Music sounds better with you

Im seeing it as a welcome to Leeds gift

Nick wakes up the next morning with Charlie still fast asleep in his arms. He's roasting hot and rather sweaty, but Charlie looks so soft and peaceful when he sleeps, so he stays put and doesn't move. Charlie's had an intense few weeks, what with all his exams and his rigorous revision timetable, so Nick wants to let him rest for as long as possible.

He presses a kiss to Charlie's bare shoulder and snuggles down next to him; in their sleep, they've both rolled over a bit, so Nick is on his back with Charlie sprawled over his chest. It's not the most comfy but they do seem to fit decently well on the single bed when they sleep like this, and honestly, Nick's just grateful that he gets to wake up like this when he thought he'd have to wait a few more weeks before they'd see each other again.
Lovely, wonderful Charlie, who came all this way to see him. He still can't get his head around it.

Fuck, he loves him so much.

He lets his eyes fall closed again and he daydreams about next year, when Charlie will be at arm's reach all the time because they'll be in the same city. He thinks about more Friday nights where they leave parties early to come back to Nick's place and shag, then Saturday mornings sitting with all his housemates as they gossip and compare notes from the night before.

He thinks about meeting Charlie in their lunch hours and going to the library together, to kiss amongst the shelves and play footsie under the table and hold hands as they test each other before exams. He thinks about meeting Charlie's flatmates and watching him blossom and grow into a full time uni student, one that plays in the campus band and comes to all his boyfriend's rugby matches and gets a little too drunk on nights before he has to go to early morning lectures.

He wonders how anybody could ever think their romance would fizzle out when this is everything he's ever envisioned his university experience to be. And even though he's not even technically enrolled yet, he can't imagine doing any of it without Charlie by his side.

It's pushing 11am when Charlie finally stirs. He always makes a soft little moaning sound as he wakes up, and Nick finds himself grinning like an idiot as Charlie pushes into his embrace and he gets to hold him even tighter.
"Good morning, sweet boy."
Charlie makes a happy sound and his grip on Nick tightens. "Good morning to you."
Nick cracks one eye open. "How did you sleep?"
"Like the dead." Charlie's eyes flicker open and he smiles at Nick. He looks pretty well rested considering how small the bed they're sharing is. "You?"
"Really well." Nick pecks a kiss onto his cheek; he'd love to snog him good and proper, but he feels like he's got terrible morning breath after a night of drinking. "What do you want to do today?"
"Nothing," Charlie says. "Absolutely nothing, if that's okay with you?"
"Sounds perfect."

Just as he's about to let his eyes sink closed once again, his stomach lets out an almighty rumble and he grins, sliding his hand down to rest on his tummy over the duvet.
"I think that's my cue to make us some brekky."
Charlie snorts. "Sure. I could eat too, actually."
Nick beams at him. "How do pancakes sound?"
"They sound delightful," Charlie hums, then he rolls over and pecks Nick on the mouth, morning breath be damned. "Thank you."

Nick peels himself out of bed and shuffles towards the bathroom, making quick work of emptying his bladder and brushing his teeth before he pulls on some shorts and a random shirt. Charlie pulls Nick's rugby jumper back on.
"This is mine now," he tells him, very seriously. "I'm seeing it as a welcome to Leeds gift."
"It's yours, sweetheart," Nick laughs. "Honestly, I already knew I wasn't getting it back the second you put it on yesterday." He crowds Charlie up against the bathroom door. "I like you wearing my name on you."
"Caveman," Charlie mumbles in return, then his eyes go wide as Nick thumbs against one of the bruises he left last night. Even with the jumper on, there's still a fair amount of love bites on show. It makes Nick feel giddy.
"Mine," he mutters possessively. "You're mine and I still can't believe you're here."
"You have got to stop saying that," Charlie gasps, his head thumping back against the door. "I'm here as long as you'll have me, remember?"

Nick stills. "Oh god, have you heard off your
mum?"
"Why would you remind me of my mum when you're giving me another love bite?" Charlie scowls, then he sighs. "I haven't checked my phone yet, actually. I'm a bit scared to."
"What's she going to do, drive up here and frogmarch you back to the car?"
"Stranger things have happened," Charlie mutters, then he slides out of Nick's embrace and grabs his phone from the desk. His eyes go wide. "Oh, shit. Oh, she's mad, Nick."

Nick peers over Charlie's shoulder and sure enough, there's a long line of texts from Jane Spring expressing her deep disapproval about her son's sudden trip up north. He wraps both arms around him and kisses the top of his head.
"She doesn't seem to be demanding you go home though."

Charlie shrugs, then thumbs out of their conversation onto his text thread with his dad. Julio seems a lot more supportive and promises Charlie he'll reason with his mum and to try not worry about it, and congratulations to Nick for winning the match.

"That's something," he muses. "At least your dad is on our side." He kisses Charlie's head again. "I can hear your brain whirring about this. Don't let it, my darling. You're here now. She can wait."
Charlie sighs and locks his phone again. "I wish I didn't care so much," he says, his voice quiet and forlorn. "Realistically, I know she's dramatic and unreasonable. But she's still my bloody mother."
"I know, baby." Nick turns him in his arms and tilts his head up, so they're looking at each other properly. "And I know it's easier said than done, but just... you're okay, yeah? You're here and I'm so glad you're here. I wouldn't swap you being here for anything in the world."
"Me neither," Charlie says, and he finally cracks a smile, even if it doesn't quite reach his eyes the way Nick would like it to.

He slides his hands up and rests them both on Nick's chest. "I don't think there's anywhere I'd ever want to be more than with you."
Nick kisses him.
They don't leave the bedroom for a long while after that.