Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 1692

Head Or Heart

He kicked the ball, and for a split second stared after it, excitement bursting through him when it sailed passed the keeper and hit the back of the net.

Then his teammates were piling on him, screaming and shouting as the whistle blew to signify the goal.

The game was almost over, Theo knew, though he didn't know exactly how long they had left. As long as they could keep the other team away from their net, the cup would be theirs, and he knew that his own determination to accomplish exactly that was matched by his teammates.

Adrenaline made his blood pump harder as he ran across the field, and only when the whistle blew twice to end the game did he let himself stop moving, bending over with his palms pressed against his knees as he let the knowledge that they'd actually won fill him up.

"We did it!" he heard, and he looked up just in time to see Blaise running towards him. Theo only barely managed to stand up straight before his best friend was plowing into him, screaming out his happiness and pride.

…

The party was raucous, understandably so, and the beer was flowing. Theo mingled amongst his team, all of them gleeful and satisfied that their hard work had paid off. Sure, it was only a university game, but they'd still worked hard for months to bring the trophy home.

Theo entered the kitchen of the house, intent on getting a drink, and found it occupied by Draco and some blonde bimbo that would undoubtedly fall into bed with him before the night was over.

"You've done so many awesome things," the girl simpered, bringing a smirk to Draco's face as the blond man winked over her shoulder at Theo.

"There's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait," he replied to the girl, and Theo shook his head as he opened his beer.

Draco was his friend, but he didn't understand how the man still managed to get so many girls. Everyone knew that he wasn't going to settle down with any of them, and yet, the girls kept on coming, probably thinking that they'd be the ones to tame Draco.

Unlikely, Theo thought, since Draco was already head over heels from a girl he'd seen just once at a coffee shop. She'd shot him down and stalked away, and Draco had been smitten ever since. In fact, Theo was pretty sure Draco still went to that same coffee shop a few times a week in the hopes of running into her again.

Theo left the kitchen with his beer and stepped out into the warm night air of the back garden. There were people milling around outside too, enjoying the slightly unseasonal warmth of spring.

"Oh, you scored the winning goal, right?"

Theo turned his head to see a redhead leaning against the wall, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Theo nodded. "Team effort to win the match though."

"Oh, of course. It was a good goal though. Congrats on winning the cup."

"Um, thanks."

The redhead snorted. Theo didn't recognise him, though in fairness that didn't mean much. He tended to avoid a lot of the parties on campus, preferring the quiet of his room or the library for his evenings.

"You're not like I would have expected," the redhead said, taking a drag of his cigarette. The embers burned brighter for a moment, before the man moved it from his lips and blew out a plume of smoke. "You don't seem like a typical footballer."

"Typical footballer?"

"Loud, crass, flirty?"

"Oh. I guess I don't buy into stereotypes," Theo replied turning away. "I don't believe people can be put into boxes quite so simply."

"You're not wrong, but it's refreshing to meet someone who hasn't just fallen into the stereotype that's there for them."

"I'm so confused right now," Theo said, mystified. "Are you happy I'm not a stereotypical footballer or not?"

The redhead chuckled. "I am. It's a nice change of pace."

"I don't think I've seen you around here before," Theo said, tilting his head.

"You wouldn't have done," the redhead replied. "I'm a postgraduate student, doing my Masters, I don't actually spend much time on campus, and I rarely attend the parties."

"What made you come to this one?"

"I suppose I thought I should make an appearance to congratulate the team. It's been a while since the Bumblebee's won anything."

Theo bristled slightly at the implication, and he could tell that the other man knew about it, because he grinned cheekily.

"What's your name?" he asked, because clearly the man knew who Theo was, and he hated to be at a disadvantage.

"Charlie. Charlie Weasley."

…

Theo woke up feeling like shit. His mouth tasted like an animal had crawled inside and died there, his head was pounding and when he shifted, his stomach rebelled violently, threatening to expel it's contents immediately.

He groaned, and lifted a hand to his aching head. He had vague, blurry memories of the night before, but he didn't remember getting to bed at all. When he forced himself to open his eyes, he found that he was in a room he didn't recognise and he panicked.

What the hell had he done?

He turned slowly to the side to see the sleeping face of Charlie Weasley.

Shit.

