Chapter Text
That asshole Vecna was making a liar of Mike and he was pissed . The fucker was trying to take Will. Just a few days ago Mike had promised a sleeping Will he'd never let anyone hurt him again, but they were here again. Will was being hurt, and Mike was about to lose him (again).
Mike loves all his friends, even Max. But Will is different, he's Will . Their relationship has always been different. They're each other's oldest friend. They've always said that they're best friends, but Mike isn't sure that really covers it. There is nothing he wouldn't do for Will, but he's made so many mistakes and fucked things up so badly. He'd just been so scared of how strong his feelings for Will are. So much stronger than they should be for another boy.
He'd spent the whole of last summer basically ignoring Will and pretending to be something or someone he wasn't. Trying to be normal whatever the fuck that is. Trying to convince himself that he didn't love DnD, comics, and video games. But most importantly that Will was just a friend, and that he loved El. But Will has never been just anything to Mike. He's always been everything.
In the past few months, Eddie had helped him realise that it was okay to be different, okay to be yourself. Authentically, unapologetically yourself. Mike had decided he was going to do just that. Especially now with Eddie gone, as a way to honor his friend's memory.
He'd vowed to himself that he'd do whatever it takes to fix his relationship with Will.
He'd wanted to talk to him in California, really talk, and to properly talk to El. Stop being a coward, stop hiding from himself and from his feelings. Stop hurting the people he loves the most.
But everything had gone to shit before he had a chance to breathe, and all he'd done was make things more complicated. He'd told El he loved her, and he does, just not the way he should. The way she deserves. Not the way he loves Will.
He just doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to hurt either Will or El any more than he already has. Fuck, this is such a mess. Great work Michael. Really fucking great.
He feels like he's always losing Will, and he hates it. Admittedly some of those times have been because Mike is fucking idiot whose big mouth ruins anything good in his life, but a lot of them were because of the supernatural bullshit that had been playing hell with their lives since November 1983.
No matter how hard Mike fights, it just keeps happening. Every time it happens Mike feels like he's losing his fucking mind. Like there's a hole in the world that nothing can fix or fill. It feels like every time he gets Will back, some other fucking thing happens. Like they're stuck in an endless cycle, and it's driving him insane.
They'd been out checking the woods around Hop's cabin for any sign of intruding monsters when Will had stopped moving and his eyes had turned white.
Nancy had organised and distributed what Dustin had named "anti-Vecna kits" to each pair before they set out. Each kit consists of a portable tape player or a Walkman, and each person's favourite album wound to the start of their favourite song. Nancy had always been organised . Which, for once, seems like a good thing.
Where is that fucking tape? Mike thinks desperately rifling through his bag, their kit contains copies of Combat Rock by the Clash and Three Imaginary Boys by the Cure for Will (they are his favorite albums), they are wound to ("Should I Stay Or Should I Go" and "Boys Don't Cry", Will's favorite songs). Mike has to admit that he's come to appreciate the Clash a lot more in recent years, not least because "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" helped Will to survive the Upside Down and the hope Mike had felt when he'd heard Will's cracking voice singing it over the Supercomm all those years ago. It was when he first thought that he might get Will back. He'll be eternally grateful to El for that and for so much else. Mike had even been trying to learn to play the song on his new guitar, Eddie had been teaching him. He'd hoped to be able to play it for Will.
"HELP! It's Will! He's trying to take Will!" he yells at the top of his lungs, hoping that Nancy or Jonathan, who should be nearby, hear him.
He finds Combat Rock and starts playing it as loud as possible…
Please work, please work, please work. Please don't take him. I don't know what I'd do without him.
It isn't working. Will's eyes are still glazed over white and he's starting to levitate
Fuck! Why isn't it working?! Where the fuck is everyone?! What the fuck do I do?!
He grabs a hold of Will in a bear hug to try to stop him from floating upwards. I won't let go, I promise. He'll have to lift us both .
He yells his friend's name over and over hoping that it'll snap him out of the trance, and desperately tries to wrestle Will to the floor to pin him down with his own body. He feels tears flowing down his face.
I won't let you take him! I need him! I don't know who I am without him! He's the best thing in my life! He makes me better!
It's true, Will has always brought out the best in him. Softened his rough edges .
He has Will pinned to the ground now, but his friend's body is thrashing around trying to throw Mike off. When did Will get so strong? Mike wonders as he desperately tries to hold him down while looking around for help…
"NANCY!! JONATHAN! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" He screams. He looks down at Will…
"Will please…" he says quietly "... please don't leave me. I can't lose you. There's so much I haven't said. That I need to say… So many things we haven't done" he's sobbing now.
