Chapter Text
Everything hurts and there's a ringing in his ear. Mikes vision is blurry as he slowly lifts his head. The air is still around him. Quiet. Nothing like the chaos from before with the military shooting and the demagorgons attacking while he tried to carry Will to the tunnels.
He's lying on his stomach, cheek pressed to the dirt. For a moment, Mike wants to put his head down and rest. Then he remembers Vecna, and trying to drag Will away, and his body flying back and his head hitting something hard-
Mikes gaze lands on the scene happening just feet away from him.
Will, suspended in the air. Vecna, one hand on his cheek, speaking words Mike can't make out.
Mikes ears start ringing more. He places one hand on the ground and begins to push. He lets out a whimper, his arm is in pain, but Mike pushes so he's almost sitting up.
It's all Mike can do in his state to recognize Will is in danger and make any attempt to stop it.
"Will." But the word doesn't come out all the way. Mike can hardly make Wills face out, but Mike knows he's scared. Who wouldn't be? Mike curses himself for letting Will out of his sight. For letting Vecna throw him to the side just like that.
Mikes vision goes again for just a moment and he's back on the ground. He pushes himself up once more. Forces himself to look on.
When Vecna stops speaking, Mike freezes in terror. He's sure this is it. The moment Vecna kills Will. Mike manages to stand all the way. Manages one foot underneath himself than the other, one hand bracing on the steel structure beside him. His head is spinning so much. He tries to move forward when Vecnas hand falls from Wills face.
Will falls to the floor. Alive. Panting. Breathing. Vecna begins to walk away. Back out the portal.
Mike sags with relief. Leans heavy against the wall and let's himself breathe. The ringing in his ears is beginning to fade and Mike almost lets out a smile because they're alive.
And then Wills head snaps up in Mikes direction, eyes wide and desperate, and Mike barely has time to back away in fear as the demagorgon leaps from a hole in front of him.
Mike doesn't have time to think any last thoughts. He just raises his hands on instinct and thinks this is going to hurt.
Except it doesn't. Hurt, that is. It doesn't feel like anything.
After a second, Mike risks opening his eyes and moving his hands down.
The demagorgon is frozen in midair. Mouth hanging open and limbs poised to attack. Mike can see the saliva and blood dripping from its teeth. Can see bits of flesh stuck to its skin.
Mike moves his gaze behind the monster. To Will.
Will is standing now. Two arms outstretched and his head moved back and Mike just knows. He knows this is Will's doing.
It's beautiful. Will. There's something changed about him that Mike can see even from where he's standing. He looks comfortable, as crazy as it sounds. Looks powerful and majestic. Like he's doing exactly as he's meant to be doing.
Mike smiles. Will has powers. Amazing, incredible powers.
The bones of the demagorgon snap. It falls to the ground, dead. Mike watches in awe as the monster crumbles at the clenching of Wills hand.
Will collapses to his knees a moment later. He's breathing heavily as a drop of blood falls from his nose. Badass.
Mike moves instantly, desperately. His head spins but he can see the labor it takes for Will to simply breathe. Sees how hard his legs are shaking from just kneeling. Mike places one wobbly leg in front of the other and stumbles towards his friend across the seemingly empty battlefield.
"Will!" Mike crashes to the ground next to him. Gets a good look at him.
Wills eyes are dazed slightly. They latch on to Mike anyways and he seems to sag with relief. The blood from Wills nose falls onto his lip. Into his mouth.
"That was- that was amazing!" Mike brings his sleeve up and wipes the blood away. He opens his arms and lets Will collapse against him, head resting on Mikes chest and Mike doesn't even think twice about how intimate it should feel.
"Mike? I-I- didn't mean.." Wills voice shakes. He pulls back slightly and seems to stare at his own hands.
Mike can see the fear in Wills eyes. The hesitation. The uncertainty. And Mike has known Will since they were six and met on the swing set, so Mike knows Will is probably scared shitless and is finding a way to blame it on himself.
"That was amazing, Will." Mike says again. And then, because nobody's around, and he can, "it was beautiful." A little quieter.
Will finally looks up at him. Those scared eyes finally meet Mikes. Tears well in them and Mike has a sudden urge to wipe them away. He keeps his hands to himself.
Will shudders suddenly. Mike watches with concern as pain seems to roll through Will and he goes even more limp against Mikes body.
"Hey, are you okay?" Mike gently places one hand on Wills shoulder. He ducks his head down so he can meet Wills eyes.
Will nods. But Mike knows he's not okay. "I can... feel it, is all."
"Feel..." Mike begins to ask clarification. But then remembers when Will had collapsed as the fire burned the demagorgons. Or when the car had hit one.
