Chapter Text
Both of them woke at almost exactly the same moment.
Max's eyes flew open first.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her chest rising rapidly beneath the blanket as she stared at the ceiling. For a few seconds, she didn't move, she looked confused or disoriented. Like she had no idea where she was or how she'd gotten there.
Then her eyes shifted.
The ceiling.
The fluorescent lights.
The unfamiliar room.
The people standing around her.
Lucas.
Her eyes stopped.
"...Lucas?"
Lucas didn't even try to hide the tears that immediately spilled down his face.
"Max."
She stared at him.
Really stared.
Like she was trying to make sure he wasn't another memory.
Another trick.
Another nightmare.
Lucas carefully reached for her hand again.
"Hey."
"I'm here."
Max's fingers slowly curled around his as much as her weak muscles could.
Her expression crumpled.
"You..."
Her voice was hoarse.
"You were there."
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah."
"I was."
She swallowed.
"I could hear you."
Lucas's face broke.
He lowered his forehead against the back of her hand.
"You scared the hell out of me."
Max's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't."
Lucas immediately shook his head.
"Don't apologize."
"You woke up."
"That's all I care about."
Max's lips trembled.
"I heard the music."
Lucas smiled through his tears.
"I kept playing it."
"I thought..."
He took a shaky breath.
"I thought maybe you'd hear me."
"I did."
Max whispered.
"I kept trying to get back."
Lucas closed his eyes.
"I knew you could."
"I knew you were in there."
Max squeezed his hand.
"I was."
For a few seconds they simply looked at one another.
Years of friendship turned relationship to break-up.
Fights.
Arguments.
Loss.
Everything they'd been through. None of it mattered in that moment. Lucas leaned forward and carefully wrapped his arms around her, Max hugged him back. Neither of them cared that everyone was watching or cared about the tears. Lucas held her like he was afraid she'd disappear if he loosened his grip.
Max buried her face against his shoulder.
"You took long enough." Mike said.
Lucas laughed through a sob.
Max pulled back just enough to glare at him.
"Screw you, Wheeler."
A shaky laugh escaped Lucas.
"There's the Max I remember."
She smiled.
Then her eyes wandered around the room again.
Mike grinned.
Then his expression softened.
"I'm glad you're awake."
Max nodded.
"...Me too."
But then her eyes moved.
Past Mike.
Toward the other side of the room.
Toward Will.
She frowned.
"Who is that?"
The room went quiet.
Lucas looked toward Will.
Then back to Max.
"...That's Will."
Max blinked.
"Will?"
"Yeah."
"Our friend."
"The one who went missing."
Max looked at him.
"Holy shit."
Her expression changed slowly.
Recognition without memory.
She didn't know him.
Not really.
But something about his face something about the way everyone looked at him made her heart ache.
She glanced back at Lucas.
"He..."
Her voice dropped.
"...He saved me."
Lucas's eyes filled again.
"I know."
He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"I know."
Across the room, Will watched them. His heart felt strangely warm. He'd seen people find each other before. But watching Max wake up and Lucas immediately become himself again, it made something inside him ache in a good way.
They were safe.
Lucas was happy.
Max was alive.
He smiled faintly.
Then–
His smile disappeared.
His head snapped upward.
The world changed.
Will's vision blurred.
The room disappeared.
Suddenly...
He wasn't looking at Max anymore.
He wasn't looking at Lucas.
He wasn't even inside the WSQK.
He was somewhere outside.
Darkness.
Trees.
Cold air.
The smell of damp earth.
And then–
The Wheeler house.
Will knew it immediately.
His heart dropped.
"No..."
He was looking through the Demogorgon's eyes again.
The creature stood in the trees across from the house.
Watching.
Waiting.
Every movement felt wrong.
Too low.
Too heavy.
Will could feel its hunger.
It was terrifying.
Not because it was loud.
Because it was patient.
The creature slowly began moving toward the house.
"No."
Will tried to pull away.
He couldn't.
"Stop."
Nothing.
The Demogorgon crossed the yard.
The house looked peaceful.
Lights on.
A television glowing through one window.
Someone moving upstairs.
A family completely unaware of what was standing outside.
Will felt panic rise inside him.
"No."
He forced his powers forward.
The vision shook.
