Chapter Text
Will found himself in that same dark dingy world. Dust particles floating around the air. A chill ran up his spine as the cold soaked down to his bones. He tried to get up to get out. Even his slight movement sent a shock of pain through him. He knew exactly where he was. Castle Byers in the Upside Down. the roots overgrown more than he remembered made him feel sick. He tried to calm his increasingly rapid breathing. He can feel the roots around him getting tighter. He tries to kick himself free but the more he fights the harder he becomes tied down. This is just a nightmare. None of this is real. He shuts his eyes tight. Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP.
Will opens his eyes and he’s back in the dorm except… something is off. What has become Carlton’s side of the room is barren. The room is cold and the air is heavy.
“Will are you even listening?” an angry voice says from behind him. Will whirls around to make eye contact with Carlton. Thank god. He reaches out only to feel his hand slapped away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Wh-What’s wrong?” Will can feel his heart slamming against his ribcage.
“I don’t know how long you thought you were going to keep this up but now I know.”
“Know what?” Will snaps out, desperation lacing his tone.
“That you’re a monster, a revolting monster!” Carlton spat, “You thought I'd never find out about you? Zombie boy.” The words hit Will like an ice cold venom to the heart. This can’t be happening.
“Where did you hear that?!” Urgency pushes through, he’s yelling now.
“He told me.”
“Who?!” Carlton points to the doorway where he sees the horrifically familiar skeletal face of Vecna.
Will shoots up screaming, kicking back the blanket on him. Carlton jumps as well startled from the previous almost quiet state of the room. Will’s eyes darted around the room looking for him.
“Will! What the hell happened?!” Carlton frantically asked far too loud, gripping Will’s shoulders far too tight. Will snapped his gaze back to his boyfriend. Instead of the disgust he had seen moments before his eyes now only read fear. Will felt his breath stutter as tears began welling up in his eyes. He thought this was over, that he was past these awful nightmares. And what’s worse is this time his source of comfort is looking at him like he meant what he said in the nightmare. Looking at him like a monster.
“Will. What's wrong??” Carlton’s grip on Will is still too firm. Will wants to shake him off but he can’t seem to move and he can’t speak. His body is petrified and ice runs through his veins. Carlton continues asking the same questions Will can’t answer. Instead he responds with a heaving sob. Everything spills out just as violently as he had woken up. The sobs wrack through his body. Shaking he can feel the chills running up his spine. Everything is so crushingly familiar except for the person at his side. Carlton attempts to hug Will and this was a big mistake. Will feels suffocated arms too tight wrapped around his body, the desperate attempt to ground him feels more like an attempt to trap him.
“Please let go.” Will manages to choke out. Carlton lets go and sits back stiffly, while Will sucks in sharp breaths trying to stabilize himself. The heaving sobs dissipated into soft crying when Carlton finally asks if Will is okay. What a question.
“I just.. I get these nightmares. I haven’t had them in a while but I don’t know, maybe because I didn't sleep last night or...” he trails off unsure what more to say.
“That was worse than just a nightmare Will.” Carlton says, an air of frustration in his tone.
“Why do you sound upset?”
“Because that was fucking scary Will.”
Will looks up, red rimmed eyes and tear stained face meeting his boyfriend’s.
“You were scared of me?” Will can feel his heart sink. This isn’t what he wanted. He worked so hard to build a new life without any of the horrors of the past plaguing him. And now one bad night and the person who’s supposed to be a pillar of comfort is looking at him like the freak everyone back in Hawkins knew.
Carlton lets out a sigh, brows knit together and gears turning in his head on what to say.
“I’m sorry. I just. I want you to be okay.”
“I am okay.” there’s a slight waver in his voice.
“I think we both need some sleep.” Carlton hops off the bed and begins gathering some of his stuff.
“You’re leaving?”
“I have to sleep Will, I have my final presentation tomorrow. You said it yourself, it was just a nightmare.” And with that before Will could argue the door clicked shut. He turned and checked the time expecting it to be late enough for Carlton’s palpable frustration at going to bed early but It was only 7:24. That sent Will over the edge.