Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sirens were blaring, flames were spreading, Mike’s concussion made him unsteady. Everything was disorienting, his muscles aching as he pulled himself off the crumbling concrete. He looked around, cloudy orbs flooded his vision, and there was a searing pain in the back of his head.

Steadying himself on the thrown vehicle behind him, there wasn't a second to breathe, to situate himself further before doom was thrown at him, once again. The metal plated flooring before him shook and bent, before it was completely ripped through, the creature jumped out of the gate it had opened, and almost immediately set its sights on Mike. 

There wasn't anything he could do, no way out of the situation that presented itself in front of him. He had no weapon, nowhere to run; at this point though, would he even want to?

His mom and dad, both in critical condition; Holly, missing; Nancy, stuck in the upside down; Will, he wasn't sure what happened to Will…

The last thing Mike glimpsed before passing out was Vecna walking towards Will, no.. Pulling Will towards him. The Demogorgon's taking the kids… He didn't see anything after that. Now, he couldn't look past the Demogorgon to see if Will was alive, if Will was even still there, even if he wanted to, he was stuck. He was going to die, and all he could do was accept that.

So he did. He felt himself sucking in a breath, and holding his arms up in front of him, as if that would somehow save him from his imminent death. 

He felt the change in the air as the creature barreled at him, arm coming down to do him in as they did his parents. But, something was different… It was like someone paused the movie. There were no sharp claws in his chest, there was no gushing of blood or taking his last breath. There was no death. He’s not dead.

Why?

Of course he knew, there was a part of him that always knew. 

As he peeled his eyes open, the demo was hanging in the air, giving him a chance to see past, at last.

It was Will, of course it was. 

Mike’s arms dropped, watching Will from where he stood, there was a starstruck look on his face, one he couldn't seem to drop. 

He didn't want to, he was in awe. 

His Will saved him, he was about to die. But he’s not dead. He’s not dead because of Will.

When Will had caught the Demogorgon that was after Mike, his eyes rolled back, and he raised his arm, not that Mike saw that part. But, he did see the rest; Will’s other arm raising, his head falling back, and… the climax.

He pulled his arms back towards him, jerked his head down.

The Demogorgon in front of Mike snapped, each limb breaking one-by-one, until only the neck was left, the cracking sound was loud, and rang out against the sirens that still sung behind them.

Mike didn't pay it much attention. His attention was undivided, elsewhere. 

When the Demogorgon's body crashed to the ground, Will fell to his knees. 

That's around the time Mike’s world seemed to slow down; the pain in his head seemed to cease, just a bit; and he could seemingly, barely hear the sirens anymore. Will looked up at him, their eyes locked onto each other; he couldn't help but let his lips turn upward in a small smile, couldn't help the swelling feeling in his chest.

Will wiped the blood from his nose, their eye contact still held. It felt like it went on forever, before the sirens faded in, his head ached, and he watched as his savior crumpled to the ground, head hitting the floor.

Mike's expression dropped into one of worry, immediately stumbling forward to get to him. 

“Will!” He yelled, tripping over rubble, blood, and bodies. He didn't have time to think about that, though.

Eventually, with error in his steps, he dropped to his knees next to him, immediately grabbing his shoulders, and situating Will so his upper-half is almost in Mike’s lap. One arm was around his shoulders, and the other was resting on his chest.

“Will! Jesus- are you okay? Let me help you- what-” Will was looking downright delirious, exhausted, drained- all of it.

Mike was freaking out, admittedly. Will felt really cold, and, well he looked like shit. 

Like shit as in he actually looks really-really good, Like breathtakingly so, but-

He can't think about that right now.

Will’s face contorted in a way that Mike downright could not read, before blinking up at him slowly, “..mike?”

Mike let out a heavy exhale in relief, “Yes! Good, you’re here, you’re awake”

Will’s hand found Mike's wrist, the one attached to the hand resting on his chest, “You’re not…” 

Dead?

“Are you.. Okay?”

Will’s voice was weak, he looked like he was about to pass out.. Mike let out a small, rough snort. “Me? Yes, you saved me, Will. You”

As if on que, Joyce rushed over, freaking out, and basically stealing Will out of his grasp.

If he’s honest, he kind of forgot she was here.

“We gotta go.” She stressed, talking frantically about something he wasn't quite listening to.

He was more focused on the loss of Will in his arms. 

He was still kneeling there, while Joyce struggled to haul Will up herself.

“...ike”

“Mike”

“Mike!”

His head snapped up, meeting Joyce’s impatient expression with his lost one.

She softened, just a beat. “Mike, honey. We gotta go. Help me with Will- Take my walkie and contact Lucas.”

Mike shoved his spiral down into the recesses of his brain, and nodded, stumbling out of his kneeled position and over to Joyce, taking the walkie that was hanging out of her bag and turning it on, before moving to the other side of Will, and pulling wills arm over his shoulder.

“Lucas.. Lucas, do you copy, over.”

“There’s a tunnel in the RadioShack, right?” Joyce asked from beside him, she sounded desperate.

All Mike could listen to was the crackle of the walkie, and the absence of Lucas’ voice.

“Mike” She cried, and he swore he could hear his mothers voice in her tone.

He looked over at her, stared for a moment, then nodded. That was all she needed, as she started walking, forcing Mike to move in-tandem, so that Will wouldn't fall.

They basically had to drag Will into the building, his legs were no longer cooperating, instead they were sort of just dragging against the ground. It was impressive, and a little surprising that the two holding him could do it, considering both of them were flung against walls, only a little bit prior, but they managed.

Mike was currently holding Will up as best he could, as Joyce tried to get the entrance opened.

He was also abusing his walkie, trying to contact his friends, but all he was met with was silence.

“M’ sorry”

It was barely a whisper, but Mike heard it, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion

For what? 

As if Will could read his mind, “shouldnt..have to carry..me-”

Before he could come up with an answer, Will's head fell on his shoulder, and he slumped, almost taking them both down to the floor. He was for sure passed out now.

Eventually, Joyce got the tunnel open, and they maneuvered will into the tunnel, Joyce went in first, catching him as Mike lowered him down, then Mike went last, closing the opening behind him.

They walked through the tunnels, leaving the chaos and the noise of their former town square turned military base behind. His head was still hurting, and this physical exertion could not be good for it.

While they were trying to figure out where to go, and how to communicate with the rest of the party, they ran into a disoriented, bleeding, clutching his chest Lucas. Mike almost cried with relief.

Lucas had tried to talk about his near death experience, and how his life had been miraculously saved, when Joyce, promptly, cut him off. 

“Lucas, sweetie, I'm sorry but we really should talk about all of that later- we need to figure out where the others are- we haven't gotten in contact with anyone yet-we need to get you guys fixed up- your bleeding!-”

And then she started rambling, fussing like a mom would, about him, about Will, before Lucas proceeded to cut her off.

Mike could only watch, and listen. But he was mostly focused on Will's head, leaning into his neck again.

“I was able to talk to Erica on the walkie, she said she was going to try to reach Robin and the others, we were thinking of meeting at the radio station”

Mike decided to speak up, “Have you talked to her since?”

Lucas bit his lip, and shook his head, looking a bit more defeated than he already did, which definitely said something..

“I’m sure she’ll meet us there, they all will.” Mike tried for a smile, but it didn't really land; in the room, or on his face.

“We’ll go there, Will- he’s not doing good- we need to get him somewhere else. Are you gonna be okay?” Joyce cut in, directing her question at Lucas.

“Yeah, Ms. Byers, ill be okay”

—---------------------------

It had been 5 hours since they had gotten back to the station. No military personnel had shown up on their doorstep, yet. They figured most of the government got taken out back in the town square, but all of them knew that they would be hunting the party now, especially because some of them were officially arrested this time. 

They would be arrested again, probably, if they even had more people to send to the hellhole Hawkins has become.

Who knows? Everything is uncertain now. Half the party in the upside down, half of the party in the rightside up, family missing, maybe dead.

They would probably need to go into hiding soon, but now, they were just struggling to get their bearings.

Joyce was sitting at the table, patching up Lucas’ chest, Erica was looking through tapes while arguing with a very hurt Murray, who was also sitting at the table, waiting for his turn with their new nurse.

Robin was off doing something, Mike wasn't sure he cared what.

Mike was sitting on the couch next to Will, who was taking up the rest of it, still passed out. His head was in his hands, squeezing slightly, trying to rid himself of his headache. There were a lot of things he was feeling right now.

Pain, physical pain- mental pain, emotionless, but also like his emotions are swallowing him whole. Like he’s wading through molasses. He doesn't know what to do, or how to feel.

He wants to save his family, his sisters, make his mom’s pain go away, he wants Will to be okay, he wants him to wake up.

He really needs him to wake up.

He needs him to wake up so that he can thank him for saving him, so he can make sure Will’s okay, so that they can talk and he can tell him how he fee-

Nope, what is he even thinking? He feels the same way about Lucas as he does about Will, right? Nope. Not even close, not even a little bit platonically like it should be, like it's supposed to be.

“Mike?”

That startled him. He actually jumped a bit, his head snapped up, faced with Robin. She looked at him, brows furrowing

“Woah, man it's okay it's just me,” She held out a bottle of ibuprofen, and sat down on the coffee table as he took the bottle from her.

He grunted out a ‘thanks,’ while fiddling with the bottle, popping it open and shaking a few pills out.

She took the bottle back and gave him the water she was holding in the other hand.

“You doing okay?”

His response to that was a raise of his brow, and the gulping down of his pills.

She chuckled nervously, “right, nothing's okay right now…” She trailed off, looking at Will’s unconscious form.

“Pretty cool that little Byers has powers now… Saved my ass” She looked back at him, “all of our asses”

Robin watched in real time, as Mike's expression softened. “He’s always been cool” he remarked, looking down at the body next to him. “It was pretty badass though… I will admit”

She smiled at him, and looked at him with almost a pitying expression, maybe a reading one?

A knowing one?

“He’ll be okay, I'm sure he’s just exhausted. Unlocking psychic powers must take a lot out of a person”

Mike made a non-committal noise in response. Robin got up and started to walk away, when he spoke up,

“Are you guys- like friends?”

She turned back around to face him, a confused look on her face. “Yeah, we are?”

