Chapter Text
Mike thought it was finally over for him. The Demogorgon was right in front of him and he couldn’t think of a way out fast enough. In the past Mike was saved by someone else, usually El. He had been getting better at fighting but seeing as he was already knocked down with no weapons near him, he felt pretty defenseless. Mike’s thoughts went to the kids and Holly. He and the rest of the party tried so hard to save those kids and get Holly back, but it wasn’t enough. Mike couldn’t believe after everything that happened, he still couldn’t stop Vecna- Henry, from taking other kids like Will had been taken all those years ago.
Will.
Mike had seen Vecna bring Will over to him, he knew Will was probably terrified, but Mike couldn’t help him. Nope, he had this giant Demogorgon in his way. Mike began backing away from the monster but backed into a military car behind him. Mike stared for some time at the flower like face of the demon pondering how all those sharp teeth would eviscerate him. Mike then looked behind the monster to where Will was. Mike thought about his best friend, he wondered how Will would handle all this without him, he tried letting Will know how amazing he was to Mike. Well, Mike thought that was what he was doing but he didn’t know how well that actually came across. Will the Wise wasn’t just a dnd character name that sounded good for a sorcerer, Mike always found him to be the most well attuned person he knew. That was Will’s greatest strength to Mike, his ability to understand people and be very in tune with his emotions.
It was when Mike looked back at the Demo when he saw it. It kind of froze in place mid jump, then its limbs began contorting, breaking and bleeding everywhere. It kind of reminded him of something El would do with her powers except there was something different about it. As the beast finished exploding into a fleshy blob, Mike looked over and saw that it was Will. The way Will was moving his hands and concentrating on the monster Mike just knew. He couldn’t believe that his theory about Will was true. Part of him was kind of terrified by it but as he saw Will lock eyes with him and wipe away a nosebleed Mike had one thought suddenly come into focus: Hot.
But as soon as the thought was there, Mike shook his head to ignore it. He quickly ran over to Will who was now kneeling, his hands were on the ground trying to steady himself. Will felt like everything was spinning and he felt very lightheaded. He collapsed on the ground before Mike could reach him. Things went fuzzy for a few seconds when he started to hear his name.
“Will, Will! Dude, holy shit! Are you okay?” Mike came over and lifted Will up slightly. Will slowly opened his eyes which focused on Mike’s face. Will wondered if he died or was possibly having a good dream which was very rare since all of this Upside-down stuff happened. Mike looked like an angel with the Military lights framing his face perfectly and his focus was purely on Will. He looked worried, which Will sometimes wondered if that’s all he’d make Mike feel.
“Mike” Will croaked weakly. Mike began to smile at seeing Will was awake, even if he was weak.
“Dude! I told you; you’re a sorcerer!” Mike couldn’t hide his excitement at this new development. Will tried propping himself up even though he liked being in Mike’s arms.
“Whoa, Will slow down,” Mike caught Will after the failed separation attempt, “that was like your first time doing that and if it works the same way El’s powers do then you probably drained your battery. Just rest for now eventually I’ll get you food and some water.”
“Can you...” Will began but still felt very faint.
“Anything you need dude,” Mike said still holding Will in his arms and Will knew if he wasn’t so weak his cheeks would be bright red.
“Can you go check on my mom?” Will finished.
“Oh-oh shit, yeah” Mike felt a blush beginning to form even though he didn’t really understand why. He was just focused on Will to make sure he was okay, nothing worth feeling embarrassed. Mike tried to lightly place Will back on the ground.
“Sorry, I’ll go check on her and then I’ll come back to you,” Mike reassured Will.
“Ms. Byers!” Mike yelled out as he ran towards Joyce. Will looked over to see Mike helping his mom get up when he faded out of consciousness again.
