Chapter Text
Dan Howell must be experiencing the unluckiest day imaginable. Not only did a power outage hit his building, resetting his alarm and causing him to oversleep, but he also managed to spill coffee all over himself while leaving his apartment, forcing him to change clothes and making him even really late for work.
He worked for a newspaper, snapping pictures for a few bucks that allowed him to rent a tiny flat in Manchester. After dropping out of Law school, it was the only opportunity that required no prior experience and also offered flexible hours. He needed flexible jobs so he could squeeze in his other hobby, for Dan Howell was also Spider-man.
After getting bitten by an unusual spider on a school trip he began to mutate, gaining strength, flexibility, and enhanced reflexes. And the strangest part, he could shoot out webs from his wrists. At first, the young man was discouraged by his transformation struggling through his teenage years, but eventually, he adapted to his unique circumstances and realized he could use this power to help people in need.
This was a lonely life, he had distanced himself from his family, and harboring so many secrets like his doble life and his enjoyment of the male body only widened that gap. Most of his free time was spent online, which was where he discovered Phil.
Phil Lester was his safe haven, with videos that brought him joy and tranquility. Perhaps he even had a little crush on him, and who could blame him? Phil was this adorable emo guy who made goofy videos and shared similar interests. But someone like Phil would never notice him. At least he felt as if he had someone in his life.
Upon arriving at the office, his boss was already seething. He attempted to blend into the background, as if he’d been there the entire time, but it was too late.
“Daniel! Where have you been?” his boss barked, his face flushed red, and Dan slumped in shame. “Our guest is already waiting, and we didn’t have a photographer prepared. Get in there this instant!” he shouted, pointing toward the closed door that led to the interview room.
“Yes, sir,” Dan replied in a whisper, sprinting toward the door and smoothly opening it to avoid his furious gaze.
“I’m so sorry for being late; I had an issue with my power and—“
Then he was confronted with a pair of stunning blue eyes that halted him in place. Dan felt as if he had seen a ghost when he spotted Phil, AmazingPhil sitting on the red couch in the room. The interviewer, Sarah, glanced at Dan with an exasperated look.
“Dan, come on, Phil doesn’t have much time,” Sarah urged, casting an apologetic glance at Phil, who was still smiling at Dan.
“Oh, it’s absolutely fine! I still have time,” Phil, with his dark hair, said, looking quite nervous himself, but Dan was utterly entranced by his eyes, they were even more captivating in person. He tried to avert his gaze, focusing instead on his camera.
“Um, we can begin now, sorry,” he mumbled, still refusing to meet Phil’s eyes.
The interview carried on as normal, with Dan striving to concentrate on taking professional shots instead of daydreaming about Phil sitting right before him. He was just so cool. The way he spoke, gesturing with his hands to make a point, and that quirky little tongue poke when he laughed. Dan needed to pull himself together.
“Well, that wraps up our time for today. Thank you so much, Phil, for joining us and answering our questions,” said Sarah.
Dan breathed out in relief, oblivious to the fact that he'd been holding his breath. He could feel his face was bright red and clammy with sweat.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sarah," Phil said, extending his hand for a handshake. "Oh, and you too, Dan, right?" He offered his hand to Dan as well, who gripped it with far more strength than needed. "Yeah, great to meet you as well."
After Phil exited the room, Dan wiped his damp hand on his black jeans, attempting to calm his nerves. That’s when he sensed a familiar tingle at the nape of his neck. He jolted when something struck the building, shaking it vigorously. He needed to get into his suit.
Scanning his surroundings, he darted into a storage closet and swiftly changed into his red and blue costume stuffed in his backpack. Quickly, he made his way into the main hall, which was engulfed in smoke and debris. Amidst the chaos, people were screaming and rushing towards the stairs. Dan began swinging, try to assist people in reaching the exit more quickly when he caught sight of it, a person clinging to the edge of the building, grasping the tiles. With a swift swing, he reached the individual just before they could let go, grasping their hand firmly.
"It’s alright, I’ve got you! Hold on tight!" The man, Phil, looked terrified and bewildered as he leaped into Dan’s embrace, wrapping his arms around him. There was no time to ponder how incredible this felt. He lifted Phil high, one hand on his lower back, while the other guided them out of the building before it crumbled.
The young man in his arms continued to tremble. "Hey, you’re safe now, we’re out of danger," Dan reassured him, attempting to soothe his fears.
The blue-eyed man slowly released his grip and gazed at him, making Dan flush, thankful for the mask obscuring his face.
"Thank you, you saved my life," Phil said, smiling at him, slightly flushed and breathless. The poor guy was still clearly shaken. "What’s your name?"
"Um, Spider-Man," Dan stammered, suddenly aware he was still holding onto Phil’s back. He quickly let go and took a few steps back to create some space between them. "Well, just try to avoid getting crushed by any more buildings," he said nervously, earning a chuckle from Phil. Dan then swung away, needing a moment to breathe. He was really down bad for Phil Lester.
Phil remained there, staring at the spot where the masked hero had vanished, feeling exhilarated. He needed to uncover who he was.