Yeah, I've really gotten into the fluff thing. And they're mostly futurefics. I honestly meant for this to be one shots from episodes, and I promise it will be, but I'm worried about repeating angsty scenes (which is easier than you'd think) and have never written smut (though I think DS should have had many more :p).
Anyway, this is dedicated to cj, who liked the last chapter enough to ask for me to expand it into a multi chapter fic, which I have decided to do.
"I'm really sorry man, you know I'd be there if I could."
Dan runs a hand through his unruly dark curls, "Yeah, I'm not even sure why you're not coming."
Nate sighs on the other end of the phone, "Someone's called in a favour, I have to go."
"A favour? What…" Dan wrinkles his brow in thought, then realisation dawns on him and he laughs into the speaker, "It's a girl isn't it? You're ditching me for a booty call."
"What? No, come on, Dan…" Nate has to be the worst liar he's ever met, and Dan knows he's right as he grasps for a believable excuse. Dan looks balefully at the Xbox and stacks of snacks, the six pack on the counter, "Nate, Nate, relax. I get it, its fine. Some other time."
"Totally, I'm free next week. I'm sorry to break our date, man."
"Oooo, date, don't ever call it that again. I don't want those rumours floating around." Dan drops unceremoniously on the couch, picking up Halo Reach and examining the cover.
"Yeah I regretted it the moment I said it."
"Okay, well have fun."
Chuckles sound from the phone, "Oh I will." Dan hangs up with a grimace, disliking the visual that he associated with the tone of Nate's voice. They don't get to see each other often anymore; for a while he thought it had something to do with Serena, but whenever he brought it up she'd shake her head, we were friends before we dated, we're friends now. Irrespective, Dan had been looking forward to a night of gaming with one of his only male friends, so much for male camaraderie. He's more disappointed than angry, and picks up the beers, making his way to the fridge.
The vibration of his phone on the bench top startles him, and he flips it open. It's from Serena, and he smile a little subconsciously,
Hey, how's the boy's night going?
She's with Blair and a bunch of random girls who always seem to swarm around them (he never remembers their names, and they change all the time anyway). With both Dan and Serena at school, their spare time meets up rarely. Most of the school year is spent with one of them crawling out of bed before the other, and he can't remember the last time they had a meal together that isn't a Subway wrap on the way to class. Still, Blair is a harsh taskmaster, and Serena agreed to an evening of manicures and Audrey movies before she knew she and Dan would be home together for the first night in a month. He'd taken it is stride and invited Nate over, thinking at least it wouldn't be a waste of a night off.
It's not, Nate had something come up.
Serena must be bored, because they reply comes less than a minute later, What? What kind of something?
A wry smile plays on Dan's lips, and he's tempted to share his theory. Nothing serious, just an obligation he has to fulfil I guess. Hope Blair's is better xx.
He sits on the couch for a few minutes, and when she doesn't respond he sighs, walking into the bedroom to finish some readings for class.
Serena cracks open the door to the loft, looking for her boyfriend. The Xbox is still hooked up to the TV opposite the couch, and he hasn't bothered to put away the chips and MNM's. She moves into their kitchen, dumping the boxes of Indian on the counter and pulling her sweater off, scanning for Dan as she threw her hair up into a lazy ponytail.
"Dan? Daaan?" She says quietly, to no avail. She notices their bedroom door ajar, and when she sees him on the bed, novel on his chest where he's dropped it as he drifted off, she can't help but smile at how cute he is.
Serena slips out of her shoes, deftly sitting on the bed beside his head. Dan's lips are slightly parted in sleep, and one of his longer curls is across his forehead. Laughing a little at the sweet sight, she runs her fingers over his brow and presses a feather-light kiss on his nose, "Daaan? Come on, sweetie, wake up." His nose wrinkles as he slowly becomes aware, and he stretches out.
When his hand comes into contact with something warm and solid, Dan opens his eyes to see the hazy form of his girlfriend looming above him. "Mmmmm…Serena? What are you doing home, what time is it?" He trails off with a yawn, sitting up properly.
She smiles sweetly, "Its 6:30 sleepyhead, time for dinner." Serena brushes the curl from his head, allowing him a moment to compose himself.
