Chapter Text
The only thing Charlie hates the most is when he’s forced to go back to his parents' house. He avoids visiting his parents, mostly because there are so many remarks about his lifestyle that he doesn’t want to listen to his parents drowning him in a sea of questions concerning his future.
“You didn’t visit us for Christmas. At least you can come and visit your parents for two weeks at most.”
Yeah, right, he forgot he didn’t make it on Christmas. Which was actually his plan. Charlie hates family gatherings. They are pointless. Only a bunch of relatives rumble about who is living a better life, who has the most monthly income, and what they mean to society. And when they turn to Charlie, he can already tell how they will look at him when he tells them that he has a regular job and leads a regular life with nothing interesting. At least not for them.
They wouldn’t get it. They never will.
Charlie hates listening to questions about his life. He may as well not go visit his parents at all, but a part of him doesn’t want to be a dick and act like he doesn’t care about them at all. He only wishes to not go alone.
That’s why, when his mother innocently asks if Charlie is seeing someone, Charlie hums. Well, in his defense, it wasn’t planned. He didn’t mean to suddenly make her happy about something that doesn’t exist.
“ Really? You didn’t mention it when I called you the last time? For how long have you been together? You haven’t proposed, right? Your father would feel betrayed that you kept something as big as this from us.” Surprise lingers in her voice, which snaps Charlie back to reality.
Yeah, the questions.
Charlie panics and remains silent for a second. The false replies sound so believable. Charlie shares the shock with his mother, because damn, why can’t he just clear up the misconception and simply move on? Part of him wants to finally make them happy, at least slightly, even when Charlie knows that as long as it's not a girl standing beside him, they won’t be entirely satisfied. Which pains him.
“No, no. Actually, we have known each other for a long time, but we started dating just lately. Uhm, two or three months? I don’t exactly remember." Charlie’s response is smooth. His mother chuckles.
And so, that’s the introduction that leads us to Charlie’s current state. In less than a week, he is forced to not only spend two whole weeks in his old bedroom, which was probably left the same the last time he saw it—the only difference will be a thick blanket of dust covering all his belongings—but also introduce them to a partner he lied about having.
He’s hopeless. He doesn’t have a single clue where he should look for his target, who would be willing to pretend with him for too many painful weeks.
Well, there is a certain person Charlie can ask.
The same day, Charlie breaks it to Quackity. And what does Quackity mean by the good friend he is? That’s right, he mocks Charlie.
“Man, you’re fucked. Just why exactly did you say you have someone when you are all alone?” Quackity asks and drowns in Charlie’s miserable look. He sneers when Charlie buries his face in his hands.
“I already told you that I wasn’t paying attention to her words. And suddenly, she dumped down on me so many questions that I realized I couldn’t back away from this one after I made her so excited," Charlie defends himself. He feels sick to his stomach. The hours are shortening, and the stay at his parents is just around the corner. He can still come up with a lame excuse: “Yeah, remember when I said I’m dating someone? Yeah, we broke up.” or “You know when I said I'd bring somebody? Yeah, then don’t worry, it will be just me." He isn’t sure if that’s what he wants his parents to hear.
His mother has probably already told his father everything, and knowing her, she must have mentioned it to at least a dozen other people as well. Charlie can picture the excitement running through her veins, and he doesn’t know if he wants to ruin it.
Charlie looks at Quackity, who is still drowsing in his misery. Something clicks in his mind. “Would you–?” Charlie doesn’t even end the question, and Quackity has already hurried out the answer.
“Pretend to be your boyfriend? Fuck, no. I’m not playing this. They would probably catch that we are not a couple." Quackity’s response is definitive, and Charlie fights the urge to whine again. “Plus, didn’t you mention me to your parents sometime?"
“I did, but we could pretend. That’s what it’s all about, pretending,” Charlie says, hoping Quackity will change his mind. He talks with his hands, making himself at least slightly occupied before he breaks down.
The scowl on Quackity’s face tells him otherwise. “Still not happening. Don’t you have anybody else?” Charlie thinks. Quackity snaps his fingers. “Roier wouldn’t be against. I think he would be really fitting into the role. It won’t be hard to make him play you boyfriend.”
