Chapter Text
Year 1987 (The death of Vecna)
The kids were saved, Holly was saved. They finally found her and she is finally safe in the arms of her older brother and sister, they can finally take her home where she belongs. They can all be together again and now with Vecna impaled on one of the weird monster spikes, this will finally all be over.
Mike knew there was no need to tell them, 'why add stress to an already stressful situation?'. He would tell himself that the moment he realised he was the next person under the curse. The first time blood dripped from his nose, he blamed the headaches and nightmares on the trauma and lack of water he was drinking especially considering his intake of coffee.
But when that first drop of blood fell and mixed with the freezing cold water of his shower, his suspicions were confirmed. He had time to tell them, and when the plan went into action he knew there was no point because Vecna would be dead and the curse would simply disappear.
And now he is dying like planned, so there really was no need to worry anyone. No one had to know, he didn't have to be another burden.
Mike noticed Will walk in with Mrs Byers, he always seemed to noticed him. Like his movement attracted his attention even when he tried not to focus on it, he always found his eyes wondering. A sin he will take to his grave, one he will swallow and never let surface.
Everyone slowly moves to watch as Joyce walks up to Vecna's dying body, then as Mike stops to also watch he hears it.
The chime of a clock behind him.
He looks, but there's nothing there, not until he turns back around. Everyone is gone, even Vecna, but in his place there is an old grandfather clock impaled on the spike.
Well fuck.
He takes a few steps closer, something about the way it's ticking drawing him closer and closer like a trance he can't get out of.
He's dying, this isn't real. He's just making a last ditch effort to scare-
"Michael" the voice was deep, pained and familiar, raspy and struggling "are you ever... going to tell... the truth" Mike turns his head as Vecna hobbles over gripping the gruesomely open hole in his body and wheezing through his words.
"What are you doing? What's this? Face it your dying, we won" Mike practically snaps, trying his best to hide the shaking of his hands and voice.
"I guess I'm taking you with-" everything shakes as Vecna shouts out in pain and stumbles forward "admit it Michael... it would save everyone...the hassle"
"I know your tricks, it won't work" Mike takes another step back as his head shoots up and face contorts, almost as if he's happy like he's got exactly what he wants. And that just makes Mike more nervous.
"It would save him, wouldn't it-" the place shakes once again and Vecna collapses against the spike with a growl and twitch of his neck "you couldn't even say anything to him...he was always braver then you"
"You don't know what you're talking about" Mike wipes the slime off his hands as another shake happens. But they both do know, and Mike hates the face he wasn’t brave enough to admit it as well even after what Will said back at the Radio station. He had the perfect moment too, up on that tower. But Mike is a coward, shameful and unworthy.
"We both know...Michael. I've been watching...you, it's pathetic" Vecna gasps for air right as Mike does the same, but they were different. He is in pain, and Mike is scared.
Scared of the truth, because even if he denies Vecna knows things about him.
"You're sick Michael... your thoughts about him are...disturbing. Not something... a boy should be thinking about, or... fantasising about his supposed best... friend-" another shake, more shouting, and his head knocking back.
He needs to wake up, he needs him to shut up because he knows where this is going and he doesn't like it.
Has anyone even noticed Mike’s state?
"There is something wrong... with you. While he was admitting his dark secrets... all you could think about... is your increased chance... to get into his pants" Mike's jaw clenches, how could he possibly know that. He tired not to think about him, he always tries not to think too far.
Then it shakes again and suddenly Mike's back, no one seemed to notice, everyone focused on Mrs Byers swing at Vecna's neck.
That explains the shakes.
He's weak.
But then Mike blinks and he's back in that almost empty place, with the monster who's done nothing but hurt Mike's loved ones and many other people.
"This is a loss cause, your dying and your not taking me with you" Mike speaks first, another shake making the crumpled man fall to the floor.
"You are ruining your... own life... Michael. I'm merely offering a... speedy escape" his body shakes as he stands, voice harsh but also hollow "your existence is a... walking hazard. You hurt... those you love because of your... shame, your desires, your sick greed and wants-" another shake lunges him forward closer to Mike who finds himself pressed against one of the 'cages' the kids were in.
He knows what he is, Mike's always know. Deep down it was always there, calling to him like an illness he can't escape. He can hide it all he wants, push it down, bury it, correct what's wrong with him. But it's never enough, he never has been.
For anyone.
No matter who Mike tried to be it was always wrong, but yet it was still better than who he really was. If he would be someone else, maybe just maybe it would trick his brain to stop his disgusting thoughts.
"Don't you think, and I... know you do, it would be... less painful for everyone... this way" he practically crawls closer to Mike, half trying to stand up as Mike's breathing starts to rapidly increase "your best friend-" the next shake knocks him closer and Mike squeezes his eyes shut for a moment really hoping to wake.
"Shut up" he clenches his jaw, eyes opening back up once the shaking stops "your just getting in my head
"William thinks he's... safe with you, if he ever finds out... you dream of him... naked I wonder what he'd think of you" he stands again, stumbling a little and groaning in pain but he keeps his eyes on Mike, freezing him in place "he'd hate you, your... friends would want to stay away, everyone would see you as... some ill perverted child, your sisters will never look you in the eyes, your... mother ashamed and blaming herself for raising you wrong" Mike's hands creeped up to his ears, breathing jagged as Vecna's Voice slides under his skin and makes his head dizzy.
No, don't show weakness. Don't show him his words are working like a virus.
It's almost over, Mike just needs to hold on a little longer.
"And your... father, he would be so disappointed in the man you became. The... man you are-" this next shake seems the worst, walls crumbling as a guttural scream echos off the walls while Vecna collapses on the floor by Mike's feet "A corrupted mind broken... and seeking something unnatural and disturbing. You'll be disowned... and the ruin of your family, hurting everyone just like you fear. It's all your good for"
"No, I'm not a bad person" Mike sounded almost unsure, as if he was trying to convince himself. But as Vecna gripped onto Mike when he stood he knew it would be better if he just shut up, because it's not like it stops the hand crawling around his neck to pin him in place. Nothing has ever done him good when he talks.
"You helped fuel me... Michael, the hurt you pushed upon people made them... easy to use. So I thank you... partner, but now it is time for you to-" one last shake, Mike squeezes his eyes shut expecting something. But nothing happens, the shaking ended quicker than the other times and as he opens his eyes he is back with everyone.
Like nothing happened to him, feet firmly on the floor and people around him staring at Vecna's severed head that now lays on the floor.
It's over.
Everything is over.
Mike feels the warm liquid that had built up in his nose finally fall, he wipes it away quickly. No one will ever have to know, because it's finally over. And he lived.
The curse is gone.
At least that is what he thought, but the nightmares didn't stop and the headaches lingered. And a week later while Mike was eating breakfast with his family and listening to his dad ramble on about the newest update on the military as if he didn't just get out the hospital, Mike felt it. A small drop of red falling from his nose and landing on the eggs he hadn't eaten.
It's over, but not for him.
And he has a feeling it won't ever go away.
A curse that will destroy him whether Vecna is alive, or dead.