Work Text:
Johnny was a little nervous for their flight, while he had been on a few flights all through out the year, his son, Sungchan, was going to fly for the first time in a long time. Johnny eyed his son now eating a hearty breakfast in the business class lounge while waiting for their boarding. He sighed, he would give anything for his son so when the boy asked if he could visit his grandparents in Chicago, Johnny did not have the heart to turn him down.
You see, Johnny is a successful photographer with his own studio based on Seoul but despite being a bachelor, he had proudly announced that he is a single father to a young five year old, from a past relationship that had gone toxic. Despite the biological’s mother’s insistence to keep the child and demand child support, Johnny put up a fight, presenting evidence that she wasn’t fit to be a mother, hiding the fact that she was pregnant and occasionally using regulated substances while being pregnant. Thankfully Sungchan was born healthy and Johnny had taken him away from his hometown of Chicago and back to his parents’ roots to start a family and raise his son away from the traumatic past. Johnny’s parents understood his decision and had supported him, they visited him and Sungchan once in a while but age was not kind to the older Suh’s to endure a long flight so Johnny had allowed Sungchan to visit them instead.
Johnny ran a hand on Sungchan’s head and the boy smiled toothily at him, Johnny really adores his son. “Finish up sweetheart.” Johnny instructed his son who nodded and drank his juice and wiped his mouth with tissues.
The announcement came a few minutes later so Johnny fixed Sungchan’s jacket and his backpack that contained his essentials and identification should he get lost, before picking up his carry on and extending a hand for his son to hold. The boarding was a breeze and they were led to their seats, with Sungchan preferring the aisle seat while Johnny took the window seat. They were offered drinks as they settled down and the staff, his name was Yangyang, assisted Sungchan with his seatbelt and handed him a blanket should he felt cold.
As Johnny settled on his seat, thankful that business class has more leg room for his height, he noticed another flight attendant strapped in a kid around Sungchan’s age holding a stuffed panda. He thanked the staff in Mandarin, one of the three languages that Johnny could speak, and Johnny was curious why he had no parents with him.
“Hello!” The kid smiled at them and waved at Sungchan. Sungchan looked at his father who nodded and smiled so Sungchan greeted him back. “I’m Chenle!” the kid spoke and Sungchan smiled at him wider.
“I’m Sungchan! This is my dad Johnny! Is this your first time?” He asked but Chenle shook his head.
“Baba works here!” Chenle answered and Sungchan was confused.
“baba?” Sungchan asked and Chenle nodded.
“it’s his appa.” Johnny explained. ‘he’s Chinese.” Johnny added and Chenle beamed at him.
“You’re correct mister!” Chenle giggled and Johnny may have cooed at the boy.
The speakers cracked into life and an announcement was made in Korean, Japanese, English and Chinese. Johnny noticed how Chenle was beaming and Sungchan tapped Chenle from across the aisle.
“It’s my baba!” Chenle answered and Johnny nodded in understanding, so Chenle’s father is the pilot
“Is he good?” Sungchan asked and Chenle nodded vigorously.
The plane started to move and soon it was taking off. The pressure of the plane made Sungchan a little uneasy but Chenle assured him that his baba was really good so Sungchan took a deep breath and believed in his newly found friend. Johnny held his son’s hand and just as the pilot announced that they were in cruising altitude, Chenle turned to them and beamed as smile.
“See? Baba is the best!” Chenle chirped and Sugnchan smiled back at him in agreement.
“Let’s thank Chenle’s baba later?” Johnny asked and Sungchan nodded vigorously.
The first in flight meal was served shortly and Johnny looked at Chenle who was being pampered by the flight attendants like a VIP. They are on business class so they were given almost the same treatment, but the familiarity of Chenle with the staffs made it more cozy.
A slight turbulence happened after the food was served and Sungchan almost cried but Chenle merely chuckled and told him that it was normal. “Once baba flew a plane while there was thunder but he was so good, passengers were praising him.” Chenle informed them and Sungchan pouted.
“it was scary.” Sungchan said but Chenle assured him time and time again, his baba was the best.
