Summary:
Charlie notices that Nick is upset about something, and he is determined to find out what that 'something' is.
or
Two idiots before Christmas being annoyingly in love with each other.
Notes:ello, merry christmas/happy festive season!
it's so busy at this time of the year but somehow i managed to write this before i went to bed lol
also i promise i am working on updates for my two WIPs, my brain is just a little bit slow. sorry if you're waiting !
anyway, enjoy the boys being in love xx
thank you to TeenyB81 for being a wonderful beta againnnnn
Work Text:
Nick has been sighing intermittently from the moment he got in from work and it's getting on Charlie's nerves. He had noticed something was up with his husband immediately, but never asked what was wrong because he wanted to see if Nick came to him about it on his own.But this sighing was getting ridiculous.
"Okay, that's enough," Charlie says and closes his book shut with a loud thump.
The noise startles Nick to the point he flinches and gives Charlie a look of confusion.
"What?" he says as he furrows his eyebrows.
"You're clearly annoyed about something but you've not brought it up and it's doing my head in," Charlie explains with a soft voice.
Nick looks away sheepishly. "It's nothing," he mumbles.
Charlie raises an eyebrow. "It's clearly something, because, in the past two hours, you've sighed more than my mother does at a family dinner."
Nick snorts, but immediately claps a hand over his mouth.
Charlie fights back a smile and rolls his eyes. He shuffles out of his warm blanket cocoon and situates himself on Nick's lap, knees on either side of Nick's body – the blanket still wrapped around him, of course.
Nick's hands automatically come to rest on Charlie's hips underneath the blanket, thumbs drawing small circles onto the fabric of Charlie's t-shirt. Nick sighs, again, and leans back to rest his head against the back of the sofa, staring up at a spot on the ceiling.
"Talk to me, sweetheart," Charlie encourages, placing his hands on Nick's chest, right over his heart.
Nick nibbles on his lower lip and seems to have a conversation with himself before he lifts his head to look at Charlie with nervous eyes.
"Okay, um..." Nick's eyes drift away from Charlie's face to focus on the pendant necklace that he has around his neck, engraved with their first date and wedding anniversaries.
"You know how I've cut down on rugby practice and gym sessions because I don't have as much time for them anymore?" he begins.
Charlie nods and silently tells Nick to continue.
"Well, I've noticed the difference. Like, I'm a little softer around my middle, and I thought I'd be okay with that – it happens and there is nothing wrong with it – but I was asked to do something by the headteacher today and it's affecting me a lot more than I thought it would."
"What did he ask you?" Charlie asks carefully. He sees a grimace flash across Nick's face, so he prepares himself for the worst.
"He asked me if I could dress up as Santa to give all of the kids presents at the end of term," Nick mumbles.
Charlie chuckles softly and bites his lips to stifle a smile as Nick pouts petulantly. "Oh, Nick. You wonderful, adorable man."
Charlie cups Nick's face in his hands so that they can look at each other properly. Nick tries to glare back, but it just makes him look like an annoyed puppy.
"There is nothing wrong with you dressing up as Santa," Charlie giggles.
"But what if he asked me because he thinks I... look the part," Nick whines pathetically. "Y'know, like... here." He pokes his stomach with a finger.
"Nicholas Nelson," Charlie says sternly. He squishes Nick's face a little with a tight grip, making the older man's lips purse forward like a fish. "Don't you dare think those things about yourself. I love you. I love you as a person and I love the way you look, no matter what."
"But, Char-"
"Ah, no. Listen to me," Charlie interrupts with a stern voice.
Nick swiftly clamps his mouth shut and nods.
"You are gorgeous. You always have been and you always will be. Just because you've got a little bit of a dad bod doesn't mean you're fat. It doesn't mean that I'll love you any less, either."
Nick groans and squeezes his eyes closed.
"What have you always said to me whenever I feel self conscious about my body?" Charlie asks.
Nick gives him a guilty look. "That you're beautiful no matter what... and your body is perfect to me. That I love everything about you, and I'd worship every single part of you every day if I could."
"Exactly," Charlie whispers, but then his lips form a smirk. "Also, dad bods are kinda hot, you know."
Nick chokes out a laugh and rolls his eyes. "Charlie, come on."
"I'm serious!"
"I'm not even a dad yet!" Nick exclaims.
A whine comes from the corner of the room. They both turn to look at the hurt face of their five year old golden retriever, Daisy, who has her head tilted to the right.
"Sorry, Daisy, I meant... a dad to humans..." Nick winces apologetically. Daisy responds with a huff before laying back down again in her bed.
Charlie giggles and shakes his head. "You're such a dork," he says and leans forward for a sweet kiss.
"So," he says when they part. "Please don't think too much about it, okay? Bodies constantly change. A soft belly is fine. It's wonderful, in fact. It means I'll get better cuddles at night as well."
"Excuse me, you loved it when I was more muscular," Nick teases, feigning a look of offence.
Charlie rolls his eyes dramatically. "True, but a tummy never hurts anyone."
"Fine, you win," Nick groans, tucking his head into the crook of Charlie's neck.
"Good."
The pair sit in each other's embrace for a few minutes, letting their love for each other pass through their bodies.
"You do realise that your boss probably picked you because you're so good with kids, right?" Charlie says eventually, pulling back to study Nick's face.
"Oh," Nick whispers, his eyes growing wide. "That makes sense."
Charlie snorts and presses a kiss to his husband's forehead. "I love you so much, you idiot."
"I love you too, nerd," Nick replies with a cheeky grin.
"Can't believe we still use those stupid nicknames after all these years," Charlie laughs.
"I'm not stopping any time soon," Nick says with an adorable shake of the head.
They smile at each other, still hopelessly in love as they were on the day they said those three words to each other.
Suddenly, a thought pops into Charlie's head.
"You know," Charlie starts and shuffles forward in Nick's lap, hands coming to rest at the back of Nick's neck. He sees Nick's eyes sparkle as their bodies become closer. "I wouldn't be opposed to you keeping the Santa outfit." Charlie bites his lower lip for good measure.
It works.
He sees Nick's eyes darken and a warm blush creeping up from his neck to his cheeks.
"Really?" Nick replies, his voice low but a little wobbly. "Santa does it for you, huh?"
Charlie pretends to think. "Well, I'm not really sure. I guess there's only one way to find out, right?"
"You cheeky little minx," Nick practically growls and then surges forward, capturing Charlie's lips with his own.
For the first time in a while, Charlie can't wait for the Christmas season to begin.

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