Leo was shaking, his palms are sweating and it feels like the entire room is spinning. If there was a top ten list of things Leo hated it would be flying. Everyone tells him that its so fun, its great to be up in the air, above all the clouds looking down seeing how small things actually are. Watching one part of the world disappear has you enter the fluffy white clouds and you descend down into a new part of the world. In theory, yes its beautiful and wonderful, but Leo's theory, not so much.
He hates how it rumbles and shakes on the mat before speeding to get up into the air, he hates feeling of the plane swerving and teetering to gaining balance, it feels as if the entire plane is going to flip over on top of him, but if Leo had to put his finger on one thing, it would be the ear popping. "Chew gum" they say "your ears WON'T pop" they say. What Leo says is gum or no gum they pop and they pop damn loud.
Leo has passes through all the precautions to make sure he isn't going to blow up anything, which is 100% crazy and Leo would never dream of it. He took off his shoes, jacket, wires and electronics to pass through the over sized metal detector, but its there for a good cause.
Now the nerves are really starting to set in when he take his seat at his gate. He puts his headphones in playing some soft radio station from the iTunes radio label "soft music" yeah call him feminine for it so what. He rolls his head back and closes his eyes to absorbs the calming music.
Then he hears it, the loud rings indicating a flight is read to board which is the first call for Brazil. He quickly clutches his water bottle tightly as he unscrews the cap lifting it to his lips, letting the liquid pour down his throat. If you saw Leo in this very moment you might have thought he ran an overwhelming marathon. His right foot shakes as he tries to massage his temples, deep breaths, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, and yeah he definitely looks overwhelmed.
He shouldn't be doing this alone. He should have someone here to help him breathe because he can't seem to get enough oxygen into his lungs, he even thinks to the extreme that the oxygen might be cutting off from his brain. He's sweating profusely and it could have been his imagination but he definitely heard the second call to Brazil.
There was a new presence beside him now it was a strangely calming sensation that cascade over Leo, or maybe it was just his shadow. But he looked over and saw this man with absolutely stunning eyes. They say a smile is the first thing you notice about a person but Leo could just miss those eyes. It was incredible the way the light was hitting them making the green shine, his tan skin forcing the brown out as well. And there he was being himnotiznd by a mans eyes that he doesn't even know.
"Hey there, you look a little nervous.." Leo hears a thick Portuguese accent his eyebrows raised, his hand now grasping Leo shoulder softly.
Leo took the time to look up the mans arm noticing his tanned skin littered with tattoos that clearly don't make sense to him but may so to the man. His facial hair looks like he hasn't shaved to two weeks but he's one of those guys that can pull it off.
"I.. I just.." Leo started but a warming welcoming smile appears on the mans face, and he takes the seat next to Leo.
"I'm Neymar, also a frequent flyer." Neymar gestures to the the gate doors. "If its one thing I know it's nervous flyers, its a new talent I've added to my resume." He lifts his chin to show his fake pride. Leo chuckles shakily because the man was pretty funny. "My advice to you is close your eyes and take slow deep breaths. Sure say its stupid, and all the websites and books say it but at least you didn't buy one of those 'Coping With Air Travel' books or something." Leo found himself smiling as Neymar he took in a slow deep breath and exhaled slowly to prove his point.
Leo nodded taking the advice, he breathed in through his nose slowly and out through his mouth slowly of course. Neymar counting till Leo hit the third time mark then speaking.
"Good. Well I also see a lot of hand holding. I'm not a shy guy nor do I judge, well it depends," He chuckles to himself as he offers his hand to Leo. "I would hold back the judgement devils on my shoulders begging me to judge." He says looking down on both his shoulders then looking back to Leo with hopeful eyes.
Leo bit his lip but decided he need to eventually get on the plane, so he took Neymar's extended hand and squeezing it tightly.
"Is a normal thing for you? Picking on the innocent scared flyers? Lionel, but call me Leo." He chuckles at his own joke as they both stood up.
"You know just the cute ones." Neymar said with a wink as the bell chimed again.
"Attention flyers but this is the last call for flight 5004 to Brazil, this is the last and final call for flight 5004 to Brazil. Thank you and happy flying." Leo rolled his eyes for hearing the same ending for the millionth time of the day and also because flying was never actually to joyful for him.
