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It took Mike approximately 0.2 seconds after the cuff of Will's pants slipped through his fingers to decide to jump in the freaky pulsating gate after him. He wished he could attribute his decision to bravery, but if he was being candid, nothing was more terrifying to him than losing Will to that place.
Again.
Ultimately, he jumped out of fear just as much as he did for love. He willingly entered what had been aptly described as hell on earth by all who had previously visited, without supplies, a plan, or anyone on the outside having any idea where he went.
And it was an easy decision to make.
He couldn’t have made any other choice, not when Will refused to listen to him. Refused to see reason.
Not when Will had been quiet and sombre, slowly withdrawing from everyone since the moment they stepped foot back in Hawkins. Not when Mike noticed him acting shifty and followed him deep into the woods to try to talk him out of a profoundly batshit plan.
It wasn’t that Will was stupid, even if his current behavior didn’t necessarily disprove that. Will was the first to back Mike up when he was being reasonable, when he was being unreasonable too, and he was being completely fucking reasonable in telling Will to come home.
Will usually listened to him.
There was something wrong with him, something missing behind the eyes, something Mike saw dying over the past few months. Something he kept putting off dealing with because it was so damn frightening, and it led to him being…
Here.
Wherever here was.
Mike was supposed to land, likely painfully, and open his eyes to the fucked up and decaying version of his childhood town. There were supposed to be vines covering every surface and the toxic atmosphere that crept over his version of Hawkins by the day.
Not…
Nothingness.
Complete and utter... nothing.
Mike landed on his back, with the wind knocked out of him, and blinked erratically to decipher anything in the smothering darkness. He sat up and clawed at a ground he couldn’t see, with hands that were just as hidden, and yelled for Will into the emptiness.
The complete absence of everything would have bought shivers to his skin, but Mike couldn’t feel an inch of it; even touching his own body occurred with the absence of sensation. His screams were forced from his lungs, his mouth hanging open, but his ears couldn’t hear it. He couldn't hear anything.
Mike was deaf, dumb, and blind.
And lost.
Alone.
He was all alone.
He couldn’t bare to stare blindly into the darkness; instead, he buried his face in his knees, wrapped his arms around his trembling form, and rocked back and forth. The tears that spilt down his cheeks left no trace or imprint behind.
He couldn’t do it. The nothingness was suffocating. He had nothing to anchor himself to. To keep him tethered to sanity. Nothing separated him from everything else. It was all the same here. One. And Mike would join it, absorbed into the darkness until he was forgotten.
“Mike.” A voice broke through the great void, and the world returned in a blink.
He snapped his eyes open and flinched when a hand touched his shoulder. When he felt something in the great expanse of total emptiness he had tumbled into. Mike instinctively reached out to grab onto the hand, tethering himself to the cold skin before he got lost in the darkness again.
He thought his mind might just break if forced there again.
“Mike.” His name was repeated in a much softer tone, and Mike finally had the clarity to place who the voice belonged to.
He exhaled the air trapped in his lungs, “Will.” He gasped, focusing on the boy crouched in front of him, his face twisted in concern. Mike dug his fingers into the hand that touched his shoulder, the steady pulse under his thumb calming his frantic heart.
“Will,” Mike repeated his name like it was a prayer. Like it was his salvation. It might as well have been with the relief it brings him. Mike's never endured torture, but if it was anything like what he just experienced, he wouldn't survive it.
He squeezed Will's shoulders again, using the wiry muscle to ground himself back to reality and distract his mind from the hellscape it had been thrown into. “Will.” He said again, the only word he seemed capable of saying at this very moment.
Mike widely scanned across Will's features, memorising every twitch and quirk of his face. From the line etched between his brows to the slope of his nose. How quickly had even his memories faded when he was trapped in total darkness.
Will mirrored his relief as he carefully checked Mike for any blatant injury before his brow furrowed in displeasure, “What is wrong with you.”
And that was not what Mike expected Will to say at that moment. He was hoping for more of an 'I'm glad you're okay' or 'Let's go home, now' out of him.
“Huh-“ He inarticulately started to say when Will immediately talked over him.
“I told you not to-“
“Woah-“ Mike pulled back as fury clouded Will's features. Any concern he originally held vanished in an instant, and Mike honestly thought he deserved it to last a little longer. He did voluntarily jump into hell to save him after all.
“So stupid to think you could-“ The hand Will had on Mike's boney arm tightened its grip, digging his fingers into the soft flesh of Mike's upper arm as he insulted him.
Mike grimaced in pain, “Will-“
“Go home, Mike!” Will ordered him with no room for argument in his tone, but if there was one thing Mike excelled at, it was arguing.