Mike’s a little nervous, not really looking at her, finding his fidgeting hands more interesting. Quite frankly, he doesn't really know why he’s even asking.

“Oh”

“When did that happen?”

She shrugged, then smirked, “When I kidnapped him,” then walked away.

—---------------------------------

7 hours after they got back to the station,

Mike was slumped in his cushion on the couch, head leaning against his chest in the most uncomfortable sleeping position ever, it was his fault really, everyone chose their spots on the floor, with various sleeping bags and random cushions they kept around just in case. He had chosen to stay on the couch, waiting for Will to wake up, instead, he fell asleep.

The cushion dipped beside him, then a clatter.

He woke with a start, his sleep was not heavy, despite how exhausted he was. Probably due to his uncomfortable position. His eyes opened, to find Will half on the couch and half on the floor.

“...Will?”

Will’s hand gripped his knee, “Sorry- falling”

He rubbed his eyes, leaning forward, “you okay? Let me help you up” he whispered.

Mike grabbed the hand on his knee, and with his other arm, grabbed Will’s other elbow, shifting so he can help him sit back on the couch. He ended up sitting next to him, like right next to him.

“Don't overexert yourself… even more”

His hand was still on Will’s elbow, 

Will just looked at him tiredly, "I'm okay, Mike, just tired”

“How long was I out?”

Mike looked down to his watch, briefly disappointed, “Water messed mine up,” His hand slid from Will’s elbow, and gripped his wrist, bringing it towards him and looking at his watch. 

“About… 7ish.. Hours?”

Will gulped, looking between their hands, and the clock on the far wall, ticking, and displaying the correct time. 

Mike caught his eye, seeing the clock on the other wall. He knew it was there, he guessed.. Maybe he just preferred Will’s watch, or- holding Will’s wrist-

Nope. Stop. Obviously not that.

His grip released, and Will took his arm back, a beat passed, with them looking at each other, before Mike looked away, clearing his throat.

“Will… I- thank you…for turning off the movie, for saving me, I thought I was gonna die- but… that was amazing.” He looked back up, their eyes met. “You’re amazing.”

Will’s face melted into a small smile, but he looked unsure, so very unsure, “You weren't.. Afraid- of me? I mean- like you said I’m like Vecna- I-... became like Vecna”

Mike was confused. 

How could he ever be scared of Will? With El, sure, there were times, where (he can only admit this now) he had been scared of her, like downright afraid. But he knew, he knew that whatever will could do, what will has done, he has and will never be scared. 

Even when he was a Spy, when he killed all of those soldiers and even almost got him killed.

It's will, his party member, Will the wise, his wizard…his sorcerer

His best friend, (maybe a little bit more than that)

“Thats not what I-” 

“I could never be scared of you, Will,” He smiled, “Besides, that was the coolest fucking thing I have ever seen”

Will’s unsure expression fell away, just a little bit, he let out a rough laugh, “really? Remember el?”

Mike had to be honest, he didn't, he wasn't trying to think of her right now. 

He shook his head.

“You should’ve seen yourself!”

Will smiles sadly, before speaking softly, "I'm glad everyone is okay”

 Mike nods, feeling a bit embarrassed of his overly giddy stature. 

“I'm glad you’re okay” He adds, and Mike feels his heart squeeze in his chest.

Chapter Text

Mike ended up sleeping on the ground for the rest of the night, while Will slept soundly on the couch. After their conversation a few hours prior, Mike got Will some water, before they both decided it would be best to go back to bed.

It was around 10 A.M when Will woke back up, his body ached and his soul felt torn apart and glued back together. A lot of things happened yesterday, a lot of things he hasn't had time to process.

His mind didn't stop running when his body shut down. He was stuck in a dream, no. A nightmare for 7 hours. Apparently unlocking powers also means unlocking memories, memories he blocked out for a reason; things he knew were there, but couldn't think too hard about because it would become fuzzy, or he would get an aching feeling in his heart that made him feel like he was dying.

Sometimes he would get flashbacks-visions, caught in his head, flashes of things he had gone through in the upside down, but it was never enough to put the whole picture together. Pieces of his puzzle had been missing since coming back to life and waking up, no longer in hell, surrounded by his family and friends.

“PTSD” the doctor had called it, one way of looking at it, the scientific, reasonable way. 

It’s not like he was wrong, that was a part of it, but part of the problem was that he was still connected to it.

He was grateful he was able to save his friends, save Mike. But, part of him didn't want the picture anymore. After those 7 hours of reliving the upside down, he wasn't sure he wanted the responsibility of his new powers, or the memories that came with it. They just kept replaying in his brain.

Another part of him, though…

For the first time, maybe ever, he isn't ashamed to be who he is, he’s accepted it, in fact.

He’s not the victim anymore, he can control the thing he’s always been afraid of.

He could live with the memories; he already knew, (in a sense) what had happened to him anyways, he had always known what happened, he just couldn't accept it.

He’s not Vecna, Love unlocked what potential he had, not hate, or murder.

His love for his family, friends, for Mike.

He was okay with that, and for once he didn't feel bad about it,

Mike seemed like he was okay with it too, he wasn't scared

Maybe not okay with the in-love part, but at least the love part

And that was enough.

Will pulled himself from his thoughts, he got up slowly, vertigo taking over slightly. He stood for a minute until he felt more grounded, and stumbled off to the bathroom, careful not to step on Mike, who slept closer to the couch than Will had realised. 

Once he crossed the threshold of the bathroom, he closed the door behind him and tumbled down to the toilet, gagging before he got to the brim.

Dry heaving would be the right word for what is happening.

His stomach was churning, and if he was honest, he felt like shit.

He kept trying, and failing to throw up, vaguely remembering he hadn't really eaten anything in the last 24 hours.

After a while, he gave up, flushing the toilet and forcing himself up, no matter how glued to the floor he felt. His body felt like an hour glass, his head weighed down with sand, but the sand is slowly dropping all the way down to his legs, making his feet feel heavy, too.

Looking in the mirror, he could see that the way he felt was definitely reflected in the way he looked. 

He looked like shit, and he felt like shit. Great..

After splashing some water on his face, and drinking a bit of it out of his hand, he took a deep breath, and steadied himself as best he could, before opening the door and leaving the bathroom.

He was immediately met with his mom, a part of him was grateful, another part was filled with dread.

He was all sorts of torn today, wasn't he?

“Will! Good morning honey, you’re awake. Thank god. Are you okay?” She put her hands on his face, looking it over. “You look terrible”

“Mom,” he whined, trying to take her hands away, "I'm okay, Im fine..” He tried to step away, only to stumble, and be caught by her. 

“You are not”

He looked at her, skeptically, before sighing, “I.. don't feel the greatest?” He supplied, relenting and giving her what she wants.

Joyce led him to the table and sat him down, she sat down next to him. 

“There isn't much here, we have a couple of emergency snacks, but there is no real food or supplies. We should go to Hops cabin soon, anyways.”

“Because of the Military?”

She nodded, “And to get you boys, and everyone settled. I was going to swing by the Wheelers to grab some stuff for us, Lucas volunteered to come with so he could check on his family.”

“I see”

“I want to give you space, so I’m not hounding you or messing with your processing, but I do hope you’ll talk to me about what happened?”

Will swallowed, he didn't have a response

She just looked at him, her expression soft and caring, “are you hungry? We have… beef jerky?”

Will felt a new flare of nausea at even the mention of it. He shook his head, hands clutching lightly at the front of his shirt. 

She put her hand on his arm, “Can I get you anything before I go? I don't want to leave you.. But Murray can't drive, he broke his arm, and Robin doesn't even know how to drive!”

He smiled lightly, as best he could considering how he was feeling, “It's okay mom, I'm good. I don't need anything.”

Soon after that, she left with Lucas. Will was alone at the moment, well, not completely. Mike was passed out a little ways away. 

He wasn't sure where Murray, Erika, or Robin were, but he didn't mind. He was still thinking, and wallowing in a sickness that was all body aches, delirium, and a trip through his painful past. He was just grateful the sniffles didn't come with it. 

With all the bad he’s been thinking about, there's a sliver of something good, something in the form of Mike’s face, looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite place.

He had just snapped the Demogorgon like a twig, wrangled the creature up in front of Mike, he thought when he looked at Mike he would be scared of him, disgusted, or maybe he would think he was possessed again,

But he didn't.

He said he was the ‘coolest thing he’d ever seen’

He looked at him with what Will was pretty sure was love, adoration maybe.

Or, maybe it’s just because he’s like El now, maybe that’s why he liked it, Mike always had a habit of putting superheroes on a pedestal

What is he even thinking about, Mike just thought his powers were cool, there was no love in his eyes, and, as far as he knows, Mike is still El’s boyfriend.

El, his sister.

Content, he is content, that is what he told himself, and it is true, but he still slips sometimes.

The stairs creak, and his attention is brought back to the real world, looking up, Will finds Robin staring at him.

“Hey” he croaks out, throat feeling increasingly dry, as his internal panic dragged on.

Robin walked down the rest of the stairs, walking at a relatively fast pace, before pulling Will into a hug.

“Thanks for saving my ass back there, I owe you one, bowlcut”

A rough laugh escaped him, hugging her back. “Please don’t let that become a regular nickname”

She pulls back, sitting in the seat his mom had abandoned earlier. “No promises, how are you feeling?”

He groaned, putting his head in his hand, “Everyone keeps asking me that”

She didn't respond, choosing instead to look at him with her eyebrow raised, Really? Written on her face. 

He crumbles, “Like shit, if im honest”

“Makes sense, everything keeps piling on top of everything else.”

Will nods, not having the words to respond to that.

“So..” She starts, dragging it out.

“So?”

She lowered her voice, and looked over to where the couch was, “Have you talked to Mike at all?”

“Um, a little, last night when I woke up, why?”

She shrugs, a small grin on her face, “He was freaking out last night, was very worried, I just wanted to make sure you let him know you were awake, and okay”

He exhaled sharply, catching onto her teasing cupid-like tone. “I can not do this right now. Maybe later.”

“Okay.. okay” She held her hands up in surrender, getting up from her chair, before leaning close to him, “Just saying, he seemed kind of jealous that we’re hanging out” She cracked a smile, “Does he realize im way older than you and not your type?”

