OFF OF THE DEEP END | CHANGLIX ✔️

20. he's beautiful one

like crazy // jimin

Changbin gazed out of the van's window. The skyline of Tokyo flashed passed him, the buildings blurring into a bluish haze. Behind the towering skyscrapers, the sunrise glowed above, hues of purple, red, and orange smearing across the empty canvas of the sky as if a meticulous giant had claimed the vast sky as their own personal workspace. Felix sat beside him, attention captured by the flashing screen of his phone. The idol looked miles ahead of Changbin in the road to recovering from the early hour they'd had to wake up to catch a flight. Felix's concealer hiding his freckles also obscured the dark purple circles that lingered under his eyes, and the rest of the exhaustion was erased by his sunshiny nature.

Four a.m. was much too early for a flight. Felix reasoned that at least the first-class flight was fully covered by his company and therefore worth the ungodly hour for a free trip. He was too tired to fully indulge in the debate on what side is better, but deep down Changbin knew that if he could view the full price of his fight him and his wallet would have been collapsed and bawling on the floor of the airport. For now, he'd have to battle the exhaustion waging a war on his senses for several more hours until he could recline backwards on the lavish first-class seats.

When the GPS screen propped up near the driver's seat prompted the arrival at the airport would occur in fifteen minutes or so, Felix cleared his throat.

"Changbin, I need to warn you about something."

Waves of fear instantly washed over Changbin after Felix's words, accumulating in an overly exaggerated manner that was solely caused by the sheer exhaustion taking the reins of his brain. Even a bout of shivers crawled down his spine like a massive tarantula had dipped under the neckline of his shirt.

Felix must have noticed how terrified Changbin looked, because he frantically added on, "It's not that bad." When Changbin still looked apprehensive, the idol sighed and provided more details. "We'll be swarmed by paparazzi there. Or at least, I will— it's fine if you want to leave before me and meet up on the plane to avoid getting dogged by fans and cameras."

"I don't mind staying with you. Do you want me there?"

"Honestly? It would be amazing to have you there, I detest airports because of the unfamiliar people plastered to me and the cameras shoved into my face. But then, it's not an enjoyable experience in the least and personally I would jump for an opportunity to avoid that hell."

"Will it be okay if I walk with you? Being a random person and all, I don't want to damage your reputation."

"Oh no, it's fine. Fans already assumed that you're a bodyguard from the hotel, they'll surely recognize you and assume the same. Just.. act bodyguard-y. I'll text the rest of the bodyguards too, so they don't bodyslam you to Antartica after seeing you closer than two feet to me."

"How the fuck do I do that? I've never had nor been a bodyguard before," Changbin questioned, avoiding the scenario that he'd end up as a bruised ice cube.

"Uhh... loom near me and glare. Flank my sides, shove away anyone getting too close. Stand tall and look intimidating. You already act like that normally, besides the standing tall part."

"Are you calling me short?"

"No, you just have the posture of an aging cricket."

"Watch out, I might accidentally slip and shove you instead of a fangirl."

"Oh, I'm sooo scared. I doubt you could hurt a fly."

"We've arrived," the driver called back, interrupting their banter with a strict stare. Felix apologized for their rambunctiousness, thanking the driver and collecting his luggage. Changbin grabbed the tiny suitcase that held everything important he owned, and then followed the idol out the reinforced doors of the van.