Fic: In Contention Chapter 2
Title: In Contention Chapter 1
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Dan/Blair
Summary: After the photo shoot, Dan decides to throw his proverbial hat in the ring. AU of the end of S4.
Blair stood outside the door of the loft for several minutes, still not entirely sure she was willing to continue with this experiment of Dan's. She felt an anxious knot forming in her stomach, and she was unsure what was at the root of her anxiety. She wasn't sure if she was more afraid of her date with Dan being a success or it being an abysmal failure. Taking a deep breath, she put her game face on and opened the door, feeling it sent a message of confidence if she entered without knocking.
“You sleep here one night and you come in like you live here,” Dan said, smiling as he helped her with her bags. She instantly wished she had knocked, as she realized that the confidence she was expressing could be confused with comfort. She didn't need Dan knowing that she felt more at ease in his home each time she came over.
As she had expected, he was dressed casually in jeans and a navy blue henley. She had contemplated what to wear, finally deciding on a black pencil skirt and dark green silk blouse. She figured the simplicity of the outfit was a nod to the casualness of both the venue and her host. He seemed completely at ease as he moved around the kitchen, putting food onto plates. She, on the other hand, was having a hard time hiding her nervousness.
“Thanks for bringing dinner,” he said, breathing in the aroma of the Italian takeout. “It smells really good.”
“I figured I wouldn't get anything too gourmet for you,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
He picked up the bottle of wine and studied the label. “This is an excellent vintage,” he said in a serious tone.
“If I didn't know you, I would buy that you actually knew something about wine,” she teased, grinning slightly. She had a feeling he left her that opening to help put her at ease. Instead, she felt a rush of affection sweep over her, which only served to make her more anxious.
“Too bad you know me. I guess there's no reason to try and impress you then,” he said dryly.
“You shouldn't give up so easily. Surely you have some hidden talents,” she told him unthinkingly, the words sounding less flirtatious in her head.
“I just might,” he said, setting the wine bottle down and walking closer to her, until he was standing right in front of her.
“I've already sampled those talents,” she reminded him. “I'm sure you remember how that turned out.”
“I do,” he said, staring at her lips. “I also remember you saying something about how I should have just kissed you without any preamble.”
“Well, I think you just blew your opportunity for that again,” she said, ashamed at how breathy her voice was.
“Damn, you're right,” he said, taking a step back but not turning away. “I guess I'll have to use the element of surprise later on tonight.”
He walked back to the counter and picked up the wine, handing it to her as he fished around for a corkscrew, the moment suddenly over. “I have a feeling it's better if I leave you to the wine. I have a feeling there's a proper amount of aeration that I'm unaware of,” he said, setting two wineglasses onto the counter. “Luckily these aren't fine crystal, so we can just wash them with Dawn.”
“We?” she said, raising her eyebrows. “I did provide the food, the wine, and the movie. The least you can do is clean up afterwards.”
“I suppose I could handle that,” he conceded. “What are we watching tonight anyhow?”
She reached into her purse and pulled out the movie and handed it to him. She really hadn't been sure what movie to bring, not wanting her choice to say too much, but also wanting to appear as though she'd put some thought into the selection. He looked at the cover, then looked back at her.
“How did you know?” he asked, looking at her in awe.
“How did I know what?” she asked, confused.
“This is my favorite movie,” he said, shaking his head. “I know I never told you that, because...Well, there's some associations with it I try and put out of my mind now.”
“Do you want to watch something else?” she asked, not believing she'd stumbled onto a movie that seemingly meant a lot to him. “I just knew you liked Jimmy Stewart, and that you would mock me if I brought an Audrey movie. So, I settled for Grace Kelly, who is someone else I try to model myself after.”
Dan looked away for a moment, clearly lost in some memory. “Humphrey? You're acting weird. Snap out of it,” she said tersely. Upon further reflection, the movie selection probably did hold more significance than she had been consciously aware of. Dan was an observer; of course he would be drawn to a movie centered around voyeurism.
“Sorry,” he apologized, shaking off whatever was running around in his head.
