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The sounds of the other survivors footsteps as they walked around the checkpoint filled the room, mixed with muttering and occasional small talk. Usually, whenever the 'team', or whatever you could even call them, spent about 30 minutes to an hour browsing, scraping together money with what they could find at the buildings throughout the drive along Route 06 by selling it to C.4.R.L. Some survivors were at the array of items laid out to be sold, some still picking what to sell, and in the corner at the vending machines was Ethan and William.
Ethan had already finished stocking up, and was already used to managing his things at the checkpoints, due to the fact it was already their third stop. He always ended up with extra cash at the end of his business, mainly because of his bigger bag — giving him the ability to carry more things than the others. Hence, more money from items. He liked to use his spare money to buy sodas because of the weirdly magical effect they had, but mainly because he liked the taste. Ethan especially liked the Whizzberry Cola, being quite fond of the sugary taste and the rush it gave him after he drank it. It was a little childish, but it was the little things that made him feel at least a bit more alive — considering the situation they were in.
William, who had walked up to the vending machines just after Ethan bought his own drink, put in some money to buy a Mendomelon for himself. Ethan had perked up at William's appearance, since he had gotten lost in his thoughts while grabbing his drink — which was probably no surprise to both of them. After all, Ethan was a bit.. aloof? In a way.
The guy wasn't the most charming, and was definitely the most fearful one in the whole group, compared to everyone else. William was almost the opposite though, practically stone-faced through most of it. He had this constant nonchalant attitude, at least most of the time (Ethan found William pretty intimidating when irritated so he always stayed far when he seemed annoyed).
"Oh, uh, sorry– didn't notice you for a second.." Ethan backed away instinctively, assuming he was in the way.
"You're fine." William muttered out in reply, picking up his Mendomelon with the same unbothered look to him. It was almost admirable to Ethan, being practically the polar opposite. He could even say he wishes he could be the same way William was in this outbreak.
Ethan glanced at William for a few seconds, and then looked back at his drink which he slid into his bag to save for later, wanting to make conversation with the man next to him, but also too nervous to screw things up. He breathed quietly, trying to somehow hype himself up. I mean, Ethan and William have talked before, even when they first ran into each other before all the survivors collectively decided to make the trip on Route 06. They aren't unfamiliar or anything, the two know each other for god's sake. Surely, he's got this, there's no need to stress now, right? Just– just do it.
"Um–"
"Spit it out."
...Well, okay.
"Hey, so, err... I had an idea." Ethan coughed out, his nerves getting the better of him once more.
"Yeah?" William replied back, unfazed, yet again. He cracked open his Mendomelon, drinking it casually, taking a sip as he listened to Ethan's 'idea'.
"What if.. you know... We stay here?" The thought came to Ethan before, at the second checkpoint they had reached, considering the checkpoint was some kind of safe zone. It seemed reasonable in Ethan's head. I mean, it was guarded from zombies and that.. Plague– thing, so why didn't they just stay in the checkpoints? They just left when they were all ready to go, but why couldn't they just rest longer? Just stay where it's safe?
"Does it look like I want to stay here?"
William's response surprised Ethan, a confused expression appearing on Ethan's face as he tilted his head at William.
"I dunno man... Does it?" Ethan asked, scratching his head, which then prompted William to stare back at him for the first time during this conversation to give him the most unamused stare that Ethan swears he has ever seen. "D-don't look at me like that! It's just... I mean, the checkpoints are safe and free from zombies and whatever's dangerous so... Why don't we just stay here? You know what I mean, right?" Ethan explained, his arms flailing as he rambled, trying to justify his point.
"I don't trust the robot guy." William deadpanned, taking a swig of his Mendomelon.
"..Huh?"
"It's a survival thing. Anyone can betray you at any moment as long as you don't know their true intentions." William watched the glow of the vending machine as he took another sip, swashing the liquid inside around — proof of the fact it was going empty.
He glanced back at Ethan, only to see him stressing out in his head. To be fair, Ethan was kind of dependent on the other survivors, not just for the journey — but his own survival in general as well. Ethan was still pretty young, unaware and not used to.. borderline taking 'lives'. The whole thing was already stressful in itself, and to think that Ethan could just be tossed out at any moment if he wasn't careful, or useful, or independent, or...
"..It's just hard to tell how that robot benefits from us. All of us are just working together because it's the best thing we can do for ourselves. None of us actually had a plan except that big guy, Marcus, that's why we're all cooperating with him. You know what I mean, right?"
Ethan felt himself calm down in order to take in William's words, his habit of overthinking and constantly stressing driving him in and out of reality. He noticed William look away the moment he gazed back at him.
"Still, it's best not to get too comfortable." William scanned Ethan's expression, his own a bit.. uneasy? Yet, not out of suspicion but something Ethan couldn't quite find the words for. "But, just know that no one's gonna betray anyone anytime soon. It would just be illogical and harmful to all sides, even to the one trying to gain."
William chugged the last of his Mendomelon, after he finished speaking, his words managing to help ease Ethan's paranoia. He knew all too well that attachment was risky in their situation, however he never seemed to be able to stop falling into this pitiful cycle. Guess it just came with being human. But maybe, just maybe, as long as he could protect the *people* he cared about, then perhaps everything would be okay. Though, he learned to stop hoping too much.
"Thanks for having this conversation with me, by the way.."
"A lot of the other survivors would've been open-minded enough to talk to you as well, Ethan." William commented, tossing his can on the ground.
"I knooww... But, we rarely ever get the chance to sit down and talk when we're all busy with.. this. And it's different, hearing it from–"
"Oi! Are you two done yet?!"
Ethan and William both turned their heads to look at the others already preparing to leave, some already in the car. The convenient 'ready up' button had already been pressed by the others, and the screen displayed everyone already readied up — except for Ethan and William. The timer that played when people already clicked the button read 90 seconds, a clear sign that the two should get moving.
"Calm down, Lucy. You don't have to be aggressive about it." Marcus commented, trying to level out the mood.
"Well, both of them seemed like they were in their own little world, anyway." Alan retorted.
"Don't add fuel to the fire."
"Sorry... We won't hold you guys up again." Ethan said as he and William came up to the group, with William nodding to Ethan's apology in agreement.
"So, are you two ready now?" Stella questioned composedly, poking out her head to check on them.
"I think they should just get in already."
Ethan quickly climbed into his seat, while William slid into the one in front of him, the car cramped with all the people in it. He watched the timer tick, the shutter in front beginning to rise up.
"Oh, yeah! C'mon look you've got three, two– Oh, you're already in. Whatever."
"Then if we're all complete, let's hit the road, people."
"...How.. do you drive like that..?" Shiryo asked, analyzing Clayton in the driver's seat from her own.
"A wise man never shares his secrets.. I guess." Kimberly answered with an awkward smile.
Ethan watched his surroundings fall behind as he fazed out the chatter from the others, the noise slowly coming down as they drove off to the next things along the road. If Ethan survived this chaos, preferably with the others as well, he'd be sure to remember this moment.