#dan and phil fluff

[adziedoodle]

sweet treat 💕

more phan doodles here | support me on ko-fi

[2009editingtips]

How to Meet (and Keep) Your Favorite Internet Stars: A Step-By-Step Guide by Daniel James Howell

Rating: G Word Count: 1.1k

Step 1: Find a boy, because it will be a boy (no matter how much you don’t want it to be), that smiles with his whole body. Whose tongue pokes out between perfectly crooked teeth when he laughs too hard. With blue eyes (like the boy before him, but kinder) and shaggy black hair that hangs over the side of his marble-carved face. 

Dream about running your hands across the planes of his chest.

[ghoulishhx]

a little bit about me :3

──── ୨୧ ────

my name is olivia, I'm 21 and I go by she/they pronouns.

i write fanfictions, mainly for Frank Castle but i would be so down to write for different characters, Joel Miller, Leon Kennedy etc.

i am a fat autistic vegan, im also pansexual and from the uk, my blog is a safe space for everyone, my dms are always open!!

♡ My Masterlist ♡

(i edit my masterlist after every fic posted, including asks. it's always up to date! also none of the gifs and images i use are mine!!)

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

my inbox is also open for any/all suggestions

(obviously this doesn't include anything illegal, hateful or too weird)

──── ୨୧ ────

please interact if you like any of the following and wanna be pals ♡

the punisher/daredevil, david lynch, spongebob, silent hill, hatsune miku, junji ito, dan and phil, nu-metal and emo music, the sims, resident evil, metal gear solid, saw and hellraiser, wwe, magic the gathering, final fantasy

──── ୨୧ ────

hope you all have a lovely day ♡

[honeyimhomeosexual]

god. i love yarnaby. can we not just befriend him and pet him?😟☹️

[dannymcdanface]

You literally can't be a Dannie without being totally in love with Phil and vids like today's cements that. Seriously Phil....

Thank you for taking him in,

Thank you for showing him he can heal from the past so he can love himself,

Thank you for the encouragement to be creative,

Thank you for letting him do things in his own time,

Thank you for posting is the hiatus years & wanting him to be happy above everything else,

Thank you for letting him be loud and proud and yappy and funny & being Dan trash #1 cheering him along,

Thank you for still being ovewhelmed with what you have 15 years later and not hiding it for a second.

You are a gorgeous human & you deserve the world.

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Pure Fluff (8) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven

Algorithms and Other Acts of Affection (ao3) - httphowell

Summary: On a rainy Sunday night in their forever home, Phil refuses to get dressed, too absorbed in TikTok chaos to move. Dan pretends to be annoyed—but really, he's just quietly falling in love all over again.

An Evening in the Phouse (ao3) - p4stmybedtime

Summary: Phil turned around to dry his hands on a tea towel and saw Dan gently swaying to the music when he got an idea.

"Wanna dance?" He asked and reached a hand out to the other man.

Dan chuckled shyly but took Phil's hand in

his own, “Now who’s the soppy one?” He asked.

“Shuddup, I hate you” Phil mumbled into Dan's neck as he felt Dan's other hand splay out on his back, holding him close as they stepped in time to the slow beat (and occasionally on one another’s toes).

Phil wracked his brain for a place he felt safer than in Dan's arms but came up with nothing.

for your eyes only (ao3) - blossomsphan

Summary: and they were roommates

(the fluffy tatinof bed sharing fic no one asked for in 2024… or did they?)

Honey (ao3) - p4stmybedtime

Summary: ““Morning, bear” Phil murmured softly, before nuzzling his nose into the crook of Dan’s neck, his delicate lashes tickling the sensitive skin there. He shifted back down and rubbed his pink cheek against Dan’s chest, before lying still and exhaling calmly.”

Or: Just some soft morning cuddles. They’re in love.

honey, let's get married (ao3) - manchesterau

Summary: Dan and Phil decide not to have a wedding, but they get married anyway.

I have to tell you something (ao3) - solarpower21

Summary: Dan confesses he was the one behind the PhilsLion account.

I Love You, I’m Sorry (ao3) - httphowell

Summary: While cleaning the house, Phil discovers a shoebox filled with letters he and Dan exchanged during their time apart at the start of their relationship—when Phil was at university and Dan was in Reading. Some are lighthearted, others deeply personal, but one holds a message Dan never had the courage to send.

I should be over all the butterflies (But I'm into you) (ao3) - blankbluestare

Summary: In which Dan is stupid and scared, but so is Phil, so it has gotten them more than a few years to get together.

And how easy it all is despite the time, because it’s them.

Or

A canon-verse AU in which everything’s the same, except Dan and Phil put an end to their romantic relationship very early on, so they've remained platonic best friends who’ve been pining for each other for years. And how they finally get back together.

i wanna be with you everywhere (ao3) - manchestereyes

Summary: It’s a kiss to show Dan how wanted, how needed he is. It’s a kiss Phil hopes can communicate even a fraction of the staggering feelings he has for Dan.

And god, the way Dan kisses back is enough to send Phil writhing against him, to the point where just Dan’s lips aren’t enough for him. So he trails his lips over to Dan’s cheek, savoring every drop of him, his desire only growing as he kisses his way down Dan’s jaw and onto his neck. And then…

Oh.

