Archive of Our Own

Will has been feeling utterly exhausted for the past week. The second he hit his head on a pillow, he was out like the dead — and it didn’t matter what time it might be. He was constantly feeling like he was only running on two hours of sleep, when he fully slept throughout the night and took naps during the day.

Along with the fatigue, he’s been nauseous for just as long. He always threw up in the mornings, sometimes right after waking up and sometimes at school. For the rest of the day, the nausea lingered like a damn pest. He hated it. He was miserable.

At first he thought he had just caught a stomach bug or something. The days were getting colder so being sick was getting more common. But now, at this point, he was attributing it to the stress of the crawls and everything else Vecna-related — like much of his life was unfortunately.

“Hey… you okay?”

Will stiffened at that all too familiar voice coming from behind him. He had just gotten out of the bathroom after puking out his guts, when Mike found him.

Will lowered his head and glanced back briefly. “Yeah. Fine,” he said with a small, fake smile.

Mike seemed like he wanted to say more, like he definitely didn’t believe Will was fine. His scent conveyed his concern, but Will brushed it off. The alpha had no reason to feel concerned about him. He had made it perfectly clear two months ago that he didn’t actually care about Will.

Ever since California, his and Mike’s relationship has been strained. Sure, they sort of made up and their relationship had improved, but there was still a weird tension between them.

As the months went by and Will continued living in the Wheelers’ home, he and Mike started to mend their relationship some more. It was almost starting to look like the relationship they had when they were much younger. It had made Will hope.

And then… everything was ruined.

Will still didn’t know how exactly it had happened, but one night, as the two teens had stayed up late watching movies in Mike’s room, they had somehow shifted towards each other. One thing led to another until Will had found himself squirming underneath Mike.

It had been like a dream come true. Everything Will had ever wanted — the alpha that he’s been in love with for years had finally noticed him. Mike had kissed him so passionately and had touched him so gently. He had been so attentive to Will’s every need and had made the omega feel so loved and safe. It was truly like a dream.

And then the next morning came, and that dream was shattered as he faced the harsh, ugly reality of things.

He had instantly felt guilt because although Mike and El were no longer together, they once were and had been in love. So how could Will do this to his sister? He had been so caught up in the passion and pheromones in the air that he had completely forgotten about El.

But what made things so much worse was the way Mike treated him that morning.

Unlike the previous night, he had been distant that morning.

He had barely even looked at Will as he said: “Last night was nice but… let’s just forget it happened. I mean— we both weren’t thinking straight. It was— a heat of the moment type of thing, yeah? It didn’t mean anything. It doesn’t have to affect our friendship.”

Friendship. That was all Will would ever be to Mike — just a friend.

Mike’s words had made Will’s world come crashing down. The bliss and joy he had felt the previous night completely vanished, being replaced by raw heartbreak.

He had smiled and agreed with Mike even though he felt like he was crumbling on the inside. He had then quickly thrown on his clothes and rushed out of that room. He hadn’t even made it to the bathroom when the first tears leaked out of his eyes.

In the bathroom, he had sobbed quietly, the shower he was taking drowning out his pathetic noises. The words ‘It didn’t mean anything’ rang in his ears like a siren.

He had rubbed his skin red as he kept repeating in his head just how stupid he was. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Stupid for falling for Mike. Stupid for letting himself get caught up in the “heat of the moment.” Stupid for thinking that he ever even had a chance with the alpha he’s known since he was five.

In the days following that… incident, things got immensely more awkward and strained between the pair. It was like the progress they had made had all disappeared in the blink of an eye. And Will continued to drown in heartbreak and grief while trying desperately to pretend like everything was fine.

It’s been about two months since then. While things weren’t as tense now, Will didn’t think they could ever go back to how they once were. And that simple truth hurt him deeply.

Will turned away from Mike, hoping he could escape back to the basement, but the alpha suddenly grabbed the omega’s wrist.

Will instantly stiffened and nearly flinched at the contact. At the same time, his inner omega — like the stupid, delusional freak it was — perked up.

“Will, were you… I heard you throwing up, just now,” Mike said, sounding worried. He furrowed his brows, his gaze intense as he seemed to study Will’s face for any sign of pain.

“It was nothing,” the omega quickly said. “I think I’m just nervous for later today.”

Mike hesitated, clearly unsure whether to believe Will or not. After all, it was true that Will tended to get anxious before crawls. He wasn’t being completely dishonest.

After a few more seconds, Mike finally nodded, though he still looked unsure. “Well… tell me if it happens again.”

Will wanted to laugh because he’s been throwing up for like a week straight now, but Mike had no idea whatsoever. He nodded anyway, knowing he’d do no such thing.

It was then that Mike seemed to remember he was still holding Will’s wrist. He immediately let go, as if he’d been burned.

Of course — Mike continued to find more and more ways to hurt Will’s stupid heart. He definitely won’t tell the alpha the next time he throws up again.

Unfortunately, Will started feeling even worse later. After getting inexplicably dizzy in the woods, he vomited (again) and even after throwing up, the nausea remained intense.

Although Lucas and Dustin had been worried when he got dizzy and consequently threw up, Mike had fretted the most. So much for planning on not telling Mike if he vomited again.

“But are you sure you’re okay?!” Mike asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Yes, Mike! Like I said, I think I’m just nervous for tonight.”

“I get nervous sometimes too, but not like this,” Lucas interjected. Will wanted to slam his head against a tree. Lucas meant well of course, but his words only served to make Mike even more panicked. Which was odd — Mike honestly had no reason to be that worried about Will.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” the omega insisted.

“No, it’s not ‘nothing!’ Maybe… maybe you should stay behind this time,” Mike said.

“Absolutely not!” Will snapped immediately. There was no way he’d miss a crawl. Sure, he often felt useless just sitting around at the Squawk, but it was better than staying home entirely. Then he’d be completely useless.

“But what if you’re in danger?”

“Even if I am, how is staying at your house going to even help me? If anything, I’d be safer at the Squawk, where there’s people who are actually aware of everything that’s going on with the Upside Down. Who’d have a better idea of helping me if it came to it.”

Lucas looked between the two of them before saying, “Will does have a point.”

Mike pursed his lips, his scent bitter with displeasure. He glared at Lucas and even looked seconds away from growling at the other alpha.

On the inside, Will felt hundreds of conflicting feelings. He felt confusion at Mike’s apparent protectiveness. The alpha was always very protective of his friends, but not to this extent. Why would he be like this with Will in particular? Whatever was between them didn’t mean a thing to Mike. And that thought alone caused a surge of anger and frustration in Will.

But of course, the more stupid and needy part of him — his inner omega — secretly loved the attention and protectiveness.

Will gritted his teeth, shoving down those emotions and instead focusing on the irritation he felt. “I’m going,” he snapped with a tone of finality. He didn’t spare a single glance at Mike as he collected his things and started trekking back towards their school.

He could hear the other boys hastily collect their own belongings and stumble after him. Will held back the urge to roll his eyes, especially when he felt their gazes on him. What, did they think he’d break at any second like some fragile vase?

He loved his friends and appreciated their concern, but sometimes it was annoying being the only omega among them. Max was still in a coma, so it was just Will dealing with these idiots.

Mike was obviously the biggest idiot of the bunch. God, how did Will end up falling for him? If Max was awake and knew about his feelings for Mike, she’d definitely gripe nonstop about his taste in alphas.

As Will trudged out of the woods, Mike finally caught up to him. There was some distance between the two and the atmosphere felt slightly tense. Will continued staring resolutely at his path.

They were getting near their school, and Will thought nothing more would be said, when Mike finally opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry,” he said in that gentle way that always made the omega melt. “You’re obviously allowed to make your own decisions. I was just worried.”

Again, Will couldn’t understand why the alpha was this worried, but he didn’t say anything. He instead glanced at Mike, whose eyes were focused on the building in front of them. Will quickly looked away before the alpha might meet his eyes.

“It’s… it’s fine. And I know you’re just worried, but believe me when I say I’m okay. I’ll… be okay for tonight,” he said.

Mike sighed quietly. “Okay. But that doesn’t mean I won’t stop worrying.”

Will felt a pang in his heart. Moments like these made him wonder what it would be like to be Mike’s omega. To be loved and cherished by this alpha, who was always so fiercely protective, so brave, so passionate.

But of course, he could only ever wonder — Will Byers was never meant to be Mike Wheeler’s after all.

You don’t have to worry about me, was what he wanted to say. But it would only hurt more to say those words out loud. So he kept his mouth shut and his eyes downcast as they finally entered the school’s hallways and inevitably separated to go to their respective classes.

Being separate — that was always inevitable.

It’s been a very rough few hours for Will. From not getting any time to sleep to the stress and fear of everything that’s been going on to falling over and feeling like he’d literally been ran over by Steve’s fucking car — yeah, it was no wonder why Will felt like an absolute wreck.

