They could only grow closer after that.

Phil liked to watch Dan play video games. He liked to watch him do almost everything, but there was something that drew him especially to video games. Whenever Dan would offer for him to join, he'd almost always wave off the offer, opting to stay perched on the arm of the sofa, eyes focused on Dan.

He liked to keep the windows open, every day taking gulps of the crisp air like he'd been starved of it his whole life.

He liked to eat his cereal dry, sneaking into the kitchen at unconventional times to stick his hand in the box and grab a fistful.

He liked to watch as Sarah cooked. He'd help, if he could. Little things, like washing off vegetables or cutting up onions. He never deemed it tedious, only looked at every task with the soft smile Dan had grown so fond of.

He didn't talk. That much. He didn't need to; Dan could read him and his facial expressions and his hand gestures easily, and never once did he think being around Phil would be more pleasant if the boy was more vocal.

Sarah had suggested that if Dan didn't want to bring Phil to school with him, which he didn't, he could hang around the house while they were gone. Dan had started teaching Phil how to read last month, and he would practice on his own.

He was reading through all of Dan's Winnie the Pooh books, and his pronunciations were still a little shaky.

Maybe it was just Phil and his amazement rubbing off on him, but Dan liked to watch Phil's eyebrows furrow, his tongue poke out from between his teeth, his eyes scan intently over the ink.

Now they were sitting on the floor of the living room, leaning up against the couch. Phil clutched the book upright with both hands on his lap.

"'"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet,'" he read, and his voice still stumbled over "friends," but Dan thought it was cute.

"'"Even longer," Pooh answered.'" Dan read the next line, and Phil followed along on the page with his index page.

And Phil paused his study of the picture and looked up at Dan, and suddenly they were close.

Not that Dan was complaining. He thought Phil was pretty, with green rings and yellow flecks decorating his blue eyes maybe ten centimeters away. He could feel Phil's breath on his face, could see his pink lips and smooth cheeks.

"What is "friends"?"

Dan smiled at him then. "Friends are people who you would do anything for. They're the people who make sure you're safe and happy and give you hugs."

"Are you friends?"

"I'm your friend, Phil, yeah. And you're mine."

Phil smiled back. "Are you safe?"

Dan nodded.

"Are you happy?"

He nodded again.

Phil moved forward to put his arms around Dan's waist. It wasn't a strong hold, like Phil wasn't sure if he'd break Dan or not. Dan, deciding to help him out, wound his own hands around Phil and held him tight.

That night, Phil turned around to face Dan, his hair fanning out on the pillow.

"Are you safe?"

Dan nodded, and he couldn't seem to contain his smile. Phil's eyes were drawn to the movement and they seemed to linger there before flitting back up.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes."

And Phil hugged him before they fell asleep, this time tangled together.

a/n: i'm sorry it took so long to update, i'll try and do it more frequently, but this was in honor of the new season! i've only watched the first episode so far, but i'm already shook so