Work Text:
"Incheon Approach, Korean Air 1214, with you at 4,000." The pilot, Captain Kim Jiwoong, had arrived at Incheon Approach and was ready to descend. He'd been flying for over 11 hours, the final leg of a trip that had taken him from Incheon to Paris and back. Exhausted as he was, he still felt buzzed knowing he could expect a certain someone over the radio tonight.
"Korean Air 1214, radar contact. Descend and maintain 3,000, runway 20L." The reply from the other end was clipped and all business.
Jiwoong knew Zhang Hao was always professional at his job, but this time it sounded different. Especially when Hao had been growing colder through their texts over the past three days throughout his trip. Zhang Hao was usually an expressive texter with him, so when his replies were shorter than usual and without emojis, the difference was stark. Jiwoong assumed it was because his hectic schedule and late replies had hurt Hao.
"Korean Air 1214, requesting runway 25R. Still mad at me?"
"Negative on 25R. Maintain 3,000, runway 20L."
"Hmm, that puts me farther from the exit. Estimate 20 minutes until I get to you. Come on, 25R?" Jiwoong tried again.
"Asiana 1613 is ahead of you in the queue. Asiana 1613, descend and maintain 4,000, runway 25R."
"Asiana 1613, descending 4,000. Thank you, Hao!" Suddenly, a new voice came through the radio. It was Sung Hanbin's.
"Korean Air 1214, maintaining 3,000, runway 20L." He paused again before continuing, "See you soon."
Captain Hanbin, who had just landed Asiana 1613 and just gotten back from the UK, hugged Zhang Hao the moment he arrived.
"Thanks for giving me 25R! Closer to the exit means I get to Matthew quicker!" He was practically buzzing. It's expected after two weeks flying all over Europe. "Are you fighting with Jiwoong, though?" he prodded, not even bothering to ease into it.
"No, I'm just doing my job." Zhang Hao replied, a bit too quickly and too heated for Hanbin to be convinced there was really nothing going on. "Your fuel and holding time were running low. Jiwoong is a seasoned pilot, he should know better than to request whatever he wants without a real emergency. It's an open channel, not a group chat."
"Don't stay mad at him too long, okay? Jiwoong really misses you. He kept saying he won't spoil you again, but... well, we both know he will come home with a surprise for you every time anyway."
Hanbin patted his shoulder before walking off, taking off his pilot's hat and pulling his carry-on luggage. A few minutes later, Zhang Hao could hear his footsteps speeding up. He guessed Hanbin had spotted Matthew at the gate.
He felt envious.
Of course he missed Jiwoong. Even just hearing that low, husky voice through the radio made his chest tighten with how much he missed him, and Jiwoong wasn't even his boyfriend. Though at this point, they both knew there was something between them. Jiwoong basically left for his flight a few days ago from Zhang Hao's apartment, and there was an entire shelf in his cabinet dedicated to Jiwoong. The two toothbrushes on the holder he sees every time he goes to the toilet, and the two house slippers next to each other in front of his house entrance also reminded him that whatever he has with Jiwoong is beyond casual.
"China Air 520, descend and maintain 3,000. Good night."
Zhang Hao had just finished the transmission when he felt someone wrap their arms around his waist from behind. He would've been mortified if Gyuvin, who was about to take the next shift had still been there. Lucky for him, Gyuvin had suddenly bolted for the bathroom, leaving Zhang Hao alone with the person that was currently embracing him.
The scent hit him first, and he could recognise it from anywhere. It was Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt, but layered with it was Jiwoong's natural scent that made it uniquely his; and with it came a flood of midnight memories that made him shudder.
"I'm sorry." Jiwoong slowly turned him around, and Zhang Hao saw a bouquet of roses in his hands. This guy... Cheesy as it was, there were still butterflies dancing in his chest, because this was always what Jiwoong did: flowers or little trinkets, every time he came back from a trip. And there's something about Jiwoong's gestures that always manages to affect his heart.
"Tell me what exactly you're apologizing for."
"It's because I've been busy and replying late to your messages. And I fell asleep when I'd promised to call you last night. I'm sorry..."
Zhang Hao let out a sigh.
"I wasn't mad because of that. We talked about this. When work gets crazy, neither of us takes it personally." Jiwoong's face shifted, eyebrows scrunching, clearly confused now.
Zhang Hao held his gaze, determined to stay quiet and let Jiwoong figure it out, and lost that battle almost instantly. How could he stay distant when he missed the man in front of him so much it physically ached? So he sighed and stepped back into the hug. Jiwoong wrapped his arms around him tighter this time, burying his face in Zhang Hao's hair. It was warm, familiar and cozyㅡand finally everything felt right.
"Next time, before you leave for a trip... wake me up. I want to send you off properly." Zhang Hao finally relented, opening up.
"That's what you were upset about?" Jiwoong pulled back just enough to look at him, completely thrown.
"Yea! Obviously I want to see my boyfriend off before he disappears for days and I can't even—" Zhang Hao stopped himself too late, the word already out. He blamed the exhaustion from not sleeping well lately, and today had been a lot. He didn't even get a chance to spiral before he caught the look on Jiwoong's face. That slow, delighted, insufferably smug grin spreading across that handsome face. He looked so pleased, so unbearably proud of himself.
Zhang Hao groaned and shoved his face right back into Jiwoong's chest. "Ugh!"
"Oh, so I'm not single after all? Can my air traffic controller please confirm, since when, exactly? I'd like to mark the date so you won't get mad if I forget to celebrate it next time."
"Shut up." Zhang Hao mumbled, and for extra emphasis, he bit down on Jiwoong's collarbone; left bare since Jiwoong had undone the top few buttons of his uniform the moment he landed. He heard Jiwoong hiss, and felt satisfied. Jiwoong could never know he'd changed his contact to "Jiwoong Ge ❤️" a month ago.
"Oh my god, can you guys keep it PG?!"
Both of them turned toward the door to find Gyuvin standing there, looking thoroughly done with both of them. Fortunately, Zhang Hao's shift had just ended, so he grabbed Jiwoong's wrist and pulled him out, leaving Gyuvin's protests behind them.
"So, your place or mine?"
"I will drive you tonight, you're sleeping at mine." When Zhang Hao got into this mode, there was no room for argument. He'd been adamant about it for a while now; Jiwoong wasn't allowed to drive after a long trip, no exceptions. Jiwoong's car would just have to stay at the airport for now and he'd pick it up on his next shift.
Truthfully, Zhang Hao had his own reasons too. Every time Jiwoong's scent started to disappear from his side of the pillow and bedsheets, he'd start to feel uneasy. And with him going away on his trip recently, his scent had almost faded entirely, and Zhang Hao wanted to fix that. He didn't know since when, but he'd gotten a little too clingy for someone usually so composed. But another side of him thinksㅡif it's for Kim Jiwoong, it's worth it.
Jiwoong settled into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt. Just as Zhang Hao was about to pull out of the parking spot, Jiwoong stopped him with a hand on his thigh. Zhang Hao turned, throwing him a questioning look.
Jiwoong only leaned into his space, made a show of pursing his lips, and closed his eyes; a clear enough sign.
"You're hopeless..." But there was nothing but helpless adoration in Zhang Hao's voice as he leaned in, one hand still on the wheel, and pressed his lips against Jiwoong's.
"Korean Air 1214... welcome home."