The Shapeshifter | Phan AU

Chapter Six

Dan
Over the next four days, I got better. Not just physically but mentally too. Despite the fact that I still had to face Brianna at school, I made myself get through it. It wasn't the best, but I made myself think of Phil. I wanted to be strong for him. I made a promise to myself that when I got home, I would flush my blade and stop self harming. I even got an interview for the local college. Phil was already going there, but I started to prepare like mad, wanting to get in so I could be with my Philly.

In a way, I guess you could say that my life was getting better, in loose terms.

Every night, we'd go to our special place and lie underneath the branches and talk, watching the sunset go down. It was my favourite part of the day.

"I don't want to go back home." I whined. It was the last full day with Phil.

"I don't want you to either, but I'm afraid you have to, we can't keep you forever."

"Wish you could."

"Well I can't. As much as I want to, you know that isn't possible."

"I think I'm going to report Brianna and Lee for bullying." I said. It was something I'd been thinking about for the last couple of days. I don't know what changed my mind. I guess not caring whether they thought I was a 'dob' or not.

Phil sat up, a big smile on his face, "yay! I'm so proud of you, Danny Bear!"

"Danny Bear?" I laughed.

"Well... you have Mrs Fluffes to cuddle. I have you to cuddle, like a bear. Also you look like a bear with your hobbit hair. Hobbit hair bear!" He exclaimed.

"No one needs to know about my hobbit hair, okay?"

"Ugh fine! But it's so sexy and adorable!"

"Shut up! You're sexy and adorable!" I replied, making Phil blush. I booped his nose and kissed him swiftly.

"Hey, Dan? Can I show you something?" He whispered.

"Sure."

"Just, promise not to be freaked out or hate me. And you can't tell anyone." I could tell Phil was nervous.

"Of course, babe. You could never do anything to make me hate you!" He stood up, ducking because of the low branches and focused on me. His body began to twist and I could see brown hair covering his black hair. I shuffled back a few paces, not sure what was going on. The few seconds that passed seemed like hours.

I sat there gobsmacked. There in front of me, stood well... me.

"See, I told you you'd hate me." He sighed. I stood up shaking my head.

"Of course not. It's just, you're-"

"A shapeshifter."

"OH MY GOD! This is AMAZING! You're so cool!" I laughed, hugging him.

"You really think so?"

"Of course!"

"Thanks. I was so scared you'd hate me. The last person I showed ran away and screamed. We were 4 though."

"Phil, I love you. Something like this would never make me hate you. But can you please change to something else? I don't like looking at myself."

"Sure." Phil concentrated, before stopping. Something had caught his attention. "Shit."

"What?"

"My, well, your arms, Dan!" My heart dropped. Of course he would be able to put my scars into his transformation. Even if he didn't know about them. Phil studied them, and then grabbed mine. Exactly the same. He looked at me, worry in his eyes. "I didn't know you cut."

I felt ashamed, "I'm sorry."

"You should've told me!"

"I couldn't! Please, change back, Phil, I don't like it!" He sighed and changed back to himself, and then wrapped his arms around me. "I've stopped. I'm going to flush my blade down the toilet when I get home. I don't feel the need to do it anymore!"

"That's good, but you could be dead right now!"

"Well, I'm not! And I'm fine. Please, just stop." Phil looked at me, and signed.

"I love you."

"I love you too." We kissed, this time love and passion fueling it. I let my arms go round Phil, pulling him closer. "Dan, I've also been thinking about stuff. I have two propositions."

"Okay, go on..."

"Number one: would you do me the pleasure of being my boyfriend?"

"Of course!" My heart leapt with joy. He trusted and loved me enough to ask me!

"Secondly, when Brandon comes to hurt you, do you want to switch places? You stay outside and I come in, as you, and fight him? Well, try to fight him."

"No! Absolutely not! You're not getting hurt because of me! I refuse it!"

"But, Dan, I can take it! You can't take much more, surely."

"I'm fine! Seriously Phil, you can't do that for me."

Phil paused, thinking of what to say, "Well I'm still coming round tomorrow. And every night after that."

"Phil-"

"No, Dan. I want to be near you." I sighed, giving in to him. Phil's phone started ringing, and he pulled it out. "Hello?" His face dropped as a voice mumbled some stuff to him. "Okay, thank you. I'll be there right away."

"What is it?"

"My mum. She was driving, drunk. She- she crashed the car. She's dead, Dan. Dead." Tears rolled down his face, and he crumpled into me. I wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm so sorry, Phil."

"I've got to go to the hospital. To see her and stuff or something. And so I can wait with social services until my brother comes down from York."

"I'll come with you." I took his hand and we walked back to his house, dumping our stuff before catching the bus to the hospital. He was only just holding it together in public, and all I could do was be there to support him.

"I'll be right here. Waiting." I whispered as Phil was lead into a room with a social worker.

----

A few hours later, Phil was still with the social worker and a man rushed in, carrying a bag, looking upset. He turned to me, "hi, have you see a boy with black hair, blue eyes? He's about 6"2', kind face?"

"Oh, you must be Martyn. I'm Phil's boy-friend. Friend who's a boy. He's in that room with a social worker." Martyn nodded a thank you and went into the room. I let out a sigh. I hadn't covered up my mistake very well.

Then, Martyn and Phil came out of the room and Martyn shook the social worker's hand, thanking her. "C'mon Dan." Phil whispered. We made our way to Martyn's car in silence, the air as icy as the feelings between us. On the car ride back, Phil leant on me, needing me for support.

"Does Martyn know you're gay?" I asked as we climbed into bed.

"No. I'll tell him soon. But not right now. He's not in the best of moods, he's had to leave everything behind in York to look after me. He can get a place at Manchester Uni, so he doesn't have to give up his future, but he can't really have fun now, he has to get a job. They can't track down our dad, see, so he has to provide for me. I suppose I could get a job too, to help."

"Just to let you know, if you had no one else, I'm sure Mum would've taken you in." Phil gave me a weak smile.

"Night Dan."

"Night Phil." I mumbled. I waited until his breathing was heavy and he began to snore before I decided to go to sleep as well. "I love you. And if Martyn hates you because of who you are, then he's stupid. But he probably won't."

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AN
Aw I always have to ruin fluff with drama. Ugh.

Love you all!
Baiiiii