Chapter Text
Phil stared (more like squinted) at his glasses. Or rather, what used to be his glasses. He was currently on the entrance to his house, but somehow, being very Phil, he managed to trip on his own feet, knocked his glasses off his own face, and fell on them. He also was bleeding from his elbow, maybe. Great.
He still tried to put them on, only to realize his lenses were completely shattered, so still he couldn’t really see.
“Shit,” He snorted. Dan was gonna laugh at him for eternity.
He was used to it, though. He at least could make out his front door, and he could clumsily insert the key to enter, only slightly bumping into things. He took off his shoes and then held onto the walls to make sure he wasn’t gonna fall again on the way to the bathroom.
He kept laughing at himself, because it was so stupid. Once he practically climbed upstairs and got into the bathroom to look for his contacts, he stopped laughing. And then he groaned.
“Fuck,” He said now, shaking his contact box. It was empty. “Fuuuuuck,” He said again, wanting to hit himself in the head.
He thought he’d at least had one pair left before his new contacts came in. His elbow stung, and he no longer felt amused at himself, but incredibly annoyed. He stumbled to his bedroom and fell on the bed. He got out his phone from his back pocket and asked Siri to call Dan.
Dan didn’t answer.
Phil groaned louder.
Dan was running like a thousand errands, and he wouldn’t be back for hours, and Phil had no back up glasses, and no contacts, and he couldn’t see, and he scraped his elbow. Everything sucked.
He asked Siri to text Dan, asking him to please pick up some disposable contact lenses with his prescription, or as close to it as possible. And then he gave up, suddenly felt incredibly tired, and fell asleep.
––
“Phil, you lazy ass, wake up.”
He stirred on the bed, and as he opened his eyes, he was sure there was something weird going on with his vision, or maybe his head, but he wasn’t sure what.
“Hey,” He mumbled, squinting at the blurry shape of Dan in front of him.
“It’s six in the afternoon,” Dan said, a warm hand on his shoulder. “Why are you asleep? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” He replied, sitting up a bit. He hadn’t meant to sleep that long. Even that movement made him a bit dizzy, but he tried to ignore it. It was probably because he’d been blind for so long, or something. “Did you see my text?”
“What text?” Dan asked, sounding confused. Phil felt his stomach drop. “I called you back, but you didn’t answer.”
“Oh, noooo,” He groaned, and patted the bed, searching for his phone.
“What is it?”
He felt his hands close around the familiar shape, and he held it to Dan.
“Did Siri not send you my text?”
Dan took it from his hands, and he could vaguely distinguish as his boyfriend did something on his phone.
“Phil,” Dan said, and his tone was amused. “You didn’t press send.”
“I have to press send?!” He asked offended. “What the fuck is Siri good for if she doesn’t automatically send the text?”
Dan cackled loudly at him. Phil pouted. What the hell was he gonna do now?
“Shit, that was funny. Why did you need contact lenses? Aren’t yours coming in like next week?”
Phil laid back down on the bed and pressed both hands against his eyes. He felt so incredibly useless, and there was growing a headache on the back of his head that made everything worse. Maybe getting laser eye surgery was worth all those horrible side effects if it meant something this stupid wouldn’t happen again.
“I fell,” He sighed, miserably. “Look!” He exclaimed, and shoved his arm in front of Dan. “I can’t even see how bad I hurt my elbow.”
“Oh my god, Phil,” Dan said, suddenly sounding less amused, and grabbing his arm to look at it closer. “You took off like a layer of skin, you dumbass. Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
“It just stings a little. But I broke my glasses, and I don’t have any contact lenses left. You were my only cure for blindness, but stupid, useless Siri ruined that!”
Dan was eerily quiet for a couple of seconds.
“Wait, let me rewind––” He started, there was a laugh in his voice. “You fell where?”
“In front of the house.”
“In front?” Phil nodded. Dan snorted. “Right, and you ate shit, and broke your glasses. And only then, you realized you don’t have any more contact lenses, and now you’re basically blind.”
Phil sighed.
“Yeah.”
“Phil, can I just say that it’s a miracle you’re alive right now?”
Phil groaned.
“Shut up, this is so stupid,” He complained. Dan snorted and then grabbed his face in both hands.
“Can you see me?”
