Archive of Our Own

Mike thought that everything would go back to normal after Will came back to him. The week that Will was missing was the worst experience of Mike's entire life, and while he was beyond himself with relief that it was over he still couldn't shake the sense of unease that crawled up his spine, like there were bugs underneath his skin. He'd tried talking to his mom about it but she was still pissed at him for what happened at the hospital with Will even though the doctors had explained that it was neither of their faults, that it was normal for an alpha and omega pair as close as they were to try to form a bond after a traumatic event. The doctors had assured his mom that over time their partial bond would fade away especially with how young they were, so long as it stayed one-sided. It did little to sooth her ire and she had taken it a step further by grounding Mike, intending to keep him and Will separated until the bond dissipated. Not that that had lasted long. If there was one thing Mike could count on, it was his parents' distinct lack of interest in their childrens lives.

Mike's punishment lasted not even two weeks before his mom left him to his own devices again, distracted with taking care of Holly and with her social life. That was one thing that all the Wheelers had in common. They ignored their problems, finding something else to fixate on instead of spending time together as the perfect "happy family" they portrayed in their facade of a home. So when he complained to his mom about how unsettled he had been feeling she had dismissed him to his father, who was the worst of them all, always sticking his head in the sand at the first sign of anything arduous. Mike knew there would be no help coming from his dad.

He would have gone to Nancy, who was the most level headed and dependable person in their family, but they hadn't spoken in weeks, not since everything happened with the Upside Down. He could tell she had been struggling since Barb's death but he didn't know what to do; he couldn't help but feel guilty that he got his best friend back while she did not, and didn't want to trouble her with his own feelings in the face of her grief. He may be young and slightly immature but he still had a brain, and so he had tried to give her space.

So instead he stewed in these feelings, internalizing them, and chalking them up to his spontaneous presentation as well as his partial bond with Will. Adjusting to all of his heightened senses and new instincts hasn't been easy either. He was quicker to anger, his patience for Troy and his goons thinner, and the first time he heard someone call Will "Zombie Boy" in the halls at school he had clenched his fist so tight his nails had broken the skin of his palm, the sharp points from his claws extending in his rage. The only thing that stopped him from retaliating had been Will's hand on his arm, eyes full of concern as his head tilted slightly in submission and his soothing scent gently encompassing him.

That was another instinct that he'd been struggling with, his constant need to protect Will, to have him in his sight at all times, and to cover him with his scent until they were so intertwined they smelled as if they were one person. To his consternation he'd been forbidden from scent marking Will since that day in the hospital, that way the bond could dissipate faster. It was probably the hardest instinct for him to fight. He and Will had been scenting each other since they were pups and at this point it was second nature to rub his wrist against Will's in greeting or when either of them was upset. It also didn't help that Will's scent now was the best thing he'd ever smelled, comforting and sweet but with an edge of something mystical like seeing a shooting star in the night sky. He always knew his best friend was made of magic, and not just because of his role in DnD.

There were times when Mike felt like he was truly going to snap but every time he neared that point Will was there, with a slight brush of a hand or a bump of his shoulder that was too well timed not to be deliberate and it was those little moments of comfort shared between them that kept Mike from losing his sanity completely. He knew he wasn't alone in his struggles, could feel the phantom of Will's pain since his return. Physically he was completely healed but there was an evermore present sourness creeping in on the sweetness of his scent, like berries plucked too early in the season, a representation of his lingering distress after that week of horror. He put up a good front but Mike knew Will too well, was too acquainted with his scent even as it had changed with his omega presentation. It hurt Mike to watch Will leave school early for the doctor appointments he now regularly had to attend over the course of the following months. Those days were especially hard without Will to pull him back from the brink but their regular tormentors at school also tended to hold back on those days without their easier "prey" in attendance.

The rest of the school year felt like a trance. Mike felt detached from the world unless he was with Will but even then he felt like he was on high alert, searching for a threat he couldn't see. His instincts roiled under his skin, a howl constantly itching to burst from his throat. He knew he had to wait for his inner alpha to settle, that it would get better with time, but he couldn't help but feel that there was something he was missing. He had no idea how he'd gotten any schoolwork done yet alone passed the grade when he spent everyday alternating between being in a haze without Will and being hyperaware of everything he did while they were together.

At six months post-Upside Down Mike and Will had an appointment with the doctors to reevaluate the state of their mating bond. Blood work was drawn to assess their hormone levels and minimal physical examinations done to observe any changes in their primary scent glands and particularly for the bite on Mike's neck. The doctor's original estimation for the dissolvement of their partial bond had been between the four and six months, so their bond should have been broken by now, but Mike didn't feel any different than before. If Will felt a change in the bond, Mike didn't know; there was an unspoken rule between them not to talk about their bond after the decision was made by their parents to let it dissolve. The only time they had broached the topic had been a week after the bite, when Will had apologized for biting Mike without his consent and for hurting him. Will had left quickly after, too fast for Mike to tell him that it had only initially hurt for a moment before it made him dizzy from the rush of endorphins, similar to how he felt when they went on the Ferris Wheel at the fair last summer and Will had offered to hold hands because he knew Mike was afraid of heights.

