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“Yes, we call it an industrial placement year,” Charlie hears himself explaining for the third time already this evening. Americans are so… ugh… self-centred sometimes. Why did he think it was a good idea to attend this regional mixer for English speakers set up by the Ministry again? Oh. Right. Because it’s almost Christmas and he’s homesick, nine months into his year in Japan. He’s also pretty touch-starved as it’s been four months since he saw all his friends back in Rochester during summer break.
His head swims with visions of calendars and spreadsheets and schematic drawings as he explains his engineering degree program, which he will wrap up at UCL next year, to yet another stranger. The glass in his hand is empty, his plate is empty and his patience is wearing thin with the social obligations of this event. It’s nice to be in a room where he doesn’t have to exhaust his brain with constant translating but he does feel like maybe he’s exhausting his soul tonight.
Charlie loves learning. He loves traveling and exploring. He loves being exposed to new ways of living. He’s enjoying his year abroad, generally. He’s just not loving Japan right at this moment.
—-
Nick fucking loves Japan. He loves his classmates where he’s studying the pedagogy of secondary language acquisition. He loves his six-year-old students in the practical application classroom he visits three days a week. He loves his diet of brown rice, diverse vegetables and fresh fish. He loves the city of Tokyo: the people are polite, the streets are clean, the parks are beautiful, the energy is electric. He loves taking the bullet train to Kyoto or Osaka for a weekend of looking around. He’s so glad he did this sandwich year before he goes home to finish getting his QTS.
And this evening has been so fun! Talking to new people, asking questions, raving about his professors here and back at Leeds. He knows he’s been bouncing from conversation to conversation like an overeager puppy but he doesn’t want to stop.
Until he sees him.
A slender man around his own age is scowling down at his hands and the dirty dishes they’re holding. His hair is a gorgeous mass of sable curls, his brows are striking and his lips are full where they’re pouting in frustration. Nick feels a stab of lust through his groin as he imagines pulling the bottom one into his mouth. Then the other man looks up and holy shit his eyes are sky blue too. Nick feels his knees wobble.
He hasn’t felt an instant attraction like this in a while. Not that he hasn’t been having a good, bisexual time since coming out his first year of uni. But usually he prefers getting to know someone a bit before propositioning them, although he’s had his share of one-time hook-ups too. He licks his lips, assessing his odds as he studies the other man’s appearance for clues.
He’s learned that Japanese culture generally frowns upon any expression of sexuality, gay or not, so he’s not about to whip out his mobile and check Grindr for this guy on the map whilst he’s standing between his colleagues. Nick notices the subtle details of grooming and accessories that bode well for his chances and excuses himself from the current knot of partygoers to walk over.
He has no plan, no prepared pick-up line. Just his heart on his sleeve, as usual.
—-
Charlie is looking for a place to leave his dirty dishes when a hulking blonde with cuffed sleeves on his tight, colourful button-down walks up and nearly causes him to just drop them on the floor. This man is stunning… wide-eyed and flushed yet still stunning. Ooooookay.
“Hi.” The man’s already got his right hand extended out between them but Charlie sees his left fingers drumming against his thigh where he’s stopped three feet away. Interesting. He glances at his own occupied hands again and hears the blonde inhale sharply. “Oh! Right. Um… Here, let me.” The dishes are unceremoniously yanked out of his grip then the blonde pivots and darts off to place them carefully on the edge of a table before rushing back and sticking out his hand once more. “Hi! Again. I’m Nick and I wanted to meet you.”
Charlie giggles and watches a goofy smile grow on Nick’s face as he accepts the large warm palm against his own. “Hi, I’m Charlie. Um, that’s nice. I mean, it’s nice. Yeah. To meet you. To meet a fellow Brit.” He clears his throat awkwardly, entirely lost and afraid to hope that this fine specimen is nervous because he wants to flirt with Charlie. He doesn’t have the best track record with guys built like Nick so he waits for context or intent to become clear.
—-
Nick knows he doesn’t send queer signals that strongly, especially here where pride flags are mostly discouraged unless one is within very specific circumstances. He nods to himself, a reminder that he can be brave, and tries to find an opening to state his intentions.
Wait, what are his intentions? His dick twitches as he rakes his eyes over Charlie’s face close up. Yeah yeah. Sex would be great but… maybe more?
