A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

I Hate My Curls - 7ate9

Trigger Warning ⚠️: self hatred
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Summary:

The caption read: "One of my biggest insecurities is my curls. I filmed this for myself for the next time I got in my head about them, but Nick was so sweet with his reaction that I had to share it."
Work Text:
The video started on a close-up of fabric, then a rustling that the audience was very much used to as the person in view put their phone in a surreptitious hiding spot. Once he was satisfied with his phone's location, he turned away slightly.

The boy had dark hair that he immediately began to fuss with, then heaved a sigh. "I hate my curls so much."

In the background, another boy was sitting on a twin-sized bed. His head snapped up, looking at the first boy. "What?"

"I hate them," the boy repeated. "They're so annoying. They're messy and ugly and I just want to shave them off."

The other boy didn't answer. He put his phone down on the bed, then stood. He made his way to the boy and wrapped his arms around him from behind, looking forward at what was likely a mirror, where the first boy already had his gaze trained. The second rested his chin on the boy's shoulder. He looked heartbroken as he muttered, "What's going on, Charlie?"

The first boy, Charlie, sighed again. "I think I want to shave my head."

The other boy considered this. Then, "Why?"

Charlie groaned. "Nick, they're so annoying! They're so messy all the time and they make me look like an eight-year-old boy."

Nick frowned. He lifted his head from its spot on Charlie's shoulder, considering their reflection with sad eyes. "Your curls are perfect, Charlie. Everything about you is perfect. And I think you look absolutely gorgeous every day. Your curls are so lovely." He swallowed heavily, jaw clenched like he was genuinely hurt. "But," he added carefully, "if you truly want to get rid of them, then maybe you should. You know I'll support you no matter what. And I think you'd look as beautiful with a shaved head as you do with your curls."

Charlie gave a sad chuckle that Nick tried to meet with a smile, but it didn't stick. "I feel like they make me look so young."

"I dunno that that's a bad thing," Nick said carefully. "Everyone tries so hard to look older, but I think there's something nice about actually looking sixteen. I love the way you look. I love looking at you and thinking about your perfect face and your perfect hair and your perfect eyes."

Charlie giggled, and this time Nick's smile stayed for a moment longer before it fell away again. "Look, I love your curls, Charlie. You know I love your curls. And I'll be sad to see them go. But if you really, truly want to get rid of them, then you should."

"Yeah?"

Nick nodded. He still looked sad, but he tightened his hold on Charlie and sighed. "I want you to enjoy looking at your reflection as much as I enjoy looking at you. And if you need to shave your head to do that, then so be it. I, for one, think you'd look beautiful. But, I may be biased. And I certainly think you look beautiful just as you are."

Charlie smiled. "Okay. I won't shave them."

Nick's face dropped with relief. However, he said next, "Charlie, I don't want you to keep them just for me. If you'd rather get rid of them, then you should."

Charlie shook his head, still smiling. "No. You're right. I want to keep them."

Nick grinned. His eyes went up slightly, aimed at Charlie's curls. He rested his elbow on Charlie's shoulder and lifted a hand to his head, where he played with his curls in a daze. Charlie watched their reflection with a soft smile, though nothing could rival the absolute adoration in Nick's gaze as he played with Charlie's hair.

The video ended there.

***

Below, there was a caption attached to the TikTok that read: "One of my biggest insecurities is my curls. I filmed this for myself for the next time I got in my head about them, but Nick was so sweet with his reaction that I had to share it."

The video was met with thousands of comments. Some were sharing their own insecurities about their curls or something similar, some declaring their desire for a Nick to calm the cruel voices in their heads, but most were just noting how sweet the video was, how genuine it was, how perfect it was.