Heartstopper Inktober 2K24

7 - Passport (Childhood!AU P2)

It comes to Nick as an idea at first. 'What if we both just...run away?'

Of course, it's not the greatest cause of action that either of them can make, but the more he thinks about it, the more appealing it sounds. After all, life currently isn't exactly the best for either of them at the moment.

His Mum's currently in court, fighting another long drawn out custody battle with his Dad, all France vs England style. David's with him, the great arse, trying their damndest to get Nick on that side of Europe as well. He has no interest in making that wish come true and it's starting to get nasty and more likely as time goes on.

Charlie's situation hasn't gotten any better at home either, despite the time passing as well. His Mum practically treats him as subhuman, despite his Dad and Tori's best attempts at family therapy. It's causing Charlie to self harm again and their whole friend group is completely torn on what to do.

On top of that, they are not only together as a couple now and not just best friends (big surprise, not), they're only 15 and 16 respectively, so there's no way they could leave without getting the full force of the law on top of them. It's still a thought nonetheless, a thought that bothers Nick from the start of the day to the time that he closes his eyes for 2 whole months before he finally snaps.

The snap happens when Charlie shows up with a bruise across his cheek that is clearly from a hand.

"I smacked into the doorframe on the way to school, that's all."

Nick looms over him in the changing rooms after everyone's left, almost wanting to cry as his voice trembles. "By accident or on purpose?"

Charlie opens his mouth, but then closes it, before swallowing, eyes filling with tears. "On purpose."

"We're leaving tonight. Do you have a passport?"

"Yeah, but-" Charlie goes to protest, because of course he does, his heart's just too big and he cares so much, but Nick stops him in his tracks, hands on both sides of his face. "We're leaving tonight." There's finality to it this time and Charlie just blinks before asking. "Where?"

"Anywhere."

Anywhere turns out to be Spain, as Charlie has citizenship there, his UK passport a distant locked away memory by the time he and Nick arrive and settle into Charlie's grandparents house, notes left behind in their wake and letters sent to friends.

Thankfully, Charlie's grandparents are clearly devoted to their grandson and not only do they ferry the police and Charlie's mother into the depths, they also help him, teaching him Spanish and getting him a job so he can save up for his own visa.

There's a lot they're going to miss out on and they did talk about it beforehand. Formal, GCSE's, Sixth Form, university even, at least for a while, given they both won't have a way to get into one till they can afford the latter.

Nick misses his Mum, Charlie misses his friends and Tori, even his Dad sometimes when he really thinks about it, but both know that this is for the best. That it will be worth it in the end.

Because of course it will be. They wouldn't have it any other way.