A boy raised around religion and the discounts for sin, Phil Lester is definitely not one to go around looking for trouble. With his father being the vicar of their local church, Phil has a lot to live up to and has to keep his reputation high if he's to be accepted. He doesn't do parties or drinking; the thought of sex alone is enough to terrify him. So it's no wonder that when Dan Howell, a boy who embraces the life of parties and rebellious acts, shows up to join the church program, Phil starts having trouble keeping himself sane as he tries to teach Dan the path to God. But, religion isn't the thing on Dans mind and he seems to find himself a new toy to play with. [warning: this does contain violence and mature content (as shown) and there's a lot on the topic of homosexuality and negative views towards it from characters in the story. Please read on with care <3]

In many ways, Phil's life is perfect: he loves his life in London, he has a wonderful brother and parents, and he has a great job as a radio DJ for BBC Radio One. There's only one thing missing in his life. A rumor reaches an executive at the BBC about a talented local piano player named Daniel. The executive decides that Daniel would be the perfect guest on Phil's radio show, so she send Phil to speak with the evasive and mysterious piano player. When they finally meet, Phil starts to think that he has found the person who will make his life complete. Unfortunately, Dan has a secret that will make getting close to him difficult.

The year is 2096. The earth has seen two more world wars since 2016. The last war that destroyed a quarter of Canada and half of Japan, was enough to make the government enforce strict actions. Countries are now split, no communication at all between them. Humans now live in conglomerations of small pods stacked upon each other. Each person has their own space, but they're all confined to being underground. Half of the people living inside the pods have never seen natural sunlight. Birth rates are violently controlled due to the lack of space and pods constantly having to be built. Couples are allowed, but physical contact reaching past anything more than a hug is forbidden. Sex is strictly banned unless it is agreed by contract or an operation is done to assure a baby cannot be created. It's a tough life. It's a boring life. And it's a lonely one too. A life underground simply isn't good enough for some and sooner or later, you have to leave the shadows.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY IN ANYWAY POSSIBLE. ALL CREDITS GO TO LVCKYPHAN ON ARCHIVEOFOUROWN.

Dan is different. He's learned to accept that. Well, as best he can anyway, considering he's never really had much of a choice. It's been this way for as long as he can remember, the constant runaround process of trying to feel normal. His life is built around it, trying to trick both himself and everyone he interacts with into seeing him as your average person. The isolation as he desperately tries to keep others from finding out, the bitterness that wells up inside of him each and every time he's reminded that he'll never be like everyone else, the fear that nothing will ever change. He's fated to be this way forever; a misfit from society. Isolation can only go so far though, so when he's struggling to make ends meet and he's faced with the option of looking into a serious job or taking on a roommate, he opts for what seems like the easier option at the time. It doesn't seem so easy ten failed roommates into the process, or when he sits down at a table to meet with prospect number eleven and ends up with a coffee spilled all over his lap. Potential roommate number eleven, Phil, turns out to be an insufferable optimistic ball of sunshine that Dan wants nothing to do with. His options are running out though, as are the savings he's been using to pay his rent, so he finds himself begrudgingly agreeing to let the other man move in. Neither of them have any way of knowing just what they've gotten themselves into as they shake on the matter, but time will tell.

Dan is a dancer, but it's his best kept secret. Moving to a new college results in new friends, new hobbies and a new outlook in life; but what does it really mean to be human? A series of strange and seemingly unconnected events unfold that all seem to link back to Dan's mysterious new boyfriend. etcetc phan with kickthestickz This story carries some warnings, however they're p much all spoilers except non-graphic violence and injury on one occasion, and non-described minor character death. No major character death and no self harm. Please message me if you think you'll need to know the TWs! To avoid spoilers, you can give me a list of things you don't want to read for whatever reason and I'll let you know if they're in the fic or not :)

Dan Howell just turned eighteen, and he has been dragged to spend the summer in the north woods of Minnesota in America by his mother, who is trying to find peace in the midst of a major career change. Phil Lester's family owns and operates a lake camp, the very one in which the Howell family temporarily resides. Dan feels betrayed by his family and vows to spend the entire summer brooding, until Phil finds a way to get inside his heart. Friendship becomes love, and love becomes forever in this slightly-angsty, texture-rich, romantic tale of falling in love for the first and last time. ____________________________ This is a work of fiction inspired by Dan and Phil. I don't intend to cause harm or imply anything with regard to their personal relationship. Thank you for following me! Please share if you enjoy. Comments are welcome and appreciated. Love, SpringHaze