He belligerently shook his head, “No.”
“Stop being a child!”
“I’m not a child,” Mike whined back, sounding, unfortunately, exactly like a child.
“Yes-” Will raised his eyebrows, “You are. You always do this. Stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, so go home, Mike.” He said, tightening his grip on Mike's upper arm and forcefully dragging him back to the portal they had jumped in initially.
Mike had no choice but to follow, his legs retaining a slight jelly-like quality rendering him incapable of fighting against Will's strength before his best friend abruptly stopped in his tracks. Which was for the best, as Mike had definitely twisted something in his ankle, causing a bit of a limp.
Mike bit his lip to stifle his disbelieving guffaw as he registered the same issue Will had that caused him to stop so suddenly, “Sure, I’ll go right on home-“ Mike cracked a smile despite his resolve, “As soon as the gate re-opens.”
“Fuck,” Will groaned under his breath as they stared at the crack in the tree that was no longer shining a bright orange light and had been covered over with a layer of bark-like substance. “-this is fine, we’ll find another one, and you can go home that way,” Will said, evenly.
“Nah-“ Mike peeked at Will, the same single-minded determination marring his face, “I might as well come with you, now I’m here and all.” He said in a benign tone, careful to not betray the desperation it was actually loaded with.
Will wasn't acting like himself, and Mike needed to tread cautiously.
“No-“ Will scratched at the overgrown bark, yanking off a large piece as if to uncover the gate hidden beneath, only to find more tree bark, “Maybe I can…” He trailed off as he stared with a laser focus on the innocuous stump attempting to pull off some kind-of crazy Professor X hijinks to re-open the gate.
Mike elected to remain silent as Will had a stare-off with a literal tree; he wouldn't mind another superpowered person on their side until the other teen sighed in evident defeat, “I don’t have time for this.” Will eventually muttered as he gave up.
“Great-“ Mike smiled like he hadn’t been the one to ruin Will's time-keeping. “Let's go then.” He said far too joyfully as he swept a quick glance toward the unsettlingly quiet forest surrounding them. Sometimes silence was more deafening than any noise.
Will shot him an unimpressed glare before sighing audibly. Mike smirked in victory, “Fine-“ He picked up the backpack he had discarded when checking on Mike and threw it over his shoulder, “This way.” He motioned with his head to the west.
Or what Mike deduced was west. It was hard to tell without the sun or Dustin's trusty compass. Even if it was usually rendered obsolete because of the effects of the gates.
Mike wasn’t sure how Will even knew where to go when they were in the middle of the forest, in a freaky mirror version of their hometown. Mike certainly had no idea, so he scrambled to follow behind the far more confident Will.
As quickly as he could on a busted ankle, that pretty much confirmed Will was still a bit cuckoo as he didn't even ask as Mike hobbled along.
He wouldn't admit it out loud, but Mike was pretty freaked out. He'd never been to the upside down. Never particularly wanted to either, which he felt was reasonable.
“So-“ Mike casually started. He desperately wanted to break the tension and avoid thinking about the absolute nightmare he had first descended into when he jumped through the gate. He had a pretty damning feeling that that would infect his every dream until the day he died. “-What’s the plan.”
Will squinted out the corner of his eye at Mike but didn’t break his stride. “None of your business.”
“Of course it’s my business-“ Mike argued, his long and lanky legs making up for his lacking speed in comparison to Will as he just about managed to keep pace, “-we’re a team now-“
Will snorted, “We’re not a team-“
“Yeah, we are-“ Mike gave him a shit-eating grin, “The dream team. A famous double-act for the ages. Like Batman and Robin or Tom and Jerry.”
“We're like a rodent that torments a cat or the most famous superhero and his sidekick.“
“I got no issue being your sidekick, Will. Unless you'd rather it be a bit more Sonny and Cher-“
“No!” Will exploded with far too much anger for Mike's usual level of teasing, “We’re not a team. I’m on a mission. I've got somewhere to be, and you’re trying to ruin it.”
Mike flinched at that comment but remained unaffected. Will, obviously, wasn't in the best state, “Can you at least tell me where we're heading.” He asked instead, stalling to figure out a plan to get Will out of here.
If he couldn't convince him, maybe if they got close enough to another gate, Mike could just... push him through it.
“It doesn’t matter,” Will said, but something shifty in his eyes caught the attention of Mike's inner detective.
Mike condescendingly quirked an eyebrow, needling Will into a response, “Do you even know?”
