Elliot hoped that he was the only one who could hear the audible hammering of his heart against his ribcage.
They had settled down into seats in the middle row, a conscious decision on Elliot’s part. Not only was it the best vantage point in any theater, but it also provided just enough visibility that Elliot wouldn’t be tempted to do anything uncouth.
I don’t know why I agreed to this, I hate horror films, Elliot thought with a pout. He looked over at Danny who was adjusting what seemed to be a new pair of glasses, his excitement evident.
Elliot sighed, Nevermind. I know why.
“So have you seen the other movies?” Danny asked, leaning over to whisper, “Not that you need to have, the plot is really inconsistent.”
“The plot to the Bloodbath trilogy inconsistent? I can’t imagine.” Elliot said dryly, “I think Winn made me watch them, but I don’t remember.”
“Don’t remember? You’d remember Bloodbath 2, that movie changes who you are as a person.” Danny said with a grin.
Elliot tried not to roll his eyes, “Isn’t this the sixth movie? How is it a trilogy if there’s six movies?”
“Each movie is technically three movies.” Danny said, oddly prideful, “So we’re seeing six, but it’s technically the ending of 2.”
“That’s not convoluted.” Elliot snorted. Truth be told, he did vaguely remember watching the movies with Winn one weekend. Most of them. They were aesthetically perfect, but overacted and poorly plotted trainwrecks.
And he was still scared on multiple occasions.
“We can always opt out of this and sneak into a rom-com if you’re chicken, Elliot.” Danny said, nestling into his theater seat.
Shit, it’s like he can smell fear sometimes.
“Who said anything about being scared? If anything scares me about this it’ll be the horrible production value.” Elliot said with an indignant huff, getting comfortable in his seat as well.
“There’s no shame in being scared.” Danny preened.
“I’m not scared of this stupid movie, Danny boy.”
Danny looked over, raising an eyebrow, “Are you sure?”
Elliot crossed his arms dramatically like an upset child, “What kind of idiot do you take me for?”
Danny was clearly struggling to keep a straight face, “You willing to make a bet?”
Elliot cleared his throat, nothing piqued his interest quite like a good bet, which is why he still had a handful of unpaid student loans as most of his savings had been spent in a casino on a not-totally-regrettable weekend with Winn, “You’ve got my attention, what did you have in mind?”
“I figured your standard fare,” Danny mused, “Winner does whatever the loser says and all that.”
Elliot’s mind became a montage of things it shouldn’t be montaging, “And I assume this all hinges on if I get scared?”
“Trust me, I’ll know if you do.” Danny winked, holding out his hand, “Shake on it?”
“So you can smell fear?” Elliot muttered, shaking Danny’s hand.
Danny choked back a laugh as the theater lights dimmed, “What?”
“Nothing. Nevermind.” Elliot flustered, “It’s a bet, and I look forward to winning.”
“I wouldn’t get too cocky,” Danny said softly as the first trailer began to play, “You’re still holding my hand.”
Elliot snatched his hand away, his face suddenly on fire as Danny laughed hysterically, drawing out several “shh” noises from the other people in the theater.
~
Elliot pouted through his entire walk out of the theater into the large hall.
He hadn’t just gotten scared, he’d shrieked. More than once.
I am a shame to mankind. That was the dumbest movie I’ve ever seen, what kind of idiot gets that scared from that drivel?,he chided himself.
Danny, at least, was thoroughly enjoying himself. He followed behind Elliot, trying to match his pace.
“You okay there, sailor?” Danny said, more humor than concern his his voice, “You’re as white as a sheet, man.”
“That is my natural complexion and I will not be made to feel ashamed of it.” Elliot quipped, knowing that he probably looked clammy and stricken, but if he was going to lose he was going to at least maintain partial dignity.
“Elliot, there’s no need to be a sore loser.” Danny said, biting his lip to keep a straight face.
“You know,” Elliot tried frowning as he looked over at Danny’s amused expression and found it exceedingly difficult to stay pretend upset, “I’m starting to think you like tormenting me.”
“It’s definitely a lot more fun than it needs to be,” Danny agreed, causing Elliot to fluster as they made their way out of the theater.
Danny shrugged off Elliot’s jacket, returning it, “Here, you’ll need this.”
Elliot felt his eyebrows knit in confusion, “For what? I’m actually not that cold."Consistently being flustered because I’m apparently a shrieking schoolgirl is keeping me nice and toasty.
