Keys

Prompt: xpandaphanx  "So in the most recent dil video ("DIL MEETS A GHOST") Phil said something about a game at parties where you put keys in a bowl and go home with someone else or something...? Not really sure how it works but he said it and I'm like "that's such a cute plot for a phanfiction" (complete trash wow) so yeah :) btw I love every single one of your oneshots :P (wow that sounds like I'm bribing you or something sorry I really do love them)"

Words: 2250

"Keys?" Dan inquired.

"Yeah ... it's sort of difficult to understand but it's a tradition we have up north." Chris explained as he and Dan walked to the party.

"But why do I have to hand over my keys?" Dan asked suspiciously.

"Well ... as you enter they'll put them in a bowl with every one elses. They'll be split into 2 bowls and, one will be a picking bowl on the way out and if someone picks your key, you take them back to your place. It's kind of complicated but somehow it all works. If someone gets your key then they'll come home with you. If you pick a key you have to go back with the owner."

"You and your northern traditions. This doesn't sound at all safe. Besides, all your northern friends are there so I won't know anyone. Why would they want to come home with me?" Dan asked, not liking the idea too much.

"It's just a bit of fun. Besides you don't HAVE to." Chris pointed out. "Everyone'll be drunk any ways." He shrugged.

Dan sighed and thought about it - it couldn't hurt right? They were Chris's friends so they couldn't be awful. "No ... it's fine. It's just a bit of fun right?" Dan smiled, although the nerves lingered because he wasn't extremely good around new people.

~

"ALRIGHT GUYS! IT'S NEARLY 1 AM! I'm going to have to kick you out. Everyone grab a key on the way out and have fun trying to get home!" The host smirked and flopped down on the sofa, nearly passing out. Everyone let out a drunk protests but plodded towards the door.

Dan, who had been sitting awkwardly in the corner let out a small breath of relief. He hardly talked to anyone other than Chris and a few others. He kept his head down and only drank a glass or two - he wasn't one to get drunk at parties. 

"Come on sunshine. Time to see who's going home with you." Chris slurred and helped Dan up before walking into the hallway. Dan swallowed as he saw the group of people grabbing a set of keys whilst they walked out the front door. Dan held his breath and grabbed the last set of keys since he and Chris were the last to leave. He examined them - they definitely weren't his.

"What now?" Dan asked Chris.

"Find who owns 'em." Chris shrugged and looked around. Everyone else was checking each other's keys to see who they were going home with. "Can you see yours?" Chris asked, words slurred as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Nope." I bit my lip. "What if someone ran off with them?" Dan exclaimed in panic.

"Why would they? It's not like they know where you live." Chris rolled his eyes and Dan blushed, feeling stupid.

"Chris?" A smooth voice asked and Chris whipped round with wide eyes. A boy around their age with curly brown hair and sparkling green eyes grinned at him. Dan immediately noticed how Chris's cheeks reddened and he gaped at the stranger. "Are these yours?" He asked, showing a set of keys to him.

"Y-yeah." Chris stuttered, flushing darker.

"Looks like I'm staying with you tonight then." The boy smiled. Chris only nodded dumbly - he was speechless. "Hi, I'm PJ." The boy introduced himself to Dan and Dan smirked, shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Dan. So how do you know Chris?" Dan asked, give Chris a shit-eating grin. Chris scowled at him.

"We've only met at a few parties before, he's always been very friendly." PJ smiled and there was even a hint of red on his cheeks.

"Oh you're so lovely Chris." Dan teased, enjoying himself too much.

"Shut up." Chris grumbled and shoved Dan with his shoulder. "S-so, shall we go? You might have to drive." Chris stuttered and PJ beamed, nodding his head and leaving Chris momentarily stunned.

"Okay, let's go. Nice meeting you Dan." PJ smiled and took Chris's hand, leading him to Chris's car. Chris looked over his shoulder a Dan and Dan made a kissy face and got the middle finger as a reply. 

