Chapter Text
Mike, Mike, help me. Mike, I’m not ready to die.”
“Please hold on, Will stay awake, please.”
The stairs creak beneath Mike's feet as he makes his way down, the faint, lingering scent of the cookies Nancy and Jonathan baked still in the air. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing. He remembers what Will taught him. Long inhale, longer exhale. It helps, at least a little bit. These nightmares have been going on ever since he got back to Hawkins. He wasn't sure why they were happening, but they happened every single night. Things had at least been a little easier for him lately. School was out, so it didn't really matter if he was sleep deprived.
As he walks down the hallway, Mike trails his fingers along the wall until he finds the light switch. He flicks it on, and the kitchen floods with soft yellow light. Mike pauses, lost in his thoughts.
“Another nightmare?”
Mike turns to find Will standing in the doorway.
“Yeah.”
Mike hated admitting it; he hated when people felt worried about him, but somehow it was a little easier with Will.
“Who was it about this time?”
The words catch in his throat. Looking down, he clears it.
“Just my sister,” he says quietly, not meeting Will's gaze.
Will tilts his head. “If there's anything at all I can do to help, just tell me, okay?”
Mike nods. Will offers a reassuring smile and walks back out the door. As he disappears down the hallway, Mike wishes he were strong enough to ask him to stay, just for a little while. But he isn't.
He abandons the idea of water and heads back upstairs. When he reaches his room, he collapses onto his bed and stares at the ceiling.
Maybe he’ll be able to sleep, who knows?
The alarm's relentless beeping wakes him up. Groaning, he slams his hand on it, fumbling until the noise finally stops. He blinks his eyes open.
9:00 am. Great. Three hours of sleep.
Dragging himself up, Mike stumbles to his closet and grabs the first things he lays his hands on. Blue shirt and dark pants. Good enough.
He heads downstairs and into the kitchen, glancing around.
“Where's Will?” he asks.
Nancy rolls her eyes, “Still asleep. Both of them.”
Mike shakes his head. “I’ll go wake them.”
Running down the stairs, Mike grabs a pillow and crosses the basement to Will. Will is asleep face down as always. Mike laughs softly to himself; he doesn't know how Will hasn't managed to suffocate himself yet.
Mike starts hitting Will with the pillow.
“Wake up, Will Byers.” Mike says, in between hits.
Will groans, lifting his head just enough to glare at Mike.
“I’m awake, Jesus Christ.” Will says, pulling the pillow from Mike's hand.
Mike grins. “Had to be done.”
Will studies him for a moment, eyes narrowing. Suddenly, Mike feels like he's under interrogation.
“Did you sleep last night?”
Mike nods; technically, he did. Will just doesn't need to know he couldn't fall asleep until 6:00 am.
“Sure,” Will replies, standing up and hurling the pillow at Jonathan.
“What the hell?” Jonathan mutters.
“You forgot to set the alarm,” Will says as he walks up the stairs.
Mike shrugs apologetically at Jonathan before following Will.
Breakfast at the Wheeler house had been awkward lately, at least in Mike's opinion. He can tell his dad is growing increasingly irritated with the Byers family, though Mike can’t quite figure out why; he likes them, and he knows Nancy does too.
“Could someone pass the syrup, please?”
The syrup clatters as it makes its way over to Ted.
“Hey, be careful with that,” Ted snaps.
Karen clears her throat.“So, how are you boys liking being back in Hawkins?”
Jonathan nods, mouth full of food. “Missed it.”
“Yeah,” Will adds. “It feels more normal.”
Joyce smiles, nodding along.
“Good,” Karen says warmly, “That’s good.”
The rest of the breakfast passes in silence, broken only by the occasional chatter.
“Alright,” Nancy says, finally standing up. “You two want a ride with us?”
Mike and Will nod and follow Nancy and Jonathan out to their car.
“Lucas and Dustin might already be there,” Nancy says, getting into the front seat.
“Yeah,” Will agrees, closing his door. “I’m pretty sure Dustin said something about getting there early.”
The drive is short and quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
“Finally,” Dustin says, clasping his hands together. “You guys are here.”
They gather around the table, eyes scanning everything sprawled out.
“What is all this?” Mike asks, shuffling through them.
“Theories,” Lucas says.
Mike raises an eyebrow. “Theories?”
“Yes. Theories.”
“I mean theories on what you idiot.”
Lucas rolls his eyes, “Theories on why we haven't found Vecna yet. Whether he's hiding. Or dead.”
“He’s not dead.”
Everyone turns to Will.
“Don't you dare touch the back of your goddamn neck right now,” Robin says, backing away.