“You lost the bet, remember?” Danny say with a mischievous grin, “You gotta go along with whatever I want to do. I don’t make the rules.”
I was hoping it involved less clothes, not more, “And I need my jacket because…?” Elliot asked hesitantly.
Danny wagged his finger, “Losers don’t get to ask questions.”
“I feel like I should be offended.” Elliot said blankly, struggling not to smile.
“Don’t be,” Danny said as he began leading Elliot down the block, “It’s nothing you won’t like, trust me.”
Elliot fought a losing battle against the lightness in his chest, whatever it was he would be willing to do it, but he didn’t want to look like a putz.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” He said, trying to sound more ominous than dorky, but failing miserably.
Danny laughed, “Don’t. Although maybe you should. I do get to- how did you put it?- torment you a little.”
Oh geez, Elliot thought, his chest somehow tighter and lighter all at once.
He followed Danny into a Mexican restaurant where somehow, everyone knew him. It was oddly charming to see Danny in an environment he felt so comfortable in, but surprising as a part of Elliot didn’t know there were such places in existence.
“I come here a lot,” Danny explained, oddly apologetically, “Once you have one of these burritos though, I swear you’ll never eat one anywhere else again.”
Elliot felt oddly bad, as the only place he frequented enough to know anyone by name was the bar closest to his apartment.
And he hadn’t been there in at least a year, booze was cheaper if you brought it home.
Danny stopped to hug the woman behind the cashier desk before they left, briefly asking her about her children before they said their farewells and darted back out into the city streets.
“One more stop and then it’s torture time.” Danny winked as they continued to walk.
Elliot reached into the bag to pull out his burrito and Danny reached over, slapping his hand.
Elliot frowned, “Is starving me part of the torture?”
Danny snickered, “No. But wait, okay?”
Elliot couldn’t help but comply.
They continued to walk, tossing about small talk as they made their way around the block. Danny continuously, somehow, bringing the topic back to the movie they had just watched. Much to Elliot’s surprise, there were also books. An entire Bloodbath franchise had apparently existed without his knowledge. He had never cared about the series before, and to some degree he still didn’t, but it was impossible not to get wrapped up in Danny’s excitement.
They stopped in front of a bar that was quite obviously closed, Danny handing Elliot his bag of burrito before rummaging through his jean pocket.
“I take it this is the bar where you work?” Elliot asked, knowing it was an obvious question.
“Yeah, I’ve got Val on...uh...other duties, so we had to close up today.” Danny said, the door popping open.
Elliot cleared his throat as they stepped inside, Danny flicking on several lights, “Let me guess, city patrol?”
“It’s not her favorite thing, but I wanted the night off.” Danny said absently ducking behind the bar.
There was a long pause as Danny didn’t come up from behind the counter and Elliot’s face grew more smug.
Danny peeked his head up from behind the counter top, only his eyes and scruffy hair visible, “Technically I did not tell you.”
“Don’t worry,” Elliot said nonchalantly, “Her secret is safe with me.”
Elliot heard Danny huff as he disappeared again.
“I swear to god if she took my mixers I’m going to stab her.” Danny muttered before correcting himself, “Nevermind, she’s safe.”
“What are you even doing?” Elliot asked, leaning over the counter.
Danny popped up, startling Elliot.
He held out a glass with bright blue liquid inside, “Try this.”
Elliot shrugged, this wasn’t the first time he’d drank some mystery drink in a closed bar and it more than likely wouldn’t be the last, he took a sip and was met with what had to be the most amazing alcoholic beverage he’d ever tried.
“What is this?” Elliot said, taking another sip, “It’s so fruity.”
“I thought you’d like it, you struck me as a fruity guy.” Danny said with a laugh, “It’s basically blue raspberry vodka.”
“It’s like candy.” Elliot said, finishing off his cup, “You’ve got talent.”
“I’m appalled by how surprised you sound.” Danny said flatly, “I do a lot more than kick ass.”
“Fair enough.” Elliot said, the vodka warming his chest a bit.
Danny stepped out with a thermos, “Alright. Now it’s torture time.”
He looked plum gleeful and Elliot felt a knot in his stomach, “Please, do try to look less thrilled.”
Danny grinned in response, handing Elliot the thermos as they walked back outside, locking the door behind him Danny then motioned for the alleyway by the bar, Elliot following suit.
Danny glanced around before holding out his arms.
“What are you doing?” Elliot asked, trying to see what Danny had been looking around for.
