Chapter Text
If someone told you the perfect way to spend your summer after wasting the past ones fighting interdimensional monsters, Mike Wheeler would never in a million years think that camping- with no hot water, no power would be it.
Nevertheless, with Dustin pressed into one side of him and Lucas basically crushing the other, his mind drifted to the one good thing about this whole god-awful trip: the party was finally back together.
A year had passed since graduation, and everyone had moved to different parts across the country. Max and Lucas had an apartment a couple blocks away from the NYU campus where Mike and Will shared a dorm room. Jane was also at NYU with a new roommate. And Dustin, of course, had made everything harder by choosing MIT; four hours away. Like he wanted to make hanging out physically impossible.
And speaking of Dustin, it was all his fault they were here. He’d called everyone, rambling about this “new spot he found in the newspaper,” insisting it was perfect for a summer reunion and they they all needed to reconnect
Mike had immediately whined to Will about how stupid the idea was.
“ Why does he think we need to reconnect? We fought monsters together for fucks sake.”
“Mike come onnn. We haven’t gone camping once in our lives and we are what, almost twenty? Don’t you think it's a little depressing?”
Will looked up at Mike through his lashes as he spoke, and Mike knew the debate was over before he could even try to plead his case.
Because of course he was going to fold, like he always did. He was a weak man when it came to Will’s lashes fluttering against his cheeks, or the way his front teeth peeked out when he bit his lower lip, almost like a bunny.
“Fine, but if I meet a new best friend don’t come crying to me” he teased.
Will rolled his eyes as he pushed at Mike’s chest “ Whatever Mike, like anyone would want to be friends with you”
“You're such a weirdo” he whispered, loud enough so that Mike could still hear.
So that’s how Mike ended up being pressed in on both sides with every jostle of the van; his inability to say no to his best friend.
Mike had tried to train his focus to the conversation happening between the two boys on his sides but his attention kept drifting forward; to the boy laughing in the front seat.
“ Can you at least turn on some air conditioning Maxine?” he whined
“Mike, I swear to god if you call me Maxine again I will pull out all your tent pegs while you sleep and let the wind drag you into the woods” Max snapped, glaring at him through her rear view mirror before turning her eyes back to the road.
“ Anyways. I’m sure you can hold it out for another twenty minutes. We’re almost at our hotel.” Max glanced at him in the mirror, smirking. “Michael.”
Mike was relieved when he found out that the party had decided to split the eight hour drive up to the spot into two days. He didn’t know how long he could last being trapped in that hot box of a van for that long before doing something irreversible to one of his friends.
As they pile out of the van, Mike makes an effort to catch Will’s eye. Something feels off with him. Or maybe the long drive just messed with Mike’s head and he’s overthinking it.
He tries to ignore the little jolt in his chest when Will finally looks up, giving him a timid smile before dipping his head again and walking toward Max.
Once everyone had their overnight bags sorted, the party headed towards the hotel entrance. It definitely wasn’t the kind of place Mike had ever stayed at. The sign had huge, vaguely cowboy looking lettering, and the building itself had red- rimmed doors, grey wooden slats, and a pastel green roof.
“Ok! I’ll go get us checked in, you all just talk or whatever you boys do.” Max chimed.
Mike took this as his chance to go stand beside Will, wanting to start a conversation since he hadn’t spoken a word in the four hours they’d been stuck in the van.
“So…. are you excited for what the campsite is going to look like?”
Will turned to face me. His eyes were dim, not holding their usual light. Probably just lack of sleep from the drive, Mike tells himself. Will hummed in thought, gaze dropping to the floor as he rocked his weight from one foot to the other.
“Yeah. It’ll be good to finally get out of our dorm room. Don’t really care what it looks like”
He finally met Mike’s eyes again, his mouth pulling into a small smile before slipping away just as quickly.
“ Guys!”
Mike turns his head to see Max striding back towards the group, three cards pinched between her fingers.
