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Nico loves his boyfriend; don't get it mixed up. He loves his boyfriend more than anything else in the world, but sometimes he is a little bit frustrating.
Nico had given Charles one rule for the day. Just don't do something so stupid that it will cause Niko to rush to some kind of emergency services because of him. Which, when thinking about it for more than two seconds, is actually an insanely hard task to ask of Charles, but seemed doable at the time.
See, after years and years of having no new content and having nothing aired and forcing Nico to live off of the same few seasons and packs of cards, Yu-Gi-Oh had finally decided to make a movie.
Of course when Nico found out the news via his bedtime Twitter scrolling he had been ecstatic. He's been a fan since he was in middle school. The anime had been the catalyst back then for him getting into soccer so finding out that the theaters near him were going to premiere it had made him so excited he hadn't known what to do with himself.
The first thing he had done once he'd been knocked out of his disbelief by Charles' snoring was to post about about it on his Twitter account; ignoring what his manager would think.
Of course, his next steps were to buy out every seat in the theater nearby because what else was he supposed to do with all of his hard-earned soccer money? Don't give a nerdy eighteen year old hundreds of thousands of dollars of disposable income and this won't happen.
After confirming his purchase with the bank that he did in fact want to spend that much money at the movies and it was not a scammer stealing his bank information, he'd realized the one thing that could ruin his carefully crafted—and very expensive—plans. His aforementioned wonderful boyfriend.
Now again, Nico would like to reiterate that he adores his boyfriend with his whole soul. As much as he's embarrassed to show affection at times, his love could never be questioned, but that doesn't cancel out the fact that his boyfriend is something of a wild case.
Once left out of supervision Charles could do who knows what and make it everyone around him's (usually Loki's) responsibility. Of course it was frustrating and he's been trying to get Charles to work on it but this doesn't make Nico love him any less; he had known all of this even before he started dating him. It just made plans a little unpredictable.
So the next morning when his boyfriend had come home from practice, showered, and they were both in bed; Charles's head in Nico's lap and Nico had finally pulled the Band-Aid off and broke the news.
"So, you know I love you right. " Nico blurts out causing Charles to blink up at him a few times before breaking out in a huge excited smile.
Niko watches flustered almost to the point of ending the whole conversation as Charles pauses whatever he was mindlessly watching.
"Trying to flirt all of a sudden, baby~?" Charles teases, drawing out the pet name Niko making his face flush more.
He already feels exposed enough with his bangs pulled back by his headband and all this lovey dovey talk isn't making him feel any better, but he'd already embarrassed himself he can't back out of the conversation now.
"You know how I really like Yu-Gi-Oh?" Niko mutters, running his hands through blonde hair to soothe his own nerves.
"Uh... " Charles looks like a deer caught in headlights and Niko can practically hear the gears turning in his head as he thinks. It's so stupidly endearing that it makes Niko loosen up unknowingly.
"The anime we watched about the card game with the guy who had spikey hair." Niko reminds helpfully to which Charles' face only gets more panicked.
"Blue eyes white dragon. " He sighs.
"Oh yeah, knock off pokemon! " Niko doesn't have it in himself to correct him so he just sighs again and nods.
"Well I found out that they're coming out with a new movie and it's going in theaters." Niko begins slowly hoping to get the right words across. "I really want to see it so I booked out a whole theater so I can see it alone. I know sometimes you can get really invested in something during the day and get carried away and end up in trouble but just for the one day can you keep yourself extra in check? I just really want to see this and you know how important this anime is to me because it kind of was what triggered me into liking soccer so I really want to see it in theatres and, uh- yeah. " Niko cuts himself off halfway through figuring he already got the point across and is just rambling now.
Niko chances a look down at Charles who is oddly silent. He's staring at Niko adoringly a sugar sweet smile tugging at his lips threateng to break out in a full blown grin at any moment. "You're so cute when you yap."
Niko tries his best to come up with a response but his mouth just opens and closes over again as his brain stutters and his face overheats which is apparently the catalyst to Charles' smile as he finally breaks out into the widest grin.
