“Argh!” The slightest movement made Robert’s heart leap into his mouth. “What’s happening?”

“The pilot’s probably realigning the plane for takeoff.” Jimmy leafed through the in-flight magazine in a posture of forced relaxation. “Just sit back and stop worrying.” There was a certain tenseness to his voice that the other man couldn’t quite explain.

He was perfectly ok a minute ago. Blast his ever-changing moods.

The plane jerked again and Robert saw a greenish tinge start to appear on the guitarist’s face. Oh, that’s what it is. He’s probably afraid of flying and too arrogant to admit it.

“Are you ok?”

“Me?” Jimmy looked up from his magazine. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, you look kind of…peaky.”

“I’m tired.” the guitarist replied, with a little more force than was necessary. “Now, why don’t you sit back and stop worrying? There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He ducked back behind his magazine, face growing greener as the plane started to move forward, getting ready for takeoff.

“Can I hold your hand?” The question popped out of nowhere.

Jimmy looked up from his magazine again, mouth quirking into a wan half-smile. “Was that a Beatles reference or do you suddenly think I’m a girl?”

“Well, no offence, but you’re kind of pretty.”

“What?!”

“Oh, come on.” Robert laughed at the other man’s expression. “There are worse compliments for a bloke to hear than ‘you’re pretty’.”

“Really?” Jimmy cocked a brow. “I haven’t heard any.” Colour was slowly returning to his face.

“I doubt you’d want to.” he paused. “Chaps used to call me a fairy.” A faint blush spread across his cheeks at the memory. No, it really isn’t fun to be gay sometimes. “I’ve always wanted to be more masculine, truth be told.”

Jimmy snorted. “Have you had a good look at yourself lately? You make girls ruin their knickers – or have you forgotten what snogging poor little Maureen did to her? I’m surprised she didn’t jump you right there in the bar.”

“Ha.” Robert scoffed, secretly feeling rather pleased with himself. He was killing two birds with one stone – making Jimmy feel better and getting his own ego stroked.

“I’m serious,” the guitarist went on, “I don’t see what you’re complaining about. For one thing, you’re built like a fucking giraffe. You’ve got hair like a golden fleece and the biggest d-” he broke off, abruptly.

Surprisingly elated by what he thought he’d heard his bandmate say, Robert prodded, “Yes? I believe you were complimenting my dick?”

Jimmy laughed, looking a little awkward. “Anyway, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Trying to restrain himself from grinning like an idiot, Robert replied, “Neither do you.”

“What? The chap with the biggest dong I’ve seen in my life first tells me I look pretty, then tells me I’ve got nothing to worry about! Wouldn’t you be worried, if you were me?”

It was impossible to continue fighting the urge to grin and so, smiling slyly, Robert said, “It depends on what Mr. Big Dong has in mind.”

“Oh.” Jimmy’s brows disappeared into his bangs. “Forgive me for being curious, but what does Mr. Big Dong have in mind for me?”

Am I imagining things or is he flirting with me? Yet, knowing the guitarist’s penchant for playing mind games, he avoided doing anything he knew he would regret. Instead, he said, “Right now Mr. Big Dong wants to hold your hand, because he thinks we’re taking off.”

Jimmy’s hand slid into Robert’s without a single word of protest. His palm was sweaty and tense, but the blond held onto it, tracing comforting circles with his thumb.

It felt like an eternity until the ‘Unfasten Seatbelts’ sign came on.

“Thank you.” the guitarist said, somewhat sheepishly, removing his hand from Robert’s grasp. “It’s silly, but…I don’t really like flying.”

“You don’t?” Robert responded, feigning surprise. “I’d have thought that you would’ve got used to it. I mean, surely you flew all over the place with The Yardbirds?”

“Yes, I did. But…let’s just say I had to numb the journey.” Embarrassed, Jimmy ducked behind a curtain of dark hair.

Robert reached out, brushing the guitarist’s hair out of his face. “You didn’t do that today.”

“Well, I suppose you’ve got a very comforting presence.” A faint smudge of colour touched Jimmy’s cheeks.

The blond’s heart started to throb in an alarming manner. Why is he blushing? Does he like-like me too? The idea was so fantastical that he sought to swiftly forget it. “My parents would disagree. They think I’m an utterly destructive element to our home environment. I guess that explains why my dad kicked me out.” he babbled, “Actually, he kicked me out because I told him I was gay.” Why he was telling the guitarist this was anyone’s guess. “I can’t really blame him, either. No one likes having a gay son. It’s an abo-”

“That’s horrible.” Jimmy blinked. “I thought you moved out because you wanted to. You should’ve said something. I could have offered you my spare room for a bit.”

Robert’s heart nearly burst out of his chest. He struggled to find something to say that didn’t include the words ‘I love you’. “Thanks. But I guess I had to learn to find my own feet sometime.”

“That didn’t have to involve getting thrown out by your parents.”

Hearing the outrage in Jimmy’s voice made him want to get up and sing. Or kiss him ecstatically. “Well, I guess it was a bit of a shock to them.”

“Even so. What kind of parent throws their own son out for being gay?”

Drunk on happiness, Robert would scarcely have minded if their plane crashed then and there. “I don’t mind.” he replied, giddily. Anything that can make Jimmy speak to me so tenderly can’t be all bad.

But the guitarist stared at him as if he’d grown a third head. “You don’t mind? How can you not mind? I’d mind awfully if my parents threw me out.”

“Well, you aren’t gay.” Robert replied. “Your parents wouldn’t have any reason to throw you out. I’m pretty sure every other sin is forgivable. I mean, other than murder, of course. But even murderers can find their way to heaven. The Bible says nothing about gays passing on to the kingdom up high. So, I guess I can’t blame my parents for wanting to get an abomination out of their house.”

Jimmy shook his head violently. “How can you call yourself that?”

“An abomination? It’s easy, I-”

“Nice to see the two of you having a long chat.” Peter Grant had heaved his bulk out of his seat and was now looming over them. “Best way to build a good working relationship – communication.”

Jimmy, who had had a very strange expression on his face, now smiled. “Right.”

“Mm-hmm.” Grant now turned to the blond. “Well, Robert? How are you enjoying travelling by plane?”

Glancing at the guitarist out of the corner of his eye, Robert responded, “I think it’s wonderful. The best way to travel.”

Am I getting my hopes up? Or are we growing closer?

The questions burned in his mind, and he found himself hoping - despite the fact his hopes had always been dashed on the cold, hard ground - that his dreams would somehow be realised.

🦋

I'd best apologise for how long I took to update this. I'm so sorry - I'll never make you wait six days for an update again.

Also, I want to thank you guys so much for over 1k reads! May the Jimbert love never fade.