You made it to the plane with barely a minute to spare, literally. There were getting ready to shut the doors when you yelled for them to hold up. It wasn't even your fault, you thought defensively as the attendant checked your ticket, you were on standby and you'd barely had an hour to get your ass to the airport. The flight was a bloody red eye to boot, taking off past 11pm.
Making your way down the aisle to your seat you laughed, remembering you watched the movie the other day, drooling over Cillian Murphy the whole time. Jackson Rippner in all his murderous glory would probably be a damn sight better you thought with a sigh, eyeing the boots currently occupying your seat.
"Excuse me." you said softly while stowing your overhead luggage.
Nothing. The guy didn't budge, his hoodie covering his face showing he was either asleep of deliberately ignoring you.
"Sir, excuse me, but that's my seat." you said a little louder, earning you a sleepy-sounding grunt as he shifted his feet to the empty seat between you.
Sitting down with a sigh you buckled in and watched the safety demo while your rowmate started snoring softly.
It was going to be a long fucking flight.
The flight attendant came by to check the overheads and seat backs, her stern look now set on the sleeping man.
"Sir, I need you to take your seat properly for take off." Her no nonsense tone must have gotten through, the man jolting out of sleep, his booted foot coming into contact with your thigh under the arm rest.
"Ow!"
You narrowed your eyes to give the jerk a dirty look as he sat up, rubbing what would be a lovely bruise by the time you landed. Some people just really managed to get under your skin and apparently spending the next 15 hours sitting next to this jackass was going to be an exercise in anger management.
"Shite, sorry. I didna mean tae hit ye luv." he mumbled, struggling to sit up in the space he had.
You had a quick flash of bright blue eyes as he moved upright to don his seatbelt. He was a tall man, at least 6 foot and you felt the tiniest bit sorry for him being all squeezed in like that. At least you were short enough to stretch out a little. The attendant moved on, your "buddy" slumping against the window, hoodie still obscuring his face. He was snoring again in moments, sleeping through the pilot's announcements and the plane taxiing out to the runway.
Never a great flier, you closed your eyes as the engines got louder, breathing long and deep against the panic in your chest. The moment as the engine reached its crescendo and the brake was released was the worst and you knew your knuckles were white on the armrests while the metal cylinder hurled you down the tarmac.
Only when the plane had completed its lurching ascent and the seatbelt sign dinged did you manage to pry your fingers off the armrest, opening your eyes with a deep breath. An amused chuckle came from the direction of the window and you turned sharply.
"Firs time?"
He still leaned against the window, only his mouth visible. A mouth curved in a mocking smile. You clenched your jaw, immediately defensive.
"I've flown before." You said tightly. "I'm just not fond of taking off."
"I'd be more worried about the plummeting tae the ground if ye wan my opinion."
"Which I don't." you snapped.
He simply shrugged and said nothing. You couldn't tell if he was watching you from underneath that infuriating hoodie and you felt self conscious, even in the dimness of the cabin. Determined to get some sleep you leaned your head against your seat, curling around yourself in an attempt to get comfortable. Dozing off you would wake up after a few minutes, anxious and uncomfortable. No matter what you tried, you just couldn't settle.
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