Chapter Text
SHOCK JOCK
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Hot.
...
Will dropped to his knees, feeling a jolt of pain shoot up through his body. He stared down at the side of his pointer finger, which was coated in the blood he'd just wiped from his nose. Had he really just done that?
Flashes of red clouded Will's vision. He closed his eyes, allowing his brain to resupply the images. Robin. Safe. Lucas. Injured... but safe. Mike. Safe.
The kids...
"Will!"
Will opened his eyes as his mother wrapped her arms around him, helping him up from the ground. "Mom..."
"Oh, honey," Joyce choked back tears as she dug her nails into Will's shoulders. She pulled him as close as she possibly could, fearful of letting go. "I can't... How did you... How?"
"I don't know," Will shook his head, gently pulling from the hug. He had about half a second to see Mike charging toward him.
"Mike?---"
"WILL!" Mike yelled, crashing into Will. Mike threw his arms around him, and while the build-up to the hug was rather brash, the comfort of each other's warmth felt like a sigh of relief.
Will smiled as he buried himself in the crook of Mike's neck, breathing softly as to not startle him. "Mike..."
"You did it," Mike pushed halfway from the hug, keeping his hands firm on Will's shoulders. "I knew it. I told you, Will! You're a goddamn sorcerer!"
For a moment, Will allowed himself to be caught up in the joy of Mike's attention. It felt good to be noticed, especially after something so... well... powerful? But as Will remembered the kids, his smile slowly faltered. "I... I lost the kids, Mike. I failed."
Mike shook his head, his wet, oily curls stagnant on his forehead. "No, no. We can get them back, Will. We'll get them back. Plus, there's still Lucas and Robin! I'm sure they---"
"No, Mike," Will's voice was strangled, hoarse. He stared down at his palms before finally meeting Mike's eyes again. "Two demos attacked Robin and Lucas. I-I stopped them, but..."
"Those kids are gone too," Mike whispered, the edges of his brows upturning in a sad, sympathetic look.
Will nodded, humming softly in response. He felt his bottom lip quiver. He swallowed back a sob, refusing to let himself crumble. No more brittle. Only steel.
"We need to get back through those tunnels," Mike suggested, grabbing Will's arm. "Get back to the WSQK. We'll regroup, reconvene, whatever--- We'll figure this out, Will."
Will couldn't respond.
He just hoped to God that Mike was right.
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Mike was fucking struggling.
The images flashed in his head: the sight of Will's eyes, the animalistic grunts as the power surged through him, the moment he fell to his knees and wiped the blood from his nose, all while locking eyes with Mike--- it was too much. Way too much.
He wasn't sure why the glow around Will hadn't disappeared yet. It just didn't seem logical. As Mike shuffled through the tunnels, he kept turning his head to glance at Will. And his face was fucking glowing. It was almost as if the illumination of the long-gone flames followed.
Will, who had his mother's arm around him as he guided her through the tunnels, caught a glimpse of Mike. He looked up, his face entirely curious.
While Mike knew he was caught, he took a fraction of a second to stare. Will's hair was messy and damp, likely reeking of the musky scent of industrial water and sweat. His eyes were brighter, almost as if they'd regained their childlike light from years ago. His cheeks were a dusty pink, slightly masked by the dirt and sweat plastered against his skin. And his lips...
Mike looked away.
His lips?! Mike blinked heavily, nearly tripping in the dirt as his shoe found a small rock. Why in the hell was he always so goddamned focused on Will's lips?
I think you know why that is, Michael.
Mike inhaled sharply, opening his eyes to stare forward. The breath he took caused an intense, sharp pain to bloom through his ribs. He pressed a hand against his side, feeling the dampness of his hoodie--- was that water or blood? He didn't want to know.
"Mike? You okay?" Joyce’s voice drifted back to him, laced with that sharp maternal intuition that usually made him want to bolt.
"Fine," Mike grunted back, his voice sounding thinner than he liked. "Just... watch your step. The ground is uneven."
I think you know why that is.
The thought poked at him again, a sharp needle in his brain. He shoved it down, burying it under the sounds of their breathing and the distant, whisper-quiet dripping of the tunnels. He needed to focus. He needed to find---
"Lucas!" Will’s voice rang out behind him.
Mike looked up, seeing a familiar pair of sneakers around the corner. Lucas was slumped against the wall of the tunnels, holding his chest as he breathed erratically. "Oh, shit! Lucas!"
"Hey, guys," Lucas breathed. "What's uh... What's up?"
Mike shot him a playful glare. "Now who's the one downplaying his injuries?" Crouching down in front of Lucas, Mike pointed his flashlight toward the boy's bloody shirt.
Lucas shrugged, still keeping a hand pressed to his chest. "I thought I'd give it a try. Y'know, since you seem to swear by it."
Will followed, settling in right next to Mike as he pulled a first aid kit from his bag. "Hang on, we'll get you bandaged up."
"Can we see it, honey? Can you show us?" Joyce asked, leaning against the wall for support.
Lucas nodded, pulling his shirt all the way up. He had a pretty large gash in the center of his chest, but it wasn't deep. It made Mike audibly grimace, his face scrunching up in disgust.
"Oh, th-that's not too bad," Will stammered, pulling gauze from his first aid kit. "Is it okay if I...?"
"Yeah," Lucas nodded, his grip firm on the hem of his shirt as he kept it held up.