“I don’t think Cellbit will be pleased,” Charlie murmurs into his hand. He grabs the packet of snacks Quackity placed on the coffee table and takes a handful.
“Worth a shot. If you beg on your knees, you can make Cellbit say yes.” Quackity glances at Charlie, offering another idea.
“I’m not begging anyone.” Charlie’s answer is firm.
“Didn’t seem like it just a moment ago,” Quackity jabs Charlie. He shoves his hand into the packet Charlie holds. He raises his eyebrows and munches on the snacks, smirking when Charlie hits him with another angry look.
Charlie rolls his eyes and looks outside the window. The snow is gluing to the glass, making a pretty picture of his widows. That’s why Charlie likes winter. Maybe it’s the atmosphere that’s in the air that Charlie adores that makes his head feel so much at ease. Another snowflake melts on the glass.
“You’re not helping,” Charlie says in one breath.
“Well, I'm not, that’s true. I suggested Roier, but you don’t look fond of that idea.” Maybe Charlie would be more okay if it wasn’t somebody who lives happily with his boyfriend. It would feel weird to propose the idea to Roier, especially when he is in a relationship. Charlie isn’t afraid of catching feelings, but it’s stupid to ask Cellbit for permission to take Roier and pretend to be in love while they stay at his parents', and when they return, they will act like it never happened.
Charlie closes his eyes in concentration.
Out of nowhere, Quackity beams and leans closer to Charlie. He gasps, which makes the latter look at him. Confusion lingers above Charlie’s head. “What about Mariana? I’m sure you two would look amazing as a couple. You know, you’re smiling a lot, giggling, and shit, and you're already close. Nobody would suspect a thing.” The sparks in his eyes shine brightly.
Charlie blushes at the mention of Mariana’s name, or more at the thought of pretending to be dating. Sure, Mariana is handsome—the pretty face, the dark pools behind his glasses—but he isn’t sure if he wants to suddenly request something like this from him. It would be odd.
However, Charlie can picture how they will look as a couple. It makes his head spin.
“I dunno.”
“Ask him,” Quackity says. He brings out his hand and places it on Charlie’s shoulder. He squeezes it lightly and slightly pressures Charlie into making a decision. “Bring it up, at least slightly. I think– no , I know Mariana will say yes. You guys are like that.”
“I won’t date him for real; you are aware, right?” Charlie tilts his head to the side when a knowing smile starts to form on his friend’s face. Quackity likes to bring up the connection between him and Mariana, and every time he does, Charlie swipes it with a single hum or a dry comment and quickly forgets it.
Mariana is a good friend, and he appreciates the fact they are on good terms. So, he doesn’t want to build a wall between them based on a simple request. Charlie treasures their friendship just as Mariana does. It’s unique in specific ways, and Charlie likes to think about what they have built over the time they have known each other.
It keeps his heart warm even at the coldest nights.
“Who knows,” Quackity utters and leans back. Charlie raises his eyebrow in question, but Quackity never explains the short comment.
It’s annoying to have his glasses covered in snow the moment he steps inside his apartment because of the fog from the sudden heat. Charlie takes them down and wipes them in the sweater he wears.
He has thought about what Quackity told him, but Charlie is hesitant about bringing it up to Mariana just like that. He doesn’t want to sound desperate and look like a total idiot before Mariana. Even when they knew each other’s secrets, Mariana wouldn’t laugh at him like Quackity did. Naturally, Charlie is aware Quackity wasn’t completely making fun of him.
Maybe if he said something like this, “So yeah, you know I wasn’t able to visit my parents for Christmas while my family was staying over there, but I still have to visit them, and I somehow mentioned that I have a partner, and now my parents expect me to bring a girlfriend, and you know I’m not into them, and you’re literally the last person I can ask, because Quackity laughed in my face and said no?" who knows how Mariana would react.
A friend's request. That’s all. Mariana would also ask Charlie if he was in need of a fake partner, surely. Charlie is sure he would come running after him with a troubled look just to ask him if he didn’t want to act like his boyfriend for a short period of time.
He doubts it.
