Chapter Text
Mike's arguing with Nancy about the flare gun when he realizes that someone is missing.
He turns around quickly to see Will standing still a few meters behind them, eyes white and stance stiff. Mike’s running before he can properly think.
He can barely hear the others calling for him as skids to a stop in front of his friend.
“Will!” Mike clutches his shoulders, fear clawing at his throat.“Will what's happening? Talk to me!”
Will speaks with some difficulty. “It’s Henry. He’s alive.” Mike feels a wave of dread crash into him as the others finally make it to them.
“He’s made it into the cave.”
Shit.
“And he’s found the kids”
Double shit.
He feels his panic rise at the thought of his sister and the rest of the kids being alone with Vecna. “What about El? Or Max or Kali?”
Will shakes his head, expression strained and grim. “It’s just the kids. The others are gone.”
Mike’s mind works quickly, running through possible scenarios that could explain where the others went.
They could have been attacked by demogorgons, the military could have caught up, the bomb could have gone off too soon, El lost focus, Vecna trapped them in his mind, and the list goes on and on and on. Hundreds of possibilities run through his head before abruptly snagging on what's most important.
Mike tightens his grip on Will’s shoulders. “Can you stop him?”
“I can try, but the rest of you need to go now!” Will grits out before falling to his knees, Mike going down with him.
The others shuffle back quickly but Mike doesn't move. Everything in him rebels at the idea of leaving Will alone. He won’t survive if he loses Will now.
Determined, Mike calls out behind him. “I’ll stay. You guys go ahead and get the kids.”
The others nod at him solemnly and continue moving but Joyce hesitates a moment before seemingly steeling herself. She unstraps her axe and holds it out for Mike.
He releases Will and stands quickly before grabbing the weapon by the handle.
Joyce glances at Will worriedly before locking eyes with Mike. “Keep him safe.”
Mike nods. “Of course.” He swears, tossing her the flare gun and extra flare cartridges.
He can see her smile slightly, giving them both a lingering stare, before running towards the others.
Mike watches them go, tense and nervous, and can only hope that they make it in time.
A gasp sounds behind him.
Mike turns around quickly before crouching in front of his friend again so that they are face to face.
“Will?” Mike's worry only grows as Will begins to take in painful gasps of air.
Before he can think too hard about it he sets the axe down beside them and lightly grasps Will's face between his hands in an attempt to keep him grounded. “It’s okay, you're okay.” He soothes. “Tell me what's wrong.”
Their faces are inches apart, making it impossible to ignore the tears building in Will's foggy eyes.
Will has to take another shuddering breath before replying. “Henry, he’s in a memory now.” Another breath “And he’s so scared.”
Mike shivers involuntarily. Henry has proved himself to be nothing less than a monster who would do anything to get what he wants. He can’t imagine what would make the psychopath this terrified.
Will lets out another violent gasp as if he’d been hit and Mike tightens his hands around his face.
He wishes he could see what Will is seeing at that moment if only to have a better grasp on how to comfort his friend.
“Oh my god.” Will’s voice is so soft that he knows he wouldn’t have caught it if they hadn’t been so close before it rises suddenly in what Mike can tell is Will speaking with Henry.
“It’s been controlling you this entire time. That's why it didn’t want you to remember. You were just a child, and it made you into its puppet. A vessel.” Will spits out.
“Are you going to keep letting it use you like this?”
For a moment, only Will's ragged breathing fills the space between them. Anticipation heavy, waiting for what Henry will do next.
Mike hopes that Henry will listen, but after everything that's happened, after so much death and pain and destruction, Mike won’t lie to himself. Not this time.
It's obvious which side he will pick.
The ground starts to tremble.
Mike glances behind him only to see what they thought was some sort of giant outer dimensional tree begin to move.
Branches shift and twist downward before slamming into the ground, sending large chunks of rock flying before seemingly bracing itself and lifting.
Mike faintly wonders how it got so large. Memories of Starcourt Mall and the monster made of blood and tendons as it chased them flash behind his eyes.
The Mind Flayer lets out a deafening roar and charges in their direction. He can barely make out the others as they desperately run away.
We need to get out of here.
He manages to tear his eyes away and turn back to Will who looks just as horrified as Mike feels.
Before he can say anything, movement catches his eye.
Behind Will, coming at them at an alarming speed, was a group of demodogs.
Mike curses.
The monsters were either targeting a incapacitated Will or were planning to box in the rest of the party. Without everyone's collective efforts, Mike doubts they’ll be able to win this, although he isn’t sure what the party can do against the monster behind him.
He ignores that last thought and focuses. If the demodogs get to Will they lose. If they get to the party they lose. Nobody knows about the demodogs but Mike.
And with that Mike knows what he needs to do.
He doesn’t take his eyes off the demodogs as he lets go of Will and reaches for the axe. The ground still rumbles faintly beneath his feet, making him wobble slightly when he stands.
Softly, Mike calls out. “Will. Whatever happens next, just keep focusing on taking down Henry.”
Will startles. “What? Mike-”
“Don’t worry, everything's going to be okay.” Mike hopes he sounds reassuring and not as worried as he actually is, eyes still tracking the demodogs as they get closer.
“You’re a sorcerer, but before that you’re Will.” He can’t help the small smile that spreads on his face at the words. “You’re the strongest person I know and you deserve so much more than what you’ve been given.” He moves forward, axe firmly in his hands. The demodogs are only a couple meters ahead of him.
He wants to say something else, anything else, to encourage Will, to prove just how how highly he thinks of him.
But he can’t think of anything that would express even a fraction of what he feels for Will in that moment. And even if he could, Mike doesn’t know if he’d have the strength to say it. Doesn’t know if the words would get caught in his throat like they have countless times in the past.
He manages to choke something out anyway, because even if it's not everything he wants to say, Will deserves to know the truth. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and there hasn’t been a day since we met where I haven’t thought of you.”
“Mike wait-” Will sounds gutted and all Mike wants to do is go back and hold him in his arms. It makes him hesitate, just for a second.
“See you soon. Promise.”
He runs