Mike watched as Will leaned in and cleaned the wound. Selfishly, he'd wished Will had been at the Turnbow house. Then it would've been Will cleaning his wound instead of Jonathan. Sure, Mike wouldn't have gotten any weed for the pain, but that type of tender touch from Will would've had him buzzing with the type of high that drugs certainly could not provide. With every hiss from Lucas, Will jolted a bit, muttering a brief apology under his breath.
"So, what happened?" Mike asked, not tearing his eyes away from Will's gentle hands.
Lucas hummed, resting his head back against the wall. "I almost had the kids out of here, man. And then a demogorgon, it just... it swiped me."
"And then the demo froze up in the air, right?" Mike questioned, sounding a little too giddy.
Lucas, Will, and Joyce all looked dead at Mike with puzzled expressions.
"What?" Mike blinked.
Lucas winced as Will placed gauze over his chest. "I mean, yeah. It did. And then every single bone broke. It's like Vecna---"
"That was Will, actually."
Another moment for the rest of the group to judge Mike.
Mike huffed. "Okay, seriously, what?! I'm not allowed to be a little giddy that my best friend is a goddamn superhero?"
"Mike," Will let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he carefully used medical tape to secure Lucas's gauze. "All I did was tap into Vecna's powers. They're not my own. I won't have them forever."
Mike felt his face flush. He turned away, averting his gaze awkwardly. Will thinks I'm ridiculous, Mike thought. It was rather tempting to attack that scab on his lip again, but he held back.
"So, let me get this straight--- that was all you? The demo floating, the limbs snapping--- that was you?" Lucas asked, using the wall of the tunnel to push himself up off the ground.
Will nodded, standing up and brushing himself off. "I mean, yeah..."
"Holy shit," Lucas breathed, walking along the wall. "Holy shit! Y-You know what this means, right?"
Mike raised an eyebrow. "And I was the one who was weird for getting excited?"
"Hold on, Mike--- Do you guys realize what this means? Will--- You're Will the Wise! Like, for real!" Lucas exclaimed.
"I---"
"Actually, he's more like a sorcerer, not a wizard," Mike cut in.
Lucas sighed, gripping the wall to keep himself from absolutely crashing out on this idiotic joke of a boy. "Okay... Yeah, I mean, sure. But like, you get what I'm saying, though, right? Like this--- This totally changes the game. We literally have a second El."
"I'm not really like---"
"He's not like El," Mike cut in again, staring back at Lucas. "He's Will. And he just---"
"It's fine," Will interjected softly, though he refused to maintain eye contact with either of them as he walked alongside his mother. "Let's just get back to the WSQK. I'm... exhausted, and we need to come up with a new plan."
Mike nodded, turning back around to keep moving. Will was right. And, in a way, Lucas was right, too. Mike was being a bit too eager about the whole 'powers' situation.
And he knew the real reason why.
He just would never dare to say it out loud.
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"Alright, Lucas, watch your step."
"Agh--- Grab my hand, Mike---"
"I am! You need to--- Okay, wait. Got it. Yeah. Just one more step."
"I can see that, Mike."
"Don't be an ass---"
Just as Will was about to head up the ladder, his mother stopped him.
"Hey," Joyce whispered, keeping a hand on Will's arm. "I wonder if there's a way we can jack back into the hive mind and access his powers again."
"That's not possible, not unless..." Will jumped down from the bottom of the ladder, his shoes colliding with the dirt. "Not unless the hive is close."
"But--- What happened tonight? None of us thought that was possible, either," Joyce began.
Will tilted his head slightly, confused and a little shocked. "Mom..."
"Listen, I'm just saying, what if...?" Joyce squeezed her son's shoulder. "What if this time, you don't use your powers against his army? You use them against him. Vecna."
"I still don't really understand how I did it, Mom. I---"
"Hold on, Will. If you're about to tell me you failed again, I'm going to go insane," Joyce let out a breathy laugh. "What you did was extraordinary, Will. Vecna chose you because he underestimated you. He said you were..."
"Weak," Will mumbled, trying to hold back his tears.
"And you're not weak, Will. You're so much stronger than anyone could've ever imagined. Ever since the day I got you back, I've treated you like you were fragile." Tears streamed down Joyce's cheeks as she spoke. "I'll never make that mistake again, honey. Never. I see you now, Will. I see you."
Will gave in to the tears, allowing them to fall down his cheeks. His shoulders shook as he fell into his mother's embrace, sobbing quietly. "Mom..."
"It's okay," Joyce whispered, kissing the top of his head. "It's okay."
Will backed up a little, raising a hand to wipe his tears away. "Mom... There's um, there's something I should tell you."
Joyce furrowed her brows in a mixture of confusion and concern. "What is it, honey?"
"I..." Will's pupils shook violently as he searched between his mother's eyes. "I'm..."
Your father was right about you.
Will had forgotten about that vision. One of the first ones he'd had at the barn, before everything went bat-shit crazy. Before Robin's speech in the tunnels.
"Will?"
Will forced a tight-lipped smile. "I'm ready to end this. Let's go figure out how to kick his ass."
"Will!"
"Sorry!" Will chuckled softly at his mother's wide eyes.
Joyce laughed before sighing softly. "It's alright. I'm just not used to that kind of language from you. But, you're right. Let's show that son of a bitch that he messed with the wrong family."
. . .
"Okay, the goal is simple," Joyce began, staring around the room. "We get Will close to the hive mind. Once he is, he jacks back in. Only this time, he doesn't go after a demo--- he goes for Vecna. One blow; he takes him out. Ends this whole thing, ends him... What do we think?"
