Work Text:
William’s powers are pretty heavily linked to his emotion. It’s no secret. Still, when he’s talking to Dakota, it’s pretty hard to stay solid.
“We’re meant to be training, right?”
“Tide wants homework done, too,” William says. “And I know Vyncent is gonna struggle with his maths.”
“Isn’t superhero work more important?”
“Dakota, it’s
school.
Tide will kill us if we don’t submit our work.”
Dakota flashes him an easy grin. “Well, we just- William?”
William has fallen through the floor. The basement air is stale and tepid, clinging to mildew and rot as William’s form solidifies again and he hits the cold concrete floor with a soft thud. Underground, where he belongs; rotting with the bugs and laid alongside the bones. He has half a mind just to lay here until the world forgets about him, but that’s too dramatic, even for him. William sighs, and pushes himself upright. Dakota’s charming and pretty, sure, but that’s not worth dying for a second time over. Yet, anyway.
“Shit, William, are you okay?” Dakota’s voice, as he steps off the bottom stair.
“Fine,” William replies curtly, sharply, but not in a way the other boy isn’t surely used to by now. “I’m just… Still getting a handle on things.”
If Dakota sees through his lie, he doesn’t say anything, just holds out a hand to him. When William reaches out to take it, his own hand almost goes through Dakota’s, but he manages.
“C’mon, let's go find Vynce,” Dakota says, hauling William to his feet. William just nods his agreement, focused on keeping his hand solid. If he fails a few times on their way up the stairs, neither of them mention it.