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cravingmarvel · 5 years ago

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Apartment - Epilogue

Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Fem!Reader Warnings: Swearing, a little angst, sarcasm as always Summary: You just moved from Germany to New York, working as an editor at a newspaper. So what happens when you find out your favourite actor lives in the apartment across from yours? And how will people react when you share your story on your Blog dedicated to him? What will you make of this situation? A/N: Wow here we are... the last of the last... I can’t believe that after 2 YEARS I managed to finish this series completely... I apologize for the time it took, but I just had no idea how to write it and in retrospect.. I’m glad I waited this long. A HUGE thank you to @buckisthatyou for helping me with this!!! I love you!!!

Anyway... I hope you guys love this as much as I loved writing this and I’ll see you at the end of the chapter :)

MASTERLIST

Apartment – Epilogue

I carried the last of my boxes up the stairs, weighted down a little by the contents of it. This one got lost on its way here and I’ve been desperately trying not to cry over it. It’s been almost three months since Sebastian and I moved in together, but this little fucker had to get lost.

As I pushed the door open with my shoulder the light that flooded into the room filled me with butterflies. Just seeing the living room full of life and personality put the biggest smile on my face. I placed the box next to the bookshelf and started to unpack the books inside. I moved some of the cacti out of the way, they are definitely taking over the place.

I felt a hand on my hip and jumped slightly.

“Hey, how’s it coming along?” I turned to see Sebastian.

“Very nicely, but I do think we need to calm down about the cacti.” I pouted and he kissed my cheek.

“Hm, maybe.” I caught the cheeky smile as he walked away.

The move was easy, finding an apartment wasn’t. We came across a beautiful, two-story apartment in the heart of Manhattan that was pretty close to my new workplace. After my move back to New York, we went straight to looking for a place to share. He said he wanted it to be right in the heart of the city, but close enough to central park so our future kids could enjoy some greenery.

I laughed at him, but the thought still filled me with butterflies. I was excited to share my life with him, even if that came with a price. Some people just didn’t like seeing him with me on his arm and they made a point in showing it. Just a few weeks after I came back, we made an appearance at some award show, the photos I was tagged in on Instagram were mostly nice, but a lot weren’t so. My dress was too tight, my hair done terribly, and I felt worse because I made those choices. It was me to blame.

Despite the weight I felt from those comments, I knew I could step away from it whenever I pleased. I don’t have to put up with it. No one does.

With the shelve decorated to my liking, the apartment was almost finished, there were a few pictures that I wanted to hang on the walls, but that could wait.

Two Years Later

“We’re having spaghetti tonight.” Sebastian called from the kitchen; he knew I’d love it. (The spaghetti, not him calling from the kitchen.)

The chill of the night falling over New York put me in the mood to get comfy. I climbed up the stairs to our shared bedroom, crossing the room to the closet. I decided to change into my pyjamas, a decision I did not regret as I felt the soft fabric on my skin. I investigated the mirror to admire my husky onesie. I look cosy as fuck and I feel cosy as fuck.

The table hasn’t been set when I came down to the dining room and Sebastian noticed my confusion. “We’re having dinner outside if you don’t mind.” He filled to plates with food and gave me a quick kiss as he walked towards the balcony. I followed him out to discover the table beautifully set with flowers and fairy lights.

“Oh wow. This is so fancy.” I said while sitting down opposite Sebastian.

“Thank you, I actually put a lot of effort into this. By the way, cute outfit.” I looked down to the fluffiness that I was wearing and in the reflection of the glass next to me, I could see how weird I looked. “Yeah thanks.”

The husky and the Prince.

We soon devoured our food and just sat and laughed while drinking an alarming amount of wine. New York has never looked so pretty; this might just be because Sebastian is the foreground of the scenery in front of me.

Suddenly, Sebastian stood up from his seat. His face lit up with a smile on his face as he slowly went down on one knee. I was just about to register what was happening, my jaw slightly dropping.

“Y/n.” Sebastian held my hand in his, a red velvet box in the other. “I never knew this day would come so soon. I always thought I’d be fifty years old, still looking for the woman who I’m going to marry. And then you came along. Standing at my door with your ridiculous robe.”

I chucked, tears swelling up in my eyes.

“So, will you, Y/n, do me the honour and marry me?”

I stared at him, the tears now rolling down my face. “Yes.” I breathed out.

He slipped the ring on my finger, a diamond reflecting a million rainbows in the light of the sunset, hovering on the horizon of New York. And it dawned on me.

I just got engaged to Sebastian Stan, and I’m wearing a husky onesie.

Sebastian decided it would be good for me and his sanity to hire a wedding planner, even though I told him I could handle it on my own. I hate having someone else step on my toes and interfere with my plans but listened to him anyway and hired someone who could help me organize the day and everything around it.

While I still had a whole month to prepare the final details, I was sure we covered everything necessary that involved the venue, decorations, dress and every other detail I could think of.

I shuffled my shoes from my feet and walked over to the kitchen making myself a nice cup of coffee. I got a text from Sebastian telling me that he’ll be home by eleven, filming dragged on until then unfortunately, but it gave me some quiet time to get back to going through my planner trying to catch any mistakes I made.

I’ve never really been one to dream of the perfect wedding, but since starting this project of mine, I felt my need for perfectionism take over.

I grabbed the little folder, my laptop and my phone walking to the couch. I snuggled into a blanket, putting my mug on the coffee table. After a few hours of flipping through pages and finding no mistakes at all, which was usually the case, I grabbed my phone, my thumb hovering over the Tumblr icon. I hesitantly tapped it logging into my account.

A thing I occasionally did was search my own name. I know I shouldn’t, but something vile within me couldn’t stay away from the opinions of others, strangers, online. I scrolled through endless amounts of posts about myself, cringing and cry laughing at some of the posts. The memes were the best part about it, some people were just too funny. I came across some fanfiction about me… yes fanfiction… about me, skimming over the words. They weren’t bad… it was just a little strange reading it myself, but who am I to judge? I wrote fanfiction about the same man I am engaged to once a few moons ago. Ok more like a year ago, but my point still stands. I can’t judge.

But all fun had to come to an end when I stumbled upon posts about me that just weren’t so nice to look at. Some poking fun at my body, the way it looked in a certain outfit I wore while I was out with Sebastian, some straight up telling me how old I looked and some saying that I’m just not the right fit for him. I couldn’t say they hurt, but a little part of me, the very insecure one, believed them. But something I haven’t come across yet popped up right after all that was a post about me being a fan.

