DEADROSES | PHAN

-ˏˋ twelve ˎˊ-

i'm so sorry about the last chapter it's so shit this one probably is too i'm so tired forgive me

☾ ☽

dan smiled, pushing open the glass door with his shoulder, listening to the tinkle of the bell hung from the frame.

he was hit in the face with warmth, and the scent of coffee and old books. he wrapped his arms around himself, smiling at eliza who he spotted across the room.

she was carrying boxes, and she rolled her eyes as she passed him.

"he's in the back," she muttered, her smile almost brash. dan nodded, clearing his throat.

he made his way to the back of the shop, admiring book spines as he went. it was such a pretty place, but it really would look so much nicer with some of phil's artwork.

phil looked up from his armchair as dan approached, dan assumed from hearing the footsteps.

"hey," he said lightly, his sky blue eyes twinkling when they landed on dan. "you ready?"

dan nodded, a couple curls falling in his eyes. he pushed them away, and then shoved his hands in his navy pockets.

they had fallen into a routine. dan and phil both left for work around the same time, although dan had less "shifts", and phil would wait for dan at the shop. then they would get coffee or something like that, and go home.

it was silly, dan felt almost comfortable enough to call phil's flat his home. he had gotten so used to staying there that it was natural, really. he nearly felt more comfortable there than he had at jarvis's house.

dan watched, farouche, as phil stood up, setting down the book he had been reading from. he pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, grinning crookedly at dan. dan smiled back, his head falling to the side.

he considered phil a friend. he just hoped he felt the same.

phil was just about the kindest person dan had ever met. he was generous, and polite, and a sweet person in general. he had welcomed dan into his home in a time of need, and dan would always be in debt to him for that.

it occurred to dan, as phil grabbed his jacket, that he had also respected dan's boundaries immensely. he must be at least a little curious, but he had never pushed dan to tell him about his job or his past or his shoes.

"you okay?"

phil's velvety voice interrupted dan's thoughts. he looked up from where he had been staring to see phil's slightly concerned face.

"uh huh," dan muttered, smiling widely to prove his point. phil raised an eyebrow.

"alright..."

phil held out his hand, and dan took it.

he let phil lead him to the door, waving goodbye to an aggravated looking eliza, the door bell tinkling happily.

when they were outside phil dropped his hand, and dan self consciously shoved both into his pockets again.

"where to today?" he asked, pushing his glasses up again. "seven suns?"