Will looked around the room. Murray was... Well, Murray. Robin looked like she was barely there, while Lucas was fully invested and interested. Erica looked like she was relatively excited, but she seemed to be keeping it to herself.
Unlike Mike.
Mike was smiling so wide that it was almost creepy. Keyword: almost. Because there was no way in hell that Mike's smile could ever terrify Will. It was something he'd been obsessed with for years. The harsh curves of Mike's lips and the way they'd just soften the minute he'd smile. It was beautiful. Mike was beautiful.
"I-I think it's a great plan!" Robin exclaimed from the couch, holding an icepack to her head. "It's just, um..."
Murray cleared his throat. "It is. It's a great plan. I think we're all just a little... shocked?"
"Yeah," Robin agreed, nodding so heavily that her head throbbed. She groaned, pushing the icepack harder against her temple. "Ow. I mean... Will, you took out that demo with your mind?"
"Um---"
Mike held up three fingers. "Three, to be exact."
"Three?" Robin raised an eyebrow.
Will nodded, smiling softly. He looked down at the floor for a moment. "I-I mean... Yeah."
"Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit," Murray said breathlessly.
Mike's face morphed into one of immense concern. "...Huh?"
"You're a real-life wizard," Robin said quietly.
Lucas shook his head, leaning forward. "No, no. He's more like a---"
"A sorcerer," Erica cut in. "Because his powers are---"
"Innate. Yes, thank you!" Mike exclaimed, running his fingers through his oily hair.
"Can we all just focus, please?" Joyce pleaded, pressing her palms together in front of her face in a prayer formation. "No stupid ideas. Who's got one?"
"What if we just toss little Byers in the back of the van and drive him around like a human antenna?" Robin asked, leaning into the icepack in her palm.
Will gave Robin an immensely confused glance. "...What?!"
"She said no stupid ideas!"
Mike mumbled something under his breath, something that sounded like, "Every idea is stupid coming from you." But luckily, Robin was too far away, physically and mentally, to hear it.
"Seriously, any other ideas?" Joyce asked.
Will chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment before he cleared his throat and spoke up. "Um... I'm kinda hungry."
"Me too," Robin chimed in, slowly removing the icepack.
"I---Okay... Let's go see what we've got here," Joyce suggested, defeated.
Will followed his mother and Robin into the kitchen, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. As Joyce searched through the cabinets, Robin leaned in closer to Will's ear.
"Wheeler's got it bad for you."
Will jumped back, his face bright pink. "He--- What? No, no. He most certainly does not."
"Little Byers, do not doubt my expertise," Robin whispered, lifting a hand to her head. "...Ow."
"You literally hit your head. I'm probably going to question everything you say."
Robin furrowed her brows and pouted. "I haven't said anything bad yet."
Will snorted. "You suggested that I get driven around like a human antenna, Robin."
"...Fair point. But--- I'm not wrong about this!" Robin exclaimed, catching a judgmental glance from Joyce. She went back to whispering. "I'm telling you. Trust Ms. Rockin' Robin."
Will sighed as he watched his mother open up the walk-in pantry before stepping in. He turned back to face Robin, eyes full of hope. "...Elaborate."
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Mike fidgeted with his jacket in his lap, subconsciously taking in the musky scent of it; those stupid washroom pipes and something else that was uniquely Will. He traced his fingers along the hem of one of the denim sleeves, jealous of the fabric for getting the chance to brush against Will's soft hands.
"You remind me of your sister."
Mike's head shot up. He glanced around the room until his eyes locked on Murray, who was still sitting on the couch. "I---Thanks, I guess? I didn't even realize you were still in here. Thought you'd run off to find food or something with the others."
"No, no. I'm finding peace just watching you right now," Murray said quietly, creepily keeping his gaze on Mike. "And I'm not so sure I meant it as a compliment, little Wheeler."
"...What?"
"While your sister is an incredible young lady--- props to her for killing the standards--- I'm talking about the time she came by my place with Jonathan." Murray leaned back against the couch, throwing his right leg over his left knee. "Before she stopped acting like the person everyone expected her to be."
Mike raised an eyebrow. His hands paused on the jacket. "I don't understand."
"Shocker. I'm talking about your feelings," Murray sighed. He gestured toward the kitchen, where Will was laughing with Robin and Joyce. "For that Byers kid."
Mike's eyes widened, and a bright pink hue crept across his cheeks. "I-I don't--- What are you talking about? Did you hit your dumb bald head or something?"
The way Mike's voice cracked was just downright embarrassing. His defensiveness was hardly convincing. Murray knew. What was Mike supposed to do? Give in? What if Will had heard that?
"Okay, okay," Murray held his hands up in a placating gesture, uncrossing his legs to sit forward. "Hold on. I'll back it up a bit. Because... clearly, you're a tough one. Definitely not like your sister. At least she was nice to me. Well. Kind of."
"I'm not doing this," Mike said, standing up. He accidentally dropped his jacket on the floor. As he bent down to pick it up, his blood ran cold at the sight of a crumpled-up piece of paper.
The letter.
The same letter Mike had written, back when Will was in Lenora. The letter he'd never sent, because he was much too scared to be open and honest about how he felt.
God, had Will noticed it? He must've thought Mike was a slob who collected trash in his jacket.
Wait.
Had Will... opened it?
