A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Your Final Warning - 7ate9

Summary:

"So consider this your final warning."

Nick stared back at Tao, inches from his face. He was man enough to admit he was a bit terrified.

"I'm not messing Charlie around, Tao."
Work Text:
"So consider this your final warning."

Nick stared back at Tao, inches from his face. He was man enough to admit he was a bit terrified. He found the courage to break the stare, looking just off to the side at Charlie. He felt the side of his mouth automatically tip up into a smile, his eyes softening as he watched him talking excitedly with Elle.

"You're a good friend, Tao," he said softly, not looking away from Charlie. When Tao didn't respond, he tore his gaze away from the other boy and looked back at the one very clearly threatening him.

Tao looked... well, Nick wasn't quite sure. He looked maybe a bit pissed off. And also very, deeply confused.

Suddenly, Nick wanted to tell him everything. He wanted to explain, to tell this protective person that he was, maybe, possibly, somewhat gay, and he was definitely, completely, totally into his best friend.

Yeah, that would go over really well.

But it felt like it was pressing at him. It was pushing against his chest, trying to squeeze through his tightened jaw. Nick forced it back, because it was the most terrifying thing he could ever think to say right now. Hell, Tao was threatening him because he was worried that Nick was messing Charlie around. How terribly would it go to tell him that he might be doing exactly that, even if that wasn't his intention?

Before he could regulate his words, he found himself saying, "I'm not messing Charlie around, Tao."

The boy looked a bit surprised, but less than convinced. "Right," he said with a scoff. "That's why you're all-of-a-sudden hanging out with him and being so nice to him when just a few months ago you didn't care about him at all. He's a person too, Nick, and I don't know what your game is, but it's cruel to pretend to care about him."

"I'm not pretending," Nick replied. His voice was so quiet, he was almost concerned that Tao didn't hear him. He repeated, louder, more confident than he really felt, "I'm not pretending. Not with Charlie."

"Well, then, what is it?" Tao pressed. "Because he really likes you. And if you don't care about him like you should, then I will not hesitate to do something about it."

Nick looked over at Charlie again. He was still talking enthusiastically with Elle and Isaac, laughing at something Elle was saying. They were using emphatic hand gestures back and forth while Isaac watched on. He occasionally interjected something that made his friends burst into laughter again, putting a pleased smile on his bashful face.

Nick, though, just couldn't stop looking at Charlie. His dark curls flopping over his forehead and shaking as he laughed, his high cheekbones shining in the purple lights, his dimples revealing themselves from their hiding spots. He had sparkles in his eyes. He looked so happy. Nick felt so much for him, he didn't know how to handle it most of the time.

"I don't," Nick said quietly. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't care about him like I should." Before Tao could get pissed off, he added, "I care about him so much more than that."

With great effort, he ripped his gaze away from Charlie. He looked back at Tao, who looked shocked. He was staring openly at Nick now, jaw dropped slightly. Nick chuckled at the sight, but his chest hurt with anxiety.

"I don't know what I am." He looked away from Tao, away from Charlie. He focussed his gaze on his lap, where he stared at his jeans in the dark light. He gave a one-shouldered shrug. His breath caught in his throat. He coughed to clear it. "I'm not sure if I'm gay, or what, but... I know that I like Charlie. Like... a lot. Sometimes I feel like it's impossible to like someone even half as much as I like him."