i'm so sorry about the last chapter it's so shit this one probably is too i'm so tired forgive me

☾ ☽

dan smiled, pushing open the glass door with his shoulder, listening to the tinkle of the bell hung from the frame.

he was hit in the face with warmth, and the scent of coffee and old books. he wrapped his arms around himself, smiling at eliza who he spotted across the room.

she was carrying boxes, and she rolled her eyes as she passed him.

"he's in the back," she muttered, her smile almost brash. dan nodded, clearing his throat.

he made his way to the back of the shop, admiring book spines as he went. it was such a pretty place, but it really would look so much nicer with some of phil's artwork.

phil looked up from his armchair as dan approached, dan assumed from hearing the footsteps.

"hey," he said lightly, his sky blue eyes twinkling when they landed on dan. "you ready?"

dan nodded, a couple curls falling in his eyes. he pushed them away, and then shoved his hands in his navy pockets.

they had fallen into a routine. dan and phil both left for work around the same time, although dan had less "shifts", and phil would wait for dan at the shop. then they would get coffee or something like that, and go home.

it was silly, dan felt almost comfortable enough to call phil's flat his home. he had gotten so used to staying there that it was natural, really. he nearly felt more comfortable there than he had at jarvis's house.

dan watched, farouche, as phil stood up, setting down the book he had been reading from. he pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, grinning crookedly at dan. dan smiled back, his head falling to the side.

he considered phil a friend. he just hoped he felt the same.

phil was just about the kindest person dan had ever met. he was generous, and polite, and a sweet person in general. he had welcomed dan into his home in a time of need, and dan would always be in debt to him for that.

it occurred to dan, as phil grabbed his jacket, that he had also respected dan's boundaries immensely. he must be at least a little curious, but he had never pushed dan to tell him about his job or his past or his shoes.

"you okay?"

phil's velvety voice interrupted dan's thoughts. he looked up from where he had been staring to see phil's slightly concerned face.

"uh huh," dan muttered, smiling widely to prove his point. phil raised an eyebrow.

"alright..."

phil held out his hand, and dan took it.

he let phil lead him to the door, waving goodbye to an aggravated looking eliza, the door bell tinkling happily.

when they were outside phil dropped his hand, and dan self consciously shoved both into his pockets again.

"where to today?" he asked, pushing his glasses up again. "seven suns?"

seven suns was a nearby cafe that they always went to. it was a pun, because really the shop was run by a family with seven sons.

phil knew one of the baristas, which made dan feel kind of alone, but he pushed it aside. he nodded.

"can we maybe... walk for a bit first?"

phil raised his eyebrows, his eyes lighting up. "sure, of course. i know a really cool chinese place near the pier, if you want carry out tonight?"

dan smiled, and nodded. he admired how well phil knew the city.

they walked in silence for a few minutes, and dan watched his breath evaporate in front of him. he felt kind of bad for keeping all these secrets from the man who had done so much to help him.

he glanced over, his eyes flickering over phil's face. he was watching his own feet, smiling to himself. his hair had formed a little bit of a quiff all by itself, and his glasses had slid down his nose again.

dan felt weird when he looked at him. sort of... squirmy. it felt like he had drank mug after mug of coffee, and now he was full of caffeine. it was indescribable.

he forced his gaze away, mimicking his roommate and watching his own feet, but that made him aware of the sharp pain he was in, and looked at the sidewalk instead.

"mister!"

dan's eyes shot up at the high pitched voice. he looked around, finally spotting a little boy, maybe seven, running towards them. he looked at phil, who looked confused.

"mister," the boy repeated, sliding to a stop in front of them. dan swallowed, his heart beating like a drum. "can you do the thing again, mister?"

phil was frowning at him with a delicate curiosity.

"um..." he glanced at phil, and then at the child wearing a butterfly shirt, and back at phil. he sighed. "of course."

he turned to phil, smiling sheepishly.

"will you just meet me at seven suns?"

phil nodded, laughing. "yeah, dan. i'll see you there."

dan watched him walk away, and for some reason, the squirming in his stomach flared up. he turned his attention to the little boy.

"is that your husband?" he asked, not even attempting to make his voice quiet. dan's face burned.

"n-no!" he blurted, his eyes wide.

"why not?" the boy asked, tilting his head. he blinked his large chestnut eyes, his messy dark hair bouncing.

"um..." dan licked his lips. "b-because we aren't."

"oh." the boy frowned for a second, before his excited smile returned. "show me!"

"oh alright, alright."

dan kneeled in front of the little boy, so he was at eye level. he held out his hands, cupping them in front of him.

"ready?" he whispered. the boy nodded frantically.

dan closed his eyes. he focused, forcing his mind to go blank for a second.

he tried to think about something that made him feel. he tried to think about his parents, or jarvis, or his piano, or his future. but all he could think of was phil.

he frowned, his eyes still closed. what was wrong with him?

nevertheless, he heard a squeal, and when he opened his eyes there was a sunflower sitting in his hand.

the little boy stared at it, reaching forward to touch a petal.

"woah," he breathed, his voice dripping with astonishment. "that's amazing, mister."

dan grinned, and nodded.

"it is, isn't it?"

he watched the kid examine the tiny flower, and pressed his lips together.

it was insane how many years he had spent ashamed of his abilities. he still was, really. he almost laughed at that. some people were embarrassed about their hair, or their acne, or their freckles. dan was self conscious because he could grow flowers with his mind and touch.

he had figured out how to control it, at least a little. apparently his ability to grow from his hands had returned, which was a slight inconvenience. now dan had to be careful touching anything, since he really didn't want to end up having to wear metal gloves as well.

dan cupped his hands together, and when he pulled them apart again, the flower was shriveled away.

"i have to go," he said to the boy. he nodded, smiling contently.

"thank you, sir," he said, his chubby cheeks glowing.

"mhm. no problem at all," dan said.

the kid looked around, as if nervous that someone would hear, before leaning in.

"mummy says you have the best flower shop in london," he whispered, and dan grinned.

"well you tell your mum that it isn't a shop," dan whispered back. "it's merely a stand, and i have no idea what i'm doing."

guilt resided in dan's stomach, but he ignored it. the boy giggled, running off.

dan pulled up his navy hood, covering his waves of chocolate hair and casting a shadow over his cherry red cheeks.

he made his way to seven suns, embracing the warmths and sweet smell as he stepped inside. he spotted phil at a table by the window, on his phone, and hurried over.

"cold?" phil asked, looking up, watching dan take off his sweater.

"yes," dan replied.

phil smiled, nodding.

"good, i ordered you a hot chocolate."

and that was it. no interrogation, no questions asked, not even any strange looks. dan felt grateful, and the butterflies fluttered in his stomach again.

but in the back of his mind, he couldn't let go of something.

he almost wished phil would ask.