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Daniel stumbles over a stray stool –why are they so fucking small here anyway– on his way to his favorite study table. Which sadly isn’t only his favorite, given a certain brown eyed unfairly beautiful boy has also taken a liking to it.
One thing would be if they could co-exist, you take one half I take the other, Daniel is good at sharing. Now anyways. This guy not so much.
The first time his table was stolen was two weeks into the semester. Daniel had stupidly taken his time that morning –it was a Saturday to be fair– and when he finally got himself to his preferred place to study the other guy was already there.
Not just already there the guy had practically set up camp, making it look like he’d been there for a week straight, something Daniel knew for a fact he hadn’t been because he was there until the librarian forced him out last night. He’s a bit time blind when he studies, it’s a thing. The employees all over campus are aware of the fact – they don’t let him in at the coffee shop if there’s less than three hours until closing, it’s fine.
The second time was the day after when Daniel had overslept and forgone doing laundry in favor of getting there only for it to already be covered in books and other shit from the other guy.
The third time was the following Wednesday when Daniel got caught up discussing the different components of the most efficient engine design his professor had shown them in the lecture. Once Daniel had made it to the library with his fourth coffee of the day – insomnia was kicking his ass okay – his good mood had been immediately ruined by the table thief once more hogging the entire table.
The fourth- okay you get the point. The point is, this guy seems to be there almost every time Daniel is, and he is impossible to talk to. No really, he wears big noise cancelling headphones and his eyes never move above the screen of his computer.
The only thing left to do was physically touch him to get his attention but Daniel wasn’t comfortable with that, not because he was scared or anything but the guy is so stupidly attractive he knows he’d end up saying something stupid like “you can have the table forever” or something and he doesn’t want to risk it.
No he’ll stick to silly gestures that go unnoticed and staring in hopes that he’ll notice it, not admiring the slope of his neck and the way his loose braids fall around his face. Or the piercing on his nose and the pout of his very enticing lips- nope not admiring at all just staring to make him uncomfortable. Not that it has worked so far.
Shaking his head free from his thoughts, Daniel spots his table empty and silently cheers, trying his hardest not to break into a full sprint just to be safe.
He’s just set up his laptop and opened his books when someone approaches, he glances up briefly while pausing his music and then does a double take. The table thief.
Nudging his headphones off he does his absolute best to seem unaffected, he’s absolutely not checking him out. The way his tee hangs off his built frame, the teasing glimpses of tattoos, nope Daniel is not taking it in at all.
“Sorry I was just wondering how long you were gonna be here?” oh great he’s british too, it’s like the universe is punishing him, Daniel has always had a thing for accents, doesn’t matter.
“I just got here mate so it’s gonna be a while.” he bites his tongue from apologizing when the guy slumps a bit and nods. He catches the edge of another tattoo along his neck and bites down harder, god.
“Alright thanks.”
“You can join me if you’d like,” Stupid Daniel, stupid! His momma raised him too well honestly.
“Oh I don’t wanna ruin your vibe here.” Okay good take the out now don’t embarrass yourself further today.
“No really I don’t mind, half each yeah?” He never did learn to shut the fuck up did he.
“You sure?” The guy looks dubiously at him and Daniel realizes he probably looks like he’s really going through it right now, which would be correct but this fucking adonis doesn’t need to know that.
“Uh-huh, no worries.” So. Many. Worries.
See the thing is, the table thief might not only be the table thief. He might also be the incredible hottie™ that Daniel has seen around campus since the semester started, which makes his pre-mentioned staring more reasonable, or creepier, depending on your viewpoint really.
He is the guy Blake always teases him about if they’re together when Daniel sees him and subsequently hides behind anything and everything he can.
“You’re acting like a schoolgirl with a crush,” Blake had laughed after Daniel came back out from crouching behind a sofa in the common room.