Theo rolled over, valiantly trying to ignore the protests his stomach made at the movement. He could suffer his hangover in peace as soon as he got back to his own room, but until then, his body was just going to have to suck it up.

Maybe if it could handle alcohol better, Theo wouldn't have found himself in this mess to begin with.

Thankfully, he was still wearing his shorts and yellow football shirt, so he didn't think he'd done anything too bad, though waking up with a practical stranger was bad enough.

He heard his teammates talking about such encounters lots of times, but Theo had never been one for falling into bed with the first willing participant he came across.

"You're thinking too loud," Charlie grumbled, putting an arm over his head. "Stop it."

Theo snorted as he finished tying his shoes. "I'm gonna go," he said quietly. "I'll, um, see you around?"

Charlie moved his arm enough to blink his eyes open at Theo. "Is there a reason you're running out of here like you think I've got a disease or is this standard practice?"

Theo blinked. "Um. I… guess I thought this is how it's supposed to go?"

Charlie chuckled as he turned onto his back, propping his head up beneath his arms. "Well, if you're not in any rush, I know a really good cafe nearby, they do the best post hangover breakfast you'll ever try."

Theo hesitated. He knew he should leave and forget all about Charlie Weasley, but…

"Listen to your head. Heart gets you in trouble, head is your friend."

Theo's mother's words echoed in his mind and he winced. That was why he shouldn't go to breakfast with Charlie. His mum was right and he knew it.

"I, uh—"

"I'm asking you to breakfast, not for your hand in marriage."

A chuckle escaped Theo and he sighed then nodded. "Okay, breakfast."

…

When they'd finished breakfast, Charlie asked if Theo would like to go to the movies with him, later in the week, but Theo said no before he could think himself into it.

He didn't have time for distractions from his work, not if he wanted to keep the scholarship that would hopefully save him from years of debt.

Charlie took the denial well and he didn't push Theo for more. He smiled perhaps a little sadly and then clapped Theo on the back before they parted ways.

Theo thought that would be the end of it. Except, he started seeing Charlie all over the campus. Sometimes, the redhead wouldn't see him at all, and Theo would just walk in the opposite direction, feeling oddly awkward around the man.

Other times, Charlie would see him, and he'd wave and call out a greeting, apparently not feeling any of the awkwardness that Theo was.

Theo avoided the parties over the following weeks, choosing instead to busy himself with the last weeks of coursework and exam prep.

Leaving the library one night, he was surprised to see Charlie sitting outside it, on the hood of his car. Theo blinked and then walked closer.

"What are you doing here?"

"I can't get you out of my mind," Charlie replied. "And I know you said you didn't want to go to the movies, but I asked around—"

"You what?"

"And I was told that you don't ever date and I wondered… I wondered why you don't date? And if it's not personal, maybe I could help you change your mind."

"I… it's not personal, you're right," Theo admitted. "I just don't have time to date. I don't trust myself not to get distracted and you… you're very… you could distract me easily."

Charlie let out a slightly frustrated noise. "I get that you're focused on your school work, I really do, I feel the same about my own. I just… you don't need to be present to distract me, Theo. I just… all I'm asking for is a date. Just… a chance?"

Theo knew he should say no, he really did. But… Charlie was looking at him with so much hope, and Theo… he liked Charlie. He wanted to know more about him.

"Okay."

…

Theo held the graduation scroll in his fist, a wide smile on his face. He'd actually done it, he couldn't believe it.

Large hands wrapped around his waist from behind, picking him up and spinning him around. "Congratulations, baby!"

He was set back on his feet and he turned in the embrace to smile widely at Charlie.

"I did it!"

"I never doubted you," Charlie said, his smile wide and honest. He pressed a kiss to Theo's head. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Written for;

Disney - D3. "Listen to your head. Heart gets you in trouble, head is your friend."

Showtime - 4. Something alcoholic

Attic - 1. "There's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait."

Film Festival - 20. Smoking

Marvel Appreciation - Mind Stone - 1. University!au, 2. Yellow, 4. Frustrated, 5. Thinking, 6. "I can't get you out of my mind."

Pop Figure - Alex Wilder - Theo Nott / Someone playing a sport / Mystified / "I'm so confused right now."

Funfair, South - Pygmy Puff - Benedict - University!au

Funfair, East - Gnome Throwing - Theodore Nott

365 - 133. Disease