Auction: Charlie Weasley
Character Appreciation: Head Boy
Trope of the Month, crossgen: information
Lyric Alley: I know I deserve your love
Sophie's Shelf: CharlieTeddy
Word Count: 433
"I heard the news," Charlie says, gesturing at the Head Boy badge pinned to Teddy's chest. "Congratulations."
The seventeen year old hesitates, a quick chill shooting down his spine. He stares at the older man for several seconds, trying to formulate a sentence.
His dads know his crush, of course. They had always called it cute and said that anything could happen. Teddy wonders if they're right. Could Charlie want to date him too?
He feels ridiculous to even consider it. What would Charlie want from someone like him?
But he pushes that thought away as quickly as it comes. It doesn't matter if Charlie returns his feelings or not. Teddy is so tired of keeping it a secret. He's an adult now, and adults are supposed to say what they mean.
If Charlie doesn't feel the same way, it's okay. Teddy knows it isn't because he isn't worth loving.
"Got any plans to celebrate?" Charlie asks whenever the stretch of silence becomes too much. He gestures around at the gathering of Weasleys and Potters, all of doing their things. "Aside from Mum's little party for you, I mean."
Teddy swallows dryly but nods. It takes a moment for him to remember how to speak. "Yeah. Come here. I'll show you."
Before Charlie can even ask, Teddy walks off. He hears footsteps behind him as the older man rushes to keep up. Teddy leads him a hidden spot just beyond the Burrow's back yard. It's his favorite hiding place; only James knows about it, and that's only because he had been with Teddy when he'd first hidden out there.
"Will you help me celebrate?" Teddy asks softly, his cheeks warming with color.
"How?"
Teddy leans in, pressing a kiss to Charlie's lips. It just feels right. He thinks back to all the times he's kissed Victoire, so desperate for it to feel natural and normal. Now, he finally knows what it's like to kiss the right person.
Charlie breaks the kiss, pulling away with wide eyes. "You do know how old I am, right?"
Teddy grins. "Yes. I do."
"It doesn't bother you?"
It isn't as though this is some new information. Teddy has had plenty of time to cope with the fact that Charlie is much older than he is.
"Not at all," Teddy assures him.
A moment passes. Charlie presses a kiss to his forehead. "I'm not saying no," he says. "Let me wrap my head around it, okay? Then we can see where it goes from there."
Teddy nods. It's a hopeful beginning, and he is willing to accept it.
