Chapter Text
Will has had an emotional day, to say the least.
After years of defeating otherworldly monsters that made him believe that years were taken from his life, he finally managed to graduate, with high marks as well. After taking graduation photos with his mom and Hopper, Joyce couldn’t refrain from crying tears of joy seeing her son in his bright orange cap and gown. Will restrained himself, comforting his mom, but could feel his eyes water at the thought of the history that built up to this day. Will never stopped thinking about the sacrifices that were made for him, for everyone. Although he never knew Eddie, Kali, or many of the others who were lost, he couldn't help but wish they had the same opportunity as him to live a normal life – to make it to graduation. And El – every day Will wished El were here. That she could walk the stage with the Party.
Will missed her again during Mike’s campaign that evening. He described her living in a beautiful land far away, never needing to worry about the Mind Flayer or Henry… finding peace, happiness. If the tears weren’t already there, they were flowing freely now.
He had always been grateful for Mike’s ability to make a situation better, to make Will feel better. He can’t help but be scared of what will happen after summer break is over and Mike, and the Party, all go to college. Will knew that, at some point, they would all have to leave Hawkins and go their own path. He knew this. But he still couldn’t fathom that really, really soon he will be in New York, Mike in Michigan, and the rest of the Party scattered throughout the country. It terrified him, the thought of not having a tight-knit group of friends to share movie nights and DnD games with, hanging out with his mom and Jonathan on random weekdays at Melvald’s, or having Robin there for him to dump all of his worries out on.
He couldn’t be more grateful for his friends and family in Hawkins, which is why, as he put his binder on the shelf for what feels like the last time, he couldn’t help but pour out another sob. When Will reached the basement stairs, he gripped onto the railing, feeling like at any minute he could run back to where Mike is sitting and stay at the DnD table forever. Will has to keep moving, though, keep going forward where he is supposed to. Up the stairs, one by one. But if Mike called him back down, right that very second, Will would reconsider everything. Going upstairs, leaving Hawkins, trying to throw his stupid crush aside…
But as always, nothing. For the last eighteen months, Will had gotten nothing from Mike. When he told everyone that Mike was just his Tammy, he knew that wasn’t true. He knew that he couldn’t just get over Mike in a day, week, or even in ten years. But he tried, he really did. He knows that Mike will never like him back like that, in the way Will likes him. It was obvious. Mike is still grieving El. They all were. But Mike, he was taking it really badly. Will tried to be there for him, but Mike closed himself off from him, and the whole Party.
Tonight’s DnD session was the first time Mike had really spoken about his feelings towards El. It was clear that he still held so much love for her. It was clear that his place was as Mike’s best friend. Sometimes, though, it didn’t really feel like it. Not like they weren’t friends! No, not at all. It’s just that… Mike was always kind of absent. He would hide away, like this morning before graduation. Will heard that Mike was missing. It was surprising on graduation day, and scared Will like hell for a second, but not shocking. This has happened before, a few times at least. Mike would be late for school or a movie, and when anyone would ask why he was late he would just shrug and say it’s nothing. Most of the time his expression was unreadable, but Will could usually pick out a furrow in his brow or a light pink blush surrounding his eyes.
So, as Will made it to the top of the staircase and closed the door, he felt a pang of fear hit his stomach. The thought of Mike being so distant, literally and emotionally, scared him to shreds. If Mike was already acting like this in Hawkins, then college would be hell. He knew Mike was never one to call or write– to him at least. Would they ever be close again?
Will had to calm himself down, stop thinking about this. It’s stupid, anyways! They still have months left in Hawkins together. Will took a deep, shaky breath, and wiped tear streaks from his cheeks.
After a couple minutes of breathing deep breaths and staring at the ceiling, his crying had slowed, and so had his thoughts. Will could hear the basement stairs creaking from behind the door, as Holly and her friends stormed through the other end of the hallway, flinging the basement door open with a thud as it crashed into the space next to Will. Too close. Will flinched back as the kids spring down the stairs, yelling about DnD and pizza. It made him nostalgic of him and Mike’s first time playing DnD, not knowing the rules and trying to figure it out from a play-by-play instruction manual. It was too confusing at the start, a lot of big words for their five-year-old minds, but was immediately entrancing. A small smile rose to Will’s face, knowing that the love for the game that the Party grew wouldn’t end with them.
