Chapter Text
The dice clatter across the table, the familiar sound usually enough to keep Will grounded. For a moment, things almost feel normal. Mike, Lucas, the campaign music humming softly in the background. Almost.
Then the phone rings.
Mike is already standing before Will can say anything, chair scraping loudly against the floor. Will barely has time to react.
“What? No—” he blurts out, watching Mike hurry toward the phone.
Mike doesn’t stop.
“El?” he says, hopeful.
There’s a pause. A longer one than Will would like.
“No, sorry. Not interested.”
Mike hangs up and shrugs. “Telemarketers.”
“Maybe we should just call them,” Lucas suggests casually.
Mike blinks. “We can do that?”
“I think so.”
“Yeah, but what would we even say?”
Will feels something tight twist in his chest. This again. Mike and Lucas drifting into their own world, leaving him hovering awkwardly at the edge of the table like an afterthought. Lately, it feels like he’s slowly losing the only friends he’s ever had.
“Say nothing!” Will snaps, louder than he means to. “The Khuisar still need your help.”
Mike sighs, clearly bored. “Alright then,” he says flatly. “I’ll use my torch to set fire to the chambers. We sacrifice ourselves, kill the jujus, and save the Khuisar. We all live on as heroes in the memories of the Kalamar.”
Lucas grins and high-fives him. “Victory.”
That’s it.
Will grabs his crosier and throws it across the room, the sound echoing too loudly in the basement.
“Okay. Fine.” His voice is tight as he starts pulling off his character costume. “You guys win.”
He reaches over and shuts off the music.
“Congratulations.”
“Will, I was just messing around,” Mike says quickly, standing up and stepping closer. “How much longer is the campaign?”
“Just forget it, Mike.”
“No, you want to keep playing, right?” Mike asks, glancing at Lucas.
“Y-Yeah. Totally.”
Will doesn’t look at them. He keeps stuffing his things into his backpack, hands shaking.
“We’ll just call the girls afterwards,” Mike says, a little desperate now.
“I said forget it, Mike, okay?” Will snaps. “I’m going home.”
“But—”
Lucas steps in front of the stairs. “Come on, Will.”
“Move.”
Will pushes past him. Mike follows, leaving Lucas alone in the basement, staring at the abandoned table with a quiet sigh.
By the time Mike reaches the garage, Will is already there, rain pounding against the open doorway.
“Will, come on. You can’t leave. It’s raining.”
Will doesn’t answer. He grabs his bike.
“Listen, I said I was sorry, alright?” Mike tries again. “It’s a cool campaign. It’s really cool. We’re just… not in the mood right now.”
Will finally turns around.
“Yeah, Mike. That’s the problem.” His voice cracks. “You guys are never in the mood anymore. You’re ruining the party.”
“That’s not true.”
“Really?” Will shoots back. “Where’s Dustin right now?”
Mike opens his mouth—then closes it.
“See?” Will says bitterly. “You don’t even know. And you don’t even care. And obviously he doesn’t either. I don’t blame him. You’re destroying everything, and for what? So you can swap us out for some stupid girl?”
“El’s not stupid,” Mike says immediately. “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls.”
The words land like a punch.
Will feels the air leave his lungs, his breath coming out shaky and uneven. Mike sees it instantly, regret flashing across his face.
“I didn’t mean to be a jerk,” Mike says, quieter now. “But we’re not kids anymore. What did you think was going to happen? That we’d never get girlfriends? That we’d just sit in my basement and play games forever?”
“Yes.”
The word barely makes it out.
“Yes,” Will repeats, tears burning his eyes. “I guess I did. I really did.”
He gets on his bike and starts pedaling away, rain soaking through his clothes almost immediately.
“Will! Will, come on!”
But Will doesn’t stop.
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Hiiii, I’m sorry If this has grammar or spelling mistakes English it’s not my first language but I would try to do my best :)