“I’ve sorted out the sleeping arrangement since I knew you all would end up fighting each other about it” she grinned.
“Dustin and Lucas are sharing a room. I’m sharing it with Jane and her friend. And Mike and Will are in the final room.”
She said it casually, like she hadn't just dropped a bomb in the middle of the room.
Will’s heart stops “Wait, Jane's bringing a friend?”
“Yeah she said her name was Lacy Hall? Apparently shes her room mate and they’ve gotten super close”
Mike’s eyes widened at the mention of Jane’s friend. He knew who Lacy Hall was, she’d been in a couple of his classes, always sitting near the front with her mousey brown hair cut into a soft fringe, shoulder length waves, wide green eyes and a body that filled out clothes in a way boys would never shut up about.
Mike was constantly dragged into conversations with his friends about how badly they wanted to date her, how she was “so perfect” and that they’d be “the one” for her.
He’d always assumed they were just desperate, clinging to the idea of a girl who was conventionally attractive and easy to talk about.
A waving hand broke his focus. “Mike? Hey. Are you with us”
Max stood in front of him, smirking with her arms folded across her chest like she’d just found out about Mike's ‘secret crush.
He cleared his throat “ Yeah, sorry. Just zoned out”
“Yeah, zoning out thinking about how smoking hot Lacy is, am I right Mike? ” Dustin snickered, raising his hand to high five Lucas.
Max elbowed Lucas in the ribs, whisper yelling “ You asshole, why did you agree with him”
Mike’s breath caught in his throat. For a second he couldn’t tell if it was Lucas’s joke that had punched the air out of him or if it was the look on Will’s face. He looked physically hurt, with his brows knitting together and bottom lip twitching like he was trying not to react.
Then Will turned on his heel and angled himself away from the group .
Mike's stomach dropped. He felt heat rushing up the back of his neck; embarrassment or panic, he couldn’t tell.
He opened his mouth, scrambling for something to say. Anything, to fix it, to explain that wasn’t what he was thinking about.
But before he could get a word out, Will was already walking away, shoulders hunched like he was trying to make himself smaller. He was gone, out of Mike’s grasp, slipping past the bathroom doors and out of view
Will pushed through the bathroom doors with urgency, quickly scanning the room to see if anyone else was in there before letting himself fall apart.
What was he thinking, of course Mike would fall for a girl like Lacy. She was the epitome of perfection in Mike's eyes, having everything Will didn’t; the body of a girl.
Will pressed the heel of his hands into his eyes, willing the tears to go away. He pressed harder until he saw stars as he felt the first tear roll down his cheek, leaving behind visible evidence of his pain.
He shouldn’t be crying. He’d known Mike wasn’t like him but hearing confirmation he was right didn’t make it any easier for him to bear.
Will gave up, he let the tears flow freely. He covered his mouth so that the others wouldn’t hear his sobs, he didn’t want them to worry.
After a moment the door swung open, Will wiped at his face quickly, hoping whoever walked in wouldn’t see how shaken he was. He tried to rush past the person in the door, but gentle hands caught his shoulders and guided him back against the wall. His heart hammered in his chest. He didn’t dare look up.
“Will, hey. Will It’s just me”
Mike’s voice, Soft. Too soft.
Hands cup his face, tilting it upwards until Will had no choice but to meet Mike’s gaze. Mike’s breath ghosted warm across his skin. Heat flooded Will’s cheeks and turned his head quickly, praying Mike hadn’t noticed.
“ ‘mkay Mike, dont worry about me I’m just tired” he whispered, swatting at Mike’s hands so that he could slip past him and return to the others.
He pushed past before Mike could say anything else, he didn’t want to hear whatever excuse Mike had ready on his tongue.
Will kept his eyes down as he rejoined the group, hoping no one realises how raw and red his eyes were.
Max spotted him first, running over and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist “ Hey. Where did you go?”
