Chapter Text
Maybe he should’ve noticed something was weird with Mike. After all, he was supposed to know him best. He should’ve maybe mentioned all the quick glazed looks or talked about when Mike would go completely still. Any of it really. Not that he wasn’t the only person to question things. Mike has been acting strange since Holly got taken, which could reasonably be reassured with the answer of grief. They all grieve in our own ways, but the problem he should’ve noted was that’s not Mike's way. Will knows how he gets when he’s hurt and that's not like it. Angry and lashing out, defense, not stillness.
These moments were always brief, like when Robin went to move the electricity or when he rushed forward before Vecna came to ambush the Military while they were trying to get the kids safe. After these few instances however he randomly got knocked out and just didn't wake up. His best friend since kindergarten is in bed unmoving and he can’t do anything. Well that’s semi a lie, he technically could hold his hand, comfort him, like all Will’s other worried friends have been doing. He should maybe make his powers useful again and go into Vecna’s head to see anything. But that thought was worse than the idea of staying by Mike’s side all day. In a friendship way.
God he was pathetic. Will knows he himself has a looming threat to everyone around him and yet he’s sitting still worried about his unconscious friend in front of him. Rapid cold images struck in his head.
“You’re going to be my spy one last time”
“We are the same in more ways than you know”
“Even as a child you were always going to end up this way”
Vines marking his wrists with their grip making him as helpless as he was when he was 12. He was supposed to be stronger now but he gave up on that idea as the bitter environment swirled around his face.
And his fucking eye.
This was so stupid.
“He won’t wake up,” Will’s head nearly snapped as he jumped to look at the person speaking. Jane. His wonderful thoughtless amazing sister. Mike’s girlfriend. Tears were blotched around her face as she put a hand on his shoulder. “I can’t find him.” The confession laid heavy in the room suffocating them both.
Guilt took root in Will’s stomach as he saw another tear roll down her face. He hadn’t even thought about how this would be for her. He so selfish, stupid, dumb, foolish, fa-
“Don’t worry Jane, you’ve done all you can, we all have” You still haven’t even touched him. A light smile graced her features but quickly contorted into her usual seriousness. Ever since Kali came back (Will didn’t even really know who she was but Jane seemed to accept her so he could too) this became her typical expression.
“I found you”
“That was probably different”
But in what way?
The answer was too horrible so the question remained unasked as she took a seat next to him.
The doubt lingered.
All of the questions they had were uninviting.
All the answers were bad.
They were fighting something they didn’t even understand.
Mike’s shaggy black curls were framing his face as those gorgeous deep eyes were swiftly moving side to side under his eyelids. It took years to draw the shape right, the way his eyebrows curved and the slant in the eyeshape. An entire journal dedicated to doing his friend justice while drawing. Will would rather die than let someone find it. He considered burning it years ago but didn’t have the heart to do it.
“Lucas and Robin are going to Max,” Jane comforted him. She solemnly placed her head on Will’s shoulder. He felt the absence of her long flowing waves of brown hair. All of this power and he couldn’t even protect his sister or his best friend or even the kids.
“Vecna is too,” Normally he wouldn’t be this pessimistic but now knowing what he knows, there’s not much to be hopeful for.
“You’re going to spy for me one last time”
That phrase embedded itself in his brain as a single clawed hand reached for his left eye. He could still feel it. A small part of him is screaming to take scissors and-
“Remember when we went shopping in California?" Jane whispered. He understood what she was doing. The Upside Down and Mind Flayer, all of it, feeds on bad emotions, your worst nightmares. He missed California, the sun, the liveliness, and Jane. Not that she as a person left him but right now he considered her more of Eleven than anything. Right now she’s a superhero and a number.
“I remember the dog you wanted to get”
“I can’t believe Joyce said no, she was so cute,” Jane whined. The dog was white and fluffy similar to his old one who ran away after Jonathan left the door open. (He probably got eaten but that’s worse to think about.)“We couldn’t even get a fish!” They both burst out in laughter at the thought of anyone in the Byer family voluntarily getting a fish as the family pet.
“Please, you’d forget to feed it and leave it dying it’s sad little bowl,”
“Would not,”
“Would to,”
“You’d probably dropped his tank or something!”
“At least we agree he wouldn’t have lasted long,” her face gained a prominent red taint from laughter. She’s stopped crying.
“I think you did the right thing by the way, with the roller skates,” His sober voice cut through her loud joy. Why did he do that? She was so happy he just ruined it.
“I didn’t,” it came out in a huff as she rolled her shoulders back, “I should’ve kept my emotions in check, but good to know you support my wrongs and rights,” (it was a right in his books) There was a soft hesitation in her voice as she looked down,” I missed this.”
Without words, Will pulled her into a hug softly muttering an “I love you Jane.”
When their eyes connected he hoped he conveyed everything he was afraid to say. There was a lot of it but it was reciprocated within her loving gaze.
Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.
Max is in a coma, Lucas and Robin are going to run into Vecna, and she is risking her life once again against the people who put her through hell.
Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.
She doesn’t need this right now.
It seemed fate chose to end their short lived happiness before Will could even manage to intervene himself. He noticed something, a fleeting movement in the corner of his eye.
A hand twitch.
Mike’s hand.
Jane notices it too.
“Maybe Vecna isn’t as busy with Max than we thought"
What a terrible awful thought.