Chapter Text
“Kids come on let’s go!” Billy heard Rosa call from downstairs as he started shuffling and shoving clothes into his green tiger backpack.
He had already packed somewhat yesterday, but he had gotten distracted once Freddy started to show him a new comic book he bought.
Ah Freddy. Freddy Freeman. He was unarguably the most important person in Billy’s life. Without him Billy doubts he would have ever found himself at home with the Vasquez's. The curly haired boy taught him everything he knows and for that he is forever grateful.
“Are you serious Billy? I thought you took care of this already.” Freddy sighed from the door with his Wonder Woman limited edition backpack and Batman and Robin team up luggage ready. Inside both bags Billy bets he will find similar merchandise to the covers.
“I was packing yesterday but you distracted me!”
“Ah sorry, I was just excited.”
“It’s fine, I’m sure I can do it now.” Billy said while continuing to rush around their room shoving anything that he thinks he could possibly need for their trip in his bag.
The Vasquez’s decided that this New Years they would drive all the way to New York to catch the ball drop in person. Although the drive is not long, they planned to stay there around a week to go sightseeing.
“Billy, Freddy, where are you two? Everyone is in the van already!” Victor screams from the bottom of the stairs.
“Are you almost done?” Freddy asks while he’s already halfway to the staircase.
“Just about.” Billy replies as he follows him.
When they arrive outside they find everyone has already made themselves at home in their family’s large van. Mary, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro are all sat individually in the four separate seats towards the center of the van, while Victor and Rosa are obviously taking the two front seats.
This leaves Freddy and Billy to be squashed towards the back in the three seater that already has one half covered in luggage.
“Sorry boys but this is what happens when you don’t come down when we call you.”
Freddy just turns a deadpan look directed at Billy while the latter just shrugs. Freddy rolls his eyes and takes the seat next to the window. Billy sighs and sits down next to him as he hears Mary and Eugene snicker.
The ride is only around two hours long but Billy finds himself wishing it to be over. In his rush Billy had forgotten his headphones and doesn’t want to waste his phone battery because he also forgot a charger pack and doesn’t want to use his powers while Rosa and Victor are here. He turns his head to look at Freddy who is leaning against the window probably listening to some superhero podcast or interview. He looks comfortable, well as comfortable as you can be shoved in the back seat of a mediocre 2012 van.
Billy sighs and turns to look forward. He sees Mary bundled up in a blanket reading a book and he can’t help but feel jealous. He turns to her left and sees Pedro asleep against the window and finds Darla in the same position diagonal to him. Lastly he spots Eugene with headphones (lucky) in playing Mortal Combat on his PS Vita he got for Christmas a couple days ago.
Billy then directs his gaze back to Freddy who is still in the same position, but he looks drowsy. Probably from their late night patrol or maybe because they haven’t eaten yet, but he looks like he is about to fall asleep.
Billy then feels pressure drop on his right shoulder and when he turns to look he is met with a face full of curly hair. It smells familiar, like mint mixed with strawberries. A strange scent but it completely encaptures Freddy. Billy smiles to himself and turns to look at the GPS at the front of the car.
1 hour and 39 minutes remaining until you arrive at your destination
Billy then decides to drop his head on top of Freddy’s and drifts off.
Billy wakes up to a flash. He opens his eyes and sees a phone being held by Mary with Darla laughing behind her. “What the hell are you two doing?” he says as he rubs at his eye. His voice comes out raspy and laced with exhaustion.
“Billy please watch your language.”
He looks up to see Rosa looking at him disapprovingly through the mirror. “Sorry.”
He moves his gaze down at the GPS.
15 minutes until you reach your destination
He then turns to the superhero loving boy who is still asleep on his shoulder. There is a bit of drool on his shirt and his hair is in shambles, but Billy smiles fondly at him nonetheless. He is snapped out of his daze by another flashing light coming from Rosa’s direction.
“What? You both are so cute I can’t help it!”
She smiles at him and Billy responds by rolling his eyes. He feels a shift on his shoulder and then the weight of Freddy’s head is suddenly gone as he speaks up, “Are we there yet?”
“Not yet sweetie, but we’ll be there soon.” Rosa responds from the front.
Freddy just nods and resumes his position back on Billy shoulder.
They arrive at their hotel at around 10:46 am. They booked four rooms for the entire family. Victor and Rosa obviously get the largest and the rest of the kids have equal sized rooms. One of the three rooms however has only one bed. It was meant to be shared by Mary and Darla, but Darla kept complaining about how ‘she didn’t need to sleep with someone’ and that ‘she was a big girl now.’ As nobody can say no to her, Rosa and Victor let them take a room with two single beds. Pedro fought extremely hard to not have to share the bed with Eugene, “I will never be able to sleep to the sound of Eugene’s constant screaming and clicking right next to me.” With such a valid reason, both of the rooms with single beds were taken. That could only mean one thing:
“Which side of the bed do you want?” Billy turns to Freddy as soon as they entered.
The room was a light beige color, and everything seemed to be built and designed around that theme. When you entered there was a small hallway with an entrance to the bathroom. There were two tables on either side of the semi-large double bed once you walk through. One had a lamp and a plant on top while the other had an outlet. There was a table set across from the bed and hovering above that was a TV. The room did not have a ceiling light, but rather it was being lit up by a giant screen door that opened up to a balcony.
“Dibs on the outlet side!” Freddy exclaims as soon as he spots it. Billy laughs and sets his stuff down against the wall.
“I can’t believe we are the ones being stuck with this room.” Billy says as he starts unpacking his now wrinkled and bunched up clothes from his bag.
“I know right. But I guess you can’t really expect another outcome. Nobody can ever say no to Darla and Eugene makes me want to shove pencils in my ears whenever he’s ‘in the zone’ or whatever he claims to be when he’s being that loud”
Billy laughs and turns to put his towel in the bathroom.
“The view from this balcony is ass.” Freddy says from outside.
Billy walks out to go examine their window. When he approaches he sees that they are overlooking a brick wall. When he walks out and looks down he sees an alleyway underneath them.
“Talk about getting your money’s worth.” Billy scoffs and Freddy laughs.
“At least this will make it easier to sneak out and power up without anyone seeing.”
“Ah, always the rational thinker aren’t you Freeman?”
“I guess you can say I’m the brain you never had.” Freddy mischievously smirks at Billy and the latter just scoffs.
“Shut up”