She pulled back, concern written all over her face. She bit her lip as she scanned him, clearly noticing something was off. Max chose not to ask, not here, not in front of everyone. Max always knew when it came to Will, it was Wheeler’s fault.
Her gaze softened. “ Hey. Why don’t you go up already and get some rest, hm?”
Will felt the tension ease out of him as he took the room key from her outstretched hand.
“ Yeah… thanks Max. That would be great. I’m not feeling up for dinner, so I’ll probably just order room service if I get hungry. But say hi to Jane for me when she arrives”
“ Of course, Byers”
Sleep took Will fast. As it always did. But his actual sleep was never pleasant.
He knew what was coming.
At first it felt normal. He was standing in the hallway of the hotel; the carpet scratchy under his bare feet, the lights humming overhead. But slowly the hum grew louder. Too loud to know this was going to be a pleasant dream. The walls stretched taller, darker, slithering with thick vines that Will all too well.
A voice seeped through the static
“William”
It wasn’t spoken. It gripped him.
Will’s breath hitched. He didn’t need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to. Vecna’s presence ghosted over the back of his neck, goosebumps surfacing on his skin.
“How could you be so naive?”
“Did you really think he could ever be like you?
The hallway light flickered. Suddenly snapping off, darkness swallowed everything except the silhouette in front of him.
Vines erupted from the floor, coiling around his ankles, his wrists, and his ribs, squeezing until he was gasping for air.
“N..no” Will whimpered. “Of course not”
The vines tightened their grip on him, knowing that the words he had spoken held no truth behind them.
“Are you really that pathetic?” Vecna hissed. “To believe anyone could ever love you like that?”
Will’s chest burned. Tears blurred his vision as the words struck him deep in his bones.
“Not even your sister could” Vecna continued, voice dripping with hatred “ She chose her boyfriend over you. Again. And again. And again”
The hallway warped as Will's knees buckled from the weight of his sobs, choking on air that felt too thick to swallow.
Then Vecna shifted.
His shape melted, posture straightening. The silhouette shrank into someone too familiar, someone who made Will’s heart drop.
Mike.
But it wasn’t the Mike he had met when he was 5.
This Mike had hollow eyes with his mouth twisted in disgust.
“Really, Will? Mike said, stepping closer to let the light shine down on him. “Did you think I would ever be friends with you after you said you were gay?”
Will shook his head violently, vines scraping his skin as he struggled “Mike please..”
“It disgusts me,” Mike spat. “Sharing a room with you. Being near you. Thinking you were normal"
Will sobbed harder, the sound echoing off the walls.
“M…Mike, I’m sorry” he begged, voice cracking “ Don’t leave me I’ll stop. I’ll stop feeling like this. Just.. just don’t leave me”
The vines yanked him downward.
Mike stepped back, the scowl on his face still remaining.
A void opened beneath him.
Will fell
And fell
Until-
“Will!”
A voice cut through the void
“Will, hey. It’s alright”
Hands grabbed his shoulder. He felt a steady warmth that was real, grounding.
The nightmare shattered as Will shot up right gasping for air.
Mike knew he had to fix whatever had just cracked between him and Will.
Will didn’t cry from being tired- not once in the fifteen years Mike had known him. And the way he’d brushed Mike off in the bathroom? That definitely wasn’t exhaustion. That hurt.
When Mike returned to the others, his stomach dropped. Will was gone.
“Max,” he said with a tight voice. “Where the fuck is Will?”
“Chill out, Wheeler,” she replied. “I gave him your room key. Said he was tired and wanted sleep”
Mike let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. Thank god. He hadn’t ruined everything. Not yet, at least.
He didn’t waste another second. He spun on his heel and headed for the hallway, walking fast, then faster until he was practically running. He barely remembered the sprint. Just the pounding of his chest and the fear that he’d find Will curled up alone, hurting because of him.
By the time he reached their room, he was out of breath.