Once the trainline of kids made it through the hallway, Will remembered Mike was coming up the stairs. Before he had time to respond, Mike’s head poked through the doorframe, as did the rest of him. His dark, glossy eyes immediately locked with Will’s, widening at his sight.
“I didn’t know you were still over here,” Mike stated, stunned.
Quickly, Will responded, feeling caught. “Uh.. yeah. I was just about to head to dinner.” Will couldn’t tell him he was deep in thought over Mike, he would never.
Will looks past Mike to the door, trying not to run straight over to hug him. Whenever Will sees Mike hurt, it hurts him as well. He had to tear his eyes from Mike’s teary-eyed face, scared of his own reaction. “It’s really nice that Holly and her friends wanna play DnD,” he started, bolstering up a smile, “It reminds me of when we got into it.”
Mike takes his gaze off Will and to the closed door behind him. Shouting and laughing can still be heard downstairs, with Holly making it clear that she will be the Dungeon Master, no one else. Mike still looks sad, but smiles slightly. He clearly was thinking, gaze softening on the door.
“Yeah,” Mike replies softly, looking back at Will. For a second, they hold each other’s gaze, unsure of where to go from here. Mike makes the first move, opening his mouth to say something, and…
“Mike, Will, are you still downstairs?,” Karen Wheeler exclaims from the kitchen, “Dinner’s been ready for a while now.”
“Coming mom!” Mike shouts, annoyed.
As Will and Mike start to make their way around the hallway and towards the kitchen, a strange feeling hits Will. It starts quickly, making him feel lightheaded for a second. Then wobbly. In no time, a harsh pang hits his head, and he immediately buckles down to his knees, head throbbing. Will lets out a wail as pain enraptures in his head, forcing him to shut his eyes to get rid of the piercing light from the bulbs above him. The world becomes loud, too loud. Will covers his ears with his hands, trying to block out the noise.
Instantly, Mike ran up to him, crouched down and hovering over him, unsure of what to do.
“Will!,” Mike gasps, worried. “Will! Are you okay? What’s going on?”
Mike grabs his shoulders, gripping onto him like he could disappear at any moment, but not enough to cause any pain. Mike’s never been the strongest in the first place, so him hurting Will physically is near impossible.
“Will, look at me,” Mike pleads, determined to get a response from Will, “can you do that?”
Will responds with another cry, the pain only getting worse. He feels like he’s underwater. He could hear Mike’s voice, but it sounded blurry and distant. Even if he could work out a few of Mike’s words, it would be hopeless to get a response out, his body feeling like it’s on fire, similar to when his mom and Nancy tried to get the Mind Flayer out of him with heaters and hot rods.
Mike still held onto him, bringing him a little closer. “Mom?!,” Mike yelled as loud as he could, gaze still transfixed on Will’s shaking body. Though his voice was dry from DMing all afternoon, he tried again, “I need help, like, right now!”
Before anyone could get to where Will and Mike were clutching onto each other, Mike grabbing onto Will for dear life, the ground began to shake. It started with a light rumble. Then it became heavier, and heavier. Mike flung his arms around Will, forcing him to his chest. Mike’s eyes grew wide, anticipating something but not knowing what. The only thing he knew was that he had to protect Will from whatever was coming.
Will knew something was going on, but he was still blinded by pain. He was shaking, bad, and not just because of the ground below him. His hands were still squeezed over his ears, trying to stop them from ringing. It didn’t help, he tried to find any way to distract himself from the consuming throbbing and aching. He knew that Mike was hugging him. If he was in a better situation, his brain would probably be short-circuiting like crazy, but that was impossible now, with tremors going up and down his spine.
