[center][b]Will & Chase[/b][/center]

[i]“You’re leaving?” 

Will reached behind the counter of the run-down bowling ball center, swiping at her last pay check left here by her coworker, Angela. Turning to grab the last of her belongings, she looked to the small girl, no older than ten at most, and shrugged. 

“I’ve got to, kid.” Ruffling her blonde hair, she headed toward the door, only to be stopped halfway by a frantic child. She huffed and laced her arms over her chest, refusing to let Will go any further. 

“But you can’t just—” she cried, “just leave! What about my birthday party? You said you’d be there! You said, Willy!” 

Willy. There was only one person who had ever been permitted to call her Willy. And that was little Daisy. The daughter of the woman who owned the bowling alley. And also the very one that stood before her, with blonde curls bouncing with every nudge of her head and tears that rolled down her bright blue eyes, stroking her rosy cheeks. Daisy sniffled, just barely audible over the blaring ’70’s music that her mother was so weirdly fond of. 

“Look, I don’t have a choice, understand? I can’t stay here,” Will grunted, doing her best to stay calm. She needed to get on the road. It wasn’t long before her tenant would notice she wasn’t there. 

“But—” Daisy argued. 

“I’ll be back,” Will blurted, hearing the phone ring at the desk. Surely it couldn’t be her tenant, but on the other hand, perhaps it could be. He did know her work number. He’d call every now and again when others would complain of smelling weed or, in this case, when she didn’t pay rent on time. 

“When?” Daisy asked. 

“Uh,” Will glanced hurriedly at the phone, which Georgia now held and locked eyes with Will. “Soon, okay? Soon. I promise.” 

The moment Georgia’s lips began forming that of Will’s name, she bolted. Daisy objected, but Will had to leave. She had no other choice. She knew she wouldn’t return, but the kid would soon learn that people would not always follow through with the promises they made. She had to leave. She simply had to.

Even if this had once been her home, too.[/i] 

In situations like this – there was no time to think. Only do. Will was in no shape to fight off any more enemies, as every part of her being ached with such unbearable pain, leaving her inert. Her eyes were trained on the ground, caught in a daze that she couldn’t elude. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought she may faint again, as the sounds around her gradually molded into nothing but a ringing that filled her ears. 

Then, there was movement. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to cause Will to blink. Her eyes watered, but only slightly, as a tinge of pain came with every bat of her eyelash. She swallowed, though her throat threatened to close, and in seconds, she found that she was on her feet by the help of Chase, the excruciating pain gone numb. She hobbled forward alongside him, not entirely sure where they were or how they’d gotten there. 

It was quiet here, and not at all like it had been at home. Four walls closed them in, but in such a way that it was comforting. There weren’t guns being pointed at them, or high-pitched screams, and Will did not feel that her life was at much of a risk. If anything, she supposed she felt… safe. Here. In what was called the X-mansion. She looked to Chase, slowly detaching herself from him. 

“I’m good,” she told him, her voice cracking. 

Chase nodded, releasing his hold on her and looking around. He was a bit disoriented, now suddenly at the X-mansion when only moments ago they were all at the ranch. How far had they traveled in mere seconds? Thousands of miles?

"Incredible..." he murmured, shivering slightly. He was still on edge, pumped up from adrenaline and shaking slightly. For a minute he thought he might pass out right then and there, but he didn't, instead pushing himself to move forward and walk away from their entrypoint. It was what his leaders wanted, anyway. Chase motioned for Will to follow.

As the two wandered down the nearest corridoor, the young man sighed, putting a hand to his head. "All of this is a bit much..." he stated, leaning up against a wall. Will snorted, taking a seat on the opposite wall. 

"No kidding," she muttered, leaning her head back. She didn't say anything after that, and for the sake of avoiding awkward silence or possibly falling asleep right then and there, Chase spoke up again.

"I can't believe Noel's dead..." he frowned, eyes stinging. 

Will sighed, clearly hoping for some silence, but responded anyway. "I mean, I didn't really know him..." the older girl swallowed uncomfortably and looked around, trying to find something else to talk about. "This place is... huge..." she finished lamely. 

Chase coughed out a laugh, nodding at the ridiclousness of it all. "Yeah," he replied, smiling a bit, "I might just sleep out here. Forget trying to find the bedrooms." 

At that, Will laughed - albeit sharply - and proceeded to stand, putting most of her weight on the wall. "Well, you can sleep on the floor if you like, but I have standards." 

Chase groaned, but stood. "Fine, fine, but if we find a couch before a bed, I'm taking it." He stretched a bit, as if in emphasis, and took the lead; a silent Will followed, rolling her eyes. She might just fight him for a couch. 

Fortunately for the both of them, they soon stumbled upon a game room with several couches, a television, a pool table, and various board games. Chase sighed in relief, walking over to claim the largest couch when Will shoved past him. "Nope. Mine." she stated, falling uncerimoniously onto the cushions. 

Chase scowled, "But I'm taller." he complained. Will simply folded her hands behind her head, stretching out so that all 5 foot 7 inches of her filled the sofa. "I'm older," she countered, closing her eyes, "Now stop being a pussy and go to sleep."

Chase grumbled to himself but didn't argue any further, lying down on the loveseat. His legs dangled off the end. "You suck," he yawned, drifting off.

Will smirked, on the edge of sleep. "Nah, I lick."