The bite on Mike's neck was another matter of concern. It should have been completely healed, the only evidence left being white scar tissue that would soon fade away; instead it was red and inflamed. The broken skin of the bite had taken weeks to heal and it itched incessantly, the scent gland underneath it constantly irritated. He'd taken to wearing a patch over it just to stop himself from picking at the scabs but also because the gland itself was overactive, irregularly pumping out his scent and adding to the irritation. He noticed that it tended to happen when he was overwhelmed by his heightened senses but also, more embarrassingly, when he was around Will. The doctors tutted at the sight of it when they peeled off the patch, which Mike took as a bad sign.

Mike and Will both sat in the hall outside while the doctors spoke to their parents. Mike could see them through the windows, his mom's frown deepening the longer the doctors spoke and Joyce's face full of concern. He could tell their moms were unhappy with the doctor's prognosis as his own mother aggressively pointed a finger at the doctors chest, her voice obviously raised as she berated him, while Joyce paced the room, biting her nails in anxiety. It was a bad habit that Will had picked up from her Mike noticed as he glanced away to find Will doing the same where he sat across from him and a few seats down.

The distance between them irked at Mike's instincts but he knew it was necessary. The knowledge didn't stop the urge building in his chest to close the distance, though. It felt like there was a tether between he and Will, one he couldn't see the other side of though he knew it was Will at the other end. He was afraid of what would happen if he tugged at it. In the cramped space of the hall he could smell Will more strongly. As they approached summer his scent seemed to grow stronger, fresher, less acrid with stress. He took it as a sign that maybe things were starting to go back to normal after the events of last Fall. Mike's eyes darted over Will's form, surveying for any minute changes that he might find. Will had grown a few inches over the spring but was still much shorter than Mike and the rest of their friends, his hair still in the same bowl cut that his mom cut for him, eyes still large and doll-like. There were circles under them that made Mike concerned and he was paler than he should be, the urge to protect his friend from whatever was ailing him thrumming through Mike's very being. He could see a rosy blush blooming the longer Mike stared at him and his eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the rush of blood under the skin of Will's cheeks. Mike's neck itched terribly as his body reacted to being in close quarters to his best friend, his scent reaching out to intermingle with Will's, causing Will to visibly squirm in his seat yet still refusing to look at Mike.

The door burst open behind them, hitting the wall as Mike's mom came out in a flurry of frustration. Mike and Will both jumped in their seats at the sound. Mike felt guilty, like he was caught doing something he wasn't allowed to although he didn't know what. Well, that wasn't exactly true, but it wasn't like he had control over the defective gland on his neck. That didn't stop his mom from being exasperated, even if the doctors had told her as much; she gestured for him to get up, uttering a sharp "We're leaving, Michael" as she steered him towards the entrance of the hospital with a hand on his back. Mike glanced over his shoulder to where Will was sitting, his mom joining him and rubbing his back soothingly, a stark contrast to Mike and Karen. Will's eyes met his just before he was pulled through the exit, a silent apology in their solemn gleam as he watched Mike leave.

The arrival of summer was both easier and harder on Mike's tentative control over his instincts. Easier because he didn't have to deal with the stress of school, the overstimulation of all the different scents and sounds of the other students nor the threat of Troy and his group of bullies. He liked to think that he was beginning to settle into his designation as well but he might've just gotten better at hiding how much he was struggling, as was proven by the reactions he still had to stifle whenever he was around Will. Will seemed to be doing much better once summer fully kicked off, a healthy glow to his skin and his scent more at ease than ever. It soothed Mike to see Will looking almost back to normal but he still couldn't help but be on alert for any threat to his mate. This was where the hard part came in. Mike couldn't get his head around it; why couldn't he go back to normal, too, when everyone around him was able to? If Will, who had it worse than everyone, could do it then what was wrong with Mike that he couldn't get his shit together?

They still weren't allowed to have sleepovers like they used to, which Mike could begrudgingly understand even though he missed their closeness more than anything. They did see each other almost everyday but always in the presence of other party members or with one of their older siblings supervising. It grated at Mike's nerves having to be chaperoned, like they were little kids being "babysat," but he was glad for it when being around Will started to be too much for him to handle, when his gums would start to prickle as his fangs would try to drop, his mouth pooling with saliva and his instincts urging him to bite.

It was in those moments that Mike was most afraid, for Will but also for himself. What kind of alpha was he if he couldn't protect his mate, even from himself?

So the summer passed by, a precarious balance of Mike wanting to be as close to Will as possible but also needing to keep his distance. Not just because his parents still expected the partial bond to dissolve eventually, but because Mike didn't trust himself not to do something drastic if he somehow found himself alone with Will. They still had fun together, watching movies with Dustin and Lucas, playing at the arcade, cooling off at the public pool. Except Mike spent the entire time silently suffocating on these feelings in his chest, walking the edge of a knife and hoping he didn't slip.

