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Will couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Hawkins, his hometown, burning. The shape of the burning looked suspiciously like the shape of The Mind Flayer, which sent a shutter down his spine as he watched El separate from the rest of the group. She bent down and looked at some dying flowers, examining them with a curious look on her face. She then stood up and started to stare down at Hawkins, as if she were trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
Will's anxiety could reach the sky now. He could sense Vecna and The Mind Flayer (or were they the same?) all around him and it was making him feel uneasy. His breathing started to pick up as his heart started beating faster.
He startled when he felt an arm wrap around him. He glanced to his side and saw Mike was looking at him with concern in his eyes. Mike's expression was soft and Will could swear he could see worry in Mike's expression.
"You okay?" Mike asked in a gentle voice.
"I still feel him, Mike," Will said. "He's everywhere."
Mike nodded. "I believe you," he said. He squeezed Will again as if to reassure him. "We're gonna be okay, Will. We'll stick together. You and me, yeah?"
Will could feel tears in his eyes as he nodded at Mike. He leaned into Mike's embrace and wrapped his own arm around Mike as they watched El. Mike's presence calmed Will down and he was feeling a little bit better, even if the whole situation was freaking him out like he'd never been scared before.
When El finally turned back around and walked toward the others, she noticed Mike and Will holding onto each other. She locked eyes with Will and grinned slightly at him. Will felt his face blush and he hid away from his sister, as if too embarrassed to say anything.
That night, most of the group had gathered back at the Wheeler house. Lucas and Erica had stayed at the hospital to keep eyes on Max, which Will couldn't blame them for; he was worried about Max probably just as much as they were. Dustin went back to his house. Joyce and Hopper went to a hotel to stay the night until they could regroup in the morning and come up with a plan for what was next. El decided to go with them, not wanting to be far away from Hopper again. Argyle had passed out on the couch, though Mrs. Wheeler had practically forced him to shower and change into extra clothes that Ted had because of how bad he smelled. Jonathan and Nancy had gone to her room and fallen asleep almost instantly.
Mike and Will, meanwhile, had come to Mike's room. Mike had volunteered to sleep on the floor, much to Will's protesting.
"Will, you're the guest," Mike had said. "I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor."
"But this is your room, Mike!" Will protested.
"Will, it's fine. I don't mind, really."
Will had finally relinquished and hopped into Mike's bed after he had showered and changed into some of Mike's clothes. He felt a little weird wearing Mike's clothes. It was one thing when they were little kids, but something about doing it now seemed almost...forbidden? But Mike had insisted that Will sleep in clean clothes and Will had acquiesced and threw on the borrowed clothes.
Mike had bade Will goodnight about 20 minutes ago and had seemingly fallen asleep almost instantly. Will, meanwhile, had about a million thoughts running through his mind. He was having flashbacks of his time in the Upside Down and when The Mind Flayer possessed him. His brain seemed determined to make him relive his worst memories associated with everything that had happened in the past three years.
Will tossed and turned while trying to fall asleep. But no matter what he did, he couldn't will himself to sleep.
After a while, Will heard Mike stirring in his sleep. Mike opened his eyes and he stood up, looking over at Will with a frown on his face.
"Will, you okay?" Mike whispered.
Will didn't say anything, too ashamed of himself for not being able to fall asleep. Mike walked over to the bed and sat down next to Will, sending Will's heart rate flying again. Being this close to Mike while in a bed was sending electricity all through Will's body and Will wondered whether Mike would be able to see it.
Mike was staring intently at Will, as if afraid to let his best friend out of his sight. Mike's heart broke when he saw how obviously exhausted Will was; his eyes were slightly bloodshot and he looked like he wanted nothing more than to sleep. Without thinking, Mike started to lay down in the bed next to Will, as if doing so required no forethought.
Will's heart rate picked up again and he wondered how Mike couldn't hit it; he certainly could hear it, sounding like it was going to come pounding out of his chest.
Mike put a hand on Will's arm and started to rub it gently. It sent a shiver down Will's spine and he shuddered as he let out a breath.
"You need to sleep, Will," Mike said. "You need it more than anyone. I don't wanna sound like I'm babying you, but you need some rest, Will."
"What about you?" Will asked breathlessly.
"I'll be fine. I'll stay up all night if I have to so I can make sure you get some rest. I'll be right here if anything happens, okay?"
Will nodded shakily as some tears fell down his face. Mike always knew just what to say in order to make him feel better. Will took a deep breath and closed his eyes, scooting a little closer to Mike so he could feel his best friend's warmth.
Mike only had to wait a few minutes before he heard Will lightly snoring. He smiled to himself as he turned to fall asleep himself before he was stopped when he felt Will shift. Mike was completely still as Will unconsciously cuddled up to Mike in his sleep as if he needed to lay right on top of Mike. Will's arm wrapped around Mike and his head rested on Mike's chest.
Mike froze as Will cuddled into him. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, but somehow something that shouldn't be allowed. Mike frowned. Why would Will cuddling up to him not be allowed? Sure they were two boys, but they had been best friends for a decade now. They were so close to each other. Of course Will would turn to him for comfort.
Still, Mike's heart rate had skyrocketed. He hadn't felt this close to Will in a long time. It had been since before the events of the Upside Down that they had shared a bed together like this. Mike felt a wave of protection come over him and all he wanted to do was make sure that Will was safe. He wondered if this is how Will's mother felt whenever she comforted Will or if this was something beyond that.
Mike was overtaken with a sudden desire. He carefully turned his head over to Will and looked at his best friend. Will looked so peaceful while he was sleeping and it made Mike feel happy to see his best friend relaxed, even if it was just for a moment.
Before he lost his nerve, Mike leaned over toward Will's head. He sighed deeply before he leaned in and gave Will a quick kiss on the forehead. His breath shuddered as he did it and he was so nervous about Will waking up. But Will stayed asleep and he nuzzled into Mike's chest, as if he had unconsciously felt the kiss.
Mike smiled to himself again as he turned his head to face the ceiling. He wrapped an arm around Will to make himself more comfortable and to feel closer to Will.
"Good night, Will," Mike whispered before he shut his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
"Good night, Mike," Will whispered.