I Can Hear Your Strength (A Heartstopper FanFic -- BOOK 3)

1. Closure

The cabin had come a long way. Almost as far as the boys inside it. A little more than a week ago, the furniture had been old and crumbling, the door unlockable and the wooden floorboards stained with the blood of three men. Now, instead of blood, clothes scattered the floor: shirts, trousers, jackets, shoes, a couple of hastily removed ties.

Nick and Charlie rolled over under the soft grey blanket, kissing lazily as their bodies stilled, legs entwined. Despite the new appeal of the cabin, the boys had quickly discovered that having sex in the cabin, although it seemed romantic, was actually kind of a pain. There was no shower -- no running water at all. And when summer ended they suspected it might be far too cold.

Even still, nowadays they found they craved the quiet simplicity the cabin brought more so than ever. It had become a place of sanctuary again, despite the trauma it had been a part of. Unwittingly, they told themselves. Just like them.

Charlie rested his head over Nick's heart and breathed in deeply. With his eyes closed he could concentrate solely on that steady beat, disturbed only by the distant rustling of the trees in the summer breeze. If he listened hard enough he could easily convince himself that the two of them and these four walls were the only things in existence. The idea was calming.

Charlie sighed as Nick absent-mindedly threaded his fingers through his ruffled curls. Nick kissed his head softly before burying his face there.

"Are you making out with my hair?" Charlie's voice came out muffled against Nick's chest.

"Oh my God," Nick grumbled. "Leave me alone."

"I know you have a thing for my hair but really... this is just sad."

Nick pouted. "But it's so soft and curly and it needs to be appreciated. I suppose I could stop if... if you don't want me to touch your hair then --"

"No, no. I didn't say that."

Nick laughed. "See -- you do like it!"

He reached to touch the curls again but Charlie rolled away, giggling. "I don't! Leave them be!"

In an effort to avoid Nick's wild advances, Charlie ducked his head under the blanket and wrapped it tightly around his head. With a shining grin, Charlie looked out from between the fabric and caught sight of the look on Nick's face. He was watching him in the way he so often did... And so often, that look caught Charlie by surprise.

Surely Nick Nelson couldn't be looking at him like that?

"What?" Charlie asked, breathless.

The corners of Nick's mouth twitched upwards as he shook his head. "Nothing. My boyfriend is just adorable. That's all."

"Oh, is he?" Charlie laughed. "You should see mine. He's pretty cute too. So cute and sexy and tall and a complete and utter --" He kissed Nick's nose. "-- Sap."

"And you looove him!" Nick teased, poking at Charlie's sides.

Charlie made a face. "Ew."

Nick sat back comfortably against the headboard. "Sucks to be him. Poor bastard. Because he's so in love with you."

An attempt to maintain the disgusted facade was made -- and then promptly abandoned. Charlie crawled over to Nick's side and curled up there, letting his curls spill free from their confines.

Charlie gave a great, over-exaggerated sigh. "You're right. I do love my boyfriend very much."

Nick grinned.

"Henry Maddox. My one true love."

"Wow." Nick barked a laugh. "Well, your love for him must not be that strong -- here you are, naked, in bed with another --"