Summer ended without much fanfare, school starting up again while Mike existed in this liminal space of his own anguish. He didn't see Nancy much anymore, busy as she was with senior year and spending time with Steve. It was fine. Mike was fine. He'd held it together for almost an entire year now, nevermind that he was growing more agitated by the day, paranoia worse than ever as his inner alpha nagged at him, warning him of some nonexistent threat that it perceived.

Will tried to help when he could, nudging Mike's shoulder with his own or brushing their fingers together, and for awhile it helped until Mike started feeling guilty for having to depend on Will for reassurance. He should be strong enough on his own. Perhaps it was Mike's fault that the bond still hadn't broken since he couldn't seem to function normally without the help of his friend. It was close to a year now that they'd been partially bonded and still there was no sign of it fading.

Mike didn't know if it was being back in school or because they were approaching the anniversary of when Will was taken, but they both were showing signs of regression; Will especially to the great concern of Mike. The healthy flush that Will had over the summer seemed to disappear overnight as the first chill of fall blew in. His skin was ghostly white making the return of the bruises under his eyes that much more apparent. Even his silky lustrous hair had lost its shine, now a dull brown. Mike had taken to pacing his room while at home to try to burn off some of his distress over the state of his friend. He'd thought he'd had it hard over the summer when his friend was shining like a beacon, a siren song that called to Mike through the storm raging in his mind that he'd done his damnedest to ignore, but it was nothing compared to now when his instincts were screaming at him to do something, anything, to protect his omega.

Things came to a head towards the end of October. It was the week of Halloween, just over a week from the anniversary of Will's disappearance. Mike could barely eat or sleep, nightmares of when Will was missing plaguing his mind. He probably shouldn't be at school but it's not like his parents noticed how unwell he was or anything that went on with their kids for that matter. The lack of sleep had his irritability dialed all the way up and his patience at the bare minimum. So when he stood at his locker, shuffling through its contents without really focusing on what he was doing and killing time since Will had left early for another doctors appointment, Mike's ears perked up immediately at the mention of Will's name from down the hall. He glanced over to see who it could be talking about Will only to see none other than Troy and his usual group.

That Troy thought he had any right to speak about Will made the blood pump faster in Mike's veins, anger coloring his vision in a haze of red. He knew he was glaring, knew he should stop, but Will wasn't here this time to prevent him from doing something stupid. As if feeling the glare being sent his way, Troy looked up, locking eyes with Mike.

"Something to say, Wheeler?" Troy spit at him. "Or are you too much of a pussy now that Zombie Boy isn't here to hold you back?"

Mike stood there, shaking with the force it took to stop himself from stalking forward and punching Troy straight in the face. He thought of El breaking Troy's arm last year and couldn't help but wish she'd hurt him more. When Mike said nothing back Troy came closer, sensing weakness and unable to keep himself from antagonizing Mike.

"We all see how he paws at you, like he's holding you back. As if," Troy scoffed. "Like you could fight any of us. It's pathetic. He's probably just desperate for any alpha he can get his hands on. Especially one that has the balls to claim him back. Maybe when one of us presents as an alpha…" Troy trailed off, a suggestive smirk spreading on his lips.

After Mike had presented his sense of smell had become heightened and lately he'd become more attuned to the scents of his schoolmates around him and the nuanced notes of what they were going to present as. With Troy he could detect the pungent scent of an alpha on the cusp of presenting and just the implication of what he was suggesting as well as the sick hint of interest coloring his scent had Mike tipping over the edge.

Mike's body moved before his brain even registered what he was doing, his clenched fist flying out to strike Troy's nose with a satisfying crunch. Troy obviously hadn't expected Mike to retaliate as he stumbled back, hands flying up to cradle his nose as blood began pouring out of it, his eyes wide with shock and a small amount of fear as they regarded Mike.

'He's not so tough once someone fights back for once,' Mike thought as he threw himself at Troy, knocking him to the ground and pinning him down. His fists continued to fly, punching nonsensically, unused to being used in such a way. He gripped the front of Troy's shirt with one hand to keep him from squirming away, keeping his target still. His punches glanced off Troy's face as his fist grew wet with blood but Mike didn't let up, the frustration he'd been holding back finally having an outlet. Troy flung an arm up, trying to stop Mike, his hand grabbing at Mike's face and pushing it away, but while Troy had him on size Mike had the longer reach. All this did was put Troy's hand in range of Mike's mouth which was a mistake as Mike's fangs had already extended at the first spill of blood. Mike bit down without a second thought, teeth tearing into the meat and sinew of Troy's hand until he reached the bone, blood dripping down his chin as his jaw locked in place.

Distantly he could hear the screams of the other students and shouts from teachers rushing to see what the commotion was. It ended up taking four teachers and the school nurse injecting Mike with a sedative to get him to release the hold he had on Troy. Troy's face was a mangled mess, his hand almost worse, and Mike couldn't help but be pleased with his work as he drifted off into a medicated sleep, a bloodied self-satisfied smile painting his lips.

