A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Sweet creature, wherever I go, you bring me home - SilverShadow1 (Part 2)

Summary:

It's not the first time that she's sucker-punched someone without raising a fist.
It's funny, because it's true.
Notes:

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it! I'm thankful for these characters and for the series becoming my comfort rewatch show.

New POV alert!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter 2: Chapter Two
Tori raises her eyes from her laptop. The interruption displeases her, as does Charlie's abrupt entrance without a proper warning.

Lowering the screen, she drawls, "Right, then. Come in."

"Why did Nick tell me to tell you that he's sorry?"

Tori's heart rate quickens. Clearly, her brother is not interested in beating around the bush.

"Sorry?" She's stalling for time and it's definitely written all over her face. "What happened?"

"I just left Nick's. I brought him home early, because he felt unwell," Charlie explains. Tori's heart sinks. "He was half-asleep when I was leaving and he said to tell you that he's sorry."

Tori cannot prevent her voice from catching as she says, "Did ... he say why?"

"Just that he broke a promise. Like I said, he was half-asleep. I don't even think he'll remember it in the morning."

That makes Tori feel worse. Nick looked poorly when he unintentionally found her earlier that evening. As usual, she ran her mouth before she could consider the consequences.

"Where's Charlie?"

"I, ehm ... I lost him."

"You said you'd look after him. You're not very good at keeping your promises, are you?" Tori immediately regrets her words and their effect on Nick as soon as she sees all the color drain from his face. "You don't look well."

"I'll find him. I promise."

Did she contribute to that feeling? It's not the first time that she's sucker-punched someone without raising a fist.

It's funny, because it's true.

"What happened, Tori?" Charlie implores. "Why is Nick apologizing to you?"

"Nick was looking for you," Tori says. "He accidentally found me in a tent after he lost you."

"He didn't lose me," Charlie bristles. "Some guys pulled me in one direction and others pulled him in another. We got separated."

"That's not how he framed it," Tori says with an insistent note.

Charlie stares at her. She can practically hear the gears grinding in his head.

"What did you say to him, Tori?"

Tori swallows.

"You're not very good at keeping your promises, are you?"

Tori flinches when Charlie smacks his palm against the wall.

"Damn it, Tori!"

"Calm down," she hisses. Charlie's eyes flash.

"I won't," he snaps. "Do you know the conversation that I had with Nick after we got back to his house? He apologized to me, because he couldn't tell his rugby mates about him being bi. And would you like to know his exact words?"

Tori really, really doesn't.

"Tonight just wasn't the night."

"I promised."

"I didn't know he was going through all that, Charlie," Tori tries to reason with him. "The two aren't the same. He did promise that he'd look after you."

"Which you shouldn't have put on him in the first place!" Charlie yells. "I'm not some fragile mess who needs someone to hold his hand whilst crossing the road."

"I don't see you that way."

"Don't you?" Charlie presses. "I can take care of myself. Nick knows it. I proved it to myself again tonight. He's my boyfriend, not my protector."

Tori feels the hairs raise on her arm. She asks, "What do you mean 'again'?"

Charlie gives her an unimpressed look.

"Don't worry," he says, coldly. "Nick wasn't to blame."

Tori inwardly recoils as Charlie's eyes retreat behind layers of ice. Her mouth is dry as she watches her brother leave her bedroom and slam the door shut with a resounding thud.

Fuck.

Notes:

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