Will swallowed, looking in the direction of the couch, “He can be kind of dense sometimes”

He didn't mean to say that, didn't even mean to think it, really, Mike would NOT be jealous of him and robin either way, platonically or romantically.

Robin looked at him, and he caught the meaning behind her glare, then she looked away and walked back upstairs, to return to whatever she was doing.

After a moment of contemplating, Will decided to walk over to the couch, he stood there for a bit, looking down at Mike. He looked good when he slept, peaceful, handsome.

Crouching down, he brought a hand to Mike’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Mike”

Mike groaned slightly, stirring, before opening his eyes, and meeting Will’s.

“Hmm?”

“We’re leaving for the cabin soon, my mom went to our house to grab some stuff, you should probably get up, it's 11” Will internally winced when he said ‘our’ instead of ‘your’ but Mike didn't seem put off, he actually seemed like he smiled slightly.

He nodded, sitting up, Will was still crouching, so they were rather close.

“Damn.. it's 11? They let me sleep that long?”

Will nodded, “I think everyone needed rest after yesterday.”

Mike made a humming sound, “Speaking of, are you feeling any better?”

There was a slight annoyance that flared in Will’s chest, but it melted, when he registered the soft tone in voice, and the worried look in his eyes.

Will sighed and sat next to him on the floor, “A little, just been thinking a lot, how are you? Yesterday must’ve been hard, with everything else you’re already dealing with.”

Mike shrugged, looking at the floor, seemingly thinking for a bit, before he asked, “about?”

Mike looked back up at Will after a moment of him not answering, reading his confused expression, he clarified. “What have you been thinking about?”

“Oh..”

“Vecna, the upside down, all of it- When I unlocked my powers, it was like unlocking every part of myself. Helped me see myself for who I am, helped me see memories I had suppressed”

He took a deep breath. “A little ironic considering I had to use the happiest memories I had just to unlock the ability to do all that, but, when I passed out I was just reliving all the things I deliberately forgot, I saw myself, I was myself living and running and fighting for my life. Everything just kept going and replaying, I felt like I was stuck…. I just can't stop thinking about it.”

Mike wasn't sure how to reply to that, Will could tell, it wasn't like he could say anything that could take the sorrow away, anyways.

Just as he was about to come up with something Murray burst down the stairs, “Children! Children” he just about yelled’, “Sorry to interrupt your lovers' bonding time, but it's time to go.”

Chapter Text

“Jesus Mike, there’s blood in your hair”

They were standing in the kitchen of Hop’s cabin, eating Eggos and whatever other scraps Joyce had found and prepared. Will had barely picked at his plate, still not feeling it after earlier. The others were in the living room, discussing plans for how to contact the upside down, and how to sneak Max out of the hospital.

Both Will and Mike were a bit out of commission for the time being, Will’s exhausted, and Mike has a concussion, and is apparently bleeding, or has been. (Its all congealed and matted in his curls)

Will wasn’t sure how he hadn't noticed that before, maybe it was the dark lighting, or the delirium. But, he certainly was looking at it now. He stepped closer, more to the side so he could see the back of Mike’s head.

Mike continued eating, unbothered. “It’s probably from,-” he swallowed, “When I got thrown against the wall… or was it the floor?- I'm a little unclear on the details”

“How’s your head? Y’know you're not supposed to sleep right after being concussed, right?”

He shrugs, “I was tired,” Mike turned to face Will, smiling softly, “What do you know about concussions, got a degree I don't know about?”

Will smiled back at him, “It’s possible, I'm full of surprises lately,  I guess”

They stared at each other for a beat, before Mike pushed on his chest lightly, almost in a flirty manner? 

“That you are,” he replied.

Mike nudged him back. He walked away at first, but he’s doing it now?

Will almost forgot what they were talking about. That sort of threw him off guard. He cleared his throat, looking away and at the others in the living room, “You never answered my question” 

Mike shoveled the last bit of his food off his plate and in his mouth, looking at him, and waiting for him to continue,

“How's your head? I think you should probably take the shower first, get the blood cleaned up so nothing gets infected.”

He finishes the food in his mouth, before deflecting. “You sure?”

Will nods, “I think I can manage another hour of grime,” before grabbing the bag on the counter next to him, and handing it to Mike.

He watched Mike hesitate, before he was heading off to the bathroom, and shutting himself in it. 

Will decided to go sit on the couch with everyone else, he caught the tail end of the plan to rescue Max from the hospital. Lucas and Robin had planned to go, seeing as they would be the least suspicious with everything that went down yesterday. They could go into the hospital undetected. The government wouldn't suspect anything because they hadn't actually been arrested like Will, his mom, and Mike had, and everyone that actually saw them had died during Vecna’s attack.

Their plan seemed to have a lot of holes in it, probably because it wasn't Mike or Nancy making it, but there was nothing they could really do, with what little time they had. 

The other matter, however, was unplanned, and undecided. There wasn't really a way, not one they could think of, at least, to contact the others in the upside down. Dustin’s whole communication set up was strapped to Steve’s beamer and driven into the very place it would’ve been helpful to reach. 

So, they’ve hit a wall, (just like Steve, but that's a fact they are currently unaware of)

Will felt a little scrambled, he wished he could help, he really did… But he’s not sure he can even form a coherent thought, let alone make a plan that could save the party and not get anyone killed in the process.

He felt useless, but he wasn't sure he would have anything to contribute if he spoke up. Instead, he thinks about showering, washing away all the grime, and sleep, he wants to sleep… Now was not that time.

He was halfway listening, halfway dissociating. It went on for a while, maybe hours? He didn't think so, but the party  was still lost, throwing around half-hearted ideas. He looked down at his watch,

Had it really only been half an hour?

“Will” a quiet voice snapped him out of it, he looked up to where the voice was coming from. 

His eyes traced Mike’s dark curls, dripping wet from his shower, a drop of water fell on his neck, and rolled down, darkening his shirt with the added moisture. Will closed his eyes, then snapped his gaze up to Mike's face. 

“Bathrooms all yours”

Right..

Will cleared his throat, nodding and getting up from his spot, he stopped next to Mike, “They seem a little lost over there, maybe you should go lead the party, help them make a plan”

Mike seemed a little flustered at that, but nodded, and this time he watched, as Will walked into the bathroom.

—-------------------

Will had been in the bathroom for a while.

So, when Will came out of the bathroom, Mike’s head snapped up, ready to talk to him about what they came up with. He really didn't want to throw this at him, especially because world-changing events happened not even 24 hours ago, but it was something they had to do, had to try.

Mike was worried, he didn't want Will to be in this position, didn't want him to go through anything else, but it was the only plausible thing the group could come up with, The only thread of connection they had with the upside down was Will, and his newfound powers meant he was probably the only form of communication as well.

Mike had basically fought Joyce for the spot of telling Will, he figured it would be better if it came from him, he did come up with most of the plan, after all. Just like Will told him too.

After a bit of pleading, she relented.

He got up from where he was sitting, a bit too quickly, if he’s honest. 

The searing in his head was not great today, in fact, after his shower, it felt kind of breezy back there.. 

The blood was probably acting as a scab, and his head was probably freshly bleeding again, but he didn’t pay attention to it, once again having more important things to do, and to talk about.

Walking over to where Will was lingering in the hall, he wasn't quite sure how to approach this conversation. 

“Hey…” “How was your shower?” he asked, an awkward tone making its way into his voice.

“It was.. Good. I feel less tired,” Will cleared his throat, “Did you guys figure out a plan?”

“Yeah, actually that's what I came to talk to you about,” He jerked his head to El’s room, “Can we?..” 

Will understood what he was saying, and nodded, walking over to the bedroom.

Mike walked with him, walking in the room and shutting the door behind them. Will was sat on El’s bed, Mike sat next to him

A weird feeling was thrumming in his chest, briefly, he thought about the amount of times he’s made out with El in this bed- 

How he was disgusted with every second of it…. How he’s never kissed Will before-

That's weird, this is her bed, that's technically her brother, CANNOT do that with him here, or think about that-

He shouldn't compare the two, he doesn't want to, because he knows there's nothing to compare, El could never compare, or compete with Will 

In any aspect.

“So… we came up with a plan, and as much as I’m against the idea, I also came up with it because I knew you’re capable… well of trying at least, we don't really know if this is one of your.. Abilities.. Yet”

Will sits there listening, nothing has changed in his demeanor, he doesn't seem uncomfortable, so Mike continues, “Since you're able to use Vecna’s abilities, we can assume you can do most of the things he can, right? Like go into the void….and find people?”

Will doesn't look taken aback, or shocked, more so like he expected this was coming, and he understood what Mike was asking, he looks down at his hands, “hypothetically… I don't know, Mike. I can try- but I used one ability, one time, things might not turn out like we’re expecting- I'm pretty sure I can control them, but there’s no way to know for sure.”

Mike shrugs, his hand finds Will’s shoulder, squeezing it in a comforting gesture, “If it works, then that would be great, if it doesn't, it doesn't, we’ll come up with another plan, we always do.”

Will nods, still looking rather nervous, Mike adds again, hoping to ease some tension, “the hospital is probably overrun with military casualties, it's probably best our plan for saving Max starts tomorrow or the day after, give them some time to ship them out of the quarantine zone, and give you some time to fully recuperate.”

“Okay, yeah.. That sounds.. Fine”

Mike lets out an exhale, "you're sure?”

“Of course, if I can do anything to help, I’ll do it. I just don’t want them in the upside down any longer…” Will sighs,

“Mike.. Can I ask you something?”

Will looks up at him, visibly contemplating something, 

Mike’s confusion is briefly visible, before he drops his hand, and drags it back toward him, “Uh okay.. Sure”

“Is your head still bleeding?.. Can I help you clean it up?”

Mike stifled a small laugh, “changing the subject now?” He looked back up at will, “I think it’s- my head’s fine- we should probably…”

Mike’s talking was cut off by Will leaning towards him, arm outstretched. They were already sitting next to each other, so they were already close, but then he went and moved closer.

Mike could feel the warmth creeping up his neck, his mind was momentarily delayed, not thinking about anything else besides Will closing the distance between them. 

He was leaning closer, why was he leaning closer?

Mike stiffened,  but was pulled out of his inner turmoil at the same time Will’s hand made contact with the back of his head. As soon as he felt a hand threading through his hair, his body felt like it melted, he was no longer stiff, more like leaning into the touch. Definitely on accident.

