Chapter Text
A pale ash coated the scene in front of him. The memories spent here summers ago crippling under the weight of hell waking beneath the earth. No kindness spared to any bit of the path bleeding straight into hawkins. As well as the heart of its residents. Beating hearts growing restless, tired, and too afraid to remain in the place they’re supposed to call home.
The place Mike calls his home.
Now, Mike isn’t stupid. He thinks.
Regardless of the ponderances of his own stupidity, he had a sneaking suspicion that whatever was brewing here in Hawkins wasn’t anywhere near the level of atrocities they’d faced previously. Even from “Sunny-Side California” across the country. But this, this was just so, so incomprehensible, so impossible, so something that should’ve never been able to happen. Evidently, it is definitely the sickening reality that sure is sure smacking him right in the goddamn face right about now. Oh and he’s definitely feeling the smacked part.
“We need to regroup and call the others, now, ” He strains hoarsely.
He meant to initially put up a brave front, as he always does.
More or less now though, he’s coming to accept the fact that he’s scared out of his fucking mind and sounding brave and confident isn’t exactly the biggest priority in his brain. He glances toward el, who nods slowly despite not moving from the ground. Then the others. Nancy, Jonathan, Hopper, and Joyce. All quietly holding hands as a vice for comfort. Which normally would disgust Mike. Climatically, thunder booms above them all.
So, holding hands is Definitely another thing on his growing list of things that disgust him that realistically won’t be dealt with later. Right now getting his ass back to the cabin sounds a lot more comforting and enjoyable. A glance also meanders towards Will.
William Byers.
His supposed best friend even before the beginning of when the world started to end.
But,
Does it really seem that way anymore?
Lonesomely he feels his hand twitch instinctively towards Will. Despite the growing and seemingly imendable distance between the two of them, Will was never one to deny Mike’s advances in turns of brushing shoulders or brisk hand taps under or around the table. So what if he wants in on some of that physical comfort. Hand holding really wasn’t THAT gross... Sue him. Alas, before their fingertips have the chance to brush against each other, a sharp pain shoots up his right nostril, quick without much of a wince or gasp, but still painful. A thick stream of crimson red blood drips down his face. Figures something like this would happen to him now of all times.
Before anyone could say anything or notice, he quickly spins around toward the cabin. Maybe more aggressively than he had originally intended, but it’s not like anyone would have the energy to care even if he was being a bit of an ass. Quickly rubbing the blood off on the inside of his sleeve where it was safely concealed.
It’s not like there was any need to worry anyone right? It’s probably just the stress of having no rest, clean water, or the imminent risk of death tipping him a bit over the edge. Nothings wrong. Everything is as fine as it could be in the world of Michael James Wheeler. The grass crunched beneath his feet, twigs snapped and birds flocked as far away from whatever growing death dusk coating the forestry. Predictably, Will kept a pace timidly behind him. El forged ahead, straight past him. A chill sparked between the two of them as she passed him, foreign to the neutrality and sameness that typically satiated between them. Their relationship had just bloomed into something more adult now. That’s all, he had said all that he needed to say between them during his big speech professing his unwavering love. He had said the big adult words he knew he needed to say. She just needed time to adjust, time to recover from the rift he had initially created between them. She’d come around, just like things always were. Like always. Like, always.
Sometimes he wished “always” never came.
Selfishly, he chides himself for the thought. Knowing that eventually patience would come.
That he would eventually be satisfied with the relationship between them. If every adult in the world could do it, so could Mike. She deserved that much after everything. Effort that should be effortless.
God he needs a break.
Will bravely returns to Mike's side. Still timid and unsure, yet, a familiar warmth blends between their rhythmic strides. A continual tranquility between them. One that he’s spent too long pretending not to miss with everything in him. He holds back the urge to glance once more.
“You holding up alright?” He manages.
“As much as anyone could be in my situation right now I guess…” Will mumbles, shrinking into himself.
Something Mike knew he always did to make himself seem smaller.
Mike’s glance softens, demeanor shifting to a protectiveness reserved only for Will.
“Everything will be ok. Everyone no matter where they are will see whatever the hell is going on with the sky and know to head back to homebase. You’re safe here. With us.” Willing his voice to sound like a promise more than a hope or wish. He notes Wills shoulders loosening up a bit from their initial tensity, a small wishful half-smile forming as quickly as it disappears.
After regrouping initially earlier in the day, everyone agreed to head back to Hop’s cabin (where El and the Byers were meant to be hiding away) in case of an emergency. A place only they knew, and to make sure precious cargo (the Byers and El) were ok. Now that Hop was back though, there would definitely need to be a conversation about a better space for at least some of the Byers… And if Mike secretly hoped they all would end up staying with him, nobody had to know…
The wood creaked as everyone dispersed inside. Noting that the grey asbestos-like snow had halted right by their feet as they began to head back. Nobody seemed to be in too much of a panic. On edge, but not scared as shitless as before. Mike and Will found themselves rosying over to the area they had been half-heartedly sweeping just a bit ago, seated on the same couch as before. The room is notably a bit dimmer.
“What about you?” Will started, shocking Mike at the abrupt make of conversation.
“I mean, maybe now would be a good time to talk to El?” He continues, “ I’m sure it’ll be better for both of you if you get whatever you think is going on between the two of you sorted.”
Will meekly twiddles his thumbs, making a point not to make any sort of glances towards Mike throughout his questioning. Still, he has a point. As much as Mike’s nerves would rather not be worried over something he knows he really shouldn’t be testing the waters over. Logistically, it would be smart to talk to El right now. He loosely curses himself for not thinking about it on his own. Of course, any other person would be able to mend whatever rift between themself and their girlfriend with ease. They’d probably come up with any sorts of witty pickup lines, whispering sweet nothings, an expensive gift or understanding for whatever thing it is between them keeping them from shared happiness. Lucky for him, Mike never seemed to have it that easy. Especially when their relationship was, is, and always has been mostly built off of shared trauma, kissing, clinging to each other like a lifeline, kissing, devotion to an absurd amount because that's just what people who are in love do, did he say kissing yet? Not that he was complaining about what they had. Again chiding himself returning back to the train of thought following how most people are fully capable of sticking it out and being that adultish person. He knows at the very least communication isn’t exactly his forte with girls. Let alone anyone at all honestly. Not even with El. Normally any and everything that's expected of him between him and her has to be spelled out to him by another person before he even realizes he’s caught up in the stubbornness of being too afraid to let their relationship change. Like an idiot. Why do things always end up changing?
He just needs to wait.
Unless Will suggests otherwise obviously… which, he had…
Despite that, despite being even told directly by Will to do so. He hesitates to get up. Is that really what he wants to do right now? To get up and talk to someone he knew he had no desire to be around? To mend something he doesn’t even know warranted the need to be mended? To fix something he thought he already fixed? No. Right now he needs to focus on mending other things. Other relationships that he had fucked up, that he was now starting to face the truth upon. With scars welded deep into his soul. Things that didn’t reside with El.
Things that are burning his soul too badly to continue to mindlessly ignore.
At least that's what his heart is screaming at him to do.
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He nods at Will, with a tentative smile, and a warm squeeze of the shoulders and heads towards El’s room.
“Thanks Will, you’re right. You always know what to say” he says, voice wavering, loosely grinning in a way that doesn’t really reach his cheeks.
He knocks gently on El’s bedroom door, knowing that's the direction she had most definitely been heading.
For someone who's supposed to be the heart of the party.
He’s never been very good at listening to his own.