Chapter Text
Mike is the only person Will truly trusts. He doesn’t treat Will like he’s made of glass, yet he knows exactly how to calm him down after an episode. He doesn’t whisper sweet nothings to him like the rest do. He genuinely wants to know how he’s feeling, hoping that he can fix it somehow. Mike is always the one Will calls out to when he needs help. He’s always ready to be right by his side. Mike couldn’t risk losing Will again. Losing him would mean losing another person he loved. It would mean that there would be one less player in dungeons and dragons. It would mean no one to teach him how to build the best fort ever. It would mean no longer receiving cute little drawing. More importantly, It would mean one more person he couldn’t save.
In all honesty, Will wasn’t expecting Mike to answer when he called at 3am after his nightmare, but he answered and was on his way without a second to spare. Mike always kept his walkie talkie on his nightstand just as a precaution. They were mainly used for emergencies so as soon as he hears static crackling, he’s up and ready to go. This had been the latest Will has called. Will usually calls Mike right before bed and they’ll talk about anything and everything until Will feels safe enough to sleep. It was hard to fall back into a sense of normalcy after everything that had happened, but their late night talks helped.
Mike showed up in a matter of minutes. He carefully stepped through the window, trying his best not to make noise for the sake of his frightened friend. He took a moment to look at Will who was staring at the wall with wide, frightened eyes. It was sort of scary to see his friend in this state; to be so entranced with something that isn’t there yet behaving like so. In fact, Will didn’t even notice Mike’s presence until he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from his side. Even then, he remained tense and frantically looked around the room as he realized where he was. Mike rested his head on Will’s shoulder as he rubbed his arm until he finally felt Will's body relax.
“Did it happen again?” Mike asked, referring to his reoccurring nightmares. Will was only able to nod his head yes as he felt tears pricking at his eyes.
“I just want them to stop already,” he finally replies after a moment of silence. Will sniffles as tears of frustration roll down his cheek. Mike rubs Will’s back in response. “It's so stupid. I know it's a dream but it just feels so real and I feel like I'm stuck there again, except I can't remember how I got there or where anyone is, and I can't get out.”
Mike pulls away to look him in the eyes, “Hey, no no no. It's not stupid. It's scary. What you went through was scary and I can't even imagine what it's like to be reminded of it every time you sleep. But one thing is for sure."
Will wipes the last of the remaining tears, having calmed down, and tilts his head to ask, "What's that?"
"That I'll always be here. You'll never be alone. And if I ever lose you again, I'll always look to find you. Got it?" The way Mike looks at Will as he waits for an answer is intense. As if it to convey that there is no other truth and Mike will not accept anything other than an affirmative.
Will can't fight the warm feeling in his chest nor the shy smile threatening to creep onto his face, “Got it.”
“Come here,” Mike lays on his side and opens his arm. Will happily obliged to the gesture and melts into Mike’s comforting embrace. He could honestly stay there forever. It felt so warm and so peaceful. Just having his arms around him makes him forget what he was even thinking about. All his worries wash away. It was almost as if there was a force field against any negativity whenever Mike held him. Mike was his safe space, he thought to himself as he begins to close his eyes.
Mike ran his hand through Will’s hair until he heard his soft snores. He carefully pulled away and pulls the sleeping bag from under the bed. As much as he wishes to stay in bed with him, he knows that two boys can’t share a bed, can they? No, that would be weird. Friends don’t share beds? What would Joyce or Jonathan think if they saw them in bed together? What if Joyce made Will stop being friends with Mike? Maybe it was better this way. Even if it felt better to have Will in his arms.