He might just be caught up in the season since Christmas is associated with romance here. He knows himself well enough to suspect that’s a factor. But there’s something about this man which is drawing him in and making him daydream a little bit.
They’re just staring at each other now and he realises he’s let it drag on a little too long… which is its own kind of signal really. But not the smoothest one if he’s angling to pull this lovely man. He huffs, a tiny self-deprecating noise, and Charlie starts to smirk slightly.
Nick can feel heat from his cheeks and neck radiating off his body. It’s probably obvious he’s kind of a disaster so he may as well go all in. Better to be authentic and rejected for his true self than start some new fling from a disingenuous place.
Raising his left hand to gesture around the room, he shoots his shot. “This has been a wonderful evening but would you be interested in going somewhere quieter with me?” His throat has been so dry since he saw Charlie across the room. He licks his lips again.
Those dazzling eyes are blinking up at him and he wrinkles his nose apologetically. If this guy isn’t queer, he’ll just say no. If he is but doesn’t like Nick’s vibes, better to know that right away. That’s what he tells himself while he waits for an answer.
—-
Uhhhhhhhhh. Charlie knows he is supposed to answer this Adonis somehow but he’s still processing. This… this is what it sounds like… right?!
He takes a deep breath and then makes sure to speak at a very low volume. “Like… Back to- Um. Is- Is your room the quieter somewhere? Like, is this- y’know…?” He’s working very hard to keep his tone neutral, not too eager, just in case he’s misreading this very badly but, given the bouncing eyebrows and enthusiastic-yet-minuscle head nods Nick is responding with, the probability he’s just been invited to shag is increasing every second.
“Yeah! I mean…,” Nick glances around briefly, “let’s talk logistics on our way out maybe. Do you need to say goodbye to anyone?”
Charlie shoves his hands into the back pockets of his skinny jeans before he does something stupid like grab this man by the ears and shove his tongue down his throat. He shakes his head. “Um, nope! Ready when you are.”
They stand there and grin at each other a long beat, both clearly feeling the connection sizzling between their bodies. Charlie notices Nick is jiggling a bit, his feet flexing him up onto his toes and his pecs vibrating deliciously as a result. Oh yep, he is definitely ready to go. He steps forward and they fall into sync, heading for the exit.
They luck out and have the lift down to the lobby to themselves. “So, uh,” Nick begins, one hand scratching at the back of his neck, “I live with a host family and don’t really have much privacy. How about you?”
Charlie is caught on the flexing of his arm muscles so he just nods mutely for a second. “Yeah, same,” he finally mumbles. He’s really proud of himself for his restraint. The desire in the air is palpable but both of them are being really good and careful so far. He tries to focus on logistics.
“Oh, I know! Let’s get a night at a love hotel.” He grins. He’s been itching to try this kind of thing since he got here and learned about it from his first Japanese DL guy.
Nick’s eyes, a rich brown that Charlie wants to dive into, are blurring back and forth quickly, like he’s reading some invisible instruction manual as fast as he can. Charlie’s pretty sure this is Nick’s thinking face and he finds it adorable. He might be getting ahead of himself but, damn, he wants this man so bad, wants to try everything Nick will let him do. Will one night be enough?!
—-
Nick’s brain cells are all firing at once. Yes! Love hotel! Charlie is brilliant! And he said “a night” when Nick knows they can be rented by the hour as well. This is awesome! He knows they are often stocked with condoms, designed for trysts after all in a country where many have traditionally lived with their parents at various points of adulthood. But will there be enough?! Oh! and…
“Lube!” He nearly shouts this in Charlie’s face, earning him a startled guffaw which fades into a softer, almost fond laugh as the doors open to let them out. The smaller man grabs him by the shoulder to pull him under the bright street lights outside. Without looking back, he lets go and stalks to the corner. Nick hurries to catch up just as Charlie ducks into a smaller, dimmer road.
Finally the dark-haired man tucks himself into a dark alcove in front of some shop that’s already closed for the night. He reaches out and drags Nick in front of him, dropping his hands but leaving only inches between their chests.
Nick draws in a ragged breath as Charlie tilts his head and looks up at him through his lush lashes. “You were saying?”
Nick exhales, still shaky, utterly affected by his beautiful countryman. “They might not have lube. I can go get some and meet you there?”
