between // worlds

[ listen, the davis sibs are the BEST. he’s ecstatic ok!!! ]

The Davis boy blinked at Will’s sudden movement, glad that the other couldn’t see just how red his face was but he wrapped his arms around the smaller of the two regardless. Will’s question prompted a laugh, shaking his head as his chin rested on the other’s head. “I guess so. Man we could’ve been way less anxious a heck of a lot earlier,” he smiled, a hand moving to play with Will’s hair.

“FINALLY!”

Matt jolted but didn’t let go of Will as Beth appeared in the doorway, a knowing smirk on her lips as she leaned against the doorframe. “Not here to crash the party, Mom just wanted me to ask the Munchkin if he wanted to stay for dinner.” she added, positively beaming because she might’ve heard the last five minutes of conversation due to arriving too soon and not wanting to interrupt. “I’ll just go back down and you two can radio me or something. Let me know!” 

The door closes and Matt facepalms, grip still around Will’s waist but he couldn’t help but laugh. Beth had been waiting for years for him to man up and he finally did. Oh she was going to give him grief later. He also appreciated the sounds of Beth deflecting their other two sisters and their mother from coming upstairs, prompting him to give Will a sheepish smile. “Well at least we know Beth approves.”

HE hummed contentedly at the gentle fingers in his hair and at Matt’s warmth. It was nice to imagine them having realized their feelings earlier but Will was fine with things going this way too. Having found out after all the distressing events that almost got him KILLED ( twice! )  seemed ideal in the sense that now he had something WONDERFUL to help him recover from the awful ordeal.

SPEAKING of anxiety, the sound of the door opening followed by Beth’s voice instantly had Will raising his head; PANIC clear in his expression. The color quickly drained from his face and the only thing that stopped him from maybe diving to the floor and hiding under the bed was the fact that Beth looked-- pleased. And that was all the reassurance the young Byers needed. Beth’s approval meant the world to him.

WHEN she left, Will sighed in relief; smiling slightly at the sound of Matt’s laughter. 

    he  WISHES  the  boy  knew  just  how  B R A V E  he’d  really  been  ——  though  he  knows  he  cannot  SEE  IT.  he’s  so  caught  up  in  the  reality  of  everything  that  all  he  can  see  is  THE  FEAR;  though  michael  is  a  step  BACK  from  it  all,  and  just  the  fact  he’s  still  BREATHING  &  SANE  tells  him  that  will  is  STRONGER  than  he’ll  take  credit  for. 

     his  words  fill  the  wheeler’s  chest  with  LIGHT,  and  his  friendly  smile  will  WIDEN,  dark  hues  never  leaving  his  friend’s  gaze.  the  words  he  tells  him  have  MEANING  ——  and  he  already  knows. 

            ❛   you’d    have    stuck    by    me,    too.    I    KNOW    YOU    WOULD.    and    i    know                you’re    ALWAYS    HERE.    but … y’know,    i’m    sure    you    have    MORE    on    your             mind    than    i    do.    no    matter    how    STUPID,    or    how    SCARY  ——  you    can             always    TALK    to    me.    alright  ??    and    i’ll    NEVER    tell    your    mom.    promise.   ❜ 

IF his terrifying experiences taught him one GOOD thing, it's that his family ( and yes— the party was family ) would always be there for him no matter what. 

WILL let slip a sniff, Mike’s sentiments causing his eyes to prickle. The  youngest Byers may seem shy but he was never too proud to express his emotions in gestures, especially if words felt lacking. He turned to Mike with outstretched arms, gingerly pulling him into a WARM hug.