Chapter Text
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒂𝒈𝒐
Mike sat in his bed, the sound of the rain matched his heartbeat as his angled head looked directly at Will. His gaze was fixed on his lips longer than he wanted, his mind reminded him of every memory the two shared as Will was asleep. Mike thought of every touch of the elbow, every hand hold and every shared look as he watched Will shift in his sleep. He didn't know what he was thinking or what he was feeling in the moment, his cheeks flushed as he saw Will's lip part slightly. Mike's mind pondered on the thought of love as he watched Will face him again; only this time he was shaking and shivering. Mike rushed to Wills side as gently brushed his hand on Will's shoulder as Will tossed and turned in his sleep.
"Will?" Mike whisperd into the others ear, his face was relaxed but full of fear. He strengthen his grip on Will as his moving became more fanatic, Mike's worry grew stronger as Will started to mumble in his sleep. "It's so cold" the boy mumbled as his body shook, Mike looked down to realise that Will's blanket was kicked to the side. Will mumbled the same three words over and over as he tossed in his sleep, his face was painted with a shade if worry whilst the nightmare engulfed him. Mike quickly jumped over Will's body and grabbed the blanket, he pulled it over Will but the words were still on loop. His mind raced as his eyes darted around the room, he pulled the blanket off of his bed and layers it ontop of Will hoping that it would make a difference.
Will's mumbling slowed as Mike started to stack his jumpers ontop of the pile, by the end of his search Will's entire body was engulfed in blankets and jumpers. Mike's gaze lingerd on his wardrobe as he heard Will's muttering and the sound of shifting slowly halted, he let out a relaxed breath as he looked into his now empty wardrobe.
He turned his head to his walls, the light from the moon filterd through the curtains and reflects on all of his posters, he fixed his eyes onto his David Bowie poster as he thought about how Will loved his music. The thought of Will flooded his mind as he body grew hot, he shook his head and the thoughts away as he looked in another space, trying to distract himself. His eyes darted the room until they landed onto a one way sign, he thought about how he and Will found it a year prior after getting lost in the woods, neither knew where to go as they ventured the woods hand in hand. Mike followed the direction of the sign and looked back at his wardrobe, his stomach fell quickly as his mind was fogged with doubt, Will's face re-emerge into his mind as his thoughts raced. Mike didn't know what he was feeling, he knew he wasn't normal and he didn't want anyone else to know, he was scared that if his friends found out- if Will found out what he was then they'd hate him.
Mike's thoughts turned dark as he imagined Will's face if he came out to him, he imagined his eyes full of hate as his expression full of disgust. His breathing quickend as he thought of himself, it was wrong to like a boy, especially your best friend, he thought about how discussing it was and tried to think about someone else. Mike felt his knees go numb as he stood infront of his wardrobe, he turned around to see Will bellow him on a blow up bed as he stepped over him and collapsed into his bed.
He lay on his chest as he tried to brush away the thoughts he deemed wrong, he imagined Will's face shift into Elevens as he tried to distract himself. His heart stopped as he realied thd similarities the two had, he shut his eye's as threw his head into his pillow trying to shake away thr thoughts but they lingerd. The imagie of Eleven began to fade as Will was all he saw, he imagine them as kids and how they met which made him think about when Will was possessed by the mind flayer. Mike was terrified of losing Will, he didn't want Will to die knowing that Mike only thought they were friends, he wanted to tell Will everything.
But he couldn't. If he did, Will would hate him.
"Mike?" Will's weak voice silenced Mikes racing mind, "Why am I coverd in jumpers?" His voice was raspy as he sat up, he brushed his hands over his eyes as the moon light captured his soft features. "You had a nightmare," Mike lifted his head from his pillows, "you were cold... I thought I could help?" He laughed slightly and pushed himself up, he sat on the edge of his bed and looked down at Will. "Your entire wardrobe is on me," Will laughed.
"I panicked!" Mike tried to laugh alongside Will but he couldn't stop feeling guilty, "Mike you know you don't have to always look after me, right?" Will mumbled as he pulled the jumpes off of himself, he crossed his legs and faced Mike, thier faces were inches away from each other. "I don't know, someone has too."
Mike's gaze lingerd on his wardrobe, his knees began to bounce as he tried to shut off his emotions. Will gently placed his hand on Mike's knee and he could feel everything, "we're not kids anymore, you don't always have to be the Paladin." He shrugged, Mike's cheeks grew hot as he down at Will's lips. The dim moonlight painted his face, his features were enhanced and Mike could see everything thought through Will's eyes. "You don't always have to save me, life isn't one of your campaigns." Mike shook his head and placed his hand ontop of Will's that was still on his knees, "what not? Am I not allowed to protect my Will the wise." Mike laughed as he referd to Will with his nickname, Will quickly pulled his hand off Mike's knee and coverd his face as he laughed, they started to lean closer and laughed even harder for no reason.
They laughed for what felt like forever, they eventually stopped and realised how close they were to eachother. Will noticed how the moonlight complemented Mike's sharp features, and Mike looked down at Wills moon kissed lips. The two stared into the others eyes as they slowly moved closer, they didn't stop until Will's hand were on Mike's bed and his face was directly bellow Mike's. "Will-"
"What are you two up too!?" Nancy had pulled the door open, she stood in the doorway and could only see Mike's back, Will quickly sat down and leaned over to see her. "Sorry..." he shrugged and tried not to laugh, Mike turned around and grabbed the pillow closest to him, "GET OUT!" He threw it at Nancy and she caught it before throwing it back, "fine, just stop being so noisy- no one wants to hear it." She rolled her eyes and slammed the door shut. Mike let out a silent laugh as he looked back down at Will who was laying down, he pulled the covers over himself and mumbled a quiet "good night" to Mike.
He lay back in his bed and replayed what had just happened until the sun rose.