Murray huffed and got up from the couch as well, grunting in pain. "I won't push you. At least, not while he might still be in earshot. I'll give you some dignity. But you need to grow a pair and just accept what you're feeling, little Wheeler. Start accepting the fact that you're not your parents. Pretty sure forced conformity isn't your thing, kid."
"I---"
Before Mike could respond, Murray hobbled toward the kitchen. Mike stared down at the paper in his hand.
If Will had read it, if he had really taken in every word, then that meant Will knew the truth.
And if Will knew...
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"I'm telling you, I know!" Robin exclaimed.
Will shook his head, burying his face in his hands as he leaned his elbows against the kitchen counter. "Robin, he's not jealous. He's injured, his sister is missing, and--- No, no. You know what? Have you stopped to consider that maybe he's into you, Robin? You said he, what, stared a hole into your soul?"
"Oh, Will," Robin clicked her tongue and lowered her head. "You're oblivious."
"Am I? Or am I just being logical, Robin? Because there is no chance that he---"
"What's going on out here?" Murray asked, stumbling into the kitchen. "Where's Joyce at? I'd assume she'd know if there's any... adult beverages... around here."
Robin gestured to the walk-in pantry. "She's in there. There wasn't much out here, so she's checking storage."
Will stared down at the floor, feeling his heart race in his chest. What if Robin wasn't wrong? It wouldn't be the craziest thought in the world. And, as far as crazy theories could go... Will had had crazier.
No. No. That couldn't be possible.
Because that would imply you are lovable.
Will blinked rapidly, attempting to stop himself from crying. He couldn't let himself falter--- not now.
"Will?"
Will's head shot up as Mike entered the kitchen, his jacket draped over his arm. "Yeah, Mike?"
"Um, I was wondering if we could talk. I---"
"I'VE GOT IT!"
Son of a bitch, Will thought. What if Robin wasn't wrong?
"Huh?" Mike turned in the doorway to find Lucas and Erica practically vibrating as they stood in the lounging area.
"I've got it," Lucas repeated.
Erica huffed. "Yeah, well, I'm going first."
"Go ahead, that's why most people say bad news first, Erica. They'll like my plan better by default."
"If you don't shut it, I swear, Lucas---"
"Guys!" Mike shouted, his voice a lot rougher than he'd anticipated. "Sorry. Just... What is it?"
"Let's get everyone in one room," Erica said, making a 'come here' motion with her hand.
. . .
"Okay, so--- Dustin may be MIA, so he can't help us build another telemetry tracker. But his mentor is not MIA," Erica explained, holding up a small newspaper that had a photo of Dustin and Mr. Clark. "So my plan is that we get Mr. Clark in on this. He can help build a telemetry tracker, hopefully pretty quick, and then we can get Will close to the hive mind in no time."
Lucas sighed and stepped forward, looking around the room. "And my plan is a lot better. Erica's takes too much time. Mine is faster, bolder, better. I'm saying we Frankenstein one of the demos Will killed, heat it up, shock it back to life. That way, Will won't be far from the hive mind at all. We can do it all right here."
"How the hell do you suggest we do that?" Erica asked, turning to face Lucas.
"The radio tower," Robin breathed. "There's, like, 50,000 watts flowing through that thing."
"Exactly!" Lucas exclaimed.
Will pulled a chip from the bag in his hands, stilling it at his lips for a moment. "So... We're going to zombify a demo?"
Murray chuckled. "Give little ol' zombie boy a chance to connect with a---"
"Don't call him that," Mike cut in, glaring at Murray.
Will dropped the chip back in the bag, suddenly losing his appetite. He hated how that label made him feel. But he had to stay strong, especially if he was about to help shock a demogorgon back to life.
Especially if Mike still had something he wanted to talk about. Will hadn't forgotten their exchange in the kitchen.
"Why don't we just try both plans?" Joyce asked. "Murray, you and Erica can go recruit Mr. Clark. The rest of us will work together on this... Frankenstein plan..."
"Will and I can work on a way to bring the electricity closer," Robin suggested, moving to wrap an arm around Will.
Mike tore open the scab on his lip.
Will noticed.
"That seems like a great plan," Joyce agreed. "Alright. Let's get moving, then."
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Mike sat outside, holding his denim jacket in his lap yet again. He twirled the crumpled paper in his fingertips, still nibbling on his metallic-tasting bottom lip.
"Hey, you alright, man?"
Mike looked up to find Lucas standing a foot or two away. "Oh, hey. Yeah, yeah. I'm... fine."
"What's that?" Lucas asked, nodding toward the paper in Mike's hand.
"Nothing," Mike's face flushed as he shoved it into his jeans. "Just... Some stupid shit."
Lucas sighed and sat down on the ground next to Mike. "Listen... I can tell there's something going on with you. I know Will's your best friend and all, but don't forget we're friends, too, Mike. You can talk to me."
Mike sighed, looking up toward the rooftop where Robin and Will were laughing and talking. "I think I am jealous, Lucas."
"She's not stealing him, Mike," Lucas reached out to place a hand on Mike's shoulder. "He's not replacing you, either. You'll always be his best friend."
But that is not all you want, is it, Michael?
Mike closed his eyes tightly, lifting his other shoulder to wipe his tears on his hoodie. "Yeah, yeah. I guess."
"Mike..." Lucas furrowed his brows. "Are you... crying?"
"Shut the fuck up." Mike tossed the jacket over his shoulder as he moved to get up.
"No, no---" Lucas held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Don't start getting--- No. I'm not judging you."
