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The first thing Dan felt as he drifted into consciousness was a splitting pain in his head. As he woke, the pain spread further throughout his body, from his neck to his back. For a moment, he forgot where he was, and anxiety gripped him at the unfamiliar surroundings as he realized he wasn’t in his own bed. The feeling subsided when he remembered where he was for the week– crashing at his friend Bradley’s apartment for break. Waking up hungover was not helping his disorientation. He sighed in amusement at himself as he allowed his eyes to adjust to the light.
He then realized that he was in fact in an unfamiliar environment. His eyes widened as he looked around the room that was most definitely not Bradley’s. It was much smaller and cluttered, but not messy in the way that Bradley’s was with clothes and takeout haphazardly thrown in corners on the floor. Stacks of books and papers were on top of every piece of furniture, and the landlord-white walls were blank except for a few scientific posters and a heavily marked calendar. He looked down and saw a form in the bed by his side. It was at that moment he noticed he wasn’t wearing any clothes beneath the sheets.
Panic shot up his chest.
But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, right?
So he had a one night stand. He was twenty years old, on spring break in Manhattan. This was practically expected behavior for someone in his place. He was finally acting the way he should. And he really liked the girl, Susan, he remembered. He had sought her out after he hadn’t got her number the first night they had met. This was what he wanted, right?
Dan wasn’t sure how these things normally went. Should he buy her breakfast? He couldn’t just leave without saying goodbye, though his friends probably wouldn’t agree. He didn’t exactly want to use them as people to model all of his behavior off of. Although, admittedly, he couldn’t help but feel excited at the idea of boasting to his friends about where he ended up.
He looked over to the body tangled in the sheets next to him. It felt weird to touch her, even considering they obviously had done far more than just touch mere hours ago. But he didn’t remember any of it, and it felt as though this sober version of himself didn’t have the same permissions as the intoxicated Dan did. His hand hovered indecisively over the form. Thankfully, she began to move, absolving Dan of any decision making on the matter. She rolled over, towards him and–
It wasn’t Susan.
It wasn’t even a girl.
“Fuck.” Dan’s body seized up in fear. He felt as though a black hole opened in his stomach. He lay there, frozen, staring at the still sleeping man as his insides were sucked into the pit in his stomach. Dan wasn’t even sure if his heart was still beating. He forgot to breathe.
Even without his huge glasses and tie, Dan recognized him as the nerdy guy he had the misfortune of getting roped into conversations with the past two nights.
A part of him foolishly hoped nothing happened. But he was naked as the day he was born in this stranger’s sheets. He spotted his underwear at the foot of the bed. He reached for his briefs and pulled them on under the cover of the blanket. Once he wasn’t completely naked, he got to his feet as quietly as possible.
“Shit,” he muttered to himself, looking around for the rest of his clothes. He repeated the curse like a chant under his breath, panic seizing his body. He found his button up and threw it on. He hopped into his jeans and lost his balance in his haste. His back hit the wall with a dull thud, causing some glassware on a shelf to clatter gently. Dan froze as the sound caused the stranger to stir in his sleep. He held his breath, watching the man turn over.
His hair was ruffled, with even more volume in his bed-head state. His face was scrunched in a concentrated scowl, even in his sleep. He didn’t have his glasses, obviously, and Dan thought he might actually prefer the man in his cartoonishly large aviators. Something stirred within Dan at the sight. His eyes trailed down to those abnormally rosy pink lips. He looked down further and saw several dark marks on the man's neck.
Fear twisted in Dan’s stomach. He knew those hickeys hadn’t been there the night before.
He stumbled out of the apartment before he could even finish buttoning his shirt. He had no idea where he even was or what time it was.
He was certainly not taking the man out to breakfast.
Dan traced his steps mentally, trying to recall how he ended up here, while he helplessly tried to figure out what street he was even on.
Dan woke the previous day in much the same way; with a throbbing pain in his head and a racing heart when he saw he wasn’t in his bed. Quickly, however, it all came back to him. He sighed, staring at the ceiling and flexing his fingers. His arm had fallen asleep from the strange position he had slept in on the couch. He got up slowly and looked around the apartment, squinting at the daylight. It was a nice place, far better than anything he could dream of affording. It irritated him to see how Bradley treated the place, clothing, dishes and empty take out containers littering the tables and floors.
Bradley was a friend from high school, one of the only ones who had the money to make it out of Arkham. He had invited Jacob, another high school friend, and Dan to his apartment over their collective spring break. They hadn’t seen each other since they graduated about two years ago. Dan had his suspicions that they had been invited mostly as an excuse to show off. He didn’t know anyone their age who was living outside of a dorm, let alone in their own apartment in Manhattan of all places. But, he couldn’t say no to a free place to stay for an entire week in New York.
They had barely been there for a day and already gotten wasted. They had gone to a party hosted by one of Bradley’s new friends from NYU (who, coincidentally, also had his own place). Dan was not happy to be spending his first day hung over already, but he supposed he should’ve expected as much.
He tilted his head from side to side, trying to crack his neck. He'd agreed to take the couch. He had vague memories of getting back to the apartment. He had only taken off his shirt, obviously too tired or drunk to bother with his jeans.
He made his way to the kitchen where his friends were already up. He could smell a pot of coffee was on. They looked about as groggy and miserable as he felt. Though, Bradley grinned with pride when he saw Dan.
“So, first NYU party, what’d you guys think?”
“How often do you do this?” Jacob groaned into his cup of coffee. Bradley laughed in response.
“I wouldn’t mind remembering more of the night,” Dan admitted.
He remembered being unsure of what to do and who to approach for most of the evening, but knew for a fact he had found someone he was interested in and had talked to the rest of the night. He searched his pockets suddenly, looking for a number. The name Susan came to mind, but he wasn't sure that was it. Maybe he could see her again before he left. He wouldn't be able to make many trips back to the city, but maybe that could be part of the appeal. The small town boy who swept her off her feet that one fateful week in college. Girls romanticized that kind of thing, right?
“Who was that girl I was talking to last night?” Dan asked. “I don’t think I got her number.”
His friends looked at each other, biting their lips trying to contain laughter. Dan’s stomach dropped.
“What? God, did she have a boyfriend?”
“Wait, I think I got a photo, hold on.” Jacob snickered.
Jacob had this, frankly annoying, habit of taking pictures constantly. He’d ask the group to stop for a photo for anything, or sometimes he wouldn’t ask at all and just take them anyway. The photos were always something stupid or embarrassing, which is why Dan's stomach already fluttered with anxiety. Jacob came up and showed him the Polaroid.
A very red faced, grinning, blackout drunk Dan had an arm wrapped around the shoulder of a confused, short young man with dark fluffy bangs and huge glasses. Dread washed over him.
“What?” Bradley clapped a hand on his shoulder. “She not as pretty as you remembered?”
“Shut up,” Dan shoved Bradley away roughly, attempting to hide his embarrassment with a forced annoyed smile. He tried to let himself be part of the joke to conceal his humiliation. “I meant that girl Susan.”
“Well, you were talking to him pretty much all night. I think Susan cut her losses with you.”
Dan groaned, much to his friends' amusement.