Will took the bait, “Why wouldn’t I know-“
Mike tapped his chin theatrically, “Well, no offence Will but you’re not exactly acting like you have full control of your marbles right now-“
“Stop calling me crazy-“ And there was a flash of life behind Will's near-dead irises.
Mike curled his lip and shrugged nonchalantly, “If the shoe fits.”
“If the shoe fits.” Will repeated back, absolutely incredulous at Mike's claim, but Mike didn’t bother supplying additional evidence to his assertion.
The fact of where they were should be more than enough to prove Will was, at the very least... acting strange.
And that was how Mike would describe it if he was being kind.
If he was being; not-so-kind, his description would fall more into the 'completely and totally bat-shit' camp.
“How else would you describe sneaking into the upside-down. On your own.“ Mike gestured widely at the darkened forest as the back of his neck erupted in goosebumps. “I mean, do you even have a weapon on you.“
Will rolled his eyes, and Mike was heartened to see a bit of attitude in him, a bit of the normal Will in him. The deadened eyes were soul-crushing, “I don't need one.“
“Sure, sure, jump in a land full of monsters, but Will Byers doesn't need a weapon.“ Mike said with his natural snark on full force. Maybe he was still a little angry in addition to upset that Will abandoned him, even if he purported to have a good reason.
“Well, you're here too, and you don't have a weapon, Mike-“ Will defended himself before casting a judgemental eye over Mike, “Not that it would even help when you're using it.“
“Hey, ouch-“ Mike held a hand over his heart melodramatically, “Direct hit with that one.“ Mike said with some degree of levity, even as the truth of his inadequacy nipped at him. There was a reason Mike had never been chosen to venture into the upside-down.
You'd think he'd have come to terms with his limitations, but it still saw fit to chip at his dwindling self-esteem, “I help in other ways-“
“Like putting yourself in needless danger.“ Will said thunderously, and more life sparked behind dull eyes. Mike filed that piece of information away.
“Are you the only one who's allowed to be in danger? You can't own danger, Will.“ Mike said, doubling down.
“I'm not in danger.“ Will scoffed, and Mike narrowed his gaze at the certainty in Will's tone.
“How do you know that.“ Mike asked. The eerie environment they were trapped in should dispute Will's words immediately. “How can you possibly think you aren't in danger here.“ Mike barely caught himself from shouting as the full reality of how treacherous a place they were finally hit him.
He'd been so relieved to be out of the emptiness he underestimated how perilous the upside-down was itself. Jesus, they should be thanking their lucky stars that they hadn't already been swarmed by Demogorgons and demo dogs.
“I just know.“ Will whispered with just enough fear as to how he knew that to give Mike hope he might reconsider. “Come on.“ Will said, shrugging it off and marching forward, his footsteps confident and assured.
Mike scrambled behind him, narrowly avoiding tripping on the copious number of roots clawing their way out of the ground and holding his tongue on questions Will would likely refuse to answer.
If he even knew the answers. Will might sound certain, but Mike could tell he was just as confused as Mike. It's just buried deep inside him and concealed by that numbness Will had tried to describe.
If Mike wasn't going to be able to talk him out of his hair-brained plan, he would have to wait for the right opportunity to get them both out of there. That and pray a Demogorgon didn't eat them before either of them got what they wanted.
Mike let the conversation die as he followed behind Will. Preoccupied with keeping his ears peeled for any monsters in the shadowed woods. The prospect felt guaranteed from the second he considered it, and he had no idea how they were supposed to fight off a Demorogon when it inevitably found them with no weapon.
If there was a god, they would hopefully stumble on a new gate, and Mike could get them the heck out of dodge. Even if he had to drag Will kicking and screaming.
Will could hate him all he wanted, so long as Mike got him to safety. Will wasn't in the right state of mind to be making these kinds of decisions. Mike would get him home, and they would fix what was wrong with him.
Mike would fix it.
Mike purposefully avoided thinking about the fact that he had no idea how to do that. How to scrub the touch of Vecna from him. The dark streaks Will had shown him ran through his mind, turning his stomach at what it could mean. What it could do.
Mike couldn't let that happen.
They finally broke the tree line and exited the forest after approximately twenty minutes of strenuous walking. Or at least strenuous when you were in as poor shape as Mike and practically blinded in the low lighting.
Being out in the open didn't feel much safer than deep in the woods. It might have even felt scarier, but as far as Mike could see there didn't seem to be any immediate danger.
No Demogorgons or demo dogs prowling in the distance, not even a swarm of the demo bats that had purportedly killed Eddie.
The stories he'd heard about this place described it as swarming with beasts.