Charlie’s smile is wicked, gorgeously wicked. He closes the gap, leaning his forehead on Nick’s cheek and breathing heavily for a moment. “Good idea,” he murmurs. “Hmmmm, you smell amazing. Can I kiss you?”
Nick nods; he’s never wanted anything more in his entire life.
Charlie shifts back and up with a flicker of eye contact - checking in, reassuring - and then a few seconds of acute focus on Nick’s lips. When he tilts his face and falls forward, he’s breathing out and it gradually swells into a resonant hum that travels into Nick like electricity - thrumming and alive.
The kiss is just a press of lips, really. Almost chaste. Nick wants to open for Charlie, and isn’t that a thought, and swallow him whole but they’re still on the pavement in this random business district. Not exactly conducive to his personal form of queer joy. So he takes what he can get, which is warmth and softness and a mounting passion that remains banked. For now.
He pulls back and falls against the same wall Charlie’s leaning on, breathing far more rapidly than that kiss can account for. He lets himself just look at the other man, desire plain on his face. They’re paused like that for a minute or so before he sees Charlie nod to himself and pull out his mobile.
“Here, add your number. Then we can find a place to… um, do that again.” Charlie’s voice is raspier than their kiss should cause and Nick’s dick kicks in his trousers at this evidence they’re both feeling the impact of their attraction. He grins and makes himself a contact, last name and everything, before texting himself from Charlie’s phone.
Then they both send messages to their host families about being out all night and open up browser apps to do a little research, heads close together when they need to compare destinations. Nick finds a Don Quijote near Shinjuku Station and Charlie finds Hotel Forsion not far from that, which seems to be the right ratio of price to review stars.
They lock eyes, both seemingly searching for confirmation that they’re doing this. Nick wants to press their bodies together right here and now so he nods decisively. Charlie smiles so wide that dimples pop out of both his cheeks, making Nick gasp quietly and lurch to kiss one briefly. Charlie giggles and runs one hand up and over his ear, genuinely shy or acting coy; Nick can’t tell.
He can’t wait to find out. He wants to soak up everything there is to know about this stunner. He swallows, suddenly nervous again.
“Okay,” he begins softly. “I’ll meet you there. Anything else you want from Donki?” Charlie pulls his lips in and shakes his head silently, eyes bright and happy.
Giving himself a mental shake before he embarrasses himself in public, Nick points their way and they set off walking. Their shoulders bump frequently on the streets their paths share and they wave at each other furtively when they have to diverge.
Nick puts his head down and hurries to the discount store. Just before he enters, he hears his mobile ping at him and he opens up a text from Charlie.
changed my mind
can you bring these too please
umami jaga rico
cororo gummies but not cola flavour
bake creamy cheese
matcha kitkat
thanks!
Nick smiles at the screen. A man who asks for exactly what he wants, excellent! He shoots back a thumbs up and works his way through the many aisles as quickly as possible.
On his way to the register, he walks past a display of small plushies, all paired up. There’s a tiny black kitty next to a golden puppy that catches his eye and he stops to poke at them. They’re keychains and magnetized to click together when close enough. He finds himself stroking the side of the kitty’s adorable face and daydreaming again. Before he can overthink it, he grabs the set and adds it to the items he’s gathered. When he’s paying, he asks for a separate paper bag to tuck them in before they join the rest in two larger plastic ones.
Then he’s rushing to the love hotel, room number waiting in his text messages from Charlie.
Knocking eagerly on the door, he’s gratified when it opens almost immediately. Charlie is standing there, shoes off but otherwise still dressed, chewing on his bottom lip. Nick lifts his arms, indicating he got the supplies, and Charlie steps back to let him in.
There’s a corner where Nick toes off his shoes and leaves them tumbled with Charlie’s. There’s a stylish seating area in front of the large windows covered by thick, dark drapes. There’s a massive bed that makes Nick’s heart rate pick up. And there’s a long cabinet with a flat screen TV and plenty of room for the bags. Nick sets them down and busies himself with spreading out the snacks Charlie requested plus a few of his own favourites.
When that’s done, he turns to find the other man poised on the balls of his feet with one hand clutched around the other elbow. Nick tilts his head sheepishly towards the bed and walks over to unbag not one but two bottles of lube, one water-based and one silicone, plus the box of extra condoms he got because he’d rather be prepared, okay?!