Dan chuckled to himself and watched the two of them get into the car. Dan sighed and looked down at the keys in his hand and frowned. What was he going to do if he couldn't find the owner? "Um, excuse me?" Someone asked.

Dan turned round and his eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. Before him was a man around his age with pale skin, bright blue eyes and charcoal coloured hair. It was cut in a similar fashion to Dan's, only it was swept in the opposite direction across his forehead. He was a little shorter than Dan but was still tall considering Dan was nearly 6'3 and he was quite skinny despite his broad shoulders and curvy hips. Dan nearly drooled.

"U-um, hi." Dan stuttered, eyes wide in surprise and confusion. 

"I think those are mine." The man smiled kindly and Dan frowned - momentarily forgetting what his main goal was only minutes ago. 

"Huh?" 

"Those keys." The man raised an eyebrow and Dan's brain clicked back into place. 

"Oh." Dan replied sheepishly and looked down at the keys in his palm. 

"Are these yours?" The man asked, holding a set of keys and jangling them in front of Dan's face.

"Y-yeah." Dan confirmed and they both swapped keys. "So ... how does this thing work?" Dan asked, trying to keep himself from blushing in front of this beautiful human being. 

The man giggled and Dan nearly squealed at how cute it sounded. "Your place or mine." The man smiled kindly.

"U-um ..." Dan trailed off - completely speechless. 

"Mine it is." He grinned. "My name's Phil." He offered his hand to Dan.

"H-hi, I'm Dan." Dan smiled nervously and shook Phil's hand. He was definitely anxious about going home with a stranger but he didn't mind too much since he got stuck with probably the most attractive being he had ever seen.

"Nice to meet you. No need to look so scared, I'm not going to kill you - Promise." Phil's expression softened and something about his eyes made Dan relax and feel safe in his presence.

"I'm not scared." Dan defended, hoping his voice sounded strong. Phil only grinned and shook his head lightly before starting to walk down the path. 

"You coming?" He called over his shoulder when Dan stared after him. Dan snapped out of it and followed Phil.

~

"You have a nice place." Dan commented politely as Phil unlocked the door and let him in. 

"Thanks. Do you want something to drink?" Phil offered and set his keys down on a table in the hallway. Dan did the same then kicked his shoes off and followed Phil into the kitchen like a lost puppy.

"Oh, um ... no I'm fine thanks." Dan muttered, leaning against the kitchen door frame awkwardly.

Phil chuckled. "Not even hot chocolate?" 

Dan chuckled. "Well ... only if you're having some." Dan smiled shyly and looked up at Phil through his lashes. He watched as Phil set to work opening cupboards and filling the kettle. Soon enough Phil had two steaming mugs of hot chocolate in his hands and walked through to the lounge. Dan tmidly took a seat next to him on the sofa.

"So Dan ... how old are you?" Phil asked softly - trying not to come off as creepy or invasive.

Dan took a sip of his hot chocolate and savoured the sugary goodness for a second before answering his question. "I'm 22." 

"Really? You look younger." Phil smiled, taking his own sip.

Dan blushed - not knowing whether to be flattered or not. "Um, thanks? How old are you?" 

"I'm 27." He shrugged and Dan's eyes went wide.

"Seriously?" Dan exclaimed in shock. Phil raised an eyebrow and nodded. "You look way younger." Dan frowned.

"Well thank you." Phil giggled. "It is a little daunting to nearly be thirty, so thanks." 

"I'm only telling the truth." Dan mumbled and kept his eyes trained on his mug as his cheeks went pink. For a second he swore he heard Phil whisper 'cute' under his breath but he couldn't be sure.

"Well I'm flattered." Phil grinned and leaned back comfortably on the sofa. "So, I saw you hanging around with Chris at the party - is he your friend?" Phil asked.

"Yeah, I've known him for ages. Do you know him well?" 

"No, but my best friend PJ does. You didn't hear this from me but PJ's completely smitten with him." Phil smirked.

"No way!" Dan grinned, turning to look at Phil in all his glory again.

"Yup. I think Chris likes him back, I can tell they'll be a great couple." 