Or, a month after meeting for the first time, Phil discovers Dan's neck thing.

idgaf (because it saved me) (ao3) - gaydreaming

Summary: When Dan sits down at his piano, he doesn't expect to put so much emotional vulnerability onto the page. But TATINOF had a song. Introverts had a song. Terrible Influences needs a song. And, more importantly, Dan and Phil need to figure out how exactly they plan to take back what the internet took from them.

in simpler terms: i can't stop thinking about the fact that they occasionally write songs together so i wrote a fic about it.

iPads and Tour Bunks (ao3) - dnpangels

Summary: Phil tries to watch Netflix on his huge iPad in his tour bunk, but it falls on his face and causes him pain. Dan is there to make fun of him but also to comfort him.

Basically, it's just pure tour bus fluff.

like it's already said (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Dan and Phil spend an evening in the tour bus when everyone else is out.

natural. (ao3) - razussy

Summary: tampa, florida. known for plenty of things ranging from busch gardens to outback steakhouse. unlike the amusement park, however, there’s a certain drink phil’s been eyeing since he’s seen promotional advertisements on his nightly youtube sessions.

no but seriously imagine it (ao3) - natigail

Summary: It has been 15 years since Dan and Phil met. They wake up on the Terrible Influence tour bus in Las Vegas on their anniversary with plans to see My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy later that day.

Not a Lot, Just Forever (ao3) - angelpicnic

Summary: “'Do you think we’d find each other in every universe?'

Dan gave him a look – a you-know-I-don’t-really-believe-in-that-stuff look – but he could see in Phil’s sea-green eyes that he was being genuine.

'Yeah.' Dan said softly. 'Yeah, I think that we would.'”

Or, just a pure fluff fic with coffee in a Hello Kitty mug and a tortoise metaphor. There is literally no point besides sickeningly sweet domestic fluff. :-)

One single thread of gold (tied me to you) (ao3) - Lesbianphan

Summary: "Time, mystical time

Cuttin' me open, then healin' me fine

Were there clues I didn't see?

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?"

Just a cute little fluffy one to celebrate the 15 years of Dan and Phil the best way I know how: through RPFing, of course!

silent and sure, keeping watch in the night (ao3) - gaydreaming

Summary: Phil has always loved being on tour. The adventure, the sounds of the tour bus, the way his quality time with Dan takes on a different shape. On the road between Oslo and Helsinki, he sees some beautiful stars through the bus window and wakes Dan up in the middle of the night to enjoy them with him.

The Death of Day In the Life: Dan and Phil in 2025 (ao3) - gaydreaming

Summary: In 2025, the Day In the Life series has been retired. It took them a while, but Dan and Phil have realized that maintaining boundaries with their audience is an enormous part of maintaining their own peace and health. This is not to imply that Dan and Phil's life in 2025 isn't worth waxing poetic about.

three of us (ao3) - SylvesterLester

Summary: Phil is ready to make the next step. Dan isn't so sure.

Set after Dan comes home from WAD.

you rocked my world and never left it (ao3) - jonsaremembers

Summary: some sights, smells and sounds in Turkey, and the feelings that follow

You wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid (ao3) - dead_little_lamb19

Summary: Dan is just fucking tired after the tour and stressed about their new plans for life. It results in a little fight between him and Phil on a Friday evening. But Phil always gets his way.

You're the only story that I've never told. (ao3) - DumbGayVampires

Summary: Watching him, Dan felt the familiar grudging affection that came with a lifetime in each other’s company…

[manchestereyes]

it is you

summary: @/danisnotonfire: I wonder how biology can explain the physical pain you feel in your chest when all you want to do is be with someone D:

When Dan gets permission to spend a week with Phil in December, he has a stunning realisation.

rating: T

word count: 2.1k

tags: 2009, fluff, light angst, skype, falling in love

notes: written for the 2024 @phandomgiftexchange for @someone-stole-all-my-fruit! I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season! <3 2009 phan is always such a joy to write, so thank you so much for this lovely prompt!

Read on ao3

@/danisnotonfire: I wonder how biology can explain the physical pain you feel in your chest when all you want to do is be with someone D:

***

It’s not fair .

It’s so incredibly unfair, Dan thinks, that he should have to suffer this much when he’s already dealt with so much bullshit in his life. Why can’t Phil be right here? Or better yet, why can’t he be with Phil, far away in Manchester where reality can’t touch him?

Well. He knows the answer to that second question. But knowing doesn’t help the situation at all. Maybe that’s why his heart squeezes again when he glances back at the selfie Phil’s just sent him. Really, those puppy eyes should be illegal. It’s sure as hell making Dan want to do something that could land him in prison anyway…

His eyes flick back to the text he just sent, heart squeezing all over again at the insanity of it all. He should be happy he (barely) got permission to stay at Phil’s for a whole week, right? His mum’s breezy “Yeah, go ahead” shouldn’t be affecting him this much. It’s just how she is. Dan should know this after eighteen God-awful years.