Like how the demagorgon had just had all its limbs broken and how Will could feel that.
"Shit." Mike says. And he can't think of anything to do, of anything to help, so he just wraps his arms around Wills frame and tucks his friend into his chest and squeezes, gentle, and starts to rub Wills back the way Mikes mom would do when he was sick.
He feels it in the way Will just lets himself go limp and shudder a breath that Will has finally relaxed. Has finally allowed himself to rest. Mike holds Will close and promises himself he'll figure out whatever comes next. Will has done enough for one day. Enough for a lifetime, judging by his laboring breath and fluttering eyes.
Mike closes his own eyes for a moment. Let's himself breathe in the silence and rest for a moment before he'll get up and take Will through the tunnels to meet with the others. But for now, Joyce has taken the remaining kids through the tunnels and the fight seems to be over.
Wills hands are on Mikes back, fingers curled slightly in his jacket. Mike keeps his hands supportively on Wills back, holding him against Mike to keep him up. Wills face is pressed to Mikes chest in a way that shouldn't make Mike feel warm but does. Mike places his chin on top of Wills head. He breathes deeply.
There's a shuffle behind them. Mike lifts his head and spins it around to face the intrusion.
A man in uniform, gun pointed at the pair of them.
"Just raise your hands real nice and slow." He states.
"Shit." Mike says. Will tenses in his arms. The man moves forward with the gun more, threatening.
There's more of them now. Military men. Coming out from behind buildings and under cover. Slowly coming together and observing the wreckage.
"Hands!" The man yells this time and Mike only hesitates a moment before complying.
Will sits up now. He seems more awake now with the gun pointed at them. He continues to lean on Mike somewhat, but is able to hold himself up without Mikes direct support. The pair of them put their hands further in the air.
"No sudden movements you to. And-and don't use the powers! Or I'll shoot."
Will tenses at this. Mike presses his lips together. They saw that, then.
Mike and Will make eye contact. Will looks scared still. Mike hopes he gives Will a comforting look, but he feels scared himself.
They wait there for a little bit, gun never pointing away from them. Until more men approach and the group seems to gain some semblance of order.
"We'll put them in one of the bunks. Just keep an eye on them for now." The man, the new leader, it seems, glances down at Mike and Will like they aren't even there.
"What about the one with powers?" The man who had approached them originally speaks up. Mike presses himself closer to Will minusculy. Some sort of comfort.
"See if what works on the girl works on this one. He clearly can't use them right now, or we'd all be dead. I'll worry about the rest tomorrow."
Mike wonders what he meant by "what works on the girl." But he doesn't spend too much time pondering it because the guns are trained on the two of them again and Mike winces as one man grabs his bad arm and pulls him up. Will sags slightly, now that Mike isn't there to support him.
"Stand and walk." The man demands to Mike as another grabs for Will. Mike watches nervously as Wills face scrunches up as he tries to put his feet underneath him.
Will seems to manage okay, though another man takes Wills other arm so they drag him whenever he stumbles. Mike bites his tongue to keep from yelling at them. It wouldn't do any good.
He tries to calm himself with the knowledge that the children were safe and as soon as they were done with that the whole crew would come and get Mike and Will. It helps Mike ignore the pain in his arm and the occasional grunt as the pair is led to a bunker similar to the one the kids had been held in.
The fluorescent light flash on, revealing a mostly empty room. Six bunk beds, unused, lined one wall while storage boxes lined another. A desk was positioned near the entrance where it was clear someone had been working.
Storage, then. Or a place to keep kids who fell out of line. Mike and Will are led to one of the bunk beds about halfway down and sat on them. One soldier stays, keeping that gun trained on them. The other three huddle by the entrance, talking and glancing back at them every once in a while.
"Corporal!" One of the men barks out eventually and the soldier next to Mike tenses and turns. "Watch them. We're going to test the sound."
The Corporal nods and the rest of the men file out.
The man seems hesitant to stop training his gun on Will and Mike, but after a minute or two of him standing there uselessly he drops it.
"No funny business from either of you, alright?" He threatens and Mike finds himself nodding.
He makes his way to the desk and sits down, still with one hand on his gun but relaxes a bit more.
Mike and Will find themselves sagging. Mike wants to pull Will into a hug again, but it feels almost wrong with someone watching for some reason.
Instead, they exchange a series of looks. Of a mutual fear and uncertainty. Of some relief that they're together.
They both take in their surroundings. Mike doesn't see much hope for a weapon beyond the lamp on the desk. The guard hasn't taken his gaze off of them. The only way in and out is the single door up front. Mike has a bad feeling they won't be getting out of here without help.
