Chapter Text
Hawkins Cemetery
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Will takes a deep breath, clutching the bouquet of yellow, blue, and green flowers in his trembling hands.
He's done this every other day since 1983 yet it never seems to get easier. This specific day, April 7th, is especially the hardest for him. For everyone, really. He’d be fifteen today, finally catching up to Will in age. He never would though, he’d forever be that same scared twelve year old boy he was all those years ago.
Walking down the familiar gravely path, he spots what he's looking for. A small grave under a tree. Karen and Nancy had fought tooth and nail for it to be there specifically. Mike had always liked sitting under them, reading comics and making flower crowns for his friends (though he would've never admitted that to anyone but Will).
He sits cross legged in front of it, placing the bouquet down gingerly. He reaches out and he traces his fingers over the delicate carving on the headstone, already having commited them to memory.
Michael J. Wheeler
April 7, 1971 - November 12, 1983
Beloved son, brother, friend, and paladin
Will smiles sadly and he pulls his hand back. “Hi, Mike.” he starts, fiddling with the hem of his shirt, “Been a while, huh?”
Once upon a time, he used to imagine Mike sitting next to him, laughing at his stories and responding to his questions. He knows better now, of course, but it's still a comforting thought to have.
He takes a shaky breath, blinking back tears. “Do you remember that time you asked me if we’d be best friends in every universe? I looked at you and I told you that we’d always find each other in every universe. And guess what?”
A pause. He always paused after a question, imagining Mike’s answer. Right now, he imagined him leaning in excitedly, the corners of his eyes crinkling from a wide smile, and going “What? What is it?”
“We do.” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “We do find each other in every single universe, Mike. I know this sounds insane but we met another you. From another universe, that is.”
Mike wouldn’t believe him if he told him this. He and Dustin had always fought about the possibility of alternate universes while Lucas and Will just watched with fond expressions.
Mike had always been on the side that they don’t exist. That it was too far-fetched. He believed in Santa and the Tooth Fairy though, even after everyone else didn’t.
Dustin, however, had believed that every choice you made, whether it be good or bad, made another universe where your life was impacted by that decision.
Now he knows which one of them was right. He would’ve absolutely hated being proven wrong by Dustin.
“He had longer hair, had one brown eye and one that was pure white, he couldn’t see out of that one. And he was freakishly tall. Like six feet tall, maybe, he towered over me,” he laughed shakily, wiping away a stray tear. “Kinda wish I had seen you grow into him though.”
Mike would cross his arms and roll his eyes dramatically. “ He couldn’t be more attractive than me! ” he’d say, a shit eating grin on his face.
Will sniffled and brought his knees up to his chest, resting his chin on them. “Sorry.” he says quietly, a small smile on his face. “He told me that we were still friends in his universe. More than friends, actually.” he adds, laughing softly.
A soft breeze picks up, rustling the leaves overhead. Will had never been particularly spiritual, but he imagined it as the universe offering its silent support. As silly as it sounds.
Tears begin to fall freely down his cheeks now but he makes no effort to wipe them away. “I miss you, Mike. I wish you were still here” he says, voice breaking.
He pressed a kiss to his fingertips before touching them to the stone gently, right next to his name, “Love you.”
Brushing dirt off his jeans, he stands up with a heavy heart, wrapping his arms around himself. Suddenly, he feels colder than he ever has.
“Happy birthday. See you soon.”