Chapter Text
Mike’s POV:
On the way to pick up Will, Mike sits nervously in the passenger seat of Nancy's car, biting his nails like crazy while his leg bounces a mile per minute. Nancy looks at him sympathetically and reaches out to place a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle and reassuring squeeze.
When Nancy pulls into the driveway of the Byers' residence, Will immediately opens the front door and steps out toward the car, as if he has been watching through the window, waiting for their arrival.
Walking towards them, he makes eye contact with Mike through the windshield and gives him a soft smile, which Mike easily returns.
Will makes his way to the back of the car, opening the door, and Mike immediately shoots out of the passenger seat, moving to sit next to Will.
"Hi," Mike says, brows furrowed with a nervous look on his face as Nancy backs out of the driveway.
"Hi," Will smiles back. "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah... Yeah! It's just, that-" For a moment Mike doesn't continue, then it was as if a dam had suddenly burst.
"It's just-what if something goes wrong? What if they don't knock me out all the way and I wake up halfway through surgery and can feel them slicing my face open? What if they accidentally pull out the wrong teeth? What if the power goes out mid surgery and they have to just send me home with gaping wounds in my mouth? What if I bleed out in the chair and die? I haven't even done anything cool with my life, Will, I can't die yet!"
"Defeating an evil wizard from another dimension wasn't cool enough for you?" Will laughs.
"You know what I mean," Mike sighs, fighting a smile. "I'm just nervous."
Will notices Mike's hand splayed out on the middle of seat between them, fingers tapping anxiously. He debates for a moment, then quickly places his hand over Mike's, giving it a soft squeeze, then retracts his hand as quickly as he had placed it. Mike's breath hitches as his eyes flick down between them, hoping Will doesn't notice.
"I promise you, you're gonna be okay. You're not gonna bleed out, no one is going to pull the wrong teeth," Will chuckles. "This is their job, Mike. They perform these surgeries all day, every day. They know what they're doing! It's probably muscle memory to them at this point."
"Yeah?" Mike asks, softly.
"Yeah," Will returns, bumping his knee against Mike's as an offer of reassurance.
After a short drive that (due to Mike's anxiety) feels like forever, Nancy, Mike, and Will arrive at the oral surgeons' office. As Nancy pulls into a parking spot, Mike's demeanor changes, his nervous rambling shifting into silence. Will, who is sat beside Mike in the back seat, immediately notices him freeze up and becomes concerned.
"Mike?" Will presses, "Are you okay?"
Mike manages to respond with nothing but an "Mhm.”
Nancy makes eye contact with Will through the rear view mirror, a knowing look shared between the two.
"Mike, come on," Nancy says as she gets out of the car and opens the back door. "They asked us to show up fifteen minutes early, and we're already five minutes behind."
Mike swallows nervously and, after an encouraging glance from Will, reluctantly moves out of the car. Will steps out with Mike and walks alongside him to the entrance as Nancy leads the way, holding the door for them.
"It'll be fine, Mike. Really," he soothes. "I was nervous for my surgery, too, but it was nothing!"
With Will's words, the tension in Mike's shoulders drops, and he finally starts to ease up as they makes their way into the waiting room.
Mike’s POV, in the waiting room:
Will’s POV:
Mike’s POV:
Will’s POV:
Mike’s POV:
Will’s POV:
Mike’s POV:
Max’s POV:
