Heartstopper One-shots

Moving In

Charlie Spring couldn't believe the day had finally arrived. He stood in the doorway of the small apartment he and Nick Nelson had just rented together, staring at the empty space that was about to become their home. Boxes were stacked around them, waiting to be unpacked, and the air was thick with the scent of fresh paint and new beginnings.

Charlie's heart raced with excitement, but there was a small knot of nervousness in his stomach too. Moving in together was a big step, something they had talked about for months, but now that it was happening, the reality of it all was sinking in.

He turned to look at Nick, who was setting down the last of the boxes with a grin on his face. Nick looked back at him, his eyes full of warmth and love, and suddenly, Charlie felt a rush of relief. This was Nick—the boy he had fallen in love with, the boy who had stood by his side through everything. If there was anyone Charlie wanted to take this step with, it was him.

"We're really doing this," Charlie said, his voice full of awe.

Nick walked over and wrapped his arms around Charlie, pulling him into a tight hug. "Yeah, we are. And it's going to be amazing."

Charlie melted into the embrace, resting his head on Nick's chest. The steady rhythm of Nick's heartbeat was soothing, grounding him in the moment. For a while, they just stood there, holding each other in the quiet of their new home.

After a few minutes, Nick pulled back slightly, looking down at Charlie with a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, where should we start? Unpacking the kitchen? Setting up the bed? Or maybe we should christen the place with a pizza break?"

Charlie laughed, feeling the last of his nerves dissolve. "Pizza break sounds like a perfect idea."

They ordered a pizza and ate it sitting on the floor of their empty living room, laughing and talking about all the things they wanted to do with the apartment. Charlie could already picture how they would decorate—Nick's rugby posters on the walls, fairy lights strung around the windows, maybe a cozy reading nook in the corner where they could curl up together on rainy days.

As the evening wore on, they started unpacking some of the boxes, working together to make the space their own. Charlie loved how easy it was to be with Nick, how they fell into a comfortable rhythm, sharing stories and memories as they placed their belongings around the apartment.

When they finally reached the last box, the sun had long since set, and the city lights outside cast a warm glow into the room. Nick pulled out a small, framed photo of the two of them from their first date—a candid shot that Charlie's sister, Tori, had taken without them knowing. They were sitting in a café, laughing at some inside joke, their faces full of pure, unfiltered happiness.

Nick placed the photo on the windowsill, then turned to Charlie with a soft smile. "This feels right, doesn't it?"

Charlie nodded, his heart swelling with emotion. "Yeah, it really does."

They stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of their new home—still a bit chaotic, with unpacked boxes and furniture waiting to be arranged, but already filled with the warmth of their love. It was a new chapter in their lives, one that they were writing together.

As they climbed into bed that night, the unfamiliarity of the space was outweighed by the comfort of being in each other's arms. Charlie lay there in the dark, listening to the sounds of the city outside, and feeling Nick's steady breathing beside him. He felt safe, loved, and unbelievably happy.

"This is just the beginning, isn't it?" Charlie whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room.

Nick squeezed his hand, lacing their fingers together. "Yeah. It's the start of our life together."

And as Charlie drifted off to sleep, he knew that no matter what the future held, as long as he had Nick by his side, everything was going to be okay. They were building something beautiful together—a home filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities. And that was more than he had ever dared to dream.