warning: NSFW content in this chapter too lol

"Phil, it looks a bit like you're glowing," Louise remarked as they sat around the table in their break room.

"What?" Phil had gone a bit wide-eyed and looked down at his hands.

"No," she laughed at him, unaware that for moment he was truly worried that he was actually glowing. "I just mean you seem really happy." She surveyed his face for a moment. "Wait," she gasped slightly. "You've gotten laid."

"Louise," he groaned, blushing red. "I haven't-, I mean-, you just mind your self, will ya?"

"Oh, c'mon. I'm only teasing a bit. But in all seriousness, are you seeing that guy?"

"What guy?"

"The one who kept coming in here for, like, a whole week."

"You mean Dan?"

"Oh, so his name is Dan," she grinned, a wicked glint in her eye.

"No!" Phil realized his mistake. "Well yeah, but," he sputtered, face turning red.

"So are you seeing him or what?"

"Er, yeah. I am. He's my boyfriend." He admitted, smiling.

"That's wonderful, Phil. You have seemed to be a bit… happier."

"Do I?"

Phil supposed it was true. Even his father had noticed, and Chris as well.

His life had always felt so bland, and ordinary. He never thought he'd find the right person that he could spend his life with. Yet, he found someone who was more than just the right person.

He'd found a soul mate. He'd found a bit of magic and wonder in between working, watching Netflix, and playing video games with Chris.

"Phil, someone's asking for you," Cat came into the break room, and walked back out again just as quick.

"Huh?" He looked to Louise, who shrugged, just as clueless as he was.

He stood and went out to the dining area, then passed through the server's line to reach the restaurant foyer.

His eyes fell on Dan, who was sat on the couch meant for waiting guests.

He looked up, sensing Phil close by, and smiled brightly. He stood quickly.

"What are you doing here?" Phil asked, gesturing outwardly as he approached Dan.

"I," he drawled out the word thoughtfully, "… just wanted to check on you."

"Check on me? Of course I'm fine, Dan." Phil laughed, head tilting slightly.

"I know." He said. "I just… wanted to see you?"

It wasn't a lie. Dan really did want to see him, but since Phil had left he'd had this unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach and he couldn't rest.

Phil chuckled at him again, and he glanced back towards the kitchen. Louise and Cat were standing there under the archway where the server's line opened up. They seemed to be talking animatedly, and they looked away pointedly when they noticed Phil looking and disappeared behind the wall.

"I'm on break, why don't we go sit outside for a couple minutes, yeah?"

"Okay," Dan agreed and Phil led the way back out of the restaurant. His car wasn't parked too far from the entrance and he quickly unlocked it.

"Go ahead," Dan nodded for Phil to sit in the driver's seat, opting not to sit as well.

Phil grabbed a spare jacket.

It was growing much colder lately.

He looked up at Dan, who was surveying the area carefully. His stomach began to twist uncomfortably.

"Dan?"

Dan looked down at Phil.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"

"Yeah, look Phil." Dan crouched, so that he was lower than Phil, and ninety degrees to him.

"Everything is fine. It's just… you know those oil lamps I had?"

Phil nodded, prompting him to continue.

"Well, when I went to go get my paperwork and stuff… One of them had been knocked over and I've felt anxious ever since."

"Really?" Phil didn't feel alarmed. In fact, he sort of expected something like this to have happened.

"Yeah. I've tried to convince myself that whoever or whatever knocked it over was completely harmless and innocent, but… I just get real anxious about it."

"I'm sure it's fine," Phil assured him. "Come here."

Phil reached out and grabbed Dan's jacket. Dan obeyed his touch and was unceremoniously pulled into Phil's lap.

"I'm not too heavy am I?"

"No," Phil chuckled, pulling Dan tighter against him.

"You're not upset with me?" He was amazed that was Phil wasn't angry with him, not even a little angry.

