Chapter Text
Dan can’t sleep. He’s tossing and turning, trying to get at least a little bit of sleep, but it’s useless. Beside him, sitting up and still awake, is Herbert. Reading, he notices Dan’s restlessness out of the corner of his eye. He doesn’t address it just yet, waiting for his roommate to speak first. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, Dan leans against Herbert slightly. It’s silent again, but it’s a comfortable silence. Not awkward and full of tension like their previous silences. Hearing each other’s breathing wasn’t worrying this time, it was slow and relaxed, giving them the feeling of safety. Finally, Herbert spoke up, “Dan?”
“Hmm?” Dan hums.
“What are we?” He does a poor job at hiding his feelings in that question. Usually his voice is nearly deadpan, but this time he sounds… anxious. Vulnerable. He’s talking about his feelings willingly though, so that’s an improvement.
“What do you mean, Herbert?”
Sigh. That wasn’t clear enough for him. “Well, I’ve confessed my feelings. Then you’ve kissed me. Is that all there is to whatever we have?”
Dan’s quiet for a few moments, thinking about what Herbert has said. Does he want to make this something? He has no experience with men, only the ladies he’s dated before. But then again… Herbert was interesting, in both good and bad ways. It may be odd to see him vulnerable like this, not all arrogant and bossy, but it was somewhat endearing to Dan. Proof that he wasn’t all that he seemed, that every once in a while his guard can come down. Playing it safe, he says, “Do you want this to be something more?”
A pause. Then an ever-so quiet answer, “Yes.”
It’s freeing, honestly. They’re going to go through with this, and they’re not going to be interrupted. No distractions from other people, no failures, just whatever this relationship will be. Thinking for a moment, Dan gets an idea. It’s clearly late at night, and Herbert probably hasn’t slept since the nap they shared together. Carefully, he takes the book out of his hands, putting in a bookmark and setting it down somewhere else. Herbert starts to protest, but Dan just shushes him gently, taking his glasses off as well. They get placed with the book, and Herbert begrudgingly goes with Dan, laying down in his embrace.
“Let’s sleep, yeah?” Was the last thing Dan mumbled to him, before they both dozed off.