Chapter Text
The Mindflare was gone, so was the upside down. But then why was Will still so fucking afraid? Why did he avoid the cold like the plague? Why did he start to hyperventilate when anything covered his mouth? Why did he freeze up when the lights flickered? Well his mom said he was traumatized; Jonathan and El said he was traumatized and Lucas, Dustin, Max, and even Mike, The few times he got him on the phone, said he was traumatized.
The nightmares, the hyper vigilance, the fucking fear. He hated it, hated everything about his life now, everyone constantly checking in on him, his mom insisting he talk to her, and everyone treating him like he was going to shatter. Everyone except his bullies that is. They had been in Lenora for a month or two now and Will and El both had been targeted almost immediately.
Will knew how to deal with bullying though so it was nothing new for him, but he was worried for El; she never had to endure this before and having lost her powers and Hopper in one fell swoop? He knew she was struggling. So with Jonathan being high more often than not it landed on him to look out for her.
Today was gearing up to be particularly bad for them. Argyle picked up El, him and Jonathan this morning for school but would not stop blaring music, giving him and El headaches. Then when they arrived that morning some asshole jock decided to shove El’s books out of her hands. Will tried to brush it off and pick up her books for her but that resulted in one of the jock's friends knocking him over as he kneeled down and of course the fucking insult he always got “Fag” being spat at him.
It was nothing new, he managed to remain calm most the day but he reached a limit at lunch when one of, that bitch Angela’s, friends spilled milk down El’s back. Coating her hair and one of Hopper's flannels. He immediately jumped up and pushed the dick away from his, shocked, sister.
“What? You got something to say, Byers?” the guy asked, laughing, turning to look over his shoulder at Angela. So Will hit him, his knuckles blooming with pain as they connected with the guy's jaw. “Leave my sister alone” Will demanded, looking down at the guy, now sprawled on the ground.
He turned back to El then and quickly guided her away from the commotion, she was crying now, mourning Hopper's shirt. But Will assured her that their mom could wash the stain out and it'd be good as new, that seemed to help a little as her crying mostly stopped afterwards.
He brought El to the school nurse asking if they had anything she could change into and eventually they managed to find a plain, blue, long sleeve for her to wear. At that point though both were gonna be late so the nurse sent him on his way.
Will rushed to his fourth period, as he pushed open the door to his algebra class, apologies already tumbling out his mouth he ran straight into another boy. A little taller than him, pale, with shoulder length curly black hair, wearing a black long sleeve and dark blue jeans but the most striking thing about him was his face. He was identical to Mike.
Will stood there gaping for a second before his teacher spoke up “Mr. Byers? You can take your seat now”
”R- Right.” He stuttered, almost falling into his seat in the third row back. The class snickering.
The teacher cleared her throat then before continuing “Well, like I was saying, this is Boris Pavlikovsky! He just transferred here from Las Vegas! Now I expect you all will give him the good ole’ Lenora Welcome; please, go ahead and pick a seat Boris.” she nudged him slightly towards the desks.
Though there were a few empty seats around the class he sat directly next to Will. So now Will couldn't help his gaze drifting to stare at Mike's twin, not that he was staring; just looking from time to time. Once though he was caught by Boris as he was looking at him, and Will choked for a moment because “Did he just wink at me!?”
When the bell rang, marking the end of class, Will was still trying to pack away his notes then a folded paper landed on his desk as everyone else was leaving. He looked around for a moment but, not seeing any of his usual bullies still there, he opened it.
You stare a lot
- ( ¬ᴗ¬)
The blush staining Will’s face was unbearable, he quickly shoved the note into his bag and raced to his final class.
….
When he and El met back up in the parking lot of the school, waiting for Jonathan to come pick them up, Will couldn't help but spill everything that happened, El seemed just as confused as him. “But, it wasn't Mike?”
“No, but it looked just like him,” he stressed “only, uh, bitchin’” Will said bashfully, El laughed softly at that, nudging his shoulder with her own. “You think he is, cool?” she teased, the corner of her mouth lifting.
Will scoffed, heat creeping back up his neck. “No- I mean- maybe? He just caught me off guard, okay?”
“Mhmm,” El hummed knowingly, “But you stared.” she giggled. “I did not..” Will began, then deflated. “Okay, maybe a little.”
Jonathan’s car finally pulled up, bass rattling the windows before Argyle leaned over the passenger seat to flash them a grin. “Byers twins! Survived another day in the torture chamber?”
El climbed in without a word, Will followed, shoulders tense the entire drive home, his brain replaying the wink, the note, the stupid doodled face over and over again.
That night, Will dreamed of flickering lights and frozen vines curling around his wrists and choking him. He woke up gasping, sheets twisted around his legs, heart slamming against his ribs. For a moment he thought he felt it again, that familiar cold in his bones, but it faded as quickly as it came, leaving him shaking in the dark.
….
The next day was worse.
Angela and her friends hadn’t forgotten about lunch, especially not the guy Will punched. After Will and El split apart to go to their respective second periods. Will was cornered by a group of three, two guys, one girl. And he knew their plan before they even revealed it. They get to beat the shit out of him and if he does anything to fight back the girl screams for help, saying Will had attacked her.
So he let it happen, curled into a ball by the end of it, the only obvious evidence that he was attacked being a small cut on his cheekbone.
Whispers followed him down the hallways the rest of the day, shoulders bumped into him a little harder than necessary, someone muttering under their breath about him. He kept his head down, focused on getting through each class one at a time.
Except algebra.
Boris was already there when Will walked in, slouched lazily in the chair next to his, tapping his pencil against the desk. He looked up slowly when Will entered, eyes lighting up in a way that made Will’s stomach flip.
“Hey,” Boris said when Will reached him, “Uh- Hey” Will repeated him, nervousness apparent. Boris smiled, slow and sharp, like he’d just been handed something he planned to enjoy. "So, Why did you stare?"
Will flushed at that, "I- I didn't mean to, I mean I wasn't trying to, I just.. you look like someone I know." Will stammered out.
“Mmm,” Boris hummed, leaning back in his chair, stretching long and lazy. “It's okay. I don’t mind. I like when people look.” He glanced sideways at Will. “Means I am doing something right"
Will nearly melted into his seat.
The teacher's chalk squealing against the board. Will tried to focus, but Boris tapped his pencil against the desk, then leaned in just enough that Will could feel the heat of him.
“So,” Boris murmured, voice low, accent curling around the words. “Who do I look like, hm? This mysterious person you cannot stop staring at.” Will swallowed hard. “A friend,” he said. Boris’s eyebrow arched. “Ah. Boyfriend?” Will choked on air.
“No!” he whisper-shouted. Sinking lower in his chair. “No. Just- just a friend.” he emphasized. Boris’s grin widened, eyes gleaming. “So, you are single?” Will felt his heart leap out of his chest, “I- y- yes?” Will’s knee bounced under the desk like it was trying to escape.
Boris watched it with open amusement, lips twitching. “You are very expressive,” he said softly. Will pressed his heel into the floor, forcing his leg still. “I’m not-” He stopped himself, exhaling through his nose. Arguing only seemed to entertain Boris more.
“Mmm,” Boris hummed again, satisfied. He twirled his pencil between his fingers with practiced ease. “Your friend. He must be very handsome, yes? If I am a copy.”
Will’s heart did an embarrassing little stutter. He swallowed again. “He’s- uh. Yeah. I guess.” Boris smiled like he’d just won something. “So you have good taste.”
Will’s face went hot. “That’s not- I didn’t..” He stopped, words tangling. “Oh my god, stop talking.” He thinks to himself.
The lights overhead flickered just once, just a hiccup in the power, but it was enough. Cold flooded Will’s chest, breath catching sharp and shallow. His fingers dug into the edge of his desk like it might keep him anchored to the room.
The moment passed. Then Boris slid his notebook toward him, the motion unhurried. “Check it out,” he whispered.
The margins were filled with messy little sketches, faces with sharp grins, crooked halos, a little devil smoking a cigarette. Will blinked, pulled despite himself.
“You draw,” he murmured. “Meh,” Boris brushed off the question. “I get bored easy.” Will let out a shaky breath that might’ve been a laugh. His chest loosened, just a little. Then the bell rang. Will startled, knocking his pencil to the floor.
Before he could bend down, Boris had already retrieved it, placing it back on Will’s desk with his fingers lingering a second too long.
“You jump like a scared rabbit,” Boris teased quietly. “It’s very endearing.” Will’s entire face burned. “I’m not scared.” Boris tilted his head, eyes dark with something unreadable.
In the hallway, the noise crashed over him all at once; lockers slamming, voices overlapping. Someone shoulder-checked him hard enough to make him stumble. “Watch it, Fag.” Will rolled his eyes. Boris sighed, “What bullshit” Will blinked. “What?”
“That happens here too? The name calling,” Will felt heat crawl up his neck. “Yeah, I guess. it's better to ignore” Boris looked at him “Why?”
“It’s just easier.”
Boris let out a sharp breath through his nose, almost a laugh but without humor. “Easier for who?” Will didn’t answer. Boris clicked his tongue, clearly irritated.
