Chapter Text
The day was coming to a close, and once again neither PJ, nor his boyfriend Chris had received word from their friend Dan Howell. At first, not receiving a call from their socially awkward friend didn’t seem like the biggest concern in the world. After almost a month, however, the pair had decided that something was majorly off. What used to be a weekly call from the brunet was now nonexistent.
“Do you think that something’s the matter with Dan?” Chris asked that morning over breakfast. PJ looked up from his bowl of cereal, spoon hanging half out of his hand, “That’s what’s been missing. We haven’t talked to Dan in almost, what, a month?” Chis nodded in confirmation, “Almost a month, yea. We should call him and see if he’s doing well.”
“Maybe we should go round to see him for the afternoon. That might be more…effective. Don’t you agree?” The brunet that sat across the table was suddenly alight with subtle excitement. “That’s exactly what we should do. A proper visit is probably exactly what he needs.”
~~~
Afternoon came quicker than previously thought, and the two soon found themselves knocking on the door of Dan’s flat in London. From inside the sounds of the television were heard, as well as the soft shuffle of socks, now getting closer, against hardwood flooring.
“Well at least he’s alive.” PJ murmured under his breath, causing his boyfriend to chuckle lightly.
The door opened swiftly. It was even worse than previously thought. Dan’s soft brown eyes were desolate and glazed over, his brown hair a mess, and his usual ‘brooding but happy’ attitude seemed to be extra ‘brooding’ today. To sum it up in fewer words, the poor thing looked absolutely broken.
“Can I help you with anything?” Sarcasm leaked from his words. “We’re here to check on you. Is everything all right?”
“I’m fine, honestly. It’s just another existential-crisis. You know. The usual.” Chris and PJ nodded simultaneously as they removed their shoes upon entering the apartment. It was a bit dirtier than usual, with a few dishes and glasses scattered all along the surfaces leading into the sitting room.
The television was on, just as heard through the door, but was now muted so that the trio could talk in peace. Dan had seemed to get himself together a bit, and had even made a poor attempt to clean up a bit. The couple that had come to see him didn’t really hold any of the mess against him, though. They knew what these bouts could do to Dan, and luckily they knew how to break him out of it too.
“You just need to take your mind off of all of this for a bit.” PJ spoke up after a few minutes of just sitting around the dimly-lit living room. Dan’s flat looked significantly darker despite the shades now being drawn just enough to let some natural light in. “How? I’ve tried everything and it just seems to make me feel worse. It’s like…I’m here, I know I am, but for what reason? What am I here for? I’m not particularly good at anything, and I don’t have anyone that makes me happy. Don’t get me wrong, you’re great friends, but I’ve never experienced what you two have. I’m sick of just being insignificant and alone.” This was new. Never before had Dan been bothered by not having found his soulmate yet. Usually he was glad that he was single and not bond or obligated to do anything by the person that was destined to be his ‘other half’. It shocked both PJ and Chris, baffled both of them, and left them without a single comforting word for their unkempt friend.
“We’ll go out,” Chris started, looking to his brunet boyfriend for a bit of help. “We’ll go out and we’ll go…dancing…?” PJ tried, which only made both Dan and Chris turn to look at him with confusion in their eyes. “Yes. We’re going dancing whether you like it or not. It’ll be fun.”
Their evening staying in ended when PJ finally insisted that they head out for the club. A moment of silence followed after he’d announced their supposed departure. Chris looked at his soulmate with a concerned expression, while Dan, on the other hand, looked as if he were about to crawl back into the grey cushions of his couch.
“Do you really think that we should take him out like that?” Chris whispered, Dan was none the wiser to what was being said. The brunet with the dazzling green eyes only offered a wry shrug as partial response, “I think it’s just what he needs. Look at him, Chris, he’s aching—aching to go out and have some fun.” The brown-eyed lad in question gave a small shudder of anxiety, slipping further into the fold of the seat.
A moment more had passed until PJ finally insisted that his depressed friend get up and get dressed. “Do I really have to go? I mean, I’m in no mood to properly go out right now.” PJ got up and crossed the room so that he was now next to the worried man, hand now grasping onto his shoulder. “You are very well in the mood to go out. Tonight, you, Daniel Howell, are going to have the time of your life—and I have a brilliant idea!” In an instant the ecstatic brunet was pacing the room, running back round to his boyfriend.
“We’ll call Phil!” Chris and Dan now wore similar confused faces, “You know Phil. He’s the one that came round that lives in our building. Black hair, bright eyes, tall.” The previously confused male now wore a knowing smile. “I quite think you’ll like him.” Chris murmured, “Exactly! That’s why I’m going to invite him.” Dan had no choice but to casually play along what was being plotted even if he didn’t necessarily like it. PJ noticed the concern that now wavered onto his friends face.
“Don’t worry. You’re going to love him. I promise.”