“It's okay,” she said, certainly understanding the connection between movies and memories. Luckily, most of her movie watching memories seemed to involve Nate or Serena, and she could look fondly back on those days when she truly believed her life could turn out like one of the movies she loved. However, she did have to inwardly laugh at how Dan's favorite movie led to the main character being severely injured when he tried to step out of his observer's role. Somehow she thought he would be more fanciful, or perhaps even more romantic than that. She idly wondered if it held any deeper meaning. “So...was there something else you wanted to watch?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I haven't seen it in awhile. Plus, I'm curious to hear your thoughts, and I won't have to shush you because I know the dialogue so well.”
“Like I'm the one who needs constant shushing,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“You ready to eat?” he asked, clearly trying to change the subject.
“I was beginning to wonder if your goal was to let it go cold,” she said. She wasn't sure why she was being so testy, but he seemed to be taking it in stride. He simply handed her a plate and went to get the movie set up. She brought her food over to the living room, then returned to the kitchen to bring him his dinner as he played with the menu to the DVD.
“Thanks,” he said, smiling warmly.
They sat in companionable silence as they ate. Once they were done eating, Blair shifted awkwardly on the couch. There was a part of her that wanted to move closer to him, and she wondered if he would put his arm around her if she did so. While he had been seemingly relaxed all evening, she could see he now sat stiffly, a nervous tension in his shoulders. She figured he was having similar thoughts running through his head. She leaned forward to take a long sip of wine, finishing her glass. She noticed that his was half full as she went to the kitchen to fetch the bottle of wine. She refilled her own glass as she sat down, pouring a dollop into his to top him off. She sat back down on the couch, subtly sitting a few inches closer to him, but still not quite close enough to touch.
Ten minutes later, she was halfway through her second glass. While she was nowhere near drunk, she felt much more relaxed. Tentatively, she inched slightly closer to him. She saw him smile out of the corner of her eye, and she feared that he was going to tease her about wanting to get close to him. Instead, he casually laid his arm across the back of the sofa, essentially inviting her into his space. After a moment's hesitation, she moved closer still, and he brought his arm down and around her shoulders.
“You know, that's pretty much the oldest move in the book,” she couldn't help but point out, smiling to take away any edge.
“I suppose it wouldn't have so much longevity if it weren't so effective,” he said, also smiling but continuing to stare straight ahead at the movie.
As he watched the movie intently, she took the opportunity to watch the images from the screen flicker across his face. He had a small amount of stubble, apparently having chosen not to shave prior to her arrival. In a way, she appreciated that he wasn't clean shaven, as it served as a reminder that this wasn't quite the same boy she had known and not particularly liked in high school. However, it was really that boy and his relationship with her best friend that gave her so much hesitation right now.
“Do I have something on my face?” Dan asked, breaking her out of her trance.
“Uh, no. I just got lost in thought,” Blair said distractedly, embarrassed that she got caught staring at him.
“Anything you care to share?” he asked, turning his head toward her, his face inches away.
Rationalizing that they really did need to test this chemistry between them that seemed to be slowly developing, she raised her eyes to meet his. “I was just thinking that everyone should get to make out with someone during their favorite movie at some point,” she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.
This time, Dan didn't hesitate before taking the hint and softly covering her mouth with his. She responded immediately, snaking her arms around his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer. He deepened the kiss, and she just let herself get lost in the newness of it for a few moments.
Finally, he pulled back, his free hand gently stroking her face. “So?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I have to answer first?” she asked, raising her eyebrows in return.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, you haven't left at least,” he teased. “And I'm really hoping you're not thinking about a certain ex of yours.”
She didn't quite know what to say to that, so she just blurted out the first thing that popped into her head, “I don't think we should have sex yet.”
Dan's hands immediately fell to his sides in shock, and he put a bit of distance between them on the couch. Then he smirked and tilted his head at her. “Yet?” he asked, his smirk growing. He would choose to focus on that one word.
“You know what I mean,” she pouted.
“I really don't,” he said, looking slightly more serious.
“It's possible...likely...that we'll never sleep together. If we do, it shouldn't be tonight,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Did you think I was expecting that we would?” he asked, looking more curious than anything else.
“Isn't that what guys are always hoping for?” she asked rhetorically, shrugging.
