nick and charlie: love is the strongest force

chapter fourty three

Tw: Anxiety

The door clicked shut behind David, but the oppressive weight of his words still lingered in the air. Nick sat frozen on the bed, his mind reeling, heart pounding in his chest. His breathing was shallow, ragged, as if the room itself was closing in on him. Tyler's name echoed in his head, every memory clawing its way to the surface, suffocating him.

Charlie crouched in front of Nick, his eyes wide with concern. "Nick, hey, look at me. Don't listen to him. He's just trying to mess with your head. You're safe here with me."

Nick could barely hear him, his mind clouded by the panic and fear that had been unleashed by David's cruel words. The thought of Tyler—being near him again, having to face him after everything—sent a shiver down his spine. His hands trembled as he gripped the bed sheets tightly, trying to ground himself, but nothing seemed to work.

Charlie reached out, gently placing his hands on Nick's shoulders. "Nick, breathe. Just focus on me, okay? I'm right here. You're not alone."

Nick's eyes flicked up to meet Charlie's, and for a brief moment, the warmth and steadiness in Charlie's gaze broke through the storm of panic. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself, but his body still shook with the remnants of fear.

"I can't... I can't go through this again," Nick whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can't face him, Charlie."

Charlie's heart twisted painfully in his chest. He hated seeing Nick like this, so consumed by fear and trauma. He gently pulled Nick into his arms, holding him tightly, as if his embrace alone could shield Nick from all the hurt.

"You don't have to," Charlie said firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "We're going to figure this out. I won't let Tyler anywhere near you, Nick. Not again."

Nick buried his face in Charlie's chest, his breathing uneven. "I just... I thought it was over, that I could move on. But it feels like no matter what I do, it always comes back. Tyler, the memories, the fear..."

Charlie tightened his hold on Nick, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. "I know it feels like that, but you're stronger than you think. And you're not alone in this. I'm with you, and we'll handle whatever comes our way. Tyler can't hurt you anymore."

Nick took a deep breath, trying to let Charlie's words sink in. But the fear of Tyler's presence, of what David might do next, gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was trapped, no matter how hard he tried to escape.

Charlie pulled back slightly, cupping Nick's face in his hands. "I'm serious, Nick. You don't have to do this alone. We can talk to your mum, Geoff—anyone who can help. But I'm not letting you go through this again."

Nick blinked up at Charlie, the sincerity in his voice cutting through the fog of fear that had been consuming him. He nodded slowly, though the anxiety still lingered in the pit of his stomach.

Charlie leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Nick's forehead. "We're in this together. No more letting David or Tyler get to you."

Nick nodded again, his body slowly starting to relax in Charlie's arms. But deep down, a part of him still worried—worried about what David might do, about Tyler's return, about the darkness that always seemed to loom just out of reach.

The next day, Nick couldn't shake the tension that had settled over him after David's visit. He tried to focus on school, on the normalcy of his routine, but the fear was always there, lurking beneath the surface. Every time his phone buzzed, his heart would skip a beat, half-expecting it to be Tyler or David, ready to torment him again.

By lunchtime, Nick was exhausted—mentally, emotionally, physically. He sat with Charlie at their usual spot outside, picking at his food without much interest. Charlie noticed, of course, his gaze filled with concern as he watched Nick.