The creature stumbled.
For one second he broke through.
The Demogorgon stopped.
Will felt its confusion.
Then its anger.
"No!"
He pushed harder.
The image flickered.
The house disappeared.
Then returned.
The creature moved again.
Will fought.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every attempt exhausted him.
Every second inside its mind felt like trying to hold back a storm with his bare hands.
"Stop!"
He could hear people shouting around him in the real world.
"Will?"
"Will!"
But he couldn't answer.
His vision remained trapped.
The Demogorgon reached the porch.
The front door suddenly opened.
A small figure moved inside.
Holly.
Will's stomach dropped.
"No."
The creature lunged.
Will threw everything he had into his powers.
The windows rattled.
The creature staggered.
For one impossible second it stopped. Will thought he'd done it. He thought he'd actually stopped it. Then the creature shook him off. The connection snapped back into place. Will watched helplessly as the creature surged forward.
"HOLLY!"
The scream finally tore out of him in the real world.
The vision shattered.
–
Will came back gasping.
His entire body jerked.
Tears streamed down his face.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't speak.
Joyce was already beside him.
"Will!"
"Honey?"
"Come back."
"Look at me."
But Will wasn't looking at anyone.
He was looking at nothing.
His whole body shook.
"I..."
His voice cracked.
"I couldn't..."
Joyce immediately understood.
"Come with me."
She gently pulled him away from the room before anyone could ask what happened. Will stumbled after her, practically collapsing against her shoulder.
Mike followed.
He didn't even hesitate.
They reached the bedroom.
Joyce closed the door.
Will immediately broke.
He buried his face against his mother's shoulder.
A sob tore from him.
"I tried."
"I tried."
Joyce held him tightly.
"I know."
"I tried to stop it."
"I know, baby."
"I couldn't."
His voice shattered.
"I couldn't stop him."
Joyce rubbed slow circles across his back.
"You did everything you could."
"Holly was there."
"He..."
Will couldn't finish.
His breathing became ragged again.
"He took her."
Mike's face crumpled.
He understood immediately.
His hand covered his mouth.
Will looked up at him, tears running down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry."
Mike immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I'm sorry."
Will cried harder.
"I saw him."
"I felt it."
"I tried to stop him."
"I couldn't."
Mike stepped closer.
"Will."
Will flinched.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be."
"But she's–"
"That's not your fault."
Mike's voice was firm.
"You tried."
"That's more than anyone could've done."
Will shook his head.
"I wasn't strong enough."
"You were."
Mike answered immediately.
"You stopped him."
"For a second."
"That second mattered."
Will stared at him.
Mike knelt beside them.
"He got past you."
"That doesn't mean you failed."
"It means he's stronger than any of us."
Joyce gently lifted Will's face.
"You are not responsible for what that creature does."
"Do you hear me?"
Will's lips trembled.
"I should've..."
"No."
Joyce shook her head.
"You don't get to punish yourself for something you tried to prevent."
She pulled him back against her.
"You saved Max."
"You warned us about the Demogorgon."
"You tried to stop it."
"You keep thinking you have to save everyone."
"You don't."
Will cried quietly against her shoulder.
"I just wanted to help."
"I know."
Joyce kissed the top of his head.
"I know."
Mike sat beside them.
He didn't say anything for a while.
He simply reached for Will's hand.
Will immediately took it.
Their fingers intertwined.
The contact grounded him.
The room went quiet.
Outside, everyone was still moving.
Preparing.
Trying to understand what had happened.
But inside it was just the three of them.
Joyce holding her son.
Mike holding his hand.
And Will slowly realizing that failure didn't mean he was a failure. He'd spent four years believing that survival meant saving everyone. That if someone got hurt, it was because he hadn't been strong enough.
But maybe...
Maybe being home meant learning something different. He didn't have to carry every loss by himself.
Mike squeezed his hand.
"I'm here."
Will looked over.
Mike's eyes were red.
"I'm here."
Will swallowed.
"...Okay."
Joyce smiled through her tears.
"That's enough for tonight."
Will leaned back against her.
His eye drifted closed.
For once...
He let himself be held, after using his powers for so long.
Will was fucking tired.