“What's the matter? You can always ask him out. He seemed pretty interested.”
Dan reminded them that he and Jacob had come to the city to do things instead of sitting around the apartment all day. They, thankfully, agreed enthusiastically, and promptly got dressed so they could go out.
Dan had suggested they go to a museum. He’d been to the Museum of Natural History as a kid. He barely remembered it now, but he knew he had loved it. His friends laughed and responded with “good one” when he brought it up. On second thought, he guessed it would be pretty lame as an adult. He hoped his friends continued to believe he had been joking.
Bradley helped them get their own subway tokens because, apparently, he couldn't afford to pay the sixty cent fare for his friends for a few trips. Maybe that stingyness was how he could afford rent in Manhattan, Dan thought bitterly. Bradley told them if they didn't hurry there was a high likelihood they’d be mugged. Dan couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but it got in his head enough to make him convince his friends into walking instead of taking a train for most of the day afterwards.
They went to Bradley’s favorite diner and bought overpriced breakfast, went to an overcrowded street to look around Time Square (which, Dan had a sneaking suspicion Bradley had taken them there to either shock or scare them, showing them the gritty side of the city until one of them was uncomfortable enough to say something. Dan was glad Jacob spoke up before they were dragged into a skeevy peep show by Bradley), then got sucked into a cheap store by Jacob that was made solely to sell stupid souvenirs to tourists, and ended up getting yet another overpriced meal at a sports bar Bradley swore by.
By the end of the day, Dan was utterly bored and had a wallet that was $50 thinner than it was that morning. How could they be in such an interesting place and manage to avoid anything interesting at all?
Dan couldn’t even bother to argue with the two about going to another party that night. He wasn’t thrilled at the idea considering that they had only just recovered from their hangovers. But he supposed it’d give him a chance to seek out another date, or at the very least socialize with people besides the two guys he’d been with all day. By this point, Dan was looking for any excuse to take a break from his friends. It wasn’t that he disliked his friends, it had just been a a while since they had been together, and it was reminding him too much of his high school days. It felt like he’d stepped off the train back into 1979. He didn't feel significantly more grown up or adult-like now that he had been in college for a year and a half, but in comparison to his friends, maybe he had matured. He found himself rolling his eyes or hiding his discomfort at their jokes, ones which he was often the target of. Had they always been like this?
This apartment they arrived at for the party was even bigger than the last, and Dan found himself wondering what the guy's parents must do to be able to pay this kid's rent. He tried to tell if any of the faces in the crowd looked familiar.
“Do the same people tend to show up to these things?” Dan asked.
“Why, looking for your girlfriend again?” Jacob teased.
Dan groaned. He was far too sober for this. He accepted the shot he was handed eagerly, and reached for another. He scanned the room and his heart leapt when he saw the familiar reddish long hair.
“I’ll catch up with you guys,” he mumbled hurriedly to his friends before they could make any more comments.
He weaved through the crowd towards her. He didn’t remember much but he could recognize that girl anywhere.
“Susan!” He called out.
The girl turned around and smiled when she saw him. Something warm fluttered in his chest.
“Hey! I was wondering if you’d be here.”
“Really?” Dan hoped he was playing it cool. His friends always told him he got too excited.
“Yeah!” She smiled sweetly at him and Dan’s insides purred. “Hey, have you two met? I was just talking with…”
Whatever words she said next, along with all the sounds of the party, were drowned out. She stepped to the side and motioned her hand to introduce the person she had been talking to and his heart dropped.
It was the young man in the glasses.
The blood drained from Dan’s face. He swore the man gave him a smug little smile.
“Hello again,” he spoke in a calm, smooth voice.
“Again?” Susan asked, surprised. “You know each other?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
They answered at the same time, Dan immediately regretting denying their acquaintance. Dan looked at the stranger with a pained expression. The man smiled as he spoke.
“We met yesterday. He seemed very interested in hearing about my studies. Very enthusiastic.”
“Yeah.” Dan forced a smile. “Nice running into you. Again.”
“Quite.” He nodded curtly. “Susan and I were just grabbing a drink together. Care to join?”
Why are you talking like this is a fucking cocktail party and not a shitty frat house.
“Oh. um. I’m alright.”
“Are you the designated driver?” The man asked dryly.
“Huh? No. I just…” I just don’t want to be seen hanging out with you again. Dan couldn’t think of a reason to decline the drink. He took one look at his situation and realized he was not going to make it through this night as sober as he was. He grit his teeth and forced another smile.
“Uh, yeah. I guess I can.”
He didn’t want to seem uninterested in Susan, after all. He followed the pair to a keg in the crowded corner of the kitchen.
Just his luck, the girl he was after had a thing for nerds, apparently. That was the only explanation that made sense for a girl that hot to be talking to a guy like that. The glasses were truly tragic; huge rounded aviators that weren’t doing him any favors. Especially with the haircut, his dark hair fluffy and rounded like he was one of the Beatles. He was the same height as Susan was, and about as thin. Admittedly, Dan wasn’t a big guy himself, besides his height. He hadn’t worked out regularly since he wasn’t playing baseball anymore, so he wasn't exactly the most bulky guy at the party or anything. But this guy was just small. The clothes he had were… interesting, to say the least. He wore the same kind of attire he had in the picture Dan had seen; a button down and tie with black slacks and dress shoes. The shirt looked a little ill fitting, the sleeves were rolled up and the fabric billowed out slightly from where it was tucked in his slacks. A cruel part of his brain wanted to suggest to the guy that he should shop in the boys department instead of mens if he wanted to find something in his size. Dan couldn’t help but notice, as his eye was drawn to where the shirt was tucked, the waistline of the stranger. It was so high, and shockingly small. Dan swore he could wrap his hands around this man’s entire waist–
“Your drink.”
Dan’s head shot up. “What?”
The man was staring at him with a judgmental look, holding out a cup. “Do you want it or not?”
Dan could feel his face grow hot. He grabbed the solo cup and downed half of it immediately, partially using it as an excuse to cover his face. He prayed the guy hadn't noticed. He had already had some shots, that's why his mind was wandering to irrational places. Maybe another drink wasn’t the best idea, but embarrassment and frustration overwhelmed him and all he wanted to numb everything.
When he glanced back down, the stranger looked amused. He grinned subtly as he drank from his own cup. Dan glared at him, studying every last detail. How could Susan even be into this guy? Christ, his lips had to be the same shade of pink as the lipstick she was wearing.
Wait. His heart sank. Were they the same shade? He glanced over at Susan and could picture it now. The two had probably already been making out before he even got there. Red hot jealousy boiled inside of him and he downed the rest of the beer in his cup.
“That was fast,” the man remarked. Dan could hear the subtle judgment in his tone.
“I handle my liquor pretty well,” Dan lied as he helped himself to a refill. “Besides, this cheap stuff does next to nothing.”
“You didn’t seem to handle it well last night.”
Dan whipped his head around. “What did you say?”
The man looked at him innocently. “What?”
“Did you hear about his independent study?” Susan unknowingly interrupted. “We were just talking about it before you came.”
The man switched topics with ease. “Yes, you seemed quite interested last night, weren’t you?”