Regaining consciousness after a medically induced sleep was nothing like waking up normally. It was like one second Mike was in the hall and the next time he blinked he was laying on the stiff paper-lined cot in the nurses room, blinking up blurrily at the overly bright fluorescent lights on the ceiling. It wasn't restful and he didn't dream, leaving him feeling completely disoriented upon waking. His head throbbed from the remnants of whatever he had been injected with, a matching beat with the ache in his knuckles. He tentatively flexed his right hand, testing any damage it may have sustained after the beating he'd given Troy. It was swollen, cuts littered over the skin of his knuckles from smashing Troy's teeth in.

Mike smirked to himself as he remembered the state he'd left Troy in. 'Good luck biting anyone now' he thought spitefully. He really hoped he'd knocked Troys fangs out, that he'd have to get implants. He felt his smirk grow into a wicked grin at the thought when a creaking noise interrupted his fantasy, his grin dropping as he looked up. Mike must've been more out of it than he'd thought because seated against the wall in one of the guest chairs was the Hawkins Chief of Police, Jim Hopper himself. Mike had only had the one conversation with him last year when he'd been questioned about Will's disappearance, the officer warning them to stay out of the investigation. He knew Hopper had been a key figure in rescuing Will but he couldn't help the lasting impression he had of him nor the resulting mistrust.

Mike eyed him warily, his body wanting to curl in on itself to hide his soft underbelly but he refused to show weakness in front of the older alpha.

"Y'don't gotta look at me like that, kid," Hopper told him, no doubt sensing Mike's suspicion, "I'm just here to talk."

Mike raised a single brow in sarcastic disbelief.

"I swear, kid, though normally you'd be in deep shit. But the Walsh boy has something of a track record so I was able to talk down the principal so long as you corroborate that Troy Walsh started the fight. So," Hopper said, "you wanna tell me what went down?"

Mike remained silent, looking down at his hands and picking at the scabs forming on his knuckles.

"Come on, Wheeler, talk to me here," Hopper pushed. When Mike still didn't answer him, Hopper sighed, deep and drawn out and full of exhaustion. "Look, I'll be honest. I don't really care if you threw the first punch, kid probably had it coming. But you're Will's friend and if this concerns him then I need to know."

"..best friend…" Mike muttered lowly.

"What was that?"

"I'm his best friend," Mike corrected, looking up with a glare.

Hopper held up his hands placatingly. "Sorry, best friends, got it. Now do you wanna answer my question?"

"Why?" Mike demanded.

"…why do I want you to answer my question?" Hopper asked, confused.

Mike scoffed, "No, why do you care if it's about Will?"

Hopper sat there, watching Mike in contemplation. He sat up straighter in his seat, his posture serious and highlighting the bulk of his stature.

"Because," Hopper started, "I made a promise to look out for that boy. And when I make a promise, I intend to keep it."

Mike looked to the side, arms crossing over his chest. "I have it handled," he grumbled.

"So the fight was about Will."

"Why does it matter to you so much? You kept your promise, you helped get Will out of the Upside Down. He's not yours to take care of anymore." 'He's mine' Mike thought. One hand came up to scratch absentmindedly at the patch hiding the bite on his neck.

Hopper eyed where Mike was scratching at his neck, understanding coloring his expression. "That his bite you're hiding under there?"

Mike stopped his scratching immediately. He scowled at Hopper but ignored his question, his arms crossing once again.

"Alright, Wheeler, I'm gonna be straight with you here. I may not be in the Byers pack but they sure as hell are in mine. I promised Joyce I'd protect her little boy and that promise didn't end when I saved his life. It's something I'm going to keep working at for as long as I live. I know I'm not a shining example of a man, I know I'm bad at being a cop, but I take my duties as an alpha seriously and I protect what's mine with everything in my ability."

"…you saved Will's life?" Mike asked quietly.

Hopper nodded gravely. "I'm not sure how much you know or whether I should be telling you this, but Will wasn't breathing when we found him. I'll be honest, it wasn't looking good for a bit there. Did cpr and everything, and I almost gave up but the look on Joyce's face, the sound of her crying…I couldn't fail her. Not when I know what it's like to lose a child." Hopper's face was solemn as he told all this to Mike, and Mike couldn't help but feel chagrined by his earlier misconception of the man. Here was an alpha that knew his faults and accepted them and still moved past them to do what was needed of him. That was something Mike could respect.

"He was badmouthing Will," Mike told Hopper, still a tad begrudgingly but moreso embarrassed by his apparent overreaction in hindsight.

"Badmouthing how?"

Mike shifted uneasily in his seat, remnants of his earlier anger making a comeback as he recalled Troy's comments. "Called him 'Zombie Boy.' Said he was pathetic. Said he was desperate for an alpha. Said if I wouldn't bite him then maybe he would."

"He said that?" Hopper asked, a deep growl rumbling in his voice.

"It was implied," Mike told him. The scent of Hopper's fury permeated the small room and Mike felt validated for his own rage. "I couldn't let him talk about Will like that. I didn't mean to hit him but I'm not sorry and I would do it again."

"I can't say you did the right thing, but," Hopper looked at him pointedly, "good job, kid. Any alpha worth their merit protects their pack, though you might've gone a little overboard. Now don't tell anyone I said that."