Mike is about to suggest Will lies down, he still seemed unsteady, when the door is opened.
The man in charge enters first, followed by two men rolling a cart in. Its bottom half is just a metal square. Buttons and lights that Mike doesn't care to decode. On top seems to be some sort of radar. A large disk with edges and bits of metal.
It looks threatening. It puts Mike on edge. Judging from Will tensing beside him, Will feels the same.
"Hey, what is that?" Mike finally asks once the cart is rolled inside and carefully placed feet away from them so the open disk is facing them. Mike doesn't get a response.
"Seriously, hey! We're civilians you can't do like... radiation on us." Mike finally stands up. The men don't look threatened at all, they just stare at them.
Will stays seated. Mike clenches his fists. "What is that thing!" He demands again. "You aren't allowed to hurt us!" Because Mike had been holding on to that belief without realizing it.
It wasn't that he trusted the government. But he didn't think they would actually hurt them. Didn't think they were more scary than the threat of a demagorgon or Vecna.
"It won't harm you." The man in charge states simply. Mike furrows his brows. He opens his mouth to ask once again what it's supposed to do, but the man nods to his lackeys and one of them hits a switch.
Mike braces for... something. But nothing comes. Just a low hum from somewhere in the machine. And Wills sudden, startled scream behind him.
"Will!" Mike turns around as the voice slices through the air. Wills hands are around his ears. He falls to the side against the bed and Mike wastes no time falling to his knees next to him. "Will!" He calls again.
There's movement behind him. Speaking. But Mike doesn't pay attention to that. Will is crying now. Tears stream down his face. His hands are painfully tightened over his ears and his eyes are squeezed shut, only opening every few moments as if to observe for a threat, closing again when he sees Mike.
The initial scream seems to have died down to a whimper. Will gasps every once in a while, let's out a low groan of pain. He keeps trying to move further from the machine, keeps trying to hide his head into the thin mattress. He's covering his ears, then seems to decide that isn't doing enough and moves his hands down to grip at the sheets.
Wills feet slip where they had been pushing against the ground in an attempt to escape. He lets out a quick sound of pain as his hands move to catch himself as he falls.
Mike is right there. Once again useless while Will is in pain. He catches Will and brings him to the ground. Mike cushions Wills head on his thighs when his head twists and turns at risk of hitting something. Mike keeps his hands carefully hovering around Wills face. His eyes still open occasionally, but he's thrashing so much Mike never catches him.
"You have to stop! You're hurting him!" Mike yells blindly. He doesn't take his eyes off Will. Will at least makes eye contact back after a few tries. Seems to recognize Mike and maybe breathe easier for it.
Then it seems to be over. Wills movements slow down. He just breathes heavy and goes limp, only letting out a soft whimper here and there.
Mikes hand still hover cautiously. He's so terrified of hurting Will. He feels the anger bubble up inside of him. How much more pain would Will have to go through?
"What was that!" He demands, finally turning his head.
The military men seem to be discussing something. They do turn their heads when Mike shouts though.
"Only noise." The head man replies. "It does him no harm. Only prevents him from using his... ability." The man says the word ability like it's something rotten.
"Does no harm?" Mike lowers his voice when Will flinches in his lap from the volume. "Did you hear him?"
But the man doesn't seem interested in responding anymore.
"Every twenty minutes, to start. Or as a punishment. I'll deal with the rest of the situation tomorrow."
"Every twenty minutes?" Mike asks. He's ignored again. Will has gone mostly still on the ground beyond a couple of twitches. Mike prays he interpreted that wrong.
Two men stay behind this time. And the machine. Still facing them. Facing Will. The pair of men convene near the desk, talking in hushed tones. One of them hits the light switch, and the only light is seeping through the cracks where the walls meet the ceiling.
For once, the attention is off Will and Mike for just a bit. It allows Mike to place one hand on Wills head without feeling the need to retreat.
"Will?" He asks softly. Wills eyes open and meet Mikes. Mike swallows.
"Yeah?" Wills voice is scratchy. From screaming.
"Are you okay?" Mike asks. It's a stupid question.
"Yeah." Will says. "I don't- know what that was." He sounds close to tears. Scared.
Mike purses his lips. "I don't know either. I'm sorry."
Will nods slightly. His eyes flutter again.
"Here. Get in the bed and try and sleep." It's telling that Will doesn't argue against it. Just nods again and lets Mike help him onto the bed.
Mike helps Will toe off his shoes, helps get him under the covers. Tucks him in jokingly so he draws a small laugh out of Will.
"Gonna read me a story or sing me a lullaby?" Will teases and Mike rolls his eyes as he shakes his head.
