Chapter Text
Love language #2: Quality time
Giving another person your undivided attention.
Charlie Spring couldn’t really remember a time when he wasn’t in love with Nick Nelson.
He’d been head over heels for his best friend since he was old enough to know what love was, but even before then, when they were just kids playing hide and seek on the playground, he loved him. It was the effortless kind of love that could only exist between partners in crime, confidantes, soulmates. The love they had for each other was woven into the fabric of their friendship, an invisible thread that bound them together and made them inseparable for the sixteen years they’d known each other.
The problem was, at some point, that love had evolved for Charlie, and it happened around the same time he realised he liked boys.
Suddenly Nick was no longer just Charlie’s best friend. He became the source of all his pleasure, his pain, his pining. Charlie noticed every miniscule movement he made, acutely aware of the way his bottom lip poked out when they played scrabble, or the little piece of unruly hair that always fell over his forehead when he was doing his homework. If there was a time Charlie didn’t notice these things, he couldn’t remember. He could only remember being in love with Nick.
Obviously, however, Nick was not in love with Charlie. He’d have to be an idiot to think that was a possibility, and he was actually the furthest thing from an idiot. He was very smart, in fact. A nerd, some would say.
Well, one person in particular.
“You’re such a nerd, Charlie. How are you this good at everything?”
Nick shoved him, attempting to knock him off balance as they perched on the end of his bed. Charlie kicked him in the leg.
“Stop trying to cheat!”
“Ow, my bloody shin!”
“Serves you right.”
Princess Peach passed the finish line with flying colours, Charlie throwing his arms in the air triumphantly and letting out a smug “a-HA!”
Nick threw his controller over his shoulder, puffing out his cheeks. “I give up. The day I beat you should be made into a national bank holiday.”
Charlie lay back, stretching his arms above his head and grinning. “It would be a historic occasion, I agree.”
The bed sagged as Nick joined him, resting his head on his elbow. “You know, you could just let me win one time.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
Charlie smirked. “Because then you won’t learn.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “You mean then I won’t have at least one thing I’m better at than you.”
“Um, hello? Rugby?”
Nick waved his arm dismissively. “Doesn’t count, you’re still pretty good at running which makes you good at rugby. I’m just shit at Mario Kart, full stop.”
“Jeez, don’t get your knickers in a twist about it,” Charlie mocked, poking him in the arm. Nick grabbed his finger, grinning as Charlie tried to pull away. There was a playful look in his eyes that suggested he was about to try and start one of the wrestling matches they used to do when they were kids. Charlie had stopped partaking in those when he realised his overwhelming crush on Nick meant he had no control over his body whatsoever and would rather endure a slow, torturous death by flesh-eating piranhas than have to explain away a boner.
Luckily, Nick seemed to rethink the idea, his smile faltering as he let go of his hand. Charlie tucked it under his chin, trying not to feel a little bit disappointed that Nick wasn’t currently pinning him to the bed.
The sound of Nick’s phone ringing broke the silence and he rolled away, looking for it. Nick never seemed to have his phone on him when he hung out with Charlie. It was nice, knowing he had his full, undivided attention. Too many people these days would find it impossible to tear their eyes away from their screens long enough to have a meaningful conversation.
“It’s Otis.”
Charlie sat up, watching as he declined the call. “What’re you doing? Aren’t you gonna answer him?”
“Nah.” Nick returned to his spot on the bed, picking up his controller again.
Charlie poked him with his foot. “What if it’s important?”
“If it’s important he’ll call again.” Nick let his head loll to the side, shooting Charlie his trademark puppy dog grin. “Rematch?”
He really was unbearably cute. “Nick, I honestly think you should-”
His phone pinged, the screen lighting up with a message. Nick sighed heavily, leaning over to read it. “See? He’s just asking if I want to go to the cinema with that lot tonight.”
Charlie felt sharp disappointment unfurl in his belly, jabbing at his insides. The time they spent together was never enough, and it still pained Charlie to watch him leave. He knew it was silly, embarrassing even, but he was in love, okay? Lovesick people were gross.
“We can have a rematch another time,” Charlie offered, trying to hide the crestfallen look on his face with a tight smile.
Nick just raised an eyebrow, ignoring his phone. “Well clearly I’m not going.”
“Oh. Okay.” Charlie fiddled with the sleeve of his shirt. “Do you have to be somewhere else instead?”
Nick stared at him. “Yeah, here, obviously. With you.”
An olympic gymnastics tournament was taking place in Charlie’s stomach, and he didn’t know what to do with his face. “You don’t have to stay with me if you don’t want to.”
There was a smile playing at the corner of Nick’s mouth. “Have you considered the possibility that maybe I want to, Charlie?”
“Really? You're sure?” Charlie asked, biting his lip. Sometimes he felt like he hogged Nick, taking him away from his other friends. He would hate to think Nick was only here because he felt like he had to be.
“Why is that always a surprise to you?” Nick laughed, his voice as soft as his gaze. “You’re my favourite person.”
A little whoosh of excitement swept through Charlie’s body at the look Nick was giving him when he said that. They were lifelong best friends, so it’s not like he didn’t know all of that already. It just never stopped sounding like music to Charlie’s ears.
“What are they going to see?”
“Hmm?”
“At the cinema.”
“Oh, the new marvel film.”
Charlie’s mouth fell open. “Nick!” He reached over and grabbed the controller out of his hand, ignoring his surprised protest. “Don’t be daft, you’ve wanted to see that for ages.”
Nick tried to snatch it back, but Charlie yanked it away, holding it in the air behind his shoulder.
“Gimme!”
“Not until you give me one good reason for staying here and doing boring shit with me instead of going out.”
Nick launched himself at Charlie suddenly, the pair of them tumbling backwards onto the bed. Charlie shrieked, desperately trying to keep the controller out of Nick’s reach. They grappled with it for a moment, Nick’s elbow accidentally colliding with his ribcage.
“Ow, jesus Nick, get off!”
“I want a rematch!”
Charlie froze when he realised how close their faces were. This was his nightmare, the one thing he always tried to avoid. Nick Nelson and his bloody obsession with wrestling.
Nick paused too, looking down from where he was currently kneeling over him, one hand pinning a skinny wrist to the bed. His hair tickled Charlie’s nose as their breaths mingled together.
“Fine, I miss you, okay?”
Charlie blinked, his brain catching up to his body. “What?”
Nick’s lips were slightly parted as he stared down at him, eyes wide. “I miss you. We haven’t hung out properly like this in…”
Charlie raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh in case the residual smell of his lunch was still clinging to his breath. Not a good idea when they were only inches apart. “It’s been, like, a week.” He wriggled, trying to free himself before the dreaded teenage hormones reared their ugly heads again.
Nick loosened his grip, sitting back on his heels as Charlie pushed himself into a seated position. “My point exactly.”
They shared a long look, Charlie admiring the flush on Nick’s cheeks as he smiled shyly at him. “Hang on, let me just clarify then.” He linked his fingers under his chin, the controller dangling from them. “You’re choosing me over marvel?”
Nick shrugged. “Like you even need to ask that question? Always, Charlie.”
Heat prickled the back of Charlie’s neck, drawing out goosebumps. This was so unbelievably unfair. Why did he have to fall so hard for his best friend? Unrequited love was such a bitch.
Charlie chucked the controller at Nick before he noticed how red his ears were. “Fine. But I get to be Yoshi this time.”
Nick laughed, eyes sparkling. “No chance.”