[No] Homo

Chapter Twenty

March 17th, 1946

Stockport, England

"Yellow paint?" Phil asked, smiling as he watched Dan. Dan nodded, painting the wall with the paint he was given.

"Declan gave it to me," said Dan, "told me it would help with coping I guess." He shrugged, not understanding. But Phil knew what Declan was getting at.

"I like it," Phil responded and Dan thanked him, grinning to himself. Dan watched his hand as he gripped the paint brush, the smooth paint going over the words Dan had wrote on the wall a couple weeks ago.

He didn't mean to have an episode. It was the pills.

"Care for a smoke?"

Dan furrowed his eyebrows, looking up at Phil.

"Sorry?"

"A smoke?" Burkin offered. Dan blinked, shaking his head. He had forgotten where he was for a moment.

"I don't smoke," said Dan, and Burkin nodded, starting up yet another one. It was his 7th one within the time frame, and every time he had asked Dan for a smoke, Dan had counted.

Dan watched as he pulled in a drag.

"Phil, why?" Dan asked as he watched Phil blow the smoke out the window. He saw Dan was watching him and he threw the cigarette out the window.

"Just needed a quick smoke, love." Phil closed the window and walked towards Dan. Dan let him put his arms around his shoulders and kiss him.

Dan breathed in Phil's scent, him smelling of a hint of smoke and strawberries, like the old Phil. Dan's mind flooded with memories of their University life and he smiled against Phil's warm chest.

"I'm sorry," whispered Phil. Dan shook his head, keeping the moment in his sane brain a while longer, hoping it'd stay and he would remember it.

"S'alright," Dan didn't say much about it. He never really did these days.

---

In the evening, Phil helped Dan paint some more and he mentioned getting to bed at a decent time. Dan happily agreed, saying he was tired. Phil shut off the radio, nothing but music played these days as the war had ended and no more updates were needed.

"Did you take your pills?" Phil asked as Dan undressed. He nodded.

"'Course," said Dan, unclipping his suspenders, and pulling off his pants. Phil did the same to himself and got into bed, waiting for Dan to join him.

"Your mum ringed earlier today," Phil mentioned, him remembering and Dan looked into his eyes.

"Really?" Dan asked, "W-what'd— what was her message?"

Phil grabbed the note scribbled on his bedside table, his eyes drifting over the words he wrote.

"She just phoned to say hello, and ask how you were doing," his eyes scanned it more, "and that was really it." He paused. "Oh, and Adrian and Adam got into the University's they wanted."

Dan smiled.

"I miss them," Dan said and Phil put the note back.

"I suppose we should take another trip out there." Phil said and Dan walked over, getting into bed. He laid down and Phil scooted himself down as well.