He winced as he felt a dull throb at his lower back. It’s been aching nonstop for a while now. They were all walking towards the van, since they were headed to the Squawk, so Will hoped he could get some sort of rest inside.

As he sat down, his body immediately sagged against the wall of the van. His back still ached but it felt infinitely better than standing up. He sighed quietly in relief.

Before shutting his eyes, he glanced around himself. His mom was driving and Derek was in the passenger seat. At the back, Robin was beside him while Lucas and Mike were across from them. When Will’s eyes landed on Mike, his heart skipped a beat.

The alpha had already been staring at him. He had a pinched expression on his face, and when he noticed Will’s gaze, he lifted his brows slightly, as if asking “you okay?”

The omega hesitated before nodding once. He then promptly closed his eyes, not wanting to deal with Mike or all the emotions that came with him.

Apparently, he’d been much more tired than he thought since he fell asleep barely seconds after closing his eyes. The next thing he knew, he was being gently shaken awake by Robin.

To his embarrassment, his head had accidentally rolled onto Robin’s shoulder, and he’d been asleep on her the whole ride.

“S-Shit— I’m sorry Robin,” he said groggily, quickly shuffling away from her.

The older alpha merely laughed. “Hey, it’s okay! It sure seemed like you needed the rest, and especially after all that crazy stuff you went through with the demogorgon, I don’t blame you! None of us do! None of us wanted to wake you but, uh, we still have to figure out our plans, remember?”

“Of course!” he exclaimed. He looked around the van and found that they were the only ones left. The van doors were wide open, sunlight flooding in, and Will instantly felt bad. He got to his feet as fast as he could, but in his haste, his back suddenly twinged sharply in pain.

He couldn’t help the gasp that escaped him as his hands flew to his lower back.

“Shit, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Robin asked.

The omega took a deep breath in. “N-Nothing. I guess I just got up too quickly?”

Robin looked at him anxiously. “Um… should I get your mom? Or maybe Mike?”

“No!” he said a little too quickly. Neither option was appealing. “I’m fine now, really.” And he was. After a few seconds, the sharp pain subdued once more into that annoying but dull ache. It was tolerable, and it didn’t make Will gasp and hunch over himself. He was fine.

“Okay, okay, if you say so,” Robin said with her hands up. The two of them hopped out of the van and started making their way to the Squawk building. Of course, it wasn’t quiet for long.

“Uh… by the way,” Robin started casually. Uh oh — that wasn’t good. “I’m still not sure what this means exactly but… little Wheeler was sort of glaring at me like, the whole time we were in that van. I was just wondering— did I do something to piss him off? Does he hate me? ‘Cause, wow that glare of his was intimidating to say the least.”

Will furrowed his brows. From what he knew, no, Mike didn’t hate Robin. He’s never had a reason to, and it would be odd for him to start now suddenly. Why would he be glaring at her in the van just now—

His entire face burst bright red as a treacherous thought flickered through his mind. An outlandish what if.

What if Mike was glaring at Robin because… because he didn’t like that Will had rested his head on her shoulder?

The omega immediately shot down that idea. It was completely silly, foolish, and absurd to even think that! They were just delusions that his inner omega liked to stupidly entertain. Why the hell would Mike ever get jealous over Will?! Was it something Will wished would happen, like something straight out of his daydreams? Yes. But it definitely wasn’t something the real Mike Wheeler would ever, in a million years, do!

“I don’t know,” he mumbled truthfully. Maybe… Mike hadn’t meant to glare at the other alpha? Maybe Robin had just read him wrong? There were endless possibilities, and not one of them involved Mike being jealous.

Robin looked like she wanted to say more, but they were thankfully in the building at that point. Will wasn’t in the mood to talk. Aside from his internal moping, he was simply exhausted. That nap definitely wasn’t enough to recharge his battery. Once all of this was over, he was going to make the world’s most comfortable nest and sleep for a week straight.

Will’s jaw clenched momentarily as another wave of dull pain washed over his back. His feet also throbbed as he trekked through the field. He wondered if any of the others felt like this too, or if he was just that weak and pathetic.

“Your mom and Robin are getting along better,” Mike said suddenly.

Will glanced at the alpha in surprise. When had he gotten so close to Will?

“Well, it didn’t hurt that mom scared off that demogorgon. Saved Robin’s life — everybody’s life.”

Mike grew quiet for a bit before finally saying, “So, uh… when did you and Robin get so close?”

Will raised his eyebrows. “What’s with the sudden question?”

“Oh, I— uh— s-sorry I’m not trying to be nosy or whatever,” Mike stammered, “I just couldn’t help but notice how close you two seem…”

Will stared at the alpha, trying to understand why he even cared at all. Robin’s earlier words rang in his head, but he quickly buried those thoughts away before he could get any other silly ideas.

He looked away and shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure myself, but getting to know Robin more definitely made me realize how great she is. She can be annoying sometimes, but she’s very kind and understanding,” he chuckled fondly.

“Oh,” was all Mike said. Will glanced at him, but the alpha was staring out into the field.

After a few seconds of quiet, their conversation moved over to more important things — the demogorgons, Will’s connection, Mike’s crazy theories. And for a moment, right before entering the tunnels, Will felt like all of the tension from the past months between them was gone. It was just him and Mike, laughing and teasing each other as the rest of the world faded in the background. Nothing else mattered. It was just them.

Alas, all good things come to an end. That blissful moment was short-lived. Will had been bold (and stupid) enough to flutter his lashes and softly shove at Mike’s chest, still playful. But it was like a switch had been turned on — Mike gave a brief smile before quickly turning away.

Will stared after the alpha’s retreating form, feeling completely crushed inside. His smile had instantly dropped the second Mike turned away.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. God, why was he so damn stupid?! Why did he have to ruin a nice moment between two friends? Why did he always have to let his feelings get in the way of everything?

He felt deeply ashamed and embarrassed. He lowered his head and kept his eyes glued to the ground as he slowly made his way towards the ladder. He tried his best to contain his own scent, which was sour with dejection.

He remained that way once he was underground in the tunnels. He didn’t dare lift his head up, in fear that Mike might meet his eyes and Will would see the awkwardness and disgust radiating from him. That would hurt the omega even more.

He just… needed to get over this ridiculous crush. That was the only solution to his problems.

His inner omega whined sadly at that word — “crush.” No matter how hard he might try to downplay his feelings, he knew it was so much more than just a simple crush. It was years and years of slowly but deeply falling in love, giving his whole heart up for someone he’s known for most of this life.

That night — the night of the incident — Will had practically offered up his heart in his hands to Mike. He’d never done anything like it before — he’d never even kissed someone before! But at that moment, Will had trusted Mike completely. Perhaps it was just love making him go crazy, but he had always known that Mike would be his first and only.

It was stupid. But he couldn’t deny that small fact.

Even after the alpha had broken his heart the next morning, the pieces of Will’s heart still belonged to Mike.

So now, as Will contemplated his feelings, he knew that he couldn’t just get over Mike within one day. It would likely take years, along with severe grief and anguish.

Because what he felt truly wasn’t just a crush. It wasn’t.

The adrenaline of the past night had already started wearing off when Robin suggested they eat some snacks.

Will was starving but just the thought of food made his nausea resurface. It didn’t help that his back was still aching, a headache was starting to form, and his entire body felt like it’d been wrung dry of every last ounce of strength. He’d much rather sleep than eat.

While the others got up, Will stayed seated where he was. His mom shot him a concerned look.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get something to eat,” she coaxed.

To not worry her further, he said, “I’ll be there in a minute. Promise.”

She looked skeptical but didn’t push. She was trusting him more, which he really appreciated. Just for that, he’ll probably try to force something down his throat in a few minutes, to keep his promise and not feel guilty.

He watched her leave with the others. He must’ve been more tired than he thought because he didn’t even notice Mike had also stayed behind until he sat down next to Will.

He still had that grin on his face — the same one he’s had since Will unlocked his powers. It made the omega’s heart thump a little quicker.

“You’re truly amazing, you know that,” Mike said, which caused Will to flush instantly. “I don’t think the awe will ever go away. Nor the bragging rights of calling it before it even happened,” he added with a playful smirk.

“Did you really call it though?” he remarked. “You said I was like a sorcerer but I’m honestly not—”

“You are! How many times do I have to tell you? You’re a sorcerer, Will! And don’t you dare try to be humble about it. You’re awesome, and if you won’t gloat about it, then I’ll just do it for you.”

Will’s face flushed even more. “Mike!” he protested weakly. This alpha was unbelievable. Will shook his head with a slight smile. But even that small action drained him somewhat.

Mike noticed instantly. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked, his voice immediately going soft and gentle.