Wills eyes are already closing as Mike leans back. He's asleep by the time Mike sits on the bunk across from Will, still watching him.
Mike turns his head after a bit. The pair of soldiers are still chatting quietly. They glance over every once in a while, but don't seem as nervous as earlier. The machines effectiveness seemed to have calmed them.
Mike glares at the machine. He glares and stares and tries to see how it work and what it is.
He should have asked Will more questions about what he felt, but it wasn't worth waking him now for it. Clearly it emitted some kind of noise that only Will could hear. Like a dogwhistle. And it worked on El too, seemingly. Unless they were referencing a different girl.
Maybe a frequency related to the upside down? And yet, if it hurt Will could it hurt Demagorgons? Vecna?
Too many questions. Mike continued to stare at the large disk until the solider seemed to notice and both turned to him until Mike averted his gaze.
Mike looked ahead of him towards Will, hands clenches over his knees. It felt wrong to go to sleep, especially with the ominous twenty minute wait ahead of him.
He finds himself spacing out slightly. He observes the curve of Wills lips and the sweat making his hair stick to his forehead. Looks at the slow up and down movement of his chest. Every time the men behind Mike make some sort of noise, Mikes eyes dart towards the far wall. It's like he knows, deep down, he shouldn't look at Will like that.
But his eyes always return to Will. And Mike thinks about the summer and how far apart they've felt. Thinks how it isn't fair to Will that he should loose a friend just because Mike... just because of things. In Mikes life. Will shouldn't pay for that.
Staring death in the face today, Mike knows now that when they get out of here he won't let them drift. He'll keep up with Will and won't push him away.
He hears the footsteps and turns his head. One of the men is approaching the machine. Twenty minutes. Why?
"Wait!" Mike calls out. But it's too late anyways, and he knew even as he spoke it that it would be futile.
Mike rushes towards Will. Just in time, too, because the moment he begins writhing and screaming in pain he practically falls out of the bed. Only pushed back onto the mattress by Mike and held in place from the joking tuck of the blanket.
"It's okay." Mikes voice goes up two octave as he speaks. He hates that he can't do anything. Can only kneel by Wills bed and push his hair out of his face because he knows Will hates when it brushes his eyebrows. Can only try to hide his own pain and fear and be there for Will. It's the only thing he can do.
It's over again. Not soon enough. The man returns back to his desk and they resume talking.
"M-ike." Will calls out this time and his voice falters. His eyes are still unfocused.
"It's okay. I'm here Will." Mike tries to speak calmly. Will relaxes, so it must work.
Will just breathes for a long moment. Just catches his breath and shudders and closes his eyes and he doesn't lean away from Mikes hand on his forehead and Mike doesn't pull away.
"What-why?" Will eventually asks. He asks like Mike has an answer.
Mike doesn't respond for a moment. He knows the response and he doesn't like it. He likes the feeling of Wills hair under his hand.
Mike moves his hand away. Tries not to read into the fact that Will seems to follow it.
"I think they said every twenty minutes. I don't know why. So you can't use your powers, I guess." Mike doesn't miss the way Wills face falls and the tears well in his eyes.
"I-I can't even use them. I wouldn't hurt anyone." And Mike knows it. Knows Will would hesitate to even hurt their captors.
"I know." Mike assures. "I'm sorry. Maybe they'll- maybe they'll stop in a bit. Once it's truly night time."
Will doesn't look convinced. His eyes keep drooping and he keeps forcing them back open.
"Why don't you go back to bed." Mike suggests. Will just nods.
He goes to move away, to give Will some space for twenty minutes at least. But Will catches his sleeve.
"Just- can you- wake me up? Before it happens again? So I know whats happening?" He whispers it like it's something bad he's asking.
"Yeah." Mike agrees easily. "Course." He swallows.
"Is there..." he hesitates. "I mean when it's happening is there anything I can..." he feels horrible asking. Mike shouldn't have to comfort Will while he's being tortured. Mike shouldn't let the torture even happen.
"No." Will whispers. "I mean... just be there. Please." He says it again like it's something bad. Mike nods.
"Of course." He whispers it back like it's something bad. He ignores the flip in his stomach when Wills eyes flutter again and his hand releases Mikes sleeve.
Mike returns to his spot on his bed. He watches again. There's a new angle of Wills face to learn. He's grown since moving to California. It's the first time Mike has really had the chance to look at him like this since then.
His jaw is sharper. His nose more prominent and his ears seems to finally fit his face. He looked good.
Objectively, of course. Mike could say the same thing about Lucas or Dustin. They were getting older. Growing into themselves. Nothing different about Will.
