Chapter Text
Will’s ears are ringing.
He vaguely recalls the sound of gunfire and demogorgon wailing. Someone important to him was in danger. Mike.
Will had tapped into Vecna’s hivemind and borrowed his powers to crumple the demos. The effort of it all burns through him, settling deep in his bones. His head felt like it was splitting open from the inside.
He wiped away the blood that leaked from his nose, barely registering it, before his knees gave out beneath him and his vision became splotchy. The world tilted and the last thing he remembers was the look on Mike’s face as the boy rushed to him, worry lines etched in his forehead.
Then everything had gone dark.
Now, sitting up from a bed, Will glances around himself. The bedsheets he’s tucked in are pink and the walls are a light sage colour. He knows this room. It reminds him of Eleven’s room back in Lenora, only cleaner. No piles of letters and junk sent from Mike. He turns his head toward the bedside table and notices a glass of water sitting there for him. Will grabs it and takes a small sip, his throat sore and dry.
The door creaks open. His mom walks in and takes a seat by him at the edge of the bed.
“Hey, baby… how are you holding up?”
Will rubs at his eyes and sits up a little higher. “Ugh,” he mutters. “Terrible.” He still had the headache from last night and he felt his skin bruising up from when he tackled delightful Derek.
She smiles faintly, though her face is still evidently worried. “You scared us.”
“How long was I out?”
“Just overnight. It’s a little past noon.”
Will nods and leans his head on the wall, closing his eyes and lets out a deep breath. His mom sits closer.
“Honey, do you want to talk about what happened?”
Will in fact did not, but he knew he was bound to have this conversation at some point. After a slight nod, he opens his eyes and begins.
“Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure what happened… one moment he was there, and I- I felt so hopeless. Vecna… he said that I was just the first. That I broke easily… I think- I mean, he was trying to get to me. To… make me ashamed.”
Joyce frowns. “Will, whatever he said is not true. You know how he manipulates people. What you did last night… you saved their lives.”
“But… it is! It is true!” he suppresses a sob. “I am different!”
“I know. You’re different from other kids. You’ve… had a rough childhood. No one should have gone through all that at your age. The Upside Down, the possession, it’s one thing after another. It’s a lot to handle.”
“No mom, it’s not that.” He shifts, restless. Joyce places a steady hand on his shoulder.
“Is it- is it the new powers? What happened last night? Believe me Will, you are nothing like that monster. You used his powers just like El does. To save people. You're a hero.”
While he did relate to that predicament, Will was not talking about that at this moment. He had something else on his mind. Someone else.
“I... mean yeah, but I didn’t mean that either. Um, so do you remember the names people used to call me?” Joyce nods while deep in thought.
“Tutti Frutti, Tinker-Byers, Pansy Willy, The triple B; Brokeback Byers…. Uhhh- Zombie boy?”
“OKAYYY that’s enough of those! Where did you even hear them?”
“Baby, as the former retail clerk of Melvald’s General Store, I heard a lot of talk… that doesn’t mean you necessarily are those words.”
“But, I- I am, mom. I experience homosexual tendencies.”
Joyce does not look fazed. She nods with understanding and takes his hand.
“Will,” she says softly, “I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve seen your sketches… there are a lot of boys or I guess, one boy in particular. I’m not sure he has quite so many abs though.” She chuckles.
Will chokes. “WHAT- mom, no, I mean, yeah- how could you look through my sketchbook?”
“Im your mother,” Joyce says as she puts her hands up in surrender. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, son. I’ve known for a while now. I know it’s been hard for you, considering… well considering everything.”
Will lets out the sob he’s been holding, hot tears streaming down his cheeks. Ever since the Upside Down, he’s felt like even more of a mistake. It’s been horrible having to face these burdens on his own. Once he starts, all the feelings he’s been bottling up come pouring out.
“It’s like they’ve all grown up without me, “ he cries. “The Party stopped playing D&D with me. All Mike could talk about, was- was- El. I felt so lonely. And you, you had Bob and now Hopper… Jonathan, he got all taken up by Nancy, with work, and then with- nevermind. I just couldn’t talk to anyone.”
Will hunches over as more tears stream down his face. Joyce wraps her arms around him and rubs reassuring circles along his back.
“It’s okay baby, it’s okay. I’ve got you.”
The door swings open.
“El’s back from the Upside Do- Oh.”
Mike freezes in the doorway. Will immediately wipes his eyes, mortified. Joyce speaks first.
“Okay Mike, that’s great news. Um, how about we meet you outside. Just give us five minutes?”