“I’m just tired,” the omega admitted. “It’s been a very crazy few days.”

“Shit… especially for you. You— You can feel everything those demogorgons feel. God, Will, those things were being shot at and burned alive…” Mike’s scent turned sour and he gripped the edge of the couch until his knuckles went white.

Just being reminded made Will wince. It had felt like sheer agony, and even now, it felt as if every muscle in his body was trembling. He didn’t know how he was still standing.

Mike’s eyes widened, and his scent somehow grew even more sour. “W-What’s this?!”

Will froze as the alpha came closer to him. He wasn’t sure he was even breathing as Mike scrutinized his neck.

Why would Mike be looking at his neck?

His inner omega purred in excitement at the alpha’s sudden interest in such a vulnerable spot. The logical side of Will knew Mike would never do something as insane as bite down. On the contrary, Mike’s hand hovered in the air, as if he wanted to touch Will’s neck but knew better than to do so. Mike could be an idiot sometimes but he could also be a gentleman. That logical part of Will appreciated the alpha’s respect and sense of decency, even if his dumb inner omega whined in protest.

Mike’s brows were furrowed. “There’s dark spots on your neck… it almost looks like someone strangled you.” At that thought, Mike’s face paled. “Wait— were you strangled?!”

“No!” Will hastily exclaimed. He quickly put a hand on the sensitive area, recalling his reflection in the mirror. When they had first entered the Squawk, he had gone to the bathroom. He had also been startled when he’d seen those marks on his neck, but he assumed he must’ve popped some blood vessels or something. He sheepishly told that to Mike.

The alpha’s jaw clenched, and a thousand thoughts seemed to be flashing behind those dark eyes. “It… was because of all that screaming you did — all of that pain you felt.”

Will looked down at his own hands, unable to meet the alpha’s intense gaze. “Mike— it’s over now,” he whispered. He just wanted to move on from this, for Mike to not worry so much and ponder over it.

“No, it’s not ‘over!’ You’re still connected to that bastard. You’ll still feel more pain, and that’s not fair at all!” Mike’s voice rose in agitation.

“I know it’s not fair, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Will sighed, resigned to his unfortunate fate. “But I have powers now… I won’t get hurt anymore.”

“You do have powers now, but Vecna is unpredictable. I don’t know what he’s capable of doing to you and… that scares me.”

Will felt his heart ache at Mike’s quiet admission. If he was braver, Will might’ve cupped the alpha’s face in that moment, but he also knew better.

“Nothing will happen to me,” Will murmured, but deep down he didn’t fully believe that. “As crazy as my mom’s plan might sound, she has a point. We need to use my powers to our advantage. For now, it’s the closest shot we have to defeating Vecna. So don’t worry about me.”

Mike sighed and shook his head. “No matter how many times you tell me to not worry, I always will.”

But why? Will wanted to scream. Eleven was still in the Upside Down — shouldn’t Mike be saying all of this about her?! Shouldn’t Mike be pacing around, pulling his hair, because he was so worried about El?

None of this made any goddamn sense.

“Aren’t you gonna eat anything?”

Both boys jumped at the sudden voice. Will whipped his head up and found Robin poking her head in. She was looking only at Will.

“Oh— uh…”

“C’mon, you’ve gotta eat something! You need to keep up your energy, don’t you? Your mom’s also starting to get worried.”

Will huffed. “Fine… I’ll be out there in a second.”

“You better, or else I’m dragging you there myself!” Robin threatened before leaving them alone once more.

The omega glanced at Mike and was surprised to see the irritated expression on his face. It was like something had snapped in him — that gentle, concerned demeanor was gone and replaced by clear annoyance.

“Why is Robin always so nosy?” Mike muttered while wrinkling his nose.

“She’s just looking out for me,” Will said, furrowing his brows in confusion.

“She’s known you for what — like two days? She has no reason to be this way. Not unless…”

Will didn’t like where this was going, but he asked anyway. “Not unless what?”

“She wants something more from you.”

Will’s eyes immediately widened in shock. “What?!”

“Alphas don’t suddenly start acting nice to omegas they barely know unless they’re into them,” Mike stated bluntly.

All of a sudden, it felt like Will was face to face with Ted Wheeler. What kind of backwards logic was that?

“What the hell, Mike?”

“It’s true! Stop hanging out with her so much. You’ll only get hurt in the end. I’m just looking out for you.”

The fact that Mike repeated the words Will had used just seconds before made him want to laugh incredulously. “Oh, you’re looking out for me? So does that mean you’ve never hurt me before?”

Mike faltered slightly. “What are you talking about?” But he didn’t give the omega time to speak. He just scrunched his eyebrows and scoffed. “Look, this isn’t about me — it’s about that new ‘friend’ of yours. I’ve never disliked Robin before, but honestly this is all giving me a bad feeling. Just— take my advice? Don’t be like those other omegas who foolishly trust any alpha that smiles at them.”

Tears sprang up in Will’s eyes. He felt patronized and humiliated. “You mean, don’t be a fucking slut!”

Mike looked startled. “What— no! When did I say that?!”

“You implied it!”

“I didn’t imply anything, I swear—”

“God, Michael, I can’t believe you right now!” Will angrily shot up from his seat, ignoring the way his back twinged painfully. The stupid alpha also got to his feet hastily.

“You know what? Robin has been a better friend to me these past two days than you’ve been these past months! And keyword: friend. She and I are just friends, no matter what you’re shitty mind might come up with. She actually cares about me, and she doesn’t think our friendship means nothing!”

For once, Mike wasn’t totally dense. His face was pale as he asked, “A-Are you trying to say I don’t care about you? That our friendship means nothing to me?!”

“Am I wrong?” Will’s voice cracked as he did his best to hold back the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. “Stop trying to pretend like everything is fine! I-I feel like I’m losing my mind w-with the way we keep acting like nothing is wrong— like everything’s fucking fine, when it’s not!”

He couldn’t hold back the sob this time. The tears felt hot and shameful as they streamed down his face.

“Will…” Mike looked completely devastated. “I didn’t know you felt this way.”

Through his tears, he let out a humorless laugh. “Of course you didn’t! Everything I feel — it doesn’t mean anything to you!”

“That’s not true! I care about you so much, Will. You have to believe me,” Mike pleaded.

“Believe you how?! You’ve been so distant for so long, y-you were literally telling me not to be a fucking slut just now, and— and…” a lump formed in the omega’s throat. Even in the middle of a fight, he couldn’t even say it. He couldn’t say how much it had hurt to be used for a night, only to be discarded the next morning, crushing both his sense of worth and his stupid fucking hopes.

“You said it yourself… it doesn’t mean anything,” was what he shakily said in the end. “So— so don’t you dare try telling me what to do. You don’t have that right.”

“Will—”

“I got it, I got it!” Lucas and Erica suddenly burst into the room. Their excitement immediately died down however, when they spotted the two boys, standing tensely while facing each other.

Will felt his face heat up in embarrassment. The treacherous tears were still falling down his cheeks, his eyes were still red and puffy, and his scent was still sour and all over the place. He looked like such a fucking mess.

He quickly wiped away his tears and tilted his head to the side so they couldn’t see his face. His shoulders hunched up as he tried to make himself smaller.

“Uh, guys? What… Mike— did you do something to Will?” Lucas asked, his body going stiff as he observed the scene in front of him.

“Mind your business, Lucas,” Mike growled, his body also stiffening.

“God, it reeks of upset alpha and distressed omega. I wonder who is to blame here,” Erica said, looking very pointedly (and judgementally) at Mike.

Said alpha huffed impatiently. “What are you guys even doing here?”

“No, no, not so fast,” Lucas said, glancing at Will. “Will? Is everything okay?”

The omega’s face burned further as he felt all their eyes land on him. All he wanted was to sink in a hole and disappear — he hated the attention he was receiving.

“Y-Yeah. Just— please tell us why you’re here,” he mumbled, shrinking in on himself and shifting on his feet uncomfortably. He still felt like crying, but he had a feeling the siblings came in here with ideas on what to do next. He had to remind himself that there were more important things than his pathetic feelings.

Lucas looked at the two of them with uncertainty, and it was clear he wanted to dig deeper, but he also seemed to remember the urgency of their situation. Erica quickly called everyone else over, and they both began explaining their respective ideas.

The entire time, Will made himself as small as he could. He kept his head and eyes lowered in hopes that nobody else noticed how red his eyes were. He also did his best to rein in his scent. He wasn’t sure if he was doing a good job though, as he felt his mom’s worried gaze on him several times. He also knew that the alpha that caused all of this was staring at him the whole time. Will resolutely ignored him.

Mike has been consumed with overwhelming guilt, shame, and regret for the past few hours now.

When Will had been yelling at him with anguish clear in his tone and tears welling in his eyes, it had felt like someone had shot Mike in the heart. And then the omega had said those words — ‘You said it yourself… it doesn’t mean anything.’

