bitchin

Mike knew he was thinking selfishly. He shouldn’t be dwelling on his pain when he’d seen Will writhe and scream on a doctor’s table more than a handful of times today, but he couldn’t help it. This was too much for him; he wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it.

He wasn’t sure when he had fully realized it. Maybe it had been today, after feeling the relief flood into him when Will recognized him. He didn’t recognize some of the others, but he knew him. It made Mike feel too warm inside. 

Or maybe he realized it when Will came back. He’d been missing for what felt like so long, but it was only a week. That week without him was just–– it was unbearable. Maybe Eleven filled that gap for a little while, but Mike knew it wasn’t ever going to be anything like what he felt with Will.

He was just fooling himself with El. She wasn’t who he wanted. 

Will would always be the one.

A stirring on the bed caught his attention, and he stiffened, even if he knew that Will was only waking up after the drugs. But he stayed stiff, not knowing if he was going to see someone else taking control of the boy he cared for so much. Will’s eyes fluttered open and Mike rushed to his bedside, pushing past Hopper without uttering a word. He waited for Will to say something, anything, but he simply looked around. His eyes hadn’t landed on Mike yet, with his hand a small inch away from Will’s on the bed.

He yearned so badly to reach over that small space and grab his hand in his, to comfort himself and comfort Will at the same time, but he waited. He needed to know that this was his Will first.

“Will?” Joyce’s voice broke as she spoke, lifting a hand to stroke her son’s cheek. He stared at her, and Mike held his breath. 

“Mom?” He finally spoke, and Mike exhaled heavily. He ran his fingers through his growing hair; like he thought before, this was too much. He set his hand back down on the bed, so close to Will’s yet so far away, and his fingers twitched for a touch. “Mom, what’s happening?”

He turned his head to look around only to lock gazes with Mike. He froze as Will looked into his eyes, but he attempted a smile. “Hey,” he choked out, trying not to seem too– too– he didn’t quite know. He tried to stay neutral. “How’re you feeling?”

Will simply looked at him silently for more moments than Mike would have liked, and he grew nervous. Sure, he had remembered Mike before, but after three more times of convulsing and screaming in pain and three more times of being injected by drugs, anything could have changed.

“Hey, Mike,” Will said breathily, smiling for the first time since waking. Mike couldn’t help but grin in return. “I, uh, my throat hurts.”

“Here, have some water,” Joyce interrupted, and Will turned back to her. But Mike still kept his eyes on him, on his small smile that was so bright yet so defeated. Mike kept his eyes on the boy he loved, and he slowly slipped their fingers together. Will’s smile didn’t leave his face, and Mike could find comfort in that.

************** Here’s my first Mike x Will piece, I hope you guys like it!! I write originally on @parkersenses if you’d like to see more of my writing style :) If you have any requests for anything you’d like me to write about Mike x Will, then just let me know!