the city // dan howell

Part 19// Morning TV

I conveniently stole some of Dan's mouthwash before I wandered into his kitchen. He laughs at me from inside the door. The screen is glass, and I didn't realize, so I wound up almost slamming into it. Not fun.
"Don't laugh." I complain as I open the door, finally, and step into the kitchen.
"Isn't it acceptable for me to laugh at something funny?"
"Not when you're laughing at me. Where do you keep the tea bags?" I gently ask, staring at the glass kettle, which is fogging up from the hot, moist air around it.
"In the cabinet next to the mugs."
The long cabinet above the counter was filled with strange, assorted mugs; cracked solid color ones to blocked rubix cube ones.
"Alright."
I open the wooden cabinet, the door squeaking as I do so. The tea almost falls out onto me, such a cluttered mess.
"Dan, care to ever clean this?"
"No."
Idiot.
I shove everything as nearly as possible back into their boxes, shutting the cupboard door with a bag of green tea in my hand.
The kettle squeals loudly, and I beat Dan to grabbing it.
The hot, black rubber handle burns my skin as I pour the boiling water into a Hello Kitty mug that Dan so kindly picked out for me.
"Thanks for the mug." I roll my eyes, watching the green tea disperse and cloud the once clear water.
"You're welcome." He laughs back, filling his Mickey Mouse mug to the brim, and letting a thin layer of cocoa powder sit on the top.
"Please mix that, I might just jump out the window if you don't." The look of it was bothering me so much, pardon me for being a bit of a perfectionist.
"Well, see you, then." The smirk seems tattooed on his face as he leaves the cocoa floating on the water.
"Bitch."
I grab a spoon from the counter and mix the powder in for him, as he pours cereal into two bowls.
"You love me."
"Stop saying that!" I chuckle.
The sound of the spoon clinking against the cup and the milk hitting the chunky cereal harmonizes, creating a state of euphoria in my mind. I'm a sucker for relaxing sounds.
"Yeah, yeah. Are you done mixing, or will you just stand there forever, slamming the spoon against the walls of the mug? You promised me we'd watch Free!"
I furrow my eyebrows, dropping the spoon into the skin with a loud slam.
I pick up both our glasses, my feet softly padding against the wood floor as I walk into the living room.
Yes, I was careful not to slam my face into the glass door.
I probably would've though, if Dan hadn't held the door open with his elbow. What a gentleman.
"Um, let me find the DVD."
He sets the cereal down on the table and scrambles to the TV, sitting down cross legged in front of the discs. He looks so young and innocent, I almost had to remind my self that he's 24 and not 14.
"Here." He quickly glances back at me. I give him an appreciative smile, cradling the warm mug in my hands.
He slides the disc in, and comes to the couch, cradling up next to me.
"No browsing position?"
"I swear to fucking God, if you reference my videos one more time, Tyde..."
"Then what?"
"I don't know, but stop, dear lord."
"Okayy, sure, danosaur."
"Literally please leave my apartment."
I laugh, letting my legs rest on his lap as I drink the now less hot tea. The warm liquid almost burns my mouth, but I don't let it show in my expression. It wouldn't matter if I did, however. Dans completely focused on picking the episode.
He settles on the first one of the second season, and then leans back on the couch, his cereal occupying hands.
"Why are you staring at me eating?" He laughs, side glancing at me.
"It's quite a sight." I smile. He's got a way of doing everything gracefully, I'm quite jealous.
"Fuck off." He shakes his head, still grinning to himself.
Precious.
I turn to the TV, engaging in eating as well. This morning will be quite.. interesting.
-
"Dan, do you want your clothes back? Mine are probably dry by now." I peak into his bedroom after he's finished changing.
"Uhm, no, return them later. Whenever we see each other next. I don't mind." He broadly smiles. It's so contagious that it transfers to my face.
I want to hang out with him today. He looks amazing.
His Yeezy sweater frames him perfectly, I want to hug the hell out of him with those sweater paws.
"Can I see you later today?"
He looks at me, partly startled and partly confused.
"Me? Really?"
"Dan, there's nobody else in this house. Wanna go out and get, like, Japanese for dinner together? Is there anywhere around here that we could do that?"
"Yeah, I know a place. I'd love to, Tyde."
"Perfect. Text me, okay? I'm just gonna walk."
"Want me to walk with you?"
"I'll live, but thanks."
I walk into his room quickly, giving him a soft hug, and then leaving, bounding down the stairs with my still partly wet clothes in hand.
Time to figure out what to wear.