Flight 407

Chapter 30-basically blind

A/n- it's a god damn miracle, I actually updated:( I'm so sorry for being such a failure and not updating, I've just been so overwhelmed with school and had writers block... So I truly apologize and hope you're still at least a bit interested in the story because now drama is really about to go down. Also, there's only about nine or eight more chapters left😬
I hope you'll enjoy-

Dan laughed "and then what?"
"The old lady turns around and says, that's my parrot" Dan and Phil burst out laughing at the stupid ending of Phil's story
"That's the best thing I've ever heard" Dan still laughed, he couldn't stop
Phil stopped laughing a few minutes ago and now was just watching Dan cracking up at his stupid story
"What?" Dan asked around a mouthful of salad "what are you looking at"
Phil just smiled and shrugged "do you want to go to Paris with me next Tuesday?"
Dan chocked on his salad "what?" He asked, coughing into his napkin
"I have some work thing in Paris and I'll be staying there for a few days and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me"
Dan stared at Phil "what?"
"You don't have to pay for anything, I've already asked if I can bring someone along with me and they said they'll cover any extra expenses and since we'd be staying in the same hotel room all they would have to pay for is your plane tickets"
"Are you sure you want me to come?"
"Of course I'm sure, I only have work for about two days so you'll be by yourself until the evening but that'll give you some time to explore and then we can stay there for about four more days. we'll be free to do what we want and we won't have to be afraid of your dad coming home early and catching us. and since I don't have a huge following there it would give us a chance to be together in public"
"An-"
"Did I also mention how romantic Paris is? Dinner on the top of the Eiffel tower, tours at the louver, and just walking round paris, we'll see notre dame de paris, arc de triomphe" phil said , his French accent was impeccable
Dan grinned "I didn't get anything after the Eiffel tower and the louver but it all sounds amazing"
Phil smiled "is that a yes?"
Dan's smile faltered "I have to ask dad first"
Phil picked at his napkin "sure" he acted casual but he didn't like that, he knew Dan's father wasn't his biggest fan and hoped he would be reasonable and let Dan come along with him
"Just because it's for such a long time and I need my passport and stuff.." Dan trailed off "he thinks I barely speak with you, how do you think he'll respond when I suddenly bring up flying to a whole other country with you?"
"I guess we'll have to find out, love"
Dan nodded, he could feel anxiety building up in his chest, he really didn't want to have to talk to his father about the whole thing but he really wanted to come along with Phil, it sounded like so much fun and it truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Phil reached his hand over his dining room table and clutched Dan's small hand, he watched as Dan's face that was strained in worry become more calm "you don't have to say yes of you don't want to ask your dad, it was just an idea, I get opportunities like these all the time" not all the time but Phil would be happy to take Dan to Paris even if he had to pay for the whole thing.
"No, I want to go and I'll ask my dad, he's a reasonable person"
--
Dan took a deep breath before knocking on the big wooden door that had a small metal plate which was engraved with the word 'office'
"Come in" a deep voice called and Dan gulped before turning the round silver handle
"Hi dad, do you have a minute?"
John put his finger up and placed it on his mouth, signaling Dan to stay silent "as I told you time and time before I cannot promise that-" he was cut off by the person on the other end and his face twisted in annoyance, he stared at the big wooden clock in front of him for a few seconds, listening to the person speak, his face turned a bit more calm "okay, I understand, the question is, do you understand because we've been through this before and-" silence, John chuckled "okay, yes, send my best to Becky and the kids" he chuckled again and glanced over at Dan who was sat in the big, brown leather stool near the door and played with his hands nervously "I will" john promised "goodbye Earl" he chuckled again before hanging up and smiling "god damn it he does not know when to shut up" he laughed halfheartedly and Dan chuckled nervously.
"So...dad" Dan started
"He's sending his best by the way" John said absentmindedly as he clicked something into his computer
"Great" Dan said, honestly, he didn't really remember anyone named Earl but just wanted to move on with the topic he actually came to his dad for.
