Chapter Text
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Will didn’t know where he was. He could hear people murmuring, their voices escalating into almost talking as he listened.
“But why?” he heard someone whisper-shout. Someone else replied: “He’s been showing signs for months now!”
“Yeah, you would know, since you follow him around like a lost puppy-”
“boys,” a voice said, almost too loud for Will’s liking. He wanted to tell them to stop, stop, stop. It was making his head hurt. He felt like he had no control of his body; he couldn’t move even the slightest muscle. He let out a groan of pain, which was slightly involuntary. Everyone in the room turned to look at him, and he could see their faces clearer now.
There was Robin, and Mom and Jonathan..and Mike.
Will was confused by Mike recently. He went from barely talking, and shrugging him off, to being almost clingy, insistent on being near Will at every moment. And honestly? Will didn’t know how to react. His lifelong crush, his love, was giving him signals? He’d be by his side all the time, laughing at Will’s corny jokes, fingers grazing Wills an unnatural amount of times. Will had a small inkling in his head that Mike was trying to show signs to him- just like Robin had said in the hospital. A snowball will turn into an avalanche.
A few days ago, when they were hanging around at WSQK, Lucas had told him that Mike and El had broken up. For real this time. It pestered Will that Mike didn’t tell him himself. Why? Was he scared Will would react badly? I mean, he did try everything in his power last year to get their relationship steady again.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Joyce says in a sweet tone, the same one she would use when Will got his nightmares and the Mind Flayer possessed him. She crouches down to his eye level, and he turns to look at her, but even that makes his neck scream in pain. He winces.
“How are you feeling, Will?” His mom says, and Will can only groan in response. She frowns , and looks back to the others. Robin shrugs and Jon looks more concerned than ever.
“Will, we all have to go back to the radio station to come up with a new plan, but we can’t bring you along in this state. Someone will have to look after you.”
“I’ll do it!” Mike said a little too loud, his hand raising fast. Will’s heart jolts at the thought of them spending time alone together, just like old times.
“Uh.. I mean, I’ll look after him, if you want. We could watch a movie?” Will smiles at the idea, and he just now realizes where they are. The Wheeler’s basement, cozy as could be. He’s lying on a makeshift bed (which is really just the couch with some sheets and pillows), which was haphazardly put together when they moved in last year. The covers are pulled up around him and tucked in with great care.
“No, Mike, that’s okay. I will. You’re the strategist, after all,” Jon says, looking over to Mike. No! Will wants to shout. Let him stay!
“Jonathan, I understand, but you need to go help your mom at WSQK.” Mike turns to face Jon, slightly towering over him. There was an edge of pleading in his voice, like he was begging Jonathan to oblige. The only thing Will could think about was how Mike had gotten so much taller.
Jonathan looks at Mike, suspiciously eyeing him down. They look at each other, eyes fighting a silent battle, for what feels like an eternity until Jon says: “Fine. But if you do anything to hurt him-”
“Now why would I do that? He’s my best friend, for God’s sake!” Mike cuts him off, looking appalled. Will is elated at the fact that Mike considers them best friends again.
“Maybe because you were a total dick to him in Lenora-”
“Friends, friends,” Robin interjects, holding her hands out to push Jonathan and Mike away from each other. “Let’s not get too riled up on stuff from the past. I agree with Mike, I think he should stay here. Will needs him. And besides, Jon- Nancy will want to know you’re ok. I lost my Supercomm in the field and haven’t been able to contact her.” Will exhales a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He gets to spend the whole day with Mike, just two of them!
“Fine,” Jonathan mutters, sneaking a not-so-well-hidden glare in Mike’s direction.
“I still don’t believe you, Wheeler, but whatever.”
As they all file upstairs, Jonathan huffing and muttering under his breath, Robin glances to Will and mouths, “You’re welcome.”
Will smiles and mouths back, “Thank you.”
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Will was trying not to freak out, and he hoped he could mask it well under his fatigue. His heart was pounding as much as last night, when Vecna was mere inches from him. The thought makes him shudder. Mike glances at him and his expression turns from anger (presumably towards Jon) to concern.
“Will! You ok? Are you cold?” He raced over to the couch, kneeling down to wills level just like Joyce earlier. Ever since the Midflayer, Will had hated, hated, hated the cold, which Mike immediately clocked and started constantly giving Will his sweater at school, or his half of the blanket at sleepovers. That all stopped of course, when El rolled back into the picture and Mike spent all of his time with her, forgetting Will time after time. Will would never, ever be mad at El for dating Mike, but of course it stung to see El wearing Mike’s sweaters instead of him.