"Of course we can, mon doux, anything for you. " Charles agrees so easily and relief floods Niko's body so quickly he almost feels light headed.
"If you want to" Niko starts, already feeling the flush crawl further up his neck reaching his cheeks. "You can come with and we can see it together. "
It's not a crazy proposition seeing as him and Charles have already watched the entirety of the anime when they first got together at Charles insistence. Charles, to his credit, had followed along to the best of his ability with Niko filling in the gaps of what he missed when he lost focus. Still, something about being completely alone with his boyfriend in a theatre watching a movie about something he cares so deeply about feels so intimate.
But just at the suggestion Charles' face lights up so fast, like a kid on Christmas day—or maybe the Christmas tree—sitting up so fast he almost hits Niko's chin as he whirls around to tackle Niko into a hug, nodding his head against Niko's chest. He smiles at Niko so brightly, eyes full of stars, and Niko can't help but smile too.
Maybe things would actually turn out well.
He hates to spoil things, but nothing turned out right.
First off, the night before his day off to watch the movie his team had to postpone training because of rain. Which, of course, Niko had only learned once he'd woken up day of just to see the notice on his phone making him almost throw Charles off the bed in his surprise.
"What! Who died!? DON'T TELL ME IT WAS TRIPLE T!" Charles screams already sitting up in bed. It's five in the morning and he's already screaming nonsense, no wonder their neighbors avoid eye contact with them.
Niko doesn't respond to his boyfriend's panicking, too busy worrying himself with checking the moved practice time. Finally as a last resort he checks his chat labeled "Unc" letting out a sigh of relief at Aiku's message. Practice has moved to four and Niko had booked the theater for eight so he has enough time to get home, make sure Charles didn't somehow die while he was gone, get ready, and leave.
Nikki remembers his panicking boyfriend looking over to see Charles still glancing around in a daze right about to jump out of bed for whatever reason. "Sorry, go back to sleep, Charles. " Niko soothes pushing him to lay back down and smoothing out his fluffy bed head.
"Practice got rescheduled for today and I thought it was gonna get in the way with the movie but it's all okay. "
"Oh yeah, the movie... Does it gotta be today?" He asks still lethargic and wiping the sleep out of his eyes. "Can't we just go another day so you don't gotta worry so much."
Niko cringes watching Charles lick up the dried spit on his lip and shakes his head. "Today is the premier for the movie. I have to see it today or else the spoilers will be all over social media and the experience will be ruined. " He also wants to go online to over analyze and come up with theories before all the other sweats now that he has the funds and the availability to do so; but he doesn't tell Charles that. He still has to keep come dignity in the relationship.
Charles seems to think about what he said for a moment before letting Nico fully lay him down and with renewed determination in his eyes he announces, "Today everything is going to be okay! "
Niko had smiled at him and just tucked him in but deep down Niko felt like the day had been cursed.
Of course practice was then pushed back a few hours because it rained—again. And instead of just calling it quits for the day they decided to wait it out. So instead of Niko's plan to have a relaxing walk home he has to rush to stay on track.
When Niko finally gets home he has added an extra layer of sweat to his already drenched body and wants nothing more than to take a nice long shower. Of course he has one very important thing to do first.
"Charles, you home? " Niko calls out after slipping his shoes off at the door. He knows that Charles doesn't have anything to do today but he could've very well went against what Niko asked and ran out of the house to cause mayhem at any point in time.
"Boo! " Legs warp around his waist and arms circle his neck from behind almost throwing Niko off kilter.
"Jeez, Charles! " Niko yelps almost throwing his boyfriend on the floor as he giggles like he wasn't going to be a floor pancake two seconds ago.
Niko steadies them as Charles dismounts him practically bouncing over to face Niko blinking up at him expectantly. He stares back a little concerned before giving him a quick once over and pointing out in surprise, "Oh, you're already dressed. "
Niko doesn't say it to be rude or anything, it's just that Charles is not only forgetful but a known procrastinator. If he doesn't have to leave until one he'll only be getting into the shower at twelve forty-five, that is if he even remembers he's going some where; so it's weird to see him ready without Niko having to remind him.