Will pulled his hand out of Mike’s hair, and held it in front of him, there was a smear of blood present on his palm. “Your head is… fine?” Will questioned, looking at him with a knowing look,

Mike only spared a glance toward the hand in front of him, choosing instead to keep his eyes on the man in front of him. He looked clean, more refreshed, and he looked really good.

That went on for a beat longer then he meant it to, Mike might’ve been staring, a little too much. He caught himself staring at Will’s lips, and he only really realized that after he flicked his gaze back up, and caught sight of the look Will was giving him. 

Confusion? Discomfort? Mike wasn't sure, so he averted his gaze, looking at the stain of blood that was between them.

He cleared his throat, “You should probably wash that off”

Will actually facepalmed, with his clean hand, or course. He stood up, looking a little exasperated. “I’m gonna go get the first-aid kit, we can continue talking about the plan later.” And he’s gone. Out of the bedroom, not even a second for Mike to reply and brush off his concern.

Mike didn't really understand the game of comfort they are playing right now, he can sense that there’s something happening, (Mike’s trying to comfort Will at the expense of himself, and Will’s trying to comfort Mike at the expense of himself too.) But, Mike’s a little too dense to figure out what it all means.

He’s a bit burnt out from thinking and planning non-stop, he kind of wishes he could just turn his brain off, and let it cool down for a bit, but that's not really possible. So, he’ll sit there and suffer, and try not to think about how hurt and spread out his family is, and he’ll also try not to think of all the confusing feelings he’s experiencing, especially when those feelings revolve around Will.

After a few minutes, Will came back into the room with the kit and sat back down on the bed, “So, can I help with this or are you going to be stubborn like always?”

Mike just kind of grunted and nodded, turning so he was more facing the wall then Will.

He could feel Will move closer, hovering at his back. He could feel the compress on his head. It stung.

He let out a wince, to which his ‘nurse’ replied with a small, “sorry.” 

“I don’t want to cut your hair.. So I might have to wrap the bandage.. Like around your head”

Mike groaned, letting his head fall in his hand for a moment, disrupting Will’s work. Snorting, he said “Do you want me to look like an idiot?”

Will raised a brow Mike couldn't see, “Better that than bleeding out”

Mike just turned his head and looked up at him, and an unimpressed look on his face. 

“You’re gonna look just fine,” was Will’s response to that, before he took his hands and turned Mike’s head back around.

After putting pressure on the wound and stopping the bleeding for the most part, which did not feel good at all, Will got some antiseptic ready.

“I have to disinfect it before I bandage it, it’s gonna hurt, probably a lot”

“Okay”

Will patted the wound very slightly, Mike flinched away from him in pain, and snapping his head around to face him, “Jesus! Warn a guy.” Will's hands fell to his lap.

It was Will’s turn to look at him, unimpressed. Mike watched as his face softened after, “..sorry, are you good?”

Mike took a deep breath, “yeah, it's fine, sorry..” He turned back around, biting his lip, before blurting out, “can you.. Like I don't know distract me”

“Distract you?” Will questioned. 

Mike hummed, “like talk?.... Maybe, I don't know- it probably wont help anyways”

Will contemplated for a beat, “what do you want me to talk about?”

Mike fixated his gaze on a spot on the wall, “earlier you were saying you used memories to unlock.. Your abilities.. I was uh- wondering…”

Will brought his hands back up to Mike's head, catching him where he trailed off, “What those memories were?” he asks.

Mike nods, he’s nervous. This is probably something he shouldn't be asking, and doesn't have the right to.

Will resumed cleaning Mike's wound, he winced, “Lately I've been feeling more accepting of myself, and I've been able to handle myself more against…”

He scoffed out a laugh, “Steve would call it ‘my goosies’ or whatever” 

“But, Vecna showed up, and basically tried to ruin all of that, concluding it with a ‘I don't belong in this world, but with him’ then sent creatures to kill the people I love”

People he loves?

“I didn't know what to do, I looked up and you were about to die… and I needed to stop it, so I stopped it”

Will brought his hands down for a moment, getting the bandages ready. Mike stayed still, listening.

“I had the ability, I just needed to figure out how to use it, and I think it started with accepting it..”

He was wrapping Mike’s head with the gauze now, not that Mike was paying attention to that anymore. He was focused on Will’s words

 “I started thinking about things.. It almost felt sort of cinematic, I guess? I was thinking of a time when I wasn't afraid… My childhood, the last time I was actually myself, like before the upside down, and the Mindflayer.” 

“I thought about my mom, and Jonathan..”

Will was almost finished with his head now, sticking the last parts of the gauze together.

“I thought about meeting you, on the swings.”

“All of it made me realize I just needed to stop being scared, and it sounds corny, but I needed to finally be who I actually am, upside down baggage and all”

He finished wrapping Mike’s head, and put a little distance between them.

Mike turned back around, his face was sort of scrunching in the middle, processing this newfound information. Mike stared at Will, watching as he broke eye contact and tried to look anywhere but at him.

He thought about us, and it helped him?

Mike’s face broke into a small smile, "that's really cool, It sounds kind of like DnD, like you were ‘realizing your full potential’” he looked away, a shy feeling settling into his gut. He lets out a sigh, before adding, more quietly, “I think that’s still probably, like my favorite day”

He looks back up at will, whose face holds a small smile. “Me too.”

Chapter Text

 Running, there was a lot of running involved; hiding too, but that didn't last long, every relief he found, was ripped from him.  Fear and exhaustion seeped deep in his bones, in the depths of his soul. All he wanted to do was go home, but he was trapped. He’d been trapped,

How long has it been, now?

Hours? Days? Weeks?

It felt like years, his dread dragged on. 

It felt like years, they seemed to be passing him by, now.

 quicker than he’s ever experienced. His soul aged, infected with a thousand years, a thousand stolen lifetimes, a thousand particles. Particles that were like smoke, particles that conquered everything he’s ever been, particles that unlocked a part of him he was unaware he even had.

His soul aged, but his body stayed the same. He was still that frail twelve year old boy, imprisoned in a hell with no return. No return to the boy he was before, no return to the real-life he had only experienced for a little over a decade. 

There wasn't anything more he wanted than that, it was the only thing he truly wished for.

He wanted to go home.

Will blinked and straightened himself on the couch, trying to keep himself awake. 

Trying, and failing. His head fell back into his hand, eyes closed.

So he did.

When he opened his eyes again, Hawkins had materialized around him, surrounded in darkness, in vines. It was his home, but it wasn't, there was something sinister about it, things  were different; the whole place felt upside-down.

“You okay, man?”

An arm nudged him, interrupting whatever it was he just saw (was thinking about, dreaming about, maybe?). Will slowly peeled his eyes open, sliding his hand down his face, looking over at Lucas, apparently.

He tried to recall what was going on, where he was. 

There was still talking going on around him.

All he was focused on was the shiver in his spine, the cold,

How very cold he was when he was down there, how he could still feel it, now at this moment. It settled into him, taking over his whole being

He was sitting on the couch, why? What were they talking about again?

Will forced himself to nod, almost forgetting Lucas even said anything.

They were talking about the plan to contact El, Will thinks, anyways. Looking around he could see everyone, sitting around him: his mom, Murray, Robin, Erika, Lucas, and Mike. They all seemed to be looking at him, now.

Why were they all staring so hard?

“Will, honey? Are you okay with that?”

He gulped, looking at Joyce, who was waiting for his reply, “what?” he let out, confusion etched in his features, he felt very out of place.

She looked back at him with concern, “Since we’re not sure if you can utilize radio communication with your abilities like El, we figure finding the others from the void is our best option… We were talking about having you use the tank”

 Right.. The plan, his powers-

He has abilities, like Vecna… they come from Vecna-

… only from Vecna?

He wished he could save Mike, and the others, and he made it happen, obviously.

He wished he could go home,

 and 

he made it happen..?

That was before Vecna got to him, wasn't it?

What?

Will realized he was still looking at his mom, he pulled his head down, settling his gaze on the floor instead. He thought about the present, he needed to be in the present.

Finally thinking about her words, he sat there for a beat longer, (the group had been waiting on his reply for almost 4 minutes)

“That’s fine, I can do that.. Or, I’ll try, at least,” came his response, finally.

He tuned the rest out, probably; nodding and replying shortly only when it was required of him. His body, and mind were put on autopilot. He was too focused on the couch he was sitting on, how it felt like he was sinking into it. He felt so dragged down, almost convincing himself he was being taken straight to hell, and honestly? He couldn't find it in him to fight it, not at the moment, at least.

A couple of hours ago, he had felt a little better after his shower and conversation with Mike, but now, he felt awful, maybe even worse than when he woke up dry heaving. 

At first, he was worrying about the typical stuff, like how he might’ve overshared in the bedroom earlier, or touched Mike a little too much, but then it snowballed into full on hyperventilating fear of what’s to come, and of what had already happened. (In the world, not their relationship).

Well, maybe-

But, now, he was thinking of the memory that made itself present in his brain, he wasn't sure what it meant, what to do with that information.

 It didn't help that he was still sitting here, listening to the things that could go wrong with their new plans; 

while all he could think about were all the things that had already gone wrong with the plan they had in the first place.

He wondered if he should tell the group what he’s been thinking about, (or, remembering), he knew he should’ve talked to the party about Vecna and the demogorgons by now, but he was apprehensive. Wasn't sure how to put it into words, what he was feeling, all the things he saw.

Will had talked to Mike a little bit, told him a couple things, but couldn't get himself to tell him everything, didn't give Mike the whole picture, he didn't know if he could without outing himself and his feelings.

There were a lot of things he would have to figure out before talking about it all to outside audiences. 

He could feel the couch dip on his other side. His mom had sat down next to him, 

“Will, honey, what's wrong?”

—---------------------------------

There was a lot on Lucas’ mind recently, he’s sure that was the case for everyone, though. They’ve failed a lot of times, and the failure of their latest plan was a pretty big one. 

They lost the kids, everyone was scattered, things happened, and Will had powers now.

Will Byers, his childhood best friend, had powers. That would be a shock to anyone, but it was especially shocking to someone who had known him from before he went missing.

Max was still in the hospital, and Lucas felt helpless, he couldn't get to her, yet. Not until they contacted the others in the upside down. Which, at this point they weren't sure they could even do. 

