Archive of Our Own

Will sits at the Wheeler’s table eating his Eggo waffle. He looks uncomfortable, and shifts in his seat. Mrs. Wheeler looks up from her puzzle that she is working on with Holly.

Karen: “Hey, everything ok pumpkin?”

Will: “Yeah, everything is fine.” Mike suddenly walks downstairs drowsily. He pauses, and walks back up the stairs almost immediately when he sees Will. He’s not surprised at this point. Mike has been avoiding a conversation with him for months. Karen notices Mike and tells him to come eat breakfast.

Karen: “Mike, come eat something.” Mike turns around and quickly denies the offer.

Mike: “I’m ok. Thanks though.” Karen looks frustrated.

Karen: “Micheal, come eat now.” Mike reluctantly agrees.

Mike: “Fine.” Mike grabs a bowl of cereal, and sits down opposite from Will. This is awkward.

Will: “So, how’s your day going?” Mike looks up, as if he is surprised that Will is talking to him.

Mike: “Ok I guess.” Will nods. Of course he’s just not gonna respond with details, cause what kinda person responds with details when someone tries to start a conversation.

Karen: “I know it is cold in the basement, Will. So if you ever need a warmer place to sleep, I’m sure Mike wouldn’t mind sharing a room with you.” Mr. Wheeler looks up from his morning paper as if he can’t believe his wife just suggested that.

Ted: “It is inappropriate for two teenage boys to sleep together.” Will looks down.

Karen: “Ted, it’s just a suggestion.”

Will: “I’m ok. Thank you for the offer though.” Mr. Wheeler nods his head in approval.

Ted: “Good answer.” Will glances up and sees Mike roll his eyes. Once he finishes his breakfast, he immediately heads back upstairs. Will doesn’t see him for the rest of the day. Will heads down to the basement to sleep. He mutters something under his breath. He hears a knock on the door. Will whispers,

Will: “Come in.” It’s Mike. He has a lantern in his hand, and walks down the stairs.

Mike: “Hey um, my mom told me to come check on you. You can always sleep with me if you wan-”

Will: “No.” He flinches, as if he responded too quickly.

Mike: “Oh, ok.” Mike looks personally offended. He walks out of the basement without another word. Will looks around. He finally realizes how cold he is, and walks up to Mike’s room. He knocks on the door with their secret code that they made up when they were seven. Mike opens the door confused.

Will: “Um, I’m actually pretty cold down there.” Mike steps aside, and allows him to come in. Will notices multiple paintings that he’s drawn for Mike. Including the one from the van three years ago.

Mike: “So… where do you wanna sleep?” In bed with you, but Will doesn’t wanna cross a line.

Will: “I don’t really care.” Mike sits up, and walks over to his closet. He pulls out a small mattress, and sets his things on it. Will looks at him confused.

Mike: “You can take my bed. I’ll sleep here.” Yes!

Will: “Um, ok.” Will moves into Mike’s bed, and turns to face the wall. He enjoys the comfort and warmth of Mike’s bed. He smells the sheets, and can immediately tell that Mike’s scent has changed since the last time they were this close. Will had moved to New York after High School, but had moved back to Hawkins soon after. Without money to afford a house, and attending a nearby college, The Wheelers invited him to move in. He accepted the offer without any hesitation. He had recently gone through a break up after finding out that his boyfriend had cheated on him with a girl from his class. Will was still getting used to his sexuality and sharing it with other people, but he had grown more confident in himself.

Mike: “Will, are you ok? Really. You know you can talk to me.” Will is surprised. Mike hasn’t asked him to open up like this in almost a year now.

Will: “Yeah I know. I’m ok.” Mike looks regretful.

Mike: “Sorry, I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that.”

Will: “No, it’s fine, I just wasn’t expecting you to talk to me.”

Mike: “What do you mean?”

Will: “I mean, we’ve hardly talked at all this past year, and have been constantly avoiding each other.”

Mike: “I guess.” I guess?! What the heck is that supposed to mean?! Mike just asked him a very personal question, and when he asks about it, he is told I guess?!

Will: “Goodnight.” Will says flatly. He looks at the wall, tracing the ridges of the paint with his fingers until his eyelids grow heavy, and he falls asleep. When he wakes up, Mike is laid out on the mattress on the floor. Will can’t help but stare. He looks so cute and cozy asleep. He doesn’t realize how long he’s been admiring him until he wakes up and notices.

Mike: “Um..” Will now realizes that he’s been watching Mike for well over 10 minutes.

Will: “Hi.”

Mike: “Hey.” Will wants to look away, but his eyes seem to be stuck in place.

Will: “Breakfast.”

Mike: “Food.”

Will: “Hungry.”

Mike: “Us will eat food.”

Will: “Us will eat breakfast food.” Mike nods his head, and Will laughs. A real genuine laugh. It’s not long before Mike joins him. They haven’t laughed like this in months. After a few minutes, the silence returns. The silence that Will is always so afraid of. Eventually Will gets up and walks downstairs for breakfast. He sees Mrs. Wheeler making chocolate chip pancakes on the stove.

Karen: “Mike honey, is that you?”

Will: “Just me Mrs. Wheeler.” Karen turns around excitedly.

Karen: “Oh, my apologies dear, how’d you sleep?”

Will: “I slept great.” The truth was, that wasn’t a lie. He had slept incredibly. It had been a long time since he’d slept on an actual bed, and the thought of Mike being next to him helped a lot. Will helps Karen set the table, and is instructed to grab everyone else. He walks up the stairs, and gets Nancy and Jonathan. He then knocks on Mike’s door. The door opens slowly.

Mike: “What’s up?”

Will: “Y-your mom wants you down for dinner, I-I mean breakfast.” Why is he so nervous?

Mike: “ok.” He pushes past Will, and their shoulders brush. Will blushes, and follows Mike downstairs. Will shakes his head. He promised himself he got over him. It’s not like that anymore. Will turns and heads down the stairs to eat. He takes the seat next to Mike. This is new. Will Mike think that it is strange? Will this breakfast be awkward?

Mike: “So…” This is really awkward!

Will: “So…” Mike clears his throat loudly.

Mike: “Um.” Will feels as though his heart is going to explode.

Will: “How’d you sleep?”

Mike: “Ok I guess.”

Will: “Same.” Mike shifts his chair a bit closer to Will. He leans in and whispers,

Mike: “I really like hanging out with you.” Will blushes.

Will: “Me too. I missed you.” Mike leans over and pulls Will in by the waist.

Mike: “I missed you too.” OMG OMG OMG!!!!! Did Mike just pull him in?! Will cannot believe it!

Will: “I-I uhm. W-what?” Mike lets go. He looks embarrassed.

Mike: “Sorry, was that too much?”

Will: “No, I was just surprised.”

Mike: “No, it was too much.” Will looks at him.

Will: “Mike I promise you it is ok.” Mike stands up and starts to walk away. Will grabs his hand.

Mike: “Will let go.” Mike is frustrated now.

Will: “No.” Will is being very persistent.

Mike: “Let go.” Mike says flatly.

Will: “No!” Mr. Wheeler looks up from his newspaper.

Ted: “Shhhhh! Go squabble somewhere else.” Will lets go, and Mike walks to his room. He slams the door behind him. Will stands up and walks to the basement. He sits on his mattress, and starts crying. He doesn’t know why, or what triggered his tears, but they are streaming down his face. A few hours pass, and he is called upstairs for dinner.

Karen: “Will honey, dinner’s ready!” Will sits up startled. He wipes his face, and walks up the stairs. When he enters the dining room, the only chair available is the one next to Mike. Crap. Will takes a seat next to Mike.

Ted: “So Mike, how was your day?” Mike keeps his head down and mumbles,

Mike: “Since when do you care?” Mr. Wheeler looks hurt.

Ted: “I care son.”

Mike: “No you don’t. You never have.”

Ted: “I have always cared.”