Mike got up from the ground, keeling over in pain as a sharp ache exploded in his abdomen. "F-Fuck---"
"Mike?" Lucas got up, reaching out a hand. "Mike, are you good, dude? Is it your injury?"
"I'm fine," Mike held up one of his hands, keeping the other pressed against his side. He took in slow, strangled breaths, hoping to ignore the intense pain.
Lucas reached for the edge of Mike's hoodie. "Here, just-just let me see your wound. Maybe you need the gauze re-"
"I said I'm fine, Lucas!" Mike exclaimed, pushing Lucas's hand away. He hissed under his breath, the pain almost too much to bear. He turned his head and began shuffling away, digging his palm deep into his ribs.
The pain had to stop.
It had to.
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"Hey, so, um... I realize I've waited just long enough for this to be awkward, but..." Robin started, grunting as she used wire cutters to adjust the size of the thick wire in her hands. "Thanks for saving my life back there."
Will laughed softly, holding his own thick cord in his hands. "Well... You're welcome. I mean... I should be thanking you, Robin."
"Thanking me? Why?" Robin asked, tilting her head.
"For talking to me. About Tammy, and your... life. It was so... helpful," Will explained, pausing his hands on the cord.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Me? Talking? Helpful? Someone should really tell my mother that."
"I'm serious, Robin..." Will took in a slow, sharp breath. "But--- I'm curious. After this 'Tammy' epiphany, is that when you and Vickie started to..."
"Date?" Robin chuckled. "No. God, no. I would've never had the guts to talk to Vickie back then. I was finally cool with myself, but not with sharing it. But, you know. Eventually, I did it. I told someone."
"Who... did you tell?"
"Oh, the obvious. Steve!" Robin exclaimed, pushing one of the wires into the pumpkin they had on the roof.
Will's eyes widened. "I-I'm sorry. Steve? As in, Steve 'the hair' Harrington?"
"Yup! My once sworn enemy. He was really cool about it, actually," Robin replied, standing up to brush herself off. "It really helped to get it off my chest. Even if I didn't necessarily say it. Like--- the actual words."
"The actual words?" Will tilted his head, shoving his own cable into the pumpkin.
Robin sighed, holding out a hand to help Will up. "You know what I mean."
Will grabbed Robin's hand, allowing her to help him up. Once he let go, he took a moment before nodding. "I... Yeah. I do."
"Let's say it."
"Hm?" Will tilted his head, looking into Robin's eyes. "Say it?"
"Yeah. Let's both just... say it," Robin suggested, shrugging. "I'll start, if you want."
Will swallowed hard. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I... Okay. Yeah. Go ahead."
"I'm a lesbian," Robin said out loud, the words dancing in the air.
Will smiled, watching as Robin let out a big breath. "Did it...?"
"Help? Yeah, yes. Now, you---"
"I'm gay," Will blurted out.
Holy shit.
Will felt a weight drop off his shoulders. Like everything that had ever been weighing down on him was finally gone. Screw Vecna's vines--- Any restraints that were once around him were gone, completely faded into the background. Will had done it. He'd said it.
And that is only because she holds the same sin you do, William.
Will froze. His smile faltered, leaving the expression on his face emotionless and dull. No...
You know what would happen if the others knew the truth.
Will sighed, shoving his shaking palms into his pockets.
Robin hadn't seemed to notice the change in Will's emotions. "I'd better head down, turn up the voltage! That way, we can see if it works. Give me a shout when it sets the pumpkin on fire!"
Will watched as Robin climbed down the ladder. He sat back down, staring at the bright orange pumpkin in front of him. And for a second, he saw that damn portal again. The flames at the MAC-Z, the dead soldiers, the demos.
Vecna.
As scared as Will was, he knew he was ready. Or, at least, he had to be.
He had to end this thing once and for all.
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"I can't believe we had to get this damn thing," Mike grunted, helping Lucas toss a dead demogorgon into the back of the WSQK van. "Why the hell does it feel like a naked molerat?"
"How would you know what that feels like?" Lucas asked, wiping his hands off on his sweater.
Mike huffed. "Obviously, I don't. I'm just saying, I---" Mike paused, taking in a sharp breath as he pressed his palm against his side again.
"See? There you go again, overexerting yourself. You need to just sit back for a minute, Mike. You're injured," Lucas hopped into the back of the van, sitting down on the left side of the demo.
Mike climbed in slowly, carefully settling to the right of the demo. "I'm fine, Lucas. Besides, you're injured, too."
"Pretty sure mine isn't as deep as yours," Lucas muttered.
"That's what she said."
Lucas gave Mike a soft glare. "Seriously?"
"Sorry. That was pretty childish," Mike let out a small laugh, coughing as a jolt of pain shot through his side. "Couldn't help it, though."
"I want to say I'm above that type of humor now, but that was kinda funny," Lucas cracked a smile.
For a moment, the two enjoyed the silence. The occasional rattle of the van broke through it, but other than that, it was peaceful.
The van came to a halt, and the back doors opened wide. Mike's eyes locked on Will, who looked slightly pale and depressed. Shit. That's not good.
"Hey, guys!" Robin helped Lucas out of the van. "Did you guys have a fun ride?"
Lucas shrugged. "I guess. Sucked to be stuck with this idiot, though."
Mike's jaw dropped subtly. "I--- Hey!"
"Well then, allow me to take you away from that," Robin nodded toward the demogorgon. "Let's go pin this thing down!"
