Music sounds better with you

Home sweet home

As they get in the lift and head to the top floor, Nick spins him around and tugs him in close for a slow, languid kiss. Charlie smiles into it readily; he feels on top of the world right now, and not just because they're heading up to the thirteenth floor.

They're finally here, alone , at university together. It feels like a dream, and it has been a dream of both of theirs since sixth form, and now it's real .
The lift pings to let them know they've arrived at their floor and they step out, hand in hand again. There's only two flats on this floor, both the same size, and Charlie fumbles in his pocket for the key to his, the one on the left. Once they're inside, he leads Nick over to his bedroom, the furthest one from the front door.
"Home sweet home."

He unlocks the door and nudges it open with his shoulder, and they both step over the threshold. The room is small but not dissimilar to Nick's room last year. There's a single bed across one wall and a desk and wardrobe across the other, and a closed door that houses an en-suite bathroom. He hasn't brought a huge amount with him, just a few boxes of books and clothes, a duvet and a couple of pillows, a crate of kitchen equipment, and two Bags for Life full of food and cupboard essentials. Everything is stacked on his bare mattress at the minute, so Nick makes quick work of moving everything to the floor and makes up Charlie's bed for him as Charlie starts unpacking his clothes.

Once they've set up most of the bedroom, they head into the kitchen and unpack all Charlie's pots and pans. It's good for Charlie to be the first one in the kitchen so he can claim the cupboards and fridge shelves that feel the most natural to him, and he's glad it's Nick here doing the unpacking with him rather than either of his parents because he's happy to just let Charlie lead on it, even if it's perhaps not the most logical system to any outsider.

"How are you feeling?" Nick asks him as he closes the final cupboard and surveys the kitchen. "It's looking pretty good in here."
Charlie nods, hands on his hips as he looks around the room himself. It's quite a small kitchen, probably about half the size of the one Nick had in halls last year, but it doesn't feel as daunting. "Good, I think."

"You think?" Nick walks over to him and pulls him into his arms. "Is there anything I can do to make it a know? "

"You're such a worrier," Charlie tuts at him, resting a hand on his chest and rubbing a thumb between his pecs. "No, it's fine, it's just like... it's new, isn't it? Something I've not done before. I've not lived away from home before... well, not like this."

He feels Nick's hold on him tighten ever so slightly, and he finds himself clinging back. Neither of them say anything for a few moments; in all honesty, it's not something Charlie wants to talk about right now, and he knows Nick never wants to talk about it, so they simply stand there, holding each other until the moment passes.
"I love you," he mumbles eventually. "I'm so glad I'm here with you. I know it's, like, been frowned upon by my stupid parents a lot for me to come here, but I don't care."

"I'm glad you're here too." Tenderly, Nick manoeuvres Charlie's limbs so his arms are around Nick's middle, then he rests their foreheads together and kisses the bridge of Charlie's nose. "I loved uni last year, but I love you more. And, like, why wouldn't we want to experience the best years of our lives by each other's sides?" He shakes his head and smiles.

"Sometimes your parents talk as though your dad didn't literally follow your mum around Spain to woo her. Leeds pales in comparison, honestly."
"My mum is a pain in the arse," Charlie says sardonically. "I mean, seriously . The guy showing us up here literally told me I wouldn't have housemates until tomorrow, yet she still told me not to spend every waking minute with you. Does she want me to just sit up here like some lonely loser then?"

Nick snorts. "Maybe she's worried that if you come to mine, I'll sully your good name. Take your virginity and run away with it."
Charlie giggles. "I do wonder sometimes if she thinks we've never had sex or if we're having so much sex that I'm bound to end up pregnant. I'm honestly not sure."

"I never want to know," Nick says pointedly. "But if you did fancy having some sex, we could go to mine?"
Charlie smiles. "I don't even get to spend my first night here in my own flat, wow."

"Nope," Nick says, popping the P sound. He cocks his head to one side. "I mean, we obviously can if that's what you want, but all the guys are at mine and they'd love to see you, plus I think Holly said she's doing a roast even though it's a Saturday..."
"Nick," Charlie giggles again, pressing the pads of his fingers against Nick's lips to shut him up. "I'd love to, babe." He slides his hand down and laces their fingers together. "Let's go home."