Neymar obviously picking up on that, laughing he said "You know maybe you might enjoy this flying experience." His wink again sending butterflies to Leo stomach, the kind you get when you're in the car and you go down a steep hill.
Holding back a sheepish giggle Leo nodded exhaling deeply for what felt like the hundredth time. Neymar offered both their tickets to the flight attendant to approve, then making their way on board the flying death trap. Alright a little harsh the, potential flying death trap.
His grip on Neymar's hand became tighter and his sweating was reactivated, not only was he now scared but embarrassed to be sweating in an overly attractive mans hand.
"Leo its okay. Just keep walking. We're almost to your seat." Neymar whispered softly, one hand finding its way to his lower back and rubbing soothingly.
9A and 9C, 10A and 10C, 11A and 11C and there it was Leo's window seat, the occupant of the isle seat, an elderly woman who looked to be Brazilian.
"Oi, tudo bem?" Neymar smiles extending his free hand to the woman. She looked up at Neymar and smiled.
"Tudo bom, e você?" She shook his hand with both of hers.
"Você se importaria trocando de lugar comigo?" He reached into his pocket pulling out his ticket as she nodded opening a small clutch that sat in her lap and passing hers over to him.
"Muito obrigado." He said as she lifted herself up and moved to the isle. Leo took that opportunity to release Neymar's now very sweaty hand and sit in his seat, feeling a bit awkward not knowing the language.
"Você é bem vindo , abençoe o tanto de você." She grasped both Neymar's cheeks pulling him down to placed a kiss on his forehead. He laughed softly and took his seat watching the woman walk up to where his seat perviously was.
"Well what was that ending about?" Leo nervously chuckled and seat began filling with straggling passengers.
"'You're welcome, bless the both of you.'" he quoted, taking Leo's hand back in his, covering it with his other. "Maybe she could tell you were nervous? Some people have that smellin thing like a dog, they smell fear you know." He finished sniffing Leo's shoulder and letting out a small bark almost a whisper with a growl to add affect.
Leo laughed at his poor attempt to make a joke, its all he could do because when he went to tell Neymar it was a horrible joke an announcement came on the speaker.
"Attention passengers, thank you for choosing our airlines. We'll be going over the actions in case of an emergency." It began with the worst it always does. The flight attendant was going over every worst fear Leo could have thought of, so he closed his eyes and tuned out the horrific pictures in his mind, honestly what are the odds of this plane needing to go through any of that? It would never happen, now he has Neymar. Neymar made Leo feel more comfortable than he'd like to admit. But that could be because he was just so attractive. His hair was hidden under a hat but Leo knew it was perfect just like the rest of him. His eyes, his smiles and his laugh. Also who knew Portuguese was such a beautiful language? Leo was learning something new everyday it seems.
"You know I was thinking, before we have to turn our phones off you might be willing to give a kind man like me your number?" Neymar asked now offering a wide eyes Leo his phone with a shy smirk on his face.
Leo was never good with words so he just grasped Neymar's unlocked phone and typed his number into the contacts. Not forgetting to add a few heart emojis for fun. He exited out of the app and saw past all the other apps Neymar smiling with a young boy with bleach blond hair, he was guessing the boy was maybe five or six. He found himself smiling at the photo and how Neymar's eyes squinted from smiling so wide and bright. He looked so happy in the moment, like nothing could ruin it. Now Leo was wondering who the little boy was to Neymar.
"Ah I see you found my son." He smiles handing Leo his phone back and taking his, opening his photo library. He scrolled back a few photos and clicked on the one that was his home screen.
"He's three now." He sighed biting his lip. In all honesty Leo was slightly disappointed. He was hoping Neymar was maybe single and well he thought, lets not go there.
"His mom, well he, actually me. I grew up thinking that I was into girls, my dream was to be a pimp." Leo bit his tongue to keep from busting out into a laughing fest but quiet laughs escaped.
"Yes I know who would want that? Little me. But I found myself now.." Neymar trailed off and Leo just squeezed his hand offering a small grin. Leo knew and Neymar knew. They knew that they were special and to be blunt about it, gay. Of course they didn't say anything, it didn't need to be said.
