The video appeared without warning, which was what made it instantly odd. There was no lead up- no mention in a liveshow, no tweet with coy emoji hints, nothing. It was just there, early one morning: Edit that bit out, by LessAmazingPhil. The fact that it was uploaded on the side channel was another odd fact; Phil hadn't used it in a long time.
The beginning of the video was obviously from years gone by; the location wasn't at all like their London apartment, and the fringes were far too prominent to even consider it. Everything from the clip screamed 2009- the first Phil is Not on Fire. Dan was laughing, and Phil was grinning, and there was nothing unfamiliar from the scene in that.
And then, they kissed. And the world exploded.
@phantasm said: omg wtf guys is this real??? #editthatbitout
@japhanaf said: OMG THEY KISSED!!! #editthatbitout
@phangurl1234 said: asdfhjgjaj OMG !!! #editthatbitout
The kiss wasn't long- ten seconds, maybe, and they both pulled away blushing and grinning. "I think the camera was still rolling." Dan said, quietly. Phil shrugged, grin only widening.
"I'll just edit that bit out."
There were more like that, many more; 2009 transitioned into 2010, and 2010 into 2011. There was a pause there, though, and it was obvious enough why.
@howelling said: wtf did they break up in 2012... :( #editthatbitout
@phanfan said: a break in 2012 :(( we all know why... #editthatbitout
When the time resumed, it was 2013, and there was an obvious air of frigidity. There was flick of eye contact as Phil was saying something- the words themselves were unimportant, though they preceded something wonderful: another kiss. Dan instigated it, and it looked at first as if he was going to pull away after just a moment and apologize, but Phil never gave him the chance, cupping his cheeks and kissing back. When they pulled away, quite some time later, they both looked at the camera. "I'll, um." There was a pause before Dan spoke again. "I'll just edit that bit out?"
@phanana said: I dont think Ive ever seen a bigger smile than Phil @ 5:34 #editthatbitout
@phantastic said: !!!! They got back together thank GOD #editthatbitout
2013 continued like that- tentative pecks and small smiles, and 2014 was bolder- not how they had been before, but of course. The second time around, they seemed less hurried, like they knew they had all the time in the world, and their "edit that bit out" just became a nod between them. The secret was so well engrained in them, they needn't even voice it any more.
@officialdilhowlter said: THEY KISSED ON EVERY DAY OF DILMAS IM DONE #editthatbitout
2015 rolled in soon, and it was surreal to many to see these things happening so soon; the Blindfolded Makeup Challenge, playing the Sims, releasing the book, during the Easter video- it seemed, almost, that there was a kiss for every occasion.
@howellester said: blindfolded makeup challenge? more like BOYFRIEND DOES MY MAKEUP TAG! #editthatbitout
@hearteyeshowell said: well I guess we all know what happened to Phil's top button #editthatbitout
There was a slight pause in the video then, and it cut to Dan and Phil what most assumed could only have been a few days before the release.
"Ready?" When Phil spoke, it wasn't to the camera, but to the widely grinning Dan beside him. (It is worth noting, though, that many in the fandom still gave reply, mostly in the form of inhuman noises translating somewhere between "hell yes!" and "oh my fucking god.")
"As I'll ever be." was Dan's half-laughed reply, and he leaned forward to press his lips to Phil. The kiss was brief and chaste, but the love behind it was obvious in their eyes as they pulled away from it. "And, uh." Dan cleared his throat as they both turned to the camera. "We're not editing this bit out."
The video ended there, but the explosion did not. Within moments of it's release, the video had hundreds of views and had touched the tumblr dash and twitter timeline of almost everyone. #editthatbitout was trending worldwide, and support flowed from every pore of the Phandom, and beyond.
@firemandan said: super happy for @danisnotonfire & @amazingphil!!!!
@tyleroakley said: congrats to my friends @danisnotonfire & @amazingphil!!! proud of you!!!!
@troylergurl said: I don't want Dan and Phil, but congrats you guys!!! #
The last to tweet, ironically, were the duo themselves, a few days after the video was released.
@danisnotonfire said: Hey guys! We were so happy to see the response to #editthatbitout. It was a long time coming.
Phil's edition to the conversation was much more simple.
@amazingphil said: @danisnotonfire love you! <3 not gonna #editthatbitout