“I won't respond to that particular comment, seeing as how you turned my question around into what I hoped for versus what I expected. I have a feeling I don't win regardless of whether or not I hoped we would sleep together,” he said, looking away from her. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Regardless, I think we've far exceeded any expectations I had, and I'm not just talking about getting to make out with Rear Window playing in the background.”
She found herself blushing, and her embarrassment only grew as she realized just how much he was affecting her.
“Well, I'm glad I was able to exceed expectations,” she said crisply. She looked at her watch. “I actually arranged for my car to pick me up right now, so....”
“Do you want me to walk you to your car?” he asked, standing up to grab his coat.
“No, you stay and work on washing the dishes,” she said, then paused for a moment as she contemplated how she wanted the night to end. She leaned up and slowly kissed his cheek. “Thanks for tonight. I did have a nice evening.”
“You're welcome,” he said, smiling almost shyly. He started walking with her towards the door. “So...where does this leave us?”
She paused in the doorway, not sure she knew the answer, but she did know that he would go along with whatever her decision was.
“Well, if you were that proverbial guy in my art history class, I would say that it was a lovely first date, and you should call me,” she said. “Because you're Dan Humphrey instead, I will say I wouldn't be adverse to a second date, but that's all I can promise you right now.”
“I'll call you,” Dan said, and chuckled at himself. “Sorry, that sounds like such a standard line the guy from your art history class would use. How about we finally go to MoMA and go the Joseph Bueys exhibit? I bet you still have decent field trip procedures worked out.”
“I didn't even want to go in the first place, then you stand me up, and you think I will try again?” she asked, feeling the need to get their equilibrium back.
“I think you will,” he said confidently.
“We'll see,” she said with a cheeky grin before giving him a light kiss on the lips. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said softly, then he grinned at her. “Should we meet at your house this time, or should we just meet there to avoid Serena?”
She rolled her eyes and left, not bothering to answer him. She would wait for his call.
When Blair got home, she was still wearing a soft smile from her date with Dan. When she entered her room, that smile turned to one of confusion as she noticed a package sitting on her bed. She opened it, and her jaw dropped when she saw what was inside. She took out out the black high-heeled shoe and stared at it, unsure what to think. She had a feeling her life just got more complicated.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Dan/Blair
Summary: After the photo shoot, Dan decides to throw his proverbial hat in the ring. AU of the end of S4.
Blair stood outside the door of the loft for several minutes, still not entirely sure she was willing to continue with this experiment of Dan's. She felt an anxious knot forming in her stomach, and she was unsure what was at the root of her anxiety. She wasn't sure if she was more afraid of her date with Dan being a success or it being an abysmal failure. Taking a deep breath, she put her game face on and opened the door, feeling it sent a message of confidence if she entered without knocking.
“You sleep here one night and you come in like you live here,” Dan said, smiling as he helped her with her bags. She instantly wished she had knocked, as she realized that the confidence she was expressing could be confused with comfort. She didn't need Dan knowing that she felt more at ease in his home each time she came over.
As she had expected, he was dressed casually in jeans and a navy blue henley. She had contemplated what to wear, finally deciding on a black pencil skirt and dark green silk blouse. She figured the simplicity of the outfit was a nod to the casualness of both the venue and her host. He seemed completely at ease as he moved around the kitchen, putting food onto plates. She, on the other hand, was having a hard time hiding her nervousness.
“Thanks for bringing dinner,” he said, breathing in the aroma of the Italian takeout. “It smells really good.”
“I figured I wouldn't get anything too gourmet for you,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
He picked up the bottle of wine and studied the label. “This is an excellent vintage,” he said in a serious tone.
“If I didn't know you, I would buy that you actually knew something about wine,” she teased, grinning slightly. She had a feeling he left her that opening to help put her at ease. Instead, she felt a rush of affection sweep over her, which only served to make her more anxious.
“Too bad you know me. I guess there's no reason to try and impress you then,” he said dryly.
“You shouldn't give up so easily. Surely you have some hidden talents,” she told him unthinkingly, the words sounding less flirtatious in her head.
“I just might,” he said, setting the wine bottle down and walking closer to her, until he was standing right in front of her.
“I've already sampled those talents,” she reminded him. “I'm sure you remember how that turned out.”
