Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 57 - Flat

While everyone else was taking down the decorations, Danny found himself round the back of the gazebo hiding from everyone, sitting on the floor leaned against the structure. He knew he should be helping, but his head wasn't in the right place to focus. In his hands he held Arin's present.

He couldn't believe it. Arin had bought him a binder, probably with her own money. He smiled to himself, running his finger down the side and feeling his heart speed up at the thought of wearing it. A flat chest. He could finally have a flat chest.

"Danny...?"

Danny jumped, looking up suddenly to see Arin herself. She eyed him warily, taking a timid step closer, "A-Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Danny replied, fully aware that he was literally hiding behind a gazebo.

"I thought... you were really quiet after you opened my present and, th-then you disappeared. I was worried."

Danny heard the stutter in Arin's voice and mentally punched himself for making her feel like that. He patted the grass beside him and watched as she sat down.

"I'm fine. Just needed to process I guess," he said.

"Do you not like it...?"

"No, no it's not like that! I love it, in fact. It's the best. I just... wasn't expecting it."

Arin sniffled slightly and Danny put an arm around her to pull her closer. He stroked her hair gently as she calmed down and he hushed her.

"S-Sorry, I know you're telling the truth. I don't know why I'm acting like this," Arin apologised with a weak laugh.

"Well it's been a long day. Didn't you say before that social interaction wore you out? Maybe it's that."

"Maybe..."

Using his other hand Danny grabbed Arin's chin, forcing her to look up at him. He stared into her watery eyes seriously.

"Arin. I'm sorry if it doesn't show, but I really do love your gift. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and freak out about it, but if I'm being honest today has been a lot to take in, so I guess I'm still trying to convince myself I'm not dreaming. I promise you've done nothing wrong, okay?"

For a moment Arin didn't respond, and Danny found his eyes drawn to her still quivering lips. He could so easily stop that with a kiss. He almost did, before-

"Okay. Sorry."

The spell broke for a second time, and Danny blinked quickly to bring himself out of it. He smirked, ruffling Arin's hair and laughing as she squirmed away to save the bun that she'd obviously spent ages on.

"No need for sorrys! Come on, let's go help the others. I want to go home."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Danny stretched, his body coming back online slowly as he tried to remember where he was. Squinting open his eyes he was met with a dark room, the only light from a bedside lamp which Danny recognised and finally clicked where he was.

Slowly sitting up in his bed, Danny rubbed his face and thought about yesterday. Running through the events in his head, he remembered being picked up by his parents and then practically collapsing into his bed when he got home late that afternoon. He groaned, checking the time and confirming that it was about three in the morning.

That's what I get for going to sleep so early.

Feeling more awake Danny got out of bed and stretched one more time. None of his friends or family would be awake right now, so he was truly alone. That thought was kind of exciting, but at the same time Danny dreaded the boredom he knew would come.

He placed his hands on his hips, wondering what he could do, and chewed his lip slightly in thought. He had the football he'd got at the party, but 3am football wasn't exactly appealing. Especially since he didn't have great aim, and would probably end up smashing a window or something. He smiled slightly thinking about his presents. His presents.

Arin's present.

A gasp of realisation left Danny's lips, and he covered his mouth suddenly. How could he forget about that?!

Scrambling in the low light he located the careless pile of presents that he had just thrown to one side in his exhaustion, and spotted the familiar material of the binder. He picked up the tight vest-like item carefully. A chance to rectify one of his many insecurities, finally at his fingertips. Tears pricked the corners of Danny's eyes and he practically threw off the shirt he was wearing, then pausing as he caught sight of himself in his full body mirror. He stared at his bra, feeling hate swell with a passion, and then tore that off too.

To say the binder was difficult to put on was an understatement. Every contorted position Danny found himself in trying to force it on was excruciating, but it was worth it when he finally managed to secure it over his chest, and smoothed it one last time. His breathing felt foreign, tight, but the reflection in the mirror outweighed that tenfold.

Turning sideways, tears finally leaked as Danny ran his hands down his chest, amazed by the flatness that had only ever been there in his dreams. He could feel how compressed and constricted it all was, but in the moment that didn't matter. He had a flat chest.

Curious, Danny slipped on a shirt. He grinned; it looked perfect. He pinched his arm. Still not dreaming.

A/N: sorry this is shorter, just wanted this nice moment for Danny :) also kind of obsessed with the song on this chapter...