And yet. And yet. After meeting Phil’s mum and dad last weekend, Dan can’t help but feel that old cavernous hole rip open anew. How come Phil got the perfect family and Dan ended up with his sorry excuse for a mum and dad who barely noticed if he was there or not? Sure, Phil’s regaled his own problems, how he doesn’t feel like he could ever come out to them, but Dan would still take a cordless hammer drill over the shouting that fills his sleepless nights. At least Phil’s parents actually like each other.

More than that, they like Phil. Dan knows he wasn’t planned, that he had thrown a baby-sized wrench into their world travel dreams. He can’t count how many times his dad had hurled those words at him when Dan fucked something up in the way only he can. 

Dan can’t remember the last time they looked at him with pride in their eyes. Meanwhile, Phil’s mum had greeted him with a hug that told Dan immediately where Phil had gotten his irresistible cuddle skills from.

His phone buzzes again then, a beam of light through his dark thoughts.

Phil: A week!!! I know it wasn’t the reaction u wanted but Dan we get a whole damn week together!

Ok, yeah. That was a pretty big thing to look forward to. Even if it still blows Dan’s mind that Phil wants to see him. Maybe that’s what pushes him to reply, despite the overwhelming pain weighing him down.

Dan: ur not gonna get tired of me before the end of it?

(He’s not being pathetic, he swears. It’s just all he can think about right now.)

Phil: Dan!!! Don’t ever say that plz. I could never get tired of u <3

And there it is. Seven little words, one emoticon. And somehow it means more to Dan than he could ever express. A smile crawls up his face before he can bite it back. (Not that he wants to.)

Dan: <3 thank u phil. i think i needed to hear that tonight

Dan sends the text before he can think twice about it. If these last few weeks are anything to go by, he shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Yet there’s still a voice screaming at him that it’s too much, that Phil doesn’t actually want to hear about all of Dan’s issues, that he’s just like his schoolmates…

Phil: Then I’ll say it a million times as much as u need. U really are the coolest person I’ve ever known. I can’t believe u wanna be with me tbh

Dan: rly? ur not just saying that?

Phil: Really honestly and truly. You’ve gone to reading festival when I still get stressed at youtube gatherings. You were a world of warcraft kid when I could barely tell my friends I liked buffy. I wish I had even a bit of ur confidence some days :3

Dan: rly? but u were in faintheart and the weakest link and you’ve been on youtube for years when i was almost too terrified to post my first video

Phil: So was I! But that’s the thing, Dan. I did those things scared shitless and they haven’t gotten any easier. I think u know by now that internet Phil and real Phil are entirely different people, yeah?

Dan: hmmmm ok. hey speaking of real phil can we continue this on skype?

No sooner had Dan sent the message than his laptop bleated with the old familiar ringtone. Like a figment from his wildest dreams, Phil’s pixelated face fills his screen in seconds, his positively giddy smile sparking a matching grin of Dan’s own.

“Really Dan, I can’t believe we get to have a whole week together!!” Phil claps his hands and his frame grows blurry for a few seconds. Dan can only guess he’s bouncing on his bed and his eyes squeeze shut at the adorableness of it all.

Yet a hint of that darkness still lingers, drawing bars across Dan’s heart. “I’m just glad to get away from here for a while,” he sighs. Then, hoping to erase the pout that appears on Phil’s face, he adds, “And to see you, obviously!”

Phil sticks his tongue out in response, the frame jiggling as his face comes closer until his ocean eyes take up half the screen. Dan is surprised to find his voice growing serious. “Dan. You know you can talk about anything with me. It kills me to know how rough you’ve had it. I wish I could’ve been there before but, well, I’m here now at least? And maybe that counts for something?”

“Phil.” Suddenly, Dan’s shifting his laptop onto his propped-up knees, pulling it closer and wishing more than anything that he could jump through the computer screen and into Phil’s arms And maybe it’s the pain in Phil’s eyes, a pain Dan’s felt a thousand times worse yet would do anything to prevent Phil from feeling, maybe it’s the hope in Phil’s voice--something melts away any of the trepidation he had before. 

“Phil, are you kidding?” Dan bursts out. “Of course it counts! I mean, I think it’s safe to say we’re best friends now, and isn’t that what best friends do?”

“I mean… I would hope we’re a little more than best friends by now?” And good lord, the smirk that crawls up Phil’s face and fills the bottom of the screen should be illegal. It’s so much that Dan has to tear his eyes away from the screen and stare at his tiny TV and dresser for a minute.

Not for the first time, it hits him that he’s really here , speaking to Phil in the very room where he spent countless hours watching that same man. How many times has he dreamed of kissing him, of holding him, of dancing through the streets of Manchester? How long has his heart ached for someone to ease its burden? And now… that someone is here, giggling from his laptop speakers and fulfilling every one of Dan’s hopes and dreams far better than Dan ever thought possible. 

It should be too good to be true. And yet, after everything he’s been through, doesn’t he deserve this one good thing?

They’re both silent for a few seconds until Phil asks softly, “Dan? What are you thinking about right now?”

“Oh, I dunno.” Dan picks up the bear he’s had his entire life from the nightstand and strokes its ears absentmindedly, something he’s always done when he’s nervous. When he speaks again, he chooses his next words carefully. “Lots of things, I guess. It’s just wild that… well, you know how long I’ve watched your videos. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a best friend. Not until now. Not until you.” A blush rises in Dan’s cheeks then, but he means every word.