I was slightly intrigued, pondering in my head whether I wanted to read it or not. I could shut my phone off right now, I could step away from this and breathe, but something pulled me in, sucked me right in.

I couldn’t say the post was disgusting nor was it far away from the truth the further I read. The person articulating themselves very well. My stomach turned and twisted.

-I’m just asking myself how she fell in love with Sebastian? How can she know for sure that what she feels for him is actually love? If I got together with him, I would ask myself this. Even if it hurts, I would still question my feelings towards him. Is it actually love, or just the fan inside writing its own fanfiction? And let’s take this even further, they’re getting married… what if she realizes that after all, what she was feeling wasn’t love, it was just the fangirl inside, fulfilling her own fanfiction?-

What if… I’m not in love, but rather satisfying the fangirl within me.

I awoke to the soft morning light peeking through the white thin curtains, a weight on my middle pulling me closer to the body laying next to me. Sebastian laid on his stomach, his arm draped over my back, his hand gripping my waist as he exhaled deeply. He was in a deep slumber, but still keeping me at his side which made it impossible to move away from him.

I worked hard on removing his arm from my body to climb off of the bed, looking back at Sebastian as he shifted in the bed, rolling over to his back. I walked over to the bathroom connected to the bedroom to proceed my morning routine. I took off my baggy shirt and underwear, stepping into the shower to wash off the sweat of the night. Sebastian surely knows how to keep me up to a time where I should be sleeping.

I felt my muscles relax under the warm water, my hands gently massaging my body with fruit scented soap.

I left the shower, wrapping a towel around me, to turn my attention to my skincare routine, washing my face, putting on my serum and moisturizing my face. The door opened to Sebastian walking in, hugging me from behind, kissing my shoulder.

“Good morning, love.” He said, sleep sill in his voice. Sebastian stepped into the shower and I changed back into the comfortable shirt.

I made breakfast for the both of us before I had to get to work, Sebastian had a day off and I envied him for it.

We ate breakfast and I headed to work, but not before Sebastian pulled me into his arms, kissing me passionately. He took my left hand admiring the diamond ring on my finger. “I love you.” He said and I was out the door.

I arrived at work, dropping my bag on the desk, since the summer holidays were on their way, so are the people wanting to get away with their children and spouses alike. I turned my computer on preparing myself for the eight hours of recommending hotels, flights and things to do at their destination.

My boss, Linda, walked up to me an apologetic look on her face. I braced myself for what’s to come.

“Good morning, Y/n.” She sat down in front of my desk, a sandwich on a plate on her lap.

“Morning. What’s on the menu for today? Anything special?”

Linda laughed, dropping her head. “Y/n, I have to ask a favour. I know your wedding and honeymoon are on their way, but there was an incident. By the way, how’s the planning and your husband to be?”

“Good… good, I have everything set, nothing seems to be missing but a couple thousand dollars in Sebastian’s wallet.” Linda found this one funnier, throwing her head back, almost dropping her sandwich on the floor. “What’s the incident?”

“You know how Beck has a habit of finding ways to destroy her leg?”

I nodded, calling back to the many times Beck has had issues in keeping her leg in one piece. Not that she’s breaking it, rather bruising the shit out of it.” “Yeah, I do.”

“Well she done did it again.” We laughed in union. It became an inside joke by now. “I need you to fly to London for three weeks to inspect and review this hotel right in the heart of the city. It’s under a new owner and quite a few things have changed, I could ask Annie, but she’ll need to find someone to watch her kid. Don’t worry, you’ll be back in time for your wedding, which by the way, I can’t wait for. I already have my dress!”

I stared at her for a second. A trip to London was the last thing I thought I’d be doing right now, especially with the wedding just four weeks away. I pondered and the idea jumped around in my head. It would be kind of nice, getting out of the city, get my head in the game. Maybe think about my intentions of marrying Sebastian… try to find out if the fangirl inside is responsibe or not.

“Ok, sure, why not.” I smiled, Linda clapping her hands together, her Sandwich threatening to fall once again.

I arrived at home, taking my shoes off along with my coat. Linda gave me a folder with all the necessary information about the trip and all the points I needed to check out.

The only person that I now needed to confront was Sebastian.

I walked into the living room, seeing him sprawled across the couch, wrapped in a blanket. “Hey, babe.” I said while approaching him. I sat down and laid his head on my lap. I leaned down, kissing his lips tenderly.

“How was work?” He asked, closing his eyes.

“Good. Y’know, a lot of people preparing for the summer.” I pondered for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Seb? I need to tell you something.”

He sat up immediately, his eyes looking onto mine desperately. He took my hands into his. I knew he was worried.

“I- I accepted a job to go to London for three weeks, to inspect a hotel, I know this is very close to our wedding date, but Linda said I was the only choice next to Annie, and she would have to look for someone to take care of her child.”

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. First thing.”

Sebastian exhaled deeply, looking away from me. “Feels like running to me.”

“Sebastian…” I squeezed his hands in mine. “I’m not running, nor and I going to stand you up at the altar, I just… have to figure some stuff out.

“So, you are running? What’s there to figure out?” “Did I propose too soon, should we postpone the wedding?”

It was me this time, exhaling, looking away from him. “I’m not sure if the feelings I have for you are my own or just an imagination from the fan I was- still am!” I looked at Sebastian, pleading for him to understand. “I don’t want to leave on bad terms or move the wedding to another day. I just have to figure out if I’m going to hurt you.”

His gaze finally met mine and I knew. I knew he didn’t understand the way I hoped he would.

“Y/n, I know that you love me and There’s nothing that changes that whether you were or still are a fan of me, I don’t give a shit. But if this is what you need to steer your mind into the right direction and lay your worries to rest, then do it.” Sebastian leaned in, kissing me softly. “I’ll be waiting for you, no matter what.”

Tears threated to fall down my cheeks, I didn’t know if this would resolve the storm within me, but I knew this was good, for both me and Sebastian.

We went to bed, holding each other tightly, tangled between the sheets, his hands on my body feverishly roaming every inch.

I packed my suitcase with my necessities, suddenly dreading my departure. I got a text telling me that my ride to the airport was downstairs.

As I stood at the door, Sebastian pulled me into a tight hug, whispering in my ear over and over how much he loves me and misses me already. I looked up to him cupping his cheeks with my hands pulling him down for a passionate kiss.

“I love you, Sebastian.” I couldn’t cry right now, but I’m sure he knew I wanted to.