Mike hears a guard get up again in a bit. He knows it's been twenty minutes, but it still seems too soon. He scrambles up and rushes to Wills side.
"Will? Will?" Mike shakes Wills shoulders until his eyes open and they meet Mikes. He looks confused for a moment, then the situation comes back to him and he tenses up and seems to brace himself.
The low hum of the machine returns.
Wills initial scream isn't so bad. But he still screams. And it still breaks Mike. Mike stays with him, tries to make sure he stays in place and doesn't fall. It doesn't seem like enough, but it's all he can do when Will begins crying. Begins sobbing.
"I'm sorry." Mike cries. He keeps one hand pushed against Wills shoulder to keep him still. He moves the other to Wills forehead. Will doesn't seem to notice much. He arches his back in pain and then his legs are kicking at the covers.
Once again Will begins to fall off the bed and Mike cradles his fall, careful to protect his head.
"It's almost over." Mike promises, even though he can't promise that. Will lets out another moan of pain and ties to turn his face away from the noise while his hands return to his ears.
The low buzz stops and Will falls limp again, gasping and shuddering.
"How long are you going to do that for!" Mike turns and demands. The soldier, still near the machine, seems to raise an eyebrow.
"Every twenty minutes." He responds.
"All night? He's asleep!" Mike keeps his fingers gentle on Wills head.
The man just shrugs. "We only mean to keep everyone safe and prevent him using powers. Every twenty minutes. He will get used to it."
Mike wants to yell again. But he has nothing to yell and the man is already returning to the desk. Mike glares at them, but turns back to Will.
Will meets Mikes eyes. "Thanks." He says. "For waking me."
Mike just brushes Wills hair again. Will doesn't seem to notice.
He looks back up at the bed, blankets now tangled. It's too risky to put Will up there only to face the possibility of him hitting his head every twenty minutes.
"Im going to move the mattress to the ground. So you don't fall." Mike explains as he grabs a pillow and replaces his thigh with it under Wills head. Will doesn't respond beyond a small nod, head sinking into the pillow.
Mike moves his own mattress to the floor first. The guards watch him carefully, but don't stop him as Mike slides it to the ground.
"Here, get up here so I can move the other one." Mikes voice is soft again as he helps Will up onto the mattress.
There's just enough room on the ground for both mattresses to fit between the two bed frames. It just makes more sense for Mike to be on the ground with Will. Even on the ground there was still the risk of Will hitting his head and Mike was still going to wake Will up and stay with him every twenty minutes.
So Mike slides the other mattress to the floor and has Will roll over so Mike can put the blanket over Will.
Wills eyes are shut again. He's sleeping on his stomach, head pressed against the pillow and blanket pulled tight around him. He must be exhausted to fall asleep with the impending doom ten minutes away.
Mike sits up still, leaning against the bed frame. Watches Will like his gaze alone could protect him.
It can't, of course. Because minutes later one of the guards heaves a sigh and pulls himself up from the office desk. He approaches the machine and Mike feels ashamed as he begins to shake Will awake again.
Will covers his ears preemptively this time. Mike stays close on the ground. Helps Will wrap a pillow around his head and keeps one hand in Wills hair until it's over.
Will grips Mikes sleeves after he gives up on covering his ears. He spasms still when the machine is turned off. His lower lip wobbles. He doesn't let go of Mike.
It feels so wrong, because he knows the guards can see, but Mike relaxes next to Will. He lays next to him so Will doesn't have to let go of Mikes sleeves.
He's ever aware to keep space between them. The last thing Mike wants is to take advantage of Will. Or to use Wills pain as an excuse to feed whatever is wrong with Mike.
So Mike maintains that distance and after he's sure Will has fallen back asleep (or passed out, Mike actually isn't sure anymore), he turns his gaze off of Wills face and to the ceiling.
He must drift off. Stupid. His whole job was to stay awake and do the one thing he's able to do to help Will. The only thing he had been tasked with and Mike couldn't even do it.
He wakes up to Will screaming. Thrashing. Will kicks and cries and curls into Mike like Mike could stop it and Mike can't so he just keeps one had on Wills head and one on his back and tries not to cry. Tries to stay strong for the both of them.
When it's over, Will doesn't even say anything. He keeps himself tucked into Mikes chest and Mike doesn't even have the heart to pull away. He can't when Will is still holding onto Mike in his sleep and shuddering in pain.
So Mike holds Will. And it's wrong and it feels right to have Will there and Mike can't handle all this right now.
It goes like that for the rest of the night. Mike is sure at some point the guards fell asleep or gave up on the twenty minutes schedule, because eventually he falls asleep and doesn't wake up for a long while.