“Dan. I mean, I had kind of picked some of that up, but are you sure?” Phil’s voice is just as soft as Dan’s, almost reverent. And yet some nasty part of Dan’s brain expects to see those blue eyes darken when he whispers “Well, yeah” in response. Surely this was too much. Surely Dan was too much for Phil, like he was for everyone. Surely Phil was about to…

Melt into the purest smile Dan’s ever seen from him? “Oh my God, I--I feel the exact same way.” Dan is shocked to find Phil’s next words tinged with relief. “I think you know how I always had the same group of friends through school, right?” Dan nods. “Well, they’re all great, but I… never felt as close to any of them as I do with you. I never felt like they got me, you know? And then you come along in my Twitter replies and suddenly you’re the only person I ever want to talk to. And somehow, you want to talk to me too? I feel like I’ve won the lottery here.”

Dan wants to take those words and lock them up in a box that only he can touch. Never in his eighteen years did he ever think he’d hear something like this. He’d barely even let himself hope for it. His heart squeezes to a point where he knows he won’t forget this moment, not as long as he has Phil. It’s a perfect moment he so deeply wants to live in forever.

So is it any wonder his voice catches and tears prick his eyes when he finally finds the strength to speak? “Really? God, I had no idea. And here I thought you had this perfect amazing life, all because your parents clearly lo--clearly care about you so much and you’ve had the same group of friends pretty much forever. I don’t know what that’s like.”

Dan can’t say why he freezes up at the word love just then. He’s just discussing Phil’s relationship with his parents, not declaring his love for Phil. Right?

Wait, does he love Phil? The rapid pace of his heart and the smile fighting to break through his face tell him yes, yes, a thousand times yes but he can’t say that here. Not on Skype. Not when there’s 300 kilometres separating him from Phil’s arms. He just has to keep his heart locked tight until their week together.

Of course Phil’s response makes that impossibly difficult. “Dan. Fuck, you don’t know how much I wish you knew how that feels.” The ache in his voice combined with his anxious fringe tugging has Dan squeezing his bear with everything he has in him just to expel some of his overwhelming feelings. 

“And sure, my parents are great and all, but I feel like they don’t get me. My mum still thinks the movies and things I’ve done are just a fun little hobby that can’t lead to anything. She doesn’t understand why I’m travelling to Ireland every other weekend, and my dad keeps telling me about these boring jobs I don’t want. I wanna see what else I can do with this YouTube thing, but it might not lead to anything. And then I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

By now, the tears have broken free and are streaming down Dan’s face. He doesn’t know exactly why, but he has a feeling they have something to do with the fear trapped in Phil’s eyes.

And yet, they’re not only sad tears. Sure, Dan’s heart is breaking just a bit for the boy on his screen, but it’s also light and airy for the first time since he was a tiny child. That’s when it hits him.

This light, airy, snuggly feeling-- it’s safety . Here in this tiny bubble with Phil, Dan feels safe. It’s unfamiliar, sure, but it’s not scary. He’ll be okay, as long as he has Phil.

It’s this thought that he holds tightly onto over the next few years. Even when the walls are closing in on him and Dan can barely breathe, Phil is always there--in his phone, across Manchester, and soon across the hall. 

Even when he’s sure he can’t feel any worse, he’ll be okay one day. Because he has Phil. And in the moments Phil’s heart shatters hard enough for the both of them, Dan is right there with cuddles and sweets and whispered words of comfort, whatever Phil needs in that moment. Because they’re Dan and Phil. And whatever they go through, they’ll go through it together.

If only eighteen-year-old Dan could see how well things would turn out. Yet as Dan thinks back on this moment fifteen years later, he thinks some part of him did know in a strange way. So much has changed, yet Dan is still that bright-eyed little boy with a dream at his core. And he still has Phil by his side.

[gremlinshatephilosophers]

short fluffy fic for ya this evening :)

Together

Rating: G • Words: 850

Summary: It's not as if they're never affectionate with one another after nearly sixteen years together, but out in London Dan and Phil have always been careful how they act when other people could see. It’s such a small thing to just hold hands as they walk home, but sometimes it feels a lot bigger than that.

[gaydreaming-ao3]

Workaholic corporate lawyer Dan Howell is drowning in the details of a case that's particularly hard to rationalize when his grandmother invites him to spend Christmas with her in the picturesque suburban town of Rawtenstall. While begrudgingly visiting, Dan stumbles into a laidback farmhand who catches his eye and his heart.

Also, he discovers the meaning of Christmas. As one does.

---

12k, complete, locked in on this one fam

[bbcradio1phil]

2010 dan and phil flipping pancakes- my favorite

[lesbiandanhowell]

You and I, We don't wanna be like them

pairing: Dan Howell/Phil Lester

rating: general audience

warnings: no ao3 warnings apply 

tags: (2009 era) fluff

word count: 2.5k

summary: Despite both being exhausted they continued whispered conversations, feeling brave in the safety of the darkness and emboldened by their quiet confessions they fell asleep in each other's arms. Phil blissfully unaware and at ease with Dan that he didn’t even think about needing Mister Rabbit to fall asleep.

