Chapter Text
On the Winnebago, it was silent, only occasionally being interrupted by the faint sounds of Dakota’s mutterings. It would have been peaceful if not for the unbearable tension in the air. They were on their way to fight the Trickster; they were on their way to save their friend.
It felt like a final stand, of sorts. Like the trio’s decisions would shape the fate of the world. William wouldn’t doubt it. The Trickster was powerful , that much everyone knew. Even if no one knew his motivations for being on Prime, surely at some point he’d figure the world was boring and try to change it. Probably. Honestly, he was an enigma.
William gripped the steering wheel just a little tighter. Everything was going to be fine. They were going to save Ashe and banish the Trickster back to the Chaos Zone, never to return. They had to, because what was their other option? Just letting the Trickster do whatever he wanted? Fat chance. A slight scowl rose to his face. Nothing was going to go wrong.
It was at that moment when a ringing resounded throughout the car, cutting through the silence. With a yelp, William swerved slightly out of surprise, thankfully not hitting any of the other cars. The ringing continued for a few moments until he realized the origin- his phone. But it wasn’t any number that he had saved in his contacts. He’d know, considering he has a custom ringtone for each of them. Now that made him curious. Who would be calling him randomly?
Keeping on hand on the steering wheel, the superhero reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Without even looking at the number, he answered. “Hello? Who is this?” He asked. He kept his eyes on the road, just like Tide taught him. Nope, he was not going down that thought process. Tide was back at Harttawa Island, having a great time.
“William?” A female voice sounded from the speaker. The voice sounded familiar, though William couldn’t put his finger on it. He also didn’t know how this woman knew his name. “It’s your Auntie Turtle. Uh, I was wonderin’ if you could come to Galloway. Your aunt and uncle Deep are… their funeral is soon. I know you haven’t been here for a while but it’d, uh, it’d mean a lot if you came ‘round.”
Oh, that made sense. William did faintly recall visiting Galloway with his parents a few times when he was younger. Nancy and Richard Deep were their names, he was pretty sure. They had a son named Rolan. He’d met Rolan a few times as well, though it’s been at least ten years since he’d been there. Who knows what could’ve changed.
“How did they die?” William asked. Sure, he was curious. Sue him. Death was his whole thing, even if he wasn’t dead anymore. But something about the situation struck him as odd. Why would his aunt want him to come to Galloway? He was never all that close with anyone that lived there, and he definitely wasn’t close enough to them to take a detour from his current route.
Aunt Turtle was silent for a few moments before inhaling a little shakily. “We don’t really… know, yet.” Now that added to the oddity of the situation. He was pretty sure that autopsies were required for funerals in most cases. No, he was sure. He’d done enough research into funerals that he knew basically all the ins and outs of them.
William could feel his urge to solve mysteries spike in the back of his mind. He really wanted to know what was going on with this strange scenario, even if it definitely wasn’t in the plan. “I’ll probably be there. Bye, Aunt Turtle.” With that, he hung up and slid the phone back into his pocket.
William took a quick breath. “Vyncent! Dakota!” He called behind him. After a couple seconds, there was a crash and a yelp from where their beds were. Oh, right. Dakota was sleeping. Vyncent might’ve been sleeping too. Whoops. Oh well, what’s done is done. Two pairs of footsteps approached William from behind.
“Yeah, Will? Whatssup?” Vyncent asked, his voice showing that he, too, clearly just woke up. Someone sat down in the seat next to William, though he didn’t take his eyes off the read to check. He trusted both of them to not fuck with him while he drove.
With a sigh, William reached one hand up and ran it through his bangs. “Two people in my extended family died and my aunt wants me to come to their funeral. Galloway- uh, the place they lived- isn’t too far off of the course, so I was wondering if we could take a detour. It shouldn’t take long, it’s just a funeral,” He explained.
The two were quiet for a few moments, before William continued. “Also, there was something.. off, about the situation. I don’t know what it was, but-”
“But you have to figure it out,” Dakota interrupted with a small smirk. “I get it, dude. Sorry for your loss, though. Were you guys close?”
William shook his head. “Haven’t seen ‘em for… damn, almost a decade. That’s part of the weirdness. I don’t know why she would ask me to come to the funeral when I haven’t seen them for so long. It just doesn’t make sense.”
There was a beat of silence. “Thank you two, by the way,” William started. “For agreeing to the detour. It really means a lot to me.” He briefly wondered why he initially didn’t think that they’d agree to it. Vyncent and Dakota were always supportive of him and his endeavors, even if it led them to trouble. He really couldn’t have asked for better friends.
“Of course, dude!” Dakota exclaimed, a grin lighting up on his face. “We’re totally here for you! Right, Vynce?” There wasn’t a reply. Both William and Dakota turned to look at the passenger seat, only to see Vyncent completely asleep.
William sighed, though it wasn’t out of annoyance. A small smile wormed its way to his lips at the sight. It was comforting, in a way. To feel like regular teenagers just on a road trip, even if it was only for a little bit.
William twisted the steering wheel slightly, headed for an upcoming exit. Unbeknownst to any of the Prime Defenders, they were driving directly into the mouth of the beast.