“Stay close to me.“ Will said after they paused for a moment on the open road. The tension kept his posture straight as he cast a worried glance at Mike, “It's easy to get lost, so don't wander off.“
“It's Hawkins, even if it's-“ Mike nudged the sick-looking soil with his beat-up sneaker, “I won't get lost.“ He promised, and Will's shoulders dropped.
Will scoffed under his breath, “Whatever-“ He cast a contemplative look in either direction, weighing up some unspoken considerations, before coming to a decision, “This way.“ He set off to the right.
“Right-o captain.“ Mike saluted his retreating back and got nothing out of Will in return. Only two months ago, that would have earned him at least a pity smile.
“So-“ Mike aimed for casual as their steps echoed off the tarmac, “Are we going-“
“You should cover your mouth-“ Will gave the briefest glance to Mike's mouth, and he self-consciously licked his lower lip under Will's gaze, “The airs toxic, remember.“
This was fantastic advice if Mike had anything to cover his mouth with. He hadn't exactly planned on ending up here today, so that left him patting empty pockets as if a bandana would suddenly appear...
Which it then did. Will had pulled out a strip of deep blue fabric from his backpack and shoved it in Mike's direction, “Here.“
Mike took it and fastened it around his head, only to notice Will wasn't doing the same, “What about you.“ He questioned.
“I don't need one.“
“But-“ Mike was prepared to throw Will's own words back at him. Now wasn't the time for vanity.
“Drop it, Mike. I don't need it, okay.“ Will forcefully said, and the tendons in his exposed neck popped. The collar of his shirt had slipped, and Mike watched as the streaks of blackness pulsed beneath the skin.
His stomach turned at how far they spread throughout Will's body. It looked even worse than the arm Will had brandished in his face back in Hawkins. How had Mike not noticed?
His hands shook as he registered how bad it had truly got. Will didn't need one because it was already too late-
No.
They could still fix this.
Mike could still fix this.
Why else would he have jumped if he didn't still have hope.
Will didn't currently have hope, though, and nothing Mike was saying would convince him, so he dropped it.
For now.
There was one thing he couldn't drop. One thing they hadn't broached since coming here. The thing Will said to push him away.
Like anything could convince Mike to leave Will.
“About what you said... earlier-“ Mike said in a rush before Will could brush him off again, “I don't... care, you know.“ Mike stumbled in his assurance; his voice came out all shaky and uncertain and absolutely did not back up the words themselves.
But he didn't care.
“I don't want to talk about it.“ Will said in a strangled voice as a blossoming flush battled for dominance against the inky streaks of black on his neck.
His tone brokered no argument, but the dismissal made Mike's hackles rise, “You had no problem talking about it when you were trying to get me to abandon you-“ Will's hand clenched the strap he idly held, “But god forbid I try to assure you I'm-“
“It's not about you, Mike,“ Will kept his gaze fixed on the direction they were headed toward, “It's my thing, and I don't want to talk about it. Not now. Not ever. I never wanted to talk about it, but you made me-“ Will took in a lungful of air, “Just leave it alone. It's all going to be over soon anyway.“ He whispered.
“Right, because you've got some super secret plan you won't share with me,“ Mike drawled, “Will's going to save the world all by himself when I'm right here and could help-“
“You're not supposed to be; you shouldn't be here, Mike. You don't belong, and if you don't leave, I can't-“ Will snapped his mouth shut firmly.
“You can't what,“ Mike urged him to continue.
“I can't do this if you're here.“
“Fine-“Mike's glad the bandana covered half his face, or Will would see the humiliated flush that had overtaken his pale complexion, “If I'm so useless you can't- whatever. We can at least talk about what you said then. We've got time,“ Mike motioned down the long and empty road taking them who knew where apart from Will and the thing in his head.
“Why,“ Will said with a strangled sob fighting to burst free from his chest, a sound of life fighting to burst free, “So you can tell me what I already know.“
“You don't know what I'm going to say, Will.“
“Don't I.“
“No.“ How could Will know when Mike wasn't certain himself. In his defence, he hadn't had very long to actually process what Will had told him amid their argument.
What Will had wielded like a weapon to break them.
Will trembled as he refused to face Mike, but it wasn't because of the frigid chill in the air, “You're going to say; it's okay. That you're still my friend. You're going say all the right things because that's who you are, Mike.“
“What-“ Mike hadn't expected that from Will. To be so generous in his assumptions, expecting the best from Mike when he so often did his worst.
It's not my fault you don't like girls.
