Chapter Text
"Okay, clothes?"
"Yes."
"Sunscreen?"
"Yes, though I am not sure why we would need it. You know how cloudy the city gets."
"You can still burn on a cloudy day, Buds! Anyways, toothbrush and all that?" The man sitting on the bed rolled his eyes in response. Sunburns were never much of an issue during the dreary days on the cobble streets. Nevertheless, he glanced down at the open suitcase next to him.
"Our toiletries are packed." His husband smiled from where he stood at the foot of their bed. Their wedding was only a month ago, starting off the life they used to dream about a long time ago. Although, Nox supposed that a life with Chase, regardless of marital status, was a life he longed for.
"Deacon should be here soon to take us to the airport. Do you think I should pack the camera to make a vlog for my fans?" Chase asked, glancing across the hall at his office. Nox stood up, tilting Chase's chin away from the door decorated with a "Popstar On Duty" sign.
"I think, that you shouldn't have to spend your entire vacation worrying about your beloved fans. If they truly adore you, they will respect you wanting to spend time with your newly acquired husband," Nox stated matter-of-factly. The slightly fuzzy skin of Chase's cheek leaned into his hand, tensing slightly as the muscles pulled into a smile. Nox leaned down and planted a kiss on the lips that had long since been etched into his memory. Much to their dismay, Deacon was going to be there any minute. Nox elected to back away slightly before time escaped them by getting caught up in the moment. They would have plenty of moments on their trip.
The goth reached for the pack list in his husband's hand to run over what they needed in his head. They were planning on riding in what Chase had called an "air-plane" to visit various tourist areas… as well as the place they grew up. The city held negative memories for both of them, but they had decided that they needed to visit at least once to gain some closure.
While he wasn't very open at discussing it, Nox knew Chase sometimes had a hard time sorting out his past life's memories. The headaches had stopped after the first few weeks, but the memories of his death would probably haunt Chase until the next time he walked through death's door.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of Chase's cousin. Chase had explained to him that Deacon would be picking them up and dropping them off to avoid having to pay some sort of parking fee. With their newfound income, Chase had also excitedly told him they would be "flying business" instead of "coach" which meant that they could get a proper night's sleep on their long flight. It was still wondrous how far human innovation had come since the hot air balloon.
Chase flipped the flap of both of their suitcases down before dragging each zipper until the bags were shut. The blond slipped his teal suitcase off the bed and grabbed the backpack he had prepared for their time in the airport and in the airplane. Nox followed his lead as the pair departed from their bedroom.
Freckles was outside the front door, leaning against the side of his small vehicle. Bronze, Silver, and Violet had apparently decided to accompany him. Silver offered a wave from Deacon's shoulder. Violet, who was on the opposite shoulder, gave a smile, while Bronze was fast asleep in the hood of Deacon's jacket.
"You guys ready?" Deacon asked, looking up from the phone in his hand. Nox gave a nod while Chase gave a louder, verbal confirmation. A tug on his suitcase handle served as an offer from his husband to stow his belongings in the trunk while Nox could go take his place in the passenger seat. Shortly after he found his buckle, Chase hopped in the backseat behind Nox. The car hummed to life, and the group made their way to the airport.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡✈︎⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The entrance to the terminal buzzed with life as Deacon's car pulled over to stop. Nox looked around at the rush of people trying to find their way. It reminded him of the bustling train station he would lurk about for potential steals. A cleared throat caught his attention. Violet looked up at him from her spot on the center console.
"Well, Noxxie, I do hope you have a pleasant trip. Do be sure to bring back souvenirs and take lots of photographs, but only ones that capture your good side!" Nox smiled and nodded.
"I'll be sure to plan a tea time debrief when we return!"
The car exchanged a round of goodbyes before Chase and Nox exited the vehicle. With their luggage secured, it was time for what Chase had warned him would be the scariest part of travel: navigating the airport.