–
The station had gone quiet again by the time Will woke. For a few seconds, he didn't know where he was he didn't even realize he had fallen asleep.There was warmth beneath his cheek. Something soft supporting the back of his head and fingers moving slowly through his hair.
He blinked awake.
The ceiling came into focus first.
Then the familiar dark curls above him.
Mike.
Will realized his head was resting in Mike's lap.
Mike looked down the second he noticed Will was awake.
"Hi."
His voice was quiet.
Will's eye fluttered shut again almost immediately. Mike's fingers continued gently combing through his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp before smoothing the strands back down. The sensation was almost enough to make Will fall asleep again.
"...That feels good."
He breathed the words out without thinking.
Mike smiled.
"Yeah?"
Will nodded slightly.
"Yeah, fucking awesome."
For several seconds neither of them spoke.
The room was dim, the afternoon light softened by the blinds over the windows. Somewhere down the hall, a radio murmured quietly. Everything felt distant.
Safe.
Then Will's eye suddenly opened.
He pushed himself up slightly before remembering where he was.
"Wait."
His voice was rough from sleep.
"How's everyone?"
Mike's hand paused for half a second before he resumed stroking Will's hair.
"My parents are..."
He hesitated.
"In the hospital."
Will's expression immediately changed.
"And Holly?"
Mike swallowed.
"Still missing."
The words made the warmth in Will's chest disappear.
"But..."
Mike quickly added, "We have information."
Will looked up at him.
"Max told us."
"She said Henry's going after more kids."
"How many?"
"Twelve."
Will's face fell.
"Twelve..."
Mike nodded.
"She doesn't know exactly what he wants to do with them or who he wants."
"But..."
He looked away.
"...we think it's bad."
Will stared at the ceiling.
Twelve.
The number felt enormous.
Another twelve children.
Another group of families who would wake up one morning and wonder where their kids had gone.
Another twelve people who could end up where he'd spent four years.
His stomach twisted.
"I'm sorry."
Mike immediately sighed.
"Will."
"I know."
"Stop apologizing."
Will looked toward him.
"I'm trying."
"I know."
Mike smiled faintly.
"You're not getting better."
Will let out a quiet breath.
He slowly pushed himself upright.
His body immediately protested.
His muscles felt soft and weak, as though someone had replaced his bones with wet sand.
"I need a shower."
He grimaced.
"I feel like shit."
Mike snorted.
"There it is."
"What?"
"Your vocabulary."
Will rolled his eye.
"Shut up."
Mike laughed.
Will tried standing.
He made it halfway before his knees wobbled.
Mike immediately caught his elbow.
"Easy."
"I'm fine."
"You're falling over."
"I'm not."
Will sighed.
"Okay."
"Maybe a little."
Mike smiled.
"Do you..."
He hesitated.
"...want me to help you?"
Will looked at him.
"Shower?"
Mike's face immediately turned bright red.
"No!"
"Well—"
"I mean—"
"Not..."
He waved both hands helplessly.
"Not help you shower."
“I mean If you wan–.”
“But that would be weird so…”
Will stared at him.
Mike's ears turned even redder.
"I mean..."
"I could..."
"Maybe..."
"...Help with your hair?"
Will's lips twitched.
"Mike."
"I don't know how to say this without making it sound weird."
"It's not weird."
"I just..."
Mike groaned.
"I'm making this worse."
Will laughed softly.
"Calm down."
"I was joking."
Mike covered his face for a second.
"Okay."
"Good."
Will looked at him for another moment.
"I mean..."
"If you want to."
Mike lowered his hands.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"I can help you wash your hair."
Mike smiled.
"Okay."
Then his expression shifted.
"Wait."
"Your stitches."
"I'll be careful."
"But Mike."
"I don't care."
Mike stared at him.
"Will..."
"I'm tired of needing help with everything."
He glanced down at himself.
"If I can help..."
"...then let me."
Will’s expression softened.
"Okay."
They both slowly stood.
Neither was particularly steady.
Mike caught himself against the side of the cot while Will held onto the wall.
They exchanged an amused glance.
"Great team."
Mike muttered.
"Absolutely."
Together they made their way toward the bathroom. The bathroom was small, barely large enough for the two of them to move around comfortably. Mike turned on the water and waited until it reached a warm temperature. Will sat carefully on the closed toilet lid while Mike gathered the shampoo and a clean towel.
