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Mike hunched in the hard linoleum seat, eyes drooping but still wide awake. The fluorescent bulbs grated on his vision and he rubbed at the forming headache. His friends were passed out next to him, Dustin’s head on Lucas’s shoulder, both their mouths slack-jawed. His mom and sister sat on the other side. Hopper, his dad, and Steve sat across from them, all looking equally uncomfortable. It had been hours of waiting for him, for Will to wake up. Countless hours that passed even slower spent picking the skin on his fingers until they became bloodied and raw, flinching each time he heard a muffled groan of agony or a hushed passing voice of one of the nurses.
It felt like an entire year passed since he last saw Will alive, that is. Mike shudders at the memory of his clammy body flopped onto the gurney like a dead fish. He knew this was because of him; if he were better at protecting Will, he never would have gotten lost in the woods that night. He wouldn’t be hurt. He wouldn’t be cold and alone and left to die for so long. If Mike paid more attention, Will would be okay.
He remembers the night before it happened, how Will couldn't keep the lie in.
"I rolled a 6."
"Huh?" Mike mused, distracted by how soft and bright Will looked in the porch light.
"The Demogorgon. It got me." Mike shook his head at himself. God, he was so stupid then, if only he had listened. He failed at protecting Will and now things would never be okay again.
In the first days he was missing, Mike sobbed hysterically in his mother’s arms until his cheeks ached and he could barely keep his eyes open. He had to sleep in her bed that night.
He remembers his father pointedly asking, “Don’t you think he’s a little old for that? Grown boys shouldn’t sleep in their parent's beds.” His mother scoffed and waved him away, squeezing Mike tighter.
The leaden shame hit him as his father rolled over. Dad thinks I’m a baby, he thought, this is why Will got taken. He scrubbed the tears out of his eyes and nestled into the covers as a wave of exhaustion pulled him under.
Mike was snapped out of his memory at the sound of Dustin’s loud snoring. He started to roll his eyes when they landed on Jonathan standing in the doorway. He gave him an anxious nod.
“Guys. Guys, he’s up. Will is up. Guys, Will’s up.” He jostled their shoulders aggressively, frantic to get to Will. His sleeping friends grunted, squinting at the jarring hospital lighting. Mike forgot his irritation at them for falling asleep. He forgot everything except Will’s up, he’s up! repeating in his head like a mantra.
“Guys, come on.” Mike was already sprinting before he had a chance to finish his sentence. When he reached Will’s hospital room, he raced to his bedside. Will sat there glowing in the glaring lights, his hair mussed and hazel eyes blinking at the sight of Mike as if he couldn't believe he was really there.
“Byers!” yelled Lucas, as Mike lurched forward to bury Will in a hug. Lucas did the same, followed by Dustin, as Joyce scolded, “Be careful. Be careful with him.” Mike ignored her, burying his face in Will’s chest. He felt the thump, thump, thump of his heart. It was racing like his own. Mike's fingers clutched tighter at his t-shirt, afraid he would disappear from him if he let go for even a moment. Will’s hands landed in his hair, and he hummed at the familiar comfort. Mike's cheeks warmed.
“Move.” Dustin shoved his way in between them, and Mike pulled back with a scowl. He wanted to hug Will.
“Guys, guys.” Jonathan reminded them. Mike immediately brushed aside his irritation and let out a giggle at the exhilaration of Will being back and the soft, adoring look the boy was giving him. His heart was racing so loud that he barely heard Jonathan’s, “Go easy on him.”
Dustin and Lucas tripped over each other’s sentences, eager to recount their adventures during Will’s absence. Mike's eyes stayed on Will.
“You won’t believe what happened when you were gone, man.”
A slow smile spread across Will’s lips.
“It was mental.”
Mike let them speak, content to watch Will’s eyes sparkling with excitement.
“You had a funeral!”
Will’s smile dropped slightly, and Mike instinctively lurched forward to grab his hand. He stopped himself, remembering his father’s words: “See what happens, Michael?” Ted hadn't said the quiet part out loud, but Mike could fill in the rest. See what happens to boys who like other boys? To boys who are weak?
“And Jennifer Hayes was crying.”
Mike couldn’t hold back his adoring smile at his best friend’s excitement. Will was just so good, even when he was listening to stories about the reaction to his own kidnapping.
“And Troy peed himself.”
Mike rocked back and forth on his heels as he physically restrained himself from holding Will’s hand. He missed him so much.
“In front of the whole school!”
“Wha-” Will’s soft voice was cut off by a hoarse cough sounding from his chest. Mike’s smile fell instantly, stomach dropping.
“You okay?” He asked as he gently took Will’s hand in his. It was warm and Mike felt a flush in his cheeks despite his worries. Screw what his dad thought, his best friend needed him. Will needed him.
He would protect and take care of Will the best he could. As long as he was around, nothing would ever hurt Will, ever again.