In Flight (One Shot)

[missmara13]

Title: In Flight
Author: Mara
Claim: Ryan Atwood/Brooke Davis (The OC/One Tree Hill)
Prompt: #006 - Hours
Rating: PG
Warnings: Crossover. Future Fic.
Summary: Ryan and Brooke. A circling plane. Flirting ensues.
Note #1: As of this posting, I haven't yet gotten accepted by crossovers100, but I figure what the hell, I can always be doing it unofficially... lol...
Note #2: Also responds to brandywine421's 'Arsonist Challenge', prompt #5.


In Flight

"Excuse me," Ryan said, catching the attention of the Flight Attendant "Why aren't we landing?"

"It's nothing to worry about, sir," the woman replied, flashing a patronizing smile. "It's jsut a minor delay, and we'll touch down as soon as it's cleared up."

"Will that be soon?" Ryan asked, not bothering to hide his nervousness.

"As soon as possible," the Flight Attendant said before walking away.

Ryan stared after her in disbelief. "Yeah, that doesn't relieve my anxiety attack," he muttered.

"She's a bitch," a female voice said.

Ryan lifted his gaze just as pretty brunette dropped into the empty seat across the aisle from him. "Excuse me?"

"She's a bitch," the brunette said. "When I got on board and saw that there was like no one up here but me and you, I asked if I could switch to a window seat, and the bitch said no, I have to sit in my assigned seat."

"You moved now," Ryan pointed out.

"Didn't you hear me asking like a dozen times until she gave in and said I could sit wherever I wanted? I can be a bitch, too."

Ryan laughed despite himself, and felt a small amount of the anxiety melt away. "Too bad I can't complain and make them land now."

"Probably wouldn't work," the brunette said. "I'm Brooke," she continued, offering her hand.

"Ryan," he replied, taking her hand and shaking it.

"Business or pleasure?" Brooke asked.

"What?"

"Why are you flying, business or pleasure?"

"My little sister's high school graduation is tomorrow," Ryan said. "So I'm flying in from school."

"What school?"

"NYU," Ryan said.

"Cool, I love New York... Haven't had time to visit lately, though. RISD is kicking my ass."

"You go to RISD?"

"Yeah, that's the..."

"I know," Ryan said. "I know someone who goes there."

"Well, now you know two someones," Brooke said. "What's this other someone's name? Maybe I know 'em."

"Seth Cohen," Ryan said, unable to hide the bitterness in his tone.

"Ugh," Brooke said, making a face. "I know him. And hate him. Like toss him in a pit with rapid raccoons hate."

"Oh, something we have in common," Ryan said. "Seth is an idiot."

"How do you know him?"

"His parents were my foster parents for a couple years," Ryan said. "He used to be my best friend, but now I'm not really in touch with him."

"Why not?" Brooke asked.

"Long story," Ryan replied. "I'd rather not..."

"No problem," Brooke said. "I've got some long stories like that, too."

"How about you? Business or pleasure?"

"Visiting my parents," Brooke said. "So torture."

Ryan laughed again. "You're one of those people, aren't you?"

"One of what people?"

"The ones who can make friends like that, no problem," Ryan said, snapping his fingers.

"Who wouldn't wanna be my friend?" Brooke asked. "I'm hot, I'm funny, I'm already a semi-famous fashion designer, and did I mention I'm hot?"

"All good points," Ryan replied, nodding. "And you're good at distracting guys who are terrified of flying," he added.

Brooke grinned and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Another point in my favor."

"So, fashion designer?"

"Ever heard of 'Clothes Over Bros'?" Brooke asked.

"Kaitlin got all excited last Chrismukkah when Summer gave her a shirt from that brand..." Ryan said.

"Who's Kaitlin and who's Summer?" Brooke asked.

"Kaitlin's my sister, and Summer is Seth's ex-girlfriend who I like mroe than him," Ryan explained.

"And what's Chrismukkah?"

Ryan laughed and leaned back in his seat. "Eight days of presents followed my one day of many presents," he explained. "Christmas and Hannakuh mashed together. Seth created it before I joined the Cohen family, and I may not be speaking to him anymore, but... it's a fun holiday."

Brooke laughed with him, turning sideways in her seat. "Tell me about your family."

"Biological or adoptive?"

"Whichever one you mean when you tell classmates you're 'going home for the holidays'," Brooke said.

"The Cohens," Ryan said. "Sandy's a lawyer, and he started teaching at Berkeley last year. Kirsten's in real estate development, but she's basically put that on hold to be a stay at home mom with the baby, Sophie Rose. She's two and the most beautiful baby girl ever. They... I was 15 when I met them, and they just... they loved me. Better than my biological parents ever seemed to. And I kept thinking I'd lose that when I turned 18, but... they fought for me. I was in a car crash the day after graduation, and when the damn doctors wouldn't let them into my hospital room, they decided to ask me to let them adopt me, even though it's weird to adopt an 18 year-old. I have a room at their house in Berkeley, and whenever I come home Kirsten always gives me this huge hug, and Sophie demands I pick her up and she likes it when I tell her stories..."

