A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

When Nick Stood up to Harry - 7ate9

Summary:

In the comics, it was revealed that some sixth formers were the ones who'd put a stop to Charlie's bullying. In the show, it was implied Nick had been captain since the year before.

In this fic, we explore the world where Nick is the one to make that change for Charlie, and it changes nothing and everything about the future.
Notes:

Because apparently I need to defend myself when I use tropes and common plots, I got this idea when I started thinking about the beauty of Nick telling off Harry Greene. Also because its Been a hot minute since I wrote for the NNSSI series and I missed it
Chapter 1

Chapter Text
Charlie Spring hated himself.

Ever since he'd been outed last term, things had been increasingly awful. It hadn't helped that Elle had come out as trans, and now targets were on both of their backs. He'd felt a bit awful about it, but he'd been hoping maybe having an openly trans student might take some of the heat off of him. But, no such luck. It made Charlie feel relieved as much as it made him feel sick; he was so tired of being bullied, but at least his hope didn't come to fruition. Charlie was a terrible friend and a terrible person.

***

Nick Nelson was a terrible person.

He saw what the rugby boys were doing. He saw it, he saw the way Charlie and... well, he didn't know her new name, but he saw the way they both looked. They were beaten down by the torment from the past few months. Nick had tried to say something, in a roundabout way so that he didn't call too much attention to himself, but it didn't work. Obviously. Because he cared more about his own reputation than the wellbeing of two innocent students who were being bullied for no reason. He would rather go with the flow than actually do anything. He would rather live with the guilt than make a change. Nick was a terrible person and he hated himself.

***

There were shoves, words, slurs, Charlie had seen them all. As much as it all hurt, they didn't really phase him anymore. He kept his head hung low and his eyes to the floor, lest someone accuse him of hitting on them. He knew Elle was getting much of the same, though she'd said it wasn't to the same extent as it was for Charlie.

It made him want to scream. He was exhausted, beaten down by life. He wanted to die. The only solace he found was knowing he'd not eaten in two days and had taken a razor blade to his own skin over a dozen times within the same span. He'd found a reprieve there, and he was loath to give it up.

Lunch time saw its usual show of bullies. Ever since the school implemented a new rule that all students must eat in one of the designated areas, it was like hell. Not only was Charlie exposed to the boys, but they also had nothing else to do and nowhere else to be. It made him a prime target after they finished their lunches since they could no longer go somewhere like the rugby pitch and get a game in before the bell went.

***

It felt like, more often than not, Nick was witness to some horrible event. An extraordinary act of cruelty towards the sweet boy who'd done nothing wrong.

It was happening more now. Students were meant to stay within the confines of the cafeteria or outside picnic tables. According to the school, it was supposed to help them crack down on bullying by ensuring all students were in sight. Instead, it just gave them a clear shot at their most beloved targets. There were no teachers watching, no one to put a stop to the problem. It seemed like the school would rather make it easier for the bullies than actually put in any effort to stop it.

***

Nick wasn't sure what it was about this day in particular that made him snap. There was nothing really out of the ordinary, the same insults and slurs hurled at the two students. It was the same as always. It was business as usual. Maybe that was what it was. Nick had become so used to it, so desensitized, that he couldn't pick out a difference between today and yesterday and the day before. How tired must those two have been? Charlie and, well, he still didn't know her name, but he did know he wasn't supposed to use her old one. Regardless, they looked as exhausted as Nick felt. They looked worse.