He would do anything, though, for Mike to care for him in any other situation, one where he’s not fighting for his life. Mike used to be comfortable being near Will, when they were younger. Right after they met on the swingset outside of their elementary school, Mike would always give Will a hug first-thing in the morning, sparking a conversation about his morning and how Nancy was super annoying for taking too long to get ready for school. They would hold hands on the playground and push each other around when playing tag. Once, their first-grade teacher Mrs. Ryan even called them "inseparable" on Will’s report card. Will only knows this because his mom brought it up once at breakfast with the Wheelers. Luckily, Mike wasn’t downstairs yet, because Will’s face turned bright red. They were inseparable, until girls came into their lives. Or more so, Mike’s life.
Will loves El, of course. He was always happy that she was there for the party, as a superhero and a friend. But he couldn’t lie and say he was never jealous, was never upset that Mike became transfixed on her. For years, Will felt forgotten, like his year of friendship with Mike, his whole life meant nothing when he was pushed aside.
So Will didn’t know what to think – couldn’t think – when in a second, Mike grasped onto Will tight as the ground broke in half below them, immediately falling through.
Mike and Will, interlinked, spin, tumbling through something. Somehow, Mike’s hold remained strong as they flailed downwards. Will, with all the strength he could muster, opened his eyes wide to see what was going on. First, he noticed Mike. His eyes were wide, wider than he had seen them in years, at least since they found the giant, fleshy Mind Flayer incarnate at Starcourt Mall. Not even their final fight with Vecna frightened Mike as much as in this moment. They were locked on the scene past Will’s head, moving rapidly, unable to grasp onto something to focus on. He noticed Mike’s face was full of colors, neon pinks and blues and yellows reflecting brightly on his pale figure. If Mike wasn’t so terrified, Will would say that he looks beautiful (he still does).
Quickly, he snapped his eyes towards the scene around him, trying to find the source of the multicolored lights. It didn’t take long. Instantly, he noticed colors bolting rapidly upwards, or maybe they were just falling absurdly quickly. They were brighter than when reflected on Mike, causing Will to whine at the intense beams, eyes shutting closed again, and head still throbbing. Mike, somehow, held on even tighter, responding to Will’s aching.
The lights around him were not natural, at least in this context. They look similar to the northern lights, but also not at all. They were more like something out of Star Wars, when the Millennium Falcon is in hyperspace, stars shooting past unconceivably. Although fascinating, it would be impossible for Will to think about the scientific implications of a glimmering tunnel of lights, especially when he is falling through them with no end in sight.
After falling for who knows how long, Will hits something with a sharp thud. Pain – new pain – well into his side as he realized he landed sideways, but not straight on the ground. His crash was softened, slightly, but not enough to stop all damage. His head, still hurting, is somehow doing worse. Before he can think about opening his eyes to check what the hell is going on, he blacks out into nothingness.
✴✵✶✴✵✶✴✵✶
The first thing Will noticed when he woke up is that he feels much better, like waking up from the best sleep of your life better. The mattress underneath him was soft, softer than his one at home. It was welcoming, and he sunk perfectly into it. His pillow was also softer than usual, but fit well with the rest of the bed. He really didn’t want to wake up yet, and didn't want to confront the world after such a good sleep.
As he dazedly pulled the bedcovers towards his face, he felt a warm object brush his cheek. Will groaned, his eyes staying solidly shut, too early to open them.
Then it happened again. Some object, no – a person – was caressing Will’s cheek.
“Mom?,” Will whispered, slowly opening his eyes to see who the figure was. Sometimes, his mom would wake Will up in the morning by stroking his cheek with her hand. This happened more when he was possessed, but it was always welcome, an “I love you.” It had to be his mom, of course. She’s the only one who does this.
As Will peeled his eyes open, he lazily dragged his right hand to his eyes – the side he was laying on – to rid the morning haze from his vision. After a second, Will fully opened his eyes, his mom’s hand still sweeping his face.
However, the figure before him is most definitely not his mom.
“Mike?,” Will blurted out, confused. As Will took a few burry blinks, he could make out Mike’s figure. Mike has never, ever, caressed Will’s face, especially when he’s sleeping. For the last eighteen months, Mike has shown practically no physical affection towards Will. At all. Maybe an occasional quick hug here or there in a definitely-friends sort of way, but this feels way different. Like, totally not Mike at all.