“You're kind.“ Will whispered, and Mike wished it was so, “But just because you say it; doesn't mean it's true.“
Mike only ever wanted to make Will proud. To live up to the way he saw him, “It is.“
“It wouldn't be-“ Will shook his head, and his uneven bangs flew widely around his ears, “Things would change-“
“So what. Change doesn't mean worse or bad. Change can be good-“
“Not in my experience.“ Will said with the wisdom of a much older man.
“Bullshit.“ The curse fell out of his mouth, and Mike flinched as he felt the phantom slap around the ear from his mom, “You're talking a load of bullshit.“
Everything he was saying was bullshit, “Why'd you do it then. Say that. If you thought I would be kind. Why did you use it to get rid of me.“ Will was lying to him. Straight to his face. If he thought Mike was so kind he never would have-
“I forgot,“ Will tapped his fingers rhythmically against the strap.
“Forgot what,“ Mike asked when Will didn't elaborate.
“You remember when we were kids, like in elementary school-“ Will inexplicably changed the subject, “There was that period where all you wanted to do was hunt for bugs. We had that unit in biology where we had to use those sucker things and catch different types of insects in the playground.“ Will looked at him and waited for it to jog his memory.
Mike held his tongue against questioning why Will was talking about this. If Will wanted to talk about bugs, Mike would entertain him. As long as he was talking, Mike would entertain it.
“Sure,“ He agreed, an errant memory of chasing Lucas around the swingset with a caterpillar coming to him. That might've been the first time they heard Lucas's signature girlish shriek.
“Every recess for about a month, that's all you wanted to do.“ Will said with a revolted expression twisting his features. Mike was further reminded of how neither of his friends had shared the same fascination.
Dustin probably would have, but he didn't move to town until several years later.
“You've always liked gross and disgusting things.“
Mike hummed in vague agreement until he deciphered the deeper meaning in Will's words, “Are you- Will- You're not gross or disgusting.“ Mike bellowed too loudly for their current location, but even that didn't get Will to falter.
“Hey-“ Mike said and forced Will to stop, ignoring the flinch from the other boy the moment that made contact, “How could you think- You're not- Will-“ Mike mouthed helplessly, unable to articulate his disagreement.
“It's fine, Mike-“ Will kept his eyes on the floor, “I-“
“You're not disgusting, Will.“ Mike said as firmly as he could manage with the myriad of emotions swirling inside him. The failure of his friendship was thrown back in his face because if Will could ever think that- then Mike didn't do a very good job.
“You're my best friend, and I'm getting pretty sick of you insulting him. He's my favourite for a reason, okay.“
“I'm sick Mike.“ Will whispered.
Mike clenched Will's shoulders, “And we'll get you well again.“
“You can't fix this.“ Will waved a hand at himself, “I've always been-“
“That's not what I meant, Will. We don't need to fix that. There's nothing wrong with that-“ Mike shoved the angry shouts of his father from his mind, “I meant we can fix this.“ Mike rubbed his thumb gently against one of the black streaks trailing up toward Will's jaw.
Will immediately ducked away from him, his eyes widened in horror as he stared at the tip of Mike's still outstretched thumb. “What did you do.“ He said, panic-stricken before he grabbed Mike's wrist, careful to not touch his bare skin, and pulled his hand close to his face to examine.
“Will-“
Will shushed him as he stared at Mike's hand, and Mike found himself looking at the digit rather worriedly too.
After several tense minutes passed with Will and Mike holding bated breath, he finally relaxed his grip, “You're okay. It's okay.“ Will said more to himself than to Mike as he calmed his frantically beating chest.
“You can't get sick, Mike. I won't let you.“ Will said with steel in his eyes, and Mike realised this conversation had more of the old Will in it than any other in recent weeks.
He seemed far more in control here than he had back in Hawkins. The longer they spent here, the clearer he was. Like the eye of the storm, in a sense, safer than anywhere else.
As long as you stayed in it.
“I'm not going to get sick, Will.“ Mike promised, glancing uncertainly at his thumb. Even if he did. Wouldn't it just be like when they were little?
If one of them got sick, the other would inevitably follow. It was mostly Mike's fault because he couldn't bare to be away from the other boy, not even waiting until he wasn't contagious anymore.
Mike didn't want to be alone.
The clarity in Will's irises receded in front of Mike's eyes, and he continued on down the road like he didn't just freak out. It was only as they passed the turnoff to the old junkyard did Mike get an inkling as to where they were headed.
“Are we going to the trailer park? “
Will grunted, and Mike took that as an affirmative.
“Why.“ Mike asked, racking his brain for what could be important at that location.
“Gate.“ Will muttered under his breath, and Mike let out his own sigh of relief.