“I do,” he said, staring at her lips. “I also remember you saying something about how I should have just kissed you without any preamble.”
“Well, I think you just blew your opportunity for that again,” she said, ashamed at how breathy her voice was.
“Damn, you're right,” he said, taking a step back but not turning away. “I guess I'll have to use the element of surprise later on tonight.”
He walked back to the counter and picked up the wine, handing it to her as he fished around for a corkscrew, the moment suddenly over. “I have a feeling it's better if I leave you to the wine. I have a feeling there's a proper amount of aeration that I'm unaware of,” he said, setting two wineglasses onto the counter. “Luckily these aren't fine crystal, so we can just wash them with Dawn.”
“We?” she said, raising her eyebrows. “I did provide the food, the wine, and the movie. The least you can do is clean up afterwards.”
“I suppose I could handle that,” he conceded. “What are we watching tonight anyhow?”
She reached into her purse and pulled out the movie and handed it to him. She really hadn't been sure what movie to bring, not wanting her choice to say too much, but also wanting to appear as though she'd put some thought into the selection. He looked at the cover, then looked back at her.
“How did you know?” he asked, looking at her in awe.
“How did I know what?” she asked, confused.
“This is my favorite movie,” he said, shaking his head. “I know I never told you that, because...Well, there's some associations with it I try and put out of my mind now.”
“Do you want to watch something else?” she asked, not believing she'd stumbled onto a movie that seemingly meant a lot to him. “I just knew you liked Jimmy Stewart, and that you would mock me if I brought an Audrey movie. So, I settled for Grace Kelly, who is someone else I try to model myself after.”
Dan looked away for a moment, clearly lost in some memory. “Humphrey? You're acting weird. Snap out of it,” she said tersely. Upon further reflection, the movie selection probably did hold more significance than she had been consciously aware of. Dan was an observer; of course he would be drawn to a movie centered around voyeurism.
“Sorry,” he apologized, shaking off whatever was running around in his head.
“It's okay,” she said, certainly understanding the connection between movies and memories. Luckily, most of her movie watching memories seemed to involve Nate or Serena, and she could look fondly back on those days when she truly believed her life could turn out like one of the movies she loved. However, she did have to inwardly laugh at how Dan's favorite movie led to the main character being severely injured when he tried to step out of his observer's role. Somehow she thought he would be more fanciful, or perhaps even more romantic than that. She idly wondered if it held any deeper meaning. “So...was there something else you wanted to watch?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I haven't seen it in awhile. Plus, I'm curious to hear your thoughts, and I won't have to shush you because I know the dialogue so well.”
“Like I'm the one who needs constant shushing,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“You ready to eat?” he asked, clearly trying to change the subject.
“I was beginning to wonder if your goal was to let it go cold,” she said. She wasn't sure why she was being so testy, but he seemed to be taking it in stride. He simply handed her a plate and went to get the movie set up. She brought her food over to the living room, then returned to the kitchen to bring him his dinner as he played with the menu to the DVD.
“Thanks,” he said, smiling warmly.
They sat in companionable silence as they ate. Once they were done eating, Blair shifted awkwardly on the couch. There was a part of her that wanted to move closer to him, and she wondered if he would put his arm around her if she did so. While he had been seemingly relaxed all evening, she could see he now sat stiffly, a nervous tension in his shoulders. She figured he was having similar thoughts running through his head. She leaned forward to take a long sip of wine, finishing her glass. She noticed that his was half full as she went to the kitchen to fetch the bottle of wine. She refilled her own glass as she sat down, pouring a dollop into his to top him off. She sat back down on the couch, subtly sitting a few inches closer to him, but still not quite close enough to touch.
Ten minutes later, she was halfway through her second glass. While she was nowhere near drunk, she felt much more relaxed. Tentatively, she inched slightly closer to him. She saw him smile out of the corner of her eye, and she feared that he was going to tease her about wanting to get close to him. Instead, he casually laid his arm across the back of the sofa, essentially inviting her into his space. After a moment's hesitation, she moved closer still, and he brought his arm down and around her shoulders.
“You know, that's pretty much the oldest move in the book,” she couldn't help but point out, smiling to take away any edge.
“I suppose it wouldn't have so much longevity if it weren't so effective,” he said, also smiling but continuing to stare straight ahead at the movie.
