Heartstopper oneshots/ requests

A crying Charlie comes to Nick's house at 1am P1

clover2015 - I hope you like it, I really liked writing it! There's two parts :))

It was cold outside, but that wasn't why Charlie was shaking. It wasn't even because his clothes were soaked through because of the rain.

A few weeks ago, Harry started leaving homophobic comments on Charlie's Instagram posts. At first, he'd just delete them as soon as they appeared and try to not let them get to him. It wasn't like he said anything to him while they were at school.

The comments got worse though and Harry started saying stuff when Nick wasn't around. Charlie didn't want to bother Nick with it, it probably wasn't that bad. Just him being stupid, but at school today, as he was leaving to go home on what should have been a happy Friday afternoon, Harry shoved him against the wall.

The corridors were empty as most people had already left.

"You fucking, pathetic little fag!" Harry shouted right in Charlie's face, "Stay away from my mate, yeah" Harry's face was so close to Charlie's, but Charlie kept his eyes on the floor.

"I don't want you turning him fucking gay!"

Harry's arm was over Charlie's chest, pressing him into the wall. Charlie stayed rooted to the spot, but his heart felt like it was in his throat.

"Stay away from him!" Harry shouted again and Charlie winced as Harry's other hand found his throat. Grabbing it hard and pushing him into the wall even harder.

"I thought you'd get the message with all the Instagram comments, but obviously not" He sneered, "So let me spell it out for you, stay-away-from-my-friends" He shouted, pausing with every word.

Just as Charlie thought it wasn't going to end, Harry let go of him with one last shove, "Fucking poof"

Harry spat at Charlie's feet before walking away, leaving a shaking Charlie still against the wall.

Thinking about it now made Charlie shudder. He had to talk to someone. He knew Tao would overreact; especially if he came to his house at 1am, but he had to tell someone.

Charlie kept looking over his shoulder, scared that Harry had somehow found out he was walking to Nick's and would follow him and beat him up or something. Who knew what Harry was really capable of, or the people he had access to.

Walking up the path to Nick's house made Charlie suddenly feel stupid; what was he doing here at 1am? Was he really about to ring the doorbell and wake everyone up? He placed his finger on the button and pressed it slowly.

Immediately feeling awful and starting to cry again, he waited in the rain. He waited for a minute or so and then he realised no one would probably answer. It was 1am, everyone was asleep.

Not wanting to turn around and go home, he sat on the small wall that separated Nick's and their neighbours front doors. He let himself properly cry now, he felt helpless and stupid. His throat still hurt from where Harry had grabbed it, Harry's words kept going round and round in his head. Charlie's hands were covering his face when he heard the door open.

"Charlie?" Sarah's murmur was just audible over the rain.

In disbelief, Charlie moved his hands away from his face to see Sarah stood in her dressing gown at the door.

"It is you - come in then, you're getting soaked" She said louder this time and Charlie did as he was told.

Stepping into the hallway, Charlie felt a slight weight lift. He was safe here.

"Take that off, you're soaking" Sarah gestured to Charlie's soaked hoodie and handed him one of Nick's that was on the banister, "Put this on, Nick won't mind"

Still having not said anything, Charlie took his soaked hoodie off. His t-shirt underneath wasn't too wet, surprisingly. He put Nick's one on and really wanted to bring the collar up to his nose to smell Nick, but he didn't.

"T-thanks" He stuffered, still shaking, "I-I don't know why I came here I just-"
Sarah's face was soft and full of sympathy, "Come through, love" She interrupted.

Sarah knew that whatever it was must be bad enough for one of the shyest boys Nick had ever been friends with to show up at her door at this hour.

She led the way into the living room and switched the floor lamp on, creating a golden glow in the room. Charlie followed her in and sat on the sofa across from the armchair Sarah sat in.

"So, what brings you here" Sarah says with a slight airiness to her voice. Making a light joke out of Charlie's sudden appearance to her house at 1am.
Charlie tries to force a laugh, but he just breaks down in tears.

Sarah rushes to his side and puts her arm around him, "Oh darling" She pulls Charlie into her and Charlie lets himself get enveloped in her hug. His heart aches; he feels so safe and yet so sad and helpless.

"I'm so sorry-" Charlie finally speaks, pulling himself out of the hug, "I'm so sorry for just showing up like this I just-"
"Please don't apologise, I'm just glad you felt you could come here" Sarah said so sincerely it just made Charlie cry again.

"Now, what's got you in this state?" Sarah asked and Charlie felt she deserved at least an explanation.
"I'm gay" Charlie stated and watched for Sarah's reaction
"Okay" She furrowed her eyebrows, "I'm not following"
"Harry at school, he-" Charlie suddenly paused, maybe Sarah would feel the same way. Maybe she didn't want him hanging around Nick anymore either because that might make him gay. Even though Charlie was almost 80% sure he wasn't fully straight already.

"Is homophobic?" Sarah tried finishing Charlie's sentence for him
"Yeah" Charlie let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. Maybe it was best that Sarah believed that and not the truth.

"There's more?" Sarah watched Charlie's face carefully, "It's okay, you can tell me - I don't care what you are dear" She said, "I can't believe some people are still homophobic - well I say that, my son is" She saw Charlie's face drop, "Oh, not Nick love. No, David - his brother. Well, he's not really homophobic I think he just-" she paused, breaking their eye contact to look past Charlie, "Doesn't understand it" She looked back at Charlie who's facial expression had softened slightly again.

"Anyway" Sarah got up suddenly, feeling like she'd said enough, "I'll go and get Nick and erm-" she paused, "Tell your parents you're staying here tonight" She smiled warmly which made Charlie smile too.

He felt better, a lot better. Coming here was definitely the right thing to do.

While Sarah was gone, Charlie texted Tori to tell her where he was and to just tell mum and dad he'd gone to school early when they get up.

Then he pulled Nick's hoodie up to his face and breathed the scent of Nick in. His heart felt full and, most of all, he felt like he belonged.

"Charlie?" Nick appeared at the living room door in his Avengers pajama bottoms and gray t-shirt, rubbing his eyes
"Yeah I um-" Charlie started to explain
"It's fine" Nick fell into the sofa next to Charlie and lifted his arm so Charlie could shuffle in and put his arm around Nick's waist. His head rested on Nick's chest and he had the overwhelming feeling of being safe again. Which made him cry for the third time, not because he felt safe, but because he felt safe enough to let his emotions out.