lethal //phan

t h i r t y

Phil
'Project Dan 2.0' was what he decided to call their plan despite Dans counter-argument that the name was 'stupid'.

"You're changing to become a new and better version of yourself, hence a two point zero."

"Fuck you and your logic." Dan responded.

"Is the new Dan going to swear?"

Dan took a moment to consider.

"I'm becoming who I am around you around everyone, I'm not changing myself completely."

"So you'll spontaneously kiss me in public now?" Phil sent his voice ringing through Dans head.

He turned his head to face Phil.

"That was one time! You'll hold that against me for as long as we know each other, won't you? Besides, I didn't see you complaining."

"Advice for reform Dan: don't be so defensive." Phil told him.

"And I never said I complained." He was quick to add, resulting in a look close to a smirk off Dan.

"Shut up."

If Phil had to pick a particular part of their power as his favourite, it'd be that he could talk to Dan about anything he wanted and almost no one else would be able to know he'd uttered a single word.

They walked into their English class and sat down in their seats, he could see Dan trying his hardest to show the slightest bit of interest towards what the teacher was talking about.

"At least we can still talk in class this way."

"As long as you don't say anything embarrassing like you did on the way down here."

"That embarrassed you? Sorry."

Dan turned to his left to face Phil, almost forgetting that no one could hear them; he looked like he was simply staring in an absent-minded state in Phil's general direction without reason.

"I'm working on being more honest."

"Daniel, the last time I checked Phil didn't have Macbeth notes written across his forehead, please face this way."

"Sorry, sir." Dan said in response, resulting in confused expressions from various classmates as they turned around to face him.

"I've been a nightmare in this class for over two years, it's the least I can do."

***

Phil noticed Dan was beginning to act a little nicer around the academy that week, he'd offer to help out a teacher carry their pile of textbooks or assist the more accident-prone students with picking up all the pieces of paper they'd drop onto the floor - Phil observed that Dan's ability to control winds allowed him to pick things up as well as knock them down. He'd even began to say please and thank you on occasion.

Classmates had been noticing the change as well, some of them happy for him, others a little annoyed because there'd be less classroom drama and the flooding of schools courtyards would now occur less often.

Dan had told him since he'd began to concentrate in his classes he'd found out he enjoyed English lessons more than he thought he would've, he went as far to say to Phil that he'd like to have a career involving literature when he was old enough.

One of the only things that stayed exactly the same was his uniform; he'd told Phil he hadn't worn a blazer for about three years and he didn't intend on wearing it again any time soon.

***

"What's with Dan being apologetic and kind all of a sudden?" Tyler asked Phil after two weeks of Dans change.

"He wants to become a better version of himself." Phil explained.

"And I wonder who inspired that movement."

Tyler shot a glance at him.

"So have you two had the awkward 'what are we?' chat yet?" he asked, going off topic.

"Nope, I don't really want to have it either; we are what we are - I don't really want to label anything, and Dan's never asked about either."

"Is it one of those 'we're-not-dating-but-there's-obvious-tension-between-us-and-I'd-be-down-if-you're-down' kind of situations?" Tyler tried.

Phil took a moment to completely register what Tyler had just said.

"Call it that if that makes you any happier, I guess. But promise me you won't tell anyone."

"Did I tell anyone about the last phan-related incident?"

Dan was right, it is embarrassing being told about what had happened by someone else he thought to himself.

"And what in God's name is 'phan'?"

"A ship name."

"Oh I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that I'm conversing with a fourteen year old girl."

"It's not immature if it's canon." Tyler responded in a futile attempt to look offended.

The look Phil gave him was enough to let him know he begged to differ.

"Anyway, you and Dan evidently ship it, so if you're trying to insult me by calling me a young girl, keep it in mind you're making fun of yourselves too."

Tyler grinned in spite of his apparent victory that Phil found that to be completely illogical. He'd let Tyler be happy, Phil wasn't much of a sore loser anyhow.

"Are there any other shippers, or is it just you?"

"I've managed to convert a couple of our friends, the others still think you and Dodie have a thing because of the amount of time you spend with her."

"I swear your only hobbies are spying and conspiracizing."

"The insult would've offended me more if 'conspiracizing' was an actual word."

"Two nil to you, whatever."

***

Much to Phil's displeasure, Dan didn't find their apparent ship name to sound just as ridiculous as Phil thought it sounded.

"Phan?" Dan questioned. "There are worse things we could be called. The only other alternative of our combined names is a herb, I'd much rather have phan."

"Fair enough."

"But is it canon?" he asked. "I'm just curious."

"Is this your way of asking me out?"

"Maybe."