"So-"
"It's nice you're visiting me here in the office, I mean whenever you're home you're always closed up in your room or watching something in the TV or whatever, and I'm only a door away" he cut Dan off again
"Yeah, so-"
"Did I show you my new chair? I had it especially made for me, it cost a bit extra but you know money isn't really a pr-"
"Can I go to Paris with Phil?" Dan said it fast and loud, so that his father would understand him and he wouldn't have to ask again, like ripping off a band aid.
John's joyful expression turned into a pissed off one "why would you go to Paris with someone you barely know and barely speak with anymore?" His words were sharp and venomous
"Um.." Dan stammered
"you know Dan, I'm not such a big fan of the internet and social media" john sat back down on his chair, his voice was much more collected and calm then before and that scared Dan a lot more.
John gestured Dan to sit on one of the white chairs that stood in front of his big, oak desk. when Dan did apprehensively, he resumed his talking "but every now and then, if I happen to have a lazy afternoon or in this case, a lazy Saturday morning I do like browsing the internet for a bit, and just to clear my mind and unwind a bit I like to look up the most idiotic celebrity gossip"
Dan stared at his father wide-eyed, not following were his father was going with his "speech"
"so" his father continued "after about twenty minutes I came across some very interesting photographs, and you know, I'm an old man and can't really see that well" he chuckled and Dan squirmed in his seat upon hearing the low, dark chuckle, it sounded so mean and his father's voice was venomous and evil, he sounded like a villain in a superhero film explaining how he was going to kill his victims. "But even my old eyes couldn't help but catch a glimpse of this stupid tattoo I could swear I saw somewhere, so I zoom in, and guess what I see? The most idiotic tattoo of wire with little pink flowers growing out or it" his tone was cynical and malicious "and so I think to myself, where in god's name was I that I saw such a stupid thing? And that's when it hit me. I was at my own house eating dinner with a "computer engineer"" Dan stared at his dad, terrified. He really had no idea what was his dad going to do but judging by his tone it wouldn't be anything nice.
"And not only that, his hands, which were covered by the most idiotic tattoos I have even seen, were wrapped around what could only be a boy's waist. So I sit there shocked for a few moments and I'm just about to call you and tell you that this guy was a huge fucking lair, not only was he gay but he was most certainly no computer engineer, because no computer specialist, no matter how good he is, is important enough to have paparazzies take photos of him. And that's when I saw it, the thin, red strip that was wrapped around the boy's thin wrist. That's when I realized you already knew".
Dan's left hand gripped around his right wrist. It was a couple of years ago, his dad and him were exploring this temple in Thailand when an old lady offered him a thin red strip to wear as a bracelet, it cost basically nothing and she did promise it was good luck, so of course Dan bought it. Good luck his ass.
A loud 'BANG' awoke Dan from his day dreaming, he looked up and across from him stood his father's fuming figure, his right hand was clenched to a tight fist and was slightly red from how hard he banged it against his desk ,his face was red, he resembled a predator.
"So over the last few weeks I've been a bit more observant, just so I could see if I was right. I started noticing things, like the fact that you didn't change your bed sheets nearly as often as you should, and when I walked into your room it smelled so different, a lot more masculine. or how you looked when you would come home, your hair was always messy and you were red faced, not to mention the purple marks on your neck" Dan's eyes widened in embarrassment, his dad was talking to him about these stuff and if that wasn't bad enough, he sounded grossed out, like the whole thing repulsed him, if it was a girl he probably would have been more awkward about the situation than disgusted. "I may be old but I'm not an idiot" he said, his voice was loud and threatening and spit came out of his mouth as he spoke, Dan winced in his chair, his hand moved up to touch the faint marks he had on his skin, marks that he used to love, because they made him feel loved and wanted, now disgusted him, and made him feel cheap. "and all the weight you've been piling on. Jesus, I mean I know they say that people tend to gain weight when their in love, but not this much" Dan felt like he was stubbed, his throat was clogged up from holding back tears and he lightly patted his stomach, which was still incredibly flat, but now felt like he was nine months pregnant to him. How could his dad be so nonchalant while talking about such hurtful, degrading subjects? "and now you come into my office, in my house that you have contaminated with your sinful acts', he gagged slightly "I don't even want to think about the things that went down here while I wasn't home, or even worse" he choked up, as if he was about to be sick "while I was in the house" he shut his mouth, as if to stop the sick from spilling out and shook his head "so here you are, asking me to fly away with your boyfr- some dude whom you lied to me about so you could commit more awful acts with him, in privet? And you think I'm going to agree to that?" Dan noticed his eyes were leaking and quickly wiped them with trembling hands, he thought his dad was fine with him being gay, but yet here he was, getting a lecture from his dad about how being gay is the worst thing he could do, talking about him and his boyfriend with such disgust in his voice he might as well be talking about a pile of trash. What a disappointment he was.