He kissed the back of my left hand, his gaze lingering on the ring. “Come back and marry me, Y/n. I want to be your husband more than I wanted to be anything else.”

“I will.”

“I love you, Y/n.”

With that, I was out of the door, into the elevator. Mentally preparing myself.

London, here I come!

A/N pt.2: YES!! THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL TO THIS MASTERPIECE!! I have thought about it, consulted with @buckisthatyou about it and have come to the conclusion that I need to write it. And because we all want to know what it’s called:

House. It will be called house and no one can stop me.

Anyway, since I already wrote a Thank You post I will keep it short and sweet.

Thank you all for waiting for me to write this. If i had written it earlier, I probably would've not come up with a sequel. So everything has a purpose... right?

Thank you for reading and I will see you in

House!

#Sebastian Stan #sebastian stan fluff #sebastian stan fanfiction #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x you #sebastian x reader #sebastian x you #sebastian stan fic #sebastian stan angst #nimi writes

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italicwatches · 7 years ago

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Laid-Back Camp - Episode 12

Alright, the last hurrah. One last camping trip with these girls. Let’s see how it goes. It’s Laid-Back Camp, episode 12! Here we GO!

-We begin…In a possible future. Rin’s camping ways have continued, and she’s taken more after her grandfather, with a cool motorcycle and sweet boots. She arrives to a campsite to find the others already waiting for her. Chiaki’s become the new Toba-sensei, treating all camping trips as an excuse to get her booze on…Well, I said the others, but Nadeshiko is a ways out still. In this fantasy, Nadeshiko didn’t just keep camping…She now owns a camping gear company, bringing American styled equipment to Japan. Also, Aoi still hasn’t lost her fang…

-And Nadeshiko arrives…On…

-Good.

-Fucking.

-God.

-She’s in the flying tent from the opening.

-So obviously this is our title-card shot. As much as I love all the other shots of the girls all grown up…I mean, come on.

-And this is all Nadeshiko’s idea of what it’ll be like when they’re all grown up. Which explains a lot. And Rin’s gotten back with stuff! Yayyyyy.

-Opening! So here’s the magic question for you: In Nadeshiko’s possible-future, did she imagine herself and Rin being married?

-Episode 12: Mount Fuji and the Laid-Back Camp Girls

-So doggo has to go. He’s picked up by Ena’s family to go back home to warm bed, while the others scrub their dishes and ask the question of who’s gonna take advantage of the actual baths first. Well, Toba-sensei is out.

-In the end, Aoi, Ena and Chiaki end up in the bath, in an actual proper hot bath no less. Which leaves Rin and Nadeshiko to stay warm around the fire, and they end up asking Toba-sensei if she doesn’t mind being out here all alone instead of with her lover…

-…That was her sister she was with, you dorks. Anyways, all of this gender and romance confusion has Nadeshiko so off-tilt that she ends up outright asking Chiaki if she’s a girl or not when the others get back. Do you want to die?

-So round two of the baths, chatting with Toba-sensei. Who has a camping history not entirely dissimilar to Rin’s, though hers is more group-oriented. Her dad was a huge outdoorsy type when she was a kid, so the whole family would practically be out every weekend in the summers. Her sister picked up the bug full-force, and she tags along.

-Also speaking of camping, Rin still doesn’t know what that thing she saw in the darkness was. It was your teacher. Aaanyways, by the time they get back from the bath, everyone’s done their hair up in a Shimarin Bun. Nadeshiko is surrounded by Shimarins and it’s wonderful! Rin is quietly a bit mad at that name.

-So Nadeshiko has enough hair that she gets the true Shimarin treatment: Having Ena do something ridiculous to her head. Which she doesn’t see until they take a selfie together. Alas, Nadeshiko. But now they’ve kind of used up their tasks, but it’s too early to sleep…

-So Chiaki has a treat. You know outdoor film festivals, and vintage American drive-ins, and all that? (GOD I wish I could justify using that shot of Anime To the Future) Well Chiaki just signed up for a data plan and streaming services for her tablet! It’s not quite a grand projector, but they can just dive deep until they forget what time is!

-Eventually they’re all tapped out…Until everyone else is asleep, and it’s just Nadeshiko and Rin with their heads poking out of Rin’s tent way off on their own, looking up at the stars. They end up talking about all the shows and stuff they watched, and possible journeys, and New Year’s plans, and just…just talking. I’m not sure if Rin will do these big group trips very often, but I think it’s clear she’ll be doing a lot of these little trips with Nadeshiko.

-And they doze right off, as quiet comes over the campsites…And all is peaceful…

-Until the first alarm goes off. It’s 5 AM Christmas day, and Rin wakes up next to Nadeshiko, just the two of them. I’m not saying they’re a few months at most away from one of them suddenly realizing “FUCK we’re a couple when did that happen crap crap crap what’s the anniversary is it the day we met WHAT DO I GET HER”, but it was aliens.

-Also Nadeshiko you promised to make breakfast so get out of that mummy bag and make with the grub.

-Of course, Rin ends up helping…And by the time the others gather, it’s a truly traditional meal. Some grilled salmon, a miso soup, rice, even natto. Exactly what a certain hungover teacher needs to clear her head. And as they all get their grub on…The sun tips over the horizon, and it is just magic. That first light, when your eyes have adjusted to the pre-dawn, is so overwhelming, and just…Amazing.

-Of course, then comes the end of the trip. The loading of gear, the packing up of campsites. Daily coming to pick various folks up, and of course, one last photo of them all together before they scatter.

-Cut to a new day at the bookstore. Rin’s just hanging out behind the counter…And she’s thinking she wants to go somewhere for New Year’s…Which is when Ena shows up, buying a magazine on winter camping.

-Over at school, Chiaki leads the crew on a full cleanup of their club room! …That took like two minutes. Until they get Rin or Ena to actually sign on, it’s the cramped storage room for another semester. And tragically, they’re both working through the New Year’s holiday, so they can’t even go camping together…Well, except for Nadeshiko, who can’t find work.

-Cue Rin texting with a PLAN. Ena got a temp job printing and delivering new year’s cards and they need more warm bodies. It’s only a week or two of work, but Nadeshiko’s super excited at getting some cash to turn into camping gear.

-And at last, the credits song plays, as we montage over a quiet calm for all involved with the sun low in the sky. Rin’s scooter dutifully parked by her humble home. Ena’s doggo wrapped up snug in his doggo bed. Nadeshiko’s sister after another road trip to a picturesque sight. Rin’s grampa watching the sun set from his latest campsite. Nadeshiko’s folks coming home with groceries. Toba-sensei’s sister setting up camp, and she herself wrapping up a day of teaching.

