Chapter Text
Thirty minutes.
It's been thirty minutes of nothing. Mike had counted each and every one to himself with a shaky breath.
This was going on too long. El and Kali were there helping him but...but Mike didn't know if they were strong enough. What if they lost? What if he lost Will?
Fear and adrenaline mixed as they pumped throughout his body. His veins flooded with a paralyzing terror. He wasn't even the one facing Vecna directly yet he couldn't breathe. He knew though that losing Will was scarier than any monster out there. The only fear he had of these monsters was them taking away who he loved.
Not even just Will. Everyone here meant everything to him. His biological family to his friend made family.
As more minutes ticked by, Mike became light headed. All the worry and stress was taking far too much of a toll on his head. He wouldn't leave Wills side still.
His back made contact with the wooden table Will was on with a soft thud.
Robin took notice at the sigh leaving Mike's lips.
Her heart ached for the boy. He was in as much clear distress as the one fighting a monster with his mind next to him. She wanted to wrap the two up and hide them away in a place that was happy and soft on the two.
She knew that even if they all made it out of this alive, nothing would be easy for them. Even if they both decided to confess and be together, the world was nasty and dangerous.
"Hey buddy.."
Robin spoke, tone low not to spook him.
Mike had no fight left in him he only looked up with sad, tired eyes.
Robin wanted to cry honestly. He looked so worn down she wanted this all to be over.
It was hard to comfort in a time like this so she did what she knew always helped. She sat down next to Mike and took him into her arms. He crumbled immediately.
Sobs poured out of him choking on their way out. Like all the emotions he had locked away inside came rushing out to breathe the air they needed at last. His body shook forcefully as if he couldn't possibly cry hard enough. No amount of pure sobbing would be able to express the pain that rattled in his chest.
"Shhh shhh it's okay..." Robin stroked Mike's hair trying her hardest to hold him tight. They both sat their trembling in the cold of the WSQK. Mike more so trembling from his tears.
"It's not fair..."
Mike croaked out almost unaudiable.
"He...he doesn't deserve this...HE DESERVES TO LIVE! TO LIVE HAPPY AND NOT LEAVE ME!" Mike yelled through sobs into Robin's shoulder.
Robin only held Mike closer as her heart broke.
Anyone's would at the sound of his voice. It sounded like Mike was being stabbed emotionally and tortured through this.
Robin knows the only thing that will give him any sense of comfort right now. It may even give him enough fight to help Will through this. If anyone can help Will, it's Mike.
"Will can get through this okay? But he needs you with him. There to..."
She spoke this next part very carefully making sure her words sounded as sure as she felt. She needed Mike to understand her completely.
"There to be by his side and help him through. What you two have is so important especially to Will right now. He needs that love to remain strong. He needs a love to fight for. I don't know exactly what you assume is going on with me and him, but he's one of the most important friends I have. He's helped me.."
Should she tell him? Tell him of Vickie?
...
Yes.
She trusted Mike just as she trusted Will and Steve.
"He's helped me in my own relationship. I don't know if you know Vickie? We um yeah we go to school together and hah yeah we're dating! Of course only Will, Steve and now you know and I would so appreciate if you never told anyone else. I trust you too of course since I'm telling you. But still what I mean to say is he needs you. Needs you to give him that love you have for him. To guide him through this and fight together. Be his heart Mike."
The quite stretched on for moments after.
Mike calming his breathing as best as he could. All while processing what Robin had just told him.
She's gay...She's not with Will...Will...Will needs me...I...I love Will.
I have to help him.
Flashes of every though danced across Mikes face, settling on an eased determination.
"Robin..thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this. I have definitely not been nice enough to you to deserve it but, thank you. And um..
Um I'm sorry for being so harsh I just thought..."
"I know what you thought Mike haha. Will's definitely not my type as nice as he is, he suits you more."
Mike flushed hot at Robin's teasing.
Having someone know about his feelings was so new. It felt good though. He was finally not alone in this. He had both Robin and Jonathan to help support him and Will. Things finally felt possible.
Then, breaking Mike from his internal debacle, Will began shaking and mumbling on the table.
It started as a small quiver through his body, then it wasn't. His arms flung to the ends of the table, his hands gripping down on the wood hard. His feet began kicking sharp and painfully strong.
Mike dashed to his side screaming his name. Anything to help him come back.
Robin and Jonathan came to either of Mikes sides. They'd be his anchors in helping Will. None of them would battle this alone.
As Will shook and thrashed around he began to shout. It went from cries of anger to pleas of pain. He was fighting Vecna. They didn't know exactly how but they knew he was nonetheless.
If it looked painful to watch Will, they couldn't imagine how but it killed to be Will.
As Will continued to cry out, begging for it to stop and for Him to just stop and die already, Wills eyes shot open.
His hands flared out obviously controlling something. Or just fighting straight on in Vecna's mind. However he was fighting, he wasn't winning so far.
Wills body only shook around more.
Mike cried out begging Will to be strong. He held onto his arm with all his strength, he'd sure there would be bruises. He didn't care as long as he came back to him.
Will suddenly froze still.
His face shone with pure anger and determination.
The grip he had on the table tightened even more, splintering the wood in his grasp.
There was such power coursing through him Mike could feel it where he held on.
Then all at once Will tensed up his entire body screaming out one last cry. His eyes pooled with blood. Red streamed down his face drowning him in a look of pain. This was his final act of attack.
A violent jolt shook him back down.
Silence.
Nothing.
Not an inch of movement.
