Dan is still trembling, wrapped up in Phil's arms. His breathing is heavy, almost like there is not enough air in his lungs. Phil pulls him in, hands running over his back in a soothing manor.
They don't say anything, Dan's breath is gradually becoming less short and he practically melts into Phils' arms; lapping up all the comfort and reassurance that he is offering. His hands make fists into Phil's top, clenching tightly as he attempts to calm down and control himself.
He doesn't want to cause a scene at Phil house, but his abilities are swirling, fighting to be let loose in some sort of defence. Dan tries to follow Phil's breathing, allowing himself to think of nothing but the air flowing in and out of the other male's lungs.
"It's okay, Dan. You're safe," Phil says after a while, soft and reassuring. Dan tries to convince himself that everything is alright, allowing himself to get lost in the words that Phil is speaking.
He doesn't know how long they stand there, five minutes, maybe half an hour or possibly more. Dan finally lifts his head up, and it feels like a ginormous task. There is still a high level of anxiety sitting in his stomach, churning away at a lesser pace than it had previously. He feels less nauseous then before, as though he is finally starting to become slightly less panicked.
Phil looks down at him, giving him a small smile and pressing a quick kiss on his lips. Phil's hands leave Dan's side, one reaching up to pull his fringe out of his eyes, the other resting against the curve of his back and pressing in just hard enough so Dan feels grounded.
"Are you alright?" Phil asks, and they both know that neither of them are okay at the moment. Phil's heart is pumping at a million miles an hour with worry for Dan, and Dan is more than aware that he just scared the living day lights out of both of them. But then again, someone caused that. The thought alone is enough to send shivers up both of their spines.
All Phil can focus on is trying to calm Dan down. The worry on the boy's face is so evident, and all he wants to do is to push those worries away. Replay the last hour and stop the day's previous events from happening. There is a nagging thought in the back of Phils mind, that maybe this wasn't exactly a coincidence. The worst part is that he knows this is exactly what Dan is thinking too.
"Yes," Dan agrees, and maybe it is a bit of a lie. He still feels anxious, thoughts spinning at a million miles an hour inside his head about what the fuck is going to happen, because that guy just randomly showed up out of the middle of nowhere. It sends chills down Dan's spine, and he tries to focus all his attention on Phil, attempting to rid himself of his previous thoughts.
He takes a few more deep breaths, and it manages to calm him down a bit more. Phil's here with him, holding him close. They're both here, alive and somewhere that everyone else can't get to. "Yes, yeah. I'm okay. We're okay. Both of us."
This time, there is much more truth to the words.
Phil relaxes a little, silence filling the air once again, both taking comfort in each other's presence.
"Stay here the night," Phil suggests after a moment, hands instinctively brushing though Dan's hair. It's soothing, and Dan can feel himself finally calming down. "There is no way I'm letting you go back out there alone tonight."
Dan lets out a sigh, absentmindedly leaning into Phil's hand. "Are you sure? I don't want to cause any more trouble."
Phil's voice is soft yet stern at once, not allowing for any sort of misinterpretation of his words. "You are not trouble. Jesus Dan, don't even think that. I'd always want you to stay, regardless of tonight's events."
As soon as the words leave Phil's mouth, Dan feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He wraps his arms around Phil's waist, pulling the boy in that much closer, needing the warmth and security that the other male is providing. Phil's eyes are still staring down at him, and Dan almost wants to cry in some kind of relief.
"How about we put a movie on or something? My parents are going to a friend's house for tea, so we can have some left over pasta if you'd like."
Dan nods, wanting nothing more than to stay close by Phil's side. A movie sounds good, something a bit distracting and reassuring is definitely what he needs right now.
Phil steps away slightly, making sure they are still standing closely together and grabs Dan's hand, taking a small step forward and leading him into the lounge room.
"I've still got Zombieland in the player; I was going to watch it the other night but got distracted. Does that sound alright?"
"Yeah," Dan speaks, and Phil gives him a small smile, both of them walking towards the remote, as Phil picks it up and switches the TV on. Dan clings by his side, almost subconsciously. By the time they've reached the couch Phil lets go of Dan's hand, sitting down and scooting against an arm rest. His legs are open and he smiles at Dan as he pats the spare space between his legs.
Dan obliges, quickly sitting down and settling his back against the other male's chest. A content sigh passes his lips as Phil wraps his hands around Dan's hips, clasping his hands and almost wrapping them both up in a backwards hug. Dan's head lolls back, resting between the junction of Phil's shoulder and neck, and everything feels that little bit better.
It's not until hours later, when Dan is curled up against Phil in an array of pillows, and warmth that he realises, even though the day's earlier eventsare still shoved somewhere in the back on his mind, Phil is able to put him at ease. He feels safe and content in Phil's arms, filled with the scent of everything that is Phil Lester. He feels Phil's lips press against his forehead, hands rubbing small comforting circles against the flesh under his T-shirt and it doesn't take him long until he is finally able to drift asleep.
:::
The feeling of warmth and cosiness is the first thing Dan wakes up too. He blinks slowly, his eyes failing to adjust at the mild brightness around him before he gives in and closes them again. He shifts a little, stretching his legs down slightly. There is a slight weight around his middle, close towards his hip and more across his legs. He snuggles in, the cocoon of warmth almost impossible to resist.
Suddenly, the weight on his hip clenches a bit, tightening slightly before relaxing into its previous hold and Dan's eyes snap open in response. His groggy sense of sleep steadily erasing from his mind as he takes in his surroundings.
