so, this is actually my very first oneshot written in english (i'm italian) and it's making me kinda anxious to, like... publish it here for the whole world to see (almost). it was totally inspired by mino and irene on 160511 and since i've been a minrene shipper ever since 2014 i couldn't help it, so here it is and i hope you enjoy it!

my lovely love @cosmolilla on twitter suggested the title!

that was supposed to be just another quite short flight to china. keyword: supposed to.
'cause she would've been there. and he knew that. and for the whole journey from winner's dorm to the airport he kept thinking about it. he tried his absolute best to distract himself but couldn't find, to save his life, anything that could help him. not even s practically screaming in his ears were able to make him snap out of the stream of consciousness that was going on in his head.
will she recognize me? i mean of course she will, but will she look at me or something? or even say hi? maybe she's too tired or too busy or i don't know what. should i say hi first? it's been so long since i saw her tho, what if... ah, for god's sake song minho, you're the nation's huge boy, one of the best rappers on the scene at the moment. sure, you played with rubber ducks and called them your family but does that even matter? plus it's important to give your inner child some space once in a while, isn't it? yes it is. and she's just a girl, she can't metaphorically bring you to your knees like this, can she? no she can't. exactly. now get your together and...

« would your royal highness song minho mind to get out of the car so we can catch our flight on time, please? »
« yes, peasant. your king will grant you your wish 'cause he feels quite benevolent today »

he got out of the car laughing with s making fun of him as usual. they were still picking on him for that rubber ducks thing but hey, it was the producer's fault.
kind of.

« can you stop looking around like you're trying to bring a bomb on the plane? you're gonna get us jailed within five minutes. what's wrong with you today? »
« yeah, i don't know either... sorry jinwoo hyung »

checking some stuff at the terminal, huge boy minho wasn't able to relax. like, at all. if he saw himself from the outside it literally looked like he was trying to sneak a bomb on the plane. bomb who actually appeared at the airport wearing ripped jeans and a beige sweater, walking fast and bowing, meeting his gaze just for a brief second. and that was enough to turn him to stone.

« oh... now i see what's wrong with you today »
« weren't we supposed to depart alone? », he asked, still staring at her until she disappeared from his gaze.
« yes? but it seems like they're taking our flight too »
« well... »

.

--

he was looking at her whie she was trying to take a nap. eyelids and lips closed, her face resting on her hand. a strand of hair was bothering her and it made him want to reach for it and move it away from her eye. her breath was slow, quiet and peaceful, she was probably very tired. white earphones popped out from under her hair, it made him wonder if she was listening to one of his songs. probably not. or maybe yes, who knows. maybe one of the slower ones in their latest album, maybe..

« hey? »

a light tap caught his attention, alongside with a female soft voice. he looked up to see the tallest member in red velvet staring at him with a smile.

« what are you doing here? »
« wow oppa it's nice to see you too »
« sorry joy... so, what.. »
« it shows »

a confused minho stared at one of the youngest members in the girl group. well, at least he tried to look confused and unaware of what she was talking about even though he knew.

« you know exactly what i'm talking about. just... be careful ».

--

she was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed and he was looking at her again. it reminded him of all the rehearsals and then the year-end stage they did together. irene was always so bright and energetic, dance was her life just like music was for him, her passion was the first thing that drew him to her in the firstplace, then everything else. the way she smiled, the way she talked, the way she cared for others, the way she closed her eyes, just like that. warm, hazel eyes that opened again when the whole group started walking towards the exit. it wasn't until they reached the stairs that he realized they were quite close, not until she tripped and it was automatic for him to catch her, surrounding her waist just in time, preventing her to fall.

« careful »

he was able to say just that before letting her go after a few seconds that felt like ages.

« thank you »

she smiled at him, flying away from his arms and slightly touching his hand in a gesture that felt like a caress.

« see you later »
« ..what? »
« at the show? »
« oh yeah... right. see ya »

he smiled like an idiot and he just watched her. he watched her walking down the stairs with her bandmates while he did the same with his. he watched her, and her scent still llingered around, and he wasn't sure if it stayed on his clothes or if it was just his imagination.