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God damn it was the only thing Mike could think right now. He was currently sitting in the lunchroom with his friends, who were loudly talking about something he couldn’t understand. The lights were way too bright, and the room was really warm. He could smell the lunchroom food and hear the people around him chewing, and talking and slamming their hands on the tables. Everything mixed together made him nauseous. Mike rested his head in his arms, trying to block out the lighting that was starting to give him a headache. He tried to focus on what Dustin was talking to everyone about, but all he could understand was it had something to do with the campaign today. Eventually he gave up listening all together, trying to focus on getting his breathing under control. Unfortunately, Dustin wouldn’t let him.
“Mike, wake up! This is important information.” Dustin shouted at him, he put his hand on Mike’s shoulder and shook him. Mike flinched under the contact, his friend’s hand feeling entirely too warm on him. He picked his head up and immediately regretted it. The lights practically flash-banged him and it hurt really fucking bad. He blinked rapidly, hoping it would help his eyes, newsflash, it didn’t. Instead it made it worse
God damn it.
“Just tell me about it later, Dustin.” He muttered.
“There is no later! We don’t have any classes together after this dude!”
Suddenly everything around him felt ten times worse than before. Mike roughly brushed his hands through his hair, which eventually turned into him pulling at it. This got the attention of everyone sitting at the table. He hated the feeling of their stares, he felt like he was dying. Tears were forming in his eyes and his throat started to burn. Mike heard someone get up from their chair, they moved closer to him.
“Hey, come with me to the bathroom, yeah?” Mike heard Eddie say. He quickly got up and followed the elder, covering his ears as they walked out.
— — — — —
Eddie was so happy no one was in the bathroom when they got in there, because as soon as Mike’s feet hit the tile he immediately collapsed onto the ground a choked sob emitting from his throat. Eddie thought to catch him but remembered how he flinched when Dustin touched him. Instead, he sat down next to him and waited. Mike let out a slight humming noise as he rocked left and right, his hands still covering his ears. He looked like he was starting to hyperventilate. Eddie didn’t know what to do.
“Wheeler, try to breathe okay?” Eddie said, God, what do I do? Mike attempted to breathe slowly but entered a coughing fit of some sort, making him feel worse, he was crying now. His hums were getting louder. Eddie really wished that Byers kid was here and not in California, it would make this a whole lot easier. He sighed lightly, grabbing Mike’s hand and putting it to his chest.
“Follow my breathing okay? Can you do that?” He asked, Mike nodded. He exaggerated his breathing for Mike to follow. Eventually he got him to calm down.
They sat silently against the bathroom wall for a while. Eddie wasn’t sure if Mike would panic again, and they still had a few minutes before lunch was over. It felt really fucking awkward for both of them to be this quiet. Usually they laugh and talk non stop, to the point it annoys the others. Eventually Eddie spoke.
“So…what was that about?”
Mike sighed, really not wanting to explain it. He didn’t want Eddie to think he was sensitive. But then again, the guy wasn’t judgmental at all.
“So basically- I have this..problem..?” Mike started, Eddie gave him a look to urge him on.
“Sometimes everything feels like too much when there's a lot going on. Like- the reason I freaked out was because the light was too bright and everything was too loud. I know it's stupid but..”
“It’s not stupid!” Eddie burst, “What you’re experiencing is sensory overload. It’s not stupid or weird. I’m sorry you have to deal with that shit.” Mike shrugged.
“I’ve always been like this.” Mike always knew he was different, he knew other kids weren’t as sensitive to things like lights and noises, he knew people thought he was weird for it. His dad wasn’t happy when he got diagnosed, but it’s not like he could change anything about it.
Eddie tapped his shoulder, “you ready to head back?” He asked. Mike shrugged, letting Eddie pull him up. They walked back to the lunchroom, chatting away. Mike noticeably winced once they reached the cafeteria, his ears quickly getting used to the noise again. They sat down with the rest of the group.
“What happened back there?” Lucas asked.
“Just got overwhelmed.” Mike shrugged as he and Eddie sat down.
— — — —
Mike wasn’t surprised when he found a new pair of headphones and an eye mask in his locker the following Monday, with a note saying
"just in case! -Eddie"