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Mike Wheeler stood back to back with Will fucking Byers. The taller of the two is slicing and stabbing away at the monsters surrounding them. Will is shooting away at anything that comes close to them with his handgun. They're making good progress, but it's starting to feel like they won't make it.
Mike is sure this will be the last time anyone sees him alive, if only Will would look at him. He wants to see Will before they're both gone. Mike steals a quick glance at him.
Everything about Will is perfect. the way he aims and fires, how he looks directly at his enemy before shooting. The innocent boy Will used to be has now turned into a powerful superhero
my superhero, Mike thinks to himself, because if Will heard him, it would be all over. Will would probably yell at him for being a queer or a fag, before sacrificing him to the fleshy beings that were trying to rip the two boys to shreds.
out of nowhere, a demodog lunges at Mike's face, knocking him to the ground.
"MIKE," Will shrieks. he turns around to see Mike holding the demodog above his head, stretching his arms out as long as he can, in hopes of avoiding the beast's sharp teeth. Mike's sword had apparently skidded a couple feet away. Will shoved his gun into its holster, and ran to grab the blade.
"W-WILL. What the FUCK do you think you're DOING?" Mike shrieks.
"Hold Still!" Will replies, yelling so his voice can be heard over the growling and shrieking of the things surrounding them.
"WILL, NO," Mike protests.
schling, squelch
Too late.
Mike looks up. He slowly opens one eye, half expecting to see angels flying around his head. Instead, he sees Will. Close enough.
"See? You're fine, Mike!"
He lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He finally opens his eyes fully, and for a moment, he feels like he actually is in heaven.
It just lasts a second, but a bright yellow light peaks through the clouds, shining brightly in Mike's eyes.
But it's not the sun the Mike is blinded by. It's the beauty of a sixteen year old boy with a messy bowl cut and a ripped flannel button-up, and it's the most beautiful thing Mike has ever seen.
He lays there on his back, surrounded by fleshy tentacles, looking up at the masterpiece that is staring back at him. Will's face is upside down to Mike, but he doesn't care. In fact, he appreciates it. He gets to see the boy he's been in love with his entire life from a whole new perspective. a perspective that changes Mike's life.
He notes the little details of the boy above him. The way his eyes shine a candy apple green over the deep, warm brown. They manage to sparkle, even when the world they're currently stuck in is dark and gloomy, without a single ray of light to remind them of their home. Maybe Will's eyes are so damn beautiful that they create their own light. Mike wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if that was the case.
He moves his eyes to the other's cheek, where a deep gash sat. Blood was smeared around the area, as the wound was still dripping. It was kind of gross, but in a weird way, the dark red complimented Will's features. Mike looked around at the rest of the boy. His usually perfect hair cut was now messy and overgrown. As much as he liked the way it looked before they got themselves into this mess, Mike couldn't help but fall even more deeply in love, with the way Will's hair now framed his face.
Mike could have lied there all day, awestruck with how a human being could look so fucking perfect.
Unfortunately, this moment had only lasted a second, before Will pulled the curly haired boy to his feet.
Mike took a quick glance around as will handed him his weapon back.
"Will-" Mike started. Will interrupted.
"Save it Mike, we got to get the hell out of here," Will said. Despite the words leaving his lips, the teen didn't sound the slightest bit mean. Will shoved the sword into Mike's bandaged hands, as he pulled his gun out.
"I think we can make a clear path to escape if we use all our strength," Will spoke.
"mhm," Mike said, barely paying attention. He was still awestruck.
"MIKE, C'MON," Will yelled at him. Mike looked up. Will stood a few feet ahead of him. His body was facing away from Mike, but he turned his torso around to look at Mike. He looked exasperated.
"Sorry- I'm coming!" he yelled.
Mike swung his sword like a madman, making his way through the hoards, with Will following, shooting any outliers that dare come near the duo.
What was only about 10 minutes felt like hours. Mike could feel his body weakening, wanting to collapse, but he couldn't. Luckily for them, they managed to make it out of the battlefield, reaching a clear plane. Well, clear except for the rocks, puddles of mud, and if course, vines.
Will ran ahead of Mike, who was still looking at the scenery, trying to make out where they would be if they were in Hawkins. As Will passed him, the shorter boy grabbed the other's hand, racing to literally anywhere safe
As they rushed through the streets, nearly tripping over broken and cracked asphalt, they had passed through the warm glow of a street lamp. He looked to Will, watching as the boy's form in the light sent little glowy particles flying around him. It was truly a sight to behold.
______
after running for what felt like way to long, they had finally managed to make their way inside of a pharmacy that wasn't crumbling like the rest of the buildings.
The building's walls and roof were still intact. Mike could tell that it would keep them safe, for the time being anyways.
Mike rushed to the front doors, trying his best to pry it open, while avoiding cutting his hand on the broken glass.
"Will? can you help me out here?" he asked in a hushed tone, trying his best to make sure whatever was lurking out there would be unable to hear them.
"Jesus, Mike," Will rolled his eyes affectionately as he walked towards the other teen. Mike moved out of the way.
Will stared at the door for a moment. He turned around to face Mike. He pointed at the little red sticker right next to the handle.