As Lucas and Robin carried the demo away, Mike slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans. His fingertips found the crumpled-up letter.
"Are you okay?" Will asked softly.
Mike's hand stilled in his pocket. "Am I--- Will, I'm fine. Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Will tilted his head. He looked so goddamn adorable, it was ridiculous. Mike wanted to run. Well, either that, or just... reach out. Yeah. no. Couldn't do that.
"Well... I know everyone's been pretty excited about this whole 'power' thing. Myself included," Mike chuckled awkwardly. "But... How are you feeling about it? I mean, I can only imagine it's uncomfortable for you to be so close to... him. Vecna."
Will's eyebrows twitched, and it looked like he was about to sob. He inhaled sharply, averting his gaze. Damn it, Mike thought. I was enjoying the eye contact. Will sighed, staring down at his hands. "I... I don't know, Mike. Truly. But it means a lot that you cared to ask. So... Thanks."
"Yeah, of course," Mike replied.
Mike jolted as he remembered the letter in his pocket. He reached in, wrapping his hand around it to pull it out. "Will, there's something I wanted to ask you."
Will's eyes lit up. He stood up straight, crossing his arms over his chest. God, when did he get so fucking buff? "Yeah? What is it, Mike?"
"Um," Mike stammered out. Shit. He wasn't anticipating getting so damn tongue-tied. "Did--- Did you want the jacket?"
Will's arms dropped to his sides in disappointment, but his face didn't quite show it. He let out a breathy laugh. "That's what you...?--- Um, no, Mike. I think it needs to be washed before it's worn again. Besides, I'm about to get really warm when I tap into that hive mind. I'm probably gonna sweat. Wouldn't wanna make it smell any worse than it is now."
"Right," Mike felt the jagged edges of the paper dig into his palm in his pocket. "I-I just--- When you were wearing it, did you happen to find---"
"Alright, guys! Let's get this show started!" Joyce shouted, closing the back doors of the van.
Fucking hell, Mike thought, closing his eyes in annoyance. He wasn't upset with Joyce. In all honesty, he was upset with himself; he would've asked the question earlier if he weren't so damn nervous.
Will hummed. "Right. Let's uh... Let's do this."
Mike watched as Will walked off toward Robin and Lucas. I'll ask him, Mike thought to himself, swallowing hard. I'll ask him when the time is right.
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"If anything happens, you just get out of there."
Will nodded at the sound of his mother's voice. He was on the ground, sitting criss-cross with his hands resting on his knees. "I will. I promise."
"And if shit really hits the fan," Lucas said softly, crouching down in front of Will. "We'll crank up the voltage. Burn the sucker. That way, you'll be... unplugged from the hive."
Will took in a slow, shaky breath, staring down at the ground for a moment. He could do this, right? In a final attempt to regain his courage, he looked up at Joyce with fearful eyes. "Mom...?"
"Yeah?" Joyce placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What is it, honey?"
"Thank you... For trusting me," Will said. His voice was feather-light and yet still unmistakably hoarse, bordering on the edge of a sob.
Joyce's lips twitched between a frown and a smile before she finally settled on a firm, motherly grin. "Kill the bastard."
"You got this," Lucas encouraged, patting Will's back.
From afar, Mike stood next to Robin and watched. Will noticed Robin leaning in to say something, and then Mike got defensive and pink. And while Will was curious, he didn't have time to focus on that. Not now. He had to get into the hive mind.
"Ready?" Joyce asked.
Will nodded. "Ready. Fire it up."
"Light it up!" Joyce shouted.
Robin scrambled inside, quickly turning the dial to pump up the voltage. As sparks flew, Will closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing.
And then it clicked.
Will's eyebrows twitched as he closed his eyes tightly, and suddenly, his whole body felt like it was buzzing. Red clouded his vision. And, as the demo woke up, Will's entire body ached. He felt the rods that were pounded into the demogorgon's limbs--- a cold contrast to the heat of the pain deep within him. Then, that pain subsided, and his brain quickly brought him to... a forest.
To the kids.
"The kids," Will muttered, his voice dark and hoarse. "I see the... kids."
"Hey, dipshit!"
Will felt his lips curl into a smirk as he kept his eyes closed. "Okay... I think I'm Derek."
Two kids approached, faces etched with anger. "Where's Mr. Whatsit?"
"Derek?" Lucas asked in disbelief.
"He's with the others," Will continued. "The other lost children."
Mike swallowed hard. "What... What about Holly? Do you see her, Will?"
"No," Will breathed.
"Spit it out, dipshit!" One boy huffed, pushing Derek in the chest. "Mr. Whatsit, where is he?"
"Searching for Holly," Derek replied.
"Henry is searching for her," Will said.
Mike's breath hitched. "He's what? Oh my God---"
"Mike, slow down," Lucas's voice started to sound distant.
"You're lying! Holly would never run away!"
"I'm not lying! A monster tricked her!" Derek shouted. Will could feel Derek's voice vibrating in his own chest. It was... Weird. "It's disguised as a girl! With weird clothes and... red hair. She calls herself---"
"Max," Will said out loud, fingertips trembling against his knees.
Lucas paused. "What? What about Max?"
"She's with Holly," Will explained, eyes still closed tightly. "She's with Holly. But Vecna... Vecna is hunting them."
"We should stay put until he gets her back." One girl said. "I don't want that monster getting us."
"She's not a monster," Will grunted. Brows furrowed, he snapped his neck to the right. "You know that, right?"