He said it with a slyness that told Dan he knew Dan didn’t remember anything.
“Right, uh…” Dan tried to think of something intelligent to say. He knew Susan was a science major of some sort, so her interest was more than something superficial. He tried to think of a response that wouldn’t make him seem like a total idiot in front of her. “It seems a little… ambitious, don’t you think?”
“What’s wrong with ambition?” The stranger frowned mockingly.
Dan wanted to wipe that look off his face.
“I think this study could be really insightful, actually,” Susan said with an enthusiastic smile. She squeezed the guy’s arm as she said it.
Dan felt somewhat guilty over his frigidity towards this stranger. He didn't remember much of the conversation the night before, but, admittedly, he knew he had enjoyed it. He was sure that he would actually be interested in whatever work they were talking about. But now all he could feel was embarrassment. Hatred simmered within him at the sight of the guy and every touch that passed between him and Susan as they talked. A light brush of her shoulder here, a playful squeeze of his hand there. He was so casual and natural with each subtle movement, but Dan caught a look in his expression every time he met the stranger’s eyes. The guy knew what he was doing, he had to. With each interaction, Dan could feel jealousy rise.
The image of the two kissing still played in his mind and he grew furious over it. Looking the man over, he couldn’t imagine he could even kiss very well. There was no way he had any experience. He looked like he’d learn everything about sex from scientific papers, the ones with illustrations that could only entice boredom within the reader. He was probably tentative and modest, parting his lips just enough to be a tease, not knowing how to use his tongue. He’d need to rely on the girl to coax him into opening his mouth more to stick her tongue down his throat. He’d probably gag, startled at the unexpected and unfamiliar sensation. Dan could picture the muffled whine now. He’d have to let the other take charge, lead him through the exchange. The man would learn to take it, he’d have to. It’d be nice to see him not be so smug for once. Occupy those lips with something so he’d stop giving him that shit eating grin.
Dan stopped. His chest felt suddenly tight and his skin hot.
What the hell are you thinking?
He had to be drunk. Beyond drunk. He only had two shots and was nursing his second solo cup of shitty keg beer, but the alcohol had to be getting to his brain.
“Oh my god, I love this song,” Susan laughed and placed a hand on Dan’s chest. He listened over the noise to hear “Heartbreak Hotel" playing. “Don’t you just love the Jacksons?”
Not really, Dan thought. But he liked that Susan was finally paying attention to him. Luckily it seemed to be a rhetorical question as she continued without waiting for a response.
“Do you dance?” She asked him.
Before Dan could answer, the stranger did for him.
“You told me you’re not much of a dancer, didn’t you?” He smiled playfully. Dan stared through the man with a ferocity he hoped would burn a hole straight through his thick skull. “You’ll likely need another drink in him before you could coax him to the dance floor.” The words “dance floor” sounded foreign on the man's tongue.
“Oh… In that case I’ll get you a refill now!” Susan answered playfully. She gave him a wink. “I’ll be back.”
Dan gave her what he hoped was an easy smile. The man in the glasses nudged him.
“You ought to finish that before she gets back,” he teased.
Dan turned around and grabbed the stranger by the arm.
“Would you cut it out?”
“Cut what out?” He smiled, not looking the least bit intimidated by Dan though he towered over him. “I thought you could ‘handle your liquor,’ right?”
“What are you even doing?” Dan couldn’t comprehend this stranger’s motives. “Just back off. I’m trying to take her out,” he hissed.
“You mean you’re trying to have sex with her.”
“Yes! Obviously!” Dan said, exasperated. He felt the overwhelming urge to grab this guy by the shoulders and shake him. “People come here to get wasted and laid. That’s the point.”
“Sorry I’m not aiding you in your desperate attempt to get in her pants,” he drawled.
“I would probably be in Susan’s pants by now if you’d just fuck off, you little–”
“What did you just say?”
A voice behind him sent the hair on his neck straight up. Dan turned around comically slow. Dan had thought himself not exactly the largest guy at the party before, and this man proved his point. Only an inch or two taller than Dan, but what felt like double the size with an expression so pissed Dan found it difficult to form any words.
“I, uh… I didn’t mean anything by it,” Dan said lamely.
“Susan’s my sister,” the guy said icily.
“Of course she is,” Dan said through gritted teeth. Perfect. What the hell is going on with my luck tonight.
Susan came back and looked perplexed at the group that had gathered.
“Oh Jayden! Meet my friends, they're–”
“I think you should find some other friends for tonight.” He grabbed Susan's wrist harshly.
“Would you leave me alone? I can talk to whoever I want.” She shoved her brother off of her.
A few heads had begun to turn to the commotion they were causing. Dan could tell the conversations around them were quieting as people began to eavesdrop.
“This pervert here and his little fairy friend are trying to fuck you, you know that? He said it himself.” Jayden grabbed onto her shoulders now.
The way he held onto her filled Dan with both anxiety and a reflexive protectiveness. Despite reason, he stepped in.
“Listen, we're going, just leave her alone,” Dan spoke firmly. He wasn’t sure where this confrontational side of him was coming from.
The guy dropped Susan and turned his attention toward Dan. He jabbed an accusatory finger into Dan's chest, hard.
“Nobody asked you, kid. This is my place, and I don't remember inviting you. Stay out of this.” The guy was completely in his face now, enough for Dan to smell the alcohol on his breath.
“Why are you getting so close to him?” The man in the glasses asked suggestively from behind him.
Jayden’s face dropped in an embarrassed anger and he moved to take a step back from Dan and confront the accusing voice. Swiftly, the man in the glasses stuck his foot out subtly, not enough for anyone but Dan to notice. So, when he tripped, it looked to everyone else as though Dan was the one who pushed him back.
It was clear he was far more drunk than either of them, because he lost his balance far too easily, and crashed backwards into the card table of drinks and food. The few heads that hadn't turned at their rising argument were looking now, and everything went complete silent. Dan gaped in disbelief.
The room erupted into laughter, and relief washed over him instantly. He looked over and saw Susan barely containing a laugh and the guy in the glasses grinning wide.
“Nice push,” he said, still smiling. Dan's chest fluttered with adrenaline.
The large guy scrambled to get to his feet. He was completely drenched in beer. Two equally intimidating guys came over to his aid and Dan's stomach sank once again.
“I'm going to fucking kill you,” he seethed. Even though he was on his ass and covered in finger foods, Dan was still terrified.
“Hey!” One of the guys helping pointed at the man in the glasses. “That’s the douche bag who was going through my stuff!”
“That’s our cue to leave,” the previously mentioned (and aptly described) douche bag said to Dan.
Susan, seemingly missing or ignoring whatever grudge the group held against the other man, pulled Dan’s hand and the three started running for the door.
That was the last thing Dan could remember clearly from that night.
***
Herbert and the young man ran around the street corner and pressed their backs against the wall, breathing heavily and listening for their pursuers. The girl had stopped running to reason with her brother, so they had lost her, thankfully. He could hear her voice yelling at him, pleading with him to leave it alone. Herbert peaked his head around the corner slowly and saw the group running in the opposite direction. They looked at each other and laughed.