Selfishly, he wished Will would be able to pull through again, just like he did when he saved him from that demogorgon. But, looking at him now, he didn't look good, he hadn't looked okay since before they left for the MAC-Z, which was another thing Lucas couldn't do anything about. 

When they had gotten back to the radio station from the military zone, Lucas, distraught and bleeding, had to help Mike and Joyce haul an unconscious Will out of the tunnels and all the way up that hill. 

They weren't sure if anyone was alive, didn't know if his sister was still alive, didn't know if Will was going to wake up. It had freaked him out, a lot. 

They were at the station for almost an hour before Erika showed up, she informed them that she was in contact with Robin briefly, and Joyce left to go get them.

They didn't talk about what happened with the Demogorgon's until Robin and Murray were back. Lucas hadn't really understood what Mike had told him, and he’s honestly still unsure, but that’s besides the point.

The whole group gathered around, Will was passed out on the couch beside them. 

“So, can we talk about it now?” Lucas questioned. 

Robin nodded, “I would also like to do that, I mean-”

“You guys should’ve seen it,” Mike interrupted, sitting across from Lucas, elbows on his knees.

Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to explain.

“Vecna came out of the upside down. He was here, in Hawkins. He killed all of those soldiers- he fucking resurrected the Demogorgons… Before I passed out, I could see him pulling Will towards him, talking to him”

“Talking to him?” Murray questioned. Mike nodded.

Joyce looked horrified, like it was a fact she was unaware of.

“Did you hear what he said?” Lucas spoke up.

Mike shook his head, “Next thing I knew, I was awake, getting up, or trying to at least. Then a demo opened a gate- and was heading towards me- I was about to die-”

He paused, looking over at Will’s unconscious body. “But it froze, and when I looked past it, I saw Will, with his arm stretched out.”

Mike looked back toward the group, “He did the same to the other arm, and threw his head back, and when he brought it all back toward him, it snapped”

“You guys should’ve seen it,” he repeated, “It was fucking awesome”

—-------------------------

When Mike had walked out of the bedroom with Will, Joyce pulled him aside.

Her grip was light when pulling him into the kitchen. He could tell she was about to start rambling, when she finally looked at him, registering the bandages on his head.

“Mike.. what happened to your head? Does it hurt? Why didn't you tell me while I was fixing everyone else up?”

“I- uh” he was a little caught off guard, embarrassed, maybe. “I knew I had a concussion, I hit my head- but I didn't know it was.. Bleeding”  clearing his throat, he tried to scratch the back of his head out of habit, but failed due to the bandages. “You wanted to talk about Will?” 

She let out a sigh, “yeah, did he seem okay with the plan? I'm worried about him- he won't talk to me.”

Mike looked in her son's direction, he had gone back to the living room, to talk to Robin, it seemed.

“I’m worried about him too, Ms. Byers… But, he seemed okay with it,” he looks back over at her and smiles softly, “he’ll be okay, better than okay.  He’s one of the strongest people I know. He doesn't think he can do it, but he will. I know he will.”

Joyce brought her hand up to his shoulder, and squeezed it gently. Her expression softened, “yeah..”

She turned to look at Will while continuing, “he’s lucky to have you, Mike”

Presently, Mike was sitting on Hopper’s chair, his leg wouldn't stop moving, laced with his anxiety. He kept stealing glances at Will, who was currently being hounded by his mother (on account of him being once again, visibly delirious.)

He wishes he could switch spots with Joyce, if he’s honest. 

Just so he could make sure Will is okay, obviously.

But he can't, he just gets to sit there and watch. That seems to be a running theme in his life, right now, and maybe always.

He was always benched, had to sit on the sidelines while the others fought monsters; had to sit and wait for others to find Will, while he sat there, unable to do anything but walk around the woods. 

What about El? He reminded himself. Waited for her for all that time… didn’t look for her when she went missing-

Really, he probably shouldn't be thinking about any of that, he should be thinking about Holly. He is thinking about Holly-

He’s been focused on only her, mostly. 

He needs to think about the present. He shouldn't be dwelling in the past.

Nancy, Jonathan, Dustin, Steve, Holly, Hopper, El, all stuck 

Will is not doing good 

God, he really needs some air.

Mike’s decision in that moment is final, he stands up; once again, he does so too fast for his injuries, so his head hurts a little extra. He’s a rather stubborn guy though, so he’s not going to let that get to him, (although, things seem to be getting to him a bit more lately).

He walks out of the cabin, sparing a glance at the group, they were not paying attention to him, something he was grateful for.

It’s around evening now, time moves dreadfully slow when the world around them is uncertain. However, some things are a little too quickly paced for his liking. The temperature is dropping, it's kind of cold out, he probably should’ve grabbed his jacket.

Mike lingered on the porch for a moment, before sitting down on the steps in front of him. 

He sat out there for a while, he isn't sure how long. His watch is broken.

Apparently, it had been long enough for Murray to make dinner.

“Mike?”

Oh god, Robin.

“What?”

Robin came over and sat next to him, he continued to deliberately avoid looking at her, instead, choosing the woods in front of him. He could smell the plate she had in her hand.

“You hungry? Murray made risotto… Not sure how he got the ingredients, but you know the man,” she paused, looking down at the plate, then nudging mike with her elbow “he’s resourceful”

Mike finally looked at her, grimacing slightly,

She wasn't put off, instead, she kept rambling,

She was kind of like Joyce in that way

“Murray keeps raving about it, calling it his ‘delicacy’ or whatever”

He shrugs, “I wouldn't say that, but it's not bad,” 

She smiled lightly, holding the plate towards him, “well good, all yours, you’re welcome”

He scoffs, before adding, “thanks”

Mike took the plate from her, and got a few bites down, before Robin spoke up, unabashedly looking at his bandaged head, “how was your nursing session with bowlcut byers?”

“Bowlcut byers, what kind of nickname is that?” he asked, stifling a small laugh.

She gives him a sly grin, “his new one, courtesy of me”

Mike raised a brow at her, “he’s gonna hate that, you know that right?”

She shrugs, "didn't seem too mad about it when I said it to his face.”

“So..?” she continued, trying to reiterate her question from before.

He thought about it for a second, making him a little flustered, so he took a bite of his food. Speaking with a mouthful, “It was fine,” swallowing, he continued, “why?”

“Both of you looked like you felt better after, at least from where I was standing.”

Chapter Text

Mike’s plate sat on the stair below him, empty. The spot besides him, the same. Robin had gone back inside shortly after their conversation. 

The door to the cabin opened behind him, Joyce, Erika, and Lucas stepped out; the two kids clambered down past him, while Joyce lingered, for just a second. “Mike, I'm heading out to drop these two off, we don't want the Sinclair's to think they’ve been kidnapped”

She paused, looking between him and the house, “Do you want to come with us? Get out of here for a bit?”

Mike looked up at her, contemplating for a moment,

he’s not sure he’s ready to be back in that neighborhood, to see his house-

Shaking his head, he replied, “I’m okay, Ms. Byers.. Thank you for the offer”

She reached down, there was a hand placed on his shoulder, squeezing gently, “alright then, Will is inside laying down. Keep an eye on him for me, will you?”

He smiled softly, “of course”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

And she was off, stepping down the stairs and getting in her car, reversing rather quickly, and driving off fast.

Crazy driver, that one

On cue, (everyone always on point, just like Joyce) the door opened behind him again. Mike began to wonder if they kept doing that just to bother him. 

“Hey”

That was, until he heard that voice, he turned around. “Fancy seeing you here, aren't you supposed to be sleeping?”

Will walks forward, preparing to sit down, he seems a little off balance though, almost tripping off the steps, before he steadied himself on Mike’s shoulder. He sat down next to Mike, letting go of him almost immediately. “Sorry”

Mike shrugged, looking over at Will, smirking slyly, “Just can’t keep your hands off me lately, can you?”

Will looked confused, a little shocked, 

A little red, maybe?

Will broke eye contact, looking down at his hands, “sorry”

Sorry? Why was Will sorry? He was only joking… flirting?

Nope, definitely not that.

Mike bumped him with his shoulder, deciding to change the subject before he gets more uncomfortable, “You looked.. Not okay earlier, are you… better now?”

Will shakes his head, bringing a palm up so he can rest in it. “My head’s a little clearer, but no, not at all,” he pauses. “I’ll be okay tomorrow, though. I’ll be ready”

Mike hums, “did you eat?”

“Murray’s risotto? Yeah, actually. Believe it or not, but I think there was actually more tension at the table this time, compared to the last time”

Mike looked at him with exaggerated surprise, “really? Even though there were no stoned teenagers there to aggravate Murray? No surprise skate attacks?”

No relationship problems?

Will took his head out of his hand, smiling softly, “I think what's happened to all of us these past few days might be worse than a rubber skate to the face.”

Talking with Will really does make him feel better, even when he’s going through a lot. He looks out to the sky. “You just might be right about that.”

They sat in silence for a couple minutes, before Mike decided to speak up, 

“so…. Bowlcut Byers?” he questioned,

Will groaned, “I told Robin not to call me that-”

Then, he started mumbling, rambling.

“Y’know I really didn't think she would go around telling people- like I know, the cut is NOT popular- I mean it's just a joke- like I don't really mind it, but telling- telling you? That's crazy…..”

Mike stopped listening, he was more focused on the small smile and flustered look that painted itself on Will’s face.

—--------------------

When he opened his eyes again, Hawkins had materialized around him, surrounded in darkness, in vines. It was his home, but it wasn't, there was something sinister about it, things  were different; the whole place felt upside-down.

The rifle he had taken from his house, his real house, was still in his hand.

Did the running and hiding come before or after Hawkins appeared?

Was it both?

All he knew for certain was he felt the infection earlier then that, the moment he disappeared, maybe?

Where was he before? He was in his shed, (he knew that part) Then he was taken, it was cold, there was nothing.

Was it the void?

It was nothing. Did he make it into something?

He started walking, there was an unearthly chittering sound echoing around him, and a storm reshaping to fit the world’s new form. There was a feeling pricking at the back of his neck. His fear would be apparent to anyone, it seeped out of him and into the air that surrounded him. He knew the creatures could smell it.

Creatures? He hadn't seen any creatures….

“Mike!”