“Yeah well you’re acting like a- a bully, ah shut the fuck up I’m leaving,” It had taken Blake 30 minutes and a cup of hot cocoa to get Daniel to come back out from his room. He’s stubborn, okay.
“You okay?” Blinking back to the present Daniel smiles sheepishly and nods.
“Yeah yeah sorry what did you say?” The guy purses his lips in amusement and takes a seat across from Daniel.
“I was just saying my name is Lewis, since we’re table buddies and all.” Oh great, a name to put on his crush– I mean attracted to person, wait that sounds worse, ah fuck.
Daniel clears his throat and gives a little wave, oh my god can he be more embarrassing.
“I’m Daniel, my friends call me Danny or DR, at least until I trick them into calling me something cooler,” Lewis chuckles and Daniel grins. Okay maybe his awkwardness won’t completely ruin things.
“Why DR?”
“Oh well my last name is Ricciardo so, laziness I guess.” he shrugs.
“Right, I have a few of those friends too, only call me Hamilton,”
“Like the play?” Oh god.
Lewis narrows his eyes but he can’t quite hide the smile which eases Daniel’s anxiety a bit.
“I fucking hate that play.” he growls and Daniel barks out a laugh, only remembering where they are when someone exaggeratedly shushes him. Right, library. He really should be studying right now.
“The songs are good though,” He grins and watches Lewis lean back in his chair with a dramatic sigh.
“I hate that too, I can’t hate it properly when people catch me singing along to them.”
“I’m so sorry for your suffering.” Daniel says seriously and Lewis glares at him until he breaks.
“Okay maybe not but come on it’s not the worst name to have, one of my mates last name is Friend, try introducing that to others.” Lewis giggles and shakes his head.
“You’re lying.”
“I am not! His name is Blake Friend, look him up!” Lewis takes out his phone and Daniel patiently waits.
“Okay you win.” Lewis says making a face at his phone and Daniel crows in victory, again being shushed. Alright that’s two he needs to shut the fuck up or he’s gonna be kicked out again and he really doesn’t have time or the budget to grovel his way back in right now.
Lewis smiles at him and Daniel forgets all about studying again until Lewis’ phone pings and ruins their moment.
“Sorry, shit, I have to get this done by four. It was nice chatting, mate.” He winks and pulls up his laptop and headphones along with a slew of books that Daniel can’t really read upside down.
“Right no yeah I gotta- yep.” Daniel fights the urge to palm himself and instead puts his headphones back on and puts his playlist on full. Missing the lingering look from Lewis entirely.
-
“Hey table buddy!” Daniel almost trips over his feet where he’s headed to the coffee shop with Blake who helpfully makes sure he doesn’t actually hit the ground.
“Hey!” he shouts back with a wave to the incoming Lewis, he’s walking with a rather tall guy who looks like he’d be a professor if he wasn’t so young. At least Daniel assumes he is young, who knows, university has all ages over 18.
“Table buddy?” Blake whispers and Daniel elbows his side.
“Did you get your err, thing done by the time limit?” they hadn’t really spoken anymore on Saturday, Daniel had only known it was four o’clock because that’s when Lewis had packed his things and left with a small wave. Daniel didn’t really think he’d see him again, he’s happy he was wrong.
“Yeah! I didn’t really have to be done by four but George here –” Tall guy smiles politely after giving Lewis a look. “-needed my help with the RA,” Lewis grins and George sighs.
“I didn’t need your help I said I was going to meet him at four there was no need for you-”
“Who saved you from being kicked out of your building mate?” George snaps his mouth shut with a glare and Daniel grins.
“First time?” he looks at George who frowns.
“First time almost being kicked out I mean,” Daniel explains and George nods.
“Yes I have usually gotten along with him fine, but apparently telling him american football isn’t real football hit a nerve… Americans…” Daniel snorts.
“Tell me about it, they’ve tried to get rid of me like three times so far.”
“Daniel you set fire to-” Daniel quickly covers Blake’s mouth and talks over him.