Will, eyes now clear, takes a good, long look at Mike. His first thought is, “What the hell is Mike doing here?” But as he took a closer look, he realized something was off. Mike looked like Mike, but also didn’t, at all. His hair, rather than being swept back as Mike had been doing it recently, was long, going a touch past his shoulders. It curled around his frame in a wild but somehow put-together way, and actually looked really good. Will never met Eddie, but from photos he could tell that his hair looked similar to this.
Gaze flowing towards his face, Mike was repping a healed, but poignant scar down the left side of his jaw that was definitely not there before. It was pretty deep, Will could tell, but didn’t fully reach the bone.
What the fuck? Will thought. There is no way Mike got a scar like that overnight, no way. But it doesn’t look fake.
Finally, Will noticed Mike’s clothes. He wore a long white tunic, medieval looking with tied lace holding the collar steady, something Will knows for sure that Mike doesn’t have stuffed in his closet. Although Mike loves DnD, he never went full-costume – that was Will’s forte. His pants were black, stuffed neatly into high-rising boots that reached just under his knee. He looked just like Westley in The Princess Bride. He looked… elegant... beautiful… and…
Will bolted up from where he was laying on the bed.
“Why do you look like that?,” he sputtered, gesturing frantically towards the weird outfit Mike had on. “Mike, what the hell is going on?”
Will, being able to see more around him, took a better look at his surroundings. He was not at home. No, not even close. To be honest, he had no idea where he was. First off, the bed he was sitting on was huge, at least double the size of his own. A fluffy maroon bed cover laid on top of him, small but elegant details gracing the design. The room around him was also ginormous. Dark wood framings that seemed to be meticulously carved as pillars and vines surrounded each wall. Hanging lanterns were hung on both ends of the door to Will’s left, while other insanely detailed porcelain lanterns were displayed on both bedside tables. To the front right of Will, an elaborately chiseled desk displayed piles of papers haphazardly thrown around, like someone was trying to connect the dots between a bunch of different papers.
Turning his attention back towards Mike, Will became even more confused when he saw that Mike was confused, but more so worried. His brow saddened, as he looked straight into Will’s eyes, longingly. Will’s face immediately turned red, blushing profusely. Mike looked like a kicked puppy, and it was definitely doing something to him.
Mike slowly got up from the chair he was sitting in, and kneeled towards the ground, like he was proposing. What the fuck, Will’s mind and heart racing instantly, what the actual fuck. Mike grabbed onto Will’s hands, cupping them between his own.
“Will the Wise,” Mike started, head bowed downwards, “I apologize, I broke my oath. During the battle against the Order of the Black Hand, I failed you. I shall live in eternal regret for not having put my life before your own. I am sure this situation must be disconcerting, but I assure you that you will now be unharmed, as the Order was defeated. I hope I can compensate someday for my detestable actions. I am indebted to the Gods that I was able to retrieve you from the afterlife, my sorcerer.”
After a pause, Mike continues. “I… I missed you, dearly.” At this, he looks up into Will’s eyes, dark eyes piercing his own. They’re trembling, but no tears fall. The rest of his face stays stoic, but soft.
Will, shocked, could only stare down at Mike, dumbfounded. Missed him? He was just with Mike, right? Playing DnD in his basement and… No, this must be a dream! Yeah, yeah, that makes more sense. Obviously Will was still dreaming after Mike’s DnD game. Sure, it was a really, really realistic dream, but he did imagine Mike’s Paladin character looking something like the Mike in front of him, especially with long hair and big boots. It’s completely understandable that the DnD game got stuck in his subconscious somehow and made its way into his dreams.
“Mike, pinch me.” Will sputtered, his mouth blurting the words out faster than his mind can process them, eyes stuck unblinking over Mike’s unfamiliar, and yet so Mike features.
