Chapter Text
“I’m telling you guys, he’s really in there!” Dan said.
“Sure Dan.” Chris said as he and Elise went down the stairs.
“UGH, you’re just going to leave me here with him?” Dan whined. “Some friends you are!”
Elise turned back as she opened her car door. “We’d really like to help you, Dan, but this is something you’re going to have to sort out yourself.”
Chris turned his key as his wife got in the car. “I do feel kind of bad leaving him like this… he seems distressed.”
“Chris, we have to stay strong in this. It’s for his own good.” Elise said placatingly. “Besides, if he doesn’t get over his fear of being alone in his apartment, he’s going to want to stay at our place.”
“Well, if he really needs to-“ Chris started.
“Chris, Honey. You know how hard it is to get a full night’s sleep when Dan is across town. Do you really want to find out how hard it would be when he’s just down the hall?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right…” Chris said as he pulled out of the space.
“I can’t believe they just left me here!” Dan said to the empty air. He turned back to his apartment and tried the doorknob with his key. The lock refused to open. “Oh come on! He changed the locks on me?”
He looked around, frustrated. “Of all the lousy…” He sighed and looked at the sky. He’d have to hurry if he wanted to make the long walk in time to get to Wally’s Hardware Emporium and Explosives to buy a lock pick.
The imposter slept soundly in his bed. The apartment wasn’t so bad, now that he’d cleaned it up. Mr Mumbles curled up by his feet, keeping them nice and warm. He smiled in his sleep and gripped Dan’s teddy bear tighter, satisfied with himself even in his subconscious.
Until he heard a noise at the door. Mr Mumbles dug her claws in his feet, and he winced. He sat still for a moment, listening. The door opened and shut, and he heard footsteps growing closer to the bedroom door. He got out of bed and looked for something heavy to bash the intruder over the head with, but looking around in the dark of night wasn’t easy. The door to the bedroom opened before he could find anything useful.
“Good. You’re up. Get lost.” Oh. Dan.
“No can do Dan-o.” The imposter said groggily. “This is my apartment now”
“Well I’m tired, and that’s my bed you’re sleeping in.” Dan said as he crossed his arms.
“My bed.” The imposter corrected.
“Shut up.” Dan said. He stomped across the floor angrily, his footsteps heavy. Mr Mumbles darted out into the living room between his legs. They were only inches apart now.
“I’m going to sleep now. Get out of my apartment.” Dan ordered.
The imposter smirked. “Well, I’m not leaving.” He said as he slid back under the sheets.
“I live here now, Dan, you’re going to have to find another place to sleep.” He stared at Dan challengingly. Dan hesitated, fumbling for words, so the imposter turned his back to him and laid back down on his side. Dan’s face twisted in anger.
“Seriously, give it up already! I’m not leaving, so just get out!” He reached for the imposter’s arm and tried to tug him out of bed, but the imposter remained unmoved. Frustrated, Dan tried to slap the imposter, but his hand was caught and the imposter tried to shove him away in retaliation. Their limbs were caught in a match of tug of war, and Dan was pulled down, crash landing on top of his double.
Their eyes met, and both panted heavily from the exertion. Then the imposter’s nose screwed up in disgust. “Ugh, when was the last time you brushed your teeth?” He said, letting go of Dan and scooting back to the headboard to put some distance between them.
“Hey, my breath doesn’t stink that ba-“ He stopped himself as an idea formed. Then, he smiled and huffed another breath towards him.
“Ugh!” The imposter said as he scooted away some more, not noticing he was being herded towards the edge of the bed.
“Gotcha!” Dan yelled out triumphantly as he shoved the imposter off the bed. The imposter landed with a hard thud. Satisfied, Dan stripped to his boxers and threw his jeans at the imposter before getting under the covers.
“And the winner is Dan!” The imposter took the jeans off his face and glared at Dan. Dan smirked at him and settled in, turning his back towards the imposter. After a beat, the smile fell from his face as he started to relax and drift off into sleep. Then he felt the bed shift. Alarmed, he went to turn around, but arms wrapped around his torso, pinning his own arms to his body.
“Oh no, you’re not turning your breath towards me again.” The imposter said, close enough that Dan could feel the heat of his words on his ear. “It’s practically a biological weapon. Not that the rest of you smells much better…”
“Unhand me you fiend!” Dan struggled.
“It doesn’t look like either of us are leaving, Dan-o. So you better give up and settle in.”
Dan struggled for a few more moments, but eventually his drowsiness started to get the better of him. His movements became sluggish and he felt the imposter’s breath even out on the back of his neck, but even when he seemed to be falling asleep, he still had a Vice-like grip on him. Soon enough, Dan felt himself begin to fall asleep too, and he drifted off locked in the imposter’s embrace.