Mike: “I cannot believe you.” Mike stands up, and walks upstairs without another word.

Ted: “What did I do?” Mrs. Wheeler looks upset.

Karen: “I hope you’re enjoying your soup Ted.” Mrs. Wheeler gets up from the table, and a curious Holly follows behind her. Nancy and Jonathan do the same not long after, until it’s only Mr. Wheeler and Will left. Will starts to stand up to head back down to the basement when,

Ted: “Do you think I did something to make them mad?” Will is surprised at this question, not knowing how to respond he says,

Will: “I don’t know, I mean I don’t really know how Mike’s brain works anymore.” Will laughs and scratches the back of his neck.

Ted: “What happened between you two?”

Will: “I guess we kinda just split apart.” This is really awkward.

Ted: “I know what you are, William.” Will flinches.

Will: “What?”

Ted: “Don’t you dare try to sleep with my son. You two have been split apart, and I would like to keep it that way.”

Will: “I wasn’t going to.”

Ted: “Stay. Away. From. Him.”

Will: “I-I uhm.” Ted stands up and walks over to Will.

Ted: “Do I make myself clear?”

Will: “Uh.”

Ted: “Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear.”

Will: “Yes sir.” Will walks to the basement, and sits on the couch. Mike walks to Nancy’s room and knocks on the door. Nancy lets him inside.

Mike: “Nancy.”

Nancy: “Me?”

Mike: “You gotta help.”

Nancy: “I’ve gotta help? Well Mike sit down and tell me what’s the matter?

Mike: “Well I’ve fallen in love.”

Nancy: “Love? Don’t you like Jenifer Hayes?”

Mike: “Well I thought that I did but now it doesn’t matter. I wrote these.” Mike shows her a few letters.

Nancy: “These?”

Mike: “These.”

Nancy: “And who’d you fall for?”

Mike: “Him.”

Nancy: “Him?”

Mike: “Will.”

Nancy: “Wait a boy?”

Mike: “Yes?” Mike looks embarrassed.

Nancy: Oh geez. Mike you’re screwed.”

Mike: “I know, I know I’m screwed!”

Nancy: “Michael what did you do?!”

Mike: “Please, I’ll take anything from you.”

Nancy: “I’m not making any promise that I can’t promise that I can keep, I’ll see what I can do. But Mike, I expect better from you.”

Mike: “I know. I promise I won’t be like my party. Competing with one and other. They like to drive all the girls mad. They don’t understand what they have, but I do. At least now I do. I’ll take anything from you.”

Nancy: “Mike, I can try, but I can’t promise anything.”

Mike: “Thank you.” Mike walks out, and Nancy walks downstairs, and is instructed to tell Will that they are going to leave the house. The basement door opens and Nancy walks down the stairs with Holly. Nancy sits down next to Will, and Holly lays down on the floor to draw.

Nancy: “Hey Will, are you ok?” Will looks up.

Will: “Um yeah.”

Nancy: “Ok good, because we are just about to leave to go visit our Grandma. So you and Mike will be here alone.”

Will: “Why isn’t Mike going with you?”

Nancy: “Our Grandma and him have issues.”

Will: “Ok.” Will walks upstairs.

Nancy: “You should know, Mike has requested to be alone.” Will continues walking with his head down.

Will: “I know.” Holly runs up behind Will and taps him on the shoulder.

Holly: “Will?” Will leans down to listen.

Will: “What’s up Holly?” He lifts Holly into the air and takes her upstairs while she rambles.

Holly: “Can you help me draw something when we get back?” Will smiles.

Will: “Of course! What do you want me to help you draw?” Holly whispers into Will’s ear.

Holly: “I want to draw Mike for his birthday.” Will’s smile turns blank.

Will: “Holly, his birthday is next week.”

Holly: “I know, but I like to get ahead of things.” Will’s face seems unreadable to little Holly. Suddenly after a moment of thought, he smiles and says,

Will: “Sure why not? I’ll help you once you get back.”

Holly: “Yay!” Will walks over to the living room and takes a seat on the floor beside the couch. He pulls a piece of paper and a pencil out of his pocket, and begins to sketch a few portraits of Mike in multiple styles to show Holly when she returns. The Wheeler family walks outside, and Mike walks downstairs. He passes Will, but pauses when he sees the sketch Will is working on. Will looks up, and they make eye contact. Crap. Will shoves the drawing into his pocket and turns to face the wall.

Mike: “What are you working on?” Will rolls his eyes. As if Mike doesn’t already know.

Will: “Nothing!” He replies defensively.

Mike: “If you say so.” Mike curls up on the couch and grabs one of his comics. He looks so cute and cuddly with his messy curls laying over his forehead, and still in pajamas.

Will: “It’s for Holly.” Mike looks up from his book.

Mike: “What?”

Will: “Holly, she asked me to help draw you for your birthday, so I’m sketching a few art styles for her. You can’t tell her I told you that though.”

Mike: “Makes sense, but how did you draw me so perfectly? I mean, I haven’t seen you since breakfast.”

Will: “I don’t know.” Yes he does. He has memorised every detail of Mike’s face. Every curve, every freckle, every way each curl falls over his ears. He has at least fifty drawings of Mike in his private sketchbook back home.

Mike: “Well, I may not be the best art critic, but that looks pretty darn good to me.” Will smiles.

Will: “It’s just a sketch. It’s not that good.” Mike gets up, and sits next to Will.

Mike: “Will, it’s incredible. You made me look more handsome than I already am. I didn’t even know that was possible!” Will giggles.

Will: “Mikeeeeee.” He singsongs.

Mike: “Will?” Mike looks at Will.

Will: “What’s up?” Mike looks confused.

Mike: “Do you think that it’s ok for a guy to like a guy?” Will looks at him.

Will: “Do you like a guy?” Mike scratches the back of his head and blushes.

Mike: “No! I just think someone I know might like me.” Crap! He knows.

Will: “Who?”

Mike You might know them.” Will blushes.

Will: “Who?!”

Mike: “What was the first word of that sentence?” Will thinks back. He pauses when he realizes.

Will: “Me…?”

Mike: “Yes you.” Will buries his face in his hands.

Will: “No I don’t!” Mike grabs Will’s hand. He looks up. Mike leans in.

Mike: “Yes you do.” Mike presses his lips against Will’s. One kiss turns into two, three, four, until Will feels as though he can’t breathe. Suddenly Holly comes bounding through the front door. She stops dead in her tracks.

Holly: “Mike, why are you and Will touching lips?” Will gets off of Mike.

Will: “We were just hugging!” Holly shrugs.

Holly: “Ok! Mom needs help with the groceries." Will and Mike look at each other, and sigh. They walk outside and help The Wheelers put away the groceries. Once they finish, Mike pulls Will upstairs, and takes him into his room.

Will: “Mike, what are you doing?” Will giggles. Mike sits down on his bed.

Mike: “Draw me.” Will looks confused.

Will: “What?”

Mike: “Now you have me to look at for reference instead of your memory!” Will is confused, but he pulls out a pencil and paper and begins to sketch. Mike won’t stop moving.

Will: “Mike, you have to sit still otherwise I can’t draw.” Mike stops wiggling, and sits very still.

Mike: “Sorry! I’m just excited.”

Will: “I can see that.” Mike laughs. At this point Will has given up on his drawing. He is now sitting on the bed with Mike. They suddenly hear a scratching noise coming from the walkie on the table. It’s El! Is she alive?!

El Over The Walkie: “Mike?” Mike jerks up. He grabs the walkie off the side table.

Mike: “El is that you?!” Will looks confused.

El: “Mike! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s you!”

Mike: “Oh El, I miss you.” Will looks concerned.

El: “Mike, Mike oh I miss you too!”

Mike: “I have never been more excited to hear your voice!”

El: “Mike, oh I wish I could be here with you.”

Mike: “I always knew you were there, I always believed!” Will puts his hand on Mike’s shoulder.

