Work Text:
🍕
Tossing pizza dough isn’t how Nick Nelson expected to use his strong rugby arms after retiring from the Leeds Badgers, but having muscles does help add some extra height to his throws.
He oddly enjoys the monotonous tasks associated with cooking the same dish for hours on end. It’s quite therapeutic to spread the sauce in an even coat, grab a handful of cheese to sprinkle on top, and meticulously arrange the toppings. There’s something special about putting your own raw creation in a giant oven so it can magically transform into something delicious.
Maybe that’s just him attempting to romanticise his shitty post-rugby career choice, but it works.
It’s not like he needed another job after finishing a mildly successful stint as a professional athlete, but moping around a lonely flat waiting for life to happen to him didn’t seem like a very appealing way to spend retirement. At least working for Dominos allows him to interact with other human beings in the real world. Remarkably, he’s made genuine friends with some of his co-workers.
He really likes the General Manager, Darcy, even though she’s a bit of a loose cannon. She’s the type of person to order a pizza with both anchovies and pineapple; not because she actually likes those toppings, but because she seeks to anger the maximum number of people with her diabolical choices. Her girlfriend, Tara, is the Assistant Manager. She’s a classic cheese pizza lover but will also just pick off anything she doesn’t like without any complaint.
Despite them being total opposites, they somehow manage to balance each other out perfectly. Unfortunately, some of this “balancing” is known to take place in the storage room during business hours. Not that Nick’s judging, but it is rather annoying to do three people’s worth of work because your so-called “managers” are shagging in the back.
Whatever, Nick will take what he can get in terms of authentic friendships. He’s in touch with some of the lads from the team, but he never connects with them about anything except sports. With Tara and Darcy, he’s been able to open up about his bisexuality, Marvel obsession, love of dogs, and propensity for baking. In these past few years working with the girls, he’s figured out who he is outside of “Rugby King Nick Nelson”, and he couldn’t be happier with his newfound identity.
Nick is broken out of his reverent reflection by the soft hum of an online order receipt being printed. This means the astounding two minutes he’s made without having to do anything has woefully come to an end. On a good day, he can spend ten minutes wasting time in between job duties. He picks up the receipt and sighs. Today is not a good day.
ORDER: 256
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: my roommate tao will answer the door because i just received a horrible haircut and im drowning my sorrows in the grease of this pizza. please forgive him if he looks grumpy, that’s just his face.
The note produces a small laugh from Nick, but the noise quickly dies in his throat once he reads what he’s actually meant to be preparing for this customer.
1 Lg Pizza
Hand Tossed
Olive
Extra Olive
“What the hell?” Nick exclaims, eyes practically bulging out of his head at this abhorrent selection. How could someone write such endearing delivery instructions and also have such terrible taste?
“Something wrong, Nicky?” Darcy asks, sauntering into his space and looking at him expectantly.
“Code Black. Olive Black.” Nick says, barely suppressing a disgusted shudder.
Darcy just snorts and rolls her eyes, returning to folding the pizza boxes at her station.
“You know it’s completely normal and very grown-up to put olives on your pizza.” She shouts from across the room.
“If this is what it means to be an adult, I’m entering my Peter Pan era.”
“More like Pizza Pan.”
“That one was bad, Darcy.”
“Some would say it was… cheesy .”
“I’m literally quitting.” Nick grumbles, unfortunately doing the opposite by actually beginning his job.
He’s able to do the preparation without trouble, it’s only when he gets to the assembly phase that he realises something: the olive container is completely full. In fact, he can’t recall a time where he’s ever had to refill this particular topping choice. He refills the pepperoni multiple times per day, and he’s even replaced the pineapple a couple of times. It’s almost like olives shouldn’t be on pizza , Nick muses. Not that he’s in any place to criticise someone else’s taste, he still drinks bubblegum milkshakes at 36 years old.