Those godforsaken words haunted Mike since the moment he uttered them two months ago.

He was so fucking stupid. He hadn’t meant those words at all, but he had said them because he was a huge coward.

After that glorious night with Will, Mike had panicked. He didn’t know how to deal with all the emotions he felt for the beautiful omega, and it truly scared him. Those feelings… he’s never before felt something so intensely.

Mike had loved Eleven, that much was true. But it had been a sort of puppy love — he was twelve after all, and had no clue what it felt like to actually fall in love. As the years went by and his feelings for El burned out, newly discovered feelings for Will had started slowly festering until it eventually consumed Mike.

He and El had broken up months ago — for many reasons, but one of the biggest being Mike’s lack of attraction. After the breakup, things should’ve been less complicated when it came to his and Will’s… situation, but of course, things only got harder.

Mike didn’t know how to act around Will. He was always messing up, but the greatest offense he committed was having sex with the omega one night and promptly pushing him away the very next morning.

He had told Will to forget about that moment, that it didn’t mean anything, because he was too damn scared of facing his feelings. He had taken the easy way out — just ignoring and running away from his problems.

At the time, he had also been scared of hearing Will’s own feelings because Mike had been sure the omega would reject him. That it hadn’t meant anything to Will, who could do so much better than Mike Wheeler, the biggest coward and dumbass in Hawkins. So, Mike had become distant once more in an attempt to protect his feelings and still try to salvage their friendship. He had convinced himself that he was simply doing the right thing.

Now… now Mike wasn’t so sure if he had done the right thing. Not after hearing Will.

He had sounded so hurt. Those pretty, green eyes were full of so much sadness and frustration, and his soured scent had made Mike’s inner alpha claw at his chest. He had wanted to comfort the omega so bad and make all of his sadness go away. But how could he, when he was the reason for it?

When Will repeated Mike’s cruel words, it made him realize that those words may have had a bigger impact on Will than he first thought.

God, he was such a fucking idiot.

And to make matters worse, Mike just had to be an even bigger idiot and let his anger cloud his judgement. He had gotten jealous seeing Will get closer to Robin, an older alpha. His blood had practically boiled when the omega had rested his head on Robin’s shoulder in the van. He should’ve been the one Will rested on and trusted, not Robin or anyone else!

So in a fit of jealousy and stupidity, Mike exploded and caused even more pain for Will. It was ironic. Will was the one person Mike wanted to protect with his life, yet he was the one causing the most damage.

Mike had wanted to beg for forgiveness — had been ready to get on his knees and do literally anything for the omega — but they had been interrupted by Lucas and Erica. Then, after Erica and Murray left, their group had jumped right into action, not wasting a single second, which meant Mike never had the time to get Will alone and apologize for all the fucked up things he’s done.

Mike was wracked with guilt, but he told himself he’d apologize once all of this was over.

He was feeling very worried about Will connecting back to the hive mind to get to Vecna, but he didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. Will had told Mike he didn’t have a right to tell him what to do — which was honestly true. Mike still felt so bad for acting like a controlling piece of shit, therefore he wasn’t going to try and control Will again. He was going to trust his best friend. He had faith in Will, who has already killed three demogorgons like the badass sorcerer he was.

Everything will be fine, was what he kept repeating in his head like a mantra.

Unfortunately, nothing was fine.

Mike had felt his heart beating quickly when Will’s face scrunched and he grunted in exertion as his hands twisted, as if grabbing something in desperation. That was the first red flag.

Then his heart soared out of his chest when Will was flung into the air and thrown several feet back by an unseen force.

“Will!” he screamed and immediately bolted towards his unmoving body. All of the blood drained out of Mike’s face as he realized Will was unconscious.

The next few minutes were chaotic as they all surrounded Will and frantically called his name. But his eyes remained shut and his body still.

Lucas gulped. “We should take him inside,” he said, already moving to place his hands under Will to carry him.

It was like something ignited in Mike at that moment. His eyes flashed red and a loud growl escaped his throat. He leaped forward to block Lucas, not letting him get any closer to the helpless omega.

Lucas’s eyes widened. He backed away immediately and threw his hands up. Despite the sign of surrender, Lucas was looking at Mike incredulously.

“I’ll carry him,” Mike snapped, swallowing back another growl with great effort. He knew he probably looked crazy at that moment, but his instincts didn’t give a single fuck about anything other than protecting Will. And apparently, that meant protecting him from even his own friends.

Mike gently lifted Will up into his arms and carried him bridal style. Although he may not look it, Mike had innate strength that all alphas shared.

Once the omega was safe in his arms, Mike’s inner alpha calmed down slightly. But feeling the way Will’s head lolled against his shoulder and his arms dangled limply made Mike feel a whirlwind of anxiety, worry, and protectiveness. His grip tightened as he rushed towards the Squawk — everyone else hot on his heels. Once inside, he carefully laid Will onto the couch.

Seeing him there, so pale and small against the big, dark couch made Mike’s heart squeeze painfully. And as the hours ticked by with Will still unconscious, Mike felt himself lose his mind with grief.

He should’ve never let Will go through with this insane idea. Who cared if Will would’ve hated him even more — he would’ve been safe, and that was all that mattered.

There was already so much that Mike regretted, and this was yet another thing. God, the regret was eating him alive.

He paced and paced, pulling at his hair anxiously. His inner alpha was completely restless.

He halted to a stop and took several deep breaths in, but he felt not a single drop of calm. With a deep sigh, he returned to the room where Will and Joyce were. He had stepped outside for only a few minutes, in a useless attempt to somehow calm down even fractionally. Lucas and Robin had just left to go to the hospital.

Mike slowly reentered the room. No matter how many times he saw Will, the sight always made his heart drop.

The omega was ghostly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from his face. His skin was clammy, and his eyes seemed to flutter slightly beneath his lids.

And then there was his scent. Although subdued, it was sour with fear and pain. It alarmed them — what the hell was going on in Will’s mind? Every bone in Mike’s body screamed at him to do something, anything to make that fear and pain go away, but there was nothing he could do. He felt so goddamn useless.

“Any word from the others?” Joyce asked, looking up from where she’d been hunched over.

“Not yet.”

Mike sat down beside her, trying very hard not to fidget. He stared at Will for only a brief moment before ducking his head. He had to remind himself that Joyce was still right there after all.

It seemed that the older omega had been watching him for a while however. She lightly cleared her throat.

“I’ve always admired the bond between you and Will. Dustin and Lucas are lovely, but out of all my son’s friends, I always sensed there was something more special about you and him.”

Mike tensed up immediately. Did Joyce… know something?

He awkwardly ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “I’ve always cared about him,” was the only thing he could manage to say.

“Yeah, you have. And I’m grateful that Will has someone like you,” she said softly.

Words that were meant to be flattering only made the guilt and shame worsen. “I… uh… I don’t think I’ve been the greatest friend to Will lately…” he mumbled, not meeting Joyce’s eyes.

Joyce took a moment to answer. “I don’t know what is going on between you two, but what I do know is that you were the first to run to him when he got thrown back, and you wouldn’t let anyone carry him afterwards. If your bond wasn’t special, I doubt you would've reacted that way.”

Mike flushed at her pointed look. She continued, “Whatever may have happened, you can still apologize to Will once this is over. Because it will be over— it has to,” she said, desperate to believe that her son was going to come back to them soon.

Mike was also desperate to believe that. He still did have to apologize and make it up to the omega in every way possible.

Will’s scent suddenly spiked in fear. Both Mike and Joyce quickly turned towards him, and the alpha felt his heart drop in utter horror.

A small stream of blood leaked out of Will’s eye, first from one and then from both eyes. The blood slowly trickled down his face, its crimson hue a stark contrast to how pale his skin was.

“Shit, shit, shit—” Mike shot up to his feet and frantically looked for some napkins. It took barely a few seconds but it felt like an eternity for him.

“Will, honey, wake up. Come back to us,” Joyce pleaded as she cupped his face and attempted to stop the blood with her thumbs.

Mike came back and hastily placed the bunched napkins under Will’s eyes. The napkins instantly turned red and wet. Mike’s fingers brushed against the warm liquid, and feeling it made his instincts go nearly feral.

“Please, Will— wake up! Wake up,” Mike begged, one of his hands reaching down to grip the omega’s cold, motionless hand. Please come back to me.

Will didn’t wake up, though the bleeding stopped momentarily. After that incident, his eyes kept bleeding on and off. It was always just a small stream of blood leaking out from each eye, and it stopped relatively quickly, but it freaked Mike out every single time.

Eleven, Hopper, and (shockingly) Kali arrived a while later. Mike felt a flicker of hope now that El was here.

“Be careful in there,” Mike said as he paced beside the tub. “If it gets too much, you can come back. But… p-please try to find him?”