He wiped his palms on his jeans, forced his hands to stop shaking, and eased the door open. Praying that the creak of the door hinge wouldn’t wake or worse.. find him crying again.
That's when he heard it.
The faint hitches of breath.
“ Mik..e”
“ ‘m sorry, don’t”
“ Lea...ve me”
Mike’s heart dropped, that wasn’t just fear; but begging. He rushed over to the edge of Will's bed, frantically checking his face.
Will's eyes were scrunched in pain, tears rolling down his cheeks as quiet whimpers left his mouth.
Mike grasped at his shoulders“ Will”
Gently shaking him, Mike hoped Will would wake “It’s just a nightmare”
“Will. Hey it’s alright”
Mike was just about to call Max for help when Will gasped and shot upright.
His eyes were blown wide, chest shuddering with every breath.
Mike had never seen Will in such distress.
He leaned forward to pull Will into a hug, freezing when Will flinched at the sudden movement.
“Hey… It’s ok. You just had a nightmare”
He reached for Will’s hand, slowly guiding it to settle over his chest; right over his heart.
“See, I’m here. Just breathe with me, nice and slow”
Mike let Will match his breathing. It was slow, steady, and comforting, something he knew Will would need after being so shaken up.
“M.. ike?” tears streamed down Will's face as he launched himself into Mike’s arms.
“Yeah it’s me, baby. I’m not going anywhere, ‘mkay?”
He rubbed slow circles on Will’s back, his shirt silky under his hand. Mike wondered if Will’s skin would feel just as soft. Pushing that thought away as he felt Will shuffle further away from him.
He looked up in surprise to see that Will had shuffled over, raising the covers to silently invite Mike into his bed.
It was something that shouldn't have made Mike’s heart race as fast like it did.
Mike pulled Will in tighter until their bodies were aligned, knees slotting together and hips pressed flush. Mike didn’t know if their position was making Will uncomfortable, doubt clouded his mind.
He didn’t have to worry for long as he felt Will cautiously rest his arm on Mike's chest, shuffling closer so that he could tuck his face in the crook of Mike's neck.
Will’s feathering breath was warm, making Mike's skin shiver with goosebumps.
It was almost scary how comforting it felt to have the boy so close to him.
Something must’ve been in the air as Mike felt a bit too brave. Slowly moving his hand up to sweep back a piece of Will's hair that had fallen out of place. Only just now realising that Will’s skin had a sheen to it, as he felt the sweat soaked hair. Mike tenderly fixed the hair back into place.
His hand dropped from Will's face, sliding under the covers and blindly searching for the other boy's hand. He tangled their fingers together, giving Will’s hand a squeeze in hopes it would bring him some warmth.
Will mumbled “ I'm sorry Mike.”
Mike ignored the chill of Will's breath down his neck“ Hmm? "What are you sorry for, baby?”
It took the stutter of Will’s breath and body tensing to make Mike realise what he had said. He decided to move past what had just happened. Hoping Will didn’t feel weirded out at the pet name slip up.
Will whispered “ I di… didn’t want to waste your time with Lacy”
Mike’s heart clenched at the way Will sounded defeated and fragile. Like he was mentally preparing for Mike to leave him.
“ Sorcerer, do you honestly take me to be the kind of Paladin to ditch you for some maiden I’ve never met? he teased.
He heard Will snicker, a sound that rippled throughout Mike’s body.
Giving Will’s hand another quick squeeze, Mike settled his hand at the dip of his waist.
He started to lazily draw small circles into the gap of exposed skin between Will’s shirt and sweatpants.
“Mmm soft” he murmured.
Just for a moment the two lay intertwined. Will breathing in Mike’s scent, where Mike indulged in the warmth of the boy that lay tucked into his side.
The warmth of one another lulled them into sleep, with a soft smile pulling at Will’s mouth.
Just for now Will would forget about the lurching of his heart he had felt when Mike was teased about being interested in Lacy.
Just for now he would feed his greedy heart with what he could have.