OR

Phil tries to appear cool when Dan comes to visit him for the first time, but struggles to fall asleep without his favourite plushie. When he admits to his secret, Dan answers with a confession of his own that inspires Phil’s first christmas gift to Dan.

note: this one is a personal favourite so y'all better not let this flop!

read on ao3

[amid-fandoms]

I love that you interpreted the latest vid’s energy as fond I was thinking they are crawling out of their skin antsy because Phil’s ass is taking a while to heal

LMAO i mean. these are not two mutually exclusive states to be in 🤷‍♀️ less sexy times means more time to be giggly and cute and revive some of that softer intimacy that they don’t show as often as their explicit (and unwanted) oversharing

[achromatic-sky]

a Blackpool one shot, or when a plushie makes a weekend doomed by the circumstances all better.

inspired by that one-liner from the AmazingDan react - because sometimes a little roomba recycling is all it takes to create magic ✨

archiveofourown.org/works/61865803

Happy new year <3

[cozyfoxy]

Come Over

Summary: Dan and Phil's relationship is blossoming, but Dan is terrified to let Phil into his home, so he keeps pushing him away. He however, slowly learns that Phil is someone who could make his house into a home. Based loosely on "Come Over" By Noah Kahan.

Warnings: None, slight angst but nothing bad, pure fluff

Read on AO3

Dan zipped up his backpack with a quiet sigh, setting it beside the door of Phil’s bedroom. It was his last night of staying with Phil and his family for the third time in three months; and he didn’t want it to end. He loved being able to go outside at night, laying in the grass and watching the stars. He loved that the Lesters had just accepted him as their own, like he had always been around. He loved even more, that being with Phil truly felt like home. 

Phil walked into the bedroom, brushing his teeth with foam dripping down his chin. He tried to say something to Dan, causing more foam to spill from his mouth and onto the green carpet beneath him. The brunette couldn’t help but laugh at his best friend, handing him a tissue quickly. 

“Maybe go finish brushing your teeth before you speak Philly.” Dan teased, shaking his head as Phil darted back into the bathroom. 

A couple of minutes later, Phil walked back into the room with a shy smile, “I was trying to say that I don’t want you to leave.” he explained, sitting next to Dan on the bed.

The younger of the two smiled sadly and leaned his head against Phil’s shoulder, “and I don't want to leave, but I have to. Hopefully it won't be long before I come back. I’ll have enough money for tickets saved up again soon.” he hummed, thinking about his savings. 

“Perhaps I can come to yours this time!” Phil suggested with a smile, “I wanna meet your family and see your town.” 

Dan felt a nervous tremor run down his spine, making him feel hollow and cold, “um… yeah but I really like coming to yours. Besides I don't want you spending money on tickets, I know you’re saving to get a flat.”  

Phil raised his eyebrows at Dan, moving to wrap his arm around the younger’s shoulders, “I have plenty of money saved, and Youtube is taking off. I’m actually making money from it now. I don’t mind paying to come see you Dan.”

Despite his anxiety, Dan felt himself melt against Phil in relaxation. It was their last night together for awhile, he couldn’t bring himself to ruin it with his fruitless arguments. Instead of arguing, Dan closed his eyes and nodded against Phil’s shoulder; feeling the other's arm wrap gently around his midsection.

“Let’s get some rest, yeah? It’s already midnight and I know you hate sleeping on the train home.” Phil hummed, guiding Dan into the bed and under the warm duvet.

Dan quickly forgot his previous worries, instead staring into Phil’s ocean blue eyes with a smile, “I can’t believe I’m in bed with the AmazingPhil! Younger me would never believe that you even replied to my comments.” he teased, kissing Phil’s cheek. 

Phil rolled his eyes fondly, “well you were very insistent… and cute. Of course I had to talk to you. It helps that you actually like a lot of the same things as me. And that you’re cute… wait I already said that.” He laughed, sticking his tongue out slightly from the right side of his mouth.

Dan  groaned and hid his face, feeling his cheeks heat beneath his own hands. He would never get used to Phil calling him cute, or beautiful, or anything really. He couldn’t believe that someone as perfect as Phil could see him in ways that he could never see himself. 

“I am not cute Phil,” Dan argued weakly, making a pouty face before burying his face into Phil’s pale chest, taking a deep breath. He smelled like strawberries. 

Phil laughed, making Dan’s head vibrate slightly with the movement, “you can’t argue that you’re not cute and then cuddle me!” He argued, pulling Dan closer and running meaningless patterns over the tanned man’s back, “try and sleep baby. Sweet dreams.” 

Dan’s breathing quickly evened out with Phil holding him close. Sleeping beside Phil was always easy; sleep would always claim him before he knew it. He would always feel safe, comfortable and overall; warm. Phil was like his own personal ball of sunshine. 

~

The next morning seemed to fly by in a complete blur. It was filled with goodbyes, “see you soons” and lots of hugs. Dan felt very loved by the entirety of the Lester family, but the hugs still surprised him a bit. What surprised him the most however, was when he was just about to leave them to board the train. 

“Danny! Wait a second.” Phil had called, causing Dan to pause and turn around. 

