The Boy Upstairs (DanXReader)

Chapter 24: Frozen Baggage

Preemptive A/N: Sooooo I FINALLY watched TATINOF! It was so much fun :) Can't wait to watch the documentary as well!

It had been about two hours when Dan finally got back. Mum had left after a while, leaving the movie I'd requested and saying that she and Dad were going to spend the night in a hotel since we wouldn't be able to get someone over to fix the bed until the next day. I'd been sitting alone for the last half hour, contemplating whether I should text Dan or grab Phil to go search for him. But just as I was about to pick up my phone I heard a gentle knock on the door. I quickly stood up and hurried over to the door, throwing it open without even asking who was there.

"Ow..."

I let out an upset sigh and glared at the door. Someday I would complain to the land lord and beg them to fix the door. It was too much of a hazard with me as a tenant. I quickly looked around the door and saw Dan slightly rubbing his head. "I'm so sorry," I said, stepping around the door and looking at the spot he was rubbing.

A bump was already starting to form. I suddenly regretted throwing the door open with such force. "Don't worry about it. I should've been standing on the other side," Dan said as I grabbed his free hand and led him into the apartment.

"I should've been more careful with the door though..." I said, bringing him over to the couch and having him sit down. "Wait here, I'll go get some ice to help with the swelling."

"Swelling!?" Dan asked as I hurried into the kitchen.

I began looking through the freezer and sighed as I realized I'd forgotten to refill my ice cube trays. I quickly scanned the freezer and shrugged, grabbing a bag of frozen peas and carrots. They'd work well enough. I closed the freezer and walked back out, sitting next to Dan and holding out the bag for him. He looked at it and it frowned. "I don't like peas though."

"It's not like you're going to be eating them," I rolled my eyes, readjusting myself so I could gently set the bag against the bump forming on Dan's forehead.

"It's so cold," Dan whined, wincing and trying to back away.

"That's why it'll help," I said, grabbing his hand and bringing it up to hold the bag up. "Just hold it there for a bit. If for no other reason than to apPEASe me."

Dan groaned, shaking his head as he held the bag up. "No puns right now... please..."

I pursed my lips, doing my best to resist the temptation of turning please in peas. I couldn't be too mean right now. Dan had already dealt with the great Ikea bed incident, both of my parents, and getting hit by my door. That was more than enough for anyone in one day. "Okay," I said, sitting back down and leaning against him and sitting in silence for a few moments.

"Really? It was that easy?" Dan asked, sounding surprised.

"It won't be if you keep offering up opportunities," I muttered, wishing desperately to say easy peasy. "But I figure you've been through enough today..."

Dan let out a thoughtful and relaxed into the couch. "It wasn't that bad of a day..." he said, switching hands he was using to hold the bag and wrapping an arm around me.

"Stooop," I cried out, squirming away from his hand. "Your hand is so cold!"

"What? Does it not pease you?" Dan laughed, putting his cold hand on my face.

"That's not fair!" I giggled, laying down across Dan's lap and looking up at him as I did my best to hold his hand at bay. "You can't tell puns if I'm not allowed to!"

"Mmm... that sounds like a fair enough rule. But I don't carrot all about rules." I looked at Dan with a grin, laughing as he cringed at his own joke. "I've been spending too much time with you and Phil. The puns are infecting me."

"Not the worst thing in the world to be infected by," I smiled, laying Dan's arm across my stomach. "So... how was the conversation with my dad?"

Dan let out a light sigh and closed his eyes, completely sinking into the couch. Had it really been that bad? I grabbed his hand and gently traced circles on it as he began talking. "I think it's safe to say your dad doesn't really trust me," he said, his tone frustrated and tired. "And I don't blame him..."

"Dan, you didn't-"

"No, he has every right to not like or trust me after what I put you through. And I don't think he'll ever fully trust me to not hurt you again. But I promised to do my best for you as long as I'm alive. He seemed to accept me as much as he will for now after that. At the very least he knows he's not going to just scare me off."

I looked up at Dan with a smile, bringing his hand up to my face so I could rest my head in it. I felt incredibly lucky to have him in my life. "I love you," I said. "But please don't put all the blame on yourself," I said. "I know I'm not going to be able to convince you that you didn't do anything wrong, no matter how much I may think it. But at least let me share in the blame. I could've gone out and tried to make friends sooner."

Dan sighed, nodding after a few moments. "I don't think I'll be able to convince you otherwise, so okay."

"No, don't just say it to make me feel better..." I sighed, sitting up and looking Dan in the eyes as he looked at me in surprise. "You have to actually mean it. We're in this together Dan... and that means sharing responsibility. Please let me share in the responsibility for this so you don't feel so alone. If you're going to be trying your best for me then I have to be trying my best for you too..."

Dan looked at me for a few moments before nodding. "Okay, I think I can manage that," he said, smiling as he set the bag down and pulled me into a hug.

I smiled before suddenly crying out in surprise from Dan sticking his cold hand up the back of my shirt. "Ahg! Why would you do that!?" I shouted, squirming as moved his hand across my back. "Staaaaahp!"

"Mwa-haha!" Dan laughed, pulling a silly face and holding his hands up menacingly. "Fear the naturally cool powers of Danisnotonfire!"

"Just because you're not on fire doesn't mean you're cool," I shot back, sticking my tongue out and backing away.

"You wound me!" Dan said, placing his hand over his heart and falling back into the couch in an over dramatic fashion.

I grinned, shaking my head as I flopped across the couch. My parents knew now and the dreaded conversation with my dad was over. It felt oddly relieving to have them no longer in the dark about Dan and I, especially since my dad hadn't managed to scare Dan off. Dan's parents would know pretty soon as well which sounded nice. And soon enough Dan would know about the video Phil and I had made. It was almost exciting to have so much happening in the next week. 

A/N: Sorry if this story has been kinda slow lately. I'll freely admit that I'm waaaay to into character and relationship building. So apologies if it's seemed like it's been dragging on. But I'm really excited for the next chapter! There's gonna be some cool plot progression happening :)  In other news... I'm pretty sure 2017 is the year of me and technology having a falling out. My laptop and good headphones have both had to be replaced and my car decided to lose traction while I was on the way to work and slide into a snow bank earlier this week. No personal injuries other than my pride but the car is going to have to be fixed slightly. So yea, it's been a fun year so far...