CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CHRISTMAS EVE, 11:32 AM CST
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WHEN preparing to embark on a long-haul flight, it is always a good idea to arrive leaving plenty of time to check in, go through security, and reach the correct gate. many airlines recommend arriving two hours early for domestic flights, and three hours early for international ones.
twenty-three-year-old lee taeyong is very aware of this fact, perhaps too aware. that morning, after very warm and thorough goodbyes from his boyfriend's parents, he had ushered everyone out of the house as fast as he could, extremely worried that they would arrive late and miss their flight, and not make it home in time for christmas.
but no airlines, not even the most meticulous ones, recommend arriving four hours early. this is because,
"uh, there's no one at the check in desks..."
chicago-born johnny seo returns to the group of lee's whose family he's become so attached to, from where he'd been poking around the empty check in desks, and even asked one of the airport staff where in the world he was supposed to check in all of their bags. he's been to this airport on countless occasions, flying to and from korea for university holidays and to see his boyfriend, but even he has never faced this problem. that is because johnny seo is always running late instead of early.
"i spoke to that lady over there," johnny continues, "and she said-"
"that we're too fucking early?" eighteen year old lee donghyuck speaks up in a dry tone, flicking his gaze to the ceiling and back, "yeah, no kidding."
taeyong shoots his younger brother a warning glare and donghyuck promptly shuts up, but not without a look of triumph. he'd been the most reluctant one to hurry up and get his vans on when they'd left johnny's parents' house not even an hour ago.
"she said we probably won't be able to check in until at least twelve," johnny finishes, relaying the english message he'd received to the others in korean.
taeyong and his younger twin brothers can all speak a little english, and their canadian cousin mark is fluent of course, but johnny finds it easier for them all to speak in korean to each other.
for some reason, their nineteen year old cousin mark lee (who flew over from toronto last night to fly back to korea for christmas with his cousins) starts sniggering, finding the situation impossibly funny. however he quickly clears his throat and scratches his head at the withering look he recieves. "i'm gonna go use the restroom then," he mutters, leaving his case with the others and wandering off away from the argument.
(he's still snickering to himself whilst he meanders around the check-in desks in search of a restroom.)
taeyong starts nibbling on his lower lip, the fluff of his fringe falling into worried eyes. it's christmas eve and he knew they should've booked a flight a few days before christmas, but they'd left it so late this had been the only one available. even if everything went to plan, they would only just arrive in time for christmas - in the early morning like gifts sent over from abroad.
"hey, stop worrying, you," says johnny in a soft tone, stooping down to meet his boyfriend's eyes. he brushes the hair aside and gently pulls taeyong's lip out from between his teeth. "and stop the biting, i don't want your lips getting all chapped in the middle of winter."
"so what if they do?" taeyong snorts with a grumpy pout, "it's not like it'll stop you from kissing me."
johnny throws him the side-eye of pure sass, turning his body away from the smaller korean male, with a teasing yet nonchalant shrug.
taeyong stares at him. "johnny," he says, nudging at the American's hoodie-covered arm. "johnny, stop it..."
"don't test me, baby," johnny warns in a completely serious tone. he stretches out the muscles in his back and shoulders and uses all of his height to his advantage when standing over taeyong.
taeyong looks up at him, unimpressed. "come on, that's just unfair," he whines. "fine, i'll stop biting them."
johnny finally cracks and lets a smirk spread across his lips. "good," he says, clearly satisfied, "now stop worrying, okay? i'm sure we can check in soon, and then it'll all be smooth sailing."
taeyong looks unconvinced, but he doesn't voice any further concerns when johnny pulls him in with one arm to hold him close. taeyong just wraps his arms around his boyfriend's waist and presses his face into his chest, whilst hoping and praying that johnny's predictions about the situation would turn out to be right.
"oh my god, fuck you, mario!" eighteen-year-old lee jeno stalks over from where he'd been sitting cross-legged on one of the plastic airport chairs, a baby pink nintendo ds in his hands. "hyung, your games are shit, i want my phone back."
jeno is donghyuck's twin, not that anyone would believe it. they are non-identical, and if you didn't know better, you wouldn't think they were related at all. for a start, donghyuck is as hetero as they come, all messy ginger hair, black vans, and a t-shirt he was wearing when he woke up that morning.
jeno, meanwhile, is the complete opposite - bisexual with bleach blonde hair and dark roots, currently wearing an oversized denim jacket with a pair of sagging tan ugg boots. (donghyuck hates the uggs with a passion, which only makes jeno want to wear them more.)
the one trait they both share, however, is the pessimism. that, and the constant use of bad language.
"you're not having your phone back," taeyong refuses, not moving an inch from where he's snuggled up against his six foot something of a boyfriend.
"that's so fucking mean!" jeno says, outraged.
"i'm tired of listening to you sing 'do they know it's christmas' on repeat, okay?" taeyong huffs at his younger brother, "yes, i know it's christmas, god. and i thought duckie and 'all i want for christmas is you' was bad..."
"hey!" donghyuck objects, looking up from his phone, "my rendition of that song was a work of art, excuse you."
"anyway," taeyong says, blatantly ignoring him and turning to jeno, who slaps the nintendo ds in johnny's hand (though it actually belongs to taeyong), "you're not having you phone back because I can't stand you and your spotify premium."
johnny lets out a snort. "you can play music in the air?" he mimicks in english, doing all the voices in one of the spotify ads, "i can play music IN A SUBMARINE."
taeyong groans and buries his face in johnny's chest. "i hate that ad so fucking much!"
"whatever, you can't confiscate my phone just because i'm bringing the christmas spirit," jeno argues. "back me up on this, duckie."
for once, donghyuck grudgingly agrees with his twin brother. "yeah, where's your christmas spirit, hyung?" he accuses taeyong, who only pulls away from johnny to shoot the twins a glare.
"do they know it's christmas time at-"
they all turn to look at mark, who is shuffling back across the check-in lounge, humming the tune to jeno's new favourite english christmas song by band aid. he glances at them each in turn, and quickly shuts up.
