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Mike's eyes trace the basically invisible walls of the closet, the only noises being his and Will's breathing. Mike has been in here longer, willingly trapping himself inside before Will had come over. Will's shoulders are pressed to his, slightly shaking in the cold, and Mike is holding his hand, pretending to be the stronger one when he really just wants to cry forever.
"M-Mike?"
It takes him a moment to realize Will had said anything, had used his new name they found. He turns to Will, but it's too dark to see him. The small burst of euphoria at his name leaves as soon as it appears.
"Yeah?" he whispers back, his voice shakier, but not stuttering like Will's. He's cold, but he thinks his nightmare matters more, safety matters more, driving him to places where he knows he can protect himself.
Will squeezes his hand. "Are you okay?"
Mike knows Will is only in here for him, but as he opens his mouth, all of the words disappear. He closes his mouth again, swallowing hard. Flashes of his nightmare play in his head, his dad's face, the pain, being told it's a secret, their secret. "The closet isn't scary," Mike manages, pulling his legs closer and leaning into Will.
"Is outside the closet scary?" Will returns kindly, then shivers again, Mike feeling the shudder more than seeing it.
"Mhm," Mike confirms, his eyes staying on the faint light under the door, barely there with his room's light off. He rubs his eyes, growing tired again. "P-Promise you'll stay?" he adds moments later, his voice, even at five years old, uncharacteristically small.
"Yeah, of course, Mikey," Will returns, and Mike feels him let go before arms wrap around him.
Mike leans into it, trying not to shake or burst into tears.
They can help each other... even if Mike feels like his secret is burning him from the inside out because he can't say it. The closet is safe, Will is safe, Mike can...
Mike can be safe.