He leaves the keychain bag alone, folding the excess plastic bag around it and hiding it behind a lamp before sitting gingerly on the bed and looking over at his companion. There’s a stilted feeling between them now and Nick’s not sure how to bridge it.
—-
Charlie’s trying not to spiral. They both want this and they both know it. They just need to build a bridge between this moment and the next, the moment that brings them back into contact.
And Charlie’s been studying bridge-building after all. He can do this. He feels his spine unwind and his body loosen.
Nick is gazing up at him with such earnest fervour and Charlie can taste the sweetness under the burly physique. He has no data yet about Nick’s preferences in bed but Charlie’s versatile, happy to adapt, and, he shrugs mentally, everyone loves a blowjob. He feels himself smirking as he steps forward, claiming the space between Nick’s knees.
The blonde audibly sighs in relief and rests his hands on Charlie’s waist, peering up with yearning in his giant brown eyes. Charlie traces one finger along the edge of the handsome face, feeling a faint scratch of emerging stubble. It sends a thrill through his abdomen, wondering if he’ll wind up with beard burn tonight.
He leans down and starts them with another kiss. Unlike their first, this one intensifies swiftly. Nick parts his lips with a delicate groan and Charlie eases his tongue across that border tenderly, content to explore and map their journey together. Nick is pliant at first, patient as Charlie pulls and pushes them into new angles.
But soon he’s sucking on Charlie’s tongue with abandon, fingers burrowing their way under the green jumper he’d worn. After several minutes of appreciating Nick’s passionate groping, Charlie straightens up and twists the top off his body, discarding it onto the floor behind him and pausing to assess Nick’s reaction.
The blonde does not disappoint. His mouth is open, panting from the length of their kissing, and his eyes are devouring Charlie as his palms slide up his stomach and rest over his pecs. He watches Nick take in the smattering of dark hairs down the centre of his torso, the scars on his arms and the dusky rose of his nipples. All seemingly accepted equally. Charlie rewards him with a wide smile and starts undoing Nick’s buttons.
As he gets halfway down, Nick hums and falls backward to give Charlie easier access to the lower section. Charlie climbs onto the bed, knees to either side of Nick’s thighs, and tries to concentrate on finishing his task. As soon as he can, he pushes the fabric aside and runs his hands over the pale flesh.
Nick is so fucking fit. He’s softness and strength, creamy and golden like milk and honey. Charlie bends down and sucks every inch of skin into his mouth, one by one. He delights in how responsive Nick is. Helpless cries demarcate his sensitive spots: the base of his neck just to one side, the pastel pink of his areolas, the squishy little roll between his navel and his waistband. Charlie catalogues them all, wondering if this encounter will be the only time he gets to enjoy them.
If so, best to make the most of it. He’s suddenly impatient for the first round of orgasms, now he’s internally committed to there being multiple rounds.
He flows backwards, one sinuous movement leaving him on his knees on the floor between Nick’s legs, and starts opening Nick’s trousers. “Can I suck you off?”
Nick hunches up and gets his arms bent so he’s propped on his elbows, looking down at Charlie across his belly with wonder in his eyes. He nods and glances at the side table. “Yeah! Yeah. Condom though.” He winces. “Is that okay?”
“Of course!” Charlie isn’t prioritising talks about safe sex and exclusivity and medication right now; he just wants to get them both off.
Latex isn’t his preferred flavour so he varies the location of his attentions frequently. Nick seems to enjoy Charlie’s mouth on his inner thighs nearly as much as he enjoys being blown.
After one pitiful whine, Charlie chuckles low in his throat. “You want more of that? Can I mark you up down here?”
Nick’s back is flat on the mattress now, one arm folded over his face. He groans out his affirmation and Charlie returns to his devotions. It builds and builds so by the time he has Nick shaking his release into the condom, there are three or four hickeys on either side.
When Nick can move enough to roll his head to one side, Charlie is lying next to him with the condom disposed of, his skinny jeans shoved off, his feet on the floor and one hand inside his pants tugging on himself lazily. Nick blinks, a syrupy smile spreading over his face. Charlie giggles as the blonde notices what he’s doing and a spark of interest reignites in the amber eyes.
