Chapter Text
Training dragged on and on without Charlie on the pitch. It wasn’t like Nick hadn’t had team training sessions without Charlie since the start of the charity program. Of course he had. The team practiced or played a fixture 6 days a week during the season and Charlie had only come to a few so far. But now that Nick knew what waking up next to Charlie felt like, he wanted him within arms’ length at all times.
Whipped sap.
Oh, well. Being with Charlie after years and years of pinning was too good to be fussed over a few saccharine thoughts. At least no one was giving him a hard time over the couple of passes he’d fumbled and that one lineout which didn’t go great. They had 3 days before their match against the Tigers, so Nick had some time to get his head screwed on straight. It was an early afternoon finish day, and even after an hour in the weight room, Nick was leaving the practice pitch at just half 2pm. Plenty of time to stop by Imogen’s office and talk about how to manage a joint statement regarding his and Charlie’s relationship before he went to pick-up his boyfriend (boyfriend!!!!) from the recording studio.
It was barely past 3pm when Nick walked into the lobby and asked for Imogen.
“Nicholas!” Imogen called loudly after leaving her office. “What are you doing here today?”
Before Nick could answer, a loud snort came from his left. When he looked over, Carter Prattler, of all people, was sitting at one of the small tables scattered around the lobby. “Yeah, Nicholas. What are you doing coming all the way down here to the Gallagher media offices? Don’t you have training or something? Or have you given up ever beating us and decided to just take it easy this week?”
Normally Nick would be on board with some harmless smack talk, especially with a fixture coming so close. But something about Carter’s whole demeanour screamed that this wasn’t a normal ribbing. “I could ask the same question of you Carter. I’ve just come from StoneX, we had an early end day.” Nick turned his back to Carter, not interested in having a conversation about Charlie with the other man listening. “Hey, Immy. I just had some things to talk to you about with the music charity events, do you have time today?”
“Absolutely! I always have time for my favourite fly-half.”
“I bet.” Carter huffed out, not really under his breath.
Nick looked back at him with an annoyed scowl, remembering that someone involved in the charity event had told Tao that Nick was dating Imogen, but not knowing exactly who started that rumour. Had that rumour gotten around to the other players? It was futile to try and address Carter’s passive-aggressive comments in front of the whole Gallagher Media office, so he tried to move along and ignore the tension in the room.
“Can we talk in your office for a few minutes?” Nick gestured towards Imogen’s office, which thankfully had a frosted glass door that actually closed for privacy.
“Sure thing. I think I know what this is about anyway and I was meaning to call you today or tomorrow.”
“Oh, you already know?” Nick started to rack his brain trying to dissect their behaviour the previous evening. He wondered if anyone had seen him and Charlie leave together. Was Carter’s passive aggressive comments about some new rumour about Nick and Charlie?
His frantic thoughts were interrupted by Imogen, “Yeah! This is about the Stop My Heart Concert on Saturday right? I know you have a fixture against the Tigers that afternoon, but we wanted to get some B roll of you and Charlie together backstage. I’ve got the tickets here – row 15 and in the centre section, so great seats. I’m still working with Charlie’s team to get some backstage passes for us and probably one of the videographers.” Imogen paused and looked around the office awkwardly. “There are 4 tickets, so you could bring another person if you wanted …”
“Oh!” Nick furrowed his brow, all his emotions playing out on his face. “I actually already have 2 VIP tickets in Row 1 centre stage that come with backstage passes and pre-show meet-n-great entry. I got them before I even knew about the charity event thing. I meant to ask someone to come with me, but with all the Musician’s Union stuff, I kind of forgot.”
“You have front row tickets! That’s amazing. I’ve never been in the front row of a concert as big as Stop My Heart!” Imogen was beaming at Nick with shining eyes.
“I mean, I guess it makes sense to have you with me up front.” Nick scratched the back of his neck. He huffed a nervous laugh. “Are you a real fan of Charlie’s music? I don’t want to lose street cred with the other die hards who will be pushing the stage up front?”
“Do you think I’m not cool Nick Nelson!” She batted her eyes and playfully swatted Nick’s shoulder across her desk.
“I guess you are cool enough.” Nick had a sudden idea. “So, we still have 4 additional tickets. What do you think about bringing Jonah and his partner Jewel? Then Tao can also have a second photographer as well. Tao, Darcy and Charlie are all great friends, so I’m sure Darcy can get them all backstage with media passes or something. I’ll text her about it now.”
“Amazing! It’s like you don’t even need me.” Imogen winked at Nick and walked around her desk to perch right in front of Nick on the edge of the arm of her second guest chair. “So … shall we get some dinner before heading over to the venue?”