El stepped in front of Mike, stopping his pacing. She reached out to cup his face. Although she was also clearly worried, she gave him her most reassuring smile.

“I will find him, and I will bring him home,” she said firmly. “Promise.”

The alpha gulped. “Okay. Thank you, El. This— this means a lot to me. I-I just can’t lose him.”

She looked into his eyes for a moment before quietly noting, “You care about him. A lot.”

Mike shifted on his feet, his eyes darting to look elsewhere. “…he’s my best friend.”

“Friends don’t lie.”

“What?” Mike’s eyes snapped back to look at El.

“Mike,” she said gently, as if she didn’t want to startle him, “I see the way you look at him.”

“I…” Mike was at a loss for words. His heart was pounding in his chest, his lips felt dry, and the world seemed to be slowly crashing down on him.

“It’s okay,” El smiled at him. But he wasn’t sure what she was referring to as ‘okay.’ He didn’t have the time to unpack it all though, as she swiftly padded towards the tub. At the same time, someone suddenly knocked on the door and entered.

“You ready, kid?” Hopper asked. El nodded, sinking into the water.

Before she leaned back, she grabbed Mike’s hand. “I will find him,” she repeated, looking at him first and then at Joyce.

Once she was inside, Mike took a shaky breath in. He was worried about her safety of course and he hoped she’d be okay in there, but his instincts were screaming at him to go to Will. To be right by his side.

‘It’s okay,’ she had said. Mike nodded to himself, glanced at Hopper and Kali — who would both be there to take care of El — and rushed back to the room Will was in.

Joyce was already there, holding his hand. Mike sat down on his other side. His hand inched towards Will’s but stopped when his fingers lightly brushed against the back of the omega’s hand.

He hoped this would work. He hoped that Will would finally wake up, that Mike would be able to stare into his beautiful green eyes and beg for forgiveness. At this point, he didn’t even care if Will never forgave him. All that mattered was that he woke up.

The minutes slowly ticked by for what felt like an agonizingly long time. The silence was suffocating, as well as not knowing what was going on.

Mike’s leg bounced anxiously. His inner alpha was like a trapped beast. And overall, there was a foreboding feeling overwhelming him. He prayed that he was just being dramatic — that he was just worrying for nothing.

Will’s eyes flickered rapidly under his lids, and he broke out into a cold sweat. Mike’s heart skipped a beat. Could that be a sign of him fighting to wake up?

Mike didn’t even notice when his hand had moved to grip the omega’s.

“Come on, Will, you can do this. You’re so strong — fight it! Fight it and come back to us,” he said, hoping his words could somehow register in Will’s mind.

Joyce also joined in, encouraging him to fight it and to wake up, all while brushing back his hair.

The next few moments seemed to happen in both slow motion and in an instant.

They were the most terrifying moments of Mike’s life thus far.

Will’s scent, which had been muted, turned acrid and burst into the air. His eyes, which had stopped bleeding, suddenly turned into faucets. The blood erupted in frenzied streams, staining his cheeks bright red and practically drowning him. It was worse— so much worse than the previous times. The scent of blood even mixed into the omega’s already pungent scent.

“No— Will! Will!” Mike shouted, his heart flying up to his throat. His hands scrambled around, not knowing what to fucking do in that moment.

“Baby…” Joyce breathed out in horror. She hastily shook him. “Wake up! Wake up!”

Things only got worse though. Will’s back arched unnaturally from the bed, as if it was being pulled up from a rope. Pained whimpers that crushed Mike’s heart escaped from the omega’s trembling lips. All the while, the lights in the room flickered like crazy.

“Will!” Mike cried out, tears spilling from his eyes. He lunged forward and caught Will’s shoulders, shaking him desperately.

“Will, please! Wake up!” he begged. “I-I still need to apologize to you—! I was such an idiot, and you still need to yell at me a-and slap the shit out of me— t-tell me how stupid I am and— and do whatever you want! I just— I need you! I can’t lose you — I-I love you too much.”

With a gasp, Will finally woke up.

His body collapsed back against the bed, his spine no longer looking like it’d snap. His chest heaved up and down with rapid breaths. The lights stopped flickering.

“Will?” Joyce called out, voice shaking.

But something was wrong.

Will’s scent was still acrid with pain and terror. His eyes were wide… and they weren’t green.

It was like a thin layer of light gray was placed over his eyes. He blinked rapidly, eyes moving around as if frantically searching for something. And they were still bleeding.

Mike took a sharp breath in.

“Mom? M-Mike?” Will whispered.

“We’re right here, honey,” Joyce answered, face paling as she also seemed to be coming to the same realization Mike has come to.

“I-I… I can’t see,” his voice broke.

“W-We’re here. We’re here,” Mike said, as if that could change anything. He reached out to hold Will’s hand. Will flinched before gripping onto the alpha’s hand like a lifeline.

He shook his head frantically. “I can’t see anything,” he repeated, his breaths coming in even quicker as he started to panic.

“Sweetheart, breathe with me. I’m right here… I’ve got you, I promise,” Joyce said, forcing her voice to be steady. She was holding Will’s other hand while cupping his cheek with her free hand.

Mike didn’t know how she could sound so calm, even if it was obviously forced. He felt himself panicking. His grip on Will tightened.

“Ah!” the omega suddenly cried out, scent souring even more.

“What is it?!” Mike asked.

Will cried out again, gray eyes squeezing shut as his face contorted in pain. “M-My stomach—” he gasped in between labored breaths.

“What’s wrong with your stomach? Does it hurt?” Joyce asked.

Will nodded, gasping in pain once more.

Mike’s heart dropped. Not only could Will not see, but his stomach was hurting too?!

Joyce’s hands moved to her son’s stomach, carefully lifting up his shirt and looking for any sign of injury. Mike also scanned the area, but there was nothing.

He didn’t know why, but his eyes momentarily drifted downwards… and his heart somehow sunk even lower.

With a trembling hand, he reached out. His fingertips gingerly brushed one of Will’s thighs, and when he lifted up his hand, he felt utterly horrified.

Blood coated Mike’s fingers. It hadn’t been noticeable due to Will’s jeans being dark, but when Mike had squinted his eyes and looked long enough, he had noticed an odd sheen. Before reaching out, he had hoped he had seen wrong. But the evidence was there — glaringly red and wet on his fingers.

“H-He’s bleeding…” Mike whispered, voice barely audible as he continued staring at his fingertips.

…Why was Will bleeding down there?!

Joyce couldn’t help but let out a gasp when she finally noticed. Her hands hovered near Will’s thighs, staring at them with obvious fear and confusion in her expression. Despite the fear, she composed herself as best as she could.

“Baby, it’s going to be okay… j-just hold on, I’m going to get some help.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead before rushing out of the room.

“…Mike?” Will whispered.

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere, I promise,” Mike said. He wiped his trembling, bloody hand on the blanket before coming closer to the omega. His body was right next to Will’s head. He leaned down and wrapped one arm across Will’s chest while the other caressed his disheveled hair.

Will immediately clung to his arm. “I-It hurts…” he whimpered.

That weak little noise absolutely crushed Mike’s soul. His instincts were going insane, having to watch the omega suffer and not being able to take that pain away. If he could, Mike would do it in a heartbeat. The urge to protect, protect, protect washed over him like a tsunami.

“I’m so sorry Will, but it’ll be over soon,” he breathed out, tightening his grip.

“Mike… I’m scared. I’m really scared,” Will whispered in a trembling voice. Tears spilled from his eyes, the crystal droplets turning red as they mixed with the blood oozing out.

Mike felt a lump in his throat, but he forced the words out, hoping it could bring even the slightest bit of comfort. “I know it’s scary, but everything will be okay. Just breathe with me, yeah? Follow my breaths.”

“I-I can’t even s-see you…”

Mike swallowed. “Just listen to my voice. I’m right here, Will.”

The omega sobbed, shaking his head in desperation. “Everything hurts, Mike! It h-hurts so much. I-I-I can’t…”

“You can, you can— you’re going to get through this. You’re so strong and so brave. And I’m going to be right by your side no matter what. You’re not alone,” Mike whispered into his ear. His scent took on a comforting and protective tone, trying to soothe the omega.

Will’s hands, which were still clinging to Mike’s arm, squeezed harder. His wide eyes kept darting around, as if searching for something — anything.

“I’m so scared,” he kept whispering, and Mike kept murmuring reassuring words, trying to believe them himself.

Joyce, El, and Hopper suddenly burst into the room, popping the little bubble the pair had created.

“Will!” El called out, looking devastated. She had brought him back, but at what cost?

“We have to take him to the hospital, now,” Hopper said. He stepped forward but froze when Mike growled at him. With his instincts heightened, Mike couldn’t stand the idea of another alpha being so close to his vulnerable omega. (He didn’t even realize he had just referred to Will as his.)

