Willy watched from the corner of his eye, wondering who on earth Tim had been texting with such a cold, intense expression. He wanted to ask, but he didn't dare push too hard, the last thing he wanted was for Tim to think he was being suffocatingly jealous. Still, Tim was acting incredibly suspicious today. Ever since his sudden disappearance at the bar the other night, Willy had been plagued by questions about who Tim had really been talking to.
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Willy finally broke the silence. "Tim, who was that texting you just now?"
Tim didn't look up from his screen immediately. When he did, his face was a mask of perfect, effortless calm. "Just an old acquaintance from back home. They heard I was flying in for the tournament and wanted to know when I'd be landing."
He wasn't technically lying, he was just offering a carefully curated fraction of the truth.
As they sat in the waiting area, Tim began to sulk again, resting his chin in his hand as he stared out at the commercial airplanes on the tarmac. "I completely forgot how agonizingly long the boarding process takes for regular flights."
Willy's suspicion deepened. Something was definitely off. Tim had claimed he went across the border to see his parents a few days ago, which meant he would have had to go through these exact airport procedures and security checks twice in one week. If he were actually used to it, he wouldn't be complaining this much. Was he lying about seeing his parents? Where was he really? A dozen unanswered questions swirled through Willy's head.
Tim suddenly turned, catching the heavy look on his face. "Are you okay, Willy? What are you thinking so hard about?"
Willy didn't want to deceive him, but the middle of a crowded airport terminal wasn't the place to interrogate him about his family secrets. "I'm just thinking about the international championship," Willy lied smoothly, shifting his weight. "I always get a little nervous before a big tournament."
Tim's expression softened instantly. He reached over, lightly bumping his shoulder against Willy's. "Everything is going to be perfect, Captain. You already know you're the absolute best shooter in the bracket, and I'll be right by your side the entire time."
Willy took a quiet breath. He would definitely hold Tim to his promise and get some real answers once they were safely inside their hotel rooms. "I want to have a serious talk with you when we get to the hotel. There are a few things I'm genuinely curious about."
Tim smiled, his gaze warm and completely open. "I already told you, Willy, you can ask me literally anything, and I'll answer you honestly. I have absolutely nothing to hide from you."
Hearing the pure sincerity in his voice, the tight knot of anxiety in Willy's chest loosened a little.
Tim groaned again, checking his watch. "Does commercial boarding always take this long?"
"Yeah," Willy replied, amused by his impatience. "Sometimes it takes even longer if there's a delay."
Tim snapped his fingers, an idea seemingly sparking in his eyes. "Ugh, if I had known it would be this tedious, I would have just canceled our commercial tickets. We could have taken a private jet instead."
Willy blinked, staring at him in utter disbelief. A private jet? Was Tim's family so absurdly wealthy that flying on a private charter was just a casual, everyday alternative? Willy's head was pounding from his lingering hangover, and trying to process Tim's financial reality was making his brain hurt. "Wait... do you casually just own a private jet?"
"Maybe," Tim smirked, leaning back against the seat.
"What does 'maybe' mean, Tim?"
"It means I have an active pilot's license, and..."
Willy cut him off, his voice rising in shock. "What?! Are you kidding me right now?"
"No, I'm completely serious," Tim chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the bewildered look on his captain's face. "I actually managed to get my driver's license and my pilot's license around the exact same time."
Willy stared at him, momentarily speechless. A driver's license, a motorcycle license, and a pilot's license. Was there a single thing on this earth that this boy couldn't do?
Tim leaned in closer, his eyes dancing with pure mischief. "What's the matter, Captain? Didn't you know your boyfriend was a certified genius?!"
Willy shook his head, a breathless laugh escaping his lips. "Is there actually anything on this planet that you can't do, Tim?"
"I haven't tried everything yet, so the jury is still out," Tim gloated smoothly. "But honestly, I don't think so. I actually hold quite a few interesting certifications and professions, but I'm not going to reveal them all to you today. I'm afraid you'll lose interest in me if you find out all my secrets at once."
