nick and charlie: love is the strongest force

chapter fourty one

Tw: David

Nick stormed out of the dining room, his heart racing and his mind swirling with a tumult of emotions. He felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of David's words and the shame that clung to him like a second skin. The anger and hurt intertwined, creating a knot in his stomach that threatened to choke him.

As he made his way to his room, he heard Charlie call after him, his voice laced with concern. “Nick! Wait!” But Nick didn’t stop. He needed to be alone, to process what had just happened without David’s mocking laughter ringing in his ears.

Once in his room, Nick slammed the door shut and leaned against it, breathing heavily. The familiar comfort of his space was a poor substitute for the support he desperately needed. He sank onto his bed, burying his face in his hands, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over.

After a moment, he heard a soft knock on the door. “Nick? Can I come in?” It was Charlie. Nick’s heart swelled at the sound of his boyfriend’s voice, but he felt too raw to face him just yet.

“Just… give me a minute,” Nick managed to say, his voice shaky. He could hear Charlie moving around outside, probably debating whether to come in or give him space. Nick hated feeling like this, hated how David’s words had cut through his fragile sense of self-worth.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Charlie stepped inside, concern etched across his face. “Hey,” he said softly, closing the door behind him. “I’m sorry about David. He’s a total jerk.”

Nick nodded, still too overwhelmed to respond verbally. Charlie walked over to the bed and sat down beside him, his presence warm and grounding. “You don’t have to listen to him, you know. What he said was horrible and untrue. You’re not pathetic. You’re strong for dealing with everything you’ve been through.”

Nick looked up, meeting Charlie’s gaze. He could see the sincerity in his boyfriend’s eyes, but the sting of David’s words was still fresh in his mind. “It’s hard to ignore him when he keeps saying stuff like that,” Nick admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought I was getting better, but every time David opens his mouth, it feels like I’m back at square one.”

Charlie reached out, taking Nick’s hand in his. “You’re not back at square one. You’re so much stronger than you realize. It’s just his toxic way of trying to bring you down because he’s insecure about himself. Don’t let him take away your progress.”

“I don’t want to feel like this,” Nick confessed, his voice cracking. “I want to be okay. I want to be happy with you.”

“And you will be,” Charlie reassured him, squeezing his hand. “But you have to be kind to yourself, too. It’s okay to feel hurt, but don’t let his words define you. You’re not a victim; you’re a survivor.”

Nick took a deep breath, trying to absorb Charlie’s words. “It just feels like he’s right sometimes, you know? Like maybe I did deserve what happened. I hate that I feel this way.”

“Nick, stop,” Charlie said firmly. “You didn’t deserve anything that happened to you. No one does. You are not defined by your trauma. You’re amazing, and you deserve love and happiness. You deserve to feel safe.”

With a shaky exhale, Nick felt some of the tension begin to ease. Charlie’s unwavering support reminded him of his worth, and for the first time since the dinner, he felt a glimmer of hope. “I’m really lucky to have you,” he murmured, tears welling in his eyes.

Charlie smiled gently, brushing a thumb across Nick’s knuckles. “And I’m lucky to have you. We’ll get through this together. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll tackle it head-on. I’ll always be here for you.”