“The reasons are unimportant, they’re just looking for someone to target for the most part. The risk we take being foreigners here- EW FUCK” Daniel snaps away and shakes his hand rubbing the saliva on his pants. Fucking Blake, who is standing grinning way to proud of his own actions by the way.
“I told you not to do that!” Daniel hisses and Blake sticks out his tongue at him.
“Then don’t fucking cover my mouth!”
“Then don’t fucking embarass me infront of-” Daniel cuts himself off quickly and spins back to look at their little audience. Lewis is covering his mouth but his body is shaking and George looks very amused at the little display. Awesome, he’s a fucking idiot for sure now.
“I should get going,” he mutters and roughly pulls Blake with him towards the coffee shop, he should’ve left him but he can’t risk that. He’s been embarrassed enough today.
-
“We meet again,” Daniel jumps out of his chair, grateful he put his coffee on the table when he sat down so at the very least he’s still dry.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Lewis takes the chair across from him and Daniel swallows and shakes his head, subtly closing his laptop and taking out his earbuds.
“No no you didn’t- I mean you did but don’t be. I just scare easily really, especially when I’m working or studying or cleaning or doing anything really.” Daniel frowns, didn’t he used to be more coherent at some point?
“Well I’ll try my best not to do it in the future, I'll be extra careful when you’re doing anything.” Daniel is distracted by the cute gap between Lewis’ teeth as he smiles and belatedly picks up on the comment.
“Funny guy I see,” he arches an eyebrow and Lewis shrugs.
“Well we can’t all rely on our looks,” He looks Daniel up and down pointedly and Daniel feels a slow burn in his gut along with a flame licking up his face.
“Psh, right, like you’re not easily the hottest guy on campus,” he rolls his eyes and squeezes them shut, getting redder by the second no doubt.
“Yeah?” Daniel squints one eye open and Lewis is still grinning, a hint of red on his cheeks. Huh.
Unable to get a single word out Daniel gives one grave nod and then decidedly looks at his shoes. He just needs to compose himself okay, give him a moment.
“See I was going to say that about you but now it’ll sound corny,” Daniel’s eyes widen and he looks up to see Lewis rub his chin in thought.
“I don’t mind corny.”
“No?” Daniel shakes his head and Lewis smirks.
“Good to know,” Okay this might be his chance, just ask him on a date. You both find each other attractive just say the words will yo-
“Lewis!” Daniel and Lewis turn to see a guy Daniel thinks he shares a physics class with, looking rather impatient.
“Right, sorry I gotta go. I’ll see you around Daniel,” Lewis pats his shoulder as he gets up to leave and Daniel watches him go, the words dying on his lips.
Once out of view Daniel allows himself one big sigh and a brief pause to put his forehead on his laptop. He almost had it.
-
“There he is!” Valtteri shoves at Daniel and points towards the big lawn between buildings and Daniel rubs his shoulder and follows Valtteri’s finger. True to his word there Lewis is, laughing with a few people who’re all spread out on some blankets and Daniel’s heart rate increases.
“Lets go the other way,” he says quickly and tries to pull Valtteri back around to no avail, damn that strong ass man.
“Daniel you’ve been whining about him for weeks now,”
“I have not!” Okay maybe he has. After the last run in which Daniel just barely didn’t get to ask Lewis out on a date he hasn’t really seen him, which was like five weeks ago but who’s counting??
Sure he might’ve been a little more erratic in his behavior, might’ve showed up at odd hours –even for him– at the library to no avail, hung around the coffee shop, hell he even tried to go to one of those stupid school set up hangouts and nothing. It was like Lewis never existed at all. Daniel might’ve had a crisis where he needed Blake to remind him that he did in fact exist and no Daniel did not invent him in one of his no sleep all caffeine induced study sessions.
“You wanted to see him,” Valtteri deadpans and Daniel groans.