"Oh," Dan mumbles, almost like a gasp of air and a whisper all at once. His eyes adjust, and he realises that the sense of warmth and comfort is another person; Phil. Dan pulls his head back slightly, taking in the image in front of him, a small blush rising onto his cheeks at the realisation of just how close they are. His head rests on the pillow beside Phil, giving him a perfect view of the older male in front of him. His eyes are closed, resting peacefully. One arm is lying across Dan's hip, and their legs are tangled under the covers.
Dan can't help but stare, drinking in the form of the beautiful boy in front of him. He is half torn between leaning in and kissing him or snuggling back up. His eyes trace Phil's face, and he has to resist running a hand across his cheek and moving the soft locks of hair that face fallen across his forehead.
He smiles to himself, amazed at how some this unreal actually managed to become his reality. Memories flash back to their first meeting, and the anguish he'd felt. If Dan had known that he would have ended up cuddled in bed, with someone who would cause him to feel so safe and loved then he would have dove straight in sooner. The words echo in his head. Phil makes him feel things that he'd never thought he would feel.
He closes his eyes, relishing in his thoughts, and everything that is Phil.
When he opens his eyes a moment later, slightly surprised that he comes face to face with bright sapphire and a soft smile.
"Morning," Phil says, quietly as though he doesn't want to disturb their current situation, as though it is something precious.
"Hi," Dan says voice just as quiet. He smiles, reflecting Phils own. His heart flutters in is chest as he watches Phil's eyes trace his own face, lingering slightly at his lips. It only takes a few moments before Phil closes the small gap between their faces, lips moulding together perfectly.
Dan sighs into it, the hand on his hip pulling him slightly closer until their chests are both touching.
Moments later Phil pulls back; his head still resting relatively close. The distance between their lips only a hairs breath away.
"Sleep well?" Phil asks, eyes soft and lingering.
Nodding, Dan mumbles rather contently, "mmm-hmm."
Being able to sleep with Phil has honestly been the best experience Dan's ever had, and now that he's been able towake up wrapped in Phil's arms, he doubts going back to his own bed will even be a fair comparison. Just the thought of that makes him want to press that little bit closer, shoving his face against Phil's chest and feeling his tight embrace lure him to sleep like it did last night.
There is a slight pause, and Phil looks like he wants to say something; eyes tracing over Dan again for an infinite amount of times this morning.
"And you're okay, yeah?" Phil questions, more hesitantly then before.
Dan's shoulders slump slightly at Phil's attempt to dance around the topic. To be honest, the last thing he wants to think about right now is last night's events. He knows that they probably should talk about it. How Dan flipped out so massively over something he had only seen for a split second.
A small voice in his brain tells him that maybe he was just over reacting, that it was nothing but a figment of his imagination. A larger part however, strongly tells him otherwise.
The anxiety that had rested in his chest had managed to disappear, his only thoughts being filled with Phil. However, he can feel it slowly ebbing its way back up; churning unwantedly in the pit of his stomach.
Phil can sense it, rubbing his back slightly in response.
"Sorry, I just-" Phil says, bitting his lip slightly. "I wanted to make you're okay. Last night, jeeze Dan, you scared me. Everything happened so suddenly, and I just- I was worried. I am worried. I want you to be safe."
Dan's heart melts, the fear vanishing as quickly as it had risen. He never really thought about it from Phil's perspective. There was a huge chance that Phil had been just as scared as him. Unsure of what was truly happening. The fact that he cares for Dan so much is almost unbelievable. It's hard to imagine someone is as compassionate and kind as the male currently embracing him.
Even though Phil could have been in as much danger as Dan was in, he doesn't care for his own safety, but for Dan's own wellbeing.
The distance between their lips is closed off; Dan moving forward and removing the gap. Be pushes against Phil, pressing against him as much as possible. Lips moving together hastily and slowly all at once, tongues swirling and moulding together in a way that Dan hasn't fully felt before. Dan moves his hands up from Phil's chest, wrapping around his neck and pushing them together so there is no longer any space.
They pull away, breathing heavily and Dan can't help but pull Phil back in, before he's even managed to catch his breath. The feeling of need is almost overwhelming. Dan's hands roam across his chest, moving across both clothed and bare skin. The fact that Phil is so close and right beside him is all the convincing he needs.
"Thank you," Dan mumbles against Phil's lips, completely breathless. "But you don't need to be. I knocked them out once before, right?"
It's a failed attempt at humour, and they both know it. Even though it's a fact, Phil can't help but feel apprehensive. If it came down to it, there is a possibility that Dan could escape, just like last time. But the fact is, neither of them wants that to happen again. It shouldn't have had to happen in the first place.
"We'll discuss this with PJ and Chris later, okay?" Dan promises, before he smiles slightly. Eyes closing momentarily, he lurches forward, into the same position he was situated in this morning. He feels sleepy again; still slightly exhausted from everything that happened yesterday. The thought of being able to fall back asleep in Phil's arms consumes him, in fact, Dan is pretty sure that there is nothing he'd rather be doing later than to wake back up next to Phil.
Phil laughs, for the first time in a while and it manages to make Dan's grin that much wider.
"I guess it can wait till later," Phil agrees. He moves slightly, adjusting himself so that both of them fit together perfectly. Dan snuggles in, his breath suddenly becoming heavy and it's not long before he drifts off to sleep again, nothing but the thought of Phil's arms surrounding him as the work fades back into darkness.
Notes: So hi again. That chapter pretty much was written in fluff overdrive. Fluff is totally worth waiting two weeks for, right? ;) Posting should be back to usual now (I can guarantee next Wednesday will have a chapter as it's already finished). As of the end of next Tuesday, Dobby is a free elf! So I'll have time to get ahead in my chapters again, and if we are lucky I might even add a sneaky chapter on some weekends (no promises but that thought it there!)