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Friday after school, Max promised Will she’d teach him how to skateboard in the parking lot. Everyone watched and waited by the bike rack, Max trying to explain the basics to Will without letting him place a single foot on the skateboard. Will listened intently, nodding his head and trying to copy Max’s footing on the asphalt before placing himself on the board.
“Please be careful.” Mike gasped, placing a hand over his mouth. Will tripped over his shoelaces the week prior taking a walk with Mike on Mirkwood and Mike nearly had a heart attack at the amount of blood Will’s knees could spill. If it hadn’t been for Will’s stubborn attitude, Mike would have carried him home.
“I will.” Will laughed, placing a delicate foot on the skateboard. One foot, and he was still steady. As he planted the second, he immediately began leaning back, the board getting away from him. The group jumped forward, Lucas nearly skidding under him to break his fall, when Will stopped moving, held mid-air. “El, I’m fine! You don’t have to babysit me!”
“Okay.” She said, blinking and rolling her eyes. Mike thanked her quietly before sitting down next to her along the school wall. She gripped her hands in her lap, but still kept her eyes focused on Will as he flitted around the lot. Mike watched as well, twisting his hands and trying to not follow him around with his arms out.
“What time is it?” Dustin asked, leaning his head against the wall. “I have to be home by four.”
Eleven checked her watch, holding it out in front of Dustin’s eyes, nearly hitting his face. “Not.”
“Three-fifteen. Cool.” Dustin pushed her arm back.
“Three-fifteen?” Max echoed, turning her head to stare at Dustin. “Already?” She took her eyes off Will and he began wobbling. “No. Your watch must be fast.”
“I’ve got three-fifteen too.” Lucas said, holding it out for her. “Mike?”
“Yup.” Mike said. “What’s wrong?”
“My brother is supposed to be here.” Max said, scrambling to grab her bag. “I have to–”
“Ow!” The group whipped their heads to see Will on the ground, skateboard rolling away from him. The board came under the booted foot of Max’s brother, driver side door open directly over Will. Will cradled his head and rolled onto his side.
“Fuck fuck fuck.” Max said, swinging her bag over her shoulder and taking off running. “Everyone stay here.”
“No. I’m not leaving you with him.” Lucas argued, following her closely. He reached behind him to dig through his bag, searching for his wrist rocket.
“Is he okay?” Mike fretted, getting to his feet and running after him.
“Move.” Eleven said, waving her friends out of her way as she walked towards Billy, head lowering and hand raising.
“No! Don’t!” Dustin cried. “You can’t do anything too crazy right now. You’re still hiding, El.” He grabbed her arms and yanked them to her sides. She sighed and rolled her eyes, slowly nodding and understanding the danger.
“Will! Will, are you okay?” Mike tried to reach Will but Billy stuck a hand out and shoved Mike into Dustin.
“These your friends?” He said to Max. “You guys hang out with this bitch?”
“Leave her alone.” Lucas said firmly, pulling his wrist rocket string back.
“Oh, we’ve got some toy soldiers here today, fellas.” There was no one else there, but Mike already felt like they were outnumbered. “Let’s see who gets sent home first.”
“What is your goddamn problem!” Max cried, throwing her bag at the car. “Will, are you okay?” She reached out and pulled Will to his feet, walking him over to Mike and Eleven. Eleven still had her eyes fixed on Billy, but wrapped an arm around Will’s shoulders and pulled him close to her.
“I’m fine.” Will said, smoothing his shirt down. “I’m okay.”
“Already running from the fight? How did you survive the woods again?” Billy chuckled, situating his feet far apart and resting a hand in his pocket while the other clamped two fingers around a cigarette. “Why didn’t they just let you die?”
“Shut your goddamn mouth.” Mike said, glaring at Billy. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He placed a hand on Will’s shoulder, keeping him still as he slowly turned towards Max’s brother.
“Mike, don’t. It’s okay.” Will pleaded, gripping his hand and pulling him back. “I’m fine.”
“Right between the eyes, Lucas.” Mike said lowly, pointing his hand at Billy. He laughed openly and flicked his cigarette butt at Mike, the embers fizzling out at their feet. Will watched it come at them, pulling Mike by the waist to avoid the burn.
“Guys, it’s not worth it. Go home.” Max said, starting to march the group back towards the school. She seemed to forget she had to get in the car.
“Run, bitch. Run.” Billy rolled his tongue along his bottom teeth, watching them rush away from him as if his long sigh was blowing them towards the school. They all raced away, Mike’s hand gripping Will’s arm tightly. Dustin was at the front door, holding it open for the group, and Eleven stomping besides them all, still craning her neck to stare at Billy. He was laughing, calling after his sister and spitting words after them. Will felt his feet dig into the ground and his arm slip out of Mike’s grip.
“Will? Will, come on.” Mike said, reaching for his hand.
“No.” Will said slowly, turning to face Billy. “No. No, I can’t let him talk about her like that.”