As he rubs the sleep from his eyes Dan swings his legs off the couch, stretching the kinks from his back. He looks at Serena, and in that moment he's so happy she's here he pulls her into a hug, arms around her middle while hers slip around his neck.
They pull apart and walk into the lounge together, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but why are you home so early? Nails and facials take longer than a few hours."
"You say this from experience, huh?" Serena asks with mischief in her tone, taking a seat on one of the stools. Dan rolls his eyes at her and she giggles, digging into a box of butter chicken and handing him a fork.
"You told me Nate cancelled on you," she answers simply, offering him the chicken. It's from his favourite Indian place, and he smiles appreciatively as he takes the noodle box,
"Yeah, but that wasn't me hinting you should cancel your night, I had other stuff to do. Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?"
"Cause you would've tried to convince me not to." Serena answers, tearing into a piece of cheese naan.
"Hmm..yes, I would.." He agrees around a mouthful.
"And I know you were looking forward to your night and wanted to surprise you."
It's kind and sweet and very Serena, spontaneous and simple. He's always appreciated her small, basic gestures; a note in his bag, a coffee from Starbucks waiting for him in the morning, the kiss on his cheek, I love you, when she thinks he's asleep.
"Thankyou, really, thankyou. It means a lot to me." She smiles sunnily, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. Dan gets them a bottle of water from the fridge, "So what do you want to do tonight?"
"Oh my God, what is that?"
"It's an Elite, they're bad guys, kill it!" Dan shouts as Serena squeals, firing randomly in its direction, "It's got a face like the Predator." She says with distaste.
They're sitting in the loft, packets of potato chips and jaffas scattered around them and are deep in the co-operative campaign of Halo. Dan loves the look on her face, staring intently at the screen and firing wildly at the slightest movement.
"So, why did Nate end up ditching you? You were pretty vague in your text."
Dan swaps his assault rifle for a pistol, "He was pretty vague on the phone. Said someone 'called in a favour'."
Serena wrinkles her nose delicately, "Called in a favour? What does that even mean?"
"I asked the same thing. Whatever it is, he couldn't get out of- Look out, there's snipers on that ridge."
"Already on it Humphrey," She takes them out with a grenade, "What could possibly be more important than you?" Dan is silent, focusing on the game when Serena's airy laugh reaches his ears. He looks next to him to see her face bearing a wide smile as she pats him on the shoulder and talks through her giggles,
"Oh, Dan, he dumped you for sex." She's abandoned the game for a minute, reaching over for a handful of Salt and Vinegar chips.
"He did not," Dan says childishly, "It was something far more important."
Serena cracks into another round of chuckles, "Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is more important to Nate than sex."
Shifting uncomfortably, Dan shrugs, "If that's what he's doing, then I'm disappointed in him."
"Oh, as if you wouldn't do the same, "Serena says disbelievingly as she picks her controller up again.
"I have self control, and- what are you doing, that's me!" A grenade explodes and kills them both, and he frowns playfully at her, "Now we have to go back to the checkpoint."
Serena raises her eyebrows at his irate tone, places both controllers on the coffee table and leans towards him. She braces herself over him, one hand on his chest and the other on the couch, and smiles mischievously,
"Self control? You think you'd rather spend the night playing Xbox than with me?" She straddles his lap, body all pressed up against his and Dan feels himself responding to her closeness,
"Uh..no, but that's different.." His voice wobbles as she pushes down on his hips, running her fingers through his hair and meeting his gaze, "Nate's with some random girl, not you."
Dan's hands wander up under her shirt, playing with the straps of her bra, "Hmmm, nice save." Serena murmurs as she kisses him softly where his ear and jaw meet. It's a sensitive spot and he knows she knows that, and moans as Serena nips lightly at his skin. He pulls her tank top over her head swiftly, and she laughs at his eagerness,
"What about the game?"
"It'll be there in the morning." Dan answers, swallowing her giggles and taking the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. She responds enthusiastically, and when one hand reaches done to unbutton his jeans, he's kinda glad Nate cancelled.
Pointless fluff!