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By the time Will opened his eyes again he found himself on the couch at the Squawk radio station. He sat up and started looking around the room to assess his surroundings. It was fairly dark in the station, but he could see sunlight peeking through some of the windows. His eyes eventually settled on Mike, whose head was resting towards Will’s feet. Will couldn’t help but admire how peaceful Mike looked sleeping there. His eyes fluttered, showing off his eyelashes and his mouth was parted slightly open. One of Mike’s hands was loosely holding onto Will’s leg like even in sleep Mike was worried about Will slipping away from him. Well, Will wanted to think that was why Mike was doing it.
Memories of what happened at the Mac-Z came back to Will. He had powers. He killed Demogorgons. Not just one, but three. He didn’t really understand where it all came from. He remembered what Vecna had said to him, that he was easy to break and that he didn’t belong here. Part of Will had thought some of that himself for a while. Even before everything with the Upside Down everyone treated him like he was fragile and weird. Of course it got worse after everything that happened, his mom became a total helicopter parent when it came to him. He realized he was weird and not just for liking dungeons and dragons more than sports or girls. But because he liked boys more than girls. One in particular just to curse him more than he already was. He felt practically destroyed after what Vecna said but then what Robin had said earlier that night came back to his mind. He really had let other’s opinions of him control how he felt and acted. His dad was the first who made him feel like he was wrong. His dad wanted a totally different kind of son than what he got in Will, Will hated physical activity and was too much of a cry baby for being a boy, at least to Lonnie. Once he started school that message of being wrong seemed reinforced by all the other kids in class. Except for Mike Wheeler. His mother loved him but was too busy fighting her own battles with Lonnie to really be there for Will. But Mike was always there for him. There was probably a period when Will spent more time at the Byers’ house than his own. Everything Mike got into Will would join in and vice versa. That included Nintendo, DnD, and being friends with Lucas and Dustin. To Will, Mike was a beacon of light in his dreary existence.
He doesn’t even fully know when he first fell in love with Mike. Will always knew Mike was special, of course. He always felt a knot in his stomach whenever he saw Mike with El, but he first just thought it was because he just wasn’t used to losing his friends to girls yet. He didn’t feel that knot in his throat around Lucas and Max though. He then just wrote it off as Mike being his best friend. It wasn’t until they moved to Lenora and Will was listening to Jonathan ramble about his love for Nancy to him and Argyle that it started to click for Will:
“You guys just don’t get it, you’ve never been in love,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, yeah Byers your sadness is just too hard to comprehend for our small minds,” Argyle quipped back.
“Yes,” Jonathan said, “your pea brain wouldn’t be able to even handle a girl like Nancy.”
“Yeah, I get it, she is a bodacious babe,” Argyle said.
“No man,” Jonathan sighed, “I mean sure Nancy is hot but like, it’s more than that. She’s my best friend dude. I went from doing everything with her to now being thousands of miles from her! She’s been there for me through so much and she just seems to get me when no one else has or probably ever will.”
“Hey, I get you too!” Argyle said.
“No, not like Nancy,” Jonathan said.
After hearing Jonathan describe his and Nancy’s relationship it made Will think about Mike. Mike was that person to Will and ever since that revelation it was driving him crazy. These feelings are what led him to making that painting for Mike. Of course, he painted Lucas and Dustin in it to not make things too obvious, but it was always just for Mike. Mike who was still clinging to Will’s leg. Will could feel the heat from his hand despite having the blanket as a buffer between them. Will often wasn’t that affected by the cold since being in the upside down, but he always basked in Mike’s warmth. He knew Mike probably would never feel the same way Will felt about him and while it hurt him, at times he felt being Mike’s friend would still be enough. Just having him near him would be enough.
“Oh, you’re finally up, Boy Wonder,” Robin broke the tranquil silence which caused Will to slightly jump.
“Jesus, Robin how long have you been standing there?” Will spoke softly, hoping not to wake Mike.
“Not that long really, was just coming to relieve your watchdog of his duties,” Robin walked over and sat at the edge of the coffee table, “he’s been very adamant that he stays glued right by your side.” The statement made Will blush.
“Are you okay? What about the others?” Will decided to change the subject, partially not to acknowledge what she was saying but also because he was genuinely worried.
