So this is my first attempt at a real story. It will be a bit more shippy and a bit less smutty.
I am doing this without a beta. So if anyone is interested, give me a shout!

I really appreciate all the feedback and constructive criticism! I will update regularly (Once a week I think) and I think there will be 3/4 chapter.


Here she is again. In his apartment again. The way she only knocks once she's already inside, the way she goes straight for the couch and curls up on it, he is not sure the loft is even his anymore. It's more like their island, away from the world, where it's only the two of them.

Sometime it's Rufus and Lily's too. "No one is that bad, there's usually something beneath the surface with people like that to make them act the way they do", he remembers not understanding his father's words back then. Or rather dismissing them. For Dan, Blair was just a 95 pounds bon mots tossing, label whoring package of girly evil. He's trying to remember when exactly that started to change. It might have been when Serena took Blair's spot at Eleanor's photo shoot. Serena didn't do it on purpose. He doesn't think so, but she didn't think about what it would do to Blair either. Not because of the spotlight, Blair doesn't care about that (not as much as Serena does anyway) but because it showed the world that Blair's own mother didn't care much for her daughter. He went to Blair that day, not Serena and he told her that she needed to speak up, to take a stand and to tell her mother how she felt. He doesn't know how he knew that she didn't deserve that, it was instinctive. And she took his advice. She didn't thank him, but he knew she was grateful. That is one thing that hasn't changed. She never says "thank you" but sometimes, actions are louder than words. And then he learnt that Serena had slept with Nate when he was still with Blair. And Blair forgave her like the rest. It was part of the package of love Blair gave to her best friend. Never giving up on people. He just hoped it wasn't going to be her downfall.

Yeah, he doesn't know how it happened but the loft is theirs. He thinks back to a time not that long ago, where she would have slapped him and he would have hated himself for saying that something, anything was just theirs. Where she would have loathed their names not referring to two separate entities separated by a conjunction.

He doesn't let her in, he never does. This is their shelter; she doesn't need permission to enter. It's her prerogative. Just like refugees have a right to asylum. In the same way that they deserve solace from an unforgiving world. It's early in the night and she's wearing a beautiful gown. He doesn't question why. Leave it to her to walk around Brooklyn in a Matthew Williamson dress.

« If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're starting to like Brooklyn. » He greets

« It isn't Brooklyn I'm here for… » She trails.

« What's going on? »

« I don't really want to talk about it… How about you? Dining in alone on a Friday night? Do I smell trouble in VanDerHumphrey paradise? »

« If you must know, I asked Serena to come with me to my interview. She says she would, so I followed her all day but she ended up going on a rescue mission for an old teacher. I missed the interview. Same old boring story. Guy cares more about pretty blonde that he does his own future. Hence, can only blame himself for his misfortune. »

« We're sort of pathetic don't you think? And I'm not just talking about you referring to yourself in the third person. »

He nods but he's not entirely convinced that they're the pathetic ones.

« What do you wanna do? Movie? » He doesn't want to talk about their significant others tonight

« Yes, a 'feel-good one'! Possibly about a guy who doesn't treat his girlfriend like his property and who hasn't slept with the entire city. »

He looks at her and she gets upset because she can tell he's feeling sorry for her. And no one gets to pity Blair Waldorf. Especially not the Dan Humphreys of the world.

« Sorry! I just got "Nights of Cabiria" at the DVD store…» He says putting it in the player and pressing play.

As Cabiria and Giorgio approach the river, he offers « Tell you what. Let's make a game out of our misery. Something that would make the pain a little bit easier to bear. »

« I doubt it would work, but for the sake of the argument what did you have in mind? »

« I was thinking about a game of domination of sorts. I'll be enslaved to you every time Serena disappoints me, and vice versa when Chuck does. »

« Like I would agree to that. Nice try though. »

« Why do you always have to make decisions so quickly? Think about it. Make a pros and cons list. I mean, you could legitimately boss me around and I wouldn't be allowed to complain. »

« Don't I do that already? » She smiles and it's beautiful like she's living a happy memory. She should smile all the time.