As he places the food in the oven, Nick is given some time to think while cleaning his work station. He feels kinda bad for judging so harshly. This poor person must be in disarray after such a bad haircut. So, after a quick Google search and about two minutes of spiralling, Nick finally caves and crafts the perfect message to write on the inside of the pizza box.
“Sorry about the haircut. P.S. you should order spinach and peppers next time. According to the all-knowing Google, they stimulate hair growth and are infinitely better than this abomination you have forced me to make.”
He rarely writes notes unless someone requests a stupid drawing or phrase, but something about this order was begging for Nick’s attention. He hopes it can cheer Charlie S up.
🍕🍕
Nick’s feet hurt.
He’s got about two hours left of his shift and time couldn’t be moving any slower. The day has been torturously uninteresting until he reads his next online order.
ORDER: 194
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: tell the olive-hating chef that charlie says thank you. i’m still mourning the loss of my curls so an annoyed looking beanie with legs will answer the door (my roommate tao)
Nick smiles, heart feeling full. He remembers back to a week ago where he wrote that silly little message on the inside of the pizza box and got endless ribbing from Darcy. Clearly it was worth it. His smile just grows wider when he reads the order.
1 Lg Pizza
Hand Tossed
Spinach
Pepper
Olive
Extra Olive
There are still olives, so clearly his work isn’t done quite yet. He puts the assembled pizza into the oven and grabs a pen to write another note.
“You’re welcome. - Olive Hating Chef. P.S. According to the all-knowing Google, olives actually make your hair magically grow shorter! I would personally recommend picking all of them off and throwing them in the rubbish. Good luck!”
Satisfied with this message, he packages the pizza and gives the box to Darcy as she exits the building to start her deliveries.
Nick has around 30 minutes left in his shift when Darcy returns, a devilish grin painting her face.
“Just so you know, Nick, Charlie is totally your type.”
🍕🍕🍕
It’s been about two months since the first order from Charlie S and Nick has been able to gather vague details about Charlie’s appearance from his weekly orders. As much as Nick hates to say it, Darcy is correct. Charlie is totally his type.
ORDER: 103
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: contactless! please leave it outside. if you see a pair blue eyes peeking out from the window, that’s just me making sure you’re not a burglar
ORDER: 85
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: i know this is different from my usual, but i just finished a marathon and my body needs a refuel.
Curly hair? Blue eyes? Strong runner legs? Nick could faint from the utter amount of swoon he is experiencing. To make matters even worse, his delivery instructions are always so damn charming. Can you develop a crush on someone you’ve never even seen before?
He’s created a game with Darcy where he guesses Charlie’s order based on the delivery instructions alone. Because Charlie is officially a regular customer who calls in a couple times every week, Nick has his usual requests memorised. He takes a bit of pride in the fact that spinach has made it onto the list of Charlie’s favourite toppings. Nick refuses to unpack that, but he’s fully aware that he’s in danger.
“Nicky, your boyfriend has ordered, but I don’t think he’s ever done this combination of toppings. Are you up for it?” Darcy asks, holding a receipt in her hand.
Nick turns away from the Margherita he’s currently preparing and faces Darcy, nodding as he wipes his hands on his apron.
“Okay, well his delivery instructions are: ‘Tao’s chosen to watch Donnie Darko again. Do not judge my choices, I am very vulnerable right now.’” Darcy reads. Nick furrows his brows and thinks for a moment.
“Well, he’s still getting extra olives to spite me, but he’s also drinking white wine because it’s a movie he doesn’t like. This means he probably added onion and pineapple because they pair the best.”
Darcy looks down at the receipt, then back up at Nick with a perplexed expression. She shakes her head incredulously.
“You have some serious issues,” she snorts, handing him the paper to show that his guess was dead on.
For the second time today, he has to admit that Darcy is correct.
