You're Never Alone

Chapter 33

Word Count: 987

The next night Dan is up on the roof of the warehouse in a hoodie and jeans with a cup of hot coffee in his hands. He stares off into the city with the stars looking down at him, twinkling and keeping him company. Although he's too far away to see it, he looks off into the direction of the palace, thinking of everything that happened there and of everything that he went through especially with Phil.

He remembers seeing Phil laying on the floor of the tank passed out as his father turned away from him. Dan takes a sip of coffee and swallows it slowly as the memory washes over him. It flows through his head but Dan doesn't become emotional as he let's it drift away. He soon frowns as a new memory takes over his thoughts.

"You're telling me that while I was on the cold dungeon floor, you were up in your cozy ass room?" Phil asks in shock and Dan holds his head in his hand.

"It's not that simple-" Dan starts.

Phil interrupts him angrily. "Then you wouldn't mind explaining."

Cozy bed? Dan thinks to himself and the memory of their most recent argument also comes to mind.

"It worked well actually." Dan can feel his anger boiling beneath his skin, a feeling he's gotten used to over the past months. "I got information and I've been planning with PJ for months. We might actually have a shot at killing the king!"

    "In some plush palace that you've lived in all your life," Phil mutters and Dan breathes out deeply as his eyes begin to glow.

    Dan inhales as he tries to get control and Phil turns around to look at him with another glare worse than before. "Don't you fucking dare."

Dan feels like he's been punched in the stomach. Why does Phil always think that he's in some 'cozy' room or some 'plush' palace? He thinks as his breath catches in his throat. He takes a deep breath before taking a another drink from the mug in his fingertips. The warmth from the coffee flows through him as the cool July air slightly nips at his cheeks. The stars reflect from the liquid and Dan smiles as he looks down into the mug.

All the memories of the palace begin to flood his head so Dan sets down the mug to his side before looking up at the stars in awe. He lets them just run through his mind until a certain one catches his attention. It's from when they were in the tank filling with water and Phil started talking to him as they were treading water desperately trying to stay afloat.

"If we don't make it out of this, I just wanted to say thank you. For saving my brother from this whole mess when you could," Dan says to Phil, treading water.

Phil chuckles. "Well of course. I would do anything to help him and you because I believe that's the right thing to do."

Dan sighs as bad memories start to get stuck in his mind, grabbing his chest with their claws and pulling the tears from his eyes. They fall down Dan's cheeks and he takes in a shuddering breath as he looks back at the city he once believed was his home. He sits and stays there alone until light starts to fill the sky. As the sun peeks over the horizon, Dan grabs his mug and goes back inside to the kitchen.

He sets it in the sink and goes to go back to his room when he suddenly notices PJ leaning against the counter near the door. Dan jumps about a foot in the air and holds a hand to his chest.

"Jesus fucking Christ, PJ," Dan says as his heart pounds beneath his hand. "Don't scare me like that."

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," PJ replies sheepishly and Dan smiles as he composes himself, turning to leave. He stops before he reaches the door as PJ stops him by grabbing his arm and he searches Dan's red eyes for a moment. "Hey are you alright?"

Dan opens his mouth to respond until Phil walks into the kitchen making him stop from saying anything. "I'm fine," he mutters before pulling away from PJ and leaving the room.

Phil looks after him but decides against following him as he grabs a muffin from the container on the counter. He leans against the counter across from PJ as his friend just looks at him.

"Is he okay?" Phil quietly asks and PJ just shakes his head as he gives a short laugh.

"You're killing him, Phil." PJ runs a hand through his hair as Phil looks away. "He did everything to protect you and yet this is how you repay him. You insult him, ignore him, love him one minute but hate him the next, avoid him at all costs. I mean, what're you doing? You're ripping him apart carelessly!"

Phil bites his lip as he looks back up at him with tears in his eyes. "I know, Peej."

"Then why're you just hurting him more?" PJ asks but Phil doesn't have an answer. "Phil, he loves you with all his heart and yet you go stomping on it like it's nothing."

The tears fall down Phil's cheeks and he nods, crossing his arms across his chest. "I'm trying but-"

"But what?" Phil shakes his head as he doesn't answer, looking away again. "Phil, you gotta talk to me here. I'm trying to help you but you don't seem to want it. Dan needs you more than you think and you rejecting him isn't going to make how you feel go away. You're just going to break Dan even more."

And with that PJ walks out of the kitchen leaving Phil to dwell on his own thoughts alone.

Prepare yourselves...