Charlie buries his face in his pillow and groans, the sound muffled. He props himself on his elbows and rubs his eyes until he starts to hope an idea will pop up in his head.
Nothing. Only an itching feeling in his eyes.
If he continues lying in bed, it won’t help him figure out what he wants to do. He can still back off; that’s still an option. Honestly, he actually asked Quackity out of misery rather than the urge to have him as his boyfriend. Maybe if he invited Mariana to stay over and happened to mention his parents, the woe will wrap around him all over again, and he will spill the request naturally, just like he did with Quackity.
That sounds terrible and Charlie leaves another whine.
He sits up and bites the nail on his thumb, thinking about all the options. Well, if we don’t count Mariana, there’s nothing else then. Unless he wants to look like a total idiot before his parents and tell the truth, This scenario Charlie specifically hates if it happens to come down to it. He already mentioned a few facts, which are probably engraved in his mother’s head right now, so backing off is maybe an option, but the worst one so far.
If he keeps sulking, it won’t bring him anywhere.
Charlie clutches the paper close to his chest. If Mariana looks at him crazy, he can still laugh at it, tear it to a million pieces, and act like he never said a word.
Mariana's eyes are glued to the TV screen. He sits on a stool, his hands resting on the kitchen island. Charlie notes the flushed cheeks, probably still adjusting to the temperature in his apartment. Outside, it freezes, while there’s warmth in the kitchen. The way he ducks his head to the side, catching something off, makes Charlie giggle lowly.
Just when Charlie places the requested cup of coffee before him, does he rip his eyes off the screen? “Thanks.” Mariana smiles, and Charlie chuckles and sits down just opposite him, holding his own drink. He enjoys this when Mariana suddenly appears in his doorway. It can be the middle of the night, but Charlie will still welcome him with open arms.
Charlie carefully puts the paper down and taps his hot cup lightly with his fingerpads.
For a moment, they observe each other wordlessly, and Charlie bathes in the way Mariana smiles at him. His heart races, Charlie can tell, but he mirrors the smile Mariana puts on. “Something new?”
“Not really,” Mariana answers dryly. He takes a sip and thinks for a while, focusing on something behind Charlie before he returns his brown eyes to him. “Nothing worth mentioning, really. Only... I was with my parents for Christmas, but that’s everything I have.” Charlie notices the shine in his eyes widen when he mentions the fact. He doesn’t dwell on the words.
Instead, he hums and nods. “I actually wasn’t with my parents during Christmas,” Charlie shares his experience and purses his lips.
Mariana shakes his head. “Does it have a solid reason?” Charlie can sense the mocking tone in his voice, and all Charlie can do is just glare at him. Sometimes, they like to bicker until they get bored of it. It always makes Charlie smile, knowing the two don’t really mean the words they say.
“Family gathering,” Charlie hurries.
Mariana leaves out a breathless chuckle, which resembles a sigh. “Say no more.” His look is soft, and Charlie hates that he has to look away to not be soaked with his tenderness. It’s too sweet, and Charlie wonders if he has lost his mind over the time he thought about being in a pretended relationship with Mariana. He had to.
“Actually, I’m going to visit them next week, and I’ll stay there for two weeks at most,” Charlie says. He brings his hands to his lap and fiddles with his fingers out of Mariana’s sight. “And I might say something not entirely truthful.” He bites his lip when Mariana raises his eyebrows in question. He waits for Charlie to continue.
Charlie starts a sentence but cuts himself and breaks into a fitful of giggles to cover how stupid he feels. “Ehm... Yeah, so I have a partner, apparently,” Charlie confesses, and Mariana takes a minute to absorb the words. Mariana looks surprised, and Charlie bets that’s how his mother must’ve looked when he mentioned a potential company.
“You do?”
“Of course not. It just slipped. I dunno, man. I’m an idiot. I was talking to my mom, and she asked me if I have somebody, and I said yeah, and now she wants to meet them and get to know them, and I just acted like yeah, I dunno if they can, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to go." Charlie sounds way more miserable than he intended. Mariana looks to be enjoying himself when Charlie notes that he tries not to burst out laughing, just like Quackity. At least Quackity was straightforward. Mariana attempts to cover the chuckles, even when it's useless.
