Chapter Text
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Unfortunately, due to severe weather conditions, we will be performing an emergency landing at Pittsburgh International Airport. Please keep your seatbelts fastened and return your chair backs and tray tables to their upright positions. We will begin our descent immediately after the cabin crew has completed the safety check. We appreciate your cooperation. On behalf of the flight crew, I’d like to apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.
Fucking hell. A quick check of his phone screen tells him it’s almost eleven. He has a connecting flight to Minneapolis first thing in the morning. Something in his chest sinks. June’s book comes out tomorrow. He promised he’d be at the release party. He has to make it.
They’re going through the announcement in Spanish now, probably for the sole purpose of tormenting Alex. Maybe they’ll do it in German, too, just in case he remembers anything from those three years of high school classes.
The turbulence is getting worse by the minute. Alex checks the seat pocket for a sick bag.
The guy sitting next to him swears under his breath, and Alex really couldn’t agree more. He looks over with what he hopes is a sympathetic smile. “Got somewhere important to be?”
The man lets out a resigned sigh. “Only my brother’s wedding.”
“Oh, shit,” Alex says, suddenly immensely grateful all he’s potentially missing is June’s party. At least it’s not her fucking wedding. “When’s that?”
A glance at his watch. “Less than thirty five hours. It’s in England, though, so I’ve got rather a ways to go.”
“You’re flying from Chicago to— Where? London?”
The man nods. He looks like he’s going to be sick. Alex can’t tell if it’s from the plane’s erratic movements or the prospect of missing his brother’s wedding. Both, probably. Alex isn’t sure what’s to blame for his own nausea, either.
“Why didn’t you just fly out of New York?”
“It was a few hundred dollars cheaper with the connecting flight, which I found worth it at the time.” The plane is shaking even harder and the man grips their shared armrest until his knuckles go white, a gold ring glinting on his pinky finger, saying through gritted teeth, “A choice that is feeling increasingly like the wrong one, quite frankly.”
“Maybe you could catch another flight?” It’s a weak suggestion, definitely not one someone about to miss his brother’s wedding wouldn’t have already considered by now, but the guy looks so desperate, Alex can’t just sit here and say nothing.
Cabin crew, prepare for landing.
He purses his lips. “If they’re having to land this flight due to poor weather I doubt they’ll be sending any others off to Illinois tonight.”
Alex can’t help the bitter huff that escapes him at that, focus zeroing back in on his own dilemma. He needs to be in Minneapolis by noon tomorrow. “I am so fucked.”
The man huffs out a laugh. “It seems we’ll be spending the night in the same boat.”
An idea rips through Alex so quickly he doesn’t pause to think before blurting it out: “Or car.”
The man actually turns his whole body to face him, an impressive feat considering his long legs have been losing a shoving match with the seat in front of him for the better part of the last two hours. “I’m sorry?”
“I—” Alex opens and closes his mouth. “Look, I get that this sounds completely insane—” He barely has the idea fully formed in his head, let alone into words that won’t make him sound like a serial killer to this stranger he’s propositioning on a choppy red eye. “We could get a rental car and drive.” Fuck, Alex needs to be more convincing. “It’ll be half the price and half the driving for both of us. I really need to be in Chicago by the morning. You obviously do, too.”
“You do realize the same severe weather conditions preventing this plane from flying will prevent you from driving, too, don’t you?”
Alex answers with a nonchalant shrug. He’s very aware, but he doesn’t see any other choice here. He’s going to be a lawyer, goddamnit. Looking nervous right now isn’t going to do anything to win this guy over. “It’s not my first time driving in the rain, and it won’t be my first time missing my sister’s release party.”
The plane dips down so dramatically Alex’s stomach drops like he’s on a ride at Six Flags and not a mode of public transportation. His wide eyes lock with the stranger’s in a moment of shared terror. He’s British, Alex realizes as he stares at him, and now he’s wondering if he’s totally got the wrong guy. “Wait, can you drive?” He asks “Like, in general, but also legally? In the States?”
“I live here, actually, so yes.”
Alex grins. “Perfect.”
He doesn’t look any more convinced.
“Come on,” Alex urges. “What other option do you have?”
The man pauses long enough for Alex to think he’s actually considering it. His face is all scrunched up and he’s worrying his bottom lip. It’s adorable, actually. “There’s also the matter of us being strangers.”
Alex smirks. He still hasn’t said no. “That’s the easiest problem we’ve had all night.” He extends his neighbor a hand and a grin. “I’m Alex.”
A tentative hand accepts his and gives it a firm shake. And Holy fuck, this guy’s hands are soft— not that that matters right now, but damn. “Henry.”
Henry. It suits him: he’s all sandy blond hair and powder blue eyes, arched brows and full lips: every inch a damn Disney prince. The soft brown cardigan and worried look on his face are only endearing him to Alex more.
“So, Henry,” Alex says, “Will you make me the happiest man on this goddamn airplane and drive through this storm with me tonight?”
He eyes Alex hesitantly, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Philip will hang me if I’m not there.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Just—” Henry winces. “Promise you won’t murder me?”
“How many murderers have you met who openly admit to murdering people?”
“I haven’t met any murderers.”
“It’s kind of standard murderer protocol to not go around telling people.”
“And you’re familiar with this protocol because…”
He fixes him with a look. “Is anyone not? It’s just common sense.”
“These excellent points are truly doing wonders for your case,” Henry utters.
Alex almost rolls his eyes. “I want to go into politics. I don’t have time for that kind of shit on my record.”
He stares at Alex until he gives in. “I promise not to murder you.”
Henry pinches his brow and releases a weary sigh. “This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve agreed to all year.”
Hook, line, and fucking sinker.
“Don’t worry, Sweetheart,” Alex soothes. “It’s only March.”