"You ready?"
Will nodded.
Mike moved closer.
"Okay."
He gently guided Will toward the tub and checked the temperature of the water again.
He was careful.
Almost overly careful.
Like one wrong movement might break him.
Will noticed.
"You don't have to treat me like glass."
Mike smiled.
"I know."
"But..."
He shrugged.
"I kind of want to."
Will couldn't help smiling.
Mike carefully wet Will's hair.
The warm water immediately flattened the strands against his forehead.
Will closed his eye.
He hadn't realized how tense he'd been until the warmth touched his scalp.
Mike worked slowly.
His fingers gently separated the tangled pieces before applying shampoo.
He massaged it into Will's hair with the pads of his fingers.
Circular motions.
Soft.
Patient.
Will's shoulders gradually relaxed.
"This is..."
He sighed.
"Fuck-, I mean really nice."
Mike smiled.
"Good."
He worked the shampoo through the roots, careful around the sensitive skin near Will's scar.
"Does this hurt?"
Will shook his head.
"No."
Mike continued.
His fingers moved through the longer strands, working out knots one by one.
Every so often he rinsed his hands and began again.
Will's breathing became slower.
The warmth.
The quiet.
Mike's hands.
It reminded him of something he'd forgotten.
Being cared for without having to earn it.
Without having to fight for it.
Without wondering what the price would be.
Will really wanted to kiss him right now. Wait what, no he doesn't want to kiss Mike. He would never want to kiss a boy.
Guys don’t do that.
Disgusting.
If he knew what you were thinking right now.
He would never want to touch you again.
You took his kindness and twisted it into something perverted.
Will’s heart stopped for a moment. That voice was back and he was right. Mike was doing this to be nice, he pitied Will. So, why would he think about kissing Mike? He is innocently washing his hair and Will had to turn it into something it's not. Mike is not like him, he isn't sick and wrong. Normal boys don’t think about each other the way Will thinks of them. Will closed his eyes and tried to forget about the thoughts, he wanted to just live in the moment.
Mike gently rinsed the shampoo away.
The water ran clear.
"There."
He reached for the towel.
"All done."
Will opened his eye.
"Already?"
Mike laughed.
"You were about to fall asleep."
Will smiled.
"Maybe."
Mike carefully wrapped the towel around Will's hair and started gently blotting it dry.
Will watched him through half-lidded eyes.
"Thank you."
Mike paused.
"Anytime."
The words came easily.
Like they had always belonged there.
Will looked away before Mike could see his expression.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Mike gently brushed one damp curl away from Will's forehead.
"Better?"
Will nodded.
"Much."
Mike smiled.
"Good."
And for a little while the world outside that bathroom didn't matter.
Just warm water.
Clean hair.
And his best friend sitting beside him, making him feel human again.
After a moment of them sitting in silence while Mike cleaned his hair.
Mike pointed toward the door.
“I should head out so you can shower.”
Will nodded.
After Will finished his shower, the clean clothes and freshly washed hair left him feeling strangely lighter.
Not healed.
Not magically better.
But cleaner.
A little more like himself.
He stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing the towel over the ends of his damp hair while he listened to the station around him. There was a lot of noise coming from the other side of the building.
Laughter.
Several voices overlapping.
Someone was talking loudly enough that Will could make out Dustin's unmistakable voice from down the hall.
He slowly followed the sound.
The closer he got, the more familiar voices he recognized.
Lucas.
Steve.
Robin.
Jonathan.
Nancy.
Joyce.
Hopper.
Dustin.
Mike.
And...
Max.
Will slowed when he reached the doorway. Everyone was gathered around Max's cot. For once, the room didn't feel like an emergency room.
People were laughing.
Dustin was gesturing wildly while telling some story.
Robin was sitting against the wall, smiling.
Steve had somehow found a bag of chips.
Lucas sat closest to Max, their shoulders nearly touching.
Will stopped just outside the doorway.
He didn't want to interrupt.
He hadn't meant to.
He'd only wanted to see what everyone was laughing about.
So he stayed there quietly.
Watching.
For a few seconds nobody noticed him.
Then Max's head turned.
Her eyes, whatever vision she had left, seemed to find him almost immediately.