Phil ran and stopped in front of Dan, slowly tilting the younger’s chin up with shaky finger tips and staring into his eyes. Soon, their lips were touching and Dan fought back tears. They were kissing. Actually kissing. Dan felt a slow warmth fill his body, starting from his lips and trailing down to his tummy. It was as if Phil’s shining light filled him. 

All too soon, Phil pulled back and rested his forehead against Dan’s, his cheeks covered with a blotchy redness, “Text me when you get home, okay?” he whispered to Dan before moving back so Dan could at last board. 

Dan clambered into the train, the tears from earlier finally filling his eyes, but a shy smile still on his face. He could still feel the gentle caress of Phil’s lips on his and the warmth still filled him. The tears ran down his face freely as he hid in his own bubble; the world feeling brand new around him.

~

Dan walked up to his house slowly, sighing as he stared up at it. The front two windows always looked like they were sad, always drooping a bit. The paneling was worn and falling apart in some places. It had always seemed like the house was giving up on him, as Dan had given up on it. He shook his head as a wave of cold wind wrapped around him; a welcome from the sad house in front of him. 

He walked in the door, still feeling the cold. The heating was probably broken again; he could easily see his breath inside the kitchen where he stood. He knew both of his parents were at work right now, and wouldn’t be home until later. He was grateful for that fact as he climbed the stairs, carefully avoiding the broken stair that he had shoved his foot through more than once. He glared at the cobwebs that covered the corners of the hallway where he stood and opened his bedroom door to set his bag down.

The brunette turned from his room and walked to the bathroom to wash his face before taking a nap; but when he tried to turn the water on, nothing happened. The pipes had frozen again. He groaned and turned to leave, accidentally stepping on a soft spot in the flooring and hearing a crack. Dan gasped and quickly moved his foot, glaring at the new hole in the floor. 

He quickly retreated to the safety of his room, already feeling drained from the house around him. It always reminded him just how broken he was, how he was constantly right at the verge of falling apart. He could never protect anyone; never even keep himself together. His mind was constantly filled with cobwebs, reminders of who he could have been; who he should be. He felt empty and broken. 

Dan used to fantasize about his family suddenly becoming wealthy. One day, they wouldn’t have to live without heating ever again. One day, we wouldn’t have to see his parents panicking when they didn’t know how to feed him for the week. One day, they would be the big house on the block. However, with age came clarity and reality replaced his useless dreams. He was never getting out, his parents were never getting out. Like the house that he had always called home; he would never be somebody that people wanted. 

A few hours later, Dan was standing in the kitchen, making a big pot of soup for his mum and dad when they got home. He was still angry, still felt let down by the state of his life, but he could never hold that against his family. They were his everything; the reason that he knew strength, bravery and of course; love. The cold and broken house held a lot of love. 

“Oh Daniel you’re home! I’ve missed you,” his mum smiled, pulling him into a hug, “the heating is broken, but your dad can make a fire.” she trailed off, looking into the lounge to see Dan had already made a fire, “oh dear, thank you so much. You didn’t have to do that, you definitely didn’t need to make dinner. But it smells delicious.” 

Dan smiled in spite of himself and shrugged, “I knew you would be tired, and I felt bad for leaving for a week.” he hummed, stirring the soup.

His mum walked to the lounge, warming herself by the fire, “you don’t need to feel bad dear. I’m glad that you’re able to go see your friend. I would love to meet him one day.” she smiled, rubbing her hands together.

Dan bit his lip and nodded, “I would like that too. You and dad will love him, he’s really smart and creative. He has the stupidest sense of humor though. But it’s a little endearing. His family is really nice too, you and Kath would be best friends.” he ranted, feeling his cheeks heat up at his words. 

“He does sound like a good lad, maybe one day he could come over here.” she suggested, making Dan tense. 

“Yeah, he's just busy with work and such. I’ll ask him about it soon, okay mum?” he offered, draping a thick blanket around his mum’s shoulders while she nodded.

Not too much later, he was sitting on the lounge floor with his parents, watching an old movie on the TV that he wasn’t really paying attention to; instead he was in his mind. He really didn’t want Phil to see his state of living. He didn’t want to be judged by someone he truly cared about. The kids at school would always mock him for where he lived, as if he could help it. They didn’t even know how bad it really was at times; how could he possibly let Phil in?

 ~

Almost two months had passed since Dan had visited Phil, and he missed him terribly. They still talked everyday, but it just wasn’t the same. Dan really wanted to buy a train ticket and go visit the Lesters; but he couldn’t afford it. He was working extra hours at a local grocery store, making more money than ever before, but he was choosing to give it to his parents, so that they could get things around the house taken care of. They had already had the heating fixed, so no more frozen pipes. Things were slowly getting better around the house, and Dan was thankful; but he missed Phil.

Phil was still suggesting that he could come over, but Dan just couldn’t bring himself to agree. He was still too embarrassed to let someone as important as Phil see the decrepit state of his home.  He was crying himself to sleep, missing his best friend. But the wait would be only temporary, and he knew that. He just couldn’t stand the idea of Phil realizing that Dan wasn’t good enough. Daniel Howell wasn’t someone that people would want.