“Yeah, for the most part, Murray and Lucas have some gnarly wounds but they were awake when I drove them to the hospital so that’s good. Your mom had some cuts and bruises, but she just finally passed out. She was super worried about you and kept trying to contact the others but no luck of course.” Will breathed a sigh of relief.
“Wait if Murray and Lucas are in the hospital then where are the…” Will began but Robin cut him off.
“Yeah, they all were taken” Robin’s smile disappeared when she said that.
“Shit,” Will said thinking back on everything that happened at the military base. When the Demogorgon got hit with the flame thrower, he blacked out from the pain until Henry forced him up. He didn’t even realize the kids were gone. Will was so disgusted by the thought of what could be happening to them in the Upside Down. They all tried so hard to save them and even when he gained superpowers Will still couldn’t protect them.
“Hey, listen, we’ll get them back, okay?” Robin reassured Will and covered his hand with hers, “I’m sure the others will find them now that they’re over there too.” Will wanted to believe that; he wanted to have hope. But he remembered something Vecna had said to him.
“He doesn’t want to kill them,” Will said, “he said I was his first and that I was easy to break…I think he wants to use them for…something.”
“World domination?” Robin asked.
“I mean I don’t know…maybe?” Will said, “I think that would explain some stuff going on with me…if I was the first like he said.”
“Oh, you mean like your new abilities to kill monsters?” Robin said. Will widened his eyes at her.
“Dude, Mike and Erica told us what you did at the base and Lucas and I compared notes. You know, I don’t think El has even killed demons when she isn’t in the same room as them. Very impressive,” Robin gave him a thumbs up, the two laughed. Mike seemed to wake up then, eyes slowly opening.
“Will?” he mumbled sleepily. His hand slowly left Will’s leg and while he was happy to see Will awake, he couldn’t help but notice Robin was practically holding Will’s hand. He didn’t fully know why but he didn’t like it.
“Yeah?” Will responded. Mike dragged his eyes away from their hands to Will’s face.
“I’m sorry was my sleeping interrupting something?” Mike said with slight annoyance. Robin and Will then gave each other a look which only made Mike feel more annoyed and this weird knot formed in his stomach.
“Oh, no, of course not,” Will said with slight confusion.
“I was going to give you a break from watching over Will,” Robin said.
“I think I’m good,” Mike said then focused on Will, “unless, Will, do you want a break from me?” Will’s eyes widened and he felt his face go hot.
“What, no… no, I don’t need a break from you, Mike,” Will stammered out. Will then gave Robin a slightly awkward panicked look while Mike looked at her like he had won a battle.
“Well…I can scrounge us up some food then…maybe visit Murray and Lucas at the hospital,” Robin said.
“Oh, maybe we all should visit them later?” Will looked at Mike as if for some confirmation. Mike’s face immediately softened at Will’s attention being on him.
“Yeah, we can do that later,” he said while only looking at Will. There was a small beat where the two were just looking at each other and Robin could tell she could burst into flames and the two wouldn’t notice.
“ Okay,” she drew the word out, “so later…hospital. Right now, I will make us all something to eat…if Steve didn’t already eat everything.” Robin then exited the room knowing neither were actually listening to her.
“Are you feeling okay?” Mike asked.
“Yeah, and you?”
“Uh, yeah I’m good all thanks to you!” Mike was practically beaming. This made Will turn slightly away, shy.
“You totally decimated those monsters! I told you…you’re a sorcerer!” Mike slightly shoved Will.
“Well, I don’t feel all that magical right now,” Will said, “I only have these powers because I think Vecna wants to use me for his big destroy the world plot which is also why he’s taken all these kids.”
“Dang, I mean I guess you being part of the hive mind makes more sense now,” Mike said then grabbed his shoulder, “but what Vecna wants doesn’t mean you have to give it to him. These are your powers now. Johnny Blaze still does heroic things as the ghost rider even though he got his powers from Mephisto.” Will gave Mike an incredulous look. Sometimes he couldn’t tell why he was in love with such a nerd (which is saying a lot since he’s a nerd too).
“Mike…that’s a comic book,” Will said.