Nick rolls closer and lifts his top hand in the air. “Can I do that?” At Charlie’s nod and withdrawal, Nick slides into his place and Charlie closes his eyes so he can concentrate on the novel sensations. Letting someone new learn his body is a process he’s had to create trust around. Thank goodness for therapy.
Nick leans down and starts kissing his chest, his collarbones, his jawline. “What about you?” His voice is a feather-light murmur. “Okay with marks?”
Charlie hums, thinking. “Nuh, nibbles please.” Nick nods and pulls back his lips so he can instantly give Charlie what he likes. He experiments with pressure until Charlie is writhing, hissing as he rides the edge of almost-too-much. Nick’s hand is still moving slow and Charlie sinks into the pace the blonde is setting. They have all night.
Nick eventually pulls off Charlie’s underwear and socks, then sheds the rest of his own clothes before grabbing a fresh condom and hungrily bending to his work. After that, everything speeds up. He doesn’t meander or take breaks, just provides steady stimulation until Charlie’s arching off the bed with his hands laced onto the back of Nick’s head.
The larger man takes care of the rubbish and repositions them both on the bed, under the covers. He draws Charlie to his chest and they relax against each other, replete and warm.
Charlie wakes from a short nap still cradled in Nick’s arms, lifting his head carefully to catch the flutter of blonde eyelashes opening. They smile into the hushed space between them and Charlie rests his chin on Nick’s pec as Nick hooks one of his ankles between Charlie’s shins.
“Hmmmm yeah, gonna have to repeat myself,” Charlie whispers. “It is very nice to meet you.”
Nick’s smile is bright like a sunrise. “Yeah?”
Charlie grins at him and resettles his cheek on Nick’s muscle. It’s a lovely muscle; he might just live here now.
—-
Nick wants to live in this hotel room forever. This gorgeous fucking man is so delicious! He knows they don’t really know each other but he is loving everything they’ve shared so far. He squeezes his arms slightly and Charlie sighs happily.
They fall into an easy conversation, stories of their time in Japan merging with tales from their respective universities merging with details from childhood. They discover they both grew up in the same county. They confirm they want to try living in London for a while after they finish their degrees but neither of them think they want to be in a big city for life. They laugh about the way KFC successfully branded itself as The Christmas Meal in Japan to the point where people line up for hours to pick up a bucket during peak season.
They sit up and eat some of their snacks, duvet pooling around their hips. Nick doesn’t hide his appreciation of Charlie’s olive skin. Charlie playfully pinches one of Nick’s biceps as a reciprocal compliment.
Nick finds his eyes straying repeatedly to the tubes of lubricant next to the bed. He’s not sure if Charlie’s ready for round two but he is and he really wants this beautiful man inside him. He suddenly feels Charlie’s fingers walking up his shoulder and then the dark-haired man is leaning close, head low with those blue eyes fixing Nick in place.
“Wot? Wassup?”
Nick feels heat traveling up his body and he’s sure he’s blushing, probably in more places than one. “I- Ummm, we haven’t talked about this yet but, uhhhh, I’m- ermmm.” He’s wiggling his bare bum against the sheets and Charlie’s hand has flattened onto his trapezius, his thumb rubbing soothing circles at the end of his clavicle. He can follow Charlie’s lead and ask for what he wants, dammit.
“Reallywantyoutofuckmesoonplease.” He sets his teeth together, his lips stretched taut; he can’t help that his face looks like an emoji acknowledging how cringe that sounded.
But Charlie just snorts and presses up to kiss him on the tip of his nose. Nick feels his body sag in relief. Soon he has a lap full of Charlie, food wrappers thrown off the bed indiscriminately as they kiss and rock together. Finally the dark-haired man draws back and boops Nick’s nose with a fingertip.
“I would love to fuck you.” His eyes dart to the same side table Nick kept looking at. “Do you- How much time will you need?”
Nick clears his throat. “Oh! I’m, like, really regular. Just a quick shower to be sure and then I’d love your help with the rest if you’re up for it.” He feels his eyebrows rise to match the hopeful tone in his voice.
Charlie smirks. “Yeah, of course. How about… I give you a five minute head start and then,” he reaches over to pick up the silicone lube, “I’ll join you.”
“Ooooo,” Nick nearly squeals. “Yes! Yep! Yes please. Aren’t Japanese bathrooms the best?”
