I Am Not Your Master; I Am Your Partner: A (Neko) Dan and (Human) Phil Series

"The Fight Was Yours"

She stood at the kitchen window and watched as the sun rose over the English countryside. The dusty pink color touched everything that she could see. The kettle whined, and she cursed the thing under her breath, for it interrupted her thoughts. She sighed deeply and reached for her cup.

Her husband slept, unaware that his wife no longer occupied her side of the bed. She tried to sleep, she really did. She couldn't get the young man out of her head. It wasn't his piercing blue eyes, porcelain skin, or his smooth, deep voice that caused him to linger in her mind. It was his conviction and the brown-eyed Neko boy seated beside him that really haunted her.

* * *

"I'm always so nervous." Phil fussed with his hair as Dan smoothed over the back of his jacket with a lint roller. "I know that I'll be fine once I get out there, but right now I -"

"You will be amazing Phil, pun intended." Dan winked at him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered.

Phil relaxed. He brought his hands up to cover Dan's. "Thank you Sweetheart. I am proud of you too." He turned and kissed Dan on the lips. "So proud."

Phil's campaign started almost seven and a half years ago. He first spoke about the mistreatment of Nekos on his YouTube channel. His career was young then, and it was incredibly risky to take a strong stance on such a controversial social issue. Phil was occasionally met with hostility, though he did not let it deter him. He was happy to take the heat so long as it never reached Dan. He took great care to protect his baby.

Phil raised awareness by uploading previously unseen video footage of Neko trade practices. People knew little about Nekos in general, and Phil knew that people feared what they didn't understand. So, he worked to educate his audience, hoping that he could some day extend his reach. Though it took nearly a year, Phil started receiving invitations to panel discussions.

"Dan! Dan, come quickly!" Phil covered his mouth with his hands and stared at the screen in disbelief. Dan came bounding in from the kitchen, where he had been baking apple tarts. He stood in the doorway wearing an apron, smelling of cinnamon and sugar, with a dusting of flour on his nose.

"What is it Daddy?" Dan couldn't imagine what could possibly have Phil so excited. He moved behind Phil and leaned forward, settling his chin on his left shoulder.

"I can't believe it. I have been invited to speak on a panel at a convention in London!" Phil took a deep breath and brought his right hand up to cup Dan's cheek, pressing it into his own. He could feel Dan smiling and the precious indentation of his dimple. "This convention is really important. People from all over Europe come to hear speakers discuss pressing social issues. Viewers have been writing to the directors on my behalf and submitting my articles and videos." Phil spun around in his chair and pulled Dan into his lap.

"I am so proud of you Phil." Dan looked down into Phil's dewy eyes. "I knew that you would make your mark; you're so brave, and so smart, and so incredible." Phil tipped his head back and kissed Dan, pulling him in at the waist.

"Come with me." Phil whispered into Dan's mouth. He nodded carefully so as not to break the kiss. Phil squeezed him closer, causing Dan's tail to curve softly behind them.

It was the first of many. Every public appearance led to another invitation. Nothing made Phil more proud than to speak out against the injustice. All he wanted to do was to protect the unprotected. Dan was his greatest inspiration and motivation.

Now Phil was ready to speak with an American journalist, who had made a name for herself by confronting controversial issues. This particular talk was being streamed. Live events always made Phil nervous, but this time, he would be joined by his fiancé.