El: “Oh Mike.”

Mike: “El just tell me where you are, I will come find you!”

El: “Oh Mike, I’m not within your reach.” Mike looks confused.

Mike: “El?”

El distorted: “Mike, you can’t hide from me.”

Mike: “El?!”

Vecna: “Michael, you can’t hide.”

Mike: “What did you do to her?!”

Vecna: “Michael, you saw it. Your girlfriend is dead.”

Mike: “She’s one of my closest friends, and you took her away! Give her back!”

Vecna: “See you soon Michael.” Suddenly the walkie goes blank. Mike can’t hear anything.

Mike: “El! El!” He sobs.

Will: “Mike?”

Mike: “WHY?!” He is bawling.

Will: “MIKE!” Mike turns around.

Mike: “What?!”

Will: “Who are you talking to, and why are you crying?!” Mike stops crying. He looks at Will confused.

Mike: “Wha- did you not hear any of that?”

Will: “Mike, there was no one on that walkie. You were talking to static.”

Mike: “Oh I’ll kill him!”

Will: “Kill who?”

Mike: “No one, I must’ve been hallucinating.” Mike tries to reassure Will, but he is not convinced. Mike has been having these hallucinations for at least a year now. He will randomly hear El or Eddie through his walkie, and then somehow they will turn into Vecna.

Will: “Mike, are you sure you’re ok?”

Mike: “Yeah, I think I just need some air.”

Will: “Ok, do you want me to come with you?”

Mike: “No, I just want some alone time.” Of course. Will walks to Nancy’s room, and knocks on her door. She opens it slowly.

Nancy: “Hey Will, what’s up?”

Will: “Is Jonathan in here?”

Nancy: “No, he’s at work.”

Will: “Good. Can we talk?”

Nancy: “Uhm yeah of course.” Nancy steps aside, and Will walks into her room. He sits down on the floor, and begins to explain everything.

Will: “And then he said he needed some air, and that he wanted to be alone.” Nancy is pacing back and forth.

Nancy: “That’s bull.”

Will: “What?”

Nancy: “Mike doesn’t even like going outside. Especially when he’s alone.”

Will: “But I saw him walk down the sidewalk.” Nancy raises an eyebrow.

Nancy: “Was it in the direction of Lucas’ house?”

Will: “Yeah, and?”

Nancy: “That douche. He is just going to hang with Lucas.” Will looks betrayed.

Will: “I should’ve known. I feel so stupid!” Nancy rubs his back.

Nancy: “No Will, you’re not stupid. He’s the stupid one.” Mike is indeed walking in the direction of Lucas’ house, but he is not going to hang with him, he continues walking past his house until he reaches Max’s trailer. He knocks on the door twice, and she opens it confused. Her eyes are red and puffy as if she has been crying. She wipes her eyes, and lets him in.

Max: “Mike?”

Mike: “Hey, can we talk for a bit?”

Max: “Uhm, yeah sure I have a minute.” She steps into the small living room space in the front of the trailer, and pushes at least eight cans of beer off the couch, with some still remaining on the coffee table. Mike sits down on the worn out couch.

Mike: “Max, have you been drinking again?”

Max: “No, these are from um, these are from something.” Mike sees right through her.

Mike: “You can talk to me, you know. If something happened, I’m here to listen. I won’t judge you.”

Max: “Mike, nothing happened.”

Mike: “Max, I’m not stupid. I can tell when something’s wrong.” Max finally breaks.

Max: “Fine! My mom just died.” Mike actually looks empathetic.

Mike: “What happened?” Max is sobbing now.

Max: “She got hit by a drunk driver.” Mike’s jaw drops.

Mike: “I’m so, so sorry. Come here.” Max sobs into Mike’s arms, and he comforts her. He had come here to talk to Max about his relationship issues, but it looks like she needs this more than he does. She looks up.

Max: “Why did you come over here again?”

Mike: “No reason, I just wanted to check in on you. I mean we hardly see each other anymore.”

Max: “Yeah, I guess that is true.”

Mike: “Do you want to go see if Lucas is free?”

Max: “Uhm yeah, yeah I think that would make me feel better.” They both walk to Lucas’ house. Someone opens the door, but it’s not Lucas or Erica, it’s Will.

Will: “Fancy seeing you here.” Mike looks confused. Max drags Mike and Will into the house behind her, and they go up to Lucas’ room. Erica pops out of the attic, and she waves.

Erica: “Oh, hi guys!”

Mike: “Hey Erica.” She steps down from the latter, and says hi to everyone else.

Erica: “Hi Will, hi Max!”

Max: “Uh, hi.” Mike puts his arm around Max, and whispers for Will to say hi quickly.

Will: “Hi Erica!” The three of them walk into a confused Lucas’ room.

Lucas: “Will, I thought you said you didn’t invite anyone else- Max, are you ok?” He immediately rushes over to his sobbing girlfriend, and cradles her in his arms. Max is bawling. Will looks over to Mike, but he is too busy making sure Max is ok.

Max: “I didn’t know what to do!”

Lucas: “Shh, Max it’s ok. We just need to get you a new coping method. You can stay here tonight, and then we’ll get you cleaned up tomorrow. For now just focus on me.”

Max: “Ok.” Max looks as though she had just watched Billy die again.

Mike: “Me and Will can leave if you’d like.”

Lucas: “That might be fo-” Max interrupts him mid sentence.

Max: “No! I want them to stay. Can they sleep over too?”

Lucas: “Uhm yeah, of course babe. I just have to ask.” Lucas walks downstairs and asks his Mom if Will, Mike, and Max can sleep over. She agrees without hesitation, and Lucas walks back upstairs.

Mike: “What’d she say?”

Lucas: “She said yeah, but Max gets to sleep with me. You two have to sleep on the mattress that we used to use for sleepovers.” Will and Mike turn to face each other.

Will: “Ok.”

Mike: “Uhm, I can go home and pick up some stuff for us.”

Will: “Yeah, that’s fine.” Mike walks back to his house, and grabs two outfits for the both of them out of his closet. He then grabs two blankets and two pillows. He walks downstairs.

Mike: “Hey Mom, I’m taking the car and going to sleepover at Lucas’.”

Karen: “Ok, have fun.” He drives back to Lucas’ house and walks upstairs to his room.

Dustin: “Oh, hi Mike.”

Lucas: “Oh yeah, I invited Dustin over too. Don’t worry, he’s gonna sleep on a cushy spot on the floor.”

Mike: “Ok. So I got us a pair of pajamas and clothes for tomorrow, and then I grabbed two pillows, and two blankets.”

Lucas: “Dude, did you grab any toiletries?”

Mike: “Uh, no.” Max looks up from the book that she is reading, and rolls her eyes.

Max: “I think Lucas has a spare toothbrush somewhere around here.”

Lucas: “Yes, but the keyword is one. I only have one extra.” Mike shrugs.

Mike: “So? I mean uhm it’s ok I guess.” Will turns to look at Mike. Mike keeps his head down.

Max: “So this is really awkward. Is anyone else tired?”

Will: “Me.”

Lucas: “Me too.”

Dustin: “ME.”

Mike: “Uhm yeah me too.” Mike isn’t tired at all. He is feeling many things, but tired is definitely not one of them. Nevertheless, he fills up the mattress with air, and climbs onto it with Will. When he turns to look at Max and Lucas, he sees Max curled up under Lucas’ arms. He smiles slightly, and turns back the other way to see a very much awake, Will.

Will: “What are you doing?”

Mike: “I can’t sleep.”

Will: “Me either.”

Mike: “Are you cold?”

Will: “Yes.”

Mike: “Do you wanna come closer?”

Will: “Yes.”

Mike: “Come here.” Will snuggles under the blankets closer to Mike and asks,

Will: “Mike?”

Mike: “Mh?”

Will: “Who’s T-shirt is this?”

Mike: “Mine.”

Will: “Ok.”

Mike: “Why?”

