"i want more," dan sounded slightly tipsy as phil tried screwing the cork back on the half empty wine bottle, and phil just raised his eyebrows in question at him.

"are you sure?" phil looked at him skeptically, and dan just groaned, snatching the bottle from phil's hands, almost tipping it over to the floor in the process.

"of course i'm sure! i can handle my alcohol," dan waved his hand dismissively and phil just giggled slightly at dan's high pitched voice. he clearly had one too many drinks.

"babe, you've had like four glasses and you have work tomorrow," phil tried knocking some sense into him, but dan was acting reckless, contemplating whether to pour the wine into the glass or straight away press the mouth of the bottle to his lips.

"screw work! who cares?" dan snorted, pressing his lips to the bottle and chugging down the wine in big gulps, almost coughing with the intensity but stopping so he doesn't embarrass himself.

"you're going to have a hangover in the morning," phil rolled his eyes, shoving a forkful of pasta in his mouth as he fondly watched dan, the younger boy settling the bottle down harshly and grabbing his fork, aimlessly poking a few times before finally managing to put some pasta in his mouth.

"i am a wonderful cook,"dan gave himself an applause, and phil almost wanted to record how stupid and childish dan was acting. this was probably his favourite dan ; giggly and carefree and happy.

"yes you are darling," phil agreed, grabbing the bottle himself to drink out of it, flinching slightly at the sour taste. eventhough he'd had a couple glasses himself, the taste just didn't appeal to him at all.

"this wine is disgusting, how did you drink half of it?" phil scrunched his nose in displeasure, almost bursting out into laughter at the offended look on dan's face.

"excuse me mister philip!" dan pushed himself off the chair, trying too hard not to stumble as he walked over to the other side of the table and right in front of phil, the blue eyed boy just staring up at him with an amused expression.

"i am not exactly the princess of persia, i can't afford expensive wines from editing fucking manuscripts, so please do not insult my cheap wine choice," dan slurred, waving his finger in phil's face to add more volume to his statement and phil just giggled, enjoying the light humour in the atmosphere.

he just dragged his chair back slightly to pull dan into his lap, wrapping his arm around his waist once dan's hands gripped his shoulders.

"yes, but you are my princess baby," phil whispered, trying to be somewhat sultry as he pulled dan closer, lips ghosting over the shell of his ear.

"yeah," dan nodded in agreement, a stupid grin plastered on his face, not having the effect phil expected him to have, but phil wasn't complaining. dan's hair was ruffled, some of it hanging over his forehead in short curls and some of it pushed back, dimples popping in both cheeks.

phil couldn't help but stare at him adoringly.

this was so much better.

he wasn't sure how the limited words that left dan's lips were able to make him forget about every uneaten dinner and every ignored call but it did. everything wasn't particularly great and this didn't solve all the problems they had, but it was so much better than what they had during the past year.

right now, they were honest, raw truth was the only thing that left their lips, feelings unmasked and laying on the table, open for either of them to view.

dan had said everything that phil wanted to hear, everything that made the doubt in his mind flush and the paranoia in his chest to stop gnawing at his skin. he wasn't feeling insecure anymore, or maybe that was just the few glasses of wine, but he wasn't really complaining.

it had been so long since they did this. be themselves completely around each other, laughing and joking and touching without hesitation. there was nothing fake or complicated between their exchange right now, and phil could only hope it would stay that way.

he was distracted when he felt dan shifting closer to him, burying his face in the crook of phil's neck, arms wrapping around him tightly.

"i love you phil, i really do," dan said as if he was trying to make phil believe that he wasn't lying and phil could do nothing but smile, pulling dan closer and pressing a kiss to his hair.

"i love you," phil responded simply, and dan couldn't explain the eradicating feeling of relief bursting inside his body by finally hearing the words.

"it's been a long time since you've said that to me," dan pulled away slightly, a morose expression on his face, pupils blown from all the alcohol he had consumed.

"i'm sorry," phil's fingers were drawing circles on dan's clothed back, tracing unknown patterns that were supposed to be soothing.

"what happened to us?" dan's question was a shot in the dark because holy shit, what hasn't happened to them?

"i don't know," phil shrugged, not seeming to find an appropriate answer to his question, not wanting to dig into an inevitable topic and ruin the light mood. "but we'll try to be okay now, right?" phil asked, his voice laced with an undertone of hope.

dan didn't say anything, he didn't have to, because he found no better way to answer it rather than just grabbing phil's cheeks and pressing their lips together, and although phil didn't like the taste of wine just a few minutes ago, dan's mouth may have changed his opinion.

the kiss wasn't anything they had ever shared before. it was calming and reassuring, gluing the pieces of phil's scattered mind together, helping his chaotic brain to loose the grip on all that was left unsaid.

"can you take a leave tomorrow?" dan mumbled into phil's mouth, lips still brushing together and phil just bit his lip, distancing himself from dan so he could speak.

"i want to, but i have to arrange a few-"

"cancel it," dan whined immaturely, shifting closer to phil and running his fingers through phil's hair, pushing the dark hair off his forehead.

"babe," phil sighed, looking at dan hesitantly and hoping dan would understand, because it just wasn't in him to say no to dan.

"please, i want to spend some time with you," dan pouted, not giving in any soon as he carded his fingers through phil's hair again, gripping them lightly and pulling his head back, leaning forward to press his lips against phil's neck.

"i want to but-" phil tried protesting, but dan suddenly bit into the skin, obviously trying to make phil change his mind.

"come on," dan whined, licking a strip up the pale surface. "daddy," dan added in his drunken state, almost laughing at the way phil's cheeks flushed pink and his eyes widened.

"dan!"

"what? you said we should try it sometime again," dan reasoned, sucking softly on the skin between phil's jaw and neck. "and don't you dare pretend you don't like it,"

"shut up," phil groaned, hands travelling up dan's waist to tangle in his soft hair, and phil bit his lip, pulling at the curls slightly to get a reaction out of dan.

"be prepared to fucking strip if you do that again," dan muttered, and phil just giggled leaning in and catching dan's lips in a short kiss again.

"can you really not take a leave tomorrow?" dan whined again after their lips separated and phil just let out a huge breath, pursing his lips as he thought about it. "please," dan bounced slightly in his lap impatiently and phil just rolled his eyes before answering.

"okay, fine, they can't be mad at me anyway i don't take leaves-" phil was cut off because dan was kissing him again, the biggest smile plastered on his face and phil couldn't help when his lips curved up into a smile too.

"we can go grocery shopping together!" dan said excitedly and phil almost laughed at him, but he didn't, instead, pulling dan closer and resting his head on dan's shoulder, smiling stupidly.

"you're literally the biggest idiot," phil said, and dan could hear the fondness behind his tone. dan only shrugged, wrapping his arms around phil's neck to hug him properly, sighing in relief once phil wrapped his arms securely around his waist.

"yeah, but i'm your biggest idiot,"

--
heyy so as you may have noticed i'm winding up things so hopefully i should be able to end delivered soon !!