"No. Because even if you'd been more convincing, I still would have known that something was making you agitated. I can feel it right now."

"I should apologize."

"Don't. I get it."

Dan turned and pressed a kiss to Phil's forehead.

Phil reached into his pocket for his phone to check the time. As he had a few minutes still, he returned the phone to his pocket and wrapped his arms around Dan again.

Phil's hands were comforting as they settled across Dan's stomach, over his jacket. He put his hands over Phil's.

"Hey, how about on Friday, we go and get your ID, and then maybe go out to eat or something like that?"

"Sure," Dan agreed.

It was still only Sunday, and it was really only an idea. Neither of them knew what to expect as they week progressed.

"Have you ever really been downtown?"

"Years ago."

"Well, why don't we go and spend some time down there one day. You know, get out for a bit."

"That sounds nice."

Phil hummed in response and pressed the side of his face to Dan's warm back.

He felt the vibrations as Dan began to speak. "You have to go back in soon, don't you?"

"I've got a few minutes still," he murmured back to him. "And then I'll be home in just a couple of hours."

They sat quietly for a few more minutes, surrounding each other in warmth.

"Hey," Dan said to Phil as they sat across the table from each other, eating steak.

"Hmm?" Phil hummed around a bit of food.

"This might seem like a weird idea." He said as Phil continued eating, listening.

"I'd sort of like to go on a walk later. We haven't really-, I mean it was always really nice when we met in the woods. And I thought we could go and lie out there for a bit? It's a bit cold, but nothing a couple of jackets can't help."

"Are you getting a bit cooped up or something?" Phil asked as he finished his bite of food, looking at Dan with concern. The light above them in the dining area reflected off of his glasses and made his eyes almost indiscernible in the glare.

"Not really. I mean, I was alone for the longest time, so I'm sort of used to it. I just thought it'd be nice."

"It does sound nice. After we finish eating we'll go?"

Around a smile Dan said, "Yeah."

They finished eating and Phil cleared their places as Dan went to collect his jacket and boots. When Phil joined him in the foyer, he helped him slide his arms into the sleeves of his own jacket.

Phil turned and said, "Thanks," as he zipped it up.

"Is this one warm enough?"

Phil hummed. He put his own shoes on and laced them up. "I just have to lock the door on the way out."

"Can we bring a blanket?"

"Er, yeah, but we can't stay out there for long. I've got work in the morning." Phil pushed his glasses further up on the bridge of his nose, looking over at Dan with slight hesitance.

"Sure, yeah." Dan said airily as Phil turned away to grab the throw blanket off the edge of the couch.

He grabbed his keys and phone off of a small end table in the foyer as well and Dan led the way out of the house. Phil locked the door a bit clumsily, and then slipped his keys into his jean pockets.

Dan took Phil's hand, tugging him along eagerly. Phil had the blanket hung over his other arm.

It was rather cold, but their jackets were just warm enough that they were still comfortable.

They stepped off of the porch, their shoes tapping dulcetly on the steps. As they walked through the grass, their feet rustled the foliage.

The moon was half full, and lighted their path just well enough.

"It's nice out, huh?" Dan said.

Phil agreed. The stars were remarkably bright, and the sound of crickets chirping was relaxing.

They were walking through the trees with hands clasped, the sound of their feet hardly a whisper, their breathing even quieter.

They both wanted to speak, but didn't want to disturb the serenity of the forest either.

They had reached their destination, and Phil laid out the blanket neatly with Dan's help. Luckily, the grass hadn't collected moisture that night and they could sit and lie back comfortably.

Dan lied with his arms crossed beneath his head, and Phil clasped his hands over his stomach.

"You were right," Phil said after a few moments.

"About?" Dan had been so engrossed in his own thoughts for a few moments that he needed explanation.

"That coming out here would be nice."

Dan hummed and he turned on his side unexpectedly and propped his head up by his hand, elbow pressing into the blanket.

