Searching Hearts (Phan AU)

♚ A Suspicious Suicide ♚

The usual motion of events went into play almost immediately. Troye - relieved at the having his case taken up - immediately gushed out every detail he could, in an attempt to get on the detective's good side. He spoke of George's love for his garden patch, his hatred for beer- anything and everything about George that he felt was relevant in painting a picture of his dead friend. In Phil's mind, this was the right move. For Phil, the whole experience was exhilarating. It was the first time he'd been involved in the solving of a case, from the very start. And he wasn't a suspect. Sure, the case itself was truly saddening. No suicide could ever be seen as a good thing. But the process of sussing out the causes was fascinating. With every piece of information given, Phil wrote it down. From the victims atheistic belief system to his favourite flowers to grow that time of year. Some of it had to be useful, eventually.

Besides that, he was enthralled by the extent of Troye's knowledge - how he knew so much about one person. How wonderful it must be to know someone like the back of his hand; as if they were one of the same. He wondered briefly if he'd ever have someone in his own life who he'd know everything about. Internally, he laughed. If he was lucky, that could be possible. But luck had never been on his side. Luck had left him so long ago, he'd managed to get messed up with the largest murder inquiry and now lived with a sociopath. Surely he would never find someone with a kindred spirit like his own, when the rest of his life was in complete and utter turmoil.

With this internal battle taking place, Troye went on, rambling on about the dead man. Despite Phil's apparent enthusiasm, Dan sat tapping his pen impatiently. He wasn't interested in these seemingly irrelevant details of George. He just wanted to get the investigation underway. He needed details of his last contact with the suicide victim, not his favourite colour scheme. 

It was only once they'd paused for said tea break that Dan managed to wrangle out the only information he truly needed - the location of the suicide. With only a second hesitation Troye relayed an address, for a house in the suburbs.

And so off the trio went, after having sent Louise and Tyler back to whence they came. Tyler didn't leave without slipping Troye his number, which had the younger boy in an upbeat mood for the whole journey as he drove them. He was mostly quiet, concentrating solely on the road. But when the light hit the wing mirror in the right place, Dan could see his joyous expression reflected back. 

Dan himself sat in the back, next to Phil. It was a while into the journey before either spoke. Both had been thinking of how to move past the awkwardness from the disagreement the night before, without a clear conclusion in sight. Although things seemed to have settled between them,  they had to lock the door on that event. Neither wanted to be the one to start that process. If Dan could've ignore it, he would've one. But this was Phil he was dealing with. When it came it Phil, things were different. Even if he didn't know why.

Ultimately, Dan drew the short straw, and spoke up. "About what I said before... about caring people being stupid... It's clearly not true. If anything I proved that people who believe themselves to be  intelligent are the stupid ones. I mean, most of the greatest minds of our time care a lot. And I guess you are far more intelligent then I've given you credit for. So... I'm sorry."

With his apology over he let out the breath he'd been holding, exhaling the guilt he'd been carrying. The lock in the door was turning. Closure was being found. And now they could move forwards-

Except Phil hadn't answer. He didn't even react. Several heartbeats later and there was still no response. Dan turned his head, to actually get a look at Phil. He found the other sitting placidly. Glazed eye expression.

"Phil?"

"It's not like you to apologise," Phil mused.

Trying to seem detached once again, despite the fact he had almost started begging for forgiveness, Dan snorted. "Treasure the moment while you can."