Chapter Text
The Lester family was known for their short tempers, happy trigger fingers, and their tag. A serpent coiled tight around a scythe, fangs bared and the venom dripping from it’s lips. They were batshit crazy and their destruction plans neared on suicidal but they were a family. They stuck together through thick and thin. Protecting each other to the last breath.
So when they heard Phil’s second cousin, Artie, had been gunned down in a parking lot. They knew they had to act.
Two days later the Howell family (known as the Crows), the Lester’s biggest enemy, found their fifth son, Garret, under the bridge that leads to the highway. The infamous snake symbol burned into the ground beneath his body.
And thus this war began, buildings mysteriously exploded, the high school in town was full of kids forced to join in on the fights.
Most people skipped town but the poor ones were forced to watch as their children were whisked off to one side, Howell’s or Lester’s, crows or snakes, friend or foe.
Phil Lester was 20 years old when everything first started up and now, only 2 years later. He basically ran the operation alongside his grandfather, Phineas.
He hated the Crows with every fiber of his being. They had taken away his most beloved friend, why wouldn’t he be?
Phineas organized the drive by’s, the best places to fight, and spent most of his days trying to track down the Crow’s new base. When that was said and done Phil arranged the team, got the weapons and vehicle, then followed his orders.
None of that made Phil a lackey though, he was perfectly able to make his own decisions and think for himself. He just never felt the need to.
That is until the day he meets Dan and his world is turned on its head.
Dan knew he shouldn’t have gone to this party. His friends Ferris and Jake dragged him here over half an hour ago and disappeared.
He was seriously starting to freak out. He knew he shouldn’t have to the Lester side of town. What if somebody recognized his face? Or what if they asked for his name?
Dan had never been in any of the violence, being his mother’s last baby she coddled and kept him from any danger. Something he was grateful of.
He never saw a point to all the fights, he never understood why nobody seemed to realize it wouldn’t end. One person gets killed, they take one, and it keeps going on in an endless cycle. There is no point to the madness.
When Dan turned 18 in a month he was fucking out of here. He’d run as fast as he possibly could.
Dan scans the living room, trying to see his friend’s head of dyed black hair.
He knew he shouldn’t have come here yet he’d let his two friends drag him along. They didn’t know his last name. Nobody did, he and his mother asked to keep it anonymous for safety reasons and the school quickly agreed. There had been enough stabbing on the grounds.
Dan sighed, and slumps against the bare wall. He finishes off his first drink and sets the cup on a side table.
Damn his brothers for making him play drinking games. He’ll be a heavy weight before 21 guaranteed.
A flash of shiny black suddenly passes Dan and he snaps into action.
Ferris walks with a much wider step than he used to. Dan thinks to himself while he follows him. And did he change clothes?
Dan’s hand grabs the Ferris’s shoulder and whispers into his ear. “Why did you ditch me here you absolute ass?”
Ferris spins and Dan gasps in surprise when the face he’s greeted with is definitely not his best friend’s.
In fact, Dan thinks he’s the hottest person he has ever seen.
His skin was pale, to the point Dan could see the veins dancing along his skin. His eyes were a deep blue mixed with greens splashes, his black hair swept to the side to create a poorly placed fringe. His bangs dyed a god awfully bright blue. He seemed tired, deep bags under his eyes and a sorrowful smile. As if he’d seen to much even though he looks around Dan’s age.
He smirked and Dan smiled back, flustered.
“Phil.” The man prompted.
“Dan.”
“Now. I don’t know who Ferris is. But he seems pretty fucking stupid to leave such a pretty face all alone.”
Dan blushes and mutters a quiet. “Thanks.”
“Seriously you are stunning. Do you need help finding him?” Phil asks and Dan looks around the full room, the sheer amount of people making him anxious.
“Yeah. That would be nice. I’ve never been to a party before.”
“Oh. Well let me follow you around. Don’t want anything bad to happen to such a pretty face.”
“You can stop with the compliments you know.” Dan blushes and follows Phil towards what he hopes is an emptier room.
“I really can’t. Not until I’ve said it enough times.”
Phil opens a door and leads them into an empty hallway.
“So. Do you live in this house?” Talking to anyone on the Lester side of town was a toss up, people who lived on the left side of the town either were with the Lester’s or forced to follow thanks to there housing situation.
“Oh no. I live on the river. This is just a good way to unwind.” Phil leans against the wall and turns his phone on.
“How could you unwind at a place like this?” Dan brings himself to ask, wondering what exactly they were doing here. Did Phil recognize him? Was he calling the Lester’s right now? Oh god was Dan going to die?
Phil pockets his phone. “Your friend is upstairs with my sister. They are you know. And your other friend is throwing up in the bushes outside.”
“Damnit Keenan.” Dan mutters to himself and Phil giggles. “And you never told me how you unwind.”
“It’s not really something you explain. It’s more of something you do.” Phil explains carefully, he walks towards Dan and readjust his collar.
Dan can feel the blood rush to his face and he backs up until he hits the opposing wall. “Are you going to kill me?” Dan whispers, his hands flying up to grip Phil’s wrist.
Phil giggles, his face inches from Dan’s. “What? And let such a pretty face go to waste?”
Three hours later Dan’s eyes pop open to a monotone ring filling the air. He sits up quickly and winces as a sharp pain runs through his lower body. What th- oh, oh. Dan’s eyes flutter over to where Phil asleep on his back, arms spread above his head and one hand resting on Dan’s thigh.