At one time of the flight, Sungchan wanted to go to the bathroom so Johnny helped his son and walked down to the bathroom. After they were both done relieving themselves, Johnny was surprised when he saw a uniformed man talking to Chenle. He looked at the man and he noticed that he was wearing a pilot uniform, oh so this was Chenle’s father. Johnny took a good look at the man’s side profile and he would admit that his bi-sexual heart had skipped a beat. In his line of work he had constantly seen and worked with beautiful people such as the idols Taeyong and Yuta or actors Jaehyun and Jaemin. He had even worked with the famous dancer Ten Lee but all them were nothing in comparison with the beauty that the pilot possessed. The pilot’s side profile was a sight of perfection, fine jaw, deep set dimples, perfect brows and button nose, this is the type of face Johnny would love to photograph for the rest of his life. Oh his skin, he’s very fair, and now that he noticed it, Chenle is as fair as him.
“Baba, here they are!” Chenle’s voice broke Johnny’s trance.
“You must be Sugnchan!” The pilot went down to meet the kid’s height then extended a hand. ‘I’m Kun, Chenle’s dad.” Kun introduced himself and Sungchan shook his hand but his eyes widened when realization hit me.
‘Who’s flying the plane?!” Sungchan shrieked and it got the attention of the people in business class while Chenle and Kun chuckled.
“I have a co-pilot, don’t worry little deer.” Kun explained and Sungchan pouted.
“Is he good? Chenle said you’re the best!” Sungchan said and Kun smiled at him.
“Sicheng is good too. Don’t worry okay?” Kun said and then stood to face Johnny. “Your son?” Kun asked and Johnny nodded.
“Johnny, pleasure to meet you captain.” Johnny grinned as he shook Kun’s hand.
“Thank you for keeping Chenle entertained. It’ll be dinner time soon, please enjoy the rest of the flight. Kun informed them and Chenle saluted to his father before Kun turned to return to the flight deck.
Arguably, one of a sign of a good pilot is the landing, and Johnny was anticipating how Kun would approach this. He held his son’s hand as the plane started his descent, with Sungchan closing his eyes as he felt the plane move down. As the plane touched the ground, Johnny smiled, Kun has some control with how light the touch down felt compared to other pilots he had encountered in his life.
“Are we safe?” Sungchan asked as he opened his eyes and Chenle laughed at him then nodded.
“My baba is great right?” Chenle asked and Sungchan grinned and nodded.
Business class has a different exit and they could leave the aircraft now but Johnny had to indulge Chenle to wait for his father. The flight attendants would not normally allow this but since Chenle is their captain’s son and the crew will be changed for the next flight, they allowed Johnny and Sungchan to wait by the bridge with Chenle as they wait for Kun and the rest to alight after the turnover. Kun walked out last, and Johnny was sure that he was the alpha of the pack, and Chenle ran to his father, happy to be with him again. Kun hugged and lifted his son and walked towards Johnny and Sungchan, surprised that they were waiting.
“Sungchan wanted to thank you baba!” Chenle announced and Sungchan shyly walked up to Kun and asked to be lifted. Johnny took Chenle from Kun and Kun thanked him before lifting Sungchan.
“Thank you Captain!” Sungchan remarked and kissed his cheek to the surprise of the cabin crew.
“I flew half the time but all credits goes to Kun-ge.” Sicheng, the co-pilot, remarked in Mandarin and Johnny chuckled.
“Thank you for the safe flight.” Johnny thanked the crew and Kun was wide eyed at him.
“Kun-ge, you didn’t tell us you have a boyfriend!” Guanheng, the flight engineer, teased the pilot.
“We just met?” Kun was confused but the rest of the crew went their way just as Kun let Sungchan down. “You know Mandarin?” Kun asked and Johnny nodded.
“Helps with the clients” Johnny shrugged and put Chenle down. “You’re really good, thank you for making Sungchan comfortable on his first flight.” Johnny thanked Kun who smiled at him and patted Sungchan’s head.
“Glad that I made a good impression.” Kun replied and took Chenle’s hand as they walked towards the gates. “immigration is that way” Kun directed them and Johnny nodded.
“Are you staying long?” Johnny dared to ask and Kun cocked his head to the side.
‘I’m taking Chenle on vacation, I have about a week.” Kun replied.
‘Join us!” Sungchan was quick to extend the invitation. “We’re visiting grandma and grandpa!” Sungchan chirped
“Introducing me to the parents already?” Kun joked and Johnny laughed but then turned serious.
“I don’t see a problem with it.” Johnny shrugged as Kun blushed.
“Join us! Dad will be touring me around Chicago!” Sungchan was so excited that Chenle got excited too.
‘Baba! Say yes! Say yes!” Chenle was jumping squealing that Kun was left no choice but to give Johnny his number and for them to meet up the next day after Kun got some rest.