A group of kids passed by, whispering, snickering. One of them deliberately clipped Will’s shoulder.
Boris was glaring at them, Will stared at him. “Why do you even care?”
Boris scoffed. “Because you remind me of someone.” Will laughed, “You’re really annoying.”
Boris’s mouth twitched up. “I don't want to go to my next class. I have history, next. Which is funny, because I do not care about this country’s.”
Will hesitated. “You still have to go.” Boris smiled at him, slow, conspiratorial. “Do I?” Will blinked. “Yes?” Boris leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was letting Will in on a secret. “What if… we didn’t.” Will’s stomach dropped. “We?”
Boris tilted his head toward the door. “It’s sunny. The teachers are boring. And you look, tired.”
“I’m fine,” Will said quickly and adjusted his backpack strap. “and I can’t just skip.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll get in trouble.”
Boris shrugged. “Everyone gets in trouble eventually.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
Boris laughed quietly, then sobered, watching the last of hall empty. “Come on,” he said, softer now. “One period. Forty-five minutes. You disappear, the world does not end.”
Will shook his head. “My mom-” Boris interrupted gently. “Does not know where you are during fifth period.”
Boris noticed his hesitation. He stepped just close enough that only Will could hear him. “You’re not even, a little, curious?” Will swallowed. “Where would we even go?” Boris’s grin sharpened. “There’s a hill behind the football field. You can see the whole town from there.”
Will stared at the door that led outside. He should go. He knew that. Fifth period mattered. Everything mattered. But his feet didn’t move.
“I’d need to be back before fifth is fully over, my sister needs me”
Boris studied him for a moment, then nodded. Before Will could say anything more, Boris grabbed his sleeve, pulling, and started toward the back exit. Will followed on pure instinct, heart pounding like he was doing something terribly wrong.
They slipped out the side door into the warm afternoon air. Will stopped just outside, looking around quickly. Boris laughed, genuinely delighted. “You’re adorable.” Will hesitated.
Then the bell rang for fifth period. The sound echoed inside the building, distant now. Final. Will let out a shaky breath and kept walking. Boris looked at him, impressed. “Look at you.”
“Do not make a big deal out of this,” Will warned.
“Oh, I absolutely will,” Boris said, grinning. “You’re a delinquent.” Will shook his head, but he was smiling too, chest light in a way it hadn’t been in weeks. As they headed toward the field.
….
They climbed the hill in easy silence, Boris walking like he owned the place, hands in his pockets, occasionally glancing back to make sure Will was still there. Will told himself, firmly that this was just what Boris was like. Confident. Weirdly charming in a way that meant nothing.
At the top, Boris stopped short. “See?” he said. “I told you.” Will stepped up beside him and sucked in a breath. Lenora stretched out below them, small and quiet. “…Okay,” he admitted. “This is pretty nice.”
Boris smiled, pleased, and dropped into the grass. Will followed, sitting with his knees pulled up, a careful few inches between them. They sat like that for a while, the sun warm on Will’s shoulders, the breeze tugging at his sleeves. His thoughts slowed, edges softening.
“You look less tense,” Boris said casually. Will shrugged. “I guess.” Boris hummed, then reached into his bag. Will barely noticed at first, until Boris pulled out a small plastic bag and a neatly rolled joint.
Will blinked. “Is that…”
“Yes,” Boris said, unfazed. “Do you want?”
Will nearly laughed. “No? I mean, I’ve never-”
“Relax,” Boris said easily. “I won't force you.” He held it between his fingers, considering. “But It helps me not be tense.”
Will chuckled. “That’s nice.” Boris grinned. “I am very nice.” Will shook his head, but the tension in his chest eased anyway. He watched Boris light it, the flame briefly bright against the afternoon, then take a slow drag.
“You can't tell my sister,” Will muttered. Boris smirked. “I do not know your sister. Yet.” They sat in companionable quiet again. Will was hyper aware of how close Boris felt, of the way his presence filled the space. Will shamed himself for wanting to get closer to the other boy.
Then Boris shifted. Without warning, he reached over and laced his fingers loosely with Will’s, resting their joined hands in the grass like it was the most natural thing in the world. Will’s brain short-circuited. He froze completely, breath catching. Boris’s hand was warm. Solid. Boris glanced at him. “Is this okay?”
Will stared at their hands. This had to be a misunderstanding. Some cultural thing. Friends held hands, though. Sometimes. “…Yeah,” Will said, voice too quiet, betraying him.