Charlie’s grinning, the bottle dancing in his grip. “Right?! The whole room can get wet.”
Nick waggles his brows at him. “Perfect.”
Charlie’s face softens and he leans in for another minute of deep, searching kisses.
Then he climbs off the mattress and draws Nick to his feet. He sends him off with another kiss and a promise to tidy the room whilst the blonde cleans out. Nick ponders the many benefits of his diet during his alone time and then Charlie is there, cool dry skin becoming hot wet skin within seconds. They tangle together, kissing and kissing as they sway under the rainfall showerhead.
Charlie is a considerate lover, folding a towel to place between Nick’s knees and the hard tiles and taking his time with deft fingers. Nick likes the way his noises echo in this space and how he doesn’t have to worry about scandalising some family with kids in the adjoining rooms.
Other noises join his voice, the slap of two bodies colliding and the rubbery sound of a lube-covered hand grappling to hold a wet hipbone. It’s been a while since Nick got to do this and he doesn’t last long but Charlie shushes his apology attempts and finally just kisses him silent while they rest a bit.
When he’s recovered enough, he shuts off the shower and lays out another towel on the floor. The air is thick with steam the same temperature as their flesh and Charlie goes willingly when Nick urges him to lie back on the slightly cushioned surface.
Nick applies more lube where Charlie hasn’t totally flagged and then straddles the fine-boned frame, sinking down with a grateful aside about his refractory period. Charlie laughs breathlessly up at him, eyes shining with lust and pleasure.
They fall in and out of sync with each other. It goes on forever, Nick’s bruised thighs burning in that endorphin-high, welcomed way. Finally they each reach a peak only seconds apart and Nick practically falls on top of Charlie, producing a rather loud “ooof”. He carefully rolls off and Charlie deals with the condom before they slide back together, huddled for warmth and comfort both in the aftermath of their marathon.
“That was incredible,” Nick says tenderly with a kiss to Charlie’s forehead, “thank you.”
Charlie huffs in disbelief. “You mean you’re incredible.”
Nick shrugs but also preens, Charlie poking him in the stomach and giggling at him. They lie there as long as they can but finally the hard floor and the cooling atmosphere have them heaving themselves to their feet. Nick groans as he unfolds and looks over at the huge tub.
“I think I’ll have a bath. You really put me through my paces.” He lets the tip of his tongue peek out between his teeth when this elicits a playfully defensive reaction from Charlie. They kiss again and Charlie says he’ll grab some snacks and a glass of water for Nick. He ends up sitting on a hand towel laid over the toilet lid as Nick fills the bathtub. They get so distracted by more banter and kisses and stories that, when Nick finally sinks into the water, it overflows.
It splashes onto Charlie’s feet before he can lift them, squawking as he watches it flow to the central drain. There’s a moment of stunned silence then which erupts into unbridled laughter on both sides, another form of release in this magical night.
They continue getting to know each other as Nick soaks his sore arse and legs. He’s not complaining; it was worth it.
—-
Charlie has zero complaints about this whole experience. His brain is uncharacteristically quiet for this phase of a hook up. He already knows he wants to see Nick again after this; it’s just too easy being with him and the sex was amazing. He’s even feeling confident that Nick wants to see him again too. The blonde is so open with his expressions; the naked admiration and burgeoning affection are obvious.
They finally cuddle back in the bed, clean and satiated. Charlie loves that it wasn’t even a question about one of them leaving before sleep; he’d offered a night in a love hotel and he’s getting the full night of Nick’s presence. He falls into dreams effortlessly.
He wakes to the smell of green tea, opening his eyes to a vision of Nick sitting in a sunbeam on the sofa, clad only in his briefs. There’s a steaming cup next to him and the glass teapot on the TV cabinet is still more than half full. When Nick sees him stirring, he leaps up from where he’d been staring out the window, the curtains only partially pulled back. Rushing to Charlie’s side, Nick seems eager to kiss his forehead again and then brush his thumb along Charlie’s cheekbone.
“Hey there, beautiful. You sleep okay?”
He nods up at Nick, not trusting his voice just yet.
“Good, good. Would you like some tea?”