Mike looks into his hands, still cupping Wills. His brows turn downwards, contemplating Will’s command. “As you wish,” he confirmed. Slowly, he brought a hand toward Will's arm, pinching it lightly, seemingly scared to hurt him in any way.
Although the pinch was not painful, Will still felt it. He felt it ground him into the present, shaking off any possible tiredness he could have from waking up.
“Mike,” Will started, his heartbeat racing quicker with every passing second, sweat beginning to form on his forehead, “where the fuck are we, and what the fuck is going on.”
Noticing Will’s oncoming anxiety, Mike gently placed Will’s hands onto his lap, and retreated to the seat he previously pulled towards the side of the bed. Now sitting up straight, Will noticed how much taller Mike seemed now, more than normal, only adding to his confusion and panic.
“Do you remember the last time we were together?” Mike asked softly, clasping his hands together, like he was about to explain something painful. He looked up at Will, asking for recognition.
“Uhm,” Will begins, unsure, “we were in your basement, right? You just ended your campaign, and we went upstairs and talked.” Will takes a deep breath, realizing, “I don’t… I don’t remember anything after that.”
Mike’s face turned to what Will could only describe as really sad. “Basement…?” He paused. “Will, what occurred before you entered this basement?”
“You still haven’t explained what’s going on Mike, you’re really freaking me out.” Will was trying to not break in front of Mike. Although Mike had seen him in practically all of his worst moments, Will should at least try to stay composed. Mike’s already sad face in front of him panged his heart enough, even when he looked so strange. Will didn’t want to see him any more distraught.
“I will explain, shortly,” Mike insisted, no, plead, “but please answer my question.”
Mike’s voice was so soft, so worried for him. For so many months Mike hardly asked anything of Will, and here he was, pleading for Will to answer what seemed like the most important question in the world for him. Looking into Mike’s dark eyes, Will gave in.
“Well, we all graduated. Dustin gave his awesome speech, Stacy invited us to her party. That’s mostly it, we just went to your house after,” Will reported, looking over Mike’s puzzled reaction. Mike was always oblivious. Will couldn’t say it didn’t make him agitated sometimes, especially when Will was trying to get answers out of him, or trying to convey his feelings and they go straight over his head. “Don’t act like you don’t remember. I really hope you’re not playing some stupid game on me.”
Mike freezes, as though what Will just said affirmed a truth he did not want to hear. “I see,” is all he musters out, standing suddenly. Will flinched back, Mike’s actions unexpected, still holding pent-up nervousness within himself.
Mike continues, “Apologies for my abruptness,” he leans over, extending a hand to a still-sitting Will, “Shall we take a walk? I will offer some explanations.”
At this action, Will immediately blushes, taking a sharp breath. Mike has been oddly… touchy all day, and this only confirms it further. Now, rather than Mike taking Will’s hand, he is offering it for Will to decide if he should accept it. Will pauses for a second, reluctant. It has been years at least since Mike, consciously, offered to hold Will’s hand. Determined to get to the bottom of this weird situation he found himself in, Will gently placed his hand into Mike’s own. Mike smoothly places his thumb around the tips of Will’s fingers, his others gently cupping into Will’s palm as he stands, as though this is natural to him.
Mike retreated back into an upright position, hand still clasped around Will’s own. “Mike…” Will starts, looking down where their hands are linked. He’s unsure of what he’s about to say, but sure that Mike holding onto him like this is not normal. Nothing has been.
“I would not want you to get lost.” Mike replies, already somehow piercing into Will’s thoughts. They begin moving towards the bedroom door, Mike leading Will, but not stepping ahead or dragging him behind. They were unrelentingly side-by-side.
Even though Will had no idea where they were going, Mike’s warm presence brought him to ease. As Will followed Mike’s direction out the door, he gasped. It was clear that Will was not just in a fancy bedroom, but something only imaginable in his most vivid dreams. The hallway in front of him was decorated from floor-to-wall with colorful paintings of unfamiliar figures or intricate carvings of flowers. It felt just like looking into a European palace, overwhelmed with wealth and artistry. Will looked up at Mike with his mouth agape, hoping to see if Mike was as shocked as he was. As he turned his head up towards his taller friend, he was met with a tender smile, but not anything remotely similar to Will’s surprise.