🍕🍕🍕🍕
Today has been a relatively quiet day. It’s also not one of Charlie’s regular order days, so imagine Nick’s surprise when Darcy wordlessly hands him a receipt reading:
ORDER: 42
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: just found out my boyfriend of 2 years has been cheating on me. i know you usually give me extra olives, but at this point i wish there was an option for extra extra. just give me as much as you can, i’ve tipped more this time to make up for it. thank you.
Nick’s heart suddenly sprouts the most confusing ache. This stranger doesn’t even know his name, but the innocent communication through pizza boxes and delivery instructions is something Nick has come to cherish. The thought of somebody hurting Charlie sends an inexplicable surge of anger through his body. Luckily, Nick knows exactly how he can help.
By the time he finishes preparing Charlie’s order, he’s actually had to refill the olives for the first time ever. At this point, there’s a topping covering every inch of cheese and you can barely tell it’s a pizza anymore. He briefly debates forming a heart out of spinach, but has to reel himself in. He settles with writing a note that attempts to adequately capture the intense emotions he’s experiencing.
“Hello Charlie,
You have no idea who I am, but I’m the guy that usually prepares your pizzas. I don’t know a whole lot about you, but I do know there is no universe where you deserved being cheated on. Your ex is undoubtedly the most stupid twatwaffle in the world. From what I’ve gathered, you are funny, smart, kind, and a great tipper. This makes you a superior person to whichever idiot gave you up. Stay strong, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I hope you enjoy this olive with a side of pizza.
Sincerely,
Olive Hating Chef”
After nervously pacing and debating throwing the entire box away, he swallows his anxiety and places the completed pizza with the rest going out for delivery.
He finishes the rest of his shift and he goes to leave, surprised by Darcy slapping a fiver on his chest before he can make it out the door.
“What is this?” He asks.
“It’s from Charlie. Whatever you put in that pizza box was enough to make him cry and run calling after me. He asked me to give you this tip.” She says. Nick’s eyes widen and he takes it, tracing the crease where it was folded, becoming increasingly aware that his secret crush has touched the very same material.
After that, Nick doesn’t see an order from Charlie S for months.
🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
During the first couple weeks, Nick worries that he’s completely overstepped. Sure, Charlie tipped him generously for the letter he wrote, but what if he was just being nice? He’s a nice guy, of course he would feel obligated to reciprocate a kind gesture. Ugh, Nick had really screwed up, hadn’t he?
As the weeks turn into months, Charlie S always finds a way into the back of his mind. It’s made infinitely worse that Nick still remembers all of his regular orders, meaning anything similar jogs his memory and causes him to think about a certain curly-haired-blue-eyed runner.
When Charlie starts ordering again, his first order requests Darcy to deliver to him. Nick makes his classic extra olive pizza and sends it out. When Darcy returns, she is frustratingly silent about her trips. Given the wicked look in her eye, he knows she’s up to something.
The orders return to normal after that, and the conversation steadily continues. Charlie apologises for his absence and explains that he went on a diet. He also says he will unfortunately be ordering less and less as he starts a strict meal plan. Nick vows to somehow get in contact with Charlie for real before he stops ordering altogether. After he receives a very particular online order on a quiet Wednesday night, he may be able to fulfil that vow sooner than he thought.
ORDER: 58
NAME: Charlie S
TYPE: Delivery
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: please send a hot delivery man that also happens to like men
Nick laughs out loud, not exactly sure what to do about that instruction. The only employee that can deliver right now is Darcy, and she doesn’t exactly fit that criteria.
1 Lg Pizza
Hand Tossed
Sausage
Olive
Extra Olive
“What’s so funny?” Darcy asks, walking over to Nick.
“Charlie sent an instruction that I’m not sure we can actually do.” Nick says, handing the receipt to Darcy.
“What do you mean we can’t do it?” Darcy questions, tilting her head to the side and looking him up and down.
“Because… you’re a lesbian?” Nick says, his tone questioning.
“Thank you for noticing.” Darcy drawls. “You’re on delivery for this one, Nelson.” She states, matter-of-factly.
“Excuse me?” Nick squawks.