They’re not dating anymore, though.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just…Thinking about last night. ‘s scary.” Will mumbles. The thought makes him realize just how dirty he still feels, his fingernails caked with dirt and his clothes covered in dust and soot and…is that blood? Will didn’t want to think about it that hard.
‘D’you think I could shower?” Will says quietly. He and Mike are still at eye level to each other, their eyes flitting around each other’s faces.
“Yeah, of course..” Mike murmurs, and Will swears he could see Mike’s eyes look down to Will’s cracked lips, if only for a second. Signs. “The bathroom down here still has the shower.” At that, Will gives a slight nod and tries to get up, but the pain and soreness in his limbs overtakes his thoughts.
“Agh,” Will says, shuddering again. He falls back onto the couch. Mike is immediately on his feet, an arm hooking around Will's shoulders. Mike lets Will lean on him throughout the painful walk to the bathroom, although it’s only a few steps away.
Mike deposits him at the bathroom door, and Will is trying so hard not to blush and look down. This is some of the most physical contact they’ve had in a long time.
“Uh- guess I’ll..Leave you here..” Mike stutters, blushing and looking down.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want you seeing anything..” Will said, giving Mike a slight wink and a small, sly smile. Mike’s blush increased, now creeping up to his ears, his eyes widening in shock. Will realized what he had just said.
“Oh- uh- sorry-”
“No.. It’s- it’s fine.” Mike’s lips twitched into a small smile, and he left the room for Will to undress.
Will tried his best to clean off the caked dirt, but it had been stuck to him for so long he didn’t know if it would ever come off. Eventually, though, the layers of grime started to come off, and he let the lukewarm water overtake him, envelope him, delighted to feel a sense of security.
He turned off the shower after almost thirty minutes, now feeling much better. He towels himself and sees that Mike left him some clean clothes next to the door- he must have slipped them in. The solid shower curtain prevented Will from seeing him, though. He dressed in the clothes, a simple sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.
Mike’s clothes, Will thought with a jump of his heart. He tries to walk to the bathroom door to exit, but is again reminded of the soreness of his limbs.
“Mike?” he called. He didn’t think he could walk on his own quite yet.
“Yeah?” Mike calls. He can hear footsteps pounding outside, opening the door a crack. “Can I come in, Will?” Mike calls. Will rolls his eyes and says yes, and Mike opens the door more, revealing his tall stature, and Will wants to melt at the sight of him. So familiar, so real, so Mike.
“I, uh..can’t walk.” Will says shortly.
“Oh, uh, of course! yeah , lemme just..” And Mike latches onto Will again, his arm slipping effortlessly around Will, just like when they were kids.
They walk, or rather, Mike basically drags Will back to the couch, and they settle in, sitting next to each other so that their knees and shoulders were touching. Will’s heart is fluttering.
“Do you, uh..want to watch a movie? We could watch Empire Strikes Back..” Will was glad at the suggestion of distraction. Anything to get his mind off of his aching body.
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Will smiled. Mike nods and goes to grab the tape, the one they had watched countless times, over and over as children.
Mike puts the tape into the player, and goes to sit on the couch. He wavers for a moment, and Will can see his eyes flit from the other end of the couch to Will, who was snuggled against the couch's armrest.
“Sit next to me,” Will murmurs, before he can stop himself. He might as well, right? Mike grins and walks over to Will, sitting with his legs up and hooking a tentative arm around Will. Will could explode from happiness.
He snuggled into Mike, burrowing his head into his chest as the opening scene plays out. He can hear Mike’s breath catch, his heart starting to beat faster.
The movie plays on, Him and Mike still in their cozy state. If Will could, he would stay in this moment forever, forget Venca, forget his powers, forget everything. Except Mike. His whole body is warm, like the exact opposite of the Mindflayer. They exchange little remarks, like “Oh, I would definitely have a blue lightsaber,” and “yeah, I’d prolly be yellow.”
Every so often, Will can feel Mike shift closer, arm wrapping tighter around him, and he’s obviously trying to be nonchalant about it. It’s probably nothing..
During the infamous “Luke, I am your father,” scene, Will can feel his eyes start to droop. Despite having slept for, what, 12 hours? since last night, he feels like he could sleep forever. He is exhausted. Will turns his head away from the TV screen and into Mike’s chest, radiating warmth. He gives a tired groan. As he starts to drift off, he feels soft shapes being drawn on his arm, the same one that is enveloped by mikes. He swears he could feel a heart being drawn.
Will falls asleep with a soft smile on his face.
Maybe he still has a chance.