“We don’t have time for your bullshit, Mike,” Hopper bit out.

“I’ll carry him!” he snapped. Despite his hostility towards the older alpha, he lifted Will up into his arms with all the care in the world. He was as gentle as he could be. But no matter how gentle he was, the pain continued tormenting Will.

He let out another shrill whimper, instinctively burrowing his face into Mike’s chest. His bloody tears soaked the alpha’s shirt, but Mike didn’t even notice.

“Shh, I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” he murmured. He glanced back to where Will had been laying and felt sick when he saw the puddle of blood on the bed sheets. The others looked just as horrified.

“Come on— quickly,” Joyce ushered them.

Mike rushed outside. The whole time, Will clung to his shoulder with one hand while the other pressed down against his own abdomen. His entire body was shaking, scent still sour and sobs still escaping his lips. His face remained buried into Mike’s chest.

When they got to the car, Mike refused to let the omega go. Will also seemed to not be planning on leaving Mike’s arms anytime soon.

Mike sat down with Will in his lap. Their positions were a bit awkward but they made it work.

Will curled up against him, his body small and fragile. He cried into Mike’s chest. Mike could feel the warmth of the tears — and blood, both on his chest and… on his lap, since Will was still bleeding heavily and leaking through his jeans.

Mike curled his arms tighter around the trembling boy, but not enough to cause any more pain. Just enough to protect and ground Will at least somewhat. Another ‘I’m here.’

Joyce, who sat beside the two boys, gently rubbed Will’s back. Hopper started driving quickly while El kept shooting worried glances from the passenger seat.

At one point during the ride, Hopper and El discussed their plan — something about them jumping out of the car first to save Max and make sure the hospital was safe again, while the others waited for their signal.

Mike felt conflicted though. The rational side of him knew that this was the best possible plan. Max was still in danger and demogorgons were still likely swarming the hospital. There was no way Will could even be helped if those monsters weren’t taken out first.

But the other side of him — the more primal part — felt furious. Will was barely holding on. They couldn’t just make him wait even longer! This was extremely urgent. He needed to be checked on immediately!

“Mike, do not do anything impulsive,” El called him out as the tires screeched to a halt. “I will be as fast as I can. Wait for our signal.”

Mike tried not to scowl. He knew this wasn’t her fault — it was nobody’s fault except that fucking asshole Vecna’s. Oh what he’d do to rip out Vecna’s heart himself and serve it on a platter.

Will let out yet another broken sob and writhed on Mike’s lap. Both his arms were now clutching his abdomen.

“I’m sorry— I’m so sorry, baby, but you have to hold on just a little longer,” Joyce said, still rubbing her son’s back and placing gentle kisses in his hair. Even though there were traces of fear and worry in her scent, she did her best to let out a soothing scent. It mixed in with Mike’s, both trying to comfort the vulnerable omega.

“This will be over soon. Just listen to our voices,” Mike murmured.

“It hurts!” Will cried hopelessly for the nth time. His body somehow shook even more than it already was.

Joyce’s eyes were full of tears, and Mike felt his heart shattering again and again.

He felt so goddamn useless. Nothing he did or said could take away the pain and fear Will was experiencing. No matter how tightly he held him, no matter how many times he attempted to reassure him and soothe him, none of it helped Will.

The omega suddenly stopped writhing, which set off all the alarm bells in Mike’s head.

He looked down and saw Will’s eyes fluttering shut. His face — which was so concerningly pale — went slack and his head dropped against Mike’s shoulder. His whole body slumped against the alpha, all the struggle escaping him as he succumbed to unconsciousness.

“Shit— Will, no! Stay with us— you have to keep fighting!” Mike exclaimed in a rush. One arm tightened its grip on the omega while his other hand shot up to cradle the omega’s cold face.

“Will! Honey, stay awake! Please—” Joyce pleaded, shaking him, but it was no use. Will had already fainted.

The terror Mike felt increased tenfold. Will has been losing so much blood and was in such a precarious state… what if he didn’t wake up again?!

“Hop, p-please tell me the hospital’s safe,” Joyce’s voice trembled as she clutched the walkie-talkie.

All rational thought left Mike though. He wrenched the car door open and bolted toward the hospital, Will’s body limp in his arms. He didn’t care what was in that damn building. He was going to get Will the help he fucking needed, and he’ll rip a demogorgon’s neck in half with his bare hands if he has to.

“M-Mike! Mike!” Joyce scrambled after him. She sounded like she wanted to both stop him and let him continue on his way. Ultimately, she stayed right at his heels.

Mike didn’t know what he had been expecting to find, but it definitely wasn’t complete silence.

The atmosphere was eerie. The lights were flickering and it felt like something might jump on them at any second. Mike’s instincts were on high-alert. He brought Will even closer to his chest and was ready to shield him with his own body if it came to it. He scanned the lobby for any sign of life, but there was none.

Although he had an uncomfortable, foreboding feeling in his stomach, Mike pushed through it. Nothing was more important than helping Will in that moment.

Mike took a few decisive steps towards the nearest hallway but was abruptly stopped by Joyce.

“Something’s coming,” she hissed.

Mike tensed up, his lip curling in a silent growl as he heard noises coming down the long hallway. But he couldn’t smell the usual rotten, decaying scent that came with the demogorgons.

His apprehension vanished as he spotted Hopper, El, and a red-haired nurse running towards them.

“The demogorgons are dead,” Hopper quickly informed them. At the same time, the nurse gasped as she registered Will’s state.

“He needs to be checked on immediately. This way, this way!” she said, about to lead them back down the hallway. But before she could, the hospital doors banged open. Doctors and nurses swarmed in, but so did the military.

“Shit,” Hopped muttered, “El you need to hide.”

“I am not leaving Will!” she exclaimed.

“You won’t even be able to see him again if the military finds you here!”

“But—”

“It’s okay, El,” Mike interrupted. He was still feeling restless, but he needed to briefly reassure the beta. “Your safety is also important. You’ll be there for him when he wakes up.”

El pursed her lips but also understood the urgency of their situation. Not wasting any more time, she nodded and fled away before any soldiers spotted her. Hopper went with her, though he glanced back at Joyce a few times. He would likely come back once El was somewhere else, safe.

The military aside, Mike was relieved to see more doctors and nurses. Several of them noticed the omega in Mike’s arms and they instantly jumped into action. The events that followed were a blur.

They were taken to a room. Mike laid Will down on the bed just as the nurses started injecting him with needles and tubes, asking questions and giving each other orders, the beeping of machines ringing in Mike’s ears and drowning out their voices.

His heart pounded in his chest at the sight of Will connected to all those tubes. He looked so small and fragile laying there. His face was still paler than the walls, and no amount of disinfectants could conceal his sour scent.

One of the nurses told them to wait outside. That simple command unleashed something in Mike.

He snarled and pushed the nurse away, his eyes flashing red. Security had to be called in, but Mike continued snarling. He fought hard against the guard, his body thrashing around and his teeth bared. He managed to land a punch before another guard appeared and pinned him down.

From his peripheral vision, he saw a nurse approach with a long needle. That only made Mike roar louder, his inner alpha going feral.

“NO! Stop— I need to be with him! Will! Will!” He struggled desperately under the guard. “Get the fuck off! My omega needs me!”

Just as he shouted this, he felt the prick of the needle on his neck. Almost instantly, Mike’s vision began to blur. His movements grew weaker while his heart sped up.

No! I can’t leave my omega alone, he thought right before the world went black.

Mike sat hunched over in the waiting room chair. He had been sedated because apparently, he’d gone feral.

That wasn’t something that happened often — alphas only reacted that way in severe cases, usually when they or someone they truly loved was in great danger. Mike hadn’t experienced something like this until now. And it was because of Will.

That thought sat heavy on his mind, along with the overwhelming anxiety he felt over not knowing what the hell was happening to the omega.

The drug that the nurses used to sedate him was one that went away pretty quickly. Mike had woken up soon after receiving it, his instincts tamer and more controlled due to the drug’s effects. That didn’t stop him from feeling worried and protective though. Ever since waking up, he’s had to stay stuck in the waiting room, with literally no information on how Will was doing. He felt like he was going crazy with worry.

Mike wasn’t the only one in the dark. Even Joyce had no idea how her son was doing. She had asked several nurses, but they all just said some bullshit about stabilizing his condition and having to wait for the doctor’s orders. God, Mike was getting so irritated by this stupid hospital.

He chewed his lip and ran a hand through his hair. It was very disheveled with the amount of times he’s already pulled at it.

“It’s going to be okay, Mike. Will is a fighter. He’s already gotten through so much shit in one piece, and I know it’s not fair, but he’ll get through this as well,” Max tried to reassure.

