Genre: Fluff

Words: 1173

It's cold. That's the first thing that I notice as I step out of the tube station. A freezing gale of wind hits me, sending my jet black hair sweeping over my face and flecks of rain patter down, lightly dampening the top of my head and shoulders. I watch as my breath floats into the air, a hot stream of warm amongst the cold, like a silver snake gliding through the atmosphere.

I grunt as I plunge my hand into my bag, scrabbling around for my phone. I eventually fish it out and plug in my headphones. I stuff them into my ears and put my music on shuffle, not really caring what comes up. I instantly regret doing so as a Shakira song blasts into my ears. Why do I even have Shakira on my iPhone? I don't even like Shakira! I sigh and switch to a Muse album instead.

I hear muffled shouts behind me and quicken my step. London is an interesting place to live. It's beautiful yes, and there's plenty of nice places to go to, but it's dangerous. Besides from the everlasting fear of being run over by a mental driver when you cross the road, or the ridiculous rush hour on the tube where you are shoved against some strangers sweaty armpit for half an hour, there's also the worry of people. Certain, large groups of people.

I hear footsteps behind me and quicken my pace. Yanking out my earphones, I pause the music and hide my phone in my pocket. I tug up my hood and bend my neck, letting my black hair swing over my face

"Oi, emo!" I hear a yell behind me. I do what I always do and ignore them
"We're talking to you!" Another person shouts
"Oi!"
My hands wrap around the straps of my bag as I turn off the high street. The gang was following me now

"Look at us when we talk to you" I hear someone snarl
"This son of a bitch needs to be taught a lesson" another says
I feel something hard hit my back, a stone or something and my body is in agony
That's my cue. I break into a run, my red converse smacking into the pavement, splashing through puddles.
"Get him!" They yell and start to chase after me
I twist and turn down alleyways and cut across the park until I'm certain that I've lost them

I reach our house, panting. My hands shake as I wiggle the key into the lock and step inside. The warmness glides over my face instantly and I begin feel my fingers again. I shut the door and collapse in front of it, wheezing for breath, my head on my knees

"Phil? Phil, is that you?" Dan calls out
I hear footsteps and raise my head
"Hey"
"Phil what happened? Why are you out of breath?" Dans eyebrows are narrowed in concern
"I had to run back" I breath heavily, combing a shaky hand through my hair
"Why?" Dans soft brown eyes dart around my body "did you get mugged?"
"No, a gang chased me" I shrug
"What? Phil did they hurt you? If they hurt you I'm going back out there and bitch slapping those fuckers so hard they-"
"Dan it's fine, they were yelling at me and I legged it, don't worry" I manage a smile
"They just yelled at you?" Dan doesn't believe it
"Yeah" I clamber to my feet and wince involuntarily, my hand snaking to my back. Dan notices
"Oh, for Gods sake Phil" He sighs and takes my hand gently, tugging me towards the bathroom

"Dan.." I enquire. He drops my hand and presses a finger to my lips
"Shush, let me get you sorted. What did they do to you?"
"Threw a rock or something at my back"
"Let me see" Dan says, his face suddenly expressionless
"What?"
"Take off your jacket and your top"
"Why?" I begin to panic, I don't want Dan to see my bare chest
"Jesus, Phil, I'm your best friend, take off your top!" A ghost of a smile flickers on his lips

Slowly, reluctantly, I start to unzip my jacket and hoodie, and tug off my checkered shirt until I am topless. I am sitting on the side of my bath, in the toilet, half naked in front of Dan. Wild thoughts dance through my mind. This is exactly the sort of nonsense that would happen in a fanfic, and it would end with us having hotbuttsex in the shower or something.

Enveloped in these ridiculous thoughts, I realise Dan hasn't said anything for a few minutes
"Er, Dan?" I ask, feeling incredibly self conscious "it's kinda freezing and I'm hardly wearing anything"
Dans eyes have glazed over and he is standing motionless
"Dan? Earth to Daniel Howell" I wave my hand in front of his face
"Sorry, I zoned out" he mumbled "um, so where did they hit you?"
I turn away from Dan "It hurts around there" I say, my fingers indicting the throbbing area of my back

"Phil, you're bleeding!"
"Yeah I thought so" I say, glancing at the small red blotch on my shirt
Dan places his finger tips on my back, his touch as light and gentle as butterfly wings, brushing against my skin
"They must've chucked a brick or something" he says vaguely, his fingers tracing lines on my shoulders "There's a pretty deep cut, I should probably clean it or something"
"Dan, you've got no medical knowledge at all" I chuckle

He clicks his tongue against his teeth and wets some tissue under the tap, and gently presses it against my wound
"Thank you" I whisper
He smiles, his dimples ebbed into his very lightly tanned cheeks
"No problem, I said you were my best friend"
After Dan decided he had cleaned my injury enough, he produced a bandage from under the sink
"This'll do" he said, and stuck it to my back
I turn to face him gratefully "thank you" I repeat

Dan's face seems strained, as if he was holding something in
"You okay?" I ask him
"Yeah I'm fine"
I pick up my shirt "there's no point in putting this on, it's covered in my blood!" I say cheerily
"Phil I'm not done yet"
"What?"
"I haven't finished"
"I'm fine though" I reply, confused
"I need to kiss it all better" he says

I don't know how to react. Was he serious?
"Kiss me?" I decide to ask
"Yep, it's a scientifically proven way to recover from stupid London gangs"
I smirk "oh really?"
"We could test it if you like"
"I.. Er..." I stutter, my cheeks flaming red
Dan grins again and kisses me. His soft lips envelope mine and his hands wrap around my chest
I pull my head back after a while and give him a quick kiss on the nose
"I think, you've just kissed away all the pain"
"That's my job, Phil, that's my job"