Willy was more confused than ever. It was statistically and physically impossible for someone Tim's age to possess that many highly specialized skill sets. "Are you a secret spy or something?"
Tim's face went deadpan, his tone dropping into a serious whisper. "Yeah, actually. Why do you think my family suddenly uprooted and moved to another country when I was eight years old? I was recruited by a black-ops organization and raised from childhood to be a high-level spy."
Willy stared at him, genuinely unsure for a split second if Tim was fabricating a wild story or confessing to a government secret. Seeing Willy's frozen, completely stunned expression, Tim burst into a melodious, ringing laugh.
"Oh my god, your face right now is priceless!" Tim laughed, nudging him playfully. "See? If you stay with me, Willy, I promise you will never, ever be bored."
Willy slowly rubbed his temples. "Are you always this insanely confident?"
"Always," Tim beamed, throwing his shoulders back. "I am a certified genius and I am extraordinarily attractive. Why on earth shouldn't I be confident?"
Willy couldn't even argue with the logic because, deep down, he knew Tim was absolutely right.
Tim checked something on his phone, typing a rapid sequence into a secure application. A moment later, a quiet, sharp smile spread across his face. Willy noticed it immediately. That specific, calculated smile meant Tim was actively planning something reckless.
"What are you plotting now, Tim?!" Willy asked, on high alert.
Tim didn't answer. Instead, he smoothly grabbed Willy's luggage handle, hoisted his own duffel bag, and began marching away from the boarding gate. Willy had no choice but to drag his feet and follow right behind him.
"Where are we going? Tim, stop! Our flight is going to board soon, we're going to be late!"
"We won't be late," Tim called back over his shoulder, his pace unyielding.
Tim marched straight toward a heavily secured, tinted glass door marked with a bold "RESTRICTED: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" sign. Without a hint of hesitation, he reached for the handle.
Willy caught his arm, his panic flaring. "What are you doing? Did you completely miss the sign? We can't go in there. Let's turn around before airport security notices us."
Tim looked back at him, his eyes burning with a fierce, brilliant confidence. "Willy, rules are just suggestions for people who don't know how to bypass them. Anything is possible for me. Just stay close to my side and don't let go."
They had only managed to take three steps past the threshold when a stern, heavily built airport security guard intercepted them, his hand resting near his belt. "Hold on. You cannot enter this terminal. This area is strictly restricted."
Tim didn't flinch. He calmly pulled up a specific digital clearance credential on his phone screen and held it up for the guard to see. The moment the security officer read the encrypted clearance code, his stern demeanor completely melted away, and he stepped back with a respectful nod.
"I'm traveling with a guest today," Tim indicated, pointing casually at Willy. The guard nodded silently, opening the secure gate and gesturing for both of them to pass through.
Willy looked around, his mind spinning as the heavy doors clicked locked behind them. "Tim... what is happening right now?"
"Welcome to the VVIP private hangar zone," Tim smiled, guiding him down a pristine, quiet corridor. "Only executive staff, diplomatic personnel, and private owners can access this sector. The standard commercial rules don't apply to me here. It's a rare privilege."
Willy couldn't even conceal his absolute astonishment anymore. He was completely out of his depth. "Don't tell me you're actually planning to do what I think you're planning to do."
Tim grinned wickedly. "What's the matter? You don't want to see your boyfriend navigate the skies?"
"No, Tim, don't even think about it! Flying a commercial-grade jet is entirely different from a car!"
"Trust me, Willy. I am an exceptional pilot," Tim said, his tone turning surprisingly grounded and reassuring. "I fly private routes all the time when I need to clear my head. You are entirely safe with me, I swear."
Willy looked into his eyes. Despite the sheer absurdity of the situation, a strange sense of absolute safety washed over him. Tim had never let him down yet. "How did you even manage to coordinate a private flight plan in a matter of five minutes?"
