#the ending is laughably sappy i knoooooowwwww 🙈

[theflyingfeeling]

Eleventh Day of Gift-Giving: Encouraging Words

Prompt: “I’ve always admired your strength.”

Surpriiiiiiiise! 🥰 I just thought today's prompts were more suitable for J/J than Olli/Allu (at least in the context of the main story), so here's a little peek at the terror twins dynamic. To not make this completely random, it's set in the same universe as the story from Day 8 with the sleeping pod snuggles 💕 So they're still stuck at the airport and Joel's not having a great time, but thankfully Joonas is there for him 🥺

Thank you & hugs & kisses to @kraeuterhexchen for the gorgeous banner! 🤩

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Joonas stared after Olli and Aleksi as they practically skipped away hand in hand, suddenly not looking half as tired and bored as they had a moment ago, slouching on the sofa next to Joonas. It didn’t take great intellectual efforts even from him to assume the two of them were going to do a little more than just sleep. 

With Niko and Tommi having excused themselves to the bar and Santeri and the rest of the crew either browsing their phones, listening to music on their headphones, or just sitting still with their eyes closed as a definite warning to not disturb their peace, Joonas was left to follow Joel with his eyes as the man stomped around the lounge. Joel's brows were knit together in a frown and his arms were crossed over his chest as if to comfort himself. His blow-dried hair waved in the rhythm of his brisk steps, framing his stern expression. Anyone else looking at him would’ve said Joel was just pissed off, but Joonas? He knew better.

After a few more rounds of anxious pacing Joel stopped to stare out the large windows of the lounge into the grey fog that had fallen over the airport. Even from afar, Joonas could see Joel’s reflection on the window glass, could see his muscles tense, his grip on his own arms tightening. When Joel crouched down on the floor to bury his face in his hands, Joonas was already on his way to him.

He made sure not to alarm Joel as he sat down beside him. Only when he was sure Joel had become aware of his presence, he laid his hand on Joel’s now shivering shoulder.

“Hey.”

“I can’t do this shit anymore,” a small, muffled voice said. 

Joonas started moving his hand down and up again on Joel’s back but stayed quiet, giving Joel the space to keep talking if he wished to.

“Joonas, I can’t do this. I just can’t. I’ve slept maybe ten minutes in the past two days and we still won’t be home for hours. I can’t do this, I’m just not strong enough.”

The words made Joonas shuffle closer to make sure Joel (and only Joel) could hear him.

“I know this sucks. It really does. But hell, that’s the biggest bullshit I’ve heard all year. Joel, you’re the strongest person I know.”

“Shut the fuck up, Porko,” Joel wailed, his voice even smaller than earlier. 

“I’m not just saying it, you know. Joel, you’re so fucking strong. Way stronger than me. I’ve always admired that about you, to be honest. I don’t think I say that enough.”

Joel stayed still, and Joonas could hear him taking deep breaths in and out, as if trying to find the rhythm of Joonas’ hand petting his back.

“What I mean is that if you’ve been strong enough to survive all that shit you’ve been through in your life, you’ll get through this one delayed flight, even though right now it feels like you can’t. I promise it won’t be long ‘til we take off.”

Joonas didn’t stop running his palm along Joel’s spine even when the man stopped to hold his breath, like he was evaluating Joonas’ words. After a few more seconds, he suddenly relaxed his entire composure and slumped against Joonas, almost melting in his arms, boneless and heavy against Joonas’ chest. Joonas was quick to wrap his arms around him to keep him from falling on the floor.

To keep him safe.

“I just want to get home.”

“I know,” Joonas whispered in his hair. “I’ll take you home.” 

Even though, Joonas added in his mind, to me, home is wherever I get to hold you in my arms.