Will: “Because it’s warm and cozy, and I’m gonna steal it.” Mike giggles. Maybe too loudly, because Max wakes up.

Max: “Mike, shut up.”

Mike: “Sorry.”

Max: “Why are you even laughing?”

Mike: “Uh, It’s just this comic I’m reading.”

Max: “Will, stop flirting with him please. Some of us are trying to sleep here.” Lucas tugs on Max’s shoulder.

Lucas: “Max, what’s going on?”

Max: “These two lovebirds are loudly flirting.”

Both Will and Mike: “We’re not flirting!” Dustin wakes up suddenly.

Dustin: “Who’s flirting?”

Max: “Mike and Will.”

Dustin: “Oh so they finally started dating?”

Both Will and Mike: “We’re not dating, and we’re not flirting!”

Lucas: “Well you two sure have the telepathy of a couple.”

Mike: “Humph.”

Will: “No we don’t.” All of a sudden, Lucas’ mom opens the door.

Lucas’ Mom: “Go to sleep!” She shuts the door, and A few minutes later, Erica walks in with all of her sleepover stuff. She sets her stuff down next to Dustin, and wriggles underneath his arms.

Lucas: “Erica get out of my room.”

Erica: “I came here to hang out with my boyfriend and Max, not you.”

Lucas: “Oh right, sometimes I forget you and Dustin are dating.”

Dustin: “Yup, my beautiful girlfriend.” Dustin leans over and kisses Erica atop her head. Lucas gags dramatically.

Lucas: “Ew man, not here.”

Erica: “Said the guy who was literally doing the same thing ten minutes ago.” Lucas blushes.

Lucas: “Shut up Erica. Mind your business.”

Erica: “Then maybe you should do the same.” Lucas looks frustrated. Max giggles.

Lucas: “Stop laughing at me Max.”

Max: “I mean, she’s not wrong.”

Will: “Lucas, she just quoted you to you.”

Mike: “She does have a point.”

Dustin: “Yup, Erica is definitely an upgrade from my dweeb of an ex Suzie.

Erica: “Let’s not start the My Little Pony thesis, Suzie edition.

Will: “What is that?”

Erica: “Do not get him started.”

Max: “Yeah please don’t.”

Mike: “Guys. Go. To. Sleep.”

Max: “Ok, ok, jeez.” Everyone proceeds to lay down with their partner, and fall asleep. The next morning, Will wakes up to find that he and Max are the last two to wake up. She looks like she’s been crying. Will gets out of bed, and jumps into Lucas’
next to Max. He pulls her in close.

Will: “Max, it’s all going to be ok. I promise. The pain doesn’t stop, but it gets easier.”

Max: “I just, I just miss her.”

Will: “And that is completely ok.”

Max: “Will?”

Will: “Yeah?”

Max: “When did you first realise that you like boys?”

Will: “Jee, I don’t know. I guess I’ve just kind of always been aware of it.”

Max: “What do you mean?”

Will: “I guess from my fictional crushes to my real ones, it’s just always been boys.”

Max: “Oh.”

Will: “Why do you ask?”

Max: “Oh, I think I just used to like El or something.”

Will: “And I support you completely. Just to clarify though, you do love Lucas right?”

Max: “Well yeah, my heart is fully devoted to him and only him now. It’s just, I thought for a minute I might be Bisexual or something.”

Will: “You know that that is completely ok right?”

Max: “Yeah, duh of course. I just feel like people won’t accept me.”

Will: “Max, everyone will except you.”

Max: “I know, it’s just sometimes I feel like-” Lucas comes bursting through the door.

Lucas: “Come on sleepyheads. It’s time for breakfast.”

Will: “Ok, we’re coming.”

Max: “Um, I’m not really hungry.”

Lucas: “Max, come on. You need to eat.”

Max: “I just don’t have an appetite right now.

Lucas: “Fine, then I’ll just have to carry you.” Lucas picks Max up and takes her to the dining room.

Mrs. Sinclair: “Hi Max, hi Will.”

Both Max and Will: “Hi Mrs. Sinclair.”

Mrs. Sinclair: “What do you want to eat dears?”

Will: “Whatever is fine.”

Max: “I’d like some cheerios please.”

Mrs. Sinclair: “Is that ok with you Will?”

Will: “Yes, cheerios are fine.” The two friends join everyone else around the table while Mrs. Sinclair prepares their cheerios.

Erica: “What are you two doing up so late?”

Will: “We were just tired.”

Erica: “Is that right?”

Max: “Uhm yeah, that’s correct I think. Sorry, what are we talking about?”

Lucas: “Max, are you ok?”

Max: “No not really.”

Lucas: “Do you want one of us to go upstairs with you?”

Max: “Yes. Can Erica come with me?” Lucas looks offended.

Lucas: “Yeah of course I mean I can always-"

Erica: “Yes, let’s go.” Erica slowly helps Max up the stairs, and into her room.

Max: “I’m sorry I pulled you away from Dustin.”

Erica: “Max, it is not your fault you are feeling this way. Don’t ever apologize for the way you feel about something.” Max starts crying slightly.

Max: “I mean, I am being a little ridiculous.”

Erica: “Max. Your mom just died. You are not being ridiculous.”

Max: “I’m wasting your time. I’m so sorry Erica. You should be giggling with Dustin right now, not listening to me vent.”

Erica: “Max, it is ok to not be ok.”

Max: “I shouldn’t have said anything.” Max is getting up to go back downstairs when suddenly Erica grabs her arm and pulls her back onto the bed.

Max: “Erica it’s fine.”

Erica: “Max, just sit down. Talk to me.”

Max: “Fine. I’m not ok. My mom just got hit by a drunk driver, and that drunk driver just so happened to be no one.”

Erica: “What do you mean no one?”

Max: “The cops, they looked back at cameras, and the front seat of the car that hit her was empty.”

Erica: “What.”

Max: “I know it seems impossible, but what if-”

Erica: “What if what?”

Max: “What if it’s him.”

Erica: “That’s impossible. He’s dead.”

Max: “I know it should be, but it’s just a thought. Really, it’s probably nothing. I mean people are pretty smart these days.”

Erica: “Smart enough to create a self driving car? I don’t think so.”

Max: “Should we talk to the group?”

Erica: “I don’t think we have enough evidence to the point that the group would do anything about it.”

Max: “You’re probably right.”

Erica: “Do you think you are ok enough to go back downstairs?” Max hesitates.

Max: “Yeah, uhm I just have a headache. Do you have any tylenol?”

Erica: “Uh yeah. It should be in the cabinet above the toilet in my bathroom.”

Max: “Ok thank you. I’ll be down in a sec.”

Erica: “Are you sure?”

Max: “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Max stands up and walks to the restroom, and opens the cabinet. She pulls out the tylenol, and pops at least five pills before taking a sip of water. She then pops three more pills into her mouth before stepping out of the bathroom. The truth is, she doesn’t have a headache. Well maybe a little one, but definitely not a big enough one to the point that she needed to pop eight pills. She walks back downstairs to her concerned friends. Lucas stands up from his chair to go and help an unsteady Max to her seat.

Lucas: “Hey, are you feeling any better?”

Max: “I’m feeling a little better.”

Dustin: “Erica said you had a headache?”

Max: “Uhm yeah, I just took some tylenol.”

Mike: “And how many did you take?”

Max: “Just a couple.” Mike stands up and pulls Max to a corner.

Mike: “Max, how many did you take?”

Max: “Eight.”

Mike: “Ok. Uhm, I’ll walk you upstairs to bed, and then I’ll just say that you aren’t feeling well, and want to be alone.”

Max: “Thank you, and please don’t tell Lucas. He won’t ever let me be alone again.”

Mike: “Ok, but you just have to promise that you won’t start a pill addiction again. It’s really scary to watch you go through something like that.”

Max: “Ok, I won’t.” Mike takes Max to Lucas’ room, and sets her on his bed. She lies down, and closes her eyes. Mike walks back downstairs and takes his seat at the table.