“Yes and no I have! Can we please go now?” Valtteri eyes him and Daniel makes his best puppy eyes, it barely works on anyone anymore but it’s worth a shot.
“Fine, but you owe me coffee-”
“Deal!”
“And a muffin,”
“What am I a millionaire?!” Daniel exclaims and sags when Valtteri just looks at him.
“Ugh, fine fine and a muffin, but medium coffee, and no extra sirups!” They shake hands and just as Daniel is about to count his wins he hears a familiar voice.
“Table buddy!” oh fucking fuck. Valtteri huffs out a laugh and Daniel glares at him.
“It's funny now but you know this means no muffin,” he hisses and Valtteri immediately stops.
“I didn’t say anything!”
“You took too long!” and with that Daniel spins around putting on his best yearbook smile and waves at Lewis who is heading towards him okay great oh god.
“I’ll let you-” Daniel’s hand shoots out and clenches in Valtteri’s tee forcefully keeping him still.
“Don’t. You. Dare.” he growls still smiling and only lets go when Lewis is a few feet away, smiling from ear to ear.
“It’s been a while!”
“Yeah I almost thought you quit,” Daniel jokes, great start, dumbass. Lewis eyes crinkle and he shakes his head.
“Nah just been locked in the studio for the most part,”
“You do music?”
“It’s my major actually.” Right, of course it is. Of fucking course he’s artistically talented too what can’t he do.
“Sure!” Daniel makes a face and Valtteri snorts next to him. He should’ve let him leave, dammit.
Lewis doesn’t falter though just nods along.
“What’s yours?”
“Huh?”
“Your major?”
“Oh uh nothing fancy it’s pretty boring actually I mean-”
“Mechanical engineering,” Valtteri cuts in and Daniel blows out his cheeks. Awesome, now he’s awkward and boring.
“That’s so cool!” Aw that’s sweet, he’s pretending it’s not the lamest thing ever.
“Yeah I- it’s alright.”
“What do you wanna do with it?”
“Uh-” Valtteri kicks at his ankle gently urging him on and Daniel accepts defeat.
“I’d like to work for an F1 team, ideally Ferrari but you know. It’s highly competitive and I’m-”
“On the top of all your classes,” Valtteri finishes proudly and Daniel flushes, partly embarrassed and partly overwhelmed by being talked up so much.
“I love F1! I really wanted-”
“Lewis!!”
“Oh for crying out loud,” Lewis rolls his eyes and Daniel hides a giggle.
“What?!” George is standing on the blankets gesturing to something Daniel can’t see, he gives Daniel a short wave that he returns and then gestures back to Lewis more urgently.
“Right shit, okay so, I’m so sorry I gotta go,” Lewis looks apologetic and Daniel waves him off.
“No no you go do your thing it’s fine,” Lewis turns to leave, pauses and comes back just as fast.
“I'm hosting a halloween party this weekend, do you wanna come?” Daniel blinks and Valtteri pinches his side to force him back.
“Halloween party! Yes! I mean sure, that sounds like- it could be fun.” Someone put him out of his misery please.
“Great! Gimme your number and I’ll text you the details,” Lewis hands him his phone and Daniel types in his number on pure muscle memory, the ringing in his ears blocking out anything else. He’s pretty sure he can feel his heartbeat down to his toes.
“Awesome, thank you, I’ll text you!” Daniel watches gobsmacked as Lewis leaves and smacks George once he’s close enough. Valtteri gently pulls him along, bless him, and Daniel doesn’t really come back online until they’re sat at the library cafe.
“Did that just happen?” he blinks in utter shock and Valtteri rolls his eyes at him fondly –Daniel can tell the difference, it happens a lot– and nods.
“Yep, I’m gonna be your plus one by the way, we have to show these people how to drink.” he winks and Daniel lets out a surprised laugh.
“Thank you,” he grabs Valtteri’s hand on the table with a quick squeeze and Valtteri smiles.