“Thank god, you've regained your sanity. We'll get home and- hey-“ Mike nudged the side of Will's ribs with the point of his elbow, “We don't even have to tell anyone about your unfortunate but thankfully only momentary lapse in judgement. Otherwise, your mom's not going to let you out of her sight ever again, and that will be a big problem if you ever want to get laid-“
Not even that quip got a response out of Will, so Mike fell silent until they made it to the trailer park. A place he had purposefully avoided over the past few months. Too many memories for a location Mike had barely been to in the past but-
It was where Max had lived. Perhaps not the nicest location, but far above the hospital room and coma she now lived within. A place Eddie had lived.
The place Eddie had died.
Mike swallowed as they approached one of the four gigantic gates that had opened on their side of Hawkins. They were thought to be exceedingly dangerous and heavily guarded, but Mike couldn't see a single monster around.
The glowing ember of the pulsating gate reflected like fire on Will's face and illuminated the entire area. “Go home, Mike.“ Will whispered as he motioned to the gate.
“Sure,“ Mike readily agreed and offered his palm to Will, “Come with me.“ He said gently, like Will was an injured animal too easily spooked.
Will's voice was weirdly monotonous, “You know I can't-“
“Yes, you can. Just take my hand; we'll go home, okay.“ Mike wiggled his fingers to entice him.
“No.“ Will said sharply, “You need to leave. Now. Before it's too late.“
“Too late for what.“
“I- I-“ The frown that pinched WWills brows smoothed out, “You'll understand later, just go home and tell... will you tell my mom I-“
Mike interrupted before he had to hear what Will's last words to his mother were. That wasn't happening, not on Mike's watch, “You can tell her yourself if you come with me. We'll find another way; as a team.“
A wind started to pick up in the still air, whistling past Mike's ear as it made his hair flutter.
“This is the only way.“ Will crossed his arms across his chest like he did when he was dead set on something but still sounded far away.
Mike finally voiced the question that had plagued him the entire walk here, “Why aren't there any monsters, Will.“
Will pulled his gaze from staring directly at the gate to Mike, “What.“ He said, shaking his head as if to clear it.
“We've been here for hours, not particularly quietly I might add; why haven't we seen any of Vecna's army.“
Will gaped his mouth forming a small o-shape, “I- I don't know.“ He lied.
“You do.“ Mike double-downed.
“Mike, I really don't-“
“It's because he wants you here, yet you seem deadset on giving him exactly what he wants. This is a trap, and you want to walk right into it.“
Mike grabbed Will by the shoulders and forced him to face him, “He's in your head, convincing you that this is a good idea, but Will, I need you to trust me. I'm your best friend, and I'm telling you, you need to come with me.“
Mike wished he could telepathically transplant images to Will. Make him see what he was giving up. Who he was giving up. Mike wished he could do so much more than just speak as it seemed to have no effect.
Words were supposed to be his forte, and yet he failed when someone needed them most.
When Will needed them most?
“It's- Mike, It's different, I don't- I don't think it's-“ Will's eyes were glassy, and Mike wasn't certain he was all there, half lost in his thoughts.
“You come with me, and we can talk about what you said,“ Mike cleared his throat, “Because you know- you know I do, right. That I love-“
“Don't,“ The dazed expression immediately rescinded, and Will's stare hardened. Mike watched as the tendrils of darkness faltered as they attempted to spread up past Will's jaw, retreating down to the base of his neck.
“You don't get to use that-“Will's voice was furious, “That's not fair. You can't lie, Mike.“
“I'm not lying.“
Will exploded, “You are. You're not- you've never been- you- girls-“ Will spat the word in Mike's direction, and he's never heard it said with such contempt, “Don't be cruel-“
“You're the cruel one-“
“How dare you.“
“How dare I.“ Mike's voice rose in pitch to match Will's, “How dare you. You abandoned us; abandoned me. I came in after you, and you didn't even say thank you-“
“I never asked you to, in fact, I made it pretty fucking clear to let me go-“
“Which you know I can't do, Will.“
“Well, you have too. It's the only way.“
“I call bull.“
Will shoved him, his hands planted right in the centre of Mike's chest, knocking the air out of his lungs, “It doesn't matter what you call, Mike. You're not the boss of me.“
“Oh yeah, try me.“ What had started as an attempt to test his hypothesis on riling Will up, had led to Mike's genuine anger peaking. “Or do you prefer Vecna telling you what to do? “
“Shut up Mike,“ Will screamed, his hands clenched tightly in fists at his side, “You don't know what you're talking about.“
“Then tell me. Tell me whatever you think you know. Whatever you think you are going to do to fix all this-“ Mike waved at the thunderous sky, “Because I'm not leaving otherwise and if you try to push me, I will drag you in after me.“
Will looked ready to stomp his feet in frustration, and Mike's obstinance finally came in handy when Will's shoulders slumped in defeat.
