Airport Daddy - Part 1

Everyone in this story is 18+

The airport was dead. Dead as it always was on a Tuesday afternoon. I leaned against the x-ray machine, arms crossed, pretending to look alert. My fingers tapped against my bicep, the rhythm matching the monotony of the day. Another suitcase, another bored traveler, another pointless shift. I hated this job. Hated the uniform, hated the fluorescent lighting, hated the way people looked at me like I was some kind of glorified hall monitor. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to be—well, something more. Something important. But here I was, Ford, 24, college grad, airport security. What a joke.

And then I saw him.

He was a twig of a thing, barely able to drag his oversized suitcase behind him. His shoulders hunched under the weight, his arms trembling like they might give out at any second. Black hair, messy and sticking up in places like he’d just rolled out of bed. Glasses perched on his nose, slightly crooked. He looked like he’d never seen the inside of a gym. A nerd. A total fucking nerd.

I smirked as he stumbled toward the security checkpoint, his eyes darting around like he was afraid someone might jump him. Perfect.

“Hey,” I called out, stepping into his path. My voice was sharp, commanding, the kind of tone that made people freeze. He did. His head snapped up, and I saw the fear in his eyes. Good.

“Uh—um, hi,” he stammered, adjusting his glasses. “Is… is there a problem?”

I tilted my head, letting my eyes rake over him. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his hands gripping the handle of his suitcase like it was the only thing keeping him upright. Weak. Pathetic.

“Problem?” I repeated, my voice dripping with mock concern. “Why would there be a problem, kid? You hiding something?”

His face paled. “N-no! Of course not! I—I’m just trying to get through security. I have a flight to catch.”

I let out a low chuckle, stepping closer. I was taller than him by a good six inches, and I could see the way he shrank back, his body language screaming submission. “Relax. I’m just doing my job. But you know how it is. Can’t be too careful these days. Name?”

He blinked, confused. “M-my name?”

“Yes, your name. Or do you not have one?” I deadpanned.

“It’s Larren. Larren Hayes.”

“Larren,” I repeated, rolling the name around in my mouth like I was tasting it. “Alright, Larren. Step over here for a moment. We’re gonna need to take a closer look at your suitcase.”

His eyes widened. “But—but I already put it through the scanner! I don’t have anything—”

“Hey, hey, calm down,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. I kept my tone light, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it that made him shut up real quick. “It’s just a routine check. No big deal. Unless you’ve got something to hide?”

He shook his head frantically, his cheeks flushing red. “No! Nothing! I swear!”

“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about,” I said with a grin, gesturing toward the small room off to the side. “Right this way.”

He hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the exit like he was considering making a run for it. As if. I stepped closer, my chest almost brushing against him, and he flinched. “Come on, Larren. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

He nodded quickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing again, and shuffled toward the room. I followed close behind, my eyes roaming over his thin frame. He was wearing a baggy sweater that hung off his shoulders, the fabric swallowing him whole. How the hell does someone like this even survive? I wondered as I closed the door behind us.

The room was small,  a table and a single chair sat in the corner, and I gestured toward it. “Take a seat, Larren.”

He hesitated again, his eyes darting around the room like he was looking for an escape route. “Is… is this really necessary? I mean, I’m just—”

“Sit,” I commanded, my voice sharp. He jumped, his body moving before his brain could catch up, and he practically fell into the chair. I bit back a laugh. God, this was too easy.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest and studying him. His hands were gripping the edge of the seat, his knuckles white. His breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Nervous. I liked that. “So, Larren,” I began, dragging out his name, “where are you headed?”

“Boston,” he replied quickly, his voice trembling. “I—I’m starting college there.”

“College, huh?” I raised an eyebrow. “What’s your major?”

“Computer science,” he mumbled.

I let out a low whistle. “Smart kid. You must be real good with numbers, huh?”

He shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I… I guess. I mean, it’s just what I’m interested in.”

“Just what you’re interested in,” I repeated, my tone mocking. “Must be nice. Being smart, I mean. Not everyone’s got that luxury.”

His head snapped up, his eyes meeting mine for the first time. “I—I didn’t mean—”

“Relax,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. “I’m just saying. Some of us have to work with what we’ve got. You know?” I gestured to myself, to my uniform. “Not all of us get to be the brains of the operation. Some of us are just here to keep people like you safe.”

He didn’t respond, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. I smirked, pushing off the wall and taking a step toward him. He shrank back, his body pressing into the chair like he was trying to disappear. “You’re a bit jumpy, aren’t you?” I asked, my voice low. “What’s the matter? Never been in a room alone with a guy like me before?”

His cheeks flushed, his eyes darting to the side. “I—I don’t know what you mean.”

I chuckled, taking another step closer. “Sure you don’t. You’re a smart kid, Larren. You know exactly what I mean.” I leaned down, planting one hand on the armrest of his chair, my face inches from his. “You ever had a guy like me pay attention to you before? Ever had someone at all notice you?”

He froze, his breath catching in his throat. His lips parted, but no sound came out. I could see the panic in his eyes, the way his body trembled beneath me. Perfect.

“Ford,” a voice called from the doorway, breaking the moment. I straightened up, glancing over my shoulder to see my supervisor, Thompson, standing there with a frown on his face. “We’ve got a situation at checkpoint three. I need you over there.”

I hesitated, my eyes flicking back to Larren. He was still frozen in his seat, his chest rising and falling rapidly. This isn’t over, I thought, a slow smile spreading across my face.

"Be right there," I called back, my gaze locked on Larren’s as I adjusted myself, making sure he noticed. “Don’t go anywhere, kid. We’re not done here.”

And with that, I turned and walked out of the room, leaving Larren sitting there, trembling in his seat.