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They are outside the Squawk when they hear them.
The demogorgon screams echo through the darkness. Mike wants to run, for the first time in his life he doesn’t know if he can shoulder the responsibility of guiding the party, of being the heart.
He wonders why does he keep trying if he’s so darn tired.
His eyes follow the person on the front as he tightens his hands into firsts, his strong voice reverberating into the darkness.
“They are coming.”
That’s why he keeps trying. Will Byers is a reason, might be the most important one of all.
He watches as Will stretches, raising his arms, ready to try on the new powers he acquired. He’s so determined, so powerful and Mike is worried, he’s scared out of his mind that Will will do something, he’ll play hero, try to handle all of this on his own and Mike….well…. he will lose him.
And this time…this time there will be no turning back. Will is the type of a person that will sacrifice everything in order for this to end, even his own life and Mike can’t think of anything more heartbreaking. A life without Will Byers is a life in black and white, void of any colors, of any joy.
“Guys, you need to get inside right now!”
“But Will-” Robin, tries to speak before he’s cutting her off, hastily.
“Robin, listen to me you need to get inside! Please!”
The white of Will’s demo eyes is striking. Mike can see his face, a pleading expression thrown their way along with something more, fear.
Will is afraid he will lose them.
Well, fat chance he’s not going to obey and fall in line just because he’s the stronger one now.
“No.”
He observes as Will looks at him, clenching his mouth, trying to center himself so he won’t snap.
“Mike, you need to go. This is your life we are talking –” His best friend whispers, his lower lip trembling.
“And I said no. I’m not leaving you, Will. There’s not a chance in hell, I'm going away! They'll have to drag me by force!”
He steps forward, as he grabs his best friend by the shoulder, a current of electricity shooting through his entire body. Behind the white of his eyes he’s still the same Will, the boy he met on the swings. He’s the most beautiful person with the kindest smile and Mike won't abandon him ever again .
He won’t leave him because he loves him. He always will.
“Listen to me. Whatever happens we go through this together. United.”
He can see it so clearly, Will lost, scared out of his mind, sitting on the couch as Mike back then watched him unravel.
“If we both go crazy, then we'll go crazy together right?”
“Yeah. Crazy together.”
Will, stills as he grasps Mike’s hand.
If they die at least they’ll face that together, too.