach were going to be important places in the movie (which, surprise!, they ultimately were). Yes, I’d read the novella so many times at this point, but I didn’t think that after the little montage around the legendary ‘You’re my boyfriend, I’m your boyfriend, we’re boyfriends!’ scene at the end of season 1, the beach or the pier were going to get any important cameos in the movie. Mind you, when I started writing this, Alice was miles away from posting the last scene of the comic on Patreon.

So yeah, I felt the need to start posting right then and there, because my weird brain wanted to have the btw, the pier is important to them part out there before the movie came out. Because I didn’t want anyone to think I ‘stole’ the idea from the movie. And yes, I’m fully aware that I’m writing fucking fan fiction. Again: brain = weird.

Anyway, I hope you’ll enjoy those (mostly) fluffy and silly glimpses into their relationship. <3