The inside of the building was even more insane than the outside as crowds of people walked to pick up boarding passes, check their luggage, and go through security. Nox found himself triple-checking that they had all their documentation before they made it to bustling conveyor belts where everyone was scrambling to unload their pockets and place their jackets in the provided bins. Chase had warned him beforehand to not wear any of his more elaborate articles of clothing, and Nox could see why.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡✈︎⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
It was official. Nox hated airport security. Even before it was his turn in line, they were held up by the staff confiscating Chase's face cream because the container was "too suspicious" despite being within the liquid limits. Chase had groaned, debating whether or not to let them throw it out or go through the unbearable amount of time it would take to test the substance. With their flight in an hour, no amount of limited edition Starbrigade Strawberry facial shea butter was worth it.
Through bouts of overstimulation and fear that he might actually have illegal substances in his coat despite never owning anything, Nox had tried to make his way through the detectors to join his husband when the studded belt in his bag was flagged by the blasted machines. Of course, today had been the day that the staff were particularly bored and wanted to continue rummaging through his bag while someone waved some sort of yellow paddle around to scan him for any further inconvieneces. Once they were finally through, his hand quickly found Chase's as they began the next leg of their airport adventure, using the restroom, grabbing a bite to eat, and finding their "gate" which Chase had explained to be similar to a platform on a train station.
The food and restroom trips came quickly enough. After finishing their overpriced cups of fruit, Chase quickly lead Nox towards the signs that gave directions towards their assigned gate. The hustle and bustle came to a stop as the pair found themselves seated by a window overlooking the concrete outdoors. A large, moving sculpture pulled up to a nearby bridge before slowing to a stop. Nox took in the bright painted colors and the small panes of glass as a crew on the ground moved to their places. The sculpture almost looked like an overturned and deformed boat with large white sails that covered a decent amount of distance above the ground.
"Did you see the planes?" Chase asked, drawing Nox's attention temporarily away from the glass.
"Um, yes? I assume that is what that thing over there is?" His husband nodded before placing his chin on Nox's shoulder.
"Our flight starts boarding in an hour, so you'll get to see the inside pretty soon! I've never flown business before, but I think it's gonna be a lot less cramped than economy. The few times I've flown, it felt like we were a pack of sardines with how many seats they crammed in there. One time, we were flying out to my grandparents on mom's side of the family, and I remember there was this kid sitting behind me who kept kicking my seat. I, of course, reacted like any mature thirteen-year-old and stuck my tongue out at him." Nox let out a slight chuckle.
"Naturally."
Time passed rather slowly as they waited for their plane. The seats in the gate grew progressively more crowded as it grew closer to boarding time. Chase and Nox spent most of their time watching a movie that the blond had downloaded to his phone, sharing a pair of earbuds. Nox glanced up from the screen momentarily to catch someone across the row staring at them funny.
"Can we help you?" he asked unamused. While their marriage was legal, he knew there were those who would still oppose. Brown eyes glanced up at him in his peripheral.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to stare! Has anyone told your boyfriend that he looks like Chase Hollow?" Nox couldn't help but grin. He could feel Chase's barely contained laughter shaking against him.
"I've never heard that before! I can't say if I see it myself. My husband's singing voice is very loud and inharmonious."
"Hey! That's only when I'm doing karaoke and you know it!" Chase retorted, poking Nox with an accusing finger. The person across from them smiled at their antics. Chase sat up to give more attention across the row.
"So you listen to Chase Hollow?" Chase asked. Nox could tell he was trying and failing to be nonchalant.
"Yep! My girlfriend introduced me to his music. He's got some pretty good stuff."
"Have a favorite song?"
"I personally like his song 'Fairytale' the best. It has a nice beat!"
"Ooooo yeah! I like that one too! I think my personal favorite is 'Night was Made For'. It's a slower song, but it reminds me of someone I know," Chase teased glancing over at Nox. The person across from them smiled with a knowing look.