Phil grabbed Dan’s arms to push him closer until he could focus on his face, almost making their noses bump. It was a nice view, actually.
“Now I can.”
Dan was staring at him with a sly grin.
“This is going on the podcast.”
Phil gasped, in fake offense.
“You want to profit off my misery?”
“I want to entertain our audience with the most Phil anecdote ever,” Dan said seriously, and then leaned down to quickly kiss his lips. “They’re gonna love it.”
Phil giggled. It had been funny at first. Now he just wanted to not be blind and maybe take some painkillers in case he was about to get a migraine. But he was sure tomorrow it would be funny again.
“Fine.”
“I’ll go to the store and bring you some contacts. And tomorrow we’re going to replace your glasses so you’re not a helpless mole running around.”
Phil laughed again.
“My prince, thank you,” He said, and stole one more kiss. “Sorry I’m making you leave the house again.”
“Yes, I’m the best and you’re the worst,” Dan joked, and finally moved away. “I’ll buy something for your elbow too, because it looks nasty. Try not to risk your life again in the meantime.”
“Can’t make any promises,” He told Dan’s blurry moving shape.
“And for the love of God, do not try to fix those glasses with superglue!” Dan yelled from downstairs.
“Shut up!” Phil yelled after him with a laugh, and after a few seconds heard their front door closing.
He tried to use his phone for a bit, but holding it so close to his face and forcing his eyesight so much was making his headache worse by the second. He wanted to avoid a migraine, and for that he’d have to take his medication, but that meant he’d have to get up and walk a lot, and he already was blind, so also being dizzy wasn’t gonna help at all. He decided to wait until Dan came back.
Not even ten minutes later, he found himself stumbling to the bathroom because his head was throbbing and waiting for Dan sounded like torture. He felt so weird. In a way a migraine hadn’t made him feel in a while, and maybe he was starting to freak out a bit. His vision was more than blurry, it was like he was seeing double, and also weird shapes that reminded him of a kaleidoscope. It would be cool if his head wasn’t trying to murder him.
When he finally reached his bathroom, an overwhelming wave of dizziness hit him, and he knew he was gonna faint. He had time to think oh shit, and then everything went black.
––
“Phil!” He yelled, as soon as he entered the house. “I saw the cutest, fucking smallest corgi, ever. I took a picture. You’re gonna cry as soon as you’re not blind and can actually see it.”
He toed off his shoes and hanged his coat, waiting to hear Phil’s reply. But after a few seconds of silence, he frowned.
“Don’t ignore me, you idiot,” He called out, going up the stairs. “I brought you your contacts, and a band-aid for your sorry elbow, and since I’m so good, I also bought microwave popcorn to watch buffy–”
The room was empty. He huffed and went to the study.
“Phil, where the fuck are you?”
As he passed the hallway, he realized the bathroom door was open, and for some reason, his heart started pounding.
“Phil?” He asked again, pushing the door completely open.
And then his stomach dropped. Because Phil was on the ground, unmoving.
“What the fuck?!”
Dan had never moved so fast, kneeling beside Phil and grabbing his face, trying to wake him up. The bag full of stuff fell forgotten by the door.
“Phil! Phil, holy shit, you need to wake up right now,” He said frantically, and patting his pale cheek. Phil wasn’t moving and Dan was about to scream. “Oh my fucking god. Don’t do this to me! Phil, please wake up, what happened––”
Phil’s eyes fluttered open and then closed again, but that sign of life calmed him down a little. Enough for him to start thinking what the fuck to do, because Phil hadn’t suddenly died. He was alive, and something horrible had happened but Phil was still breathing and that was enough for Dan to not lose his shit completely. Yet.
“Okay. Okay, baby, you’re fine. I’m gonna call for help, just hang on––” He gently lowered Phil’s head again so he could call an ambulance. It was only then he realized his hands were red.
Because Phil’s head was bleeding.
“Oh my god,” He choked out. “Phil, what the fuck happened?!”
Phil’s eyes fluttered open once more, only for his head to fall lax to the side.
Dan started hyperventilating.
He reached for his phone, ignoring the blood on his hands and called 999.
––
“Holy fucking shit, oh my god–– yeah, he’s unconscious and he–– he’s bleeding, I… I think he fell? I’m not sure, I just got home––”
He felt like shit. His head was killing him. And he still couldn’t see.