"PJ seems sweet." Dan smiled.

"He's a sap. He loves art as well ... he even sketched a portrait of Chris - although it isn't too good since he was only doing it from memory but he tried his best." Phil chuckled.

"Really? Wow." Dan giggled. "It's good coincidence that PJ got Chris's key." Dan thought aloud.

Phil smirked. "Maybe it wasn't a coincidence."

Dan raised an eyebrow but grinned, "Did you have something to do with it?" he accused.

"What? Me? Of course not!" Phil exclaimed but his smirk betrayed his words. 

"Yeah right." Dan chuckled and took another sip of his hot chocolate. It tasted really good and made Dan feel warm and relaxed. His nerves started to ease away because talking to Phil was a lot less difficult than he thought it would be. He liked being  in Phil's presence.

"So, where are you from?" Phil asked, slipping into new conversation. 

"Wokingham in Berkshire."

"That explains the accent." Phil smiled.

"Yeah, half winnie the pooh, half queen." Dan retorted and Phil chuckled. 

"It's cute." Dan blushed at his words.

"No it's not. I sound like a twat." Dan protested but couldn't help the flutter in his chest at Phil's compliment.

"Don't be ridiculous. I love your accent and you should love it too because it's your own." Phil stated knowledgeably. 

Dan blushed further - not knowing what to say. "U-um ... okay." 

"Anyway, what's your favourite band?" Phil questioned. 

"Muse but Fall Out Boy is up there as well." Dan smiled.

"Great taste! My favourite band is Muse too." Phil beamed.

"Really? That's so cool - I haven't met many people who like them." Dan replied, excitement seeping into his words. 

"Lucky I'm here then." Phil smiled.

Dan found himself get more comfortable as the time dragged on and soon enough it was four in the morning and although his eyelids were drooping he paid attention to every single word coming out of Phil's mouth. He was perfect and Dan's crush only expanded as the hours rolled by. 

"Oh my god, we've been talking for hours!" Phil exclaimed, followed by a yawn. Dan yawned as well - finally feeling the effects of how tired he was. 

"Yeah." Dan replied sleepily. 

"Awe, you're adorable." Phil cooed and Dan smiled sheepishly at him.

"Thank you." Dan mumbled, keeping his shy gaze on Phil. There was a moment of silence as they both give each other heavy lidded gazes. They had gravitated closer to each other throughout the whole night and Dan would just have to lean forward to kiss Phil's tempting lips but he was too shy to initiate it. He just stared longingly at his pink mouth and bit his own.

"Are you tired?" Phil whispered and Dan nodded. 

"Let's go to bed then ... would you - I mean ... would you like to sleep with me? Just I don't want to leave you on the sofa, it's pretty cold." Phil suggested, looking shy for the first time. 

"Yes." Dan said, faster than he should have and he internally cursed at his eagerness but Phil only smiled back and stood up, offering him a hand. Dan took it and Phil led him to the bedroom. Both of them changed into something more comfortable for bed - Phil let Dan borrow some clothes. 

"Goodnight Dan." Phil sighed once they were snuggled up together.

"Night Phil." Dan smiled and faced him so he could look at his features one last time before falling asleep. Phil held his gaze and seemed to bite his lip - as if contemplating something. Eventually he let out a sigh then smiled at Dan. 

"I really like you Dan." He whispered then leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "Let's talk more in the morning." He smiled, and Dan's heart thumped wildly in his chest. If Phil would let him - he'd stay forever but the morning sounded like a good start. Dan hoped this could lead to something more because he really liked Phil and was probably as smitten with him as PJ was with Chris. 

"Okay." Dan whispered and took a leap. He pecked Phil's lips before snuggling into his chest, hiding his red cheeks from Phil's view. Phil blushed deeply but couldn't stop grinning after Dan kissed him. He wrapped his arms tightly around Dan and slowly they drifted off to sleep.

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This is unbelievably fluffy - I need to write something a bit more hardcore next time! :D 

~HelloAnonymousWriter~