Work Text:
February 2023
“Darcy, can you not? There’s such a thing as a sore winner, you know.”
Tara scowls in the general direction of her jubilant partner, who is giggling and clapping their hands.
“It’s just taken me forever to convince you all to come bug Charlie with me. ‘Darcy, it’s too expensive.’ ‘Darcy, I have to study.’ ‘Darcy, Chili’s is a figment of your twisted imagination.’ Et cetera. Well now I’ve finally got the whole gang on board!” They literally cannot hide their glee.
“Alright fine, at least get over here and you know….snuggle? Until Tao and Elle get here?”
“Snuggle? Really?” Darcy’s eyebrows waggle. “Come on Jonesy, a college dorm room expects to see more than just snuggling when two extremely hot roomies are left to their own devices.”
Tara rolls her eyes and grabs Darcy’s shirt in her fists, pulling them close to shut their lips with a kiss. Darcy tumbles forward onto the bed and a squeak and the crash of a falling lamp can be heard from outside the door.
**********
An hour or so later (they take their time, ok? We’re talking two couples in their early twenties….they have stamina), the four of them are cutting across the grass from the dorms on the east side of the New College campus towards the airport parking lot. Twelve seconds later, they arrive (it’s a really fucking small parking lot, which happens to be literally next door to the dorms).
They burst into the air conditioned chill of the airport lobby, then follow Darcy’s pointed finger up the escalator to the shops and restaurant area on the second floor. Charlie has been working at the pre-security airport Chili’s on the weekends ever since second year started about three months ago, and his neighbor Darcy has been essentially living off of the leftovers he brings home. His roommate Tao and Tao’s girlfriend Elle politely decline because half-eaten congealed Skillet Queso is not quite the cuisine they’re used to, and Tara tried at first but can’t stomach anymore after the overexposure therapy Darcy has subjected her to. Darce’s favorite is obviously the sickeningly smothered Texas Cheese fries, and they’re planning on getting the full order, fuck those tiny sides Charlie brings home for them.
The group sees Charlie as they approach, and he waves them into a booth then holds up a hand as though to say “hang on a minute” as he strides away. They do notice there is some kind of commotion going on at the other side of the seating area, near where it melts into the duty-free. As they slide into the booth Charlie has pointed them towards, they each gasp at how cold the leather seats are on their shorts- or skirt-clad legs.Darcy excitedly grabs a menu, and the others follow suit with a bit more trepidation.
Finally, Charlie comes over to them and brings enormous glasses of ice water (this isn’t fucking Europe, after all) and silverware for everyone. He sighs and leans against the table for a minute.
“Everything ok, Charlie?” Elle asks with concern.
“Yeah, what was going on over there?” Tao’s brow is knitted. “It looked like there was an actual argument going on or something!”
“Oh, it was fine. It’s just this lady who keeps trying to get back in even though she’s been banned from all Chili’s.” He rolls his eyes. “It’s a long story, and frankly I have no idea why this place is so meaningful for her, but whatever. Anyway! Do you know what you want to order?”
**********
After Charlie takes their order and heads back to the kitchen, Darcy gets up to go to the restroom. Also to snoop. They kind of love meddling in…anything and everything. On their way to the far back corner of the restaurant, they spot a few interesting things to investigate later. A little kid who apparently is not being tended by any parent and who is stealthily half-unscrewing salt shakers at empty tables (Darcy snickers). What definitely sounds like some smooching going on behind the door that says “Dry Goods Storage-Employees Only” (Darcy gives an approving thumbs up to the closed door). And perhaps most intriguingly, a table near the bar with what looks like a mom and college-age son…a son that is blatantly staring at Charlie’s ass as he walks by. Huh, thinks Darcy. This could be…..something.
A few minutes later they slide back into the booth and address the group with a lowered voice: “Y’all. There is a Hottie McHotterson sitting at that table back there— don’t look, Tara! —who for sure is checking Charlie out.”
Tara looks, more subtly than Darcy gives her credit for, but shakes her head as they finish speaking.
“No.”
“What?” Darcy lifts their hands in a shrug and grins widely. “I’m just saying…he kinda looks like Charlie’s type, too!”
Elle can look without having to turn around, and gives her appraisal after a moment. “Ok, yes, he is….attractive. But still,” she stretches out her hand towards Darcy and rushes to speak. “That doesn’t mean we have to butt in! It’s literally a stranger, Darce!"
Darcy makes a noise of mock offense. “I don’t butt in! I would never! Do I butt in?” They look around the table and encounter three deadpan stares that say otherwise. “Ok, ok, maybe sometimes. And you’re fucking welcome, ” they say, looking pointedly at Tao.
He sputters. “What? Exactly what do you mean by that? I charmed this beautiful woman with my wits alone.”
“ Which you had the shot at doing because I invited her to your Oscars party last year. Because I 100% knew you were perfect for each other.” They whirl to their left and boop Tara right on the nose. “And yes, you fell in love with me all on your own, but it was my meddling in the housing assignment process that got us a room together this year.”
“Which I am totally regretting,” Tara jokes, then grabs Darcy’s finger and plants a kiss on it.
“Ok, but the point is, my meddling can often be extremely helpful.”
“Maybe they don’t even need your meddling, Darce?” Elle intones while nodding her head in the direction of the bar. The group subtly takes a look, only to spot the ginger hunk approaching the bar where Charlie stands drying glasses. They watch attentively as he opens his mouth to say something—and Charlie reddens and whirls away, quickly disappearing into the kitchen. The table emits a subtle groan that seems to be the soundtrack to the stranger’s shoulders dropping and countenance falling. Darcy is out of their seat before anyone can stop them.
