Road Rage; Byler ✔️

20- Sleeping Beauty

MIKE POV-

---- 7:56 AM ----

Six hours later, Mike's eyes slowly opened, stirring awake from his slumber. He yawned, blinking a few moments before stretching, feeling refreshed after his short nap; Michael Wheeler was never one to sleep for more than a few hours; it was something that ran in the family and was good in his criminal career. As his body shifted to consciousness, he felt stiff; despite the large sized car, he couldn't help but feel restricted. Though it was nothing compared to the boy by his side; Will, who was handcuffed to his seat. If Mike was uncomfortable, he couldn't fathom how the brunette must have felt chained to his chair.

In the soft glow of the rising sun, Mike watched the brunette for a moment, scanning his features; his pink pursed lips, the moles above his lip and on his neck, his eyelashes and slightly dishevelled hair; it suited him. Will's features were soft, filled with an expression of weariness, yet oddly peaceful.

There was something about the way Will managed to navigate this chaotic situation that struck a chord with Mike as despite the fear that he knew the brunette harboured within, the small boy still held his own; displaying resilience that the ravenette honestly hadn't expected; it wasn't a normal reaction to this type of situation. He admired Will and commended him for his way to be calm even when most of his freedom was taken away from him.

Deciding he needed a moment to clear his own mind, Mike carefully opened the car door and stepped out, scanning the surroundings and walking over to the front door of the Walmart; thankfully it was open 24 hours! He was able to walk straight in without needing to worry about timings. The cold air hit his face as he looked around the store; seeing the bored faces of sales attendants and a few idle shoppers sulking like lifeless husks.

His eyebrows raised, seeing a sign for the bathroom nearby; deciding to use it to freshen up. Inside the restroom, he first peed, then walking to the sinks; throwing water on his face to clear his mind and awaken his senses. He looked deep into the reflection in the mirror, his tired eyes staring back at him. The events of the past days confused him, and he just wanted to get home to sleep in his own bed and yet... he still didn't know what to do with Will; he was a huge liability.

He couldn't afford to lose focus now, so after splashing water on his face a few more times, he dried it with a paper towel; checking his reflection one last time to tuck a stray hair behind his ear. He needed to stay vigilant, to find a solution to the unintended mess he created. With a deep sigh, he left the restroom, feeling a renewed sense of self; refreshed and ready to tackle another day of driving! At least he wasn't alone; he always hated driving alone, maybe it was the fear of accidently crashing or the crushing weight of being alone with his own thoughts... he liked having Will around.

Returning to the car again and drying any remaining water onto his pants, he settled back into the driver's seat. His gaze once again falling onto the brunette who miraculously remained asleep; he couldn't help but wonder about him; it was a weird fascination of his to know everything about everyone, maybe because being a criminal, he had ways of finding information that made him curious.

But Mike grumbled, realising he needed to adjust the brunette's seat before they left; he couldn't leave it like that, or Will could get really hurt... or worse the police could stop them, see the handcuffs and arrest Mike. No, he couldn't have that! He needed to play the part of the 'law abiding citizen'.

Hesitating for a moment, he realised he needed to be cautious not to startle or hurt Will, who was still handcuffed to his seat; not because he cared for him or anything, just because he didn't want to deal with Will's scared eyes or screaming; it was like kicking a puppy! Yes, the ravenette had a soft spot for all animal life. Taking a deep breath, he quietly reached over, reminding himself to be as quiet as possible. Moving slowly and precisely, Mike leaned over Will's seat reaching for the lever to adjust the seat, his fingers curling around with due care and attention.