“..mom!”

“Mike!?” he called into the darkness again, no reply.

He could hear a faint growling sound, now.

Now would probably be a good time to run, whatever was making that sound wanted him, he didn't know why. 

Will woke up, disoriented. He tends to do that a lot, now. Sitting up and looking around the room, he reoriented himself with the current situation he was in. Will had left the porch last night to go to Hopper’s room, where his mom joined him shortly after.

He looked down at her, sleeping soundly next to him. Checked his watch.

Robin, Mike, and Murray figured out their own sleeping arrangements, Will wasn't sure where they all ended up; he ended his night rather early.

7:30 A.M

He’s kind of surprised his mom’s not awake right now, not that he’s complaining. He rubbed his eyes before getting up, deciding to head to the bathroom, maybe brush his teeth, and splash some water on his face. 

He can only hope he doesn't spend that time puking instead.

Today was the day he had to get into the sensory deprivation tank, the concept didn't really make him all that nervous: get in, try to reach the void, try to reach El. What did make him nervous, was the possibility of failure that was looming over all of their heads. 

There was a small part of him that was also afraid, afraid that if he went into the void, he wouldn't find El, he would find Vecna. It was a fear of opening a connection that he couldn't control, that Vecna would find a way to take advantage of.

He just hoped the others thought of that, too. That if something were to happen to him again, if he were to become the puppet again, the spy; they could stop him, or kill him.

Maybe he should share his concerns, maybe he should tell Mike.

Will was in the bathroom now, the door slightly ajar. 

While he was getting ready to brush his teeth, Mike appeared in the doorway, Will could see him through the reflection of the mirror. 

Speak of the devil.

“Morning… you’re up early”

Mike cleared his throat, stepping inside the bathroom “Yeah, so are you”

“How did you sleep?” 

Will wasn't sure how to answer that, should he tell him the truth? Details?

Probably not.

“Fine.. I keep having weird dreams, though” He wet his toothbrush, and started brushing his teeth.

The taller teen started rifling through the bag of their belongings, the bag sat on the counter, its contents spilling out; very little of it had actually been in the bag before, but with Mike’s assistance, all of it was now spread out on the small bathroom counter. 

Mike finally found what he was looking for,

It was his toothbrush, apparently.

He started getting his own stuff ready, when he asked, “They’re not like Vecna dreams- right- like you're not cursed?”

Will spit, “No, not that I know of, at least- I think they’re actually… memories? Like when I was out for all those hours-”

He paused for a second, thinking, “I don't think that everything that replayed in my mind that night was everything I had forgotten, I think it was just a part of it, maybe only like a day?..... I'm not sure, things still feel kind of fragmented.” He put the toothbrush back in his mouth.

“Okay, well.. It's good that you’re not cursed, but do let me know if you feel off, or hear like.. Chiming.” Mike replied, then he started brushing his teeth, too.

—--------------------------------------

 It was around 8:00 when Murray woke up, sprawled out in Hopper’s chair. Immediately, he could sense a tension. And, he could hear talking.

“Will, you should really sit down, I can make you ………if you’re hungry-”

He couldn't hear them super well. It seemed like they were whispering, or maybe he was old.

“I’m just saying…… you should conserve your energy”

“It’s fine Mike, I need something to do with my hands- I'm getting really tired of just sitting around thinking things”

Oh? What did that mean?

Maybe he should go find out.

Murray got up from his chair, and walked to the kitchen. Abruptly, sliding into the chair next to Mike, before he even had the chance to say any words of disagreement. 

Mike looked at him, confused. Maybe disgusted.

Joyce’s kid had yet to notice, he was turned around, facing the pantry.

“What are you two lovebird’s talking about in here?”

—-------

Murray had caught him way off guard. He had been trying to get Will to sit down and rest, but he wasn't listening, when Murray decided to just show up. Mike didn't know he was even awake, didn't know why he felt the need to join their conversation

And definitely didn't know why he called them ‘lovebirds’

He knew he probably looked a little lost, he wasn't sure how to react to that, 

Wasn't sure how Murray saw that in them

Mike looked up at Will, who looked slightly taken aback, mostly nervous when their gaze met.

Mike’s eyebrows furrowed, confusion evident on his face again, he looked back at Murray, “Lovebirds?”

His question rang out for a moment, Will didn't say anything in response to Murray’s comment.

Murray looked between them, “Oh, a Lover’s Quarrel, maybe?”

Mike looked between the two people in the room again, this was a bit too much for his brain, why was Murray insinuating they were gay?

Why was Murray okay with them being gay with each other?

Not that there was anything wrong with being gay, but most of this town seems to think so.

He couldn’t think about this anymore,  

find a way to end this conversation.

He couldn't think about it, so he didn't; instead, he said the first thing that came to mind, (which was probably not a good plan) “we’re not even fighting right now-”

Why was Will looking at him with that confused expression?

Oh

Maybe he should’ve denied the fact they were lovers, that probably would’ve been the right, correct thing to do.

“Murray, how come I always catch you meddling in my children’s relationships?” Joyce’s voice rang out from somewhere behind him,

Thank god.

Well, actually- he wasn't sure if he liked the idea of her hearing that conversation.

Murray held his hands up in surrender, turning to face Joyce, “I wasn't meddling, I was simply stating what I found obvious.”

That's it, Mike needed to get the hell away from Murray. Like, far away. Mike got up from his chair, as quick as he could, before retreating away. Moving to stand next to Will at the counter, they stared at each other for a minute. 

Will started grabbing things he needed to make breakfast, handing some of them to Mike in the process. They sorted it out together.

—--------------------------

Will had made breakfast for everyone, even Robin, who woke up shortly after the food was ready. Now, they were pre-prepping things for his excursion to the void.

Joyce and Murray had left to go get the Sinclair's, Robin and Will were topping off the tank with more salt and water. Mike, he wasn't sure what Mike was doing.

Will was more focused on the impending doom he felt was arriving, the very real possibility of him falling under someone else’s control, the possibility of not finding any of the people he cares about; the possibility of him failing and being controlled.

He had kind of a far away expression going on, it was so evident on his face that Robin was flat out staring at it, he didn't notice, though.

“Will?”

He was currently holding a bag of salt, pouring it over the edge. “Hmm?”

“I know that everyone keeps asking this, and nothing is okay, but like- you doing okay? You look kinda.. Lost”

Deja vu

He looks up at Robin,

She is not Jonathan. He is stuck, missing- missing where Will went missing.

He almost drops the whole bag in the water. Shifting it, he gives himself a better grip.

“Just… thinking”

Robin hums, picking up another bag; “thinking… okay.” 

“What are you thinking about”

He shouldn't talk about this with her, not right now, she probably wouldn't get it, she didn't see him when he was Spying, didn't see what he did to those people, what he sent after his friends.

Mike saw, though. He always did. He never ran, was never scared… Maybe it would be okay-

He sucked in a breath, “probably… everything that could go wrong with this”

“What do you mean?”

Will shakes his head, pouring the rest of the salt in, “it doesn't matter, probably doesn't help to be thinking about those things right now, anyways.”

Robin sighing filled his ears, she continued pouring her bag. “Okay, well. Shifting subjects…”

“How’s the avalanche, are you suffocating, yet?”

Will snorted, grabbing a stick to stir with, before looking around, checking for signs of Mike.

“I’m… not sure”

Mike was acting sort of strange, really soft, consistently checking up on him, but that was stuff he’s always done. 

That was just, Mike.

But, the things he’s been saying…

Robin smiled, pushing his shoulder lightly, “snow's been really coming down, huh?”

The corners of his mouth curled upward slightly, a small grin playing on his face; for a moment, Will thought about the interactions they’ve been having over the past few days… Maybe the last year and a half-

He decided to focus on the present, that’s what Robin was inquiring about, anyways. He cleared his throat and continued stirring. “Well, when we got to the cabin yesterday, he nudged me back- like.. Like you saw me do to him, in the field.”

He scoffs, “I don't know if that counts as a snowball or whatever”
“Last night-”

He stopped where he was going with that, he wasn't sure if Mike’s ‘touching him too much’ comment was condescending, or if it was him actually flirting, like Will interpreted it.

“He was in the bathroom with me earlier-   Also, when I was about to make food, Murray accused us of having a ‘lovers quarrel’... Mike only denied the quarrel part”

Robin looked at him with a look on her face he couldn't quite figure out. She let out a chuckle, 

“Wait- back up, you two were together, in the bathroom…?”

Will was confused. “Yeah? We were brushing our teeth…Is that not normal?”

She looked down, smirking slightly, “No it- it is.. How did that happen?”

He shrugs, “I was in there, and he just kind of walked in and started doing his own thing”

Robin snorted again,

“What?”

—----------------------

Chapter Text

Mike had been on the porch,  standing with a cup of coffee in hand. There wasn't much he could do to help prepare, Robin and Will were setting up the tub, and that was really the only thing on the list that needed to be done. 

So, he stood there waiting for Joyce and Murray to show back up, waiting to start working on the plan he came up with.

He was thinking about what Murray had commented on earlier, 

Surely, the man knew he and El were like, a thing.. right?

Were they actually, like really a thing still? 

“Mike,” Will’s soft voice pulled him from his thoughts, he hadn't even heard the door open.

“Out here again?”

Mike nodded before turning around to face him. “Did you guys get the tank all ready?”

“Yep,” 

Will, Mike noticed, had his hands in his pockets. He walked towards him, joining him at his spot next to the railing. “What are you doing?”

Shrugging, he looked down at the cup in his hand. “Having coffee,” Mike took a sip, looking back at Will, he held the cup out, offering it to him.

It was a simple thing, a platonic thing… But, Mike really wanted Will to take him up on his offer.

Will looked at him for a beat, flicking his gaze from the coffee cup, up to Mike’s face.

Mike swallowed, why is this making him nervous?

Then, the corners of Will’s mouth turned upward slightly, it was a soft, pleasing smile; but, he looked a little surprised.

Finally, after what felt like ages, Will took the cup out of his hand, their fingers brushing.

The shorter teen leaned against the railing, looking out towards the scenery; he took a sip of the coffee.

“It’s nice outside today.”

Mike mirrored Will’s stance, their arms elbow-to-elbow.

He hummed in response, “It is”

Will took another sip of Mike’s coffee, “I think I can do it,”

What?