Will: “Mike, where is Max?”

Mike: “She isn’t feeling good, so she went to go and lie down. She has requested to be alone.” Will flinches a bit at the last sentence. Mike had requested to be separated from Will, and now Max had too? Was he just a bad friend, or were there two separate reasons? Lucas stands up to walk upstairs. Mike grabs his arm.

Mike: “She requested to be alone.”

Lucas: “Yeah, and?”

Mike: “That means from you too.”

Lucas: “You know what? I think it would be better if you left Mike.”

Mike: “You know what, fine!” Mike runs out of Lucas’ house, and leaves the car in the driveway for Will. He hears him calling for him, but he keeps running. He doesn’t know where he is until he stops running. He finds himself at the gate of the abandoned Hawkins Lab. He looks like he is trying to decide what to do, before he walks inside the lab gates. He makes his way to the front entrance, and opens the doors. He steps inside, and so many memories come rushing back all at once. He breaks down, in the middle of the lab lobby. He is sobbing on the floor having a full on mental breakdown. Back at Lucas’ house, Will is yelling at Lucas.

Will: “Why would you say that?!”

Lucas: “She’s my girlfriend!”

Will: “She needs space!”

Lucas: “From you maybe, but not me!”

Will: “What the heck is that supposed to mean?!”

Lucas: “It means you’re annoying and over the top!” Max hears the racket and walks downstairs. Erica notices the fighting and steps in.

Erica: “Will and Dustin, why don’t you take Max home, and me and Lucas will stay here and cool off a bit.”

Will: “Fine!” Max, Will, and Dustin walk to Mike’s car, and take Max home. They walk Max inside her small trailer. Dustin had volunteered to stay with her, while Will went out to find Mike. Mike is now walking around different floors of the lab until he finds a small door that says eleven on the front. He is about to push inside, when he looks under the door and sees movement in the room. He steps back, but the door pushes open, and none other than Eleven herself walks out.

Mike: “Eleven?!” She stops when she sees him. Mike is so happy, but something is off. Where did her tattoo go? Mike backs away.

El: “Mike!”

Mike: “What did you do to her?” El looks confused.

El: “Mike what do you mean?”

Mike: “I know you’re not real. Go away!” El walks closer to him.

El Distorted: “Michael.” Mike turns around and sprints down the hallway.

Mike: “Go away! Go away! Go away!”

Vecna: “Michael, I know what you are. Your boyfriend can’t save you now.” Mike stops and pulls out his walkie.

Mike: “Will!” An upset Will hears Mike’s voice through the walkie, and picks up immediately.

Will: “Mike?!”

Mike over the walkie: “Help! I’m stuck in the lab and he’s coming!” Will is confused.

Will: “Who is coming?!”

Mike: “Hurry!”

Will: “Mike who is coming?!” A scream echoes through the walkie. Mike is sprinting away from Vecna, but he catches up. Vecna grabs Mike by the neck, and slits his throat. Mike begins to choke rapidly, until Vecna drops him. By the time Will gets there, Mike is on the floor with blood spewing out of him. Will starts to sob. Mike looks up at him.

Mike: “Hi Will.” He barely manages to talk.

Will: “Hey!”

Mike: “You know, I love you so much. I have since we were thirteen.” Will is stunned. He realizes what Mike is doing.

Will: “No, no, no. You’re not leaving Mike. Stay with me.”

Mike: “Do you love me?”

Will: “Of course I do.”

Mike: “Good, tell Lucas I’m sorry.”

Will: “Mike, you’re not leaving.”

Mike: “Will, I’ve known that he was out to get me for a while now. He has been giving me signs.”

Will: “I… Why didn’t you tell me?”

Mike: “I didn’t want to worry you. I’ve been feeling ready for a while now though, so it doesn’t really matter anyways.”

Will: “Well, you’re not leaving. Here, let’s get you to a hospital.” Will tries to help Mike sit up, but he screams in an agonizing pain.

Mike: “Will, it’s my time to go.”

Will: “No, you’re gonna get better. You’re going to be fine.”

Mike: “Will, I love you. Don’t forget that. Ever.”

Will: “I- I love you too.” Will is leaning over Mike, and sobbing.

Mike: “I love you so muc-” And with that, Mike takes one final breath. His hand goes limp, and his face loses its liveliness.

Will: “Mike? MIKE!” Will grabs his walkie and calls Lucas.

Will: “LUCAS!” Lucas picks up the walkie, annoyed.

Lucas over the walkie: “What?”

Will: “Mike- I- I don’t know what to do!” Will is sobbing into the walkie.

Lucas: “What did he do?”

Will: “Lucas, he- he’s gone.”

Lucas: “WHAT?!”

Will: “I know, I don’t know what to do. He is in my arms in the lab, and he said that Vecna was chasing him?”

Lucas: “What do you think that could’ve meant?”

Will: “I don’t know, but I need your help. Get here ASAP!” Will is crying into Mike’s lifeless chest. He suddenly realizes that there is still a chance to save him. If Mike is right, and Vecna is back, he should be close enough to tap into the hivemind, and save Mike. He closes his eyes, and he suddenly sees Vecna. God, he didn't realize how close he actually was. He finds Mike tied up to a pole with vines, and he puts out his hand. He slowly removes Mike from the vines, and he suddenly wakes up. He is weak, but he is here. Will opens his eyes, and he sees Mike. He is breathing in barely a whisper, but he is alive.

Mike: “W-Will?” Will is so relieved. He bursts into tears of joy.

Will: “Hi! Hi Mike!” Suddenly, Max, Lucas, and Dustin come bounding through the doors.

Max: “MIKE! You’re alive?!”

Will: “I saved him. Apparently the hive mind was way closer than I thought. I tapped into the hive mind, and saved him.”

Lucas: “I’m so, so, so sorry Mike. For everything!”

Mike: “Lucas it’s- it’s ok.” Mike gags, and begins coughing rapidly.

Dustin: “Lucas, go call an ambulance.”

Lucas: “I-I-I what?” Dustin is practically spitting out words now.

Dustin: “CALL AN AMBULANCE!!”

Max: “Dustin what’s happening?” Mike continues coughing, and eventually passes out.

Dustin: “I don’t know. All I know is that he needs medical help, and he needs it stat!”

Max: “What do we do?!”

Dustin: “Max are you ok?”

Max: “Uh, yeah I think so.”

Dustin: “Ok, because I just told Lucas to call an ambulance.” Will looks up from Mike.

Will: “Guys, this is serious! Where is Lucas?!”

Dustin: “Guys are you deaf?! I just told him to call an ambulance!” Lucas comes sprinting back into the lab, holding a walkie.

Lucas: “Guys, they’re asking where we are, and I can’t say we’re in the lab. Take the cars and get him out of here. I’ll tell them that we are in the Wheeler’s neighborhood.” Everyone nods their heads slightly, and runs out of the lab. Will is carrying Mike over his shoulder. Dang he got strong. Lucas continues speaking into the walkie during the car ride. He is giving the dispatcher the address that they are heading to. By the time they arrive, the ambulance is already at the address that was given. They haul Mike into the back of the car, and ask if anyone is going with him in the ambulance. Max immediately answers, and offers to go with him. Will looks at Max, and nods his head in approval. Max steps inside the ambulance, and they shut the doors behind her. She silently takes Mike’s hand and squeezes it tightly. They arrive at the hospital, and quickly set Mike up to some medical wires that the group has no idea what they are. Will and the party go home until the next day, when they all meet back up at the hospital. Will walks up to a nurse, and talks to her in a corner.

Will: “Is he going to be ok?”

Nurse: “We don’t know. He should wake up in a few hours though.”

