Chapter Text
Will jerked awake, panic lacing through him before he realised where he was. The last months spent in prison had become a routine, a week was only long enough that the panic only lasted a few seconds before he realised he had fallen asleep in the car again.
It was always better on the days he woke up in one of the motels they stopped at, at least there his first moments of waking were filled with thoughts of home, and with his dogs still sleeping by his bedside. Only after he was truly awake would the smell the alpha sleeping next to him make sense.
At first running seemed like the only way to get his freedom, but now it was settling in, he realised he was free of a lot more than he had wanted. He lost his dogs, his house, whatever friends he had left, and finally he lost his name.
Although Will suppose he got what he asked for, a new start.
He knew at some point they would get to a place, somewhere that would become home, where he could have peace. At least for a while anyway.
Matthew had kept him in the dark about where they were going, he said it was safer, that the only true way to keep a secret was if only one person knew. At the time it had amused him, but now he was tired and he wanted a real home.
“I want to do laundry in the next town, all I can smell is alpha musk and honeydew.”
Will said, even though to be honest he liked the scent of the alpha. It was the sort of scent that in better times he would have enjoyed marking his bed and keeping him relaxed as he woke up. Right now it was just a reminder that he was a long way from everything he had known.
Matthew grunted and Will looked over at the alpha, he had never seen someone so single minded as he was. When Will asked him to get him out, he had moved the earth to make it happen. Will had only given one stipulation, no more death, and Matthew had managed to make it happen.
He had made sure to let the alpha know that this didn’t mean that they would be together, his freedom wouldn’t buy a mate. When Matthew had agreed with no argument Will had told him to make the arrangements.
It was almost a month later when the doors to his cell had opened, he had looked out to see Matthew walking from the control room, a tranquilizer gun in his hand, and his other one held out to Will. They had brought almost nothing them with, Matthew said the more they took the easier it would be to find them, and Will had grudgingly agreed. It was part of why they needed to do laundry, even with their morning showers.
The week after they first fled the alpha had rarely talked to him, Will never really knew if it was because he was determined to get him to safety, or if it was nerves. He wasn’t blind to the awe in which Matthew treated him with, he was just glad it was starting to dull into affection during the last week. That was a lot easier to understand.
It was almost a minute after he commented when he heard Matthew’s voice.
“Are you saying you smell like honeydew?”
Will smiled out the window, looking at the tall trees blur as they passed by. It was Matthew who had first said it almost a month ago, passing through his food tray there was honeydew melon on it. Will knew it wasn’t regulation and asked. Matthew had only said that they smelled the same so no one would notice. It had stuck in his mind.
“Yes.”
He stated, fighting to keep the smile out of his voice.
Matthew snorted, and Will heard him shift in the driver’s seat.
They had taken buses, rented car, always being careful to make sure to space it out. Matthew had a few different ID’s that he was able to use. The expense he had gone through to get them for both of them meant that they didn’t have too much left over. Yet this car rented was by far the worst. The legroom was cramped and it smelled of cigarette smoke, which only made the scent of their clothing a little worse.
“We’ll stop for the night soon. We can pick up some clothing and wash what we are wearing.”
It was only four pm but they normally slept half was through the day and woke before the sun was up. Matthew preferred it that way, and since he did most the driving Will fell into step.
“More like burn it.”
He joked to try and lighten the mood further.
The only thing they had changed was their underwear. At night when they climbed into bed they would strip down and sleep in only their underwear. The next morning they would change again and then put their same clothing on again. Matthew wasn’t one to waste time and Will had agreed to leave the escape up to him.
“Things will get better soon.”
Matthew’s reassurance was soft spoken.
Will let out a sigh, over the week he had learned that if Matthew said something, he meant it and so he accepted the words. They had been crisscrossing the country, making sure that when they got to their final destination they would be safe from anyone who was looking.
At points Will helped, using his knowledge of how both the police and the FBI hunted to make sure that Matthew didn’t leave a trace of them behind.
It really would be a fresh start.
When they took the turn off the highway he looked over at Matthew, his dark hair was just long enough that it was starting to show the first signs of curling. He only wore a thin t-shirt and jeans, his muscles outlined in the comfortable outfit. Will had known he that he was handsome, but it never really seemed to click in until the last few days.
At first he hadn’t really thought of it since Matthew had first come to him, his hair had been combed down unflatteringly and he was wearing the fluffy white nurses uniform that the hospital used. Now as he looked at Matthew he saw an alpha that wouldn’t have had to try so hard for an omega. It seemed like it made no sense why he choose to help him, an older omega scarred and tired, who had already made it clear that there would be no payment for his escape.
It was only a few minutes later when they pulled into another motel, and Will waited in the car while Matthew paid.
When he returned with the key Will got out, stretching for a moment before walking around to the trunk.
Inside there was only two small bags, mostly full of fake papers, medications, and a few trinkets he had asked Matthew to take from his house. There was an old lure his dad had given him, a few pictures of his dogs, and a necklace his mother had forgotten when she had left them. They had left all their clothing.
Matthew had bought an outfit for Will to wear as well as a package of underwear, ones that did not follow his usual brand. Matthew’s determination not to get caught bordered on full paranoia, but judging by the manhunt he knew would be looking for them he didn’t mind. It was almost reassuring.
He picked up both of the bags, carrying them as he followed Matthew to the room. It was on the first floor always, they could use the window if it ever came to it, not that it would probably help. They would be surrounded if it ever came down to it.
Inside he could see that the room fit the pattern that it normally did. A small desk, one large bed and a bathroom with a bath. The hotel beige of the carpet and walls looked all the same.
“There is a department store just down the block, do you want to come with me or should I pick something up for you?”
Putting the bags down on the floor and Will looked longingly at the bed. He wanted sleep, and a little rest from the thought of his beginning attraction to the alpha. Will had just meant to use him and flee, and now he was starting to feel a little confused about what he wanted.
“I think I’m too tired to join you. Pick up something for me.”
“Sure, give me your laundry.”
Will started peeling off his clothing, stripping down to his underwear. He picked up the clothing and held it out to Matthew.
He didn’t miss that the alpha’s eyes flicked down over his body as he took it. Matthew at least had the good grace to look embarrassed, even though this wasn’t the first time he had looked. It didn’t really bother Will, they always slept in their only their underwear. They had both seen almost everything there was to see.
He had taken some looks of his own the last few days, of the muscled body of the alpha when he got out of the shower in the morning. Watching as the water rolled down his back, over the dark tattoo on his shoulder.
Most nights he even let the alpha curl around him, Will pretended he just got cold, but if he was honest he never had nightmares with the scent of the alpha in his nose, and the feeling of the warm body against his back. It was getting to the point where he could no longer deny that he was starting to feel for the alpha.
“Would you mind grabbing me something to drink while you’re at it?”
“Of course not.”
With that Will pulled back the blankets and started to crawl into the bed. He watched Matthew standing holding the clothing and watching him. He seemed to be hesitating. Will almost asked why he wasn’t leaving when he came to the edge of the bed and pulled the blankets around Will, literally tucking him in.
“I shouldn’t be too long.”
Matthew reached out with his free hand and brushed the hair away from his face. With that he left, taking his clothing with him. The feeling of his touch lingered on his forehead as he drifted off.