Of course I do. Will could hear Derek's thoughts. Max told me what to say. I'm acting.
"Monster?!" Lucas exclaimed in disbelief.
Will hummed. "Max asked him to... Say... UGH---"
Joyce's shaky voice broke through. "Will?"
"Hold on, I-I think--- I think I see them," Will explained through shaky breaths.
Lucas froze in place, his shoes heavy in the dirt. "See... Max?"
"And Holly?" Mike chimed in.
Will was silent for a moment. In his mind, he could see Max and Holly trembling in the Wheeler house. How the hell did they get there?
And then his mother's words rang in his head.
Kill the bastard.
Will took in heavy breaths. Although his eyes were closed, he knew the group was watching him anxiously. He could feel his chest rising and falling erratically.
Then he stopped.
Will physically felt himself stop breathing.
And while he wasn't choking, the feeling terrified him. The empty feeling within his chest made his body sweat. He waited for that burning sensation to flare up in his lungs, but it never did. This wasn't like the other times he'd had the air knocked out of him. This was something else entirely.
Suddenly, his body felt heavy and hot. He saw his hands, thick and disgusting, his long nails a shade of yellow that reminded him of the tint found in a smoker's home.
He was Vecna.
Mike's comment by the tunnel entrance the day prior started to feel ironic. Back when Will had said, "I'm not Vecna," and Mike had replied, "You sorta are."
Yeah. He sorta was.
Will felt himself rising up from the ground, but not into the air; just on his feet. Every muscle in his body tensed, the ache a reminder that he was still alive. His brain felt like static, loud and squeaky and almost similar to the sound of a nail on a chalkboard. Once his vision fully came into focus, he realized his hand--- Vecna's hand--- was wrapped around Max's neck.
"At long last," Will felt Vecna's voice booming deep in his chest, the feeling no different from standing next to a high-volume speaker. "The fox... is caught."
Will's body twitched as he brought his hands up from his sides, every muscle twitching and spasming as he flexed.
"Max!" Will heard Holly shout. He couldn't see her, though. And he was still struggling to make Vecna move.
With his hands out in front of his chest, Will made a twisting motion, ironically similar to opening a jar of pickles. And, with a nauseating snap, Vecna's right leg was broken.
Max fell to the floor.
Will groaned in pain, feeling the ghost of that broken leg shoot through his own; it was a burning sensation, one that made his stomach churn.
But he wasn't done yet.
Will twisted his neck, turning Vecna to face Holly and Max. And, with everything he had, he screamed. "MAX... IF YOU CAN HEAR ME... RUN... RUN...!"
Get out.
The veins in Will's neck pulsed in an erratic rhythm, one that mimicked the beat of his own heart in his chest. He could feel air entering his lungs again, which would have been relieving if his brain didn't feel like it was on fucking fire.
GET OUT.
Will groaned in pain, feeling his neck twist to the side as he fought back. A familiar warmth hit his upper lip, likely from a nosebleed.
GET. OUT.
"What is happening?" Will heard Robin cry out.
GET. OUT!!!
The taste of bile hit the back of Will's tongue. No, Will thought. I'm not done with you.
And then Will saw two arms raise. They didn't look like Vecna's. They were Henry's. Which meant... Vecna had transformed again.
𝐆⃥𝐄⃥𝐓⃥ 𝐎⃥𝐔⃥𝐓⃥!⃥
Fuck.
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Mike trembled as he watched Will's veins pop out of his neck. They didn't look red, either--- they were a dark purple, almost as if they were bruised from the inside.
"Will?" Joyce shuffled closer, outstretching an arm.
Lucas noticed and pulled her back by her shoulders. "Mrs. Byers, I mean no disrespect, but I think you should stay back."
Then, by some invisible force, Will was lifted into the air and thrown a few feet back.
"Will!" Mike yelled out, immediately running to his side.
Will's eyes fluttered shut, and his body went limp. Robin knelt at his side, pressing two fingers against the heavily desaturated skin of his neck.
For a moment, Mike lost the resentment he'd had for Robin. He only looked at her with a small pout and big eyes. "Is he---"
"He's fine," Robin pressed the back of her hand against his forehead. "He's alive. Lucas, go turn up the voltage! Shock that demo!"
"On it!" Lucas yelled, running off to turn up the dial.
Joyce ran over, her hands trembling. "He's alive, right? Please tell me he's alive."
"He's alive," Mike and Robin said in unison.
"We need to get him back in the WSQK," Robin reached down to grab Will's shoulders. "Can you help me, Mike?"
Mike shook his head. He quickly (yet respectfully) nudged Robin's hands away. With one swift motion, Mike lifted Will off the ground and carried him bridal style. The pain in his side only got worse, and a familiar heat spread through his body. He knew he was likely bleeding, but he didn't care. With wobbling legs, Mike headed toward the radio station.
"Mike---" Robin called out.
"I've got him," Mike scowled, feeling his throat tighten. "Open the goddamn door!"
Robin rushed to the door to hold it open. "Listen, if you need help, I can---"
"No!" Mike shouted. "I said I've got him!"
Robin went quiet. Joyce followed behind Mike, watching as he gently settled Will down on the closest couch.
The moment Will's head softly hit the arm of the couch, Mike's legs gave out.
"Mike?"
Mike fell to his knees, then onto his side.
"Mike!"
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"William."
Will inhaled sharply as he opened his eyes. He was met face-to-face with Henry, who was busy controlling vines as they wrapped around Will's limbs, holding him against a dark wall. The area around them was empty, foggy and blue. And not a beautiful blue, either; it was so dark that it was almost purple.