Softly pulling Will’s hand, Mike initiated the two to make their way down the long hallway. As Mike began, Will took it upon himself to try to observe every detail in the hallway, whisking his head around in amazement. “This is the Knight's Hall,” Mike explained, “we were just in my living quarters, the Paladin suite.”
At this, Will froze. Paladin, as in, DnD Paladin? So…
The realization hit Will like a ton of bricks.
“You’re a Paladin.” Will stated bluntly, although his mind was reeling. Unconsciously, he gripped onto Mike’s hand harder, trying to steady himself. He felt nauseated, confused, and unbalanced with the weight that this information put on him.
“Yes, I am,” Mike replied, eyeing Will cautiously, as though waiting for Will to stumble and fall at any moment.
Will tried to regain himself, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the situation he was in. He couldn’t even navigate his own thoughts, they were going too fast. Mike… Paladin… magic…
“What…?” Will croaked under his breath, dumbfounded.
Mike smirked at him, just like how his own Mike does – looking at him in that warm way that always makes his heart skip a beat. Will knows now that they’re definitely different people, the scar even gave it away! But when he looks at Will like that, they look so, so similar. It makes him miss his…
Will forced himself to hold off the millions of questions he had in his mind.
“Wait, is Mike here?” Will sputtered, “Like, I know you’re Mike, but… I mean…”
“How wise you are, William,” Mike interjected, smirk becoming a knowing smile. “Do not fret. Your Michael is secure.”
“So he’s okay?” Will blurted, “That means he is here, right?”
Mike squeezed Will’s hand, signaling he was about to walk again. His eyes shifted from Will and looked forwards, hardening into a determined glare, like he was about to be faced against a challenge.
As they navigated the maze of a castle, Mike settled Will’s worries, somewhat. “The other Michael is here,” he assured Will.
Will glanced up at the taller boy (were they even the same age here? No, that question is for later.) Mike’s expression was eerily difficult to read. He didn’t look upset, but not content either. Sometimes, when Mike was in deep thought, his expressions became really hard to read. Will could usually notice the little things, a head tilt, a wrinkle of the nose, a hand twitch… but sometimes it was impossible.
Before Will could think about it any longer, they reached a wooden door at the end of a hallway. It was an average size, just a few inches taller than Mike, with minimal designs that were not flashy, not like the Paladin’s suite anyways. It seemed like this door was made specifically not to capture attention. Mike opened it with ease, a small creak filling the silence between them. It wasn’t a cold silence, just… anticipatory.
“Watch your step,” Mike advised, leading Will into a tight stairway made of cobblestone. It’s a good thing that Mike warned Will, since the steps were unreasonably thin and he definitely would have tripped and fell straight on his face. Mike closed the door behind Will, turning the stairwell dark except for light seeping through small barred windows cut into the walls, and whirled smoothly in front of Will, leading him down the stairs.
Every turn, Will took a quick glance out through the small windows, seeing the world go by but being sure not to trip on his feet. They must have been at least five stories high, Will determined, seeing a lush forest stretch eternally below. Hopefully, he would have time to actually go outside after getting a run-down of wherever he is.
Before he knew it, Will was at the very bottom of the staircase. It was extremely dark, other than one lantern burning slowly by the one metal door in front of him. Will would be lying if he said he wasn’t getting nervous. The windows had already disappeared from the floor above him, and the air quickly became heavy and wet. It was clear that they were now underground. Will felt like he was about to enter a dungeon, but didn’t want to think about it. Where the hell was Mike leading him to?
Mike grabbed a key hanging near the door that was actually massive and turned the lock on the door with a click. As the door pulled out towards Will, a gush of cool air hit his face, sending a chill down his spine. He shivered.
As Will got a first look through the entrance, he realized that he was actually about to enter a real-life dungeon. It was gloomy and damp, not an environment anyone should be in for an extended amount of time. Will knew then that there was something Mike was about to show him, something important. So, Will stepped forward, holding his breath for the unknown.