“That was crazy,” the man exclaimed.
Herbert just grinned as they both caught their breath. He was finally getting on the stranger’s good side. The other man looked around, up and down the avenue.
“Where are we?”
Herbert looked at the clearly marked street corner. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
He grinned sheepishly. “How could you tell?”
“Where are you staying?” Herbert inquired innocently.
“With a friend. He goes to school here. I’m from Arkham.”
Herbert raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, that's in Mass. Small, middle of nowhere place. You’d hate it.” He rubbed the back of his head. Then, his face fell in realization. “Fuck. My friends are still there. At the party.”
“I don’t think we’re exactly welcome back there now, you know,” Herbert reminded him.
The man looked around helplessly, with just a touch of fear in his expression. Herbert's stomach fluttered with excitement but he didn’t let it show.
“I’m going back to my place. It’s not far, if you need somewhere to stay the night, that is.”
The man’s face lit up. “That’d be great!”
Herbert motioned up the street with a curt nod of his head and began walking. The man stumbled as he rushed up to his side and followed.
“Hey listen, sorry for being a bit of a bitch back there at first. What you did was sick, thanks for that.”
Herbert’s chest swelled with pride and a smile drew across his face.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” the man began. “Why do you… uh… you know. You don’t really seem the type to go to these kinds of things.”
“College parties?”
“Yeah. You seem like you’d go to… I don’t know, chess competitions or something.”
“How unimaginative,” Herbert scoffed. “I like parties. Just not for the same reason as most people. It’s interesting to observe social behaviors and group dynamics.”
The man gave him a confused look.
“People watching,” Herbert said blankly.
“Oh, are you like a psych major?”
Herbert rolled his eyes. “God no. I’m studying real science. I’m going to be a brain surgeon. Well, more or less.” He didn't feel the need to explain the specifics of his career path to someone so intoxicated again. Although, he had enjoyed the awed praise he was given when he discussed his theories with the man the night before.
Said man smiled brightly. “Oh! I’m in pre-med too.”
Yes, I know. We had this conversation yesterday, Herbert wanted to say. But the man looked so happy about the connection he didn’t want to dampen his spirits.
“Bright one, are we?” He praised. The man ducked his head, but Herbert caught the bashful look.
“Um. So, you like people watching and, what, starting fights at these things?”
“Not specifically, but it’s fun to watch when I’m not the target. It just seemed I wasn't as careful this time.”
“Careful?” The man tilted his head. The image of a border collie came to Herbert's mind.
“My other pastime at these events,” he explained. From his pockets, Herbert pulled out an expensive looking bottle of vodka and the other prized item he’d stolen.
The man laughed in delighted shock. “Holy shit. Is that a joint?”
“It appears to be,” Herbert nodded and offered it to him.
“Woah, you don’t want it? I mean, I’ll totally take it, but…”
“I don’t particularly enjoy them. I just like taking things I know will be missed. A little game I like to play at these gatherings. But this time it seems like I was noticed.”
The man lit up. “Who are you?”
“Herbert.”
The man snickered, and then let out a loud laugh.
“What?” Herbert frowned.
“Nothing…” he sighed. “I’m Dan.”
The young man, Dan, reached out his hand. Herbert took it and shook it firmly.
Herbert lit the joint he had given Dan, and lit a cigarette for himself. They both passed the vodka between them as they walked. Herbert took very small sips, but, admittedly, he was indulging more than he typically would. But there was something about Dan that made him let his guard down further than usual.
There had been a glint in his eyes that made him curious. Dan had been drunk the first night, following him around and laughing, hooked on his every word. Herbert didn't pursue the stranger much that night, but he wanted to see more. He needed to get him away from those brutish friends of his first. Somewhere he wouldn't have to worry about prying eyes. Herbert had a feeling he might see the stranger again, and started becoming friendly with a young woman the boy had taken an interest in. Get to her, get to Dan. He didn’t expect things to go too far, but the night was going far better than he could’ve imagined.
By the time they had gotten to Herbert’s apartment building, Herbert was feeling more than tipsy, a slight tingling sensation began spreading to his head, and Dan was utterly crossfaded. He looked around the street nervously.
“Uh, we’re safe, right?”
Herbert smirked to himself. “Relax, country boy. We’re fine.”
“I live in the suburbs,” Dan mumbled.
“Right.”
Herbert fiddled with the door– it always got stuck– gave it a kick, and motioned Dan inside. He hurried up the stairs like he was scared to be outside a moment longer. Herbert unlocked his apartment door and Dan didn’t wait to be welcomed in.
“It’s so hot in here,” the man complained.
“Mm,” Herbert acknowledged with a hum. He threw his keys to the side carelessly. “Tenants don’t control the temperature. They haven’t turned the heat off for the spring yet. Feel free to make yourself more comfortable.”
“Hold this?” Dan handed him the blunt and he took it, slightly confused. The man pulled his bright sweater over his head, mussing up his hair in the process. He undid a few buttons on his shirt as well and threw himself on the bed, kicking off his shoes. Herbert bit his lip. Dan gave him a puzzled look.
“Your hair,” Herbert explained. “Here.”
He handed Dan the blunt and reached down to brush the strands sticking up and out of place back down.
“Thanks!” The man said cheerily.
God, he was oblivious. Herbert wondered how much he’d let him do before Dan would start attempting to claim he was straight.
Herbert opened the window next to his bed and blew out some smoke, sitting down and toeing off his shoes as well. Dan caught his drift and followed. He sat next to Herbert and exhaled deeply. They watched the smoke drift out the window as Dan extinguished the last inch of the joint into the ashtray on Herbert’s bedside table. He laughed to himself and Herbert raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Sorry.” Dan smiled. “I forgot. God, it’s so weird. Weed always gets me in the mood, you know? Whenever I smoke I always end up so horny.”
Herbert tried not to react to this information. It was so strange to him; the things alleged straight men would say to each other. They’d talk about what aroused them without any intended innuendo. Dan had said it in a way that lacked any seductive tone. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say in response.
“Does it ever do that for you?”
Herbert cocked his head. “Hm?”
“You know.” Dan shrugged. “Make you hard?”
“I can’t say that it has.”
Dan looked disappointed. “What about drinking?”
“Not often, no.”
The man shook his head. “Then what does turn you on?”
“People, occasionally.”
“You're killing me here.” Dan hung his head and laughed. “What kinds of people, then?”
Herbert smiled and took a long drag on his cigarette. He looked Dan up and down before speaking.
“I like a mystery. Someone I can peel back the layers of and find something unexpected beneath, something no one else would think they’d find.”
“Huh?” Dan blinked owlishly at him.
Herbert sighed with minor annoyance and tapped his cigarette over the ashtray on his bedside table. Let's try that again.
“Someone tall with broad shoulders,” he said, thinking it over. “I like big hands, but not too big. Ones that can still do nimble work, nothing oafish. A nose like a Roman statue. Long face and a strong, defined jawline. Deep, brown eyes. Light brawn but with a brain behind that strength.”
Dan’s eyes widened. He could see the gears turning in his sluggish, cross-faded mind.
“So… men, right?”
“Connecting the dots, smart boy,” Herbert praised.
