12:10.

roma observed the wide, expansive runway before them, framed by the huge and clear windows. a glorious, sunny day. the sky was a beautiful turquoise; no clouds could be seen. ethereal.

a form of calm after the storm.

people and crowds on either side of her. passengers and faces and noise. and smiles. all blurred into one; into an indescribable periphery that was somehow removed, elevated, from her current state. like, she was aware, but also too focused on the view before her to notice anything. no distractions.

mind was elsewhere. the sky seemed the only plausible and tangible element that vision could present her with.

the airport seemed a fleeting and odd place. transportation and destination. something tangible; man-made and metal. you could reach your fingers out, through the glass, and imagine the touch of it beneath your fingers. it would take you somewhere that you wanted to be.

her fragility was consumed by this bizarre and overwhelming sensation that had stuck with her, all through the night, continuing on into the new day. waking beside him, rushing, grabbing things and packing bags, waving goodbye, again.

a new location. she was unaware.

no time for explanations.

interrupting pointless thoughts.

"hey, love, got you some coffee."

baekhyun nudged her arm slightly, drawing her attention away from nothing in particular.

eyes didn't see blue.

roma turned to her side, both of baekhyun's hands holding out two cups of coffee. he'd left her alone momentarily. she took the hot container gratefully, as baekhyun motioned for her to sit down in the chair next to him. for some reason, her movements were hesitant; unsure and holding back.

"thanks," she whispered, voice transported from her throat, her lungs, disappearing into unimportance. flittering into the stuffy air.

baekhyun took a long gulp of his own drink. he stared at her, watching her slowed and shy actions, taking a tentative sip with her trembling lips, cupping her hands around her coffee.

roma flinched unintentionally, as he reached forward and gently rested his heavy hand onto her knee, rubbing her thigh affectionately. trying to reassure her. maybe, trying to apologise. her eyes were trained on his movements; body and form stiff beneath his touch.

baekhyun moved his hand back.

downed his coffee.

"roma," he started. his voice was assertive, but quiet, and drowned out by the rush of noise and conversations encircling the two of them. "please. forgive me."

she squeezed her eyes shut. wanted to think, hard. wanted to rearrange all of her dashing and muddled thoughts into a comprehensible entity.

turned her head, slightly, to face him. to look straight into his captivating eyes. they were warm; the black circles in the centres were splashed with golden hues and yellow flakes, complimenting the array of caramel filling his pupils with comfort and safety. roma was mesmerised.

she wasn't angered, or upset, or at all in any position to be against baekhyun. mostly, she was just tired. the constant strain was getting to her, making it difficult to cope with the tumultuous nature of their current life.

"don't apologise," she smiled, tracing a line across the globe of his cheek, pushing his locks of brown hair behind his right ear. "there's nothing to be sorry for."

eyes captivated her. couldn't tear her glance away from him.

he leant forward, pressing a soft and delicate kiss to her lips. she was distracted by the sensation, sighing softly. when she pulled away for a few seconds, he didn't stop staring at her, instead, leaning towards her again and kissing her harder this time.

"i'm still sorry. for everything," he replied lowly, letting her breathe.

muffled voice of the intercom announcing a departure took over their connection.

they both listened intently.

"that's our gate," baekhyun concluded. "come on."

he began to get up, grabbing his bag, holding out his hand for roma to take. she did so, gratefully, letting her weak legs being led away from the waiting lounge and towards their flight. taste of him lingering on her fragile lips.

time continued to pass in a blur.

checking in. stepping out onto the runway, the engine of the airplane blasting in her ears, her long hair flying back, eyes smarting. baekhyun's strong grip remained onto her hand, fingers clutching him desperately, as they mounted the steps. sat themselves down. baekhyun asked repeatedly if she was okay.

long flight. roma was exhausted; both physically and mentally. she leant herself onto baekhyun, using his shoulder to rest on. closed her eyes and attempted to relax the aching bones and joints in her frame.

slept.

//

Phoenix. 20:02.

the difference in time zones.

difficult to adjust; to wrap your head around. difficult to recalibrate your brain and setting into something new.

they landed: just as the deep, glowing sun was setting in the sky. roma had fallen asleep for the majority of the flight, woken abruptly by baekhyun patting her knee, and the sound of the voice-over, and of people undoing their belts and rummaging in the compartments.

"wake up, love."

deep, gravelly voice. looked up at him, only to be met with that beautiful, beaming expression, longish hair falling forehead over his sparkling eyes.

the feeling wasn't ever going to wear off. that's what it felt like.

descending the airplane. stepping one at a time; clutching baekhyun's hand again. as always.

once they had walked for a bit, and the fresh air had hit her, her mind awoke. was clearer, and she could comprehend her surroundings. it was fairly empty as they waited for their bags, the huge glass windows projecting a rich, orange shade across the awaiting passengers and tired faces.

roma stared out at the expanse before her. arizona had a dusty, dark-brown colour to it. its wide plains seemed to stretch out for miles and miles. never-ending. open to endless possibilities and adventures.

she remembered always wanting to come here. one of her dream places to visit. yet, here she was.

baekhyun joined her again, bags in both of his hands. smiling faintly but reassuringly.

her mind had recuperated now. she was more conscious and aware of what was going on. flashbacks of the phone call and the intense nature of baekhyun's tone flooded to her memory. two names that had stood out: chanyeol and kyungsoo.

"where are we going now?"

chanyeol had been mentioned a few times, as they'd parted with kai. the fear and trepidation in both of their sharp and fleeting glances, not managing to hide their alarm for the situation at hand. kai had hugged her single-handedly but tightly, an out-of-character gesture that had taken her by surprise.

