Work Text:
Thought we were invincible
Mike stares at Will.
They're in Argyle's van, driving save Eleven.
Mike is horribly worried for her.
She's so brave, though.
He knows that she'll make it out of this.
Thought we'd never break
The van was too small, too hot.
He's been stuck with Will, Jonathan and Argyle for hours.
There was a tension that he couldn't dissipate.
Mainly with him and Will.
I thought I was incapable
Of causing you pain
"Mike? Can I show you something?" Will asks softly, looking over at Mike.
Mike meets his gaze, his breath catching in his throat.
Will looks beautiful.
The sun catches his hazel eyes perfectly, lighting them up.
He's covered in dust and dirt, looking disheveled in the cutest way possible-
Wait.
Mike isn't supposed to thing that his best friend looks cute.
But Will is different, isn't he?
"Yeah?" Mike asks.
Will pulls something out of his backpack from the floor of the cluttered van.
It's a roll of brown paper.
He hands it to Mike.
Mike takes it, holding it as carefully as possible.
He unrolls it, revealing a painting.
Wow.
There's a dragon and four people.
The detail is immaculate.
The background is beautiful, the sky is perfect.
The painting is wonderful.
Mike loves it.
"Wow. You made this?" Mike asks quietly, his breath taken away as he traces the painting with his fingers.
Will nods eagerly.
Mike doesn't deserve this.
Now I stare in the mirror every night
See a person I don't recognize
I'm the one that I'd promised I'd never become all my life
All my life
Will.
Made.
Him.
A.
Painting.
After Mike had been a brat to Will and not called him since...forever!
After they were basically not friends anymore!
Will still cared.
When Mike couldn't.
Blood rushes through Mike's ears.
He failed Will.
Now I'm the villain in your story
An angel fell from glory
Mike turns his head to look at Will, his grip tightening on the painting.
Will's mouth is moving, but Mike can't make out what he's saying.
Mike's hands are shaking.
His vision clouds at the edges, turning black.
Until Mike can't see anything.
Was a hero in your eyes
Now I'm just the bad guy
Mike is watching...himself.
Or a younger version, that is.
A young Will is sitting on his bed.
Mike sits next to him, a hand on his knee.
Comforting him.
Back when Mike was a good friend to Will.
Back in grade 8, when Will was getting his now memories.
Back when Mike looked at Will like he hung the moon.
Mike realizes, with an ache, that he has been missing Will.
He hasn't been there for the boy.
He knows that.
But no.
That's not what he realizes.
He's been missing him in a different way.
Mike loves Will.
No matter how much he denies it, it's true.
And he's been missing being around him.
Being with him.
Being close with him.
Being able to tell him anything.
I hate the way I left you haunted
Now these hands are stained and tarnished
Was a hero in your eyes
Now I'm just the bad I'm just the bad guy
The memory fades, and Mike blinks it off, shaking his eyes.
He's back in the van.
Will is still talking to him.
The hazel-eyed boy is looking at his hands, which are shaking.
His eyes are red and full of tears.
Will's mouth stops moving.
Mike looks back at the painting.
Stuck in your head
I'm always thinking three steps ahead
Feeling is sinking
No point in whispering
Just know that I'm listening
Will turns to the window, silently sobbing.
Mike feels horribly guilty.
Will cries to himself.
Because of Mike.
And there's nothing Mike can do.
Pulling the strings
Pushing the lights
These seven minutes are all of my time
Unless...is there something Mike can do?
Mike slowly, tentatively, without thinking, reaches his arm across the seat in between the two boys.
He puts his hand down softly right next to Will's thigh.
Will doesn't notice.
Mike brushes his pinky against Will.
With me I'm a villain
I'm chasing the feeling
I'm taking the throne
Running the show
But when I'm alone
Now I'm the villain in your story
"Will? Thank you for the painting." Will turns to face Mike.
His eyes are red and puffy from crying.
His body shakes with quiet sobs.
An angel fell from glory
Was a hero in your eyes
Now I'm just the bad guy
"What's wrong?" Mike tries to sound surprised. But he knows. He knows what's wrong.
Will is crying because of Mike's inability to provide comfort or friendship.
"I-it's nothing. Just...scared for El." Will whispers. Mike nudges his thigh with his hand again, this time putting his palm flat against the other boy's leg.
Mike nods slowly, skeptical.
Friends don't lie.
But is Will a friend anymore?
Will looks at Mike, really looks at him.
Mike can feel the hazel eyes burning holes through him.
"I'm sorry." Mike whispers, looking away from Will. "I'm sorry for not being there, I'm sorry for being a horrible friend, I'm sorry for making you cry, I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry."
"Mike-" Will starts, putting his own hand on top of Mike's.
This sends a jolt through Mike, giving him confidence.
The strength to look Will in the eyes.
Those beautiful hazel eyes.
"Don't be sorry." Will finishes.
I hate the way I left you haunted
Now these hands are stained and tarnished
More memories come flooding through Mike.
Him and Will playing D&D together.
Him and Will biking through Hawkins together.
Him and Will going to school together.
Mike and Will.
Will and Mike.
And this only solidifies something in Mike.
Was a hero in your eyes
Now I'm just the bad-
Mike looks Will in the eyes.
His grip on the other boy's leg tightens slightly.
He wants to listen to Will
But there's one more apology that he needs to say.
"I'm sorry for not...being there to love you." Mike whispers.
Will freezes.
Mike averts his gaze.
"Mike..." Will starts, but stops instantly.
Instead, he pulls Mike's hand off of his leg, intertwining their fingers.
Tightly.
Like a promise.
I'm just the bad guy