“Oh.” The inflection in which he said it was difficult for Herbert to read. It seemed curious more than anything. That wasn’t a bad sign. Herbert noted this information with a touch of excitement as he exhaled smoke slowly. Dan licked his lips, pausing before he asked his next question.
“Men… like me?”
“Yes,” Herbert said without pausing.
Dan’s eyes darted around. He spoke slowly. “So… Are you turned on right now?”
The alcohol was definitely talking for Herbert now. Inhibitions that normally restrained him dissipated and released his tongue.
“Yes.”
“I am too,” Dan breathed. His face scrunched in concentration. “I mean, being high usually does it but... I- I think… I don't know. I think…”
“Don’t think,” Herbert cut him off. “Pretty face like that and you don’t need to. You're too far in your own head, come out and enjoy yourself for once.”
Dan dropped whatever previous train of thought he had. “No one’s called me pretty before.”
Herbert smiled slyly and leaned forward “Do you like it?”
“I think so. I mean, I do. Yes.” Dan corrected himself, remembering how he had been told not to think. It didn't go unnoticed.
“What else do you like? I mean, what do you really like?” Herbert inched closer, slowly so Dan wouldn’t notice. “None of your friends are listening. You have no one to impress, no need to pretend.”
“I hate frat parties,” he blurted. He seemed surprised to hear himself say it. “I hate being around people with nothing to do but drink. I hate NYU and all those pretentious, rich assholes.”
Herbert grinned. He wasn’t even offended. If anything, he agreed.
“But I like people, being around people,” Dan gushed. “I like connecting with them, talking and touching. I like when they touch back. I like sex.” Dan’s eyes flitted nervously over Herbert. “I like when I can just lose myself in another person and just let go. But I’ve been told I feel too much. Get too emotional. Girls… don’t really like that."
“Well, have you ever been with a man before?” Herbert asked casually.
“No.” Dan looked forlorn, as if he were ashamed to admit the truth. “I’m sorry. I'm not, uh. I'm not gay.”
“Hm,” Herbert hummed before taking a drag on his cigarette, acting aloof. “Shame.”
“But I…” Dan bit his lip hesitantly. “Um. I… I like your mouth.”
Herbert frowned. He wasn't in the mood to be used. Perhaps he had misjudged the boy. But Dan continued.
“I like watching your hands… I like how I can't quite tell what color your eyes are. And your dorky glasses, and the kinda McCartney bangs you’ve got going on.” Dan giggled, a playful sound Herbert was sure this man would never make sober. “I like what I see.”
“Is that so?” The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. These weren't the musings of a heterosexual man looking to get off by any means possible. The man nodded. Then the playful smile dropped to something more… lustful. Herbert extinguished his cigarette. Dan had his attention now.
“I want…” Dan touched Herbert's leg and moved his hand upwards. “I want to see more.”
Dan’s hand slid up to Herbert's hip. His fingers pulled teasingly at his tucked in shirt. He tugged slowly at the fabric as if it were a question. Dan looked up to meet Herbert’s gaze to find the answer. They stared into each other's eyes as if they could communicate their thoughts without speaking them aloud.
Dan reached up to Herbert's face, his fingers resting lightly on his jaw and brushing his lips with his thumb. Dan's touch wandered feather light over his skin, looking over Herbert’s face with wide eyes full of wonder. Herbert felt as if the world was melting around him, everything slowly disappearing except for the beautiful man entranced in his gaze. He was close enough now that they could feel each other’s breath. Dan inched closer, searching for any sign pointing towards yes. Herbert leaned forward, giving the man the hint, and he took it instantly.
Dan grabbed Herbert's face with both hands, the touch no longer gentle, and crashed their lips together. Dan moved rapidly, practically sucking at his mouth. Herbert attempted to reciprocate, and the second his lips parted more, Dan dove into his mouth with desperation. Herbert hadn’t kissed many people before, so he didn’t have much to compare the experience to, but he never recalled it being so sloppy. Dan’s tongue moved aimlessly, but with a fiery passion, licking into his mouth and over his lips. Dan's lips barely closed for a second as he pressed open mouthed kisses into Herbert's own.
Dan finally pulled away from Herbert, eyes half lidded. Herbert watched as a lewd string of saliva connected their lips for a moment before breaking. He wondered distantly if it was Dan’s or his own, or if that even mattered. Dan was still close to his face, both hands cradling it. He smiled and let out an amused sigh.
“What?” Herbert frowned.
“It’s just…” Dan giggled again and ran his fingers along Herbert’s cheek. “Stubble. I never thought that it’d feel that good to feel someone else's stubble on my face.”
Dan leaned in to kiss Herbert again, slowly this time. His mouth moved across Herbert's face distractedly, until he was hardly kissing and more nuzzling his cheek against Herbert's own. Even clean shaven, Herbert’s stubble prickled against the cheek of the far smoother skinned man on top of him. Dan sighed dreamily.
Pride and arousal boiled over within Herbert. Whatever doubts he had before were a distant memory. He needed to eat this man alive.
Herbert began to mouth at the strong jawline he was so fond of, and the man let out a whine. Herbert wondered what other sounds he could make and moved further. Dan held onto Herbert's legs as he worked his way down to the man's neck.
Herbert could feel Dan’s hardness grow and press against his leg. Dan was practically straddling it, he had slotted Herbert’s leg between his own when he had lunged on top of him for the kiss. Dan’s hips moved, subtly grinding against his leg. That large hand was on his inner thigh now, and Herbert swore he felt an electrical current buzz at the point of contact. Dan’s hands pressed into him, gripping the flesh beneath his clothes and wandering further.
Dan reached between his legs before Herbert could even stop him. His brain was two feet behind him. He was so caught up with the ecstasy of the firm hand on the hottest parts of his body, the alcohol flowing through him, and the taste of the man's salty flesh on his tongue that he didn't realize what was currently happening.
Dan faltered and froze, suddenly unsure.
“You’re not… are you not into this?
Dan’s fingers ghosted against what he felt to be a flaccid dick beneath layers of clothing. He pulled back and embarrassment flooded over Dan’s face.
“Fuck, I have no idea how to do this. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I just thought– I mean– You’re so hot and I thought you were into me and I just wanted–”
“No!” Herbert yelled as he grabbed Dan’s retreating hand. “No, it's not that, I…”
He was lucky he only had to explain what Dan thought was the lack of an erection rather than the lack of phallus entirely. He rarely wore one at all, a fake phallus under his clothes, that is. He had only begun to wear one after a particularly intoxicated girl at one of the parties he attended had gone around groping all the men in sight. He knew he wasn't exactly anyone's “type,” but the girl had been so drunk she could've mistaken him for Michael Gray. Luckily, a friend pried her off of him before she got a chance to feel what wasn't there. Afterwards, he wore something beneath his slacks to give him plausible deniability if the occasion should ever arise again. But he didn't anticipate… this.
Dan still looked nervous and humiliated, the evidence of his own arousal bordering on painful while, to the other man's perspective, Herbert seemed unable to match his enthusiasm in the slightest.
“It’s… the alcohol,” Herbert lied. “It happens sometimes. Please, I want this. ”
Dan looked unsure. “You really like this? I mean, am I doing a good job?”
