A/N: Hey, all! Chapter three is up, and it's a decent length, I think. Not much to say, other than I'm sorry. You'll see why at the end. Anyways, here we go!
Warnings: Drama ahead! Also potty mouths, because would you expect any less from me?
OoO
Phil knew something was wrong when he was awoken by the sound of the ringing telephone. He glanced at the clock and found that it was 2pm. Had he really slept that long? It was true that Dan had said for Phil to take the day off, given that it was Saturday, but Phil knew it was because the boys couldn't face each other after last night. The shrill sound of the phone interrupted Phil's thoughts, and he leapt out of bed and hurried to the living room.
"Hello?" He murmured, finding sleep still in his voice despite the frantic thoughts racing in his mind.
"Phil! God, I've been trying to call you for an hour!" Dan's voice was shaky, so unlike the boy's normal confident demeanor. Phil had a feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Phil demanded, mind full of possibilities, each one darker than the one before it.
"Have you seen outside? There's a hurricane warning. We have to board up the gallery right away!" Dan exclaimed.
Phil looked out the window and saw the trees whipping around violently. "Right. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Okay. Try to hurry up, though."
"I will," Phil promised, and hung up the phone.
It took him about fifteen minutes to get dressed, and the normally short walk to the gallery seemed to take ages when only it was a matter of minutes. Phil turned the corner to see Dan frantically attempting to fit a board into the window of the gallery. Phil ran up to the brunette and held up the other end of the board. "Here, I got it."
Dan looked at Phil, relief all over his face. "Thank god. Okay, if you hold this up, I can put the nails on it."
Phil nodded, and they went to work. There were only a few windows on the house, but the boards were heavy and Dan smashed his fingers with the hammer quite a few times. It had started to rain, and the normally bright afternoon sky was a deep gray that made seeing difficult.
"Okay, done," Dan said when they had finished putting up the last board. "God, I couldn't have done that without you."
Phil shrugged. "No problem." Then a thought suddenly occurred to him. "Hey, where's Pirate?"
The blood drained from Dan's face. "I…don't know."
Phil hurried to reassure Dan, not liking the scared look on the normally vibrant brunette's face. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere. You know him; he's probably being a butt and hiding from us."
"I hope," Dan said worriedly.
Dan searched in the alley while Phil took to the streets. They searched for an hour, but they found neither hide nor tail of the elusive cat. When Phil was about to give up and give Dan the bad news, he saw a small trail of paw prints leading off into the bushes on the edge of the property. They were still deep despite the pouring rain turning the ground to mush, so Phil took it as a good sign.
"Dan, look!" Phil exclaimed, pointing to the tracks. "I think he went this way!"
A loud thunderclap made Phil jump, and when he turned around, he saw Dan still standing in front of the gallery. A flash of lightning illuminated the brunette's face, and Phil could see the horror on Dan's face. The booming thunder that followed a short second later made the younger boy flinch visibly.
"I don't like the rain," Dan whimpered, his eyes conveying blatant fear. "I really, really don't like the rain."
"What's the matter?" Phil asked, hating to see the look on the brunette's face and wishing he could wipe it off entirely.
"I just…don't like the rain," Dan whispered, and Phil was surprised that he could still hear the small sound over the storm.
Phil figured that he wouldn't press further, because it seemed like Dan was suffering enough. He nodded in acknowledgement and said, "It's okay, you can stay here. I'll go look for him. He couldn't have gotten far."
"Hurry," Dan whispered brokenly, and Phil's heart hurt at the sad sound. While Phil had only just gotten used to the cat, the tabby had been Dan's only friend for a long time. He could understand how that felt, and it gave him courage that he didn't know he had.
"Okay," Phil said, straightening up with a confidence he wished he felt. "Don't worry, I'll find him."
He tried to pretend he didn't hear Dan's sobs; while he wanted to rush and comfort the younger boy, he was losing precious time and Pirate could be anywhere. Without another word, the ebony-haired boy moved the tall bushes aside with his hand and ducked under the canopy of leaves.
