halo 'n horns [klance au]

6. Welcome to Seattle

https://78.media.tumblr.com/96c4609dbbf3e2be15c5250eadc507e9/tumblr_ol6c804sj91w0onc1o1_1280.jpg

Keith

Lance had fallen asleep on me. Again. I already had a wet patch of drool on my suit from him, but I decided that I didn't want to wake him up again. When I had the first time to make him get off of me, somehow his halo had zapped me with a tiny bolt of electricity. It hurt like hell and my hand had gone numb for a few minutes. Who knew what would happen if I attempted it again.

About 3 hours into the plane ride, Lance had woken up on his own because he smelled the food that was being prepared, and we enjoyed the first actual meal we'd had since I arrived. For breakfast this morning, we'd gotten something from McDonald's, some weird pancake things with syrup that made my hands sticky. It didn't taste real at all.

But on the plane, they had a surprisingly posh five-course meal- full of wine and cheese and salad. It certainly wasn't like food from home, but I acknowledged that it was good enough. Shortly after we ate, Lance fell asleep again. I guessed he must have been pretty exhausted if he allowed himself to fall asleep in front of all of these strangers, let alone me.

I stayed awake, of course, and ended up watching a movie called Twilight. I hated it with a passion, but at the same time, I couldn't stop watching it. The captain of the flight had informed us over the loudspeaker that we were flying to Seattle. I had no idea where that was, but the flight was 7 hours long, so I assumed it was pretty far away from New Hampshire and Boston.

It was 8:30 when I finished the stupid vampire movie, so I dozed lightly for the rest of the 1 1/2 hours, staying alert enough to tune into the heartbeats of the people around us. On my shoulder, Lance's hair tickled my neck, and his heartbeat was loud and slow in my ears. It was my choice to enhance my hearing, and I could easily tune him out if I wanted to, but I'd come to the unfortunate realization that I was going to be stuck with Lance for the rest of my time on Earth, so I might as well put up with him as best I could.

I had been stupid to assume that Dad and Missus would let me wander by myself, but I never asked about Shiro and Kuron's angels. What was I supposed to do for Lance? Be his friend? I'm sure what he was doing for me wasn't voluntary, so was he leading me by an order from Missus? Was he going to keep his promises and show me all the things on the list that I wanted to see? It made me feel... spoiled.

I occasionally allowed myself to peek through my eyelids to look at the angel. I hadn't realized it before, but there was a gold band around his wrist with the words, "Amores Vobiscum" etched into the metal. I had no doubt that it was real gold. The Latin phrase was the motto of the Upperworld, 'Love be with you'. I shifted uncomfortably in the seat. Love was a touchy subject. I closed my eyes again.

An hour later, the intercom dinged, signaling the captain, and we were informed that we were beginning the descent. My stomach lurched up to my throat as the jet's nose turned down, and we were plummeting towards the Earth. My knuckles tightened around the armrests. I had been terrified enough taking off, but landing? This was even scarier. Lance slept obliviously. I envied him.

By the time we hit the runway at an alarming speed, I could only hear my own heartbeat in my ears, pounding fast as my eyes were pinched shut. I tried to focus and let my breath slow with the rate of the plane, sighing heavily as we slowed to a stop. Opening my eyes, I wanted nothing more than to get off the plane, but I collected myself and placed a calm facade over my face. Lifting the shade from the window beside Lance, I smiled in relief. Nighttime again. My time.

I shrugged the shoulder Lance was using as a pillow and unbuckled my seat belt, trying to wake him as gently as I could. "Lance, wake up, you're drooling and people are leaving." Lance groaned loudly and, with seemingly immeasurable effort, heaved himself up into a sitting position. Blinking groggily, he looked around. His halo had steadied.