“Wait, fuck, he just opened his eyes–– Phil? Phil! Can you hear me?”
He blinked a few times and tried to focus on the blurry silhouette in front of him.
“Dan?”
“Yes! Yes, it’s me, bub. Can you tell me where you are?”
He tried to look around but everything was blurry still.
“’M not sure…” He slurred. “Can’t see.”
“Fuck,” Dan choked. “Sorry, it’s just–– he’s blind. Like, not actually–– he has the worst eyesight in the world, and his glasses broke–– right, okay,” Phil felt a hand gently grab his cheek. “Phil, do you know what year it is?”
He took a few moments to think about that. He felt tired and in pain and so confused.
“2026, I think…” He answered, slowly.
“Yes, you’re doing great–– yeah, he’s, I think he’s just a bit slow, but he’s still bleeding–– okay, thanks.”
Phil started to remember fragments of what had happened and he groaned. Everything was stupid.
“Phil? What is it? Are you in pain? Are you dizzy?”
He frowned and closed his eyes.
“Too loud.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” Dan said, his voice much quieter. “Hey. Phil, you can’t fall asleep. I need you to open your eyes,” Dan was gently caressing his cheek, and Phil wanted to push him away but also give him a hug, which was conflicting.
“Can’t see, anyway,” He complained. “What’s going on?”
“I think you fell and hit your head,” Dan answered, his voice thick with worry.
Phil tried to shake his head. Dan held it still.
“You shouldn’t move, bub.”
“Didn’t fall. Fainted,” He said sluggishly, it was getting harder to stay awake.
Dan took in a sharp breath.
“What?”
“Migraine, I think.”
“But you haven’t fainted because of a migraine in years.”
Phil pouted.
“Yeah… ‘s weird,” He mumbled. The pain in his head was becoming unbearable. It felt like his brain was heavy. Like his whole body was falling asleep against his will. “My head hurts.”
“I know. I’m sorry, I promise help is coming. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
Phil tried to nod, but Dan was holding his head still.
“’Kay. I trust you,” He answered, and then everything went black again.
––
“Phil. Shit, Phil! Stop doing this! Fuck, I think he’s unconscious again, what–– what should I do?” He asked frantically to the medical dispatcher that was still on the line with him.
“Okay, listen to me. If he’s unconscious again, I need you to stay calm,” The woman said, sounding more serious than before.
That did not help at all. Dan was already trying to not have a full blown panic attack.
“Is he breathing?”
Dan took in a shaky breath, watching the slow rise and fall of Phil’s chest.
“Yes.”
“Great. Don’t move him at all. Keep talking to him. Help is very close.”
Dan felt tears running down his face. Just looking at Phil passed out on the floor with his blond hair surrounded by blood was making him go insane.
“Okay.”
“You’re doing everything right.”
Dan swallowed and tried to remain calm, even though he was seconds away from calling a fucking uber and take Phil to the hospital himself. He left the phone on speaker and put it somewhere accessible before leaning closer to Phil.
“Phil? Can you open your eyes? I need you to wake up or I’m gonna lose my shit and no one wants to see that.”
Phil stirred. The doorbell rang and he hurried to grab his phone.
“I think they’re here. Thank you so much!” He told the phone and hung up without waiting for an answer. “I’ll be right back, please be okay,” He told Phil, squeezing his hand before rushing to open the door.
––
Dan had never moved so fast. After a quick, frantic explanation, the paramedics took over, helping a very drowsy and confused Phil onto a stretcher and guiding him toward the ambulance. Dan’s stomach churned when he caught sight of the back of Phil’s blond hair, stained a deep, alarming red. It all felt unreal, like he was watching it happen from outside his own body.
He didn’t even ask if he could come with them. One of the paramedics waved him over, and Dan locked the house and climbed into the ambulance without thinking.
Inside, the paramedics worked quickly, checking Phil with machines and quiet efficiency. Dan was made to stay back, pressed into a corner so he wouldn’t get in the way. He tried to sit still. He failed.
“Can I sit next to him?” He asked after a while, his voice tight.
One of the paramedics glanced at a monitor before nodding. “Yes. He’s stable. Just make sure he doesn’t move too much.”
