Chapter Text
Will Byers perspective
As Vecna pulls him closer, tightly gripping him with his vine-like hands, Will opens his eyes.
He awakes in a clatter with a racing heart and rapid breathing.
It was just a dream. He thinks to himself.
Just a dream.
When he made the decision to leave Hawkins, he thought it would be a step into a world of fresh air, a step out of the trial he had been living through since that cold night in 1983. The truth was, the “real world” was just as scary. Although he did feel that he was fitting in more in his new life, there was still a piece missing. Rather, multiple pieces missing, his party.
That was what he needed right now. Most of all, he needed the person who had gotten him through everything. He needed the person whose name he screamed during his week in the upside down. The person who was always there for him, no matter what. The person who had asked him to be friends on the swingset all those years ago.
Mike had always been there for him. He wanted to, needed to talk to him, really talk to him. They had, of course, spoken since they had been separated. Something about talking on the phone, though, made them more shallow, less understanding. Since Will had moved, his conversations with Mike were always something surface level, but that’s not what he needed right now. He missed being around the best friend that had told him stories all those years ago, the person who had a habit of always repeating himself twice, the best friend he had fallen in love with.
No.
He couldn’t fall back into old habits.
He did still love Mike. But he had accepted the fact that it would never be reciprocated, at least not the way he wanted it to be. And, for the most part, he was okay with that. He was grateful to have Mike, but from time to time he thought about what could have been.
He thought about the shared glances over the years, the playful shoves and taps, the times they had fought and the times they had made up.
He thought about how Mike was so clueless. About how he was too.
He wondered how he could have ever thought that there was a chance for him.
Despite it all, Will really loved being friends with Mike. He was glad to still have him, glad that Mike decided Will was still his best friend. He was grateful that, despite the way Mike was raised, he still cared for Will and didn’t allow their friendship to be ruined.
The truth was, Will needed his whole party right now.
And he was lucky, because, as it was, they were having another reunion the next day.
I should get back to bed. Will thought.
Tomorrow I’ll see them and we’ll talk and it’ll all be okay. He hoped.
That same night (Mike’s perspective)
Mike jolted awake abruptly, not quite knowing why.
Since everything had ended, these middle-of-the-night wakeups were common occurrences.
He didn’t quite have nightmares, not like Will, he would just sometimes wake up with the feeling that something wasn’t right. Ever since Eleven’s departure, it was a habitual feeling. He had spent so many years needing her, and now she was gone.
It was also a common occurrence for Mike to just stay up and ponder after he had already been awoken. He often found himself thinking about Eleven, wondering why it was so hard for him to tell her that he loved her when it was still a possibility. He did love her, but there was often a question in his mind about whether he had been in love with her.
He reprimanded himself for that kind of thought, she was gone and he wasn’t going to disrespect her. But there was often a feeling of longing somewhere deep inside of him, like something he hadn’t had time to think about when El was there, but something that always seemed to make an appearance now that she was gone.
No.
Don’t even think about it.
He often thought about Will too. He missed him.
Although they called here and then, it felt like they hadn’t had a real conversation in a long time.
He wanted to talk to Will, really wanted too, but it seemed like they never had time to actually talk.
He wanted to hear about his new life, about what he had painted recently, about everything.
This made him seem desperate, but truly, he just wanted to be best friends with him again.
He wondered if Will had met any cool new friends or maybe… A boyfriend?
If anyone deserves to be happy in this life, it’s Will. He thought.
And then, he sat in silence, wondering what was going to happen the next day. He loved reuniting with everybody, but there were a lot of highly energetic people who took part in the reunions, and sometimes that was truly overstimulating. He loved everyone, of course, but sometimes it just drained his social battery. He liked having deep conversations, and he felt that at these reunions it was always small talk. Beating around the bush. They never talked about what they had collectively gone through, if everyone was okay. It just never seemed to come up.
And Mike certainly did not want to be the one to bring it up. He feared that everybody would stare and move one. Nobody responding, with eyes full of pity that Mike was still “living in the past”.
Mike talked to Dustin a lot, they had more conversations and met one-on-one more often because they were near in distance. Mike still felt scared to bring it up.
So he pushed it all down.
Past the core of his being.
He didn’t want to think about how it had all started, the night Will went missing. He didn’t want to confront the fact that it was all his fault.
The words echoed in his head, in his heart.
“The demogorgon, it got me.”
That would haunt him until the day he died, and far past that.
