#writerlester

Arin thought he knew Dan well before but now he’s learning all these new things. Like how Dan keeps his belongings organized but not necessarily neat, and what he likes to eat, and how sometimes he’ll go for days without sleep, too caught up in a project or a whirlwind of inspiration to make time. He figures out that Dan gets cold really easily and needs at least two blankets within arms reach at all times. He learns that Dan gets sentimental when he’s tired. He expounds more than once on the virtues of Arin’s friendship and claims, sleepily, that Arin is just, the best, and it’s during moments like these that Arin realizes he’s in way too fucking deep because all Dan has to do is smile in his direction and Arin feels like he could vomit butterflies.

For a long time, Arin is convinced he doesn’t stand a chance. That Dan isn’t interested. They’ve been friends for so long, Dan has had plenty of time to make his feelings evident. Not just that but Arin is now privy to the kinds of people Dan has dated in the past and, sadly, none of them resemble Arin in the slightest.

So Arin tries to move on. It’s an ongoing project but… He does try. He’s in the process of trying during a party when Dan starts to get weird.

Being half in love with Dan for so long has left Arin in a state of perpetual awareness of him. When Dan enters a room, Arin notices. When he has Dan’s attention, Arin feels it like a physical thing. Which is why he’s so keenly aware of Dan watching him from across the room. When Arin glances his way, he’s deep in discussion with Barry, but Arin is sure Dan’s eyes were on him just seconds ago, and he even thinks he catches Dan frowning in his direction once or twice.

Arin tries to ignore him, tries to focus on the perfectly good-looking guy that’s attempting to chat him up. It’s easier said than done, because while the guy is attractive he’s also as boring as stale bread and Arin can’t help but think he doesn’t hold a candle to Dan.

Still, he does try, as he promised himself he would, right up until he notices Dan working his way through the crowd and slipping out the front door. He grows concerned not just because Dan is his ride home, but also because it’s unlike Dan to leave a party prematurely unless he’s feeling sick. So of course Arin makes his excuses to the guy who was, in all likelihood, hoping to score with him, and follows in Dan’s wake, just to see what the deal is.

He finds Dan sitting on the curb by the street, his long legs folded at the knee. He’s fidgeting with this phone but as Arin draws closer he can see that the screen is dark. Arin takes a hesitant seat beside him. Dan’s face is mostly obscured by his hair but the sigh he heaves sets off some alarm bells in Arin’s head.

“Everything okay, man?” He nudges Dan, gently, with an elbow.

It’s a chilly, overcast night. Dan is bundled up in layers, and as Arin watches he pulls his sleeves over his knuckles. “Yeah, man, just needed some fresh air,” he says, unconvincingly.

Arin laughs, more a reflex than anything. “C’mon, don’t play tough. What’s going on? Whose ass do I need to kick?”

Dan shakes his head. “No one, I’m just-“ He breaks off, starts again. He abruptly turns to face Arin as he says, in a rush, “Listen, man, I just need to know- I’m tired of doing this fucking dance, right? Is there any way- like, any at all- that I’ll ever stand a chance with you? Cause not to be weird but I’ve been over here, fucking, losing my shit over you for like two years, Arin. Two years.”

Arin blinks. Dan’s eyebrows are scrunched and as soon as he stops talking he starts worrying his lip between his teeth. If Arin didn’t know better he’d say Dan was blushing as well. “Uh,” Arin says. “I’m-“

“Sorry, shit,” Dan interrupts. He buries his face in his hands. His voice is muffled as he adds, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to spring it on you like this, but I’ve been dropping hints like nobody’s fucking business and I thought we were on the same page but then I saw you in there with that guy-“

“Hints?” Arin interrupts. “Whoa, whoa. What hints?”

“Dude! I literally told you I loved you last night!”

“That’s not a hint! You tell me that every day!”

“Yeah, well, I- I walk around in your clothes-“

“You said they were comfortable!”

Dan gesticulates wildly, as if to illustrate an unspoken point. Then, for the first time that night, they make eye contact- and immediately dissolve into a fit of giggles. Dan leans on Arin, laughs into his shoulder, and he stays put even as the giggles subside. “I’m such an idiot,” he says.

“I think we’ve both been idiots,” Arin says, not unkindly. “You’re literally so far out of my league. I thought… I thought you’d never…”

Dan sits up enough to plant a kiss on Arin’s cheek. “No one’s out of your league,” he assures him.

“We’ve got some shit to figure out,” Arin realizes.

Dan hums his agreement. “How about we figure it out over dinner? Real date style.”

“Deal,” Arin agrees. “But I’m warning you, I don’t put out on the first date.”

Dan snickers. “We’ll see about that,” he says, in a way that makes Arin a little weak in the knees.

[more prompt fills]