Chapter Text
Chapter One
Headaches
The first thing Mike noticed when he woke up was the splitting headache he had.
It was one that ran bone deep, penetrating his skull in deep waves of hurt. He winced sitting up, his cranium feeling like jello as Mike laid a hand on his forehead. He noted that the skin was pretty hot but didn't think anything of it. Maybe it was just a side effect of his nightmares.
Mike sighed and forced himself off his bed, the warm sheets seeming to call his name as he stretched and slid into the bathroom. Surprisingly, Nancy wasn't there so Mike took his sweet time fixing his hair and brushing his teeth. The toothpaste made his mouth feel acidic and his head throb but he pushed it down. Mike just chalked it up to being really hungry. With a yawn, he descended the stairs into the kitchen.
“Good morning, sweetie. You’re up early.” His mom comments, a soft smile on her face nonetheless as she plants their breakfast. “Holly, honey, could you wake up the rest of the house?”
Holly nods her head excitedly, rushing to the living room to shout. “BREAKFAST!”
Mike covers his ears.
Thanks Holly, really great for my migraine right now.
Mike takes a deep breath, sitting down at the table as he chugs down a glass of water. The rest of the house comes to life with the sounds of a normal morning. Running water, sheets rustling together along with clothes. A couple of minutes later, everyone settles into their respective chairs. Will’s the last to sit down, taking his seat next to Mike. They share a smile before Will’s head tilts to the side.
“You good?” He whispers, looking at Mike up and down.
“Yeah, I'm fine,” Mike replied a little too fast, his voice scratchy.
Will sits for a moment, nodding but not entirely believing him.
Karen slides Mike's plants in front of him. A fluffy stack of waffles with a side of bacon and eggs. An all-American breakfast. But just at the mere sight of it, Mike felt like throwing up. The scent was pungent, seeping into his nose and making his mouth feel metallic. Like he’d just licked a batch of pennies and the coating slid down his throat. Mike's hand came up to cover his mouth, his eyes blurring as his hand shook.
“Mike? Hey, talk to me. What's wrong?” Will’s voice carried through Mike’s unfocused brain, but it was distant. Like a siren underwater, muffled by the waves. Mike shot up, his chair falling over as he bolted to the bathroom.
His knees hit the cold tile with a hard bang that'll definitely leave him bruised in the morning. Mike's hand flung open the toilet seat cover as he heaved. And sooner than later, vomit erupted from his throat.
⋆.ೃ࿔.𖥔 ݁ ˖*:･༄
“Ughh…” Mike groaned, his hand clutching his stomach as he lay in bed. A small knock came from outside his door. Mike let out a noise that was maybe a “come in?”. He doesn't really know. Will seemed to catch on and he cracked the door open, slipping in with a glass of water and an ice pack in his hands.
“How are you feeling?” He asks softly, setting the cup down on Mike’s bedside as he delicately lays the ice pack on Mike's forehead. The coldness spread through his body and Mike let out a sigh. He'd been uncomfortably hot so the ice pack was definitely welcomed.
“Shitty. Really shitty.” Mike rasped, a hand coming up to rub his face.
“I'm really sorry, Mike. But it's not all bad, I'm here to take care of you.” Will smiled, sitting down on the edge of Mike’s bed.
“Thank you, Will but I'm okay. You don't need to waste your time on me.” Mike sighs, looking down at his best friend.
It's supposed to be the other way around…
Mike thought as he closed his eyes. Mike's the protector, the caretaker. What if Will gets taken or something horrible happens to him all because his guardian is sick? Mike's body is already racked with enough guilt to level a continent because of how we treated Will. One of many examples is the skating rink, the airport, and the van.
Please, don’t get him started on the van. He wants to apologize, dear Lord does he want to apologize but he can’t bring himself to do it. He’s too afraid of saying the wrong thing and triggering some sort of PTSD and Will would completely shut down and shut him out. Destroying the one thing that Mike cherishes is more than his life. Their friendship. He knows it's pathetic but he can’t bring himself to do it. Not yet.
“Don’t say that, Mike. I don’t mind watching over you.” Will’s voice breaks Mike out of his thoughts, carrying him back to the present.
“Do you need anything else?” Will questions, standing up to head to the door but Mike stops him, catching his wrist.
“Stay,” Mike said before he thought about it.
Will just nodded, sitting down on the floor by Mike’s bed. He sat for a minute before getting up and grabbing his spare sketchbook off Mike’s desk as he retook his seat, pencil in hand. Mike shifted over in his bed, looking over Will’s shoulder as he drew. Will hummed quietly to himself as rough shapes started to come to life on the paper. The noises of Will’s pencil sliding across the paper and the faint hums from his lips made Mike’s eyelids droopy and he felt sleep clawing at his back.
With a murmur, Mike let sleep whisk him away.
⋆.ೃ࿔.𖥔 ݁ ˖*:･༄
Mike woke up but he sensed he hadn't slept long. Though, his headache was gone, Mike felt...fresher? Maybe rejuvenate is a better word. He shrugged, perhaps it was just a stomach bug and he'd already thrown it up. Mike smiled and sat up in his bed, the sun shining outside his window. Mike noticed that Will wasn't there anymore but maybe he'd left when Mike had dozed off.
Something smelled good coming from downstairs and for the first time in hours, Mike actually wanted to eat. He slipped off his sweater and walked down the stairs. It was peacefully quiet in the house other than the sizzle of bacon in the pan. Mike cocked an eyebrow when he saw Will standing in front of the stove, his sleeves rolled up and cooking.
“Moring.” Will hummed over his shoulder, plating the rest of the bacon as he wiped his hands on a towel.
“Morning? Where is everyone?” Mike questioned, stepping back a bit as Will walked closer to him.
“They’re out right now. Thought I would make brunch for when they come back.” Will declared sweetly, reaching his arms out to hug Mike.
Okay…we haven't hugged since the airport but that wasn't even a hug.
“Thats nice…” Mike replied, trying to hide the confusion in his voice.
“Mhm, want anything?” Will tilted his hand to the side, his hands still placed on Mike’s hips as if it was second nature.
“No. I'm, uh, I-im good.” Mike stuttered, his face flushing. Maybe the fever was coming back or something.
“Okay. Then I'll just give you what I've been waiting to do since you woke up.” Will beams, reaching a hand up to cup Mike’s face before leaning in.
Their lips meet in the middle.