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Mike wasn’t stupid. No matter how many people liked to take jabs at his obliviousness, Mike noticed things. Noticed his mom’s disappointed stare when she thought he wasn’t looking, noticed the helpless looks El would give him, searching for something he couldn’t give to her. He noticed a lot.
But as he faced down the demogorgon, everything was lost on him. His mind was blank for the first time in years, blank of the years of innocent adventures with his friends, of the pain caused by so much loss over the years. Just empty.
The sound of the monster's snarl vibrated his core, the acrid, almost sour smell of its breath filling his nose, the claws he saw mark so many people captured all of Mike’s attention. All of his senses were completely and totally overwhelmed by this monster and the awareness of his impending death.
It probably would surprise a lot of people that instead of attempting to fight back, Mike closed his eyes. Closed his eyes and accepted that this was the end. His far too short life comes to an abrupt end at the hands of an interdimensional monster. Not very surprising given how many times he’s thrown himself into danger to protect his friends. The only thing he could do now, is brace for it. For the brutal fact that he left so many things unsaid, chose to leave things unsaid, to keep secrets and hide everything about himself from the world.
He lies on the damp concrete, still preparing for his untimely doom. When he doesn’t feel the sharp talons of the demogorgon piercing his chest, he slowly blinks his eyes open, still struck by fear and adrenaline. As he stares up at the monster, he acknowledges that, yes, it still very much looks like it’s going to eat his face off. But it isn’t, it actually isn’t moving at all.
He watches, refusing to blink in case the short second in which he takes his eyes off of the creature will give it the ability to move again. It floats, for what feels like a lifetime, but what is most likely a minute or two. He stares as the demogorgon twitches and drools as its limbs straighten and its body raises higher and higher into the air.
The first snap of the monster's bones shake him out of his trance, and instead instills a larger fear in him. This looks, well no, sounds familiar. Familiar to the stories of last spring, to the possessions and murders he heard in great detail about in Hawkins after making the long trip from California. He thinks for a moment that Vecna is here, and he is shaken to his core by the fact that Will is lying unconscious, unprotected in the middle of the burning arena.
This revelation forces his eyes to snap over to where Will should be slumped on the ground. But what he sees is much, much different. He sees a boy, standing tall, eyes milky white and nose dripping with blood. It isn’t just any boy though, it's Will. It’s his Will, the previously meek boy that has evolved into something more confident, more self-assured as the years have passed.
Mike barely processes the loud thump of the demogorgons mangled body hitting the asphalt. He can’t bring any of his senses to be aware of anything else other than Will. Mike watches in awe as Will’s eyes slowly roll back out of the back of his head as he brings his hand up to wipe away the trail of blood underneath his nose.
Mike refuses to try to understand why his chest feels tight, why his heart feels as though it is about to beat out of his chest. He would let it, as long as it would make its way to WIll, who has always been its rightful owner. The rest of his tangled mess of thoughts comes to a halt, turning all focus onto that idea.
Oh. Oh.
It isn’t an idea though, it's a fact. A fact of life, like how the sky is blue, how grass is green, and how Mike Wheeler has always belonged to Will Byers. Has always been Will’s in his mind, soul, and body. Since that day on the swing sets so many years ago, they had been destined to be forever intertwined, no matter how far they stray from each other.
A small smile creeps onto Mike’s face as the strangling clench in his chest melts until all he feels is warmth. The dense, cool air of the impending fall cannot begin to even puncture the fire in his body, fueled by his acknowledgement of his desire after so many years of denial.
Mike isn’t in control of his body when he feels his leg take that first step forward, but it takes him back into reality. A reality where the boy he cares most about has crumpled to his knees. Mike feels his shoes slap against the concrete, squishing in blood from the dying soldiers. He doesn’t stop until he also falls to his knees in front of Will.
Mike grasps his shoulders, trying to ground him, showing that there is nothing to fear anymore. Will’s hands quickly grab hold of his elbows, like he’s making sure this is real, making sure Mike won’t leave, can’t leave. Glossed over hazel eyes scan Mike’s entire body multiple times, searching for any sign of injury.
Mike squeezes his hands tighter, staring into his eyes as he gasps out, “Will,”
As though the sound of his name has broken a damn, Will lets out a choked sob, barely able to form a reply, “Mike,”
Mike doesn’t need to hear anymore, and Will doesn’t need to say anymore as Mike leans forward to wrap his arms around Will’s shoulders. His bony hand coming up to card through soaked brunette hair, attempting to soothe Will’s body tremors out of him. They sit in the middle of that war zone, holding onto each other, like letting go would mean the loss of safety, of this small bubble of peace they’ve formed.
Mike eventually hears the frantic steps and shouts of fear for her son from Joyce, but he can’t bring himself to free Will from his hold. He feels Joyce’s hands move all over her son's body, checking for life threatening damage, and yet he still holds on. He’s not sure if he’ll ever be able to let go, now that he has this new perspective.
They can’t stay there forever though, the risks too high and the need to recuperate too prevalent. But Mike still doesn’t let go, keeps his hands on Will the whole trip back to the Squawk. Changing from resting on an arm on Will’s shoulders to then let one hand lay on his neck. And if through it all, Will notices Mike's sudden clinginess, he doesn’t say anything.
Maybe he should, Mike knows he will have to be honest eventually, with both himself and Will, but for right now, they decide to rest in each other’s company for however long it takes for the next danger to come.