Talk Nerdy to Me

Chapter 9: The Game's Afoot

Summary:

In which half of Stray Kids are introduced to D&D, and Ra tries to get used to First Class.

Chapter Text

Ra had been on a few planes in her lifetime. Her dad's church had youth conferences that she'd gone to by plane, in Atlanta, New Orleans, Indianapolis, and several others. She'd been to almost thirty US states by the time she graduated from high school. So when she said she was pretty well traveled for someone that had led such a sheltered life, she wasn't really kidding.

The experience that awaited her that morning, however, was far different from what her typical one had been up until this point. The first thing that was different was that she was flying with friends. She had usually traveled alone before, even when traveling as a youth with a church she ostensibly belonged to. The second thing that was different was the number of fans that were surrounding the group as they passed through the airport terminal.

Ra pulled her suitcase and her art case as one unit, lashed together with D-clips. Chris had insisted she wear her new joggers and a tank top and hoodie, for which she was grateful. The cuts weren't nearly as painful under the soft joggers. She was wearing a mask and sunglasses IN had given her. She dared not look up the brand on the side, Dior, for fear they might be expensive the like joggers. Cameras were in every direction. Her hood was up on the hoodie, and she still felt exposed.

They got through the crowd okay, and it was on to the third shock of the morning. They had arrived at the first class lounge for their flight. The security made sure nobody approached them. Ra saw now why they hadn't woken up early to eat breakfast. The lounge had a coffee maker with five different flavors of creamer, and several kinds of breakfast pastries. Chris grinned at her, seeing her eyes widen.

"Come on, silly," he said, one side of his mouth quirking up.

Ra left her bags like the others did, pouring herself a nice cup of the coffee with hazelnut creamer and a bit of sugar, and picked out a strawberries and cream cheese danish. She smiled around the pastry, her little happy dance making Chris and Changbin smile. Felix looked at the pastry and back at her, then grabbed one for himself.

"It is that good," Felix said, doing his own little happy dance in imitation of her.

Ra smiled, sipping her coffee.

This. This she could get used to.

"Good coffee?" Chris asked. He looked like he was trying not to laugh.

"I'm convinced that every scrap of bad coffee is sent to the US," Ra said, sipping again. Smooth, not bitter, notes of chestnut and cinnamon. "And all the good to anywhere else."

He chuckled. "I've had coffee in the States. I could agree they get all the bad coffee."

Ra giggled. Her hands wrapped tremulously around the paper cup, feeling the warmth through it. If she could only see how she looked. Absolutely content, her shoulders hunched like she was getting the warmest of hugs, her smile like an innocent kitten.

It wasn't long until the coffee was gone. She stared at the pot for a few minutes, looking back and forth, debating with herself. Chris bit back a smile. She really did seem to take each and every decision she made, and made it so carefully. He commented on it, earning another blush.

"I do not," she muttered, glancing at the coffee pot one more time. She must have made her decision, because she threw away the paper cup and moved back toward her things.

It wasn't long after that they were heading back out to board their flight, where Ra encountered her fourth shock of the morning. She was escorted to a seat that absolutely ended the concept of "seat" to her. It was more like a tiny little pod all to herself. The seat reclined into a tiny bed, buttons all over, a gift basket with snacks and lotions and perfumes, a little closet for her stuff, and a TV that hung over it all, huge for the space. It also had a door, affording her more privacy than she was used to having.