Mike looked over at him, eyebrows furrowed. Their eyes met.

“I think I’ll be able to go into the void. And, do my best to find the others. I’m pretty sure I've already been there before, so it shouldn't be too hard to return to.” Will looked back down at his hands. 

Well, obviously, Mike already knew Will was capable.

“That’s… good. You know-”

Mike was cut off. “But, I’m having some…. Concerns”

To that, he straightened up. “Concerns?”

Will nodded, offering Mike his coffee back. “Vecna, kind of concerns”

Mike took the cup back, though he was reluctant to do so. “Okay.”

Then came his confession, “Since I’ve been tapping into the hivemind more frequently, my connection to it has grown stronger. It hasn't taken over all of me, like last time. I actually, for the most part, feel in control of it.”

“But, a part of me is afraid I'm always fighting off Vecna, like without even realizing I'm doing it; but it's like if I slip for a moment, he’ll control me, it will control me.”

“I’m afraid that by going into the void, it’ll make me more susceptible to his intrusions- I’m afraid that he’ll use me again… I don't want to hurt anybody. I don't want to hurt you. ”

Mike sat with his words for a couple of moments.  “You think your control will slip, and you’ll accidentally let him in?”

It wasn't necessarily a question, more-so him thinking out loud. Will didn't respond.

“It makes sense to be afraid, and it's probably good that you can… recognize the possibility of that happening;” Mike turned his body towards Will and grabbed his shoulder. “You’re strong, though. I doubt he’ll even be able to break through.”

 “he’s done it before,” 

The taller teen watched as the person in front of him looked at him with a grimace. He continued:

“If it does happen, if he takes over… We’ll get you out, just like before.”  He put his coffee on the railing in front of him. Making a split-second decision.

Mike pulled Will into a hug before muttering, “You won't hurt anyone. You won't hurt me.”

He could feel Will’s hesitance, the stiffness in his posture.

Please? Hug back.

There was a sniffle in his ear, and, after a moment, arms wrapped around him. Even though this moment was a difficult one, for Will especially, Mike couldn't help but revel in it. Him and Will didn't hug very often anymore. (Probably due to Mike’s awkwardness and hidden feelings). 

But, he was able to look past that if it meant that Will felt better, comforted. 

It made him feel comforted, too.

Will spoke up then, his voice sort of gravelly and broken, “You don’t know that.”

Mike could feel himself squeeze a little tighter. “I know you.”

“You said you think you can do it, I trust that.”

I trust you.

Will didn't say anything after that, but Mike could feel the tremble in his shoulders, could hear his heavy breathing.

They stayed in one another’s embrace for a while. A couple minutes, maybe; before Will pulled back. Mike didn't let him go completely, his hands were on the shorter teen’s biceps, now.

“I know you probably don't want to, but we should probably share your… concerns with the group.”

—-------------------------------

 In the upside down, things were not nearly as lighthearted. For the past two days, the party has been trying to find a way past the wall and El has been trying to get in touch with the rightside-up, (all while running, and hiding from the monsters that inhabit the place.)

When the group contacted Hopper and El to come help them, they had to wait for a while for them to actually show up. Hopper had ominously stated that they “had a plan and to wait for them to complete it” before going radio silent. So, begrudgingly, they did. They sat in that church for about 2 hours before anyone actually showed up.

Eventually, when they did show up, the group had found that another member had been added to the party, someone they didn't know anything about.

“This is Kali, my sister..” El explained.

“Your.. sister?” Steve questioned. “You… have uh- a sister? Like from the same mother- or”

Dustin elbowed him, scolding Steve with his glare.

The party talked for a while, Dustin had talked to El and Hopper about his theory that the wall was a circle, while the two explained how they already tried to get through but were unsuccessful.  After a bit of extensive thinking and decision making, it was decided that El and Kali would go to the radio station, while Steve, Dustin, Jonathan, Hopper, and Nancy would head down to the lab.

El’s job was contacting the rest of the party, the others’ job was to figure out that wall.

But, that was a job for tomorrow, they had just gotten out of that military base, people were hurt and disoriented, it was getting colder, and the Military would be looking for them.

El pulled Steve’s beamer out of the wall. Hopper took the driver's seat, while everyone piled in. It was squishy, and they were all practically sitting on top of each other. That didn't matter, though. They had other things to do. Hopper drove to the station.

The next morning, Hopper and everyone drove to the lab, leaving El and Kali behind.

When they arrived, the lab had looked surprisingly empty, from the outside, at least. (The whole upside down was also surprisingly empty, considering what had just gone down with their last crawl.) It was also in different condition than the one in the right-side-up. This one looked just like it did in 1983, pristine, in-tact. While the one on the other side, their side, was falling apart and abandoned, left and rotting, like the mothergate.

Hopper and Nancy walked in before the others, guns raised. They checked most of the building. (But, their patrolling turned out to be a little half-assed.)

Everyone separated after, they chose to look through the building in groups, which helped them cover more ground while spending as little time as possible there. Hopper took the basement floor, the place they opened the original gate from; Nancy and Jonathan took the top floors; While Dustin and Steve searched the middle floors, the ones above Hopper.

They weren't sure what they were looking for, but, the lab seemed to have already been ransacked for information, there were signs everywhere that the military had already been through there; there were documents that had been rifled through, decomposing bodies in uniforms, blood spattered against the walls, rotted demo flesh. The sight was bad, the smell was worse.

It didn't look like the soldiers made it out alive with the information they were looking for. 

Walking down a dark hallway, Steve and Dustin stopped in front of a double set of doors, there was a rainbow painted on the wall above. It loomed over them, the rainbow, something so colorful and light, had felt sinister in the dark that surrounded them.

Steve adjusted his bat in his right hand, and with his left, shined his flashlight at the design, “well, that’s just creepy…”

“The rainbow room,” Dustin said, under his breath.

“What? Yeah- I mean the rainbow is right there man-” Steve groaned, before he started muttering, annoyed. “You have to stop stating the obvious and thinking you’re like a genius or whatever.”

Steve looked at Dustin with a pointed look, “We get it,-”

Dustin shook his head, now he was annoyed, too. “No- El has mentioned something to us about the rainbow room before”

Steve just raised a brow at him, Dustin continued, “It was where she… lived. I think”

The man contemplated that a moment, before walking forward, and pushing the door open.

Dustin and Steve walked through that door and were met with another hallway, this time, the walls were lined with rooms. Numbered rooms, to be more specific. The numbers started at 2, and ended with 11. 

“El said that Vecna- One, was trapped in the lab, right? So….  Why doesn't he have like- a room?” Steve questioned. 

The teen shrugged, “I don't think he was necessarily treated the same as the others… He was literally world-endingly stronger than a bunch of kids.”                                              

“Not El, though” Steve retorted.

They had continued down the hallway, briefly looking through the windows of various rooms, blood covered the ground they were stepping on, but there were no bodies to be seen. They had been eaten, Dustin had guessed.

When they had gotten to the end of that hallway, there was another set of doors, this time, the rainbow was painted on the doors themselves. 

The teen looked up at the guy next to him, taking a deep breath, before opening the door.

It was not what they were expecting, to say the least. Bodies littered the ground, full Demogorgon's left behind and rotting. The room was painted white (although, it was now stained in red), with a large horizontal rainbow stripe that wrapped around the room. There were various mind-stimulative children's games broken in fragments laying across the floor. As far as the two could tell, none of the creatures were still living, so they continued their search, and entered the room. 

There was another room on the far wall. This place was like a maze, there were so many rooms within rooms. Dustin walked towards it, while Steve stayed behind. 

Dustin went in the room and started rifling around, going through various cupboards, filing cabinets, and desks. He had completely ransacked it, until he found a locked compartment in a filing cabinet that was half-way hidden behind the desk. Dustin had pulled it out, and, lucky as always, had found the key in a desk drawer after he went on a small search for it. 

Unlocking the cabinet, there was a labeled divider in there that caught his eye.

The Rainbow Project.

As Dustin looked through the files, he came across a folder labeled with the name Henry Creel.

Just when the teen started reading, his walkie crackled, Hopper's voice filled the air.

“Does everyone copy? I need you all to meet me in the basement. Over.”

He sounded a little panicked, there was a tone of urgency to his voice.

Nancy’s voice came next, “We copy, we’ll head down now. Over”

Dustin pulled the walkie out of his bag before speaking into it, straight to the point, as always, “What’s in the basement?” He paused for a second, before adding, “Over.”

“Just get your ass down here.”

The teen sighed, before shoving all the files he could in his bag, then leaving the room to meet back up with Steve.

The two talked about their party’s meeting in the basement, and then they were on their way.

When they had reached the stairwell, they started to hear chittering, Dustin turned around to see a Demogorgon, leering at him from a hallway they hadn't quite made it to on their search.

“Steve- we gotta go-” Steve looked over, registering the new presence, he steadied his grip on the bat,

“get behind me, Henderson.”

“No. Steve” his voice rose, an octave, maybe. “We have to run,”

“Just get behind me!” He yelled, Dustin didn't, though. Not in time.

He could feel the air change around him, could hear the sound of the creatures footsteps gaining on him, he couldn't bring himself to turn around. He just stared at Steve, mouth open slightly from the shock.

The Demogorgon's hand came down above him, when Steve suddenly grabbed his arm, and pulled him towards him. Sending him stumbling down the stairs.

The man stayed at the top, backing away from the sharp claws. After the demo swung, Steve hit it with his bat. It was wounded, only slightly; it reached forward once more. The demo got him on the shoulder, but Steve dodged it enough for it to be less than fatal. 

He swung again. And again. And again.

He hit it until it was what he felt, injured enough; dead maybe.

Dustin was watching from the bottom of the stairs, there were tears in his eyes, he couldn't move, couldn't say anything, he just stared. 

When Steve finally came down the stairs, Dustin couldn't help himself, he threw himself at Steve, finally crumbling when he hit the comfort of his arms. “Woah, it’s okay, you’re safe”

Steve wrapped his arms around Dustin, wincing slightly due to his injuries.

“And you said I like to throw myself in situations.. Seriously, dude. What the hell was that,” he was sniffing, there was a terrified look on his face.

The chittering sounded behind them again.

