A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

somewhere else, just like magic - thetomkatwholived P4

Summary:

As they made the kilometre-long walk over to the festival, Nick was jittery and distracted, nervous, but about what, Charlie wasn't sure. Pretty quickly, Nick's silence and fidgeting became too much, especially when he kept clearly reaching for Charlie's hand and pulling back. The next time he made for his hand, Charlie met him halfway and intertwined their fingers. Nick looked at him in delighted shock.

Or, the Christmas festival has arrived, Nick and Charlie just want to kiss, and Charlie has a decision to make.
Notes:

Last chapter!! Thank you to everyone who has been reading this as it's posted and everyone who waited until it was all posted to read (I get you, I am you). I appreciate everyone letting me post this Christmas fic after Christmas. I can't make any promises about being better next year because, again, it's super busy that time of year for me because I am Santa. I really hope the ending feels climatic enough and closes out the story the way you wanted!

Normally, I try to write in the most British English I can, but I refuse to take the whimsical sounding "Christmas cookies" and make it "Christmas biscuits." So they mention cookies because I do have an American superiority complex about that one word. I do use both words so don't be too mad at me.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter 4

Before Charlie knew it, Christmas Eve had snuck up on him and with it came the much anticipated Christmas festival. He'd been looking forward to seeing if this event held up to near-constant chatter it elicited from the townspeople. But even more so, he was excited for his first real, public date with Nick.

Tori had laughed uproariously when he called it their first date while they had been getting ready; Charlie trying to decide between two patterned jumpers, and Tori pushing the limits on how much black she could wear while remaining seasonally appropriate.

"You guys see each other everyday. How can this possibly be your first date?" She pulled on a dark green hat, almost black but still Christmas-y.

Charlie shrugged, choosing the softer jumper. "I think those are just us hanging out. He called this a date but he's never called anything else a date, so I don't think we have been dating."

Tori scoffed. "Please, you two are the most dating. I've never seen people more dating than you."

"That doesn't mean anything. Besides, you literally live with your partner who you've been with for a decade."

"Yes, and even we don't spend as much time together as you and Nick."

Before Charlie could argue further, a knock sounded at the door. Wanting to beat Michael to answering, he shouted: "I got it!" And tugged the jumper over his head, attempting to flatten out his hair as he walked to the door.

Nick immediately broke out into a squinty-eyed grin, cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Charlie couldn't help but match him. "Hi."

"Hi." Charlie then shouted over his shoulder into the house: "Nick and I are going, we'll see you there." He shrugged on his coat and hurried out the door.

As they made the kilometre-long walk over to the festival, Nick was jittery and distracted, nervous, but about what, Charlie wasn't sure. Pretty quickly, Nick's silence and fidgeting became too much, especially when he kept clearly reaching for Charlie's hand and pulling back. The next time he made for his hand, Charlie met him halfway and intertwined their fingers. Nick looked at him in delighted shock.

"You weren't being as subtle as you thought." Charlie knocked their shoulders together.

Nick laughed, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I'm being lame. I just..." He paused, stopping both of them, and turned so they were facing each other. Nick dug in his coat pocket with his free hand. "I wanted to do some big romantic gesture but then I got worried that you'd feel pressured by it and kept second guessing."