Heartstopper Inktober 2K24

3 - Boots (Stripper!AU)

"Your favourite client is here." Is how Tao greets him when he finally gets back from his smoke break out the back of the club. He raises an eyebrow before realisation kicks in, turning as red as his lipstick. "Fuck off, he's not a client, just one of the regulars that comes down for a drink and a smoke."

"You haven't been letting him pay you to go down on you? Tragic." Tao's e-cigarette hums as he pulls whatever flavour of the month is loaded into it, the puff looking more like glitter than smoke. "Who is he anyway? You've been well obsessed for a month."

"He's..." Charlie wets his painted lips, knowing the latter won't like the answer. "His name's Nick. He works at the same...he works at the same company that Ben does. Well, did."

"Are you actually fucking kidding me?" It's the reaction he expects. Anger, slowly building up to rage. The whole works. "You have got to be having a laugh."

"It's not like that." He tried to protest, but Tao isn't hearing it. "Ben tried to sexually assault you, Charlie! For fuck's sake, this guy is probably on his payroll for all you know!"

"Tao, he's not. At least, I don't think he is." Charlie's at least confident in that at least. "He's actually how Ben got fired. He reported him to HR because another girl in their office that he was manipulating."

"So what's that got to do with you, then?" Tao stares at him as Charlie sighs, shaking his head, black curls stained in confetti as he spoke. "He found out Ben frequented here and came in to ask the staff if he's been a prick to anyone else."

"Let me guess, Tara pointed him in your direction?"

"He's a nice guy, Tao." Charlie says it tiredly, pleadingly, straightening himself out as he tries to dismiss this conversation for another time. "I need to go back out."

"If he even looks at you funny, bouncer or no bouncer, I'm leaping across tables to bury him under the stage, you hear me Spring?"

"Noted." Charlie flutters his sparkle covered eyelids before he's back in the crowd, weaving his lace boots and fishnet stockings across though legs before he sits, grabbing a drink from an unsuspecting hand and placing them in someone's lap. "Hi."

"Hi." Nick Nelson grins at him like his whole life has been made up and Charlie can't help but smile as the thumping music fades out around them and it's just them, there together, talking. "Miss me?"

"Always."