Dan thanked him and moved to the narrow seat beside the stretcher, carefully taking Phil’s hand. Phil’s eyes were closed, his brow faintly furrowed like he was in pain. Dan hated this. Hated how it always felt like the worst thing imaginable was happening to Phil.
“Hey,” He said softly. The ambulance was dim, so thankfully Phil’s migraine wasn’t getting any worse. “We’re in an ambulance, okay? We’re going to the hospital.”
Phil blinked his eyes open, unfocused. “Dan?” He murmured. “You came back.”
“Always,” Dan said, his heart hammering. “I’ve got you.”
Phil squeezed his hand weakly.
“Do you think they’re gonna shave my hair?”
Dan startled, glancing up at the paramedics. “What?”
“It probably won’t be necessary,” One of them said calmly. “The cut isn’t very deep. They’ll most likely use staples.”
That didn’t help at all. What the fuck did that meant?
Dan looked back at Phil, who was watching him expectantly, and forced himself to breathe.
“Don’t worry about that,” He said. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”
Phil nodded faintly, his eyes drifting shut again. Dan stiffened instantly.
“He’s just resting,” The paramedic reassured him. “We’re keeping an eye on him.”
Dan nodded, but his chest felt tight. By the time the ambulance pulled up to the hospital, he felt sick. His thoughts spiraled, dragging him back to the last time they’d been here. Phil unconscious in a pool of his own blood. If they’d been a second too late back then, Phil might’ve died.
His hands were shaking. He’d thought that fear, the terror of losing the love of his life, was something he’d never have to feel again. And yet here he was, paralyzed by it.
“We’re going to take him for a CT scan,” One of the paramedics explained as they unloaded the stretcher. “Just to rule out any serious head injury. You’ll have to wait while it’s happening, but someone will update you.”
Dan’s heart sank at the thought of being separated from Phil, but he nodded anyway. He watched them wheel the stretcher through a set of doors he wasn’t allowed past. A nurse stopped him gently, explaining he’d need to wait while they assessed the injury and closed the wound.
She handed him a form to fill out, and only then did Dan find his voice again.
“He can’t see,” He said suddenly.
The nurse paused. “I’m sorry?”
“He has really bad eyesight,” Dan explained quickly. “He broke his glasses. I just–– thought it might be important.”
The nurse’s expression softened. She nodded. “I’ll make sure they know. I promise I’ll come back with more information about your partner.”
Dan nodded and sank into one of the plastic chairs lining the wall. All he could do now was wait.
––
Phil was great.
His head no longer hurt. And he was told he’d needed three staples to close the cut, but that his concussion wasn’t gonna get any worse. He would have to stay overnight so they could monitor him, which sucked, but honestly? He didn’t care that much.
He mostly felt… funny. Floaty. Like his thoughts were a tad too slow but loud.
A nurse had explained they’d given him strong painkillers so he could rest, but resting felt impossible when he just kept thinking about Dan. And about his broken glasses. He was so tired of being blind.
He was lying in the hospital bed with an IV in his arm when he heard the door open. He tried to sit up, immediately realized that was a bad idea, and instead squinted toward the doorway.
“Dan?” He asked automatically, even though the shape wasn’t quite right to be Dan.
“Sorry,” A gentle female voice answered. “I’m just here to adjust your medication.”
Phil pouted.
“I miss Dan,” He sighed.
The nurse chuckled softly.
“You’ll be clear for visitors in a minute.” He watched her blurry outline move around the bed. “Is he your partner?”
“He’s my boyfriend,” Phil said, very seriously. “Not my son.”
The nurse paused. “I… didn’t think he was your son.”
Phil nodded, relieved.
“Good,” He muttered. “Could you tell him that, please?”
He heard the nurse let out a small laugh. “I’ll be sure to.”
After a few more questions about how he was feeling, if he knew where he was, and if he was nauseous, he was left alone again. Phil closed his eyes, letting that funny feeling put him under.
Then the door opened.
“Dan?” He asked again raising his head, only for it fall back against the pillow in a wave dizziness.
“Hey, bub.”
“Daaaaaan,” Phil breathed, a stupid smile spreading across his face. “I’ve been asking for you every time someone came in, but it was never you,” He explained, lifting his hand and vaguely waving it in Dan’s direction. “I was starting to think you were a myth.”
“Wait, Phil, careful––” Dan said hurriedly, catching his hand and settling against the bed. “You’re gonna rip out your IV.”