-And in that little storage hall, a few more photos added to Nadeshiko’s wall…Including the one magical shot that started the series, of them all together…

-Aftercredits! And not a skit, either. It’s post-New Years, the back end of winter turning into spring, and Nadeshiko’s pedaling her humble little bike, with its rack and her bag both full of kit, to a certain campground…It’s a hard ride, but she finally makes it, checks in, and finds herself nearly alone at a pristine lake. The very place where she met Rin, damn near the exact same spot, as she dutifully puts together her setup. Her tent, her little table…And her own little treat, the gas lantern she saw in the shop that day. It’s a perfect, gorgeous setup…

-When Rin texts asking if she’s working. She’s actually out on the road, and just got to her campsite! And thus they get talking, both of them out camping solo, as Nadeshiko hides where she’s gone, until she sends the photo…And Rin’s comes in…And she’s not even a hundred feet back. They both had the same idea and came to the same place. These adorable precious girls.

And that’s a wrap.

I…Damn, this one somehow feels way heavier than it should. The show’s just so warm and comfy that I don’t want to leave it. But there’s no more left(unless they do a second season COME ON YOU COWARDS), and thus there’s no choice.

I mean, except for the fact that I obviously have already made bookmarks for the manga to chew on.

It is no mistake that this show caused a lot of people to want to go camping. This was…Damn, this was real close to perfect for me, and quite frankly the only things that would’ve made it better would be trading some archetypes around to pander to my specific tastes, rather than actually doing anything objectively higher quality.

And that fucking ending. That last shot. That was just…Pretend your favorite meme image of a chef’s kiss is here, because that was perfect.

So what’s coming up now that we did that? A hard pivot to the exact opposite of this warm comfy slice-of-life stuff, and also me trying blatantly to build my presence Tumblr-side with a big-pop. You’ll see. Wait for it!

#where I watch #recap #anime #laid-back camp #yuru camp

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ineverhadmyinternetphase · 7 years ago

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In My Way - Chapter 21

AO3 link, First Chapter

Genre: Chaptered. Actor!Dan AU, fluff, bit of angst, slow burn, getting together (eventually)

Summary: Fiction. Daniel Howell is 21 and Britain’s newest star. He’s just been cast in the much-anticipated film adaption of Last Man Standing, the popular teen fantasy novel with a huge fanbase hanging off his every tweet. In other words, Dan has made it big.

Phil Lester couldn’t care less. He’s a stressed out PHD student working part time at a bookshop while he struggles to get into post-production. He’s 26 and still lives in a tiny flat on the fifth floor of a building with a lift more broken than it is in use. He loves books, but he thinks big film adaptions screw with the plot too much.

Needless to say, Phil is less than impressed when Last Man Standing is getting filmed in his hometown. And he certainly doesn’t want anything to do with obnoxious, arrogant, so irritatingly perfect leading actor Daniel Howell.

Warnings: Swearing, Ace!Phil, Bi!Dan, slight a- and bi-phobia, discussions of sexuality

Word Count: 5000-6000 per chapter (ish)

A/N: Warning for this chapter: there is some discussion of being outed without consent, and also discussions surrounding coming out to the public in general. Proceed with caution if this is a sticky issue for you ^_^

Also, the wonderful nothingisbetterthanfood (on tumblr) is in the process of translating this fic into German! So if you want to read it in that language, the link is here: https://www.fanfiktion.de/s/58c6ff42000510f9f5cb7b4/1/In-My-Way and thank you so much for doing this, I am in awe that you would spend so much time translating a fanfic, I am so happy ^_^

And once again massive thanks once again to @mecaka for betaing this! You are an angel <3

—

Waking up next to Dan was another of the best experiences of Phil’s life. He’d forgotten how comfortable it was, having another warm body to cuddle up to under the sheets, someone else’s scent in the air, someone else’s arms around him. Phil kept his eyes closed with a happy sigh and snuffled his face into the warm material in front of him.

There was a soft squawk from somewhere above his head. “Do you mind?”

“Mrrh,” Phil made a non-committal noise back, keeping his face pressed in the warm loveliness before him. He wasn’t in his own bed, he knew that from the soft luxury of the sheets, much better than his scratchy old Ikea bedspread. Which meant he wasn’t in his city, because Dan was here, and Phil should probably be a lot more freaked out by that than he was.

When had it become normal for Dan to be in his space? All those months in Manchester, sure, but – but this time apart, it had felt never-ending. Phil hadn’t been sure he’d ever ease back into the comfort he’d had with Dan before.

If the way Dan was poking at him and telling him to shift because his arm was going numb was anything to go by, though, Phil thought they were pretty ok.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, lifting his face reluctantly off its place in Dan’s shoulder and blinking blearily at him. “Comfy.”

“Are you,” Dan grumbled, curls rumpled and dimple deep. “Well, I wasn’t.”

“Be quiet, of course you were.” Phil reached out to press his fingers into the blurry lines of Dan’s cheek, feeling the dimple give beneath his touch. He grinned. “You’re the happiest because I’m here, lighting up your life, as ever.”

“You’re fucking insufferable.” Dan huffed, rolling away from Phil to face the other way. Phil made a distressed noise and moved after him, tugging at his arm, but Dan resisted with a low chuckle. “No, no cuddles for rude old men.”

“Excuse you.” Phil had managed to wrangle his way under Dan’s arm, cuddled back up to his side. “You brought me all the way down from Manchester specifically for cuddles, so. Might want to backtrack there.”

“Might I?” Dan turned his face to see Phil, biting back a smile. He leaned in to press a kiss to Phil’s forehead. “Maybe, then. If you behave.”

“I always behave.” Phil slung his own arm around Dan’s waist, drawing him closer until they were pressed as close together as they physically could be, among the bedsheets and their pyjamas and the warmth trapped between them.

They stayed like that, cuddled up together, and Phil closed his eyes again. He’d be quite content never to move, actually, but then Dan went and started shuffling about, disturbing him. Phil grumbled, cracking open one eye, and let out a defeated sigh when he saw that Dan had, of course, reached for his phone. “You can’t leave that alone and pay attention to me for five minutes?”

“Have to check on our adoring fans,” Dan answered with a cheeky wink.

Phil shoved him, and then determinedly closed his eyes and pressed his face back into whichever soft part of Dan he could reach.

