I Can Hear Your Silence (A Heartstopper FanFic -- BOOK 2)

9. Distance

Waking up was a hard slog, like climbing up a steep, muddy hill. Bright daylight was just out of reach. If he dragged himself a little further then he would make it -- into the warmth he could feel all around him.

A breeze drifted across the back of his neck... an odd sort of breeze, really, but the rhythm of it was soothing, comforting.

Charlie blinked the remaining fog out of his eyes and the side of Tao's armchair came into view.

The living room was so bright he suspected it must be well into the morning. Had he really been sleeping for so long? Too long, he thought, because he still felt exhausted.

Someone had thrown a blanket over him and Nick during the night, or else Charlie had forgotten either of them doing it. They had pushed it off them to their waists at some point too and Nick had discarded the green jumper he'd been wearing onto the floor.

Nick was pressed up against him still, arms tightly around him, his face buried in the crook of Charlie's neck... The source of that strange breeze, then.

Charlie reached out to stroke a hand through Nick's messy hair when Nick shifted beside him and -- something poked against Charlie's thigh.

His eyes widened in realisation, but he didn't have much time to be flustered before Nick mumbled groggily and opened his eyes.

"Mornin'," he said, voice rough with sleep.

"Morning," said Charlie brightly. Waking up to that adorable head of messy hair and soft smile would never get old. "How're you feeling?"

"Mmm..." Nick murmured. "Alright --"

Nick shifted some more, still waking up -- and then he was suddenly very awake and very aware of the situation currently rubbing itself against Charlie's thigh.

Charlie barked a laugh at the dawning look on Nick's increasingly pink face.

"Would you like some help with that, Nicholas?" asked Charlie sweetly, making sure to bat his eyelashes for full effect.

"God, I am so sorry." Nick rolled onto his back and shimmied the best he could down to sit on the edge of the large chair.

Charlie frowned, quickly settling beside him, folding his arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek. "I don't have to help you if you don't want that, but I am willing to lend a hand if you do... or a mouth."

Charlie was smirking through his own flushed features and Nick's heart skipped in anticipation. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." He stood up and Nick took his offered hand. "Come on, you."

Nick could hardly believe what was apparently about to happen as he hurried after Charlie, past their friends, who were all dosing or else playing on their phones. He noticed Sahar and Aled had gone -- he remembered them saying yesterday how they both had prior commitments this morning, so they'd had to leave early.

Nick briefly wondered what the time was exactly, but then he and Charlie reached the top of the stairs and Charlie was pulling him into the bathroom.

"You really don't have to do this, Char," said Nick. "I can sort it myself."

"I know that," said Charlie, flicking the lock shut behind them. "But you don't have to now. Not now you have me."

Charlie's tongue snuck out to lick his bottom lip, very deliberately, and Nick almost didn't need any further assistance at all. He couldn't take his eyes off him.

"I did say I wanted to try," said Charlie, glancing at the floor. "You said... you might be interested... That's all. I'm sorry if I'm being too pushy --"