The rain was lessened under the trees, but Phil still felt the harsh gusts chill his soaking form. He called out the cat's name, but his voice was lost on the wind. The ebony-haired boy continued to call out until his voice was hoarse and his eyes were blurry and stinging. The tracks grew fainter as the rain filled them up, but Phil could still see them as they winded down the forest path.
"It's hopeless; I can't see in all this rain," Phil murmured to himself. Every fiber of his being wanted to find the cat, to erase that broken look off of Dan's face forever, but doubts creeped into his mind. He forced himself to keep going, however, even as his thoughts turned darker.
He ran until he couldn't see the tracks anymore, and soon he stood looking dejectedly at the last paw print on the ground. He wasn't sure how long he had been out looking, but the way his heart hurt when the last paw print faded into the mud made him clutch at his chest. All around him were shadowy trees with branches whipping in the wind like dirty rags, each a carbon copy of the other.
How am I going to go back to Dan empty-handed? Phil thought, tears starting to pool at his eyes. How can I look him in the eyes ever again? He knew it was hopeless, though, and turned around to head back to the gallery.
He thought he imagined the faint meow on the wind, but it stopped him regardless, hope springing in his chest. "Pirate?"
The silence that answered him made Phil's heart sink with each passing minute. When the moment had passed, he gave a dejected sigh and started to move forward.
Meow. That one sound made Phil's chest tighten painfully. This one was clearer, and it sounded like it was to Phil's left. He turned and called, "Pirate!"
Another meow sounded, louder and more forceful. Phil started to walk in the direction of the sound, but found no sign of the tabby. He heard a scratching sound, and another meow. It's coming from…above me? Blinking back the raindrops from his face, he looked to the sky. "Pirate?"
Perched on a tree branch and looking very miffed was none other than the tom himself. Phil laughed in relief and a little hysterically at the sight of the drenched cat. Pirate shot him a glare that was far less intimidating given his sopping wet form as he angrily swished his tail back and forth.
"You are one piece of work," Phil murmured, and the cat's ear perked up as if Pirate had understood him. It took a little finagling, and Phil was sure he would need a plethora of Band-Aids when he got home, but soon Pirate was free and purring contentedly in the ebony-haired boy's arms.
The look on Dan's face when Phil returned sent a surge of pride and butterflies through the older boy. Pirate immediately squirmed and jumped out of Phil's arms, running over to his master and rubbing himself thoroughly between the brunette's legs. Pirate made a small squeaking sound as he was picked up and promptly squeezed in a death grip. Phil watched the reunion with a sense of joy, proud that he had a part in making it happen. Soon Pirate had seemingly reached his cuddle limit, and he jumped out of Dan's arms and sat down on the ground.
Dan's expression was unreadable as he looked over at Phil, and before the older boy could blink, Dan's arms were around him and the brunette's lips were on his own. Phil was shocked at first, but his body melted into the touch, and he forgot about the freezing rain as he ran his fingers through deep brown locks. Dan tasted like cinnamon and spice, and Phil found that his thoughts shut down and he could only think of one word: Dan.
The kiss was over far too soon for Phil's liking, but a clap of thunder and Dan's resulting flinch had reminded them both about the storm that they were currently standing in. Phil, feeling bold, breathily asked, "Your place?"
Dan nodded, his breath just as haggard as Phil's and a hungry look in his eyes. "Yeah."
OoO
The two boys rushed to Dan's house as fast as they could, wind whipping at their backs and rain pelting their faces. Pirate was none-too-happy about being picked up, but Phil figured that they'd had enough drama for one night, so he tried to ignore the claws that dug into his forearms as he ran. The five-minute run seemed endless in the freezing rain, but soon they were inside and out of the storm.