He knew something was wrong the minute Dan started tensing up. With a frown,all seriousness recovered, Phil opened his eyes and turned his face up to see Dan staring at his phone screen, his face as white as the pillowcase next to him.

Phil propped himself up carefully. “What happened?”

Dan blinked, looking up to meet Phil’s gaze dead-on. There was something close to panic in his eyes, hiding behind his usual mask that Phil was still learning to look behind. Without a word, Dan turned his phone screen, and Phil took it off him, squinting without his glasses.

It was Dan’s twitter, open on an image from – an article? Or something – but the image was laid out in plain sight, of Phil and Dan walking back from the train station yesterday, hand-in-hand.

Phil’s breath caught in his throat.

He only caught sight of a few of the squealing replies on Twitter, but it was enough to tell him the news had already spread. Whatever report this was from, it must have been picked up by Dan’s followers, must already be everywhere

Who had even photographed them? Phil was sure he hadn’t seen anyone.

Suddenly, the brave-in-the-moment decision to hold Dan’s hand in public yesterday didn’t seem like quite such a good idea.

“Yeah,” Dan whispered, looking at Phil’s expression in the glimpses of sunlight coming through his partially opened curtains. “Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel.”

Phil blinked. He shook his head a bit, thoughts swirling, and then shoved the phone back at Dan. He didn’t want to look at that image anymore. Not that seeing Dan next to him was bad, it was more that – it wasn’t from their perspective. Some outsider had seen this, and now – now, speculation was going to be everywhere.

Phil hadn’t even told his mum yet. What if she saw this? What was she going to think?

Dan took the phone back from Phil, his face drained of all colour as he looked at the screen. Phil watched him, feeling distant, almost far away as Dan just stared, and the silence between them grew heavier and heavier.

“It’s from an article,” Dan finally broke the silence, his tone harsh from trying not to let it shake. “Newspaper. I should have known it couldn’t last long.”

Phil’s throat was dry. A newspaper – a picture of them, together, in a newspaper, and neither of them were at all prepared for this. This was another huge step, a giant one, and one that should have been taken with a lot of prior thought and discussion. But they’d never even talked about going public, not really, not beyond the fact that neither of them was ready to tell everyone openly that they were together.

Why did this have to happen now? On the one weekend Phil finally had Dan back in his arms, and not just in pixelated form?

“Looks like it’s spread to other websites, too,” Dan added, “all across the internet. I can attempt some damage control, but sometimes with these things, it’s better to leave them quiet. I can privately request to get the photos taken down, I suppose…”

Phil let Dan’s ramble trail off into background noise. It was important, of course, but just then Phil was still desperately trying to get his head around what had happened.

He and Dan hadn’t been ready to go public. Dan had said before he wasn’t ready, and Phil…

Phil hadn’t even told his mum yet.

He was jolted back to himself when Dan started moving. The bed shifted, the covers disappeared, and Phil made a displeased noise and reached out to grab for Dan.

His hand landed on Dan’s arm, where he tugged until Dan turned back to face him, one styled eyebrow arched. “Yes?”

“Where’re you going,” Phil mumbled, still a little hazy with sleep and the shock of it all.

“To fix this mess,” Dan answered dryly. “And fetch you some coffee, so you’re actually awake enough to talk about it.”

Phil blinked, then frowned. “I’m awake!”

“Yeah, no, you’re really not.” Dan patted him on the head, an oddly affectionate gesture, and then moved to get up. “I’ll be back. Don’t hurt yourself before I return.”

Phil made another disgruntled noise, but this time he let Dan go. Coffee sounded good, after all, and Dan knew as well as Phil did that he wouldn’t really be able to think until he’d had his first mug of the day.

It was just, without Dan, the roaring in Phil’s head got louder. The worry, the concern, and the not-quite-a-freak-out-yet raucous grew and grew until it was rattling inside his skull, a constant reminder that there was a public image of him and Dan in a very-much-non-platonic setting.

Unless holding hands could ever count as platonic? It could, surely, but… but the newspapers wouldn’t see it that way. And neither would their readers. The idea of a faceless mass of people out there all judging his and Dan’s appearance and relationship had the noise in Phil’s head tipping over to definite freak-out mode.

By the time Dan came back, he found Phil buried down in the blankets with his head under the pillow, making muffled screeching noises. Dan just stood and watched him for a moment, two mugs in hand, before he grinned and said, “Same.”

Phil jumped. He turned his head, the sheets twisted around his legs, and made a muffled noise again. He saw the mugs and made grabby hands.

Dan chuckled, but he handed the one with coffee in it over. Phil practically inhaled it, which just made Dan laugh again as he perched himself down on his side of the bed. And that was still a weird thought – his side of the bed. Because someone else belonged in the other side, now.

Dan wondered if it would be any more difficult to be here after Phil left, once the memory of him in this room was fixed.

He sipped at his hot chocolate and then set it down on his bedside table, watching as Phil wrapped long fingers around his own mug. Phil was determinedly not looking at him.

Dan bit his lip. “How much are you freaking out about this right now?”

Phil finally glanced over at him, eyes a bit wild.

Dan’s lips twitched. “Like, give me a percentage to work with here.”

Phil squeaked. “Um. Probably – somewhere around the 85% mark.”

“Ok.” Dan scooted closer, started to rub small circles into Phil’s back. It made Phil relax against him, if slowly, and he let Phil lean into his side, liked the feeling of him there. “Ok, so. It’s happened, whether we like it or not.”

Phil drew in a shuddering breath.

“We just have to figure out how we’re going to react.” Dan’s voice was soothing, he hoped. It was easy to flip back into business mode, to remember how he acted when he was in public rather than at home, or with Phil. He had to be on guard again.

Phil glanced up at him from where his head was resting on Dan’s shoulder. “Do we have to react?”

“Not necessarily.” Dan shrugged. “I tend to think – sometimes, with these things, we could just ignore it and let people assume what they want.”

Phil nodded slowly. “But?”

“But,” Dan continued, “I also think things have a habit of exploding if I ignore them.”

A small smile flitted briefly over Phil’s face. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“Shush,” Dan nudged him, but the motion was affectionate. He sighed, pressing his face into Phil’s hair, just breathing him in for a moment. It calmed him; grounded him. Reminded him that Phil was still right here, with him, and that was the most important thing.

“What are the other options?” Phil coaxed gently after a moment.

