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Heading into the first class lounge Jeonghan took in a deep, calming breath, thanking the concierge with a small bow and taking back his ticket and boarding pass. On his way to the airport he had so engrossed in work to pay attention to the darkening skies outside his window. Now as he scanned the room he decided on the seat that afforded him the most privacy but allowed him views into all areas. Usually he was happy to see and been seen but today had been a day. And it wasn't looking too good for his flight leaving on time if the storm raging outside was any indication.
The idea of having to leave and fight Seoul traffic in bad weather to get back home was almost as daunting as sitting and waiting for a delayed flight. At least here there were comfortable seats, strong wi-fi, and a continually replenished buffet. Maybe he should hide out in the first class lounge more often, maybe when he wasn't even scheduled for a flight.
Spreading out his laptop, notebook, phone and headphones, arranging each just so before stepping to the buffet and filling a plate, making note of what he wanted on a return trip. He grabbed a water and headed back to his table.
Before he knew it an hour had passed and the last of his work emails sent, he was officially on vacation. With a sigh he pulled off his headphones and sat back in his seat, toying with the idea of going for seconds he looked up and across the room just as a man walked in. Jeonghan only got a vague impression before he stepped over to the concierge for verification but it had been enough to register tall and shoulders and tall. In many ways Jeonghan was a simple man and tall with wide shoulders was one of them.
The man stepped back into view and Jeonghan sat up straighter, fussed with his hair, freshly dyed blond, and made sure the mint green sweater was sitting just right on his shoulders. If the man was looking than Jeonghan would be seen and he had a feeling a tugging in his gut and he had yet to ever be wrong with such things.
Jeonghan bit his lip as the man looked up from his ticket and begin to scan the room, scanned it enough to see Jeonghan and stop. It never ever got old being right. Without shame Jeonghan smiled and gave a tilt of his head that could be a question or an offer depending on who was looking. In this case he had to admit even he wasn't sure.
Tall had been his first impression and that was an understatement. Jeonghan almost groaned as he stepped closer and stumbled into the chair at the table closest. Taller than expected and clumsy Jeonghan's literal kryptonite. Without hesitation he gave his new neighbor a big smile.
“Welcome to the land of delayed travelers.”
The smile he got in return was bright and genuine and open to his cheesy welcome and was that a sharp incisor? Jeonghan was glad he was sitting, Shua was never going to believe this happened. Was this a meet cute? Was he having a meet cute.
An hour later after their two tables became one and Jeonghan had stopped after a second plate and a third for fruit and dessert and his tall man, Kim Mingyu, was on his fourth plate, he asked just that.
“Are we having a meet cute?” His blushing starting before the words were even done passing to Mingyu, Jeonghan dug his fingers into his thighs, mortified.
Mingyu swallowed the bite he had just taken, eyes wide, he put his chopsticks down slowly. Jeonghan had thought they were flirting, he had known he was flirting, had thought Mingyu was flirting back but embarrassment and insecurity were rising as the quiet lingered.
“I think so.” Mingyu answered, shy. Jeonghan looked up, eyes sharp, wary. Perhaps he saw or felt Jeonghan's walls going up because he smiled big and confident, “I want it to be.”
Glad he wasn't alone in whatever it was that was weaving between them Jeonghan smiled in return. Another hour passed before the concierge came to tell them that their flight was finally being cleared for take off and to offer his apologies.
Jeonghan could not think of a nicer afternoon he had spent in recent history. Mingyu was smart and sweet and funny, so funny, and knew a little but about a lot of things and was stubborn enough to not cede when Jeonghan maybe knew a little bit more and Jeonghan loved it. Loved that he didn't back down but didn't shy away from compliments, Lord save him from a man who was confident enough in his looks to compliment others with honesty.
They were both hard workers, perhaps too wealthy and good looking for their own good, and neither particularly worried about changing either of those things. Both were starting much needed vacations and Jeonghan wasn't sure he had ever been one to believe in fate but it was hard not to see how fate might believe in him, in them.
They made it to the boarding gate, Jeonghan being called ahead, and he couldn't help but mirror the sad smile Mingyu gave him. They had already exchanged numbers but it felt like there was enough between them already that he wanted more, didn't want to let go of what they had already built. Having stowed his carry on, he explored the fold down bed, the in flight monitors, hooked his electronics to the wifi and power. The flight was going to be long, 14 hours, but worth it.
This wasn't his first trip to Paris, not by a long shot, but it was the city he was most comfortable with in Europe and it was a good starting point. He had a loose plan that started with 5 days in the city and then at least 5 on and off trains on a whim. He was the official location scout for his workaholic friends who counted on his discerning eye to pick the locations of their group vacations. This way he got the best of both worlds, he fed his need to be an introvert while planning an extrovert activity.
No sooner had he picked up his menu to see what the in flight choices were did the attendant make their way escorting a guest to the seat next to his, Jeonghan had been sure to book a window seat. The aisle seat would be far too busy for him to rest at ease, he looked to his left to see who would be suffering and was pleased beyond measure at the tall, tall man whose back was to him as they listened to the instructions the attendant was giving him.