Dan gulped "I'm sorry" he whispered weakly
"So not only do you lie to me and say you and Phil barely talk, but you and him have been dating this whole time?"
Dan stayed silent, shaking in his sit
"Answer me you god damn liar!" his dad's fist collided with the hard surface of his wooden desk once more and a loud band echoed around the room.
Dan wasn't a liar, he hated lying to people and being lied to, but he knew that he had to hide his and Phil's relationship at the time, for his own safety. It's not like he ever wanted to lie to his father, he just had no other choice. He nodded shamefully.
His dad sighed "maybe your mum was right" Dan's head perked up at the mention of his mum, his parents split up on really bad terms and he wasn't really allowed to bring them up to each other, so the fact that his mum and dad talked with each other willingly baffled him.
"wh-what do you mean by 'mum was r-right?" it felt odd for Dan to say the word. MUM, it felt out of place in his mouth, he wasn't allowed to call her that anymore. In a way, it was sort of a good thing, because it suppurated her to two women-mum- a loving, caring person who only wanted the best for Dan. the person who taught him how to cook and sang him a lullaby every night, the woman who saw his drawings when he first started painting and always had something positive to comment. And on the other hand- a cold woman, who hurt and degraded her son, who cared much more about the bottle in her hand then her son, or about buying herself a new dress with the money Dan worked night and day to earn than paying the bills.
"I mean that maybe we should send you to a correction camp".
"No... Da- please, anything other than that" Dan pleaded, he'd heard a lot of really scary stories about places like that, some made him have a panic attack after simply reading about them, he didn't think he would be able to go through any of those awful things, just thinking about the possibility made his heart rate pick up and sent chills through his entire body.
"Anything?"
Dan nodded desperately
"Break up with him"
Dan's eyes widened and his face fell, his bottom lip quivered, he couldn't break up with Phil, Phil was the only source of happiness and hope he had left, without him... He didn't want to even imagine what life would be like.
"Please" he whispered "please, anything but that, I don't think I'll be able to-" he choked up but took a deep breath to steady his breathing "I'll be so- just please, not that"
His dad shook his head "it's either this or that, your choice, besides, and how are we supposed to bring you back on the right track if you have a boyfriend?"
"Wha- do you mean turn me straight?" Dan's mouth went dry, what the hell is going on? His dad was fine with him being gay but suddenly he's being intimidating and insulting him, and talking to his mum, and talking about sending him to a correction camp? What happened to his loving, caring father? And how could he be acting like such a complete idiot? You don't choose whether you're straight or gay, or whatever, you're born a certain way and there's no way you could change that. Dan used to pray he could change and become normal- straight, but after dating Phil he couldn't even imagine it, Phil brought him so much happiness and that wasn't worth changing himself to what some people thought was normal. Lately, he started to accept himself, he started to believe that it was fine to be gay, because finally he met people who accepted him for who he was and still liked him.
"But- I can't change how I was born"
A loud smack echoed across the room.
Dan clutched his aching cheek and gazed up at his father from the floor. He stood there, his hand balled into a tight fist as he towered over Dan "don't ever try that nonsense with me again, boy, or you'll get something much harsher than a slap"
Dan could feel his heart beating hard and the pain in his left cheek felt like a truck crushed into it, tears coated his shirt and a few drops of blood that poured out of a cut that was caused from his dad's ring stained the white carpet he was laying on. It was then, as he lay helpless on the red-stained carpet with his hand held tightly against his throbbing red cheek when he realized how powerless he really was. His dad was strong, much stronger than his mum, perhaps even stronger than the bullies from his school, and Dan was just... tired, he was so tired of being picked on and teased, and being hurt by people who are suppose to protect him. He breathed out heavily, gulped and nodded weakly "okay" he said, his voice shivered and so did his whole body.