“Your hair’s still the same,” Phil squinted at Dan’s head. Whenever he wasn’t wearing his glasses, the most noticeable part about him was his curly mullet. “Curly.”
Dan snorted. “Good to know your ability to point out the bloody obvious was left undamaged.”
“It’s my favorite feature,” He sighed, ignoring Dan’s sarcasm. “After your eyes. I think.”
He felt a soft caress on his cheek and he opened his eyes. He hadn’t even realized he’d close them before. It was like just having Dan near him instantly made him calmer. Like the drugs he was on.
“How are you feeling?” Dan asked gently, fingers combing his fringe out of his forehead.
“They didn’t shave my head!” He said excitedly. “And I only needed three staples. That’s like, barely any staples.”
Dan took in a deep, shaky breath, while Phil tried not to close his eyes again.
“I’m so fucking glad you’re okay,” Dan said, his voice sounding suddenly very serious.
“It’s fine,” Phil assured, clumsily patting at Dan’s arm, missing the first time. “It was just a scratch.”
Dan squeezed his hand harder. “No, it fucking wasn’t. If I hadn’t reach you in time, who knows what would’ve happened––”
“Daaaaan,” Phil interrupted, stretching the word. “Shh, don’t freak out. I’m perfectly fine, nothing hurts. I’m having a great time, now that you’re here.”
“Yeah, ‘cause you’re high as a kite,” Dan replied, and Phil could hear him rolling his eyes.
“It doesn’t matteeer,” He whined.
“Phil,” Dan let out, voice soft and vulnerable in a way he knew it meant Dan was about to talk about things that were gonna make him sad. Phil wished he could see him.
“I just wanna go home,” Phil said, voice softer. “And I wish I could see. Being blind is so stupid.”
“Wait, yes. I’ve got you something.”
“Is it a kiss?” He asked hopefully.
“Shut up, you idiot,” Dan said, amused. “Here.”
Dan gently placed something over his eyes, and he blinked.
“Oh,” He whispered. “Oh! I can see you.”
It was slightly blurrier than usual, but it didn’t matter. He could finally make out Dan’s curly hair, and Dan’s pretty eyes that right now looked a little too red and puffy for Phil’s liking.
“My glasses,” He breathed, a probably smitten smile all over his face. He shook Dan’s hand with affection. “You’re my hero!”
“I had a lot of time while waiting for your tests to be done, so I went out and bought some disposable ones. It’s not your exact prescription but I figured it was better than nothing.”
“It’s perfect,” Phil said, and tugged at Dan’s arm with both hands so he would come closer. “I can see you! Hi, Dan.”
Dan laughed softly, and sat down on the edge of the bed, resting his hand on Phil’s cheek. Phil took advantage of his position to hug Dan’s forearm with both hands, so he wouldn’t move away just because Phil could see him now.
“Hi, Phil,” Dan said gently.
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
Dan shook his head, eyes getting shiny.
“You don’t have to apologize, bub.”
“But you look sad.”
“I just––” Dan sighed. “I just wish you weren’t going through something like this again.”
“You mean like when I almost died last time?”
Dan bit his lip and then nodded.
“But I was fine,” He insisted. “And I’m fine, now. This will be very funny in a few days.”
Dan shook his head again, reproachfully.
“It’s not funny at all,” Dan muttered, which was a very unlikely statement for him.
“I promise you things are great.”
His boyfriend stared at him for a long moment.
“Are they?” He asked, voice vulnerable in a way Phil hadn’t heard since–– well, since his last near-death experience. “Phil, I–– if something happened to you I wouldn’t… I can’t even imagine it. I wouldn’t survive it.”
Phil shook his head rapidly, getting slightly dizzy.
“Don’t say those things,” He let out. “Nothing’s gonna happen to me. And if it does, I have you to take care of me, right? My hero,” He said with a small smile, hoping to erase the worried look on his boyfriend’s face. “I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
Dan swallowed and then nodded slowly.
“Yeah. I’ve got you.”
“And I’ve got you,” He kissed Dan’s palm clumsily, displacing his new glasses. Dan adjusted them automatically. “Did the nurse tell you how much I don’t look like your dad?”
Dan let out a big cackle, and Phil let that loud and happy sound warm his heart.