“You still like men, yeah?” She asks. Nick’s mouth is agape, but he nods lamely. “Then it’s settled. As your boss, I order you to deliver this pizza to your dream boy!” She says, turning on her heels and returning to her office, slamming the door behind her before Nick can protest.
He shakes his head and groans. What type of bloody predicament has he gotten himself into now? As he prepares the pizza with shaky hands, he decides against writing a note this time. He’s way too nervous for his penmanship to be anything other than a travesty.
He places his apron on the coat rack and borrows Darcy’s Dominos cap, cursing himself for not wearing something a little nicer to work. He climbs into the car and places the pizza in the passenger side, beginning the tortuous trip to Charlie’s address.
He pulls into the drive of a quaint looking cottage and he’s insanely nervous. If Charlie is half as cute as his house is, Nick might combust on the spot. He walks up the stone pathway with a single pizza box in hand, bringing up his other arm to ring the doorbell. After a short wait, the door opens to the most beautiful man Nick has ever seen in his entire life.
“Hi,” Charlie says, his blue eyes more piercing and curls more intricate than Nick could’ve ever imagined. He looks sculpted from marble, a work of art that millions travel from around the world to get a single glimpse of.
“Hi,” Nick breathes, mouth unable to form anything else. Charlie seems to be looking him up and down as well, and soon his beautiful mouth shapes into a slight smirk. Nick feels his knees buckle.
“Do you have that big sausage for me?” Charlie asks. Nick gulps, feeling the last of his saliva go down his throat as his mouth completely dries up.
“P-pardon me?” He stutters.
“I did order the sausage, right?” Charlie questions, batting his eyelashes innocently.
“Oh! Yes!” Nick replies, face burning and volume far too loud for such a calm night. He nervously hands Charlie the pizza box.
“Thanks.” Charlie smiles, purposely letting their hands brush so electric currents travel up Nick’s arm and into his entire body. “What do you think about topping?” Charlie asks, staring deeply into Nick’s surprised eyes.
“Um, what?” Nick squeaks, completely unsure how he could’ve misinterpreted this question.
“The toppings I chose. I remember you weren’t exactly a fan of olive pizza.” Charlie says.
Nick is embarrassed again and lets out a noise between a laugh and a groan. This seems to cause Charlie some unease as he quickly begins to backtrack.
“Unless Darcy sent the wrong guy and this is not the person that’s been writing me notes.” Charlie says worriedly. “In which case I apologise profusely.” He adds, no longer able to make eye contact and actively retreating into his doorway.
“Wait!” Nick blurts, “I am! I am the olive hating chef you’ve been talking to.” He explains, pleased when Charlie breathes a sigh of relief and looks into his eyes again.
“Oh. Good. That’s… good.” Charlie says, biting his lip in thought. Nick suddenly finds it very hard to get enough oxygen in his lungs. “What’s your name? Just so I know who to address my instructions to.”
“It’s Nick Nelson.”
“Charlie Spring.” Charlie states, reaching his hand out to give Nick a firm handshake. There goes that electric current again.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Charlie Spring.” Nick says, giving him a gentle smile. Charlie returns with his own smile and Nick notices his dimples. There’s no universe where Nick can possibly make it out of this interaction without falling in love.
“It’s even nicer to meet you, Nick Nelson.”
🫒
This was a stupid idea.
Nick concludes that he’s never listening to Darcy again.
He is back outside of Charlie’s door with a complimentary extra olive pizza and his phone number written on the inside of the box. It’s not one of Charlie’s usual delivery days so there’s no way Nick can be sure that he’s actually home. Or if he’s even interested in the slightest. Maybe Nick is being creepy coming onto this completely innocent man and Darcy’s gay intuition is completely misguided.
Sure, their notes have become increasingly flirtier ever since they first met in person, but that doesn’t actually translate to real attraction, does it? Is there a chance that Charlie could ever like him back? He’s half convinced himself to cower back into his car and quit his job, when his nightmare scenario comes to life. The door swings open to a very confused-looking Charlie Spring.