"No," Will choked out. "No, please."
"Do you remember this place, William?"
Will's stomach twisted. He gagged, the back of his tongue heavy with nausea. "Don't."
"Where I first took advantage of that young, weak mind..."
Will's arms tensed against the vines as he tried to break free. But it was useless. He could never break free. He couldn't back then, so why would anything be different now?
"Don't forget, William," Henry inched closer. His hot breath burned against Will's face. "You were my easiest project. And I think you always will be, won't you?"
Something warm dripped from Will's eyes, but it didn't feel like tears--- it felt thicker, and stickier. And as a metallic scent filled his nose, he realized what was happening.
His eyes were bleeding.
"Yeah?" Will managed to sputter out, furrowing his brows as he looked Henry in the eye. "Max and Holly got away, though, didn't they?"
In the blink of an eye, Henry transformed back into Vecna.
"Did the leg slow you down?" Will spat.
Vecna hummed, raising a hand to Will's face. That same disgusting, dirty fingernail trailed along his jawline. "You think you are clever, don't you?"
Will felt the vines tighten around his body, causing him to feel his heartbeat pulsing rapidly against his neck. "I am. I'm much stronger than you think."
"Incorrect," Vecna wrapped his cold hand around Will's throat. "Remember... You were my vessel. My spy. My builder."
Every straggling bit of energy that Will held onto immediately dissipated, fading into the thick fog around him. "...Builder?"
"How do you think the tunnels came to be, William?"
Will choked, and a sick gurgle came from the back of his throat as Vecna's hand tightened around it.
"You built those tunnels... Each and every night that you slept."
Will's vision blurred with tears, now mixing with the half-dried blood on his cheeks. "N-No," he choked out.
"There may be much power within you," Vecna spoke, his voice dark and deep, echoing through Will's ears. "But make no mistake, William. They are my powers. And they are stronger than ever before."
As Will tried to give one last push, one last attempt at breaking free, his lungs burned in his abdomen.
Vecna loosened his grip.
Will began choking and wheezing as he struggled to pull air in, but it was never enough. He coughed, and the back of his throat felt like he'd swallowed sandpaper. "...M-My... Power... My powers are..."
"Innate?" Vecna chuckled loudly, the sound sharp in the emptiness around them. "Do not tell me you believe a word that boy says. When have you ever had any faith in him?"
"Leave Mike out of this," Will breathed. "He has nothing to do with this."
"But doesn't he, William?"
Will's blood ran cold.
"He is the very reason your mind was so weak in the first place. Heartbreak is a rather liquified emotion, William. It's quite easy to manipulate."
"I-I wasn't heartbroken when you first took me," Will stammered. "Mike hadn't done anything wrong."
"No. You had done something wrong," Vecna asserted. "The way you have felt all these years... Do not forget when it began. And do not forget who instilled your fears."
"Why is he always hanging out with that damn Wheeler kid?" Lonnie screamed.
Joyce's eyes went wide with unmistakable anger. "He's twelve, Lonnie! Mike is his best friend! You should be happy he HAS a friend!"
"Oh, please, Joyce. Don't act like you don't fucking see it," Lonnie spat. "Our kid's a goddamn faggot. He's obsessed with that little Wheeler."
"Do NOT call my son that god-awful name!" Joyce screamed back.
SMACK.
"Do you remember, William?"
Will felt the heat of even more tears pouring from his eyes. "Stop it, please..."
"How about I remind you why you cannot show them the truth?"
Will's sobbing stilled. He lifted his head, his vision clouded by tears. "W-What...?"
"Will?" Joyce's soft voice broke through the thickness of the air. "Honey?"
Will blinked away his tears. Immediately, his bottom lip quivered upon the sight of his mother in front of him. Vecna faded away, though Will still felt his presence. "M-Mom?"
"Why didn't you tell me, Will?" Joyce asked. A few tears dripped from her eyes.
Will's heart dropped. "T-Tell you what, mom?"
"That you're..." Joyce stepped closer, reaching out to cup Will's face with one hand. "A queer."
Will's body felt limp again, but the vines weren't too tight around him. His temples began to pulse, a deep ache settling into his skull. "How did you find out?"
"Your father," Joyce shook her head, clicking her tongue. "He was right."
"Mom, please don't say that---"
"Your father was right about you." Joyce's voice became deeper, a sickening mix between her soft voice and Vecna's dark, crackling voice.
Will sobbed again, but this time, it was more like dry heaving. He had no tears left. He was broken, weak, and limp. "Mom... Please..."
"Don't you understand what this does, Will?" Joyce's voice cracked as the threat of a sob reached her throat.
Will's bottom lip quivered. "I'm still me, mom. Please."
"You're putting yourself in danger again," Joyce covered her face with her hands. Her voice then became slightly muffled, but Will could hear her clearly somehow. "I can't lose you again, Will. You're going to get hurt again. And this time, I might not be able to save you. This isn't the type of thing they can force out of you. It's not like I can fix you, bring you back to normal. It's just who you are."
Will's chest felt numb. "Normal? Mom, that's not---"
Joyce dropped her hands from her face, and Will's eyes widened in shock and horror. His mother's eyes were rolled back in her head, and a mixture of blood and tears dripped down her cheeks in multiple uneven streaks.
"M-Mom?" Will breathed shakily.
"You should have just kept it all to yourself."
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