Dan rubs his eyes and looks over to where his phone is ringing again. He reaches to the floor and roots around on the floor for his pants. His fingers close around the rectangle and he pushes the on button.
Ten text messages, fifteen missed calls and ten voice mails. Oh god what’s happened.
Dan clicks the newest voicemail from his mum, another popping in while it loads.
“Dan you know I respect your privacy and all that but fucking answer me. It’s 1am, your friend just got here, he couldn’t find you and came to us. Oh god something’s happened hasn’t it? I always feared it would be you. I should have raised you better, taught you how to use a gun. Dan I’m so selfish, I’m so fucking sorry.’ Then she proceeds to break into prayer, her voice full of fear and pain.
“Jesus.” Dan mutters and quickly text her. ‘I’m okay! I’m sorry I fell asleep!’
The reply comes instantaneously.
‘Doing what! You were in Lester territory Dan! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!’
Dan groans and falls on his back next to Phil. ‘I hooked up with someone. I’m heading home now.’
‘You used a condom right?’
‘Mom. Not the time.’ Dan gets up as quietly as possible to not wake up Phil and started collecting his clothes.
‘Just stay safe. Have your friend walk you home.’
Dan pulls on his underwear and his eyes trail over to where Phil is turning on his back. He’s actually quite adorable, his chest rising and falling with his eyes peacefully shut. Dan pulls his shirt over his head and works fast.
Phil can walk him home, he’s strong, probably could keep those damn Lester’s off of Dan.
“Phil. Hey Phil.” Dan walks over to nudge his shoulder and stop dead in his tracks when the man’s back is exposed.
Scars criss-cross over the skin and two circles melded over with flesh look conspicuously like gunshot wounds. Lines of black stick out from the blanket covering his left shoulder and Dan’s afraid to look.
Curiosity soon takes over and Dan finds himself gingerly pushing the blanket to the side.
FUCK
SHIT
NO
The mark was simple, elegant almost, curved lines mixed with the rough, straight lines of a sketch clearly underneath. Each line making the symbol clearer and clearer, a black serpent with venom dripping from his lips.
Lester, Lester, he is a fucking Lester.
Dan jumped back, gasping in surprise.
That’s when Phil’s eyes shot open and he jerked to a sitting position. “What! What is it!”
Dan collapsed onto the floor in horror, his hands were shaking, his mouth was wide open and he could feel his heartbeat through his entire body.
Fuck fuck fuck. He has to get out of here. Fast.
He jumps to his feet and sprints towards the door. Phil left to stare at him as he struggles to fling the door open.
In the process Dan’s phone flies from his hand. Landing on the carpet a few meters away, he glances back at it but Phil is already moving.
Dan squeals to himself and rips the door open, with one final glance to his phone he’s slipped out the door.
The party has died down to nothing by the time Dan rushes down the stairs. A girl is sitting at the table playing cards as he skirts by and she gives him a small wave. The movement shows a snake on her back shoulder as well.
Dan can feel the miniature crow tattoo on his side start to burn.
“Dan!”
God, Phil knew his fucking name. A Lester knew his name. Fuck.
The sound of Dan’s ringer goes off and he freezes. His mother, they would know her voice, if she texted him, Phil would kill him.
What have I done? He thought to himself. He ran towards the front door and swung it open just as Phil’s hand touched his shoulder.
Just the small touch made Dan flinch and his breath catch. He let a Lester have sex with him. Oh god. Oh no.
With that the cool night air washed over Dan’s skin and he ran down the street. He was all the way across town with no way to get back and no protection in case someone happened to see him.
The unmistakable sound of footsteps grew nearer to Dan and suddenly he was on the ground. Wrist pinned to the ground in an all too familiar position with Phil above him.
Funny this pose made him excited minutes ago and now he’s wriggling, terrified.
“Dan! What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
Dan froze. Phil was scared? What was going on?
“Please… stop.” Dan whispers, his shifts his hips to try and escape but Phil’s hand grab his sides, keeping him grounded.
“Dan? Please tell me what I did wrong.”
“Phil you did nothing wrong! You were kind and sweet I have to go home. Please.”
Finally Phil’s face melted from it’s fear with a twinge of anger to pure horror. “Oh Dan. I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
Now that he mentioned it Dan could feel a small spike of pain from his back. Dan must’ve hit a rock on the fall. But like hell was he going to tell Phil that.
“I’m fine. Let me go home. Please.” Finally Phil’s fingers dissapeared and he pushed his body heat off of Dan’s.
“Are you sure? Because I can take you to my house it’s only a street down.”
God, he’s so sweet and he fucks so well but alas, Dan can do nothing but escape. He feels a pull in his chest, to be honest he’d really liked Phil.
“I have to leave. Please.” Dan scrambles to his feet, his heart beating in his ears and his hands shaking.
Phil nods. All his emotions seem to melt away, leaving Phil blank faced, he turns on his heels and heads down the street.
The moment Dan watches him enter a large apartment complex he starts to run. Taking alleys, sharp corners, everything to throw Phil off his trail if the man choose to follow.
Eventually Dan ran across the road that served as the gang’s borders. In quite a gross way honestly. Their grandparents had fought on this ground and where the first two drops of blood landed the border was placed.
Dan hurried home and flinched when he saw his mother’s face through the living room window. Set like steel and tears reddend eyes. She was going to fucking kill him.
With as much courage as he could Dan pulled open the door, immediately a hand grabbed his collar and pulled him in.
Fuck, he was in for it now