Dan bit his lip. He’d been thinking, his mind racing ever since he first saw the article. Anger had been his first response, and fear, but then – but then he’d also been somewhat weirdly relieved. If it meant he never had to hide Phil again or avoid talking about him when being asked awkward questions, then it couldn’t be wholly bad. Or, more enticingly, never having to answer ridiculous questions about when his next girlfriend was going to show up.

That thought was appealing, Dan couldn’t deny it.

But that also came with so many problems. If Dan didn’t outright deny the article, then people would be assuming things left right and centre. It would probably be the only thing Dan was asked about, and that wasn’t exactly ideal, what with the premiere coming up. That was what Dan wanted to be focusing on right now, that and only that. He didn’t want to have to deal with this speculation, too.

So then there was the other option – not to deny it, not to ignore it, but to… to simply confirm it. He could do it, it would be easy as anything to drop hints on Twitter about him and Phil being together, and he knew they already had a fanbase who would lap it up and quickly spread the news everywhere. It would be simple. And then there would be no more hiding, no more avoiding questions, no more worrying every second that he was out in public with Phil.

But… that would also mean coming out. Something Dan had never thought he’d publically do.

And coming out with Phil. And would Phil even be ok with that?

Judging by the way he was freaking out… probably not.

“Dan?” Phil prompted again, turning to study his expression. He was warm against Dan’s side, eyes a little concerned. “Are the other options really that bad?”

“No, not really.” Dan sighed, then flopped back on the bed, pulling Phil down with him. “This just isn’t exactly how I’d planned for things to be.”

“Me neither.” Phil snorted a bit, clambering over Dan’s chest to meet his eyes. “But then, I never really expected to be dating a famous actor, either.”

Dan’s lips twitched. “Wasn’t in your life plan, huh?”

“Not exactly.” Phil laid his head down against Dan’s chest and closed his eyes, listening to the soft thud of Dan’s heart beating away. It would be easy, he thought, if they could just stay like this forever. Just the two of them in their own little world, distant from any kind of pressure that might exist out there.

They lay in muffled silence for a while, both dwelling on their own thoughts.

Dan was the first to pull them out of it, and he made Phil startle. “I mean, I could just come out.”

Phil jumped, flailing.

“Not if you weren’t comfortable with it.” Dan was talking as easily as if they were discussing the weather, but the way he was staring determinedly up at the ceiling betrayed his inner nerves. His face was a calm mask, but Phil knew him well enough by now to read the panic and fear that was hiding just behind his eyes.

Phil blinked at him.

“But I could,” Dan continued. “I mean, it’s possible.”

“Sure it is,” Phil answered slowly. “If that’s what you really wanted to do?”

Dan bit both his lips and tipped his head back against the pillow, eyes glued to a crack in the ceiling.

“Is it?” Phil pushed gently. “What you really want to do?”

Dan stayed silent for another moment before he pushed both hands against his face and groaned. “I don’t know, Phil. I honestly don’t know.”

Phil hovered. “You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

“I know that,” Dan mumbled into his hands, “but I just don’t really want to keep hiding, either.”

Phil looked down at him, torn and a little bit scared.

If Dan didn’t want to hide anymore, did that mean… was Phil not enough for him after all?

But no. Dan had said before that Phil would always be enough, and Phil believed him. Everything they’d said and done for these past months had been about them figuring out how to be together, and Phil was absolutely positive they both were happiest when they were close. He’d just… not expected to be confronted with anything else, yet, and it petrified him.

“I don’t want to hide you anymore,” Dan was mumbling into his hands. “I hate not talking about you, dodging questions about you. Having to smile and laugh when someone asks me if I’m enjoying the single life, or when I’ll find a girl to settle down with.”

Phil’s heart froze. Well. At least that didn’t sound like Dan wanted to leave him.

“I just want to scream at them that it might be a boy, too,” Dan mumbled, and then finally spread his fingers to peek through them at Phil. “That it turned out to be a boy, I mean. That you exist.”

Despite himself, Phil found himself smiling.

“But,” Dan continued cautiously, “I’d only do this if you were ok with it. I don’t want you to feel like you’re being pressured into something you’re not ready for.”

As ever, Dan was there, caring for him. Putting Phil first. Always making sure Phil was comfortable. That made a surge of affection rise in Phil’s chest, swamping him

Phil reached out and cupped Dan’s cheek in his hand, thumb curving over where his dimple usually appeared. He leaned in close and brushed a careful kiss over Dan’s nose, then dipped down briefly to his lips.

“I think you should do what you want,” Phil told him softly when they pulled away. “Whatever would make you happiest.”

Dan looked up at him, all soft and open, and he looked so young. His curls were wild, fluffed up against the pillow, and he was all bony corners and open edges as he stared up at Phil. “Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent.” Phil kissed the tip of Dan’s nose again, smiling when it made him scrunch his face up. “If you’d be more comfortable not hiding this… then we shouldn’t hide it.”

Dan’s eyes widened a bit. “I’d still be pretty terrified. Coming out as bi – that isn’t always easy.”

“No, but you’d be a pillar of the community.” Phil grinned at him, leaning down to nuzzle back into his neck. “A proper role model.”

“I’m not sure I really want to be,” Dan mumbled as he wrapped his arms around Phil’s waist. “I just want to be happy. And with you.”

Something warm glowed in Phil’s chest again. He hid his smile against Dan’s neck, breathing him in. “Then let’s do that. Just be happy, and us. The world can think whatever they like.”

Dan wriggled against him, but it was a happy wriggle. He paused after a moment, though, running his fingers through Phil’s hair. “Are you sure, though? I mean – I wouldn’t mention you, not if you didn’t want, but…”

“It might be kind of obvious,” Phil finished for him with a low chuckle, “considering we’ve been photographed everywhere together. Holding hands in the latest one.”

Dan hid his smile in Phil’s hair. “Yeah.”

Phil blew out a sigh. He gave himself a moment to think about it, knowing this wasn’t a decision to rush into – not when he knew he was prone to freak outs and he still hadn’t even told his mum. But the idea of not having to hide – of watching Dan in interviews like the one earlier that week, only watching him talk about Phil, about them, no worries of hiding it – that was an appealing thought, Phil couldn’t deny it.

So maybe. Maybe… it was a possibility.

“There are people I’d want to tell on my own first,” Phil answered slowly. “My mum. PJ already knows, but – my friends. Lilith. My brother.”

“Of course.” Dan’s tone was tinged with held-back excitement.