“Will, please don’t.” Mike pleaded, reaching for him again. “Please, he’ll hurt you.” Mike could see Billy’s face twisting into a smile as Will faced him, about to continue the fight.
“Byers! What are you doing!” Max yelled, watching him step towards Billy. “Byers!”
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Will said, inching towards Billy. “She’s our friend.”
“Well, guess what princess, she’s not mine.” Billy laughed, pulling another cigarette out of his pocket. “Fuck off.” He pulled a lighter out of his pocket and held it up to the end of his cigarette.
“No.” Will’s arm swung out and the flame flickered down to a puff of smoke. “You take it back.” Mike winced as Will moved. Beside him, Eleven froze, watching Will with eyes that grew wider the closer Will got to Billy.
Mike reached out to stop him but Eleven shook her head. “He’s fine.” She said quietly. “Will’s fine.” She sounded uncertain and surprised.
“Apologize to her. Now.” Will cried, waving another hand outward and Billy’s lighter following suit. It clanked against the asphalt, every set of eyes following it. “NOW!”
“What the fuck are you.” Billy said lowly, advancing from his car. His boots thudded against the ground, advancing towards Will in a standoff. “Since when do faggots fight?”
“Don’t talk to him like that!” Mike cut in, stepping up besides Will. He had no means to fight, but now had a fire flaring in his chest as he watched Billy laugh at Will.
“It’s okay, Mike.” Will said, turning to him. He placed a hand on Mike’s arm. The touch sent shivers through his arm; it felt strong, but his fingers never gripped tighter than he would around a flower. “I can do this.”
“Do what?” Mike asked, shaking his head. Will couldn’t fight. Mike knew it and knew it from a sincere and loving place in his heart. Will couldn’t do what he had heard and seen Steve do. There was just no way– and no way Will thought he could either. “Will? Will!”
Will started walking towards Billy. Mike was sure he had smashed his head against the pavement when Billy pushed him; he had to be hallucinating. Will was walking so surely towards a boy with a rumbling car, a fiery look in his eyes, and a tight grip pulsing his knuckles closed.
“Oh, this is gonna be good. This is going to be so good.” His arm tilted back, elbow bent and wrist set straight.
“Will, please don’t, Will. Oh my god, Will. Stop.” Mike pleaded.
“Don’t hurt me or my friends ever again.” Will spoke as if to a teacher, firm, but polite and still phrasing it as if it was a request. “Leave us alone.”
“You think I’m scared of you?” He kept his arm cocked, still walking towards him in a strange bow-legged fashion. Will cocked his head in confusion. His eyes left Billy, looking at the space between them, allowing himself to face only his thoughts. Will lifted a hand, looking at his palm, and left the whole group frozen; he was going to get himself killed. “You think I’m scared of you– a puny, shrunken, tiny, infantile–”
“Yes.” Will said, throwing his hand out towards Billy. As if in a gust of wind, Billy flew back into his car. His head slammed against the car frame and his back bowed backwards into the empty driver’s seat.
“What the–”
“Eleven! I said not to do anything!” Dustin hushed, staring at her with wide eyes.
“I–I didn’t. I didn’t do that!” She insisted, shaking her head and holding her hands up in surrender. “I didn’t.”
“Will did.” Mike said slowly. “Will did it.”
“What?” Max stepped up to Will, standing in his line of vision with Billy groaning behind her. “Did you do that?”
“Yeah.” Will sounded breathless, although his chest wasn’t heaving trying to catch his breath. A single stream of blood ran down from his nose. “I could do it.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you.” Mike said quietly, taking the hand still raised as a threat to Billy and squeezing it in his own. Will’s hands were shaking, but Mike was sure there were no powers involved in that. He held Will’s hand tightly in both of his own, and pressed it against his chest as he walked Will back towards the school. They ignored the winded and moaning teenager trying to call after them.
“El, would you please?” Will said, stepping in time with Mike.
“Yes.” She said, lowering her head again. “Mouthbreather.”
They heard Billy’s car door slam and the engine turn off as Mike and Will walked through the school doors, Dustin directly behind them.
“How long have you been able to do that?” Dustin cried, throwing his hands up in the air. “That was incredible!”
“I–I don’t know. I just kind of… felt it.” Will shrugged, flexing his fingers in Mike’s grip. Mike squeezed tighter. “I just thought of it. I could see it happening– so then I made it happen. I wasn’t going to do anything at first.” Will closed his eyes tightly, his voice dropping off. “But then I just… I got so angry. I felt it everywhere. Everywhere. I knew I could do it. I knew it. I knew I could fight back.” He smiled at Mike, proud of himself.
“And that’s incredible.” Mike whispered, taking Will’s other hand. “But don’t go into a fight unless you know you have superpowers. Okay?” He nodded, biting his lip.
“Between you and El, we are definitely going to get arrested.” Dustin muttered, lifting his cap to run a hand through his hair. “Holy shit.”
“Our dad is the Chief of Police.” Will said, looking at Dustin with a smirk. “We’re fine.”