~

It was a cold day when Dan’s father got hurt on the job. He had fallen from a ladder and hit his head; he was in a medically induced coma so that he could heal. Dan was terrified as he sat in the hospital room, talking to his dad quietly while his mum was at work. 

“Please be okay Dad. I don’t know what I would do without you. Or what mum would do without you. We love you, please don’t leave us.” Dan whispered, squeezing his dad’s hand.

Dan’s heart felt heavy and he felt sick. He couldn’t tell if it was worry, or the fact that he hadn’t eaten in well over twenty four hours. He couldn’t bring himself to eat when there was so much going on. His brown eyes filled with tears as he looked down at his dad. Someone he had looked up to his entire life, the strongest man he knew; was now broken like their home. 

Without thinking about it too hard, Dan took out his cellphone and pressed the call button, thankful when Phil picked up on the second ring, “hey Dan, are you alright? How is your dad?” the older asked him, making Dan shake his head.

“Come over,” Dan whispered while more tears filled his eyes and trailed down his cheeks. That was all he had needed to say.

~

Hours later, Phil stood in Dan’s room, watching the brunette pace the room anxiously as he tried to think of what he wanted to say. Dan’s family had gotten good news, his father would make a full recovery, but it would take time and a lot of rest. Time was something that the Howell’s never seemed to have enough of. Not when work brought in money, and lack of money meant lack of food or utilities or anything they would need. 

“I’m sorry Phil. I don’t know why I made you come here. I’m sorry about the cobwebs and the broken stair and everything. I hate that you have to see my house, it’s nothing special. It's falling apart and hell I don't remember when it didn’t look like this. We just don’t have much but-” Dan was interrupted by Phil’s lips on his, and he felt his body slowly relax.

When Phil pulled away, he whispered “Dan, don’t apologize. I have wanted to come over for such a long time. I feel like I can finally know the entirety of who you are. And I love you all the same; cobwebs and broken bits don’t matter. What matters is who you live with.” Phil smiled shyly, cupping Dan’s cheek.

Dan sniffed as tears trailed down his cheeks, “you… you love me?” he asked, staring at Phil in awe. 

Phil hummed and nodded, pulling Dan into a tight hug, “Yes I do. And I want to help you and your family. My parents want to help too; they love you like their own Dan.” he whispered into Dan’s hair.

“I… I love you too Phil. I’m sorry for pushing you away for so long. I was just afraid you would see everything and realize that you didn’t want to waste your time with a fixer upper like me.” Dan explained, hiccuping against Phil’s neck while he cried.

Phil felt his own eyes fill with tears, and he quickly wiped them away, “You’re not a fixer upper, and I want you to be safe and happy. I want to give that to you more than anything. My parents want to come up here to help, we can help Dan. We want you and your family to be happy and safe. Please let us.” he whispered.

Dan paused, his mind struggling to take everything in. Phil loved him. The Lesters wanted to help the Howells. Phil was asking Dan’s permission to help. He was letting Dan make the decision. Without thinking too much harder, Dan nodded, “yes. You guys can help us.” 

~

The next month was filled with a lot of changes. The first big change was a kitchen filled with food; the entire pantry was full for the first time ever. That was the first time Dan had seen his mum cry. The second big change seemed to happen overnight; it was in Dan’s parents. They seemed to be more at ease, smiling bigger and laughing louder. Dan had never seen them hug as much as they had been lately. The third biggest change was of course; the house. The cobwebs were now gone, and a small part of Dan missed them. They were familiar to him, but he knew holding onto that stress wasn’t good for him.

The stairs had been replaced, but Dan still caught himself avoiding the broken step that was no longer there. Most of the floor had been successfully replaced and the walls were in the process of being reinsulated. Phil’s youtube career was really taking off, with Dan right beside him. They were even getting offers from big companies, money seemed to be flowing in like Dan had never seen before.

“Phil, when are you going to get your flat?” Dan asked suddenly over the phone as he walked home from his grocery store shift. Spring was beginning to make the world around him more colorful again, the fresh scent of flowers lingered in the air.

“Actually Dan… I used most of my savings to help with your house. So it’s going to be a little longer than I had planned. But don’t get upset! I’m perfectly okay with waiting a bit longer.” Phil had explained a bit nervously, not sure how Dan would react.

Dan felt his heart sink a bit at that, but a part of him had expected that, “I’m not upset. I just feel a little bad, you were so excited to be on your own, with your own rules. And I was excited to visit you constantly.” He teased Phil happily, looking up at the blue sky above him.

Phil laughed at Dan quietly before stopping and becoming serious, “well, it’s going to be about six months before I actually move out now. But when I do, I don’t want you to visit. I want you… well I want you to live with me.” he whispered sheepishly. 

Dan knew that his mouth was hanging open, and he closed it a couple of times before opening it again, “that sounds amazing Phil. I would love to create a home with you.”

“Did you just make an Amazingphil pun?” Phil laughed, shoulders relaxing at Dan’s reaction. “We can start looking at flats soon! When do you wanna start?” he asked excitedly. 

The brunette hummed as he walked closer to his family home, smiling at the house. It was still a bit broken and worn, but it was lovely and safe; filled with memories of change and love. It was truly a beautiful home. Dan pushed the door open and stepped inside, kicking his shoes off before whispering, “why not now love? Come over.” 