"Dan, you're up to something. Aren't you?"

"Phil, c'mon," Dan shot him a look, playfully feigning offense. But even as he did so, he leaned in closer to Phil, laying a hand over his.

"Don't give me that look. You're always up to something." Phil rebutted, but he struggled to his keep voice even, especially when Dan let his hand travel further south.

"Always," Phil emphasized. The feeling of Dan's hand on him was exciting him quickly and he forced himself to remain aloof. This became extremely difficult as Dan let his finger tips brush over the waistband of his jeans, over his thin jacket.

Phil didn't know it, but Dan's heart was probably pounding even harder than his own. He hesitated, letting his hand settle for a moment. He noticed the way Phil's hand clenched over his other hand.

He looked back up just in time to see into Phil's twinkling eyes, before Phil boldly rolled over and onto Dan, crushing their mouths together.

"Don't tease," he said in between demanding kisses and lip nibbles. He elicited lots of breathy noises from Dan that excited him immensely.

"You teased me," Dan managed to argue, as he held onto Phil. Desperate to be closer, he shifted his legs around and wrapped them around Phil's hips. He filled his hands with Phil's ass and ground their hips together. The sensation caused tingles and the both of them moaned gutturally.

"Fuck you," Phil said bitingly through heavy breaths.

Dan smirked at Phil, and ran his hands up his back. He pressed his weight into one of his legs and one hand, allowing him to flip the both of them over. With one hand at Phil's back and the other pressed into the blanket, he managed to gently lower him back to the blanket.

Phil looked up at Dan, and he gazed back playfully.

"That was graceful."

"Grace is my middle name."

"Just kidding it's James."

Phil chuckled, but his breath got caught in his throat at Dan's next movements.

He shimmied down Phil's body, knees at either side of him, sort of trapping him as he pushed at his clothes.

Phil reached down to undo the zipper on his jack, and sat up. In sync, Dan rocked back onto his knees and when Phil had his jacket out of his way, he stripped his t-shirt off of him. His glasses fell off in the process and they both paused, being sure that they were safe and they both chuckled softly for a moment.

The cool air hardly fazed Phil as it seeped into his skin. He had grown far too hot by their activities to be really affected by it.

Phil lied back onto the blanket, and Dan began to drag his mouth and tongue along Phil's collar bone. As he traveled lower, passed his belly button, he pulled back a bit and reached for Phil's jeans. With a hot face and shaking hands, he undid the zipper.

He was beginning to grow quite nervous. He had never done this for someone before.

Phil slipped his own hands into the waistband of his jeans, beginning to push them down and Dan followed his lead, pulling them down and out of the way.

Fuck, Phil was unbelievably hard, he realized. He did that to Phil.

He tried to remember what Phil had done before and reached tentatively to grip his dick in his hand.

Phil's pre-cum had leaked from him and he pumped him slowly, spreading the wetness. He looked up at Phil, relieved that he seemed to be enjoying it.

Phil's hips began to move in time with the motion of Dan's hand. "Yes," he hissed quietly.

Dan remembered how good it felt for Phil's mouth to be on him, so he left a few kisses around Phil's pelvic bones and earned himself a few encouraging noises.

"That feels really fucking good, Dan." Phil said unexpectedly and he looked up. "Don't stop."

Dan tentatively ran his tongue along Phil's dick before surrounding him completely with his mouth. He heard Phil's pleasured gasp and he began bobbing his head a bit, being careful not to use his teeth.

"Fucking yes, Dan. That feels so good," he moaned and he reached down to slip his fingers into Dan's hair. He began to guide Dan at a pace he liked and his noises grew increasingly louder.

He pulled back for a breath, pumping his dick for a moment, and then he began suck him off again. He was growing more comfortable with the movements and finding different things that Phil enjoyed, like the way he flicked his tongue over and around the head of his dick.

"Oh fuck," he groaned harshly when Dan did this and he smiled up at him.