“If- if I do this-“ Will's volume dropped considerably as his voice held a tremble, “If I- they will close. I just- everything will be fixed.“
Will's eyes darted from side to side as he avoided Mike's stare, “What will close-“ Will glanced at the pulsating gate they were currently ignoring, “The gates, they'll close.“ Mike asked, “And Vecna.“
“Trapped.“ Will whispered, hugging himself.
Mike frowned at Will's body language. Vecna trapped would be a good thing, so why was- “And you.“ Mike almost couldn't bare to even ask, but he did.
Will settled his gaze on Mike, and the burden was heavy in them, “Trapped.“ He whispered.
“No,“ Mike shook his head, “Not happening.“ He was putting his foot down. Mike was supposed to be the leader, well, here it was and Will was going to listen to him.
“It's the only way, Mike. We're going in circles here-“
“Well, the only way off this carousel is home, so let's keep arguing until you agree.“
“It's over, Mike. I've made my decision.“ Will said like it was his choice to make.
Mike had never wanted to hit his best friend more than right now, “Fine, I've made mine too.“ Mike crossed his arms and looked haughtily at Will, “You're staying in satans armpit, forever I might add, then so am I.“
Will started, sounding weary, “Mike-“
“No, no, this is a lovely spot to spend the rest of our lives. Who doesn't love decaying foliage and bloodthirsty monsters prowling around just looking for their next meal? Everyone back home will be so jealous of our forever home.“
Will put his hands on hips and huffed, and he was so alive, “Will you stop being a sarcastic prick-“
“When you stop being a goddamn martyr.“
Will levelled him with a deadpan stare, “I'm not a martyr. I'm not going to die.“
“Nah, you just want to grow old with all this mould and death surrounding you, alone.“ Mike wiggled his fingers in the toxic air. They'd probably already been there long enough to do lung damage.
Will threw his hands up in frustration, “You think I want this. You think I'm happy that this is it. Jesus Mike, I told you I can't get what I want, so why waste time-“
“Not getting the boy you want is not the same as living out your entire life in this hellhole.“
Will flinched, and maybe Mike shouldn't have said that, especially when Mike actually might feel- “So you admit it. I can't get who I want. You were lying-“
“That's not- fuck Will, stop misconstruing my words-“ He just needs longer than twenty minutes to think about it and-
“Then stop saying stupid things.“
“That's pretty much everything I say, Will-“ Mike said self-deprecatingly, “Do you want me to never speak.“
“Maybe.“ Will said, but his upper lip twitched with a vague shadow of a smile before it faltered,
“I can't do this. Please go, Mike. I have to finish this. If you want to be trapped here too that's on you, but please just go.“ Will said and turned on his heel, walking away from the gate and Mike.
He didn't even have time to scramble after to him because, obviously, he wasn't leaving without Will when Will abruptly froze and clasped the back of his exposed neck.
Mike could see the goosebumps that had erupted on Will's skin before the black tendrils pulsed as they travelled up his veins.
“It's too late,“ Will's voice was hoarse, “It's here.“
Mike felt the fear like a chill throughout his body. He straightened his shoulders and raised shaky fists as he widely looked around for the coming danger, “Vecna.“
“No.“ Will surprised him with his answer, and Mike faltered in his protective posture as Will turned to him, “That.“ He pointed over Mike's head, and Mike gulped before fearfully twisting his head.
He didn't know what he expected; a pack of demo dogs; a giant Demogorgon swinging its arm down to slice Mike open; a swarm of demobats to take him out much like his idol; some amalgamation of all three.
He didn't expect the swirling shadowy mass that rose from the ground and loomed above them. The shadows shot up and spun in spirals to replicate the shape of the flesh monster that killed Billy at the Starcourt Mall.
Dark fluttering particles twisted up like spider legs as it bore down on them.
“Fuck-“ Mike wasn't proud of how squeaky his voice came out, “Stay behind me-“ Mike tried to shout as the wind picked up speed and pierced his eardrums as they were engulfed by its force.
Mike threw his arm back as if to cover Will as a tendril formed from the swirling body of the shadow monster and whistled through the air toward them like a dart.
Mike screwed his face in preparation and brought his hand to cover his eyes just as the tendril reached them, but it bypassed him completely without a touch.
