Chapter Text
It had been two weeks. Two full weeks since Arin had confessed that maybe he had a crush on Dan. Two full weeks without a recording session. Two full weeks of ignored texts and calls.
He had long since surpassed worrying about what he said and was more worried how Dan was taking it. He wasn't worried he had done something rash; he wasn't like that. He just assumed Dan had holed up in his house for a few days, maybe went to see Brian.
Arin set the plate he was washing down and sighed. He wiped his hand dry and checked his phone. Once again, he was met with a no text notifications from Dan. He set it aside again and resumed his washing as he thought back to the night.
They were sleepy and giggly and playing a game. It had been a long day. He yawned and leaned against Dan's side as his character ran across the screen.
"You make a comfy pillow, dude." He shifted a bit until he was comfortable.
"Aw, thanks. Most girlfriends found me too bony." His fingers moved from the back of the couch to Arin's shoulder, curling around the soft muscle with his fingertips under the sleeve edge.
Arin tried to not think too much about how easy the action sent his heart soaring. "Nah. You got some plush to ya." He adjusted again and stretched. "Alright. Next time on Game Grumps."
Dan stretched as well. "We'll be awake and moving and ready to finish this game."
"Hopefully." He sat up to write down the time and grab a drink of water.
"You got this, baby. I believe in you."
Again, just simple words made his stomach flip happily. "Man, you believe in me so much. I'm just overflowing with Dan love." He laughed softly as he leaned back against him.
Dan put his hand back on Arin's shoulder. "That's what I'm here for, baby bear. Lots of lovin'." He made sure the mics were off and traced the edge of Arin's sleeve. "I may just stay here tonight. Sleep on the couch in your office."
Arin yawned. "I had the same idea. Plus, this one stinks with all my farts so I wouldn't want to lay on it and let them all free."
"No kidding. This whole room is just plastered with your ass stink. We're gonna have to deep clean to get the smell out whenever we finally decide we're sick of it."
Arin simply chuckled and yawned. "Don't let me keep you here all night. You can push me off at any moment."
Dan said nothing, simply continuing his slow circles on Arin's arm and beginning to sing one of his latest covers.
It was a comfortable silence, Dan's voice lulling Arin to an even further state of relaxation. He began to feel more comfortable and even felt the need to say what had been on his tongue for years.
"Hey, Dan?"
"Yes, Arin?"
"Can I tell you something kinda serious?"
Not even a moment of hesitation, "Of course."
Arin shifted his head, face more against the man's chest. "... I like you, dude."
"I know."
"No, not like that." The fingers on his arm slowed to a halt. "I mean... I like like you." Slowly, he tried to hide but he heard Dan murmur for him to sit up.
The two of them slowly sat up, Arin on his legs and Dan against the arm of the couch. Dan had an unreadable look on his face. "You like like me. Like how we used to say to girls when we were in third grade?"
Regret washed over Arin like a tsunami. He looked down at his hands resting in fists upon his folded legs. Wordlessly, he nodded. "It... might even be more than that," he whispered, but in the soundproofed room it was like a bomb dropping.
He couldn't take it back and say it was a joke. He was too sincere. They both could tell. He wasn't as good at fake outs as Dan was; they'd learned that playing trick-the-other-person style games.
"More how." It wasn't angry, but forceful. Like he needed to know right away. It was edging on angry, Arin felt.
"More as in I think... Dan, don't make me say it." His throat began to close as he began to panic. He had no way out and now he had to face the music. Dan asked again, more forceful.
"I think I love you."
They sat in quiet silence before Dan stood and started for the door. Arin couldn't look; couldn't watch as his best friend left him.
"I'll see you later, Arin."
The door shut and the man laid back down, wrapping in the brown blanket so many lovelies called Dan's even though he was the one who'd bought it.
Thinking on it now, Arin knew then Dan had all intention of returning, but after week one came and went, his hope began to fade.
He feared that he had lost his best friend all because he had fallen for him.