WILL POV-

As the car found its way on the road again, it drove down the path in the night; the car's interior dimly lit by the soft glow of the dashboard lights. Will's fingers danced with the two figurines he attained from the Happy Meal- A superhero and a criminal. He couldn't help but chuckle at the irony; almost like he was in that exact situation right now, perhaps he should get a cape to defeat Mike.

The ravenette couldn't help but glance at the small boy from time to time, amused by how engrossed he seemed with the kids' toys. He couldn't deny that the childlike essence remained oddly endearing as he watched the brunette pretending to engage the figurines into a little battle on the dashboard,

"Hey Will, are you sure you're not having too much fun with those toys there?" the ravenette smirked.

"Well I need something to do in this car! What else would you want me to do?" The small boy complained.

"I don't know... talk perhaps?" Mike suggested

"With you?" Will stopped playing with the figures, "Yesterday you threatened me to shut up and the day before you tried to kill me!" he smacked his lips,

"Yeah, well that was the past!" The ravenette smiled, "But you do really like playing with those toys, don't you?"

The brunette shrugged uncomfortably, feeling as though Mike was judging him, "I mean... they are kinda fun I guess."

"Fun?" Mike chuckled, "You practically haven't put it down since we left the gas station!"

"Oh my God! Hop of my dick!" Will whined feeling a bit insecure as he placed the toys on his lap, "Let me play with my toys."

"Fine... fine! Just take care of little me!" The tall boy added again keeping his eyes on the dimly lit roads,

"I wish I could rip off his head... but then I'd have nothing to play with." the small boy muttered

"Please can we not damage little me?" the ravenette scrunched his face

"You should be lucky I haven't ripped your actual head off!" Will scrunched his nose,

"So dramatic!" Mike rolled his eyes, "I don't think you could hurt me even if you wanted to."

"Oh I could... I'm just handcuffed." the brunette huffed

Despite the tall boy's criminal history and kidnapping; oddly, there was a light heartedness to their banter; a weird sense of friendliness between them, born out of the peculiar situation they found themselves in; although that didn't mean they were anywhere near being friends. To the small boy this was all an act to build up a sense of camaraderie to lower Mike's guard and strike when the time is right.

Although Will must admit, the teasing was a distraction from his own thoughts and the looming fear of what Mike would do to him once they reach California; he's never even been out the state of Indiana: let alone all the way across the country.

"You know... you're actually the first person I've ever kidnapped!" the tall boy announced proudly.

Will was shocked by the revelation; what was Mike doing when he stole the taxi? He had a bunch of money and a pair of handcuffs so it would be anyone's guess. The brunette was taken aback but then sarcastically replied, "Oh wow! What a great honour!"

"You should consider yourself lucky!" the ravenette responded.

"Wait... you've actually never kidnapped anyone before?" Will repeated again, still in disbelief.

"Nope! Not a single one." the ravenette shook his head "You're my first... and probably my last!" he mumbled.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to take that to be honest!" The small boy replied

"I mean, the next person who I find in a car I'm just gonna throw them out... or kill them." Mike answered, "You're the reason why I'm letting them go!"

"Who's that?" Will furrowed his brow, "Did I manage to change your criminal ways?"

"No!" The ravenette scoffed, "I just don't wanna deal with anyone like you again! If all kidnaping victims are like you then... I'd rather not."

"Then let me go and I won't be 'your victim' anymore!" Will bargained

"No can do bowlcut..." Mike smiled, seeing the small scowl on the brunette's face; he continued, "But don't worry, you should take this as some sort of accomplishment,"

"Accomplishment?" The small boy scoffed.

The ravenette smiled, "Hell yeah! Just think about it, you get to be part of a criminal's 'first time'. It's like an award!"

"Oh golly gee! Where do I sign!" Will threw his head back on the seat.

"There's no need to be sarcastic!" Mike narrowed his eyes.

"I've literally been doing that this whole time!" Will announced

"Don't you want to be part of my first time?" Mike pouted playfully

The brunette raised his eyebrows; despite knowing what Mike meant to say, his mind couldn't help but wonder the possibility of the other 'first time' but shut it down quick, "Stop saying it like that!"

"Stop saying what?" Mike paused, genuinely confused, "First time?"

"Yes... yes that!" Will mumbled

"But you are my first time... here... in this car!" the ravenette continued digging his own grave, not realising the double meaning.

"I swear to God, if you don't stop saying 'first time' I will strangle you with these handcuffs!" the brunette announced

"Jeez calm down bowlcut!" The ravenette smiled, "You're just jealous that I've had my first time and you haven't!"

Will groaned; his dirty mind was too much for this, "I wish you never kidnap anyone again... so they don't have to deal with your stupidity." He mumbled the last sentence.

"Of course... I didn't plan on making a career out of kidnapping!" Mike added.

"Gee, thanks for the reassurance!" Will rolled his eyes

"No problem! You're in good hands, trust me." the tall boy winked

The brunette passed a fake smile on his face, "Oh I sure am." he replied, in his usual sarcastic demeanour, using it to cope with the whole situation.