Charles nods clearly realizing what Niko is thinking. "I told you nothing would go wrong! Plus I wanted to go to the store to get some food for the our movie date!"He shouts clearly amped about their movie date.
"Why would you go out to get food when we can just get some popcorn at the movies, it's not like we don't have the money for it? "
Charles rolls his eyes like Niko is being ridiculous. "Obviously we have enough money but it's the principle of the matter! Also they don't have Takis at the movies."
Niko has learned to pick and choose his battles and how Charles is going to sneak in a huge bag of Takis into the theater is one he's not willing to pick not choose. But for some reason Niko gets a bad feeling in his stomach about Charles going out alone.
It's stupid but there's this knot in his stomach at the idea of Charles going out right before they have (what Niko considers is) an important event. Still, he reasons with himself that Charles is eighteen now; he isn't some ultra impulsive kid jumping to whatever catches his attention next anymore. Charles can go out to the convenience store that's just a block away without mishap. It's with that thought that Niko let's Charles peck kisses all over his face wishing him a safe trip before he heads to their washroom.
It once again, wasn't okay. The moment Niko leaves the shower and the towel reaches his hair he gets a call from an unsaved number that he still somehow recognizes.
With a bad premonition but with hope in his heart Niko picks up the call just to hear what has grown to be the memorized phrase of, "Hello this is the police. We are calling you because you are listed as the first emergency contact for Chevalier Charles, is this Niko Ikki? "
"Yes this is Ikki, I'm on my way right now. " He rushes to their room to throw on some clothes, grabbing his keys as he listens to the usual speech.
He gets to the police station within five minutes; all of which were spent talking to the police and then trying not to crash his car.
When he bursts through the doors the first thing he sees is Charles sat on one of the waiting room chairs; his face scuffed up and his hands just being taken out of cuffs. Because of course he couldn't have been taken to the station as a witness, he had to be the issue. So much for being all grown up.
"I'm sorry my love. " Charles says as soon as Niko enters his line of sight, he tries to get up but is glared at into sitting back down by a police officer standing nearby. Niko gives him a look and he isn't sure what his own face looks like but it's enough for Charles to sink further into his seat.
After talking with the officer and getting briefed on what he'd already heard over the phone and signing what needs to be signed he walks over to Charles and stands just a step in front of him.
"What happened? " he asks in what he tries to be a stern voice but just sounds tired and worried even to him.
Charles flinches at his voice like he was expected to be reprimanded and after a moment speaks up. "Well, I really was trying to stay out of trouble, believe me!" Charles pleads
"But then I heard these guys in the store talking about you and they were saying a bunch of stupid shit about you being, like, bad at soccer and stuff! And I just couldn't let it go; I had to beat them up! " Charles yells, getting more and more worked up as he tells the story earning more pointed looks from the officers nearby. "I know I'm a contrarian but I really did mean it when I said I want to see this movie with you... "
He knows for a fact that Charles is being truthful. He had the same story told told to him in a much more detailed and clinical fashion minutes before, and apparently even the other guys admitted to provoking Charles. But Niko had wanted to hear it from Charles before making up how he felt.
Honestly, looking at Charles messed up state, he can't even manage to be angry. Majority of the damage is on his hands, rapidly bruising a nasty blue colour as they speak with blood in multiple states of drying streaked down to his forearms. Looking over at the other guys still sat a good few chairs away from them it's pretty clear who won the fight.
"Uhm... " Charles looks up at him, guilt written all over his face, and Niko finally notices his one eye already turning puffy and bruised and the blood dripping from his busted lip. "If we leave now we can probably still catch the movie..! " he says in a tone that I'd probably meant to comfort but just sounds so shaky and sad.
He looks over at the clock and sees the times already eight thirty; by now the commercials will have ended and the movie will have begun. Even if he shoves Charles into the car like he's suggesting and speeds over they would only make it in time to see the last few minutes.
