Alex Vause did not fly well, which was surprising for someone travelled a lot due to work commitments, but here she was sat next to her best friend Nicky Nichols, on a flight from New York to Sydney. Only this time it wasn't for work, instead it was to help get her friend away for awhile, whilst she got through a rough breakup.
Nicky had promised that she wouldn't fall asleep until halfway through the flight, so Alex wouldn't be so bored and anxious, yet as soon as the wheels left the tarmac, she was out like a light.
Piper Chapman was on her way to Sydney from New York with her friend Polly. Polly's grandmother was sick and she didn't want to make the long trip alone, so her parents had paid for Piper to join her for the journey. Polly had closed her eyes to try and catch up on some much needed sleep as soon as they were in the air.
Piper wasn't in the mood for watching any films, so instead she walked the length of the plane, over and over and over again.
Nicky was leaning against the window, blind closed and eye mask on, whilst Alex's knee bounced up and down in an anxious tick. She decided to get up and use the restroom whilst the unfastened seat belt sign was still showing. When she returned to her seat, she glanced over at her friend, who was still fast asleep and rolled her eyes at how easy it was for some people to just get knocked out that easily.
She was just about to put her headphones on when the plane jolted and a blonde stumbled in the aisle and fell into the spare seat next to her.
Alex's arms shot out to steady her instantly, "Woah, are you okay?" she asked concerned.
The blonde smacked her forehead off of the headrest as she landed in the vacant seat.
"Oh man!" she blonde groaned, her hand coming up to cover her head as she turned and slid into the empty chair.
"You alright there?" Alex asked again after a moment. A slight smirk coming to her lips as the blonde uncovered her eyes and finally looked at her.
Piper had never seen eyes as green as these in her life. An audible gasp left her lips as she gazed at the stranger sat next to her. Dark hair, glasses and a slight smirk that made her blush involuntarily.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! Is this seat taken?" Piper finally broke out of her reverie, glancing round frantically.
An amused laugh left the mysterious stranger, as she placed her hand gently on Piper's forearm, turning her back to look at her. "You're fine. That seat isn't taken." she grinned now, making the blonde's stomach flip in a way that hadn't happened before.
Alex watched as the blonde's cheeks grew an attractive shade of red.
"Oh…" the the blonde's voice stuttered slightly, before she cleared her throat and continued, "Good." she said more breathy than she'd meant to. A small shy smile playing on her lips.
Alex noticed just how blue the blonde's eyes were in that moment, and it made her heart beat just that little bit faster. She was definitely attracted to this woman and was usually able to tell straight women apart from the rest, but this blonde was somewhat of an enigma for her, leaving Alex highly intrigued to find out more about her.
"Alex." she introduced herself, holding her hand out expectantly.
Piper's eyes darted down to the outstretched hand and back up to a cool green gaze.
"Piper" she replied, shaking the woman's hand.
They got an electric shock as soon as their palms touched, causing them both to startle slightly. Alex held Piper's hand a little more tightly though, giving it a light squeeze, before letting go and holding onto the arm rest.
"So, are you going to Sydney or is it just a stopover?" Piper wondered aloud.
Alex noticed Piper adjust her position to get more comfortable in the seat beside her, clearly no intention to move any time soon, making Alex significantly more happy during this long and dull flight.
"What makes you think that it would just be a stopover?" Alex wondered, her eyebrow raised in amusement as the blonde's face grew redder still.
"Just, well I mean… you look like you've travelled a lot." Piper fumbled for an explanation under the gaze of the woman beside her. She found herself wanting to impress this woman, who she barely knew, but certainly wanted to know more about.
Alex's laugh was low and raspy, she almost missed when Piper's eyes fluttered closed at the sound… almost. A smug smirk lit her face as she pat the blonde's knee reassuringly.
"It's okay, Kid… no need to go getting all flustered on me." she winked and laughed again as the blonde's eyes narrowed slightly at her. "And I am going to Sydney." she added, her mind subconsciously calculating all the faint freckles that were on the blonde's face.
The plane jolted again and Alex's hand left Piper's knee to grip onto the armrest tightly. Her eyes shutting as she took a deep breath in.
Piper automatically placed her hand over Alex's, her thumb tracing soothing circles onto the back of her hand. An overwhelming need to comfort this woman, shocking both Alex and herself.
The turbulence had passed and Piper's hand was still on Alex's. She watched as the woman released her breath in a long sigh and rest her head back against the headrest.
"Sorry if I freaked you out just then. I'm not good with flying." she admitted, eyeing the blonde cautiously.
Piper smiled and shook her head, "It's all good."
Alex couldn't help but glance down at their hands, a small genuine smile forming on her face.
Piper liked it when Alex smiled. The way it would reach her eyes and for a second you'd catch a glimpse of the woman behind this confident and smirking persona. So she kept her hand there as if it was normal.
"So, are you going to Sydney or is it just a stopover?" Alex asked, a part of her hoping she was going to Sydney, just on the off chance that she might be able to see her again during her stay, despite it being a huge city.
"I'm going to Sydney. 10 days with my friend Polly." Piper informed her, signalling behind her with her thumb to where her sleeping friend was.
"Ah, I wondered where you came from." Alex laughed as Piper nudged her arm playfully, giggling herself.
Piper's giggle was the most ridiculously adorable thing that Alex had ever heard. All she knew in that moment was that she wanted to hear it again and again and again. Memorise in her mind for when they'll have to part ways once the plane lands.
"Why're you going to Sydney in the first place?" she wondered. Immediately regretting her question once the blonde's smile faded.
"Polly's grandmother is… passing away… as we speak… and she didn't want to make the journey by herself so I've come with her. I only met the woman a handful of times, but she was always so funny and full of life and just… she had all these interesting stories to tell." Piper found herself rambling again.
Alex's smile softened at the fondness in Piper's voice for her friend's grandmother. It was sweet, she thought.
"Old people have the best stories." Alex said then.
"They really do." Piper's voice was far away, a small smile creeping onto her face as her mind replayed moments from time in her head.
"I'm going for 10 days too." Alex suddenly said after a few moments of silence, just staring at the blonde. Memorising very feature of her face. She was beautiful. Alex Vause never thought of women as beautiful. The ones she found her eye lingering on were hot, but never beautiful, never gorgeous, never with blue eyes so captivating as hers.
The blonde shook out of her reverie and nodded slowly, the woman's words slowly sinking in.
"Who knows, maybe we'll be on the same plane home." Alex laughed.
A permanent grin spread on Piper's face at the thought, "Hopefully." she blurted out, her face turning crimson at the sudden admission.
Alex's smirk was back as she rolled her eyes at the blonde's bashful behaviour. "Maybe we could meet for coffee or something, if you've any spare time whilst you're in Sydney?" she suggested, confused as to why she was suddenly so nervous.
"I'd like that, yeah." Alice agreed, biting her lip.
