Charlie and Nick Fanfic - PG13 Version

Danger

Charlie's heart pounded within his chest. He found himself frozen, sitting up in bed as the home invader shuffled around the flat. In the darkness, a dull thud could be heard as the intruder blindly felt their way along the walls towards the bedroom.

I told Nick we need a dog, Charlie thought as he forced himself to silently get out of bed. If it was Ben or some other lunatic, the dog could have chomped his balls off.

An "oof" escaped the intruder's lips when he bumped into the table in the hall.

Ben. It has to be Ben.

Although Charlie was shaking, he clenched his fists eagerly. The home invader, Ben or otherwise would soon be in this room. Charlie needed a plan.

What would Nick do if he were here next to him?

It had been years since Charlie had held a rugby ball, but some of the tips Nick had taught him back then were still present in his mind. With a deep, careful breath, Charlie readied himself for contact. The moment he could make out a shrouded silhouette in the darkness, Charlie ran toward it at full speed, tackling the intruder to the floor. He pinned them down with his knees and sent his fist flying into their face. He hadn't realized it but tears were dripping from his sad, blue eyes as he cried out, "how dare you?! I told you not to come here! I hate you! I fucking hate you!"

"Charlie?!"

"I'm fucking happy! Why can't you let me be happy? You jealous piece of--"

"Charlie!"

His eyes were squeezed shut. When he opened them, the intruder's features were blurred by tears. He pulled the intruder's hood back, exposing messy, short blonde hair. With Charlie's wrist still in his grasp, the intruder guided Charlie's hand to his chest and linked their fingers together.

Charlie tried to hold back, but the tears began to flow heavier. "Nick?" he sobbed.

"Char, what... what just happened?" Nick sputtered in confusion, still pinned to the floor by Charlie's knees pressing into his shoulders.

"You're really here?" Charlie questioned, examining his boyfriend's handsome face.

"I booked a flight during dinner." Nick explained as his boyfriend rolled off of him. "I told you I wanted to come home. I would've taken a coach, but i wanted to sleep next to you tonight."

"I hit you. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't... I..."

"I'll be fine," Nick promised. Swallowing at a lump in his throat, he wondered, "Charlie, who did you think I was?"

Charlie pursed his lips, trying to find some semblance of strength. It wouldn't work. Charlie burst into a trembling puddle of tears, curling into a ball on the hallway floor. He reached out, took Nick's hand, then told him everything.

"A few days ago, we had the same shift," he said about Ben. "He was acting so friendly, flirty even. He acted like year 9 and 10 never happened, like we were friends, like we had always been friends. I know it's stupid, I know that. I should have handled it differently."

Nick held Charlie close as they both sat on the floor.

"I was in the storage room. Ben followed me in."

Nick's knuckles cracked as he balled his fists.

"Nothing happened. Not really. He just..." Charlie swallowed at the lump in his throat. "I felt cornered. He was blocking the way out and," Charlie blinked away some of his tears, "he touched me. Not, like, in a sexual way. He just, sort of gave my shoulder a squeeze. It was nothing. I overreacted. I told Patricia I was going for lunch and... I can't face her now. She must hate me."

"No one hates you," Nick assured him. "And to hell with anyone who makes you feel otherwise."