Phil sighed in relief as his body warmed up instantly as he crossed the threshold, and Pirate jumped out of his arms to take up residence on the back top of the couch. Not wanting to ruin the sofa, Phil stood a bit awkwardly as Dan walked past him and into the bedroom. Phil could hear Dan rummaging around for something, and in a few seconds the brunette had appeared with two fluffy towels in his hands.
"Towel?" Dan offered, holding out said object for Phil to take.
"Yeah, thanks," Phil murmured, taking the towel and proceeding to dry himself off. When he was finished, he pulled the veil of the towel off of his head and saw Dan grinning. "What?"
Dan laughed. "You look like a lion with your hair sticking up all over the place like that."
Phil blushed. "What, does it look that weird?"
Dan's grin returned. "No, it looks rather cute."
Phil's blush deepened, and he didn't know what to say to that. So he thinks I'm cute? He stuttered a bit when he said, "Well, do you have a comb or something?"
Dan's eyes shined in amusement as he said, "Yeah, in my bedroom. Gimmie a sec to see if I can find it."
Dan disappeared into the bedroom again, leaving the door open a tad wider than necessary. Phil was left alone and slightly confused, wondering what would happen when they talked about their current situation. The kiss. Phil's mind went back to the image of their kiss in the rain, helpfully supplying a few more imagined images to go along with it.
"Hey, Phil?" came Dan's voice from the bedroom, muffled a bit by the distance.
"Yeah?" Phil replied.
"I don't think I can find it. Mind helping?"
"Erm, sure," Phil called back, gulping a bit. Going into Dan's bedroom was like going into a forbidden zone; he had always wanted to see it, but never imagined that he would actually be able to. Phil looked at the couch where Pirate rested and found the cat watching the ebony-haired boy closely. They shared a look: Phil's gaze was a bit nervous and Pirate just looked slightly bored. Unspoken communication ran through them, and Pirate ended it by turning away and licking his paws. Phil didn't know what that meant, but he figured it was Pirate's way of giving him permission, and so he headed over to the doorway and went inside.
Dan's room was even messier than his house. Numerous drawings littered the walls so much so that there was barely any blank space left. Phil could see a few drawings of himself, and he felt a bit humbled by it. He gazed around the room and saw a platform bed with an all-black comforter. A small bedside table housed important things like an alarm clock, a notepad, and a few stray pencils and paintbrushes. All in all, it was a room so utterly Dan that Phil had to smile.
He saw another door that was cracked open slightly and presumably led to the bathroom. Making his way over to the door, he opened it fully.
Immediately, he was presented with a glorious view of Dan's perfect ass as the brunette kneeled on all fours to reach at something that was behind the toilet. Phil surreptitiously wiped the trail of drool that threatened to spill down the sides of his chin. He hated to interrupt his viewing, but figured it would be immensely awkward if he were to be caught staring, so he cleared his throat.
Dan jumped and banged his head on the bowl of the toilet, groaning while clutching his head with one hand. "Shit."
"God, I'm really sorry, Dan! I didn't mean to startle you," Phil held up his hands in a placating manner, feeling horrible.
"No problem," Dan reassured, smiling a bit. "I was just trying to find the brush; it fell behind the toilet. I can't seem to have any luck. Could you try?"
Dan scooted aside and made room for Phil, who knelt on all fours and tried to squeeze his 6'3" body into the tiny space between the toilet and the tub. He could see the hairbrush, and stretched his arm with all of his might, managing to grab it after three tries.
When he backpedaled out, brush in hand, he found Dan standing up and staring at the older boy's derriere in a blatantly obvious way. Phil cleared his throat, embarrassed. Dan's gaze lingered down for a second before flicking up to Phil's eyes. Despite the faint blush on the brunette's cheeks, his tone was completely unrepentant when he said, "Sorry."
"Um, that's okay?" Phil said in more of a question than a statement. "I, um, got the brush."
