The League [Phan AU]

Chapter 11

"W-what are you doing here?" Phil stuttered.
"Leading a resistance against the League of course. My former husband believes that I am dead, and soon my son will think that as well. You, Phillip, my dear son-in-law, are the only other person from my family that I trust."
"D-Dan, he'll think you're dead?"
"I know you love him, and I know how much my death will hurt him, but it has to be this way. I cannot allow anyone who could betray me to know I am alive."
Phil sighed. "Okay, I will Mrs. Howell."
"Please, call me Anne. Let's get down to business now," she said. "I only take the best onto my team. I like to have experts in several different fields. Ashton and his friends are highly skilled when it comes to combat. Sam is practically a genius and her girlfriend a weapons expert. And you Phillip, have a very wide skill set thanks to your League training."
"Not really," Phil objected. "Dan is better at many things."
"Yes, that may be true, but we're not here to talk about Dan. I understand you have small PTSD problems, correct?"
Phil swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. It wasn't as bad as it had been when he was a teenager, but sometimes nightmares still woke him up dripping with sweat. Sometimes gunfire still made him uneasy. Traumatic experiences never go away.
"If there is something you cannot handle I will not force you to do it," Anne said, her voice gentle. "We are not the League. You will not be forced into anything."
Phil signed with relief, mumbling a small "thank you."
"You are, however, very good at hand-to-hand combat and cracking locks?"
"Yeah, those are what Dan has me do most of the time."
"I would like to test your skills, if you don't mind."
"That's fine," Phil answered. He wasn't one to show off, but he had nothing against proving how skillful he was.
Anne got up from her chair, motioning for Phil to follow. Many people surrounded the mats, some faces familiar and others not. At the center of the mat stood Calum, one of Ashton's friends and Michael's boyfriend. Phil had heard he was pretty good at this stuff.
Phil took off his shoes, already feeling like he was at a disadvantage since he was in jeans and Calum was in sweatpants. Phil watched as his opponent slipped off his shirt, throwing it at his boyfriend who was smirking. Phil had to try his hardest not to stare at Calum's abs. He was a gorgeous man.
"First one pinned the ground loses," Anne announced. "Go."
Phil watched Calum carefully, the way he set himself up and how he placed his feet. Phil decided to wait for him to strike first. He figured Calum was probably more aggressive than smart when it came to fighting.
When it finally came in a swing of Calum's arm, Phil ducked and brought up his fist to hit his opponent in the gut. Calum staggered back a few steps, but regained his composure quickly. He came at Phil again, swinging his fists. Phil avoided the blows and kicked Calum's legs out from under him.
Laying on his back, Calum kicked his legs at Phil. The paler of the two pushed Calum down as he tried to stand up. In defeat Calum huffed, looking up Phil who's limbs held him down.
"Great job, Phil," Anne said. Phil held out his hand to help Calum to his feet. "No one has beaten him before."
"Yeah," Calum blurted out. "How'd you avoid me so well?"
"You fight aggressive. You think with your muscles and not your head. When you stop to assess your opponent you can always take the upper hand."
"Phillip," Anne said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'd like you to take the oath to join our resistance."
-
The Hideout was no longer a busy beehive. After the mission was completed most of the criminals left London. Their feat had been broadcast on news stations everywhere. The government and the police were in shock. Dan liked that. It gave him a feeling of triumph that nothing else could.
He worked with the trainees for the usual time and then helped with any work he could. Dan wasn't planning on being just another member to do the crimes and then leave. He was going to climb up to the top.
Phil didn't yet know that, though. Dan knew he'd probably want to get married and settle down somewhere, but Dan had his goals set higher. Phil would probably retire from the League, but Dan would follow in his father's footsteps. Sure, he hated his father, but when it came to the League he embodied all of his son's aspirations.
The future troubled him. It always had. It was inevitable and unpredictable. He could die tomorrow, or Phil could. A bomb could drop and wipe out a city. The sky could flood with alien invaders. Dan could become a murderous psychopath. The last possibility was more reasonable.
He had questioned his sanity and had no doubt he was a bit on the loopy side. What worried him was his humanity. Phil was human to the core. He was a pure ray of sunshine with a truly good heart. But Dan was cold blooded. He murdered without thinking anything of it. He committed crime without feeling remorse. Does someone like that have humanity at all?
"Daniel," a voice said. Dan looked up from his lap at the person in the doorway.
"Dad," Dan replied coldly.
"How are you?" his dad asked.
"Have you killed him yet?" Dan spat, referring to Ashton.
"Our scouts have yet to find him. I don't know why you're so opposed to the idea of him dying. He's part of a resistance against us, Daniel. He and his comrades threaten our very existence."
"Son," his dad said, taking a seat beside him. Dan moved over so he wasn't too close to the man. "I want you to join me."
"Join you? In what?"
"I'm putting together a special group within the League. One that will follow my orders and be own squad. Sound interesting?"
"As much I as adore you, dad, I'm not interested in your stupid cult. Go ask someone less knowledgeable on your personality."
"Come on, Dan! It'll be just like old times! You and me against the world."
"I have someone to fight with."
"Ah yes, Phil. I wonder what he's up to?"
"He's sick."
"That's what he told you."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh nothing."
"Are you following my boyfriend?"
"Dan I follow anyone who piques my interest. Phil is basically one of my sons of course I'm going to keep an eye on him."
"What did you mean, before, when you said that's what he told me?"
"I'm not going to share anything with you, Dan. Sorry."
His father gave him a pat on the knee before standing up and stretching his back. He then walked right out the door, leaving Dan back with his thoughts.