“Yes.” His need for reassurance made Herbert ache and grow even more aroused. He pulled Dan close again. “Yes, god yes, just don't stop, please-”
The man didn't wait for another word. He yanked Herbert down by his waist in an impressive display of strength. He was pulled flat on his back and Dan threw himself on top of him, pinning Herbert to the bed with his weight. Dan rocked his entire body against him, frantically pulling at Herbert's tie to get at his neck. Herbert matched his own energy and reached down to tug Dan’s shirt off. He could feel Dan moving his hips against his leg, rubbing his own erection against him and inching his knee up to grind against Herbert’s groin. He seemed increasingly worried about Herbert’s own arousal. Herbert gasped at the contact, finally receiving relief he didn’t realize his cock had been aching for.
“I can help,” Dan muttered desperately. When he felt as if his ministrations with his knee weren’t enough, he wriggled a hand between their bodies and groped at Herbert dick. “I can get you hard, really.”
You have no idea, Herbert wished he could say. But only a moan escaped his mouth at the rough treatment the man gave him. His body moved as if out of his control, pressing deeper into Dan’s palm and rocking against him. Dan groaned in return. Herbert wished more than anything that there was not a stitch of clothing between him and that hand that kept exploring further.
“Oh please, I'm sorry,” Dan apologized inexplicitly between sloppy kisses. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to sleep with some guy who's never even had sex with a man before, but please. Please let me. I can be good. I can fuck you so good.”
“So well,” Herbert corrected without thinking. How could he think, anyway? The tingling in his limbs had reached his head now and the saliva from the man's passionate kisses were trailed from his face to his neck.
Dan made a pathetic confused sound as he grinded against Herbert with his entire body. He was so clingy. The man was just pressing them tightly together now, running his hands up and down his body and through his hair obsessively. Herbert tried to reach for his drawer but couldn’t manage to pry them apart.
“Dan,” he groaned beneath him. “Do you want to have sex or not?”
The man pushed himself back to look at Herbert and nodded enthusiastically.
“We’ll need this,” Herbert reached into his bedside table and rummaged clumsily. He pulled out a bottle of lubrication and handed it to Dan. His eyes widened.
Herbert guided Dan’s hands to his waist, then around to the small of his back. He pushed the warm hands down past his waistband and lower.
“I’m sure I don’t have to explain where you have to go from here,” Herbert said in a low voice.
Dan looked him up and down. Then pulled Herbert in his lap suddenly so their chests were pressed against each other. Herbert gasped from the unexpected movement and wrapped his arms around the man's neck for balance. Dan ran his hands up to his back and then back down again, as if he were just reveling in the feel of Herbert's flesh. He held Herbert with one hand as the other uncapped the bottle and then briefly released him from his grip to cover his fingers. He sank his hand back below Herbert's boxers.
Herbert shivered as Dan’s fingers entered him, slow and curious. He looked down to see Dan staring up at him with a starstruck expression. Herbert bit his smiling lip and rocked back on Dan’s fingers.
“You’re a natural,” he praised as he ran his hand through the man's long hair. He earned a shudder in response. Dan added another digit and Herbert groaned.
From his spot perched on Dan’s lap, the man's face lined up right to the crook of Herbert's neck. Dan pushed Herbert forward once more to meet his neck with his teeth. Herbert gasped as the man bit and sucked at the exposed skin, moans muffled into his throat. He continued to stretch Herbert around his fingers as he did so. Herbert was impressed with the multitasking, and his body was certainly loving the amount of stimulation this man was providing. Herbert tried not to rock on the fingers inside him too much, and focused on the tantalizing stretch.
“Mm, are you ready yet?” Dan asked pleadingly.
“That depends,” Herbert hummed. “Let me see you.”
Dan looked up at Herbert with uncontained excitement. He pulled his hand from Herbert and pushed him off of his lap. Herbert bounced on the mattress and laughed, amused at how delighted the man was.
“Sorry,” Dan mumbled as he fumbled with his jeans. He shucked them off with only a slight amount of comical struggling.
Herbert could feel his arousal actually drip into his utterly ruined boxers at the sight of the tent in Dan’s briefs. But Dan seemed suddenly shy as his hand paused at his underwear.
“What?” Herbert asked.
“It doesn’t feel fair,” Dan said softly. His face was even more flushed. “I want to see you too.”
Herbert swallowed. “You will soon enough,” he promised, but Dan looked unsure. He bit his lip. He supposed it couldn’t hurt. God, he couldn’t stand to see the man like this. “Here.”
Herbert began unbuttoning his shirt. Dan knelt one knee on the bed, drawing near to him again. As soon as he had finished, Dan reached forward tentatively.
“Can I?” He asked softly.
Herbert nodded. He didn’t shrug the button down off his shoulders and hoped the man wouldn’t notice. Dan just touched his fingers against Herbert’s sternum slowly, then moved his entire palm down his chest.
“Woah,” Dan breathed shakily.
He ran his hand over the right side of Herbert’s chest, swiping a thumb over his nipple. He did it with such an enamoured awe, Herbert felt himself grow hot.
“You’re… not soft. Not in the way I’m used to. But I think I like this. A lot.” He smiled giddily. “Again with the hair. I didn’t know it could be so… hot.”
Dan leaned forward until Herbert felt his breath on his neck. Herbert watched the man silently. Dan had both hands on his chest, running his fingers down and kneading his flesh. He closed the distance between them and kissed Herbert’s skin. His lips followed his hands lower, mouthing at his collar bone, then his sternum, trailing down to his chest and then stomach.
Herbert couldn’t bring himself to speak. He had been holding his breath, hoping that between the dark, the hair on his chest, and the slight cover of his shirt, that his scars would go unnoticed. That was all he was asking for, but Dan looked at him and touched him with such adoration that he felt flustered at the overwhelming positive attention.
“W-why are you…” Herbert trailed off.
No one had ever touched him like this before, gone over each detail of his body with reverence and hungry adoration. He was always touched quickly and roughly, over clothes mostly and without much thought or care. Although the front of his torso wasn’t exactly an erogenous zone, it was the first time anyone touched, let alone kissed him there. He felt as though his skin was tingling beneath the man's fingers. He felt sensitive and unbelievably hard, and he couldn’t hide the whimper that came out of him when Dan’s mouth kissed along the trail of hair on his stomach.
Dan’s hand wandered down to his waist, and the other joined at the opposite side. He laughed. Herbert narrowed his eyes defensively. Dan sat up to look at him.
“I was wondering, earlier at the party. I wanted to know if my hands could fit all the way around your waist.” He rubbed his thumbs against Herbert’s stomach. “Not quite, I guess.”
“You were wondering that?” How much had he been on this man's mind?
Dan’s hand trailed back up to his neck and his gaze followed. His eyes widened again when they got there. “Oh man… You bruise easy.”
Herbert’s hand flew to his neck where Dan’s eyes were, thankful for the distraction.