Nick was still looking at his messages app, having sent messages to Jonah and Darcy about the plans for Saturday. “Ummm … the fixture is probably going to end about 4pm and the meet-n-greet starts at 5:30pm for 90 minutes. I’d like to get in the line as soon as possible so we don’t have to wait forever to see the band.” Another ding came from his phone and Nick pulled up Darcy’s latest message. “Oh! Darcy says that we can all come to the green room as soon as I’m, quote, ‘no longer gross and sweaty from my hyper-masculine day job.’” Nick laughed. “Sounds like we will have to book it from the stadium to the venue as soon as I’m showered and changed if we want to get to the green room before the band has to go out to the VIP room. I’m sure that there’ll be food at the venue, or we can order something while Charlie is out at the meet-in-greet.”
“Oh, okay.” Imogen flipped her hair and fiddled with her necklace. “Well, maybe we could go out during the opening act. The show is going to be several hours, we don’t need to do media shorts for more than probably 30 minutes.”
“Sure, whatever sounds good.” Nick was barley paying attention since Charlie had just sent him a text picture of his drum kit in disarray. Apparently, a young sound engineer got too star struck while setting up the mic channels and tripped into the drums. Imogen’s words penetrated his brain after a few moments. “Wait, what? No, I’m actually really interested in the opening act. It’s a new band called the Ark and their front man, Jimmy, is supposed to be amazing. Charlie was super impressed with them when he heard their demo and saw them at a pub last month. He thinks they are going to be huge.”
Imogen looked disappointed, but cleared her expression quickly. “Sounds like it’s going to be a jam packed night.”
“Yeah! I’ve been looking forward to this for a couple months and it’s even better now we can just chill with the band before the show.” Silently Nick wondered if there would be individual dressing rooms where he might get some kisses and light groping in before the show.
“So, will you pick me up on your way?”
“Ummm … it would probably be easier if we just both left from the stadium and went straight to the concert. Charlie and Jonah are going to be at the fixture, and I know Tao was planning on some B roll before the game with us three. Charlie has to leave early to get to the sound check, but Jonah and Tao were planning on catching a ride together. Why don’t you come to StoneX and we’ll all leave together as soon as I’m changed.”
“Oh. Well. Hmm. I wanted to change between the game and the concert. Can’t go out to a concert in my Gallagher polo.” Imogen laughed uneasily.
“That’s okay.” Nick waived his hand dismissively, still looking down at his phone at the conversation he was carrying on with Charlie about the drum kit saga. After falling the poor kid tried to put everything back together, but he switched the crash and ride cymbals, which Charlie didn’t notice until they started playing their first song and an unholy noise came out in the middle of the take. “I bet Darcy can just email you the media pass so when you get to the venue you can come back to the green room. I’ll just meet you there.”
Before Imogen could respond, a loud noise came from outside her door then said door flew open and the head of Gallagher Media came in hot.
“Imogen, we’ve just had several reporters around the country ask about the Israel Folau tweet from this morning. I need a statement NOW!”
“Bleeding hell!” Imogen pulled up her Twitter account and searched for whatever had the international Rugby world in a tizzy today. “Nick, I’m sorry but we’re going to have to be done for today. I have to figure out what to say about this meme with, apparently, a Jesus figure floating down a rugby pitch, carrying the ball, and parting the other team which appears to be wearing rainbow rugby shirts.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily.
Nick froze. Folau was known for being outwardly very homophobic, on and off the pitch, which had cost him his spot on the Wallabies Australian pro team. He had been welcomed back to the sport on the Tongo national team a few years later and continued to be an outspoken opponent of queer rights, hiding behind following Jesus. Popular opinion, at least what can be counted as popular opinion on social media, was split between people who supported the Australian league’s decision to terminate his contract and people who say his religious beliefs should not be grounds for termination. There’s also a bunch of people online who fundamentally agree with his homophobic beliefs and have been yelling about how queer people shouldn’t be allowed to ruin their favourite sport.
It was a painful reminder that professional sport was often a segment of society that allowed toxic masculinity and anti‑queer sentiment to run unchecked around the locker rooms and stands.
“I guess I should go then. Maybe we can talk again soon-ish?” Nick rubbed the back of his neck and started backing out of the door.
“Of course, I’m sorry I have to kick you out to deal with this now.” She looked up from her mobile and took a step towards Nick. “Maybe we could do dinner tonight or tomorrow if you still had things you wanted to discuss.”
“Umm, sorry but I have plans both tonight and tomorrow after training.” Nick opened his calendar to check his schedule for the next week. “I’m open after 2pm on Monday if you wanted to meet back here or I could do Wednesday at half 4 for a post-training pick-me-up. Just send me a calendar invite for what works for you.”