“You gotta let me princess carry you.” Danny beamed.
“No,” Elliot laughed, “Not a snowball’s chance in hell, Danny boy.”
“You lost the bet,” Danny said, moving his arms dramatically, “Time to owe up, sailor.”
Elliot groaned despite the idiot grin plastered across his face, “I’m not very good at paying off debts, are you open to taking an IOU?”
“Nope.” Danny said with a defiant grin, “You know deep down inside you’re totally into this.”
Elliot was.
“Am not.” Elliot spat, walking closer with reluctance.
“Right,” Danny said, drawing out the word before scooping Elliot up with ease, the motion starling the blonde, “And I’m the pope.”
Elliot gripped onto the bags of food and thermos for dear life, “Okay, so the display of strength is impressive, not gonna lie.”
Danny’s cheeks darkened, “Ready?”
“No.” Elliot whined.
Danny took that as approval for take off.
After traveling to what felt like the other end of Starlight City, Danny landed them gently on a rooftop, laughing hysterically as he set Elliot down and Elliot crawled to the ground to kiss it.
Elliot briefly wondered if he looked as sick as he felt.
“You alright?” Danny asked, setting the bags Elliot had tossed at him down and sitting down on the edge of the rooftop.
I really want to be caught up in this moment but I also really want to cry, so yes.
“I’ll...be okay. Just...give me a second.” Elliot said, standing up hesitantly.
“Is it the heights or motion sickness?” Danny asked, setting the thermos down.
“Honestly?” Elliot sighed, “I think I committed to a bit about one of them once and now my brain just tries to figure out which one it was.”
Danny snorted back a laugh, “That sounds about right.”
Elliot walked over and sat next to Danny hesitantly, looking down at the city below, “You, uh...spend a lot of time up here?”
“It’s cheesy, but I just...I don’t know. I like to watch the city breathe and you can only really do that from this kind of perspective.” Danny said, tossing a burrito bag to Elliot, “That probably sounds like nonsense, though.”
Elliot looked down at the bright lights littering the city, cars the size of ants filling the streets. The roar of city life, sirens, car horns, and occasional faint voice filling the air.
“Nah,” Elliot said, unable to look away from it, “I get it.”
“So, officially got the job, huh?” Danny asked before taking an ungodly sized bite of his burrito.
Elliot weighed the option of pointing out how impressive it was before realizing how weird it would probably sound, “Yeah. They’re letting me kind of shadow a few people but I’ll get to write articles and shit too, as long as you interview on occasion.”
“Say the word and I’m all yours.” Danny grinned.
There was that damned lightness in his chest again, Elliot debated on which inappropriate quip to make first before settling on a legitimate question, much to his own surprise.
“Not that I don’t appreciate it,” Elliot began hesitantly, “But..why did you agree to all of this?”
“Well, when a hot guy that you’re relatively fond of asks you on a date, you usually say yes.” Danny answered sarcastically.
“That’s not what I meant.” Elliot said, “Wait,- fond of?”
Danny’s face grew a bright shade of red, “Look, l-let’s not mince words or whatever, okay.”
“I’m surprised, Danny boy. I honestly thought you were just humoring me because of my breathtaking good looks.” Elliot grinned.
He was, though. Elliot was genuinely shocked, but he didn’t know how to play it off like a normal person.
“Don’t make me push you.” Danny said, attempting to frown but his face wouldn’t allow it, “Look, I just...I don’t know. You’re not as awful as you think you are.”
Now Elliot was a matching shade of red, “That’s not the largest gap there, I’m under the impression that I’m pretty awful.”
“Well, you’re not. Disillusioned and awful aren’t the same character trait.” Danny said, regretting bringing alcohol.
Elliot put his food down, leaning over to kiss Danny awkwardly on the cheek, “Thank you.”
Danny gaped at him in embarrassment, “You couldn’t have just said that? Like a normal person?”
“What can I say? I’m emotionally constipated.” Elliot said, taking another sip of his drink, “Just know that I have very positive feelings towards your sentiment but no mature way to express them.”
Danny paused as though collecting his thoughts before scooting closer, “Well, maybe don’t miss if you’re going to express it that way.”
Elliot choked back a laugh as ungracefully, “What?”
“I was trying to coax you into actually kissing me again.” Danny said, clearly embarrassed, “Not that you want to. It’s fine if you don’t-”
Elliot smiled, leaning forward and kissing Danny chastely, “You could have just asked, like a normal person.”
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