…It was still so wild hearing Max’s voice after nearly two years.

Not long after Mike had woken up and gone to the waiting room, Lucas had appeared, pushing a wheelchair in which a very awake and okay Max sat.

Mike had frozen in shock for a solid few seconds before rushing to hug her. If the situation had been different, he might’ve cracked a joke or made a small jab at her, but his emotions were already frayed. He could do nothing else but hug her silently and hold back the tears threatening to surface. Max had also gotten emotional even if she would later deny it.

She and Lucas have been right at Mike’s side since then, anxiously waiting for any updates. He honestly felt better having their company — he probably would’ve sunken into a deeper hole if they weren’t around.

“You’re… you’re right,” he sighed shakily, trying his hardest to believe Max.

She and Lucas shared a look. Lucas placed a hand on Mike’s shoulder, and they then remained in silence. The only sound was of Joyce arguing with yet another nurse nearby.

“Holy shit!” someone suddenly exclaimed.

Mike tensed up briefly but relaxed when he realized it was Dustin. The beta came running towards Max, embracing her in a tight hug. He then hugged the two alphas. Mike was glad to see he was okay.

“Mike?”

He looked up and found Nancy standing in front of him. Her scent was a mixture of fear, anxiety, and confusion. He stared unblinkingly at her for a moment, his thoughts trying to catch up to the present.

“Holly? Where’s Holly?” Max spoke up. Mike felt guilty that it took him this long to even remember his little sister being missing.

Nancy flinched. “We couldn’t find her. We looked in my house, like you told us to — we tried to look everywhere, but she’s still missing.”

Max’s face paled. “What?! But… I saw her go back to her body— she should be awake.”

“I don’t know what happened,” Nancy said hopelessly, running both her hands down her face. “But— Dustin has a theory…”

“You guys will not believe what I discovered,” Dustin jumped to start explaining. Mike couldn’t hear him though — his voice sort of fell in the background as Mike’s thoughts were once again consumed by Will.

He was worried about Holly, of course he was, but… it was like his brain could not focus on anything other than Will. He felt like some sort of zombie.

His gaze was distant, fixed on a random point on the floor. The voices droned on like static. He didn’t even notice when they eventually stopped.

“Mike? Mike!”

The alpha was shaken out of his rumination by Nancy. She studied him for a moment before her brows scrunched in concern.

“Mike… there’s blood on your clothes,” she said quietly.

He glanced down at himself. Oh. He hadn’t even realized until now, despite the sharp, tangy smell of it. It was funny — how his senses have all seemed to blur.

“What happened?”

Mike licked his chapped lips, a shaky breath coming out of him. But he couldn’t seem to form any words.

“…Will got hurt,” Lucas tentatively answered for him.

Nancy’s eyes widened. She glanced at Jonathan, who had already gone over to where his mom was still arguing with that incompetent nurse, before quickly looking back at Mike. Dustin’s eyes also widened and his body went rigid.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. How is he?” Nancy asked.

“We’re not sure. Those nurses have been cryptic as hell,” Lucas said.

“Shit,” Dustin hissed out.

“Mike?” Nancy gently called out after he continued to stay quiet. “Are you okay?”

Mike’s jaw clenched. Why was she asking if he was okay? Will was the one in the hospital room!

Still, he didn’t know how to answer her question. He blinked rapidly and his brows twitched. The pit in his stomach only grew bigger.

At his prolonged silence, Nancy sat down beside her brother and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him.

Mike stiffened. He wasn’t used to this blatant type of affection from her. But she didn’t let go, and the tension slowly drained out of him until he slumped against her. It felt odd but also relieving.

He continued blinking rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. He was supposed to be strong, to not crack no matter what. That was an alpha’s purpose. That was what he’d been taught since a young age, Ted having ingrained it into Mike and Nancy’s heads.

But their father wasn’t here, and Nancy, despite also being an alpha, tightened her grip and let her scent wash over Mike in a soothing way. It reminded him of the times his mom had hugged him this way… like when Will’s body had been “found” at the quarry.

Before Mike could even fully process it, he was crying into Nancy’s shoulder, his body shaking with suppressed sobs. All of the fear and grief he’d been feeling for hours culminated like an avalanche.

“It’s okay, Mike. Just let it out,” Nancy murmured.

They stayed that way for a while. Mike’s sobs slowly died down until he was reduced to the occasional sniffle. He hesitantly pulled away, feeling embarrassed for breaking down like that, but Nancy gave him a reassuring look.

“I, uh… I think I need some air,” he breathed out while rubbing his eyes. “Thanks Nance.”

“I’ll always be here for you Mike.”

He felt a pang in his heart at that. He managed to give her a grateful smile, albeit small, before getting up. He’d only take a few minutes.

On his way out, Mike passed Joyce and Jonathan, who were now talking to a doctor. The young alpha was almost out of earshot when he heard it.

“—your son has suffered a miscarriage—”

And all at once, Mike’s world came crashing down.

Miscarriage…

Something in the back of his mind had been wondering this whole time what could’ve possibly happened for Will to bleed out in that area. Perhaps he had been stupid, or perhaps he had just been trying to avoid the very real possibility.

Now, it wasn’t a possibility. The word rang in his ears like a siren.

Miscarriage.

Mike felt like he couldn’t breathe. His heart sunk to the pit of his stomach. The drug he had been injected with now seemed futile — his instincts were once again going into overdrive.

Will… was pregnant. Will had been pregnant. And Mike didn't know how to handle that.

The lights were painfully bright. Will immediately flinched and closed his eyes.

“Will?”

He heard his mother’s voice beside him at the same time he felt a hand clenching his own.

His eyes fluttered open again, being more careful this time to keep them lowered. That was when his heart skipped a beat as the realization kicked in — he could see.

His head tilted to the side a bit too quickly, but he didn’t care about the small twinge in his neck. He could see his mom. His vision was blurry, the sight of her being unfocused, and his eyes stung, but none of that mattered. He wasn’t trapped in total darkness anymore — he could see lights, figures, all the things he hadn’t realized were so important until now.

“Mom,” he breathed out, voice weak and hoarse. His eyes were already swelling with tears.

“Oh Will!” she cried, instantly wrapping her arms around him, though she was mindful of the tubes he was connected to. “You’re awake. You’re finally awake.”

With trembling arms, he hugged her back, letting his tears fall freely.

“Careful mom,” Jonathan’s voice said from behind her.

Looking over her shoulder, Will could see his older brother hovering. Despite having a blurry vision, he could tell Jonathan wanted to do nothing more than launch himself at Will but was holding himself back.

Will smiled through his tears. “Jonathan.”

“I leave you alone for two days and this is how I find you? Are you actively trying to give me a heart attack?”

That made Will laugh weakly. “I also have powers?”

“So I’ve heard,” Jonathan half chuckled, half sobbed as he leaned over to squeeze Will’s hand.

“We were worried sick.” His mom pulled away to cradle his face. “How are you feeling, honey?”

“My eyes burn a little,” he started, “and everything’s blurry.”

She pursed her lips but nodded. “That’s expected; the doctor said it would take some time for your eyesight to go back to normal. It’s,” she paused to take a shaky breath in, “it’s a miracle that you can even see again. Your eyes… they bled a lot.”

Although he had not seen it, Will could remember the blood drenching his cheeks as they spilled from his eyes. He could remember the way it had felt wet and warm and so unwelcomed, its smell so sharp and suffocating.

He could remember the terror he had felt at seeing nothing but black despite his eyes being wide open. It had been disorienting to be able to hear voices and smell scents but be unable to see anything at all. For a moment back there, he had wondered if he’d be stuck like that for the rest of his life, and that thought had terrified him. The relief he felt now was overwhelming.

‘You are going to be my spy one last time.’

He shuddered as those words echoed in his mind — the words that had been uttered right before his eyes felt like they were being clawed out, and before he was plunged into his worst nightmares.

Unwanted memories flashed through his mind but he quickly pushed them away before he could drown in them. He was reminded of something else.

“Wait— where’s Max? Is she okay?”

Both his mom and brother sighed. “Max is okay. But honestly Will, you need to stop worrying about everyone else whenever you’re the one suffering. You… you could’ve died,” Jonathan said, his tone grave.

Will froze. “What?”

“You lost so much blood, Will. It was like that asshole was trying to kill you slowly, and punish us by proxy.”

Will felt his face go pale. Suddenly, he could remember with a painfully vivid clarity another sentence Vecna had uttered: ‘I will take great pleasure in taking two lives today, William.’

…That monster really had tried to kill him. Him and Max, by the sound of it. But if Max was okay, then Vecna had thankfully been unsuccessful.

“Baby… how does your stomach feel?” Joyce asked, sounding so hesitant and worried.

Now that she brought it up, Will paid attention to how his stomach has been cramping since he woke up. It was very dull though — nothing like how it had been hours before.