His dad smiled "here you go" be handed him his phone "call him"
Dan nodded again, he wanted to make up an excuse, to say he'll text him, or meet up with him in person to do it, to send Phil some telepathic signal his dad was making him do it, but he just nodded, he felt defeated, and what was the point anywise? Even if Phil made him happy it would change one day, he was a burden to him, he knew it, he was simply too selfish to actually do something about it, Phil would move on, and Dan? Dan didn't matter anymore.
He pressed the contact philylion and a tear fell on the screen as he did, but he ignored it and jut brought the phone up to his ear, listening to the long rings impatiently.
His dad tapped him on the shoulder and Dan's body jolted away from his touch, but he didn't care "on speaker" he said calmly, so Dan pressed the speaker button
"Bambi!" Phil called happily from the other side
Dan chocked back a sob "hi Phil" he said, his voice surprisingly steady
"Did you ask him yet?" Dan could almost see him, sitting on his comfortable brown chair, that was so soft and warm you can basically just spend your entire life sitting on it, he could see Phil smiling, and he could see the warm mug of coffee he had on the desk in front of him, the old, brown wood holding so many pictures on it there's barely any place for the big, grey mug. Phil's favorite.
Dan breathed, his eyes glanced over to see his dad studying his face seriously "yeah" his voice broke a bit at the end
"Is everything okay?" And once again Dan saw him, his lean frame tense and his hands grabbing at the mug tightly, his big blue eyes turn into a worried, deeper blue and his pretty lips turning a bit lighter.
"Ye-well, no actually. I- we need to talk" Dan bit his lip, he never broke up with anyone before, the only knowledge he had about the subject was TV shows and his parents' divorce, and in neither of them did they show how to break up with someone you are madly in love with, someone you are incomplete without, Especially not While your dad is monitoring your every word.
"Is something wrong? Did he hurt you?" Phil's voice turned angry, hostile "do you want me to come over? Want to come over to my place?" yes Dan wanted to scream everything is wrong, please come get me, your house is the only place I feel really safe and warm and comfortable to be myself in, but instead he bit his bottom lip, not caring about the blood that poured down his chin and stained the white carpet even more "I want to break up"
He could hear Phil's breaths becoming heavier on the other side of the phone "wha- why?" His voice was sad and Dan could tell he was stopping himself from crying, he glanced up, only with his eyes, and saw his father's eyes boring into his "end the call" he mouthed to him, Dan picked at the carpet "it's too much for-for me a-and I, its t-too serious, I just wanted so-some fun" Dan was speaking nonsense, he had no idea what to say, he truly couldn't think about one reason he'd want to break up with the mesmerizing creature that is Phil Lester
"I had no idea, I'm so sorry, we can work this out Dan, I- I can't- please, I'll do anything"
Dan's hands pulled at the carpet so harshly he ripped a few parts off of it and they were now scattered around him. His vision was so blurry from tears he was basically blind.
"N-no, we c-cant I'm sorry p-Phil, good- goodbye" he was stuttering again, something he hasn't done in so long, it was something he did all the time before meeting Phil, because he felt scared and unsafe and alone.
"Dan plea-" Dan could hear Phil was crying on the other line, but before he could say anything he head a beep and he saw his father's large hand pick up his phone. He watched helplessly as he deleted Phil's number from his phone and threw it back on him.
"That was a good first step to recovery" he said as he left the room "now go take a shower, you look even worse than usual"
Dan lay on the ripped, stained and wet carpet limply and stared at the white ceiling, he felt so empty, more so then he ever felt in his whole pathetic life, the last few tears on his face dried and he closed his sore eyes.
useless, powerless, lonely, faggot, disappointment.

A/n as always, if you enjoyed please leave a vote and a comment because it truly makes my day❤
also, quick remainder that this story has a happy ending😄❤