Will: “Ok, as long as he wakes up it’ll be- it’ll be…” Will stumbles back, and suddenly passes out. Lucas runs over to him and just starts sobbing. In the middle of the hospital Lucas is just crying on the floor cradling Will in his arms like a crazy person. The nurse comes up behind Lucas to take Will out of his arms. Lucas pushes her off, and she stumbles back into the wall. Dustin tries to reason with him, but he won’t let go. Eventually security is called, and they have to manually drag Lucas off of Will. He is screaming and crying like a toddler having a fit. They pull him out of the hospital, and into what looks like a small version of an insane asylum.

Lucas: “Wh- where am I?”

Officer: “You will be here until further notice.”

Lucas: “No, but Will, I have to help him.”

Officer: “You were causing a disturbance to the hospital, so we had to bring you here. You will be here until you are told otherwise.” Back at the hospital, Dustin and Max are sobbing in Mike’s room.

Max: “What do we do?!”

Dustin: “I don’t know yet. All I know is that we need to find out where Lucas is immediately.” Dustin walks up to one of the nearby officers and asks him where Lucas is.

Dustin: “Did you see someone get pulled out of here earlier?”

Officer: “Oh yeah, the douche black kid?”

Dustin: “Don’t you dare.”

Officer: “What are you gonna do about it?” Dustin tackles the officer to the ground, and begins punching him. Max comes running in from the other room, and pulls Dustin off of him. The officer is extremely angry.

Officer: "Assaulting a police officer is against the law. I will have to take you to the station.” Dustin struggles against the officer, but he eventually lets him take him out of the hospital. Dustin reluctantly gets in the car, and they drive away. Now it’s just Max. Alone. She walks into Mike’s room crying, and is surprised to see him awake. She quickly wipes her teats, and sits down next to him.

Max: “Hey Mike, how ya doing?” Mike looks around, confused.

Mike: “Where is everyone?”

Max: “It’s complicated but, long story short Will is in another room here, and Lucas and Dustin both got arrested. For a good reason though, don’t worry.” Mike stares at her. She expects him to ask what Lucas and Dustin did, but he doesn’t.

Mike: “Is Will ok?”

Max: “I don’t know. He’s in an induced coma, but that’s all they’ve told me. I’m really sorry. I wish I knew more.”

Mike: “oh. Well what did Lucas and Dustin do?”

Max: “Well, they both kinda assaulted someone.”

Mike: “Can you please go ask about Will? He wouldn’t want me saying this, but I have a slight suspicion on why he might be here.”

Max: “Well he passed out, but what do you mean?” Mike gulps. It’s hard to talk about this, especially considering that Mike used to do similar things.

Mike: “Uhm, well I think that he might’ve started cutting himself again?”

Max: “I thought he said he was clean!”

Mike: “He did, but sometimes I will catch him in the basement crying and holding his legs to his chest.”

Max: “I didn’t know, but what does this have to do with him passing out?"

Mike: “Could’ve been the loss of blood, and sleep.” All of a sudden, Steve and Eddie come bounding through the door.

Steve: “I’m so sorry we weren’t here sooner. We came as soon as we heard.” Steve pushes past Max, and embraces Mike tightly.

Mike: “Hi guys. Thanks for coming.” Eddie sends a soft smile Mike’s way, and Mike gives a head nod in Steve’s direction. He raises his eyebrows, and Eddie blushes. Steve steps back from Mike, and Eddie pecks him on the cheek. Mike’s jaw drops, and Max smirks.

Max: “I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT! WHEELER, YOU OWE ME TWENTY!”

Steve: “You guys were betting on our relationship?”

Mike: “UH No?”

Eddie: “That’s low, even for you Wheels.”

Max: “WHEELS?!” Max bursts out laughing. She falls on the floor, and starts crying. Mike rolls his eyes.

Mike: “Shut up Max, you are actually-” He starts coughing, and eventually begins coughing up blood. Steve gets up and pushes his call button, and three nurses come into the room. Eddie explains what happened. The nurses immediately pull everyone out of the room, and begin examining Mike. They figure that while Mike is being helped, they could go request to see Will again. The doctor leads them to his room, and he is drawing, with comics sprawled out across the bed. He stops sketching, and looks up to see his friends waiting for him. He waves, and Max runs up to give him a hug.

Will: “Hi Max, Hi Eddie, Hi Steve!” Max sits down next to him.

Max: “How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Are you hungry, thirsty, or anything?”

Will: “Max, I’m ok.” Max leans closer to Will.

Max: “Mike told me that you’re cutting yourself again?” Will bursts into tears, and Max waves everyone else out of the room.

Will: “M’sorry.” Max holds him close.

Max: “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.”

Will: “But, I should’ve told you.”

Max: “Will look at me.” Will avoids her eyes for a moment, but then looks up to meet her gaze.

Will: “What?”

Max: “William Jacob Byers, it is not your fault that you weren’t ready to tell someone.” Will looks away for a second, before looking back up at her.

Will: “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Will thinks back to last night, when he cut himself again with the scissors that he has in his backpack. He remembers sitting down on the couch after leaving the hospital, and pulling his backpack close to his chest. He remembers pulling out the scissors, and slicing into his upper thigh. He remembers the slight sting of the blood as it trickled down his leg, and onto a towel he had placed on the floor in front of him. He remembers aggressively stabbing his leg, and passing out on the floor from the pain while sobbing. He remembers bandaging his leg, and crying himself to sleep. He remembers waking upstairs the next morning, and acting like everything was fine, when it really wasn’t, and he remembers not telling anyone, even though he needed to. He looks down at his feet. Max forces his head up with her hand, and Will meets her gaze.

Max: “Will.”

Will: “What?”

Max: “You know you’re not alone right?”

Will: “What do you mean?”

Max: “I mean, you’re not the only party member to be suicidal.”

Will: “Name one other person.”

Max: “Well for starters, me.” Max thinks back to when she used to choke herself with rope every night, for at least three minutes before bed.

Will: “I- I didn’t know, I’m sorry.”

Max: “That’s ok, I know Mike was, or is too.” Mike never told her the details, but she knows he used to, and maybe still burns himself.

Will: “Oh, he never told me.”

Max: “Well did you ever tell him?” Will looks down to a sketch he is working on.

Will: “I guess not.”

Max: “Dustin used to be.” He used to cut himself with scissors like Will, except he cut his gums, and not his legs.

Will: “So are the only two who have never been, Lucas and El?” Max flinches at the mention of El’s name, but she responds.

Max: “No, Lucas and El both cut their arms.”

Will: “Why do you know all of this?”

Max: "Because while you cut your thigh, I go around comforting people, when I need comforting. That is how I know this.” Will looks upset at the fact that no one comes to comfort him before Max adds,

Max: “And before you get defensive, the reason I don’t come comfort you is because you never ask. Everyone else in the party asks for me to come comfort them.”

Will: “And who was the last person to comfort you?”

Max: “Actually, I think it was Mike.”

Will: “Really?”

Max: “Uh yeah, I think it was um, it was the day that we came over to Lucas’ house for the sleepover.” Max hates thinking about that day. It was the day she started her choking relapse. She had done it every day since she found out her mom died. She would grab a relatively large rope, and wrap it around her throat. She would pull until it left marks, before finally releasing her grip on her throat.

Will: “Max, I am really, really sorry.” Max brushes it off, and replaces the look of deep thought on her face with a fake smile.

Max: “It’s ok Will.” Max spaces off again, and Eddie pokes his head back into the room.

Eddie: “Can we come back in? It’s kind of loud out here.” Will giggles. Eddie has always made him laugh with his random sense of humor. Eddie smiles softly, and a little girl pokes her head in under Eddie’s. She looks up at him.

Little Girl: “Daddy, what are you doing?” Will’s jaw drops, and Max comes back into focus. Eddie scratches the back of his neck, and shrugs. Steve comes out, and grabs the little girl. She giggles when he tickles him.

Little Girl: “Dada stop!” She smiles. He looks down at her.

Max: “Come in. Now. Explain yourselves.” Eddie, Steve, and the little girl all walk into the room, and sit down.

