Turned Table (phan)

Chapter Six

Phil had dragged his biggest blanket into the living room and he and Dan sat beneath it, cozily warm, while playing Sonic. After discovering that both of them loved cheese pizza and the same video games, Dan and Phil were enjoying each other's company openly.
However, Dan couldn't help but worry about Adrian and what he was going to do tonight. Dan was sure he could stay at the orphanage, but he didn't feel like he could face Adrian after their fight. Not yet, at least.
Phil's mind was in overdrive as he sat next to Dan. He wondered where he would be staying, and what had happened between Dan and Adrian. Dan hadn't been especially clear. He also wondered if he was insane for inviting a near-stranger to spend Christmas with him.
In a break from the video games, Dan and Phil were enjoying the last few pieces of pizza and Phil voiced his concern.
"Erm, are you going back to your home, uh, you know, for tonight?" Phil cringed internally at his awkwardness, but Dan didn't seem to notice. He was too anxious about the decision making to care.
"I'm not very sure, honestly. I'll find somewhere to stay. I should probably go soon, actually," Dan said, suddenly conscious of how long he'd been bothering Phil. "Um, I can change back into my shirt before I leave," Dan offered.
"That's fine. But, hey, you don't have to go yet if you don't want," Phil responded cautiously. He was enjoying Dan's company quite a lot. "And, if you have nowhere to stay tonight, you're welcome to stay here." Phil wondered again if he was insane, and realized Dan was probably going to run as far away from Phil as possible now.
"Oh, thanks, man," Dan struggled to find the words to accept Phil's offer. Besides, he was probably just being nice and Dan should just go. Despite these thoughts, Dan felt out of control of his words as he answered a little too eagerly, "I would really appreciate staying here tonight, if you wouldn't mind. I don't want to intrude."
"No," Phil replied, "you're company is pretty enjoyable." Phil suppressed an awkward laugh.

Dan and Phil had spent their entire afternoon playing video games, and Dan was surprised how well he and Phil got along.
"What do you want for Christmas dinner? Microwave dinner or tacos?" Phil joked, speaking loudly to Dan from the kitchen.
"Only the top notch food in this flat, I see," Dan laughed.
"Oh, wait! Stir fry!" Dan heard Phil clap happily and smiled. He was already used to Phil's adorable five-year-old nature that appeared when Phil got particularly excited about something, even if it was the most trivial thing. Dan found it admirable how quickly Phil could go from being serious to quirky to dirty to childlike in the span of an hour.
"Stir fry's good," Dan confirmed, and he could hear Phil skip happily around in the other room. Soon, the elegant Christmas Day meal was ready.
"We should play a game," suggested Phil, as he and Dan sat under the blanket across from each other on the couch.
"Like what?"
Phil thought for a moment, wondering what you could play with someone you don't know too well. "Truth or dare!"
"No, Phil," Dan whined.
"Please?"
Dan pouted a few seconds and then gave in. "Alright, but I go first. Truth or dare."
"Dare," Phil said, smirking devilishly.
"I dare you," Dan paused to think, "to drink a spoon of soy sauce."
"Ew," Phil squealed. Dan grabbed a spoon off the table and the soy sauce, holding them out to Phil. "Can I pick truth," Phil asked, reluctantly taking the items. He poured soy sauce onto the spoon and held it up to his mouth. "Give me a countdown," Phil said, disgust in his voice.
"Three," Dan counted dramatically, "two, one!"
Phil's face contorted as he forced himself to swallow the salty dressing, and Dan laughed loudly.
"Bleh," Phil stuck out his tongue and grabbed his water glass, downing the drink. "Eh, it's not helping," Phil finished the water, sighing when the tase was almost gone. Dan was almost in tears, folded over laughing. "Shut up," Phil giggled shoving Dan lightly.
"Okay," Dan giggled, catching his breath. "Okay, I," a small laugh escaped between his words, "I'm good."
Phil glared weakly at Dan for a moment, still tasting the soy sauce on the back if his tongue and vowing never to use it again. "Truth or dare," he asked Dan.
"Erm," Dan wondered which to pick. He could say truth, but risk having to talk about his past. But if he said dare, Phil would undoubtedly come up with a terrible revenge dare. "Truth," Dan said quietly.
Phil was shocked. Surely Dan, as insightful as Phil had discovered him to be, had considered that Phil might ask him about his family or something personal. He wondered what to do with this newfound display of trust.
"Why didn't you want me to know you lived at an orphanage?"
Dan hesitated, but not long enough to make Phil think he hadn't expected a question along these lines. "It's not a thing you really advertise, I guess. I don't want people to pity me. I don't want attention. I just want to live my life how it's always been. I want to be boring and alone." Dan was quiet for a few seconds. "Well, that was depressing. Truth or dare?"
Phil was amazed at Dan's skill of avoidance and perfectly mixed in humor and sarcasm. It was enough to keep the tone light, but not too much that it made Dan seem immature and silly. "Truth," Phil responded, not wanting to taste more more soy sauce.
Dan decided to lighten the mood, and asked, "What's the farthest you've ever been with someone?"
Phil thought back to his ex-boyfriend and the intimate moments they shared, his heart hurting with a dull, worn pain. "I've never even kissed a girl," Phil admitted, ashamed.
"What about a guy?" Dan pushed, his voice quieter.
Phil was surprised for a moment that Dan had asked. "Yeah."
Dan didn't respond for a moment. "Who was he?"
Phil felt his stomach drop thinking about him. "His name was Ethan. We broke up in September. We'd been dating for over a year, but he decided he wasn't into guys anymore."
Dan was quiet. So much for his light hearted question. "I'm sorry," Dan said, unsure of how to comfort Phil.
"It's fine. Now, anyways. Hey, you know what we should do?"
"What?" Dan asked, still concerned about Phil.
"Watch Death Note!"
"What's that?" Dan asked curiously.
Phil gasped and jumped at Dan. "Oh, my God. It's the best anime to exist."
"Anna, what?" Dan looked at Phil as if he was insane.
"I've never been so disappointed, Phil mumbled, leaping off the couch and setting up the show. "Are you ready to be enlightened?"
Dan laughed. He grabbed a pillow curled up on the couch, feeling happier than he could ever remember feeling before.

Phil slowly opened his eyes, glad he'd put on glasses midway through the marathon. He adjusted to the light and rubbed his eyes, freezing when he realized that his other arm was around Dan, who had snuggled against Phil's chest at some point and was holding onto Phil's fingers lightly.
Phil stared, entranced with Dan's sleeping form. He felt a tingle in his chest where Dan's head lay, and he carefully leaned down, gently putting his lips to Dan's hair and then turned off the TV before falling back asleep.