Boris smiled, not teasing this time, just soft and squeezed gently. Taking another drag off the joint. Something in Will’s chest tipped sideways. His face went hot, heart slamming. He didn’t pull away, though. Couldn’t because the fear that usually came with closeness didn’t rush in just a strange, buzzing disbelief.
Boris leaned closer, shoulder brushing Will’s. “...are you always this, friendly?” Will swallowed. “I am.” Boris tilted his head, amused. Will’s fingers curled slightly around Boris’s without him meaning to. “Oh, okay.” Boris squeezed again, reassuring. “I can stop, if you want.”
Will shook his head, dazed. “No. It's okay” He trailed off, smiling despite himself. “Okay.” Boris’s grin widened, satisfied but gentle. Passing the joint to Will, he breathed in the smoke then coughed, it was horrible, racking in his chest. He felt like he might die. Boris just laughed gently rubbing Will's back.
“That… was horrible..” Will wheezed, which just started Boris's laughing again. Will shoved him gently, “Here, let me help” Boris chuckled, taking the joint from Will's hand, he inhaled, then gently brought Will's face to his; Only inches apart.
“Breathe in.” He instructed and Will did as he was told when the cloud of smoke enveloped his head. “Good?” Boris asked, pulling away, “Y-yeah…” Will didn't know how to feel. A boy he had just met, a boy he was skipping school with, smoking weed with; a boy had nearly kissed him.
….
By the time Will and Boris made it back to the school people were already leaving. El quickly spotted him and waved, Will gave her a small wave in return but Boris started throwing his entire body weight into the wave he gave her, which made El and Will smile.
“That is your sister?” He asked, “Yep” Boris looked back at her, “She's pretty, She looks like you but y’know, a girl” Will blushed at that, “Are you two twins?”
“Hm? Oh no, She's actually like two months older then me”
They had reached El’s side at that point. “Hey, I'm Boris” he smiled at El but she just looked at him in shock “He really does, look like Mike” She said astonished. “Mike?” He turned to Will “Is that my copy?”
“Uh, yeah” Will laughed nervously.
Then Argyle and Jonathan were pulling up, “Hey Brochachos!” Argyle yelled from out the driver side window. “..Who's this?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m Boris Pavlikovsky, who are you?” He asked sceptically. “I’m Will and El’s older brother,” he said, tone pressed thin. “-His name is Jonathan” Will interjected. “Well, we've gotta go but I'll see you Monday?” Will asked and El giggled behind him making a blush rush up his neck.
Boris shrugged “Or not,” he rummaged in his pocket for a minute before pulling out a scrap of paper and scribbling on it “Here, my number” he handed it to him, their fingers brushing a second too long.
Will felt like he was tumbling now, his stomach doing flips, he tried to calm down. “Uh- thanks” Will smiled. El piped up, clearly delighted by the situation. “He’s totally bitchin’” she said simply, eyes sparkling.
Boris laughed and leaned slightly toward Will, hand brushing his again briefly, just enough for a spark to jolt through him. “Hear that? I'm totally bitchin’,” he echoed, smirking. Jonathan’s jaw tightened as he glanced at Boris, then back at Will. Boris tilted his head, playful, unbothered.
“C’mon Baby Byers let's goooo,” Argyle called “Bye” Will said quietly, opening the door to the van and sliding in. “Bye!” El waved at Boris who waved at her.
….
“He’s trouble." Jonathan said when they got home. Will blinked at him, chest tightening. “You.. don’t even know him.”
“I know enough,” Jonathan said. “His last name was Pavlikovsky, right? Well last week a Mr. Pavlikovsky had to be escorted out of Surfer Boy by the police” Will was feeling defensive now. “Right because, we of all people, don't know what it's like to have a shitty dad”
Jonathan sighed. “Listen Will all I'm saying is that we don’t know him, and earlier he seemed like he was messing with you. You don’t need that right now.”
Will’s face burned. “He just wants to be my friend, why is that bad?” Jonathan seemed annoyed when he said. “I’m not saying it is Will, I'm just saying I know what people are like. I’ve seen how you get treated, how people hurt you. And I don’t want him to be one more person doing that.”
Will could feel the anger building he hated when Jonathan treated him like this, like he was so breakable. “He’s not hurting me” Jonathan opened his mouth, then closed it, realizing arguing further would only make Will dig his heels in. He ran a hand down his face, exhaling. “Just… be careful, okay? That’s all I’m saying.”
Will crossed his arms, voice soft but firm. “I’ve survived worse than this.”Jonathan stared at him for a long, sad, moment, then nodded slowly.
Will headed up to his room, shutting the door softly behind him, Boris’s note still in his pocket, and when he pulled it out a small smile curled across his face.