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Phil glances away from Final Fantasy XIV for a second, keeping his hand on their old controller to keep his character moving. Dan, who'd been watching him play beforehand, has now fallen asleep, laying rather uncomfortably with his head against the couch's armrest and legs pressed to his chest.
His dark curly hair is messed up, flowing over his eyes and chapped lips parted in his peaceful slumber. It was nice seeing him this soft and admittedly vulnerable, unlike his usual loud and chaotic self. Don't get him wrong; Phil adores that part of Dan just as much as any, but there's something calming about seeing him this restful and calm. It's remarkable how young he looks (especially) when asleep, just like the lonely, bright-eyed boy he met all those years ago over the internet, who stayed up with him just to text each other all night.
He looks back to the screen, watching as his catboy character continues their pre-programmed movements through the digital landscape. The soft glow from the TV illuminates their living room in gentle, shifting colors, reflecting onto Dan's face, and Phil couldn't be more at peace himself, listening to the beautiful background melodies of FF and his partner's soft breathing.
He debates taking a nice candid picture of this moment, of Dan, maybe putting it on his story with a caption saying something slightly teasing that Dan would most certainly scold him for later, but Phil decides against it, savoring it in his memory instead.
Dan starts stirring eventually, fluttering his lashes and blinking away any sleep left over. He stretches across the couch and lays his feet in Phil's lap. “Yr’ still playin’ rat?”
Phil chuckles at the sleepiness, only nodding in response, looking away from the distraction and back to the screen to finish his random side quest.
“Mm, what time is't?”
"Almost midnight," Phil answers softly, his eyes still fixed on the screen where his character is engaged in what seems to be an endless fetch quest. "You should go to bed if you're tired."
Dan makes a noncommittal sound, stretching his legs further across Phil's lap. "So should you, princess.”
Phil rolls his eyes in response, lightly slapping Dan's foot and fighting back a smile. “I'll finish this thing first.”
Dan sighs before stealing a pillow and putting it under his head.
“A’ght, wake me up when you're done.”
Eventually, Phil gently wakes him, and they make their way to bed, settling into a peaceful quiet together. There's nowhere else he'd rather be.
