Take my hand and breathe with me

Once again Phil was at his mum's house for their annual Christmas party. He didn't know half of the people there but he put on a huge smile and tried to enjoy himself. When they all sat down at the big table to eat he noticed one of the seats was empty. He leant over to his mum and asked her why it was empty.

"Mum why is there a seat empty?"

"Oh Daniel must have gone to the toilet" she replied simply.

"Who?"

"Daniel; he's a little younger than you. You'd like him but he's a bit shy and doesn't really like social events" she said as she continued to eat. Phil picked up his fork to begin eating again just as he saw two feet slip under the table. He looked around to make sure no one was looking at him before he slid under the table. A few metres from him he saw a dark haired man curled into a ball.

"Are you okay?" Phil asked and the stranger looked up at him as if he hadn't realised he was there. "I'm Phil whats your name?"

"D-Dan" The other man stuttered and he curled back into himself.

"Are you sure you're okay you look a little shaken" Phil asked as he placed a hand gently on Dan's knee to calm him.

"I hate social gatherings. This is literally my nightmare. I didn't even what to come but my mum forced me" Dan replied shyly and tried to edge further away from Phil. Dan started breathing heavier and tried desperately to get oxygen into his lungs but failed. Phil noticed the other man's panic and grabbed his hand.

"Calm down Dan. Hold my hand and breathe in time with me" Phil said as he demonstrated steady breathing. Dan was quick to squeeze Phil's hand as he tried to copy the other man's breathing patterns. They were soon breathing at the same rate and Phil was now closer to Dan than he expected and their faces were inches apart.

"I'm sorry" Dan whispered and tried to once again pull away from Phil only to fail when the other man pulled him closer.

"Don't be" Phil replied in a small voice then leant forward to give Dan a hug. It seemed to make the situation even more awkward but Phil didn't care.

When they separated they both climbed out from under the table and slipped out of the room before anyone saw them. Their hands were still linked together as Phil led Dan upstairs. They entered Phil's childhood bedroom and sat on the bed.

"I really am sorry for making you miss dinner" Dan said as he fiddled with the sleeve of his jumper.

"Don't worry I'd rather be hiding in my room with you than trying to make conversation with people I barely know" Phil laughed and soon Dan joined him. Phil pulled Dan onto the floor to lay on some pillows and a blanket.

He once again linked his hand with Dan's and tilted his head to the side to look at him. He gently kissed the younger man's cheek before looking back up at the wall art of the solar system on his ceiling. Dan didn't move for a moment but as soon as he came back to reality he leant up on his elbow and looked down at the other man.

He placed a hand on Phil's chest and pressed his lips against his. Why they pulled away Dan snuggled into Phil's chest and sighed with content.

"Merry Christmas Dan" Phil whispered and kissed the top of Dan's head.

"Merry Christmas Phil" Dan replied and looked back up at the ceiling.

Maybe coming to this Christmas party wasn't as bad as Dan had first thought.