Chapter Text
“Gege am still not sure why you insist on using public transport. We could just teleport.”
Ghost King sighs, as he finishes storing their bagpacks in the overhead storage and drops to his seat. Groups of travelers are trying to push around them, running to their seats as if anyone who will be late to their pre-assigned seat will be forced to sit on the floor or ride on the wings.
Hua Cheng almost hated airports as much as he hated OVERPRICED MIDDLE SEATS IN AN ECOMONY CLASS and flying in general.
“Because it’s fun. You get to share this experience with all the common people around you. Being closer to their everyday lives. You can try to guess their final destinations and imagine all the life path that led them to this specific aircraft and…and”
Xia Lian cannot finish his speech with a straight face and lets out a few puffy laughs and Hue Cheng automatically smiled with him.
At that exact moment empty seat next to them finally welcomes its traveler and Ghost King gets officially trapped in a middle seat for the next ten hours. Seeing his badly hidden discomfort Xie Lian suggested switching seats, but how could he ever allow His Highness to sit in the middle next to some smelly stranger. As the airplane doors close and everyone starts preparing for the takeoff Xie Lian pulls out a phone and informs Shi Qingxuan and few others about their current situation before turning on an airplane mode, snapping few pictures and hiding it away again.
“We both need the vacation and I've just decided to make it a little bit more interesting. Look at the bright side. By traveling like this we are saving money and the environment. It’s just a little discomfort for the greater good.”
“Gege, you don’t have to choose between your comfort and the greater good. We really don't need to save money and speaking of the environment, I would personally chop some trees down with an axe if that meant more legroom. “
“San lang, don’t be so negative, it’s going to be fun, trust me. Shi Qingxuan helped me plan everything and they even picked some really interesting spots for us to visit. “Xie Lian explain with lightness in his voice. “And if you need more leg room you can take some of mine. “
Hue Cheng liked that suggestion and before Xie Lian could finish, he already hooked his boot around Xie Lian’s ankle bringing his whole leg closer.
After another painstakingly long while the plane finally started shaking and gaining speed. Gege automatically held his hand. Not that he was scared of flying but giving his luck everything was possible. Plane, followed by screaming of engines, finally left the runway.
When Xie Lian came up with this whole “Euro trip” idea Hue Cheng wasn’t against it. They traveled together before and the idea of laying somewhere on a beach, half buried in warm sand watching sunset in Gege’s arms sounded amazing. Both were working really hard and it became kinda difficult to find time to just hang out and he really hated that. Once they agreed on a date that worked well with both of their schedules, he didn’t closely follow with what had Xie Lian planned for them. Not that he didn’t care, he just trusted that His Highness would pick something relaxing and comfortable. Something befitting a Crown prince. He still had no idea what the plan was but traveling in economy wasn’t a good sign.
Just as the plane steadied itself in the air and everyone relaxed the mighty Ghost king got bored. Xie Lian pulled out a book and wasn't paying attention to him at all. The human that was sitting next to him had already somehow fallen asleep and was currently occupying both armrests, snoring with his mouth open.
He already missed having work to do.
“Gege, is this the book that made you blush yesterday?” Hua Cheng asked as he leaned his head on Xie Lian’s shoulder trying to sneak a peek at those definitely filthy lines.
“M-maybe but it’s not like…Someone recommended it to me and I wanted to know…for research purposes.” Xie Lian tried defending himself, while nervously fidgeting with a page corner.
“Research hmmm. Found something that caught Gege’s attention?” he whispered against Xie Lian’s ear leaning even closer and tried capturing his knee with his hand.
“San lang, not here.” Xie Lian smacked his hand away and tried to hide his embarrassed face behind the book.
“But am bored, let me read with you.”
“Noooo”
Hua Cheng found it so adorable how even after thousands of years His Highness would still get so embarrassed over the tiniest things.
“I bought some paper and pen, you could work on your calligraphy then”
Well, that didn't work in his favor.
Hua Cheng returned to his seat, notebook and pen in hands, but he let them untouched on the little table before him. Suddenly a baby started crying few rows from them and Hue Cheng just closed his eyes in agony, leaning his head against the seat.
With closed eyes he tried entering the communication array, calling for Yin Yu, hoping that maybe Ghost city had something interesting going on.
“No, not telling you. His Highness personally prohibited me from informing you about any work-related issues for the next 4 weeks. Everything is taking care of, and you are on holid-”
Hua Cheng left before Yin Yu could finish.
He wasn't such a workaholic, right? He could have stopped to take vacation anytime. And now he was definitely able to find something to do that didn't involve Gege or Ghost city.
Not even ten minutes passed by and he unwillingly picked up a pen and tried writing some characters.
Xie Lian noticed that and gave him a proud look.
According to that little screen before him their flight was around midway through when Hue Cheng lifted his gaze from the papers Xie Lian gave him. Not that he was practicing the whole time. After the first ten minutes he started scribbling on the corner of one of the papers and before he noticed he started drawing His Highness. He drew him seductively draped over a giant martini glass dressed only in one of the shirts they bought together specifically for this trip.
Now that he was thinking about it, the only stuff they were bringing with them fit into two bagpacks, currently stored above their heads. Xie Lian insisted that everything must fit only there. No other luggage, just two decently sized rucksacks for a month.
That also felt a little suspicious but maybe Gege picked some beautiful resort that will provide all they need. Cause Xie Lian booked a hotel near a beach to just relax, right.
As he continued with some last shading on his martini Gege the real Xie Lian next to him opened his eyes.
Xie Lian put his book down after the flight attendant brought them some mediocre food and started meditating after that. That happened luke an hour ago and honestly Hua Cheng suspected that he had just fallen asleep. Which he was super jealous of. Not really needing to sleep wasn't very practical on long flights.
“San Lang!” Xie Lian yelp when he noticed his drawing, snatching the paper, folding it in half and hiding it in his book.
“How about we watch some movie together of something, so you don't have to draw me like…like that I public.”
Hua Cheng agreed at this point he would do anything just to pass some time. He really thought public transport was some kind of new torture method. His back and legs acted from sitting for such a long time in the same position and he basically couldn't do anything about it, just reminding himself that they were only halfway through.
Xie Lian finally picked a movie after scrolling the library on Hua Cheng’s screen for a good 20 minutes, leaning his head on his shoulder and sharing wired headphones that they bought at the airport. Ghost King pecked a kiss into his hair and tried to follow a plot that was unveiling on a screen in front of him.
To be honest, the rest of the flight wasn't that bad. But still, both felt relieved wash over them when their feet touched ground again.
”Thank Gods, we survived.” Hua Cheng whispered to himself, fully believing this was the worst part of their trip.