He could’ve told Will to stay.
Should’ve. Could’ve. Would've.
But in a way, he was grateful for what they had been through. It had brought them all closer together, and allowed him to make friends he never would have thought he’d have.
Even his relationship with his sister, his own blood, wouldn't be the same if they hadn’t gone through all of the trials and grief.
It still pained him to think about what everyone else had gone through. He had had it easier than a lot of the others. Than Holly, than his mom, than Nancy, than his dad, than his party.
His eyes began to water.
This. This is why I don’t think about it.
They had gone through so much, and never even talked about it.
They had always been in the moment, never thinking before or ahead of the present. They were forced to. But what was stopping them now?
No. It’s a bad idea. You’ll lose them. You’ll lose all of them.
He couldn’t stand the thought of being without them. And talking about it could bring up emotions that could tear them apart. He’d rather push these thoughts down.
Murray Bauman’s perspective.
Murray woke up in a blur.
Where are my glasses? He thought.
He shuffled around until he finally found his thin metal rimmed glasses.
He then looked in the mirror affirming to himself (yet not quite convinced) that “Today’s gonna be a good day”.
After a few moments of morning dread, he began to make his way to another part of his so-called lair and begin preparation for his ice bath.
Once the ice was poured in the water, he stepped in.
“WOOH!” He exclaimed.
“No better way to start the morning”.
Then, the phone began to ring.
He slid it off the counter, almost dropping it into the freezing water.
“Hello?” He asked.
“Are you on your way yet?” Hopper asked.
“No good morning, my sweet?” Murray questioned sarcastically.
“No, I’m not on my way yet. And why must you feel the need to remind me as if I’m a 5 year old child who forgets to wear pants?” Murray spoke in his usual manner.
“Ok, well, I just want to make sure everyone makes it today, so don’t forget to show up this time.” Jim Hopper replied sarcastically.
Then, dial tone.
Murray got out of the tub of ice and into some semi-formal Murray-esque clothes.
This’ll do.
He got in the car. Suddenly on the way to be reminded of all the years of trauma. Reminded that this time he had to play matchmaker again.
It pains me that these kids are so painfully unaware of what’s going on with them. He thought to himself.
Mike Wheeler’s perspective.
As he pulled into the driveway, he wondered if this would be another reunion where everybody talked, but didn’t really talk.
He couldn’t tell whether he hoped so or not.
On one hand, he didn’t have to deal with people asking him meaningful questions and not knowing how to respond, being left with a feeling of being stuck in the past. On the other hand, he didn’t get to see how people were actually doing, beneath the surface.
Whatever.
He was here now and he’d make the best of it.
As he opened the door, he was met with a swarm of greeting and hugs.
He spoke to Joyce and Hopper, asking them about how their life together was going. He spoke to Lucas and Max about how they were and what they had been up to.
Suddenly, he felt doomed. Destined to be alone. At these reunions the couples were always together, and the people who were single were happy about it. Mike felt like he was left floating somewhere in the middle. He wanted to find love, but he didn’t want to move on. He wanted to be with someone, but felt endlessly alone.
He wandered to the kitchen, where he was met with a peaceful silence, with ambient noise left lingering in the air. He liked this.
He turned around to discover he wasn’t alone.
Will was there.
“Hey, Mike.” Will spoke.
“Oh. Hey, Will. You scared me a little, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in here.”
“Sometimes the noise just gets a bit– much.” Will replied.
“Oh trust me, I get it.” Mike muttered back.
“Are you-er-okay?”
“Yeah.” Mike responded. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“How are you?” Mike redirected.
“Oh you know, nothing much going on. I’ve been painting a little and I started reading this amazing book. But other than that, life has been pretty calm, you know, with no monsters to fight.” Will stated and then chuckled.
Mike felt happiness for Will, he deserved to be this happy about things he was passionate about.
Then…
Something unreadable spread across Mike’s face.
Was it worry, regret? Will couldn’t tell. Ugh, why had he said that. He was just trying to make friendly conversation, but it seemed to trigger Mike.
“Uh sorry about that.” Will apologized.
“No. Don’t be sorry. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just trying to figure out what’s next. I know it’s literally been ages since it all ended, but it always feels near, like it’ll never be over. You know?”
“Yeah, trust me, I get it.” Will replied, gazing intently.
They sat in silence for what felt like forever.
It was nice, there was no awkwardness. It was a calming silence that filled the room, which they both appreciated.
Until that was interrupted…