“And I’m not quite sure what I’d tell them, either,” Phil continued. “I mean, I’m not bi like you, but – maybe that’s a bit much to try and explain?”

“We wouldn’t have to go into too much detail,” Dan murmured. “Just, I’d say I’m bi, and that you’re my boyfriend – or partner – or whatever word fits best. And leave it at that.”

Phil’s face scrunched up. “That would have them… assuming things, wouldn’t it?”

“Probably,” Dan admitted honestly. “I don’t quite know how I’d get them to stop. I mean, I’d explain wherever possible, but… I don’t know, Phil. Without you coming out, too, it would be hard to stop them.”

Phil mulled that over for a moment. He knew Dan was right – that there wasn’t really a way to control what people would think of them. That they’d be assuming the nature of his and Dan’s relationship was something physical, something that Phil really wasn’t comfortable with. And maybe one day, Phil would be ready to correct them, but for right now—

Right now, Dan was the important one. Dan’s comfort, and Dan’s happiness, and Phil thought this was the right thing for him to do.

“I’ll fix that as and when it occurs,” he murmured into Dan’s neck, groping about until he caught Dan’s hand in his own. “But until then – I think you should do this.”

Dan stared down at him, biting his lip. “You think so?”

“I do.” Phil nodded, then tilted his face up to meet Dan’s wide-eyed gaze. “I think you’ll be happier if you can be more of yourself out there.”

Dan gave him another long look before he nodded. A small smile broke across his face. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”

Phil smiled back at him and pulled him in closer.

A problem not exactly solved, but at least dealt with. For the moment. That warranted them another few hours’ cuddling in bed, in Phil’s book.

---

The premiere, they decided.

The premiere was when Dan would come out.

“It’s in two weeks’ time,” Dan was explaining as he brushed his teeth, Phil perched on the edge of the bathtub next to him. “That’s enough time to prepare myself. And I wouldn’t want to hijack all the promo for the film before then, either.”

“Is there much promo, then?” Phil asked from his rather precarious position. For as expansive as Dan and Tyler’s flat was, the bathroom was a little crammed, and he was squidged into the tiniest corner between the sink and the shower head. There really wasn’t much room to move.

Dan gave a muffled snort. “Yeah. The promo’s barely even started.”

“But you’ve done that interview,” Phil protested, “and other things, there was the magazine review…”

“But nothing with the full cast yet,” Dan reminded him gently, leaning over the sink to spit out the toothpaste. It should probably be gross. Phil wondered why it wasn’t. “And there’s still the trailer to come out, there’ll be a bunch more interviews before then.”

“Oh.” Phil sank down a little, wondering what that must feel like. Having your face plastered everywhere. Dan had talked about it a little, but mostly in sarcastic terms, making it hard to know what he really thought. But the Dan Phil knew was an introvert, and a lone one at that, so it was hard to imagine him enjoying any kind of social activity.

But thoughts of the trailer were good, too. He’d be itching to see this film regardless of whether or not he knew any of the cast, as Last Man Standing really was one of his favourite books, but he’d get to see Louise again, and all the other people Dan had been talking about. And Dan himself, of course.

As if reading his mind, Dan shot him an amused look. “Excited about seeing my face on a giant screen again?”

“Shut up,” Phil grumped, poking Dan’s side. “I know you’re looking forward to it, anyway.”

“Not really,” Dan disagreed lightly. He took Phil’s hand, tugging him back to the door.

Phil frowned, staying stubbornly in place. “Why not?”

Dan shifted, but he stayed put when it was obvious Phil wasn’t going anywhere soon. He made a face, but it was clearly meant to hide whatever was darkening his eyes a little, making him avoid Phil’s gaze.

That just made Phil look harder.

“I think I told you before,” Dan eventually relented. “I’m not really such a fan of seeing my face everywhere.”

Phil tilted his head. “How come?”

Dan shrugged, still avoiding Phil’s gaze. “It’s just weird.”

Phil bit his lip, ready to prod further, but then there was a new voice trilling somewhere from the kitchen, calling both of their names out loud (and with far too much enthusiasm for this time in the morning, in Phil’s view).

Dan smirked, sharing a resigned look with Phil. “Tyler.”

“Is he always like this?” Phil asked a little helplessly.

“What, so loud?” Dan grinned, nodding. “Unfortunately. C’mon, he’ll be in here with us if we take too long.”

Phil grumbled about it, but he let himself be pulled along regardless.

Breakfast was a happy affair. Tyler was eating some form of giant sweet American pancake, and there were enough for Dan and Phil to share. The sweet syrupy sticky mess was good, and it relaxed Phil enough that he actually started enjoying being around the two men, one whom he barely knew at all. Conversation was easy, especially with Dan and Tyler griping with each other over who’s turn it was to wash the dishes, or why Tyler had had to be the one to answer the door the past five times there was a parcel (usually Dan’s) arriving.

Seeing Dan in such a domestic session as this – it warmed Phil in a way he hadn’t quite expected. Like this was yet another side of Dan, one he’d only been able to glimpse at so far, in quiet relaxed moments curled up together in his flat in Manchester.

It struck Phil then how really very fast this had all been. He hadn’t even known Dan that long, but here he was, sat at his breakfast table in a city he didn’t know.

He wasn’t afraid, though. No, for the first time in a very long time, Phil actually felt quite safe in someone else’s company – like he wasn’t too weird for them, or too grumpy, or too out of place. He fit with Dan. Here or in Manchester, at work or at home, he fit with Dan, and that was something worth holding on to.

The fear from that morning still lingered, the thought of their photo being out in a newspaper was generally terrifying, but Phil still knew that what he had with Dan was worth risking almost everything for.

Half-way through the giant stack of pancakes, Tyler turned to Dan with a question. “So, have you started thinking about looks for the premiere yet?”

Dan blinked at him slowly. “Already?”

“Oh, no, Howell, we are not playing the last minute game again.” Tyler placed his cutlery down with an unnecessarily loud noise and proceeded to fix Dan with a sharp stare. “When are we going shopping?”

“I don’t need another new suit,” Dan groaned, but Tyler was already shaking his head with a scarily determined expression on his face.

Phil looked between them, amused. Tyler took a while to get used to, but the more time he spent in his company, the more he grew on Phil. Plus, he was rather exceptionally good at putting Dan in his place. Phil should probably start taking notes.

“Plus,” Tyler continued, “You need to think about who’s going to be your plus one this time. You know the tabloids are going to be scouting for you.”

