A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Tattoo My Heart - kingdomfaraway

Summary:

"Yes, that's wonderful, thank you so much. I know I look a bit of a mess but it's just...," Nick trailed, as Charlie fussed around. "I was coming to see if you could give me a tattoo."

"I figured," Charlie said softly. "You don't look like the piercing type."

He could hear Nick laugh. "Yours looks good," Nick said and Charlie turned to look at him. It wasn't often people even noticed his ear piercing, but it was the only actual visible one. "Sorry, that was weird to say too. God, I'm a mess. My dog died."
Notes:

Yesterday in a work meeting I thought of this plot and then spent said work meeting writing this fic hidden amongst my notes. This was not my next fic to post lol but it's cute and why not.

I didn't have anyone beta it, so mistakes remain mine!

Also, just a heads up, the plot of this story revolves around Nellie passing away. It's reference, although not in detail and not shown. There's also minor reference to canon mental health stuff for Charlie, but it's not the focus.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:
It was supposed to be Charlie's day off, he usually took Tuesday mornings off since the shop was pretty slow. He usually worked evenings and weekends, where the days were much busier and he often saw clients at a steady rate. But Sam had needed the whole week off and Charlie volunteered to take the morning/afternoon shifts, he'd be the lone artist available along with Rebecca, their piercer.

It was getting closer to noon and he had yet to have a single client. He'd answered the phone a few times, informed people about their general prices and other questions, and even made an appointment for himself next weekend but that was about it. He was doodling on his notepad, drawing a tattoo he'd wanted to give himself. If the shop remained quiet, he was considering doing them today too, it would only take an hour or so.

But then the door chimed, swinging open and when Charlie looked up, he caught sight of the most handsome man he'd ever seen. A tall guy, broad shouldered, sandy blonde hair and dark colored eyes. He wore a short sleeve shirt that only made his arms look even stronger and more delicious. Charlie was smitten the second he saw him, which wasn't really common for Charlie. Yeah, he appreciated hot guys but this was... different.

"Hi," Charlie said, getting up from his table to greet the guy. "How can I help you?"

"Hi," the man replied, his voice had a hint of sadness to it and when Charlie got closer, he could tell the guy had been crying recently, his face flushed red, and his eyes had that heavy look to them. "Um, sorry, I don't know if you do walk ins but um, you see..."

"Yeah, walk ins are welcome. Come, you look like you could maybe use some tea?"

The guy blinked, surprised. "Um, yes, honestly that would be... nice. I'm Nick."

"Charlie," he answered, gesturing for Nick to follow him. "Come, we can sit in the back for a minute."

"Is that allowed?" Nick asked but followed Charlie all the same.

Charlie laughed, turning to smile at him. "It is if I say it is."

Charlie walked him into the small back office, they used it for clients every once in a while but it was mostly for staff. He set to getting tea ready. "I think we only have some Earl Gray right now if that's fine."

"Yes, that's wonderful, thank you so much. I know I look a bit of a mess but it's just...," Nick trailed, as Charlie fussed around. "I was coming to see if you could give me a tattoo."

"I figured," Charlie said softly. "You don't look like the piercing type."

He could hear Nick laugh. "Yours looks good," Nick said and Charlie turned to look at him. It wasn't often people even noticed his ear piercing, but it was the only actual visible one. "Sorry, that was weird to say too. God, I'm a mess. My dog died."