[finding-you-in-any-world]

so excited for @phandomgiftexchange tomorrow!!!! Eeeeeee

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Fics to Make You Smile (2) Masterlist

part one

An Evening in the Phouse (ao3) - p4stmybedtime

Summary: Phil turned around to dry his hands on a tea towel and saw Dan gently swaying to the music when he got an idea.

"Wanna dance?" He asked and reached a hand out to the other man.

Dan chuckled shyly but took Phil's hand in

his own, “Now who’s the soppy one?” He asked.

“Shuddup, I hate you” Phil mumbled into Dan's neck as he felt Dan's other hand splay out on his back, holding him close as they stepped in time to the slow beat (and occasionally on one another’s toes).

Phil wracked his brain for a place he felt safer than in Dan's arms but came up with nothing.

Everyone's a feminist until there is a spider around (ao3) - skygremlin

Summary: Dan and Phil are wrapping up their North American leg of the Terrible Influence tour on the east coast, getting ready for a show in a basement dressing room backstage. Dan notices that Phil's acting really suspicious, trying to keep Dan distracted from whatever he's doing. As it turns out, there's pretty good reason why.

I need you to save me (ao3) - itsalwaysaphantime

Summary: Dan calles Phil from the bathroom in the middle of the night.

i’m electric, a romantic cliché (me and you were meant to be in love) (ao3) - nardfx

Summary: “i really don’t know if i can do this.”

“you can do this.”

“okay, but what happens when everyone’s eyes are on me and they all know all of my secrets?”

or

dan and phil go to prom

iPads and Tour Bunks (ao3) - dnpangels

Summary: Phil tries to watch Netflix on his huge iPad in his tour bunk, but it falls on his face and causes him pain. Dan is there to make fun of him but also to comfort him.

Basically, it's just pure tour bus fluff.

Knick-Knacks (ao3) - blissedoutphil

Summary: Dan wants to get rid of most of their knick-knacks, their forever home has to be minimalistic. Phil isn't helping Dan pack, he's too busy buying more knick-knacks.

life is but a dream (ao3) - redactednp

Summary: Dan and Phil go on a rowing date.

lie with me (sew your heart to my sleeve) (ao3) - trademarkblue

Summary: You make me feel safe, Phil. I've never felt like that before. Safe like this. Not for a long time, at least.

A ficlet about comfort and new love.

Love Languages (ao3) - dipnpip

Summary: 5 ficlets about how they express their love through each language.

One single thread of gold (tied me to you) (ao3) - Lesbianphan

Summary: Just a cute little fluffy one to celebrate the 15 years of Dan and Phil the best way I know how: through RPFing, of course!

pigeons (ao3) - SylvesterLester

Summary: Dan is wondering if it’s too late to admit he really doesn't care for pigeons all that much.

Or, it's 2017, and the two just moved to the new flat which has a balcony and a new hyper fixation for Phil.

Raise the Woof (ao3) - yiffandquiff

Summary: Dan started his own dog bakery after a trip through Pinterest gave him the idea of baking a cake for his family dog Colin. The bakery is a success and Dan loves the fact that he gets regular customers coming in all the time to order cupcakes. One customer, in particular, comes in every day and goes by the name of Phil. But Phil never brings a dog with him...

Why?

Phil is a werewolf and likes eating the cupcakes himself.

Right Where I Want To Be (ao3) - Misha_with_wings

Summary: Dan’s heart would still race in his chest, even after all this time. All Phil had to do was nuzzle into the crook of his neck and Dan was instantly melting beneath him

Dan wonders how it was even possible to still be so in love after all this time, but with the scent of apple shampoo at the tip of his nose and the feeling of a warm body in his arms he didn’t have to wonder anymore.

His heart already knew.

the hoodie bow incident (ao3) - antiadvil

Summary: they were kissing.

The Phat (ao3) - gaydreaming

Summary: When Dan and Phil find an abandoned cat on a late-night walk to Dominos, Dan insists that they aren't going to keep him. After all, they know nothing about taking care of a pet. Dan will have the self control to put his foot down when faced with both Phil's big eyes and the cat's, right? ...Right?

three of us (ao3) - SylvesterLester

Summary: Phil is ready to make the next step. Dan isn't so sure.

-

Set after Dan comes home from WAD.

two wolves (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: They're in the middle of a meeting, and Phil seems to be trying to tell him something. But what?

(or, Dan accidentally wears a certain novelty wolf t-shirt to an online meeting with their tour team.)

Up On Puppy Hill (ao3) - endoftape

Summary: Dan and Phil visit a local Puppy Cafe.

where affection calls (ao3) - ivylakes

Summary: “Well? Do you see me?”

“I do not.”

“Are you using the binoculars?”

Phil laughs. “Not yet.”

“You’re laughing,” Dan says. “I’m dying in the heat, waiting for you to use the binoculars that spawned in our home so you can see me from across London, and you’re laughing.”

Or, my take on Phil's anecdote from his "A New Era" video.

You've got a squeak-ret admirer (ao3) - skygremlin

Summary: When Phil's going to make himself breakfast, he finds a cute little Valentine's card on the kitchen counter. And then another, and another, and another...