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Despite the ongoing inside joke amongst his friend group, Luca knows perfectly well that he’s not actually a mob boss. He’s not a criminal or anyone of great notoriety. Luca is a pretty normal dude, so normal that it’s POG to be as amenable and amicable as him. He has no enemies or rivals or even a reason to pay attention to anyone who would want to wrong him.
Yet Luca is convinced someone is currently following him through this airport.
The eye-catching head of purple hair is behind him everytime Luca turns around. He walks faster, but his pursuer does the same. Luca turns a corner and hides behind a giant Starvox board. Sure enough, his mysterious follower pauses to look around for him.
Luca makes an “uh-oh” sound, but it’s drowned out by the music still blasting through his wireless earphones. His anime opening playlist is suitable for all occasions, but it’s especially fitting for this scenario where Luca is getting chased through his last layover after a long and eventful trip.
Quickly, Luca squats near the counter of straws and napkins. A woman with a suitcase gives him a look and reaches over his head for a cupsleeve. Luca is undeterred and opens his group chat.
MLPS POG
Lupog: Guys I think someone is out to get me!
Lupog: UNPOG!
Pogmu: what?? What’s going on?
Millie Pogfait: yo luca you good?
Lupog: There’s a guy following me through the airport
Pogmu: Uh…
Pogmu: define guy
Millie Pogfait: is he hot?
Lupog: Huh? What? How would I know?
Lupog: I didn’t take a good look at him!
Pogmu: ??? then how do you know he’s following you???
Millie Pogfait: look now
Luca glances up and squints, only to make eye contact with his nameless stalker standing right in front of him. He shouts.
The stranger yelps in reply.
Luca ends up flat on his butt while the other customers barely pay them any attention. When the newcomer extends a hand out, Luca grabs it to pull himself up.
“Why are you following me?!” Luca demands, sounding less mean and evil and commanding than he wants to.
The stranger blinks, then hands Luca something. It’s the Naruto forehead protector Mika bought for Luca on the trip. “Uhhh you dropped this. I tried to call after you, but I guess you had earphones in and didn’t hear me. Then you started walking faster and I had no choice but to follow. Oh gosh, I didn’t mean to alarm you.”
Luca’s stalker-turned-savior looks so baffled and sheepish that Luca forgives him instantly. “But how did you find me?”
“You’re a little too big to be hiding behind the Pumpkin Spice Latte sign.”
“Oh,” Luca replies slowly. “Well, thanks then! Can I buy you a coffee?"
"Oh, no, that's okay."
Luca grabs the stranger's hand. "I insist!" He glances around the Starvox shop. The line is finally starting to dwindle, so Luca gently pulls his savior towards the counter. "Order whatever you want!"
"Uhhh how about some tilk?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"Isn't that what it's called? Tea with milk?"
Luca can’t help but laugh. "You mean milk tea?"
The barista looks completely unamused and rings up their order without asking Luca for his drink. This is fine because Luca already had a mango smoothie earlier. When the barista asks for a name, the stranger offers up “Shu.”
Together, they move to the side to wait for Shu’s order. Luca fiddles with the forehead protector until Shu takes notice.
“Do you need help?”
“Yeah! I tried wearing it around my arm because my head was too big, but I guess it wasn't tight enough, you know?”
“Let me,” Shu says. He gently takes the item away and wraps it around the arm Luca offers. With great concentration, Shu ties the ends together once, then twice. He asks Luca to flex and laughs a little when Luca does as told. “Well, it’s probably secure now.”
“POG!” Luca says, then flexes his bicep again. The fabric tugs a little but stays in place.
When Luca looks over, he finds Shu staring at him. Shu’s cheeks are red when Luca catches his eye.
The moment is broken when the barista calls Shu’s name. He goes to retrieve his tea, then checks his phone. “Oh gosh, my flight is already boarding,” Shu says quickly. “Thank you for the drink!”
“No, thank you,” Luca beams. He then shouts “it was nice meeting you!” as he watches Shu rushes towards the direction of his gate.
Luca grins a little before checking his phone again.
MLPS POG
Pogmu: are you still alive?
Millie Pogfeit: did your stalker get to you?
Millie Pogfeit: f in the chat for luca
Millie Pogfeit: f
Pogmu: F
Lucapog: f
Pogmu: so what happened?
Lucapog: He saved me! Then I bought him a drink!
Millie Pogfeit: oh pog
Pogmu: POG
Lucapog: POG!
Millie Pogfeit: so was he cute?
Lucapog: got to go! My flight is boarding too!
Technically, Luca’s flight has probably been boarding for a while. There’s no line when Luca arrives at his gate, and the airport staff even closes the door after scanning his boarding pass. Quickly, Luca makes his way through the boarding bridge and onto the plane, only to find it completely packed. He tightens his grip on his backpack and checks his seat number. His row is the only one with a vacancy, and sitting in the middle seat is a familiar tuft of purple hair.
“We meet again,” Shu says when Luca stops at the aisle.
Luca quickly throws his bag into the overhead bin and takes a seat. For some reason, he just can’t stop smiling. “You’re going to Diamond City too?”
“I live there,” Shu explains.
“Oh POG! So do I!”
Shu leans his head a little. “You know, you never told me your name.”