Blue {DoTae} | complete

Twenty-two: Save our memories

Doyoung's never been to an airport before. And if he has, he certainly doesn't remember the experience. Taeyong, however, is a seasoned specialist in how it all works, fussing over Doyoung and apologising in advance for if they get mobbed by all the sasaengs and media outlets that camp out in airports waiting for the biggest celebrities to come through. He lends the younger a bucket hat, sunglasses, gives him a mask, and only then do they hop out of the taxi and make their way inside.

It's bustling with people and Doyoung finds it fascinating. He loves people-watching. Businessmen in suits dash to join the line of impatient travellers at security, ready to argue that they should be allowed to take their bottled water onto the plane. Coffee shops boast adverts of overpriced drinks and snacks, and while they do end up stuck in a stampede of flashing cameras, Doyoung doesn't mind. Not too much, anyway. He grabs onto Taeyong's arm and keeps his head down, counting through his breaths and using the numbers as a distraction from all the bodies around him, brushing up against him and very much invading his personal space.

Luckily, once they're through security they find a bench in the corner of the terminal to catch their breaths.

"I'm so sorry, Doie." Taeyong shakes his head as though disappointed in himself, even though it's not his fault that they got caught up. He himself seems more annoyed than shaken, and he wraps an arm around the younger's shoulders when he notices that Doyoung is still quivering.

The shouts and clicks of the cameras echo around the cavern of Doyoung's mind, leaving far too little space for his excitement over their trip to take control of his thoughts.

"It's always terrifying at first." Taeyong murmurs. Unlike the mob, his body is warm in a comforting way and Doyoung gratefully accepts the arms that embrace him and pull him close, breathing in his sweet perfume that works magic to settle his nerves, as though the scent forms a protective bubble around them both and drowns out the chatter of all the strangers.

"Will they post photos?" Doyoung asks once he's more composed, removing his sunglasses now that they're out of everyone's prying eyes. The other passengers aren't interested in the two of them huddled on the smallest, most distant bench.

"Maybe. You kept your head down, right?" Taeyong stresses until he breathes out in relief at Doyoung's nod.

The conversation pauses there. Plastered to Taeyong's side, Doyoung surveys the airport. It isn't exactly peak travelling time, so there are virtually no screaming babies or mischievous kids, instead mostly older couples and people dressed formally for business trips. He swears the edge of his vision is slightly fuzzy, as though all of this is a dream, but Taeyong's fingers are definitely tracing patters into his arm, letting him know that he is very much sat in the airport about to board a flight, his breaths the only distinguishable rhythm for Doyoung's ringing ears.

It's not too much of a wait before their flight is called and Doyoung is glad to just be able to follow after Taeyong, given that the elder knows his way around this airport like the palm of his hand or like his choreographies. Their seats are near the back of the plane, out of the way. Taeyong lets Doyoung take the window seat and he nearly breaks his neck from craning it so much to peer at the buildings shrinking underneath them when the plane takes off, amazed by how tiny and intricate everything seems from up in the sky. For once, he's not stood on the world that throws all kinds of standards at him.

"Cute." Taeyong smiles fondly once Doyoung finally sits up straight again after staring out the window for a solid ten minutes. The younger scrunches up his nose in indignation.

"But there are clouds. Like, right there." He insists on how stunning and incredible and mind-blowing the view is, past caring that being on a plane is virtually second nature for Taeyong by this point. His finger points out the swirling wisps that decorate the sky.