Dan sucked his teeth apologetically. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to– I just–”
Herbert lunged at him and his lips met his throat. Dan inhaled sharply. Herbert held his head and shoulder as he sunk his teeth into the flesh to mark it. He sucked against his neck, saliva wetting his skin. Herbert dug his nails into Dan, pulling him close. Dan took the opportunity to wrap his hands beneath the open shirt and ran his fingers up the skin of Herbert’s back, hissing at the pressure on his neck. Finally, Herbert pulled himself off.
“There,” he said, admiring his work. “Now we’re even.”
Dan grazed his fingers over the marks Herbert left. Herbert brought his attention back down.
“Now…” Herbert hooked his thumb into the waistband of Dan’s briefs. “Are you going to show me what we’re working with?”
Dan grinned and met Herbert’s hand where it lay teasingly. They pulled his underwear down and Herbert couldn’t stop his breath from hitching as Dan’s fully hard cock bounced against his bare stomach. He could feel himself go red, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Dan.
“Meet your expectations?” Dan leaned forward with a sly smile.
“E-exceeds them, actually,” Herbert stuttered. “I’m not– I haven’t really slept with anyone so…”
“Big?” Dan’s shyness had completely dissipated, and the confidence that had taken over his tone was intoxicating.
“I was going to say well endowed,” Herbert mumbled.
Dan laughed and crawled forward on the bed, pushing Herbert back with a surprised gasp.
“You’re such a nerd.”
Herbert had never had anyone say that to him while looking over him in the way that Dan was.
“I’m going to need more preparation if we’re…”
Dan let out an exasperated groan and hung his head, resting it on Herbert’s bare chest.
“Please, you’re torturing me, please,” Dan pleaded dramatically, running his hands down Herbert's sides. Herbert wasn’t sure he could wait either. He wondered if this man was as emotional when he was sober.
“Well,” he swallowed nervously. The alcohol had probably helped relax his body, right? “Just… Just go slow. I mean it.”
Dan pulled back from where he had been lamenting on Herbert’s chest and perked up with excitement.
“God, let me just–” He started to fumble with Herbert’s slacks but he was stopped by a firm hand. He looked up fearfully.
“Wait, just…” Herbert was getting flustered. He turned around from Dan, pulled his shirt completely off, and lowered himself on all fours. He wanted to see the man's face, but in Dan’s intoxicated and confused state, he would have less questions if he could keep some things from Dan’s sight.
“Fuck…” Dan breathed. Herbert felt those warm hands on his sides again, fingers dipping beneath the waist and pressing into his hips. He ran his hands up and down for a moment, just feeling his body.
“I thought you wanted to fuck me,” Herbert taunted.
Dan’s hands gripped him hard for a moment, and then tore his slacks and underwear down in one swift motion. He ran his hands up from Herbert’s bare thighs to his ass.
“Holy shit…” Dan whispered. “Let me just–”
Dan fumbled hurriedly, reaching blindly for something on the bed until Herbert heard the click of the bottle of lube again. He looked over his shoulder to see Dan slicking himself up. He clenched at the sight of his dick passing through his fist. Finally Dan placed a hand on either side of him and spread Herbert with his thumbs.
“Can I? Please…”
“Yes,” Herbert begged. “Just not too fast–”
He let out an embarrassing moan at the feeling of Dan, wet and hot at his entrance. Dan groaned as he pushed forward, both of them rendered speechless as he moved slowly inside of him. Dan gripped Herbert’s waist harder and used the leverage to pull him back onto his dick.
“Damn,” Herbert swore breathlessly and dropped his torso to the bed, unable to hold himself upright any longer. He arched his back to compensate the best he could to ease Dan’s cock inside of him.
“Halfway,” Dan said, sounding strained. “Fuck, are you always this tight?”
Halfway? Herbert thought with slight horror. This was certainly leagues above anything he’d taken before. He reached down and found his cock, absolutely dripping and painfully hard, which had been ignored up until this point. He jerked it between his fingers at a desperate and uneven pace.
“There, that should help relax–”
They both moaned as Dan bottomed out completely in one swift moment. Dan stilled behind him, breathing heavily and adjusting to the feeling.
“Oh my god. Oh my god,” he repeated it under his breath over and over, voice pitching up. “Does it always feel like this? Is it always so…”
“No, I think it's just me, actually,” Herbert managed to say smugly. It was difficult to keep his voice steady with the overwhelming feeling of just how much he was being stretched around the other man. “Sorry to be your first. Any man you sleep with after this will be disappointing in comparison.”
Dan laughed so earnestly and Herbert wished in that moment that he could keep him. His internal musings were cut short as Dan gripped his hips and grinded further inside before the exploratory pull out. He had almost pulled out entirely when he sank back in, quickly and all at once.
“God–” Herbert swore he knocked the air right out of his lungs.
Dan began fucking him in full earnest, gripping so hard against his hips Herbert worried he might have even more bruises. He couldn’t hold himself up when the man had just started, so now he just let himself be pushed back and forth, head pressed into the pillow and coming dangerously close to hitting the wall with each thrust forward. He continued to tug at his dick with what little energy he had in time with Dan’s movements.
But suddenly, Dan caught his arm.
“Stop,” he begged. “I wanna make you come. Don't you want me to make you come?”
He sounded so downright pathetic Herbert almost didn't want to break the news to him.
“That’s not how it works with men, love.” Or women, either, but it’s not my job to teach him that. “No one's ever made me orgasm from penetration alone.”
Dan faltered. “You take other guys home too?”
Herbert smiled. Was that jealousy he heard?
“Maybe. Why do you care?”
“I thought you were trying to take Susan home.” Dan dug his nails into Herbert's hips. “You were trying to take her from me, weren’t you? Take her home?”
“No.”
“Don't lie,” Dan snapped his hips forward harshly and Herbert yelped in response.
“I– I wanted to get to you,” Herbert admitted. Dan’s grip felt increasingly stronger on his waist. COmbined with his nails, it began to hurt. It made slick drip between his legs.
“Some fucking mind game. Is this how you pick up all guys?”
“No. Just you,” Herbert panted. “I wanted you.”
“Good. I don’t want you to think about anyone else. I’m the one that took you home.”
Herbert couldn't even argue that this was his home, but it was rather difficult to think at the moment.
“I get to fuck you. Make you whine. Make you come. You're my boy, my- mine–” He stuttered, his breath catching.
Dan’s body dropped forward until he was pushing Herbert entirely into the mattress with his own weight, pressed together skin to skin. He snaked his hands underneath him to grab at Herbert's chest and shoulders, hugging his torso to his own chest from behind.
“Closer,” Dan whined. “Fuck, I need you closer. I need you, I need you.”
He began to chant, practically babbling breathily into his ear as he groped at Herbert's chest, pressing their bodies slick with sweat impossibly closer. Herbert couldn't reach his dick from this position anymore, but it didn't matter. He was pressed so deeply into the mattress the sheets grinded against him with every thrust, Dan unknowingly stimulating him as he moved both of their hips. Without warning, Herbert came with a strangled cry. The only indication the man inside him knew he came was the groan of pleasure that slipped out as Herbert clenched around him. But otherwise, he did not slow his pace in the slightest. If anything, he thrusted harder.
“S-So much,” Herbert whimpered into the pillow. “Too much.”