Will laughs, “No, oh my god, I'm just saying he's not dead, like there's no way.”
Steve lets out a breath of relief. “You scared me, Byers. Don't do that.”
Mike watches Will as he smiles, something warm and unfamiliar in his chest. He looks away sharply.
“Guys, enough jokes,” Nancy cuts in, raising an eyebrow. “Vecna?”
Everyone refocuses their attention on Nancy.
“Nancy's right, we need to figure this out. Why has he been hiding?” Jonathan asks, furrowing his brows, trying to read the papers.
Steve turns to Will, “Anything from that brain of yours lately? Any signs?”
Will shakes his head.
“I know you guys just got here, but is anyone up for a little break?” Robin asks, rubbing her head.
Lucas nods, “Yes, please, my whole brain is fried.”
Mike sinks onto the couch, overcome by exhaustion. He leans his head back, thoughts scattering. His mind has been all over the place lately; too many emotions, none making sense. If the nightmares he’d been having were about Lucas one night and then Nancy another, then maybe he wouldn't be so confused and worried, but no. His nightmares were always about one person.
“Is everything okay?”
Mike breaks out of his thoughts. He looks up to find Will standing over him.
“Why do you ask?”
Will sits next to him, “You just seem kind of stuck in your mind today.”
Well fuck. Mike should've known Will would be able to see right through him.
“You don't have to tell me what it's about,” Will adds. “Just know that I'm here. Always.”
Mike nods. He doesn't know why he can't just tell Will, but he's grateful Will doesn't push. He doesn't want to lie to him, but even more so, he couldn't tell Will this.
They sit in comfortable silence. Mike doesn't realize how exhausted he truly is from the nightmares, but eventually, his body gives in, and he drifts off.
“This is actually really sweet.”
Mike wakes up, startled, to see Robin and Steve standing in front of him, laughing.
“Look who's awake,” Robin grins.
Mike blinks, looking around. He’s still at the WSQK. And, looking to his right, he realizes the pillow wasn't a pillow. It was Will. Mike’s eyes widen just as Steve blows the blow horn.
“Holy shit.”
Will opens his eyes and turns his head, his face inches away from Mike's. Mike's mouth drops as he scrambles to his feet.
“I have to go talk to Nancy,” Mike blurts, bolting out, leaving a very confused room.
He shuts the bathroom door and looks at himself in the mirror.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he freak out so badly? Oh my god, what were Robin and Steve thinking? What was Will thinking? Mike was fucked. Truly fucked. Why in hell was he feeling like this?
Mike breathes out shakily.
Vecna.
Yeah, that's it. Vecna.
He clings to that thought to give him some solace.
When he finally does open the door, he is met by Steve walking by.
“Wow,” Mike mutters. “My luck is insane.”
Steve laughs. “Thought you needed to talk to Nancy?”
Mike raises his brows, “Right,” Mike says quickly. “Washed my hands first.”
“Right,” Steve says. “And can I ask what the hell that was?”
Mike sighs. Wow. So he is fucked.
“What do you mean?” he asks, forcing a smile.
“Why did you freak out when he woke up?”
Mike looks away, unable to meet Steve's gaze. He opens his mouth, but no words seem to come out.
Steve watches him for a moment. “Relax, he thought you woke up from the horn too.”
Mike snaps his head up, “What? And you didn't tell him?”
Steve shakes his head. “Didn't seem necessary.”
“I wasn’t freaking out because of Will,” Mike insists.
Steve nods. “Right.”
“Right.”
Later, Mike stands outside, staring up at the night sky. He doesn’t want to think about today or the way Robin and Steve looked at him. People fall asleep on their best friends all the time, right?
“Mike, what is up with you today?”
He turns to see Nancy walking towards him.
“Nothing,” He says. “Why?”
She puts her hands on her hips. “Nothing? Really?”
“Yeah. Nothing.”
“Mike, you have been so out of it today. I know we don't always talk about emotions, but I'm your sister, I'm here.”
Mike smiles, small but sincere. “I know, thanks.”
Nancy pats his shoulder. “We’re heading out now, let’s go.”
The car ride is quiet; everyone is exhausted and not particularly in the mood to talk.
“Home sweet home,” Nancy says, opening the front door and releasing a sigh of relief.
“I need my bed,” Jonathan says, following her in.
Nancy nods and turns towards the stairs.
Will closes the door behind them and heads down to the basement. Mike chooses not to follow. He still feels awkward about before, even if Will thought Mike woke up when he did.
After changing his clothes, Mike collapses onto his bed. What was wrong with him, seriously?
He turns over and attempts to fall asleep, praying another nightmare won't come. Though, inevitably, he knows it will.