The way you said I love you
Broken, as you clutch the sleeve of my jacket and beg me not to leave.
Oliver and Charlie had exchanged countless “I love you”s over the years that had passed since the aftermath of the battle of Hogwarts where the young Oliver Wood had been able to offer his childhood crush a shoulder to cry on. They both mourned losses that day and in the time to follow, but at some point Charlie looked at Oliver and saw past the little boy who got knocked out during his first quidditch match, just like Oliver looked at Charlie and saw a human being in the place of his idol. Some might think it a let down, but Charlie was every bit as amazing as the younger man had made him out to be, just in a much more real way.
The first I love you was said in an almost-whisper on a green field, their fingers laced together as they lie side by side. It had been quiet for a minute or so after Oliver had told Charlie how he used to have a crush on him.
“You know,” Charlie had said finally, “I think I love you, Oliver Wood.”
“I think I love you too,” Oliver had replied.
They had said the words so many times since then, in public, in private, as promises, reassurances, confirmations of what they both knew, apologies, excuses, and lately as band aids, trying to heal what was broken between them.
“I love you,” Oliver would say apologetically when he came home late from practice.
“I love you,” Charlie would say as he kissed Oliver goodbye before he had to leave because of an unexpected work emergency.
But never, never once in their ups and downs of their relationship had an I love you sounded quite so broken.
Oliver was dirty, his hear wet, mud all over his clothes, his broom on the floor where he’d dropped it when he saw Charlie’s bag as he came in an hour or so ago.
Desperation was all that was left when he grabbed hold of the sleeve of Charlie’s jacket, one last attempt.
“I love you,” he wanted to say so much more. Please don’t leave, I need you, I don’t know what I’ll do without you. But he tried to fit it all into those three words, as if there was any way to fix this.