As if pushing into him wasn’t enough, Dan gripped Herbert's shoulders from underneath him and pulled him back onto his pistoning cock, making their bodies meet with even more force. Herbert felt completely surrounded on all angles, Dan's full body pressed flushed against his back, arms wrapped around his front, the movement of the man's hips grinding his already spent cock against the mattress toppling him past the line of overstimulation. He had never been touched like this before, so desperately for so long. To his horror, he couldn’t help but admit to himself that he liked it. Unintelligible whines were pulled from Herbert's throat with every thrust and he could feel drool pool on the pillow below him.
“So much,” he slurred again. He couldn't think anymore. “Dan, please, I–…”
The man made a hushing sound, as if to sooth him. One of his wandering hands came up to cradle his face, then brush over his lips. Before Herbert knew it two fingers were in his mouth, pressing down on his tongue. Herbert made a desperate sound that caused Dan to shush him gently once more.
“M’ sorry. Please, just take it. You just feel so good. You’re so good for me,” Dan huffed breathlessly. “You're perfect.”
Herbert clenched harder around Dan. He couldn’t help it. The man had become so possessive over him and his body it made his head spin with arousal. The overstimulation was beginning to veer closer to another round. He could feel the sheets were absolutely drenched beneath him from his own arousal. Dan continued with such vigor that an anecdote he had heard came to mind; stories of excessive alcohol sometimes inducing an erection without allowing orgasm for an extended period of time. He worried suddenly they might truly be at it all night. Perhaps worry wasn't the right word, as even more slick dripped out of him at the thought.
“Your body is just– just so…” Dan mumbled incoherently as he thrust. He continued groping him, hard and frantic. Feeling his neck, his chest, and back down to his stomach.
“Dan…” Herbert whined.
“I know. God, you’re such a good boy. Just let me. Just a little while longer. I just– just–”
Finally, Dan came, and they both cried out in shock. Dan continued to thrust slowly as he did, energy clearly depleting from his body. He breathed heavily and lowered his head to Herbert's neck, nuzzling his face close.
Then the man went completely slack on top of him. Herbert wriggled beneath him.
“Dan?”
Dan was still impossibly heavy and warm inside of him. Herbert was able to push him to the side slightly, but his lanky arms were still wrapped around his torso and the hands on his shoulders held him steadfast even in his sleep. Herbert moved a hand down to his abdomen, wondering if he would be able to feel Dan from the outside. He obviously couldn't, but he wouldn’t have been surprised.
Exhausted, he gave up trying to separate them both, and his breathing slowed to match the rate of the man wrapped around him.
Herbert woke up sore. He didn't need to question what had happened, even though his memory was a little spotty.
He shouldn't have been too surprised to wake up alone. It was for the best, he told himself. He wasn't sure what he would've done with the man once they had woken up if he had stayed. He was sure the boy wasn't nearly as fun sober, and probably far more repressed. But he would admit, he still felt a pang of disappointment. He would’ve liked to see the aftermath, the look of realization and horror.
He wasn't sure what the man had seen, but he knew there wasn't any chance he would be telling anyone about who he had spent the night with. And based on where he was sore he knew there was even less of a chance he had found out. Either way, they both had their secrets to keep. Herbert smiled to himself. Even though he'd never see the man again, he'd always be his first. He hoped that fact would haunt the man like a shadow, that he had tasted the forbidden fruit, as it were.
Herbert pulled the blankets off of himself. Semen stained his sheets. He groaned. He had definitely gotten more intoxicated than he would have liked. They hadn’t even used protection, it would seem. So it wasn’t exactly his most well thought out night. It didn’t turn out too badly in the end.
Something caught his eye on the floor as he got up. A red sweater. Far too bright for his taste, but he had liked how it looked on that man. He smiled and folded it up, putting it alongside the other things he held onto from his party escapades.
In the bathroom mirror, he saw the marks on his neck for the first time. He remembered then that he had given the man a matching set. He hoped they would plague the man with embarrassment until they faded. He wondered if the stranger would be able to ever get bruises on his neck without thinking of this encounter.
He hoped not.
***
“Why did you let him move in?”
Meg had finally asked him later that week when they were on the university campus together. Dan hadn’t expected this to still be an issue. He thought he explained the situation pretty clearly.
“I don’t know. He seems fine. And I don’t feel like doing the whole roommate search longer than I have to.”
Meg bit her cheek, but didn't say anything else on the matter.
In reality, that wasn’t the full truth. But Dan couldn’t explain it.
There was just something about West that had felt so familiar. Dan wanted to ask, but the guy didn’t seem interested in talking to him in the slightest. Dean Halsey and Doctor Hill were taking up most of the conversation anyway. As they did, Dan looked the man up and down, trying to remember. He had come from out of the country, Halsey had mentioned Sweden or something like that, so Dan guessed the chances of their acquaintance was pretty slim. The man noticed his staring and gave him an odd look. Luckily, he was introduced to Hill before Dan even had time to be embarrassed.
That night, after Meg had left his place and West was moving himself in, Dan finally asked.
“Have we met?”
West looked cautious. “This morning, remember?”
Dan waved his hand. “No, yeah. I know that. I mean before. You seem familiar.”
“Where would we have met?” West seemed curious.
Dan wracked his brain. “You didn’t grow up in Arkham? Or go to pre-med here?”
“I grew up in Canada,” West answered plainly. He didn’t say anything else, but he stared at Dan in a way like he was waiting for something to happen, or like he was trying to figure something out about him.
Dan just shrugged sheepishly.
“I guess you just have one of those faces,” he lied.
Dan forgot about it in time, though it still bothered him.
Admittedly, Dan also forgot they were living together now. He was… entertaining Meg in his room one night and dashed out to the kitchen to grab her a glass of water. When he turned around he nearly dropped it.
“Shit!”
West was standing in the kitchen. He hadn't even heard him, he completely forgot to check if he was home. He wasn’t used to worrying about that kind of thing.
“Uh...” Dan side stepped behind the kitchen counter awkwardly. He had underwear at least, ones that left nothing to the imagination, but it was something.
“I have an early class before my shift tomorrow,” West said blankly. But Dan understood the intent.
“Yeah. Right. Sorry.” He looked down at himself, embarrassed again. “Sorry.”
“Nothing I haven't seen before.”
Dan's mind started reeling from what that could possibly mean when he realized. “Oh. When you moved in. Yeah, sorry. I promise this will stop happening.”
Dan laughed awkwardly. What else could he do in that situation? West made a curious expression but didn’t comment.
“I believe this is yours.”
West handed him something. A shirt, maybe. Dan just took it and nodded, running to his room the second West had left to his own.
He closed the door and pressed his back to it, letting out the breath he had been holding.
God, what's wrong with me?
He finally looked down at what West had given him. It was a neatly folded bright red sweater. This wasn't his. Was it something Meg got for him that had been misplaced? It didn’t look like the kind she knit, and it wasn’t new either. He had one just like this in his pre-med days. It had always been his favorite before he lost it–
And suddenly, it all hit him at once. Spring break. Dark hair. Glasses. Suit and tie. A lot of alcohol.
He did know Herbert West. Biblically.