“I’ll get you that coffee now, I’ll even throw in that muffin.” Daniel gets up and makes his way towards the line.
“Blueberry! And with a shot of Mocha!”
“Don’t push it!” He grins and gets in line.
-
By some miracle Valtteri is able to drag Daniel to the party. After going through three different outfits and a slew of costumes he hated , Valtteri had left the room only to come back five minutes later with a cowboy hat and some fitting shoes.
So here they are, Daniel as a discount cowboy and Valtteri as — uh..
“What is your costume exactly?” Daniel squints at him. He’s got his regular clothes on but almost ash like smudges different places on his face, also his clothes are stained with ash too which- Daniel thought he might’ve just missed laundry day to be honest.
“A college burnout,” Valtteri smirks and Daniel laughs surprised.
“Mate that’s solid, ten outta ten for creativity.” He claps and Valtteri takes a bow just as the door opens.
“Hey! Glad you could make it!” Lewis’ smile is contagious and Valtteri physically shoves Daniel inside lest he spend all night just staring at Lewis in the doorway.
“Yeah nah thanks for the invite.” God why is he so awkward. Valtteri makes a face over Lewis’ shoulder and Daniel begs to anyone who has ears to help him out here.
“Of course! Gotta have the VIP here right? Let me get you a drink.” Lewis winks and grabs Daniel’s hand leading him to the kitchen.
Valtteri trails behind with two thumbs up encouraging Daniel who is torn between loving this and absolutely panicking, he’s gonna fuck it up he just knows it.
-
Making their way through the masses Lewis tightens his grip on Daniel’s hand every time someone brushes up against them – it may or may not give him heart palpitations, he may also nudge a few people on purpose. Shhh.
“So what can I get ya?”
There’s a few people in the kitchen already and Daniel sees Valtteri go straight for the liquor raising a few eyebrows. He already knows he’s gonna be scraping him off the floor by the end of the night. Either that or Valtteri is gonna mysteriously disappear and see him in class on monday like nothing happened, it’s happened before, thrice.
“Uh, beer?” Lewis' nose scrunches and Daniel stutters.
“I- uh, I mean not beer?” he grins awkwardly and Lewis laughs.
“If you want beer we got beer man, I just- thought you might prefer something else.” He moves in a bit closer, hand briefly brushing against Daniel’s where it’s laying on the kitchen island to support his “cool guy lean” (patent pending).
He does absolutely not have to re-balance himself just from a single touch alone, he also definitely did not forget every drink he’s ever had in his life with those big brown eyes looking at him so softly. If he didn’t know better he’d say Lewis might actually like him .
“What- what did you have in mind?” He swallows thickly and hates the way Lewis moves back a step even if it is to rummage through all the bottles spread out on seemingly every surface.
“Aha! I was thinking we could share this?” He pulls out a wine bottle, Daniel squints trying to read it – something french at least – and nods eagerly.
“Sounds great!” Oh that is far too loud, he glances to the spot Valtteri was doing shots waiting for judgement but the spot is empty. Awesome.
“Sweet, come with me.” Lewis grins widely and Daniel falls just a little bit more in love, following him like a lost puppy through the crowd of people in the house. He barely realizes where they’re going, something vague alerting him in the back of his head once they start going up stairs but he is too enamoured by Lewis continuing looking back, like he has to make sure every few steps that Daniel is still following. Oh be still my beating heart.
The pieces finally start connecting once they enter what is so obviously Lewis’ bedroom and Daniel’s heart thumps hard and erratically in his chest. Is this really happening?
He takes off his shoes automatically, watching Lewis do the same and then they both pause.
“Nice room,” Daniel fights the urge to face palm and Lewis looks around as if just noticing and shrugs.
“Best I could do for now, I’m a bit limited but this is okay I think.” Daniel blinks.