Mike smiled cheekily back.

"Don't look so smug about it, little shit," Hopper grumbled. "So, you were protecting your mate then."

Mike's smile fell, his expression growing troubled as he looked away again. "He's my best friend."

"But you have his bite."

"It's complicated."

"So uncomplicate it for me."

Mike scratched at his neck again before he caught himself. "It was in the hospital, after you brought him back from the Upside Down. The doctors said he was still acting on instinct, in "fight or flight" or whatever. They said it's a partial bond, that if we wait long enough it'll go away on it's own. It's not Will's fault, he didn't mean to do it."

Hopper rubbed at his chin for a moment, digesting the information. "Did he tell you that?" he asked finally.

"What?" Mike asked.

"Did Will tell you that? Matter of fact, have you talked with him about the whole 'bite' situation at all? Or are you just assuming how he feels about it?"

"I'm giving him space. If he wanted this bond he would've said something about it by now," Mike asserted. "We've been friends forever and I don't want to ruin it just because I can't handle a stupid partial bond."

"Kid, I can tell you right now that this isn't 'handling it.'" Hopper told him bluntly. "Let me guess, your instincts are going haywire right now. Feeling territorial, picking fights. You eating, sleeping?"

Mike shook his head slightly.

"You said you're dissolving the bond? It's been, what, almost a year? Now I'm not a doctor but shouldn't it have broken by now?"

"That's what they said," Mike agreed dismally. "But it hasn't changed at all."

"So you've been in a partial bond for over a year with no outlet because you've been told to let it dissolve. I'm assuming that also means no comfort from your mate, and not being allowed to act on your instincts." Hopper shook his head with a disbelieving laugh. "I'm honestly impressed it's taken you this long to snap, you're better than me."

Mike flushed, a proud glow within him at the praise from the older alpha.

"And you're sure you want to break the bond?" Hopper asked, a knowing look reflected in his eyes.

"I want whatever Will wants." Mike shrugged.

"Except you don't actually know what Will wants," Hopper pointed out. "There's just something about those Byers, huh?" Hopper chuckled, a small melancholic thing that shouldn't have fit on the strong alpha but seemed to come all too natural. He sighed before speaking again. "Feel free to tell me to screw off, but alpha to alpha? You need to step up. I think we both know what you want but you're too scared that Will doesn't want the same. He's never going to bring it up first, it's not in his nature. You're an alpha and you need to act like one or you're going to lose your mate and maybe even your best friend if you don't get your shit together and have an actual conversation with him. Take it from someone who's made the same mistake before."

"But my parents, they want me to break the bond," Mike said.

"I shouldn't be saying this but your parents can go fuck themselves. It's not fair that you've been pushed into this at such a young age but it is what it is. You have to think about your future, not what your parents want for you but what you want, for you and for Will." With that said, Hopper stood up, gathering his hat and jacket where they sat in the seat next to him. "You have a good head on your shoulders, Wheeler. Nice to see you don't take after your old man. You ever need to talk, you know where to find me." He tapped on his badge pointedly. Hopper slid on his jacket and placed his hat on his head, reaching for the door.

"So I'm not in trouble?" Mike asked him before he could leave.

"Nah," Hopper chuckled. "If anything I should thank you for doing what I can't. Just promise you'll think about what I said. And don't wait too long."

Mike nodded and with that Hopper left, shutting the door behind him. Mike laid back on cot, staring up at the ceiling lost in thought as he contemplated Hopper's advice. A small smile formed on his lips. He could feel relief on the horizon, optimistic for the first time in nearly a year. There really wasn't much for him to think about, his decision made subconsciously long ago. Maybe that was why the bond hadn't broken yet; maybe Will even felt the same way. All that was left was a long overdue conversation. Mike had waited for so long already, he could be patient for a little longer. He just had to wait until the time was right.

Two days after the fight with Troy, and Mike's subsequent talk with Hopper, was Halloween. His parents almost didn't let him go, his mom incensed from the call she got from the school but since he'd only gotten away with a warning not to get into anymore fights she decided to follow the schools lead and gave him a verbal scolding before disappearing to do whatever it was she filled her days with. His father, as usual, had nothing to say on the matter beyond calling out a "boys will be boys" over his open newspaper when his mom had tried asking for his input.

Mike stood around waiting on the corner with Dustin and Lucas. They'd decided to go as Ghostbusters this year, their group the only ones at school that had bothered dressing up but the joy it brought to Will's eyes when they all showed up matching was enough to outshine any embarrassment Mike felt. He was still a little tiffed that Lucas had also dressed up as Venkman but his heart wasn't in it, his thoughts more concerned with Will and waiting for him to show up. He hoped Mrs. Byers didn't decide last minute to keep him home this year. He had hopes for tonight beyond having fun and collecting candy. If all went to plan, he'd be able to slip away with Will and maybe, hopefully, have the conversation that had been consuming his thoughts since Monday afternoon.