“Nick?”
“Charlie!” Nick yelps, his automatic reaction being to push the pizza towards the other man, begging him to take it so he can go into hiding forever.
“Um, I didn’t order any pizza. I think you have the wrong address.” He says, smiling softly as his kind eyes do nothing to help Nick’s flustered state.
“God, I really am messing this whole thing up, aren’t I? I know you didn’t order anything, but… I made this for you and I would really appreciate it if you took it so I can get out of your hair and stop embarrassing myself.” Nick babbles, blushing profusely.
“Oh!” Charlie gasps, as if it’s a pleasant surprise, and takes the pizza. “Thank you.”
Nick feels like a lovestruck teenager. His palms are sweating and his cheeks are alarmingly warm, leaving him to do nothing but stare lamely at this angel of a man he’s lucky enough to be standing in front of.
“So, um-“ Nick starts, shifting awkwardly.
“You’re quite eloquent.” Charlie quips, looking at Nick with an amused expression, clearly enjoying watching him squirm.
“I’m so sorry. I’m not usually like this. Forming a coherent sentence just gets significantly harder when you’re in front of me for some reason.” Nick says sheepishly. Charlie giggles. It’s like music and Nick is adding this particular song to his playlist immediately so he can listen to it on repeat for the rest of his life.
Pulling his head violently from the clouds, he forces himself to act like a normal human being and clears his throat, straightening his stance and shifting his shoulders back. Pulling some imaginary confidence out of his arse, he beams at Charlie and chooses his next words carefully.
“I look forward to your next order.” Nick says.
“In that case, I have plenty of orders to give you, Nick Nelson.” Charlie smirks. Nick feels his soul leave his body and his face turn pizza-sauce red. Charlie laughs at his reaction. “That was a little too much for tonight, huh? I’m sorry. Thank you for the pizza, Nick, seriously. It’s really sweet. I should let you get back to work now.” Charlie smiles warmly. Nick melts in it. He’s not going to tell Charlie that he specifically took the day off to gather enough courage to deliver this pizza. Nope. No way. He will leave with some dignity, thank you very much.
“It’s no problem. I hope you like it!” Nick says, still recovering.
They both stand in silence for a moment, almost as if neither of them really want to leave, until Charlie breaks the spell and backs into his doorway.
“Thank you again. Bye, Nick.” Charlie says, giving Nick the most adorable little wave as he closes the door.
Nick waves back and practically skips towards his car, sliding into the driver’s seat and pumping his fist in the air. That wasn’t a total disaster. Sure, he may have made a fool of himself, but Charlie seemed to like it. That theory is proven when he hears his phone ding in notification. It’s a text message from Charlie. Nick immediately changes the contact info and texts back.
Charlie (18:37) : hi, this is charlie. is this nick nelson?
Nick (18:37) : Yes! I’m so glad you texted.
Charlie (18:37) : me too! i actually have a question for you
Charlie (18:37) : was it you who formed the olives into a heart shape?
Nick
(18:38)
:
What? No! That is such a weird coincidence. Whoever did that is definitely not me.
Nick
(18:37)
:
You actually have the wrong number.
Nick
(18:39)
:
Yes. If you never want to talk to me again, I would absolutely understand.
Nick (18:40) : Yes. I’m sorry if it was too much.
Charlie (18:42) : please don’t apologise, i actually have another question
Charlie (18:42) : are you still outside?
Nick (18:42) : Yes. I’m currently too embarrassed to drive.
Charlie (18:42) : good thing my plans for you tonight don’t include you driving anywhere. want to come inside?
Nick
(18:43)
:
My legs are jelly, I don’t think I can walk after that.
Nick
(18:44)
:
UM, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Nick (18:45) : You’re serious???
Charlie (18:45) : serious enough to pick all the olives off and share my pizza with you.
Nick (18:45) : I’m at the door right now.