----
Johnny did introduce Kun to his parents and the older Suh’s had gladly taken him and Chenle and asked them when was the wedding to which Kun flushed and Johnny laughed nervously , eventually Johnny clarified their relationship but did not deny the fact that he was actually interested in Kun and the pilot almost choked on his turkey prompting Sungchan to shriek and Chenle to cry while screaming that his baba will die and Sungchan also screamed that he doesn’t want to fly home if Kun was not the pilot.
“A little warning would be nice.” Kun pouted but Johnny took his hand and kissed it, and with the encouragement of Johnny’s parents, Kun and Johnny officially started their courtship.
Kun was scheduled to fly back to Korea by the end of the week and fortunately for Johnny and Sungchan, they were on the same flight. Kun had left Chenle to Johnny when he left earlier to inspect the plane and do a turnover with the previous crew, and his son merely kissed him and waved at him, too used to being left in the airport to wait for his boarding. But this time though, Sungchan pulled on his coat and asked Kun to bend down, and the toddler immediately kissed the pilot’s cheek, prompting Kun to smile wide.
“Take care baba.” Sungchan greeted and then hugged him before letting him go.
“Guess it’s mandatory now?” Johnny asked making Kun laugh but gestured for Johnny to approach him. He went on his tip toes to reach Johnny and planted a kiss on the older’s lips, a second longer than expected but a second to short that what they both wanted. ‘Safe flight Kun ge.” Johnny grinned and Kun flushed at the term of endearment from the older.
‘Welcome to Vision Airlines, this is your captain Qian Kun speaking, On Board with me is first officer Dong Sicheng and Flight Engineer Huang Guanheng. Your Head Steward is Xiao Dejun and his 2nd in command, Liu Yangyang. We will depart O’Hare International airport bound to Incheon South Korea. The flight will take 12 hours and 50 minutes. Please follow all safety protocols as we proceed to take off.” Johnny smiled as the announcement began and Sungchan was vibrating on his seat across him, seated next to Chenle who was seated on the window side this time.
“Compliments from Captain Qian.” Dejun, handed him a flute of champagne while Yangyang tucked both Sungchan and Chenle into their seats.
“Thank you, Dejun.” Johnny beamed him a smile.
The flight was as smooth as it can get and if Kun sneaked in while the lights were out to tuck the boys to sleep and give Johnny another kiss, well only the cabin crew were there to witness the moment.
---
Epilogue
“You’re going to propose mid flight?” Sicheng asked as they checked the final safety protocols inside the cockpit.
“Yeah, that’s the plan.” Kun replied.
“How long have you been dating?” Sicheng asked and Kun shrugged his shoulders. “right, you were married the first day.” Sicheng joked and earned a light shove from his captain.
“it just felt right okay, and he adores Chenle! Sungchan approves of me too so it’s a win-win.” Kun replied making Sicheng nod.
“We support you all the way.” Sicheng assured him and it made Kun smile wide.
“This is your captain speaking, please bear with me as I do something crazy.” The announcement came and Johnny furrowed his brows but the cabin lights were dimmed and soon a song was played on the speakers.
Johnny gasped as he watched Kun walked towards him and then held his hand, urging him to stand with him on the aisle. He could hear someone sing, maybe it was Dejun, and then Kun kissed both of his hands and then offered him a wide smile.
“Oh my god are you proposing?” Johnny gasped out and Kun just grinned and pulled out a box from his pocket. “Don’t dare kneel! Please this is embarrassing!” Johnny shrieked but thankfully Kun just laughed and open the box to reveal a beautiful ring, simple and not flashy but somehow still reflects Johnny ‘s personality.
“Yes!” Johnny screamed and Kun blinked at him.
“I didn’t even ask yet!” Kun argued with a laugh.
‘Then ask, come on!” Johnny chuckled and Kun did ask but not before serenading Johnny and the rest of the passengers in flight 117.
Johnny did propose to Kun when they reached Chicago but he chose to have it more private with His mom and dad setting up the back yard with candles and flowers while Sungchan and Chenle gladly sang their song because trust Johnny to be sappy that way. While Johnny played the piano, Chenle and Sungchans squeaky voices led Kun to walk down the back porch and towards the decorated gazebo where Johnny was waiting for him.
“My time to propose.” Johnny grinned and Kun laughed and allowed his fiancé to do his magic.