She smiled.
Small.
Warm.
Will immediately looked down.
The conversation gradually died.
One person noticed him.
Then another.
Until suddenly every pair of eyes in the room had turned toward the doorway.
Will's stomach twisted.
They're staring.
His fingers curled around the edge of his sleeve.
He almost stepped backward.
Then Mike stood.
He crossed the room without hesitation.
The second he reached Will, his hand found his.
Will's shoulders relaxed immediately.
Mike gave him a small smile.
"You're okay."
Will nodded.
Mike gently tugged him into the room.
"Max."
Max smiled.
"Hi, Will."
Will gave her a shy smile.
"Hi."
"It's really nice to meet you."
She looked him over for a second.
Then her smile grew.
"You're a legend."
Will blinked.
"...What?"
Max laughed.
"Mike."
She pointed toward him.
"Would not shut up about you."
Mike's face immediately turned pink.
"Max."
"What?"
"I'm just saying."
She looked back at Will.
"I feel like I already know you."
Will glanced at Mike.
Mike was suddenly very interested in the floor.
Will's cheeks warmed.
"...Thank you."
Max smiled.
"And..."
She reached for Lucas's hand slowly Lucas meeting her half way.
"Thank you for saving my life."
Will immediately shook his head.
"I didn't–"
"Yeah."
Max interrupted gently.
"You did."
Will went quiet.
Lucas squeezed Max hand.
"Do you know how many times I was there?"
"With Henry."
"I kept getting pulled back."
"Every time I thought I was getting close..."
"He found me again."
Her voice grew quieter.
"But that was the first time..."
She looked directly at Will.
"...I actually got away."
Will swallowed.
"I'm glad."
"It wasn't even really about the music."
Lucas looked at her.
"It wasn't?"
Max shook her head.
"The music helped."
"Obviously."
"But..."
She glanced down at her and Lucas's intertwined hands.
"It was this."
"Someone I loved."
"Someone who kept reaching for me."
"Every time Lucas talked to me..."
"Every time he held my hand..."
"I got a little closer to home."
She squeezed his fingers.
"That was what I needed."
Will listened quietly.
The words settled somewhere deep inside him.
Home.
He understood that.
More than anyone probably realized.
Mike squeezed his hand.
Max noticed.
Her eyes flicked down toward their intertwined fingers.
Then back up at Will.
A mischievous little smile appeared.
Mike immediately noticed.
"What Maxine?"
"Nothing."
Max smiled innocently.
Mike narrowed his eyes.
"...What?"
"I just think it's funny."
"What?"
"How much you talk about him."
Mike groaned.
"Oh my God."
Max laughed.
"And now you're holding his hand."
"We're friends, bestfriends."
Mike answered quickly.
Will's cheeks turned pink.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh."
Mike pointed at him.
"Don't."
Lucas grinned.
Max leaned back against her pillow.
"He's definitely something."
Mike smiled proudly.
"He's a sorcerer."
Will blinked.
"What?"
Max looked at Mike.
"You've been calling me that?"
Mike shrugged.
"He's our sorcerer."
"I'm not a sorcerer."
Will muttered.
Mike ignored him.
"My sorcerer."
"Or..."
He thought dramatically.
"My cleric."
Will's face immediately turned bright red.
"Mike."
Mike grinned.
"Will the Wise."
Dustin immediately called from across the room.
"He's upgraded!"
Lucas laughed.
Max rolled her eyes.
"Mike, we get it."
"I lost some of my sight, not my hearing."
"You don't have to keep telling me he's a sorcerer."
Mike looked offended.
"It's important."
"No, it's not."
"It is to me."
Will hid his smile behind his hand.
Max looked back at him.
"So..."
"You can't see?"
Will asked quietly.
Max's expression softened.
"Uh..."
"Yes and no."
"Some of it is there."
"Some of it isn't."
"I might need glasses."
"Or some shit."
Will smiled faintly.
"But..."
Max continued.
"I can still see."
"Just..."
"Everything's blurry."
"Spotty."
"Sometimes I see shapes."
"Sometimes light."
"Sometimes I can recognize someone's face if they're close enough."
Will frowned sympathetically.
"I'm sorry."
Max shrugged.
"It's fine."
She offered him a small smile.
