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It always starts with a cup of coffee and a nuzzle. And today was no different. Dan Howell was up early. He was showered, dressed and ready to go. He'd been asked to model a brand of shoes he loved, and he couldn't say no, but it was across town, while Phil had some sponsor calls to make, so they were conducting business separately today. Dan nuzzled the side of Phil's sleeping head and kissed it softly.
"I'm headed out, Bub. I love you. Your coffee is on the table."
"Mmm. 'kay Bug. Love you, until the end."
"Until the end, Bub."
Dan said, kissing the side of his head one more time before leaving the bedroom. He sighed, because he hated these days, but he knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and he knew that he couldn't say no.
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Phil sat up and smiled softly. He sipped his coffee and pulled up Deliveroo. He knew Dan probably hadn't had time to eat, so he figured that he'd surprise him and order him some breakfast from one of their favorite breakfast spots, closer to the studio where Dan was modeling. He called them personally and asked them to write a note with it. They were absolutely on board with it. He finalized the order with the breakfast place, and put his phone down.
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Dan arrived to the studio that was doing the shoe shoot and grinned. This was a dream come true for him, and he couldn't wait. He loves this particular brand of shoes. He headed inside the studio where a Deliveroo driver was dropping off food for someone. He smiled as the person who was meeting him, introduced herself, gave him the ins and outs, and grabbed the bag of food.
"Oh! This isn't for me! Looks like it's for you."
She said, checking the tag. Dan spied the tag and was baffled because he hadn't ordered any food. He took the bag and peeked inside. He spied a note and took that out, and read it.
"Bug,
I know it's hard being separated. But seeing you doing this modeling gig for your favorite pair of shoes makes me so thrilled for you. Eat up, Pooh Bear. I'll see you at home later.
Bub."
Dan blushed and looked at woman in front of him. He had time to eat while he was in hair and makeup, so he let himself be led to that area, wondering what it was Phil ordered for him. He sat down on the couch in the salon, and opened the bag. It was his favorite coffee, a flat oat white, with his favorite granola parfait. In a black bowl, of course. He hadn't had one in a while, but as he dug into it, that this was going to be a day of surprises.
"That looks delicious."
Kacey, the makeup artist stated. Dan had worked with her before, and they'd struck up a friendship, and was so thrilled to see her again. He grinned widely and nodded.
"Phil surprised me with a breakfast delivery. I rushed out this morning and didn't eat."
"Don't let that man go, Dan. Ever."
"I have zero plans on doing that, Kacey. I want to surprise him. And I think I know how."
Dan said, finishing the parfait. He made his way over to the makeup chair, grinning. He took out his phone and pulled up a website and got to work.
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Phil sighed and put the headphones back on the desk. He finished another sponsor meeting and was satisfied. He had some time before he wanted to get some editing done. He heard the Ring doorbell chime, and he checked the camera to discover that there was a delivery person outside. He wasn't expecting anything, and knew Dan wouldn't answer any texts because he was doing the photo shoot. He headed to the front door and opened it.
"Philip Lester?"
"Yeah?"
"Package for you. Sign here."
The delivery person said. He signed the hand held device that the man handed him and then took the box that the guy handed him. He thanked him and brought it inside. He opened the box and saw a note laying there. He took the paper out and opened it, reading it.
"I know I'm not Nintendo, but I figured you wouldn't mind. Thank you for breakfast, my love. And thank you for remembering the god-like parfait. It was exactly what I wanted. Get the download for Mario Kart ready. I'll see you soon, Bub.
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning.
Bug."
Phil smiled at the Peter Pan reference. Dan loved whispering that in his ear at random times during the day. He looked down into the box and saw a Switch 2 laying there. Dan didn't usually splurge on big items, but this was something they had talked about as a business expense. He'd ask Dan whether or not he put it on the business card or his personal card when he got home. But he was off to download the upgrade pack for Super Mario Party Jamboree. He had a hot date with a hot Dan to play it.
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Kacey grinned at Dan as he'd launched into a story about some shenanigans that Phil had gotten into as she touched up his makeup.
"So, is the mullet staying? And more importantly, does Phil love it?"
"The mullet is absolutely staying, and Phil loves it. He loves to tug on it, and I love when he does. Especially in bed. Right before he..."
