Summary: mix a thunderstorm with a blackout, add in a pinch of arguments beforehand, and you have a scared Phil in need of saving by Dan.
Inspiration: the episode of Ouran High School Host Club where Tamaki finds Haruhi in the wardrobe, hiding from the thunder.
Song: I NEED U by BTS
This is a oneshot for #NOV2k16, where the theme is blackout! Enjoy ^o^
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Fall, fall, fall, scattering apart.
It's been five hours since we had an argument over something that now seems so stupid. Five hours since we strained our voices trying to make the other feel like rubbish for no apparent reason. Five hours, and I feel so alone.

My room was pitch black, engulfing me in darkness. The typical British weather caused a power outage, leaving us with no internet and no proper source of lighting. Soon after, the heavens opened up from above, gifting us with enough rain to fill at least five Olympic swimming pools. Every droplet covered a minuscule section of concrete, not leaving a square metre of ground untouched by the sky's waters. The soil in our five windowsill plant pots was heavy and the clear liquid dripped from every crack and crevice in the ceramic pot. The flowers were decorated with small drops of the rain, but were soon drooping from the water overload just thrown at them. The chrysanthemums we'd bought in July represented my mood right now: gloomy, angry, melancholy. Alongside the showers that practically flooded London, the occasional outburst of light and its deafening sound followed shortly. I wasn't one to be scared of this, I would shove in my earphones deep, play my five favourite songs on the highest volume, then just drown out the environment's anger and calm myself down until I fall asleep. I would say I was one of the lucky ones, some of the fortunate few that aren't particularly frightened by the loud sounds erupting from the sky, but my roommate is the complete opposite. He couldn't hate anything more than thunder, it's probably his biggest fear, but I've never found out why.

I log onto crunchyroll, scrolling through the recently released anime that I apparently 'will be interested in' they were all completely new anime that had bad quality posters and summaries, and the actual drawings on the posters looked like something five-year-old me would draw. I finally found something that I'd actually enjoy, seeing as it was the next segment of something I've already been watching. Ouran High School Host Club, Season 2. Apparently, there are only five members now, seeing as Mitsukini Haninozuka and Takashi Morinozuka had already finished their final year at Ouran and were moving on from the host club. I clicked on Episode One, watching the introduction play out and fill my once dark bedroom with light and joy thanks to the upbeat song. But, for some random reason, I kept one earphone out, and maybe it was to hear when the lightning stopped so I knew it was safe to try fixing the lights, but - either way - it was lucky I did.

It was around five minutes to midnight, and I was under my duvets as I watch episode five of Ouran High School Host Club. My eyes felt heavy with fatigue, the bags beneath hanging low. My eyelids flickered, my brain telling me to fall asleep, but my heart demanding for me to carry on watching. My thoughts go back to the argument me and Phil shared earlier today, the useless bickering on the subject of something idiotic drawing us apart. I start to wonder whether it was my fault the argument had arisen, seeing as I can be angered pretty easily. Phil had started eating my cereal again, munching on it like it was the only food resource in the world. I waddled into the kitchen, and our eyes met for five seconds. I moaned at him for eating my cereal, and asked why he doesn't buy his own. He responded with the fact that I'd eat his and that I have more cereal. With each comeback, the volume level rose until we were practically screaming at each other. Until, he shouted the one sentence, the small five words, that have had me pondering all afternoon - and all night.

"Stop being so selfish, Dan!"

He's the innocent one here, I'm in the wrong. Phil's the caring one, that may be afraid of a few random things, but-

Sobbing came from the next room, which happened to be my roommate's bedroom. The whimpering was louder after each thunder strike, like he was unintentionally calling out for me. Phil's afraid of thunder!

I paused the anime and leaped out of bed, running out of the door and bashing into the wall opposite my room, bouncing back and following the carpet to his bedroom. Finding the cold door handle in the darkness, I twisted it open, seeing a shivering bump underneath Phil's duvet. Walking closer, the crying became louder, and my heart ached to comfort him, so I ripped off the covers and saw him.

He had tears streaming down his pale skin, which were more visible when he pivoted his head towards me. His blue eyes didn't show strength and confidence in the way they described in his horoscope, they were full of innocence and vulnerability, needing someone to be beside them - which I failed to do when the lightning begun a while ago. His pyjama top was stained with his sadness, and so were the kneecaps of his Cookie Monster bottoms. He hugged his knees close, quickly looking away and mumbling something I couldn't hear.

"If you don't need me Phil, that's fine." I reassured him, walking towards the door as he ignored me entirely. Not looking back at his stubborn self, I spoke again. "I'm always in the room next door, and I want to let you know that I'm worried about y-"

Lightning bursted out from the clouds, the horrifying noise coming straight after. I brushed it over, until I heard a loud jump from the bed and felt two arms rapidly wrap around my hips, holding on tightly as it continued to erupt. My back became cold and my t-shirt soggy, the sobbing closer than ever. I felt a head dig into my spine, holding onto me like I was the ledge of a skyscraper, and they were about to fall.

"Please Dan," a voice - Phil's, obviously - mumbled into my ears. I could hear the fear in his voice, in the way he paused to take breaths naturally while he cried, in the way his vocals changed when his throat went dry. He needs me. "Don't leave..."

I grabbed his hand and sat him on the cream carpet, cross-legged like they would back in primary school. I looked him in the eyes, wiping away any stray water droplets that had appeared from the current events. I hushed him to silence, keeping a grasp on his clammy hands.

"After the next strike, count until you hear it again." I closed his eyes with my middle and index finger, and - after a small shriek - saw his mouth whispering the numbers, until the lightning hit again.

"Twenty-five," he smiled, "that means..."

"The thunder's twenty-five miles away. You're fine, Phil." I smiled, staying sat down with him. "If you're ever in fear, take deep breaths and count to five. Five is the magic number, and by the time you count to it, you'll be in my arms - and that's a promise."

"Five." He mumbled into my shoulder as I brought him closer to me, warming up his shivering body. My pyjama top became soggy as the last downpour of tears flowed from his eyes, but I didn't care. Roommates had to be there for each other, no matter what. 

"I'm sorry, Phil. Please forgive me." I begged, my voice soft and tranquil to not frighten him. He looked up, his eyes glistening with shades of turquoise and emerald.

"I need you, Dan. Don't ever leave me again." He sobbed, a smile forming across his face.

"I was only a few doors away," Chuckling, I spoke quietly.

"That's the point."

Opening my laptop, we watched Ouran High School Host Club while we shared earphones, drowning out the harsh conditions terrorising the outside world. I pulled Phil closer, wrapping my tanned arm around his waist as the lights from the screen kept us awake.

"Dan?" Phil mumbled over the Hitachiin Twins' laughter.

"Yeah, Phil?" Smiling, I looked at his pale face.

"Do you think we're like Haruhi and Tamaki?" I thought about his question, and to be honest - we were. Of course we argue, bickering like small children, but inside, we truly were a couple of boys protecting each other.

"I mean, we can be if you'd like." His head buried into my chest, I patted him on the back and pecked him a kiss on his head. I heard a giggle as he lifted his head up for our red to meet one another's.

"Thank you, Daniel Senpai." He whispered, maybe blackouts aren't so bad after all.

Word Count: 1464