"Could be worse."
Will looked down at himself.
"I guess."
Max studied him for another second.
Then her grin returned.
"I wish I had a badass scar like yours."
Will blinked.
"What?"
"You look totally hot."
"Hot?"
Will's entire face went crimson.
Max laughed.
"I mean..."
Will gestured helplessly toward his own face.
"I look like..."
He hesitated trying not to cuss.
"...shit."
Max laughed harder.
"No."
At the exact same time–
Mike and Lucas both spoke.
"You look amazing."
The room went silent for one second.
Then Dustin started laughing.
"Oh, that's beautiful."
Lucas looked at Mike.
Mike looked at Lucas.
Both immediately realized they'd spoken at exactly the same time.
Max grinned.
Will covered his face, laughing despite himself.
"Can everyone stop?"
"No."
Dustin answered.
"Absolutely not."
Mike smiled.
"You do look good."
Will peeked through his fingers.
"I have one eye."
"And scars."
"And hair halfway down my back."
Mike shrugged.
"Still you."
Will's smile softened.
Max looked between them again.
She was definitely noticing something.
But, mercifully, she didn't say anything.
Instead she looked toward Hopper, still shocked that he’s alive.
"So..."
"Is Jane back yet?"
Hopper shook his head.
"Not yet."
"She overused her powers."
"Needs to recharge."
Max nodded.
"Right."
Will listened closely.
Recharge.
He remembered the conversation he'd overheard weeks ago.
Jane talking about her powers.
Hopper talking about how she needed to rest afterward.
Food.
Eggos.
Rest.
Sometimes sleep.
Will wondered what it felt like. To use your powers and not feel like every piece of you was being dragged through the darkness.
Maybe Jane really could help.
Maybe...
He could learn how she did it.
The thought lingered.
Mike suddenly stood.
"Well..."
He looked at Will.
"That was fun."
Will looked up at him.
Mike smiled.
"But we're gonna be right back."
Will frowned slightly.
"Where are we going?"
Mike shrugged.
"Somewhere."
"Come on."
He held out his hand.
Will stared at it for half a second before smiling and taking it.
Max watched them.
Then smiled.
"Bye, sorcerer."
Will laughed softly.
"Bye, Mad Max."
Mike gave her a mock glare.
"Don't steal my nickname."
"You gave him the nickname."
"I know."
"Exactly."
Will shook his head as Mike gently pulled him toward the door. They walked away together, fingers intertwined. Behind them, Max watched until they disappeared down the hallway.
Then she slowly looked toward Lucas.
"...So."
Lucas immediately knew that tone.
"No."
Max grinned.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"Maybe."
Lucas sighed.
"Please don't."
Max smiled innocently.
"I just think..."
She glanced toward the doorway, the whispered.
"...they're cute."
Lucas laughed.
"Yeah."
"I think they're pretty cute too."
“Who’s cute?” Dustin asked.
Lucas and Max look at each other laughing ignoring Dustin's questions.
–
When they reached Will's makeshift room, Mike didn't say anything at first. He simply walked in, turned around, and gently tugged Will toward the small couch tucked against the wall. Will stumbled after him, laughing quietly.
"Mike?"
Mike glanced over his shoulder.
"Come on."
"What are you doing?"
Mike finally stopped and looked at him with a completely innocent expression.
"I just want to spend time with you."
Will blinked.
Mike shrugged.
"Is that so bad?"
A small smile slowly appeared on Will's face.
"No."
"Okay."
"Then sit."
Will lowered himself onto the couch first. Mike followed beside him until their shoulders bumped together.
Neither moved away.
For a few seconds, they simply sat there.
The station was quieter now.
Most of the others were scattered throughout the building, giving Max and Lucas some time alone. Will glanced around the room. It was strange how quickly the makeshift station had started to feel familiar. There was the old lamp Joyce had put beside his cot. The stack of folded blankets Jonathan kept insisting he didn't need. A glass of water on the table. His yellow toothbrush sitting in the bathroom down the hall. The pile of comics Dustin had practically dumped on him.
Mike reached over and grabbed one from the top.
He flipped it over.
"Okay."
He looked at Will.
"Have you read this one?"
Will glanced at the cover.
"No."
Mike's eyes widened dramatically.