Steve: “Uhm, well this is Eleanor, after Eleven. She is our daughter.” Will looks at them confused, before Eleanor adds,

Eleanor: “Dada, it’s El.”

Steve: “Sorry baby.”

Will: “Wait since when are you two dating?”

Eddie: “Well actually, me and Stevie here are engaged.” Eddie proceeds to show off his engagement ring to Max and Will.

Steve: “Come on Eddie. You know I hate Stevie.” Eddie rolls his eyes. Steve mumbles something inaudible under his breath.

Max: “How long have you been engaged for?”

Steve: “Two years.” Will’s eyes widen, and his mouth opens.

Will: “How long have you been dating for?”

Eddie: “Five years.”

Max: “How old is Eleanor?” El proceeds to correct her.

El: “It’s El, and I’m six.” Max raises an eyebrow.

Eddie: “We adopted her as friends, and then we just kinda fell in love.” Max’s face softens, and she looks down at El.

Max: “Well El, nice to meet you.” She smiles softly, and El giggles.

El: “I know all about you Auntie Max. You are my favorite person to hear stories about, besides Auntie Eleven.” Max flinches, but simply smiles, and says,

Max: “Aw thank you sweetie.” She picks El up, and leads her over to Will.

Max: “Do you know who this is?” Max points at Will, who is so extremely locked in on his sketch, that he doesn't even see them.

El: “Uhm yeah! That’s Uncle Will, he likes to draw like me.” El looks over to her bag, and slips out of Max’s arms. She walks over to her back pack, and pulls out a folder full of drawings. She opens it, and takes out a painting of a knight with a shield with a heart on it. It is extremely impressive. She is almost as good as Will, and he has been drawing since he was two. Max’s jaw hits the floor.

Max: “Wow sweetheart, that is really good. Let’s show Uncle Will.” El nods her head, and walks over to Will’s bed. She taps him on the shoulder, and he looks up from his drawing.

El: "Uncle Will, I wanted to show you this.” She hands the painting to him, and he flinches. It is incredibly good, but it looks almost exactly like the knight that he painted for Mike in California. He takes the drawing out of her hands, and inspects it carefully before handing it back to her.

Will: “This is incredible, especially for someone as young as you. How long did this take?” El looks over to Eddie, and he steps in to respond.

Eddie: “I think it took around one month? Does that sound right Steve?”

Steve: “Yeah I think that’s right.”

Will: “That is insanely impressive. I did a painting very similar to that, and it took me almost five! Her’s honestly might’ve been harder.” El smiles brightly. Will pats a spot on the bed, and Max lifts her up to sit with him. He shows her the sketch he is working on.

Will: “Do you have any notes for me?” She inspects the drawing carefully, before replying,

El: “This tree looks different from all the other trees. Make sure you use the same sketching technique as all the other ones. Also, why does he have lines on his face?” She points to an awful sketch of a jawline on Will The Wise, and raises an eyebrow. Will chuckles, seeing his younger self in her.

Will: “Yeah, I was trying to give him a jawline, but it didn’t turn out very well.” El’s face brightens. She gets up off the bed, and runs over to her folder. She jumps back next to Will, and carefully pulls out a drawing of Will The Wise. He has an incredibly drawn jawline. Better than Will could ever do.

El: “Do you want me to draw it?”

Will: “How do you know this character?”

El: “Daddy showed me some of your drawings, and told me all about him.”

Will: “Wow. Yes of course you could draw the jawline.” Will hands El a few pencils, but she pushes them away.

El: “We need to color first, and then we add the details.” Will looks at her.

Will: “Is that why mine always ends up looking bad?”

El: “Have you been doing the jawline before the coloring?”

Will: “Yeah.”

El: “Well that’s why.”

Will rustles the top of her head.

Will: “You’re a very smart young lady.” El giggles. Doctor Smith walks into the room.

Dr. Smith: “Sorry to bother, but Mike is awake, and requesting to see all of you.”

Will: “Am I able to come with?”

Dr. Smith: “How have you been feeling?” Will thinks. Physically, he feels great. But mentally is a different story.

Will: “I feel great.”

Dr. Smith: “Well alright. He has been requesting you the most anyways.” Max smirks, and Will blushes. El rushes over to her back pack, and sets her folder in it carefully. Max swipes her off her feet, and carries her to Mike’s room. Will, Eddie, and Steve follow close behind. Max walks into Mike’s room, and El leaps out of her arms. She sprints over to Mike’s bed, and looks up at him.

Mike: “Who-”

El: “Hi Uncle Mike! I’m El! I’m six!” Mike opens his mouth to say something, but Eddie walks in and interrupts him.

Eddie: “This is our daughter. Her name is Eleanor, after Eleven, but she goes by El. Steve and I have been engaged for the past two years.” Mike shakes his head in disbelief.

Mike: “What?!”

Steve: “Yup.” Will pokes in behind Steve, and waves. Mike smiles brightly.

Mike: “Will!” Will pushes past Steve and Eddie to get to Mike. He sits down on the bed, and embraces him gently.

Will: “Mike! You’re alive. Holy crap!” Mike pulls him in close.

Mike: “Yeah, holy crap.” Will smiles.

Will: “I love you.” Mike pecks his cheek lightly, and Will giggles. Max seeing this, perks up.

Max: “Are you two-” Will puts a finger to his lips, and Max pretends to zip hers shut. Eddie and Steve are too preoccupied with El to notice anything.

Mike: “So, how are you feeling?”

Will: “Great actually. El is one heck of an artist. She’s gonna help teach me a couple things.”

Mike: “Ah, so the rookie is teaching the master then.” El looks up offended.

El: “Who are you calling a rookie? I have been taking art lessons since I was one year old.”

Will: “You started two years before I started painting.”

El: “Yup, I’ve been painting for four years to be exact!” El shines a toothy smile brightly. Max giggles.

Will: “You have incredible talent El. Never stop painting.” Mike looks down at the floor.

El: “I won’t!” Will notices Mike.

Will: “Hey, are you ok?”

Mike: “Yeah, I just…”

Will: “I know it’ll take some getting used to, but she loves her name, and so do we.” El walks over to Mike and Will, and taps Mike on the shoulder.

El: “Uncle Mike?”

Mike: “What’s up hon?”

El: “Uhm, do you wanna write a comic for my art?” Mike brightens. He has been wanting to write again, but hasn’t had any inspiration.

Mike: “Yeah of course!”

El: “YAYAYAYAYAYAY! You can write, and me and Uncle Will can draw!”

Mike: “All right. As long as Will is ok with it, I am too.”

Will: “I think it’s a great idea actually.”

Mike: “So what kind of writing are we looking for? I’ve got poetry, lot’s of poetry actually.”

El: “I don’t need poetry, but what kind of poetry do you write?”

Mike: “Well my favorite one that I wrote goes like this:
“A dream deferred, will become a hole
A hole in your heart that only you can control
The hole will grow, and grow, and grow
Until the hole is unstoppable
The hole will remain a hole in your heart
And you will be slowly torn apart
So don’t let that hole grow
Don’t let it become unstoppable
Take control of that dream
And fill that hole, slowly”

El: “Wow, that’s really impressive.”

Mike: “Thank you.”

El: “I have a question though.”

Will: “What is it sweets?”

El: “Are you and Uncle Mike dating like my Daddy and Dada?” Will and Mike share a panicked look.

Mike: “Uhm…”

Will: “No, no, no. It’s… It’s not like that.”

Mike: “Uh yeah… It’s not like that.”

El: “Well you guys are now dating in my head.” El nods dramatically.

Will: “Uh…”

Mike: “Ok I guess?”

Max: “No guys, you can’t just let her decide that you are gay.”

Mike: “Yeah Max is right we can’t just let her-” El opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Her head starts throbbing in nasty, shooting pain. She falls backward into a chair, and Eddie and Steve run over to her.

Eddie: “Baby what’s wrong?”