Mariana’s shoulders slump. “What are you gonna do then?”
That’s it, the highlight of this conversation.
Charlie scratches his neck and avoids looking into the dark pools. He might drown in them before he can utter a single word. Charlie licks his lip, taking in how the snow is covering everything.
His heart bubbles with adoration.
“I was gonna... You’re not gonna like this, but I hoped that you could be my boyfriend?" Charlie quickly closes his eyes when he returns his gaze back to Mariana. “Just for two weeks,” he clarifies. Charlie opens them after a silent moment and wonders if Mariana didn’t leave while he wasn’t looking.
Mariana’s mouth is slightly open, and if Charlie paid more attention, he would dare to say Mariana’s cheeks were hot. He looks baffled, just as Charlie assumed, but by no means does he look... disgusted? Truthfully, Charlie can’t exactly say what he expected Mariana’s reaction to be. Baffled, for sure, but who wouldn’t be left speechless if someone asked for a favor like this?
Charlie tries to read something from his gaze and his eyes, but there’s nothing that would help Charlie not feel so afraid.
“I know it’s stupid, but I’m helpless, and I really... I don’t know, I just..." Charlie stutters, and he bets he makes the situation more awkward. “I can just drop it and pretend I didn’t say a word
“No, I don’t mind,” is Mariana’s reply. A kind smile plasters on his face, which makes Charlie loosen up a lot. His cheeks are dusted pink, and Charlie has a hard time ignoring it. Now it’s Charlie’s turn to be stuck in the wordless bubble, staring at Mariana as if he’s grown a second head. After all, it was Charlie’s idea, so he shouldn’t look so bewildered."
“Really?” Charlie whispers to make sure.
Mariana firmly nods, and his smile grows in size. “Yes, I don’t have a problem. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with this, and if it’s just for two weeks, I don’t care. Besides, I didn’t stay long at my parents’, so it’s nice to spend so much time elsewhere while I still can."
Charlie leaves out a relieved sigh. “That’s... Thanks.”
“You look like you expected me to yell at you,” Mariana remarks when Charlie suddenly softens under Mariana’s watch, melting slowly just like the snowflakes on his window.
Actually, his heart seems as if it’s about to melt if Mariana keeps looking at him with a gentle smile.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what I would do if you laughed at me like Quackity." Charlie puffs a breath, and for the first time, he takes a sip from the coffee that has been sitting before him for a moment now. The liquid hits just right, the warm overflowing him once more. Charlie gets a handful of giggles out of Mariana.
Charlie observes Mariana before he lowers his sight and notes the paper. “Uh, yeah. This is for you.” Charlie slides the paper towards Mariana and locks his eyes with him. Mariana ducks his head to the side and blinks a few times before he takes the small paper in his hand.
“What is it?” he questions when his eyes dive into reading and takes a sip from his drink. He knits his brows while he reads whatever the paper contains.
It tickles his heart gently.
"It's, uhm... rules, basically. You know, it’s sudden, and I don’t want to overstep your boundaries and make our friendship crumble,” Charlie explains, motioning at the paper. He lifts his gaze at him and hums in acknowledgement. He places the paper down, slowly forming a contract between them.
“So, no feelings involved?” Mariana asks, staring at the first rule, which has been written by Charlie.
“Exactly, no feelings involved,” Charlie affirms Mariana.
“Okay,” Mariana mutters. “Okay then.” His smile makes Charlie shiver.
Charlie stares at Mariana, taking in the soft expression as he recalls what he has told his mother. He winces mentally and straightens his posture again. He taps the countertop before he says, “I still have to fill you in on the story I told my mom.”
Mariana shrugs. He props his head on his elbow and innocently looks at Charlie. Something pools inside him, and he already knows he’ll be screwed. “Well then, querido... Tell me, when did we meet?”
The pet name takes Charlie off guard. Charlie shudders under Mariana’s watch, feeling the sudden heat creep up on his face. He swears that if he survives these upcoming two weeks without breaking any of the following rules, he will call himself ignorant.