"We're going back home! We're going back home!" Mark and Kai cheered as they skipped through the airport like little children. The others weren't too far behind. They checked if they had their passports and gave the boarding tickets to each person.
"Hey!" Baekhyun jogged to the two screaming man-children and whacked the back of their heads at the same time. "Do you want people to think you have the brains of five year olds?"
"But, like-" Mark began.
"No." Baekhyun cut him off and handed over the boarding tickets, along with their passports. "If you lose these, you're going to look for them." He raised his hand, stopping the two from interrupting. "And I don't care if you end up missing the flight."
"I'm pretty sure you will because I payed for my ticket under your bank account." Kai smirked and fist bumped Mark, who was astonished. His eyes were as wide as saucers and his mouth was slightly agape. Baekhyun's eye twitched and his jaw clenched.
"Just don't lose those." He sighed and walked back to Taemin and Taeyong.
"You are a true criminal, bro."
"I try my best." Baekhyun clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. Kai whispered indistinct words into Mark's ear and his eyes lit up.
They quickly stole a small glance behind them and stuck their tongues out before running around screaming at the top of their lungs. Baekhyun tore his bag off his back and shoved it into Taemin's arms.
He sped over to the two 'children' and occasionally shrieked "YAH!" and "If you don't stop, I swear-"
He eventually ended up leaning on a wall, panting heavily. He felt a heavy object be pushed into him and opened his eyes.
"Do you want water?" Taeyong asked. His voice sounded familiar. He handed Baekhyun a bottle of cold water. He gulped half the bottle down in one go and wiped away the excess water from the corners of his lips.
"Thanks, Tae."
"No problem." Two people said at the same time. Baekhyun turned and saw Taemin giving Taeyong a weird look.
"I gave it to him." Taeyong scoffed.
"I bought it." Taemin retorted.
"And I drank it." Baekhyun sighed. "It doesn't matter."
"Come on. The others are already in the plane." Taeyong said, speed walking away from them. Taemin followed at the same pace. Baekhyun quickly jogged behind and ruffled his hair. Was he slow or were their strides long?
"Mark seems to be a very energetic person." He commented.
"Actually, no." Taeyong disagreed. "It's been a while since Mark was that happy."
-
Taeyong snuggled into the comfortable seat in the plane and sighed. They were going back home. As much as he was excited to visit his friends and family members, the chances of accidentally bumping into them... the mere thought made Taeyong shiver.
"Thank you for flying with American Airlines. This is your pilot and we hope you're comfortable, because this is going to be a long flight." The blue haired man closed his eyes, toning out the pilot's dull voice.
He heard a few words. Something about going to Dubai first to switch planes before getting to Incheon International Airport. Then came the air hostesses explaining the safety regulations and so on and so forth.
Taeyong looked over to Baekhyun, who's jaw was still clenched. His nails dug into the fabric of the arm of the chair.
"Baekhyun. Are you all right?"
"No. The chances of us bumping into EXO...they're not as slim as I want them to be. And I also don't know if my parents will be at home and–"
"You'll be fine, Baekhyun." Taeyong reassured, resting his hand on Baekhyun's. "I promise." The orange haired man looked up and his lips slightly curved.
"Thank you, Taeyong." The said man nodded and leaned over to the other side of the aisle, where Lucas, Ten and Taemin sat. He tapped Lucas' hand.
"Thank you for this." Lucas shrugged and put his phone in his pocket.
"It was nothing. We all want to go home–"
"But what if we were to die mid-flight?" Kai taunted from behind. Mark promoted the situation by agreeing and making the situation far worse.
Taeyong ripped off his seatbelt and shot up, mildly wanting to throttle the two men behind him. He felt two cold hands grasp his wrists. Lucas and Baekhyun looked up and down the aisle to make sure nobody was close enough to see.
"Ignore them." Lucas instructed. He let go of Taeyong's wrist and Baekhyun sat him down.
"For the rest of the flight, we don't know them." Baekhyun said and leaned into his chair. Taeyong deeply inhaled and sank into his chair closing his eyes. Maybe they were right. He should just pretend he doesn't know them-
"Taeyong!" Mark giggled. "Who knows what could happen?" Taeyong's knuckles grew paler and paler as his grip on the arm of the chair tightened.
"This is gonna be a long flight."
-
"Dude." Mark continuously tapped Kai shoulder. "There are, like, so many movies to choose from."
"Woah." They looked through endless lists of movies and shows and settled for a long list of series and one movie and spent the half of the flight watching them.