"You haven't?"
Will shook his head.
"No."
"Wow."
"I can't believe Dustin let you miss this."
"I've been a little busy."
Mike laughed.
"Fair point."
He opened the comic.
"I'll read it to you."
Will smiled.
"Really?"
"I'll even do the voices."
Will immediately laughed.
"Oh God."
Mike grinned.
"I remember when you used to do that."
"I still do."
"You were terrible."
"I was not."
"You were."
Mike looked offended.
"I was incredibly talented."
"You gave the villain an accent, bad ones at that."
"He needed an accent."
"Why?"
"Because he was evil."
Will laughed.
"That's not how accents work."
Mike flipped to the first page.
"You're ruining my artistic process."
Will settled deeper into the couch.
"Okay."
"Read."
Mike cleared his throat dramatically.
"Chapter One."
He lowered his voice into an exaggerated narrator tone.
"In a world..."
Will immediately started laughing.
Mike stopped.
"What?"
"That voice."
"What?"
"You sound ridiculous."
"This is a very serious story."
"No, you're just making that voice."
"It's called acting."
"You're terrible."
Mike pointed at him.
"Shh."
He continued.
"The city was under attack..."
He suddenly switched into a ridiculously deep voice.
"WHO DARES CHALLENGE ME?"
Will nearly doubled over laughing.
Mike broke character.
"See?"
"What?"
"You laughed."
Will wiped at his eye.
"I can't help it."
"Good."
Mike returned to the comic.
"Anyway..."
He continued reading.
Every character got a completely different voice.
The hero had an impossibly deep voice.
The sidekick sounded strangely high-pitched.
The villain had the most ridiculous accent Mike could manage.
Will kept interrupting him to point out how bad the voices were.
Mike kept insisting they were perfect.
At one point Will was laughing so hard that he had to hold his ribs.
"Okay..."
He gasped.
"Stop."
Mike grinned.
"Why?"
"My stomach hurts."
"Oh."
Mike immediately lowered the comic.
"Sorry."
Will shook his head.
"No."
"It's good."
"I haven't laughed like this in fucking years."
Mike smiled.
"Then I'm continuing."
Will laughed again.
"You are so annoying."
"I know."
Mike went back to the comic.
Then he reached a scene where the main character's younger sister disappeared.
He paused.
The smile on his face slowly vanished.
For a second, the only sound in the room was the rustling of paper.
Will noticed immediately.
Mike swallowed.
"When I read these to Holly..."
He stopped.
The name hung between them.
Will's stomach dropped.
He looked down at his hands.
"I'm sorry."
The words came out automatically.
Mike looked over.
"For what?"
Will shook his head.
"I just..."
"I should've..."
Mike gently interrupted.
"No."
"We'll find her."
Will looked up.
Mike's expression was serious.
"I promise."
Mike nodded.
"I know."
Will nodded back.
Neither of them said anything after that.
For a moment, the room seemed to grow strangely quiet around them.
Mike's eyes stayed on Will's.
Will's stayed on Mike's.
Neither one looked away.
The laughter from the hallway faded into the background. The faint hum of the station disappeared beneath the sound of Will's own heartbeat. Mike's hand was still resting against the couch between them.
Close.
Their shoulders were already touching.
Will became suddenly aware of everything.
The warmth beside him.
The soft scent of Mike's shampoo.
The little curls falling across Mike's forehead.
The way Mike was looking at him.
Not like he was looking at everyone else.
There was something uncertain there.
Something Will couldn't quite name.
Mike swallowed.
His gaze dropped for the briefest second.
Then returned to Will's eye.
Will's breath caught.
Neither of them moved away.
Instead, almost without realizing it, Mike leaned slightly closer.
Will did too.
Just a little.
The space between them slowly disappeared.
Will's heart hammered against his ribs.
Disgusting.
You're corrupting him.
For one suspended second, it felt like the entire world had stopped.
Mike's eyes flickered down.
Will's breath hitched.
Don't ruin his life.
He's gonna regret it and think your disgusting.
They were so close now that Will could feel the warmth of Mike's breath.
Then–
The door opened.
"Alright, boys, I've got–"
Joyce stopped.
Mike and Will immediately jerked apart.
Mike nearly dropped the comic.
Will's face went bright red.
