Chapter Text
Mike
April 12, 1986
It's been about two weeks since we last saw Vecna.
Two weeks since everything changed.
Again.
You'd think after everything we've been through, I'd be used to things changing. But this time feels different. Hawkins feels different. Everyone feels different.
Will and Jonathan are living with us now, staying in the basement. The same basement where we spent most of our childhood rolling dice, arguing over D&D campaigns, and pretending monsters were something we could actually defeat.
Having Will around all the time should feel normal.
And it almost does.
Except...
Ever since California, I've felt this overwhelming need to be close to him. I want to make up for everything that happened. To be the bestest friend I can possibly be.
Maybe that's why I keep finding excuses to go downstairs.
Maybe that's why I notice when he's not there.
And maybe that's why, lately, being around Will doesn't feel quite as simple as it used to.
Maybe it's the same reason I begged so hard that night.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Mom, please."
"Mike, sweetie, we've already talked about this."
"No. We haven't. You said we'd think about it."
"And I did think about it."
She stood at the kitchen counter, drying a plate like this was just another normal night. Like the world hadn't nearly ended two weeks ago. Like Will hadn't just come back from California with nothing. No clothes, no home, and a shitty best friend.
"Then let him stay."
She sighed. "Mike—"
"Please."
A tear started to well up in my eye.
That's weird.
"Where would he sleep?"
"The basement."
"Mike, that's not a bedroom."
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"I'll clean it."
She looked at me.
"I mean it. I'll clean everything. I'll move my stuff. I'll even—I'll sleep down there too if you want."
"Mike, sweetie, just—"
"Please, Mom."
I could hear how desperate I sounded, but I didn't care.
Will needed somewhere to stay. I could be helpful to him.
That was all that mattered.
"He doesn't have anywhere else to go," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "He's already been through enough. We all have."
Mom's expression softened.
"His mom hasn't even said if she's okay with this plan, Mike."
"I know."
"Then why are you so determined to have him here?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because I didn't really know how to explain it.
I just knew that the thought of Will leaving again—leaving me again—made my chest feel tight.
"I just..." I swallowed. "I don't want him to be alone."
Mom stared at me for a long moment before glancing at my dad in his recliner.
Then she sighed.
"Okay."
I blinked.
"Okay?"
"He can stay."
For a second, I couldn't believe I'd actually won.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. But you're responsible for helping clean up the basement."
"I will. Promise!"
"And you're not turning it into your D&D dungeon. I expect it to be well kept."
"I won't."
"Mike."
"I won't!"
She laughed quietly, shaking her head.
"Go tell Will. I'll call Mrs. Byers."
I didn't need to be told twice.
________________________________________________________________
Mike was starting to think Will had forgotten how to sit normally.
He'd been at the desk for almost an hour, drawing in his sketchbook. Every time Mike looked over, Will was either hunched over it or staring at the wall like it had personally offended him.
Mike flipped a page in his comic.
"Will."
"Yeah?"
"Come sit over here."
Will glanced over his shoulder. "Where?"
Mike patted the bed beside him.
"Here."
Will looked at the space, then back at the desk.
"I'm fine here."
"Dude, you've been sitting there forever."
"I'm drawing."
"Yeah, I know. You can draw over here."
Will looked at him.
Mike gestured toward the bed.
"Come on. I wanna see what you're working on."
Will hesitated before getting up.
Mike moved over to make room.
Will sat beside him, sketchbook in his lap.
Mike glanced at the space between them.
Too much space.
He leaned over to look at the drawing.
"Ooh, are you drawing a forest?"
"Yeah."
"Looks good so far."
"Thanks."
Mike studied it for a moment.
"Actually, you know what? You should draw me."
Will's pencil stopped.
Mike looked at him.
"What?"
Will blinked. "Draw you?"
"Yeah." Mike shrugged. "Like, sitting here or something. You know, for practice."
Will stared at him.
Was that really that weird?
“Draw you?”
"Why do you keep saying that?"
Will looked down at his sketchbook.
"I don't know."
Mike leaned back against the wall.
"Okay, just forget it then. Jeez."
He picked up his comic.
A few seconds passed.
Then he looked over again.
"I was gonna suggest you draw me as a superhero."
Will laughed. "What?"
"I'm serious."
"You? In one of those tight suits with huge muscles?"
"Yeah, me." Mike sat up straighter. "With the cape and everything."
Will smiled.
"You'd look ridiculous."
Mike grinned. "Dude, I'd look awesome."
Will shook his head, laughing.
There it was again.
That stupid feeling in Mike's chest.
He liked making Will laugh.
He liked it way more than he probably should have.
But that was normal.
Will was his best friend. Mike wanted his best friend to be happy.
Obviously.
"So?" Mike asked.
"So what?"
"You gonna draw me?"
Will glanced down at the sketchbook.
"Maybe."
Mike smiled.
"I can't wait."
He leaned back against the wall.
Then, after a second, added, "Actually, you can draw me whenever you want."
Will looked up.
Mike shrugged.
"I mean, if you wanna."
Will's face went pink.
Mike blinked.
What?
"Dude, are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"You look like you're gonna pass out."
Will laughed nervously.
"I'm fine."
Mike stared at him for another second before looking away.
Okay. Weird.
Will went back to drawing.
Mike tried to read. He really did.
But a few minutes later, he noticed Will had moved farther away. Not by much. Just enough that their shoulders weren't touching.
Mike frowned.
"Why are you over there?"
Will glanced up. "What?"