Imogen looked a bit disappointed, but smiled after a moment. “Sure thing, I’ll look right after I’ve drafted something for this Folau situation.”
“Yep! Bye.” Nick nearly sprinted to the front door, desperate to flee the uncomfortable reminders that when he goes public with his relationship, there would be people in Rugby ‑ players, fans, and everyone in between ‑ who would hate him for it.
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“Let’s play that back and boost the bass channel.” Charlie was sitting behind the mixing board with SMH’s sound engineer, playing back the two songs SMH had fully recorded already. Rick and Harrison had faffed off about an hour ago, but Pauly was still with him going over every stanza in great detail. Charlie’s OCD and anxiety would never be completely beaten, and this was one area of his life where he couldn’t give up the control. On their first studio album, the record company had given them a strict set of hours for recording and mixing. Listening to those songs, Charlie knew every moment where the balance wasn’t quite perfect, or a minor gaff had been allowed to survive when the studio time had run out.
Thankfully that album had gone platinum and their first major tour had been a huge success. This time, the studio and production company were more than happy to give Charlie all the time he wanted to make the album the best possible.
Before the full playback had finished, a knock sounded on the studio door. “Mr. Spring, you have a visitor.”
“I’ve told you before, please just call me Charlie. I’m way too young for anyone to address me as a mister.” Charlie raised his eyebrows in Pauly’s direction while his guitarist chuckled under his breath.
“Yes sir, of course.” The interning sound engineer jerked his head up and down in an almost bowing motion, then held the door open for their guest to come into the studio.
“You are going to give that poor kid an aneurysm.” Nick chuckled as the door closed behind him.
“Nick!” Charlie bounded out of his chair and draped his arms around the larger man. “You are early.”
“I know, but I really just wanted to see you. I came here straight from a meeting at the Gallagher media offices which was a bit off.” Now that he had Charlie in his arms, Nick nuzzled his face into the space between Charlie’s shoulder and neck.
Charlie rubbed soothing circles into Nick’s back and swayed lightly from side to side. “Are you okay?”
“I am now. Just give me a moment to recharge.” He pressed deeper into Charlie’s skin and took a long shuddering breath.
Both Pauly and the lead engineer slipped out of the room to give them a moment of privacy. As he passed, Pauly gave Charlie a significant look which said he’d be demanding an explanation later, but that was for future Charlie to worry about.
“Take all the time you need.” Charlie started to hum one of SMH’s new songs and waited for Nick to be ready to tell him what had happened.
After a few more minutes, Nick sighed heavily and pulled back enough to kiss Charlie’s waiting lips. “You don’t know how much I really needed that. Thanks, Char.”
Charlie’s eyebrows flew behind his curly fringe. “Char!?”
“Oh.” Nick huffed and blushed a sweet rose colour. “Sorry, that just kind of slipped out.”
“Say it again.” Charlie ran his hands up Nick chest, grabbing onto the lapels of his jacket. “I like it, it’s cute.”
“Well, then I’m never calling you it again.”
Sticking out his bottom lip, Charlie pouted at Nick, which earned him a chuckle and kiss from his rugby lad.
“How do you always know exactly what I need.” Nick smiled down at Charlie and brushed stray curls from his eyes.
“I wish I could say it was a skill, but I think it’s just the honeymoon phase.”
“Nope!” Nick said, popping the p like David Tennent in Doctor Who. “It’s just Charlie magic.”
Though his words were light, Charlie could still see some lingering upset in Nick’s eyes. “Do you want to tell me about what happened to make your day stressful?”
Nick sighed. “Yeah, I’ll tell you on the way home. It’s really nothing that directly effects me, but it was a sad reminder that shitty people will always be shitty. How much longer do you need to be here? I could go across the street and grab us some coffees if you need more time.”
As if he had a sixth sense, Pauly opened the door at that moment to poke his head in. “Hey. The sound team has 20 minutes left before they are out. Do you want to go over that last bridge again or call it for tonight.”
Charlie looked at the sound board. He really did want to listen to the mix on the bridge one more time. But looking at Nick’s tired eyes made the decision easy.
“I’m ready to head out. We’ll pick it up tomorrow and make Harrison and Rick do their fucking jobs for once.”
Pauly laughed. “Good luck with that! See you in the morning.” Pauly glanced back at Nick then winked at Charlie. “Don’t stay up too late.” Before Charlie or Nick could respond, he ducked back out of the sound room.
Charlie was gearing up to apologize for Pauly’s cheek but the look in Nick’s eyes was arresting. Hungry. Dark. Needy.
“Let’s get out of here … Char.”