The hum of the plane was a constant backdrop as Noah and Liam settled into their seats for the long flight to London. The cabin was dimly lit, passengers already leaning back into their seats, preparing for the long journey ahead. Noah stretched his legs out in front of him, trying to get comfortable, but his mind was still racing, bouncing between thoughts of Emma, work, and everything in between. He glanced over at Liam, who was already flipping through the papers for their upcoming meetings.

"Alright, so here's the plan once we land," Liam said, his voice steady but focused. "We hit the ground running with the tech team. We'll need to get all the specs finalized before we meet with the clients. After that, we can squeeze in a meeting with the investors, then we'll need a site visit."

Noah nodded, trying to keep up with the pace of Liam's meticulous planning. "Sounds like a lot, but we'll manage." He rubbed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion of the day catching up with him. "Do you ever take a break? I mean, seriously, you're like a robot sometimes."

Liam smiled faintly, not looking up from his papers. "Someone's got to keep things on track, Noah. You can't just wing it all the time."

"Yeah, yeah," Noah muttered, already zoning out. His mind was still a bit foggy from the emotional turbulence of the conversation with Emma, and the weight of everything he needed to do in London wasn't helping. The rhythmic drone of the plane was already lulling him into a sort of trance, and his eyelids felt heavier with each passing minute.

Liam kept talking about their plans—team introductions, meeting schedules, logistics—but Noah was barely listening. His head drooped forward, then to the side, and before he knew it, he was resting against Liam's shoulder, the faint scent of his cologne filling his senses.

Liam didn't notice at first, too wrapped up in his own thoughts, but when he felt the warm weight of Noah's head on his shoulder, he blinked in surprise. He shifted in his seat, glancing down at Noah, who was already half-asleep. Liam sighed, trying not to make a fuss. He subtly shifted his shoulder, hoping Noah would adjust. But it was too late—Noah was already in deep, breathing steadily against his shoulder.

"Great," Liam muttered under his breath, attempting to shift away, but Noah's head followed him, snuggling back into place with a contented sigh. Liam sighed, glancing at the other passengers to see if anyone had noticed, but there was nothing to be done. He couldn't exactly shove Noah off without making a scene.

Liam gave another subtle nudge, but Noah didn't stir. He seemed to be completely at ease, his features softened in a way Liam hadn't seen before. It was almost...cute.

Liam huffed, running a hand through his hair in mild frustration. "Seriously?" he muttered. "I'm not your pillow." But Noah only made a soft grunt in his sleep, his face nuzzling further into Liam's shoulder. Another nudge, another failed attempt at escape.

For a moment, Liam just stared at him, blinking in disbelief. This wasn't exactly how he'd planned on spending the flight. He'd gotten used to being the one in control, the one making decisions, keeping things running smoothly. But now, here he was, trapped under the weight of Noah's head on his shoulder, helpless to move him without disturbing his sleep.

Liam sighed, feeling a rare twinge of annoyance mixed with something else he couldn't quite place. He glanced at Noah again, who was completely oblivious to the discomfort he had caused, his face relaxed in sleep.

"Noah," Liam whispered, his voice low, but it was no use. Noah didn't stir. Liam adjusted his position yet again, trying to get comfortable, but Noah just slouched further into him, almost making a contented sound in his sleep.

After another failed attempt to free himself, Liam finally gave up, leaning back in his seat and resigning himself to the situation. As the minutes passed, he realized how little resistance Noah put up when he was asleep—how much calmer, quieter, and less...irritating he was when he wasn't awake. There was a strange stillness to Noah, a kind of peace that Liam couldn't ignore. His features were relaxed, his lashes casting soft shadows over his face. Even his messy hair, typically styled with little care, looked endearingly tousled as it fell against Liam's sleeve.

Liam felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest, a flutter of something he couldn't quite place. It wasn't the usual frustration or annoyance he'd feel when Noah was, well, Noah. This was...different. He found himself watching Noah, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he let himself relax into the moment. Noah, for all his intensity and often overwhelming presence, was somehow more...human, more vulnerable, when he wasn't trying to hide behind his usual bravado.

Liam adjusted his position again, trying to make himself more comfortable, but Noah remained glued to his shoulder, still sleeping soundly.

Liam let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh. "You know," he murmured, looking down at the sleeping Noah, "you're a lot more tolerable when you're unconscious." He chuckled softly to himself, the tension slowly leaving his shoulders.

Liam adjusted the blanket on his lap, trying to make himself comfortable despite the warm weight of Noah's head still resting on his shoulder. He glanced around the cabin, taking in the quiet hum of the flight, the soft murmur of other passengers' conversations. The world outside their small bubble felt distant, but here, in this moment, he could almost forget the miles between them and the chaos waiting for them in London.

"Maybe this trip won't be so bad," Liam muttered to himself, resigned to his fate. "If I can survive this."

Noah shifted slightly in his sleep, and Liam, half-smiling, let him stay. In the end, he didn't mind. He could deal with a little inconvenience if it meant Noah was at least getting some rest. He'd been running on fumes lately, and even though Noah could be a handful, Liam had to admit he was starting to care more about the guy than he had originally let on.

The hours passed, and the plane continued its steady course toward London, but for once, Liam didn't mind the quiet. He leaned back into his seat, Noah's warmth against him, and allowed himself to relax just a little. Maybe, just maybe, this trip would turn out better than either of them expected.