There was a crunching of leaves as Jonathan's brown sedan pulled over. Lucas and Dustin were horseplaying behind Mike as he watched Jonathan and Will sit in the car talking for a minute, Will bouncing with excitement in his seat as Jonathan handed him his camera. Mike locked eyes with Jonathan as Will got out, running to them excitedly. The older boy gave Mike a short nod before pulling the car back onto the road and driving away.

"Jonathan isn't coming?" Mike asked when Will joined them, already understanding that Jonathan was entrusting Will's safety to him for the night.

"Nope! He said to stay in the neighborhood, we just have to be back at your house by 9," Will answered, his voice vibrating with excitement. His joy was contagious, scent light like it hasn't been in months and bringing Mike a sense of much needed levity. Tonight was going to be a good night, Mike felt. They deserved it.

They started their trek towards the closest neighborhood, eager to start collecting candy. Their sacks were steadily filling up as they spent hours hitting up house after house, night creeping in. It was dark now and Lucas was complaining about another house having nothing but 3 Musketeers while Dustin argued in favor of the candy bar when a kid dressed as Michael Myers jumped out at them, eliciting a high pitched scream from Lucas. They pulled off their mask, laughing at their prank, and Mike rolled his eyes when he saw it was the new girl underneath. He didn't understand the obsession Dustin and Lucas had with her, the way she kept trying to insert herself into their pack rubbing Mike the wrong way. The two boys ran after her, something about going to Loch Nora to get better candy bars and Mike had no choice but to follow as Will went sprinting after them as well.

The night kept getting later and Mike was starting to grow antsy, not just because Max joined them uninvited but because he still hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Will. He and Will hung back, trailing after the trio as they led them to another house, and Mike couldn't help but vent some of his frustration.

"Did you agree to this?" He asked Will pointedly.

"What?"

"To her. Joining our party." Mike expanded, glaring up at where she led the group.

"It's just for Halloween," Will answered.

"Well you should have checked with me," Mike told him, frustration coloring his tone. He couldn't understand why no one thought to check with him.

"Well they were excited," Will explained, his voice growing shaky. "I guess I thought you'd be okay with it."

Mike knew he should stop, that he was taking it out on the wrong person, but his territorial instincts were being triggered. "She's ruining the best night of the year," he spit out, stalking forward. Mike didn't wait for Will to follow, trying to create some space between them before he said something he couldn't take back. He could already smell the hurt coming off of Will and knew he'd be beating himself up over what he said later that night but he had to get away.

Mike immediately regretted it when he turned to say something to Will and saw that he wasn't there. It hadn't even been five minutes but Will should have been right behind him. He ran back where they came from, not even waiting to see if the rest of the group was following. He couldn't believe he was so stupid, if something happened to Will in those few moments they were separated Mike wouldn't be able to live with himself. Especially since Jonathan had trusted him to take care of Will. If he screwed this up he knew Will would never be allowed to leave the house again, if something worse hadn't happened to him first.

He caught wind of Will's scent, the sourness of his fear all too familiar to him this past year and he couldn't help but be grateful for the distinctive scent even if it meant something was indeed wrong. He followed it around the side of a house and down some steps where he found Will sitting, hiding behind a low brick wall.

"Will! Will what's wrong?" Mike shouted, voice desperate with worry as he ran up to his friend. He couldn't help himself as he gripped Will's shoulders tightly. "I couldn't find you. Are you hurt?"

Will's expression was lost, eyes vacant as they looked around for something Mike couldn't see, his breath heaving in his chest. Alarm bells were ringing in Mike's mind but whatever threat Will was seeing wasn't visible to Mike, and that frightened him.

"Hol-y shit," Dustin exlaimed as the rest of the group ran towards them.

"Is he okay?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know. I'm gonna get you home, okay?" Mike told Will, rubbing his shoulders soothingly as Will's eyes seemed to grow a little more present. "I'm gonna get you home. Hold on."

Mike pulled Will to his feet, Dustin rushing forward to help.

"I got him," Mike all but growled at Dustin. He appreciated his friends concern, but this was his duty to fulfill. "I got him."

"Mike-" Dustin started.

"Keep trick-or-treating," Mike ordered them. "I'm bored anyways." He led Will away from the others, one arm wrapped around his omegas shoulders in support and comfort.

They walked all the way to Mike's house like this which thankfully wasn't too far from the neighborhood they had been in. Mike tried to comfort Will as best as he could during the walk, rubbing his shoulder and holding his bag of candy for him. He knew his scent was probably full of anxiety and worry but he crooned lowly to his friend, feeling self conscious at the act since it was something he'd never done before. He hoped it wasn't obvious how unpracticed the sound was, but his insecurities evaporated as Will started to relax bit by bit. Mike led them to his basement when they reached his house, using the exterior door rather than going through the front. They sat down on the couch, Mike giving back Will's bag of candy that he'd been holding for him so they could sit and sort through the candy while Will calmed down. The task of sorting was monotonous but soothing as they sat quietly. Mike set aside anything with peanut butter in it, particular Reese's Pieces, as he knew those were Will's favorites.