“Yeah,” Mike mutters “Sure thing, Mrs Byers.”
The door closes.
***
El is covered in blood and upside down goop.
Hopper looks even worse, with a bandaged abdomen and a solemn look on his bald head. They weren’t alone. A girl with brown skin and a buzz—you might say a fellow baldy—sat behind El, arms crossed.
“Greetings WIlliam.” The stranger says, giving a small wave.
“Uh, hey?”
El jumps in, “This is my sister. Her name is Kali. We found her in the Upside Down and she said she is willing to help us defeat Henry. Isn't that great!?”
“Uhh yeah… thanks?”
Hopper grunts as if to speak but Kali interrupts him.
“I’ve got a plan.”
Hopper looks enlightened. “Yes, do tell. I’ve been waiting to hear this plan for hours.”
“Well…” Kali begins, but is interrupted by a muffled sound coming from El’s backpack.
“This is Erica. Do you copy? Over.”
El scrambles to get the walkie talkie and replies. “I copy. What is up?”
“You guys need to drag your asses over here asap.” Erica continues. “We’re at the Squak. You got ten minutes.”
“Got it, we are coming,” El said, and pushed down the talkie antenna.
***
At the WSQK, Murray ushers them in when they reach the door and they join Robin, Lucas and Erica in the break room. Everyone seats.
“Good to meet you everyone,” Kali interrupts. “My name is Kali-”
“Guys we need a plan. Alright Joyce, what was your idea?” Murray prompts.
“No, no, let Kali finish.”
“No, go ahead Mrs. Byers,” Kali shakes her head.
“We get Will close to the hivemind, and once he’s in, he jacks back in, except this time he doesn’t go after a demo, he goes after Vecna. One blow, takes him out. Ends him. Ends his army, ends this nightmare.” She smiles awkwardly, “That’s it. Well? There are no bad ideas.”
A moment of silence. Robin breaks it. “I… uh, think it’s a great plan.”
“Yeah, no, yeah, it’s a good plan.” Murrey stutters.
“Will,” Robin continues. “You took out a demo with your mind?” Her face beams with pride.
“Three to be exact,” Mike says. Will feel himself heat up.
“Simultaneously,” Lucas adds.
“You are like us now.” Kali mentions as she tilts her head toward El.
“Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit.” Exclaims Murray.
“His powers are innate.” Mike nods, fascination on his face.
“Why does that matter?” Will feels embarrassed from all the eyes in him.
“It matters,” Mike says passionately. Will feels himself blush and he looks away so no one notices.
Hopper runs a hand through his bald. “I don’t see the point in this conversation. We’ve got three superpowered heroes and one Vecna. I say the odds are in our favour. You said that one of the demos got in through the tunnel near the MAC-Z. I say we go back down there and blow a hole in the bitch with a blowtorch, find Vecna, and end this.”
Joyce scowls, “that’s basically what I just said!”
Hopper just smirks. Kali stands up from her lotus position and stares into the void.
“Uhh– what’s up with her?” Lucas asks.
“I have an idea.” Kali snaps back. “You three,” she points to Erica, Eleven and Murray, “will come with me to Hawkins lab. In the Upside down. We will dismantle the military there and take control of the weapons.”
“Jim, will go with you three,” she points to Joyce, Lucas, and Robin, “to the radio tower, where you will turn the voltage all the way up in case a demogorgon comes. Jim will act as bait. Send those demos reeling. And…” she scans the room for any leftovers, eyes landing on Will and Mike.
“You two can go and open the gate from the tunnels the demogorgon left over. Take a blowtorch, ok? We’ll all meet in the Upside down, find 001, and destroy him. Got it?”
Hopper and Joyce share a look and shrug. “Well, it’s not like we have a better plan…”
Mike glances at Will and opens his mouth, but quickly looks away. Whatever he was about to say, he seems to think better of it.
They head to Murray’s truck to pick up the blowtorches and shovels and wave off the others as they head to MAC-Z.
“So,” Mike draws out.
“Hello, Michael.” Will says awkwardly.
Mike smiles. “What you did back there… It was awesome, you know. I felt like I was twelve again, watching Eleven flip a truck or something. But it’s not like you were there to see that, huh? Uh…”
Will looks down at his shovel. “Yeah.”
“Thanks for saving me. Uh, y’know, it was pretty great not being devoured by that demo.”
“Yep, sorcerer Will sure did score a few more skill points last night. Still no mage, but…”
“Are you kidding?” Mike says. “You’re a sorcerer! How many times do I have to tell you before you start believing in yourself? You’re incredible, Will. My own superhero.”