"just stay here for a minute. i'm gonna go and get the rental car," baekhyun spoke, shoving his stuff for roma to take.

that hadn't answered her question.

"no, baekhyun," roma said, calmly but also firmly, grabbing his hand as he tried to turn away from her.

he stopped; looking back at her, right into her, taking his time to stare at her. to try and tell her that everything was fine and he was here.

"i promise i'll be back in five minutes." a slight pause. "okay?"

roma trusted him, and could also feel the chills that his deep voice sent through her. trusted him.

she nodded, averting his gaze.

four minutes passed.

and he was back, key in hand, motioning for her to follow him. her tired legs scurried quickly over to the huge, four-by-four car that he was stood by, taking the bags from her and opening the door to let her step in.

the interior smelt of leather and air freshener, an overwhelming scent of foreign plastic and cheap production. roma pulled her belt on; the nerves were slowly coming back, entering her body, travelling up her spine and down her legs.

it was silent momentarily while all the doors were closed.

rush of noise, again.

baekhyun joined her in the front. key in ignition, hands on the wheel, pressing a small kiss to her jaw.

"we're going to this address," baekhyun stated, authoritatively, passing her his phone. "can you put it in the sat nav for me?"

roma looked at the words on the text message. she gulped down the lump in her throat, as she saw it was from jongdae.

ignored her impulses.

"uh, okay," she replied, not wanting to fight it, trusted him, manoeuvring her way around the numerous buttons on the flashing navigation screen and managing to put the address in, as baekhyun reversed from the parking space and sped away from the airport.

transforming darker, now.

either side of them lay an expanse of nothing. roma opened her window, letting her long hair flap out of the wide gap, the fresh air hitting her face, brightening her outlook.

she looked up. the arizonian sky was filled with sparkling, white stars, clearer than she could have ever imagined. eyes were drawn to the ocean of glittering constellations above her. momentary lapse of any nerves or problems; her breath and thoughts were taken by the humid temperature of the night, and the deep turquoise of the airy sea.

it was so warm. her long-sleeved shirt seemed completely unnecessary. jeans stuck tightly to her legs and thighs, the heat being soaked up by the material.

they drove for a few miles. the journey seemed to last less longer than she'd imagined.

darker and darker.

like baekhyun's eyes and vision.

his skin was warmer than the outside, as she gently stroked his arm. he turned to his side and smiled softly.

they began to ascend, the low-lying desert turning into an array of dark conifers, cornering every side of the vehicle. dark ever-green lined their roads. houses began to come into view; huge mansions, white buildings, with large fences and expensive cars in the driveways. cobblestones and intricate, brick walls.

gravel crunched loudly beneath the tyres. increasing in volume, and energy.

baekhyun was intently focused, flicking his vision from left to right. roma could only assume that he was perhaps trying to recognise the home. her heart began to beat rapidly. the contrast of the dark night to the dangling lights from the desert homes was foreign and unknown.

despite signs of habitation, the whole place had an abandoned feel, as if all of the homes were empty and here merely for decoration.

the sat nav's mechanised voice spoke, making her jump slightly: "you have reached your destination."

baekhyun swerved the car immediately, gravel crunching, over the cobble stones, through the already-open gates, into an unknown driveway. roma could feel her breaths increasing in rhythm. she was scared.

the lights were on in the huge home. couldn't see anyone else inside. engine stopped, and baekhyun took his phone from where it had been in roma's grasp, checking for messages.

"baekhyun, are we...at the...at chanyeol's?"

silent pause.

speech.

"yeah. yeah, are you okay? sorry i didn't talk much all the way, i was just concentrating--"

"it's fine," she reassured, mustering a smile, letting her finger trace his cheek. "but should i--"

baekhyun pushed open the door and stepped one foot out.

"no, come in with me," baekhyun asserted, motioning for her to follow his actions.

they met around the back of the car. baekhyun gave her a huge, engulfing hug, warming her, whispering that everything was going to be okay.

left the stuff in the car, and rushed across the gravel, hand in hand.

the front entrance was impressive. stone sculptures on either side, patterned with colourful tiles of red, orange and yellow.

baekhyun rang, and then knocked. but no answer.

roma tried to steady her breaths. she stepped slightly behind baekhyun's shoulder, clutching the thin material of his t-shirt.

slowly, baekhyun turned the door handle.

the hallway was equally as beautiful. decadent and bright, with modern features. roma watched baekhyun tense, muscles clenching, gritting his teeth, and one of the lights switched off. roma clutched his hand tightly. a trembling breath slipped past her lips.

"baekhyun?"

a new voice that roma had never heard before.

a tall, partially naked man appeared in the doorway of what looked like led into the expansive living room. bare foot and with messy hair, the man's deep, soothing eyes locked gaze with her. unnerved, shifting her weight.

chanyeol. she could only assume.

"roma, right?" the man spoke, a smirk curving into the corners of his mouth, resting his weight against the door frame.

roma gasped quietly. eyes darted straight to baekhyun, who was looking at chanyeol with an interesting and unreadable expression.

"how do you--"

"chanyeol, man," baekhyun interrupted her, stepping forward and enveloping chanyeol into a tight, brotherly hug.

chanyeol kept his eyes on roma. still grinning, vision and expression still sparkling with intrigue and anticipation.

roma was tired and confused and at a loss for words.

she stood awkwardly, fiddling with the ends of her hair, her attention on them both.

"so...uh..." chanyeol started, as they released each other from their embrace, a hand on his hip. "what brings you two here?"

baekhyun chuckled loudly, and roma smiled uneasily. not sure if it was a joke, or what. she didn't know.

"get in there," baekhyun sighed, still laughing, pushing chanyeol into the living room, and holding his arm out for roma to follow.

heart beat.

//