A few hours later, Kai turned off his small screen and checked on Mark. The brunette was fast asleep; the screen illuminated his face. His chin rested on his shoulder and saliva slowly drooled down his chin to the fabric of his shirt.
Kai turned off Mark's screen and put a pillow behind Mark's head. The brunette snorted, startling Kai, and shifted into a more comfortable position.
His face crinkled into a small frown and his hand hit his forearm and roughly rubbed away. Kai could hardly make out the goosebumps forming on his arms.
'Poor guy must be cold.' Kai picked up the blanket at Mark's feet and pulled it up to his shoulders and removed the headphones from his head. After making sure his friend was alright, Kai wrapped himself in the provided blanket and drifted into slumber.
-
"Did they even sleep?" Baekhyun mumbled, watching Mark and Kai run around the parking lot in joy. They sang their favourite songs at the top of their lungs and occasionally urged their peers to join.
"I went to check on them and they were sleeping for the majority of the flight." Taeyong said, rubbing his eyes. He answered a call, removing himself from the group.
"Do you guys have organised transport?" Baekhyun asked.
"You should be asking if we have a place to go." Kai mumbled, stretching his arms.
"You know we've got a place." Baekhyun scoffed. Taeyong returned and rested his forehead on Mark's shoulder.
"Minseok just called. He'll be here soon." Mark eyes lit up and he clapped his hands.
"Really? It's been such a long time!" Taeyong chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. A white car soon pulled up. The window rolled down revealing a brunette.
"Minseok!" Mark squealed and hugged Minseok through the small opening in the window. As they pulled away, Minseok pinched his cheeks and the latter blushed.
"How is my favourite brother-from-another-mother doing?" Taeyong pushed his chin back and placed his hand over his chest.
"Am I not offended?" He scoffed and Minseok rolled his eyes.
"You're my favourite person. Calm down, buster." The hooting cars behind him made him jump. "I think these guys behind me are going to hit my car."
"Well, I guess we'll see you when we see you?" Mark shook hands with Kai. He smiled and pulled Mark into his arms and they patted each other's backs roughly. Mark and Taeyong bid the others goodbye and climbed into the SUV.
Another car pulled up. The door opened and a blonde man came out. He opened his arms and Ten accepted the offer for the hug.
"It's been a while." The blonde hummed and hopefully glanced at Lucas, who darkly glared at him.
"Jackson." He greeted Jackson Wang coldly. Jackson dramatically gasped and pouted.
"Are you still mad at me?" Lucas crossed his arms and cocked a brow. Jackson's pout dropped into a frown. His face twisted in thought and he gasped.
"I've apologised so many times!" Jackson complained.
"I have forgiven you many times, but a special something keeps on reminding me." Lucas deadpanned. Ten's cheerful expression dropped into a small frown. He stroked Lucas' back and he deeply inhaled.
The next action shocked everyone.
Jackson gasped as Lucas walked into his arms and tightened his grip around the blonde's waist. He smiled widely and squeezed Lucas, lifting him off the ground. Baekyun and Kai gushed, taking a few pictures. This would be great for Kai to send to Mark and for Baekhyun to use as blackmail.
Lucas pulled himself away from Jackson and looked away. "Don't embarrass me." The latter ruffled his hair and stored their bags in the boot of the car. They bid Kai, Taemin and Baekhyun goodbye and drove off.
Another car drove in. The window rolled down and Kai groaned and walked away and then ran back.
"Nice to see you too, Kai." Kyungsoo smiled.
"I missed you so much!" Kai cried and hugged Kyungsoo through the window.
"I know."
Kai wrapped his arms around Taemin and mumbled words along the lines of 'You better call me when you get home.'
"Come to think of it, where are you going to go?" Baekhyun asked.
"And where's your luggage?" Kai added. Taemin shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I didn't bring luggage." He gazed at the rising sun. "Anywhere I go, my people have some of my clothes."
"Who's picking you up?"
"That's not for you to know. Go home." Baekhyun patted his shoulder and dragged Kai into the car and they drove off.
Taemin spent some time watching people greet or bid their loved ones goodbye and walked up and down the pavement. A cold gust of wind brushed through his clothes and hair. Maybe he could go to get some coffee. He still had time.
"Are you that bored?" A voice interrupted Taemin's pacing.
"No." He continued walking around and the man stopped him by standing in front of him.
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah." Taemin hooked his arm around the man's shoulders. "Let's go home, Minho."