"So are yall doing anything exciting or traveling for business?"
"We're going on vacation! We just got married a month ago and wanted to celebrate!"
"Oh congrats! I hope it goes well! I'm traveling for a conference," the person stated. The speaker above them crackled to life as the staff began to call out boarding groups.
"Welp, we're probably gonna be boarding soon. It was nice meeting you!" Chase stated, standing up. He paused for a bit before pulling out a sticky note and pen from his bag. Nox already knew what the star was doing.
"Here! This code can get you two VIP tickets at a show date of your choosing. Might be something fun to do with your girlfriend after your conference!" The person took the paper and inspected it with a confused expression.
"VIP tickets for who?" Nox grabbed their carry-ons, knowing they were going to be called next.
"Chase Hollow: Like and Follow of course!" Chase replied, snapping his fingers into "finger guns". The person's eyes widened momentarily. The business class was called over the loud speaker, and Chase grabbed Nox to make their hasty getaway.
Nox followed Chase as he held his boarding pass up to be scanned. After they were set, the couple passed through the doors into a chilly tunnel. Nox glanced around at the fabric covered walls in curiosity. The hallway stretched on longer than he thought it would until they reached a part where patches of daylight were allowed to breakthrough. A staff member stood at the bend in the hall directing them towards the entrance of the craft. People in uniforms that matched the colors of the outside greeted them as they walked past the threshold.
A hand held his own, guiding Nox through the narrow aisle until they reached their assigned catacombs. The business class seats had large cushioned chairs surrounded by partitions to allow for privacy. Next to each seat was a desk for people to take advantage of. Nox and Chase had seats in the middle aisle which allowed them to sit next to each other. Once they were situated, Chase showed Nox how to use the airplane seatbelt and explained how restrooms worked on an aircraft. The blond only paused when he noticed a button on the half wall separating their seats.
"Oh my gosh, honey, look! Now you see me! Andddd," Chase pressed down on the button until a partition rose between them, "Now you don't!"
"You mean I don't have to stare at a little idiot the entire flight?" Nox teased. Chase lowered the partition just enough for Nox to see him stick his tongue out.
"You're the one who's choosing to stare!" Chase replied, poking the side of his arm. The partition was fully lowered again so that the blond could set up the wired headphones and explain how the screens in front of them could be used. Once satisfied, his hand settled into Nox's, resting on the wall between them.
"Honestly, we could watch a movie, but after dinner we're probably gonna want to get as much sleep as possible to help with the time change. Also if the seat starts feeling too closed in for you, the wall for the aisle looks like it just slides open." Nox hummed and inspected the door for himself. The pair sat in silence for a bit as they watched passengers pour in and head towards the back of the plane.
A quiet whir of wind mixed in with the bustle of the crowd. Nox looked up at the lights buttons and dials above him. Chase helpfully explained each symbol, how the air conditioning worked, and what each button was for. In the pocket in front of him was reading material that explained emergency procedures for the craft.
Chase had assured him every day since they booked the flight that airplanes were generally safe to travel on, and that the staff were heavily trained for any possible situation. Nox hoped that was true. The pressure in the cabin made his ears crackle as he swallowed. Before they had left for the airport, Chase made sure that he had taken some motion sickness medication. While the flight itself wasn't sickening for the most part, Chase said that the "take-off" might be jerkier than Nox was used to and sometimes the air was prone to bumpiness.
About a half hour passed before a voice spoke over the speakers. A video played on the screen in front of him, relaying all the safety information found within the pamphlet. Chase smiled and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Almost time!"
The craft lurched slightly as they began to move towards what Chase called the "runway". A stewardess walked by to make sure their trays and chairs were configured correctly for take-off. The plane paused for a bit. From his place in the middle aisle, Nox could just barely make out the sight of another plane outside the nearest window. After nearly ten minutes or so, the plane slowly began to move again, lining up to face the direction the other plane had gone before them.