"Sounds like good people," Brooke said.

Ryan nodded. "Now my biological parents... that's a trainwreck. They both drink too much and do drugs, but both got clean and sober for a while only to fall back. Dawn got clean long enough to come to my high school graduation, but when I told her about the adoption, she got pissed and stopped speaking to me. And Frank... he's a real asshole. He knocked Kaitlin's mom up..."

"So Kaitlin's your half sister?" Brooke said, frowning.

"No," Ryan said, laughing. "It's... complicated. Kaitlin and I aren't related by blood or marriage or adoption. See, in high school, I dated Kaitlin's older sister, Marissa, who died in the car crash I mentioned. After that... me and Kaitlin kinda took care of eachother for a while. Then Frank came back into my life, and started dating Kaitlin's mom, Julie. Julie got pregnant with my baby brother, Josh, and Frank left her. Julie almsot married this other guy, Bullitt, who Kaitlin prefered, but thens he gave Frank another chance, only for him to start drinking again and hit her when she was pregnant. So Julie left Frank, and married Bullit afterall, but Kaitlin is still my sister as far as I'm concerned and always will be."

"You're right," Brooke said, nodding. "That was complicated."

Ryan smiled. "What about yours?"

"My parents believe in the less in more theory," Brooke said. "Even when I was a kid, they were never around, I was raised by the housekeeper. Their idea of parenting was throwing money at me. Then, halfway through my junior year of High School, they went broke and moved to California, and I ended up moving in with my ex-boyfriend's mom, Karen, who is totally amazing and actually gave a damn about me and my life. I got grounded for the first time living with her. I still call her with big news that most people reserve for their parents."

"Biological parents suck," Ryan agreed, nodding.

Brooke laughed and reached across the aisle to clasp his arm.

~~~

Ryan was laughing almost three hours later when the plane finally landed and they were able to leave. "You seriously made out with the guy right in front of your boyfriend?" he asked Brooke.

"I thought I was dreaming! Why else would Pete Wentz be there making eggs?!" Brooke said in her own defense.

Ryan laughed again. "I can beat it," he said.

"Oh yeah?"

"I almost slept with my foster mother's father's girlfriend," Ryan said. "I was 15 and she was a 23 year-old model. Gaby Logan."

"Oh my God," Brooke said, staring in shock. "I've heard of her!"

"She came on to me, and I almost went along with it," Ryan said. "My damn morals got in the way."

"Stupid morals keeping you from getting laid," Brooke said, shaking her head and trying not to laugh.

"Your turn," Ryan said.

"High school english teacher," Brooke said. "We were dating for a while."

"Foster mother's step-sister and foster mother's half sister," Ryan countered. "AND saw foster mother's full sister working in a strip club, AND slept with the cousin of a guy who fell off a cliff right in front of me."

"You're a man slut, you know that right?" Brooke said.

"I'm aware," Ryan agreed, nodding in agreement.

Brooke laughed and grabbed Ryan's arm to keep from falling over. "You're not suppose to agree!"

"Even when it's true?" Ryan asked.

"Especially when it's true!"

"How do you do this?" Kaitlin asked as she walked over. "How do get on a plane in New York alone and show up with a girl clinging to your arm?"

"Nice to see you, too, Kaitlin," Ryan said, embracing the younger girl, who threw her arms around his neck. "Kaitlin Cooper, meet Brooke Davis, we got to talking during the delay. Brooke, meet my little sister, Kaitlin."

"Congratulations on graduating high school, the hell is over," Brooke said.

"Thank you," Kaitlin said. "I got the news last night," she added to Ryan. "Valedictorian."

"Kaitlin!" Ryan said, picking her up and spinning her around. "I'm so proud of you!"

"I rock," Kaitlin said. "Mom and Bullit are throwing a huge hootenanny, as Dallas calls it, tomorrow after graduation."

"Great," Ryan said.

"I've gotta go," Brooke said, shoving a slip of paper into Ryan's pocket. "Give me a call sometime, hot guy," she added as she turned and walked away.

"You're gonna call her, right?" Kaitlin asked.

"Maybe," Ryan said, still watching Brooke.

"You better or I'm kicking your ass."

"I don't doubt it," Ryan said, finally looking back at her and putting an arm around her shoulders as they headed out to her car.

"So what was the deal?" Kaitlin asked, looking up at him.

"They couldn't get the landing gear down and we were up there just circling for three hours," Ryan said, sighing. "Remind me never to fly that airline again, okay?"

The End

I slightly altered the line from the 'Arsonist Challenge'... the original line was: "So they can't get the landing gear down and we were up there just circling for, like, three hours." I removed the the 'So', changed 'can't' to 'couldn't', and removed the 'like'... lol... I figure it still responds... lol...