“Hey! How’s it going? I’m Darcy.”
The stranger looks mildly surprised but also like the kind of guy who has no problem introducing himself to unknown people in airport bars. He extends a hand.
“Hey, I’m Nick.”
“Nick, great to meet you! You on vacation? Come for the sandy white beaches, the manatees, what?”
Nick laughs and leans against the bar. “No, I’m actually here working on a project for school. I’m studying journalism and I’m here to interview the students about all the changes coming soon with the new President and board of trustees.” Darcy’s eyes widen as Nick continues,“Do you go here? I’d love to hear your perspective.”
Darcy hesitates now. Nick is here for a kind of noble purpose, and maybe they shouldn’t distract him. On the other hand, fighting injustices can really work up a sexual appetite, if their experience at a few previous rallies is any guide. They make up their mind and narrow their eyes at Nick. This is for justice. This is for democracy. This is for Charlie.
“Yeah, I do go here! And my friends over there,” they gesture towards the table. “And one of my coolest friends, Charlie here.” They cock their thumb towards the kitchen door and await to see if Nick makes any remark at that. He kinda strikes them as a sort of heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guy, so his reply is not even remotely surprising.
“Oh, you know him? Oh yeah…” He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck with one hand. “I just uh…I just tried to talk to him but I think I scared him away?”
Darcy rushes to reassure him. “No, no, I’m sure he was just busy! It’s been a crazy day here already apparently, with some tough customers. Also we’re here distracting him, you know?” They attempt to smile at Nick in a chill way. “You should definitely talk to him again when he comes out! He’s such a great guy.”
Nick is blushing just a little bit and nods his head. “Yeah I wouldn’t want to bother him, but yeah…maybe.”
Tara suddenly appears at Darcy’s elbow and grips it somewhat firmly. “Uh, Darce? The food came?”
“Oh, oh okay!” Darcy smiles one last time and turns to walk back to the table. “Nice to meet you Nick—and good luck.” They throw a wink back over their shoulder when Tara isn’t looking.
**********
An hour later their table is destroyed, they’re all groaning over their full stomachs, and the general consensus is that it’s really time to head back to campus. They all throw reasons at Darcy why they can’t afford to wait here any longer—laundry, homework, hair washing, Hot Cheeto-eating contest (whatever they think might grab Darce’s attention).
Darcy is, in fact, about ready to give up, after watching Nick attempt to approach Charlie three more times with no real luck. Once Charlie ran away again; the second time an impatient customer wanting to pay his bill was making noises behind Nick and he got flustered and ran away himself; the third time Charlie actually spoke a few words to him but was drowned out by a group in the corner who inexplicably had a mic and speaker and appeared to be conducting a work meeting? Darcy is starting to think this isn’t in the cards and says as much to the group.
They get to their feet and start heading towards the exit. Elle says she’ll go tell Charlie they’re leaving and Darcy sees something and their face lights up. They grab Elle’s arm.
“Yes, Elle! Umm…..I got an idea.” Their smirk grows as they drag Elle over to whisper behind a cupped palm. Elle’s snickering seems to calm the group and no one rushes over to intervene….but rather watch from the doorway as it all unfolds. It’s like a goddamn ballet. Nick had already been heading to the restroom, and Darcy spotting that is what had set off the plan. They follow him quickly down the tiny hallway, as Elle comes around from the other direction leading Charlie to check out the spill she told him is on the floor in front of the dry goods storage.
The dry goods storage that Nick and Charlie now find themselves in front of the open door to, with a cackling attendant behind each of them.
The dry goods storage that is fairly big and roomy considering the size of the airport, and even has a comfy pile of new clean rags in the corner. The pile is slightly dented as though someone’s (or someones’) weight was recently pressed down on it.
The dry goods storage that Nick and Charlie stumble into now, the latter pushed gently from behind by Elle and the former literally tripped inside by Darcy. They instinctively grab each other’s forearms to steady themselves; their eyes go wide at the crackle of electricity they feel simultaneously; Nick grabs a curl before he can stop himself and Charlie is counting the freckles before he realizes that the door has swung shut behind them.
Darcy slaps their hands together on the outside, as though brushing off dust after a hard day’s work. “And the rest,” they say, “is history.”
**********
February 2024
“Charlie! What are you doing here!” Charlie’s old co-worker Phin is shocked; they could have sworn he’d never set foot in Chili’s again after quitting right after the pre-Thanksgiving airport rush last year.
“Ah, well I’m sure not here to fucking wait tables,” he laughs, and leans against the bar with an easy smile on his face as Nick snakes his arms around Charlie’s waist from behind. “It’s our one year anniversary of meeting! Returning to the scene of the crime….as it were.” He smirks in the general direction of the dry goods storage.
Phin rolls their eyes in a smiley way and gives him a forehead kiss before heading off to help a customer. Charlie turns inside the circle of Nick’s arms and throws his arms around the big, beautiful, freckled neck.
“Who would have thought it, a year ago, you know? That you’d transfer schools and get stuck down here just to be with little ol’ me.” His cerulean eyes are sparkling even as Nick mock scowls.
“That’s enough of that. Moving anywhere to be with you is the easiest—and smartest—decision I’ve ever made. And besides, this way I could help join the resistance here instead of just writing about it.”
Charlie can’t argue with that. Some of their hottest fucking has definitely been after long sweaty marches for justice under the Florida sun, or a particularly contentious governor’s board meeting where Nick raised his voice and shouted with the rest of them for protection and care for trans teens or the students of color on campus. It makes Charlie shiver with desire even now thinking of it.
“What do you say we get a few drinks and then head back to campus?”
“I say….it’s a good suggestion.”