He continued to bob his head, and Phil began to thrust his hips up into Dan's mouth, moaning loudly.

"Dan, I'm gonna come. Oh fuck," he jerked his hips unevenly a few times and suddenly Phil was shooting his release, his body shaking with the ecstasy. Dan released him from his mouth, continuing to pump him as he rode out the orgasm.

Phil felt numb from the waist down and he smiled at Dan, panting roughly.

"You're still fully dressed," Phil observed as Dan crawled up to kiss him. He could taste himself on Dan's lips.

"I think we ought to remedy that," he said. "Lie back."

Dan obeyed him and they stripped him of his clothing much like they had done to Phil.

Phil reciprocated what Dan had done for him, and he was brought to a blissful finish, his body quaking as he cried out.

Using a bit of the blanket they weren't lying on, they wiped each other up, laughing shamelessly and grinning widely at each other as they were illuminated and surrounded by warmth.

As they recovered from the ecstasy they lied back onto the blanket and grew cold quickly. They pulled their pants all the way back up their jelly legs and pulled their t-shirts back over their heads, smiling at each other.

Suddenly, Dan heard the scraping of a shoe against a branch and he instinctively rolled over to protect Phil. He looked up, to see a dark-haired slim figure up in a tree.

Dan could hear the splintering of wood and a voice say, "Shit," flatly.

The boy who fell from the tree, groaned and shifted about on the ground, obviously checking for injuries and Dan stared as he hovered above Phil.

Confused and only a little amused, Phil looked at Dan, and twisted about and out from underneath Dan to see the figure.

Dan stared unwaveringly, still on his own hands and knees as the boy sat up.

"Dan?" A timid voice asked. The boy didn't have a particularly high-pitched voice, but it had the musical quality of a bird's chirp. Through the darkness the boy's eyes shined a familiar shade of brown

Realization dawned on him at how familiar the boy looked and sounded. His eyes grew even wider.

"Adrian?" Dan sat back, kneeling and Phil was still lying beside him.

"Er, yeah. Sorry." He said rather anticlimactically.

Adrian was one of his only relatives that he had ever met when he was younger. His spirit animal was a hawk.

"You ass. You know how freaked out I was? I was about to tear you apart."

"Right," his cousin remarked sarcastically. "I'm surprised you didn't realize I was there. You were always really observant and intuitive. But then again," Adrian smirked, "you had other things on your mind."

His eyes flicked over to Phil, who decided to finally speak. "Erm, about that…"

"Yeah, how long have you been there?" Dan impatiently asked.

"Long enough. Man, you've grown up. Look at you. Found your mate and everything."

Phil blushed furiously and buried his face in his arms.

"Sorry," he added quickly.

"Phil, it's alright. We've all always been a bit shameless, don't worry." Dan reassured him.

Phil moaned in response, mortified.

This boy, Adrian, he supposed his name was, had seen everything.

"I'm sorry," Adrian said again. "I didn't know it was you at first, Dan. And I should've said something, but then… You know, how could I interrupt that?"

Dan chuckled and crossed his legs.

The embarrassment radiated off of Phil and both Dan and Adrian felt a bit guilty.

"So, Adrian is actually my cousin, Phil." He nudged Phil comfortingly. "He's a hawk," he added informatively.

"Erm," Phil turned his head and said quietly, "that's pretty cool."

"So what are you doing here?" Dan asked, leaning back into his hands.

"Well, looking for you." He said, as if Dan should have realized. "Oh, and sorry about your oil lamp, by the way."

"What?" Dan laughed. "That was you?" Relief flooded his body.

"Yeah," Adrian chuckled awkwardly.

"I was freaking out about that for a while."

"Well, I was kind of freaked out that I wouldn't be able to find you. I thought maybe something bad happened when I came out here and just found the empty house."

Dan shook his head and Adrian said, "Have you been alone for a while?"