No sign of life
"Will..."
Mike spoke almost afraid of what he'd find. Where did his Will go?
He couldn't feel him anymore.
"Please Will....come back...please don't leave me.."
Mike collapsed onto Will's chest. He held him close yet not close enough. He couldn't ever get close enough to him.
The slight touches. A fraction of a second of their hands brushing. Even their hugs they shared every once in awhile were never enough. He hadn't held Will close since they were young. As kids, they were never apart. From laying in a single pile together on Mike's couch, to napping in a hug on Will's bed. None of it was enough though. He hadn't gotten to spend enough time with his Will.
This wasn't fair.
Their time couldn't be cut short.
Not now.
Will I need you to come back to me. Please I can't feel you. I need you. I can't live without you. Not ever.
No he had to help Will. Robin was right. Mike would be his heart.
"Will you HAVE to come back to me! You can't leave me! YOU PROMISED!" He was angry now. Will promised him. He had to keep his promise.
Jonathans soft cries came from behind, reminding Mike that Will had more people that loved him. Fuck he had so many people that loved him. He can't abandon them.
Mike held Will's face to his own connecting their foreheads.
"Will you come back to me you hear that? You're not leaving your family alone. They've suffered enough. Your friends love you too much to lose you. We all need you. I NEED YOU DAMMIT!"
"I LOVE YOU WILL PLEASE"
Mike broke out through sobs.
His body began to shake again. His chest convulsed in tight cries of pain. He couldn't keep it in any longer. The love of his life was dying and he couldn't do anything to save him.
Nothing to keep him here with him.
"MIKE"
The name was a knife through his chest. Straight through his heart.
One last cry before his body went limp.
Mike rattled with sobs and yelling as he held Will closer. He dragged him off and into his lap. Holding him close as if he could share a piece of his heart with Will to save him. He begged over and over. Begging everything he could think of that would grant him a miracle.
Mike's tears fell down onto Will's cheeks mixing with the blood left from his eyes.
Jonathan and Robin stared at the two, chest flooding with an aching pain.
Mike was panicking now. What could he do? What power did he possess to bring him back?
There was only one thought that came across his mind. Still however fairytale it seemed, he had to try it.
Once again he swallowed down his tears and took Will's face gently into his hands. He held him so fragilely that if he dropped him, he'd break.
The air around them seemed to still, as if the world itself paused for this moment.
First connecting his forehead to Will's, he whispered.
"Please come back to me my love."
Then he connected their lips. Soft at first, then pressing down harder putting all of his love and strength into this kiss of life. All the love and adoration he felt for Will spoke out through their connected lips.
Once he broke off of Will, he collapsed down into his chest. Just lying there holding Will close, never letting go.
"Be my hero...just for one day.."
Mike pleaded softly into Will's chest.
A moment passed.
Then two.
Then three.
Then....THUMP
wait
THUMP.....THUMP THUMP
"W-Will???" Mike shot up holding Will out in front of him. He laid his ear flat on Will's chest to make sure he was hearing this right.
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP
"WILL?! WILL WAKE UP!"
Jonathan came to Mike's side begging Will as well.
They both sat there holding him close and holding onto that hope.
A hand came up to Mike's face causing his eyes to shoot open and up.
It was Will. His Will. ALIVE
"M...Mike.."
The words came our sore, the exhaustion clear on him.
Mike only cried out bringing Will into his chest. "Shh don't speak it's okay." Will only shook his head.
"No..y-you saved me. I could feel you. When he died he almost took me with but you. You held me here. You were my heart Mike. I can't survive without you either. And I...I love you too." Will's eyes were now back to his soft brown that Mike loved so much. They filled up with normal tears as he spoke.
"I've loved you for so long. So much has made me love you more and more. You're always what I need and you make me feel good about being me. Like I've never been weird a day in my life. Even when I never spoke as a kid. You'd talk for me and never thought of me any different. You were my first friend and first love. You'll forever be who I love Mike. You're my heart forever and always. I can't live a life without you in it."
The two boys held each other closer than ever now.
Jonathan left with Robin to make sure everyone else was okay and made it back.
That left the two alone just existing in the same breath.
Mike held his ear close to Will's mouth just listening to him breathing and alive.
When he lifted his head to meet Will's eyes again, he was suddenly aware of how close he was. How Wills eyes locked into his pulling him even closer.
He was reminded that he had just kissed him. The remnants of the kiss still on Will's lips leaving them flush and pink. Mike swallowed the knot in his throat.
"C..can you kiss me again? I need to know this is real."
The words brough an odd rush of tears to Mike's eyes. He knew Will didn't mean the fact that he was here and alive being real, but that they were in love with each other.
His hand came up gently to the side of Will's face. He held him a moment taking in the pressure of their love. It surrounded them in a warm haze. The cold had gone with Vecna and only their warmth remained.
Slowly but with a clearer certainly than before, Mike brought their lips together. The kiss melted into a swirl of sweetness. Everything they had just gone through whisked away by it. Will whimpered into the kiss, his chest aching for this love.
He had been deprived of it for so long this was such bliss.
Both Mike and Will tangled around each other as to make sure they'd never be taken from one another again.
They kissed as though nothing could fall.
Not ever again.
The two had won the biggest battle of their life. Now they'd continue on, healing. Together.
Nothing would be easy after this but it was worth it regardless.
After fighting for your life for years, anything seemed possible.
And here in this radio room, both Will and Mike would be safer than they ever had with each other.
Even just for one day.