Altitudes

“Your orange juice,”

“Thank you,”

“Anything else sweetheart? More butter?”

“Sure,”

Miles stirred from his nap and shifted, realising that there was a hoodie draped over him and a comfortable pillow that was Hobie’s shoulder.
His plans were still foiled despite the nap, forgetting Hobie was an impossible task.

“And for your Boyfriend?” Miles woke up immediately, the grogginess seeming to disaperate into the seat below him.

“He will have the breakfast as well” Hobie answered, without even bothering to correct- did he notice? Maybe he didn’t hear the flight attendant. He cleared his throat “sorry but we’re not-“

“What drink babes,” Miles couldn’t read Hobie’s gaze when he turned back to him, confusing him even more.

“But-,”

“Sorry?” The flight attendant asked, Miles wasn’t sure why but the way she leaned was somewhat intimidating, so he shrunk back into his seat.

“Apple juice,” If Miles wasn’t black he was sure his face would be the brightest shade of red possible painted on his cheeks. The lady handed it over with a broad smile. Miles tried to smile back but it was a clear struggle and there was no way he wanted to look constipated in front of Hobie- not that it mattered of course.
Miles was sure to wait until she got at least 7 seats down before he tapped Hobie’s shoulder frantically. “What the hell?”

“Good sleep darling?”

“No,” that was a lie “why did you tell her that I was your boyfriend,”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hobie held his gaze for a few moments, Miles felt his heart leap, Hobie had the most expressive eyes, he swore they were sparkling.

Miles nudged him slightly as though he was also waking himself up to reality “Don’t act clueless,”

“If you were paying attention babes, you would know that she said it not me,” Hobie squished Miles' cheeks briefly and dodged back before Miles had the opportunity to slap his hand away. “Don’t deep* it,”

Miles decided to abandon this argument for what it was, he wasn’t going to win no matter what he said, becuase Hobie was a smooth talker which meant he always said the right thing. He must engage in arguments frequently,

“Here’s your hoodie,” Miles said sheepishly

“You’re shivering it’s fine,” Hobie pushed Mile’s outstretched hand back to him. Miles knew he was right, his mother as per usual ensured that he would have his hoodie or jacket with him when he left because she didn’t want him “hiding” the whole trip, even though she was partially right, it didn’t mean that he was happy to comply so he had to sneak his extra puffy one in his suitcase. Which also meant he had no cover right now.

“Are you sure?” Miles was already warming to the idea of wearing Hobie’s hoodie so he was silently praying he wouldn’t change his mind last minute.

“Have I lied to you?”

Miles pulled the garment over his head after a few more reassuring glances towards Hobie. He seemed pleased with himself, he helps push the hoodie down when it was finally over Miles’ head. Miles pushed the sleeves up slightly, Hobie cooed at him.

“What a cutie,” Hobie tapped the bottom of his chin once again, Miles let him this time, perhaps it was the right thing to indulge Hobie’s antics a little bit.

“Shush,” was all Miles could say when he closed his eyes again, he felt a hand on his cheek and he snapped the em open again.

“Relax, the flight attendant would kill me if I let you sleep like that, she’s our biggest supporter you know? She sees you like the son she’s never had,” he pushed down the armrest between them.

“Really?” Miles raised his eyebrows

“No- but it could be true,”

Miles sighed and gave in resting his head on Hobies shoulder again. He wasn’t that mad about it, but it would be weird if some stranger would be cool with such a thing so easily, he should probably graduate their rank to something other than strangers, he felt like he’d known Hobie for ages just from the way he talked to him.

“You smell nice,”

Miles didn’t realise what he said until he said it, but he didn’t move, because if he did Hobie would probably see the bashful look on his face, he wanted it to seem as unapologetic as Hobie often made it seem. Regardless he meant it wholeheartedly.

“You flatter me love,”

Miles didn’t fall asleep this time, so he was on his phone for a while, his parent had sent him millions of messages asking how he was, as if wasn’t 19 already and can’t handle himself, he’d also spammed Ganke already about Hobie but he was sure that he didn’t want Hobie accidentally reading the messages that he had freaked out on as they were in such close proximity.

“The munch isn’t too disrespectful you know,” Hobie said after he took a bite into a croissant. He picked up Miles croissant from his tray and unwrapped it for him. Miles took it gratefully and took a bite, it wasn’t too bad but then again it was hard to fuck up croissants even in airport food, and either way he would still have ate what he’d been given as he grew up in a “no waste” ethnic household.

“Yeah it’s good surprisingly,”

“Where’s your ends?”

“What?”

“Where you from?”

“Oh, Brooklyn,”

Hobie tilts his head slightly “I’d expect you’d have a bit more of a bite too you,”

“Well- I, umm…,” Miles didn’t know how to respond to such a statement, he supposed he could say that he expected Hobie to be more posh but here was always the possibility that Hobie would hate him for it becuase Hobie was in many ways a gentleman all the same.

“Don’t worry sweets, we rate you all the same,” Hobie must have sensed his worry and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

“Where are you from?”

“North London innit?,”

“I’m going to pretend I know the difference,”

“You’ll learn in good time, you’ll hear it when you get used to the language,” Hobie then went on to explain how London works and the difference in the accents in detail. Miles almost felt bad for the fact that he didn’t hear half of what he was saying as he was… distracted. His head was so close to Hobie’s heart that he could hear it beating in his chest, and he could hear the way Hobie seemed to get just a little bit more excited in his voice as he rambled on about accents.

“Sounds complex,” was all Miles said in the end and it caused Hobie to let out a burst of laughter.

“Yeah, I guess so, I never really thought about it until now to be honest,” Hobie said as thought also confused him as much as it confused Miles.

“It’s strange how even within languages there’s still subcategories,” Miles added and Hobie hummed in agreement. Miles could feel the rumble from his chest as he did so.

At this time, the sun had rose completely and a nice glow streamed through the aircraft windows, however it wasn’t quite a clear day as there were still wisps of clouds in the sky some white some grey, which was a light cause of concern for now, Miles had heard that London was especially rainy so he had come prepared already. The seat however where starting her get uncomfortable by the 3 hour mark however Hobie was surprisingly comfortable (not that Miles would ever say it out loud) so the long haul was not looking like it would be so bad.

The flight attendant had also come round again and despite the slight itch in his throat to tell her the whole truth, he decided that he would just roll with it. The chances of seeing her again was a slim as-

What if he never saw Hobie again?

A part of Mikes was so unsettled with the meer thought that he may not be able to see him again, if made him almost sad? He never had a high chance with him anyway so must enjoy the moment for now he supposed. Maybe he would spend a couple nights crying over his “lost love” as he was sure Gwen would put it but he’d get over it in the end- he hoped.

“You alright there love?”

Maybe not

”Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking, please make your way to your seats and fasten your seatbelts, we are expected to meet a patch of turbulence. Please ensure you remain calm and listen for the Flight attendants instructions- thank you,”

Oh Shit