glory and gore ; phan

xi

present times

"how's ade holding up?" chris inquired as he shuffled into his uncomfortable airplane seat, the brunette beside him giving a shrug. "i'll still be sending in monthly checks and flying in for visits, though i doubt we'll even be in vegas long enough for a plane ticket to be needed," he exhaled, running his fingers through his hair as his newly-titled boyfriend returned to his seat beside them.

"we'll be fine," phil nodded, intertwining their fingers and giving him a reassuring squeeze. "we'll make it." chris pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he nodded in agreement.

* * *

three days later

"dan," phil said abruptly, stopping the brunette from exiting the flat, "where're you going?" dan paused in his tracks, before exhaling deeply as he reluctantly moved to a seat beside his worried boyfriend. "you know we need money," he started, already causing fear to drip from phil's paranoia-infused glare.

"i don't want you going back, much less fighting illegally in hidden underground clubs where it'll be even easier for them to," his breath hitched slightly in his throat as he paused, "i can't lose you."

dan ran his tremulous fingers through his matted hair, sighing deeply. "i'm good at what i do, i know i can get us enough money for a little while with just a few fights," he gulped, his fatigued eyes darting between phil's glare and the wall behind him. "i'll be alright," he added, trying to reassure his apprehensive boyfriend with a weak smile as he rose back to his feet. "i'll be alright," the brunette repeated as the door slowly shut behind him.

he leaned his back against the doorframe as he inhaled sharply, retrieving his phone from his pocket. his thumb hovered over the recently called number plastered across his screen, before it impulsively dropped onto the button. "for fuck's sake," he hissed under his breath as he started to walk again, the buzzing sound of the phone dialing seeming to ring in his ears.

"yes?" a painfully familiar voice said from the speaker, the reluctant brunette just barely stifling the automatic groan in his throat. "i'm here," he grumbled, earning a dark chuckle from the other side of the phone. "oh, it's just you. i almost thought you had bailed on me."

dan rolled his eyes as he repeatedly pressed the lift button, his voice infused with a mixture of rage and anxiety. "just give me the fucking address," he hissed, the empty lift doors sliding open and enveloping him inside its limited, humid space.

"jesus christ, you must be desperate to come to me," he paused, letting out a breathy laugh, "go down ninth street until you find a crossroad down to third. you'll find yourself at a dead end, that is, if you haven't got yourself lost yet. hank'll be there, just tell him your name and he'll get you in. see you in a few, howell."

dan exhaled in desperation-infused misery, placing a cigarette in between his clenched teeth. he took a prolonged drag as he saw the said crossroad a few meters in front of him, letting the nicotine drizzle down his throat and drip into his damaged lungs. a blanket-coated body laid at the end of the dead end, shivering ever-so-slightly in the cold weather.

"hank?" dan inquired reluctantly, lazily blowing a ring of hazy, clouded smoke at the man before being grabbed by the collar and jerked forward so that he was met in close proximity with him. "dan howell, d-dan howell!" he spluttered, hank narrowing his eyes in suspicion before hesitantly releasing his tight grip. "this way," he groggily breathed, pulling him forward with his unrelenting grasp on dan's wrist.

"you here to fight?" the grey-haired man inquired, limping slightly as he led dan down the inclination of cracked cement stairs. "y-yeah," the chocolate-eyed boy stammered, using his free hand to push his overgrown fringe out of his eyes. "hm, hm, yes, alright, no!" hank muttered along, before stopping abruptly and shouting. "what is it?" dan questioned apprehensively, watching as hank's dull, blue eyes darted between his hands before he abruptly began to limp away again.

"tut, tut. no, he won't make it. no, no sir, he won't," the man rambled senselessly, causing dan to furrow his eyebrows. "i knew this was a bad idea," he began to say, before any sound short of deafening was suddenly pounced upon by the voices of the polyphonic, intoxicated crowd that proved much larger than the one dan was used to.

an astronomical ring encompassed a pair of fighters as they threw punches across, the crowd going wild as one was knocked to the ground and more overpriced alcohol was poured down their thirsty throats. "jesus christ," dan breathed, feeling a tug on his arm, though the likes of hank had disappeared. "dan howell, follow me," a suited man spoke swiftly before turning on his heel and leading the brunette to one of the collection of private lounge rooms.

"ah, i presume you had no trouble finding the place?" the curly-headed brunette grinned, a glint of something hiding beneath his shining teeth. "when am i going on?" dan questioned sharply, pursing his lips as he awaited an answer. "not wasting any time on pleasantries," the man laughed, before meeting the unamused glare from the visibly-fatigued brunette.

"you'll go after this guy," he shrugged, gesturing to the long-haired blond who stood on the raging stage. "he only has a few more fights in him before he goes out." dan nodded, chewing on his bottom lip as he turned to exit the lounge. "wait, i have to say," the man paused, a malicious smirk taunting his lips. "it's a pleasure doing business with you."

dan scoffed, meeting the brunette's glinting gaze momentarily. "sure, franta."