"Er, sort of, but I met Phil," he glanced over at Phil lying beside him and he smiled at Dan. "And… yeah."

Adrian smiled at the two of them. "Well, I'm glad."

"So, where's your Dad?"

Adrian's mother had died while giving birth to him. He had never met her, and his Dad did alright because he still had Adrian.

"Er, Dan… He's…"

"No," Dan said in a low, disbelieving voice. "What happened?"

Adrian drew in a shaky breath and Phil felt as if he were invading on a private moment.

"Some fucking dickbags jumped him," he said harshly, angry tears escaped his eyes.

Dan had never known his uncle particularly well, because he was always with Adrian when their entire family was together. Adrian was more like a brother to him, and he wanted to comfort him.

"Are you kidding me? Why?"

"I don't know," he mumbled nasally, wiping at his face, frustrated.

Phil looked up at Dan, unsure of what to do or say. He realized he ought to check the time, and got his phone out of his pants pocket, keys jingling as well in the process. It was definitely growing late.

"Hey," he spoke up quietly. "Why don't we get home, huh? Adrian, you can stay with me."

"Thanks, Phil."

Phil hummed and the three of them began to gather themselves up for the trek back to Phil's house.

The pain in Adrian's heart was fresh and it stung Dan, and by extension, Phil as well.

Dan pulled his younger cousin into his arms and Phil folded up the blanket that they had previously been lying on.

"Everything's okay," Phil heard him whisper to his cousin and tears stung his own eyes, his throat closed up and he took a deep breath. He led the way home, and the other two fell into step beside him.

When they arrived at Phil's home, he got a clean blanket for Adrian and he crawled onto the couch. Dan sat beside him, and didn't really say anything, but cupped his chin in his hand.

"Are you hungry, Adrian?" Phil asked.

"No, I'll eat in the morning. Don't worry."

"Okay." He said to Dan, "Er, I'm gonna take a shower and then get some sleep."

Dan nodded. "I'll go and lie down in just a bit."

He had missed his cousin. It'd been over a decade since they'd seen each other. Adrian had been less than ten years old.

"Phil works in the morning," Dan told him and continued quietly. "I feel kind of guilty. I never did really go to school and don't have my diploma, or my GED. I can't get a job without it."

"Oh, you'll be fine," Adrian said, remembering how smart Dan had always been. "The GED exams are easy."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

They grew quiet for a few moments. "Why do people have to die?" Dan suddenly asked.

"Dan?"

"We're all going to die someday and it… sucks."

"Well, Mr. Well Spoken… It's just the way things work. I mean, imagine if everyone born never died. The planet would be overflowing with people. Not that it already isn't, but you know."

Dan chuckled, "I guess that's true."

"And it sort of makes the time we spend here more meaningful. It makes the relationships we have more significant, you know? We can't stop life from ending, so we need to experience all that we can."

"Hmm. I guess I could've used that bit of insight years ago when I decided I was gonna be stuck like a hermit in the woods."

Adrian chuckled, but said, "You were really completely alone all that time?" Dan nodded. "Why didn't you try to find Dad and I?"

"I'm… not sure. Probably because all that time Phil was really just a few miles away."

Adrian hummed in understanding.

Dan hadn't realized they had sat together for so long until Phil stepped out of the shower, a towel around his waist, and another around his shoulders. He shot them a small smile, and then disappeared into his bedroom.

"Erm, goodnight," Dan said to Adrian, suppressing a smile.

Adrian smirked back at him and said, "Goodnight."

He patted his cousin's leg and then rose from the couch. He shut off the lights, locked the doors and then followed Phil into the bedroom where Phil had already changed into pajamas and was now settling beneath the covers.

Dan quickly changed as well and crawled into the bed beside him.

"Kind of cool to meet your cousin," Phil mumbled sleepily as he scooted a bit closer to feel the warmth of Dan's body.

Dan hummed in agreement and then said, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Dan."