* Lost Boys ~ Dan/Howell • Phil/Lester *

first feast + war stories

After devouring their meals, focusing wholeheartedly on the food in front of them instead of the people around them, Dan and Phil began to converse. Their time apart seemed to have taken a slight toll on them for some reason.

"So are you f-feeling any better?"

"Yes. Thanks for giving your blood. Doc said without it I probably would not have made it."

"It was no big deal."

Phil leaned in a bit closer and quietened in tone. It felt a bit too intimate for Dan but he didn't really mind it.

"Also where are we and are we safe and who even was that doctor guy and what is going on and why am I sat a table full of boys feasting???"

Dan then educated his companion on the backstory he had obtained earlier. It took him about an hour to explain everything. Those around them carried on, eating, jesting, and having a wonderful time being obnoxiously joyous. They acted giddy to a point in the company of their many friends. But the boys with brown and black hair simply talked quietly and communicated through body language if they couldn't hear. After the blue eyes boy was completely filled in Dan sat back in his chair, exhausted from regaling his learnings.

"So... whaddya think?"

"I mean it's just all so fast and crazy. And I also kinda wanna know about what happens in mortem Domum..."

"Ah yes that reminds me-"

Dans brown pupils carefully scanned the room. he then realised that the boy he was looking for was right next to him.

"Leo!"

A frail, blonde haired boy jumped at the sudden interjection of a voice.

"y-yes?"

mortem Domum. Mind telling some to me and Phil. He's been bored to death in that room they keep him in."

"o-oh uh... s-sure..I g-guess"

Phil and Dan leaned in like Cherokee children listening to their grandmas wives-tales.

"well I guess it all started when I left. I ran away form home at around 7. Bad home life..."

the boy stared hollowly at the empty plate in front of him. CLANK. two glasses crashing together as a toast broke him from the void he had temporarily entered.

"Oh-s-sorry where was I?"

"You had run away?" dan answered promptly

"Ah yes. I lived in the city too so I had to learn quickly how to beg. How to fight. I got involved with some...unsavoury people. Cops got involved and I fled. I just ran towards the sun and hoped it wouldn't lead me astray...well mortem Domum had been contemplating recruiting people from that group for a long while and i just happened to come to them. They were very persuasive when getting me to join, but I did. The first few weeks were great. Everyone seemed to like me and I was getting along quite nicely. Then say told me that I wasn't paying rent which confused me. After further inquiry I found out that to live there I had to be hazed or I would have to pay rent. I had no money at all. I had nowhere else to go. So I chose to go through with it. They told me that I had three weeks to choose a partner in crime then my hazing ceremony would happen. A lot of people kissed up to me. I guess I must have had some sort of pull with the council. They seemed to like me. So of course i completely disregarded all those ass-kissers and went for the small, timid boy. He may have been small, but he was smart, and he was good in pressured situations. He knew how to handle himself. I knew when I introduced myself and he stuttered and mumbled like a bumbling fool we would be perfect. He wasn't necessarily popular. Mainly because every time he was forced to go hunting he tried to save the game and protect it. But I liked him and that was all that mattered. Those three weeks were the best of my entire life. We became the best of friends. We did everything together. I never thought I would feel safe with anyone but I did with him. Then before I knew it hazing day came and... "

"yes?" Dan prodded

"And..."

visible dew drops were forming in Leo's bloodshot eyes

"And that's all for today. We can talk again some other time maybe- goodbye"

the boy disappeared from the table in a whirl of blonde hair and muffled sobs

Phil and Dan exchanged confused, concerned and nervous glances, but just silently finished their food and cleared their plates. None of the others seemed to notice the boy running out of the room crying because of the fanfaronade that was occurring. The two boys were washing their plates at the sink.

"Phil?"

"Yes Dan?"

"Was I too pushy with Leo?"

"No. Of course not. He's obviously an emotional guy and it may have just dug up some things thinking about it, but you didn't do anything wrong."

"are you sure?"

They looked at each other

"I am sure. Everything will be okay"

they held the eye contact for a good fifteen seconds before a loud group of boys came stumbling in with stacks of plates to be washed.

Dan skilfully piloted Phil's wheelchair back to the "medic wing" and got him into bed safely.

he began to exit the room but he was interrupted

"Dan?"

"yes Phil?"

"Can you stay? You don't have to for the whole night. I just don't sleep well alone."

"Sure"

Dan knew there wouldn't be enough room in the bed for both of them so he simply pulled up one of the "blood-donating-chairs" and made himself a makeshift bed by pulling up a stool to rest his weary feet on. The most warm, comfortable silence filled the room. With nothing but the sound of rain pattering against the window and the solace of a friend, he fell asleep and so did his companion. Dan never did get up; there was no reason to. He didn't have a bed anyways. They slept peacefully: at home