In Another Life (Dan and Phil X Reader)

How was it that you'd ended up here? In an airport, hiding in fear behind your two YouTube heroes, facing off against your own mother.
If this was an action movie, then an epic battle was about to go down, and the heroes would inevitably win.
Unfortunately, this was real life. And in real life, more often than not, the bad guys win.
Did that make your mom the "bad guy", the villain of your life? She was only trying to do what she thought was best for you. Was that so wrong?
Dan glanced over at you repeatedly, checking to see if you were alright. He pulled you in close to his chest. "If anyone knows about family problems, it's me," he whispered, pressing his nose to the side of your cheek. "I promise we'll get this sorted out."
"Hey!" your mom shouted when she saw Dan hugging you. "You let go of her right now, Dan Howell."
Dan's grip on you tightened comfortingly.
A nearby security guard, looking very professional and alert in his dark blue uniform, noticed the commotion. He sauntered over with ease, badge glinting threateningly. Normally, police were a comfort to you, but you knew that you'd end up on the losing side of any legal business. "Is something going on here?" he asked, speaking to your mother.
You shrunk back. Phil turned around to see how you were holding up, and took a few steps toward you when he saw the fear in your eyes. "(Y/N)." His voice was low. Phil only used that voice for a few things- when he was talking to someone he loved, and when he was making a promise. "We won't let her take you back. Both Dan and I would go to jail, if it meant it would keep you safe. We'll do whatever it takes. But you have to help. You can do it. I believe in you."
Those words made something click in your mind. Why were you trying to run from your mom? Wasn't that exactly what you hated her for wanting to do? All of this time, you'd been running and running and running. You always laughed at yourself for spending hours on the Internet and losing yourself in YouTube, when really what you were doing was finding yourself. Dan and Phil certainly loved you for who you were. So did Louise and all of your Phandom friends. So why should you let this one person- your mom- erase all of that?
You gently pried Dan's arms away from you and gave Phil a tight hug. It was his words, after all, that helped you with your realization. Existential crisis averted. Meaning found.
You approached your mother and the security officer. "Officer, there's no problem here," you said confidently. He raised an eyebrow. "You're sure? These two men aren't bothering you?" "They're friends of mine that my mom isn't quite fond of," you explained. A knowing look crossed his face and he turned to your mother. "I have no business in your personal life, ma'am," he said to her, "but try not to be too hard on your kid. You'll regret it in the long run." He gave you both a nod and went on his way.
Your mom turned to you, looking relieved. "Are you ready to come home with me, then, (Y/N)?"
"No. I'm giving it to you straight- I don't want to come with you! You want to run away from life. But I want to run towards it. These YouTubers, these... "burdens", as you call them, are my life. I need the freedom to make my own decisions. I'm not you. If you don't respect my choice, that's fine, but that means I won't respect yours either. And I'll go with them anyway. If you want to threaten me with legal stuff, I'll track Dad down. I'm sure you don't want that. I'd like to continue to have a good relationship with you, but I also want to go. So, good-bye, Mom."
You turned and walked away, your breath hitching, partially with emotion and partially with shock at what you'd finally said.
"(Y/N)! Wait!" your mom called. Thinking she was going to ask you to come home again, you ignored her. "I wish you the best." You froze and turned. Your mom smiled and gave you a slight nod, then turned and disappeared into the airport crowd before you could reply.

****
"I can't believe your friend Josh got us first class seats," Phil said happily.
You were sitting in between Dan and Phil near the very front of the airplane. Fancy meals and trays were spread out in front of you, including elaborate silverware and cute pretzel rolls. "It's pretty cool," you agreed, then sighed. "I didn't even get his last name."
I wish you the best. It was the last thing your mom had said to you, might ever say to you. You'd been trying not to dwell on it, which wasn't hard, since you were so overcome by relief at being able to stay with Dan and Phil. After your mom had disappeared, you'd broken down a little bit, quietly crying and trying to keep Dan and Phil from noticing. They had noticed, of course, and taken you to a quiet spot in the airport so they could just hold you and whisper comfortingly. Phil had pulled you into his lap and Dan went off to buy you something. He returned with a fruit smoothie from a shop. The cool mango taste cleared your senses and brought you out of your pathetic state.
"I'm proud of you," Dan said as the three of you were waiting to board. "All I did was argue with my mom. I do it all the time," you said, brushing off his compliment. "It was more than that, and I think you know it," Dan answered. "You've finally realized who you are, and you weren't afraid to tell your mom so. You're an inspiration to nerds everywhere." You giggled at that. "No, I think you're the inspiration. I'm just a fangirl."
"But a brave fangirl," Phil piped up. "And a beautiful one." You felt your face heating up. "Okay, okay, stop."