"You ready?" Chase asked. A delighted smile covered the bottom half of his face. Nox swallowed and nodded, tightening his grip on Chase's hands. The craft began to rumble beneath them as they began to move progressively faster. Part way down the stretch of concrete, Nox began to feel himself leaning backwards into his seat. The tilt of the plane continued to tug at him until they finally left the ground.
Nox glanced back at the nearby window. They were in the air. They were really, truly in the air. He turned to Chase who was smiling at him, clearly amused by his amazement. The plane began to level off, allowing Nox to sink more comfortably in his seat. A wired earbud found its way across the partition. Chase pointed at the screen where he had already pulled up the selection of movies for them to choose from. Nox glanced at his own screen displaying the estimated flight duration. They had seven hours to go, might as well make the most out of it. He took the offered ear piece and joined Chase in selecting a film.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡✈︎⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
A slight jostle pulled Nox out of an exhausted sleep. Every bone in his body seemed to ache from lack of movement. Dehydration sent a slight pain in his lips. A faint sound of breathing caught his attention. Nox looked beside him at the slow rise and fall of his husband's chest. In the dimmed lighting of the cabin, he could just barely make out the eye mask covering the upper half of Chase's face. Nox smiled, leaning over the half-wall and moving blond hair out of Chase's face to plant a kiss on his forehead.
The screen in front of him displayed a map with a depiction of the airplane over the North Sea. They were getting close. The lights in the cabin switched back to the brighter setting from the beginning of their journey as flight attendants walked by to deliver breakfast. In a half hour, they would be touching down on the soil neither of them had seen for many years.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡✈︎⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
"I wonder if the two of us could fit on the seat, so that we could both ride!" Charles exclaimed, examining the penny farthing which was well over half as tall as he was. It was honestly a miracle that the small fool was somehow able to get on it without introducing his face to the hard concrete.
"You mean to say that you will ride while I do all the pedaling because your legs are far too short," Pal teased. The blond nodded in sincerity. Pal rolled his eyes.
"I'm not your lackey."
"No," Charles responded, "but you are my friend who happens to be taller than me."
Friend.
The word resonated with Pal as he tried to reason why that was. What caused the small fool to think such an absurd thing? When did Pal agree?
The boy found himself attempting to keep the bicycle in place while the blond attempted to climb up the wheel onto the sliver of seat behind him. The wheel shifted underneath them, but finally Charles was able to swing his leg over and take his place on the vehicle.
The glory lasted all of thirty seconds. As Pal lifted his legs to begin pedaling, the weight of two people caused the penny farthing to tip over, sending them into a patch of grass. Pal was thankful they were not attempting this in the square.
With a groan, the boy looked over at the blond and bicycle that had both decided to land on top of him. Charles squirmed and scrambled to prop himself up. Chestnut eyes immobilized him as Charles paused in his escape from the blasted contraption. From this distance, Pal could see the subtle shifts of color in his irises, the small changes in the pigmentation on his face. His gaze flicked back and forth between Charles's eyes and lips.
After a moment frozen in time, the pair began to scramble until the penny farthing was discarded to the side of them and they were able to stand. Pal sighed and brushed the dirt off his pant legs. What caused him to think such an absurd thing?
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡✈︎⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The plane began to rumble as they began their decent. Nox watched the number on the screen representing how many feet they were in the air drop as they approached the airport. Chase was fast asleep next to him, clearly not disturbed by the sinking feeling as the craft slowed down. Nox chuckled before running a hand through his husband's blond curls.
"Darling, it's time to wake up," he stated quietly, giving Chase a small shake of the shoulders. The blond let out a small noise before his golden lashes began to twitch. Brown eyes greeted the world laced with sleep as the plane really began to descend.
Nox held his breath, focusing on his star to distract from the impending concrete. With a slight screech of the tires, the plane touched down safely before moving towards the building.
As they walked into the terminal, a sign welcomed them to their old home.