Joyce blinked between them.
There was a brief, painfully awkward silence.
"...Pizza."
She held up the plate.
Mike cleared his throat.
"Great."
"Pizza."
Joyce smiled.
"Okay."
"Pizza?" will asked
"Yep."
"Everyone's having some."
Will's expression immediately changed.
His excitement disappeared.
"...Everyone?"
Joyce noticed.
"Oh."
She looked at him sympathetically.
"We're still trying to be careful with your stomach."
Will sighed.
"What can I eat?"
"We're out of soup."
She paused.
"So..."
"Maybe we try one slice."
"Just one."
"If your stomach handles it..."
"We can see how you feel."
Will's eyes widened.
"One slice?"
Joyce smiled.
"One."
Will immediately brightened.
"Okay."
"One slice."
Joyce laughed.
Will stared determinedly at the floor.
Joyce's mouth twitched like she was trying very hard not to smile.
"Yep."
She walked farther into the room and set the plate down.
"One slice for you, honey."
Will nodded quickly.
"Thank you."
Joyce glanced between them one more time.
"Okay."
She smiled to herself.
"I'll leave you two to it."
The second she walked away, Mike looked down at the comic.
Will did the same.
Neither of them said a word about what almost happened.
Mike turned the page.
"So..."
His voice was noticeably higher than before.
"...where were we?"
Will swallowed.
"The villain."
"Right."
Mike cleared his throat.
"The villain."
And very deliberately...
He looked down at the comic and started reading again.
–
The second the pizza was cool enough to eat, Will turned toward Mike.
"I forgot."
Will's eyes widened.
"Pepperoni."
"Cheese."
"Real cheese."
"Tomato sauce."
"Crust."
He looked almost overwhelmed.
"I swear..."
"If this pizza tastes even remotely good, I'm going to lose my fucking mind."
Mike laughed.
Will kept going.
"I don't think you understand."
"I used to think about pizza."
"Like..."
"Actually dream about it."
"I'd imagine the smell."
"The cheese."
"The grease."
"I'd think about eating an entire one myself."
Mike smiled down at him.
Will's face had completely changed.
For once, he wasn't thinking about Henry.
He wasn't thinking about monsters.
He wasn't thinking about scars.
He was just excited about pizza.
"I cannot wait."
Will continued.
"I am going to eat this one slice so damn slow."
Mike laughed.
"Your mom's going to kill you if you make yourself sick."
"I won't."
"I've learned."
"Mostly."
Mike smiled.
"You better."
"I've already suffered enough."
Will looked at him.
"And after that..."
"If my stomach doesn't explode..."
Mike raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?"
"...Maybe another slice."
"You're ambitious."
"I've been through another dimension."
"I think I deserve five slices."
Mike laughed.
"You sound like Dustin."
"That's offensive."
"How?"
"I have standards."
Mike grinned.
"You just called frozen pizza your greatest achievement."
"I haven't eaten real pizza in four years."
"Fair."
Will smiled again.
Then realized Mike was still looking at him.
"What?"
Mike shrugged.
"Nothing."
"You've just..."
He smiled.
"...got really excited."
Will looked down.
"I know."
"I haven't felt this excited about something stupid in a long time."
Mike's expression softened.
"It's not stupid."
Will looked up.
Mike shrugged.
"Pizza is important."
Will laughed.
"You're ridiculous."
"Yeah."
"I'm serious."
Mike nodded.
"I know."
For a moment, they sat quietly again.
The comic remained open on Mike's lap.
The room was warm.
The station outside was filled with distant voices.
And Will realized something strange.
He was happy.
Not perfectly.
Not completely.
But genuinely happy.
Then Henry's presence stirred somewhere in the back of his mind.
A cold sensation.
A whisper of doubt.
Will's smile faded slightly.
Mike noticed immediately.
"You okay?"
Will nodded.
"Yeah."
He looked back down at the comic.
"I'm okay."
Mike didn't push.
Instead, he pointed to the page.
"We still have to find out if the hero survives."
Will smiled faintly.
"Read."
Mike grinned.
"Gladly."
He lifted the comic again, settling shoulder-to-shoulder with Will as he returned to his ridiculous collection of voices.
And for a little while longer...
Will let himself listen.