He knows this situation should make him upset, downright pissed off even, but looking back at his wide eyed boyfriend so desperate to let him see this movie the disappointment over missing the movie premier doesn't hit. All he feels is this overwhelming relief over seeing his boyfriend safe and sound after that scare from the police call and the ache in his heart over having his boyfriend trying to protect his honour.
Niko sighs, a little disappointed in himself as he pulls Charles out of the police station for not feeling even an ounce of anger towards his boyfriend for ruining his plans. Love really does make you stupid just like Homura. Maybe they should rewatch Madoka Magica when they get home instead.
"Don't worry about the movie; let's just get home and get you cleaned up, alright? " Charles looks at him like he just spoke a foreign language which Niko knows isn't true because Charles had started learning Japanese while trying to get Niko to date him and is almost completely fluent by now.
"What about the movie though? " Charles tone is concerned as he falls into step beside his boyfriend and all Niko can think is, why are you the one who sounds concerned right now?. "I thought that you really wanted to see it today so you wouldn't be spoiled? "
Niko stops right outside the doors of the police station to turn on Charles with a blank stare.
"Do you really think I'm worried about anime spoilers when my boyfriend is looking like-" Niko gestures to Charles' entire self before finishing. "this. "
Charles looks at him confused and Niko is glad he loves his boyfriend so much and isn't a naturally violent person or else they would end up right back in the police station for domestic abuse.
He pulls Charles into the car before he can actually get violent and rests his head against the wheel for a moment. He wishes he was just annoyed over the missed movie; it would make deciphering and explaining his feelings so much easier.
"Listen," He starts, turning over the his boyfriend now that he feels more collected. "yes I'm upset about missing the movie, but I'm more upset about seeing you hurt like this. " Niko stresses, fussing over the wounds on his hands.
Niko can feel Charles staring at him in awe but ignores it for now in favour of pulling out the hand sanitizer that he keeps in his car for emergency injuries. When he'd first bought it he hadn't thought he'd be using it for this but he supposes that doesn't matter.
After cleaning his hands as thoroughly as possible with convince store sanitizer Niko inspects them for any missed spots before deeming then clean enough and letting his boyfriend's hands go. His hands stay in the air for a moment longer before he pulls them back into his lap like he's lagging in real time. Niko ignores that as well dabbing a little bit of the sanitizer on Charles' lip feeling bad for only a moment when Charles flinches.
"We're gonna have to clean them properly once we get home but this should be good enough for now. " He sighs.
Nico turns back forward and lays back against his seat; finally able to take a deep breath after all of the chaos.
After a few minutes of uncharacteristic silence between them Nico turns over to Charles to see him still staring at Nico with practical sparkles in his eyes.
"What now? " Niko sighs.
"I love you so much, Niko. " Charles says it with so much conviction like he's asking Niko out all over again. He cups Niko's cheeks with his newly cleaned hands like he's holding something delicate and Niko can't help but blush even if he's still upset.
Niko sighs, but it's a fond noise even to his own ears. "I love you too."
Charles leans in for a kiss and Niko let's him, it's brief but soft; filled with all the love and fierce devotion that Charles carries and Niko can't find it in himself to complain about the taste of the hand sanitizer and blood that transfers to his lips.
When Charles pulls back he rests his forehead against Niko's and just stares into his eyes blurting out, "To make it up to you I'll buy and entire theater and make it only play your pokemon movie thing so you could see it whenever you like. "
"Yu-Gi-Oh. " Niko feels the need to correct even though he knows it won't stick, it's the principal of things as his devoted boyfriend would say. "And you can't buy a whole theater and make it play only one movie. You'd bankrupt yourself. "
"You don't know that. But even if It did;" Charles seems to consider for a moment, but his eyes sparkle with mischief and a little something else that Niko can't seem to name. "It would be totally worth it."
Love. Of course that's what his eyes are full of as he stares at Niko in his stupid small car parked on the road outside of a police station. It's stupid and it's cringe and it's so much like a shoujo manga.
With the dawning horror of a man realizing that he doesn't mind this idiots almost blind love for him he goes back in for another soft kiss.
Maybe everything going wrong was the perfect plan for today.