airplane ﹙short story﹚

twelve

The brunette groaned under his breath, pressing his head, hard, against the seat. He was writhing in discomfort, arms folded across his chest in his usual stubborn manner.

His neck was aching.

Not just any kind of aching, but the ache that clawed violently at his frustration and made him want to thrash about widely. He was becoming restless, and he was sick of being in the same seat.

Atticus was already gazing at him by the time he'd sneakily peered at him from the corner of his eye, once again taken back by how little Atticus spent not looking at him.

He was almost annoyed when he started the conversation once more.

"Are you alright?" Atticus asked, his head tilted sweetly. Theodore huffed under his breath in response.

"My neck hurts," he admitted with a grumble, his brows pinched briskly. Atticus couldn't help but admire how non-threatening his moody behaviour had suddenly become, it was almost cute each time his cheeks puffed out in anger.

Theo noticed movement, and turned his head to see the blond holding out some sort of pillow, a dark grey one. His eyes squinted suspiciously, eyeing him up and down.

Atticus arched a brow in amusement. "What's that face for? It's only a neck pillow."

The brunette immediately became hostile at his teasing tone, and harshly snatched the pillow from his hands before he could pull it away.

"Why are you still talking to me, pretty boy?" He snapped. "I thought I said you were annoying me."

His lips curled. "You wouldn't last a second without me."

Theo's eyes narrowed. "Try me."

Atticus only shrugged lightly, before turning back into his seat and making a grab for his phone. Theodore watched for a couple seconds, before he quickly realised they were done with that conversation, and turned away too.

He slipped the pillow around his neck and leant against the seat, the cushioning relieving some of that lingering ache in his joint. He closed his eyes softly, chest rising and falling steadily.

He titled his head to the side, and was overwhelmed by the scent of pine coming from the material, his eyes flickering open slightly. Is this what he smelt like? Theo couldn't hide the gentle smile that broke out across his face, his eyes falling shut once more.

He hesitantly mumbled out a quiet: "Thank you."

Atticus couldn't help but notice, and his cheeks illuminated pink.

Absolutely adorable, he thought.