"Nice! I don't really get how two grown men couldn't reach a small brush, but I guess that's just how we roll, eh?" Dan laughed, and Phil joined him. The tension eased a bit, but Phil was left with questions. He was about to open his mouth when the brunette interrupted him. "So, what say you to staying the night?"
"Huh?" Phil asked.
"Well," Dan explained, "the storm's still going, and I doubt you want to get drenched all over again. Plus, I figure we've had enough drama for tonight and we're both bone-tired."
Phil weighed his options. Dan was right; the storm was too violent and Phil was too tired to make it home alone. They also still had to talk about what had transpired that night, and while it was a conversation that Phil most definitely did not want to have, he had quite a few questions that he wanted to know before the night was over. On the other hand, Dan only had one bed, and Phil was pretty sure that even if he took the couch, they would eventually end up sharing the king-sized mattress. "Okay, sure."
Dan's face lit up at the answer, even though the brunette hadn't really left Phil any other choice. "Good! You can take the shower first, and I have some spare clothes that'll probably fit you. I keep a spare toothbrush in the side cabinet, and the towels are in the closet to your left. Feel free to use anything you want; mi casa es tu casa."
Phil thanked him, and Dan waved it off with a "No problem!" and the brunette exited the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Phil was left staring at the closed door for a second, but then figured he had better get freshened up.
He stripped himself of his clothes and padded up to the bathtub, turning on the faucet and checking to make sure the water wasn't too scalding. When he was satisfied at the temperature, he stepped inside the shower and let out a small sigh as the warm blast of water hit his body. The heat was welcome, and it warmed his body even further. He picked up Dan's shampoo, inhaling. It smelled of cinnamon and spice, just like the younger boy. Phil realized that he was being slightly creepy and quickly lathered his hair up, ignoring the way his heart beat fast at the thought of the brunette.
Phil stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off. He opened the door and walked into the bedroom, thankful that Dan had given the ebony-haired boy some privacy by shutting the door. A black t-shirt and Pac-Man pajama bottoms were folded neatly on the end of the bed, and Phil chuckled quietly to himself as he put them on. Both boys were roughly the same height and size, so Phil wasn't surprised when the pajamas (while a bit short at the bottom) fit him almost like a glove.
Dan was sitting on the couch when Phil walked into the living room, Pirate resting in his lap and looking oh-so-content. The brunette looked up when he heard the door open. "Finished?"
"Yeah," Phil answered. "I tried not to use too much hot water."
Dan's gaze darkened for a second, but it was replaced with a smile. "All right. I'll be back in a sec. Feel free to eat anything you can find in the cupboards or the fridge."
Dan carefully placed the purring Pirate on the other side of the couch, the cat squeaking slightly in disapproval. As the brunette walked past, he casually said, "My clothes look good on you."
Phil felt his cheeks warm, and he was thankful that Dan couldn't see him, because he was sure he looked like a tomato. Dan's low chuckle signified that while the brunette couldn't see Phil, he was well aware of what his words had just done to the older boy. Dan closed the door, and Phil was left standing in the middle of the living room wondering what the hell just happened.
Phil tried as best he could to calm down and, deciding that it was warranted, set about searching the cabinets for some tea. Having tea always calmed him down. When he was a child, his mother would make him a cuppa every time he was upset or sad, and they would sit for hours and just talk. Shaking his head free of the wistful memories, he focused his attention on locating the kettle. It was easy enough to find; while Dan was messy in all other aspects of his life, he seemed to keep a somewhat orderly kitchen. Phil smiled as he filled the kettle with water and set it on the stovetop, turning the knob that would light a fire. Figures. Dan's always full of surprises.
The piercing whistle interrupted his thoughts, and he followed the motions to prepare the tea. Flipping open numerous cupboards, he managed to locate the cups. He smiled at the odd assortment of mugs: they ranged from silly to strikingly beautiful. Phil pulled a pair of Hello Kitty mugs from the shelf, figuring that Dan might want some tea as well. When the tea was ready and Phil was properly seated, he clutched the drink in his hands and took a sip. The warm liquid warmed his insides, and he sighed contentedly.