"I checked the local hangar registry database to see if there was an available corporate jet parked at the base," Tim explained smoothly. "The aviation company always keeps a fully fueled charter on standby in case an executive needs an emergency flight. With my commercial pilot credentials and a quick transfer, I can clear a flight path instantly. The crew will have it prepped on the runway in a few minutes."
Tim walked into a private office to finalize the flight manifest and handle the logistics. A few minutes later, he returned, rolling his shoulders with a sigh. "Everything is cleared and ready to go. The only tragic part is that I don't have my official pilot's uniform with me. If I had known we'd be doing this, I would have packed it."
Willy chuckled, the absurdity of the day finally making him relax. "That really is a tragedy, Tim. I was actually looking forward to seeing you in a proper uniform."
Tim froze, his eyes widening slightly as a faint blush colored his cheeks. "Wait... if you genuinely want to see me in my pilot's uniform, I can call the estate staff right now and have them deliver a fresh set directly to our hotel. I have several tailored uniforms at my house across the border."
"No, it's fine," Willy smiled, nudging him. "I wanted to see it in action right now. Don't worry about it."
Tim went quiet for a moment, his expression turning slightly distant as he processed the travel details. "By the way, Willy... which specific hotel did the university book for us?"
"The Phleum pratense Luxury Suites," Willy answered, checking his digital itinerary.
Tim stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw tightening as his eyes darkened. "Of all the millions of luxury hotels in that city... you guys managed to choose that exact one."
Willy's internal alarms went off. Another suspicious reaction. Why on earth did Tim look so viscerally unsettled by the mention of their hotel? "It's rated the best hotel in the district, and it's less than ten minutes away from the international shooting range. Is there a problem with it, Tim?"
Tim remained silent for a few agonizing seconds, his knuckles tightening around the luggage handle before he quickly forced his expression back into a calm, indifferent smile. "Nothing. It's fine. There are just much better establishments in the area. Let's go."
Tim led the way out to the private tarmac, his movements noticeably sharper, more guarded. Willy noticed his fingers flying across his phone screen again, firing off an encrypted message to someone, but the screen was angled too far away for Willy to read a single word.
A seasoned co-pilot and a small, professional flight crew were waiting at the base of a stunning, sleek private jet. The moment they saw Tim approach, they straightened up and greeted him with immense respect. It was glaringly obvious that they knew Tim very well.
"I'm traveling with a very important guest today," Tim announced to the co-pilot, gesturing to Willy. "He doesn't believe that I'm the best pilot in the academy roster, so I'm here to personally prove it to him."
The co-pilot laughed warmly, shaking Willy's hand. "He's not exaggerating, sir. As far as the aviation board logs are concerned, this young man pulled the highest examination scores in the history of our training sector. He managed to secure his commercial ratings in record time."
Tim shot Willy a triumphant, proud look. "See? I obtained my PPL (Private Pilot License) the second I turned seventeen, and I cleared my CPL (Commercial Pilot License) shortly after. I told you, Captain, you are perfectly safe in my hands."
Willy smiled, his heart swelling with an undeniable sense of pride. "I believe you. Let's get this bird in the air."
Once they boarded the luxurious cabin, Willy felt a slight wave of pre-flight nerves. The flight across the border was scheduled to take roughly five to six hours. Tim guided him to a plush leather captain's chair, offering words of encouragement until the engines roared to life. The takeoff was flawlessly smooth, and as the jet leveled out above the clouds, Willy finally managed to completely relax.
A few minutes into the cruise, Tim stepped out of the cockpit, leaving the controls to the co-pilot, and walked back into the cabin. He leaned over Willy's seat, a bright smile on his face. "Hey, do you want to come up front and see the cockpit view?"
Willy looked up, startled. "Me? In the cockpit? Is that even allowed?"
"Of course it is. I'm the captain of this aircraft," Tim said softly, holding out his hand. "Come on. I'll be right beside you and explain how everything works."