“This is just okay ? Remind me never to let you see my room,” he scratches the back of his neck and takes in all the beautiful shades of lavender and green. The different pictures and paintings decorating the wall and even the desk look like it was taken from one of those interior magazines. He barely looks at the bed, a warmth spreading in his gut just knowing it's there.
“I’m sure I will like yours a lot.” I will like. Daniel’s brain screeches to a halt and their eyes meet again. Lewis nods his head towards his bed and okay- okay okay okay.
After trying his best not to collapse from his pulse speeding up so fast Daniel tries as dignified as he can – which isn’t a lot to be honest – to climb into the big queen sized bed. Lewis hands him the wine bottle and climbs in after him, briefly straddling his lap in the process. It’s a good thing he had the wine bottle because Daniel was about to do something really stupid.
“You ever tried this one?” It takes Daniel a second to really hear the actual words and not just noise coming from those plump lips and he shakes his head.
“I don’t really drink a lot of wine.” He confesses sheepishly, Lewis’ giggle sounds heavenly.
“My bad then, do you want me to get something else?”
“NO! I mean- nah it’s all good.” Daniel closes his eyes, cursing his entire life as silence wrap around them.
Something warm and soft touches his cheek, a shiver runs down his spine as Lewis strokes his cheek. This has to be a dream, it has to.
“It isn’t,” Oh fuck- amazing of course he said that out loud.
“Sorry,” he whispers and slowly opens his eyes, terrified of what’s waiting.
“Why?” He is so so close, Daniel could probably count all his eyelashes if he wanted to. He really does actually, it’d be a good distraction from the ever growing problem in his jeans at the proximity.
“I-” Biting his tongue Daniel quiets, he doesn’t have the capacity to explain himself right now.
“I’m not,” He frowns at Lewis as he shifts to move closer to Daniel, his hand somehow never leaving his face and the tingling in his toes comes back.
“You’re not?”
“Hell no, I’ve been trying to ask you out for weeks now. Figured this was my best option.” Is this what cardiac arrest feels like? Is he dying? Valtteri poisoned him, he knew drinking the coffee he brought him before the party was a bad idea.
“You’re not dying.” Daniel groans and smacks his head against the headrest in defeat, Lewis’ giggles flowing through him like a nice summer breeze.
“I think I might now.” he pouts only to shoot back up, almost knocking Lewis off balance in the process.
“Wait, did you say you’ve been trying to ask me out? Like on a date?” Lewis nods slowly and Daniel hopes his smile isn’t so big it's creepy but he can’t help himself.
“Really?”
“Really.” Lewis bites his lip and Daniel, well he feels like he could run a marathon or something. Oh my god.
“Oh my god,” Lewis chuckles and Daniel decides having this information is permission enough.
He moves smoothly, careful of the bottle on the bed as he lifts himself up to straddle Lewis’ lap. Lewis grabs his hips and stares at him with wide sparkly eyes, looking almost starstruck with Daniel in his lap and that in itself is intoxicating. Screw the alcohol, Lewis is more than enough.
“Since this is technically our first date,” Daniel mumbles, using his newfound courage to lean close enough for only a breath to separate them. Lewis’ shaky exhale against his skin spurs him further.
“Will you kiss me goodnight?” He’s barely finished asking when Lewis surges up and their lips meet. Everything Daniel has fantasized about for weeks, finally.
His hands frame Lewis’ jaw, tilting it just so that he can lick into his mouth. Taking what started very innocently into the gutter very fast, Daniel is only human okay. In the worst case scenario that this isn’t real he’s gonna make the most of it.
“It’s real,” Lewis pants against him and Daniel smiles, breaking their connection for a moment.
“Just checking,” he whispers and Lewis’ responding smile is swallowed by his lips. Enough talking for now. They’re not leaving the room for the rest of the night, weekend even if Daniel gets his way, Lewis grinding up against him is answer enough. He’ll find Valtteri on Monday.