A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Nick and Charlie: in other's eyes - Usernames_Are_Difficult_To_Come_Up_With

AN:
Usernames_Are_Difficult_To_Come_Up_With
Is the full name of the author

Summary:

Mr Ajayi forgets his lunch, and overhears an iconic Nick and Charlie moment.
Notes:

** This is possibly one of my favourite Nathan Ajayi scenes, he's so sassy I love him **

'A few seconds later he swore under his breath, as he realised he'd left his lunch on his desk. When he turned back and reached the doorway, he couldn't help but overhear and witness some of the boy's conversation. His heart warmed as he saw Nick's face lit up, his body language now completely at ease as he looked at Charlie like he was the sun on a rainy day.'
Chapter Text
Nathan Ajayi knew he couldn't outwardly express having a favourite student, but it didn't mean he didn't actually have one. Charlie Spring was a bright, talented boy who was gentle, and truly cared about those around him. He was also gay, and at an all boys school that came with certain reactions, which Nathan felt obliged to protect him against.

It had slowly chipped away at his heart as he'd sat in the art room with Charlie for months, watching the boy wither away into himself, and pick at his lunches. He'd heard through the staff grapevine and a memo from the headteacher that Charlie had been outed, and they they needed to keep an eye on him as he was being bullied. On reading that memo it all seemed to click, and he was gutted for the boy.

He reminded Nathan of himself as a teenager, not just because he was gay, but because of how much he felt. Charlie would unintentionally express all of his emotions on his face, even if he couldn't say the words. When Charlie had finally come to him to let him know he was gay, and to ask if he'd ever experienced bullying and how he dealt with it, his heart had crumbled with empathy, his mind flashing back to his own youth when he'd only had one friend to talk with, spending most of his time alone in the bathroom. The small space of the stall making him feel safe as people openly stared at him, shouting slurs and some going so far as physical abuse. He had supported the boy as much as possible, even going so far as offering to request a form transfer so that Charlie could be in his group instead, but he'd declined. Hadn't wanted to make a fuss.

He had the distinct impression that Charlie felt he was a burden or a problem, simply by existing, and he knew from his own experience that feeling that way was overwhelming, so he didn't push it.

For a while Charlie seemed a little brighter, he wasn't spending his lunches in the art room any more which Nathan had actually missed slightly. Charlie was interesting to talk to, and had important opinions about the world. Then one day, his light had dimmed again significantly and he had an inkling that it was to do with the secret boyfriend Charlie had mentioned the day before. He'd told Charlie to never let anyone make him disappear, which was something his mum used to tell him during the worst of his own school experience and it had stuck with him. Hopefully it would do the same for Charlie.

When Charlie had burst into his classroom, asking how to stop liking a straight boy, and telling him that the secret boyfriend was no more, he tried and failed to suppress a knowing smirk. If he knew the answer to how to stop liking straight men, he'd bottle it up and become a millionaire.

On a random Tuesday something was different. A boy he knew as Nick Nelson from the rugby team had quietly entered his classroom, and he looked nervous, his hand clasped tightly around the strap of his bag and his other rubbing the back of his neck. Hmm, Nathan thought. He'd asked if he could wait for Charlie inside, they'd planned to meet for lunch. This was new, an interesting development. Nathan agreed, he always would. He prided himself on his classroom being a safe space for everyone. He did eye up Nick in an effort to figure him out though as he sat there, both confident in himself and humble, nervous gestures controlling his body language at the same time. Nick had even tried to make conversation which was pleasant and new. He'd only ever seen the rugby team actively ignore teachers.