"Sooo, how did you know?" Shiro asked, glancing at his handsome driver with a lazy expression.

The two were in Adam's camero, speeding down I-5, to Huntington beach, Cali. Six hours into the road trip, Shiro's shoes were off, the man sitting in an effortless criss cross applesauce in the passenger seat, Aerosmith blaring from Adam's speakers.

Adam smirked, his glasses automatically shaded. "You're a frickin Garrison commander right? How could I not know?" 

Shiro blushed. "Not everyone notices such details."

" Guess you'll need to get used to it, then. " He said smoothly. "Besides, this wasn't all for you. I've always wanted to go."

" We're perfect for each other, then. "

Adam laughed. "What have I been saying?"

They were on their way to the annual Great Pacific air show, Adam's golden hued idea of a first date. He promised thousands of enticing aircrafts to blur the boring ass 6 and a half hour drive from Fairfield.  

"Kinda wish I didn't have to wake up so early," Adam groaned. " I'm not a morning person. "

Shiro smirked. "Good to know."

" You're worth it, though. " He added, pulling off the main interstate onto a windy toll road. 

Shiro chuckled under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "Adam- lay off the flirting, a little. You're causing my heart physical pain."

Adam smiled. "Sure... but that was my flirting toned down. Wait till we get back to Fairfield, Takashi." He glanced at Shiro, trying to contain his laugh at however Shiro would react.

Shiro's prosthetic arm covered his beet red face, his eyes stuck on the blurring white lines of the highway. "Mmm, 'kay" he muttered quietly. 

"Hah-" Adam said, "You're hopeless."

"Only for you."

...

Noon rolled around with the incoming commotion of the air base.  It took the couple fifteen minutes to find a parking spot amongst the thousands of cars. Loud blaring music from stands drowned out Adam's, intercoms overhead blaring raffle winners and times, along with upcoming events. It was hotter in Huntington, the beach a few miles from the base. Little kids with mini models of planes and space crafts ran by Shiro and Adam as they started for the main gate, foldable chairs and coke packs in tow.

"Can't believe alcohol isn't allowed." Adam muttered as they came to the billing station at the gate. " What's wrong with a few beers? "

Shiro chuckled. "It's not allowed, that's what's wrong."

Adam glared at him playfully, handing the money manager their dues. "A few cans never hurt nobody." Then he squinted at Shiro through his sunglasses. " Though, I feel like you're a lightweight. "

Shiro laughed, hiking the chairs over his shoulders a little higher with ease. "Shh, don't tell anyone."

Stands and venues full of fried food and chilled lemonade lined the immense base, along with souvenir tents, and firework mini markets. Families and couples alike sat on blankets and in foldable chairs or tents. Pop music or rock and roll intermingled over the intercoms, loud with slight static.

Then there were the crafts. Jets and planes, ranging between combat crafts and leisure. One was only three feet long, barely big enough to fit the pilot, while there were jets that loomed over seventy feet, and reached a length of 117+ meters.

"Goddamn." Shiro breathed, as they stared up at the crafts. "The takeoff mass of these crafts must be incredible... The power behind them. Just... Wow."

Adam smiled at him. " Yeah. " he said dreamily.

They found a seat under a US air force craft out of commission, talking excitedly about wingspans, king air height, fuselage material, and everything in between.

Commercial planes glistened, and private owned crafts were up for sale, their owners broadcasting their high prices for out of market parts.

Crafts had certain areas open for viewing- little kids running through the holds and cargo ports of airplanes, and grinning from the cockpits of military jets. Viewing hangers held older, war crafts behind illuminated glass, along with disassembled space crafts. Shiro was in heaven.

Tour guides led groups through the millions of bustling people, telling them stories of historical events the crafts had been in, or describing different parts of the planes and jets to little kids. Porta-potties were disgustingly lined up against the gate edges of the vast base.

Pictures were taken, videos recorded, and memories made. There were so many people, barely anywhere to breathe. Adam and Shiro stayed together though, hands clasped tightly.