Charlie grunts and leans into Nick’s touch for a minute before pushing him back so he can sit up. “Bathroom,” he says hoarsely and Nick steps away to let him stand, openly ogling Charlie’s nudity as he walks by. Charlie sticks his tongue out at him over his shoulder just before he shuts the door between them. He can still hear Nick’s chuckle through the wall.
Washing his hands after taking care of his morning needs, he sees Nick has unwrapped one of the two provided toothbrushes and apparently used it, leaving it set to one side. Charlie quickly unwraps and uses the other one so he can initiate more kisses.
Putting this plan into action as soon as he can, he clambers into Nick’s lap where he’s returned to the sofa and spends several heady minutes relishing the taste of Nick’s lips, still heated from his tea. The large man is whining and humping up at him before too long so Charlie unfolds himself from those strong arms just long enough to grab the water-based lube. Nick is nodding, standing to shuck his pants and holding his embrace open for Charlie’s return as soon as he catches on.
He’s so cooperative, Charlie thinks as they shift so he can pull them together in his two slicked-up hands. Nick throws his head back so it’s resting on the top of the cushions and watches Charlie through half-lidded eyes until they’re both covered in thin spend. As they kiss some more and rock together to prolong the closeness, Charlie mentally lists out the other qualities he’s observed so far in Nick. They’re not purely physical, although there’s plenty of those too.
Yeah, he really wants to hang onto this one.
—-
Nick rests his face against Charlie’s chest. He wants to hang out with this man for the remainder of his life. He knows he tends to dive in too soon and he’ll stay open to the chance that this may crash or fizzle but he has a good feeling about it.
They clean up together, get dressed and head down to the small dining area to grab some breakfast. He has a plate full of onigiri and tamagoyaki, Charlie is loaded up with plain toast and roasted potatoes when they make eye contact and agree with a jerk of their heads to head back up to their room. They eat on the wiped-down sofa, in the sunlight, legs curled together. They sip their tea and talk as they digest. It’s cosy and agreeable, fitting exactly into what Nick likes in life.
They both seem reluctant to leave, lingering over pulling their shoes on and looking around the room for any other items they need to gather. Nick picks up the small paper bag from Don Quijote and moves to stand in front of Charlie near the door.
“I- I got you a present.” Now his nerves return. If there’s going to be a moment where he’s Too Much, this is it.
“What? Why?” Charlie doesn’t sound annoyed, just confused.
“I dunno. I saw these and thought they were cute.” Nick groans, wrinkling the bag in his clutches. “It sounds silly when I say it like that.” Charlie grabs his wrists, shaking his head. “And now I’m embarrassed.”
“No! No, it’s cute.” Charlie’s head is still doing these jerky, aborted shakes. “I’m sure they’re cute. You’re cute.”
Nick subsides, bobbing his head in acquiescence to Charlie’s gentle assurances. He lets the other man pluck the bag out of his hands and watches him open it. Charlie cooes over the two furry toys, pulling them apart to let them snick back together a few times.
Blue eyes rise up to meet the brown. “I love them. Thank you.” He holds Nick’s gaze only a moment before dropping back to the keychains. “I didn’t get you a present but this is a pair gift so I suppose this little guy needs to go home with you.” He offers out the yellow puppy and Nick takes it with a pleased, secret smile.
“Nick?” Charlie’s voice has an odd lilt to it and he looks up to find a matching smile on the handsome face. He hums inquisitively when Charlie pauses there.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” There’s a teasing edge but the question is warm and kind underneath that.
Nick presses his lips together before nodding hesitantly. “Probably, yeah,” he answers a trifle breathlessly. He clears his throat. “I really want to see you again. Not!” He chokes momentarily. “Not just for sex!”
Charlie is grinning up at him. He silently arches one brow.
“Oh. Um. Like- would- uhhh.” Nick straightens his shoulders. “Charlie, I like you. Would you go on a date with me?” He holds his breath, nerves singing for the few seconds it takes for Charlie’s face to light up in response.
“You like me?”
Nick guffaws. “Um, yeah! Isn’t it obvious?”
Charlie shrugs, still grinning. “Yeah. Okay. Yes, I would love to. When?”
Nick tilts his head. So far, so good. They seem pretty compatible in so many ways; relationship pace might just be another of them. “What are you doing for lunch?”
Charlie laughs and crashes their mouths together in a passionate, life-affirming kiss.