« In your dreams maybe. But unfortunately, I'm not privy to what happens in your subconscious…»

Silence falls on them. An easy one. He lets it go, it was a long shot anyway and it would probably be a bad idea to enslave himself to Blair willingly. Half an hour goes by before she says

«Fine, But there has to be something to keep you honest. One hour of slavery each time, not a second more ok? »

He grins, « Fine by me. You would be the one to let the power go to your head anyway. »

« Please. »

« By the way, I'm afraid you're today's loser, unless you tell me what he did this time. »

She shakes her head in refusal. A shadow darkens her eyes. He doesn't want her to dwell.

« Ok then. Let the games begin! Let's see. I have to think this through carefully. » He thinks for a second. It's fleeting, « Lift up your dress. »

She snaps her head, defensiveness in her eyes.

« Do you trust me? »

She scoffs. She's tempted to reply that trust is for the lower class, for people who don't have a choice. People like her only need power and money to entice loyalty. Plus, the phrase reminds her of Aladdin before he takes Jasmine on the flying carpet and she never really understood the appeal of Princesses and Paupers falling in love.

« I'm not in the habit of doing that. »

« Well you don't really have a choice now do you? I wanna do shots off of you. Let's drown our sorrows oriental style! »

If trust is for the lower class, body shots are for whory, un-classy college girls, which is worse. Then again, she has been classy her whole life and what has it gotten her?

He gets up and grabs a half full bottle of whiskey and three shot glasses from a cupboard. When he comes back, the dress has been lifted, revealing black lace panties and the smoothest of skins. He smiles

« Thanks Cio-Cio San. »

« It's not whiskey in Japan, it's sake» She only replies as if the authenticity of the drinking game was her main concern.

« And I am not Madam Butterfly…» She says fiercely.

She is wrong. She gave herself to someone undeserving and that alone qualifies her. He ignores her though and places the glasses along her stomach and fills them up. She relaxes and laughs nervously while trying to keep the glasses stable. Body shots are so not something she ever pictured Dan Humphrey doing, least of all off of her. The whole scenario is hilarious. She has to give him that.

« I just thought of a twist. For each glass I down, you have to tell me something you like about yourself. And something real, no fake modesty. »

He looks at her and something in his eyes reduces her to silence.

« Ready? »

She can only nod. He starts with the one closer to her breasts. He has to wince, it burns but in a good way. He refills the glass because he wants her to taste the comforting drink. He grabs her face, places the small glass on her luscious lips and pours the amber liquid in her mouth. Her lips are beautiful. He just noticed that. They're almost sexual.

« I like that I think that the end justifies the means. It makes me feel powerful knowing that I will do anything to get what I want. » The next two drinks go down easier for the both of them. He learns that she likes her ass. He can't blame her for that. And that she is proud to have a friend like Serena. He would like to object but he can't. Serena is his girlfriend and he loves her. She tries to pull her dress down, but he grabs her hand.

« I'm not done. This just accounts for 30 minutes of our little game princess. » He knows it's actually probably closer to 45 but she doesn't object.

The first three shots have loosened them up. He pours the golden liquid in her belly button and without asking for her permission (he wouldn't have gotten it anyway) he applies his hot mouth on her stomach, drinking from her vibrant body. He finishes the bottle that way and the liquid tastes so much better mixed with the taste of her skin. He's pretty sure everything does. He laughs into her skin, he tells her he likes her ass too and he hears her laugh in response to him or something else. He's not sure but it's clear and it's unburdened, as it should be. He hunts the last drops of the liquor with his tongue and the tremors of her body make it easier. He traces shapes on her stomach with his finger for the last five minutes, trying to retrace the wanderings of his tongue. She doesn't know that, she's still trying to interpret his random patterns. When he finally allows her to pull her dress down after one hour he sees a twinge of disappointment on her face. He knows the hurt is all coming back to her. She remembers why she's there in the first place. He sits next to her and opens his arms. She crashes against him in the couch. Next thing he knows, she cries herself to sleep soaking his shirt and invading his skin. "You want to kill me, don't you?" Cabiria cries out in the background "For the money! Kill me then – Throw me in! I don't want to live."