Willy swallowed hard, a bit intimidated by the wall of complex avionics, but looking at Tim's extended hand, he felt an absolute wave of trust. He slid his fingers into Tim's, letting the boy guide him into the cockpit. The co-pilot respectfully stepped out to give them space.
Tim sat in the captain's chair, patiently explaining the primary flight displays, the navigation maps, and the throttle controls. Willy listened to him with absolute admiration, completely captivated by how professional, intelligent, and focused Tim looked in his element.
Tim stared out at the endless horizon of white clouds, his voice dropping into a quiet, vulnerable register. "I'm really glad that my first real international flight route with a passenger is with you, Willy. You're... actually the first person I've ever shown this side of my life to. None of my family members, relatives, or old friends back home have any idea that I can fly."
Willy blinked, caught entirely off guard. "I'm honored that you shared this with me, Tim... but why keep it a secret from everyone else? I'm certain your family would be incredibly proud of an achievement like this."
The warmth instantly vanished from Tim's face, replaced by a sudden, sharp flash of bitter anger and deep-seated resentment. "I don't speak to them, Willy," he said coldly, his eyes staring rigidly at the instrument panel. "I cut off contact a long time ago. The only people I occasionally check in on are my grandparents, but even then, it's rare because I'm always buried in my training schedules. And my old friends from childhood? They're all trapped in their own corporate inheritances and family responsibilities. They don't have time for me."
Tim let out a hollow, quiet breath, his posture softening slightly. "The truth is... I'm the type of person who despises talking about my personal life or my achievements to others. You'd probably be shocked if you saw me around other people. I barely utter a single word to anyone else."
Willy looked at him, a gentle smile touching his lips. "I honestly find that incredibly hard to believe, Tim. Because the second you're around me, you never seem to shut up."
Tim turned his head, his dark eyes locking onto Willy's with a wave of pure, unfiltered devotion. "Because I love you, Willy. And I trust you more than anyone else in this world."
Willy felt his chest tighten with affection, slowly getting used to the breathtaking weight of Tim's constant, unyielding confessions.
"The flight is stabilized on autopilot for the next few hours," Tim said, breaking the heavy silence with a soft smile. "You should go back to the cabin and get some proper rest if you want."
"Okay," Willy agreed, unbuckling his harness. He paused, looking back at him. "Won't you come join me in the cabin?"
Tim's eyes lit up instantly, his playful demeanor returning. "As you command, Captain."
Willy shook his head, a smile breaking across his face as he walked back to the luxury seating. "I've always wondered... why do you insist on calling me 'Captain' when you're clearly the one in charge of everything?"
Tim curled up in the plush seat right across from him, looking at him with an expression of pure fondness. "Because no matter what I'm capable of doing, Willy... I will always do exactly what you tell me to do."
Willy simply shook his head, a wave of profound understanding washing over him. Tim acted like a spoiled, confident genius in public, but the second they were completely alone, he leaned into this soft, almost childlike vulnerability. Willy realized it was because Tim had been entirely robbed of a normal childhood, forced to achieve perfection in survival mode, Willy's presence was the only safe haven where Tim could finally drop his guard and just be a boy in love.
Willy drifted off to sleep for the remainder of the long journey, lulled by the steady hum of the jet.
Hours later, he felt a soft, warm pressure against his cheek. He slowly blinked his eyes open to find Tim leaning over him, a gentle, radiant smile on his face as he pulled back from the quiet kiss.
"Wake up, sleepyhead. We've officially crossed the border and landed," Tim whispered softly. "Thank you for flying with me, Willy."
Willy took a few moments to regain his consciousness, staring up at the beautiful boy in front of him. "Thank you for sharing your sky with me, Tim."
After sharing their gratitude and saying goodbye to the co-pilot and the dedicated crew, they stepped off the private hangar deck. A sleek, black executive car was already waiting on the private asphalt to transport them through the foreign streets, driving them straight toward the ominous luxury of the Phleum pratense hotel.