Dan blushed and covered his face, knowing he almost spilled too much. He was blushing wildly, and knew that if he continued on this topic of conversation, he'd need to take a few minutes to himself.
"It's okay, Dan. I get it. It's the same for me when Kelsei and I do it. Who knew I had a hair pulling kink!"
"Finally! Someone who gets it! Did Kelsei like the painting I sent her?"
"Dan, I swear she cannot stop raving about it. That picture of us and her mom hangs above our fireplace. Thank you. You made my wife extremely happy. She misses her Mom, and knowing that she now has a physical piece of her in our forever home, is a debt I will never be able to repay."
Dan blushed. His love language was gift giving, and bringing peace to his friends was something he felt so proud to do. He knew an amazing portrait artist based in South London, and it was finalized in a matter of months.
"I don't want you to repay me, Kace. Just love that beautiful queen of yours the way she deserves. Love isn't easy, but it's beautiful once you just...let it."
"That was very beautiful, Dan. I'll remember that."
"I've got sixteen years of experience. It wasn't easy, and it's downright scary sometimes. And I'm still terrified of it most days. But I gave my tattered, torn, battered and broken heart and soul to a man that has slowly held me together with stitches, duct tape and faith. And I'll be damned if I ever let him go."
Kacey swiped a bit of mascara on Dan's eyelashes, sniffling as the director came in and changed out the shoes on Dan's feet. He looked down and noticed that they were a sleeker combat boot type shoe, and he knew he was gonna ask if he could keep those. They suited his personality perfectly.
After a few hours of shooting, and the director telling him he could take a few pairs home with him, he was free to go about his day. He had nothing planned, so he stopped off to an open air market. He walked around for a bit and stopped off at a booth that sold fresh vegetables. He picked up some salad ingredients and smiled at the lady running the booth. He found the fresh bread stall and picked up a couple of baguettes and found some fresh proteins before making his way back outside. Before he ordered his Uber, he saw a flower stall and picked up a couple dozen white roses and waited. He looked at the time, and smiled, knowing he'd be home to surprise Phil with a late lunch.
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Phil had scheduled a nap while Dan was out of the house. Which worked well for Dan as he made his way back into the house. He put down all his bags, and walked to the bedroom and peeked in, seeing Phil asleep. That was perfect. He had time to get lunch started and surprise him with one more surprise.
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Phil nuzzled his pillow softly. Although, he was technically on Dan's side of the bed, as he was when Dan was away too long, but he swore that he could smell food. He was just about to investigate when Dan came into the room carrying a tray with a grilled chicken salad, toasted baguette with butter, with a vase of two dozen white roses on it, a small bag by his side.
"Bub? Are you up?"
"Mmm. 'eah."
Phil said, sitting up and scooting over to his side of the bed. He got situated as Dan laid the tray down in his lap.
"I wrapped early, so I figured I'd surprise you. I made you a grilled chicken salad and I have drinks in this bag."
Dan said, sitting with him in the bed. He sorted out the bag and took out the token of gratitude he had for Phil.
"Bug, this is so beautiful. Just like the flowers and definitely just like you. How was the shoot?"
"Incredible. They let me take a couple of pairs of shoes, so I grabbed some for myself, and a pair I saw that reminded me of you."
Dan said, opening the lid on the box. Inside were a pair of Manolo Blahnik loafers that Dan knew Phil covered, since his were starting to go, and he wanted a new sensible pair.
"Bug. Those are extravagant."
"And free. I didn't pay a cent for them."
"Love that. I missed you today."
Dan smiled gently, as they ate together on the bed. This was what his life was about these days, and he couldn't ask for more than that.
"I missed you. As amazing as that photo shoot was, my co-dependency is hitting hard today. I think it's a reset day."
Phil nodded. He couldn't agree more. He picked up his cell and cleared their entire schedule, moving the last meeting of the day, to the end of the week. He dropped his phone and smiled at his partner.
"There. All set. Now it's just us. Thank you, by the way for that Switch 2. You should see the graphics!"
"I can't wait. Thank you for that god-tier parfait. I forgot how incredible it was."
"Only the best for my Bug."
Phil said, leaning in and kissing Dan's face gently. The way he knew he liked it. Dan blushed and smiled. Because his day was going to end the same way it started.
And it always starts with a cup of coffee and a nuzzle.