Chapter Text
Mike pushes himself up to stand, head slightly pounding from where it’d hit the concrete, but finds he doesn’t care as he sees Will wrapped up in Mrs. Byers arms. He jogs over, mind racing a mile a minute. His best friend is “a real-life, honest-to-God sorcerer,” he calls out in response to Mrs. Byers question. He’d always believed in Will, in the power he had to be so resilient and kind despite everything he’d gone through; he just never thought it’d manifest as actual powers.
He doesn’t spare Mrs. Byers another glance as he slows himself, feet scuffing as he throws his arms around Will, unconsciously hunching himself down to make them equals. His chin comes to rest on the Omega’s shoulder, his nose brushing against his neck and the familiar scent of lavender and petrichor causes him to tighten his hold around the Omega’s waist. Will’s arms fly up to come around his shoulders, his chin nestled into Mike’s shoulder as well as his fingers clutch at Mike’s jacket.
“Mike,” Will sighs out, then it’s like all his strings are cut. Mike lets out a surprised shout as he scrambles to adjust for the sudden dead weight. He drops to his knees, holding Will against his chest and pulling him partially into his lap, uncertain of what’s going on. He barely hears Mrs. Byers move back over to them, but his lips pull back to bare his fangs and he lets out a growl as he sees her hand enter his field of vision, reaching for Will.
“Michael,” she says sharply and that’s enough for his growling to peter out. His tongue darts over his lips as he blinks to awareness from whatever haze had settled over him for a moment. He opens his mouth to apologize and coughs as the rumbling still continues albeit softer.
“Sorry,” he forces out, his voice rough as if he’s screamed himself hoarse. His brows draw together. He’s never heard himself like this before; he’s growled a few times at his mom and Nancy during his stupid ruts, but this seems harsher.
“It’s okay, honey. You’re just doing what you’re supposed to,” Mrs. Byers replies and that’s enough to get him to look up at her, the hand on Will’s hip tightening as the Omega’s head knocks into the underside of his chin. She kneels beside them and tentatively reaches out again, taking Will’s wrist into her hand and pressing her fingers against it. Mike realizes she’s taking his pulse and he thinks his face shows some type of conniption as emotions rush over him, his other hand flying up to rest against Will’s throat to feel his pulse as well. It’s slow and fluttery under his fingers, and he feels panic well up in him as he also realizes the brunet’s scent has become muted even with how close they are.
“Mike, it’s okay,” Mrs. Byers says, trying to calm him as he’s sure his scent has spiked in distress. “It’s an Omega drop, honey. He’s exhausted. We just need to get him somewhere safe.”
He remembers learning about drops in class—how when Omegas can become overwhelmed or exhausted, their bodies basically shut down and have them play dead until they’re safe enough to be pulled out of the state by an Alpha. Which, oh. That’s what he’s inadvertently trying to do already.
“Okay. Okay, um. Back to the Squawk?” He says to her, trying to place all of his muddled thoughts into filed lines—to process the sudden understanding of what he’s been trying to do the entire time Will and him have been together. Him trying to be the Omega’s Alpha.
“Yes.” Mrs. Byers stands and her hands flit by her sides, waiting to help. Mike, though, wants to fulfill his duty. He removes his hand from Will’s neck and gets it under his legs, his other arm shifting to curl around his back. Some strength he didn’t know he had presents itself as he hefts the other boy up into his arms and gets to his feet. Will’s head stays within the crook of Mike’s neck, and he feels his shallow, ragged breaths against it.
He looks to Mrs. Byers, her eyes soft but face still marred with worry as she takes the both of them in. She sets her shoulders though and takes the lead, Mike following as he carries the most precious person in the world in his arms.