✿ PHAINON ★ You—his light, his anchor. No matter how far he flies.
Scenario: Phainon is a highly-respected and amicable pilot, good at what he does, and even better at charming others. But you—his partner, the person he loved most—bore the brunt of his boyish, eager affection.
Or, you drive to the airport to pick Phainon back home after his flight. And oh boy, has he missed you.
Pairing: Pilot!Phainon x Reader (Gender-neutral)
Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship, Modern AU
Notes: Phainon is written in the way I envision him in a modern setting. While I have tried my very best to maintain his essence as a character, changes in speech and motivations will undoubtedly be slightly different to some extent. Just a lil' precursor~
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“Ground, AMP3355, clear of Runway 36 at Taxiway Aedes, taxi to parking.”
“AMP3355, Ground, taxi to the ramp via Aedes. Beautiful landing as always, Phainon.”
Phainon let out a low chuckle, switching the comms to standby with a practiced flick of his finger. No matter how many flawless landings he’d made, hearing that praise never failed to send a thrill through his chest.
His sharp azure eyes followed the glow of the LED taxi lights, guiding the plane across the tarmac. The sun had long since dipped beyond the horizon, leaving a sea of stars scattered like diamonds across the raven sky. Most pilots preferred clear, sunny landings for safety’s sake—but Phainon? He’d always believed there was something unexplainably beautiful about touching down under the stars.
After signalling to the ground staff and sharing a quick grin, Phainon high-fived his co-pilot. “Can’t wait to wrap up the reports and head out.”
“Absolutely.” his co-pilot agreed, before breaking into a quiet laugh.
“You’ve got that goofy smile again. Already thinking about your partner, huh?”
Phainon’s laugh boomed through the cockpit, warm and bright. His ears turned a soft shade of red, but his grin never faltered. “You got me.” he confessed without hesitation, as he undid his seatbelt and loosened his tie. “They’re picking me up today. Can’t keep them waiting, can I?”
Just the thought of seeing you again after a long haul had his heart practically dancing in his chest. You—his light, his anchor no matter how far he flew.
A bark of laughter followed, then a friendly pat on the back. “Alright, alright. Have some sympathy for the lonely souls, yeah?”
The wait for passengers to disembark passed in a blur, the crew moving through their checklists with the efficiency of ritual. Meanwhile, Phainon buzzed with barely-contained excitement, fingers drumming restlessly against the armrest, every movement carrying that infectious, boyish energy.
“Great work today, everyone. See you next time!” he called out, already halfway to the exit.
“Wow…he’s really gone in a flash.”
“His partner’s picking him up tonight.”
Was the walk to the terminal pick-up point always this long?
Phainon could hardly keep still. To passing staff and colleagues, he must have looked like an overexcited puppy—shoulders bouncing, his steps oddly light and restless. He’d mumbled more apologies than he could count after nearly crashing into people with his rolling suitcase, yet none of it seemed to slow him down.
Because he always got like this when it came to you.
Excited. Impatient. Boyish. Nothing like the calm, composed persona he wore so effortlessly in front of everyone else. Sometimes, in rare late-night moments, he’d catch himself wondering if he was too much—if this giddy, lovesick side of him ever surprised you, if it wasn't what you expected. But then he’d remember the way you always waited for him. The way you always came. The way you loved him unconditionally.
Loved him enough to drive to the airport at 2 AM on a weekday, limbs heavy with nighttime fatigue. Loved him enough to hold space for every part of him, even the pieces that felt too soft or too loud.
When Phainon finally stepped into the pick-up area, his sharp gaze scanned the rows of headlights, searching, searching—until he saw you. His whole face lit up instantly, brighter than any runway light, and much brighter than the stars above.
Before you could even pull up properly, he was already dashing across the pavement toward your car, leaving his usual careful gait behind. The moment you stepped out to greet him, he swept you into a hug so tight it nearly knocked you off balance.
Not a single strand of his soft white hair seemed out of place—a miracle considering he’d spent more than twelve hours in the cockpit. Though his face bore hints of fatigue, nothing could dull the glimmer in those bright azure eyes as he pressed his forehead to yours.
“You really came all this way,” he breathed, voice low and reverent, almost like a prayer. The warmth of your scent hit him all at once, a sweet, grounding reminder of home. And it only made him squeeze you tighter, arms curling around you like he never wanted to let go.
You murmured a gentle protest as you shuffled his suitcase toward the boot. Your words were tender, though tinged with that familiar exasperation that always made him laugh.
Phainon chuckled softly, planting an absent-minded kiss against your neck. “No…you can do it. You’re strong, remember?” His words came out in a teasing whisper, but his hold on you didn’t ease. If anything, he pressed in closer, nose brushing along your nape as if to soak in every inch of you.
“…Thank you,” he whispered again, softer this time. A sigh followed as he finally released you from his near-bear hug, his hands lingering on your waist. “I love you.”
A quiet pause passed between you, the air electric and still under the watchful glow of the airport lights. Then, slowly, he leaned in to kiss you. Soft at first, as though savouring the first taste of warmth after a long journey. Even still, you could feel the grin ghosting across his lips, that uncontainable joy only you ever got to see.
After a drawn out moment, he finally pulled away. Phainon's soft puffs of air fanned against your chin, yet he still looked positively radiant, “Let’s go home?” you asked, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his forehead.
“Mhm. Home,” he echoed, voice bright. He nodded toward the driver’s seat, eyes sparkling. “You’ll drive, right?”
A split-second of playful tension hung in the air as your eyes met, before he burst into bright, carefree laughter. “Haha! Sorry, sorry! But…”
A small beat, as he laced his fingers with yours.
“I think I’m done driving vehicles for today.”
Notes: I hope you enjoyed this short story! Just a small piece to explore this dynamic we got going on. Perhaps I'll expand on this in the future…
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