☾ ☽

"dan..."

phil frowned, searching the boy's face. his eyes were still closed, but they twitched.

dan's cheeks were flushed, but other than that, the rest of his face was pale and almost hollow. worry flared in phil's stomach.

eliza had left almost an hour ago. she had helped him pick dan up, and carry him onto the couch. he didn't seem hurt from the fall after he had collapsed; he had more crumpled than fallen anyways.

eliza had instructed him to put a cool washcloth on dan's forehead and leave him be, but phil just couldn't. well, he couldn't do one of those things.

so that was why he was sitting on the couch, dan's head resting in his lap, a damp towel draped over his temple.

phil didn't understand. why had dan passed out? was he sick? why was he home early in the first place?

he and eliza had decided to use their break to set up dan's bed; he had gotten a do-it-yourself bed frame for him. he never would have thought dan would be there. did he come home at that time every day, or had something happened?

dan groaned from below him, and phil's head snapped down to study his face. what if he was in pain?

his eyelids flickered before opening, his dark eyelashes fanning over his pale cheeks.

"p-phil?"

phil nodded, hushing him.

"sh-sh-sh... you're alright. you just fainted. how are you feeling?"

dan blinked, glancing around, his face going completely red when he realized the somewhat intimate position they were in. phil was just glad to see blood in his face again.

"i d-don't know..." he licked his lips, squinting. "my head hurts."

"do you want some advil?" phil asked, smiling, careful to keep his voice soft.

"yes please," dan muttered, looking almost guilty for accepting his offer.

phil nodded, getting up and replacing his thigh with a pillow. dan sighed shakily.

as phil got the pills, he came to a decision, and by the time he sat back down on the couch and handed dan a few blue pills and a glass of water, he knew what he was going to do.

he waited for dan to swallow, and took the glass from him, setting it down on the coffee table.

"so, dan..." he sighed. "you need to tell me what's going on."

dan froze, his eyes flickering up to meet phil's.

"what do you mean...?" he asked, as slowly as he could get away with. phil cleared his throat.

"i mean, why were you home? did something happen at work? and, are you sick...?"

dan relaxed considerably.

"and why the hell do you still wear those damn shoes?"

he tensed again.

"well," he started, sitting up carefully. "i was home because i was sick. and i walked, so the heat probably didn't help much." he shrugged. "that's probably why i fainted."

phil nodded, searching his face.

"that makes sense," he said finally. "and the shoes?"

dan bit his lip.

"i'm not too fond of talking about it..." he said quietly. "but my mum made them for me, when i was younger. she was a bit crazy. but when she left, i didn't want to take them off, you know?"

phil sat up straighter. he was finally getting some insight into dan's story- he had expected him just to say no, or give him some vague answer, but this was so much better.

"your mum left...?" he asked softly. dan looked away, laughing weakly and a bit nervously.

"did i say that? i meant she-" he cut himself off abruptly, sucking in a sharp breath. "she- they, they're gone."

phil was quiet, watching him, his lips tugging downward into a frown. god, he felt so bad. it wasn't any of his business, anyways.

"so jarvis is your...?"

"godfather," dan finished. "or so i've heard." he laughed sadly. "he must have been much nicer when he knew my parents."

phil nodded, and silence consumed them. jesus, dan really did have a messed up life. how did he stay so cheerful all the time?

"but... i'm really really sorry if this is rude, but... they seem like they're hurting you."

dan flinched.

"they are."

"dan, you can still keep them. you don't have to wear them everywhere you go." he paused, and then added, "but it's none of my business."

dan was quiet for a solid minute, staring at his feet. phil imagined he was in pain, or feeling sick... finally he spoke again.

"i have my reasons." he smiled tightly. "just trust me on that. you don't want to get caught up in my drama."

that made phil even more confused. what kind of drama could dan possibly have? as far as phil could see, he was a sweet, sometimes odd, young adult who still wore clothes that seemed fit for a child, but managed to look good in them. he was some sort of incredible. so maybe that meant there had to be a flaw- right?

"but i do," phil found himself saying, and dan looked up at him.

suddenly dan was crying, and phil couldn't even bring himself to wonder why. tears stained his rosy cheeks, and phil found himself reaching over, pulling him into a hug. it was stupid, but he felt responsible for dan's safety. for his happiness.

he just held him for a few minutes before dan seemed to realize what was happening, and pulled away. he smiled sadly at phil, getting up.

"trust me," he said softly. "you'd be better off without it."

he disappeared into his room, and didn't come out for the rest of the night.