He knew Will was back with him when he reached forward, snagging one of the packets of Reese's Pieces and tearing it open, popping a few in his mouth. His scent was still full of unease, but the panic that had consumed it was mostly gone.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Mike asked gently. He didn't want to push but he couldn't just sit in the dark any longer, something was obviously going on with Will and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

"I…dunno. Maybe," Will mumbled back.

"It might help to get it out? Whatever it is."

"..don't wanna bother you…" Will told him meekly.

"Will," Mike said. "Will, look at me."

Will faced him, his eyebrows turned up in worry, an expression that was all too natural on Will's face.

"You can tell me anything, okay?" Mike told him. "Anything."

Will nodded hesitantly, gulping as he swallowed his nerves. He started shakily, his voice growing a little stronger with each word he got out. "It's like…like I'm stuck."

Mike was confused. "Like, like stuck in the Upside Down?"

"No," Will told him. He explained it like a View-Master, how he was existing at once on both planes, and Mike tried to understand as best he could but he'd never seen or been to the other dimension. What he did understand though was that something serious was going on with Will, something dangerous. Whatever had happened last year with the Upside Down wasn't over and Mike was going to do his damnedest to make sure it didn't get ahold of Will again. Will was trembling as he spoke about a shadow, some great Being that existed in the Upside Down and Mike was filled with fear for his mate at the dread and terror he saw on Will's face as he described this creature.

"Is this all real?" Mike asked, begging for it to be just a leftover nightmare from Will's mind. "Or is it like the doctors say, all in your head?"

"I don't know. Just…just please don't tell the others," Will said, and the fact that he was still worried about his friends before himself was just so Will, Mike couldn't help thinking affectionately. "They wouldn't understand."

"Eleven would," Mike told him before he could stop himself. He knew he messed up when Will looked away, his scent withdrawing and growing bitter.

"She would?" He asked, his voice empty of emotion.

"Yeah," Mike said. He grasped for the words to try to fix his slip up. He didn't know why, but El had been a sore spot in his relationship with Will. "She always did. You would have liked her, I think. And she helped me get you back. For that I'll always be grateful."

"She sounds nice," Will said, still avoiding Mike's gaze.

"She was. Y'know, I almost thought I smelled her the other day when Hopper talked to me. Crazy right?" Mike laughed. "Sometimes I think I'm losing it, too. It hasn't been easy this year. I feel like I'm losing you, and I don't know how to stop it." Will's eyes flicked back to him, bright with emotion. "You're my best friend, you know?" Will's eyes began to dim but Mike pushed forward before they could completely lose their light. "You're my best friend. But, you're also more. You know that, right?"

Will shrugged, and Mike couldn't have that. He couldn't have his friend doubting their bond, not if he wanted to forge it even further. Looked like they were having that talk after all tonight, even if it wasn't under the circumstances Mike had planned for.

"Will," Mike started," you are my best friend; always have been, always will be. Nothing will change that. I've tried giving you space because I thought that was what you wanted. I don't want to be one of those pushy bull-headed alphas, but you never came to me, never opened up. So I'm going to ask you this once, and that'll be the end of it okay? Please, be honest with me. Do you want to break the bond?"

Will was shivering violently next to him and it hurt Mike to hold back from comforting him but he had to know the truth of how Will felt without the fear that Mike had somehow swayed his decision. Mike waited patiently, his eyes clinging to Will's every move before, finally, he shook his head minutely in denial. Mike reached for him immediately, pulling him into his embrace. He clutched him to his chest, Will's face pressed to his neck as he held back sobs. Mike rested his chin on top of his head, one hand cradling the back of Will's head while the other rubbed his back reassuringly.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Mike pleaded.

"Because," Will choked out, "because it was my fault. I did this to you. All because I was jealous of someone I've never even met."

"Jealous? Of who?" Mike startled, suddenly piecing it together. "Of El? Will, it's you, it's always been you. You don't know what it was like for me when you went missing. I was out of my mind and already half-presenting because of it. I don't think I would've survived it if you didn't come back to me."

"I saw it," Will murmured into Mike's neck. "The quarry. The cliff. When I bit you," he explained.

"You saw that?" Will nodded where he was pressed against him. "Then you should get it then, when I say I go crazy without you."

Will hesitated against him, his breaths still shuddering lightly against Mike's neck. "Maybe," Will started, "maybe we can just go crazy together."

A laugh startled its way out of Mike. He couldn't help but be endeared by his sweet omega in his arms. "Yeah," Mike agreed, "crazy together."

They sat that way for awhile, their scents intermingling and bringing comfort to the other. It reminded Mike of when he presented, the way their scents combined to create starlight and sunshine, like the very cosmos come to life. He was hesitant to break the silence, but he had one last thing to ask of Will, and it was now or possibly never. Who knew when another opportunity like this would present itself.

"So, if you don't want to break the bond," Mike started, "does that mean you'd want to be my mate?"

Will froze in his arms, tightening his grip on Mike's shirt possessively. Mike felt Will's tiny nod, felt his own heart clench in his chest at the admission. It wasn't enough for him to feel it though, he needed to hear the words from Will's mouth. He tried to pull away but Will gripped him closer.