The duo got to the basement after Jonathan and Nancy, which meant they were the last ones to see the monstrosity in front of them. There was- what looked like a ball of particles and red lightning. It was floating in the air before them, swirling like the storm of newfound uncertainty that floated within the group. 

“Mother of god…" Dustin muttered.

"What the hell is that?” Steve questioned.

Hopper looked at them, pursing his lips. “I don't know, in all the crawls I've done, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Dustin sat there staring for a while as he pondered, his neck started hurting from the pressure. 

“Those look like Mind Flayer particles”

Jonathan turned to look at him, “The Mind Flayer’s form is a spider, though.”

Dustin shrugged, looking back at him. “Maybe it changed forms, Henry shaped it into that form, did he not? So, maybe it like, reverted… Or he changed it again.”

When they got back to the radio station, they were met with a disappointed El, and a processing Kali. El had explained to her what had been happening all of these years, apparently; and, while El was trying to contact the others, all she was met with was darkness. She couldn't find anyone.

So, one of their plans had failed, yet again. They hadn't found anything out about the wall, and they hadn't been able to contact the right side up. They had to figure out how to get that wall down, they couldn't plan anything further than that without the help of the rest of the party. 

So, they sat, and they waited.

While the others tried to think of things to do about their predicament, Dustin started reading the files he had taken from the lab. 

He started with the one dedicated to Project Rainbow, skimming over its contents.

Project Rainbow, Run by Dr. Martin Brenner.

This project aimed to weaponize physic abilities, explore access to other dimensions, use the children as warfare tools,

The main tools used in this project:

Experiments on children

Isolation exposure, sensory deprivation exposure

Use of psychoactive drugs

Training and testing of psychic abilities.

Most children showed signs of: telekinesis, telepathy, remote viewing.

Dustin knew all of those things already, he shifted topics. 

He pulled the next folder out,

Henry Creel

Disappearance to dimension-x at 12 years old; showed up after a week, changed. His behavior was different, more violent. Blood type altered. Showed signs of psychic abilities.

Soon after, murdered most of his family: A. Creel,and V. Creel.

Later was taken under the care of Dr. M. Brenner. 

He turned the page, expecting more information on Henry, but there was nothing. Instead, the page was titled: 

Dimension-X, Particles.

Particles have a direct biological effect on the human body, when a person is exposed to and/or infected by the particles, they enter the bloodstream, changing it’s chemical makeup. 

They can amplify Neural signals, physical output, and hive-minded behavior.

In cases like H. Creel, the altered blood acts as a conduit for the particles to  enhance latent abilities, instead of controlling the body and mind. 

Instead of full possession, the host retains autonomy and gains abilities.

Dustin started thinking after that, thinking about Will. He had been infected by the Mind Flayer, but didn't have powers? Yet, somehow, this world was stuck on the very day he passed through the gate.

Last night, after Dustin had read through the files, the rest of the group took turns with them. It was good information to have, but not at all helpful in bringing the wall down. It was the morning, now, and looking up at the huge tower in front of him, Dustin comes up with an idea.

He runs inside, tripping over himself as he reaches the stairs to the basement. “Guys- I got it”

He all but fell down the stairs descending them so fast. Dustin exhaled, “I think I figured it out.”

They all looked up at him, confused.

Dustin started pacing around, he was a little giddy, because after a lot of hours, he finally came up with something. 

“So, a massive electromagnetic energy pulse can weaken the barrier between our world and the upside down- like we learned when the Russians invaded.” 

“It weakens the barrier, and forces it to tear open,” he smirked, 

Steve looked up at him, seemingly more confused than the rest of the group, like always.

“Okay? And?”

“We use a massive energy pulse to weaken the barrier, force the wall open”

“And how do you suppose we do that?” Hopper said.

“The tower”

Dustin registers Jonathan’s voice and turns to face him, full on grinning, now. “Yes!”

The teen then goes to sit next to El, who’s silent, listening to him. “The tower will act like a tuning fork, we can change the frequency to match the upside down’s signature. The energy will spike, exciting the particles, and destabilizing the wall.” 

They all talked for a moment, before they came to a collective agreement, that that would probably be the best plan, if not, the only plan they had. 

That’s when Dustin had to break the unfortunate news, “There’s one small problem, though.”

Nancy cut in, “How small?”

“We won't have enough energy, if the tower in the right-side-up isn't matching in frequency.” 

—----------------------

Holly had yet to meet back up with Max, She was trapped in the Creel house for the time being, the other kids had shown up shortly after she had gotten back from the cave. After Henry brought them, he had basically stayed there, watching them, watching her. 

When he finally left, for whatever reason; Derek Turnbow had hounded her, talking nonsense of how he was ‘delightful Derek,’ and ‘on her side,’ she wasn't quite sure what to make of that, though. 

Max would know what to do, but she couldn't get away, not with all the other kids there, who still believed Henry was some kind of saint. 

She had to figure out what to do, how to get them to help. She knew she would probably have to enlist dipshit Derek to help her in this mission, that fact did not excite her.

—------------------------

Will dipped his hand in the tank before him. The water was cold, so cold. It made him nervous, like Vecna was inviting him in, like he was getting in just to cool his body temperature down, just to be taken control of. The sinking feeling returned to him once more. He pulled his hand out quickly, as if the water had burned him. In reality, his reality at least, the cold felt too welcoming, like his subconscious yearned for it, yearned to let him in.

He looked around, everyone was standing around him, arms crossed looking at him with a tone he couldn't figure out. Well, not everyone, there were a few key faces missing from the circle. He cleared his throat, stepping away from the water. His head turned towards the bathroom, looking for a way out, for something warm; his hand was still held up slightly, trembling in an obvious manner. 

“I’m.. just-” Will started to stagger away, “I’m gonna.. Go to the bathroom real fast-”

Crossing the threshold, he locked himself in the bathroom, just like the day before. When looking up into the mirror, he could barely recognize himself.

Vecna?

He blinked, that image disappeared, his own appearance returned to him. Turning on the faucet, he set it to the highest heat before shrinking to the floor. 

Will held his head in his hands, trying to force the image away. It didn't work, he was too focused on the sound of the water, the sound of the others talking about him in the other room, to keep the image out, to keep Vecna out of his head.

 The party was only behind that door, but they felt worlds away.

They didn't sound worlds away, though.

“So, do we think he’s being controlled, again?”

“We need to do something, I don't know if this is a good idea, he’s sold us out before”

“He killed all those people in the lab- let the mindflayer know where we were-”

At this point, he can't tell if those voices are in his head or not; or if the party is even talking in the other room. He could be deluding himself to think so, but those concerns seem pretty valid; even if they didn't feel good to hear. He kind of wishes he didn't let Mike talk him into telling the others about what he was feeling, but it was too late to do anything about it now.

Will forced himself from his new home, the floor. Grabbing the edge of the counter, but his grip slipped due to all the stuff Mike had spread out on it earlier. He fell back on the ground, hitting his head on the wall.

He thought it would’ve made everything worse, but to be honest, that knock might’ve straightened his head out a little bit. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt, though. 

Grimacing at the pain, and grabbing at his head, he rubbed it, trying to soothe the aching, before trying, (and succeeding this time) to get back up.

Once Will was standing, he stared down at the steaming water in front of him. He brought his hand out again, to test different water this time. 

Bracing himself for a burn that would be otherworldly, he let the water run over his fingers. It didn't hurt that bad, it wasn't like a searing fire that felt like it was burning its way through his body, it was more of a sting; a normal sting one would get from like taking a hot shower, or something.

That let him know he still had control of himself, for now.

A knock on the door rang in his ears. And, a voice came, “Will, honey, are you okay? Can you unlock the door?”

Reluctantly, Will pulled himself out of his spiral, he needed to be strong, he needed to shove his fears down, lock them in a box and hide it where no one can find it. Not him, not Vecna.

He turned the faucet off, and took a deep breath, before unlocking and opening the door where he was immediately pulled into her embrace. “Im okay, mom- I just needed a second to pull my head together.”

She brought a hand up, cradled his face. “You’re sure?”

He nodded, escaping her grasp and walking right back up to the sensory deprivation tank. He sat on the edge, ignoring all of the eyes on him. As he dipped his feet in, the cold was biting. He was already uncomfortable, but the soggy feeling of his clothes so far made him more-so. 

Someone walked up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder,

Will looked behind him, he was met with Mike’s chest, so, he had to tilt his head up.

That was, until Mike sat beside him, legs on the floor instead of in the tub.  He held a pair of blacked out goggles in his hand. They sat for a minute in silence.

 “What’s your favorite song?” Mike asked, quietly.

“Is it still The Clash?”

Will furrowed his eyebrows. Why was he bringing this up now? Does he think I'm cursed, or something?

Mike was fidgeting with the plastic in his hands, everyone was still watching, watching them, now.

 “I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours..”

Will looked down at the water he was half-way submerged in, pondering for a beat. “Okay”

“Smalltown Boy”

Will looked at him, a small grin spreading on his face.

“Smalltown Boy?”

Mike nodded, looking away, Will wasn't sure if he was hallucinating or not, but he looked a little red.

“I told you mine,”

Will let Mike marinate in his confession a bit longer, shifting from his ledge position to submerging himself in the water, trying to kneel, but not being too successful due to his buoyancy. 

“Probably… Secrets, by the Cure.” 

Mike held the goggles out to him, before replying. “I don't know if I’ve heard that one”

Will takes the goggles, puts them on his head. Mike clears his throat. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

And that’s that. Mike gets up, Will pulls the plastic over his eyes, obstructing his vision. He tries to focus on the void, tries to empty his brain.

When he opened his eyes, they registered only the absence of, well, everything; except for the water that flowed around his ankles. He stared down at it, his reflection, non-existent, yet somehow, the liquid still glowed with refracted light that was also non-existent. Now would be the time to look for El, to focus on the party. But, he felt his focus shift, pulled, maybe. He didn't do it consciously,

 he was actually actively trying to push away the scene materializing in front of him.

“Mike!?” he called into the darkness again, no reply.

He could hear a faint growling sound, now.

Now would probably be a good time to run, whatever was making that sound wanted him, he didn't know why. 

He watched as the scene unfolded, but this time, it wasn't through the eyes of his twelve year old self. It was through his current eyes, at his current age. He was watching a young Will Byers yell desperately into nothing. 

Follow him

So he did.