Vinliam Oneshots II •🦢•

Afterflash Au: On The Run

"There are some professors back in Bridgingbord that want to study William's condition."

Vincent followed his brother into the lab and gaped at his sudden words, "What, why? Do we even know he's truly immune?"

Valentino paused and snatched certain files from the desk's drawers, "You really don't understand how important this is? The closest we've come to 'immune' is those half-bloods, but they all sink into metamorphosis sooner or later. So, it's not even useful. But William? Not one sign of half-blood, he's just.. not affected by.. whatever that thing was. Jesus Christ, Vincent. Of course they want to study him."

Vincent frowned deeply, "No, no I'm not letting them. And certainly not without me there."

His brother looked back at him and furrowed his eyebrows, "Why are you so worried? They were literal doctors before the outbreak, they know what they're doing."

Vincent took a step forward and grabbed his shirt collar tightly, colliding their breaths. "You want to fucking know why? Because the goddamn fungus is in the brain. The only way to study something or get a closer look at it is through actually examining it. And I know there's no more fucking x'rays, so, why do you think I don't trust them?"

Valentino pinched his nose bridge, "They're not stupid as I've said, they just want to ask him questions, etc," he paused to take a breath, "They won't do anything critical like that because they know if they immediately harm William to get the cure from his genes, he'd die and the cure might not even work. And then guess what? If he's dead, no more being able to find a cure. So, yes, he'll be kept alive."

"He'll be 'kept alive'???" Vincent pushed him, "Like he's some kind of fucking animal?"

Valentino interrupted his yelling, "We all just want to live here, Vincent. We all just want to be kept safe and to protect humanity from going extinct. If William is our only hope, then so be it. Because we've tried studying those hybrids, and we've come up with nothing. He's our last chance because I know damn well we won't find another immune person just out of thin air."

"Then go into the thicker air." Vincent released his shirt and turned around to stomp off, pushing through the lab doors, leaving his brother to flinch in vexation.

Dear God, what was he going to do? He could convince William not to go, it's not like Valentino would lay a hand on him. It seemed like the best option right now, besides why would William even want to make that far of an excursion anyway? He was bound to agree with Vincent. Now, where would he find him? The medical section probably, he said he'd be scrounging for medkits a few hours ago.

Vincent buckled his boots back on and clumped out of the base, meandering through the ferns and wildbush whilst searching for the ruined hospital. It was elevated, and in the circumambient with barely any trees or wildlife. It shouldn't be hard to spot.

He caught a flash of maroon as he hushed past the copious amounts of spruce trees. He darted through them and found himself standing in front of the vast structure. Here goes nothing.

Vincent took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation he was about to have. The ruined hospital loomed ahead, its skeletal structure casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. He pushed open the rusted door and entered the darkened hallway, the smell of decay and blood immediately assaulting his senses.

"William?" he called out, his voice echoing off the crumbling walls. "It's Vincent. We need to talk."

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, from down the hall, he heard a faint rustling. Vincent followed the sound, weaving through debris and broken medical equipment, until he found William kneeling over a pile of supplies, sorting through medkits.

"Hey," William greeted him without looking up, his voice calm and steady. "What's up?"

Vincent crouched down beside him, glancing at the array of bandages, antiseptics, and syringes. "We need to talk about that group of professors from Bridgingbord that we met yesterday."

William paused, his hands freezing mid-motion. He looked up at Vincent, his expression unreadable. "What about them?"

"Valentino wants to take you there," Vincent said, watching for any reaction. "There are professors who want to study your condition. They think you might hold the key to a cure."

William's brow furrowed, and he sat back on his heels, crossing his arms over his chest. "And what do you think?"

"I think it's dangerous," Vincent replied, his voice low with a deep frown on his face. "I don't trust them. They said they just wanted to ask questions, but who knows what they'll actually do once they have you there?"

William blinked slowly at him, "Well, it can't be that bad right? If there's a chance that I can help find a cure, don't we have to take it? Isn't it worth the risk?"

Vincent shook his head frantically. "Not if it means putting you in danger. They might keep you alive, but at what cost? We don't know what they'll do to you, what kind of experiments.. or surgeries they'll perform. And if something goes wrong, if they hurt you... we lose everything. Also- I overheard him-"

William's pouting face made him pause, then William noticed the glance in his eyes, "Not we, just you. You would lose everything."

Vincent's brow furrowed in confusion at the tone.

"I meant it in a positive way, you just don't want me to go because," he edged closer to the bigger man, "You're scared that you'll lose me?" He hummed, "Hm?" He chuckled at Vincent's shy pursed lips. "How sweet." He went back to hustling some of the medicine kits into his satchel bag.

"William," Vincent reached out to cup his cheek, bringing their faces closer together, "We have to leave. Tonight. They're coming here, at our base, to the lab, to get you. I overheard Valentino in the morning over the walkie-talkie. He said we would have a choice, but he just lied to me."

"You didn't bother telling me before?" William frowned.

"I didn't know who he was talking to, but I'm piecing it together now." He inhaled sharply, "We have to leave everything behind, even the kids if we want to be safe. I'm.. positive these professors are associated with the FDA." He saw the uneasiness in William's eyes. "I know we haven't known each other that long, but you need to trust me. Okay?"

"Vincent. These are my kids we're talking about. Besi-"

Vincent interrupted him, "You won't be able to see them at all if you get captured."

William felt the side of his scalp being gripped tighter by Vincent's large palm, "Fine. Alright fine, we leave in three hours. Just promise me my children will be okay?"

"They will, I promise. Michael and Noah can take care of them." Vincent replied, letting go of the side of his face and intertwining their fingers. "Now, let's go."