It was nine in the morning and Phil was uploading the newest chapter of HOS. Nerd4Lyfe had sent it to him after he had already gone to sleep, and he is sure that n4L is either nocturnal, from across the world, or Dan is his evil twin. Phil keeps glancing at the door hoping that Dan is on his usual late wake up schedule because he would have a lot of explaining to do if Dan saw this. Glancing back at his laptop screen he quickly hits the post button and shuts the AO3 tab. He moves into the kitchen and starts making a pot of coffee. The excitement of hearing what Dan has to say about the chapter is making him all bouncy. He's pouring himself a bowl of Dan's cereal, which isn't really Dan's because come on they live together everything is communal, when Dan comes shuffling into the kitchen.
"Morning sleeping beauty," Phil smirks at his friend, "usually you maintain a slightly more human sleep schedule on HOS days." He tries to sound sincere in his mocking so Dan doesn't realize just how grateful Phil is that he chose this particular day to sleep in.
"I was up late last night, you know how tumblr gets," Dan sticks out his tongue. "Anyway, let's get to it, we have to know what happens next I mean literally I will die if we don't get the details on this girlfriend of Phil's." Even though Phil writes fanfiction and reads plenty of it with Dan it's still so weird to hear him talk about a Phil that is and isn't him all at the same time. What's weirder is that sometimes he starts to forget the difference. Sometimes it feels like both Phils are him, like maybe both Phils are standing with spoonfuls of Dan's cereal halfway to their lips. Maybe like both Dans are staring at him with those damn heart eyes. Phil shakes his head and pops the spoon into his mouth, he's clearly in too deep with this whole fanfiction thing.
"Alright, let's get to it." Phil says, watching as Dan cracks the laptop. Dan clears his throat about to start, but he is interrupted by the doorbell.
"It's unlocked," Dan yelled, closing the computer and offering Phil a sorry smile. "Hey Peej, I forgot you were coming over."
Phil takes a second to glare at Dan before saying, "I was just never told you were coming over. Not that I mind, it's always good to see you. " He walks over and hugs PJ in greeting almost knocking his friend over with his enthusiasm. None of the three can remember exactly why PJ was meant to come over in the first place. So they end up marathoning some anime they find on Netflix and eating more than any group so small should be able to eat. Phil and Peej finish off Dan's cereal, much to his chagrin.
It's PJ who hops up off the couch and suggests they all go out to catch some Pokémon around London. Phil glances back at the forgotten laptop on the kitchen table as they walk out, regretting that they didn't get the chance to read today's chapter. He smiles as they head down the sidewalk pulling his phone out and watching for the last Eevee he needs to get the final evolution. "Holy fuck there's a Snorlax nearby!" Dan shouts breaking into what might be a run if he were more fit. PJ practically vaults over a small stone wall nearly knocking over an old lady walking her dog. Phil catches himself checking out Dan's ass as he runs behind his friends. He shakes it off, admitting that you'd have to be blind to miss how good the boy looks in the skinny jeans. It doesn't matter anyway the park is filled with rare Pokémon today and Phil intends to catch 'em all.
Thirty minutes later they've caught the Snorlax, a million Rattatas, and a god damn Gyrados so it's been a pretty good day. Plus Phil managed to get a Dratini from one of his 10 K eggs. Phil can't remember who suggested it but they've decided to make their way to a pub Dan and Phil like in central London for some drinks before PJ goes home. At this point Phil's just glad there won't be too much more walking he's tired and his phone is on 15%.
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Dan plops down into the booth thankful to give his legs and his cellphone a rest. They order a round of drinks for the table and some chips. "Peej you better get your ass down to London more often, it's not that far and we haven't seen you in ages." He means the words when he says them but he also can't help but think how much he wants to get back to the flat with Phil, get cozy, and read HOS. He looks over at his best friend eating chips like a total slob and lets out a pointed sigh, raising his eyebrows jokingly.
"What?" Phil demands salt raining out of his full mouth, "You got a problem with my glorious table manners?"
"Don't they teach you how to close your mouth in the north?"
"In fact they don't." Phil taunts chewing dramatically with his mouth open. PJ's contribution to the disagreement is to grab two chips and chuck them simultaneously at the boys landing one square in the middle of their foreheads.
"This is why I don't come down to London more often, I can't stand too much of you two arguing like an old married couple." The two look at eachother then in perfect sync grab a chip nonchalantly and toss them at PJ, high fiving when each leaves a tiny grease spot on one of the boy's cheeks.
"We may be an old married couple but we got game," Dan teases taking a triumphant sip of his drink. He catches Phil's eye and sees his own mirth reflected back, he leans back in his chair feeling good. At least, until the chair pitches backwards and dumps him onto the floor. "Fucking hell" he struggles to get up but his foot is caught under the table and his drink has spilled all over his face.
"Not so smug now, are we?" PJ quips, although maybe regretting it when Dan tips Peej's chair backwards dumping him down on the floor too. "You are a child Howell."
"You should be expecting him to play dirty Peej."
"Only for you Phil," Dan teases, winking dramatically as he finally stands up. "Oh and Lester?" He waits for Phil to look up then tips the black haired boy's fruity cocktail over onto his lap. "Even my old married couple husband isn't safe from my wrath." The tension in the room breaks and all three boys break out into laughter. Dan imagines if they were home Phil would have been throwing things at them by now but instead they all settle back into their chairs and order another round, this one hopefully won't end up in their laps.
Dan is definitely buzzed as he and Phil walk together on the way back to their flat having left PJ behind at the train station. He smells like a brewery, but Phil smells like a girl's perfume with a hint of vodka so maybe he's better off. Suddenly he has an idea, although he wonders if it might be the alcohol but really he doesn't care. "Phil, we should go swim in that fountain, it can wash the drinks, off plus it would be so fun," He surprises himself with one of the girliest giggles he's ever heard, maybe he had more to drink than he thought. He forgets to think about that though because Phil smiles and grabs his arm dragging him toward the fountain.
For a moment the thought that Dan doesn't want his hair to get curly flashes across his mind, but this is Phil who has seen him with hobbit hair a thousand times, why should he suddenly care? Besides at that point Phil already has him hopping into the cold water then tipping them both sideways till the water breaks across his cheek. He barely has time to catch a breath before he's under the water and when he comes up Phil splashes a giant wave right at him. "That's for my cocktail Howell," He laughs but turns away too quickly to be caught by Dan's retaliatory attack.
"You're not getting away from me that easily," Dan lunges at Phil knocking him into the water. "You're my bitch now Lester," He hangs his arms around Phil's neck, now behind him, ready to tackle the boy all over again if he has to. Laughing all over again the boys climb out of the fountain and start to head home. He looks at his best friend with his shirt plastered against his lean frame and he thinks it's time to admit that Phil may be his dirty little secret.