Shit. What could Vecna be saying to Will? What could he be showing him? Will had suffered so much in his life. Thinking of all the years of abuse, bullying, and supernatural trauma made Mike overwhelmingly sad and angry. He should have been able to protect Will from it all. Will didn't deserve all this shit. He was so gentle and kind, but the world seemed to insist on kicking him around. Mike wishes he could make it all stop or take Will away from all the pain and horror; he just wants to keep Will safe. Just the two of them.
"Whatever he's saying to you, whoever's face he's wearing. It isn't true. Don't listen to him, listen to me!
We all love you, we love everything about you! I love you!
I know I've been a shitty friend in the last year, and I'm bad at expressing how I feel. But you're still my best friend ! I hope you always will be. I've been hoping we could be more one day, but everything is such a mess.
You're probably the best person I know. Asking you to be my friend will always be the best thing I've ever done. I can't imagine my life without you. But, it feels like I'm always losing you and every time I lose my fucking mind. So please wake up, even if it's to tell me to shut the fuck up!"
Will's body has stopped thrashing. Maybe spilling my guts is working. He almost laughs to himself. He knows what to do now.
"Hey Will, it looks as though this is working. Who knew my big mouth would be useful for something, huh?" he laughs now; it's just the kind of dumb joke that they both love. Will would roll his eyes and try not to laugh, but eventually, he'd crack and burst out laughing. Mike loves hearing Will laugh, really laugh. The two of them have almost always been on the same wavelength, their friends and family joke that they can read each other's minds. Mike thinks of countless times they'd made each other laugh with just a look or an eyebrow raise. But that was before Mike fucked everything up, and he desperately wishes he could get back to the way things were.
"You can't leave now. I have a pile of films we need to watch together, and I have a whole notebook of DnD campaigns that need your awesome art to accompany them. Plus, we need to play the campaigns, too! I don't enjoy gaming as much if you aren't there with me.
And I've been learning to play the guitar and I want to play for you. I think you'll like it. I hope so anyway. I've even been singing, if you can believe it?!
There's so much we need to do. I don't want to do it without you, I can't. So please wake up. Please .
Also, I'm starting to get cramps from holding you down, so if you could snap out of it, that'd be great… you know I'm no good at this physical exertion shit and you've gotten really strong… when the fuck did that happen?"
He can see the green creeping back into Will's eyes… It's working! Carry on! Just talk! Mike laughs quietly and carries on talking…
"Seriously though, Will, you're my best friend. I love you. We all love you. We've always been Will & Mike or Mike & Will, so you have to wake up; who would I be without you?"
Nancy and Jonathan crash into the clearing, both look terrified. Jonathan falls to his knees, next to them, sobs wracking his body; Nancy pulls him into a fierce hug. Mike just keeps talking…
"After we kill this Vecna fucker, which I'll do with my bare fucking hands if; sheve to! I think we need to have a sleepover and just watch movies and eat junk food until we fall asleep. Or just play Nintendo? Sounds good, yeah? I'll get Mom to buy all our favourites and we can stuff ourselves, just like we used to. Reese's Pieces are still your favourite right?"
Will's eyes are green again. He looks dazed and groggy but he's coming round. Thank you whatever god(s) are out there! Fuck you, Vecna, you creep! You can't have him! I won't fucking let you! He's mine!
"... Mike?" Will croaks "... why are you on top of me?" Mike suddenly remembers he's straddling his friend's body and rolls aside, he can feel himself blushing. Will sits up and is immediately enveloped in a hug by Jonathan, who sobs into his shoulder. Will hugs him back.
"It's okay Jonathan,” Will says, "I'm not hurt, just dazed" Will says looking over Jonathan's shoulder at Mike with an odd look on his face. Mike isn't sure what the look means.
Jonathan lets Will go and ruffles his hair…
"I'm glad you're back with us little buddy, you had me worried" Jonathan helps Will to his feet, then turns to Mike offering a hand. Mike takes it, he finds himself pulled to his feet and into a bone-crunching hug.
"Thank you Mike!" Jonathan says enthusiastically "... You saved him. Well done" he pats Mike on the shoulder as he lets him go.
Nancy is supporting Will, who still looks a bit out of it, she smiles at Mike (a smile that says well done little brother ). Mike moves in to help, as he does so Will takes a step towards him offering his arms for a hug…
Mike accepts, and holds his best friend tight.
"Thank you Mike" Will whispers into his shoulder "... I heard what you said. I don't know who I'd be without you either, and a sleepover and movie night sounds awesome."
"You're welcome. I won't lose you again. You're stuck with me, Byers!" he replies. Plus we really need to talk. Really talk.
"A terrible burden, but I'll live." Will says with a soft smile.
They both laugh out loud, and stand holding each other tightly for a few minutes. Will & Mike, Mike & Will. Inseparable.