El: “My head, my head is hurting again Daddy.”

Steve: “Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!”

Eddie: “This is like her third headache this week!” El gags, and Steve pulls over a trashcan. Eddie pulls her hair back into a ponytail, and she begins vomiting almost instantly. The fluids are gushing out of her. More vomit, and more vomit. It just keeps getting worse and worse.

Will: “Her organs are going to fall out of her face if she doesn’t stop throwing up!” Steve walks out of the room, and grabs Doctor Smith.

Dr. Smith: “Oh my gosh! How long has she been like this?”

Eddie: “Our daughter El, has been puking for the last five minutes! I don’t know what to do!”

Dr. Smith: “Daughter?” Eddie gets defensive.

Eddie: “Yes, that is my daughter.”

Dr. Smith: “Sorry, just if you don’t mind me asking, who’s the mother?” Steve gets up from his chair.

Steve: “I am!” Doctor Smith scrunches his nose in a judgemental way. Max stands up.

Max: “You got a problem with that buddy?!” Will stands in front of Max.

Will: “I swear if you start some homophobic crap, and will actually slap you.”

Mike: “Yeah, leave them alone.” Doctor Smith relaxes his face.

Dr. Smith: “Sorry, I am very homophobic, but if you want your daughter to survive, I will need to have a look.” El is still puking in her corner. She is becoming more and more pale by the second. Steve is panicking now, and so is Eddie. El suddenly falls flat into the trashcan, which by now is almost completely full. Will screams.

Dr. Smith: “Pulse check!” Doctor Smith grabs El’s arm, and puts two fingers on her lower forearm. His concerned look drops. His face is blank. Mike screams at him.

Mike: “WELL IS SHE OK?!” Doctor Smith slowly looks up from her arm. When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die quietly plays in the background.

Dr. Smith: “I’m- I’m so, so sorry.” Eddie sobs.

Eddie: “NOO!” Steve holds him in his arms.

Steve: “Our baby, our baby’s gone.”

Max: “El, El wake up!” Max buries her face in Will’s shoulder.

Will: “I know, I know.”

Max: “I can’t lose another El. I can’t do it. Can’t you wake her up or something?! Use one of your machines or something!

Dr. Smith: “I’m so sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”

Mike: “Come on man, you have to do something.” Mike’s lips are trembling. He is holding back tears. Max’s eyes are watery, and Will is silently crying.

Dr. Smith: “I am sorry, but there is nothing that I can do to save her.” Doctor Smith pulls out his walkie, and orders a few nurses to come in and remove El’s body from the room.

Mike: “She’s not dead. She was saying how we were going to write a comic together! She is alive. Check again or something!” Mike starts screaming at Doctor Smith, and begins to have a coughing fit. Suddenly he stops. Steve rushes over to him, and pushes Will out of the way. He takes one look at his heart rate monitor, (which is now flatlining) and begins performing basic CPR. Will buries his face into Max’s chest, which is now wet from her crying, but he doesn’t mind it. He finds it comforting actually. Like a drop of rain falling into his hair before it starts pouring.

Steve: “Come on man, not you too. Robin’s gonna kill me!” Will snaps. He doesn’t know what comes over him. Maybe it’s nerves, or the fact that Steve isn’t worried about Mike at all. (He obviously is)

Will: “What the heck does this have to do with Robin?! Mike is going to die, and it’s all my fault!”

Max: “Will, you can’ t think like that. It’s not your fault.” Will sobs into Max.

Will: “If I had gotten there sooner, I would have been able to save him from that monster!” Eddie looks up from the nurses who are taking El out of the room.

Eddie: “What are you talking about?”

Will: “Oh, Vecna’s back! SURPRISE!”

Will feels a sudden cool breath rush over him, giving him goosebumps. Steve is still giving CPR, but it’s been almost a minute now. The chances of him waking up are-

Mike: “Help me!”

Will: “Mike!” Mike sees that he’s not alone anymore, and latches himself onto Will. This is weird, he thinks. Usually Mike would be kissing his cheek if he was scared. Is he being distant? No, he is just scared. Everything is fine. Will hears a sudden whisper in his ear, as Mike pulls him closer.

Unknown Whisper: “Wake up.” Will pulls away, but Mike won’t let him go.

Will: “Mike, let me go!”

Unknown Whisper: “Look around you. Everything you see, none of it is real. How have you not pieced it together yet? Mike would never want to date you.” Will pulls back to see that he is no longer holding onto Mike, but is laying down in a hospital bed. He sits up to see his mom sitting next to him.

Will: “Mom?” Joyce rushes over to him, and hugs him tightly.

Joyce: “Baby!”

Will: “What’s happening? Where’s Mike? Is he ok?” Joyce laughs a bit. But not in a comforting way. She laughs coldly.

Joyce: “Mike is long gone, baby. Don’t worry about him.”

Will: “Where is he?” Joyce reaches up to touch Will’s face.

Joyce: “Oh honey, he’s in a psychiatric hospital. That poor boy thought that Henry Creel was coming to kill you. Last I heard, he was in intense care. Considered incurable.” Will’s face darkens.

Will: “Coming to kill me?” Joyce thinks.

Joyce: “Or maybe it was coming to fill you. Something between the lines of that.” She lets out a cold laugh.

Will: “Mom?” Joyce turns back to him with white eyes.

Joyce distorted: “What baby?” Will’s jaw drops.

Will: “How-how long have I been out?”

Joyce distorted: “I think about nine months.” Will tries to get up, but Joyce firmly pushes her hand onto him. It… It’s going inside of him! Will looks back up at Joyce to see that Vecna has replaced her.

Vecna: “William join me. Join me so you can be free. Free from everyone's assumptions. I will care for you if you choose to join me. I will fill the places in your heart that no one else could fill.” Will thinks. He is sick of the bullying, and feeling lonely and unloved. He hesitates, but chooses to take his hand, and allow him to fill him. Will immediately feels different, but not bad different, good different. He feels less empty, less lonely. Once Vecna removes his hand from Will’s chest, he stands up and walks to a mirror. He looks stronger, and fuller. Less skinny, and less gay.

Will: “I feel, I feel better than I ever have.” Vecna follows him.

Vecna: "Congratulations. You made the right choice. Now, how would you feel if I allowed you to see Mike. The main source of your pain.” Will looks up, and suddenly he is in the upside down, across from Mike. He looks scared Will thinks.

Mike: “Will, what did he do to you?” Will steps closer to him.

Will: “He filled me in places no one else ever could Michael.” Mike cowers back. Will takes his finger, and forces Mike’s head up.

Mike: “Please Will. This isn’t you.”

Will: “You never knew the real me. This is the real me, and I love being myself.”

Mike: “I liked the old Will better.”

Will: “Liked. You never loved him, you always liked him.”

Mike: “Will come on. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Will: “I can’t make you love me, but I can make you join me.”

Mike: “Will please.” Will lifts his arm, and suddenly the upside down opens up beneath them. Mike falls silently into the abyss. No screaming. No crying. No begging. He just vanished.

Will: “Goodbye Michael.” The ground pulses beneath him, and he doesn’t even flinch. He waits and waits, but he feels nothing. He was expecting to feel at least a bit guilty, but considering he doesn’t feel anything, he realizes he finally got over Mike. That’s a good thing right? He should be feeling something, not this emptiness. Vecna suddenly appears in front of him where Mike once stood.

Vecna: “I’m proud of you William.”

Will: “I made the right decision right?” Will looks up at him waiting for approval.

Vecna: “Yes, yes you did.” There is nothing there. Just him, Vecna, and the end of the world. Will doesn’t know what will happen next, but he knows that he made the right choice joining Vecna. Anything that happens after this is a future Will problem. All that matters now is that he and Venca have put a stop to Mike. The one person who caused his constant loneliness. The world around them continues to fall, and Will doesn’t care. He just cares about his connection with Vecna. That is all that matters now.

The End.