As he watched the movie intently, she took the opportunity to watch the images from the screen flicker across his face. He had a small amount of stubble, apparently having chosen not to shave prior to her arrival. In a way, she appreciated that he wasn't clean shaven, as it served as a reminder that this wasn't quite the same boy she had known and not particularly liked in high school. However, it was really that boy and his relationship with her best friend that gave her so much hesitation right now.
“Do I have something on my face?” Dan asked, breaking her out of her trance.
“Uh, no. I just got lost in thought,” Blair said distractedly, embarrassed that she got caught staring at him.
“Anything you care to share?” he asked, turning his head toward her, his face inches away.
Rationalizing that they really did need to test this chemistry between them that seemed to be slowly developing, she raised her eyes to meet his. “I was just thinking that everyone should get to make out with someone during their favorite movie at some point,” she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.
This time, Dan didn't hesitate before taking the hint and softly covering her mouth with his. She responded immediately, snaking her arms around his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer. He deepened the kiss, and she just let herself get lost in the newness of it for a few moments.
Finally, he pulled back, his free hand gently stroking her face. “So?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I have to answer first?” she asked, raising her eyebrows in return.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, you haven't left at least,” he teased. “And I'm really hoping you're not thinking about a certain ex of yours.”
She didn't quite know what to say to that, so she just blurted out the first thing that popped into her head, “I don't think we should have sex yet.”
Dan's hands immediately fell to his sides in shock, and he put a bit of distance between them on the couch. Then he smirked and tilted his head at her. “Yet?” he asked, his smirk growing. He would choose to focus on that one word.
“You know what I mean,” she pouted.
“I really don't,” he said, looking slightly more serious.
“It's possible...likely...that we'll never sleep together. If we do, it shouldn't be tonight,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Did you think I was expecting that we would?” he asked, looking more curious than anything else.
“Isn't that what guys are always hoping for?” she asked rhetorically, shrugging.
“I won't respond to that particular comment, seeing as how you turned my question around into what I hoped for versus what I expected. I have a feeling I don't win regardless of whether or not I hoped we would sleep together,” he said, looking away from her. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Regardless, I think we've far exceeded any expectations I had, and I'm not just talking about getting to make out with Rear Window playing in the background.”
She found herself blushing, and her embarrassment only grew as she realized just how much he was affecting her.
“Well, I'm glad I was able to exceed expectations,” she said crisply. She looked at her watch. “I actually arranged for my car to pick me up right now, so....”
“Do you want me to walk you to your car?” he asked, standing up to grab his coat.
“No, you stay and work on washing the dishes,” she said, then paused for a moment as she contemplated how she wanted the night to end. She leaned up and slowly kissed his cheek. “Thanks for tonight. I did have a nice evening.”
“You're welcome,” he said, smiling almost shyly. He started walking with her towards the door. “So...where does this leave us?”
She paused in the doorway, not sure she knew the answer, but she did know that he would go along with whatever her decision was.
“Well, if you were that proverbial guy in my art history class, I would say that it was a lovely first date, and you should call me,” she said. “Because you're Dan Humphrey instead, I will say I wouldn't be adverse to a second date, but that's all I can promise you right now.”
“I'll call you,” Dan said, and chuckled at himself. “Sorry, that sounds like such a standard line the guy from your art history class would use. How about we finally go to MoMA and go the Joseph Bueys exhibit? I bet you still have decent field trip procedures worked out.”
“I didn't even want to go in the first place, then you stand me up, and you think I will try again?” she asked, feeling the need to get their equilibrium back.
“I think you will,” he said confidently.
“We'll see,” she said with a cheeky grin before giving him a light kiss on the lips. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said softly, then he grinned at her. “Should we meet at your house this time, or should we just meet there to avoid Serena?”
She rolled her eyes and left, not bothering to answer him. She would wait for his call.
When Blair got home, she was still wearing a soft smile from her date with Dan. When she entered her room, that smile turned to one of confusion as she noticed a package sitting on her bed. She opened it, and her jaw dropped when she saw what was inside. She took out out the black high-heeled shoe and stared at it, unsure what to think. She had a feeling her life just got more complicated.