It was a few minutes before Dan reappeared, opening the door and clutching a towel around his waist. Phil watched a tiny rivulet of water fall down the brunette's neck and down his chest. When he looked back up, Dan was looking at him amusedly. Phil felt his cheeks heat up.
"I think I left the hairbrush out here," the brunette said by way of explanation. Phil looked around and spied the yellow brush sitting on the edge of the kitchen counter. How did that get there? "Here, I got it. You don't want to drip water everywhere."
The ebony-haired boy tried not to look at Dan in the process of retrieving the hairbrush, choosing instead to look at the ground as he padded over to Dan. Wordlessly, he handed that brush to the brunette. Turning around to go back to the couch, he felt a hand on his arm.
He turned back and saw an unreadable expression in Dan's eyes. The look sent shivers down Phil's spine, and he tried to ignore the pounding of his heart. "What?"
The brunette regarded him thoughtfully and opened his mouth to say something. "I—"
It was then that Pirate made his presence known, giving a loud meow and pawing at Phil's pajama leg. Phil looked down at the cat and then back to Dan. The look of disappointment in Dan's eyes was evident, and Phil was burning to know what Dan was going to say.
The brunette sighed. "I think he wants food. It's in the leftmost cabinet beside the cereal. Bowl's on the floor next to the fridge. I should probably go ahead and change."
"Right," Phil acknowledged, shifting on his feet awkwardly.
Dan gave him another unreadable look and walked back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Phil stared at the closed door warily, wondering if he should chase after Dan and ask what he was about to say. Then Phil realized that Dan was probably naked, and Phil was not ready to deal with that right now. A meow from below him reminded the ebony-haired boy of his task, and so he turned around and proceeded to give the cat its food.
A few minutes passed, and Phil decided to take the time alone as an opportunity to think about the previous events of the night. The ebony-haired boy was completely confused. He was pretty sure that Dan knew about the older boy's attraction; Phil's emotions were always see-though and it was like he held a sign that said, "Sexual frustration ahead!" The thing was, though, Phil wasn't sure he wanted to risk his and Dan's friendship by actually voicing his thoughts aloud. What if it ruined everything? Could Phil still look Dan in the face if the boy rejected him? Could he still hang out with his newfound family, or would he have to move again to get away from the constant reminders of the friendship that he had lost? Phil had so many questions that were left unanswered.
The sound of the door opening snapped Phil out of his reverie, and the ebony-haired boy looked up to see Dan in the doorway. The brunette looked to the side and noticed the cup on the counter. "Tea?"
"Yeah, I made some," Phil nodded. "I think the water's still hot if you want to have any."
The brunette smiled warmly, and a warm feeling settled in Phil's tummy. "Thanks, I will."
When Dan had finished, the brunette walked over to the couch and sat down, drawing his legs up to his chest. His hands clutched the mug as he took a sip, and then they rested on top of his knees. The two boys sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping on their tea and enjoying the sound of the now light rain on the roof. Dan broke the silence. "Rain's lighter."
"Yeah," Phil nodded. "It was a pretty rough night, eh?"
Dan murmured his agreement. "Yeah."
"I was afraid we weren't going to make it, honestly," Phil admitted, clutching his mug a bit tighter. Tonight had been crazy, and he was just glad that everyone had made it back in one piece.
"You worry too much," Dan said, a tone of affection lacing his words.
"You're probably right."
Both boys laughed freely, and Phil had to admit he was enjoying himself. The calm after the storm was always nice, and Phil liked it that he was sitting here with Dan as opposed to being alone at his house. The ebony-haired boy settled a little more comfortably onto the couch, smiling as the piece of furniture sucked him in as if giving him a big hug. He could get used to this. Actually, he was. Phil smiled at the thought as he took another sip of his tea.
It was Dan who spoke up first. "So…the kiss."
OoO