Dan made a face, but Phil glanced over at him, curious. He knew from his early days of internet stalking Dan that the last premiere he’d been to had been with his last girlfriend, Susie, the one Phil had mistakenly thought was still with Dan before they sorted things out between them. From what Phil could gather, it was usual for a plus one to be a significant other.

Dan seemed to arrive at this conclusion at the same time, as he suddenly turned to Phil with a slightly wondering look.

Phil arched a brow. That expression on Dan worried him.

“Hey,” Dan said softly, tone hopeful.

Phil shook his head straight away. “No. Nope. No way in hell, Howell.”

“But it would be perfect!” Dan argued, his tone pitching up. “Think about it!”

“I am, and it’s a terrible idea.”

“But Tyler just said!” Dan pointed at where Tyler was sitting, now looking a little confused. “The tabloids will be scouting for me, it’s perfect!”

“That’s not how we agreed to do this,” Phil persisted weakly.

“But it would work.”

“I can’t do that, Dan, come on, look at me!”

“I am, and it would work.” Dan leaned closer, grabbing Phil’s hand under the table and staring at him beseechingly.

Phil narrowed his eyes. “I swear, if you start whining—”

“Would I ever,” Dan disagreed, to a snort from Phil. Dan pouted. “Come on, think about it. It would be the perfect time!”

“I really don’t think being gawped at by millions of reporters—”

“There are never millions—”

“Regardless, it’s just a really bad idea!” Phil’s eyes were wide.

Tyler looked between the two of them, surprise written all over his face. “Er – if you two could stop having conversations in code for one second?”

Dan and Phil kept eye contact for a moment longer, Dan pleading, Phil doing his damnedest to remain stubbornly negative.

Eventually, Dan broke, spinning to look at Tyler with a gusty sigh. “It would work. Bringing Phil as my plus one. Tell him.”

Tyler’s surprise only grew.

Phil shrank down into his seat, wishing for all the world to disappear into the floor.

“I thought you guys were keeping it quiet?” Tyler glanced at Dan, in particular, confusion in his tone. “You especially, you always told everyone to butt out?”

“I did,” Dan decided, glancing quickly at Phil before back to Tyler again. “But, well – have you checked the news this morning?”

Tyler looked more confused and fished out his phone. Phil watched with trepidation, knowing it would only take a few minutes of scrolling for Tyler to find what he and Dan had woken up to just a few hours ago – and Phil wasn’t entirely sure he was ready for the reaction.

Tyler made a soft noise in the back of his throat, dropping his phone in favour of staring back at Dan.

“Yeah,” Dan said wryly. “So, it’s maybe a little late to be keeping everything quiet.”

“Fucking paparazzi,” Tyler muttered, folding his arms and fixing Dan with a stern stare. “So you decided not to deny it?”

Dan shook his head, glancing over at Phil again. “I think I’ll be happier if I don’t have to hide myself anymore.”

Phil recognised his own sentiments in Dan’s words. He bit back a smile, looking up to find Dan staring at him softly. Despite himself, Phil’s stomach still jumped every time he got looked at like that.

“You’ve never said anything more sensible in your life.” Tyler broke out into a smile, and suddenly, some of the tension building up in Phil broke. He relaxed his shoulders with a soft exhale. If Tyler knew—and was happy about it—then maybe this was doable after all. Phil had no doubt that it was the right decision for Dan.

He didn’t, however, much like the look that Tyler directed his way seconds later. “So, we’d better think about getting him into a suit.”

“Exactly,” Dan said smugly.

Phil shot upright, eyes wide. “Hey, no, this is still a terrible idea.”

“Matching colours,” Tyler mused, glancing between the both of them. “Blue highlights, I think. It’ll bring out his eyes.”

“I said no—”

“Shopping trip next weekend?” Dan glanced over at Tyler questioningly.

“It’s still a little late,” Tyler grouched. “Only a week after that if you’re not happy.”

“Yeah, but Phil can only come down at weekends.”

“I said no!” Phil yelped. He squeezed a little desperately at Dan’s hand, staring at him. “You aren’t seriously considering this, are you?”

Dan squeezed back, leaning reassuringly into Phil’s side. “Not if you really don’t want to. But think about it – it’s the perfect time to tell everyone.”

“In front of all those cameras?” Phil’s voice squeaked. “All those people? Really?”

Dan’s thumb rubbed soothingly over the back of Phil’s hand. “It saves waiting for the story to spread. It’ll be like this amazing statement, this fact that like, I’m not who they always thought I was because I’ve got this amazing man by my side, and the theatrics of it when we get out of the car—”

“Of course you’d like that,” Phil muttered.

Dan stopped, sending Phil a small frown. “If you really don’t want to, then we won’t. We’ll find another way. But there will be questions if I turn up at the premiere alone, and I sure as fuck am not bringing anyone else.”

Despite himself, that warmed Phil a little.

“As things go, premieres are kinda safe,” Tyler chipped in. “The focus will all be on the film, you two’ll just be, like, an interesting by-line.”

Phil bit his lip.

“And when are you ever going to get the chance to go to a premiere again?” Dan pointed out, poking gently at Phil’s side. “PJ will be insanely jealous. Especially as you’re going with one of the main stars and all.”

Phil elbowed him, but he had to admit that the more he thought it through, the more the idea made sense. Logically, theoretically, at least. Practically, he was still quaking at even the thought.

“Dan,” Phil turned to him, eyes still a little wild. “I didn’t even make it through my graduation without falling over my own feet in front of everyone.”

“It wouldn’t matter,” Dan soothed.

Phil shook his head. “I’ll just embarrass you—”

“I don’t care.”

“—And you’re going to be there with all your peers—”

“Phil, I don’t care.”

“But it’s just me,” Phil said helplessly. “I’m not – I can’t go to a premiere.”

Dan shrugged with one shoulder, but his eyes were sparkling. “You can if we do this.”

Phil held his stare for a long, long moment, in which Dan kept rubbing his thumb over the back of Phil’s hand.

Finally, finally, Phil slumped down in his seat with a gusty sigh. He turned to Tyler. “Shopping next weekend, you said?”

Tyler’s eyes lit up, and Dan squeezed Phil’s fingers even tighter. “If you can get down here again.”

Phil glanced over at Dan, saw the hope in his eyes, the fear from this morning completely wiped out and replaced with something very close to excitement.

Phil couldn’t take that away from him. And this was Dan’s world. Phil would just have to trust him.

Turning back to Tyler, Phil gave a firm nod. “I can get down here again.”

Next chapter here

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