The omega felt nauseous even thinking about it. The pain had been absolutely excruciating. It felt like someone had stabbed him with a knife and wrung it around, carving his insides out over and over again. He had felt like he was dying. In those moments, death would’ve been preferable to feeling that agony. It was one of the worst pains he’s ever felt in his life.

Will swallowed, trying to forget and leave the past buried. “It’s cramping, but it isn’t as bad as before.”

A tense silence overtook the room. Will could tell his mom and brother were sharing a look. Through the sterile hospital smells, he was able to pick up on their scents, which were both full of anxiety and grief. His heart slowly sank. He felt apprehensive, and it wasn’t just because of their behavior.

Something was wrong with his inner omega.

It felt inexplicably anguished, like it already sensed something he couldn’t.

“…What is it?” he asked slowly, but part of him didn’t want the answer.

Joyce squeezed his hand, her grip firm but gentle. “Baby, I don’t know how else to tell you this,” her voice cracked and she had to take a moment to steady herself. “The doctor said you… you suffered a miscarriage.”

Of all the things she could’ve told him, he had not been expecting that.

He froze, and for a second it felt like his heart stopped beating entirely. “W-What?”

“Oh sweetheart,” Joyce sobbed, “you were pregnant, and I-I didn’t even know. Why didn’t you tell me?” Her question didn’t sound accusatory, just heartbroken.

“B-But I… I wasn’t…?” his voice grew small as the uncertainty kicked in. Everything he thought he knew seemed to vanish from reality.

Pregnant. He had been pregnant? But how? How could that have possibly happened to him?

Snippets from that night two months ago flashed through his mind, and suddenly he felt like he was drowning.

The nausea, the fatigue, the backaches — it all made horrifying sense now. God, how could Will have been so stupid?!

“You didn’t know?” his mom asked, sounding even more devastated.

Will blinked up at her. His vision was somehow more blurry than before as tears started to form in his eyes. Shock, dread, grief, and guilt all tangled up and slammed into him at once, leaving him gasping for air.

‘I will take great pleasure in taking two lives today, William.’

When Vecna had said that, he hadn’t been talking about Will and Max — he had been talking about Will and the pup he was unknowingly carrying. That realization broke him.

Time went by slowly after that. The initial shock went away, but the grief and guilt only grew more suffocating. A piece of himself felt like it was missing, and he doubted it’d ever come back again.

The door opened. Will’s head remained lowered but he knew who it was even before the scent hit him.

It was inevitable. He couldn’t avoid him forever. He knew that, yet he couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

“Hey…”

Will didn’t respond. There was a lump stuck in his throat.

A charged silence momentarily settled over them, before Mike let out a shaky breath and asked hesitantly, “how are you feeling?”

The omega swallowed hard. Tears already pricked his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. Instead of answering Mike’s question, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“What?” Mike was clearly startled. “Sorry for what?”

“…It’s all my fault,” his voice broke, and he could do nothing to stop the tears this time. “I… I…” He was hyperventilating. He couldn’t say it.

But he didn’t have to say anything — Mike knew. His carefully neutral scent turned fiercely protective. No longer able to hold back, he wrapped his arms around Will. The omega didn’t flinch or protest — he immediately buried his face into Mike’s neck and cried.

“Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. It’s not,” he murmured, his voice rough with his own grief.

“It is!” he sobbed hopelessly. “I-I should’ve known, I should’ve been more careful, I—”

“Will, none of this is your fault!” Mike insisted. “The only one to blame is that maniac.”

But Will shook his head, unable to believe him. “I’m a horrible omega. What kind of omega lets this happen?!”

Mike growled at that, his arms tightening and bringing Will closer to his body. “You’re the most perfect omega I’ve ever met, and none of this changes that. You didn’t let anything happen — Vecna’s a vile piece of shit who hurt you in such a cruel way. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

Will sobbed harder, the guilt and anguish killing him from the inside. But Mike never let him go for even a second. His strong arms, his scent, his presence were a steady anchor, keeping Will from drowning.

“I’m here. You’re not alone,” he kept repeating, and Will clung to his words.

The heartache didn’t go away, but his tears slowly ran out. In the end, he was left sagging against Mike, sniffling and rubbing weakly at his puffy eyes.

“God, Will, I was so terrified,” Mike breathed out into the omega’s hair, holding him as if he still couldn’t believe Will was actually safe and in his arms. “I almost lost you.”

Will’s breath hitched. Hesitantly, he pulled away from the alpha and finally looked into his face.

Will’s vision was getting better, so he could see the way Mike’s eyes were red-rimmed, as if he’d been crying earlier. His face was marred with a mix of emotions — anguish, sorrow, anxiety, guilt, regret — and his hair was tousled. Will felt a pang in his heart at the sight. But he couldn’t let his emotions get the best of him — not until he asked something important.

With a shaky breath and his nerves skyrocketing, he asked, “Did you mean what you said, back at the radio station? When you… w-when you said you loved me?”

Mike froze instantly. His eyes widened and the breath was knocked out of him. “You— you heard that?”

“I heard everything,” he admitted quietly. He gulped before stripping his heart bare even further. “It was… those words — your voice that helped bring me back.”

Mike’s face softened and looked deeply moved. He stared at Will with so much care and raw vulnerability that it stunned the omega.

“I did. I meant it, and I still do. I love you, Will Byers, more than I ever thought was possible.”

Then, Mike gently held one of Will’s hands with both of his and lowered his head, pressing Will’s knuckles against his forehead. “I’m so sorry for everything, Will. I know I was an asshole, and I regret it so much. I regret saying those words to you after we slept together, I regret pushing you away, I regret acting like nothing ever happened between us. I regret all the stupid shit I did long before that, and what I’ve done since then — I regret all of it.”

The alpha’s scent was bitter with all that remorse, and he looked like he was beating himself up internally. But he continued, “The truth is… I was scared of my real feelings. I’ve never felt this way for anyone before. It’s like my inner alpha has chosen its mate, and I’ve been too scared to confront that. So, I’ve been a complete coward instead.”

He looked up at Will then, his eyes shining with guilt. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated. “You’re so fucking precious and beautiful. You deserve to be treated like a princess — a trash loser like me doesn’t deserve you.”

“Mike…”

“I get if you can’t forgive me, but I need to stop being a coward and start being more honest. Will,” he took a deep breath in, “I love you, and all I want is for you to be my omega, and me your alpha.”

The tears pricked Will’s eyes once more, but this time it wasn’t due to sadness or pain. It was like a light had flickered on at the very end of the long, dark tunnel — full of tentative hope and dreams.

Without another thought, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Mike’s. The alpha didn’t even hesitate to kiss back, gently pulling him closer.

The kiss was brief, but everything that Will had ever wanted. As he pulled away and they pressed their foreheads against each other, he thought he might be dreaming for a moment. He couldn’t believe that Mike had really just kissed him so tenderly, that he had really declared his love for the omega. How could something so good happen to Will, amid all the pain and torment? He was half expecting for Mike to morph into a monster made from Vecna’s illusions.

But this moment wasn’t a figment of Will’s imagination. Mike didn’t disappear into thin air. He was real and he remained right by Will’s side, looking at him with sheer adoration.

“I love you too,” Will finally whispered.

Mike sighed in relief and smiled disbelievingly at the omega. “I don’t know how you can love a loser like me.”

Will chuckled softly. “You’re not a loser, you’re a paladin remember?"

“Well that makes you my sorcerer,” he chuckled as well, and then they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, time seeming to stop in the background. Will took notice of every little fleck and glint in the alpha’s warm, chocolate brown eyes. He could stare into them for several lifetimes.

Mike clearly felt the same way. “I missed those pretty eyes of yours,” he breathed out, his thumb gently stroking Will’s cheek.

A wobbly smile formed on Will’s face. He remembered that while in the darkness, as he panicked and writhed in pain, Mike was the only thing helping him get through it. Hearing his soothing voice, feeling his strong arms wrapped around his trembling form, smelling his scent that reminded Will of home and safety — it all kept Will from sinking to the depths of despair.

And he still needed that. He still needed Mike. He always would.

He voiced his thoughts out loud. “I need you, Mike — now more than ever. I don’t think I can get through this without you.”

A tear slipped from his eye, falling right where Mike’s finger was still caressing his face, as the ache continued to thrum painfully in his heart at the loss they’ve just suffered.

Mike gently wiped the tear away, his own eyes getting glassy. But he didn’t waver. “I’m never going to leave you, Will. I’m going to be right by your side, no matter what happens next. We’ll get through this together — I promise you.”

It was going to be hard, Will already knew that. There was going to be more tears, more pain, more grief, and he wasn’t sure how long it would take until there was peace.

But there was also hope, regardless of how big or small. He and Mike had each other, and that was enough for now.