Mike’s arm nudges Will’s and his gaze lingers a little too long. Then he turns away.
It’s moments like this that make Will question everything.
Over the past eighteen months that he and Jonathan have been living with the Wheelers, a lot has changed between Will and Mike.
Will was meant to sleep on the pullout mattress in the basement with Jonathan but his brother always snuck into Nancy’s room and Will had been left alone for the first few nights. His friendship with Mike was still recovering from their awkward period of not really talking to each other.
Mike seemed to do a complete 180 when they returned to Hawkins last year. He took every opportunity to sit next to Will when they hung out with the Party. He would sometimes sit extremely close to Will, their elbows or knees touching, without a care. One day, Mike snuck into the basement and joined Will on the pullout. Without warning, he had gone under the blankets and wrapped his long arm around Will, making his breathing stop for a moment. They fell asleep like that and Will wondered if this was a thing regular friends — best friends — do. They used to have sleepovers all the time as kids, but they never really cuddled. That was new. And Will didn’t know what it all meant.
How could Mike act like this when he was in a loving relationship with Will’s sister. His question was somewhat answered later.
By then, Will had been living with the Wheelers for four months. Mike had slept in the basement with Will for a week before suggesting they move upstairs to Mike’s room, which was warmer and cozier— and a lot scarier than the basement. Will was scared that Mr Wheeler would make a big deal of two boys sleeping in the same room together, but he barely noticed, too busy watching TV or reading the newspaper. Mrs Wheeler, of course, knew, but didn’t mind at all. She helped them move the pullout upstairs and made sure Will had extra blankets and pillows.
That first night, Will lay awake staring at Mike’s ceiling for what felt like forever before his thoughts were interrupted by a quiet whisper.
“Will?”
He waited a second before answering.
“Yeah?”
“El and I broke up.”
Will hadn’t expected that. He never thought he would hear those words. He turned his head toward Mike but could only make out his faint silhouette. He didn’t know what to say, so he quietly whispered, “Oh.”
“We’re still, like, on good terms,” Mike continued. “I think I’ll always love her, but… not romantically, I guess. Things were kind of hanging on by a thread since you guys moved to Lenora, and after we came back to Hawkins, it just wasn't the same. We work better as friends.” Mike took a deep breath. Then the bed creaked as he sat on the floor, elbows resting on the pullout, and Will felt his hand brush his forearm.
“Will… I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Yeah,” Will said softly, “Me too.”
Without another word, Mike climbed onto the pullout and wrapped his arms around Will. A hand slipped under his shirt, gently resting on his stomach, and Will didn’t know what it meant. They fell asleep like that, and repeated this routine every night after that.
It was moments like this that made Will more confused than ever. Mike never told anyone else about breaking up with El. Even now, months later, the Party has no clue they aren’t together.
Why had Mike told him and only him?
Some days, Will wonders if the nights they spent together ever meant something. Could Mike possibly have feelings for him too? There were moments when it felt like it might be true… but nothing ever happened. Mike was either oblivious to Will’s feelings or simply didn’t return them.
The pair finally reach the entrance to the tunnel. Mike opens the latch for the trap door, letting Will climb in first. They switch on their flashlights and walk in silence toward where the demogorgon had left a gate.
The tunnel smells damp and nasty. Will wrinkles his nose as his boots sink slightly into the ground beneath him.
Mike walks just ahead of him, shovel slung over his shoulder, blowtorch in hand. Their flashlights cut narrow paths through the darkness.
Neither of them speaks.
Will can feel it again, the low humming in his head. It’s not necessarily painful, but it’s there. The hivemind, waiting for him.
“You okay?”
Mike’s voice is quiet.
“I don’t know… it feels like just a headache. But I can sense the hivemind, like, it’s getting closer or something.”
Mike nods, “If it gets bad, you tell me. Okay?”
Will glances at him. “You’re not exactly equipped to fight psychic monsters,”
Mike huffs. “I’ve got a shovel.”
“That’s reassuring.”
They both laugh and walk a little further until finally reaching a jagged tear in the side of the tunnel, dark and raw, with a thin orange seam in the middle.
The gate.
Will stops short. His breath catches.
Images flash behind his eyes; red lightning, long sharp fingers, entwined with vines, a voice whispering his name like it’s always owned it.
“Will?” Mike asks, voice full of concern.
Will feels frozen in place, overrun with the echo of Vecna’s presence in his mind.
You came back.
Will shudders.