"And besides aren't you like a superhero?" Mike blurted randomly

"A superhero..." Will repeated, furrowing his brows from the shift of subject, "Have you finally lost your marbles?"

"I'm talking about the figurine, because it looks like you and stuff." Mike muttered hoping that explaining his joke would help but it really didn't.

"I mean if you want to think that..." Will awkwardly nodded.

"My friend is a superhero," The ravenette announced

"Should I be concerned?" The small boy asked, half interested

"No! Her name is El!" Mike replied, eagerly wanting to tell him stories of his mysterious friend, "We used to call her a hero because she could do magic tricks and was really, really strong,"

"Really?" Will replied, but in all honesty, his mind was elsewhere; branding the ravenette as crazy from driving. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes, "A superhero magician with amazing strength? Sounds like she could save the world."

Mike nodded enthusiastically, not catching onto Will's sarcasm, "She really could, I wouldn't be surprised if she did one day. She was like a real-life Batman,"

"I don't remember Batman doing card tricks in his bat cave..." Will continued to poke holes in the ravenette's story. "And I suppose she also had a secret identity and a cape!"

Mike's eyes lit up as he grinned, acting like a toddler excitedly telling his mum about a new friend he made, "No cape... she watched 'The Incredibles' and got scared" he explained, "But she did wear this blonde wig as a disguise when we were young,"

The brunette couldn't help resist the opportunity to further mess with the tall boy, "I mean who could say no to that...? we should meet her! So I can ask for her autograph!"

The ravenette chuckled, "That's where I'm taking you next."

"To get her autograph?" Will mumbled in disbelief; either Mike had officially lost his mind, or this El girl really had powers.

"No dumbass!" Mike narrowed his eyes, "I need to talk to her about something so you're coming with me!"

"Oh lucky me!" Will clapped rapidly, obviously trying to show his discomfort.

As they continued driving, Mike released more tales of El's supposed superhero feats; such as lifting a branch off his leg and the time she saved his fishes from drowning... whatever that meant. Although Mike was seemingly oblivious to Will's playful disbelief, the brunette listened with a smile, enjoying the absurdity of the stories and the genuine enthusiasm in the tall boy's voice.

It was the best entertainment he could get...

---- 12:24 AM ----

However, after about the hour mark of Mike talking, Will felt whittled down from all these nonsensical stories and the deep routed explanations of frog facts; ones that only made sense in the mind of a child. The brunette blankly stared at the ravenette not even waiting for him to finish his sentence, "Hey maybe we should get some rest!" he suggested, hoping the ravenette would agree so he would just stop talking his ear off, "It's been quite a day for both of us," he added.

Mike yawned, his eyes droopy despite the coffee he brought at the gas station realising that Will was right, "Yeah you're probably right!" he narrowed his eyes, looking for any secluded place so they could sleep in; it was no use getting a motel; they could just sleep in the car.

After circling around for a while, Mike found exactly what he was looking for... a Walmart; more specifically, its parking lot. Parking in the back to not be suspicious, he took the key out the ignition, unbuckling his seatbelt and turning to Will. He reached his entire body over without explaining anything; the brunette's heart raced with fear as he looked down at the handcuffs securing him to the seat and Mike's figure looming closer. He couldn't help but imagine the terrible things that might happen if the ravenette got closer as reoccurring memories from the motel resurfaced.

"No please don't," Will protested, his voice trembling, "I don't want you to touch me," he whispered.

"I won't hurt you." Mike merely responded as he continued reaching over; not hearing the sheer fear in Will's voice as he searched around for a second, grabbing the lever.

The brunette whimpered for a moment, terrified that his nightmare might come true as his seat started to recline backwards, and the handcuffs forced him to follow it; allowing him to be stressed and vulnerable laid out on the seat.

The ravenette glanced at him, hovering over Will's face but only now, in the dim lights could he notice the distress he caused, "Oh shit," he said, finally explaining, "I just thought you'd want to lie down,"

The small boy narrowed his eyes, as he sternly said, "Don't ever do that to me again..." he took a few deep breaths trying to calm down, "Next time... just let me know, or leave me be, okay?" he said, still on edge from the man who kidnapped him.

"Okay, I won't come any closer..." Mike said, keeping his hands visible, in the back of his mind knowing why Will was so on edge of him taking advantage of him.

"Umm... thanks." the brunette mumbled, his voice cautious; feeling a bit more at ease that he understood the tall boy's intentions; cursing as his polite demeanour always overpowered him.

So, slowly the ravenette retreated to his seat reclining his own seat down, but cautiously taking glances to make sure the brunette wasn't that scared before eventually laying his head down, turning his back from Will.

The car remained in an uneasy silence as the brunette shuffled in his seat, trying to get comfortable in his restricted position. He kept his eyes on Mike, his initial fear of being taken advantage of, gradually subsiding, giving way to cautious lingering looks that lasted for a while. He waited until he heard the ravenette's soft snores before he closed his own eyes, drifting into whatever sleep he could muster despite the claustrophobic confides of the car.

He would be okay, Will would be okay, 

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2036 Words

Stay Safe <3