"Hey, it's okay." Mike told him. "But I need to hear you say it, Will. Can you look at me, please?"

Will slowly pulled back, bashful when confronted with Mike face to face. Mike loosened his arms around him but didn't let go, needing the closeness to feel grounded. Just being able to hold Will had settled Mike more than he'd been in months, if not since before this mess began. The hand that had been in Will's hair slid forward to cup his cheek, Mike's thumb smoothing over the softness of his cheek reassuringly.

"Can you tell me? Please?" Mike asked once again.

Will's cheeks tinged, their color pink like carnations. His eyes were still glassy from the tears he'd shed earlier. It was altogether an adorable sight, one Mike felt blessed to see. Will looked him in the eyes, obviously shy but holding contact as he spoke up. There he was. There was the boy Mike grew up with, the strong resilient boy that had survived a week alone in some foreign dimension. The one that grew up with a piece of shit for a father, the one that never backed down, never let the harshness of this world dim the kindness in his heart.

"I want to be your mate, Mike," Will told him, his voice still somewhat shaky but resolute. "I want it more than anything."

"Okay," Mike said, more to himself than to Will. His heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest with the strength of his emotions. "Okay. Would it be okay for me to bite you?"

Will closed his eyes at the request, taking a deep settling breath as he nodded. Mike waited, needing to hear him confirm this as well. Sensing the unspoken question, Will opened his eyes and hurried to answer, "Yes, yes Mike, you can."

Mike's hand came down to rest on the collar of Will's costume, tugging at the edge.

"Is this okay?"

"Please."

Mike nodded. He felt his mouth pool with saliva, his gums itching as his fangs extended, sensing that they were about to be needed. He took a few deep breaths, attempting to calm himself as he felt his heart racing, anticipating what was about to happen. He didn't want to hurt his mate, wanted to start their bond with as little pain as possible. It was the least Will deserved. He pulled down Will's collar, Will tilting his head in the opposing direction, splaying his unmarked neck for Mike. Will's eyes were glued to Mike as he leaned forward before blinking shut as Mike's breath ghosted on his neck. Mike's thumb brushed soothingly over the spot he was about to mark, and he paused, resting in the moment of their shared closeness before things changed between them permanently. Mike's forehead was tickled by the ends of Will's hair as he nuzzled his nose against Will's neck. He licked Will's neck once, twice, before he couldn't hold back any longer, his fangs sinking deep into the previously unmarked skin.

At once he was overtaken by emotion. Some he recognized as his own like the irritation, the anger, the overwhelming need to protect that had consumed him over the past year. Beyond that he felt a shared sense of frustration, anxiety, and surprisingly paranoia. Past that, where Mike could feel the distinction of Will's mind from his own, was a blood curdling fear, terror so deeply entrenched in his being, and a cold alien darkness that Mike immediately recognized. He didn't know how he knew, but he understood at once upon feeling it that this darkness was the thing that had been setting off his inctincts. His inner alpha roared at the intrusion, this creature that thought it had some sort of claim over his mate. It was a mistake not talking to Will about their bond earlier and especially not biting him immediately back upon presenting, something he was rectifying now.

He felt the glow of their bond fully forming now, an awareness of Will that he hadn't felt before. Was this what it had been like for Will when he'd bitten Mike? He felt dizzy from the onslaught of their shared emotions, images popping into his head of a dark place where everything was backlit with an eerie blue, particles moving through the air like ash, the sound of unnatural guttural clicking playing in his ears, and in the sky a giant shadowy beast.

Mike forged a golden path through the memories, his light burning it's way towards the cold dark core that lay behind Will's heart, where it drained at his strength, weakening him for the shadow that lay in wait to possess him. 'Not if I have anything to say about it' Mike thought viciously, reaching out with his senses to engulf the squirming, wriggling creature before it could sink its way deeper. Mike snuffed it out, this thing that had been tormenting his mate from within.

New memories took the place of the desolate ones he'd seen before. He recognized Castle Byers and the feelings of safety it invoked; he saw a familiar purple wizards hat and a D20 and felt joy. More than anything though he felt love, pure and radiant, and saw the swingset where it all started, where he made the best decision of his life when he asked Will if he wanted to be friends.

Mike gasped, releasing the hold he had on Will as their bond snapped into place. Tears spilled down his cheeks and he felt as Will shook in his arms. Mike pulled back, full of concern for his mate. Tears were streaming down Will's face as well but he had a smile on his face and the sourness that had permeated his scent over the course of the year was gone, the sweetness of pomegranate returning, a scent Mike hadn't known he'd missed until it returned in full. Mike pressed his forehead against Will's, the both of them giddy with relief. He rubbed his nose against Will's, a wide, pleased grin on his face.

"It's gone?" Will gasped, still catching his breath, "It's really gone?" His voice was tinged with wonder and Mike felt an echo of his old protectiveness. How he hadn't noticed how much Will was suffering, he'd never know. It was a failing on his part as an alpha and he promised then and there to do everything in his power to protect his dear and precious mate.

"It's really gone," Mike swore to him, "and I'll never let it hurt you again."