Mike squinted at the sticker. trying his best to read the faded words
"P-push to.... open. Push to open..." he smiled sheepishly. "My bad,"
Will smiled as he let out a sigh.
"Dumbass," he joked.
"Hey, man! it's not my fault! It's the signs fault for being so damn hard to read!"
"shhhh! you're going to attract the monsters!" Will whispered, trying his best to stifle his laugh.
He stared at the door a moment longer. Black ooze lined the crack of the door. He figured it would be pretty hard to open. He gripped the door handle tightly with his right hand, leaning the left side of his body firmly against the door.
He shoved with all his might.
It actually may have been to much, as a loud shatter pierced through their ears. The door was now lying on the ground, broken glass surrounding it
"Holy shit, man," Mike spoke up. He quickly walked through the now open doorway, gently shoving Will further into the store. He began to get even more paranoid of any fleshy beings finding them.
They stood there for a minute. They took a look around the aisle. it didn't take them long to figure out which one they were in.
Shitty cards stood up straight all around them. There were a couple that stood out to Mike.
"It's our anniversary!" said one with a little pug sitting next to a wine glass. Another one said "For my favourite grandson..." in bright blue letters, with a yellow background, balloons of all different colours surrounded the words. His least favourite had to be the Halloween cards, with a bright red "clearance" sticker on the label. Who would buy them after Halloween, even if they were on clearance?
Mike spent another minute looking around the aisle, trying to keep himself distracted.
He was standing across from Will, who he could feel staring into his soul with those gorgeous eyes.
He finally got himself to muster up the courage to look back at Will.
He tried to keep his attention there, and there only. But his eyes had a mind of their own, glancing down at the shorter boy's lips.
why am I like this?
He looked back up. They stared for a while longer, the tension rising as they did.
It became so high, that Mike was sure he could drown in it.
He realized he could use this opportunity to continue appreciating each and every little feature on the other boy.
He started at his nose. God, he loved the way his nose was shaped. it was stupid, but he couldn't help himself. He loved the way the few freckles on his face seemingly found the perfect spot to sit, like someone personally painted them on there, knowing exactly how to make them sit just right. Mike moved his eyes down to his lips.
nope, nope, it's too obvious to look there
He quickly changed where he was looking over to his chest and abdomen. He loved the way his shirt draped over his frame.
who made this boy so perfect?
"Mike?" said the boy he was looking down at.
shit
"uhh... so-sorry, I didnt- um, I didn't mean t-" He stammered, completely flustered. His cheeks- no- his entire face felt white hot, but he was sure his skin was red.
stupid, stupid, stupid!
"C'mon, let's go hide somewhere... less obvious." He spoke, glancing at the entrance. Mike nods, letting Will lead the way to the pharmacist's counter.
They slide over the smooth surface, ducking behind it.
Mike tries to come up with a plan in his head. A plan that would lead them safely out of the building if anything were to happen. He can't come up with one. They need to leave before something finds them.
He began to feel the anxiety bubbling inside him, making his way to his throat. He wanted to hurl. He began to gag, but instead, the only thing that came out were tears. tears he had been holding back for too long. Tears he was hoping to never let go of, at least, not in front of his best friend.
"Woah, Mike, are you ok?" Will leaned towards Mike, arms outstretched. Mike gripped onto Will's shirt, choking out sobs into the other boy's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, it's ok," Will whispered.
It didn't feel like that though.
It felt like Mike was going to die, or worse, Will would die. He didn't want to lose him. He couldn't. If Will died, he would jump off the Quarry's edge without a second thought.
"I-I-I'm so f-fucking st-tupid," Mike sobbed, inhaling sharply in between words.
"shh... shhhh... you're not stupid.." Will whispered back into the taller boy's hair. He kissed the top of his head. They've done that before, kissing the top of each other's heads. As friends, of course, but it still meant a lot to Mike. They lived in a stupid small conservative town in America, people would frown upon it. Mike didn't understand why, until recently, when he finally accepted after so many years, that he was, in fact, in love with William motherfucking Byers.
A thought struck Mike.
This was probably the last time they would ever see each other again.
Well, alive, at least.
"Iloveyou," Mike spoke quickly, hoping his voice was muffled enough for Will to not hear him.
"W-what?" Will asked. He put his hands on Mike's shoulders, pushing him off of his body.
oh god
Mike stared at the ground, frozen in fear.
"Mike, look at me," Will said in a serious tone. Mike couldn't. he looked up, but at the wall behind the boy who he was sure now hated his guts. He stared at a poster for some prescription drug.
"Dr. K's magic medicine!" the sign read. Mike mentally applauded himself for finding the perfect distraction.
"Mike." Will spoke up. "Please look at me, Mike"
He listened this time.
He kind of wished he didn't. Tears were welling in the other kid's eyes. Mike felt like he needed to do something
"Will, hey ...please don't cry..." He spoke softly, voice cracking. "I'm sorry ok? I shouldn't have said that. I- I can make it up to you. I can be like, the bait, or something, since you probably hate me now," he chuckled softly.
Will stopped crying. A look of pure terror washed over his face. Mike looked behind him, half expecting Vecna himself to be standing there.
