A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

If you wanna dance, dance with me - dumbghostt

Summary:

Charlie thinks Nick fancies someone and plays wingman. Boy was Charlie wrong.
Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:
Nick has been acting different. Charlie has known him long enough to know when something is up, and the way he has been acting recently signals alarm bells in Charlie's mind. He's been quieter, Nick has always been extroverted, much more outgoing than Charlie, but recently he has been more reserved and timid. He wonders if he did something to upset him, the two of them have a level of comfort with each other that Charlie doesn't have with anyone else, which is why this realization makes Charlie feel ill.

They have been best friends for three years, since Charlie's first year at Leeds and Nick's second year. They met at the first LGBTQ+ soc meeting and it didn't take long for them to become close friends. Even though they come from vastly different crowds, they clicked almost immediately. Now, Charlie is at Nick's place more than he is at his own and Charlie thinks Nick knows him better than he knows himself.

This is where he is now, they are both sitting on opposite sides of Nick's bed while they both do their respective activities; Charlie doing his coursework and Nick on his phone. Well, technically Charlie abandoned his school work and is now eyeing his best friend carefully who has been uncharacteristically quiet.

"Is something wrong?" Charlie blurts out, and Nick looks up from his phone with wide eyes.

"What?" he sputters. "No, I'm fine,"

"Don't bullshit me," Charlie raises an eyebrow. "You're horrible at lying, especially to me."

Nick says nothing, he just looks sheepishly down to his hands in his lap. Charlie looks at him curiously, trying to wrack his brain for any conclusion that would make sense when suddenly it hit him.

"You fancy someone," Charlie states. It would make sense; he has been on his phone more than normal and has been more reserved around him. More than once people have mistaken them for a couple, and Charlie would be lying if he said that speculation didn't send his stomach into a swarm of butterflies. Sure, sometimes Nick would grab his hand when walking through a busy crowd because he knows Charlie hates big groups of people. Or he would casually throw an arm around his shoulder and pull him closer to his side when they were out with friends, but Nick's love language has always been physical touch, which took him a while to get used to. He still sometimes has to remind himself it's a strictly platonic gesture. So, it would make sense that Nick pulled away from him a bit if he fancies someone, not wanting to give them the wrong idea about the two of them.

"What?" Nick said again, and Charlie didn't miss the heat that rose in his cheeks.

"You fancy someone, don't you." Charlie tried to go for a teasing tone but it fell flat. He didn't need Nick to know that this realization made Charlie feel devastated. Charlie could lie to himself all he wanted, telling himself he didn't have a thing for his best friend, but logically he knows that isn't true. How could he not like him? He was fiercely protective and equally sweet and unfairly attractive. Everyone who meets him swoons a little bit, Charlie included.

"No, I don't," Nick said unconvincingly.

"You do," Charlie does his best to sound excited, plastering a wide smile on his face that he hopes looks authentic. "I could be your wingman!"

God, why did he say that? He actually wants nothing less than to help the boy he has feelings for get with someone else. But, he could put his feelings aside to be a good friend, even if he ends up breaking his own heart in the process.

"Yeah?" Nick looks taken back, eyes wide and rosy cheeks. "You would do that?"

"Of course! I'm your best friend, that's what I'm here for," Charlie moves from where he is sitting on the other side of the bed to lay against the pillows next to him. "So, tell me about them,"