"Anyways, we'll be taking off soon and thats always the worst part, well and the ear popping," Neymar paused to shiver "so what I usually do is lay my head back, close my eyes and count how many letters are in my name. Multiply it by ten, add forty, subtract 19 and divide by 3." He said leaning his head back but turning to look over at Leo.
"You say you're a frequent flyer, wouldn't you know the answer every time?" Leo said through a smile, laziness thick in his voice.
"I change the numbers every time. The letters in my name are always the same but for the sake of the explanation I added in my first step." He chuckles lifting Leo's hand up on the arm rest. Counting their fingers with his index finger from his free hand.
"It's weird sometimes to look at fingers then realize you really can't life without them. They look like extra skinny bones covered in skin but really they are just as important as any organ in your body, well the brain and the heart are exceptions." He brought Leo's hand to his heart smiling up at the top of the cabin. Leo rolled his eyes at Neymar being so overdramatic about fingers.
"Attention passengers, again thank you for using are airways. The flight will soon commence so you'll be asked to fasten your seatbelt and not move amongst the cabin. Beverages and other snacks will be available as soon as the air craft is safely level. Thank you and enjoy the trip." The flight attendant said as Neymar dropped their hands against the arm rest.
"Lean back.. Close your eyes.. And count the letters in you-" Leo chuckles placing his free finger against his lips.
"I was never good in math." Neymar smiles at Leo and rolled his head back against the seat. He could feel Neymar's eyes linger on him for a moment and the slowly he did the same as Leo.
The plane sped down the runway, he could feel the plane begin to lift and rock but he felt a reassuring squeeze from Neymar and smiled. Then he found himself so tired from all the stress that he had to let it go and fall into a light slumber.
Leo felt a hand rummaging over on his left side, his eyes shot open and he looked over to his right, seeing Neymar and raised his free hand to his heart.
"Neymar, you scared me." He whispered breathlessly. Neymar laughed pulling the seatbelt around his waist and buckles him in.
"Well I woke up and noticed the seatbelt light had just turned on and I had taken it off you once you fell asleep so.." He made a few gestures as he spoke and Leo nodded, he bit his lip as he could feel the plane start to dip.
His hand was squeezing Neymar's for dear life. His ears popped and his heart sank, Neymar's thumb massaging small circles into the back of his hand trying to calm him down. His words still in his head. "My advice to you is close your eyes and take slow deep breaths." So he closed his eyes and took in a sharp breath. He shot his eyes open again looking over to Neymar.
"Cou- Could you actually-" Leo stutters over his words as Neymar smiles calmingly.
"Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale..." Neymar whispered close to his ear, his voice dropping deep and raspy from having to keep quiet.
With Neymar's guidance they landed successfully without Leo passing out. They practically ran out of the plane and to baggage claim, claiming their bags and leaving out of the airport.
"Ahh so thats my family." Neymar pointed to his family, they smiles and waved him over but he lifted a finger up to them. "Do you see who is here for you?" Leo bit his lip looking around at the signs with names on them that men in suits and families held. It wasn't long before he saw his brother Matias holding a sign with their last name across it.
"Actually yes my brother," he waved quickly to Matias showing him that he will be there in a minute, "So is this goodbye?" Leo asked softly looking up at Neymar.
Maybe it was the way Leo looked at him, or if it was that he felt he'd know Leo his whole life, but he places two fingers under his chin and leaned down to place a tender kiss against Leo's soft lips. Leo was surprised but who is he to reject a beautiful Brazilians lips against his? They say never kiss on the first date, and this wasn't even a date, but Leo decided he's going to stop listening to what they say. So he kisses Neymar back adding more passion to the kiss and they both knew that it was like a silent promise to see each other again.
~
Well I really liked this one. It was a little bit of a pain to write considering all the little details and such. BUT I enjoy writing so there you have it. I know a lot of people like it more when Leo is some big footballer and it's realistic but I just had the idea and through it in there.
Okay so I have a tumblr dedicated to just fanfiction imagines and all so I'll post a link to that so you can submit requests if you have and Neymessi, or whatever kind of things you want to read.
ALSO I'm thinking of starting a story? Would anyone be interested in that? If so then please please tell me if it should be AU or reality! I have a few ideas for both so I'm willing to make which ever you want :)
Thank you so much for reading it means so much to me!