"You were sitting closer before."
"I was?"
"Yeah."
Mike looked at him.
"Did I do something?"
Will's eyes widened.
"No."
"Then why'd you move?"
"I'm just trying to draw."
Mike stared at him.
"You can draw closer."
Will looked at him.
Mike patted the bed beside him.
"Here."
Will swallowed.
"Mike—"
"Dude, I'm not gonna bite you."
I probably would if Will wanted me to though—
Wait. What am I thinking?
Will let out a nervous laugh.
Mike grinned.
"Come on."
Will moved a little closer.
Mike smiled, satisfied.
"There."
Problem solved.
A few minutes later, Mike got bored again and closed his comic.
"Wanna do something?"
Will looked up. "Like what?"
"I don't know." Mike thought for a second. "Wanna watch a movie?"
"Sure."
"What do you wanna watch?"
Will shrugged.
"Whatever."
Mike frowned.
"Dude, you always say whatever."
"Because I don't care."
"I care."
Will looked at him.
Mike shrugged.
"I mean, I want you to like it."
Will stared at him.
Then looked away.
There it is again.
"Why do you keep doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Looking away."
"I'm not."
Mike leaned closer.
"Will."
Will looked at him.
Mike smiled.
"Pick a movie."
______________________________________________________________________
They headed downstairs, Mike carrying the VHS tapes.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Where's Jonathan?" Mike asked.
"Probably in the Nancey’s room."
"Okay."
Mike turned toward the basement door, then stopped.
"Actually, wait."
Will looked at him.
"What?"
"You got all our favorites right?"
Will glanced down at the tapes.
"Yeah."
Mike smiled.
"Good."
He opened the basement door.
The basement was dim, lit mostly by the lamp beside the couch. Jonathan's stuff was scattered around the room, and a blanket was folded over the armrest.
Mike dropped the tapes on the coffee table.
"Okay. Pick."
Will stared at them.
"Mike."
"Will."
Will laughed softly.
Mike grinned.
"Come on."
Will picked up one of the tapes.
"This one?"
Mike looked at it. It was Star Wars Return of the Jedi
"Yeah. That's fine."
"Fine?"
"Yeah, I mean, it's good."
Will smiled.
Mike watched him for a second.
Then looked away.
Why am I staring at him?
He turned toward the TV.
"Okay, come on."
Mike slid the VHS into the player.
The screen flickered.
He grabbed the remote and dropped onto the couch.
Will stood beside the coffee table.
Mike looked up.
"Dude."
Will glanced at him.
"What?"
"Sit down."
Will looked at the couch.
"Where?"
Mike patted the cushion beside him.
"Here."
Will hesitated.
Mike frowned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Will."
Will sat down.
Mike shifted over.
There was still a little space between them.
Okay.
He picked up the remote.
"Ready?"
Will nodded.
Mike pressed play.
The movie started.
_______________________________________________________________________
After about ten minutes, Mike realized Will wasn't really watching. He was sitting with his hands folded in his lap, staring at the TV.
Mike glanced over.
"Hey."
Will looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Mike frowned.
"You sure?"
Will nodded.
"Yeah."
Mike looked back at the TV.
Okay.
He tried to watch.
Then he noticed Will shivering slightly.
"Are you cold?"
Will shook his head.
"No."
"Dude, you're literally shaking."
"I'm not."
Mike sighed and grabbed the blanket from the armrest.
"Here."
Will looked at it.
"I'm fine."
"Will."
Mike held it out.
"Just take it."
Will hesitated before accepting it.
"Thanks."
Mike smiled.
"Yeah."
He turned back to the movie.
A few seconds passed.
Then he glanced over.
Will had the blanket folded neatly over his lap.
Mike frowned.
"Dude, you're supposed to use it."
"I am."
"Not like that."
Mike reached over and pulled the blanket around Will's shoulders.
"There."
Will froze.
Mike didn't notice. He was too busy making sure the blanket wasn't slipping off.
"Better?"
Will swallowed.
"Yeah."
Mike smiled.
"Good."
He turned back to the movie.
Okay.
A few minutes later, Will shifted closer.
Mike noticed.
He didn't say anything.
Then Will shifted away again.
Mike frowned.
What is his problem?
"Will."
"Yeah?"
"Why do you keep moving?"
Will looked at him.
"What?"
"You were closer before."
Will's face went pink.
"I was?"
"Yeah."
Mike stared at him, then shrugged.
"Whatever."
He looked back at the TV.
But he couldn't stop thinking about it.
Did I do something?
He glanced over.
Will was staring at the movie again.
Will shifted beside him, trying to get comfortable, and Mike barely thought about it before leaning against his shoulder.
It was easier that way. Will was warm, and the couch was uncomfortable, and Mike was tired. Those were the only reasons. Obviously.
Will went completely still.
“You okay?” Mike asked, glancing up at him.
“Yeah,” Will said quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Mike hummed and settled closer, resting more of his weight against Will’s side. His head slipped onto Will’s shoulder, and he pulled the blanket over both of them.
Will’s arm hovered awkwardly for a second before finally resting along the back of the couch behind Mike.
“You can put your arm around me,” Mike mumbled. “you used to all the time..”
Will let out a nervous laugh.
“I know.”
Mike closed his eyes, completely unaware of how red Will’s face had gotten.
“This is comfortable,” he said. “We should do this more often.”
Will didn’t answer right away.
Then, carefully, he let his arm settle around Mike’s shoulders.
Mike smiled letting himself lean into it.