He spun and followed the mass of pulsating particles as it stopped dead still in front of Will, who didn't even flinch.
“Will,“ Mike's voice cracked with terror.
“It's okay,“ Will said with not an ounce of fear as the shadow monster hovered a half foot from his face, “It won't hurt me.“ Will assured him with a sliver of admiration in his tone as he examined the mass.
“Won't hurt you-“ There was that crack again, “It's a monster.“ It's the monster.
The particulars vibrated faster at Mike's words and he swallowed nervously as the buzzing increased. Did that thing just understand him? Did it get offended?
Will brought his hand up toward the shadowy tendril, his finger outstretched like this was E.T. or something, and Mike wanted to tackle him.
“It's not a monster.“ Will said with awe, and Mike couldn't do anything as the tip of Will's finger made contact with the hovering end of the tendril.
The black streaks on Will's skin started pulsating, and he watched in horror as they swirled beneath his skin and up over his face. The swirls and delicate patterns would be beautiful had it not been so frightening. The whites of Will's eyes turned black, and he dropped to his knees, writhing on the floor.
Mike leapt into action and fell beside him, hands hovering uncertainly over Will's convulsing body. He was so preoccupied he didn't care about the looming monster over them, the tendril of smoke having retreated once Will dropped.
Will suddenly stopped moving and Mike desperately felt over his chest for a heartbeat, “Will,“ He begged over the prone body, “Please-“ Don't die, not here, not now, don't leave me on my own, “Will.“
Mike felt something break inside him; his breath caught as Will's chest remained still under Mike's palm and he felt pressure behind his eyes.
Will's eyes snapped open, and Mike witnessed as the blackness faded away, and his chest rose with a deep inhale. Hazel eyes left to stare at Mike, and he was so thankful he didn't stop to consider the repercussions before burying his head in Will's chest.
“You're alive. You're okay.“ Mike felt a trembling hand patting his hair as Will comforted him.
“I'm okay.“ Will murmured, sounding like Will, and Mike shot his head up, narrowing his eyes, “What did it do, are you-“ Mike trailed off, unsure how to ask if his best friend was possessed... again.
“It showed me.“ Will said.
“Showed you.“ Mike pressed as he kept his hands clenching the front of Will's hand-me-down flannel shirt.
“Everything.“ Will breathed out, “It's not-“ Will looked over Mike's shoulder, and he dared to peek at the monster that seemed content to ignore them, “It's not what we think, Mike. It's not... bad.“ He finished with wonder.
He sounded as clear as the normal Will, but he was still talking nonsense, “Will, what are you- what did it do to you.“
Will almost smiled as he looked at Mike, “Nothing. It didn't do anything Mike, don't you get it. It's Vecna.“
“We know that.“ Mike said, failing to see how this was new information.
Will's nose twitched, “No, I mean- It's all Vecna. All of it. He uses and manipulates people to get what he wants.“
“Right,“ Mike agreed as he tried to comprehend Will's point, “What I've been saying this whole time.“ He muttered slyly under his breath.
“What if he didn't only use people; what if this world is as much a victim of him as ours is.“
Mike stared at Will incredulously, and he wanted to check him for a head wound when he hit the ground, or maybe Mike's rock-throwing did more damage than previously thought. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. The only idea he'd had.
“Are you trying to tell me; that thing-“ He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, “Is meant to be a good guy.“
“No,“ Will shook his head, “But that doesn't mean it's bad either. It just was and is, and Vecna found it and used it... like me.“
“Will, what are you-“
“It wants the same thing as us.“
“And you know this how.“
“It told me.“
“And we trust the shadowy monster now.“ Mike shrieked.
“Do you trust me? “
Mike spluttered, “That isn't the-“
“Do you trust me, Mike? “ Will held his gaze, and the whole miserable world could disappear, and Mike wouldn't notice as he stared at Wils hazel eyes. He didn't know what he'd do if they'd never come back.
“Of course,“ Mike whispered.
“Then let's go home.“ Will offered his bare hand to Mike, “Because we've got a war to win.“
Mike looked between his outstretched hand and confident grin, “Together.“ He said, needing confirmation.
“Together.“ Will's skin was as clear as his words.
So Mike extended his own and clasped their hands together.
If Will was possessed at least they would be on the right side of Hawkins to deal with it, which gave Mike the ability to keep a level head when Will nodded at the shadow-monster as they approached the pulsating gate.
He wasn't given much time to worry anyway as Will squeezed his hand, and Mike's palm slickened with nervous sweat. They still had a more personal chat to have when they got back, but for now, they jumped.
Together.