Nothing.
He looked back.
"Will, what's wrong?" he asked.
it hit him like a bus.
no- a train.
Will was scared of him. he had every right to be.
mike was gross, disgusting. Someone who didn't deserve to live. He was probably worse than Vecna himself. Horrified with himself, he stood up, stepping a few feet back.
how could I have done this?
"I-I'M SORRY," he yelled towards Will, unable to bear the pain of seeing Will's hurt expression.
He ran as fast as he could towards the entrance. He thought he heard his friend call for him, but he didn't dare stop to check.
He raced out the door, not caring that shards of glass scratched his face, leaving deep cuts on his face and arms.
He ran faster than he'd ever run before. Salty tears stung his eyes, hair blowing in the wind. He got to a speed where is heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest, his feet and legs burning like literal hell.
He needed to get out of there. He needed to disappear forever
___
Will kicked a can, sending it flying down the street with a loud rattle. He'd been walking for about an hour. He was starting to give up on finding Mike. He wanted to break down and cry, assuming that his friend was dead.
that was until he heard someone yelling around the corner.
He hid behind an old crumbling building, which he presumed was once a post office.
He would have stayed there forever, if he hadn't seen the commotion going on.
Vecna was standing some distance from the wall he had mike pinned to.
Will found himself a bit confused about the scene he was witnessing, but it soon dawned on him.
Vecna was going to kill Mike.
"HEY. DICKBAG." Will yelled out, stepping out from behind the building and into view. He didn't know where this sense of bravery came from, but he allowed it to control him.
"WILL," Mike called. It was clear he wanted to get out.
"HOLD ON MIKE, I'M COMING,"
Will ran at top speed towards the once-human.
He needed to come up with a distraction.
Vecna glared at Will, unable to speak. Fear and confusion filled the young boy, until he noticed the black blood gushing down the monster's throat. he then noticed the sword, covered in the same black goop, between Mike and Vecna.
Will put the pieces together, and figured Mike had attempted to slash Vecna's throat, but it hadn't done much damage, except to his vocal cords, leaving him unable to speak.
Vecna moved all of his attention to Will, letting Mike fall to the floor with a soft oomph escaping they boy's lips.
Vecna raised a hand into the air, his Freddy Krueger fingers pointing at Will.
At this point, Vecna would give one of his stupid long monologues, but that, of course, didn't happen.
Instead, a low rumble began in the distance. Will darted his eyes over to the other boy, who was now scrambling to get up and grabbing his blade.
"WILL. WE NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE," he yelled.
"Wow, you think?" Will snorted as Mike grabbed his hand, pulling him along.
The two dashed through the street, praying they'd be able to make it away from whatever Vecna was summoning.
As it turns out, it was the largest flock of demobats the teens had ever seen. There were probably thousands, flying around in all different directions, heading straight for them.
The only way Will knew how to protect himself was by curling up into a ball, which is what he did.
Unlike when he was a child, this method worked this time. The bats seemingly flew away, and the two, although separated, had made it far away from Vecna.
Other than a few scratches here and there, Will was pretty much fine.
At least he thought he was, until he felt a warmth spread onto his back.
Slowly, Will reached a hand behind him, trying to reach the spot.
He pulled his arm back, bringing it close to his face, trying to make out the strange substance.
To his horror, it was a deep red.
blood
Scared for his life, Will called out to Mike.
"MIKE. HELP ME. OH MY GOD, PLEASE," He Screamed into the darkness.
With the black clouds and red lightning, it was really starting to feel like the end of the world. He thought that maybe he was in hell.
"MIKE, PLEASE. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP," Will howled, his voice cracking.
He didn't know what to do. He was scared of moving, thinking it would make his injury worse.
"MIKE," he sobbed one last time, tears flowed down his cheeks like waterfalls.
"I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die," he sniffed.
"W-will?," a weak voice spoke from behind him. Will sighed with relief.
"Mike, thank g-" a horrible sputtering noise interrupted the blood-soaked kid. Will gasped as his back was splashed with more of the warm fluid.
Confused, Will turned around.
it took will a moment to process what he was seeing, but when he did, it shook him to his core.
Mike was standing there, a bit slumped over like a zombie in a cartoon. He was holding his sword loosely, like he gave up on fighting. it was a strange sight to see, but the strangest part was the weird shape poking out of Mike's chest. Will squinted, and to his horror, it was one of Vecna's tentacles that had impaled Mike in the chest.
that wasn't my blood
Everything went quiet, Will's ears filled with a ringing sound. He could clearly hear the sound of his own heart thumping.
"no no no no no no NO NO," Will cried out, running towards Mike.
"T-this can't be happening," he felt himself go insane, as a laugh managed to slip out.
Soon, he was cackling, a horrible, ugly laugh.
"MIKE," He giggled. Mike's sword slipped out of his hands.
"MIKE, you need to wake up, I haven't told you I love you yet," he chuckled.
But Mike did. Mike told will he loved him two times now.
The first time was in the pharmacy, where he said it out right before running away. The second time was right now, when he he jumped in front of Will to protect him.
he saved him. Mike died his superhero