They were not as close as they would have been had they been in business class but they were certainly close enough to hopefully continue where they left off. Jeonghan was immediately inspired and snatched his phone before he could change his mind or miss his moment. Picture taken and sent, he waited, anxious as he heard the buzz of Mingyu's phone in his pocket and was pleased when he dug it out with a quick apology for the interruption.
The laugh and quick turn around in the aisle was everything Jeonghan had wanted. “Hyung!” Mingyu was adorably embarrassed at the picture and his close proximity although Jeonghan would later reassure him he looked just as lovely from behind. Mingyu would turn a delicious shade of red after that particular innuendo.
Over the first stretches of hours Jeonghan ignored his phone and queued up k-dramas in exchange for great company. Mingyu was also heading to Paris for vacation, although it was only his second visit he was also looking forward to days spent exploring rather than the tourist rush. When it turned out their hotels were a block apart Jeonghan sighed and admitted that perhaps the universe was telling them something.
Mingyu smiled, tooth catching Jeonghan's eye, “Who are we to ignore the universe Hyung?”
Seven hours into their flight, Jeonghan could say he was well and truly asleep, another storm made itself known and a rough patch of turbulence jolted him awake. Heights and planes and larger than life things in general did not scare Jeonghan in particular but he was made acutely aware that the storm was large and they were in fact only a small object hurtling through its center, humbling to be sure.
Mingyu it seemed did have a thing for traveling and heights especially the reason for his deliberate selection of an aisle seat. If he didn't see the ground so far below him he could believe he was still on it. Jeonghan immediately looked over, concerned, heart dropping when he saw the white knuckle grip Mingyu had on his armrest.
Twisting as far towards and over as his lap belt would allow he called out in the calmest voice he could, heart twisting at the tears he could now see. “Mingyu-yah.” He wasn't even sure if he could hear him if he would even register over the rain and fear.
“Mingyu, come on look at Hyung.” He reached across and lightly squeezed the wrist he could reach, rubbing the clenched fist until Mingyu finally blinked and looked over at him.
“Hyung.” For knowing him all of twelve hours Mingyu sure had a hold over Jeonghan's heart and was sure tugging on it now.
“There you are,” he didn't tell him to calm down or not be scared, wouldn't minimize the fear so strong it was rotten on the back of Jeonghan's throat, what he would do was try and get him to breathe and possibly avoid what looked like an impending panic attack.
“Can you take a breath for Hyung, just one, just one when Hyung taps on your hand,” Mingyu just stared at him glassy eyed, jaw clenched tight. “One breath for Hyung.”
He tapped once and waited, Mingyu blinked once then twice and sucked in a sharp, short breath. Jeonghan had never been more grateful for anything he didn't think. “Good job Gyu-yah, Hyung is so proud. Let's do that again.”
And so it continued, a tap a breath a praise and repeat until he was breathing on his own and their fingers had laced together. Mingyu hadn't spoken and Jeonghan hadn't asked him too. If there was one thing that Jeonghan was glad to do it was ramble to provide distraction, a skill that worked wonders at mindless dinner parties.
So Jeonghan had talked them through the storm. Talked about his friends and his family, his job, his apartment, the places he liked to eat, the places he shopped. The places he had visited and the ones he still wanted to go to.
“Five days in Paris and then on a train to somewhere.” He looked over, not sure if Mingyu had actually fallen asleep or was simply resting, his thumb tapped on the back on Mingyu's hand. “Maybe you could join Hyung on that train.”
When he spoke Jeonghan was so startled he very nearly jolted. “Not maybe.” His voice was dry, quiet. Jeonghan reaching automatically for one of the unopened water bottles, hand freezing at the even quieter, “Yes.”
It took a second for him to register what he had taken as a perfectly reasonable rejection for acceptance.
“Yes?” He couldn't help but ask again, wanting to see the answer for himself.
Mingyu smiled lifting their still entwined hands and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Jeonghan's hand, he didn't think he had ever been quite so affected by such a small kiss, “Yes.”
Jeonghan's smile in return had to be beaming and he was more than fine with that.
Mingyu had offered to go to the top with him, had clutched tightly at his hand and swore he would be fine that he had done it before. Jeonghan watched his beautiful tall man as he was staring up at the imposing Tower, the past 5 days had been better than he could have imagined. Jeonghan didn't need to go up the Tower, had been on a high since they had touched down at the airport, and wouldn't Shua just love hearing that.
“The offer is more than enough but Hyung has something else he wants to climb.” He took Mingyu by his tugging him along, he stumbled the first few steps, still as clumsy as the first time Jeonghan had seen him. When finally his feet and brain caught up to what Jeonghan had said Mingyu promptly stumbled again and nearly took Jeonghan down again.
“Gah Kim Mingyu don't make me change my mind.” From his knees Mingyu only smiled up at him and wasn't that a sight made to take his breath away.
“You won't do that Hyung,” he teased, Jeonghan raised a challenging eyebrow, “You can't go against the Universe.”
“Yah! This brat.” Mingyu grinned jumping up to his feet and planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
“Hyung's brat.” And dashed away towards their now shared hotel room, Jeonghan was happy to be hot on his heels.