“Yeah, and Vecna and the Demogorgon are villains in dnd that we use as names for these real life demons because they’re pretty similar. So, is me comparing you to a guy who fights villains while his head and body turn into flames because he was cursed by a demon really too much of a stretch for you?”
“Yeah, but I can’t help but think this is why people call us freaks,” Will said with a slight laugh.
“I mean yeah, we are,” Mike said, “but I’ll take being labeled a freak any day over being just some other mouth breather.” Mike, using his favorite insult, made Will laugh and soon Mike joined in with him.
“But seriously Will,” Mike said as their laughter died down and put his hand over Will’s, “Vecna might’ve done something terrible to you, and I constantly wish you never had to go through that. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use these powers for good. He may think he knows you, but he doesn’t. I know you and I know that you’re not evil or weak or whatever negative thing you think you are. You’re Will Byers, my best friend. I will always follow you into whatever battle you have going on whether it’s with real demons or some asshole who thinks because he can throw and catch a ball that means he can say whatever the fuck he wants to you. All those bullies probably know that you’re so much more than they ever could be. You’re so smart and creative which those guys probably couldn’t even walk and chew gum so…” Mike trailed off when he noticed how Will was looking at him. He couldn’t really tell what it meant but he knew it felt intense. He coughed, clearing his throat.
“I’m sorry I’m rambling, aren’t I? I think it’s from lack of sleep or something,” He said and removed his hand from Will’s to rub the back of his neck sheepishly, “but like all I’m trying to say is that…this can be good.” He actually had no idea where he was going after he called Will smart, but it was originally just to put a positive spin on the new powers.
“I guess, but we lost the kids and now half the party is in the upside down,” Will said.
“Yeah, but the half that’s still here would’ve been dead if it wasn’t for you man,” Mike said, “and about the kids, I know we’ll get them out of there.”
“How are you so positive still?” Will asked.
“Well, if I’m the heart of the party as your painting so accurately represents, I have to be hopeful,” Mike smiles cheekily.
“My painting? You still remember it?”
“Yeah, of course, I mean you said El asked you to make it for me,” Mike said. Will’s face fell slightly at being reminded of his lie.
“But I also keep all your art that you give me,” Mike added, “well I did at least, I think some of it got destroyed when that Demo sent my dad through the walls the other night.”
“Oh, right,” Will wanted to steer away from recent events now, “well I’m glad to know I have such a huge fan.” Mike smiled, going for the bait.
“Don’t get too cocky, I just have good taste,” Mike said.
“I feel so honored having my art hung up next to your Conan poster,” Will said.
“You should be, only the best art can coexist with Schwarzenegger’s abs and sword,” Mike retorted. (Authors note: I’m so sorry I can’t fathom why a teenage boy has a poster of prime Arnold Schwarzenegger up in his room OTHER THAN the abs. Straight dudes probably had it up in their rooms too but as a girl I can truly only comprehend one REAL reason. So I’m making the boy sound hella gay here sorry not sorry :))
“Ah yes, the highest of honors,” Will said playfully.
“You’re just jealous of his abs,” Mike fires back.
“I’m jealous!?” Will gasps, “you’re scrawnier than I am?!”
“Yeah, but I make it work,” Mike said. This led Will to look over Mike from head to toe. Will knew being gay wasn’t a choice because if it was, he certainly wouldn’t choose to find this gangly nerd attractive. But he did.
“You do,” Will said without thinking. He immediately regretted it, his eyes growing wide while Mike’s face turned pink.
“Listen, I…” Will began when the door burst open and Joyce Byers came running in calling for her son.
“Oh, Will, sweetheart, are you okay?!” Joyce ran over to Will and began her regular routine after these sort of things where she hugged him tightly and began inspecting his face. Robin soon followed behind giving Will an apologetic look and holding a head of lettuce.
“Sorry guys all I’ve got is this lettuce which Murry only brought to hide grenades with so…I think we’d have better luck at the hospital.” Will couldn’t decide if his mom just saved him or just prolonged the inevitable.