Only the best of writers can take something meant to be pure crack and make it somehow incredibly endearing and perfect for the characters. Best birthday present ever and dare I say, @steddiealltheway ‘s best work ever!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: this was supposed to be ABSOLUTE CRACK for Ruth’s birthday ((happy birthday @kurtkankle)) but this Heartstopper x Steddie Stranger Things crossover turned out to be surprisingly wholesome at the end. SO if you want to completely ignore the crack, replace Dart with Mews and… maybe it’s better. And Ruth… you’re the only person who could get me to post this instead of keeping it in my drafts.)
Charlie goes to Nick’s house, thinking only of his strong rugby arms. Instead, he’s greeted at the door by a pet that isn’t Nellie.
“Nick. What the fuck is this?” Charlie asks, bewildered at the creature weaving it’s way through nick’s legs.
Nick smiles and picks the creature up. “This is my cousin’s pet, Dart. I’m taking care of him for the next week.”
As if the creature knows that Nick is talking about him, it unhinges its multiple jaws and screeches.
Charlie stares at it for a few moments before deciding that maybe he can go without Nick for the next week. But then he sees someone come into view over Nick’s shoulder.
“I’m Steve,” the hottest American man Charlie has ever seen says, sticking his hand out toward him.
“H-hi,” Charlie responds taking his hand back and shaking it.
“I hear you’re Nick’s closest rugby lad,” Steve says with a big, clueless smile.
Charlie laughs nervously. “Yep, that’s who I am.”
Nick stares at him awkwardly and invites him inside. Charlie takes one glance at Dart and hopes he doesn’t bite his face off. Luckily, he keeps to himself and follows Steve into the living room as Charlie and Nick got to Nick’s room.
They “study” for about an hour before the door slowly creaks open, and in comes Dart excitedly. But then Steve follows him quickly, bashfully looking up at Nick and Charlie who haven’t had time to untangle themselves from each other.
Steve looks between the two and smiles softly. “You two remind me of me and my good friend Eddie.”
Charlie and Nick glance at each other and silently debate asking Steve more. Nick is the first to speak up, “Steve, are you and Eddie… dating?”
Steve scoffs. “No, we’re just really good pals.”
“Who… kiss sometimes?” Charlie asks, confused.
Steve nods with a big smile on his face.
Nick sits up and crosses his arms. “Is this… an American thing?”
Steve shakes his head. “No, no. This is a me and Eddie thing.”
Charlie nods and leans over to Nick whispering, “And how do you know him, again?”
“He’s practically my cousin’s older brother. He’s staying here while Dustin stays with the rest of his friends.”
Charlie nods, still confused about the situation, before returning his gaze to Steve. “Steve… do you… think about kissing him often?”
“All the time. It’s my ‘Roman Empire’ as Dustin says.”
Nick and Charlie exchange another look before Nick squeezes Charlie’s shoulder and says, “I got this.”
Charlie watches as Nick carefully approaches Steve and puts a gentle hand on his back, leading him down the hall and prompting, “So, tell me more about your friend Eddie.”
Charlie sits back and glances to his right where Dart is curled up on the floor next to Nellie, wondering if this tops the most confusing moment of his life, ranking even above getting Nick Nelson as a boyfriend.
A few minutes later, he wanders down the stairs, easily picking up on the conversation.
“I’m… in love with Eddie?”
Nick is quick to say, “I’m not saying you are, I’m just telling you it’s okay to like both men and women. But maybe you are in love with him.”
There’s a brief silence before Steve says, “I think I am.”
Charlie peaks around the corner where Nick is sitting at the dining room table across from Steve, with a small smile on his face. “I know it can be confusing, but think on it over the next week. And I’ll be here if you have any questions.”
Steve runs a hand through his hair and leans back in his chair. “God, I miss him.”
“I can’t imagine going a week without seeing Charlie.”
Charlie’s heart skips a beat at the comment, and he wonders if he should stop intruding on this moment.
“So you two are… going out?” Steve asks carefully.
“Yeah, we are,” Nick answers with a proud smile.
Steve smiles back, a look of contentment settling over his face as if realizing if Nick and Charlie could do it, so could he.
Charlie steps on a creaky part of Nick’s house, and the two glance up at him. Nick holds him arm out invitingly and Charlie is quick to join him in the offered embrace.
Steve runs his hands over his face and laughs, “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. Robin has been giving me looks for weeks, and I haven’t been able to read them. She kept telling me she couldn’t tell me what it was about until I realized it for myself. It all makes sense now.”
“And Robin is…?” Charlie asks.
Steve smiles brightly and is quick to ramble about his best friend, and Charlie shares stories about Tao in return.
Eventually, Steve’s phone starts buzzing, and he’s quick to excuse himself, cheeks turning red as Eddie Instagram handle lights up his phone.
As he walks away, Nick and Charlie glance at each other again and smile gently. Nick laughs, “Do you think that’s how people saw us when we were first getting together?”
Charlie smiles. “I think we may have been much worse.”
“Or much better honestly.”
Down the hall, they hear Steve argue, “Yes, I know you don’t have an international phone plan. I’ll pay for your bill. Yes it’s important! No, it’s not the kids. No it’s- Eddie. Eddie, I’m in love with you!” There’s a pause and a heavy sigh before Steve continues, “You are not buying a plane ticket to London when you can afford an international phone call. This is not a debate!”
Nick squeezes his arms around Charlie and whispers, “Yeah, we were definitely better.”
“Why are they like this?” Charlie laughs.
Nick laughs in response as they continue listening to the disastrous conversation, glad that they helped someone else have their similar happy ending.
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