Many lemonades and cokes later, along with having viewed around ninety grounded crafts, the couple found their way back to the long nosed flier they had sat under to watch the skies. The intercom speaker yelled over the Carrie Underwood playing, announcing the upcoming performances from crafts that were about to take flight, active, and in commision.

Young toddlers and children wore the classic blue and black earphones, to protect their delicate drums from the roaring crafts to come.

Despite that, the show was incredible to watch, with U.S air force teams like the thunderbirds, showcasing martin f-16 fighting falcons, and 5th generation fighter jets- the latter of which Adam couldn't stop blabbering about, what with their advanced precision, stealth, agility, and sensory.

There was the thunderbolt demo team from Arizona, who, along with red bull air force crafts, performed precision aerial formations, some of the hardest ever to pull off, executed perfectly, as Shiro said.

The U.S navy's hornet flight team held performances from their flying angels and gladiators squadrons- the Stratotanker, and Globemaster III- having them perform a simulation of air to air refueling of their tanks. That was Adam's favorite part of the entire show.

The legacy flight program brought their jets and crafts too, classic war and stunt planes, to rival the navy and demo teams.

The sky performances ended with wild jetpack men, descending in their blue and white jumpsuits. They reached over 150mph with their duel jetpacks. Screaming and clapping rose from the millions of onlookers, as the men skyrocketed to their platform.

The entire thing was full of action and excitement, energy buzzing through the air like sound waves.

Neither men could contain their excitement, running off at the mouth like little kids, losing their maturity and pride in one run. The roar of crafts, and static in the air, caused their hair to stick up in odd angles, adding to the manical looks on their faces from their crazed grins.

"This is fucking awesome." Shiro said, not bothering to watch his mouth. They laid back on Adam's blanket, sharing a diabetes inducing pound of cotton candy. They didn't even like cotton candy, they were so in the moment.

"It was, wasn't it." Adam smiled. They had just finished watching the sun set, the bubbling excitement sizzling out as kids started falling asleep, and parents started heading to minivans. Adam had taken a shitload of pictures of Shiro in the golden sunset, claiming it didn't matter the angle to capture his beauty.

They waited patiently for the nightly fireworks, whispering sweet nothings to each other as Bon Jovi set the mood in the speakers.

Shiro hadn't expected the day to be as special as it had been. Of course, he had been to air shows before, this wasn't new to him. But, it had been so long, and with work having piled up, he hadn't gotten a chance to relive this passion.

But getting to relive it with Adam? It was more than he could have wished for. Adam reignited a sense of youth in Shiro. He didn't feel like he had to be so mature, so careful with his words. He could loosen up. And in that sense, it was the best kind of freedom. He could exhale. He didn't need to impress.

So he held Adam close, not wanting to lose this beautiful man who showed him how to feel young again. And maybe it was cliche, but he swore this day would forever be imprinted in his mind in sweet, golden, nostalgia.

Adam yawned, turning on his side so he was chest to chest with Shiro.

"Tired?" Shiro asked, wrapping an arm around Adam's waist.

" Very. " Adam said, locking eyes with Shiro.

"Me too."

They didn't notice the first firework go off, giggles and screams erupting with them. The colors burst with the night sky, dark velvets and golden sparks, but the men had eyes only for each other.

"I could lay here forever." Shiro said, letting Adam trace his finger across Shiro's chest lightly.

" With me? " His fingers caressed Shiro's cheek ever so softly.

Shiro exhaled silently, leaning towards Adam. "With you." 

They locked lips under the roar of crackling, colorful fire. Shiro kissed Adam longer than he had ever kissed anyone, not wanting to let go of this fire.

His fire.
______________________________________

hi sorry for the short chapter and the long wait lmao eeee

hope you enjoyed anyways! love u guysss 

this took forever cause i don't know a lot about planes and shit, so i had to do a ton of research, but i did go to an air show a few years back so that part wasn't too hard... uh i hope it made sense?

qotd: lmao idk, favorite band and ice cream flavor?

a: GORILLAZ !! IF YOU LOVE THEM I LOVE U AHAHA THE BAFF
i also absolutely love rocky road ice cream

ily!!